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• Add animation keyframes presets or customize as you like
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• Plentiful transitions, effects and templates for polishing animated travel map

*Click on the video to learn how to make an animated map for a video >>

0:00 - Find Location on Google Map; 3:07 - Create Animated Map Video

How to Make an Animated Travel Map Video?

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Animated travel map videos make it easy for the viewers to follow the routes from the source to destination locations right on the single screen. While the static maps would only allow the audience to see the markers from where the journey would start and is expected to end, the animated ones show the real-time movements and therefore look more interactive when viewed.

That said, here you will learn how to create an attractive and engaging animated travel map video using one of the easiest post-production applications, Wondershare Filmora, which is widely appreciated by amateurs and professionals throughout the globe. In another section, you will also learn about an alternative program that might be of some help in case you are more into online designing.

• Method 1: Make Animated Travel Map Videos with Location Video Maker - [Video Tutorial]
• Part 1. Prepare the Travel Map Materials
• Part 2. Make Animated Travel Map Videos with Filmora
• Method 2: Make Interactive Animated Travel Map with Pictramap
• Method 3: Create Animated Travel Map Using Multidev

Method 1 Make Animated Travel Map Videos with Location Video Maker

The entire process of creating an animated travel map video in Wondershare's Filmora is categorized into two parts, wherein the first part you will collect all the ingredients that are needed to get started, and in the second part you will actually make an animated map using the tools and features present in Filmora.

Watch a video tutorial to see how to make an animated map for a video:

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

For macOS 10.14 or later

Part 1: Prepare the Travel Map Materials

Following are the ingredients and the methods to collect them for animated travel map preparation:

Step 1: Get the Map

The first thing that you would need to prepare an animated map is an image of a realistic map. Thanks to Google and Microsoft, these things are now pretty easy to arrange. The process is given below:

• Launch your preferred web browser
• Type google.com in the address bar or the search box and hit Enter
• Scroll to zoom out so you can see the entire world map on one screen

• Type Snipping Tool in the Cortana search box present on the left side of the Taskbar
• Launch Snipping Tool , and use it to capture the screenshot of the map

Note: Snipping Tool is a built-in app in Windows 10 and is available for free. If you are using any other operating system, or have a different program to capture the screenshots, feel free to use it according to your convenience.

• Save the screenshot you captured as a JPG file on your PC

Step 2: Mark Out the Map Path

The next step in the process of preparing an animated travel map is to mark your route on it. To do so, you can use any of your preferred photo editing tools. However, to keep this illustration simple, Microsoft Paint is used here, and the method is given below:

• Right-click the screenshot you just captured
• Go to Open with on the context menu, and then click Paint from the submenu that appears
• Pick your preferred color from the pallet of the Paint interface. It is advisable to use an eye-catchy shade such as Red
• Use the Sphere shape tool to draw a circle over the source and destination locations on the map
• Use the Line tool to draw a line from the source point to the destination. Try giving the line a few turns to make it look realistic
• Go to File > Save As , and save the marked image with a different name

Note: Once this is done, you should have two image files of the map, i.e., one without the marks and one with it

Step 3: Download Some Travel Icons

Another important ingredient in an effective travel map animation is touring icons such as location marker image, a traveling medium symbol like a helicopter, airplane, car/bike (for short distances), etc. A couple of websites that offer royalty-free stock photos at absolutely no cost are listed below:

• Wondershare Filmstock

Note: Although the websites given above allow you to download and use their stock images and icons for free, you may need to give credits to the designers/creators of the symbols while using their objects. Therefore, you are suggested to check the Terms & Conditions and norms of usage of the elements before downloading and adding them to your projects.

Part 2: Make Animated Travel Map Videos with Filmora

After you have gathered all the necessary ingredients that are required to create a travel map animation , it is now time to get to work. The following instructions would guide you through the step-by-step process of preparing a decent and realistic animated travel map in Wondershare Filmora :

Step 1: Import Ingredients to Filmora and Add Them to the Timeline

Launch the video editor on your computer, click anywhere inside the Media window at the upper-left area, and import all the images and icons that you collected earlier to program. Next, drag both the images of the map, i.e., with and without the marks to the Timeline, and ensure that they are of the same duration and are placed on the same track.

Note: Be sure to put the map without the marks first, and then the one with the marks. Also note that the images have the playback duration of 5 seconds in the Timeline by default, and this tenure can be reduced or increased by dragging the side handle of the media to the left or right respectively.

Step 2: Add Transition for Illusion of Route Appearance

Go to Transition from the standard toolbar at the top, locate the Erase Slide transition effect from the available presets, and place it in between the two image files that you earlier added to the Timeline. Next, click and drag either of the side handles of the transition to the end of the media clip. Notice how the other side of the effect is expanded in equal proportion.

Step 3: Preview and Export

Press the Spacebar on the keyboard to preview the video and see if the route appears as if it is being drawn on the map. Once the animation looks acceptable, click EXPORT from the top-center, go to the Local tab on the Export window, select MP4 from the formats list in the left, and click EXPORT from the bottom-right corner to export the current animation to MP4.

Step 4: Customize the Travel Map Media

Either start a new project and import the video of the map you exported in the previous step to the app and then to the Timeline, or remove the existing media from the Timeline in the same project, and add the exported video to it for convenience.

Next, position the Skimmer ( Playhead ) a couple of frames before the one the route line appears and starts stretching from, and click the Split icon from the editing toolbar above the Timeline itself. Repeat this process for the other side of the media, i.e., position the Skimmer a couple of frames after the route line reaches the destination location, and click the Split icon again. Then remove the separated segments from both the sides by selecting them and pressing Delete on the keyboard, leaving only the portion where the animation is visible.

Optionally, right-click the media that is left behind in the Timeline, and go to Speed and Duration from the context menu. On the Custom Speed box, drag the Speed slider to the left to decrease the playback speed resulting in the increased duration of the media. Alternatively, you can manually enter a value in the Speed box to get precise tenure. Click OK when you are done.

