GPX to GeoPackage Converter
Consolidate GPS trace sheets into portable database tables.
This tool is designed to archive GPX tracking files directly into a lightweight, SQLite-based GeoPackage. This optimizes file performance when managing large databases of coordinates and routes.
Drag file here to convert, or select file
Supported file extension: .gpx • Max 50MB
Specification Rules
- Import thousands of GPS trace tracking logs into regional systems
- Archive historical travel routes in compressed database tables
- Accelerate spatial lookups across vast networks of hiking tracks
- Does not export complex, proprietary health metadata parameters
- Conversions flatten separate tracks into categorized coordinate records
- Subject to scale limitations when using standard devices
GDAL Direct Equivalent Terminal Command
When to use this conversion
Convert when multiple GPS tracks need to live in a single offline database for analysis in QGIS or transfer to a field collection app. GeoPackage handles tracks, waypoints, and routes as separate indexed layers.
Technical Details
GeoPackage is typically 30–60% the size of the source GPX. XML overhead in GPX is significant; binary geometry plus efficient SQLite storage compresses it well.
Common Errors & Fixes
- Only waypoints converted: ogr2ogr defaulted to the first layer. Fix: omit the layer name argument or pass all layer names explicitly.
- Track segments merged unexpectedly: multi-segment tracks become MultiLineStrings. Fix: explode with -explodecollections if separate features are needed.
- Heart-rate data missing: GPX <extensions> not exposed. Fix: enable with -oo GPX_USE_EXTENSIONS=YES.
- Timestamps stored as strings: SQLite has no native datetime type, so ISO 8601 strings remain. Fix: handle conversion in downstream SQL queries.
Alternative Tools
- QGIS: add the GPX, then export each sub-layer to GeoPackage individually
- ogr2ogr CLI: ogr2ogr -f GPKG output.gpkg input.gpx (writes all layers)
- gpsbabel for combining multiple GPX files before conversion
- Python gpxpy + geopandas for custom track processing
Frequently Asked Questions
Why use GeoPackage for tracking files?
Storing multiple tracking routes inside a single database file simplifies organization and increases query speeds compared to hosting loose files.
Are elevation and timing details retained?
Elevation coordinates and timing attributes are mapped directly to corresponding database fields.
Can I append new tracks to an existing database?
Yes, our tools and backend command-line options support appending new vector features directly to index columns.