Helpful Apps While on the Road
#1: iOverlander
I truly don’t know what I would do without this app. iOverlander gives the locations for informal campsites, formal campgrounds, pull-over spots, wild spots, hotels, restaurants, gas stations, propane filling, drinkable water, dump stations, tourist attractions… I could keep going. I use this app every. damn. day. on the road.
The best part: If you open the app before entering an area without service, the app continues to track your GPS location.
The worst part: There is none.
#2: Agoda
I honestly couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve had a place to sleep because of this app. Agoda is an online travel agency, where you can book last minute hotels and vacation rentals. Every accommodation my sisters and I had in SE Asia was booked through this app, and I’ve used it multiple times traveling cross-country in the USA.
The best part: Agoda offers discounted prices and daily deals, so saving money is easy.
The worst part: Some bookings will try to sneak in hidden fees, so make sure you read the entire description of charges before booking.
#3: Waze
If you aren’t using Waze by now, you’re missing out! If you want the fastest way to get from Point A to Point B, this should be your go-to.
The best part: Waze updates your directions when faster routes become available. If there’s an accident, road closing, speed camera, or even a cop nearby, it’ll notify you.
The worst part: There is none.
#4: All Trails
If you like hiking and exploring outdoors, this is for you. All Trails has over 100,000 trails with trail maps and trail info. You can search for trails in advance or you can search in the moment for trails near you (since it connects to your phone’s location).
The best part: You can set multiple filters for difficulty, length, elevation, etc. And there are plenty of user reviews, so you can read about other experiences before committing.
The worst part: Some trails may be closed for various circumstances, and some of the trailheads may be slightly difficult to find.
#5: Find My Friends
For safety reasons, especially traveling alone and especially as a female, I believe someone should always know where I am. Find My Friends (found under the “Find My” app on iPhones) gave me the peace of mind I needed while traveling solo. I shared my location with both of my parents, as well as any relatives who lived nearby.
The best part: You can decide how long you’d like to share your location.
The worst part: It may feel like an invasion of privacy at first, but when you’re on the road, every bit of safety security helps!
#6: Maps.me
Maps.me is an offline map generator for out-of-service areas. When traveling into more remote places, I use this app as a backup to iOverlander to ensure I always know where I am.
The best part: It works all around the world! My sister and I used this in SE Asia to find our way around.
The worst part: You have to know where you’re going and download the map beforehand, so it’s not something that would work in the moment or in case of emergency.