Updated: 30+ Apps For Life On the Road
Originally posted May 8, 2016
Living on the road and constantly traveling to unfamiliar places towing an 8,000 lb rig can be stressful. There are a lot of unknowns and we can end up spending a lot of time and cell data trying to figure out all kinds of things. We know it’s probably like that for all travelers - whether you’re full-timers or not. Here’s a list of apps that have made our life on the road easier. This post breaks the apps down into categories: travel planning, boondocking, while enroute, recreation, photography, data, and resources.
A few notes about this list: All apps listed here are for iOS, but nearly all of them are available for Android. They’re all free except for a few which are marked. The apps we use the most often are marked with an *. Sometimes we have more than one app to do one job and that’s because even the best apps have some shortcomings.
Travel Planning
I know this one is a no-brainer, but two things I want to mention about using Google Maps for roadlife: 1) Jerud and I have argued about which map app is better: Google or Apple. Google won because its turn-by-turn navigating is better, for example: which lane to take when exiting the interstate or at an upcoming stoplight. This is extremely useful information when towing. It also lets you more easily see what the next driving steps are. But Google maps isn’t always perfect: it once tried to send us on an hours-long detour due to an “accident” which didn't even exist and sometimes gives us directions that aren’t great for towing. We’ll double check the route we’re given when we’re in more rurual areas just to be sure it’s going to be OK for us to drive on.
Free
Available for iOS and Android
We don’t use this app very often nowadays because most places we go have cell signal. But we do turn to it if we need to know if a place has cell signal. OpenSignal shows location of cell towers and (estimated) coverage on a map. This can be helpful when trying to choose a boondocking site if you don’t have any intel on whether signal is good there or not. It can also tell you which direction to go if you’re seeking better signal than what you have. OpenSignal runs on user submitted information. The app only shows you cell signal for your cell provider and it doesn’t work offline.
Free
Available for iOS and Android
Coverage also provides information about cell coverage, but it works differently from OpenSignal. This app provides a map with overlays of all four major carriers’ coverage maps. Since it uses shading to show cell coverage, it’s not very accurate if you’re looking at a location on the edge of the shading. Maps can be accessed even when you don’t have cell signal. The free version only lets you see one cell carrier’s coverage, while the paid version provides access to all four companies.
Free and $ version
Available for iOS and Android
InRoute is most useful when we are running a bunch of errands on a town day in an unfamiliar place. We can enter the places we want to drive to and let InRoute decide the best order to visit them. Or we can decide the order and InRoute will find the best route.
Free
Available on for iOS
After a lot of driving in Canada without cell signal, Maps.Me has replaced our previous choice (Navmii) as our favorite offline mapping app. Like Navmii, it lets you download large map areas for offline use. Unlike Navmii, all the maps are completely free to download. Maps.Me maps come from the (OpenStreetMap) database, which is stunningly detailed, even shaming Google Maps at times, and especially when it comes to including hiking and biking trails. The interface is clean and efficient to use while Navmii was slow and cartoony.
Free
Available for iOS and Android
Boondocking
Campendium is THE resource we use to find boondocking spots. Not only are boondocking sites listed, but also RV parks, campgrounds, and parking lots. The majority of the sites have reviews from RVers providing useful and often up-to-date details. It makes finding boondock spots so much easier! We also use Campendium to look for RV dumps.
Free
Available only for iOS
We occasionally use this app when we can’t find something in Campendium. The review on iOverlander aren’t as detailed as Campendiums and not all sites are good for big rigs since it’s focused on overlanding.
Free
Available only for iOS (but their website works great so it’s not too big of a deal)
US Public Lands was developed by Technomadia, who’ve been RV full-timers for 10+ years. The app overlays the different types of land management areas (national forest, BLM, wilderness, etc.) on an active map so RVers can identify legit boondocking spots. We use this when we want to make sure we’re actually on public lands and sometimes it’s necessary to know which public lands we’re on so we can follow the correct rules.
$2.99
Available for iOS and Android
If you’ve got solar panels on your rig, you’ll use this app pretty much every time you relocate (except when you’re in the desert since there’s nothing around to block the sun). We do! It’ll help you know where the sun will be, and anticipate shadows that may hurt your solar power generation. We first tried it as a convenience item but now rely on it heavily. It’s also got useful features for photography.
$9.99 (worth it!)
Available for iOS and Android
Enroute
We use this app all the time to find the cheapest diesel (and gas). Since it’s all user-submission based, the prices are typically up to date. We like to help out and enter gas prices when we see that they need updating. We’ve used GasBuddy as far north as Yukon, Canada. Although gas stations – and price updates – are much fewer and further between way up there, a little planning can save a LOT of money.
