Mapping Out Multiple Locations (2025 Easy Method)
The Ultimate Guide to Mapping Out Multiple Locations on Your Website
Whether you’re showcasing store networks, service areas, event venues, or delivery routes, a custom map with multiple location pins is incredibly powerful. While Google’s native tools work for simple needs, creating a truly custom, embedded multi-location map requires a more technical approach.
This guide will walk you through the most robust method: using the Google Maps Platform with a custom marker array.
This method is for those comfortable with basic web development. It involves API keys, billing setup, and JavaScript coding.
Method: The Custom Google Maps API Implementation
This approach gives you full design and functional control but requires setting up a Google Cloud project.
Step 1: Prerequisites & Google Cloud Setup
Before writing any code, you need access to the Google Maps APIs.
- 1. Create a Google Cloud Project: Go to the [Google Cloud Console](https://console.cloud.google.com/) and create a new project.
- 2. Enable Billing: You must enable billing on your project. Don’t panic—Google offers a $200 monthly credit, and a simple map like this is unlikely to incur costs.
- 3. Enable the Required APIs: Navigate to “APIs & Services > Library” and enable these two services:
- – Maps JavaScript API
- – Geocoding API (to convert addresses to coordinates later)
- 4. Generate an API Key: Go to “APIs & Services > Credentials,” create a new API key, and—this is critical—restrict it to the “Maps JavaScript API” for security.
Always restrict your API key to prevent unauthorized use.
Step 2: Build the Map with Custom Markers
Now for the core part. Create an HTML file and use the following code. This example plots three office locations with custom icons and info windows.
Create a file named `custom-multi-map.html`:
html
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>Our Global Offices</title>
<!-- Load the Google Maps JS API with your key -->
<script async defer src="https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/js?key=YOUR_API_KEY_HERE&callback=initMap"></script>
<style>
#map {
height: 500px;
width: 100%;
border-radius: 8px;
border: 1px solid #ccc;
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<h1>Find Us Around the World</h1>
<div id="map"></div>
<script>
// Map initialization function
function initMap() {
// Set the initial map view (center of the world)
const map = new google.maps.Map(document.getElementById("map"), {
zoom: 2,
center: { lat: 30, lng: 0 }, // Adjust based on your locations
});
// Define your locations with full details
const locations = [
{
name: 'London HQ',
lat: 51.5074,
lng: -0.1278,
address: '123 Main St, London, UK'
},
{
name: 'New York Office',
lat: 40.7128,
lng: -74.0060,
address: '456 Broadway, New York, USA'
},
{
name: 'Tokyo Branch',
lat: 35.6762,
lng: 139.6503,
address: '789 Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan'
}
];
// Create a single InfoWindow to be reused
const infowindow = new google.maps.InfoWindow();
// Loop through locations and place markers
locations.forEach((location) => {
// You can use a custom icon here
const marker = new google.maps.Marker({
position: { lat: location.lat, lng: location.lng },
map: map,
title: location.name, // Tooltip on hover
// icon: 'custom_pin.png' // Uncomment for custom pin image
});
// Add click listener to each marker
marker.addListener('click', () => {
infowindow.setContent(`
<div style="padding: 10px;">
<h3 style="margin: 0 0 8px 0;">${location.name}</h3>
<p style="margin: 0;">${location.address}</p>
</div>
`);
infowindow.open(map, marker);
});
});
}
</script>
</body>
</html>
Code language: HTML, XML (xml)Replace `YOUR_API_KEY_HERE` in the script tag with the restricted API key you generated.
Step 3: Embedding and Advanced Customization
To put this map on your website, upload the HTML file to your server or paste the code into a custom HTML block on your CMS (like WordPress).
Want to add more locations? Simply expand the `locations` array with new objects containing `name`, `lat`, `lng`, and `address`.
For custom icons, uncomment the `icon` property in the marker object and provide the path to your image file.
The Reality of This “Powerful” Method
While this code gives you maximum flexibility, the process is fraught with complexity:
- API Management: Dealing with Google Cloud Console, billing alerts, and key restrictions is daunting for non-developers.
- Geocoding Hassle: Manually finding the latitude and longitude for every address is tedious.
- Code Maintenance: Any change requires editing code and re-uploading files.
- Unexpected Costs: Misconfiguring your API key can lead to surprising charges.
Map Your World in Minutes, Not Hours
What if you could create a map exactly like the one above—or even better, with clustering, custom themes, and advanced filters—without writing a single line of code or touching the Google Cloud Console?
That’s exactly why MapsFun.com exists.
It’s a specialized platform that handles all the technical complexity for you:
- Visual Map Builder: Point, click, and search to add locations—no latitude/longitude required.
- Zero Coding: Design beautiful, interactive maps through a simple user interface.
- No API Setup: We manage all the backend infrastructure. Just create and embed.
- Instant Publishing: Get a clean, responsive embed code to paste into any website builder.
Stop wrestling with code and configuration files. **Create stunning, professional multi-location maps effortlessly at MapsFun.com.