15+ Useful jQuery Google Maps Plugins

Google Maps is a very helpful tool to help us find businesses and other points of interest that we want to know about. Since its arrival, businesses have been integrating this tool on their websites to help people where to find them. Google Maps used to be a simple map although it requires a complex process to have it integrated on a website. Nowadays however, it is necessary that Google maps are attractive aside from its being informative to the audience. jQuery has taken this interactivity of websites to another level while making the process required in its preparation easier. With easy to use and install jQuery Google Maps plugins, we can now create simple, and attractive maps depending on our needs.

In this article, I am featuring a collection of the best jQuery Google Maps plugins available, which offer a lot of map functionality for adding maps to your website. I have also added a few tutorials and Google Maps resources to help you get the most out of your Google Map integration efforts. If you find this article helpful, please share it to others. If you have, any comment do not hesitate to write them below. I have just updated this article with fresh plugins and checked all links.

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links below are affiliate links and I will earn a commission if you purchase through those links (at no extra cost to you). I recommend that you do your own independent research before purchasing any product or service. This article is not a guideline, a recommendation or endorsement of specific products. [exec]$filestr = file_get_contents(‘http://www.tripwiremagazine.com/googleadsensebelowmoretag.inc’);echo $filestr;[/exec]

Useful jQuery Google Maps Plugins

Interactive Maps Generator – MORE INFO / DEMO

This is a standalone application where you can generate as many maps as you want and copy the embed code and place the maps in any of your websites! No need to upload any extra files to your website, just embed the code!! Compatible with Joomla and other CMS’s that allow you to paste javascript code into the content!

5sec Google Maps Stand Alone – MORE INFO / DEMO

5 Sec Google Maps Stand Alone provides information about locations and ensures that you’re not wasting your time.It is a fully responsive it also has an iframe and super fast single map available, supports multiple maps per page, customizable bubble text and it works on any site.

jQuery Store Locator – MORE INFO / DEMO

jLocator is a jQuery store locator plugin uses Google Maps API V3 and enables searching, sorting, filtering and pagination for your stores. No database required.

jQuery GPS – MORE INFO / DEMO

jQuery GPS is a jQuery plugin for people that want to add Google maps to their website, but don’t want their website to be bogged down with features they don’t need. Jquery GPS is a lightweight and simple solution to all your Google Map needs. Add inputs for addresses by simply adding default or custom ID’s. You can use any element to trigger the event! So it doesn’t need to be embedded inside a form. The default ID’s make it easy to create an application that will give directions and a highlighted map right on your website! jQuery GPS also has the ability for you to select the place the map shows when it first loads, and to open a toolip and load a graphic image on that starting location.

gMap jQuery Google Maps by Cedric Kastner – MORE INFO / DEMO

gMap is a lightweight jQuery plugin that helps you embed Google Maps into your website. With only 2 KB in size it is very flexible and highly customizable. It has tiny line of code is being used to embed the map on your web page. There are a two requirements you need to meet before you can use gMap to display Google Maps on your website. First you need to sign up for a Google Maps API key. Second you need the jQuery library at least in version 1.3.

Map Widgets for jQuery – MORE INFO / DEMO

Quickly create stunning highly styled jQuery and Google Maps v3 based maps for your next business directory, real estate guide, or travel site project. Included 2 power widgets and 3 themes with custom markers and original PSDs. Saves 60 hrs of work, installs in minutes. We locally Maps Quick Widgets is a set of jQuery based JavaScript widgets that make it easy to create highly styled customized maps using Google Maps API v3. Its perfect for creating business directory websites, travel sites, real estate guides or any website where you want to go beyond the look and feel of Google Maps and showcase real world places.

gmap3 – MORE INFO

One of the finest Google Maps jQuery Plugin around is gMap3. It makes use of Google Map API version 3 to create maps with advanced features integrated on it. Google has been working on maps that users can easily add on their websites but nevertheless there are advanced features which are not easy to apply. With gMap3 you can manipulate your Google map version 3, in more ways unlike other Google Maps plugins.

jQuery Plugins for Google Maps by Dylan Verheul – MORE INFO

If you want to put a Google Map on your web page fast and easy, then plugins are what you need. you just have to secure a valid Google Maps API key from http://www.google.com/apis/maps/ and look at the source code of its page if you want to know how to use the plugin. Markers can be provided by a jQuery object (containing elements in the geo microformat) or an array of objects that provide lat, lng and txt for the popup (txt being optional).

