I tend to use GoogleMaps for routing / exploring new routes - but I've always wanted a better look at the terrain or a way to export to additional software or a GPS.

A trick I found surfing online:

Map your route, using destinations and dragging the route to various streets.
Press the "Link to this page" button.
Select the text for pasting into an email.
Paste the text into your browser address bar.
Scroll to the end of the text (it could be very long, depending on the route).
Add "&output=kml" (without the quotes) to the end.

GoogleMaps will prompt you to open the file with GoogleEarth or to save it to your computer.

I've tried this with several short and long routes - sometimes the translation from one program to the other is not 100% accurate - so I've often had to add extra 'waypoints' by dragging the route around to the roads I want to use (sometimes you need to drag the route to a road off your route, then back onto the route)

I've found that adding a drag point just after a turn works well to keep GoogleEarth on track as it plots your course...

Add "&output=kml" (without the quotes) to the end.

Very interesting. Thanks!

I work in the mapping business. The ability of GoogleMaps to reroute on the fly like that is amazing. Someone(s) really smart came up with that.

Scroll to the end of the text (it could be very long, depending on the route).

Trick to make that easy: push the "end" button on your keyboard.

Trick to make that easy: push the "end" button on your keyboard.

While holding down the Shift key. ;)

that's awesome - this might actually give me a way to take that link and get elevation data for the route as well.. something i've wanted to do for a while since they don't offer the "route drag" option through the API.

thanks for sharing!

that's awesome - this might actually give me a way to take that link and get elevation data for the route as well.. something i've wanted to do for a while since they don't offer the "route drag" option through the API.

thanks for sharing!

do a search around for a free web based app that allows you to paste in a KML and have it attach elevation data to it in a spreadsheet format. i stumbled on it a week or 2 ago but couldn't find it.

might also be able to copy in a kml or gpx to some of the web based sports tracking sites and get the data. i know there is an option on map my run (and ride) to export the elevation datato a spreadsheet.

I just started using bikely and it will do elevation profiles for you. As well as route along streets, freehand reroutes, create cue sheets. It's a pretty dope app. Dare I say a killer app. :)

I mapped out my route from my hometown to San Diego for my commute to an up coming GIS (Geographic Information Systems) conference (think computer mapping).

do a search around for a free web based app that allows you to paste in a KML and have it attach elevation data to it in a spreadsheet format. i stumbled on it a week or 2 ago but couldn't find it.

what i plan to do is add this feature to veloroutes.org (http://veloroutes.org), the mapping site i run; i would allow the user to paste in the URL for the map and save the route to my db of routes.

thanks again for the ideas/info!

what i plan to do is add this feature to veloroutes.org (http://veloroutes.org), the mapping site i run; i would allow the user to paste in the URL for the map and save the route to my db of routes.

thanks again for the ideas/info!

thats you? cool.

i'll give it a go!

what i plan to do is add this feature to veloroutes.org (http://veloroutes.org), the mapping site i run; i would allow the user to paste in the URL for the map and save the route to my db of routes.

thanks again for the ideas/info!

here's a site that will seek out elevation data from the web to match a KML. (http://www.nearby.org.uk/elevation-kml.php)

There's a petition asking Google to add cycling as an option (as well as driving or walking) to their 'get directions' feature on GoogleMaps if anyone wishes to sign. Details here: http://tinyurl.com/5c3fsr

There's a petition asking Google to add cycling as an option (as well as driving or walking) to their 'get directions' feature on GoogleMaps if anyone wishes to sign. Details here: http://tinyurl.com/5c3fsr

I met with some of the Google's geospatial folks at a conference last week. They know people are asking for this data. As I have learned from working closely with Google over the past 8 months they are not big on working too hard for the data they provide. They want to be a supplier of content but not a creator of content. They build the infrastructure and others created and maintain the content, much like a WiKi. I am interested in supplying my organizations bus and bike route data to Google for inclusion in Google Maps and Google Earth. One step at a time and we will get there.