Step 5: Add Animations to Travel Map

Right-click the media in the Timeline, and go to Add Animation from the context menu. Make sure that the Skimmer is on the first frame, and add several keyframes as explained below:

• Click Add to add the first keyframe

• Move a couple of frames further, and click Add one more time. Now, while you are on this second keyframe, use the Scale slider to zoom in to the map so the source location remains within focus.

• Next, move the Playhead further and add another keyframe a couple of frames before the route line hits the edge of the window.
• After this, move the Playhead again and position it where the route line reaches its destination location. Add another keyframe here as well, and move the map in the Preview window so the focus is now on the destination.
• Move the Playhead a few frames further, add another keyframe, and use the Scale slider to zoom a bit more into the map to make the entire animation look realistic. Click OK to save the changes.

Step 6: Add Icons and Titles, and Export the Project

Drag the image of the traveling medium to the Timeline, and place it on the frame the route line starts from. Make sure to place the image on the track above the map, and stretch it to the end so it remains visible throughout the animation. Next, use the method explained above to add keyframes to move the medium along with the route line from the source to the destination. Optionally, add the image of the location marker at the destination point, go to Transition , and add your preferred transition effect, preferably Dissolve , to the marker track in the Timeline so it looks as if it has appeared as the medium arrived the destination.

Get back to the first frame in the Timeline, go to Titles on the standard toolbar, and add a title preset somewhere near the source location. Resize the text, change the format as needed, and add your preferred caption to it such as the start time, name, etc. Reduce the duration of the track so the title appears for a few frames, preferably before the map animation starts. Click OK when done. Repeat this process for the destination point as well.

Once everything is complete, click the Play button in the Preview window to review your work. If the video looks acceptable, click EXPORT from the top-center of the interface, and use the method explained earlier to export the animated travel map in your preferred format.

Method 2 How to Make Interactive Animated Travel Map with Pictramap

If you don’t want to install a dedicated animation software on your computer due to limited hardware resources or some other reason, there is an online solution called Pictramap to create a travel map animation using a web browser. The web app offers a lucrative interface that could be easily understood and worked with to produce an animated map for free.

The process to create an animated travel map with Pictramap is given below:

Step 1: Create a Project

Launch your favorite web browser, go to https://www.pictramap.com/ , click Create yours now, it’s free , and sign up to Pictramap using your preferred method. When you are on the Dashboard , enter a name in the field available under the My Projects section, and click Create to create a new project (the animated map).

Step 2: Define the Locations and Method of Commute

On the map, right-click the location you want to start your journey from, enter the name of the location or any other significant title, and click Add . Click the location marker, click the Travel Mode icon, and select your preferred mode of traveling. Repeat this process to mark the destination location as well.

Step 3: Preview the Animation

Click the View Animation button from the upper-right corner of the page to see the animated travel map .

Downsides of Using Pictramap to Create Animated Travel Map Video

Although Pictramap allows you to create a travel map animation with ease and extremely quickly, at the time of this writing, it offers no way of downloading the animation to your PC, and therefore it couldn’t be used in your projects.

If you are using Wondershare Filmora, you can use its built-in screen recording feature to record the animation that Pictramap plays, and then save the captured footage as MP4 or any other format on your computer. This video can then be imported to your projects for further uses.

Method 3 How To Make Animated Travel Map Using Multidev

Multi.dev is still a new web-based application to build awesome animated maps, but it’s good! The application helps you create presentations about all your recent and previous trips. And the interface is also hassle-free.

So, follow this step-by-step guide to making animated maps with Multi.dev.

Step 1: Open Multi.dev

Visit Multi.dev from your internet browser.

Once the tool gets open, you will see a demo video. This example clip will have animated maps of different locations. So it is up to you whether to use the same example and edit the places you have been to or are planning to visit. Or, simply create a new animated map from scratch.

Step 2: Choose Your First Location

Take your mouse cursor on the left side of the application and type the first location in the search bar. As soon as you do it, you will see that the “travel arrow” will automatically begin from there. Likewise, type and select the next location through the search bar.

Once you type the location, you will see 8 travel modes, including airplane, bus, and train. You can select the same mode for all sites or a different mode for another place. Totally up to you!

Step 3: Select Map Themes

All your chosen places will be highlighted in the software’s minimalistic map.

Step 4: Download Map on Your Computer

If you’re happy with the animated map, click the “Create Video” button to save the animated map on your computer in a few minutes.

Contrarily, you can also share the animation by choosing the “Share Animation” option.

An animated travel map plays an important role to add a realistic touring effect to your motion picture projects. While you can use a web app like Pictramap to create such an animation online easily and for free, the limitations it comes along with might keep you from choosing this method.

Instead, you may want to get more inclined toward a dedicated post-production software like Wondershare Filmora that gives you full control over the process, and the freedom to choose your preferred format to export the animation to for independent usage.

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How to Make an Animated Travel Map Video: Easiest Ways

Animated travel map videos have become immensely popular among travel enthusiasts and vloggers. These videos provide a visual representation of the places you have visited and give the viewer a sense of the journey you have taken. With the right tools and techniques, creating moving maps is easier than you might think. To ease your choice, we’ve picked 4 programs for every budget and device and created a step-by-step tutorial on how to make travel animation in each of them.

How to Make Animated Travel Map Videos in SmartShow 3D

Want to design a travel animation on your PC? Opt for SmartSHOW 3D. This user-friendly slideshow maker lets you create map-animated videos in a flash, thanks to the diversity of built-in maps, soundtracks, and animation effects. To get started, click the button below to download the installation package and do the following steps.

Step 1. Pick a Map

Run this animated maps software after installation. Choose the New Project option and go to the Effects tab. Double-click on the Travel Map icon. In the window that pops up, select a map from the built-in collection, ranging from retro to modern with famous sights. If you don’t find the map you need, you can upload it from your computer. Plus, you can zoom in to close up a particular area on the map and click Next.

