In this day and age, one is rarely caught without a smartphone in hand. We use our phones to pay bills, watch our favorite shows, snap photos, and even check in with friends. Why then, wouldn’t we use RV apps on our smartphones to improve our RV adventures?
That’s right! There is an app for that. In fact, there are a number of awesome apps that can improve your camping experiences. Whether you need a motorhome navigation app or an RV trip planner app, there’s something that’ll fit right in with your RVing style and make life a little easier.
The Best RV Apps for Your Road Trip
Of course, the first step to adding helpful RV and travel apps to your phone is finding the best ones. There are a few different ways to go about this.
You could, of course, run some searches and sift through reviews of all the available apps. This is time consuming though, and could be frustrating if you don’t have the extra time to spare.
Another option is to check with RVing friends. Other campers might know of apps you wouldn’t find otherwise, and can provide honest feedback on the spot. This is a great way to go about it, but does limit you to whichever apps your friends know about.
If you’re looking to try, say, an RV GPS app (or any other travel app) besides what your camping buddies use, you’re in the right place. In this article we will explore the best RV, camping, and travel apps out there, so you can put your smartphone to good use during your next big adventure.
What is the Best RV GPS App?
Let’s first discuss the best RV GPS app options. After all, an RV navigation app is sure to be used on nearly every trip, and you have to be able to count on your app to help you reach your destination safely. Therefore, finding the best of the best is a must.
Best Free RV Navigation App
Google Maps
Wondering which is the best free RV navigation app? Google Maps (Android or Apple) is by far the best free option out there. This app allows you to add stops, avoid tolls, and much more. That said, Google Maps was not made with big rigs in mind. Therefore, you may want to crosscheck any route it gives with a truck atlas or RV-specific route planner.
Best RV Navigation Apps for a Fee
CoPilot RV
If you’re willing to pay for an RV-specific GPS, we recommend CoPilot RV (Android or Apple). This RV map app is pre-loaded with thousands of POIs (points of interest), to help you find nearby places such as ATMs, restaurants, hospitals, vets, hotels, or gas stations with or without a data connection. Within the CoPilot RV app, you can search on Google, Yelp, and Wikipedia to look for RV parks, gas stations, restaurants, etc. (this feature requires a data connection). GPS CoPilot Live stores all the map information directly on the device so you may need additional storage.
RV Life GPS App
RV Life GPS App (Android or Apple) is another excellent paid RV GPS app option. This app works side-by-side with the RV Trip Wizard trip planning tool to create a seamless RVing experience that you’re sure to adore. Simply plan your perfect trip in RV Trip Wizard, sync your trip to the RV Life GPS App, and hop on the road. The app will ensure you take a route that is customized to your preferences and RV size, so you don’t run into any bumps in your travel day.
RV Trip Planning Apps
Sometimes planning is just as much fun as the actual traveling. This is especially true when you have the right tools to plan your epic adventures. The right tools might include things like route planning, a way to see points of interest along the way, and in some cases, even campground reviews.
Here are some of our favorite planning apps. Download some of these to make planning a breeze.
Multi-Featured Apps
Looking for an app that’ll serve more than one purpose? We love the following options, and each one has a variety of features that will help you plan the perfect trip, making them some of the best RV apps out there.
- Allstays (Apple) — Often touted as the best RV trip planner app, this awesome program allows you to search for nearby campsites and book them quickly and easily. Additionally, you can use this app to check for dump stations, rest areas, and even road grades.
- InRoute (Apple) — InRoute is another great route planning app. It gives you the opportunity to add lots of stops, check the weather and road conditions on your route, and even check for elevation and curves in the road.
- TripIt (Android or Apple) — TripIt is a super easy to use travel planning app that generates a comprehensive itinerary off of your confirmation emails. You handle the booking, they’ll take it from there!
RV Rental App
Need to rent an RV for your camping adventure? Look no further than the RVshare App (Apple). This amazing RV rental app allows you to search for the perfect rig, sift through reviews, communicate with RV owners, and keep all of your trip details in one easy-to-access place, helping to make trip planning a breeze.
Fuel Apps
Obviously, fuel is a super important part of any RV trip, especially considering how much gas the typical RV tends to use. Fortunately, there are some apps that can help you locate places to get fuel and even give you ways to save some money when purchasing that fuel.
- My Pilot — Need a truck stop? We drive by them often enough, but where are they when you need one? The My Pilot app helps you find nearby places to gas up or take care of all your other RV travel stop needs. Aside from sorting locations, you can also check fuel prices and/or contact any of the locations from inside the app. Everyone’s favorite feature is the ability to enter your trip’s start and endpoint and have the app show you all the nearby stops or locations on your route. This will save you time and money. *A word of caution: The app sometimes lists stations that are either no longer there or are not yet built. Always double check.
- GasBuddy (Android or Apple) — Use this app to find the cheapest gas prices in any given area. Considering how much gas an RV can guzzle, this is a very valuable tool to have in your arsenal.
RV Checklist App
Want to create a checklist on your phone in order to ensure you don’t forget anything? Ultimate RV Checklist (Android or Apple) is the perfect option. This app allows you to customize checklists of what to pack and do before each trip, and provides suggestions to help you out.
