How To Transfer Google Maps To Your Garmin Zumo XT

[@scottturner-zm1vu]

Just purchased a Garmin Zumo XT. After watching several videos, I've learned that it only takes about 30 or so painstaking steps to create a route on a legible desktop screen, then transfer it to something usable for navigation on the GPS unit. Awesome!

[@tinderboxarts]

Ha! Well, it's not quite that bad once you the hang of it, but it could be better. The problem is that Google maps has spoiled us, I suppose. You can try the Garmin basecamp thing, but I find it ponderous.

[@panchukj]

Thanks. Very well done. For what can be a confusing topic to some, - this is as short and sweet as I can imagine. Will definitely let people I think could use this know about your video. Appreciate your time to do this.

[@tinderboxarts]

You're right, it is difficult to condense the subject! The process is a little ponderous, but it does work in the end.

[@zakmilas]

Fantastic vid! I have been looking for a way to export my Zumo XT. This truly helps,thank you for sharing, truly appreciate it.

[@RideFar]

Very well done, thanks. I'm new to Zumo after 8 years on a Montana 650. Fair bit to learn and this is a big help 😊

[@tinderboxarts]

The Zumo is a great device. Some of the features, such as the "what's ahead" side screen are invaluable on long trips.

[@RideFar]

@@tinderboxarts Weird. Following your instructions, I created a simple route with four points (start, end, two in middle) in My Maps, saved it to laptop, opened in Explore on laptop… but my route is not visible! Explore is showing me my four flags, but not the route itself. Is this normal or is something wrong? In your vid I see your day’s route displayed in a series of blue triangles on your PC. Would be nice to see route on my laptop to ensure it is as intended. In any event, I proceeded to open the route using Explore on the Zumo, the route is shown and all looks good. Thanks again and if you have insights into why I’m not seeing the route in Explore on my laptop please advise.

[@tinderboxarts]

When you are viewing a route on your laptop you are using a browser and data over the web. There are all sorts of things which can go awry in this circumstance, from bugs in the host software, incompatibility in the browser, and more. All I can suggest is to try a different browser and make sure it is a current version. Chrome is usually a good choice but if you were using that try Firefox.

[@ianpowell6443]

well done, just bought an XT. Previously using 395LM with Basecamp. My question is....with Basecamp you can create a route from a track and specify the number of shaping points (bear with me). By making any of these 'alert' they can then be used as a type of waypoint to aim for if the journey is broken or if you decide to have a detour. When importing as you have shown it seems there's only a beginning and end to the track. Can additional 'via/soft way points' points be included in the track without importing numerous individual sections?

[@tinderboxarts]

This discussion is made difficult sometimes by varying definitions of tracks and points and routes! I've not used basecamp other than trying it once and hating it. I use google maps and google my maps. I plan a trip day by day, each day being hundreds of miles and up to 9 waypoints, which is the maximum google allows. Then I export the google map as a KMZ file and import that file as a track into the Zumo through the garmin explore web app. The garmin explore web app could also be used directly if you wish. You could stop there with the track, but I then convert the track into a route in the Zumo. Ultimately, the waypoints I specified in google do show on the Zumo route. There is a symbol on the screen showing as you come near or pass that waypoint. If you deviate from the route for any reason, the Zumo will try to steer you back to the pre-planned line. You can also edit the route, but then the Zumo will use it's own logic to get you somewhere rather than what you imported. It all seems complicated, and it is to a degree, but in practice it works pretty well. I would suggest creating a short "trip" around town with a handful of waypoints and then going on a ride to see how the Zumo behaves under different circumstances.

[@mathieubosse]

PERFECTLY done ! thank you sooo much ! made it simple ! ... made my day ! ... will share your Video !

[@tinderboxarts]

Glad it helped!

[@OswaldoLafee]

Man fantastic Job! thank you for the support, it is confusing a bit but, if you want to have the best of both worlds there is simply nothing else to do than this.

[@tinderboxarts]

Yeah, it's unfortunate there are so many steps involved, but when planning a longer trip it's worth the effort to make certain things go smoothly. I have used this method in hotel rooms to make changes on the fly, and as long as the internet access hold up it all works.

[@HarshSharma-ve3vw]

Great video, I use it each time I am planning a trip. Thank you sir!.

