Why convert Google Maps routes to GPX?
GPX (GPS Exchange Format) is the universal standard for GPS data. Once your route is a .gpx file, it works on almost everything — Garmin head units, Wahoo ELEMNT, Strava, Komoot, AllTrails, cycling computers, running watches, and every outdoor app that matters.
- Offline navigation: load the route on a GPS device and follow it without signal.
- Device compatibility: GPX is the one format supported by virtually every outdoor brand.
- Ride & share: upload to Strava, Komoot, or send the .gpx to a friend.
- Archive your routes: keep a permanent, portable copy that does not depend on Google.
How our Maps → GPX converter works
1. Build the route in Google Maps
Open Google Maps, set your start and end points plus any waypoints, then copy the URL from the address bar — or use the Share button to get a shortened maps.app.goo.gl link. Both formats work.
2. Paste it into GPX2Maps
Head to the Maps → GPX tab on our homepage, paste the URL, pick your travel mode (drive, bike, walk, transit), and toggle route options like avoid highways, tolls, or ferries.
3. Download the .gpx
Hit Convert and the .gpx file downloads instantly. Load it on your GPS device, upload to Strava, or open it in any app that reads GPX.
Our converter handles directions URLs, shortened links, and place URLs. No signup required for your first conversion.
Open the converter →Supported Google Maps URL formats
- Directions URLs:
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/... - Shortened links:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/... - Legacy short URLs:
https://goo.gl/maps/... - Place URLs: single-location Google Maps links.
Travel modes and route options
Unlike a plain URL copy-paste, GPX2Maps re-creates the route with the options you pick. You can:
- Switch between Driving, Cycling, Walking, and Transit
- Avoid highways for a scenic drive or motorbike route
- Avoid tolls for a budget-friendly road trip
- Avoid ferries when planning continental routes
This means the .gpx you download matches the route you actually want to ride or hike, not whatever Google picked by default.
What about Apple Maps, Bing Maps, and others?
Apple Maps and Bing Maps do not expose a direct URL-based way to extract full route geometry. The reliable approach is to recreate your Apple or Bing route in Google Maps, copy the URL, and use our converter. Strava, Komoot, and AllTrails already export GPX natively — download the file from them directly.
Need the reverse? GPX to Google Maps
GPX2Maps is bidirectional. If you already have a .gpx file — from Garmin, Strava, Komoot, or anywhere else — and want to view it on Google Maps, our GPX → Google Maps converter does exactly that. One tool, both directions.
Frequently asked questions
Can I save Google Maps directions as a GPX file?
Yes. Paste the Google Maps URL into our Maps → GPX converter and download the .gpx file instantly. No browser extension, no desktop tool, no manual KML-to-GPX conversion.
Does Apple Maps export GPX?
Apple Maps has no native GPX export. The simplest workaround is to rebuild the route in Google Maps, copy its URL, and convert it here.
What is the difference between KML and GPX?
KML is the Google Earth/My Maps format. GPX is the open standard supported by Garmin, Wahoo, Strava, and essentially every outdoor device or app. For GPS navigation, you want GPX.
Is the 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.
How accurate is the converted route?
We preserve the exact geometry of the route Google returns for your chosen travel mode and options. The resulting GPX matches what you see on the map.