The BEST Apps for RV Travel

Here are all the apps we tested… 

To honestly narrow down the best apps for RV travel, we tried as many as we could get our hands on! 

The best of the best apps for RV travel

Our list of best apps for RV Travel is in order of most frequently used while on the road.

What we use it for?

Google Maps is usually the first app I open to plan a new trip and travel route. I check out all possible routes and use it as a tool to pre-explore an area. For navigation, before leaving an origin, we always load directions to our destination and add any stops we know we want to make along the way (if any). We also use Google Maps to quickly help find food, fuel stations, and grocery stores while on the road. 

Why we like it?

In our opinion, when it comes to navigation and route guidance, Google Maps is still the best and easiest to use. I know there are many similar apps, but Google Maps has so much information all in one place. We love being able to see fuel prices ahead of stopping. We love seeing traffic indications and recommended route updates. We love that you can download offline maps! We also love that it’s FREE!

Google Maps Protips: 

• Once the route guidance is active, share the trip with yourself via text message. It’s the only way I’ve found to save your route if you accidentally close or end the trip.
• Always turn on the guidance alerts. It makes life much easier and SAFER!
• Save offline maps if you’redestination is in an area with limited service!
  

This app is the standout favorite we found in our review of the best apps for RV travel! Gaia GPS is extremely powerful and the most information-rich resource on my phone! This app deserves its own blog post to explain all the features and it has. That post maybe coming soon. 

But for now…

What we use it for?

Gaia is a powerful GPS map resource with hundreds of informative map layers to toggle on and off as needed.

• In-depth scouting of destinations and travel routes.
• To find Public Land. 
• To locate hard to identify forest roads.
• To know if certain areas will have cell service.
• We recently relied on Gaia GPS to inform us of nearby wildfires and how to navigate our way to safety.
• For finding hiking trails and recording our hikes.

These are just a few of the ways we use this app – there are many more!

Why we like it?

Gaia GPS is now an app I can’t put down. Compared to other apps that provide similar information, Gaia has the cleanest presentation and the best user interface. 

• Several base maps options to choose from.
• Gaia’s robust library of informative map layers
• Map layer visibility slider and how it makes reading and interpreting information from multiple layers possible.
• Ability to download maps for offline use!
• The ease of locating Public Land boundaries and find free places to camp.
• To find hiking trails and to record our hikes!
• The detailed National Geographic Trails map!

Gaia GPS Protips: 

• This app is free to download; however, if you want to unlock the true potential of Gaia GPS, upgrade to the Pro Membership. It is worth it!

• Check out the various map sources and layers available before setting out on your trip. Download maps and layers before leaving a fast wifi connection.

• Use those visibilty sliders! 

• ALWAYS save offline maps… just in case!

What we use it for?

Allstays Camp & RV has an extensive library of points of interest (POI), anyone, from an RV traveler to a car camper, would want to know while on the road. 

• To find Costco fueling stations. 
• To locate sanitary sewer dump stations.
• To find rest stops where we can reliably sleep for the night.
• To find places that sell propane.

Why we like it?

We love that this app does’nt rely on cell service or wifi. Yes, that’s right! The map and whole library is 100% available offline! 

• Ease of use. 
• The map location in realtime and proximity to POI’s.
• The useful stores this app includes, like Camping World, Bass Pro Shops, and other sporting goods stores.
• The extensive filters available.

Allstays Protips: 

• Check out the filters to see the full list of all the POI’s. 

What we use it for?

When it’s time to find a camp spot, we turn to Campendium.  We use Campendium to double-check sanitary dump stations, and roadside rest stops. 

Why we like it?

We like Campendium the best because it’s easy to use and the map isn’t overly cluttered with information you don’t need to see. 

• The ability to save favorites.
• Reviews from other campers.
• The details provided for each camping area.
• It’s FREE and appreciate their ads are displayed in a non-distracting way.

As mentioned earlier, there are apps that provide similar information as Campendium. It’s worth sharing our second favorite in this category… The Dyrt. I’d recommend trying them both and seeing which you like the best.

What we use it for?

Roadside America is our second favorite app for RV travel. The info in this app is more for fun than it is for function. We use Roadside America to find those bizarre and unique roadside oddities. You know… like the world’s largest frying pan, or recently when we found the Uniroyal Girl out in the Mohave desert.

Why we like it?

Anytime I can find a reasonable excuse to stop and check something bizarre out on the side of the road, I am all for it!

• App provides pin locations and provides some history.
• Large database!
• Check off the things we’ve seen.

What we use it for?

We use Boondocking as its name suggests… to find free places to camp. This app isn’t one we use that often. But, when we find ourselves in an area with little to no public land, we turn to Boondocking to help find alternative places to sleep for the night.

Why we like it?

We like Boondocking because it’s simple. When we open this app, it’s to find a free spot to camp, and that is all it shows. We also love that it’s free! 

Best Trip Planning apps for RV Travel

When it comes to trip planning; we take a different approach than some other people do. After finding an abundance of trip planning apps, I learned many RV travelers and road trippers love using them. We don’t because we never know with 100% certainty where the road will take us, and we like it that way. However, I did try several trip planning apps out and found two that stood out among the others.