19 Must-Have Apps for Every Road Trip

Planning a road trip can be overwhelming, but the right apps can make your journey smooth, fun, and hassle-free. Here’s a list of 19 essential apps for road trippers that cover everything you might need.

1. Google Maps

A road trip staple, Google Maps offers real-time GPS navigation, traffic updates, and route planning with detailed turn-by-turn directions. It’s also ideal for finding local attractions and restaurants along your route. Its offline maps feature makes it invaluable for remote locations.

2. Waze

Waze is perfect for avoiding traffic jams, construction, and road hazards. It collects data from other drivers in real time, helping you navigate efficiently and stay out of trouble.

3. Roadtrippers

This app helps you plan your entire road trip, from routing to finding cool stops along the way. With detailed information on attractions, restaurants, and accommodations, Roadtrippers is a comprehensive trip planner.

4. GasBuddy

Save money on gas with GasBuddy, which crowdsources fuel prices from over 150,000 gas stations. You can find the cheapest fuel prices along your route and contribute by reporting prices as you travel.

5. Spotify

No road trip is complete without a killer soundtrack. Spotify allows you to create playlists, download music, and stream millions of songs, making it the go-to app for road trip entertainment.

6. iExit Interstate Exit Guide

This app shows you what’s coming up at each interstate exit, from restaurants and gas stations to rest areas. It’s a lifesaver for planning your next stop​.

7. Yelp

Looking for the best local restaurants and services? Yelp offers reviews, ratings, and photos of nearby establishments, helping you make informed decisions when you’re in unfamiliar territory.

8. PackPoint

PackPoint helps you pack smart by creating customized packing lists based on your destination, length of stay, and activities. It even takes weather into account.

9. HotelTonight

If you need a last-minute hotel booking, HotelTonight offers discounts on unsold rooms. The app focuses on same-day reservations, making it perfect for spontaneous road trip stays.

10. Recreation.gov

For outdoor enthusiasts, Recreation.gov lets you reserve campsites, explore national parks, and book activities managed by federal agencies, ensuring you don’t miss out on key experiences.

11. Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor helps you find restaurants, hotels, and attractions along your journey. With millions of reviews and photos, you can make confident decisions about where to stop.

12. Roadside America

Discover quirky roadside attractions with Roadside America, an app that highlights unique stops like giant sculptures and unusual museums. It’s perfect for adding some offbeat fun to your road trip.

13. Parkopedia

Parking in unfamiliar cities can be a challenge, but Parkopedia helps you find available parking spots and compare prices. It even allows you to reserve a spot in advance.

14. AllTrails

If you’re planning to hit some hiking trails during your road trip, AllTrails offers maps and user reviews of trails across the country, from easy walks to challenging hikes.

15. Venmo

When road-tripping with friends, Venmo makes it easy to split costs for gas, food, and accommodations. It’s a quick way to send and receive money without the hassle of handling cash.

16. XE Currency Converter

For those traveling internationally, XE Currency Converter allows you to quickly convert prices into your home currency, helping you keep track of your budget.

17. Audible

For long stretches of road, Audible is perfect for keeping you entertained with audiobooks and podcasts. Download your favorites ahead of time to enjoy offline listening.

18. OpenTable

Make dining reservations on the go with OpenTable. Whether you’re looking for a fancy dinner or a casual bite, the app helps you secure a table at thousands of restaurants nationwide.

19. Flush

Don’t let finding a restroom become a road trip emergency. Flush helps you locate public restrooms, showing you the nearest available options with user ratings.

Swipe Into the Sunset

These apps cover all the bases for a successful road trip, from navigating new routes to finding the best fuel prices and ensuring you’re entertained along the way. Make sure your phone is loaded with these essentials before hitting the road!

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Featured Image Credit: Pexels / Tobi.

The content of this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute or replace professional advice.

For transparency, this content was partly developed with AI assistance and carefully curated by an experienced editor to be informative and ensure accuracy.

The images used are for illustrative purposes only and may not represent the actual people or places mentioned in the article.