MCP server for Google Maps — places search, directions, geocoding. Works with Claude Desktop, Cursor, Claude Code.
Server has 6 well-named tools with complete descriptions and input schemas. All tools follow verb_noun naming (search_places, get_place_details, etc.). Descriptions are detailed (100-250 chars) and explain WHEN to use each tool. Input parameters have types and descriptions. However, output schemas are documented only in docstrings, not in the MCP tool registration itself. No error handling guidance, no parameter validation rules (e.g., max_results 1-20 constraint not enforced), and no mention of API key injection or rate limiting. Missing tool annotations (readOnlyHint, idempotentHint). All tools are READ_ONLY but this is not declared in the schema.
Convert an address or place description to GPS coordinates. Use this when a user describes their location (hotel name, landmark, street address) and you need coordinates for search_nearby.
Get directions and route between two locations. Returns step-by-step directions with distance and duration. Note: Requires Directions API to be enabled in Google Cloud.
Get detailed information about a specific place by its Google Place ID. Use this to get more details about a place after finding it with search_places. Returns additional info like reviews, amenities, and editorial summaries.
Convert GPS coordinates to a human-readable address. Use this when you have coordinates and need to know the address.
Search for places near specific coordinates. Use this when you have GPS coordinates and want to find places nearby. Great for "find restaurants near me" type queries.
Output schemas documented only in docstrings, not in MCP tool registration. LLMs cannot parse docstring schemas, they need structured JSON Schema in the tool definition.
No tool annotations (readOnlyHint, idempotentHint, destructiveHint). All 6 tools are READ_ONLY but this is not declared in the schema, forcing LLMs to infer safety from descriptions.
No error handling guidance. Descriptions do not explain what to do if a place is not found, API quota is exceeded, or coordinates are invalid. LLMs have no recovery path.
| Scored | Grade | Overall | Spec posture | Rubric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-23 | C | 60 | 2026-07-28+ | v2 |
Search Google Maps for places based on a text query. This tool searches for businesses, locations, and points of interest using Google Maps Places API. It returns detailed information including contact details, ratings, opening hours, and location data.
Parameter constraints (max_results 1-20, radius_meters max 50000) stated in descriptions but not enforced via JSON Schema minValue/maxValue. LLMs may pass invalid values.
No pagination support documented. search_places and search_nearby cap results at 20 but do not return total_results or next_cursor for large result sets.