GPS Art Route Planner
Draw shapes on a real map, generate a runnable route that follows actual roads, and download it as a GPX file. Turn your next run into a masterpiece.
Place Points
Click on the map to place waypoints, or use a template shape.
Generate Route
We snap your drawing to real roads and footpaths.
Run It
Download the GPX file and import it into any running app.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is GPS art?
GPS art (also called Strava art or running art) is the practice of planning a run, bike ride, or walk so that your GPS trail forms a recognizable shape, word, or picture when viewed on a map. Runners and cyclists use GPS art to add creativity and fun to their workouts, and the results often go viral on social media.
How does the GPS Art Route Planner work?
Place waypoints on the map by clicking where you want your route to go. You can also use pre-made templates like hearts, stars, and arrows for quick shapes. Once your points are placed, click "Generate Route" and our tool connects your waypoints along actual roads and footpaths, creating a runnable route you can download as a GPX file.
What is a GPX file?
GPX (GPS Exchange Format) is a standard file format for storing GPS data. Most running apps and GPS watches can import GPX files to display a route for you to follow. After generating your GPS art route, download the GPX file and import it into your preferred running app.
Can I use this route with any running app?
Yes. The GPX file format is universal and works with most popular running apps, including Strava, Garmin Connect, Nike Run Club, Apple Watch, Komoot, and Motera. Simply download the GPX file and import it into your app of choice.
How do I make my GPS art look better?
Start simple with basic shapes like hearts or stars. Use areas with grid-like street layouts for sharper angles and cleaner lines. Zoom in closer when placing waypoints for more precision. Place points at intersections where turns happen naturally. And remember that the final route follows real roads, so the result may differ slightly from your drawing.
Is this tool completely free?
Yes, the GPS Art Route Planner is 100% free with no sign-up required. Plan as many routes as you like, download unlimited GPX files, and share your creations with anyone.
What if my route does not generate correctly?
Make sure your waypoints are placed near actual roads or paths. The route generator connects points along walkable roads, so points placed in water, parks without paths, or remote areas with no roads may cause errors. Try moving your points closer to visible roads on the map.
Related Content
What is GPS Art?
GPS art (also called Strava art or running art) is the practice of planning a running, cycling, or walking route so that your GPS trail creates a recognizable shape, word, or picture when viewed on a map. It combines fitness with creativity and has become a worldwide phenomenon, with runners creating everything from simple hearts to incredibly detailed portraits spanning entire cities.
The concept took off with the rise of GPS-enabled running apps like Strava, where users could see their completed routes displayed on a map. Creative runners realized they could deliberately plan routes to "draw" with their GPS trail, turning city streets into a canvas and their runs into artwork.
GPS art has become its own subculture within the running community. Artists like Lenny Maughan in San Francisco and Stephen Lund in Victoria, Canada, have created hundreds of elaborate GPS drawings that have gone viral on social media. Some designs span over 100 kilometers and take hours to complete.
How to Plan Your First GPS Art Route
Creating GPS art is easier than it looks. This tool handles the hard part (route generation), but knowing the process will help you create better designs.
Pick your canvas
Start by navigating to the area where you want to run. Grid-like neighborhoods with lots of intersections work best because they give you sharp angles and clean lines. Avoid areas with long stretches of highway or limited road access.
Place your waypoints
Click on the map to place points that outline your shape. Place points at intersections where turns happen naturally. The more points you use, the more detailed your art will be, but try to keep it under 20 points to avoid overly complex routes.
Generate the route
Click "Generate Route" and the planner will connect your waypoints along actual roads and footpaths using the OSRM routing engine. The result follows real walkable paths, so the shape may differ slightly from your drawing. Adjust points if needed.
Download and run
Download the GPX file and import it into your favorite running app (Strava, Garmin Connect, Motera, or any app that supports GPX). Follow the route on your phone or GPS watch, and your GPS trail will trace the art when you are done.
Tips for Better GPS Art
Start with simple shapes
Hearts, stars, and letters are the easiest GPS art projects for beginners. They require fewer waypoints and are more forgiving when the route snaps to roads. Save complex designs like animals and portraits for after you have mastered the basics.
Use grid neighborhoods
Areas with grid-pattern streets (like downtown areas in most US cities) produce the cleanest GPS art. The regular intersections give you precise control over turns and straight lines. Suburban cul-de-sacs and curvy roads make it harder to create recognizable shapes.
Zoom out to check your work
After placing all your waypoints, zoom out on the map to see the full shape. It is easy to lose perspective when placing points at close range. Zoom out, verify the shape looks right, and adjust before generating the route.
Share your creations
GPS art is meant to be shared. After completing your run, screenshot the finished route from your running app and post it to social media or running communities. Tag it with #GPSart or #StravaArt to join the global GPS art community.
Plan for distance
Complex shapes often result in longer routes than you expect. Check the estimated distance after generating the route and make sure it matches your fitness level. You can scale your design up or down by spacing your waypoints further apart or closer together.
Best Locations for GPS Art
The right location can make or break your GPS art. Here is what to look for when scouting your canvas.
What is a GPX File?
GPX (GPS Exchange Format) is a universal file format for storing GPS coordinates, routes, and tracks. It is the standard way to move route data between different apps and devices. When you download a GPX file from this tool, it contains a series of latitude/longitude coordinates that trace your designed route.
Almost every running app and GPS watch supports GPX imports. You can load the file into Strava, Garmin Connect, Komoot, Apple Watch, Motera, or dozens of other apps. Once imported, the route appears as a line on the map that you can follow during your run.
To import a GPX file, look for an "Import Route" or "Create Route from File" option in your running app. On Garmin devices, you can drag the file into the NewFiles folder via USB. On Strava, use the route builder and import option. The exact steps vary by app, but the GPX format works everywhere.
