How to use the new ‘busy area’ icon on Google Maps

Google Maps now offers a handy "Area Busyness" feature, perfect for crowd lovers or avoiders alike! This tool pinpoints busy areas, letting you plan your route accordingly.

Represented by a pulsating orange circle with an embedded bar graph, Area Busyness enhances the existing details Maps provides for public transport and specific locations within the mobile app. It's more than just a headcount; it provides valuable insights.

Using Area Busyness in Google Maps

The "Busy Area" icon appears when you zoom in close enough (approximately 2,000 feet or 1 kilometer). The pulsing icon, when zoomed in further, highlights the area with a dotted orange line.

Tap the icon to access detailed information: a bar graph illustrating current crowd levels, a comparison to average daily/hourly levels, and a day-by-day breakdown of typical crowd density. This allows you to plan trips based on your preferred level of social interaction.

[Related: Master Google Maps with these 9 pro tips]

The screen also provides directions to the area, remembering your last chosen transport method, but allowing changes via the Directions button.

Finally, a "plus code" (a unique alphanumeric identifier) and the location's city/town are displayed. Save this code to easily return to the area later, even without knowing the exact address. Simply enter the code into the Maps app's search bar.

Now you can navigate with confidence, avoiding (or embracing!) the human tide!

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