When it comes to roadtripping, it’s always helpful to have the right tools on hand, especially during a pandemic. AAA? Check. Tire gauge? Check. Snacks? Check. And don’t forget your car charger, because your smartphone will be your best friend while on the road.
Here are seven apps that I used on the daily to find places to sleep, hike, and fill up my tank, and entertain myself along the way.
If you’re looking to save money on accommodation, FreeRoam is the app for you. It’s a little clunky, but it is the best all-in-one-place resource for campers and roadtrippers. The map can help you find the closest established campsite, free BLM land, or even Walmart parking lot for sleeping in your car. Many of the listings have reviews from other campers and information about ameneties and cell service.
Another way to find cheap accommodation is through HipCamp. This awesome, woman-owned company is a lot like AirBnb, but instead of rented out apartments and houses, you’ll find tentsites in backyards or on undeveloped farmland. There are also often glamping options or small cabins listed.
If you’re looking for something more official, HipCamp will also suggest campgrounds that are not run by HipCamp hosts, so there are always lots of options for you. For example, though there were no backyard campsites available where I was looking in South Dakota, HipCamp led me to a federally-managed campground right on the Missouri River.
Often when you hear about audiobooks, it’s from people trying to sell you an Audible subscription. But did you know that you can enjoy audiobooks FOR FREE? Many local libraries have subscriptions to services like Overdrive, where you can borrow and download audiobooks for a couple weeks at a time. I love this service and took full advantage of my library’s selection. The best book I listened to along the way was Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid (shoutout to my friend Liv for the suggestion!).
AllTrails is no secret to the avid outdoorswoman, but even I didn’t expect to use it so much while I was traveling. While it’s a great tool for planning longer hikes (especially in areas you’re less familiar with), I really appreciated having it for shorter hikes to break up long days of driving. There is a great feature that just lists hikes nearby, and I would often choose something around a mile to explore a local trail.
I’d never heard of GasBuddy until I started my road trip, but it was one of the most useful tools in my toolbox. GasBuddy helps you find the cheapest gas nearby, or along your route. Sometimes this would save me up to 20c a gallon, and when you’re on a budget like I was, this was a lifesaver!
This may be my new favorite app. I don’t know why everyone doesn’t already use it. Honestly, I wish I had known about it years ago!
I love sending postcards as I travel, but sometimes it can be a challenge to find the right one (seriously, in Iceland I could never find postcards that were beautiful enough) and find a post office (or deal with an unreliable mail service). Sometimes I end up hording postcards and then sending them all off once I get home. We’ve all been there.
But MyPostcard allows you to create custom postcards with photos you took, type out a note on the back, and have them sent anywhere in the world. Right from you’re phone! It’s a little bit more expensive than a regular postcard and stamp, but this is 100% worth it for me. I had so much fun using this app along the way and I will definitely be using it in the future!
Okay, maybe this one seems obvious to you, but I couldn’t not include it because DANG it has revolutionized the world of driving. I mean, I remember having books of road maps in the car when I was little, and upgrading to printed-out mapquest directions as I got older. Now, when I pause and think about it, I’m amazed that I can have all the maps I may possibly need right on my phone. Y’all know how it works, but I will just mention my two favorite features in case you don’t know about them.
First, offline maps allows you to download the maps and information of an area that you may be visiting. This way you can follow directions regardless of whether you have service, and it keeps you from using as much data.
Second, I use Saved Places all the time. Any time I see some cool street in Europe on Instagram, I add it to my Saved Places. If someone tells me about a great cafe, I add it to my Saved Places. If I want to keep track of where I went in a city, I add things to my Saved Places. I’ve planned entire trips based on my Saved Places and they never let me down. I’ve got a whole color-coded system going at the moment to help me visualize, where I’ve been, where I want to go, and where I would go back to.
So there you go! Seven apps to help you get on the road and exploring the world. Did I miss any? What apps do you use on the daily when you travel?
