google-maps-places

name	google-maps-places
description	Google Maps and Places API integration. Search places, geocode addresses, calculate routes, get directions, and retrieve location data. Use this skill when users want to look up locations, convert addresses to coordinates, or get routing information.

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

Step 1: Install	Step 2: Pair Account	Step 3: Connect Google Maps
		App-specific connection GIF coming soon
Run the install command in OpenClaw	Sign in and approve the device	Open the dashboard and connect Google Maps

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

1. Install the ClawLink plugin (see Install above).
2. Pair the plugin with clawlink_begin_pairing if it is not configured yet.
3. Open https://claw-link.dev/dashboard?add=google-maps and connect Google Maps.
4. 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:

1. Direct the user to https://claw-link.dev/dashboard?add=google-maps
2. After they confirm, call clawlink_list_integrations to verify
3. 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

1. Call clawlink_list_integrations to confirm Google Maps is connected.
2. Call clawlink_list_tools --integration google-maps to see the live catalog.
3. Treat the returned list as the source of truth. Do not guess or assume what tools exist.
4. If the user describes a capability but the exact tool is unclear, call clawlink_search_tools with a short query and integration google-maps.
5. 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                                          │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

1. For unfamiliar tools, ambiguous requests, or any write action, call clawlink_describe_tool first.
2. Use the returned guidance, schema, whenToUse, askBefore, safeDefaults, examples, and followups to shape the call.
3. Prefer read, list, search, and get operations before writes.
4. For write operations or anything marked as requiring confirmation, call clawlink_preview_tool first.
5. Execute with clawlink_call_tool. Pass confirmation only after the preview matches the user's intent.
6. 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

1. Check that the ClawLink plugin is installed:

   openclaw plugins list
   

2. If the plugin is installed but tools are missing, tell the user to send /new as a standalone message to reload the catalog.
3. If a fresh chat does not help, run:

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

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

Troubleshooting: Invalid Tool Call

1. Ensure the integration slug is exactly google-maps.
2. Use clawlink_describe_tool to verify parameter names and types before calling.
3. 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

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