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Export Google Maps List: Complete Guide for CSV, KML & GPX

Learn how to export Google Maps lists with coordinates for spreadsheets and GPS devices. Step-by-step guide for converting your custom lists to CSV, KML, and GPX formats.

February 3, 2026

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7 min read

Google Maps lists are useful for organizing saved places - restaurants to try, trip destinations, client locations, favorite hiking spots. But when you need that data outside of Google Maps (in a spreadsheet, GPS device, or another app), you quickly discover there's no export button. Google Takeout provides the raw data, but without coordinates - meaning extra steps are needed to get your lists into a usable format.

This guide covers how to export your Google Maps lists with proper coordinates in CSV, KML, and GPX formats.

Understanding Google Maps Lists

In Google Maps, lists are your collections of saved places:

  • Starred places: Your default favorites list
  • Want to go: Places you've flagged for future visits
  • Custom lists: Any lists you've created (e.g., "Tokyo 2026", "Best Tacos", "Work Sites")
  • Labeled places: Home, Work, and any custom labels you've set

All of these export through the same process. In your Google Takeout data, each list becomes a separate CSV file.

Different from My Maps: If you created a custom map at mymaps.google.com with pins and routes, that's Google My Maps - a separate product with its own export options. See our My Maps export guide for that workflow.

Why Export Your Lists?

Offline access: Take your saved places to a GPS device or offline navigation app like OsmAnd for areas without cell service.

Spreadsheet analysis: Calculate distances, create itineraries, or analyze patterns in your saved places.

Backup: Your lists represent years of accumulated recommendations and discoveries. Having them locally protects against account issues or Google service changes.

Sharing: Give colleagues, friends, or clients a portable file they can use in their preferred application.

Migration: Move your data to another platform without re-entering every location manually.

The Missing Coordinates Problem

When you export via Google Takeout, you get CSV files with:

  • Place name
  • Address
  • Any notes you've added
  • Google Maps URL

What's missing: latitude and longitude. Most applications that accept CSV, KML, or GPX expect coordinates. You need to geocode your places (convert addresses to coordinates) before the data is fully portable.

How to Export Your Lists

Step 1: Download from Google Takeout

  1. Go to Google Takeout
  2. Click "Deselect all"
  3. Find and select only "Saved"
  4. Click "Next step" → "Create export"
  5. Wait for the email, download, and unzip

In the "Saved" folder, you'll find separate CSV files for each of your lists.

Step 2: Add Coordinates

Your CSV files need geocoding. A service like Takeout Tools processes Google Takeout files directly - upload your CSVs and download them with coordinates added, in your choice of format.

If you have just a few places, you can manually look up coordinates in Google Maps (right-click → "What's here?").

Step 3: Choose Your Output Format

CSV with coordinates: Best for spreadsheets and databases. Adds latitude and longitude columns to your original data.

GPX: Best for GPS devices and navigation apps. Use for Garmin handhelds, OsmAnd, Organic Maps, hiking apps.

KML: Best for Google Earth and visualization. Use for creating shareable maps, presenting data visually, or importing to Google My Maps.

GeoJSON: Best for developers and web mapping. Use for Leaflet, Mapbox, data analysis in Python/R.

Working with Each Format

CSV: Spreadsheet Analysis

After geocoding, your CSV has latitude and longitude columns:

Title,Address,Notes,Latitude,Longitude
"Golden Gate Bridge","San Francisco, CA","",37.8199,-122.4783
"Fisherman's Wharf","San Francisco, CA","Best chowder",37.8080,-122.4177

Import into Excel or Google Sheets for:

  • Sorting and filtering places
  • Creating custom itineraries
  • Distance calculations
  • Combining with other datasets

GPX: Navigation and GPS Devices

GPX files work with virtually all GPS devices and outdoor apps. After conversion:

Garmin devices: Copy to the Garmin/GPX folder via USB OsmAnd: Import via My Places → Favorites Gaia GPS: Menu → Import

See our GPX export guide for device-specific instructions.

KML: Visualization

KML files open in Google Earth and can be imported to Google My Maps:

Google Earth: File → Open, or drag-and-drop Google My Maps: Create new map → Import → Select KML file

Your lists become organized folders in KML, maintaining your category structure.

See our KML export guide for more details.

Pro Tips

  1. Export lists separately. If you have distinct categories (travel, restaurants, work), keep them as separate files. This makes organization easier in destination apps.

  2. Clean up names first. If your list has places with cryptic names or long business names, consider editing them in Google Maps before export. Cleaner names work better on GPS devices with limited display space.

  3. Verify important locations. Geocoding is usually accurate, but spot-check places that really matter (like a remote trailhead or off-grid cabin) before relying on them.

  4. Keep the source files. Save your original Google Takeout export. If you need to re-process with different settings or formats later, you'll have the raw data.

  5. Update periodically. If you actively add to your lists, re-export every few months to keep your other devices and apps current.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I keep my lists separate after export?

Yes. Each Google Maps list exports as a separate CSV file, and most conversion tools preserve this structure in the output. In KML, lists become folders; in GPX, they can be separate files or waypoint categories.

What happens to my notes?

Notes you've added to places in Google Maps are included in the export and preserved through conversion. They appear as descriptions in GPX and KML formats.

Can I import the exported data back into Google Maps?

Not directly into Saved Places - Google Maps doesn't have a bulk import feature. However, you can import KML or CSV into Google My Maps to create a custom map that's viewable in your Google account.

How do I handle places with the same name?

Each place exports with its address and Google Maps URL, which differentiates them. After geocoding, each has unique coordinates even if the display name is identical.

What if some places fail to geocode?

This happens with closed businesses, unusual place names, or vague addresses. Most geocoding services flag failed entries so you can handle them manually.

Can I automate this process?

The export from Google Takeout is manual (Google's security requirement). However, once you have the files, you can build automated workflows for the geocoding and conversion steps using APIs and command-line tools.

Export Your Lists with Coordinates

Convert to CSV, KML, or GPX in minutes

Try Takeout Tools →

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Already have geo files? Validate and convert them with our free browser-based tools:

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