How to Transfer Google Maps Saved Places to Gaia GPS: Complete Guide

Transfer your Google Maps saved places to Gaia GPS for hiking and backcountry navigation. Step-by-step guide with GPX export instructions.

January 27, 2026

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6 min read

Gaia GPS is the go-to app for serious hikers, backpackers, and backcountry explorers. Its premium topographic maps, offline capabilities, and detailed trail data make it far superior to Google Maps for outdoor navigation. If you've been saving trailheads, campsites, and viewpoints in Google Maps and want to bring them into Gaia GPS, you'll need to export and convert them first.

This guide walks through getting your Google Maps saved places into Gaia GPS as waypoints.

Why Use Gaia GPS?

Gaia GPS offers features that Google Maps simply doesn't have for outdoor use:

Professional topographic maps: USGS topos, National Geographic Trails Illustrated, satellite imagery
Offline reliability: Download entire regions for use without cell service
Slope angle shading: Critical for avalanche terrain assessment
Track recording: Log your hikes with detailed statistics
Public land boundaries: Know where you can and can't go
Route planning: Draw routes and get elevation profiles

The trade-off is that Gaia GPS is a premium app - the best features require a subscription. But for serious outdoor use, it's worth it.

The Export Challenge

Google Maps and Gaia GPS don't sync directly. When you export your saved places from Google Takeout, you get CSV files with names and addresses - but no coordinates. Gaia GPS needs GPX files with latitude and longitude for each waypoint. You'll need to geocode your places and convert the format.

Step-by-Step Process

1. Export from Google Takeout

Go to Google Takeout
Click "Deselect all"
Scroll down and select only "Saved"
Click "Next step" → "Create export"
Wait for the email, download, and unzip

You'll find CSV files in the "Saved" folder - one for each of your lists.

2. Add Coordinates and Convert to GPX

The CSV files need geocoding and format conversion. A service like Takeout Tools handles both: upload your CSV files, select GPX as the output format, and download the result.

3. Import into Gaia GPS

On iOS:

Get the GPX file onto your iPhone (email, AirDrop, cloud storage)
Tap the file and choose "Open in Gaia GPS"
The waypoints import automatically
Find them in Saved → Waypoints

On Android:

Transfer the GPX file to your device
Open Gaia GPS → Menu → Import
Select your GPX file
Waypoints appear in your saved items

Via Gaia GPS Web:

Log into gaiagps.com
Go to your library
Click Import → select your GPX file
Waypoints sync to your mobile app automatically

The web import is often easiest since you're likely doing the Takeout export on a computer anyway.

Organizing Your Waypoints

After import, your waypoints appear in Gaia GPS. You can:

Create folders: Organize by trip, region, or type (trailheads, campsites, water sources)
Add to routes: Use waypoints as start/end points for planned routes
Edit details: Add notes, change icons, adjust positions
Download for offline: Include waypoints when downloading offline maps

Gaia GPS treats imported waypoints the same as ones you create manually - full editing and organization capabilities.

Pro Tips

Export lists separately. If you have distinct categories in Google Maps (trailheads vs. campsites vs. resupply points), export each as a separate GPX. Makes organization in Gaia GPS much easier.
Verify remote locations. Geocoding works well for established trailheads but can be off for obscure backcountry spots. Check coordinates for critical waypoints before your trip.
Use the web interface. Importing via gaiagps.com gives you a bigger screen to verify and organize waypoints before they sync to your phone.
Download offline maps. After importing waypoints, download the offline maps for areas you'll visit. Waypoints without downloaded maps aren't useful in the backcountry.
Add elevation data. Gaia GPS can display elevation for waypoints. Useful for planning and knowing what you're getting into.
Sync before you go. Make sure your waypoints have synced to your phone while you still have connectivity. Test by switching to airplane mode.

What Transfers

When you import GPX waypoints into Gaia GPS:

Waypoint name: Preserved
Coordinates: Transferred accurately
Description/notes: Included in waypoint details
Categories: Not directly transferred (you'll organize manually in Gaia GPS)

Custom icons and styling from Google Maps don't transfer - Gaia GPS uses its own icon system.