Google Maps is rolling out new features to help you avoid the crowds

Google Maps is rolling out new features to help y'all avoid the crowds

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Update: Google Maps has started rolling out a number of these features, which should help ease some of the stress of the holidays

Nobody likes a crowd, especially with COVID-19 still lurking around and causing havoc wherever it goes. Fortunately for people who want to stay every bit far away from people equally they possibly can, Google Maps is rolling out some new features to help stay away from them.

Google Maps is updating its 'Busyness' feature to assist you avoid certain locations when they're at their busiest. The app is also expanding its integrated curbside pickup feature, meaning you tin can too avert people no matter how crowded a store is.

For those that don't know, Google is able to keep a running tally on how many people are in a specific location at that moment. The figures aren't always exact, only a mix of real-fourth dimension and historical data means you tin get a adept thought of how crowded a place volition exist.

Google Maps screenshot showing busy areas on the map — (Image credit: Google)

The updated version of this is called "Area Busyness" and is set to roll out "in time for this vacation season." The deviation here is that Google Maps will now be able to tell yous how decorated an expanse or neighbourhood is, rather than specific businesses or locations.

Google Maps will highlight busy areas on the map, and flag any crowded locations if yous drop a pivot. Plus, like the original Busyness feature, there are graphs showing you how many people you can expect at whatever given time. That'due south going to be specially useful with any in-person holiday shopping you lot need to do.

Google Maps screenshot showing integrated curbside pickup feature — (Image credit: Google)

Of course, if yous have to go somewhere similar the supermarket at busy times, it'south helpful to avoid having to get inside and join the fray. And then, afterward initially trailing this feature with Fred Meyers stores in Portland, Oregon, curbside pickup is getting a much-needed rollout.

Pickup with Google Maps is now available with Kroger Family unit stores, including Kroger, Fry's, Ralphs and Marianos in over 2,000 locations across thirty different states. This characteristic lets yous place your order, and track its status from inside Google Maps. You're likewise able to send your ETA to the store so they tin can accept your order ready when yous arrive.

Manifestly this has been quite successful, with Google claiming people that use this feature typically wait for less than v minutes.

Google Maps screenshot showing the new directory tab in action — (Prototype credit: Google)

Just that'south not all that's coming to Google Maps. The app is also expanding the Directory tab across the world, letting you lot observe your way around larger buildings similar malls, airports, and transit stations. That style you lot tin can see what stores and amenities are available and where they're located.

Google Maps screenshot showing new price range feature on restaurant profile

(Image credit: Google)

Finally, a smaller feature involves crowdsourced data on how much restaurants are likely to price. Because we all know where we eat very much depends on how much nosotros can afford to pay. So Google Maps is updating its business pages to bear witness price ranges for restaurants at a glance, including other important information like outdoor seating, delivery, curbside pickup, and so on.

That'due south rolling out in the U.S. at present, and should make it easier to figure out where you want to eat. Or which local restaurants let y'all order your food and avert all the other patrons.

All of these features are pretty small compared to Google Maps' main goal of getting yous around, only they're the kind of features that give the app an reward compared to competitors like Apple tree Maps or Waze. If yous desire to meet what else Google Maps tin can do, be sure to cheque out our list of the all-time Google Maps tips and tricks, and give some of them a try.

Tom is the Tom'southward Guide's Automotive Editor, which ways he can usually exist plant knee deep in stats the latest and best electric cars, or checking out some sort of driving gadget. It'south long manner from his days every bit editor of Gizmodo Great britain, when pretty much everything was on the table. He's usually found trying to squeeze another giant Lego set onto the shelf, draining very large cups of java, or lament that Ikea won't allow him buy the stuff he really needs online.