You will need to obtain a GoogleMaps API key to be able to get the
actual maps. Getting a debug version key is fairly easy (there are
more steps to release an app, but luckily you can start programming
with just the debug key).

Create your project with Android Studio and select "Google Maps Activity"
when prompted for what activity to add. The see the file 

            app/src/debug/res/values/google_maps_api.xml

in your project for instructions. It should open first when the
project is first opened, and will show the place to paste in the key
once obtained.

------------------[ Privacy Concerns ]------------------

You will be forced to install or update your "Google Play Services",
so make sure you are doing this on a good Wi-Fi connection. You will
also need to "sign in" to a Google account, and will likely remain
"signed in", i.e., sending all kinds of information to Google from
your phone. Please keep this in mind.

I found it hard to create a separate Google account for just
development purposes. These days, Google demands a phone number for
"verification" via SMS or voice, and I found that Dartmouth phone
numbers are rejected. In the end, I gave up and used an existing
Gmail account.

If you find a simple way to create a separate account that will not be
tied to an account you may already be using with Google or to your
other equipment, please share your method.