Remember when road-tripping involved unfolding a giant paper map? The joy of discovering an unexpected gem of a diner in a sleepy small town? Well, imagine combining that old-school charm with the convenience of modern technology. Welcome to the era of digital nomads and tech-savvy travelers.
Road trips are no longer about packing bags and hitting the highway — they've evolved into well-curated adventures. With the rise of smartphones, our world has become more connected than ever, and that includes our travel experiences from Google Maps to advanced road trip planner apps.
But here's the real question: Are you truly making the most of what today's technology offers for your epic journeys? This blog post will unveil a list of the best road trip apps to enhance your journey and make it a breeze.
Best Road Trip Apps
Whether you're looking for the most scenic routes or simply want to get where you're going as quickly and economically as possible, there's a road trip app built just for that. Here's a rundown of the best road trip apps that will get you where you need to go and more:
1. Roadtrippers
Roadtrippers takes the number one spot on our list of best road trip planning apps. With over 300 unique destinations curated by the Roadtrippers team, you're guaranteed to find the type of hidden gems that will make your journey unforgettable. Whether you're looking for a scenic campsite, a quirky attraction, a vibrant bar, or a one-of-a-kind hotel, Roadtrippers has got you covered. The basic version of the app is free, but upgrading to Roadtrippers Plus paid version unlocks additional features.
Using the app is like having a personal travel route planner in your pocket. Simply tell it where you want to go and what you want to do, and it'll help you build your perfect itinerary, complete with all the best stops along the way. And here's the cherry on top: the app offers turn-by-turn RV navigation designed specifically for your rig's size and propane restrictions.
Any trips you've saved, or places you look forward to going will automatically sync across your devices, ensuring a seamless planning experience. However, remember that the free version limits you to seven waypoints, so consider upgrading to Roadtrippers Plus for more comprehensive trip planning.
2. TripIt
Imagine having a personal assistant to organize all your travel plans in one place, no matter where you book. TripIt takes the chaos out of travel booking by organizing all your plans in one place, irrespective of where you book. The process is simple: forward your confirmation emails to plans@tripit.com, and within seconds, TripIt will whip up a detailed itinerary for your trip.
TripIt is one of the best road trip apps because it packs a punch with features like a navigator, recommendations for nearby places, and neighborhood safety scores to help you make the most of your journey. Plus, it integrates with your calendar to easily keep track of your plans.
3. Waze
Waze is another road trip companion worth trying during your next road trip. This free app, available on iOS and Android platforms, is more than just a GPS navigation tool — it's your personal road trip guru. This community-driven app provides real-time traffic alerts from fellow drivers and riders, ensuring you're always one step ahead of any road hiccups. Waze tells you when to leave and guides you turn by turn, even rerouting you in real time based on traffic conditions.
And if you're worried about pit stops delaying your journey, Waze can also calculate their impact on your arrival time. The app pairs seamlessly with your favorite music apps, voice assistant, or even your car for an integrated driving experience. Once you schedule your trip, sit back and relax, and Waze will notify you when it's time to hit the road.
4. iExit Interstate Exit Guide
Hitting the interstate anytime soon? iExit Interstate Exit Guide is among the best road trip apps for highway travelers. Once opened near any interstate, it automatically locates you, shows upcoming exits, and allows for easy searching of amenities. While your GPS navigates the route, iExit guides you on where to stop along the way. The app also features a valuable tool for budget-conscious travelers — a real-time gas prices comparison tool, helping you find cheap gas at any nearby gas stations.
Through its partnership with OPIS (the Oil Price Information Service), iExit provides daily fuel prices across the U.S., helping you get the cheapest gas stations along the way. Additionally, it integrates with third-party platforms like Yelp and Travel Coupons, providing user reviews and discount deals.
5. Wanderlog
Wanderlog allows you to build, organize, and map your itineraries in one place. It shines with features like route optimization, which auto-arranges the best path for your journey and helps you save on gas costs. The app also offers personalized suggestions, providing smart recommendations for the best places to visit based on your itinerary.
