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Google Maps Directions API

GET   /api/v1/search?engine=google_maps_directions

The Google Maps Directions API returns route data for driving, transit, walking, cycling, and flying. Extract step-by-step directions with coordinates, travel times, distances, and service provider details. Flight results include ticket prices and direct booking links to Google Flights. Transit routes include schedules, station information, provider contacts, and ticket purchase links. Driving directions include toll warnings and traffic-optimized routing.

API Parameters

Search Query

  • Name
    from
    Required
    Required
    Description

    Parameter defines the origin of the route. Can be a plain address, data ID, or coordinates (lat,long).

  • Name
    to
    Required
    Required
    Description

    Parameter defines the destination of the route. Can be a plain address, data ID, or coordinates (lat,long).

  • Name
    waypoints
    Required
    Optional
    Description

    Parameter defines the waypoints of the route. Should be an array where each element is a string that can be a plain address, data ID, or coordinates (lat,long).

    Example: ["0x40d8a9890932b5d5:0x8b7c49e19a7fc6a4", "Times Square, New York"]

    Maximum 8 elements.

    Note: This parameter is not supported when travel_mode is set to transit.

    Note: This parameter cannot be used together with the time parameter.

  • Name
    travel_mode
    Required
    Optional
    Description

    Parameter defines the mode of travel. Allowed options are:

    • best Default
    • driving
    • cycling
    • walking
    • transit Not supported when waypoints is present
    • flying

  • Name
    time
    Required
    Optional
    Description

    Parameter defines the departure or arrival time for the route. Supports three formats:

    • depart_at:<timestamp> - Departure time as Unix timestamp
    • arrive_by:<timestamp> - Arrival time as Unix timestamp
    • last_available Only supported when travel_mode is transit

    Note: This parameter cannot be used together with the waypoints parameter.

  • Name
    route
    Required
    Optional
    Description

    Parameter defines the route preference for transit directions. Allowed options are:

    • best Default
    • fewer_transfers
    • less_walking
    • wheelchair_accessible

    Note: This parameter is only supported when travel_mode is set to transit.

  • Name
    prefer
    Required
    Optional
    Description

    Parameter defines the preferred transit types for transit directions. Should be an array where each element is a string representing a transit type preference. Allowed options are:

    • bus
    • subway
    • train
    • tram_and_light_rail


    Example: ["bus", "subway"]

    Note: This parameter is only supported when travel_mode is set to transit.

  • Name
    avoid
    Required
    Optional
    Description

    Parameter defines what to avoid when calculating routes. Should be an array where each element is a string representing something to avoid. Available options:

    • tolls - Avoid toll roads (Only available for driving and best modes)
    • highways - Avoid highways (Only available for driving and best modes)
    • ferries - Avoid ferries (Only available for walking and cycling modes)

    Example: ["tolls", "highways"] (for driving mode)

  • Name
    distance_units
    Required
    Optional
    Description

    Parameter defines the unit of distance measurements in the response. Allowed options are:

    • automatic Default
    • km - Kilometers
    • mi - Miles

    Note: This parameter is not supported when travel_mode is set to flying or transit.

Localization

  • Name
    gl
    Required
    Optional
    Description

    The default parameter us defines the country to use for the search. Check the full list of supported Google gl countries.

  • Name
    hl
    Required
    Optional
    Description

    The default parameter en defines the interface language of the search. Check the full list of supported Google hl languages.

Engine

  • Name
    engine
    Required
    Required
    Description

    Parameter defines an engine that will be used to retrieve real-time data. It must be set to google_maps_directions.

API key

  • Name
    api_key
    Required
    Required
    Description

    The api_key authenticates your requests. Use it as a query parameter (https://www.searchapi.io/api/v1/search?api_key=YOUR_API_KEY) or in the Authorization header (Bearer YOUR_API_KEY).

Zero Data Retention

  • Name
    zero_retention
    Enterprise Only
    Enterprise Only
    Required
    Optional
    Description

    Set this parameter to true to disable all logging and persistent storage. No request parameters, HTML, or JSON responses are stored or logged. Suitable for high-compliance use cases. Debugging and support may be limited while enabled.

