A long, unhurried road journey is one of the best ways to discover the place you’re visiting. However, they come with their own set of problems, such as traffic, high gas prices, and bad fast food, to name a few. Fortunately, there are a slew of apps that make car trips a breeze.
We’ve uncovered some of the greatest road trip apps to download before you hit the highway, from locating the cheapest gas station along your route to last-minute hotel deals, fantastic places to dine, and finding parking and public restrooms.
Roadtrippers
Roadtrippers makes it easy to arrange a road trip. Enter your destination and departure point, and the app will notify you of interesting, unusual, and thrilling places along the road that will be free of other tourists.
It will also estimate how long the trip will take and how much gas will cost. It’s like if you had a local expert accompanying you every step of the way. On the App Store and Google Play, you can find Roadtrippers.
GasBuddy
Gas can quickly deplete your travel budget, especially if you’re planning a long road trip. GasBuddy searches for the cheapest gas in the United States and Canada. When you’re running low on petrol, you may look up costs by city or zip code to get an idea of what to expect along your journey.
It’s simple to sort by distance or price, and you can share the prices you uncover with other app users. GasBuddy can be downloaded through the App Store or Google Play.
iExit
The interstates in the United States are intended for iExit. It tells you how long away the next exit is, as well as what amenities and conveniences are accessible ahead, such as gas stations, restaurants, hospitals, and motels.
It also includes a few third-party connectors, such as OPIS, which gives real-time gas price updates. iExit can be downloaded through the App Store or Google Play.
Flush Toilet Finder
Check out Flush Toilet Finder if you’re seeking for a restroom. It has information about more than 100,000 public restrooms all across the world. If you’re on the road and need to use the restroom, this app could become your new best friend.
The software operates offline and displays critical information such as which bathrooms are accessible to disabled people, which demand payment, and which require a key. It can be downloaded through the App Store or Google Play.
Best Parking
Best Parking displays available parking spaces that you may book now or save for a later date. The app is available in all major cities in the United States and Canada. Use it to check prices and find parking that is less expensive than what you would pay on arrival. On the App Store and Google Play, you can download the Best Parking app.
Waze
A good road trip can be thrown into disarray if you get lost or face bad traffic. Waze not only provides directions, but it also proposes routes and provides real-time traffic reports from other users travelling ahead of you, such as speed traps and accidents. Waze can also tell you where to get the cheapest petrol.
So, if you want to avoid traffic and possibly see more of the countryside by taking a few detours, Waze is a must-have for any road trip. It can be downloaded through the App Store or Google Play.
The Outbound
eading a little off the beaten path? The Outbound can help you figure out what to do in a new city, whether it’s finding attractions to see, going on local excursions, or finding the greatest eateries. Detailed descriptions of experiences and tours are included, along with packing lists, mileage, required gear, and a suggested ability level.
Users of the app who are familiar with the area provide descriptions. Users can also provide their own ratings and recommendations, as well as photos from their experience. The Outbound can be downloaded through the App Store or Google Play.
Spotify
Unless you’re going old school and bringing a bunch of CDs, Spotify is a must-have for road trips. There are millions of music and podcast episodes to choose from, as well as playlists for road trips and tailored lists based on your listening habits. You can also discover what your celebrities and friends are listening to.
When you upgrade your Spotify account to premium, you will no longer see advertisements and will be able to listen to songs offline. This is especially useful if you’re going through a dead zone or want to save data. Spotify is free to download and use on the App Store, Google Play, and Microsoft Store, with premium features available for a monthly fee.
Hotel Tonight
Take a few minutes to scan through Hotel Tonight if you’re approaching a huge metropolis and need to rest. The app offers last-minute hotel room discounts of up to 70% off in surrounding locations.
You don’t have to stay in the first run-down hotel or motel you see on the side of the road, and the app can help you save a lot of money on last-minute offers. It can be downloaded through the App Store or Google Play.
WiFi Map
If you need to connect but are unable to do so due to a lack of cell connection, WiFi Map will show you the closest network depending on your current location. The Pro edition offers a VPN for enhanced privacy and security on public networks (iOS only), as well as the ability to pre-download offline maps to your phone so you can track down that valuable connection.
With information on 100 million networks in 200+ countries, even small villages and cities have a fair chance of finding something. WiFi Map is available for free on the App Store and Google Play, with a $19.99/year Pro version.
Zomato
A continuous diet of fast food does not have to be the norm on road trips.
When you’re on the road, Zomato, formerly known as UrbanSpoon, allows you to explore menus, images, user reviews, and ratings of amazing nearby eateries. In 24 countries, you can get information on 1.5 million of the top local eateries.
On the App Store and Google Play, you can find Zomato.
HappyCow
While Zomato has a list of plant-based restaurants, vegetarians and vegans should download Happy Cow as well. It can be difficult to find dependable food sources on the road for anyone wanting to incorporate a healthy dosage of vegetables in their diet.
You can check out reviews, prices, images, and menu options from your phone using the HappyCow app, so you know there will be something you can eat before you arrive. HappyCow is available in the App Store and Google Play for $3.99.
Weather on the Way
Do you have a long day of driving ahead of you? Just because it’s sunny where you are right now doesn’t mean rain, storms, or other terrible weather aren’t brewing a few hundred miles away. This is where Weather on the Way enters the picture. This appealing iOS software allows you to select a start and end location, and then displays the weather forecast for the times you’re likely to pass through along your probable path.
You may zoom in to see more information, such as sunset and dawn times, severe weather warnings, and temperature forecasts. The free version covers the essentials, but the Pro version ($0.99/month or $9.99/year) adds features such as alternate routes, visibility, rain chances, wind speeds, and more. Pro features are included in the first five trips so you may try them out before committing. It’s available on the App Store.
