The day of paying for an app to help you plan your trip’s route or find places and services along the road may soon be over.
Google is rolling out a major update to its Google Maps that uses artificial intelligence to make it easier for RVers and other motorists to navigate unfamiliar towns, find fuel or groceries near a campground or safely guide a large rig through tight turns and avoid routes with low bridges. And it won’t cost a penny.
The upgrades come from integrating Google’s Gemini AI directly into maps, adding smarter voice assistance, more intuitive directions, and better on-the-ground exploration tools. It’s GPS on steroids.
More natural, hands-free voice navigation
One of the biggest changes is a new conversational, hands-free mode that should enable safer driving. Instead of tapping through menus or typing while driving (a “no-no”), you’ll be able to talk to Google Maps more naturally.
You can say things like:
• “Show me RV-friendly fuel stops along my route.”
• “Find a Mexican restaurant near the campground.”
• “How late is the visitor center open?”
Maps will answer verbally and adjust your route automatically. It can also pull up relevant info like prices, reviews, parking notes, or whether a gas station has diesel or EV charging with no need to look down at your phone.
Clearer directions using real-world landmarks
RVers know that “turn in 500 feet” isn’t necessarily helpful, especially in places where signage is unclear, lanes are confusing or visibility is limited.
The new update uses landmarks you can actually see to guide you. For example:
• “Turn right after the Chevron station.”
• “Continue past the red barn and turn left at the fire station.”
This landmark-based navigation relies on Google’s database of more than 250 million real-world places, plus Street View images. For big rigs, towing setups or longer RVs, clearer, earlier, and more visual cues can make turns safer and reduce stressful last-second lane changes.
Proactive traffic alerts before you get stuck
Instead of only warning you once you’re already in trouble, Google Maps will now send early notifications about:
• Road closures
• Unexpected backups
• Low bridges ahead
• Accidents
• Weather disruptions
This is a big deal for RVers who don’t want to get stuck in situations where U-turns aren’t easy (or even possible).
Use your camera to learn about what’s near you
Once you’ve parked and want to explore:
• Tap the Lens icon in Maps.
• Point your camera at a building or storefront.
• Ask questions like: “Is this place good for lunch?” “What’s popular here?” “Can I spend the night in my RV in the parking lot behind the building?”
Gemini will recognize the location, show photos, reviews, busy times and more. This is also great for:
• Scouting a campground office location before check-in
• Checking if that small-town restaurant is worth the walk
• Identifying buildings at state parks or visitor centers
How RVers will benefit
These updates directly address some of the biggest pain points of RV travel:
• Safer, clearer navigation for large vehicles
• Reducing stress when approaching unfamiliar streets or tight turns
• Hands-free interaction while driving
• Smarter trip adjustments before problems happen
• Better on-foot exploration once you settle in
In short, Google Maps is moving from being just a GPS to being more like a co-pilot that understands real-world travel situations.
This is rolling out now in the U.S. on both Android and iPhone.
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RVT1234b
Hmmmm. Google AI search responses are full of mistakes and maps can have problems too. This sounds like more problems waiting to happen!
I am not seeing anything that mentions when this update is coming or is anticipated to come out?
LDP, I don’t believe Google has announced when it will finally have this feature up and running for everyone. Many years ago Gmail rolled out gradually before it was available to everyone. So maybe something like that.
I have been a happy subscriber to RV Trip Wizard for many years and have always been happy with the routes it suggestd. I think it’s great that Google is uping their game to offer similar services for free. However, Google will never be able to offer the same level of customer service that RVTW has. For example: We travel to Lake Tawakoni State Park in Texas quite often and all the mapping apps use the same route which takes you down 5 miles of really bad roads with huge pot holes. I sent a note to RVTW with a suggestion for a 10 mile detour that was all smooth paved highway and they changed their routing the next day! Look out Google, sometimes you just gotta have a human!
I am also very happy with RVTW. I use it to plan our routes, but look at Google to see where the construction sites are and how long we should be stuck in traffic.
Hopefully this will work out to the good. I’ve used RVTW for quite a few years with good results but last two big trips through west Texas and one through Colorado and New Mexico it tried to take me down dirt roads and three dead end roads also changed the directions that were set up in the trip after we were on the road. I’ve already gone back to Google for our travels.
I, too, have used RVTW for many years. Their new “upgrade” has a big curve for learning. However, when I contacted them they did suggest after planning your trip, zoom in close to make sure all your route is on the path you want to take, especially any Waypoints you choose. Waypoints must be on the blue line of your route or you will be sent into a “loop.” Still better than Google maps that has me making 3 turns off my path before reaching my destination.
Google will take you down dirt roads as well as has been covered many times. I have told they are working on a toggle that will turn dirt roads off completely. I also noticed in the past few years they will now send you down a dirt road but tells you it is dirt (even includes the miles of dirt roads).
“Turn right after the Chevron station.”
