GPX Guides · Conversion

Convert KML / KMZ
to GPX.

Google Earth and Google My Maps speak KML. Most GPS devices and outdoor apps want GPX. Here's how to bridge the two in under a minute, without uploading your file anywhere.

TrailX Guides · Updated 30 September 2026

KML, KMZ and GPX in brief

KML (Keyhole Markup Language) is the XML format behind Google Earth. It can describe points, lines and polygons, plus how they should look: colours, line widths, icons, labels and folders. KMZ is simply a KML file zipped together with any images it references, which makes it smaller to share. GPXis narrower: it only stores waypoints, routes and tracks, but almost every GPS watch, handheld and navigation app can read it. That's why converting KML to GPX is usually the step between "I planned it in Google Earth" and "it's on my device". For a broader comparison, see GPX vs KML vs TCX vs GeoJSON.

Step by step: KML or KMZ to GPX

1
Export your KML or KMZ file
In Google Earth Pro, right-click the place or folder and choose Save Place As. In Google My Maps, open the map menu and choose Export to KML/KMZ.
2
Open the TrailX converter
Go to the TrailX converter in any modern browser, on desktop or mobile. No account or install is needed.
3
Upload the file
Click Upload GPS file or drag the .kml or .kmz file onto the drop zone. The format is detected automatically and KMZ archives are unzipped in the browser.
4
Check the route statistics
Confirm the trackpoint and waypoint counts and the start and end coordinates look right, and edit the route title if you want a different name inside the GPX.
5
Choose GPX as the target format
GPX is preselected for KML and KMZ uploads. If not, pick GPX from the Target File Format menu.
6
Convert and download
Click Convert to GPX & Download. The .gpx file is generated locally and saved to your downloads folder.

Getting the KML out of Google tools

Google Earth Pro (desktop): in the Places panel, right-click the path or folder and choose Save Place As…, then pick KML or KMZ.
Google My Maps: open the map, click the three-dot menu next to its title and choose Export to KML/KMZ. You can export the entire map or a single layer. Tick the option to export as .KML if you want an unzipped file, though KMZ works just as well.

What carries over, and what doesn't

GPX and KML model data differently, so a conversion is a translation, not a copy. Here's exactly how the TrailX converter maps each part of a KML file:

How KML elements map to GPX
In your KML / KMZ	In the GPX output
LineString paths	Track points (`<trkpt>`) with elevation when the KML has an altitude value.
gx:Track (Google Earth recorded tracks)	Track points with elevation and timestamps preserved.
Point placemarks	Waypoints (`<wpt>`) with name, description and elevation.
Document name	GPX metadata and track name (editable before download).
Styles, icons, colours	Dropped. GPX has no styling.
Polygons, ground overlays, images	Dropped. GPX has no area or image types.

All lines in the file are combined into a single GPX trackwith one segment, in the order they appear in the KML. For a single trail that's exactly what you want. If your KML holds several separate paths, split them into separate KML files (one per folder or layer) before converting, or you'll see straight connecting lines where one path ends and the next begins.

If the KML contains only points and no lines, the converter keeps them as waypoints and also joins them in order to form a track, so devices that only display tracks still show something useful.

Common problems and fixes

Flat or zero elevation

Paths drawn in Google My Maps are usually exported with an altitude of 0 on every coordinate. The converter faithfully carries that into the GPX, so the elevation profile will look flat. Many apps recalculate elevation from terrain data on import; otherwise, plan the route in a tool that samples real elevation, such as the TrailX Composer.

"No KML file found inside the KMZ archive"

A KMZ must contain a .kml document. If you see this error, the file is either not a real KMZ or is damaged. Re-export it, or rename it to .zip, unzip it and upload the KML inside directly.

Only pins, no line

Check the waypoint and trackpoint counts shown after upload. If the trackpoint count equals the waypoint count, the source had no line geometry, just placemarks. Draw the path as a line in Google Earth or My Maps and export again.

Privacy note

The converter reads the file with your browser's own file APIs and builds the GPX in memory. No part of the file is sent to TrailX servers, which makes it safe for private locations such as home addresses or unpublished routes.

Frequently asked questions

Is the converter free?

Yes. There is no sign-up, no watermark and no file limit beyond what your browser can hold in memory.

Does it work on a phone?

Yes. Open the converter in your mobile browser, tap Upload GPS file and pick the KML or KMZ from your files. The GPX downloads to your device, ready to open in a navigation app.

Can I convert several files at once?

Not currently. The converter handles one file at a time, but the route summary resets with one click, so working through a handful of files is quick.

Will my timestamps survive?

Only if the KML has them. Standard KML paths store coordinates without time; tracks recorded in Google Earth as gx:Track include time, and those timestamps are written into the GPX.

After converting

Open the new GPX in a viewer to confirm it looks right (see how to open a GPX file), then load it onto your phone or GPS device, as covered in GPX on iPhone & Android. The same converter works in reverse, too: upload a GPX and choose KML or KMZ to view it in Google Earth.