Why convert KML or KMZ to GPX?
KML is Google's format for routes and points of interest — it powers Google Earth and Google My Maps. GPX is the open standard supported by virtually every outdoor device and app: Garmin head units, Wahoo ELEMNT, Strava, Komoot, AllTrails, running watches, cycling computers and motorbike GPS units. To take a route you built in My Maps out into the real world, you need it as GPX.
- Device compatibility: most GPS devices read GPX natively but ignore KML.
- Exact geometry: KML preserves every drag point — the GPX comes out matching your route to the metre.
- Offline navigation: load the .gpx onto a Garmin/Wahoo and follow it without cell signal.
- Strava, Komoot, AllTrails: all of them ingest GPX directly; few accept KML.
How our KML → GPX converter works
1. Get your KML or KMZ file
From Google My Maps: open your map, click the three-dot menu next to the title and choose "Export to KML/KMZ". From Google Earth: right-click a path or folder in the sidebar and pick "Save Place As…". Any standards-compliant KML works.
2. Upload the file or paste a My Maps link
Open our Maps → GPX converter and switch to the "Google My Maps / KML" tab. Drag in your .kml or .kmz file, or paste the public share URL of a Google My Maps (the one with ?mid=… in it). No signup required for your first conversion.
3. Download the .gpx
Press Convert and the GPX file downloads instantly with the full route geometry. Load it on your GPS device, upload to Strava, or open it in any app that reads GPX.
Upload a .kml / .kmz file or paste a Google My Maps URL. No signup needed for your first conversion.
Open the converter →Supported KML sources
- Google My Maps: upload the exported .kml/.kmz or paste a public share URL (
www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=…) - Google Earth: "Save Place As…" produces a KML our converter reads directly.
- Any standards-compliant KML 2.2: routes from Caltopo, OpenStreetMap exports, hiking websites, etc.
- KMZ archives: we unwrap them automatically and read the doc.kml inside.
KML vs GPX — what is the difference?
KML (Keyhole Markup Language) is Google's XML format for placemarks, paths and overlays. GPX (GPS Exchange Format) is the open Topografix standard for waypoints, routes and tracks. They cover similar ground, but GPX is what GPS hardware actually speaks. KMZ is just a zipped KML; the two are functionally equivalent for our purposes.
- KML — great for Google Earth and Google My Maps; rarely supported on GPS devices.
- KMZ — compressed KML; useful when the file includes icons or images.
- GPX — the universal GPS format. If a route lives anywhere outside Google Maps, GPX is what it needs to be.
Converting KMZ to GPX — what to know
KMZ is the format Google Earth and Google My Maps export by default, and the one most cycling and hiking sites publish their tracks in. Under the hood a .kmz file is a ZIP archive: it contains a single doc.kml with the route geometry plus, optionally, any custom icons, photos or 3D overlays the original map used. The advantage over a plain .kml is that the file is smaller (XML compresses very well) and self-contained — perfect for emailing a route to a friend or attaching to a forum post.
You do not need to unzip a KMZ before uploading. Our converter opens the archive in memory, picks the doc.kml, validates that it really is KML, and feeds the LineString coordinates straight to the GPX generator. The output is identical to what you would get by converting the inner KML on its own — the GPX format does not preserve KMZ-specific extras like custom icons or photo attachments, only the route line itself, which is exactly what your GPS device needs.
- Choose KMZ when the map carries custom icons or attachments, or you want the smallest possible file to share.
- Choose KML when you need to open or edit the file in a plain-text editor before converting.
- Either way — drop the file on the converter and download a clean .gpx ready for Garmin, Wahoo, Strava and every other GPS app.
Why KML beats a Google Maps URL for custom routes
A Google Maps share URL only contains your start point, end point and any stops added explicitly with the "+ Add destination" button. If you customised the route by dragging the blue line on the map, those drag points are not in the URL — Google redraws them only in the browser. A KML export, on the other hand, contains every coordinate on your line, so the .gpx you get from a KML matches exactly what you drew. For complex cycling, hiking or motorbike routes, KML is the right export path.
Need the reverse? GPX to Google Maps
GPX2Maps is bidirectional. If you already have a .gpx and want to view it on Google Maps, our GPX → Google Maps converter does exactly that. One tool, both directions.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert a KML file to GPX online?
Open the GPX2Maps Maps → GPX converter, switch to the "Google My Maps / KML" tab, drag in your file and click Convert. The .gpx downloads in seconds — no software install, no command line, no manual editing.
Does the converter accept KMZ files?
Yes. KMZ is a zipped KML and we unwrap it automatically. The output GPX is identical to what you would get from the underlying .kml.
How do I export a route from Google My Maps to GPX?
First export to KML/KMZ from Google My Maps (three-dot menu → "Export to KML/KMZ" → "Entire map"). Then upload that file to our KML → GPX converter and download the resulting .gpx.
Is the KML to GPX converter free?
Free users get 1 conversion per month. The Pro Lifetime plan is a one-time $29.99 payment for unlimited conversions in both directions, forever.
Is my KML file safe to upload?
Yes. We parse the KML in memory only — never executed, never written to disk, never shared. Files are size-capped, sanitised against XML injection, and discarded as soon as the GPX has been generated.
Can I convert KML to GPX without losing accuracy?
Yes — and that is exactly the point. KML stores the literal geometry of your line, so the resulting GPX preserves every coordinate. No re-routing, no smoothing, no waypoint guessing.