Unless you’re in Rhode Island, in which case the guidance will be something along the lines of “Turn right after where the Chevron station used to be.” ;>D
Looking forward to seeing this. I primarily use Google maps (+ paper maps) for all of my trip planning.
Its about time.
When I am uncertain where I need to go, I see more as I look for reference points and route indicators. While listening for audio cues keeps my focus on lane position, scanning for street signs and entrances has me seeing what’s along the road, not just what’s on the road. I fear more of that will be lost as navigational aids become more entrenched in the trip.
As Yogi Berra would say, “Some of my best discoveries occur when I am lost…..”
I have the RTC factor. Resistance To Change. I will always incorporate paper maps in my trip planning. I’ve never subscribed to any trip planner. I use furkot.com and my GPS for all my travels. I travel routes I know a semi can go and have never had an issue. The worst directions you can get from a local is: “Turn left where the big red barn used to be.”
It will be interesting to see how long it takes artificial stupid to figure out the meaning of ‘practical’. I want to avoid Interstate highways, but there are times this is impractical due to the distance or road conditions of alternatives. Today, ‘avoid’ means ‘never’ to a GPS software. I once saw Google route me through the west side of Lake Michigan (Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and most of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula) simply to avoid crossing the Mackinaw Bridge (5 miles of I-75).
The only software that does what you’re looking for that I am aware of is Trimble CoPilot. It has settings that allows you to pick five different levels of preference for five different road types. It goes well beyond just yes or no in terms of avoiding things like freeways.
Does Google do anything FREE? Either charge or so ad ridden it will be difficult to work with. Also, I wonder if AI will put in any extra roads like it did with the 6 fingered man? Sorry for being negative on this – I truly love the technology advances seen today – coming in leaps and bounds – but even the history of this newsletter and Google ads are a good indication….. or YouTube………
Great. Another way to let Google follow you around.
AI will have to get to where it can be trusted. I still don’t fully trust Google or my Garmin 100%. They’re good most of the time but will still send you on the occasional wild goose chase.
I’ve read the many of the blogs and press releases about Gemini being added to Google Maps and I don’t find any references to low bridges or any features that would help with large vehicle routing. What is the source of that claim in this article?
I wonder if it will be able to plan RV-friendly routes (e.g. avoiding low overpasses, etc.)?
I have noticed recently the directions will say, turn after the xxx fuel station. I like that rather than so many feet.
We have been burned by Google so many times, with height issues, tight turns not meant for big rigs, etc. – and adding AI into the mix doesn’t exactly raise my confidence level. I remain unconvinced, and am keeping my RV Life subscription.
Sometimes it is the details. What does google maps consider an RV friendly fuel stop? Truck stop is not the right answer for gas RVs.
Artificial Intelligence isn’t.
IF Google rolls this update out I will continue to use my Garmin RV GPS and Trip Wizard planning. I also use WAZE for highway travel and if routed to side roads I’ll change Garmin to avoid highways. Google bought WAZE so will they add it’s functionality also? That plus voice would make for an improved planning and map for RVs
Google can’t replace my copilot.
Unless Google’s update also includes a trip planner, I don’t think it’s going to take the place of RVLifePro, which I rely on heavily, I don’t use its GPS feature however. That said, our Garmin RV GPS hasn’t been particularly accurate recently and we have been using Google maps more than or in conjunction with the Garmin. I like what Google is doing with Maps, though, and the richer experience that Ai will provide.
Vicki
My wife and I are like you but we use RParky for our Route planning and our RV Garmin to set our route based on our way points we input.
I’ve never heard of RVLife Pro but I will check it out.
The new Google AI might be something to use in conjunction with our other Apps but it would have to prove itself.
Hate this. The amount of water that AI uses is truly criminal. It’s devastating communities that have the data centers. One more solid nail in the climate’s coffin.
Hopefully, in regard to below, it doesn’t do this automatically. One can ask these questions, but should be prompted whether you want to go there.
You can say things like:
• “Show me RV-friendly fuel stops along my route.”
• “Find a Mexican restaurant near the campground.”
• “How late is the visitor center open?”
Maps will answer verbally and adjust your route automatically.
I believe AI can be a very valuable tool but we can grow too dependent on it or anything else that eliminates using our own common sense and analysis. I am a retired structural engineer and used a lot of electronics to help in my work but always checked using basic engineering principles, paper and pencil. Too many have become so dependent on electronics that they do not even have a general understanding of the basics; just look at our poor math scores in schools. Use due diligence when using any electronics.
You can say things like those examples, but how many times do you want to hear “I’m sorry, I did not understand”? You’ll be way past your turn before getting a meaningful response. Still, I’m for progress and over time this will be a positive. I’ll stick with RV Trip Wizard, like many others.
Hmmm… • “Turn right after the Chevron station.”
Unless you’re in Rhode Island in which case it would be • “Turn right after where the Chevron station used to be.”