Now you can get a short URL by clicking the gear icon at the bottom of the page, selecting "share and embed map" and checking "short URL". I think the short URL should be displayed by default, since the long version can be found in the address bar. "By using a short URL, you can squeeze a long Google Maps link into fewer characters to leave more room to say what's on your mind," explains Google.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC5OeRv8DI75q63ZrfsX0q9keG2-Vz0T7SYlf9Lfd8KxH5VsRXiXaT1Z-6C4cf0CWNIvljyfRSBFcqeqalhyphenhyphenCBH0hQoRGNdZ4skrLjJ2fTfInEzZuyyzHi663vwD7B4Gu-P3Htbh69gJoq/s1600/google-maps-short-url-2.png)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Hb-KtkMgZ5HT6caSI4U2_Eail_QgsIaR0J7GT_uYFPX5piPEVM4amtWDzZCL1pO6Uf2cAh4z2XEhyphenhyphen9ZPPmBbTKE_IwLl1__DsqXt4MbuMJKBDaCg0nXr7OVEh5Oib2D_29hSx_7wOTFO/s1600/google-maps-short-url.png)
{ via +Google Maps }