Understanding the GPX File Format
GPX (GPS Exchange Format) is the universal open standard for GPS data. Originally designed for sharing waypoints, routes, and tracks between GPS devices, GPX has become the lingua franca of location data in outdoor sports. Every major platform — Strava, Komoot, AllTrails, Garmin Connect, MapMyRun — can export GPX files. A GPX file contains trackpoints with latitude, longitude, elevation, and timestamp. Some GPX files also include extensions for heart rate, cadence, power, and temperature, but these are not standardized across platforms.
Standard GPX records trackpoints with latitude, longitude, elevation, and timestamp in the <trkpt> element. Extensions under the Garmin TrackPointExtension namespace can carry additional fields: heart rate (<gpxtpx:hr>), cadence (<gpxtpx:cad>), power (<gpxtpx:power>), and air temperature (<gpxtpx:atemp>). Whether these extensions are present depends on the originating platform. Strava GPX exports include heart rate and cadence if the device recorded them; AllTrails and Komoot GPX files are typically GPS-only with no biometric data.
Why Convert GPX to CSV?
GPX is designed for GPS data exchange, not for analysis. To study your GPS data quantitatively — calculate gradient at each point, measure speed between consecutive trackpoints, analyse elevation gain on specific segments, or build a custom speed/elevation chart — you need the data in a flat, row-based format that statistical tools can process. CSV is that format. Converting GPX to CSV is the standard first step before any quantitative route or performance analysis.
Mapping and GIS analysis is another major use case. Tools like QGIS, ArcGIS, and Google Earth Pro can import CSV files with latitude and longitude columns as point layers. This lets you colour-code your route by speed, gradient, heart rate, or any other field in the CSV — producing richer visualisations than the single-colour tracks most GPX viewers display. Route designers and coaches use this to identify where athletes slow down, where terrain affects effort, and how conditions compare.
What Data Is Exported to CSV?
The CSV has one row per GPX trackpoint. Standard columns include: timestamp (ISO 8601 UTC), latitude (decimal degrees), longitude (decimal degrees), and altitude_m (metres). If Garmin TrackPointExtension data is present in the GPX file, additional columns appear: heart_rate_bpm, cadence_rpm, power_w, and temperature_c. All column headers are always present in the output; cells are empty where data is absent. This makes the CSV immediately usable in pandas or R without handling varying column structures.
GPX to CSV — Use Cases
GPX files from Strava, Komoot, AllTrails, Wikiloc, Garmin, or a handheld GPS can be converted to CSV for analysis in Excel, Google Sheets, QGIS, or any data tool that accepts tabular data.
What data is in a GPX file?
Standard GPX stores latitude, longitude, elevation, and time. Some apps add heart rate and cadence as TrackPointExtension data. All available fields are included in the CSV output.
How to export GPX from Strava
- Open the activity on Strava
- Click the three-dot menu (⋯) and choose Export GPX
- Upload the file above
How to Use This Converter
Upload your .gpx file using the dropzone. The conversion runs in your browser — no GPS data leaves your device. The CSV downloads automatically once parsed. GPX files from any platform are accepted: Strava, Komoot, AllTrails, Wikiloc, Garmin, Suunto, Wahoo, RideWithGPS, and any other platform that exports standard GPX 1.1. For very large GPX files (multi-day hikes or cycling tours with tens of thousands of trackpoints), processing may take a few seconds — all computation happens locally.
vs. Other Conversion Tools
GPSBabel is the most feature-rich open-source GPS conversion tool and can export GPX to CSV with many options. However, it requires installation and command-line knowledge. This converter works in any browser on any device including phones and tablets, produces a clean CSV immediately, and requires no software installation. Strava and Garmin Connect do not offer direct GPX-to-CSV export from their web interfaces — for a fast, private, browser-based conversion, this tool fills that gap.
Common Issues
If the CSV has timestamp as the only non-empty column, the GPX file is a route or waypoint file rather than a recorded activity track. Routes (<rte>) and waypoints (<wpt>) do not carry timestamps or biometric data — only tracks (<trk>) do. Komoot and RideWithGPS route plans export as route GPX files, not track files. To get a track GPX, you need to record the activity (actually ride or run the route) and export the resulting activity — not the planned route.
GPX Routes for Adaptive Athletes
Wheelchair road athletes, handbike cyclists, and sit-ski racers increasingly use GPS-enabled devices, and their GPX files are processed identically by this converter. The CSV output is useful for adaptive route planning: gradient at each trackpoint can be calculated from consecutive altitude and distance values, allowing athletes and coaches to identify sections where terrain will be particularly demanding. For wheelchair racers analysing road courses, gradient profiling from GPX-derived CSV data is a practical tool for developing pacing strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate gradient from the CSV?
In Python with pandas: first calculate horizontal distance between consecutive points using the Haversine formula (or import from the geopy library), then gradient = (altitude_m.diff() / horizontal_distance_m) * 100 to get percentage gradient. In Excel, compute distance from lat/lon using a formula or manually measure, then =(B2-B1)/(distance_m) * 100 where column B is altitude_m.
Does the converter support GPX files with multiple tracks?
The converter processes the first track in the GPX file. GPX files with multiple <trk> elements — which occur when a GPS device lost signal and resumed, or when multiple routes were exported together — will have only the first track in the CSV output. If you need all tracks, split the GPX file into separate files (using GPSBabel or a text editor) and convert each one individually.