Google Maps Route & Distance Matrix Scraper: MCP config, n8n workflow and API

{
  "mode": "route",
  "stops": [
    "Times Square, New York, NY",
    "Central Park, New York, NY"
  ],
  "origins": [
    "Times Square, New York, NY",
    "Grand Central Terminal, New York, NY"
  ],
  "destinations": [
    "Central Park, New York, NY",
    "Brooklyn Bridge, New York, NY",
    "JFK Airport, New York, NY"
  ],
  "maxPairs": 100,
  "travelMode": "driving",
  "avoidTolls": false,
  "avoidHighways": false,
  "avoidFerries": false,
  "maxAlternatives": 1,
  "maxItems": 5,
  "includeSteps": false,
  "includeStreetView": false,
  "language": "en",
  "units": "metric",
  "requestDelayMs": 250
}

---
name: google-maps-route-and-distance-matrix-scraper
description: "Route, matrix and URL records from Google Maps directions — resolved stops, distance, duration, traffic, route alternatives, steps, geometry, transit lines and fares. Runs the Apify Actor vexaloom-labs/google-maps-route-and-distance-matrix-scraper. Use when the user needs Google Maps data with fields such as recordType, origin, destination, originResolved, destinationResolved, routeName and an Apify token is available."
compatibility: "Needs network access, curl, and an APIFY_TOKEN environment variable. Runs are billed to the token owner's Apify account."
metadata:
  actor: "vexaloom-labs/google-maps-route-and-distance-matrix-scraper"
  store-url: "https://apify.com/vexaloom-labs/google-maps-route-and-distance-matrix-scraper"
---

# Google Maps Route & Distance Matrix Scraper

Use this skill to fetch Google Maps data with the Apify Actor `vexaloom-labs/google-maps-route-and-distance-matrix-scraper` and work with the returned rows.

## Before running

1. Check that `APIFY_TOKEN` is set in the environment. Never print it or write it to a file.
2. Build `input.json` from the user's request using the fields below. Keep limits small for a first run.
3. Confirm the search terms or URLs with the user if the request is ambiguous.

## Input fields

| Field | Type | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `mode` | one of `route`, `matrix`, `urls` | What to scrape: one route (with optional waypoints), a distance matrix, or a list of Google Maps directions URLs. |
| `stops` | array | Ordered stops for route mode: 2–10 locations. The first is the origin, the last is the destination, and everything in between becomes a waypoint. |
| `origins` | array | Starting locations for matrix mode. Each origin is paired with every destination below. |
| `destinations` | array | Ending locations for matrix mode. Each destination is paired with every origin above. |
| `maxPairs` | integer | Maximum number of origin × destination pairs to request in matrix mode. Pairs beyond this cap are left out. |
| `travelMode` | one of `driving`, `walking`, `bicycling`, `transit` | How to travel between the stops. |
| `avoidTolls` | boolean | Driving only — ask Google Maps to avoid toll roads. If no toll-free route exists, Google may still return a toll route. |
| `avoidHighways` | boolean | Driving only — ask Google Maps to avoid highways and motorways. If no practical alternative exists, Google may still return a highway route. |
| `avoidFerries` | boolean | Driving only — prefer routes without ferry crossings. If every route uses a ferry, the result is still returned and marked with avoidanceUnmet. |
| `maxAlternatives` | integer | Maximum number of route alternatives to return per trip, including Google's recommended route. Applies to route and URLs modes. Google usually supplies up to 3 alternatives. |
| `maxItems` | integer | Global cap on the number of records pushed to the dataset. |
| `includeSteps` | boolean | Add turn-by-turn steps with instruction, distance, duration, maneuver, coordinates and route geometry for every returned route. |
| `includeStreetView` | boolean | Add a Street View panorama ID and thumbnail URL to each step where Google publishes one. This also enables step details. |
| `language` | string | Language for instructions and other localized text. |

Example `input.json` (the Actor's published prefill):

```json
{
  "mode": "route",
  "stops": [
    "Times Square, New York, NY",
    "Central Park, New York, NY"
  ],
  "origins": [
    "Times Square, New York, NY",
    "Grand Central Terminal, New York, NY"
  ],
  "destinations": [
    "Central Park, New York, NY",
    "Brooklyn Bridge, New York, NY",
    "JFK Airport, New York, NY"
  ],
  "maxPairs": 100,
  "travelMode": "driving",
  "avoidTolls": false,
  "avoidHighways": false,
  "avoidFerries": false,
  "maxAlternatives": 1,
  "maxItems": 5,
  "includeSteps": false,
  "includeStreetView": false,
  "language": "en",
  "units": "metric",
  "requestDelayMs": 250
}
```

## Run

```bash
curl -sS -X POST "https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/vexaloom-labs~google-maps-route-and-distance-matrix-scraper/run-sync-get-dataset-items" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $APIFY_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d @input.json > results.json
```

The call waits for the run to finish and returns the dataset items as a JSON array. If the run needs more than 300 seconds the API answers with HTTP 408; then start the run with `POST /v2/acts/vexaloom-labs~google-maps-route-and-distance-matrix-scraper/runs`, poll `GET /v2/actor-runs/{runId}` until `SUCCEEDED`, and read `GET /v2/datasets/{defaultDatasetId}/items`.

## Output

Each item is one record. Published fields include: `recordType`, `origin`, `destination`, `originResolved`, `destinationResolved`, `routeName`, `routeIndex`, `isRecommended`, `travelMode`, `distance`, `distanceMeters`, `duration`, `durationSeconds`, `durationInTraffic`, `typicalDuration`, `noTrafficDuration`, `trafficRange`, `trafficCondition`, `departureTime`, `arrivalTime`.

Summarise what was found, cite the record URLs when present, and say how many items came back. Do not invent values for empty fields.