Google Maps is the default navigation tool for Android users, and it's especially useful for travelers. Apart from its core function of showing you directions to your destination, the app also comes with a ton of other helpful features.

In this guide, we'll show you the nine best ways Google Maps can help you while you're traveling.

1. Download Offline Maps as Backup

If you're traveling to a remote location or somewhere with bad network coverage, you might lose internet connection in the middle of your transit. With offline maps, you can mitigate the risk of getting lost and make sure you reach your destination safely.

For a detailed guide, check out how to download offline maps in Google Maps for your desired region. Note that some features such as live traffic data and alternative routes do not work with offline maps since they require an active internet connection. However, GPS and turn-by-turn navigation will still work just fine.

2. Share Your Real-Time Location

If you're traveling alone or with a small group, it's best to be cautious and give regular updates to your loved ones about your location for obvious reasons. You can choose to share your real-time location with others for as little as 15 minutes to up to one day, or until you manually turn off location sharing.

Enable the feature by tapping on your profile picture and selecting Location sharing. From there, select for how long and with whom you want to share your location. The person(s) you select here will receive your real-time location accordingly.

We recommend selecting the Until you turn this off setting for maximum precaution. But keep in mind that the longer you share your location, the faster you will drain your phone's battery, so remember to turn the feature off when it's not necessary.

3. View Live Traffic Data to Avoid Jams

No one likes being stuck in traffic, especially when you're traveling. At best, you can miss out on some beautiful locations that you planned to see. At worst, you can miss your flight back home. It's a disaster no one should have to face.

When you set a destination on Google Maps, the app will automatically show you live traffic data for each route, so you can decide which one to take to avoid jams and reach your destination the quickest. All you need is an active data connection.

4. Add Gas Stations Along Your Route

Know what's worse than being stuck in traffic? Being stuck in the middle of nowhere with an empty tank. To avoid such a situation from occurring, be sure to regularly find and add gas stations along your route while traveling.

Along with the distance and estimated time of arrival, Google Maps will also show you the estimated price charged by a particular gas station, so you can be better informed about which one you want to go to. Neat, right?

5. Check Toll Prices and Alternative Routes

If you're planning a road trip, it's a good idea to account for the toll prices you might have to pay in the middle of your journey. With Google Maps, you can check the number of tolls on your route and the estimated prices charged by each one.

If that doesn't sound like fun and you're okay with taking the longer route, you can set Google Maps to show you alternative routes without tolls. Compare the difference in distance and decide whether it's worth taking the longer route to avoid tolls.

6. Use Google Street View to Navigate Better

As good as Google Maps is, it's still not infallible and can at times be quite confusing. Sure, it's accurate most of the time, but sometimes you need to see a little more than a couple of squiggly lines to get to your destination.

If you're having trouble navigating your surroundings properly, you can see the street view of nearby places such as popular landmarks or intersections to make sure that you're going the right way. To get started, tap and hold anywhere on the map and select the Street View thumbnail.

You can learn more in our full guide on how to use Street View in Google Maps.

7. Reserve a Restaurant Table From the App

Hungry? Why not reserve a restaurant table while you're on your way to the airport? Although this feature isn't supported by all restaurants, some do allow you to reserve a table directly from the app. On top of that, they may also have uploaded their menu, so you can quickly decide what you're in the mood for.

Not all restaurants allow automatic in-app reservations, especially the ones in suburban regions, so you might need to text or call the restaurant you like and book a table manually. Still, it's a helpful feature nonetheless.

8. Use the Google Maps Widget to Find Places

One of the most useful Google widgets by far is Quickly Find Places Nearby by Google Maps. The widget does exactly what its name suggests: it shows you tiles of recommended places including Home, Restaurants, Hotels, Attractions, and more.

Simply tap on the tile of a place that you wish to find, and the app will pull up suitable results for you to scour. It's a great time saver for when you're traveling and frequently need to find the location of nearby public facilities, local shops, malls, and the like.

9. See a Timeline of Your Trip

After you're done with your trip, you might want to take a look back at all the places you visited. To do so in Google Maps, tap on your profile picture and select Your Timeline. Here, you will be able to see all the locations you went to along with relevant details such as the route you took, the time you reached your destination, and the photos you took at a place.

The Timeline menu organizes your trip into different categories and shows you insights about your trip such as how long you spent walking, driving, in the hotel room, at attractions, waiting at the railway station, and more. It's like a visual summary of your trip.

Make Your Trip a Success With Google Maps

Google Maps is a lifesaver for travelers given the sheer number of features it offers. Worried about losing your internet connection? Download offline maps. Need to keep your loved ones informed about your whereabouts? Share your live location. Want to grab a drink? Find the nearest coffee shop.

There are a ton of other features in Google Maps that can help you get to your destination faster and safer, all without the hassle of running into unwanted surprises. Make sure you explore the app and familiarize yourself with all its features for your next trip.