Skip to content
geodata.plus
Sign in
Documentation

Convert GPX to KML Online — Free GIS Converter

Convert GPX tracks, routes, and waypoints to KML for Google Earth, Google Maps, and any KML-compatible application.

Updated May 2026

GPX and KML both describe GPS-style geographic features in XML, but converting GPX to KML unlocks rich styling, icons, and balloon popups that Google Earth and Google Maps render natively — something GPX simply cannot express.

Why convert GPX to KML?

GPX is the native output of GPS devices and fitness apps, but it carries no visual styling information. KML, by contrast, was designed specifically for geographic visualization in Google Earth and Google Maps. A KML file can assign colors and widths to track lines, attach icons to waypoints, add descriptive balloon content, and organize features into named folders. If you want to share a hiking route or a surveyed boundary with a non-technical audience who will open it in Google Earth or import it into a Google My Maps project, KML is the right format — it will look exactly as intended rather than rendering in a default style.

Why use geodata.plus

  • Free tier includes 3 conversions per month with no account required
  • Automatic format and CRS detection — GPX is always WGS 84, and KML requires WGS 84, so no reprojection headaches
  • Optional target CRS selection for downstream processing workflows
  • Entirely browser-based — no Google Earth Pro or QGIS installation required
  • Encrypted upload (TLS); files stored in Cloudflare R2, automatically deleted after 2 days (free) or 7 days (Pro)
  • Converts waypoints, routes, and tracks into properly typed KML Placemarks and LineStrings

How it works

  1. Upload your .gpx file to geodata.plus
  2. geodata.plus detects GPX format and confirms WGS 84 coordinates
  3. Select KML as the output format
  4. Download your .kml file and open it directly in Google Earth or import it into Google My Maps

GPX format

GPX (GPS Exchange Format) is an open XML standard for GPS data. All coordinates are stored in WGS 84. The three core elements are <wpt> for waypoints, <rte> for pre-planned routes, and <trk> for recorded GPS tracks. GPX excels at precision — each track point can carry elevation, timestamp, and sensor data — but it provides no mechanism for specifying visual styles. This makes it well-suited for machine-to-machine data exchange but less suitable for presentation.

| Property | Value | |---|---| | Extension | .gpx | | Type | Vector, single-file XML | | Coordinate system | WGS 84 (EPSG:4326) only | | Geometry types | Points (waypoints), LineStrings (routes/tracks) | | Common software | Garmin, Strava, AllTrails, Komoot, QGIS, ArcGIS |

KML format

KML (Keyhole Markup Language) is an OGC-adopted XML standard originally developed for Google Earth. Like GPX, all KML coordinates are in WGS 84. Unlike GPX, KML has a rich styling model: <Style> and <StyleMap> elements control line color, fill, icon imagery, and label appearance. KML organizes features into <Folder> and <Document> containers, making it easy to group related features. KML is natively rendered by Google Earth, Google Maps (via My Maps import), and ArcGIS.

| Property | Value | |---|---| | Extension | .kml | | Type | Vector, single-file XML | | Coordinate system | WGS 84 (EPSG:4326) only | | Geometry types | Point, LineString, Polygon, MultiGeometry | | Common software | Google Earth, Google Maps, ArcGIS, QGIS |

Frequently asked questions

Does KML preserve the elevation data from my GPX tracks? Yes. Elevation values stored in GPX <ele> elements are written into the KML <coordinates> tuples as the Z component. In Google Earth, you can then enable the "Altitude: Absolute" or "Relative to ground" mode to visualize the track in 3D along its actual elevation profile.

Will my GPX waypoint names and descriptions appear in Google Earth? Yes. GPX <name> and <desc> elements are mapped to KML <name> and <description> tags on each Placemark. When you click a waypoint in Google Earth, its name appears as the balloon title and the description appears as the body text.

Can I import the converted KML directly into Google My Maps? Yes. Google My Maps accepts KML file imports directly. After converting with geodata.plus, go to My Maps, create a new map, click "Import," and upload the .kml file. Your tracks and waypoints will appear as styled layers that you can share with collaborators.

gpxkmlconvertgis