GPX to KML Converter
Convert GPS track logs into Google Earth visual overlays.
Use this online tool to convert GPX properties to KML format quickly and securely. No files are saved on our servers.
Drag file here to convert, or select file
Supported file extension: .gpx • Max 50MB
Specification Rules
- Overlay hiking or travel routes on Google Earth landscapes
- Visually share track and route logs on digital maps
- Export high-fidelity drone flight paths from GPX datasets
- GPX waypoint icons map to standard KML pushpin styling
- Does not support embedded media or image attachments
- Large files are consolidated to maintain web rendering speeds
GDAL Direct Equivalent Terminal Command
When to use this conversion
Convert when a GPS track needs to display in Google Earth — a hike to share, a drone flight path to visualise, a road trip to overlay on satellite imagery. KML's 3D rendering and styling make it the right target for visual GPX display.
Technical Details
KML is typically 1.3–1.8× the size of the source GPX. Both formats are XML, so overhead similar; KML adds Placemark structure but drops some GPX extension elements.
Common Errors & Fixes
- Track shown as line only, no playback: timestamps not converted. Fix: use gpsbabel with track-time options, or enable timestamps in GDAL's LIBKML driver.
- No styling: track appears as default thin yellow line. Fix: post-process to inject <Style> with desired color and width.
- Multiple tracks merged: ogr2ogr converted only the first track layer. Fix: process each sub-layer explicitly or use LIBKML, which can write multi-track KMLs.
- Coordinates altered: lat/lon swapped if source GPX had a bug. Fix: validate the GPX first with our GPX validator.
Alternative Tools
- gpsbabel: gpsbabel -i gpx -f input.gpx -o kml -F output.kml
- ogr2ogr CLI: ogr2ogr -f KML output.kml input.gpx tracks
- QGIS: load GPX, export the tracks sub-layer as KML
- gpx2kml.com and similar online single-purpose converters
Frequently Asked Questions
Are track line colors customizable?
Yes, our upcoming interface will allow you to define colors and line weights for Google Earth overlays.
How are waypoint markers handled?
Waypoints translate to placemarks containing name and description properties from the source file.
Are elevation coordinate tables kept?
Yes. Google Earth reads elevation profiles directly from the generated KML coordinates.