Google Maps Video Search – MORE INFO / DEMO

Easily display videos recorded near your users location or any other location. Use the simple API to dynamically or statically filter the videos by keyword.

goMap jQuery Google Maps Plugin – MORE INFO

goMap is jQuery v1.5 plugin using Google Maps v3. With its 1.3.1 version, you can have several maps in one page, show or hide markers by group and many more.

gMaps: Google Maps jQuery Plugin – MORE INFO

The bMap jQuery plugin allows you to quickly and easily add mapping to your website. It has been designed from the beginning to handle lots of markers, lots of layers, and custom marker icons. The plugin can manage a sidebar for you, one with a list of markers, one with a list of layers. The sidebars can be styled with CSS. The internal Google object is exposed, so you can continue to use all of the power of the Google Maps API. You can also access the internals of the bMap object. The newest version of bMap is designed to work with the latest version of the Google Map is API V3. This means you don’t need an API key to have a map on your site, and you can make mobile applications even easier.

Mapbox: Zoomable jQuery Map Plugin – MORE INFO

The jQuery mapbox() plugin is for creating relatively small scale, zoomable, draggable maps with multiple layers of content. This framework could be applied to games, development plans, or any layout that could benefit from being able to zoom in and pan to get a better view. By default, the map will now zoom to the cursor position when the mouse wheel is used. This is an intuitive means by which a user may explore different areas of the map.

jMapping by Brian Landau – MORE INFO

This jQuery plugin for creating Google Maps from semantic markup, is designed for quick development of a page that implements a Google Map with a list of the locations that are specified within the HTML. The plugin tries to allow as much graceful degradation as possible by having the HTML be as semantic as possible. The plugin expect the HTML for the locations to be grouped under a common element. Additionally, it expects the links and Map Info Window content to be grouped under the location elements. It also expects the necessary metadata to be on the location element. This way the HTML semantically reflects that all of those parts and information are associated with the specific location or place.

Useful jQuery Google Maps Tutorials

jQuery Google Maps Tutorial: #1 Basics by Marc Grabanski – MORE INFO

In this tutorial, you will walk through the steps on how to get started using jQuery inside the Google Maps environment. It assumes nothing and each piece is explained in detail. If you want to integrate Google Maps into your site but you don’t know how to do it, then this tutorial is for you. It requires a very minimum number of codes, so it is very easy to follow.

Build a POI map using jQuery & Google Maps v3 (revised) by Bogdan Pop – MORE INFO

This tutorial will teach you how to create POI (Point of Interest) map that displays multiple POIs all at the same time. It is short very easy to follow tutorial that will really help you create a very interesting Google map.

Embellishing Your Google Map with CSS3 and jQuery by Xavier Shay – MORE INFO

This tutorial will be discussing the technique recently used by Xavier Shay to spice up the “Places to shop and eat” map on Vegan Melbourne, using a combination of the jQuery Google Maps API, jQuery animation, and some newer CSS effects.

Useful jQuery Google Maps Resources

Google Maps Mania – MORE INFO

Google maps mania is a cool and interesting blog that tracks the websites, ideas and tools being influenced by Google Maps. It contains reviews and informative articles that talk about the way users benefit from Google maps. It is therefore a nice source of idea for you on how to integrate Google map on your website depending on your personal preference.

Google Maps Help Forum – MORE INFO

This Help Forum which replaces the Google Maps Help Group, is a useful resource in finding answers to Google Map related questions and issues. With this Help Forum for Google Maps, it is now easier to ask questions, give answers, and share your Google Maps to others.

Sonny M. Day

Sonny M. Day is a passionate SEO and web design enthusiast who loves photography, mountain climbing, snorkeling and dirt bike riding.