Download routes to a Garmin Edge FORUMS HOME SEARCH FORUMS

How To Download Routes to a Garmin Edge

If you want to download a route so that you can navigate it using your Garmin Edge, this is very easy to do.  Just select the download option from the menu when viewing a route (or click in "D'LOAD" when editing a route) and choose Download to a Garmin Device. You'll need to install the Garmin Communicator plugin if you don't already have it, but then downloading is simply a matter of selecting your device from the list (if you have more than one) and then clicking Download.

You can also download the route as a file and transfer it to your Garmin Edge yourself.  Just follow these instructions.

1. Select the route you want to download (you can find all your own routes by selecting My Routes from the More menu on the route planner).
   
   
2. Click the Download (D'LOAD) icon in the action bar.
   
   
3. Choose either TCX or GPX Track file format and click thre DOWNLOAD button:
   
   
   • TCX - includes any turn by turn directions/notes and lets you specify a Virtual Partner speed/pace  
   • GPX - no directions or notes, just the route (less storage space needed)
     
     
4. Connect your Garmin Edge to your computer. It acts like a USB stick, so once it is ready you can open it up in Windows Explorer or the Mac Finder to see the files on it.
   
   
5. Copy the downloaded file to your Garmin device - the instructions for this depend on which device you have:
   
   
   • Garmin Edge 500/800/810/1000/Touring
     • Copy the file to the GARMIN/NewFiles folder
       
       
   • Garmin Edge 605/705
     • Copy TCX files to the GARMIN/Courses folder
     • Copy GPX files to the GARMIN/GPX folder
       
       
   • Garmin Edge 205/305 and all other Garmin devices
   • Files cannot be copied directly - please use the Garmin Training Center software (TCX files only)
   • Import the download file into  Garmin Training Center (File -> Import -> Courses)
   • Download the Course onto your Garmin device (Send to Device and select the correct course) 
     
     
6. To follow the route, locate it on your Garmin device and start the navigation:
   
   
   • Garmin Edge GPX files : you can find the route under "Where To?"
   • All other files and devices : you can find the route under "Courses"

You can also download routes (as Courses) to Garmin Edge devices and most other Garmin devices using Garmin's Training Center software.

For a Garmin Edge Touring, at step 5 it's the same as this:

• Garmin Edge 500/800/810
  • Copy the file to the GARMIN/NewFiles folder

Great.  Thank you.  Like the ease of use on setting up routes and the mapping so going to use this for sure.  

Hi, I have a couple of questions if I am downloading a GPX route. If I select this option will I still get a map on my Garmin Edge that shows a big white arrow when it is time to turn and beeps about 100yds before the turn?. And do I select "track" or "route" when downloading.

Thanks, Mark

Hi Mark - If you are downloading to a Garmin Edge we would recommend selecting the TCX format rather than GPX.  The TCX format is translated by your Garmin into a navigable course with turn by turn instructions.  Many devices will also accept routes in GPX format too and will display a breadcrumb trail to follow with a position arrow (if you select the GPX Track option), but the TCX format will work better for turn instructions.  On a related topic, we are currently developing an option on the site to be able to add turn warnings when you download a route, at a chosen distance before each turn.  There should be an announcement about this fairly soon.

John

Do the same download instructions apply to the Garmin Edge Touring??

Yes, for the Garmin Edge Touring follow the instructions for the Garmin 800.  I'll update the instructions to reflect this.

John

When downloading to TCX, what does the "Dir'ns limit" option do?

Thanks
David

Hi David - the Directions Limit (soon to be renamed Course Point Limit), is the maximum number of course points that your Garmin devuice can accept.  Most Garmin devices will only accept a maximum of 100 course points (a limitation of the device itself) although some can accept more and some applications have no limit.  Any directions or notes for your route are written to the download file as course points, so if you have more than 100 you may want to delte or combine some (click the "Manage" button in the Directions/Notes panel to do this) to reduce the number, otherwise only the first 100 will be downloaded to esnure that the file is accepted by your Garmin device (unless you select one of the other options to download more).

John

Hi, I have a Garmin Nuvi 2589 sat nav. I set out road routes for classic car runs and would like to use plot a route software to do this as it shows all byroads which is not the case with Garmins Basecamp! However I cannot use the download option for Garmin devices as I have Garmin Express on my Mac. Can I load a TCX file onto my Mac and then download it to the Garmin Nuvi. I need the TCX file because it includes the directions.

Thanks for any advice.

Hi Eric - yes, you can certainly download routes as TCX files from our site.  There is a link to further advice on transferring route files to Garmin Nuvi devices in another forum topic: Download to Garmin Nuvi.

John

How do I transfer a route from plotaroute to Garmin Connect?

The best way to transfer a roite to Garmin Connect is to download the route from plotaroute.com as a TCX file and then import it to your Garmin Connect account.

John

I don't believe Garmin Connect will allow you to import routes from files, or at least I've never found a way!

In order to get a route from this site onto my garmin watch, I have to download it to the PC, import it into the old Garmin Training Centre application, then transfer it from there using the old (again) ANT Agent ie I dont's use Garmin Express, or even have installed.

I'd love to know of an easier way though if it exists......

If you click on the Activities option from the menu in Garmin Connect, you should then see an "Import"  link on the top right.  However, I don't believe that Garmin Connect offers a facility to then download this route to Garmin devices, so you need to use other means for this.

John

that's true John, but routes and activites are very different.

there is no equivalent 'import route' button in the courses section of garmin connect.

I think you're right Ian - Garmin Connect doesn't have a facility to import courses.  That's obviously something you'd need to take up with Garmin.

John

Hello

I have a Garmin Edge 500 and it is very simple to download routes to it, even if it is not a direct download:

From plotaroute, you download a TCX file on your PC. Then you plug your Garmin on a USB port, it appears in Explorer. You just copy the TCX file in the folder named “new files” on your Garmin.

Then you start the Garmin Edge, it takes a while especially if the route is long as it seems the GPS converts the TCX into a course before starting.

Then in “training / Follow course” you should see your route.

I do not think there is a way to import a route into Garmin Connect. Anyway if your goal is to send the route to the Edge, I would not recommend it as there is a bug in Garmin connect (at least on Garmin Edge 500) : when you send a route from Garmin connect to the Edge it loses all altitude information and the route is flat…

Hope it helps

Any ideas on how to get the tcx export to work with a garmin edge 25? I place the files in the new files folder, but they don't get picked up.

I have just realised it is the Garmin FIT format I need not TCX. There doesn't seem to be a FIT export, so I used GPSIES (http://www.gpsies.com/convert.do;?language=en) to convert the TCX to FIT and that seems to have worked.