diff --git a/AsyncDisplayKit/ASMapNode.h b/AsyncDisplayKit/ASMapNode.h
index 5aa6920c50..ccf55584fb 100644
--- a/AsyncDisplayKit/ASMapNode.h
+++ b/AsyncDisplayKit/ASMapNode.h
@@ -15,9 +15,9 @@ NS_ASSUME_NONNULL_BEGIN
 @interface ASMapNode : ASImageNode
 
 /**
- The current region of ASMapNode. This can be set at any time and ASMapNode will animate the change. This property may be set from a background thread before the node is loaded, and will automatically be applied to define the region of the static snapshot (if .liveMap = NO) or the internal MKMapView (otherwise).
+ The current options of ASMapNode. This can be set at any time and ASMapNode will animate the change.<br><br>This property may be set from a background thread before the node is loaded, and will automatically be applied to define the behavior of the static snapshot (if .liveMap = NO) or the internal MKMapView (otherwise).<br><br> Changes to the region and camera options will only be animated when when the liveMap mode is enabled, otherwise these options will be applied statically to the new snapshot. <br><br> The options object is used to specify properties even when the liveMap mode is enabled, allowing seamless transitions between the snapshot and liveMap (as well as back to the snapshot).
  */
-@property (nonatomic, assign) MKCoordinateRegion region;
+@property (nonatomic, strong) MKMapSnapshotOptions *options;
 
 /**
  This is the MKMapView that is the live map part of ASMapNode. This will be nil if .liveMap = NO. Note, MKMapView is *not* thread-safe.
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ NS_ASSUME_NONNULL_BEGIN
 @property (nonatomic, weak) id <MKMapViewDelegate> mapDelegate;
 
 /**
- * @discussion This method set the annotations of the static map view and also to the live map view. Passing an empty array clears the map of any annotations.
+ * @discussion This method sets the annotations of the static map view and also to the live map view. Passing an empty array clears the map of any annotations.
  * @param annotations An array of objects that conform to the MKAnnotation protocol
  */
 - (void)setAnnotations:(NSArray<id<MKAnnotation>> *)annotations;
diff --git a/AsyncDisplayKit/ASMapNode.mm b/AsyncDisplayKit/ASMapNode.mm
index 963b9d3647..c641a17af0 100644
--- a/AsyncDisplayKit/ASMapNode.mm
+++ b/AsyncDisplayKit/ASMapNode.mm
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@
 {
   ASDN::RecursiveMutex _propertyLock;
   MKMapSnapshotter *_snapshotter;
-  MKMapSnapshotOptions *_options;
   NSArray *_annotations;
   CLLocationCoordinate2D _centerCoordinateOfMap;
 }
@@ -28,7 +27,7 @@
 
 @synthesize needsMapReloadOnBoundsChange = _needsMapReloadOnBoundsChange;
 @synthesize mapDelegate = _mapDelegate;
-@synthesize region = _region;
+@synthesize options = _options;
 @synthesize liveMap = _liveMap;
 
 #pragma mark - Lifecycle
@@ -43,13 +42,6 @@
   _needsMapReloadOnBoundsChange = YES;
   _liveMap = NO;
   _centerCoordinateOfMap = kCLLocationCoordinate2DInvalid;
-  
-  //Default world-scale view
-  _region = MKCoordinateRegionForMapRect(MKMapRectWorld);
-  
-  _options = [[MKMapSnapshotOptions alloc] init];
-  _options.region = _region;
-  
   return self;
 }
 
@@ -119,20 +111,19 @@
   _needsMapReloadOnBoundsChange = needsMapReloadOnBoundsChange;
 }
 
-- (MKCoordinateRegion)region
+- (MKMapSnapshotOptions *)options
 {
   ASDN::MutexLocker l(_propertyLock);
-  return _region;
+  return _options;
 }
 
-- (void)setRegion:(MKCoordinateRegion)region
+- (void)setOptions:(MKMapSnapshotOptions *)options
 {
   ASDN::MutexLocker l(_propertyLock);
-  _region = region;
+  _options = options;
   if (self.isLiveMap) {
-    [_mapView setRegion:_region animated:YES];
+    [self applySnapshotOptions];
   } else {
-    _options.region = _region;
     [self resetSnapshotter];
     [self takeSnapshot];
   }
@@ -183,7 +174,9 @@
 - (void)setUpSnapshotter
 {
   ASDisplayNodeAssert(!CGSizeEqualToSize(CGSizeZero, self.calculatedSize), @"self.calculatedSize can not be zero. Make sure that you are setting a preferredFrameSize or wrapping ASMapNode in a ASRatioLayoutSpec or similar.");
-  _options.size = self.calculatedSize;
+  if (!_options) {
+    [self createInitialOptions];
+  }
   _snapshotter = [[MKMapSnapshotter alloc] initWithOptions:_options];
 }
 
@@ -193,6 +186,23 @@
   _snapshotter = [[MKMapSnapshotter alloc] initWithOptions:_options];
 }
 
+- (void)createInitialOptions
+{
+  _options = [[MKMapSnapshotOptions alloc] init];
+  //Default world-scale view
+  _options.region = MKCoordinateRegionForMapRect(MKMapRectWorld);
+  _options.size = self.calculatedSize;
+}
+
+- (void)applySnapshotOptions
+{
+  [_mapView setCamera:_options.camera animated:YES];
+  [_mapView setRegion:_options.region animated:YES];
+  [_mapView setMapType:_options.mapType];
+  _mapView.showsBuildings = _options.showsBuildings;
+  _mapView.showsPointsOfInterest = _options.showsPointsOfInterest;
+}
+
 #pragma mark - Actions
 - (void)addLiveMap
 {
@@ -201,7 +211,10 @@
     __weak ASMapNode *weakSelf = self;
     _mapView = [[MKMapView alloc] initWithFrame:CGRectZero];
     _mapView.delegate = weakSelf.mapDelegate;
-    [_mapView setRegion:_options.region];
+    if (!_options) {
+      [weakSelf createInitialOptions];
+    }
+    [weakSelf applySnapshotOptions];
     [_mapView addAnnotations:_annotations];
     [weakSelf setNeedsLayout];
     [weakSelf.view addSubview:_mapView];
@@ -232,7 +245,7 @@
 }
 
 #pragma mark - Layout
-// Layout isn't usually needed in the box model, but since we are making use of MKMapView which is hidden in an ASDisplayNode this is preferred.
+// Layout isn't usually needed in the box model, but since we are making use of MKMapView this is preferred.
 - (void)layout
 {
   [super layout];