Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
On a computer, open Google Maps, create and select your route, click Print, then choose Print including maps or Print text only. You can send the result to a printer or save it as a PDF. For a plain map view, use your browser’s print command. Google’s documented route-printing steps are for computers; on a phone, send the route to a computer or use a screenshot if the app does not offer printing.
Print Google Maps directions on a computer
- Open Google Maps in a desktop browser.
- Click Directions and enter your starting point and destination.
- Choose the route you want. The selected route is the one that will be printed.
- Click the Print icon in the directions panel.
- Choose Print including maps for a map and written directions, or Print text only for a more compact list of turns.
- Click Print and select a printer in the browser’s print dialog.
These are Google’s documented computer steps; interface labels or placement may change. See Google Maps’ printing instructions.
Which print format should you choose?
- Print including maps: useful when you need visual context, such as for an unfamiliar area or a road trip. The map makes the printout more visual and may use more pages and ink.
- Print text only: useful for a compact turn-by-turn route or when conserving ink. It does not provide the same visual map layout.
Save directions as a PDF
A PDF is handy if you want to email the route, keep a copy, or print it later from another device. Follow the route-printing steps above, then choose Save as PDF (or your browser’s equivalent PDF destination) in the print dialog instead of selecting a physical printer. Set the page size and orientation, check the page preview, and save the file. This uses the browser’s print-to-PDF feature; it is not a separate Google Maps download option.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Print a map view without directions
For an ordinary location or area, rather than a route, open it on a computer and pan and zoom until the area you want is visible. Then open the browser’s print dialog:
#1 Best Overall
- 1 ream (500 sheets) of 8.5 x 11 white copier and printer paper for home or office use
- Multipurpose letter size copy paper works with laser/inkjet printers, copiers and fax machines
- Smooth 20lb weight paper for consistent ink and toner distribution; dries quickly and resists paper jams
- Bright white paper (92 GE; 104 Euro) offers great contrast for crisp printing and vivid color
- Virgin copy paper providing professional quality results; acid-free to prevent yellowing
- Windows or ChromeOS: press Ctrl+P.
- Mac: press Command+P.
Choose a printer or save as PDF. Preview the result and adjust orientation, scale, or margins if those options are available. Browser printing of a dynamic map page can vary, so wait for the map to finish loading. Google’s normal map-sharing function is not a dedicated map-image export feature; if browser printing does not give a usable result, try saving a screenshot instead.
Print Google Maps from an iPhone or Android phone
Google’s documented built-in route-printing workflow is for computers. The Google Maps phone apps may not show the same Print control, and the options available can depend on the app, device, operating system, and print service.
Rank #2
- HP Papers is sourced from renewable forest resources and has achieved production with 0% deforestation in North America. Each ream is wrapped in a polyurethane coated paper wrapper to protect the cut sheets from moisture damage
- Sheet size – 8.5 x 11; Thickness – 20 pounds; Brightness – 92 bright white
- HP Copy&Print20 20 pounds printer paper is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified and contributes toward satisfying credit MR1 under LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
- All HP Papers provide premium performance on HP equipment, as well as on all other printer and copier equipment; 100% satisfaction guaranteed; ColorLok technology provides more vivid colors, bolder blacks and faster drying
- Superior quality, reliability, and dependability for high-volume printing at home, at school and in the office; HP Copy&Print20 print and copy paper prevents yellowing over time to ensure a long-lasting appearance for added archival quality
Best option: send or share the route to a computer
Use Google Maps’ sharing controls to copy or send the directions link, then open it on a computer and follow the desktop steps above. Google also documents sending directions to another device signed in to the same Google account. Its Send to phone workflow does not support multiple destinations, so for a multi-stop route, share the route link if available or recreate the stops on the computer. See Google’s guidance on sharing directions between devices.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Try your phone’s system print option
On Android, printing is app-dependent and requires an available print service. If Google Maps or the system Share menu offers Print, select it and choose a printer. The option may not appear. Google’s Android printing guidance explains that apps must support printing and identifies screenshots as a fallback.