API Examples

Full Response

Full Response
GET
https://www.searchapi.io/api/v1/search?engine=google_maps_directions&from=New+York&to=Chicago
Request
import requests url = "https://www.searchapi.io/api/v1/search" params = { "engine": "google_maps_directions", "from": "New York", "to": "Chicago" } response = requests.get(url, params=params) print(response.text)
Response
{ "search_metadata": { "id": "search_DdeYJm72pz81tz5Qo9ZEPlbV", "status": "Success", "created_at": "2025-09-12T14:23:48Z", "request_time_taken": 1.88, "parsing_time_taken": 0.09, "total_time_taken": 1.97, "request_url": "https://www.google.com/maps/dir/New+York/Chicago%2C+Illinois", "html_url": "https://www.searchapi.io/api/v1/searches/search_DdeYJm72pz81tz5Qo9ZEPlbV.html", "json_url": "https://www.searchapi.io/api/v1/searches/search_DdeYJm72pz81tz5Qo9ZEPlbV" }, "search_parameters": { "engine": "google_maps_directions", "from": "New York", "to": "Chicago", "travel_mode": "best", "route": "best", "distance_units": "automatic", "gl": "us", "hl": "en" }, "travel_modes": [ { "travel_mode": "Driving", "formatted_duration": "12 hr", "duration": 44087 }, { "travel_mode": "Transit", "formatted_duration": "20 hr", "duration": 70800 }, ... ], "places_info": [ { "address": "New York", "data_id": "0x89c24fa5d33f083b:0xc80b8f06e177fe62", "coordinates": { "latitude": 40.7127753, "longitude": -74.0059728 } }, { "address": "Chicago, Illinois", "data_id": "0x880e2c3cd0f4cbed:0xafe0a6ad09c0c000", "coordinates": { "latitude": 41.88325, "longitude": -87.6323879 } } ], "directions": [ { "travel_mode": "Driving", "via": "I-80 W", "formatted_duration": "12 hr 10 min", "duration": 43813, "distance": 1271793, "formatted_typical_duration": "11 hr 22 min to 14 hr 17 min", "optimistic_duration": 40939, "pessimistic_duration": 51408, "formatted_distance": "790 miles", "warnings": [ "This route has tolls.", "Your destination is in a different time zone." ], "instructions": [ { "travel_mode": "Driving", "action": "Take Hudson St and I-78 W to NJ-139 W in Jersey City", "formatted_duration": "15 min", "formatted_distance": "3.6 mi", "duration": 882, "distance": 5774, "details": [ { "travel_mode": "Driving", "action": "Head southeast toward Park Row", "information": "Partial restricted usage road", "formatted_duration": "21 sec", "formatted_distance": "200 ft", "duration": 21, "distance": 61, "latitude": 40.71257449099273, "longitude": -74.00641981461534 }, ... ] }, ... ] }, { "travel_mode": "Transit", "time_window": { "depart_at": "2:05 PM", "depart_at_tz": "America/New_York", "arrive_at": "8:45 AM", "arrive_at_tz": "America/Chicago" }, "formatted_duration": "19 hr 40 min", "formatted_distance": "851 miles", "duration": 70800, "distance": 1369556, "instructions": [ { "travel_mode": "Transit", "depart_from": { "place": "New York (Port Authority Bus Terminal)", "at": "2:05 PM", "timezone": "America/New_York", "latitude": 40.757, "longitude": -73.99186, "data_id": "0x89c25852d804d943:0xe56f50849cfe6488" }, "vehicle": "Bus", "line_name": "FAB 202", "line_number": "Pittsburgh", "formatted_duration": "7 hr 45 min", "duration": 27900, "arrive_at": { "place": "Pittsburgh", "at": "9:50 PM", "timezone": "America/New_York", "latitude": 40.444496, "longitude": -79.99342, "data_id": "0x8834f3e26d2e0879:0xb8c52273c7bd107c" }, "service_provider": { "name": "Fullington Trailways", "contact": "1 (800) 942-8287", "website": "https://ride.fullingtontours.com/" }, "stops": [ { "place": "State College (Bus Terminal)", "at": "7:05 PM", "timezone": "America/New_York", "latitude": 40.7921, "longitude": -77.866, "data_id": "0x89cea89a2e07410d:0xef633c510c13d93e" } ] }, { "walking": { "travel_mode": "Walking", "formatted_duration": "3 min", "duration": 169 } }, { "travel_mode": "Transit", "depart_from": { "place": "Pittsburgh Union Station", "at": "11:59 PM", "timezone": "America/New_York", "latitude": 40.444738, "longitude": -79.992307, "data_id": "0x8834f1589fe2b1bf:0x6dffce30c7354135" }, "direction": "Chicago", "vehicle": "Train", "line_name": "Floridian", "line_number": "40", "formatted_duration": "9 hr 46 min", "duration": 35160, "arrive_at": { "place": "Chicago Union Station", "at": "8:45 AM", "timezone": "America/Chicago", "latitude": 41.8803197, "longitude": -87.6394109, "data_id": "0x880e2c8dbbb32f5d:0x5f985dc0044b1109" }, "service_provider": { "name": "Amtrak", "website": "https://www.amtrak.com/" }, "stops": [ { "place": "Alliance Amtrak", "at": "1:39 AM", "timezone": "America/New_York", "latitude": 40.921275, "longitude": -81.09290399999999, "data_id": "0x8836b4b8cb64b793:0xb13235a1669f926" }, ... ] } ] }, { "travel_mode": "Flying", "departure": "Newark, NJ", "arrival": "Chicago, IL", "formatted_duration": "2 hr 20 min", "duration": 8400, "formatted_price": "$145", "price": 145, "airlines": [ "Spirit", "Frontier", "American" ], "flights_link": "https://www.google.com/travel/flights?tfs=CAcQAhopEgoyMDI1LTA5LTI4ag0IAhIJL20vMDJfMjg2cgwIAhIIL20vMDFfZDQaKRIKMjAyNS0xMC0wMmoMCAISCC9tLzAxX2Q0cg0IAhIJL20vMDJfMjg2&source=maps&hl=en&authuser=0" } ] }

