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How to plan a Christmas lights tour
Pick the displays you want to see, and we'll turn them into one driving route you can open on your phone. It takes about two minutes and it's free.
5 steps
- 1
Find displays near you
Go to Lights Near Me and tap Use my location, or type your city or ZIP. You can also open your city's page. Each display shows its dates, hours, cost and whether it's synced to music.
- 2
Tap "+ Tour" on the ones you want
Pick up to 10 stops. The button turns green and a bar at the bottom of the screen counts your stops. Mix it up: a big drive-thru show, a decorated neighborhood or two, and a few houses with music.
- 3
Open your tour route
Tap View tour route. We put your stops in the order that keeps the drive shortest, number them, and draw the loop on a map. Remove any stop by tapping its green button.
- 4
Send it to your phone
Tap Send to my phone. Scan the QR code with your phone's camera, share the link to your family group text, or email it to yourself. Planning on a laptop and driving with a phone works fine.
- 5
Drive it in Google Maps
On your phone, tap Open route in Google Maps. Every stop is already loaded, in order, starting from wherever you are. Just hit Start.
Tips for a better lights tour
Go after 6pm on a weeknight
Most displays are on by 5 or 6pm, and weeknights are far less crowded than the weekend before Christmas.
Check each stop's hours
Home displays often shut off at 9 or 10pm. Put the late-closing shows at the end of your route.
Tune in to the music
Displays synced to music list their FM station. Pull over or roll slowly, tune in, and leave the engine running for the radio.
Be a good guest
Stay on the street, don't block driveways, dim your headlights when you stop, and keep it quiet late in the evening. These are people's homes.
Budget about 15 minutes a stop
A 6-stop tour usually takes 1.5 to 2 hours with driving. Bring snacks and a thermos of hot cocoa.
Bring cash
Some homes collect donations for charity, and ticketed drive-thrus are faster if you buy online first.
Questions
How many stops can a tour have?
Up to 10. That's the most Google Maps accepts in a single route link.
Do I need an account?
No. Your tour is saved in your browser, and the tour link itself works for anyone you send it to.
Does it work with Apple Maps?
The full multi-stop route opens in Google Maps, since Apple Maps links only take one destination. Each display page also has a Directions button for a single stop.
Can I share my tour with friends?
Yes. Use Share link or Copy link on the tour page, and they'll see the same stops in the same order.