Export Google Maps Lists to GeoJSON and KML for Map Content

The curation problem

Building a great place list takes time. Finding the right restaurants for a neighbourhood guide, vetting hotels for a travel piece, collecting the stops for a walking tour — that research lives in Google Maps because Google Maps is the fastest place to collect and verify location information.

The problem is publishing it. Google Maps doesn't let you export a list as an embeddable map, a downloadable file, or a structured dataset your audience can use. The curation work you did is locked behind a platform you don't control.

What publishing actually needs

Depending on what you're building, location data needs to go to different places:

• Custom web maps — Mapbox, Leaflet, and Felt all work natively with GeoJSON. If you want an interactive map embedded on your site or newsletter, GeoJSON is the input they expect.
• Google My Maps — If your audience is comfortable with Google products, KML imports directly into My Maps and renders your places with the labels and colours you set.
• Editorial and data use — CSV is the right format for content workflows: add columns for description, category, and editorial notes, then feed into Flourish or Datawrapper for visualisation.
• Downloadable packs — Audience members who want your list on their GPS device need GPX. A downloadable GPX file is a product in itself.

The Takeout Tools workflow

Google Takeout gives you your saved places as a CSV — names and categories only, no coordinates. That's not enough to build a map, embed a layer, or produce a downloadable file.

Takeout Tools geocodes each place in your export, adding the coordinates that make the data usable. From there you choose the format that fits your publishing workflow.

Which format fits which output

GeoJSON

The right format for any web map workflow. Mapbox, Leaflet, Felt, Kepler.gl, and Datawrapper all accept GeoJSON directly. If you're building a custom interactive map, start here. Convert from KML to GeoJSON or GPX to GeoJSON if you're coming from another source.

KML

The right format for Google My Maps and Google Earth. KML preserves your list structure and lets you apply custom icons and labels. Good for creating a shareable, styled guide that non-technical audiences can open and navigate. Convert GeoJSON to KML if you need it for a specific tool.

CSV

The right format for editorial and design workflows. Import into Airtable or Google Sheets, add editorial notes and categories, then hand off to a designer or feed into Flourish and Datawrapper for visualisation.

GPX

The right format for a downloadable audience product. Package your guide as a GPX file and let your readers load it into OsmAnd, Gaia GPS, or a Garmin device for use in the field. Convert from KML to GPX or GeoJSON to GPX if you already have a file in another format.

Convert between formats

Already have a geo file and need it in a different format? Use the free online converters:

• GeoJSON to KML, GeoJSON to GPX, GeoJSON to CSV
• KML to GeoJSON, KML to GPX, KML to CSV
• GPX to GeoJSON, GPX to KML, GPX to CSV

Frequently asked questions