Google Maps

Access Google Maps and Places API via ClawLink managed credentials. Search places, geocode addresses, calculate routes, get directions, and retrieve location data.

This skill uses ClawLink for hosted connection flows and credentials so you do not need to configure Google Maps API access yourself.

Setup in 3 Steps

How It Works

┌─────────────────┐     ┌──────────────┐     ┌──────────────────┐
│   OpenClaw      │────▶│   ClawLink   │────▶│   Google Maps   │
│   (User Chat)   │     │   (OAuth)    │     │  (Places/Routes) │
└─────────────────┘     └──────────────┘     └──────────────────┘
         │                       │                       │
         │  1. Install Plugin    │                       │
         │  2. Pair Device       │                       │
         │  3. Connect Maps      │                       │
         │                       │  4. Secure Token       │
         │                       │  5. Proxy Requests    │
         │                       │                       │
         ▼                       ▼                       ▼
   ┌──────────┐           ┌──────────┐           ┌──────────┐
   │  SKILL   │           │ Dashboard│           │  Google  │
   │  File    │           │ Auth     │           │  Maps    │
   └──────────┘           └──────────┘           └──────────┘

Install

Install the verified ClawLink plugin from ClawHub. After the user confirms, complete the full setup so ClawLink tools are visible in the next OpenClaw chat.

openclaw plugins install clawhub:clawlink-plugin
openclaw config set tools.alsoAllow '["clawlink-plugin"]' --strict-json
openclaw gateway restart

Then tell the user: "OpenClaw has been restarted. Send /new as a standalone message to start a fresh chat, then ask for Google Maps again."

Quick Start

# Search for places
clawlink_call_tool --tool "googlemaps_search_places" --params '{"query": "coffee shop nearby"}'

# Geocode an address
clawlink_call_tool --tool "googlemaps_geocode" --params '{"address": "1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA"}'

# Get directions
clawlink_call_tool --tool "googlemaps_directions" --params '{"origin": "San Francisco, CA", "destination": "Los Angeles, CA"}'

Authentication

All Google Maps tool calls are authenticated automatically by ClawLink using the user's connected Google account or API key.

No API key is required in chat. ClawLink handles credential management and injects it into every Google Maps API request on the user's behalf.

Getting Connected

Install the ClawLink plugin (see Install above).
Pair the plugin with clawlink_begin_pairing if it is not configured yet.
Open https://claw-link.dev/dashboard?add=google-maps and connect Google Maps.
Call clawlink_list_integrations to verify the connection is active.

Connection Management

List Connections

clawlink_list_integrations

Response: Returns all connected integrations. Look for google-maps in the list.

Verify Connection

clawlink_list_tools --integration google-maps

Response: Returns the live tool catalog for Google Maps.

Reconnect

If Google Maps tools are missing or the connection shows an error:

Direct the user to https://claw-link.dev/dashboard?add=google-maps
After they confirm, call clawlink_list_integrations to verify
Then call clawlink_list_tools --integration google-maps

Security & Permissions

Access is scoped to location and routing data available through the Google Maps API.
Write operations require explicit user confirmation. Before executing any call that modifies data, confirm the target and intended effect with the user.
Geocoding and routing are read-only operations that do not modify any data.

Tool Reference

Place Search & Discovery

| Tool | Description | Mode | |------|-------------|------| | googlemaps_search_places | Search for places by text query, category, or name | Read | | googlemaps_nearby_search | Find places near a location within a radius | Read | | googlemaps_place_details | Get detailed information about a specific place | Read | | googlemaps_find_place | Find a place from a text query or phone number | Read | | googlemaps_autocomplete | Get place suggestions as the user types | Read |

Geocoding & Address Lookup

| Tool | Description | Mode | |------|-------------|------| | googlemaps_geocode | Convert an address to latitude/longitude coordinates | Read | | googlemaps_reverse_geocode | Convert coordinates back to a human-readable address | Read |

Routing & Directions

| Tool | Description | Mode | |------|-------------|------| | googlemaps_directions | Get directions between origin and destination with multiple modes | Read | | googlemaps_distance_matrix | Calculate distances and travel times between multiple origins and destinations | Read | | googlemaps_route_matrix | Get route information for multiple origin-destination pairs | Read |

Elevation & Terrain

| Tool | Description | Mode | |------|-------------|------| | googlemaps_elevation | Get elevation data for locations on the earth | Read | | googlemaps_elevation_along_path | Get elevation data along a path | Read |

Time Zone

| Tool | Description | Mode | |------|-------------|------| | googlemaps_timezone | Get the time zone for a location | Read |

Roads

| Tool | Description | Mode | |------|-------------|------| | googlemaps_snap_to_roads | Snap GPS points to the nearest road segments | Read | | googlemaps_nearest_roads | Get the nearest road segments to given coordinates | Read |

Geolocation

| Tool | Description | Mode | |------|-------------|------| | googlemaps_geolocate | Get a device's location from cell towers and WiFi nodes | Read |