[@jniemec]

Basecamp was indeed clunky, so much so that Garmin discontinued it. I still use the even older Garmin Mapsource to plan routes, which I find works easy. I send then to an older Zumo 660 (I like the Serius XM as compared to streaming that doesn't work so great outside of cities) I didn't realize Garmin had this Explorer program but will try it on my Zumo 660

[@rterrelljones]

It looks like you are using Explore on a laptop. I’m trying to access the map view (as you show in your tutorial) on my Mac, but am not able to do this. How do you access Explore on your Mac (or PC)?

[@tinderboxarts]

You're right, Garmin doesn't make it intuitive to find! It's just a website, though, so it should work on your mac as well as a PC. Here's the link: explore.garmin.com

[@mcjourneys1031]

Excellent. Thanks so much. To the point, short and sweet and exactly what I need to know. Once again...thanks.

[@tinderboxarts]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Baltha1710]

Well, that was interesting, again! Thank you for your energy to do all this. Two remarks, if I may: * You keep referring to a Xumo where I guess you mean Zumo? It' s not a big deal but maybe I missed something (english is not my native tongue). * One *can* use more then 10 destinations in Google Maps: - go on top to the ... line and scroll to the right until you see a "@" - put a "+/" before the "@" and hit "enter" (without the "" of course) - put in the new destination and do it again for more destinations... It may take another new destination before the previous route is displayed, but that could be a glitch of my computer system... you'll have to try that for yourself. Good Luck! Ed.

[@tinderboxarts]

Yes--my fat fingers were hitting the X rather than the Z! Thanks for the catch. I'll try your other tip, too.

[@stephenduncan6013]

After using TomTom units and TomTom my drive for years( my unit died after mega rain storms whilst touring Europe this June) I took the plunge and purchased a Zumo xt great unit but still researching how to upload routes. Which brings me to my main issue how to upload Garmin Explore on my laptop??? Seems all I can download is Garmin Explore on my iphone. Any clues guys or Am I not engaging my brain ? thanks

[@tinderboxarts]

The Garmin explore software is web based. You just go to the website, create an account, and you run it in your web browser: explore.garmin.com/

[@stephenduncan6013]

@@tinderboxarts Excellent!! thx for reply.

[@1egal1Liph]

Does the sync to Zumo happen wirelessly or does it need to be wired to PC?

[@tinderboxarts]

The sync, as another viewer mentioned in detail, occurs when your phone is connected via bluetooth to the Zumo and to the internet via your cell network or local wi-fi. In other words, you can be on the road in a hotel or restaurant, make a change in the garmin explore web app, and it will resync without a laptop.

[@michaeljameszaruba2243]

Very informative. I learned something new

[@kaiserman155]

I’ll stick with Ride With GPS. It allows me to create GPX tracks on my iPad and export them directly to Zumo XT through the Garmin Drive app.

[@BriKinsella]

Thanks John, explained very clearly 🤗👍🏼

[@sootylum]

Great video thanks for taking the time to put this out.

[@jontysolomons8475]

Glad I found your video as I plan my trips in google maps then replicate in Garmin. Once it is in as a trip, will it recalculate etc if you go off route or have a jam, I'm assuming yes, that its a fully functional trip when in.

[@tinderboxarts]

I typically use the "trip planner" app in the GPS itself to follow the route, and it will recalculate if you get off course. Depending where you are that may or may not be an issue. The other option is to use tracks to follow your plan, or you could switch back and forth depending on circumstances. If you are in populated, traveled areas it's a non-issue. If you are in remote or rural areas it can sometimes be an issue.

[@jontysolomons8475]

@@tinderboxarts thanks, I use trip planner and so if it recalculates like normal its' great. I had to learn google my maps and Garmin explore today, your video inspired me, thank you!

[@PTSD_Adventurer]

Thank you so much for this tutorial John! 🙏

[@tinderboxarts]

Glad it was helpful!

[@TheRubbersoul1991]

Clear and to the point. Many thanks.

[@camotablet8073]

What Garmin Explore app are you using? Mine looks different, I have no side menus or import option. Thanx!!!

[@tinderboxarts]

I'm just using the garmin website: explore.garmin.com/ on a web browser. Possibly if you are trying to do this on a phone you need to toggle between two screens. I would highly recommend using a personal computer.