Choose a map of the world, a continent, or a single country.

Can't find the right map or want to add an airplane, train, or car sound later? Check out royalty-free stock images and audio on websites like Pixabay , Adobe Stock , or Envato . Download all the files you need for free, or use a free trial period.

Step 2. Add Map Markers

Now you need to draw your route. Think about the places you’ve traveled to and pin them with map markers. Just double-click on the location to add them in the corresponding order. Add as many as you need. Once you’ve finished, hit Next to customize your map.

Mark the places you've visited

Step 3. Build Your Travel Map

It’s time to work with map animation. Pair each marker with a matching location photo from your trip - this image will appear next to the marker when the vehicle icon reaches it. Pick the route image and the vehicle - a plane, car, train, bus, or boat. Adjust the vehicle speed depending on the distance between locations. Choose the marker icon design to make your map look better.

Pin your vacation photos to the map

Step 4. Make Final Adjustments

Check your creation in the preview window. If you want to make small adjustments, click the Edit Slide button. Here you can add sound effects (for instance, the noise of a train, a flying plane or sea waves) to make your animated travel map video more immersive. Just go to the Sounds tab and choose an audio file from the built-in library or load one you downloaded from stock websites.

Level up your map by adding sound effects

Step 5. Save Your Creation

Click the Create Video button and choose the output format to download your map. You can export videos for TV, DVD, smartphones, and social networks or as MKV, AVI, MP4 files.

Select the export format among the 30+ available

Prefer watching video tutorials over reading ones? Check out how to create interactive travel maps in our video guide below and see SmartSHOW 3D in action.

Looks cool, right? Stop imagining and start creating your animated map with cool photos from your trip! Just click the button below to download a free trial version now.

How to Generate Map Travel Animation in Mult

Don’t want to install anything on your computer for some reason? Try out Mult . It’s a web-based application with an intuitive interface that lets you create videos about your travels quickly and easily. Check out an easy-to-follow tutorial below:

Step 1. Open the Website

Once you visit the website page, you’ll see a demo video of what your creation might look like. Sign up to be able to build your own animated world map.

Create a free account on mult.dev

Step 2. Add Your Photos and Locations

Click on the Route icon on the left side of the screen and add the cities you’ve visited. To upload your photos or stickers, switch the slider button and then click Add Photos. You can also choose the vehicle. Hit the plane icon next to the city name to select the means of transportation you need out of the 13 available, including car, train, ferry, and helicopter.

Choose a way of traveling for each destination

Step 3. Customize Your Map

Switch to Options to modify your animated road map. Choose the map style and add a title. In the Pro version, you can also change the active region and line colors, as well as adjust the speed and hide the logo watermark.

Choose the aspect ratio for PC/TV, smartphones, or a square one

Step 4. Download Your Animation

Once you’re happy with the result, click the Export button. Wait a bit while the app generates your video, and then select Download MP4.

Configure the privacy settings of your new video.

How to Make Traveling Animation in Pictramap

If you’re on a tight budget, check out Pictramap . It’s a free web-based platform that allows you to create custom maps with pictures. Users of all levels can handle this program thanks to its simple and clear interface. Since it’s an online app, you should sign up before you begin working on your project. Just click “Create yours now, it’s free” and register. Now, you’re ready to get started!

Step 1. Upload Your Photos

Start your animated map path by adding photographs. In the Pictures tab, drag and drop your vacation photos into the app. Images with GPS data will be placed directly on your project map. Otherwise, they will go into the Unsorted section, so you can manually attach them later.

Check out the tooltips for faster navigation in the program

Step 2. Create a Travel Map

Switch to the Map tab. Add the places you’ve visited, customize the pins and route, and choose the means of transport. You can also change the map design by picking one of the 10 available. The animation connecting your paths will be added automatically. Pin the pictures from the Unsorted box to the correct destination.

Click on the path line to change its color

Step 3. Improve the Map Appearance

If you’ve got the Pro version, you can do some more adjustments. Go to the Extras tab and add an intro and ending, overlay music, and change the map video duration. You can also play with animation settings and choose from a selection of font styles.

Browse through the built-in soundtrack collection

Step 4. Save Your Creation

After all the adjustments, click View Animation to preview your project. If you’re satisfied with the result, go to the Review & Share page to save the video on your PC or share it on social media.

Change the video’s privacy settings with a single button click

How to Create an Interactive Travel Map in Tripline

Want to design a map of your travel journey on your smartphone? Go with Tripline . This platform allows you to create travel animated maps to journal everything you’ve visited, seen, or tried. With Tripline, you can build your projects on the go. Just start it on your smartphone or tablet and continue on your PC, and vice versa.

Step 1. Create an Account

Download the app from the AppStore or Google Play, or open the website page. To start creating road maps in Tripline, you first need to sign up.

Use your Facebook account for a quick connect

Step 2. Build a Map

Start your creation by clicking the New Map button. Add the title of your map and choose the privacy settings by making it public or private. Go to the next step by clicking Create My Map.

Speed up your map creation by importing places from your social networks

Step 3. Define Your Locations

Add the cities you’ve been to and the places you’ve visited (restaurants, hotels, airports, sights, etc.). Based on these locations, the program will automatically create a travel map. You can customize it by adding the dates you’ve been to each place and writing comments with your thoughts about those locations.

Write a summary of the whole trip

Step 4. Save Your Travel Map

Once you've finished building your map, click on the Save & Exit button. Go back to your maps and preview your creation. Based on the data you’ve filled in, Tripline also calculates the number of places you visited, the distance you flew or drove during the entire trip, and how many days you spent traveling.

Share your travel map via social media, download it to your device, or print it out

Creating an animated travel map video may seem daunting, but with the right tools and techniques, it's easier than you think. By following these steps and using SmartSHOW 3D , Mult, Pictramap, or Tripline, you can create an engaging video that showcases your travels and captivates your audience. For useful tips on how to make a full-length travel video, not just a map, follow the link. Start planning your next adventure and get ready to build your own cool animated travel map video!

