Checked against Garmin manuals in November 2026. Menu names can change with each app update, and where a step comes from Garmin owners rather than a manual, we say so.
Which way suits your Garmin
| Device | Best way | Also possible |
|---|---|---|
| Edge, Forerunner and fenix | Import on the Garmin Connect website, then send it to the device | USB copy, reported by owners |
| zumo XT, XT2 and XT3 | USB copy to the GPX folder | Garmin Explore website with the Tread app, on the XT2 |
| GPSMAP, eTrex and other handhelds | Garmin Explore website, then sync with the app | USB copy to the NewFiles or GPX folder |
| RV and Camper navigators | Open the GPX with the Garmin Drive app | Check your manual |
| DriveSmart car navigators | One destination at a time with Garmin Drive | Check your manual |
Step 1: turn the Google Maps route into a GPX
- Plan your route in Google Maps and add your stops.
- Copy the link. On a phone, tap Share and then Copy link.
- Paste the link into the converter and download the .gpx file.
- Open the file in the GPX viewer to check the line and the distance.
The file holds the line of the route as a track, with a Start and an End waypoint. It has no turn instructions. Public transport routes cannot be converted.
Step 2: load the GPX on your Garmin
Edge, Forerunner and fenix: Garmin Connect
- On a computer, sign in at connect.garmin.com and open Courses, under Training and Planning.
- Click Import, choose your .gpx file and save it as a course.
- Click Send to Device and pick your device.
- Sync the device with the Garmin Connect app or with Garmin Express.
- On an Edge, the course appears on the home screen, or under Navigation and Courses. On a watch, look in its navigation menu.
The Edge and fenix manuals cover sending and syncing. The import itself comes from Garmin owners, who say it is on the website and not in the phone app.
Without Garmin Connect, owners report that you can copy the .gpx to the Garmin/NewFiles folder by USB. The device converts it when you unplug it or restart it, so eject it properly first.
zumo XT, XT2 and XT3: USB or Garmin Explore
- Connect the zumo to a computer. It appears as a portable device.
- Copy the .gpx into the GPX folder on the device.
- Unplug it. Owners report that the zumo then offers to import the file.
Garmin notes that Apple computers may need extra software, such as Android File Transfer, to read this device.
The zumo XT2 manual also describes the Garmin Explore website: open the Map tab and choose Import, and the data syncs to the Tread app and the device. A Garmin representative has said on its forum that the XT2 does not work with the Explore phone app.
Owners report that a file sent through Tread can arrive as a track, while one imported from the GPX folder can become a route. Check which one you got before you leave.
GPSMAP, eTrex and other handhelds
On the Garmin Explore website, open the map and use Import. It takes GPX, KML and KMZ files and adds them to a collection. The Explore app then syncs them with your device.
By USB, the folder matters. On the eTrex SE and Solar, files in NewFiles become courses and sync with Explore. Files in GPX open in a separate GPX Data menu, do not sync, and are limited to 10 tracks, 10 routes and 30 files. Other models may differ, so check your manual.
On a Mac, the GPSMAP 67 manual says you need Garmin Express to reach the files.
Car, RV and Camper navigators
On RV and Camper units, open the .gpx on your phone with the Garmin Drive app and follow the steps. Routes appear in the Trip Planner under Saved Trips, and waypoints under Where To and Saved. Garmin describes this for waypoints and routes, and our file holds a track, so check that the route appeared.
The DriveSmart manuals we read describe sending one location from your phone, not a whole route. If you only need a destination, Garmin Drive is the quick way.
Course, track and route
A course is a line to follow, the format used by Garmin Connect, sports watches and bike computers. A track is a recorded or drawn line. A route is a list of points that a navigator joins using its own maps.
That last one explains most surprises. Google and Garmin use different maps, so a route calculated on a navigator may not match what you saw in Google Maps. A course or a track keeps your line.
Will you get turn prompts?
Not from the file, because a GPX made from Google Maps holds no instructions. On an Edge, turn prompts are a setting called Turn Guidance, in the course options. Garmin owners report that the device works them out by matching the line to its maps, so expect only the line on a model without road maps.
If you leave the course, an Edge 840 lets you pause navigation or re-route. The first re-route option is the shortest way back to the course and starts by itself after 10 seconds.
GPX, TCX or FIT?
Start with GPX. Owners report that the Garmin Connect import takes GPX and TCX but not FIT, and that the format does not change turn guidance. A FIT course is useful for copying to the device by USB.
When the route will not load
| Problem | What to try |
|---|---|
| Garmin Connect will not save the course | Owners link this to very long or detailed tracks. Reduce the points and import it again. |
| The course looks shorter or rougher after importing | Owners report that Garmin Connect thins large files. Compare it with the GPX viewer, and split long routes into stages. |
| The course is not on the device | Sync again from the Garmin Connect app or Garmin Express. |
| The computer does not show the device | On a Mac you need Garmin Express or Android File Transfer, depending on the model. |
| The zumo says the route does not suit its maps | Owners saw this when the maps for that region were not installed. |
We found no Garmin page that gives one point limit for every device. Figures you may read online, such as 200 points, mostly refer to routes on particular handhelds and not to courses.
What about BaseCamp?
BaseCamp is the older desktop program from Garmin. It can still send files to a connected device, but Garmin users report that development has stopped, and Garmin has said future versions of macOS will not run it. We would not start with it today.
Test it before you leave
We have not loaded these routes on every Garmin model. Load the route at home, check that the line and the distance look right, and try a short stretch before you depend on it.
Frequently asked questions
Can I send a route from Google Maps straight to my Garmin?
No. Google Maps has no option for it. Convert the route to a GPX file, then load that file with Garmin Connect, Garmin Explore, Garmin Drive or a USB cable, depending on your device.
Can I import the GPX in the Garmin Connect phone app?
Garmin owners report that the import is on the Garmin Connect website and not in the phone app. Once the course is in your account, you can send it to your device from either one.
Will my Garmin give me turn-by-turn directions?
The file holds no instructions, so any prompts come from the device. On an Edge, turn them on with Turn Guidance in the course options. Test it on a short stretch first.
Why does my Garmin show a different route from Google Maps?
Google and Garmin use different maps. A course or a track keeps your line, but a route is calculated by the device on its own maps, so it can choose other roads.
What if my Garmin rejects the file?
Garmin owners most often link this to very long or detailed tracks. Reduce the number of points or split the route into stages, then import it again.
Is the conversion free?
You can start for free: each month you get 2 free conversions with a free account, or 1 without one. Pro Lifetime is a one-time payment for unlimited conversions.
GPX2Maps is not affiliated with Garmin or Google. Garmin, Edge, fenix and zumo are trademarks of Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries.