A geographic map visualization showing a connected path or route between sequential waypoints. Unlike scatter maps that display discrete points, this plot connects coordinates in order to reveal journeys, tracks, and navigation paths. Ideal for GPS data, delivery routes, and travel visualization where the sequence and continuity of movement matters.
""" anyplot.ai
map-route-path: Route Path Map
Library: matplotlib 3.10.9 | Python 3.13.13
Quality: 85/100 | Updated: 2026-05-21
"""
import os
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import numpy as np
from matplotlib.collections import LineCollection
THEME = os.getenv("ANYPLOT_THEME", "light")
PAGE_BG = "#FAF8F1" if THEME == "light" else "#1A1A17"
ELEVATED_BG = "#FFFDF6" if THEME == "light" else "#242420"
INK = "#1A1A17" if THEME == "light" else "#F0EFE8"
INK_SOFT = "#4A4A44" if THEME == "light" else "#B8B7B0"
# Okabe-Ito positions for start/end markers
START_COLOR = "#009E73" # position 1 — green
END_COLOR = "#C475FD" # position 2 — vermillion
# Data: Simulated hiking trail GPS track (San Francisco coastal path)
np.random.seed(42)
n_points = 150
t = np.linspace(0, 4 * np.pi, n_points)
lon = -122.4 + 0.03 * t / (4 * np.pi) + 0.008 * np.sin(2 * t) + np.cumsum(np.random.randn(n_points) * 0.0003)
lat = 37.75 + 0.025 * np.sin(t) + 0.015 * np.cos(1.5 * t) + np.cumsum(np.random.randn(n_points) * 0.0003)
sequence = np.arange(n_points)
# Plot
fig, ax = plt.subplots(figsize=(8, 4.5), dpi=400, facecolor=PAGE_BG)
ax.set_facecolor(PAGE_BG)
# Line segments with viridis gradient encoding trail progression
points = np.array([lon, lat]).T.reshape(-1, 1, 2)
segments = np.concatenate([points[:-1], points[1:]], axis=1)
norm = plt.Normalize(sequence.min(), sequence.max())
lc = LineCollection(segments, cmap="viridis", norm=norm, linewidth=2.5, alpha=0.9)
lc.set_array(sequence[:-1])
line = ax.add_collection(lc)
# Colorbar
cbar = fig.colorbar(line, ax=ax, shrink=0.8, pad=0.02)
cbar.set_label("Trail Progress", fontsize=10, color=INK_SOFT)
cbar.ax.tick_params(labelsize=8, labelcolor=INK_SOFT, color=INK_SOFT)
cbar.outline.set_edgecolor(INK_SOFT)
# Start and end markers (Okabe-Ito positions 1 and 2)
ax.scatter(
lon[0], lat[0], s=150, c=START_COLOR, marker="o", edgecolors=PAGE_BG, linewidths=1.5, zorder=5, label="Start"
)
ax.scatter(lon[-1], lat[-1], s=150, c=END_COLOR, marker="s", edgecolors=PAGE_BG, linewidths=1.5, zorder=5, label="End")
# Direction arrows at intervals along the path
arrow_indices = np.linspace(20, n_points - 20, 5, dtype=int)
for i in arrow_indices:
dx = lon[i + 1] - lon[i - 1]
dy = lat[i + 1] - lat[i - 1]
ax.annotate(
"",
xy=(lon[i] + dx * 0.3, lat[i] + dy * 0.3),
xytext=(lon[i], lat[i]),
arrowprops={"arrowstyle": "->", "color": INK, "lw": 2.0},
)
# Style
ax.set_xlabel("Longitude (°)", fontsize=10, color=INK)
ax.set_ylabel("Latitude (°)", fontsize=10, color=INK)
ax.set_title("map-route-path · python · matplotlib · anyplot.ai", fontsize=12, fontweight="medium", color=INK)
ax.tick_params(axis="both", labelsize=8, colors=INK_SOFT)
# Suppress offset notation so full coordinate values are shown
ax.ticklabel_format(useOffset=False, style="plain")
ax.spines["top"].set_visible(False)
ax.spines["right"].set_visible(False)
for s in ("left", "bottom"):
ax.spines[s].set_color(INK_SOFT)
ax.grid(True, alpha=0.12, linewidth=0.6, color=INK)
leg = ax.legend(fontsize=8, loc="upper left")
if leg:
leg.get_frame().set_facecolor(ELEVATED_BG)
leg.get_frame().set_edgecolor(INK_SOFT)
plt.setp(leg.get_texts(), color=INK_SOFT)
x_margin = (lon.max() - lon.min()) * 0.1
y_margin = (lat.max() - lat.min()) * 0.1
ax.set_xlim(lon.min() - x_margin, lon.max() + x_margin)
ax.set_ylim(lat.min() - y_margin, lat.max() + y_margin)
plt.tight_layout()
# Save — no bbox_inches so figsize×dpi gives exact 3200×1800
plt.savefig(f"plot-{THEME}.png", dpi=400, facecolor=PAGE_BG)
Part of Route Path Map on anyplot.ai.