Driving

Driving
GET
https://www.searchapi.io/api/v1/search?engine=google_maps_directions&from=Chicago&to=Santa+Monica&travel_mode=driving
Request
import requests url = "https://www.searchapi.io/api/v1/search" params = { "engine": "google_maps_directions", "from": "Chicago", "to": "Santa Monica", "travel_mode": "driving" } response = requests.get(url, params=params) print(response.text)
Response
{ "directions": [ { "travel_mode": "Driving", "via": "I-80 W", "formatted_duration": "29 hr", "duration": 105862, "distance": 3269280, "formatted_typical_duration": "29–35 hr", "optimistic_duration": 103460, "pessimistic_duration": 126069, "formatted_distance": "2,031 miles", "warnings": [ "This route has tolls.", "Your destination is in a different time zone.", "Fastest route, the usual traffic" ], "instructions": [ { "travel_mode": "Driving", "action": "Take N Clark St to IL-110 W/Chicago - Kansas City Expy/Dwight D. Eisenhower Expy/Eisenhower Expy", "formatted_duration": "5 min", "formatted_distance": "0.8 mi", "duration": 292, "distance": 1250, "details": [ { "travel_mode": "Driving", "action": "Head east on W Washington St toward N Clark St", "formatted_duration": "26 sec", "formatted_distance": "394 ft", "duration": 26, "distance": 120, "street_view": "https://streetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com/v1/thumbnail?panoid=avTFVBIVsF3UUWArxWP20A&cb_client=maps_sv.tactile.gps&w=203&h=100&yaw=272.88528&pitch=0&thumbfov=100", "latitude": 41.8832316, "longitude": -87.63260404027585 }, ... ] }, ... ] } ] }

