By Franki Hanke

One of the most flexible vacations is an old-fashioned road trip. Hit the open road to national parks, a funky rental property, or a new city. Your next road trip will be easier to plan than ever with the best road trip planner apps.  

All of these planning apps have a free app version, so you can get to road tripping! 

Best Road Trip Planner Apps For Planning Your Route

Google Maps or Waze

If you’re an Apple user, you’re likely using Apple Maps as your navigation app. However, Apple’s map program doesn’t allow for multi-stop route planning. Google Maps and Waze do! Check the most efficient path between multiple waypoints in either of these Google products to create your list of stops during trip planning. 

While they are very similar. You can get away with only one, but Waze is a favorite for directions while driving. Waze has a real-time speed and incident tracker and fuel price updates that can inform you on the road. The fuel information can help find the cheapest gas prices in real-time. 

Google Maps, on the other hand, allows for offline maps. So, download the map of your best route and don’t worry about losing signal. 

Download Google Maps for IOS on the Apple App Store or for Android on Google Play store. Download Waze for IOS on the Apple App Store or for Android on Google Play store. 

Roadtrippers

For a mapping app specifically for road trips, use Roadtrippers. This route planner saves created itineraries and shows possible waypoints along your route. Plus, it offers possible points of interest to add to your route. It’s useful for creating an trip itinerary to share with travel companions. 

Download Roadtrippers for IOS on the Apple App Store or for Android on Google Play store. 

Best Road Trip Planner Apps For Finding Activities

TripAdvisor

Find popular tourist activities with TripAdvisor. Easily search based on area and see reviews, though TripAdvisor reviews often skew heavily towards the positive. Most of the activities on TripAdvisor are the most popular tourist activities and roadside attractions. So, if you want a more laid-back, less common experience browse other travel guides to round out your trip ideas.

Download TripAdvisor for IOS on the Apple App Store or for Android on Google Play store. 

Best Road Trip Planner Apps For Finding Accommodations 

Airbnb

Airbnb is a popular choice for finding accommodations. For a private vacation, Airbnb allows you to visit a new place (and a cool property) without intersecting with a lot of strangers—unless you want to. 

Unlike a hotel, Airbnb rents properties of all types from tiny houses in the woods to luxurious mansions. Choose a property based on a firepit, pool, or hot tub. You rent from an individual owner, so the lodging is more unique and personalized to your location. 

Download Airbnb for IOS on the Apple App Store or for Android on Google Play store. 

Hotel Tonight

If you want to go where the wind takes you, Hotel Tonight allows you to rent discounted hotel rooms the day of. The app compiles open rooms at hotels that aren’t booked yet. So, you get a discount and easily find open lodging. By using Hotel Tonight, your route can be flexible. Find your room for the night last minute and save money. 

Download Hotel Tonight for IOS on the Apple App Store or for Android on Google Play store. 

Best Road Trip Planner Apps For Preparing

Pack Point

Instead of forgetting your phone charger again, download PackPoint. A simple, but effective concept, PackPoint generates packing lists. Input your destination, activity plans, and length of stay. Then, the app will generate your list. Don’t forget to pack sneakily comfy clothes for a stylish, but comfortable drive.

Download Pack Point for IOS on the Apple App Store or for Android on Google Play store.

TripIt: Travel Planner

TripIt organizes all your other plans into one smooth interface. Forward your reservations to their app email address. Then, it builds you a master itinerary. It will save your tickets and passes in one spot and remove that inbox scramble to find something. 

Download TripIt for IOS on the Apple App Store or for Android on Google Play store.

Best Road Trip Planner Apps For Entertainment While Driving

PlayerFM

Listening to music is a classic for a road trip, but switch it up with a podcast instead. If you’re alone, a podcast can keep you awake. Or, with passengers, a podcast can give you some time without talking and give you something new to chat about. 

PlayerFM is a podcast hoster with an upgraded interface than Apple’s Podcasts app. 

Download PlayerFM for IOS on the Apple App Store or for Android on Google Play store.

Spotify

For the classic choice of music during your trip, Spotify makes it easy to find something to play. Pop on a premade playlist from Spotify or from a fellow music lover. Upgrade to the premium subscription to ditch the ads.

Download Spotify for IOS on the Apple App Store or for Andriod on Google Play store.

Best Road Trip Planner Apps For Navigating Your Destination

Citymapper

If your road trip brings you to a new city, Citymapper is a one-stop shop for in-city navigation. It compiles information for all transit options including trains, buses, Uber, and rentable scooters or cycles. It will compare your transport options based on route time and alert you to the schedules. 

Download Citymapper for IOS on the Apple App Store or for Android on Google Play store. 

Now that you’ve downloaded our picks for best road trip planner apps, just pick a destination and start planning it out!

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