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Seeing is believing. We offer you 14 days of free access to our online mapping tool so that you can get to know the basic mapping functionalities you can expect. Register here to get started! Want to try out Mapcreator to its full extent?  Contact us   and take advantage of a free ‘guided demo’ where we’ll show you the full potential and features of Mapcreator  mapping software.

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Can I make maps both for print and online publishing?

The mapping tool offers the possibility to export different file formats that can be used for both print and digital publications, including interactive elements. You can create a map and export/download it as various output types. The download options we support at the moment are: .PNG, .SVG, .PDF (CMYK), EPS and WEB. WEB means you’ll get a link to the (interactive) map as well as an iframe.

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Mapcreator comes with a wide range of carefully designed default map styles, fonts, and features. In addition to the standard style elements that come with Mapcreator, map colors, features, and fonts can easily be customized for you. Do you want us to custom build your own complete map design? Please  contact us , and we’ll discuss your specific needs.

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How to make an animated travel map?

How to Make Travel Map Animation Step by Step

Had a wonderful trip and now want to recap your travel memories and share them with your friends, family, and subscribers? Or, perhaps, you want to map out all the locations you plan to visit during your upcoming journey? Whatever the case, there is a creative solution to put your vacation photos to use - create an animated travel map!

In this article, we’ll show you how to make travel map animation on your PC using a convenient slideshow maker. Also, you will watch a sample video for inspiration. Finally, you’ll learn alternative ways of creating travel animations to map out your remarkable journeys.

The first software we’re going to use to create a travel animation video is SmartSHOW 3D. It’s equipped with a special Travel Map effect suite that helps create interactive maps with photos from every location. Also, the program helps add voice comments and accompany your video with music. Besides, it offers 700+ effects and slideshow templates to make a memorable animation video. SmartSHOW 3D comes with a free trial, so you can check whether it’s suitable for you paying nothing. Let’s see what the program offers you in terms of travel map animation!

Step 1. Download and Run the Program

First, install SmartSHOW 3D on your computer. Click the button below and start your free trial.

Step 2. Create Your Travel Project

Once you open the program, click New Project. Switch to the Effect tab and in the Motion section, pick the Travel Map animation effect. Hit Create Map in the preview window to design your trip project. In the inclusive library of this animated maps software, you will discover a lot of stylish map designs - from retro pirate to modern illustrated. If you don’t find the map of the location you need, you can look it up on the Internet and upload it into the program. What’s more, you can resize the chosen map if you want a closeup of a particular place on it.

Step 3. Draw Your Route

Now it’s time to create the route of your trip. Think about the places you have visited and double-click on the locations to add map markers in the corresponding order. You can add as many of them as you want. Hit Next to move on to map customization.

Step 4. Create Your Animated Travel Map

At this stage, you’re going to work on animation. Select map markers individually and clip the corresponding photos from your trip to them. Adjust the Animation settings for each of the destination points to provide the viewer with sufficient time to observe your photos. Choose the marker image that suits the map style. Hit Next and select the vehicle and the route images. Hit Done to generate your travel animation.

Step 5. Review Your Animation and Edit It

Click the Play button on the preview window to watch your travel map video. If you want to make adjustments, click the Edit Slide button and double-click the Travel Map layer. Here you can work on your animated map further - for instance, rescale the animated elements of the map. Want to make your video more interactive? Use the Sounds tab of the Edit Slide menu to accompany your map with music from the built-in library of 250+ royalty-free soundtracks of the animated map creator. Alternatively, upload a tune from your PC.

Step 6. Save Your Travel Map

When you’re done with the editing process, export your animated travel map for a video project or use it solely. Just click the Create Video button in the upper right corner of your play screen. The program has over 15 export options to choose from, whether you are planning to watch your animation on a smartphone, PC, or a bigger screen.

It takes just a few clicks and your imagination to make a fascinating animation of your trip with SmartSHOW 3D. Prefer watching videos for learning new techniques? Check out our video guide on how to make an animated travel map with little effort and see what results you can achieve.

Looks cool, doesn’t it? Just imagine, you can create similar animated maps and it won’t take you hours of work. Just pack your photos and a joyful mood and put together all your travel memories with SmartSHOW 3D. Why not start now? Just click the button below and get a free trial version.

Now you can recap your travel memories and make your own travel map with ease!

Create Travel Map Animation: 3 Alternative Ways

SmartSHOW 3D is suitable for users of any skill level in slideshow making. If for some reason it’s not what you’re looking for, or the software is not compatible with your device, we’ve prepared 3 alternative animated map makers worthy of your attention.

Whether you don’t want to download extra programs, Travellerspoint will be a brilliant solution. This web-based app allows you to add photos and dates to each location on the map and shows how many kilometers you’ve traveled from destination to destination. But you have to become a supporting member to save your maps as PNGs and block ads within the editor. In the free plan, you’ll only be able to map out your journey.

If you’re looking for more options available for free, then PictraMap is the right choice. This is an online tool that helps make detailed animated road maps. It offers diverse customization options: music themes, pins, and maps. However, unless you buy a subscription, you can add only 10 locations and make only 2 projects inside this editor. Still, you can change the map style and the marker images for free.

Prefer using your smartphone to create travel content? There is an interactive travel map animation creator for you - Tripline . This app is available for both Apple and Android smartphones and has simple yet efficient features to draw routes of your trips. With this editor, you can add your photos to every destination marker and make your map more interactive. Then, you can easily share your memorable travel animation online. But this app is not as inclusive - you can’t change the marker and map designs. It’s suitable for planning your next trips or making minimalistic Insta stories rather than creating travel movies for big projects.

Now you know how to make an animated travel map in 4 different ways and can design your own in a couple of clicks. There are various online options that can help you share your travel memories. But if you want the process to be fun and easy, consider SmartSHOW 3D. This program is packed with dedicated tools and features to help you create live images, make exciting presentations, and design animated slideshows with photos. So building your new traveling animation and completing many other tasks related to producing slideshows and videos won’t take much time and effort if you use this software.

