Guide
How to Convert Google Maps Timeline to a Mileage Log
Google Maps Timeline already knows every trip you've taken — the date, the route, and the distance, all recorded automatically from GPS. That's most of a mileage log already; it just isn't in a shape you can hand to an accountant or attach to an expense claim. This guide shows you how to convert your Timeline into a clean mileage log in a few minutes, without installing anything and without your location data ever leaving your browser.
The short version: export your Timeline → open it in Time-mile → filter to your driving trips → export a CSV, JSON, or PDF mileage log. Nothing is uploaded to a server.
What you'll need first: your Timeline export
Google now stores Timeline data on your phone, so there are two possible source files depending on where your history lives:
- Direct Export — a
Timeline.jsonfile exported straight from the Google Maps app on Android or iOS. This holds your recent history. - Google Takeout — the legacy ZIP of your Location History, which holds anything from before Google's 2024 migration.
If you're not sure how to get either one, follow the Timeline export guide first, then come back. The good news: you don't have to choose — the converter reads both formats and merges them.
Convert your Timeline to a mileage log in 4 steps
- Open Time-mile and load your file. Drop your
Timeline.jsonor your Takeout ZIP into the app. It parses the file locally, in your browser, and lists every trip as a row with its date, start, end, and distance. - Filter to the period and the trips that matter. Use the date range to narrow it to the tax year or claim period, and the confidence filter to drop noisy points. What's left is a table of real journeys.
- Separate business from personal. The tool can't know which drives were for work — that judgment is yours. Review the start/end locations and hide or tag anything personal so it's excluded from the total.
- Export your mileage log. Export to CSV to drop into a spreadsheet, JSON for another tool, or a formatted PDF report you can file or submit as-is.
Does a Timeline JSON file work, or only Takeout?
Both. A lot of people search specifically for how to turn a Timeline JSON file into a mileage log, because the new Direct Export produces a single Timeline.json that spreadsheets can't open in any useful way. Time-mile reads that JSON structure natively — including the newer latLng string coordinates — and the older Takeout format, and lines both up into one table sorted by date. You never have to reconcile the two formats by hand.
What your mileage log should contain
Whatever you're converting it for, a usable mileage log comes down to four fields per trip:
| Field | Where it comes from |
|---|---|
| Date | The timestamp on each Timeline trip |
| Start & end location | The route Timeline recorded |
| Distance | Calculated from the GPS track |
| Purpose / category | You tag this — business vs personal |
If the log is for a tax deduction or reimbursement, the exact rules vary by country. Our guide on using Google Timeline for mileage tax deductions covers what the IRS, HMRC, CRA, and ATO each expect.
Convert your Timeline into a mileage log now
Free to start, runs in your browser, works with both export formats.
Launch Time-mileFrequently asked questions
How do I convert my Google Maps Timeline to a mileage log?
Export your Timeline from your phone or from Google Takeout, open the file in Time-mile, filter to the driving trips for the period you need, then export the result as a CSV, JSON, or PDF mileage log. The whole conversion happens in your browser.
Can I convert a Google Timeline JSON file to a mileage log?
Yes. Time-mile reads the new Timeline.json Direct Export from Android and iOS directly, as well as the legacy Google Takeout ZIP, and turns either one into a table of trips you can export as a mileage log.
Is it free to convert my Timeline into a mileage log?
Yes. You can import your Timeline, filter your trips, and export a mileage log for free up to the free-tier row limit. Larger histories and extra features are available on the premium tier.
Can I use Google Timeline for business mileage?
Yes. Timeline records the date, route, and distance of every trip automatically from GPS, which are exactly the fields a business mileage log needs. You isolate the business trips, tag anything personal, and export the log.
Does my location data get uploaded when I convert it?
No. Time-mile parses your Timeline file entirely inside your browser. Your location history is never sent to a server, which is a core promise of the product.