How to Print Directions from Google Maps

What You’ll Need

A computer (Windows, Mac, or Chromebook) – the print feature is not available on the mobile app.
A printer that is set up and connected, or a PDF printer option (like “Save as PDF”) if you want a digital copy.
A web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge) with Google Maps open.

Step-by-Step

Open Google Maps – Go to maps.google.com in your browser. Make sure you are on the website, not the mobile app.
Get directions – Click the blue “Directions” button (it looks like a right-pointing arrow inside a square). Enter your starting point and destination in the fields that appear. You can type an address, a place name, or click directly on the map to set points.
Choose your route – Google Maps will show several route options. Click on the one you want to print. The selected route is highlighted in blue, and the others are gray.
Open the print view – Look at the left panel where the step-by-step directions are listed. Scroll down if needed, then click the printer icon (it looks like a small printer) near the top of that panel. If you don’t see it, check the three-dot menu (More) in the panel – the print option may be there.
Adjust print settings – A print preview window will open. In the preview, you can choose to include maps or just the text directions. On the right side (or in the print dialog), select your printer, paper size, and layout. For a cleaner look, choose “Background graphics” if you want the map images to appear – but note this uses more ink.
Print – Click the “Print” button. If you want a PDF instead of paper, select “Save as PDF” or “Microsoft Print to PDF” as the printer and then save the file.

Common Mistakes

Using the mobile app – The print button is not available in the Google Maps app on phones or tablets. You must use a computer browser.
Printing the whole map – If you just hit Ctrl+P without opening the directions panel, you might print the entire map view instead of the step-by-step list. Always click the printer icon in the directions panel first.
Not selecting a route – If you don’t click on a specific route, Google Maps may print the default route, which might not be the one you wanted.
Missing the printer icon – On some browser versions, the icon is small and easy to miss. Look for it at the top of the left panel, next to the route details.

Tips

Print only the text – In the print preview, uncheck “Include maps” (or similar) to save ink and get a cleaner list. You can always check the map on your phone if you get lost.
Save as PDF – Instead of printing, save the directions as a PDF. This is great for sharing or viewing offline on your phone.
Add multiple stops – Before printing, you can add stops by clicking the “+” button under the destination. This way, all your stops appear on one printed sheet.
Choose the right route – Click on each route option to see the travel time and distance. Pick the one that suits you best, then print that specific route.
Use the print preview – Always check the preview before printing to avoid wasting paper on unnecessary map images.

Troubleshooting

No printer icon – If you don’t see the printer icon in the directions panel, try refreshing the page. If it still doesn’t appear, use the browser’s print command (Ctrl+P or Cmd+P) after clicking on the directions panel – this usually prints only the panel content.
Print preview shows a blank page – This can happen if the map hasn’t loaded fully. Wait a few seconds and try again. Also, make sure you have a stable internet connection.
Directions are cut off – If the printed page cuts off text, adjust the scale in the print dialog (e.g., set to “Fit to page” or reduce the scale to 90%).
Map images don’t appear – In the print preview, look for an option like “Background graphics” in Chrome or “Print backgrounds” in Firefox. Enable it to include the map images.
Print button does nothing – If clicking Print doesn’t open the dialog, your browser may be blocking pop-ups. Allow pop-ups for Google Maps, or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+P (Cmd+P on Mac).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I print directions from the Google Maps app on my phone?

No, the mobile app does not have a print button. You can share the directions to your computer or use the browser on your phone to access the desktop version of Google Maps.

How do I print a map without the step-by-step list?

If you only want the map, you can print the map view by pressing Ctrl+P (Cmd+P) on the map page, but you’ll need to disable “Headers and footers” in the print dialog to avoid extra text. However, the step-by-step list is usually more useful.

Can I print directions with a custom route I drew?

Yes, if you create a custom route by clicking points on the map, you can print it the same way. Just make sure the custom route is selected before you click the printer icon.

Why does my printout not show the map images?

Most browsers don’t print background images by default. In the print dialog, look for an option like “Background graphics” (Chrome) or “Print backgrounds” (Firefox) and enable it.

Is there a way to print directions without a printer?

Yes, you can save the directions as a PDF using the “Save as PDF” option in the print dialog. This creates a digital file you can view on any device or send to someone.

Can I change the font size of the printed directions?

Not directly in Google Maps. However, in the print dialog, you can adjust the scale (e.g., 80% or 120%) to make the text smaller or larger on the page.

Sources: Google Maps Help. Menus and buttons can differ slightly by version. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.