How To Check Real-Time Traffic On Google Maps

Thomas Lucero
2 years ago

Google Maps provides useful real-time information and updates to help you plan your journey. You can use Google Maps to check the current traffic conditions and the estimated time of arrival for your destination.

Table of content

  1. What Do the Colors Mean in Google Maps?
  2. How to check traffic on the Google Maps mobile app
  3. How to check traffic on the Google Maps Web
  4. Plan your route
  5. In conclusion

What Do the Colors Mean in Google Maps?

If you click on a particular area of the map, more information will appear, such as the street name and address or specific points of interest. Google Maps also has a feature that allows you to view satellite imagery pulled from real-time cameras in space. This type of imagery will give you a more detailed look at the terrain and landscape of an area. 

Google Maps also has a feature allowing users to calculate distances between two points or even plan out routes between multiple locations at once. This is extremely helpful when traveling as it allows you to see the quickest path between two or more destinations, as well as find the best road conditions and routes.

The colors on Google Maps provide information about the type of terrain, topography, and landscape in addition to the roads:

  • Green typically indicates vegetation, such as parks, while gray means there is an urban area.
  • Blue is used for water features, such as oceans, lakes, rivers, and streams.
  • Yellow marks streets and highways, while orange identifies arterial roads or highways.
  • Red is used to indicate toll roads, and purple shows limited access highways.

How to check traffic on the Google Maps mobile app

Google Maps can be a great tool to help you check traffic in your area. With the Google Maps mobile app, you can quickly and easily view real-time traffic conditions on the road. Here’s how: 

  1. Launch the Google Maps mobile app and search for your destination. 
  2. Once you’ve found your destination, tap on the map to pull up more details. 
  3. On the bottom right corner of the map, you will see a traffic icon. Tap it to view real-time traffic conditions on your route and nearby roads. 
  4. The app will display various colors that represent different types of roads and traffic conditions. Blue indicates that the traffic is moving freely, orange means there’s some congestion and red means it’s heavy traffic.
  5. You can also use the “Live Traffic Map” feature on Google Maps to view more detailed information about current conditions on the road. To access this feature, simply tap on the “Live” button at the top of your screen. 
  6. The Live Traffic Map will show you a detailed view of what the traffic is like on various roads in your area, including accidents and construction work. This can be helpful if you’re trying to find an alternate route with less traffic. 
  7. Finally, you can set up alerts on Google Maps so that you’re notified of any changes in traffic conditions along your route. To do this, tap the “Alerts” button at the top and enable notifications for when routes are blocked or slow down.

How to check traffic on the Google Maps Web

To check real-time traffic conditions on Google Maps in a web browser, visit the official Google Maps website and enter the address or general location you’re interested in:

  1. Once the map has loaded, click on the Traffic option at the top of the page to view current traffic conditions for your desired area. You’ll see a color-coded overlay that indicates how heavy traffic is at that moment.
  2. You can also toggle this feature off to remove the overlay from your map. Moreover, you can zoom in or out to check traffic for different areas or streets.
  3. Google Maps will provide information about how fast cars are going on any given road, as well as what lanes may be closed due to construction or other issues. By using these tools, you can get an idea of how long it may take to reach your destination.
  4. Google Maps will also provide alternate routes that may be faster or more efficient depending on the traffic conditions. Knowing real-time traffic information can help you save time and arrive at your desired location quickly and safely.

Plan your route

When you’re planning your route, setting the departure and arrival times in Google Maps on your phones can help you to optimize your journey. By inputting this information, Google Maps can provide you with the best routes for getting from point A to point B based on various factors, such as traffic conditions and public transport schedules. This will give you a better understanding of the estimated travel time, so you can arrive at your destination on time.

You can also check out alternative routes to see which one works best for you. So next time when you plan a road trip or visit a new place, make sure to take advantage of Google Maps’ departure and arrival time feature for a convenient and stress-free journey.

In conclusion

Google Maps is a powerful tool that can help you plan out trips, locate points of interest, and view detailed terrain information. The colors provide important information about the roads and landscape of an area, so it is important to be familiar with what they mean.