Google Maps supercharges your next trip with improved navigation

Here in the US, for many families, the end of the year means it’s time to travel and look for vacation destinations. With so many drivers, this of course only causes traffic jams and stress. Fortunately, Google is making a number of improvements to the driving experience Cards.

Navigating multi-lane roads can be incredibly stressful as it can be difficult to know which lane you want to be in at any given time. While Google Maps has been offering lane advice for years in the form of arrows at the top of your screen when you’re in navigation mode, the app is about to get a major update to how this information is displayed, showing individual lanes (and which of those where you should be) directly on the surface map itself. That’s just the start of all the new details appearing in this view, and Google is also adding crosswalks and road signs.

Maps also takes over a page Wazes playbook, which offers drivers new options for reporting hazardous road conditions. Just in time for winter, this includes reporting unplowed roads, as well as roads that are flooded, blocked, or where conditions make it really difficult to see much of anything.

You can already search in Maps along the route you are navigating, with handy shortcuts for gas stations and rest areas, for example. But now Maps is expanding this tool with a big new “Add Stop” button at the bottom of your navigation view. That takes you to some of those same handy shortcuts, but now also gives you large, easy-to-navigate suggestions for some of your best local options.

Finally, after you arrive at your destination, Maps has a few new tricks to make your arrival as smooth as possible. The app not only directs you to the door, but also offers parking suggestions and reminders, and offers walking directions once you’ve found your spot a few blocks from where you need to be.

Most of these new and updated Maps features will be available to everyone, and soon Google says a global, cross-platform rollout will begin this week. The only real limitation concerns the improved navigation display with lanes and crossings and such; it will launch in 30 metro areas in the US and won’t be released until sometime in November. Google says it plans to bring this to even more locations in the future, but hasn’t yet discussed a timeframe or whether this could spread internationally.