Google Maps allows you to measure the real-world distance between any number of selected points, allowing you, for example, to find distances between cities on a road trip.

Here’s how to use that feature on desktop and mobile.

Measure Distance On Google Maps By Desktop

To get started, open Google Maps in your web browser. Right-click or control-click anywhere on the map to set a starting point. Just go to the drop-down menu, and select“Measure distance.”

Just click on a second location on from map to search the distance to that point okay? At the bottom of the page, you’ll see a pop-up window displaying the total distance between the two points.

To measure a more detailed path, continue laying down additional points by clicking on the desired locations. The pop-up window at the bottom of the page will update the total distance with each added point.

If you want to move a point that you’ve already added, just click and drag it to the new location. You can also remove a point by clicking on it without dragging it. When done, click the X to close the pop-up window at the bottom of the page.

Measure Distance On Google Maps By Mobile

Open Google Maps on your mobile device. Just press and hold a position on the map where you’d want to start measuring the distance. A red pin will drop. Tap the pop-up at the bottom of the screen for the dropped pin, then tap “Measure distance.”

When the pop-up disappears, drag the map until the target is positioned over the new location where you want to measure. Then, at the bottom of the screen, tap “Add point.” You should see the distance in the lower left corner of the screen.

To measure a longer or more detailed path, you can continue adding points. Move the map again, and you’ll see a new line segment appear with the new target. When it’s where you like, tap “Add point” again.

The total distance will be updated with each added point. Be aware that, unlike on a desktop, you can’t move a point that you’ve already added to the map, but you can remove the most recent point by tapping the undo button from the upper top of the screen.

And to completely start over, tap the three-dot menu at the top right of the screen and choose “Clear.” When you’re done, tap the back arrow at the top left of the screen.