I’ve spent a lot of time on the road this summer with 4 road trips ranging between 700 miles to 1200 miles round trip. When I’m on the road, especially by myself, I rely on apps for almost everything. Seriously. What did we do in the days before smartphones? Here’s the 10 Awesome Travel Apps I’ve installed on my phone to help keep me safe and ensure smooth travels on Road Trips.

Good Travel Apps for Road Trips

I’ve divided the apps into 6 categories; directions, entertainment, attraction finders, safety, relaxation, and apps to find needed stops. Most of the apps are free, although several of them offer paid upgrades.

Travel Apps for Directions

1. Waze– Most of my road trips involve driving through the traffic nightmare known as Atlanta. Waze is my secret to avoid frustration from l-o-n-g delays. This free app for iPhone and Android offers realtime traffic alerts from users. If there’s a stalled car, wreck, or road construction, you’ll be able to see it on the app before you’re stuck in traffic. Waze also offers real time directions, reroutes for faster travels, information on the location of gas stations and restaurants along your route. and a feature alerting you to the best time to start your trip and avoid traffic.

2. Google Maps– is probably the best-known free direction and travel app. Available for iPhone and Android, Google maps can be used whether you’re on the road or walking about town. There’s real-time traffic information, alerts to road closures, and options to discover alternate time-saving routes. If you’re directionally challenged, as I am, use the ‘live view” feature with arrows at the top of the screen that shows when to turn and a live map of the surrounding area.

Travel Apps for Entertainment

3. Spotify– Who doesn’t want to crank up the tunes while traveling? With Spotify, I make and download playlists of my favorite songs onto my iPhone. It always works with Android phones, Kindle E-readers, or personal computers. We’re talking millions of songs and podcasts so, even if you’re into obscure music, you’ll probably be able to find that song you love. Spotify offers a free version of the app. The downside of the free version is that it includes ads, doesn’t allow playlists to be downloaded, has a limited amount of skips, and adds additional songs to your playlist based on your choices. I recommend upgrading to the premium plan. It offers better audio quality, no ads, downloadable playlists, and the ability to shuffle playlists. Students qualify for a substantial discount to the Spotify Premium Package which includes ad-supported Hulu.

4. Amazon Kindle– If you enjoy reading or listening to audiobooks, this app is a must. While you might think this is only available as an e-reader device, the free Amazon Kindle App is available on iPhone and Android. While many books must be purchased before downloading, Amazon Prime members have a choice of over 1000 books, comics, and magazines to browse while Kindle Unlimited members can choose from over 1 million books. Some highlights of the app include the ability to “customize your text size, font type, margins, text alignment, and orientation (portrait or landscape)—and choose whether to turn pages from left to right or continuously scroll”, along with adjustable brightness and background colors.

5. Road Trip Bingo– Tired of having the kids ask “Are we there yet?” for the 1 millionth time? Road Trip Bingo is a free app for iPad or iPhone. Sadly, it is not available for Android. There are 9 bingo cards on this app; the Basic Game Board with commonly seen road trip items, the Colors game board that allows you to customize color tiles to make your own game board, the foreign and domestic Airlines game board, the All Signs Game Board featuring an assortment of street and highway signs, the Around Town Game board, the Food/Restaurant Game board, the Gasoline Brands Game Board, the License Plate board, and the Vehicle game board. The app is supported by ads and only the iPad version allows for multiple players.

Travel Apps for Finding Activities

6. Roadside America– Are you frustrated when you accidentally pass by stops like The World’s Largest Superman Statue or The Jello Museum? Worry no more. This app, available for iPhone and Android, is for you! It’s divided into 8 regions (7 US and 1 Canadian) and offers all the offbeat stops, classic sites, and attractions you want. While you must pay to purchase the app, if you, like our family, want “fun stories, unique photos, and visitor tip reports” of quirky attractions around the country or if you enjoy exploring off the beaten path, it’s well worth the cost.

7. All Trails– Do you enjoy hiking, biking, or jogging and want to find new trails? All Trails, designed for iPhone and Android, has over 200,000 trail maps from neighborhoods, state parks, and national parks. Browse the app for specific requests such as kid-friendly, dog-friendly, and wheelchair-friendly trails, along with photos and detailed descriptions of the trails from other hikers. There’s a trail for everyone; from short strolls to complex backpacking adventures.

Travel Apps for Safety

8. Life360: Family Locator– I’ve had to travel long distances by myself this summer due to family emergencies. While I only make necessary stops at Rest Areas, to get gas, or to grab a quick bite through a drive-through, I’m always concerned about my safety. Sure, I text my husband at stops to let him know my location, but it doesn’t hurt to have a backup plan. This free app, available for iPhone and Andriod, allows users to “view the real-time location of family members on a private family map that’s only visible to your Circle,” “receive real-time alerts when family members arrive at or leave destinations,” or track the location of lost or stolen phones. The app does contain ads and offers in-app purchases.

Travel Apps for Needed Stops

9. iExit Interstate Exit Guide – It can be frustrating to need gas, a bathroom break, or something to eat and not know what’s available at the upcoming interstate exits. This free app for iPhone and Android “figures out where you are on the interstate and shows you what’s ahead.”
Not only does this app show the cheapest gas at each exit, hotels within a 3-mile radius of the exits, and reviews of restaurants, it can be programmed to find certain chains, specific amenities, and rest stops.

Travel Apps for Relaxing

10. White Noise Lite – If you’ve ever been stuck in a hotel room with thin walls and a loud neighbor or if you’re a light sleeper, White Noise Lite will be your best friend. Available for Android and iPhone, White Noise Lite offers 40 sounds to help you sleep ranging from the soothing sounds of ocean waves crashing or, if you prefer human interaction, a crowded room. While this free version does include ads, I’ve found them to be small and unintrusive, located at the bottom of the screen.

Other Good Road Trip Items

Snacks- After finding myself in rural areas with no amenities, I’ve discovered it’s always a good idea to keep a few snacks in the car. Who knows when you’ll be stuck in a hotel, Airbnb, or with a friend when the munchies hit?
I keep my favorite trail mix on hand along with beverages like Blk & Bold Passion Fruit Loose Leaf Tea. It’s a black tea with a smooth floral taste that’s delicious served either iced or hot. The package fits easily into a backpack or snack bag and can be served as is or “dressed up” with the addition of lemonade and sugar to taste for a fancy tea beverage.

One 3-ounce package makes 43 standard cups of hot tea at a $0.28 cost per cup OR approximately 21 standard cups of iced tea at a $0.56 cost per cup, making it an economical addition to help keep snacking and food costs down while traveling! Blk & Bold also believes in giving back with 5% of their proceeds going to initiatives that help assist disadvantaged youth.

Travel-Sized Products– Space is always at a premium in my suitcase. Over the years I’ve discovered that not only do travel-sized toiletries keep my travel-bag compact, but it also prevents less of a risk of them spilling or leaking all over my clothing. One set of items that have found a home in my bag this summer is FACTORFIVE Skincare products.

Their 3-step system, now available in Mini travel-size, is comprised of
Regenerative Serum, which targets fine lines, wrinkles, sun spots, and more
Anti-Aging Cream, which helps improve wrinkles, skin elasticity, and texture,
and Eyelash cream to enhance lashes and brows while encouraging growth.

The award-winning products, made from ethically derived stem cells, are free from parabens and phthalates, are vegan, and are cruelty-free. I’ve found the products to have a light scent, be non-greasy, and feel smooth after application.

I hope our favorite apps and products help you have an enjoyable road trip wherever your journeys may take you! What are your favorite apps and products that you always use on road trips? We’d love to find new ways to make our road trips easier!