[@camotablet8073]

I was using the app on a chromebook. You answered my question. Thank You so much!@@tinderboxarts

[@guitarplayerwannabee]

John I have the Garmin Zumo XT. Bearing in mind the steps involved in getting the details from Google to Garmin, why not just use Google Maps on your mobile?

[@tinderboxarts]

Some people do use their phone, and that can work okay in some situations. The downsides are that there is not cell service in some areas, your phone is probably not weather-proof, and the phone may not hold up to abuse on the road. The Zumo also offers additional features on the screen such as speed, time, "up ahead," weather radar overlay, etc. My last two trips included areas in which cell service was unavailable for hours of riding during a day.

[@fredzuccarelli]

Great timing John.....just got my zumo xt

[@tinderboxarts]

Timing is everything in life! I'm still figuring out new features of my Zumo. On my most recent trip I discovered that you can overlay weather radar on your map as you ride. It takes data from your phone and adds it to the display.

[@JasonRidesmoto]

My ZUMO XT2 only has "convert to route" option. This has been some of the most hair pulling I've done trying to get these files on my ZUMO XT2 and actually give me directions etc

[@tinderboxarts]

I'll need some more information to help. There are tracks and routes, and you should be able to do either. When I convert an imported track I convert it to a "trip" so I can use it in the trip planner app. I showed this around 8:32 in the video. Is that what you are doing?

[@conordoherty-lh6bz]

Thanks for this- a tremendous help.

[@jeanjacques9980]

Just wondered if it’s possible to transfer favourites in google maps to xt2? Great video.

[@tinderboxarts]

I have not played with the XT2 version yet, but I would suspect it's substantially similar to the XT shown in the video.

[@senorcosta]

Great job! Thanks

[@hansstofberg43]

Yes, I can sent a route . But if I try to sent a certain point it said this app can not handle this . And it's probably better to throw the garmin out , and clip your phone or tablet on your dash. Garmin is just not up to google maps . And the shitty map in the garmin app is realy ridiculous .

[@tinderboxarts]

I discussed this at 2:50. If you try to transfer too long of a route, you can overwhelm the Garmin unit. That's why you were getting that message. Some people do choose to use their phone, but there are drawbacks. Aside from the problem of weather and physical abuse to your phone, if you don't have cell coverage you will be lost. Where I have ridden across country, there have been many areas where there simply is no cell service.

[@IDM328]

I'm not sure this is doing what you think it is. Your Day 2 track was 283 miles. When you converted it to a route it went to 358 miles. All the route had was a start and end point & when you use a route you are handing over the actual route planning to the GPS so its taken your start point and planned a route to the end point as it sees fit & according to the settings in the device (i.e. highways on or off etc). The problem with using tracks is always when you deviate from them the device is not good at adjusting and getting you back onto it. It doesn't really do any navigating, it just provides you with a moving map with a line on it to follow. The best solution is always a route with a set of enough waypoints to keep you on the roads you want to use.

[@tinderboxarts]

I assure you it is doing what I described--I've ridden all over the US and Canada using this procedure. For example, in Google Mymaps I will often force a deviation onto a road which looks interesting even though Google does not pick it. When I save that as a KMZ file my deviation is still in the data, and when I use the Garmin app to transfer that KMZ file to the unit, the deviation is still there. What you noticed is that the mileage was different before and after I converted the KMZ file data to a route inside the Garmin unit. That is a fluke due to the way distance is calculated. The KMZ data created a track put together through a series of dots with straight lines between the dots. After conversion to a Garmin route in the trip planner, the unit calculates distance based on the actual roads, which is generally greater. Interestingly, you can have both the original track and the trip planner route displayed simultaneously on the screen, which we sometimes do in rural areas. The two lines will be similar but not always identical. So the Garmin trip planner route is the more accurate model and it matches the regular Google maps very closely. In addition, that deviation that I may put in the data also shows up in the Garmin trip planner route as an icon on the map. Basically it becomes like a waypoint.

[@rickmeyers4522]

Will this work for my XT2?

[@tinderboxarts]

I haven't had a chance to play with the new XT2 model, but I strongly suspect it will work identically to this. I know the screen menus are a little different, but I think the basic function underneath isn't changed dramatically. Let me know if you have success, I'd be very curious.

[@rickmeyers4522]

@@tinderboxarts Thanks for the info