Google Maps API calculate distance between two points Python

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To calculate the distance between two points using the Google Maps API in Python, you can use the googlemaps library. Before you begin, make sure you have the library installed. You can install it using:

pip install -U googlemaps

Next, you’ll need a Google Maps API key. You can get one by following the instructions on the Google Cloud Console.

Here’s an example script to calculate the distance between two points using the Google Maps API in Python:

import googlemaps
from datetime import datetime

# Replace 'YOUR_API_KEY' with your actual API key
API_KEY = 'YOUR_API_KEY'
gmaps = googlemaps.Client(key=API_KEY)

def get_distance(origin, destination):
    try:
        # Geocoding the addresses to get latitude and longitude
        origin_geocode = gmaps.geocode(origin)[0]['geometry']['location']
        destination_geocode = gmaps.geocode(destination)[0]['geometry']['location']

        # Calculating the distance
        result = gmaps.distance_matrix(
            origins=(origin_geocode['lat'], origin_geocode['lng']),
            destinations=(destination_geocode['lat'], destination_geocode['lng']),
            mode="driving",
            departure_time=datetime.now()
        )

        # Extracting the distance from the result
        distance = result['rows'][0]['elements'][0]['distance']['text']
        return distance

    except Exception as e:
        print(f"Error: {e}")
        return None

if __name__ == "__main__":
    # Example addresses (replace with your own)
    origin_address = "San Francisco, CA"
    destination_address = "Los Angeles, CA"

    # Get and print the distance
    distance_result = get_distance(origin_address, destination_address)
    
    if distance_result:
        print(f"The distance between {origin_address} and {destination_address} is: {distance_result}")
    else:
        print("Failed to calculate the distance.")

Replace YOUR_API_KEY with your actual API key and adjust the origin_address and destination_address variables with the addresses you want to calculate the distance between. Note that the addresses should be relatively precise to ensure accurate geocoding.

Keep in mind that the Google Maps API has usage limits, and you may incur charges if you exceed the free tier limits. Always check the Google Maps Platform Pricing for more information.

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