Free
Available for iOS and Android
Love’s Connect and Pilot Flying J
The Love’s Connect and Pilot Flying J apps (two separate apps) were useful when we first hit the road. We used it when we needed to stay overnight at a truck stop. But we haven’t used it in years. I still included it on this because it can come in handy to travelers who need a place to shower since both gas stations offer them. According to their websites, the app allows you to reserve a shower in advance.
Free
Available for iOS and Android
Good when potty breaks are needed for both the 2-legged and 4-legged passengers - and even the vehicles itself!
Free
Available for iOS and Android
Connectivity
Knowing cell signal speed is important for work. We use this app to check cell signal and Wi-Fi speeds whenever we’re in a new spot or scouting future boondock sites.
Free
Available for iOS and Android
If you don’t have unlimited cell data, downloading an app for your cell carrier will be useful to ensure you don’t go through your entire monthly allocation in the first couple of weeks. We’ve added this app to iPhone’s widget window so we can quickly pull down the window and monitor our data consumption.
Free
Available for iOS and Android
Wi-Fi Finder + Map and Speedcheck
These are two separate apps that are linked by the developer and work together. They integrate quick network speed test, ability to add new hotspots, and ability to search for hotspots. The hotspot search displays speed test results for each spot, which is very nice. The database is pretty large, but far from perfect. Offline access to a pre-downloaded area is available with payment. We’ve pretty much stopped using these apps since we’ve gotten unlimited cell data.
Free
Available for iOS and Android
Resources
This is another one that’s really obvious, but when you’re always in unfamiliar places it’s hard to know where to go for services…or just a good burrito. We all know some restaurants are overpriced, some mechanics are dishonest, and some tourist attractions are hyped-up. Yelp gives you a fighting chance at dodging disappointment.
Free
Available for iOS and Android
I’ve yet to find a great app for recycling on the road. Recycle Nation is better than most recycling apps, but far from perfect. It has a clean interface and it provides pretty detailed information for each recycling location (address, phone number, hours of operation, accepted and not accepted items). But the biggest downside is that its database isn’t very comprehensive. It doesn’t seem to have recycling locations for small towns - which is where we spend most of our time.
Free
Available for iOS and Android
Outdoor Recreation
*MTB Project
MTB Project has a good database of bike trails. Since it’s filled with moderated submissions, it’s a pretty clean and reliable app. Trail ratings are adjusted by “consensus”, which we think makes them tend to be rated harder than they really are.
Free
Available for iOS and Android
Like MTB Project, TrailForks lists mountain bike trails. It seems to have more trails listed than MTB Project - specifically in lesser popular areas. We think the trail difficulty ratings aren’t as reliable as MTB Project because it’s not moderated. It also has more trail information in Canada than MTB Project does.
Free
Available for iOS and Android
Detailed beta and photos for rock climbing! We’re not avid climbers so we don’t use this enough to have great feedback.
Free
Available for iOS and Android
I’ve started to use this to see what hiking trails are in the areas we’re at. It provides very basic information about the hikes with user feedback (which can be helpful, but it may also mean reading through a ton to compile a complete idea of the hike). The user feedback is great to know what the recent trail condition is like (muddy or still covered in snow or any closures, etc.) But I don’t recommend solely relying on AllTrails because it doesn’t provide complete and/or accurate information! It’s just a good place to start if you’re looking for a list of trails in the area to hike.
Free
Available for iOS and Android
Motion X-GPS is great for figuring out elevation and GPS coordinates, marking waypoints, compass readings, and recording GPS tracks. There’s a (paid) driving navigation module, but the free version is better for trails than roads. We occasionally use it in place of a handheld GPS when we’re hiking. I use it the most to get GPS coordinates for places we’re at and to track my mileage (whether it’s hiking or cycling). Map tiles can be downloaded ahead of time for offline use, so the app can still be used when there is no cell signal.
$1.99 for the app
Available only for iOS
Avenza lets you download topo and quadrangle maps for most areas for free. This is good for hiking and biking, and sometimes finding nameless dirt roads to explore. It will show your GPS location on the maps as you’re viewing them.
Free
Available for iOS and Android
Fitness
This is my go-to workout app. Nike Training offers a variety of workouts: yoga, cardio, plyometric, weights, lean, tone, strength, focus area, etc. Each work out includes a slideshow of the moves and a video. My favorite thing is that I can load the slideshows when I have Wi-Fi to use later and save cell data.
Free
Available for iOS and Android
My favorite app for doing yoga. It has a great interface and offers great customization options for sessions (type, level, length, voice, music, etc.). I’ve enjoyed all the yoga sessions I’ve done using the app.
Free (although I paid for the annual membership this past year)
Available for iOS and Android
These apps have been working well for us, but there’s always new ones coming out!