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Home » Travel » How to Make an Animated Map for a Travel Video

How to Make an Animated Map for a Travel Video

Creating an animated travel map is a great way to add a personal touch to a travel video. There are two main ways to create an animated travel map: using a mobile travel map app or a desktop animated travel map maker . In this article, we will explore both methods and provide step-by-step instructions on how to make an animated travel map. Both methods will allow you to create captivating animated maps that will elevate your travel videos to the next level. Now let’s get started and see which way suits you better.

Way 1. Creating an Animated Travel Map with a Mobile App

Way 2. making an animated travel map with a desktop program, tips to make an animated map, wrapping up .

One of the easiest ways to create an animated travel map is by using a mobile travel map app. There are lots of apps available on the Internet that allow you to create custom travel maps with animations on the go. Here are the steps to create an animated travel map using Travel Video Map Maker Boast, a mobile app for Android devices.

• Download and install the animated map maker on your phone. 
• Open the mobile app and select the start point and destination for your travel map. 
• Click on the play button to see the final result and correct the map animation if necessary. 
• Customize your map by adding markers, text, and images, adjusting the speed, and picking flag icons.
• Edit the path by tapping on the points that you want to adjust.
• Preview the video and save it in your phone gallery.

As you can see, creating an animated map for a travel video is not that difficult. However, this app is only available for Android smartphones. Besides, there are in-app purchases, and the program has limitations in terms of functionality and export options. 

Need more customization options and prefer working on creative projects on a computer? Then make sure to check out the method below to learn more about creating travel map animation on a PC. 

If you want more control over the map editing process, you can use a desktop animated travel map maker. This method lets you create map animation with more customization options and save your travel video in the best quality using 30+ export formats. This is how you can create an animated travel map with SmartSHOW 3D, a beginner-friendly desktop slideshow maker with a map animation feature.

• Download and launch the software after installation.
• Pick a map image you’re going to animate. 
• Draw the desired route on the map by clicking on the necessary locations.
• Personalize the animation by selecting markers, adding photos, adjusting the pauses and speed, etc.
• Export the video in the file format you need. Save it for playing on mobile devices, burn it to DVD, prepare the video for posting on social media, and more. 

This software is rich in features, so you can get the most out of it and create a movie-like travel video. For example, you can use 200+ royalty-free music tracks, transitions, pan and zoom effects, and filters. SmartSHOW 3D also lets you record audio comments, add text captions, create photo collages, and more.

When it comes to creating an animated travel map, there are a few key recommendations to keep in mind. After you choose the right software or app that suits your needs and skill level, you need to carefully select your destinations and plan the flow of your animation. You can adjust the pacing and add transitions to make the clip more appealing and engaging. It’s also essential to pay attention to the details: add markers, labels, and icons to highlight key points of the demonstrated route. 

While editing your map animation, don’t be afraid to experiment and think creatively. Play around with different animation techniques, colors, and soundtracks to add a personal touch to your map. Remember, the goal is to create a travel map video that captivates your audience and helps you reflect on your past adventures.

Creating an animated travel map is a great way to engage your viewers and enhance the storytelling in your travel videos. In this article, we have shown you 2 ways to make an animated travel map. 

First, you have learnt how to work on your project on the go by using a mobile app. Then you’ve found out how to create map animation on a computer with an intuitive program. Whether you choose to use a mobile travel map app or a desktop animated map maker, the process is quite simple and can be done by beginners and professionals alike. 

Now it’s time to choose one of the programs and create a travel video that will impress everyone. So, unleash your creativity and let your animated travel maps guide your viewers on an unforgettable journey.

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How to Create Stunning Travel Map Animation

Last Updated on February 27, 2024

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Have you just had a great trip and want to share and relive some of those memories with your family, friends, or subscribers? Maybe you want to map out all of the places that you’re going to visit on your next vacation? Either way, there’s a creative way to show off your travel adventures by generating a map animation!

What is an Animated Travel Map?

An animated travel map usually appears as a video in which your favorite moments from a trip (landmarks you visited, places you went, foods you tried, etc.) are attached to a map in the background. It also typically has animated pathways, vehicle icons, and other travel-related content.

How to Create an Animated Map: A Step-by-Step Guide

In this post, you will find out how to make an animated travel map on your computer. For this purpose, we will be using SmartSHOW 3D, a slideshow and animated map maker. It comes with a user-friendly drag&drop workflow, dozens of handy features, a built-in music library, over 700 design templates & effects, and much more. Without further ado, let’s get started!

Step 1. Gather Your Travel Photos

First things first, you will need a collection of your travel photos or pictures of places you plan to visit. Organize them in a folder on your computer so that they are easily accessible. Make sure you have a good variety of images from different locations to make your map more interesting.

Step 2. Download the Program

Now, you need to install SmartSHOW 3D on your computer. You can find the software’s installation package on the official website. Just follow the instructions of the installation wizard. Then launch the program and create a blank project to begin.

Step 3. Create an Animated Travel Map

Go to the Effects tab and choose Travel Map. In the window that pops up, pick a map from the built-in collection of over 40 countries and regions, or upload the one you need using the From File button. Use your mouse wheel to change the map scale if necessary, and hit Next. Build your route by double-clicking the map and adding markers.

Step 4. Customize Your Map

Now it’s time to add your travel photos to the project and play with animations. Pair each marker with a matching location photo. When the vehicle icon reaches the marker, the image will appear next to the marker. You can also customize the route image and the vehicle – a car, bus, plane, train, or boat. Depending on the distance to each location, you can adjust your vehicle speed to make it more realistic. You can also improve the look of your map by changing the design of the marker icons.

Step 5. Make Final Adjustments

Now, it’s time to check your creation in the preview window. Click the Edit Slide button if you’d like to change something a little bit. Here you can make your travel map more immersive by adding sound effects, such as the noise of a train, a plane, or a camera shutter. Just go to the Sounds tab and explore the Audio Collection. Alternatively, you can spice things up with over 200 royalty-free music tracks from the built-in library via the Music tab.