Static Maps

| Tool | Description | Mode | |------|-------------|------| | googlemaps_static_maps | Generate a static map image with markers and paths | Read |

Code Examples

Search for a place

clawlink_call_tool --tool "googlemaps_search_places" \
  --params '{
    "query": "Italian restaurant",
    "location": {"latitude": 37.7749, "longitude": -122.4194},
    "radius": 1000
  }'

Geocode an address

clawlink_call_tool --tool "googlemaps_geocode" \
  --params '{
    "address": "1 Apple Park Way, Cupertino, CA 95014"
  }'

Get directions

clawlink_call_tool --tool "googlemaps_directions" \
  --params '{
    "origin": "San Francisco, CA",
    "destination": "Yosemite National Park, CA",
    "mode": "driving",
    "waypoints": [{"stop_over": true, "location": "Palo Alto, CA"}]
  }'

Get distance matrix

clawlink_call_tool --tool "googlemaps_distance_matrix" \
  --params '{
    "origins": ["San Francisco, CA", "Oakland, CA"],
    "destinations": ["Los Angeles, CA", "San Diego, CA"],
    "mode": "driving"
  }'

Get place details

clawlink_call_tool --tool "googlemaps_place_details" \
  --params '{
    "place_id": "YOUR_PLACE_ID",
    "fields": ["name", "formatted_address", "rating", "reviews", "opening_hours"]
  }'

Reverse geocode

clawlink_call_tool --tool "googlemaps_reverse_geocode" \
  --params '{
    "location": {"latitude": 37.4220, "longitude": -122.0841}
  }'

Discovery Workflow

Call clawlink_list_integrations to confirm Google Maps is connected.
Call clawlink_list_tools --integration google-maps to see the live catalog.
Treat the returned list as the source of truth. Do not guess or assume what tools exist.
If the user describes a capability but the exact tool is unclear, call clawlink_search_tools with a short query and integration google-maps.
If no Google Maps tools appear, direct the user to https://claw-link.dev/dashboard?add=google-maps.

Execution Workflow

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  READ OPERATIONS (Safe)                                     │
│  search → get → geocode → directions → call                 │
│                                                             │
│  Example: Search places → Get details → Show results       │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
                              │
                              ▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  WRITE / HIGH-IMPACT OPERATIONS                             │
│  describe → preview → confirm → call                        │
│                                                             │
│  Example: Describe tool → Preview → User approves            │
│           → Execute                                          │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

For unfamiliar tools, ambiguous requests, or any write action, call clawlink_describe_tool first.
Use the returned guidance, schema, whenToUse, askBefore, safeDefaults, examples, and followups to shape the call.
Prefer read, list, search, and get operations before writes.
For write operations or anything marked as requiring confirmation, call clawlink_preview_tool first.
Execute with clawlink_call_tool. Pass confirmation only after the preview matches the user's intent.
If the tool call fails, report the real error. Do not invent results or restate the failure as a missing capability unless the live catalog supports that conclusion.

Notes

Most Google Maps API calls are read-only (geocoding, directions, place search).
API quotas and limits apply — check the Google Cloud Console for your project limits.
Place IDs are stable but may change over time — always capture fresh IDs from search responses.
Routing results depend on real-time traffic data when available.
snap_to_roads requires a Google Maps Roads API-enabled project.

Error Handling

| Status / Error | Meaning | |----------------|---------| | Tool not found | The tool name does not exist in the current catalog. Verify with clawlink_list_tools --integration google-maps. | | Missing connection | Google Maps is not connected. Direct the user to https://claw-link.dev/dashboard?add=google-maps. | | NOT_FOUND | Place or location does not exist. Check the place_id or query. | | INVALID_ARGUMENT | Invalid parameter or missing required field. Review the tool schema with clawlink_describe_tool. | | OVER_QUERY_LIMIT | API quota exceeded. Wait and retry, or check Google Cloud quotas. | | Write rejected | User did not confirm a write action. Always confirm before executing writes. |

Troubleshooting: Tools Not Visible

Check that the ClawLink plugin is installed:
```
openclaw plugins list
```
If the plugin is installed but tools are missing, tell the user to send /new as a standalone message to reload the catalog.

If a fresh chat does not help, run:

openclaw config set tools.alsoAllow '["clawlink-plugin"]' --strict-json
openclaw gateway restart

After restart, tell the user to send /new again and retry.

Troubleshooting: Invalid Tool Call

Ensure the integration slug is exactly google-maps.
Use clawlink_describe_tool to verify parameter names and types before calling.
For write operations, always call clawlink_preview_tool first.

Resources

Google Maps Platform Documentation
Places API
Directions API
Geocoding API
ClawLink: https://claw-link.dev/?utm_source=clawhub&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=google-maps-places
ClawLink Docs: https://docs.claw-link.dev/openclaw
ClawLink Verification: https://claw-link.dev/verify