Whether you are on the road or at the campground, sometimes, it can be good to unplug and take a break from your phone. Other times, your phone might be the perfect tool to help you plan your trip, explore the world, or keep yourself occupied on a drive. Here are some apps that may benefit RV campers or travelers on their next adventure!
Plan the Trip
From packing, to budgeting, to finding gas and attractions, these apps are helpful for anyone planning an extended stay or a complicated road trip, especially for those who like a tight plan and itinerary before even leaving the house.
Roadtrippers
“8 million points of interest. 25 million trips planned. Your #1 destination for road trip planning, stories, and inspiration. Get the only trip planning tool designed to make your trip longer by celebrating only the best people and places worth a detour.”
GasBuddy
“GasBuddy is an award-winning travel and navigation app that gives you 27 ways to save money on gas at the 150,000 gas stations throughout North America. It has been downloaded nearly 90 million times and is one of the highest-rated apps in the history of the Apple App Store.“
PackPoint
If packing for a big trip stresses you out, PackPoint
“PackPoint is a free travel packing list organizer and packing planner for serious travel pros. PackPoint will help you organize what you need to pack in your luggage and suitcase based on length of travel, weather at your destination, and any activities planned during your trip.“
TravelSpend
“Keeping track of your travel expenses is fun with TravelSpend. It’s a well designed app packed with useful features for travelers. It’s quick and easy to use and works offline. You can add photos and spread expenses over multiple days.”
Find a Campsite
Whether you are looking for a mainstream campground, somewhere more offbeat, of even a place to try boondocking, one of these apps will point you in the right direction.
FreeRoam
“Helpful tools and a community for campers and boondockers, all for free! Find the best campsites to stay at: – Filter by cell signal, weather, safety, crowdedness, and more.”
HipCamp
“Book unique camping experiences on farms, ranches, vineyards and public parks across America. Hipcamp has the largest selection of tent campgrounds, RV parks, and cozy cabin rentals. Find quiet one-of-a-kind campsites away from the crowds or camp at the most popular outdoor destinations.“
Camp USA
“Search for over 1,200 top campgrounds nationwide! We added campgrounds all around the country so you can camp wherever YOU want, including top-rated campgrounds like Thousand Trails, KOA, Encore and more!“
Explore and Discover
While sometimes technology can be a distraction from the real world, occasionally, it can help explorers to discover nature in a whole new way. Here are some apps that might help you gain new perspective on nature!
PeakFinder
“The mountains are calling! Explore more mountains than any mountaineer! PeakFinder makes it possible… and shows the names of all mountains and peaks with a 360° panorama display. This functions completely offline – and worldwide!“
AllTrails
“The beauty of nature doesn’t need to be hard to find. Our goal is simple – build the largest collection of hand-curated trail guides, so you can explore the outdoors with confidence. Anytime. Anywhere.”
PlantSnap
“To identify a plant you simply need to simply snap a photo of the plant, and the app will tell you what it is in a matter of seconds! PlantSnap can currently recognize 90% of all known species of plants and trees, which covers most of the species you will encounter in every country on Earth.“
Merlin Bird ID
“What’s that bird? Merlin Bird ID helps you solve the mystery in 5 questions, or with a photo of a bird. First, Merlin asks you a few simple questions. Then, almost like magic, it reveals the list of birds that best match your description. Pick your bird, then delve into more photos, sounds, and ID tips about your bird!“
Star Walk
“Star Walk 2 is a great astronomy guide to explore the night sky day and night, identify stars, constellations, planets, satellites, asteroids, comets, ISS, Hubble Space Telescope and other celestial bodies in real time in the sky above you. All you need to do is to point your device to the sky.“
REI National Park Guide
“Your go-to app for trail maps, guides and more. To celebrate the centennial of the National Park Service, we’ve built the ultimate crowd-sourced guide. Find the best hikes with the REI Co-op Guide to the National Parks app. And while you’re at it, add your own photos and favorite trails.“
Lonely Planet
“Get to the heart of a destination with Lonely Planet on your mobile device. Packed with tips and advice from on-the-ground experts, our city guides app is the ultimate resource before and during a trip.”
Stay Occupied
Whether it’s a rainy day at the campground, or you have a long drive before your next stop, sometimes boredom can set in. These apps can help keep everyone entertained!
Drivetime
“Win the commute and join drivers all across the country to play Drivetime – the world’s first and only app that lets you safely play interactive audio games while you drive, hands-free! Whether you are on your commute, drive for work, or on a road trip, Drivetime helps to entertain you and others in the car in a fun and interactive way. “
Audible
“Experience the world’s largest selection of audiobooks and audio entertainment. Audible, an Amazon company, is home to best-selling audio entertainment across all genres including sci-fi and fantasy, mysteries, thrillers, self-motivation, memoirs, ebooks, and more. Every month, members can select two Audible Originals from our fresh selection at no additional cost.”
Psych!
“Can you choose the outrageous real answer among your friends’ fakes? Get points for guessing the right answer, and for each other player you PSYCH! into choosing yours. “PSYCH!” is the perfect app for game night, road trips, or even waiting in line. So grab your phones, gather ‘round, and get ready for a gaming experience unlike anything you’ve ever tried!”
Family Game Travel Pack
“All these games are packed together in a small application, offering robot players, local and online leaderboard. Up to 6 players can play together around a single device or using multiple devices connected through Bluetooth/Wifi.”
Spotify
“With Spotify, you have access to a world of free music, curated playlists, artists, and podcasts you love. Discover new music, podcasts and listen to your favorite artists, albums, or create a playlist with the latest songs to suit your mood.”
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