Step 6. Export Your Project

Once everything looks amazing, it’s time to share your creation with friends and family . Click the Create Video button and select the video quality you want and the file format you need from over 30 available options. You can upload it to social media platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram, burn it onto a DVD, or simply save it on your computer for future enjoyment.

Now you know that creating animated travel maps is a fun way to relive your travel memories . So why wait? Start creating your own map animation today and let your adventures unfold in a dynamic and engaging way! Just follow the steps above and get an exciting video that captures the essence of your adventures. If you want to find out  more about travel map animation , check out the article via the link.

Posted by: Igor Ovsyannnykov

Igor is an SEO specialist, designer, photographer, writer and music producer. He believes that knowledge can change the world and be used to inspire and empower young people to build the life of their dreams. When he is not writing in his favorite coffee shop, Igor spends most of his time reading books, taking photos, producing house music, and learning about cinematography. He is a sucker for good coffee, Indian food, and video games.

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Let the world tell your story

Earth Studio is an animation tool for Google Earth’s satellite and 3D imagery.

Inside Earth Studio

Powerful motion design, all in the browser. Earth Studio gives you the tools you need to create professional content with Google Earth imagery. Read more in the Documentation .

Keyframe Animation

Earth Studio uses keyframes, just like other industry-standard animation tools. Move the globe, set a keyframe, rinse and repeat. It’s that easy.

Quick-Start Projects

Create an orbit, or fly from point to point. Select from up to five templates to get started - no animation experience needed.

Animatable Effects

Animate custom attributes such as the sun's position, the camera's field of view and more.

3D Camera Export

Easily add map labels and pins in post production. Earth Studio supports camera export to Adobe After Effects.

Try the Earth Studio preview

Earth Studio is free to use and works with the desktop version of Google Chrome. Sign in with your Google account to request access. Learn more

Earth Studio works with the desktop version of Google Chrome. Sign in with your Google account to request access. Learn more .

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If you are a passionate traveler, addicted to your camera and often accused of boring your friends to death with travel photos and endless stories about your adventures, you’ve come to the right place! ​

We'll help you WOW your friends ツ

Visual stories draw eyeballs, everybody knows that. Your animated travel maps will make your friends  want to hear about your adventures. They might even (quietly) envy you.

If right about now you start feeling bad about showing off, don’t. Look at it this way – you are not bragging about your cool life; you are inspiring your friends to change theirs. 😉

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Sign-up to stay in touch and get updates from us as we travel across counties, experience new cultures, and discover fun things to do. We love being digital nomads and we want to go on this journey with YOU . Join us!

What passionate travelers say about PictraMap®

I was pleasantly surprised of what I saw when a friend shared the link to PictraMap. The unique way I can create and share my albums there lets my friends and family enjoy the fun moments of my trips. I like the flexibility and variety of the maps, the transitions between locations, and the music scores I can choose from – all in a very quick and intuitive way. Thank you, guys!

What a great way to give life to my countless otherwise boring photos! The maps, the music, the colors make every album special and help add an emotion to it. It's easy to use and the result is a fun adventure I could share with all my friends and family! I know they will love it too!!

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How To Make Travel Map Animation – An Easy Guide

What are the benefits of a travel map animation.

• To showcase travel experiences: A visual depiction of the locations visited can be given using animated travel maps when showcasing travel experiences.
• To make travel videos more engaging: By displaying the movement or development of details across time or space, animated trip maps can add visual interest and engagement to travel movies.
• To create a sense of journey: Animated travel maps can provide a more immersive experience by giving viewers a sense of the path taken.

An Easy Guide To Travel Map Creation

1. get the software, 2. create your travel project.

3. Draw Your Route

4. Build Your Travel Map

5. Check And Save Your Creation

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Start creating your animated maps for FREE and enjoy a 25% discount on our commercial GEOLayers.app plans for early birds.

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Design, Create, Animate and Share Maps - All in one place! GEOlayers.app lets you create animated maps in a breeze! 

Unlock your imagination: effortlessly select colors, design harmonious basemaps, create outstanding labels, and more! Seamlessly animate with our item-based timeline - Say goodbye to fiddly keyframes and value graphs. 

GEOlayers.app offers all the tools you need to tell your story with a map!

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GEOlayers.app helps you with colors, basemaps, labels and styles to highlight features on your animated maps.

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Create animated maps directly in your browser!

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Create animated maps of any place in the world, highlight features, add Labels, place Icon Markers or even draw directly to your map. Possibilities are endless!

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Our item based timeline lets you create smooth animated maps and transitions in no time. It can handle automatic animations like flashing features or rotating 3D viewports while giving you all the control you need.

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Render Images and Videos of your animated maps in all formats and resolutions you need! Export the same animation as an easy to share MP4 file for social media or lossless 4K image sequence for further editing, all with one click!

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• Solar Eclipse 2024

See the 2024 Solar Eclipse’s Path of Totality

A total solar eclipse is expected to pass through the United States on April 8, 2024, giving stargazers across the country the opportunity to view the celestial phenomenon in which the sun is completely covered by the moon.

The eclipse will enter the U.S. in Texas and exit in Maine. It is the last time a total solar eclipse will be visible in the contiguous United States until 2044.

Here's what to know about the path of the eclipse and where you can see it.

Read More : How Animals and Nature React to an Eclipse

Where can you see the total solar eclipse?

The eclipse will cross through North America, passing over parts of Mexico, the United States, and Canada. 

The eclipse will enter the United States in Texas, and travel through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Small parts of Tennessee and Michigan will also experience the total solar eclipse.

Much of the eclipse's visibility depends on the weather. A cloudy day could prevent visitors from seeing the spectacle altogether.

When does the solar eclipse start and end?

