Question 1

What does this converter actually do?

Accepted Answer

It reads the stops and via points from a Google Maps directions link, finds the roads between them, and writes the whole route into a GPX file.

Question 2

Is it exactly Google's route?

Accepted Answer

Nearly. The link holds the stops and the points you dragged the line through, not the line itself, so the roads are found again with Mapbox. Drag the line onto any road you want to keep, and the route follows it.

Question 3

Do short maps.app.goo.gl links work?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Paste it as it is: this website asks Google where the link leads, then converts the full address in your browser.

Question 4

Is my route uploaded anywhere?

Accepted Answer

It isn't stored. To find the roads, the stops go to Mapbox, which also draws the map. A short link is only looked up with Google.

Question 5

Which apps can open the file?

Accepted Answer

ScoutRoute, and most GPS apps and devices that import GPX. The road comes in as a track, the stops as waypoints.

Question 6

Can I use “Your location” as the start?

Accepted Answer

No, the link doesn't say where you are. Type a real start address in Google Maps, then copy the link again.

Free tool by ScoutRouteGoogle Maps route to GPX.

Three steps. No sign-up.

Plan it in Google Maps

Copy the link

Paste it here

Then make it twisty.

Fast

No Motorways

Twisty

Good to know

Now go ride it.