Composio Google Maps Automation

---
name: google-maps-automation
description: Automate Google Maps tasks via Rube MCP (Composio): geocode addresses, search places, get directions, compute route matrices, reverse geocode, autocomplete, get place details. Always search tools first for current schemas. Use when you need help with google maps automation.
license: CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0
requires: 
  mcp: [rube]
---

# Google Maps Automation via Rube MCP

Geocode addresses, search places, get directions, compute distance matrices, and retrieve place details using Google Maps via Rube MCP (Composio).

**Toolkit docs**: [composio.dev/toolkits/google_maps](https://composio.dev/toolkits/google_maps)

## Prerequisites
- Rube MCP must be connected (RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS available)
- Active connection via `RUBE_MANAGE_CONNECTIONS` with toolkit `google_maps`
- Always call `RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS` first to get current tool schemas

## Setup
**Get Rube MCP**: Add `https://rube.app/mcp` as an MCP server in your client configuration. No API keys needed — just add the endpoint and it works.

1. Verify Rube MCP is available by confirming `RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS` responds
2. Call `RUBE_MANAGE_CONNECTIONS` with toolkit `google_maps`
3. If connection is not ACTIVE, follow the returned auth link to complete setup
4. Confirm connection status shows ACTIVE before running any workflows

## Core Workflows

### 1. Geocode an Address
Use `GOOGLE_MAPS_GEOCODING_API` to convert a street address into geographic coordinates (latitude/longitude).
```
Tool: GOOGLE_MAPS_GEOCODING_API
Parameters:
  - address: Street address or plus code to geocode
  - latlng: Lat/lng for reverse geocoding (e.g., "40.714224,-73.961452")
  - place_id: Place ID for place geocoding
  - language: Language for results
  - region: Region bias (ccTLD code)
  - bounds: Bounding box for viewport bias
  - components: Component filter (e.g., "postal_code:94043|country:US")
```

### 2. Search for Places
Use `GOOGLE_MAPS_TEXT_SEARCH` to find places using a free-text query.
```
Tool: GOOGLE_MAPS_TEXT_SEARCH
Parameters:
  - textQuery (required): Search text (e.g., "restaurants in London")
  - fieldMask: Fields to return (e.g., "displayName,formattedAddress,rating")
  - maxResultCount: Max results (1-20, default 10)
```

### 3. Get Directions Between Two Locations
Use `GOOGLE_MAPS_GET_ROUTE` to calculate routes with distance and duration.
```
Tool: GOOGLE_MAPS_GET_ROUTE
Parameters:
  - origin_address (required): Starting point (address or "lat,lng")
  - destination_address (required): End point (address or "lat,lng")
  - travelMode: DRIVE, BICYCLE, WALK, TWO_WHEELER, or TRANSIT
  - routingPreference: TRAFFIC_UNAWARE, TRAFFIC_AWARE, TRAFFIC_AWARE_OPTIMAL
  - computeAlternativeRoutes: Return alternative routes (boolean)
  - units: METRIC or IMPERIAL
  - languageCode: BCP-47 language code
  - routeModifiers_avoidTolls / avoidHighways / avoidFerries: Route preferences
```

### 4. Compute Distance Matrix
Use `GOOGLE_MAPS_COMPUTE_ROUTE_MATRIX` to calculate distances and durations between multiple origins and destinations.
```
Tool: GOOGLE_MAPS_COMPUTE_ROUTE_MATRIX
Parameters:
  - origins (required): Array of origin locations (address strings or lat/lng objects)
  - destinations (required): Array of destination locations
  - travelMode: DRIVE, BICYCLE, WALK, TWO_WHEELER, or TRANSIT
  - routingPreference: TRAFFIC_UNAWARE, TRAFFIC_AWARE, TRAFFIC_AWARE_OPTIMAL
  - fieldMask: Response fields to include
  - units: METRIC or IMPERIAL
```

### 5. Get Place Details
Use `GOOGLE_MAPS_GET_PLACE_DETAILS` to retrieve comprehensive information about a specific place.
```
Tool: GOOGLE_MAPS_GET_PLACE_DETAILS
Description: Retrieves comprehensive details for a place using its resource
  name (places/{place_id} format). Returns hours, contacts, reviews, etc.
Note: Call RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS to get the full schema for this tool.
```