The solar eclipse will begin in Mexico’s Pacific coast at around 11:07 a.m. PDT. It will exit continental North America on the Atlantic coast of Newfoundland, Canada, at 5:16 p.m. NDT.

The longest duration of totality—which is when the moon completely covers the sun — will be 4 minutes, 28 seconds, near Torreón, Mexico. Most places along the path of totality will see a totality duration between 3.5 and 4 minutes.

Read More : The Eclipse Could Bring $1.5 Billion Into States on the Path of Totality

Where’s the best place to see the total solar eclipse?

The best place to witness the event is along the path of totality. Thirteen states will be along the path of totality, and many towns across the country are preparing for the deluge of visitors— planning eclipse watch parties and events in the days leading up to totality.

In Rochester, NY, the Rochester Museum and Science Center is hosting a multi-day festival that includes a range of events and activities. Russellville, Arkansas will host an event with activities including live music, science presentations, tethered hot-air balloon rides, and telescope viewings.

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See the Total Solar Eclipse’s Shadow From Space

Satellite images from NASA and NOAA showed the moon’s shadow moving across North America.

By K.K. Rebecca Lai and William B. Davis

PATH OF TOTALITY

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When and where the solar eclipse will be crossing the U.S.

A total solar eclipse will grace the skies over North America on Monday, one of the most hotly anticipated sky-watching events in recent years.

Weather permitting , millions of people in Mexico, 15 U.S. states and eastern Canada will have the chance to see the moon slip between Earth and sun, temporarily blocking the sun’s light .

The total solar eclipse will be visible along a “path of totality” that measures more than 100 miles wide and extends across the continent. Along that path, the moon will fully obscure the sun, causing afternoon skies to darken for a few minutes.

Follow live updates on the solar eclipse

In all other parts of the continental U.S., a partial solar eclipse will be visible, with the moon appearing to take a bite out of the sun. Exactly how big a bite depends on the location.

The first spot in North America that will experience totality on Monday is on Mexico’s Pacific coast at around 11:07 a.m. PT, according to NASA .

After moving northeast across Mexico, the eclipse’s path travels through Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Slivers of Michigan and Tennessee will also be able to witness totality if conditions are clear.

In Canada, the eclipse will be visible in parts of southern Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton, at the eastern end of Nova Scotia.

The timing of the eclipse and the duration of totality varies by location. Most places will experience around 2 minutes of darkness, but the longest periods of totality are typically in the center of the eclipse’s path.

This year, the longest stretch of totality will last 4 minutes and 28 seconds in an area northwest of Torreón, Mexico.

Below is a list of timings for some U.S. cities along the path of totality, according to NASA .

• Dallas: Partial eclipse begins at 12:23 p.m. CT and totality at 1:40 p.m. CT.
• Idabel, Oklahoma: Partial eclipse begins at 12:28 p.m. CT and totality at 1:45 p.m. CT.
• Little Rock, Arkansas: Partial eclipse begins at 12:33 p.m. CT and totality at 1:51 p.m. CT.
• Poplar Bluff, Missouri: Partial eclipse begins at 12:39 p.m. CT and totality at 1:56 p.m. CT.
• Paducah, Kentucky: Partial eclipse begins at 12:42 p.m. CT and totality at 2:00 p.m. CT.
• Carbondale, Illinois: Partial eclipse begins at 12:42 p.m. CT and totality at 1:59 p.m. CT.
• Evansville, Indiana: Partial eclipse begins at 12:45 p.m. CT and totality at 2:02 p.m. CT.
• Cleveland: Partial eclipse begins at 1:59 p.m. ET and totality at 3:13 p.m.
• Erie, Pennsylvania: Partial eclipse begins at 2:02 p.m. ET and totality at 3:16 p.m. ET.
• Buffalo, New York: Partial eclipse begins at 2:04 p.m. ET and totality at 3:18 p.m.
• Burlington, Vermont: Partial eclipse begins at 2:14 p.m. ET and totality at 3:26 p.m. ET.
• Lancaster, New Hampshire: Partial eclipse begins at 2:16 p.m. ET and totality at 3:27 p.m.
• Caribou, Maine: Partial eclipse begins at 2:22 p.m. ET and totality at 3:32 p.m. ET.

Other resources can also help you figure out when the various phases of the eclipse will be visible where you live, including NationalEclipse.com and TimeandDate.com .

If you plan to watch the celestial event, remember that it’s never safe to look directly at the sun, including through binoculars, telescopes or camera lenses. Special eclipse glasses are required to safely view solar eclipses and prevent permanent eye damage.

Denise Chow is a reporter for NBC News Science focused on general science and climate change.

• International

Total solar eclipse 2024

By Ashley Strickland , Elise Hammond , Maureen Chowdhury , Antoinette Radford, Eric Zerkel and Aditi Sangal , CNN

In pictures: Watching the solar eclipse across North America

From CNN Digital’s Photo Team

Click here for more spectacular photos from today's eclipse.

Why eclipses create a "beautiful coincidence" on Earth

From CNN's Ashley Strickland

Americans are a little spoiled when it comes to eclipses. After all, we just experienced one that the majority of the country got to see, and it comes on the heels of the "Great American Eclipse" that tracked from Oregon to South Carolina in 2017.

But that doesn't often happen. And it won't again until the 2040s.

On average, an eclipse occurs in the same place every 375 years, said Dr. John Mulchaey, Carnegie Institution for Science’s deputy for science and the director and Crawford H. Greenewalt Chair of the Carnegie Observatories.

And we’re living at the right time to truly enjoy the sight of a total eclipse on Earth, he said.

While eclipses occur throughout the solar system, none are exactly like the ones experienced in our world.

The moon is about 400 times smaller than the sun, but the moon is also about 400 times closer to Earth than the sun is, creating a “beautiful coincidence” that results in eclipses when the three celestial bodies align, Mulchaey said.

This alignment is called syzygy, or when three objects line up in space.

