Hitting the Road? These 14 Apps Make US Road Trips Smoother, Cheaper, and Way More Fun

One of the best ways to explore the US is by taking a road trip. Traveling by car allows you to see some of the stunning national parks, visit off the beaten path sites, and enjoy a flexible way of traveling. 

However, there can be challenges during any road trip – such as finding cheap gas, keeping everyone entertained on the drive, or avoiding traffic. The good news is that there are some great apps to use that can make your road trip much easier!

As someone who has taken lots of road trips, these are my top recommendations when it comes to the best apps for a US road trip. These include a mix of everything – from navigation apps to entertainment for the drive.

Plus, almost all of these apps offer a free version (usually with ads), so it’s easy to use them even while on a budget.

Apps for Finding Gas & Rest Stops

1. Gas Buddy

If you’re looking to save money on your road trip, Gas Buddy is a must. This app will allow you to see all nearby gas stations and current gas prices, so that you can get the best deal.

One feature I love about Gas Buddy is that you can put in your driving route and see the gas stations along the way, that way you can plan out where to stop a bit in advance. 

Gas Buddy can be helpful for finding deals in places where gas can be expensive, such as road tripping in the Florida Keys. It’s also helpful in finding gas stations in places like out west where gas stations are far and few between.

Gas Buddy is also free to use, and you don’t even need to sign up for an account or give your email which is convenient. Simply download the app and you’re ready to go!

2. iExit

iExit is a perfect app for a road trip because it will give you information on gas stations, food, and hotels that are at different exits.

To use the app, you can simply select which state you are traveling in, and the interstate and direction of travel. Then, you’ll see the upcoming exits along your route.

I like using it to find out what food options and gas stations are along upcoming exits, it makes it much easier to decide which exits are worth getting off for a break.

Navigation Apps

3. Google Maps

Google Maps is the most popular navigation app in the US, and for good reason. It is typically very accurate, and does a good job updating you with traffic congestion or alternate routes. 

Google Maps is also helpful in planning your road trip because you can search for attractions, restaurants, gas stations, or other places you may want to stop.

One thing some people don’t know about Google Maps is that you can download an offline Google Map in case you lose cell service. Keep in mind, this will only work for a specified area that you have pre-downloaded.

4. Waze

Waze is another navigation tool, similar to Google Maps. One of the unique things about WAZE is that it allows other drivers to report hazards in the road, speed traps, accidents, or other info along the way. If something is reported along your route, it will send you a notification.

5. Maps.Me

Maps.Me is a navigation app designed for offline use. So if you are headed to an area without cell service or wifi, this is a good option to check out.

While Google Maps offers a feature to download offline maps, it is for a smaller area. Maps.Me on the other hand is designed for offline navigation. Unlike Google Maps, you don’t need to pre-download several small maps if you are going to be driving across a large area.

Apps for Finding Things to Do

6. GPS My City

GPS My City is an app that helps you to take self-guided walking tours around cities or historic towns.

To create a walking tour, you simply select the sites that you want to see and then the app will give you a walking route that shows the distance and an estimated walking time. It also recommends must-visit spots for that city.

The app works well for visiting historic towns, like St. Augustine as these are usually walkable and the app will give information on each spot.

7. National Parks App

The National Parks App is a great tool for finding different national parks, monuments, and historic sites. This is a really useful tool for planning or if you are already on the road and want to explore some nearby national parks.

On the app, you can search by state to see a list of national parks to visit. Once you click on a national park, you’ll be able to see information like things to do, where to stay, visit fees, amenities, and more.

8. Roadtrippers

Roadtrippers is an app that helps you plan out your road trip itinerary and find places to visit along the way.

You can use a free version of the app to look up attractions, historic sites, and things to do in a specific state or area. You can also check out some of their road trip guides for popular road trips like driving Route 66.

There is also a subscription version of the app which allows you to plan your own specific road trip itinerary.

9. All Trails

One of the best parts about taking a road trip is getting to make stops to enjoy the outdoors! All Trails is a great app to help you find different hiking trails along your route.

It can help you find information about popular hikes in National Parks or even to find hiking trails in areas that are less known for hiking, such as hiking trails in Tampa.

The app is super easy to use, just plug in your location and then it will show you different trails around that area. When you click into a trail, you’ll be able to see the length of the trail, an estimated time to complete, elevation gain, and if it is a loop or out and back trail.

I recommend also taking a look at the reviews that other hikers have left for that particular trail. This will give you a better idea of what to expect and if there are any potential challenges.

Keep in mind that All Trails isn’t always 100% accurate (especially regarding the estimated time), so reading reviews of the hike beforehand is a good idea!

Apps for Booking Hotels, Campsites, or Cabin Rentals

10. Booking.com

Booking.com is one of the most popular apps for booking hotels. You can also find some apartment rentals and vacation homes on this app. 

It’s easy to use, and one of the benefits is that many properties offer free cancellation if your plans change – which can easily happen on a road trip!

11. The Dyrt

If you’re taking an RV or going tent camping, The Dyrt app can help you locate campsites along your route. 

The app has tons of campsites listed, including RV parks, public camping, and privately owned campgrounds.

The Dyrt is free to use, but has an option to upgrade to a pro version that shows only the free campsites and free overnight parking spots. This might be worth it if you are planning on being on the road long term and want to utilize free options.

12. VBRO

VBRO is an app for finding cabin or vacation home rentals. This is a good option for when you are road tripping through more remote areas or are looking for a unique stay such as a mountain view cabin rental.

VBRO is similar to Airbnb, but the difference is that VBRO focuses solely on entire homes and vacation rentals so that you won’t share any of the space with anyone else.

Entertainment Apps for the Drive

13. Audible

If you’ve never listened to an audio book before, a road trip is a great time to start! In my experience, listening to an audiobook while driving makes a few hours drive go much faster. 

Audible offers lots of different genres, from thrilling fiction to motivational self-help books. There are also some podcast options available on the app.

Audible is the one app on this list that doesn’t have a completely free version, but you can typically get a very low cost monthly trial.

14. Spotify

For the perfect road trip playlist, Spotify is a must! While there are many music apps, Spotify is one of the best for making and sharing playlists.

Spotify has over 100 million songs, and it’s easy to search by artist, song title, or genre. Another cool feature is that Spotify will recommend new music that you can easily add to your road trip playlist.

Spotify is also a great option for podcasts. There are lots of different types of podcasts available, and it’s nice to have something else besides just music to listen to.

The Wrap Up

There are so many road trip apps to make your trip easier and more fun. So, whether you are headed to the national parks out west, exploring the historic cities on the east coast, or road tripping down south, these apps can definitely be useful!