### 6. Search Nearby Places
Use `GOOGLE_MAPS_NEARBY_SEARCH` to find places within a circular area around a point.
```
Tool: GOOGLE_MAPS_NEARBY_SEARCH
Parameters:
  - latitude (required): Center latitude (-90 to 90)
  - longitude (required): Center longitude (-180 to 180)
  - radius (required): Search radius in meters (max 50000)
  - includedTypes: Place types to include (e.g., ["restaurant", "cafe"])
  - excludedTypes: Place types to exclude
  - fieldMask: Fields to return
  - maxResultCount: Max results (1-20)
```

## Common Patterns

- **Geocode then route**: Use `GOOGLE_MAPS_GEOCODING_API` to convert addresses to coordinates, then `GOOGLE_MAPS_GET_ROUTE` for directions between them.
- **Search then detail**: Use `GOOGLE_MAPS_TEXT_SEARCH` to find places, then `GOOGLE_MAPS_GET_PLACE_DETAILS` for richer metadata (hours, contacts, reviews).
- **Autocomplete UX**: Use `GOOGLE_MAPS_AUTOCOMPLETE` for type-ahead search suggestions as users type addresses or place names.
- **Reverse geocode**: Use `GOOGLE_MAPS_GEOCODE_LOCATION` to convert coordinates back to a human-readable address.
- **Batch distance calculation**: Use `GOOGLE_MAPS_COMPUTE_ROUTE_MATRIX` for many-to-many distance calculations instead of calling `GOOGLE_MAPS_GET_ROUTE` repeatedly.
- **Embed maps**: Use `GOOGLE_MAPS_MAPS_EMBED_API` to generate embeddable map URLs for places, directions, or search results.

## Known Pitfalls

- **Route matrix results structure**: `GOOGLE_MAPS_COMPUTE_ROUTE_MATRIX` returns results under `data.elements` with `originIndex` and `destinationIndex` plus `distanceMeters` and `duration` -- not a `routes[]` structure.
- **Duration format**: `GOOGLE_MAPS_GET_ROUTE` returns durations as strings like `"937s"` inside `data.response_data.routes`. You must parse these before numeric comparisons.
- **Place IDs for chaining**: Use place identifiers returned from `GOOGLE_MAPS_TEXT_SEARCH` when calling `GOOGLE_MAPS_GET_PLACE_DETAILS` for richer fields.
- **Reverse geocoding input**: `GOOGLE_MAPS_GEOCODE_LOCATION` is coordinate-driven. Ensure you pass lat/lng (not an address string) to avoid mismatched lookups.
- **Routing preference restrictions**: `routingPreference` cannot be set when `travelMode` is WALK, BICYCLE, or TRANSIT -- it must be omitted for these modes.
- **Nearby search type validity**: `"food"` is NOT a valid type for `GOOGLE_MAPS_NEARBY_SEARCH` (it is Table B). Use specific types like `restaurant`, `cafe`, `bakery`, `fast_food_restaurant` instead.
- **Embed API uses API keys only**: `GOOGLE_MAPS_MAPS_EMBED_API` requires an API key and does not support OAuth2.

## Quick Reference
| Action | Tool | Key Parameters |
|--------|------|----------------|
| Geocode address | `GOOGLE_MAPS_GEOCODING_API` | `address` or `latlng` or `place_id` |
| Reverse geocode | `GOOGLE_MAPS_GEOCODE_LOCATION` | (see full schema via RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS) |
| Text search | `GOOGLE_MAPS_TEXT_SEARCH` | `textQuery`, `fieldMask`, `maxResultCount` |
| Nearby search | `GOOGLE_MAPS_NEARBY_SEARCH` | `latitude`, `longitude`, `radius`, `includedTypes` |
| Get directions | `GOOGLE_MAPS_GET_ROUTE` | `origin_address`, `destination_address`, `travelMode` |
| Distance matrix | `GOOGLE_MAPS_COMPUTE_ROUTE_MATRIX` | `origins`, `destinations`, `travelMode` |
| Place details | `GOOGLE_MAPS_GET_PLACE_DETAILS` | (see full schema via RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS) |
| Autocomplete | `GOOGLE_MAPS_AUTOCOMPLETE` | `input`, `includedRegionCodes`, `locationBias` |
| Place photo | `GOOGLE_MAPS_PLACE_PHOTO` | (see full schema via RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS) |
| Embed map | `GOOGLE_MAPS_MAPS_EMBED_API` | `mode`, plus mode-specific params |

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