Transit

Transit
GET
https://www.searchapi.io/api/v1/search?engine=google_maps_directions&from=New+York&to=Boston&travel_mode=transit
Request
import requests url = "https://www.searchapi.io/api/v1/search" params = { "engine": "google_maps_directions", "from": "New York", "to": "Boston", "travel_mode": "transit" } response = requests.get(url, params=params) print(response.text)
Response
{ "directions": [ { "travel_mode": "Transit", "time_window": { "depart_at": "9:30 AM", "depart_at_tz": "America/New_York", "arrive_at": "1:50 PM", "arrive_at_tz": "America/New_York" }, "buy_ticket": { "title": "One-way price for 1 adult · Tue, Oct 21", "price": "$49.99", "offers": [ { "source": "Wanderu", "price": "$49.99", "link": "https://google-partner.wanderu.com/link?service_date%3D%255B%252220251021%2522%255D%26from_ticketing_stop_time_id%3D%255B%2522NYCUSPPL%2522%255D%26to_ticketing_stop_time_id%3D%255B%2522BOSSSB%2522%255D%26boarding_time%3D%255B%25222025-10-21T13:30:00%252B00:00%2522%255D%26arrival_time%3D%255B%25222025-10-21T17:50:00%252B00:00%2522%255D", "favicon": "data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZpZXdCb3g9IjAgMCAyODMgMjgyIiB3aWR0aD0iMjgzIiBoZWlnaHQ9IjI4MiIgZmlsbD0ibm9uZSI+PHBhdGggZD0iTTI1OS4xNTQgMzIuODA0Yy00My45NDItMzkuODY5LTc3LjA0OC05Ljk4Ny0xMTYuNTg2LTguNy0zOS4yMDMgMS4yNzYtODAuNTExLTI4LjY2LTExOS4zMjYgMTAuMjQxQzEwLjk0OSA0OC41OTQtMy41NjIgOTIuMDcu..." } ] }, "formatted_duration": "4 hr 20 min", "formatted_distance": "230 miles", "duration": 15600, "distance": 369967, "instructions": [ { "travel_mode": "Transit", "depart_from": { "place": "Port Authority Bus Terminal", "at": "9:30 AM", "timezone": "America/New_York", "latitude": 40.7569006, "longitude": -73.9902798, "data_id": "0x89c258533c0d4f09:0xa8790f841589c36e" }, "direction": "Boston (South Station), MA", "vehicle": "Bus", "line_name": "Peter Pan", "line_number": "5619", "formatted_duration": "4 hr 20 min", "duration": 15600, "arrive_at": { "place": "South Station", "at": "1:50 PM", "timezone": "America/New_York", "latitude": 42.3518283, "longitude": -71.0562097, "data_id": "0x89e37a78aa90726b:0xa5147c622a35c46a" }, "service_provider": { "name": "Peter Pan Bus Lines", "contact": "1 (800) 343-9999", "website": "https://peterpanbus.com/" }, "stops": [ { "place": "Union Station, Hartford, CT", "at": "11:50 AM", "timezone": "America/New_York", "latitude": 41.768891, "longitude": -72.681611, "data_id": "0x89e653614a7366b1:0x520d228b099e1116" } ] } ] }, ... ] }

