What do the different colors on Google Maps mean?
Different colors on Google Maps appear to have different meanings, but what exactly are those meanings?
Google Maps is an extremely useful tool for determining the most efficient route to a destination. You probably knew this already, but did you know that the colors on Google Maps have meanings to help you find what you’re looking for? Continue reading this article if you haven’t already to learn how different colors can help you find things in Google Maps.
One of Google Maps’ lesser-known features is that different colors have different meanings. These definitions are intended to help users find things quickly and easily without having to search. Google Maps’ colors indicate the level of research and analysis that went into creating the maps. The goal is to achieve a more detailed representation of the globe through the use of simplified cartography.
Roads

Yellow:
These are some of the city’s most important streets and highways. Highways are marked with a brighter yellow these colors on Google Maps mean is? making them appear orange, whereas main roads are marked with a much lighter yellow, making them appear more yellow than orange. The images that follow show where each color can be found on major roads and highways.
White:
White is the standard color for city streets and is used on roads.
White stripes:
This color will be used to paint parking lots. This color will not be used to identify all parking areas; rather, it will be used in specific settings, such as airport parking lots.
Lines in dark green:
These colors on Google Maps mean, the presence of a walking or cycling path within a city or a green space, such as a park. Don’t be fooled by the color green; just because you see one of these signs along a highway or a major city street does not mean that the route in question is environmentally friendly. The pathway will almost certainly be made of concrete.
Lines of dark grey:
They denote an underground road if they are quite thick, and an underground train if they are quite thin.
Buildings

Grey Solid:
These colors on Google Maps mean is commonly seen in non-commercial settings (mainly residential). Brown is divided into two distinct categories: light brown and dark brown. The typical residential neighborhoods are depicted in a light gray color, but as the zoom level increases, the differences between the buildings become more visible. Residential structures, on the other hand, will be displayed as a dark grey color against a lighter grey background. Airports, major industrial districts, and vast university campuses are all represented on maps in a dark gray color. This color is also used to identify military installations.
Gray dark:
Colleges are depicted on maps in a dark gray color; however, if you zoom in close enough to examine each individual structure on campus, you’ll notice that some are gray, while others are dark gray.
Furthermore, military bases will be identified by the color dark grey (but only in some countries; the US has one). The illustration below depicts the boundary that separates the US Navy Base in San Diego from the civilian residential area shown on the right. The only difference you’ll notice is when you’re far away; up close, the two areas look identical, with the exception of the roadways. Military bases typically have dark gray roads.
Red:
This color conjures up images of medical or hospital patients, as well as health centers and, on rare occasions, retirement homes for the elderly. When you zoom out further, the color red will only appear for the hospitals. When viewed up close, any hospital structure could appear beige or gray. While this is happening, the background will remain red. The goal of painting a hospital red on the outside is to make it more visible to passing traffic.
Tan Light:
This color is intended to represent various commercial regions and constructions. When you select a city in Google Maps, the surrounding area is divided into gray and tan shades. TAN districts will, first and foremost, serve as the city’s central business districts. After all, these descriptions usually include the historic district and the city center.
Nature

Tan (dark):
This color is used on beaches that are open to the public and where people can walk around and enjoy the sun.
Blue:
This color is associated with water and rivers.
Brown:
The color brown appears quite frequently in Google Maps. Nonetheless, they can represent a wide range of landscapes, such as national parks, mountain ranges, and even deserts. Depending on where they are, they frequently have different brands applied to them. According to Google Maps’ official description, this color represents natural sand or bush.
Green:
Furthermore, Google Maps will use a green color palette to depict natural locations such as parks, trails, sidewalk trees, and other outdoor spaces. However, there are two types of green: natural flora green and natural reservations and tundra green.
Traffic

Green:
If your map includes a traffic layer, this color indicates that there should be no traffic delays.
Orange:
If you have a traffic layer or instructions set up on your map, this color indicates that there is some traffic and that it will alter your course. If neither of these layers is enabled, this color indicates that there is some traffic.
Red:
To begin, there are two different shades of red: bright and dark. Whether or not your maps include a traffic layer and whether or not they include pre-programmed directions. To elaborate, the color red on the road indicates that there is a high volume of traffic and may also indicate that an accident has occurred or that construction is underway. A dark red light, on the other hand, indicates an unusually high volume of traffic.
Blue:
Only when the “Direction” option is chosen does the color blue appear on roads. This means that the roads are clear of impediments and there is significantly less traffic.
Read More Articles: