Google Maps Extended Routes

Daboo

Daboo

Joined
Apr 10, 2018
Messages
899
Location
Lynnwood
Bike
F900 XR
I stumbled on this and thought it was so cool, it needed to be shared. Here's a link to the original article.

You'll want to watch the video below. There is more to this than just a GPX export tool.

Finally: Export GPX From Google Maps
But! Not to bury the lede, I have recently discovered something that will. Note, I’m still kind of sidelined and haven’t thoroughly tested this. But friends have, to good effect. It’s a plugin for your browser called Google Maps Extended Routes. It’s written by a rider, and lets you create and export a .gpx route directly from Google Maps.
Click to expand...


GPS not Phone
I will tell you right here: on rides, my phone stays in my pocket and I use a Garmin Zumo XT to navigate when traveling. So my needs always revolve around a dependable .gpx generator. I have tried all kinds of routing and navigation sites to create those routes. I’ve given Rever, Calimoto, MyRouteApp and others a try. They’ve ranged from “just fine except for a screwup at that one intersection” to “made my GPS go haywire and try to route me to Ghana and back over the next 26 hours.” I’m not joking, the pink lines on the GPS were impressive.

Settings Check
You must be sure, as with BaseCamp, that you must replicate the settings in GMaps you use to create the route, in your GPS. Fastest route, no interstates, no tolls, no ferries? Make sure they’re all the same. If you’re a dedicated phone-as-map rider, you can also use the .gpx file this plugin creates, in any other mapping app that can read a .gpx file.
Click to expand...

Chris
 
In any case an interesting project...
Plotting offline most of the time, I do consult online tools to check in advance for any roadworks, or significant frequent holdups... (i.e. a river crossing ferry out of service due low water levels...)
In doing so I work the other way around: plotting my trip in MapSource -> *.gpx file -> upload to https://plan.tomtom.com/en/ which then alerts/shows/re-navigates around any obstructions...

As the European road network is mostly naturally grown, so more dense and woven, I wonder if extended routes offers enough fine tuning so select those "curvy roads" or just sticks to the slab most of the time... 🤔
 
ST1100Y said:
...Plotting offline most of the time, I do consult online tools to check in advance for any roadworks, or significant frequent holdups... (i.e. a river crossing ferry out of service due low water levels...)... 🤔
Click to expand...
I'm pretty much the same. Our roads are not as dense here in the Pacific Northwest, or even west of the Continental Divide, so plotting a route on the GPS itself is the way I do it most of the time. Where I'll use Google Maps is in finalizing which road I want to take. There's been times when I have two parallel roads going in the direction I want to go. So which road will have the better scenery to travel through? The Google Street View is really handy that way.

Occasionally, like for the upcoming COG national rally, I'll plan routes using Kurviger. This will give me another option to plan a route and export a GPX file for someone else to use.

Chris
 
I played with this today to make some gpx routes for the Gold Wing’s on board nav system. Much easier than some of the 3rd party programs I’ve used to export these files from Google Maps in the past.
One peculiarity I discovered is you have to export the track. When I tried to export the route file I only got a straight line (maybe I goofed?). I sent the track file to base camp, converted it to a route in BC and then sent it from BC to a thumb drive to install on the Wing. It seems to have worked ok.
 
Kurviger's export function is lights ahead of anything I've seen. Though I have to admit since I plot my route on the GPS directly, I don't go looking for ways that would be harder than what I do. But I'm always open to ideas.

Chris
 
Kurviger seems to not acknowledge closures, roadworks and other obstructions (plus often creates nonsense thoroughfares of villages and cities :cautious: ), but maybe you'd need the paid, premium version...

I upload my initial *.gpx to the TomTom site, and get shown a rather actual traffic situation...
So that Extended Routes might be another source to tap in...
But I'd rather like to upload my own build route files, then getting fed some automated logarithm... such attempts bounce on Google My Maps due their 5MB limit... 🤔
 
You can use kurviger free version if you don't care about turn by turn instructions, ETA your speed.. Basically as you'd navigate a track on your Zumo.
As for closures, yes it may not be accurate. It may tell you the road ahead is closed but it's open and v/s. Google is more accurate and you can compare it there.
If you deviate from your route, it will recalculate, but you won't see the route you've initially planned ( as least is my experience). And if you have no phone service, it will use offline maps to continue navigating your route, but you won't be able to modify it or to make a different one.
Otherwise it is very powerful app and has lots of options and functions.
The nap itself is clear and colorful with all the small roads displayed at a wider area.
I like it much more than Google or Zumo maps.

It is a phone app but since my phone glare won't let me see the screen well, I got a portable motorcycles carplay/android auto for $45 (sixtop) on Amazon and it works magic.
Making routes on tha phone screen is a bliss. And you can navigate it right there. No need any gpx files to upload anywhere else.
But if you need, you cam make many different navigating files (old and new gpx, TomTom and more).

I han Zumo 396 and kurviger beats it hand down (well except for the cons I mentioned above).
If I had the XT, I don't know if I'd go with kurviger. Probably would have both.
I heard that the XT is notorious for RUT problem which insists on making u-turns, and some other issues.
 
FastST said:
I heard that the XT is notorious for RUT problem which insists on making u-turns, and some other issues
Click to expand...
You can turn that off...and probably change the options for the other things you've heard about as well.

ST1100Y said:
Kurviger seems to not acknowledge closures, roadworks and other obstructions (plus often creates nonsense thoroughfares of villages and cities :cautious: ), but maybe you'd need the paid, premium version...

