Convert GPX waypoints into links for Google Maps and Apple Maps

With this R script, you can convert waypoints in GPX format into links to Google Maps or Apple Maps and have them written to an Excel file. My parents, who have been enthusiastic motorhome drivers for 10 years, use Excel files on their cell phone to navigate to the spots described in the guides womo.de on their motorhome trip.

This year my parents will be traveling to Sicily in their motorhome. Google Maps will be used for navigation. For route planning, they are using a motorhome guide from https://www.womo.de/, which contains directions and waypoints that can be downloaded in GPX format.

However, Google Maps does not offer the option of importing the GPX file. GPX import is possible with Google My Maps, but the map created cannot be used for navigation in Google Maps.

I have therefore written an R script which converts the waypoints in the GPX file into links to Google Maps and Apple Maps and saves them in an Excel file. The Excel file can then be opened on the cell phone and a waypoint can be opened in Google Maps or Apple Maps by executing the links. Below is an example GPX file with decimal coordinates and the corresponding URLs:

<gpx>
  <wpt lat="38.124444444" lon="13.368055556">
    <name>Ex1</name>
  </wpt>
</gpx>

URL to Google Maps:
https://maps.google.com/?q=38.124444444,13.368055556&ll=38.124444444,13.368055556&z=12

URL to Apple Maps:
https://maps.apple.com/?q=38.124444444,13.368055556

For their recent trip to Scotland, this method proved to be extremely practical. Instead of experimenting with different apps, they could simply click on the links in the Excel file and navigate directly to the described spots.