---
source_url: "https://www.businessinsider.com/reference/how-to-check-traffic-on-google-maps"
title: How to Check Traffic on Google Maps in 2 Ways
mirrored_at: 2026-08-06T03:03:31.991Z
host: www.businessinsider.com
cited_in_42a: true
mirror_canonical: "https://index.42a.ai/www.businessinsider.com/reference/how-to-check-traffic-on-google-maps"
---

> **Original source:** https://www.businessinsider.com/reference/how-to-check-traffic-on-google-maps

![google maps hospital traffic view](https://i.insider.com/5f5a67c97ed0ee001e25e92d?width=700)

You can check out the current traffic levels for roads near you using Google Maps. Antonio Villas-Boas/Business Insider

Google Maps is one of the most popular apps in the world, and for good reason — it works very well. 

Not every feature is equally easy to find, though. Google Maps lets you see the traffic levels around you, for example, but this feature is somewhat hidden.

In many cities, Google will display current traffic levels with a color-coded system — green represents light traffic, yellow is moderate, orange is heavy, and red is severe levels of traffic. 

While you'll see the traffic along a planned route automatically when you plan a trip via car to a specific destination, that color coding doesn't extend to streets not on your route. But there's an "overlay" available in Google Maps in which you can see these traffic levels everywhere.

## **How to check traffic on the Google Maps mobile app**

**1\.** Start the Google Maps app on your phone.

**2\.** Tap the Overlay icon. It's shaped like a stack of squares and can be found near the top-right of the map, under the quick links. 

**3\.** In the Map Details section of the pop-up, tap "Traffic."

![How to check traffic on Google Maps 3](https://i.insider.com/5f5a6552e6ff30001d4e818b?width=600&format=jpeg&auto=webp)

Using the mobile app, you can enable the traffic view from the Overlay icon.  Dave Johnson/Business Insider

The traffic overlay will appear; any roads that have traffic information will appear color-coded in green, yellow, orange and red to indicate increasing levels of traffic. If you don't see anything, traffic data isn't available, or your internet connection might not be fast enough.

![How to check traffic on Google Maps 1](https://i.insider.com/5f5a651b7ed0ee001e25e917?width=600&format=jpeg&auto=webp)

If you turn on the traffic overlay, you can see the current traffic levels on streets and highways throughout your city.  Dave Johnson/Business Insider

## **How to check traffic on Google Maps in a web browser**

**1\.** In a web browser, open Google Maps.

**2\.** Click the hamburger menu (the three lines at the top-left of the screen) to see the menu.

**3\.** Click "Traffic."

![How to check traffic on Google Maps 2](https://i.insider.com/5f5a656a7ed0ee001e25e91a?width=600&format=jpeg&auto=webp)

You can enable the traffic overlay from the menu in a web browser.  Dave Johnson/Business Insider

The traffic overlay will appear; any roads that have traffic information will appear color-coded in green, yellow, orange, and red to indicate increasing levels of traffic. If you don't see anything, traffic data isn't available.

-   ### [How to change the currency on Google Maps for accurate regional prices](https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/tech/how-to-change-currency-on-google-maps)
    
-   ### [How to get Google Maps to talk by enabling talk navigation on your mobile device](https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/tech/how-to-get-google-maps-to-talk)
    
-   ### ['Why is my Google Maps app not working?': 4 ways to fix Google Maps when you can't navigate with the app](https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/tech/why-is-my-google-maps-not-working)
    
-   ### [How to avoid highways on Google Maps for your directions on desktop or mobile](https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/tech/how-to-avoid-highways-on-google-maps)
    
-   ### [How to create a map in Google Maps using My Maps, to save and share it for custom routes or directions](https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/tech/how-to-create-a-map-in-google-maps)
    

## Read next

Dave Johnson is a technology journalist who writes about consumer tech and how the industry is transforming the speculative world of science fiction into modern-day real life. Dave grew up in New Jersey before entering the Air Force to operate satellites, teach space operations, and do space launch planning. He then spent eight years as a content lead on the Windows team at Microsoft. As a photographer, Dave has photographed wolves in their natural environment; he's also a scuba instructor and co-host of several podcasts. Dave is the author of more than two dozen books and has contributed to many sites and publications including CNET, Forbes, PC World, How To Geek, and Insider.