I upload my initial *.gpx to the TomTom site, and get shown a rather actual traffic situation...
So that Extended Routes might be another source to tap in...
But I'd rather like to upload my own build route files, then getting fed some automated logarithm...
Click to expand...
That first part about not acknowledging road closures is handy in its own way. If I'm playing around with a route for the summer months in the winter, my route planning is messed up by the road closures in the winter. For instance, any route I'm planning for going over the North Cascades Hwy in June will require workarounds if I'm planning in January because of the closures. They get a lot of avalanches. Kurviger would be great for that. Likewise, this Extended Routes browser extension will allow me to split the route and then rejoin two sections.

I can see where this can be useful in my bag of tools for route planning.

Chris
 
Daboo said:
... my route planning is messed up by the road closures in the winter...
Click to expand...
That is based on the (fixed) annual calendar based closures... Garmin MapSource and BaseCamp behave like that as well (until you disable that in the settings)...
 
Daboo said:
That first part about not acknowledging road closures is handy in its own way. If I'm playing around with a route for the summer months in the winter, my route planning is messed up by the road closures in the winter. For instance, any route I'm planning for going over the North Cascades Hwy in June will require workarounds if I'm planning in January because of the closures. They get a lot of avalanches. Kurviger would be great for that. Likewise, this Extended Routes browser extension will allow me to split the route and then rejoin two sections.

I can see where this can be useful in my bag of tools for route planning.
Click to expand...
It can be handy in yhe winter but not in the summer :).
But in Google maps there is a way to turn off that option by setting the summer date.

On our last trip kurviger showed few road closures. I checked Google maps and it showed open. We rode through and no closures.
 
ST1100Y said:
Kurviger seems to not acknowledge closures, roadworks and other obstructions (plus often creates nonsense thoroughfares of villages and cities :cautious: ), but maybe you'd need the paid, premium version...
Click to expand...
Yes, closures are not available with the free version. You need to pay for the Tourer + version to be able to see the closures.
 
ST1100Y said:
That is based on the (fixed) annual calendar based closures... Garmin MapSource and BaseCamp behave like that as well (until you disable that in the settings)...
Click to expand...
Actually, it varies over here based on road conditions.

FastST said:
It can be handy in yhe winter but not in the summer :).
But in Google maps there is a way to turn off that option by setting the summer date.

On our last trip kurviger showed few road closures. I checked Google maps and it showed open. We rode through and no closures.
Click to expand...
I'd never thought of that. I'll have to check next winter. Our roads and passes close based on the actual road conditions, not on preset dates. I say I'll have to check next winter, because even trying to cross in February 2027 shows the pass open...I'm assuming because it is open today. But will it "open" the pass if I try to cross next winter and put the departure date in June??? I'll have to check.

The Extended Route extension allows you to splice together two routes. So I wonder if I could save a route today that crosses the pass and splice it in when planning during the winter months when Google Maps won't route through the area.

:unsure-2x:
 
Daboo said:
I'd never thought of that. I'll have to check next winter. Our roads and passes close based on the actual road conditions, not on preset dates. I say I'll have to check next winter, because even trying to cross in February 2027 shows the pass open...I'm assuming because it is open today. But will it "open" the pass if I try to cross next winter and put the departure date in June??? I'll have to check.

The Extended Route extension allows you to splice together two routes. So I wonder if I could save a route today that crosses the pass and splice it in when planning during the winter months when Google Maps won't route through the area.
Click to expand...
Even in the winter you can make routes in google maps even if the road is closed.
Hre's how: make a dummy route A to B where it is not close. On the left side you'll see "Options" and at the same row "Leave now" pull-down. Click on it, then on "Depart now" and change to the summer dates. Then change to your planned route.

In Kurviger I was able to create routes in the winter for summer months with no restrictions. But Kurviger is constantly updating their software and adding little things (good things so far), so who knows... So far, Kurviger is the best planning software I know (didn't try Calimoto though too costly in comparison). I normally plan on a big screen, but phone is good too if you need.
As for navigating - phone or XT. Both have their little gremlins.


Daboo said:
The Extended Route extension allows you to splice together two routes. So I wonder if I could save a route today that crosses the pass and splice it in when planning during the winter months when Google Maps won't route through the area.
Click to expand...
I created extended route, emailed it to phone (as gpx file), but when tried to navigate it just took the first 2 points, not the whole route. Looks like the phone doesn't know about the extended routes.
 
FastST said:
As for navigating - phone or XT. Both have their little gremlins.
Click to expand...
I wouldn't know...
my ol' 2004 Garmin Quest-I still ticks like a Swiss watch... 😎
(back then those satnavs where just too plain and reliable to act out on you...)
 
ST1100Y said:
I wouldn't know...
my ol' 2004 Garmin Quest-I still ticks like a Swiss watch... 😎
(back then those satnavs where just too plain and reliable to act out on you...)
Click to expand...
2012 Garmin Nivi 1450/1490 is simple and reliable for navigating custom routes.
 
My old Garmin 660, decided that if it's too hot, it doen't want to work. And since I was tired of remembering to put it in the cooler on the HOT days, I bought a Garmin Zumo TX2 for my bike and put the Zumo XT in my truck!

Of course, after getting my XT2, I found out it was a Canadian version, so the Speed Limit signs are the circle and not rectangular! And, I haven't found a way to change them. :censored:
 
SupraSabre said:
Of course, after getting my XT2, I found out it was a Canadian version, so the Speed Limit signs are the circle and not rectangular! And, I haven't found a way to change them. :censored:
Click to expand...

Move to Canada?



Steps to Change Units on the zūmo XT2
    • Tap Settings from the main menu or app drawer on your device.
    • Select System.
    • Select Units or Format (depending on the exact firmware version), then choose Measurement Units.
    • Switch the setting from Metric to Statute or change the individual distance/speed metric to Miles / MPH.
    • Sync your device with your phone’s Tread app afterward if route previews on the app still display in metric units.
 
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