Top 7 Apps for a Great Summer Road Trip

Are you hitting the road for your summer trip? These apps make it easier to navigate your way, plan your journey and destination, and have a safe and smooth trip. 

So you’re heading out on to the open road and the opportunities seem endless. Or maybe daunting. Overwhelming. Exhausting. 

Well, these days there are so many resources available at your fingertips. Literally. There are apps that can help you plan every aspect of your trip.

Last summer, my family embarked on an epic RV trip from New Jersey to Florida. For 10 days we lived on the road and watched the culture and scenery change as we traveled down south. We’ve done lots of trips over the years, but nothing can compare to the experience of such a road trip. But that conversation is for another day. Now I will simply share what we learned about planning a road trip and how pretty much all of it was done using iPhone apps.

Roadtrippers 

First and foremost is Roadtrippers. This app (and corresponding website) literally takes away the difficulty of planning and makes it fun. Simply plug in your starting point and ending point and Roadtrippers takes over. Select the type of attractions you’d like to see along the way – including campgrounds (which we needed) or hotels (which most normal travelers need). Choose just how far off your route you’re willing to go, and RoadTrippers will show you exactly what’s available in many different categories of interest.

(Since we used it last year, they’ve started charging a small fee. It’s worth it. Having used it the way we did, I will pay for a subscription as soon as I start planning our next road trip. You can download it and try it out by adding up to 5 points along your route. Beyond that, you’ll have to pay the fee.)

Waze

You need Waze. Wherever you’re on the road, Waze is there with you. And even when you lose your GPS signal, which happens when you’re in remote mountain areas, Waze has a way of guesstimating where you are and keeping you on track. 

iExit

If you’ll be driving long stretches of highways, it really helps to know what you’ll find at each exit. Need some caffeine? Take an exit that has a Starbucks (see this post for more information on what to order). Need some Dramamine? Check if there’s a pharmacy near the next exit, or if you’re better off waiting until you reach the next one. 

24Six (or iTunes or Spotify)

This is a subscription that’s worth paying for simply for your road trip even if you don’t need it all year round. Create a few playlists and avoid getting stuck listening to the same 4-5 albums endlessly.

AllTrails

If you enjoy outdoor activities, this app can help you find great options to try when driving through new areas. Hiking, biking, running – see what’s near you and choose by length or difficulty level. You can read what others have to say about these trails and see some of their photos, too. This can be the best way to break up those hours on the road.

Hotel Tonight

If you’re winging it and stopping whenever you just have to get some sleep, Hotel Tonight can save you some serious money.  Just search for available hotels near you and you’ll get the best last-minute rates with a minimal amount of work.

PlugShare

While we didn’t need this on our trip, if you have an electric vehicle, make sure to have it on your phone before heading out. PlugShare is a free EV driver’s app for iOS, Android, and web, allowing users to find charging stations from every major network in North America, Europe, and throughout much of the globe.

With these apps, all you need now is a destination and some time off! But before you leave, check out these road trip tips from your fellow readers, and see our list of road trip essentials. Safe travels, everyone!