There are various ways in which technology has improved transportation. Google and Apple Maps have replaced paper maps and GPS navigation systems, CDs have replaced by music streaming services, and guidebooks have replaced by apps that tell travelers of nearby sites in real time. There’s no denying that the advent of the smartphone has revolutionized travel and, perhaps, reduced the cost of long car rides.
These applications have you covered whether you need a digital road trip planner to chart out your next excursion or a way to avoid traffic congestion altogether. In preparation for your next vacation, we have compiled a list of the top road trip applications.
The First, the Travelers
When it comes to applications for arranging road trips, few can compare to Roadtrippers. In-app route planning allows you to include up to seven waypoints at no cost or up to 150 with a premium Roadtrippers Plus subscription. The greatest places to visit along your trip may found via group effort. It’s possible that you’re interested in visiting national parks and other unusual tourist destinations. Maybe you’re looking for a place to stay the night at an unusual or historic inn.
The app includes information on places to stay, tourist attractions, outdoor activities, dining, shopping, fueling up, and more in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The software itself is free, but in order to access all of its features, a premium subscription costing $29.99 per year is required. It works with both iOS and Android.
Maps, Google
While taking a vacation that requires driving, it’s important to have a reliable navigation tool, and Google Maps is the best option available. Statistics show that it is used by more people than any other navigation app by a factor of six. Its success can be traced back to the extensive information it collects and the care with which it processes that information in order to provide the best possible instructions given the given parameters of starting point, destination, and current traffic conditions.
Google Maps offers viable alternative routes and reliable travel time estimations. Moreover, you may plan many stops along the trip, such as a coffee shop for midday or a 5-star hotel for the night (you can see reviews right in the app).
Waze
Waze was revealed to be the most popular alternative to Google Maps in the same poll. The app will have you navigating new towns and strange streets like a native in no time, with real-time updates that help you avoid traffic, construction, and more. Waze is a little more aggressive than Google Maps in rerouting a vehicle when issues develop, so drivers should be ready for an interesting trip.
In this day and age, nobody wants to waste time stuck in traffic when they might be out seeing the world, so Waze’s ability to aggregate user feedback to improve the driving experience is a tremendous boon. It’s free, and it works on both iOS and Android.
GasBuddy.com
GasBuddy can help you save money on your road trip’s most expensive expense. Through crowdsourcing, the app is able to provide accurate gas prices at over 150,000 stations across the United States and Canada. The software also includes a date stamp so you can determine when information is maps out of date.
It’s not just about saving money, however; the app helps in finding gas stations overall (and parking), which can be a pain when you’re in a new place. You can get the app for free on both iOS and Android. Use it responsibly like a good road-tripper and report any gas costs driving directions you find along the way.
America’s Oddities
One of the best things about taking a road trip throughout the United States is seeing the many quirky and kooky roadside attractions that can be found in every state. You may locate unusual but interesting sights like a larger-than-life-sized three-way electrical socket on a lawn in Philadelphia or a big sculpture of a cartoon mouse carrying a cheese plate in Plain, Wisconsin, with the aid of the Roadside America app. There are many unique places to take pictures that can found in this maps app, such as museums, murals, tours, and unique eateries.
iExit: The Interstate Exit Guide
With all the exit signs flying past at 70 mph, it might be difficult to know where to pull over for road trip munchies, a drive-thru cappuccino, or a public toilet, but iExit Interstate Exit Guide eliminates the guesswork. The app will show you the next exits along your path, as well as what each one has to maps offer (such as restaurants, motels, gas stations, and hospitals). It shows ratings and reviews from Yelp together with gasoline prices from OPIS (Oil Price Information Service).
HotelTonight ranks seventh on the list
It’s possible that you’ll need to stop for the night somewhere else than where you had intended to stay, even if you’ve meticulously laid out your route. After all, driving is exhausting and impromptu snoozes might save your life. In an emergency, you may use HotelTonight to locate a somewhere to stay. The app may provide last-minute savings on unused rooms, and the straightforward design makes it easy to reserve a hotel at a reduced rate in a matter of minutes. You may maps choose from more than a thousand different places to stay in cities like Mexico City and Jakarta (in case you happen take your road-tripping global).
AirBnB
Airbnb is perfect for those who would rather not spend their vacation moving from hotel to hotel maps and would rather stay in a more unique accommodation like a hidden A-frame cabin, yurt, or private guest home in someone’s garden. Airbnb’s mobile app allows users to browse listings (there are over 600,000 in the United States alone) and read reviews before making a reservation, which may made in advance or at the last minute.
The app lists not just vacation rentals but also activities, such as pottery classes and guided city maps walks, so users can really get a feel for a place by living like a local while on vacation.
The Dyrt
There a free app called The Dyrt that may help you locate tent, RV, and cabin sites all throughout the United States if sleeping beneath the stars is more your style. More than a million people have downloaded it, making it the most popular camping app for iOS devices (it’s also available for Android devices). With the help of these user-submitted reviews, photos, and advice, you can choose the best possible camping spot for your road trip while also having access to a supportive and maps knowledgeable community. Several of the campgrounds are even bookable directly on The Dyrt.
The app is available for no cost, but a premium edition is also available for $35.99 per year that adds maps offline trip planning and campground searching. This is especially helpful in less populated areas.
Spotify
A car journey isn’t complete without the ideal musical accompaniment. Spotify has an extensive library of over 80 million songs, so you can locate even the most obscure melodies to use as background music for whatever you’re doing. If you’re sick of listening to old Taylor Swift songs and maps similar fare, podcasts are a great alternative. One of the best ways to enjoy a docuseries like the ubiquitous and riveting Serial is on a long car ride.
Spotify is available without cost to the user, however it marred by frequent commercial interruptions and heavy data use when streaming. Rather of paying the monthly fee, you may save money by upgrading to a premium membership. You may download songs to listen to them without an masp internet connection. You may download the Spotify app on both iOS and Android.
Plug-In Share
These days, it’s not uncommon to see an electric car on the road, and they’re fantastic for eco-friendly long drives. Most electric vehicles have a range of between 100 and 300 miles before needing to recharged, therefore the challenge lies in locating charging stations. Across North America, Europe, and beyond, PlugShare lists 610,000 charging stations, therefore its claim to being the most popular charging station locator in the world is definitely accurate. Reviews written by maps other users may assist EV drivers find the stations that are the quickest, most dependable, and best overall.