Why convert GDB to GPX?
Most modern mapping apps, GPS watches, and web services accept GPX but not the proprietary GDB format. MapSource, the original application for .gdb files, is discontinued and unreliable on current Windows, making conversion to GPX the practical way to keep your data accessible long-term.
How to convert GDB to GPX
GPSBabel OPEN-SOURCE
Set Input format to Garmin Mapsource (gdb) and browse to your .gdb, set Output format to GPX XML, and click Apply.
MapSource APP
Open the .gdb and use File > Export > Export to GPX. Note that MapSource is discontinued and may have display issues on Windows 10/11.
Programs that convert GDB
About these formats
.GDB
Garmin MapSource GPS Database
A GDB file from Garmin stores GPS waypoints, routes and tracks created in MapSource or BaseCamp. Open it with the free Garmin BaseCamp (File -> Import), or convert it to GPX or KML with the…
Open .GDB details →
.GPX
GPS Exchange Format
A GPX file stores GPS data - waypoints, tracks and routes - in plain XML. To view a route, drag it into Google Earth Pro or upload it to GPS Visualizer. To load it onto a Garmin, Wahoo or…
Open .GPX details →Quality & what to watch
- Waypoints, routes, and track logs all convert to GPX cleanly with no GPS data loss.
- Track timestamps from the original
.gdbare preserved in the GPX output. - Garmin waypoint symbols are written as
<sym>tags in GPX; not all destination apps render every symbol name, but the data is present.
Frequently asked questions
How do I confirm my file is a Garmin .gdb and not an Esri geodatabase?
MsRcd. An Esri File Geodatabase is a folder of many files, not a single file.Does Garmin BaseCamp convert GDB to GPX?
.gdb, then File > Export > Export Selected User Data and choose GPX as the file type.