In the distant past, the moon was much closer to Earth, which means totality likely didn’t appear as it does now. And within another 60 million years or so, the moon will be so far away that it will never cover the sun, making this a rare moment in time, Mulchaey said.

The long history of myths and folklore inspired by eclipses

From CNN's Ashley Strickland and Terry Ward

Eclipses have long inspired terror and awe as ancient cultures sought ways to explain the celestial phenomenon .

“I find the mythology and folklore of eclipses fascinating,” said Mark Littman, a journalism professor at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and coauthor of “ Totality: The Great North American Eclipse of 2024 .”

“To see how people long ago and people today reacted to a total eclipse of the Sun, a sight so unexpected, so dramatic, so surprising in appearance, and so unnatural even though it is utterly natural.”

Ancient records of eclipses date back to 772 BC, when the Chinese marked them on animal bones, and 750 BC, when Babylonians recorded eclipses in their cuneiform writing on clay tablets, Littmann said. Both cultures "realized there was a rhythm to eclipses," which meant they could be calculated and predicted in the future.

Despite the ability to predict eclipses, the cause of the eclipse remained unknown, so myths and folklore filled the knowledge gap.

"The mythology of eclipses most often involves a beast that tries to eat the sun for lunch. For the Chinese, that beast was a dragon or a dog. For Scandinavians, it was a wolf," Littmann said.

Those in northern South America thought the sun and moon fought one another, trying to shut off each other's light, he said.

Transylvanian folklore suggested that the sun looked down on Earth, saw the corruption of humans, and turned away in disgust.

And the Fon people of western Africa thought the male sun ruled the day, while the female moon ruled the night.

"They love each other, but they are so busy traversing the sky and providing light that they seldom get together," Littmann said. "Yet when they do, they modestly turn off the light."

Eclipses provide unique opportunities for NASA scientists to learn more about the future of the sun

From CNN's Elise Hammond

NASA scientists took full advantage of Monday’s eclipse to collect data and study the Earth, moon and sun in different ways, the agency’s deputy administrator said. One area of specific interest is the sun’s corona , or outer atmosphere.

“This is a very elusive region and it can be viewed during a solar eclipse in a very special way,” Pam Melroy said during a news conference at the end of March .

She said understanding the corona is “key to understanding fundamental questions about how heat and energy are transferred out into the solar wind,” which contributes to how solar wind and flares impacts Earth.

“Things are happening with the corona (that) we don’t fully understand and the eclipse gives us a unique opportunity to collect data that may give insights into the future of our star,” Melroy said.

And this is an especially good year to study the corona, she said. The sun is approaching  solar maximum — the peak of activity — later this year, and scientists are eager to capture this moment through a variety of observations that can only occur during eclipses. During solar maximum, the sun’s magnetic poles flip and then the sun will grow quiet again during a solar minimum.

“The chance that we are going to see something amazing is very high,” Melroy said.

Former NASA astronaut says she hopes eclipse sparks sense of connectedness with the universe

A former NASA astronaut said she hopes Monday’s total solar eclipse inspires a connection between everyone who witnessed it and the universe.

“We’re all part of this universe – and the universe was showing us some of its secrets at that point in time,” Mae Jemison told CNN.

While viewing totality in Bloomington, Indiana, the former astronaut said she was thinking about other times she experienced eclipses. 

When she saw a partial eclipse as a child in Chicago, Jemison said she was trying to make sense of what was happening.

But then thinking about her time as an astronaut, “it reinforced the feeling that when I look up, when I look away from the Earth when I was in space, it again connects me with this world, with this universe – and know that I have a responsibility.”

Jemison said science is about building on knowledge for the next generation, and the eclipse was an opportunity to do just that. Scientists used Monday’s eclipse to gather data to better understand the sun but Jemison said she hopes there is also learning at a personal level.

“I hope what people discover is themselves and their connectedness to the rest of the universe,” she said.

Eclipse Explained: Is there anywhere that saw totality in both 2017 and 2024? 

Yes! There is an area where both 2017 and 2024 paths of totality intersect. According to a map from NASA , that area includes parts of Missouri, southern Illinois and western Kentucky.

One of the places in that intersection, Carbondale, Illinois, experienced the longest period of totality in 2017 at 2 minutes, 42 seconds, according to NASA. 

Seeing the eclipse again more than 20 years later

From CNN's Christina Zdanowicz

Juan M. Soto Peña and his wife experienced the joy of a total solar eclipse alongside their daughter, Luciana, in Tucson, Arizona.

The couple saw a partial solar eclipse together on December 25, 2000, in the state of Sonora in Mexico, he said.

Worried about eye damage? Here are the signs you should visit an optometrist after the eclipse

Maybe your eclipse glasses were fake. Perhaps you forgot to slip them back on as the first bit of sunlight reappeared after totality. Or you noticed your child, friend or family member looking up at the sun without putting on their glasses.

Symptoms of eye damage after improperly viewing the eclipse without proper protection can take hours or days to manifest. They include loss of central vision, altered color vision or distorted vision .

And if you notice any symptoms or experience eye discomfort, make an appointment immediately using the American Optometric Association's doctor locator , said Ronald Benner, an optometrist and president of the American Optometric Association.

“For most people, it’s an alteration of color vision,” Benner said. “The next morning, colors just don’t look right, or it may be bleached out it or just kind of hazy all the time. For others, it may be that they actually have holes in their vision.”

If the damage occurs in the center of someone’s vision, it can affect the ability to read or recognize faces, Benner said.

Here's what the eclipse looked like from the International Space Station

From CNN's Taylor Nicioli

From space, crew members at the International Space Station saw a different perspective of the celestial event — the moon’s shadow cast onto Earth.

The orbiting laboratory "soared into the moon’s shadow" and NASA Flight Engineers Matthew Dominick and Jeanette Epps got a chance to capture it following their “workday filled with cargo transfers, spacesuit maintenance, and microgravity research,” according to a statement from NASA . The astronauts took pictures and videos of the shadow of the moon as seen from their position about 260 miles above southeastern Canada. 

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