Metadata

name: google-maps
description: Google Maps integration for OpenClaw with Routes API. Use for: (1) Distance/travel time calculations with traffic prediction, (2) Turn-by-turn directions, (3) Distance matrix between multiple points, (4) Geocoding addresses to coordinates and reverse, (5) Places search and details, (6) Transit planning with arrival times. Supports future departure times, traffic models (pessimistic/optimistic), avoid options (tolls/highways), and multiple travel modes (driving/walking/bicycling/transit).
version: 3.2.0
author: Leo 🦁
tags: ["maps","places","location","navigation","google","traffic","directions","geocoding","routes-api"]
metadata: {"clawdbot":{"emoji":"🗺️","requires":{"env":["GOOGLE_API_KEY"],"python":["requests"]},"primaryEnv":"GOOGLE_API_KEY","secondaryEnv":["GOOGLE_MAPS_API_KEY"],"optionalEnv":["GOOGLE_MAPS_LANG"],"notes":"Requires the 'requests' Python package (pip install requests). No other external dependencies."}}
allowed-tools: ["exec"]

Google Maps 🗺️

Google Maps integration powered by the Routes API.

Requirements

GOOGLE_API_KEY environment variable
Enable in Google Cloud Console: Routes API, Places API, Geocoding API
Python package: requests (pip install requests)

Configuration

Env Variable	Default	Description
`GOOGLE_API_KEY`	-	Required. Your Google Maps API key
`GOOGLE_MAPS_API_KEY`	-	Alternative to `GOOGLE_API_KEY` (fallback)
`GOOGLE_MAPS_LANG`	`en`	Response language (en, he, ja, etc.)

Set in OpenClaw config:

{
  "env": {
    "GOOGLE_API_KEY": "AIza...",
    "GOOGLE_MAPS_LANG": "en"
  }
}

Script Location

python3 skills/google-maps/lib/map_helper.py <action> [options]

Actions

distance - Calculate travel time

python3 skills/google-maps/lib/map_helper.py distance "origin" "destination" [options]

Options:

Option	Values	Description
`--mode`	driving, walking, bicycling, transit	Travel mode (default: driving)
`--depart`	now, +30m, +1h, 14:00, 2026-02-07 08:00	Departure time
`--arrive`	14:00	Arrival time (transit only)
`--traffic`	best_guess, pessimistic, optimistic	Traffic model
`--avoid`	tolls, highways, ferries	Comma-separated

Examples:

python3 skills/google-maps/lib/map_helper.py distance "New York" "Boston"
python3 skills/google-maps/lib/map_helper.py distance "Los Angeles" "San Francisco" --depart="+1h"
python3 skills/google-maps/lib/map_helper.py distance "Chicago" "Detroit" --depart="08:00" --traffic=pessimistic
python3 skills/google-maps/lib/map_helper.py distance "London" "Manchester" --mode=transit --arrive="09:00"
python3 skills/google-maps/lib/map_helper.py distance "Paris" "Lyon" --avoid=tolls,highways

Response:

{
  "distance": "215.2 mi",
  "distance_meters": 346300,
  "duration": "3 hrs 45 mins",
  "duration_seconds": 13500,
  "static_duration": "3 hrs 30 mins",
  "duration_in_traffic": "3 hrs 45 mins"
}

directions - Turn-by-turn route

python3 skills/google-maps/lib/map_helper.py directions "origin" "destination" [options]

Additional options (beyond distance):

Option	Description
`--alternatives`	Return multiple routes
`--waypoints`	Intermediate stops (pipe-separated)
`--optimize`	Optimize waypoint order (TSP)

Examples:

python3 skills/google-maps/lib/map_helper.py directions "New York" "Washington DC"
python3 skills/google-maps/lib/map_helper.py directions "San Francisco" "Los Angeles" --alternatives
python3 skills/google-maps/lib/map_helper.py directions "Miami" "Orlando" --waypoints="Fort Lauderdale|West Palm Beach" --optimize

Response includes: summary, labels, duration, static_duration, warnings, steps[], optimized_waypoint_order

matrix - Distance matrix

Calculate distances between multiple origins and destinations:

python3 skills/google-maps/lib/map_helper.py matrix "orig1|orig2" "dest1|dest2"

Example:

python3 skills/google-maps/lib/map_helper.py matrix "New York|Boston" "Philadelphia|Washington DC"

Response:

{
  "origins": ["New York", "Boston"],
  "destinations": ["Philadelphia", "Washington DC"],
  "results": [
    {"origin_index": 0, "destination_index": 0, "distance": "97 mi", "duration": "1 hr 45 mins"},
    {"origin_index": 0, "destination_index": 1, "distance": "225 mi", "duration": "4 hrs 10 mins"}
  ]
}

geocode - Address to coordinates

python3 skills/google-maps/lib/map_helper.py geocode "1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA"
python3 skills/google-maps/lib/map_helper.py geocode "10 Downing Street, London"

reverse - Coordinates to address

python3 skills/google-maps/lib/map_helper.py reverse 40.7128 -74.0060  # New York City
python3 skills/google-maps/lib/map_helper.py reverse 51.5074 -0.1278  # London

search - Find places

python3 skills/google-maps/lib/map_helper.py search "coffee near Times Square"
python3 skills/google-maps/lib/map_helper.py search "pharmacy in San Francisco" --open

details - Place information

python3 skills/google-maps/lib/map_helper.py details "<place_id>"

Traffic Models

Model	Use Case
`best_guess`	Default balanced estimate
`pessimistic`	Important meetings (worst-case)
`optimistic`	Best-case scenario

Regional Notes

Some features may not be available in all countries:

Feature	Availability
`--fuel-efficient`	US, EU, select countries
`--shorter`	Limited availability
`--mode=two_wheeler`	Asia, select countries

Check Google Maps coverage for details.

Multilingual Support

Works with addresses in any language:

# Hebrew
python3 skills/google-maps/lib/map_helper.py distance "תל אביב" "ירושלים"
python3 skills/google-maps/lib/map_helper.py geocode "דיזנגוף 50, תל אביב"

# Japanese
python3 skills/google-maps/lib/map_helper.py distance "東京" "大阪"

# Arabic
python3 skills/google-maps/lib/map_helper.py distance "دبي" "أبو ظبي"

Language configuration:

Set default via env: GOOGLE_MAPS_LANG=he (persists)
Override per-request: --lang=ja

# Set Hebrew as default in OpenClaw config
GOOGLE_MAPS_LANG=he

# Override for specific request
python3 skills/google-maps/lib/map_helper.py distance "Tokyo" "Osaka" --lang=ja

Help

python3 skills/google-maps/lib/map_helper.py help

Google Maps

安装技能