Walking

Walking
GET
https://www.searchapi.io/api/v1/search?engine=google_maps_directions&from=Duke+Ellington+Circle%2C+NYC&to=Columbus+Cir%2C+NYC&travel_mode=walking
Request
import requests url = "https://www.searchapi.io/api/v1/search" params = { "engine": "google_maps_directions", "from": "Duke Ellington Circle, NYC", "to": "Columbus Cir, NYC", "travel_mode": "walking" } response = requests.get(url, params=params) print(response.text)
Response
{ "directions": [ { "travel_mode": "Walking", "via": "5th Ave", "formatted_duration": "1 hr 5 min", "duration": 3893, "distance": 4686, "formatted_distance": "2.9 miles", "instructions": [ { "travel_mode": "Walking", "formatted_duration": "1 hr 5 min", "formatted_distance": "2.9 mi", "duration": 3893, "distance": 4686, "details": [ { "travel_mode": "Walking", "action": "Head southwest on 5th Ave toward Duke Ellington Circle", "information": "Parts of this road may be closed at certain times or days", "formatted_duration": "36 min", "formatted_distance": "1.6 mi", "duration": 2163, "distance": 2558, "street_view": "https://streetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com/v1/thumbnail?panoid=8oJOBNcAAJl58zrwTdmV8A&cb_client=maps_sv.tactile.gps&w=203&h=100&yaw=262.59985&pitch=0&thumbfov=100", "latitude": 40.79729683620528, "longitude": -73.9490482000821 }, { "travel_mode": "Walking", "action": "Slight right", "formatted_duration": "52 sec", "formatted_distance": "171 ft", "duration": 52, "distance": 52, "street_view": "https://streetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com/v1/thumbnail?panoid=uZdzkK2_HxHVDelhFt-w8A&cb_client=maps_sv.tactile.gps&w=203&h=100&yaw=231.58138&pitch=0&thumbfov=100", "latitude": 40.77705167096609, "longitude": -73.96380734846424 }, ... ] } ] } ] }

Cycling

Cycling
GET
https://www.searchapi.io/api/v1/search?engine=google_maps_directions&from=The+Hague&to=Amsterdam&travel_mode=cycling
Request
import requests url = "https://www.searchapi.io/api/v1/search" params = { "engine": "google_maps_directions", "from": "The Hague", "to": "Amsterdam", "travel_mode": "cycling" } response = requests.get(url, params=params) print(response.text)
Response
{ "directions": [ { "travel_mode": "Cycling", "via": "Hoofdweg Oostzijde", "formatted_duration": "3 hr 26 min", "duration": 12365, "distance": 62110, "formatted_distance": "62.1 km", "instructions": [ { "travel_mode": "Cycling", "formatted_duration": "3 hr 26 min", "formatted_distance": "62.1 km", "duration": 12365, "distance": 62110, "details": [ { "travel_mode": "Cycling", "action": "Head northeast toward Vaillantlaan/S100", "formatted_duration": "10 sec", "formatted_distance": "43 m", "duration": 10, "distance": 43, "street_view": "https://streetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com/v1/thumbnail?panoid=mS-95UezFIP6d7-StaS2zg&cb_client=maps_sv.tactile.gps&w=203&h=100&yaw=51.68569&pitch=0&thumbfov=100", "latitude": 52.07018746926732, "longitude": 4.300649582678608 }, { "travel_mode": "Cycling", "action": "Exit the roundabout onto Buitenom/S100", "formatted_duration": "1 min", "formatted_distance": "220 m", "duration": 72, "distance": 219, "street_view": "https://streetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com/v1/thumbnail?panoid=UXJxgIpujkTElkoShXLzkw&cb_client=maps_sv.tactile.gps&w=203&h=100&yaw=9.541462&pitch=0&thumbfov=100", "latitude": 52.07046915544492, "longitude": 4.30103743330316 }, ... ] } ] } ] }

Flying

Flying
GET
https://www.searchapi.io/api/v1/search?engine=google_maps_directions&from=JFK%2C+NYC&to=San+Francisco&travel_mode=flying
Request
import requests url = "https://www.searchapi.io/api/v1/search" params = { "engine": "google_maps_directions", "from": "JFK, NYC", "to": "San Francisco", "travel_mode": "flying" } response = requests.get(url, params=params) print(response.text)
Response
{ "directions": [ { "travel_mode": "Flying", "departure": "New York, NY", "arrival": "San Francisco, CA", "formatted_duration": "5 hr 55 min", "duration": 21300, "formatted_price": "$170", "price": 170, "airlines": [ "Frontier", "United", "JetBlue" ], "flights_link": "https://www.google.com/travel/flights?tfs=CAcQAhopEgoyMDI1LTExLTA2ag0IAhIJL20vMDJfMjg2cgwIAhIIL20vMGQ2bHAaKRIKMjAyNS0xMS0xMGoMCAISCC9tLzBkNmxwcg0IAhIJL20vMDJfMjg2&source=maps&hl=en&authuser=0" } ] }