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Hiking Gear & Outdoor Technology

How To Get Free Garmin GPS Maps For Hiking

There are several ways to load free OSM maps onto your Garmin GPS, but they can be overly technical and cumbersome. In this guide, I'll show you how to do it in a simple, step-by-step process. OSM maps are free and provide an alternative to costly Garmin map chips and downloads.

In this Guide:
  • Finding Free OSM Maps
  • Installing Free Maps info Basecamp
  • Copying OSM Maps onto a Garmin Device

Why These Free Maps?

So let me start by saying there are many ways to get free Garmin GPS maps and many different methods to install them. You could create whole websites devoted to the subject, and people have (see below). This article focuses on installing my favorite free Garmin GPS maps for hiking in the USA, using OpenStreetMaps. If these don't work for you, try exploring the other map services that I have listed below.

You can also create your own highly-customized maps and download them to your Garmin device.

OpenStreetMaps are the Wikipedia of maps. The public contributes to, confirms, and edits the data on the map. This curation goes for hiking trails too. The maps are regularly updated, and over the last few years have seemed the most accurate in my experience. You can even become a contributor if you like.

free maps for garmin gps
Here's a side-by-side comparison of the Garmin base map with these free topo maps.

The free hiking maps that I'm recommending are great because:

free maps for garmin gps
This screenshot gives you an idea of the level of detail in these free maps. You can also search the maps for points of interest. Here I searched for the Great Smoky Mtn NP.

Which Garmin GPS devices do the maps work with?

First off, the Garmin unit you have might have maps already. You probably know this, but if you're shopping for a GPS, go to the Garmin website page for the unit. If it maps come with the unit, it will say it has "preloaded topo maps."

If you already have a unit and want to find out if these free maps work, go to the unit's page on the Garmin website, and then check out the "specs" section. There is a line for "ability to add maps," if you have a check there, you're good to go.

Downloading the Free Garmin GPS Maps

The first thing you will do is visit the GMapTool website, specifically the USA OSM Topo Routable page.

free maps for garmin gps
The nice thing about this site is that they've bundled the maps up into large regions.

Then pick the region you want, and download the appropriate map package (link way at the bottom of the page). The files are pretty big. The download might take a while.

Installing the Free Maps Into Basecamp

The instructions are different for Mac and PC. The map website has a link for installation instructions, click on that. My instructions cover the installation on a Mac, and I have some instructions for Windows further down in this guide.

For the Mac, you'll need a few (free) programs to install the maps. You can download and install these programs while you wait for your maps to download.

free maps for garmin gps
The maps come downloaded as a compressed file in the 7z format. The maps come downloaded as a compressed file in the 7z format.. Newer macOS versions will automatically open the downloaded 7z file and uncompress it with the Apple Archive Utility. You might need a third-party app like The Unarchiver to do the job if you have an older system.
free maps for garmin gps
Then download the free Garmin MapInstall and MapManager programs. They make installing the maps easy and non-technical. Install the programs.
free maps for garmin gps
Once you download the map file, double-click on it and decompress it. It will unzip the files and put them into a folder.
free maps for garmin gps
After unzipping, you'll have a few files in the folder. Double-click on the large file with the "gmap" extension on the end.
free maps for garmin gps
That should launch Garmin MapManager, which will ask you if you want to install the maps. Hit "yes" and it will copy the maps into your Garmin directory. When you're finished, delete the map download and the unzipped folder.

That's it. The maps are on your computer. If you're not already using the free Garmin Basecamp tool, I highly recommend getting it. It will allow you to browse maps, create tracks, and is invaluable in planning hikes.

free maps for garmin gps
Pairing Garmin Basecamp with these free maps for Garmin GPS gives you.a powerful planning tool. Here I'm browsing detail around Icehouse Saddle in California.

Installing the Free Maps on Your Garmin GPS

Once your map is downloaded and installed, you're all set to install them on your GPS unit.

free maps for garmin gps
Connect your Garmin GPS unit to your computer and make sure it's on. Give it a minute or two to load and register with the computer.
free maps for garmin gps
Load the Garmin MapInstall application. It should show your GPS unit in the top box. Hit continue.
free maps for garmin gps
MapInstall will show you what maps you have installed already (if any), what's on your computer, and how much room you have on your device (at the bottom). Click on the maps you want to install while watching the space on your device. My eTrex 20x has 3.7gb of internal memory, no need to add a MicroSD card. Click "send maps."
free maps for garmin gps
Now you wait. It can take a while for the maps to load onto your device. Don't do this if you're in a rush.
free maps for garmin gps
Now confirm that the maps are loaded. Go into your settings for maps and poke around. The process is different for different units, but you should be able to see something like this.
free maps for garmin gps
Boom! Maps! Enjoy the maps on your Garmin GPS. And if there is too much detail or the map rendering seems slow, go to settings and try decreasing the detail level.

Installing on GPS Devices With MTP Mode

Garmin added a connection mode called MTP (Media Transfer Protocol) to transfer files, which makes the Garmin appear as a “media device.” And of course, Apple doesn't support it well. Most Garmin devices allow you to switch the USB mode to "mass-storage" and you should find that in the settings and give it a try. Make sure the device firmware is updated to get the latest settings. Once in "mass-storage" mode, you should be able to follow the steps laid out earlier.

If you're stuck in MTP mode, I've found a solution. It's not the most graceful one in the world, but it works (confirmed on a Fenix 5x Plus).

That's it. Go to your map settings and turn the OSM map on and off.

Osm Maps On Fenix 5x Plus
OSM maps on my Fenix 5x Plus

Tips for Windows Installation

The directions on GMapTool site aren't very descriptive for Windows. Here are some tips from fellow hiker Dave T. on how to install the free maps on Windows.

If These Free Garmin GPS Maps Don't Work For You

There are other free maps for your Garmin GPS, and again, they might have different instructions for installation. Check the website where the maps are offered for directions on how to install them.

If you're having trouble finding the GMAP folder, this tip has helped some folks (thanks to Liz S!).

If you're having tech issues, try posting in the Garmin Forums.

Need More Info?

This Guide Was Written by Cris Hazzard

Cris Hazzard 4 Mile Trail Yosemite
Hi, I'm Cris Hazzard, aka Hiking Guy, a professional outdoors guide, hiking expert, and author based in Southern California. I created this website to share all the great hikes I do with everyone else out there. This site is different because it gives detailed directions that even the beginning hiker can follow. I also share what hiking gear works and doesn't so you don't waste money. I don't do sponsored or promoted content; I share only the gear recommendations, hikes, and tips that I would with my family and friends. If you like the website and YouTube channel, please support these free guides (I couldn't do it without folks like you!). You can stay up to date with my new guides by following me on YouTube, Instagram, or by subscribing to my monthly newsletter.