Technology has transformed the way we travel in countless ways. Paper maps and GPS navigation systems have been replaced by Google Maps and Apple Maps, old-fashioned CDs have been replaced by music streaming services, and guidebooks have been replaced by apps that provide real-time updates of roadside attractions. One thing is certain: smartphones have made road trips a lot easier, and likely cheaper.
Whether you need a digital road trip planner to plan your next journey or something to help you avoid traffic jams, here are 11 of the best road trip apps to download before your next adventure.
Road Trippers
Roadtrippers is one of the most practical and popular road trip planning apps. Maybe you want to see national parks or quirky roadside attractions. Maybe you want to stay overnight at a famous or underrated hotel. You can plan your stops right in the app and add up to 3 waypoints for free. Roadtrippers Premium Account allows you to add 150 waypoints. There are also Basic and Pro memberships, which allow 20 and 50 waypoints per trip, respectively. The higher memberships allow you to collaborate with friends and family and use navigation. The app features accommodations, sights, outdoor destinations, restaurants, activities, shopping, fuel and more in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
The app is free, but to access all its features you need to upgrade to a membership plan: the Basic plan costs $40 per year, the Pro plan costs $50 per year, and the Premium plan costs $60 per year. It is available for iOS and Android.
Google Maps
Anyone going on a road trip needs to have a reliable navigation app with them, and Google Maps is one of the most downloaded apps each year in the U.S. (if not the most downloaded app). What makes Google Maps so popular is the comprehensiveness of its data, which allows it to generate optimal directions based on distance, road conditions, and traffic patterns.
Google Maps gives you route options and gives you accurate estimates of how long it will take to get from point A to point B. You can also set waypoints along your route, like a morning coffee break or a hotel for your overnight stay (reviews are available in the app).
Google Maps is free and available for iOS and Android.
Waz
Waze is another top navigation app, helping you navigate new cities and unfamiliar streets like a local with real-time updates that help you avoid things like traffic jams and construction. Waze users should prepare for their drive to be a bit more unpredictable, as it’s a bit more aggressive than Google Maps in changing routes if issues arise.
No one wants to sit in traffic for hours instead of exploring, so it’s a big help that Waze collects data from other drivers to streamline your driving experience. The app is free and available on iOS and Android.
GasBuddy
Paying for fuel can take up a big chunk of your road trip budget, but GasBuddy can help you save a few bucks. The app crowdsources the latest fuel prices from over 150,000 gas stations across the U.S. and Canada. The app also tells you how recent the information submitted is so you know if it’s out of date.
GasBuddy not only helps you find cheap gas, but it also helps you find common gas stations (and parking), which can be hard to find in a foreign country. The app is free and available to download on iOS and Android. When using the app, be a good road trip user and submit the gas prices you see during your trip.
Roadside America
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The quirky, kitschy roadside attractions found across the United States are often some of the most fun parts of a road trip. The Roadside America app helps you find the most unique attractions worth stopping at, like a large sculpture of a cartoon mouse holding a cheese plate in Plain, Wisconsin (where else would that be?) or a decidedly weird, life-size, three-prong power plug on a lawn in Philadelphia. The app features museums, murals, tours, quirky restaurants and photo spots.
Roadside America costs $3 to download and gives you access to one region within the app. You can purchase more regions for $2 or access all of the US and Canada for an additional $7. The app is only available on iOS.
iExit Interstate Exit Guide
Knowing where to stop for a snack, a drive-thru latte, or a public restroom while driving can be tough as exit signs whizz by at 70 mph, but with iExit Interstate Exit Guide, you don’t have to guess. The app lists the exits along your route, what’s there, and what they offer (food, lodging, fuel, hospitals, etc.). It pulls fuel prices from OPIS (Oil Price Information Service) and shows Yelp reviews of businesses.
The app is free to download and is available for both iOS and Android.
Hotel Tonight
Even if you’ve planned all your stops in advance, sometimes you suddenly need to stop overnight. Driving is tiring and an unplanned nap can be deadly. HotelTonight helps you find accommodation when the time comes. The app offers same-day discounts on unsold rooms and a user-friendly interface helps you book a room in minutes at a discounted rate. Choose from over 1,000 accommodations in cities around the world, from Mexico City to Jakarta (if you’re on a global road trip).
It’s free to download and available for iOS and Android.
Airbnb
If you prefer staying in a secluded A-frame cabin, yurt, or private guesthouse in someone’s backyard rather than hopping from hotel to hotel, Airbnb is for you. The Airbnb app lets you search for accommodations (there are millions in the US alone) on a map and read reviews before booking, either in advance or at the last minute.
The app not only features holiday homes but also activities, so if you want to experience the city like a local, you can sign up for a pottery class, a guided walking tour or something similar.
The Airbnb app is free and can be downloaded on iOS or Android.
The Dirt
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Travelers dreaming of camping under the stars should download The Dyrt, a free app that helps them find tent, RV, and cabin sites across the U.S. One of the most popular camping apps on iOS and Android, it has over 1 million registered users who post reviews, photos, and tips. With The Dyrt, you get real information about campgrounds and a built-in community that makes camping on road trips especially fun and safe. You can also book campgrounds directly in the app.
The app is free, but the premium version, which costs $36 per year, lets you plan trips and find campsites offline, which can be useful in remote areas.
Spotify
No road trip is complete without the perfect playlist. Whether you want to create a soundtrack of oldies, the latest pop songs, or music inspired by your destination, Spotify has a catalog of over 100 million tracks, so you can find even the most obscure songs. If you get tired of Taylor Swift, podcasts and audiobooks can fill your time. A road trip is the perfect opportunity to binge watch a documentary series like the ever-popular show Serial.
Spotify is free to download and listen to, but ads can be intrusive and streaming can use up cellular data. A better option is to purchase a Premium membership for $11 per month, which allows you to download music and listen offline, without ads. The Spotify app is available for iOS and Android.
Plug Share
Electric vehicles are becoming increasingly popular and are perfect for eco-friendly road trips. Most electric vehicles can travel 100 to 300 miles before needing to be charged, so finding a charging station is often a problem. PlugShare lists 700,000 charging stations across North America, Europe, and other regions. Users share station reviews, helping guide EV drivers to the best, fastest, and most reliable charging spots.
PlugShare is free and available to download on iOS and Android.
