Download Sample GPX Files (GPS Exchange)
Download free sample GPX files. The GPS Exchange Format is an XML schema designed as a common GPS data format for software applications. Use these files to test Track vs Route rendering, Garmin extensions, and elevation plotting. STANDARD Waypoints, Tracks & Routes File Name Type / Specs Size Action simple_waypoint.gpx Single Point Contains one <wpt>…
Download free sample GPX files. The GPS Exchange Format is an XML schema designed as a common GPS data format for software applications. Use these files to test Track vs Route rendering, Garmin extensions, and elevation plotting.
STANDARD
Waypoints, Tracks & Routes
| File Name | Type / Specs | Size | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| simple_waypoint.gpx Single Point |
Contains one <wpt> (Lat/Lon). The simplest valid GPX file. Useful for “Points of Interest” (POI). |
1 KB | Download |
| morning_run.gpx Recorded Activity |
Contains a <trk> with timestamps (<time>) and elevation. Typical output from a fitness watch (Garmin/Strava). |
50 KB | Download |
| planned_route.gpx Navigation Plan |
Contains a <rte>. Unlike a track (breadcrumb), a route is a sequence of points to navigate to. |
5 KB | Download |
QA / EXTENSIONS
Heart Rate, Missing Data & Large Files
| Test Case | Description | Size | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garmin Extensions (HR/Cadence) | XML Namespace Hell. Includes TrackPointExtension with Heart Rate and Cadence. Tests your XML parser’s ability to read nested, namespaced tags. |
100 KB | Download |
| No Elevation / No Time | 2D Track. Missing <ele> and <time> tags. Apps calculating speed or slope often crash (divide by zero) with this file. |
20 KB | Download |
| Ultra Marathon (100k points) | A very long recording (12+ hours). Use to test map rendering performance (Leaflet/Mapbox) and line simplification algorithms. | 5 MB | Download |
Technical Specs: GPX
- XML Structure: The root is
<gpx>. It contains<wpt>(waypoints),<rte>(routes), or<trk>(tracks). Tracks contain<trkseg>(segments), which contain<trkpt>(points). - Coordinate System: GPX strictly uses WGS 84 (the standard GPS datum).
- Extensions: Data not in the core standard (like Heart Rate) is stored in
<extensions>. Parsers must ignore extensions they don’t understand to remain compatible.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a Route (`rte`) and a Track (`trk`)?
A Track is where you have been (a recording of crumbs every second). A Route is where you want to go (a sequence of waypoints to navigate, like “Turn Left at Church”).
A Track is where you have been (a recording of crumbs every second). A Route is where you want to go (a sequence of waypoints to navigate, like “Turn Left at Church”).
Why are my timestamps weird?
GPX timestamps must use ISO 8601 UTC format (e.g.,
GPX timestamps must use ISO 8601 UTC format (e.g.,
2023-10-25T14:30:00Z). If your file uses local time or a different format, most mapping applications will fail to calculate speed.How to visualize GPX?
You don’t need a GPS device to view these files.
- GPX Studio: The best online editor. You can load, edit, and merge tracks directly in your browser.
- Google Earth: Simply drag and drop any GPX file to visualize it in 3D.
- Strava / Garmin Connect: Use the “Manual Upload” feature to import these files and see how they analyze performance data.
Developer’s Corner: GPX Parsing
Don’t struggle with XML Minidom. Use gpxpy to handle the heavy lifting (time diffs, distance calc).
# Python: Parse GPX Track
import gpxpywith open(‘run.gpx’, ‘r’) as gpx_file:
gpx = gpxpy.parse(gpx_file)for track in gpx.tracks:
for segment in track.segments:
print(f“Points in segment: {len(segment.points)}”)
import gpxpywith open(‘run.gpx’, ‘r’) as gpx_file:
gpx = gpxpy.parse(gpx_file)for track in gpx.tracks:
for segment in track.segments:
print(f“Points in segment: {len(segment.points)}”)