Wanderlog makes it on our best road trips list due to its live syncing and collaborative editing features, which allow you to collaborate with fellow travelers in real time. This makes Wanderlog a perfect tool for group trips, where planning can often be challenging.
6. AllTrails
AllTrails is another must-have app for outdoor enthusiasts. The app offers access to over 200,000 detailed, hand-curated trail maps. With this app, you can confidently explore new terrains anytime, anywhere. Whether looking for the perfect hike, bike ride, or trail run, AllTrails makes it easy to find your next adventure by filtering trails by length, rating, difficulty level, and whether they're dog or kid-friendly.
The app also offers detailed trail reviews from other hikers, bikers, and runners. It's an excellent road trip planner app for navigating the national park service and roadside attractions.
One of the standout features of AllTrails is its ability to turn your phone into a GPS tracker. This feature helps you follow your trail without getting lost and records your pace, distance, elevation, and max speed. Moreover, you can share these adventures with your friends and family, adding a social aspect to your outdoor pursuits
7. PackPoint Travel Packing List
For the meticulous traveler, PackPoint is a travel packing planner. This free app ensures you never forget to pack anything essential for your trip. PackPoint considers the length of your trip, the weather at your destination, and your planned activities to generate a comprehensive packing list. The process is simple and quick; input your basic trip details, and PackPoint will handle the rest.
The comprehensive lists of travel activities help alleviate the stress of forgetting crucial items, letting you relax and focus on your journey. So, whether you're an early packer or a last-minute one, PackPoint ensures you'll have everything you need for your journey.
8. Flush - Toilet Finder & Map
When nature calls, it's not always convenient, but with Flush - Toilet Finder & Map, it's now much easier to answer! This free app is your quickest and simplest solution to finding a public restroom. When you open the app, it pinpoints and displays the nearest toilets to your location. An exceptional feature of Flush is its ability to function without an internet connection, meaning you can search for restrooms even in areas with weak or no signal.
With access to over 100,000 public restrooms worldwide, Flush provides crucial information, such as whether a toilet has disabled access, requires a fee for usage, or needs a key. It also provides immediate directions to guide you to these facilities. In short, Flush - Toilet Finder & Map is an indispensable tool for any road tripper who wants to ensure they're never caught short when the call of nature strikes.
9. Roadside America
This paid app guides you to the quirky, unique, and often overlooked attractions that dot the American landscape. Whether it's the world's biggest ball of twine or an obscure historical monument, Roadside America helps you uncover the hidden gems along your travel path. With the ability to search out activities and attractions by region, the app provides detailed information about each recommendation, including photos, directions, visitor tips, and even the best times to visit. Whether planning a cross-country adventure or simply looking for something interesting on your daily commute, Roadside America adds a touch of wonder and excitement to any journey.
10. Roadie
Roadie allows you to build a flawless trip itinerary, pinning as many locations on the map as possible. You can easily visualize the distances between waypoints and understand the driving times between multiple stops. It even lets you search for activities to do, such as trails or national parks, and tailor your route based on whether you travel by RV or car.
The interactive map makes planning multi-stop routes a breeze, ensuring you discover attractions, restaurants, and accommodations. Need a spark of inspiration? Explore Roadie's ever-growing collection of ready-made road trip routes. The cherry on top? You can invite family and friends to plan your route together or share your meticulously crafted trip itinerary.
Have the Best Road Trip With Cruise America
Ready to embark on a journey of a lifetime? With Cruise America, every mile is a memory in the making. Our RVs offer the ultimate home-away-from-home experience, allowing you to explore the open roads comfortably and easily.
Whether you're a seasoned traveler or are embarking on your first road trip, our diverse range of RV sizes and models will cater to every need. From exploring majestic national parks to enjoying beachside BBQs, your adventure awaits with Cruise America.
Don't just dream about the perfect road trip; make it happen! Rent or buy a Cruise America RV today and turn your travel dreams into reality.