Rank #3
- 3 ream case (1,500 sheets) of 8.5 x 11 white copier and printer paper for home or office use
- Multipurpose letter size copy paper works with laser/inkjet printers, copiers and fax machines
- Smooth 20lb weight paper for consistent ink and toner distribution; dries quickly and resists paper jams
- Bright white paper (92 GE; 104 Euro) offers great contrast for crisp printing and vivid color
- Virgin copy paper providing professional quality results; acid-free to prevent yellowing
Use a screenshot as a fallback
- Position the map or directions so the information you need is visible.
- Take a screenshot and open it in your phone’s photo app.
- Use the photo app’s Share or More menu and choose Print, if available; otherwise transfer the image to a computer and print it there.
A screenshot is usually less useful than a route printout: it may show only part of the directions, make text hard to read, or look poor when enlarged.
Print a custom Google My Maps map
If your map includes custom pins, layers, shapes, or routes, use Google My Maps rather than the standard route-printing panel. My Maps supports printing custom maps from a computer. Google says My Maps is not available as an editing experience on Android or iPhone and iPad, so use a computer when you need to manage or print a custom map. See the My Maps help page.
Rank #4
- 5 ream case (2,500 sheets) of 8.5 x 11 white copier and printer paper for home or office use
- Multipurpose letter size copy paper works with laser/inkjet printers, copiers and fax machines
- Smooth 20lb weight paper for consistent ink and toner distribution; dries quickly and resists paper jams
- Bright white paper (92 GE; 104 Euro) offers great contrast for crisp printing and vivid color
- Virgin copy paper providing professional quality results; acid-free to prevent yellowing
Fix common Google Maps printing problems
The Print icon is missing
Check that you are using Google Maps in a desktop browser, have entered both endpoints, and have selected a route. On a phone, use the computer workaround or a screenshot. If you are printing a plain map rather than directions, try the browser’s print command instead of looking for the route-print control.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteThe preview is blank or the map is missing
Wait for the map tiles and route line to load, then try again. If the browser has a Background graphics setting, enable it when colors or route shading are missing. Refresh the page if necessary, and save as a PDF to inspect the layout before printing on paper. If the browser still cannot render the map, use a screenshot as a last resort.
Best Value
- 8 ream case (4,000 sheets) of 8.5 x 11 white copier and printer paper for home or office use
- Multipurpose letter size copy paper works with laser/inkjet printers, copiers and fax machines
- Smooth 20lb weight paper for consistent ink and toner distribution; dries quickly and resists paper jams
- Bright white paper (92 GE; 104 Euro) offers great contrast for crisp printing and vivid color
- Virgin copy paper providing professional quality results; acid-free to prevent yellowing
The map is cropped or the text is too small
Try landscape orientation for a wide map, or portrait for a text-heavy list of directions. Use Fit to page or reduce the scale if the route is cut off. Avoid enlarging the page so much that labels or route segments disappear beyond the margins. If the map makes the directions too long or hard to read, choose Print text only. For a long route that is unreadable at page size, print the directions in sections.
The printer does not appear
Check that the printer is available to the computer or that an appropriate print service is installed and enabled on Android. If you cannot print directly, save the route as a PDF and use another computer or a print shop.
Make the printout easier to use
- Zoom in enough to make relevant roads and labels readable before printing a plain map view.
- Use landscape for a broad area and portrait for text-heavy directions, then confirm the preview.
- Choose Fit to page if content is clipped; increasing scale can make labels easier to read but may crop the route.
- Enable background graphics if the browser preview omits map colors or route shading.
- Preview each page before printing. A PDF is a useful way to check layout without wasting paper.
- Choose text-only directions when the map would otherwise create a bulky or hard-to-read printout.
Browser and printer settings vary, so not every dialog will include the same controls.
A printed route is not live navigation
A printout is static. Traffic, road closures, construction, and recommended routes can change, so check the route shortly before you leave and treat the paper copy as a backup—not as live navigation. Printing is also different from downloading an offline map: offline Google Maps is a separate app feature, and offline use does not provide live traffic information. See Google’s overview of offline maps.
Personal printing and commercial use
Google’s guidance permits printing Maps content for personal or non-commercial use, but commercial reproduction and distribution have restrictions. A printout for your own trip is different from using Google Maps imagery in a product, guidebook, promotional material, or large-scale distribution. Check Google’s Geo guidelines for the applicable requirements before using Maps content commercially.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
