Every GTA game has expanded the map, and GTA 6 is no exception. Based on the official trailers, leaked footage, and geographic analysis by the community, the Vice City map in GTA 6 appears to be the largest and most detailed open world Rockstar has ever created. Here is how it compares to GTA 5 Los Santos and what we know so far.
GTA 6 Map Size Compared to GTA 5
Based on trailer analysis and community mapping efforts, GTA 6 Vice City is estimated to be 1.5 to 2 times larger than the GTA 5 map (Blaine County and Los Santos combined).
GTA 5 total map area: approximately 49 square miles (127 sq km), with the city of Los Santos taking up about 12 square miles. The rest is countryside, desert, mountains, and ocean.
GTA 6 estimated map area: approximately 75-100 square miles based on satellite-style analysis of the trailer footage. The city of Vice City alone appears comparable in size to all of Los Santos.
But raw square mileage is not the whole story. GTA 6 appears to have significantly more vertical density and interior spaces than GTA 5.
What We Know From the Trailers
Vice City proper is a sprawling coastal metropolis modeled after Miami. The trailers show:
- A dense downtown area with skyscrapers and elevated highways
- Beach districts with hotels, clubs, and boardwalks
- Residential suburban neighborhoods
- Industrial port areas
- Multiple distinct neighborhoods with different architectural styles
The Everglades / swamplands stretch out from the city into rural Florida terrain. The trailers show:
- Wetlands with alligators and wildlife
- Small towns and trailer parks
- Dirt roads and airboat channels
- Dense vegetation and swamp forests
Keys / island areas appear to be accessible offshore locations. Leaked footage suggests:
- Multiple small islands
- Coastal keys connected by bridges
- Potential Caribbean-inspired locations
City Density: Vice City vs. Los Santos
The biggest difference between GTA 6 and GTA 5 maps is not the size. It is the density.
GTA 5 Los Santos had impressive building exteriors but relatively few interiors. Most buildings were inaccessible decoration. GTA 6 trailers show far more enterable buildings, with visible interiors through windows and doors that appear to open.
The NPC density is also dramatically higher. GTA 5 typically rendered 15-30 pedestrians in a city block. GTA 6 trailer footage shows 50-100+ NPCs in some scenes, each with more detailed behavior patterns.
Vehicle density follows the same pattern. Traffic in GTA 6 appears denser and more varied, with a wider range of car models and styles reflecting the modern Miami setting.
Rural Areas Compared
GTA 5 Blaine County (the rural area north of Los Santos) featured:
- Sandy Shores desert town
- Paleto Bay small town
- Mount Chiliad
- Alamo Sea
- Farmland and forests
GTA 6 rural areas appear to include:
- Extensive Everglades swamplands (much more detailed than any GTA 5 wilderness)
- Multiple small towns scattered through the countryside
- Agricultural areas
- Inland waterways navigable by boat
- Wildlife significantly more diverse than GTA 5
The Everglades alone appear larger than Blaine County, and the ecosystem looks more interactive. Alligators actively hunt NPCs in trailer footage, and the swamp terrain has more traversal variety than GTA 5 mountains.
Water and Underwater Content
GTA 5 had a large ocean area but limited underwater content beyond a few wrecks and collectibles.
GTA 6 being set in a coastal Florida environment means water is a much bigger part of the map. The trailer shows:
- Extensive coastline with accessible beaches
- Swamp waterways navigable by airboat
- Ocean areas with visible marine life
- Keys and islands reachable by boat
- What appears to be more detailed underwater environments
Given that Vice City is essentially a peninsula surrounded by water, expect significantly more water-based gameplay and content than GTA 5.
Interiors and Accessible Buildings
This is where GTA 6 appears to make the biggest leap. Based on trailer analysis:
GTA 5 accessible interiors: Approximately 15-20 unique interiors (stores, safehouses, specific mission locations). Most buildings were facades.
GTA 6 expected interiors: Significantly more based on visible storefronts with detailed interiors, visible door mechanisms and entry points, NPC activity inside buildings visible through windows, and strip mall and shopping center environments that appear fully modeled.
The next-gen SSD streaming technology on PS5 makes this possible. The console can load interior data as you approach a building, allowing Rockstar to make many more buildings enterable without the memory limitations that constrained GTA 5 on PS3/Xbox 360.
Will GTA 6 Map Expand After Launch?
Based on GTA Online precedent, yes. GTA Online added Cayo Perico (a full island map), Liberty City content, and multiple interior expansions over its lifespan. Expect GTA 6 Online to expand the map substantially over time with potential additions of new islands, neighborhoods, and interior spaces.
Rockstar has historically used map expansions as major content updates that drive player engagement and microtransaction revenue. Vice City is well-positioned for island expansions given its coastal setting.
FAQ
Is the GTA 6 map bigger than RDR2?
Likely similar in raw size but much denser. RDR2 map is approximately 29 square miles of wilderness. GTA 6 appears to be 75-100 square miles but with far more buildings, roads, and points of interest per square mile.
Will GTA 6 have the entire state of Florida?
Not the entire state. Based on trailers, the map covers a Vice City metro area (Miami equivalent) plus surrounding Everglades and coastal areas. Think of it as the southern tip of Florida, not the whole state.
Can you fly across the GTA 6 map?
If it follows GTA 5 precedent, yes. Flying across the GTA 5 map in a jet takes about 3-4 minutes. GTA 6 would take approximately 5-7 minutes at similar speeds, based on estimated map size.
Will GTA 6 have underwater exploration?
Based on the coastal setting and trailer footage showing marine life, underwater content is almost certain. Expect more detailed underwater environments than GTA 5, potentially including coral reefs, shipwrecks, and underwater caves.
How long will it take to drive across the GTA 6 map?
Driving across GTA 5 takes approximately 6-8 minutes at top speed. If GTA 6 is 1.5-2x larger, expect 10-15 minutes to drive from one end to the other, depending on road layout and traffic.
