What does the symbol 1 in a circle mean on Google Maps?

Believe it or not, it wasn’t until 2022 that Google Maps began listing tolls for travel in its navigation interface. If you don’t live in an area with turnpikes and turnpikes, you may be blissfully unaware of these road charges. But maybe you’ve moved or are planning a trip and need to know if your itinerary will pay off.

When you set up a route on Google Maps, you’ll know a route is chargeable when you see a circular icon with the number 1 inside, mimicking currency. Next to the icon is the total amount you should expect to pay. This number will change depending on whether or not you have selected the “See toll plan prices” option. To access it, view the directions details, scroll down and click on the tolls icon.

This opens the Travel Options menu where you can adjust this setting. You can also enable and disable the “Avoid Tolls” option here. This information is available in a saved offline Google map, although it will not update in real time. Google says it partners with state governments to generate toll fee estimates, but if a highway authority has recently changed toll costs, you may not immediately see those numbers updated on Google Maps.

Finding your way with Google Maps is just as easy if you use public transportation. However, while routes tend to be accurate and can be updated in real time, fare details may be less so. This information has been available since the company integrated its Google Transit unit into Maps in 2007. Alas, the world changes and it doesn’t seem like this feature is up to date.

Transit fares for trips on Google Maps are calculated based on information provided by operators, with each segment of a trip expected to charge an amount. However, most transportation authorities have more complex systems that include free connection periods, intermodal fare differences, and fare-free programs.

For example, if you plan a trip from Nubian Square to Mattapan Square in Boston, Google Maps will charge that trip on the Route 28 bus at $1.70. But you would pay nothing with a free, ongoing pilot program. Google Maps strives to keep its transit navigation up to date, but it would help if the app’s fare collection logic received more attention. Until then, check with your local transit agency for full fare details and take advantage of features like adding your boarding pass to Google Wallet, where applicable.