How to Measure Distance in Google Maps on iPhone and iPad

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How to Measure Distance in Google Maps on iPhone and iPad

Google Maps makes it easy to measure the distance between two places as the crow flies. You can drop a pin at the starting point and can even add other points in between to know the total distance of multiple routes or the full distance for a round trip. Let’s take a closer look;

How to Measure Distance in Google Maps on iPhone and iPad

  1. Open the Google Maps app on your iPhone or iPad
  2. Touch and hold on first place from where you want to start measuring the distance. When you touch and hold, a red pin is dropped.
  3. Tap or swipe up the card from the bottom of the screen
  4. Tap on Measure distance.
    Touch and hold on first place, swipe up and tap on Measure distance in iOS Google Maps App
  5. Now move the map. You will see that the black circle also moves. Place it on the second point. You will see the distance in bottom left.
    You can see the distance in iOS Google Maps App
  6. Further, you may tap on the plus icon to add a point. After this, you need to move the map to reach the third place on map. All this while the distance will keep changing. You can add as many points as you like and know the total distance.
    Tap on Plus icon to add a point in iOS Google Maps App
  • To remove the last point you added: Tap on ⤺ from top right
  • To clear all the points: Tap on three dots from top right and tap Clear.
  • In case you want to stop measuring the distance: Tap on < from top left.
    Remove last point, Clear All Point, Stop measuring the distance in Google Maps

That’s all, mate!

Signing off…

If you have a science background, you would know that ‘distance’ and ‘displacement’ are not the same. So on the map, if you measure the distance between only two points, then the distance and displacement are the same. The kilometers or miles you see in the bottom left is as the crow flies.

But if you add multiple points, then the measurement you see is the distance of the path you choose and not the actual (as the crow flies) distance between two points. This image will make things clear.

Difference between distance and displacement
Image Credit: Socratic.org

What do you think about measuring distance in Google Maps? Do you see many use cases for it? Share your voice in the comments down below.

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Suraj is a digital marketing expert on the iGB's team. He contributes to the social media section along with tips and tricks for iPhone, Apple Watch. Apart from blogging, he likes to work out as much as he can in his gym and love to listening to retro music.