How to Download Offline Maps for Driving and Travel

Offline maps are one of the most practical travel tools available, and most people do not use them until they are already stuck without signal wishing they had. Downloading a map before you leave means your navigation works even when you are in a rural area with no cell coverage, on a mountain road, or traveling internationally where you do not want to pay roaming data fees.

Google Maps makes offline downloads straightforward. Search for a city, region, or area you plan to travel to. When the place name appears at the bottom of the screen, tap it to open the details panel. Tap the three-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of that panel, then tap "Download offline map." A square selection box appears over the map — drag the edges to cover the area you need, then tap "Download." Google Maps will store that region on your phone and make directions available without any internet connection.

What works without internet: turn-by-turn directions, searching for addresses and businesses in the downloaded area, estimated travel time, and basic navigation. What does not work offline: real-time traffic updates, transit schedules and bus times, Street View, live search suggestions outside the saved area, and business reviews.

Storage space is a consideration. A major city's metro area typically takes 200 to 500 megabytes. A large region like all of Southern California might take 1 to 2 gigabytes. You can manage your downloaded maps by going to Google Maps Settings > Offline maps.

Apple Maps added offline map downloads in iOS 17. Go to the Settings app, tap Maps, then tap Offline Maps, then "Download New Map." Search for the area you want and download it.

For travel outside the US, two apps are worth knowing. Maps.me is a free app with very detailed offline maps sourced from OpenStreetMap — excellent for hiking trails and less-traveled roads. HERE WeGo offers polished offline maps with good coverage internationally, and is used as the navigation system in some car manufacturers' built-in GPS units.

One important note about Google Maps offline: downloaded areas expire after 15 days if you do not have internet access. When you are connected to Wi-Fi, Google Maps refreshes offline maps automatically. If you are going off-grid for more than two weeks, consider a dedicated offline map app instead.