Free online route building programs

A month or so ago I stumbled across a thread talking about this but can't find it now. I am taking a three week trip and am taking a small Samsung Chromebook which can't have programs loaded onto it. I want to use an online program to create a route(s) on the fly. I could then connect via USB to my Garmin 550 to load the gpx with the online program or at least I think I can. I have tried this with Google maps and never been able create a route much less convert to gpx or upload.

Anyone know of an online source for what I want to do?

Here are a few. I've had mixed success using them
http://www.mapquest.com/
http://rideplanner.harley-davidson...._US&showUserRoads=0&showGreatRoads=0&showFuel
https://trips.furkot.com/welcome

http://www.gpsies.com
http://www.openstreetmap.org
maps.google.com
mapquest
rallynavigator
gpxvisualizer

and a bunch more from Google

Tyre. It is free and works pretty good.

http://www.tyretotravel.com/download-tyre/

I can't download programs on the Samsung. It has to all 100% online.

Thanks, the Harley one will work for me. All the ones I find through a Google Search suck. That is what I needed. Thanks again.

Ok, I see this has been added as a sticky so I want to follow up. I tried to use the Harley site as well as another that I liked even more named; http://tourstart.org/drive/

Tourstart is the best of these online programs as far as I could find. Many of the online programs are simply planners with their purpose being to print your directions and don't offer the ability to sync to GPS so look around and make sure you can upload your route as a gpx file first. Both the Harley and Tourstart offer this but my Chromebook's browser doesn't support the ability to upload into my Garmin. For me, the road has ended. Hopefully for those who are using Netbooks or other devices, these online programs will work for you.

Good luck!

I'm curious, i would try each of these depending on the hardware capabilities of both devices:


downloading the file to sdcard, then insert to GPS
Bluetooth transfer
Wi-Fi direct transfer





got to admit, I've gotten spoiled by all the flexibility of using phones in place of GPS devices with so many limitations.

I use the Garmin 550 and can't Wifi upload and it only recognizes a phone or comms via Bluetooth. The SD card idea should have worked but didn't. I'm not sure why. I created a gpx route on the Chromebook and dropped it on a SD card but my Garmin didn't see it and I couldn't find it as a source when trying to import new routes. The SD card error could be one of three factors, user error, the Chrombook or Garmin. Maybe someone who has done this with a 550 can chime in. Ohgood, that could work, thanks. Hopefully there is an easy fix.

Phones are great as long as you have cel coverage. I travel a lot of places where cel towers don't reach.

I'm also out of coverage range often, but thankfully cellular towers arent needed at all to use all the phones GPS functions.

This route planning program is very good IMHO.

http://www.motogoloco.com/

Anyone use googles maps engine?
<cite class="_ee">https://[B]mapsengine[/B].google.com/map/</cite>
i have been using it to create and save routes, it works fine, though with limited waypoints. but i dont know if/ how to export the files.

and just found this
http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=861155

Very good indeed.

I'm 5 days in to my trip now. This morning I decided to change my route. I used the Harley program but not for any special reason. I built the route and saved it to a SD card as a GPX.

Here is the trick...(if one of the recent link talks about this, I'm sorry. I don't have time to go to them) you have to make a folder named "garmin" and a sub folder named "gpx" to put the route in. if you don't, the gps won't notice the route. it only looks in that specific folder for routes.

My Garmin detected the new route an bingo!

I think several of the online free programs mentioned will work for this. One, I can't remember which only lets you upload 1 GPX a day. I think it's the only I said I liked the most. Yes, Tourstart. That could be a deal breaker.

Gota go!

My favourite is http://www.motoplaner.de/ Different base maps available including Google maps.

It's in German but using Chrome, the auto translation works well.

I've tried a few of them. I think Furkot.com has the best combination of features.

Thanks, always nice to hear! :)

1. Map Quest
2. Harley Ride Planner
3. Furkot
4. GPSies
5. Open Street Map
6. Tyre To Travel
7. TourStart
8. Motogoloco
9. BikeToaster
10. MotoPlaner
11. Honda Trip Planner
12. Maps2gpx.com
13. OSRM
14. My Scenic Drives
15. Ride with Gps

More as they are posted.

Maps2gpx.com