¶ Google Maps Offline Data & KMZ Setup (Android)
This tutorial shows how to load offline maps into the Meshtastic Android app for Burning Man.
The process uses KMZ overlay files provided by the Burning Man Organization.
¶ 📥 Download the KMZ Overlay Files
👉 📄 Download the KMZ overlays here
📺 Tutorial here:
¶ 📱 Meshtastic App Setup (Android)
¶ 1. Opt Into the Beta Program
The KMZ overlay feature is only available in the beta version of the Meshtastic app.
To join the beta:
- Open the Google Play Store
- Go to the Meshtastic app page
- Scroll down and tap Join Beta
- Wait for the beta update to install
¶ 2. Load KMZ Files into Meshtastic
- Open the Meshtastic Android app
- Tap the 🗺️ Map Tab
- Tap Add Layer
- Navigate to where you downloaded the KMZ files
- Select and load each KMZ file individually
- Each layer represents different data (toilets, street names, emergency services, etc.)
¶ ⚙️ Notes & Tips
-
Busy map?
Some overlays (like CPNS — emergency services) add a lot of markers.
You can disable that layer for a cleaner view. -
Street names & toilets
Other overlays will show street names and toilet locations when you zoom in. -
Map misalignment
You might notice some lines not matching up.
This is because Google Maps is slightly inaccurate at Burning Man.
The overlays are drawn directly from the Burning Man Organization’s official data — trust those over Google’s base map.
✅ That’s it! You now have a functional offline map of Black Rock City in your Meshtastic app.
See you out in the dust!