How to upload a GPX route to your Garmin

There are two reliable ways to get a GPX route onto a Garmin device, plus one common reason routes fail to load.

Option 1 — Garmin Connect (recommended)

  1. In Garmin Connect (web or app), go to Training & Planning → Courses → Import.
  2. Upload your .gpx, save the course, and send it to your device.
  3. On the device, start the course from Navigation / Courses for turn-by-turn cues.

Option 2 — copy the file directly

  1. Connect the Garmin by USB.
  2. Copy the .gpx into the Garmin/NewFiles folder (some handhelds use Garmin/GPX).
  3. Eject and restart — the route appears under saved courses/tracks.

Route won’t load? It’s probably too many points

Most Garmin units cap a course at around 500 points. If a big file fails or gets truncated, reduce the points to ~500 first — see point limits by device. Some devices only give turn prompts from a route, so export with Save as route.

Fit my route to Garmin →