ViaMichelin calculates a driving route by incorporating fuel costs, tolls, and several route options (the fastest, the most economical, scenic). The result is displayed in the browser, but it does not natively offer an export to a file that can be reused by an external GPS. The challenge lies in this gap between the richness of route calculation and the limited options for extracting it from the platform.
GPX Format and GPS Compatibility: What ViaMichelin Does Not Generate
A car GPS or third-party navigation app (TomTom, Garmin, OsmAnd) typically expects a file in GPX, KML, or TCX format to import a route. These formats store a sequence of geographic coordinates that the device interprets as a route to follow.
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ViaMichelin does not provide an “Export to GPX” button. The platform remains a closed environment on this point: the calculated route exists in your account or in your browser, but not as a downloadable file. Discussions on specialized forums confirm that this function partially existed several years ago before being removed.
This absence leads to two distinct approaches. The first is to utilize ViaMichelin’s internal functions (saving as favorites, printing, sharing). The second involves using a third-party tool capable of converting a route into a usable file. Before detailing the method to export a driving route on ViaMichelin, it is essential to understand what the platform actually allows.
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Saving and Printing ViaMichelin Routes: Native Options
ViaMichelin offers two built-in mechanisms for preserving a calculated route.
Favorite Routes in Your Account
On the results page of a route calculation, a button “Add this route to my favorites” appears. You need a ViaMichelin account (free) to use it. Once saved, the route is accessible from your profile and the search field.
A favorite route remains linked to your ViaMichelin account: it does not transfer to another service. You will find the starting point, destination, and any waypoints, but not an independent file.
Printing and PDF of the Route
The printing function generates a detailed itinerary with turn-by-turn directions. By using the “Print to PDF” function of your browser (Ctrl+P on Windows, Cmd+P on macOS), you obtain a document that can be viewed offline.
This PDF contains the textual description of the route and sometimes a map overview, but no GPS data usable by a navigation device. It remains useful as a paper reference or as a readable backup on your phone.
Convert a ViaMichelin Route to a Usable GPS File
Since ViaMichelin does not offer direct export, conversion involves an intermediate step. Several methods exist depending on the level of precision expected.
Recreate the Route in a GPX Export Tool
Platforms like MyRoute-app or CalcItinéraires allow you to manually trace a route and export it in GPX, TCX, or KML. The method involves:
- Calculating your route on ViaMichelin to obtain the optimal path with cost and toll details
- Reproducing the same route in the third-party tool by placing the same waypoints (start, waypoints, end)
- Exporting the generated GPX file, then loading it onto your car GPS or mobile app
This double entry takes a few extra minutes, but it produces a GPX file compatible with the majority of devices on the market.
Copy Coordinates to Google Maps and Then Export
Google Maps allows you to send a route to a phone or tablet connected to the same account. If your goal is simply to retrieve the ViaMichelin route on your mobile, you can note the key waypoints and then enter them into Google Maps.
Google Maps does not generate a native GPX file either, but direct sending to the mobile app covers the need for real-time navigation for most drivers.
Choosing Between ViaMichelin Saving and External GPS Export
The choice depends on the intended use. Here are the criteria that guide the decision:
- One-time Consultation: saving as ViaMichelin favorites is sufficient if you are revisiting the route from the same account before departure
- Offline Navigation on Dedicated GPS: a GPX file created via a third-party tool is the only reliable option, as the GPS does not connect to your ViaMichelin account
- Sharing with Another Driver: a printed PDF or a link shared from Google Maps is more practical than a technical file
- Archiving Road Trips: GPX files allow you to store each leg and reload them months later without relying on an online service
ViaMichelin retains its added value in calculating travel costs (fuel, tolls) and route options. Exporting to an external GPS compensates for its technical limitation without losing the quality of the initial planning.
The most efficient workflow combines both: plan on ViaMichelin to benefit from budget estimation, then transfer the waypoints to a tool capable of producing a GPX file. This additional step rarely takes more than five minutes and ensures a route accessible on any device, connected or not.