After visiting 24 of the 63 U.S. national parks, I know how rewarding it can be to explore the outdoors — whether it’s getting out into nature with my kids or soaking up stunning views on long hikes with friends. After all these trips, I’m also all too familiar with some of the challenges that come with planning outdoor adventures — like finding the best trailheads or nearest public bathrooms.
This month, four new updates are coming to Google Maps on iOS and Android to help you find the information you need when you head to a national park — all in one place. With these updates, everything from finding your way around a park to discovering things to do when you’re there will feel like, well, a walk in the park.
Quickly see what a park’s must-do attractions are
Now you can quickly identify the most popular places in a park — like attractions, campgrounds, visitor centers, and trailheads — with help from the Maps community.
Say you’re interested in visiting Yellowstone National Park. Search for the park and you’ll see photo highlights for key attractions, like Old Faithful. Tap on any of the photos to get even more details — like videos and reviews — from people who have been there before, so you can decide whether to add it to your itinerary and plan a trip that rocks.