Apps for Finding Camping
Of course, you’ll need to find places to stay as you wander the country. Some of the apps listed above help with this, but there are a few others you should know about:
- Hipcamp (Android or Apple) — Discover some of the most amazing, secluded and private campsites through Hipcamp! This platform connects you to camping on private land, offering a unique spin to camping and unlocking new access to incredible places. From blueberry farms to lakeside spots, Hipcamp makes it easy to find the perfect campground.
- Campendium (Android or Apple) — We love Campendium because it offers user reviews of campsites of all kinds. This includes private campgrounds, public campgrounds, and even boondocking locations, and allows you to narrow your options based on information other campers provide.
- U.S. Public Lands (Android or Apple) — This app helps you discover government-owned land. Are you interested in boondocking with your RV and want to find BLM or national forest land? Then this app is for you! A color-coded map of the U.S. allows you to search, zoom, and filter for different types of public lands.
- Passport America (Android or Apple) — If you’re a Passport America member, the Passport America app is a great tool for finding campgrounds included in your membership.
- Reserve America (Android or Apple) — Those who tend to stay in state parks will want to download the Reserve America app. This app lets you search and reserve campsites in state parks across the country.
- Camp & RV – Tent & RV Camping (Apple) — By the creators of the Allstays website, this app is among the handiest RV apps available today. It has the most comprehensive information database around. This handy app lets you filter and find places and services with or without the use of any internet data connection.
- Recreation.gov (Android or Apple) — Unfortunately, Reserve America does not include federally owned campgrounds in its database. This is where the Recreation.gov app comes into play. It allows you to search, research, and reserve government-owned campgrounds.
- The Dyrt (Android or Apple) — In just a few clicks, build a custom trip based on your destination, vehicle type, camping preferences, and how long you want to drive each day. There is a free version, but with the PRO option members save up to 40% at hundreds of campgrounds and up to 30% on camping gear. Plus, PRO members have access to The Dyrt’s offline campground search and downloadable maps.
- RV Parky (Android or Apple) — I’ve been using this app for several months and love the fact that it blends a map, a directory, RV park info, and reviews. You can use it in both the US and Canada. While the reviews seem spotty at best, the GPS and map settings are a fantastic help when looking for a campground in your location. Oh, and it’s FREE! So that is even better.
- Harvest Hosts (Android or Apple) — You will need to pay for a subscription to Harvest Hosts, Boondockers Welcome, or both in order to make use of this app. That said, if you travel fairly regularly, we feel either or both of these subscriptions can be an excellent investment. Use the app to find a number of driveways, farms, wineries, and even museums where you can stay overnight for free. You’ll stay in some unique places and meet some amazing people along the way!
- iOverlander (Android or Apple) — iOverlander is similar to Campendium in many ways. It is crowd sourced and shows a huge number of campsites and other lodging options in the U.S. as well as many other countries. We especially like this app for finding free campsites as well as dump stations.
- Free Campsites (Android) — Speaking of free campsites, we must mention the Free Campsites app. Made by the folks at freecampsites.net, this app takes all the campsites listed on the website and puts them into an easy-to-use interface that you’re sure to appreciate while searching for a place to stay the night.
Best Apps for Finding Dump Stations
When you gotta dump, you gotta dump. Fortunately, there are a few apps out there that can help you figure out where to go to do so. Download one of the apps below to make getting rid of wastewater a cinch.
- RV Dump Stations (Apple) — The RV Dump Stations app will help you learn where you can dump your tanks no matter where in the country you happen to be traveling. It’s the best solution for Apple users everywhere.
- RV Dump Sites (Android) — If you’re an Android user, the RV Dump Sites app will better suit your needs. This is a crowd sourced app made by the creators of the fabulous freecampsites.net.
Still not seeing a dump station nearby? You can also look for RV dump stations by state by using our handy dump station listing pages.
More RV Travel Apps
Clearly, RV apps are a wonderfully helpful thing to have on hand as you head out to explore this wonderful country of ours. Want to expand upon the travel apps listed above? We love the following travel apps as well.
- Roadtrippers (Android or Apple) — Roadtrippers is the world’s #1 road trip planning tool, with more than 25 million trips planned to-date covering more than 16.9 billion miles. RVshare users receive $7 off a Roadtrippers Plus Membership with code RVSHARE.
- Roadside America (Apple) — Are you a fan of weird roadside attractions? If so, Roadside America is your best friend. This app shows you exactly where to find all the silliest roadside attractions in the US (and Canada).
- State Lines (Android or Apple) — As you travel through the US, you are bound to wonder why a triple trailer is legal in one state and not in another. You might ask yourself, can I sleep at a rest stop? Is the gas tax more in one state than another? Can you legally use your cell phone while driving in this state? These and many more questions are answered in this simple and affordable app.
- AllTrails (Android or Apple) — The AllTrails app is an excellent resource for finding the best hiking, biking, and running trails. Search your area, read reviews, and start exploring.
- NOAA Weather Radio App (Android or Apple) — NOAA Weather Radio is the ultimate app to keep you up to date on the latest storm alerts. While there are free apps that do the same type of work, Weather Radio offers a fantastic radar map that will keep you feeling safe.
- Key Ring Rewards Card (Android or Apple) — If you collect shopper cards, frequent flier cards, gym membership cards, etc., this app helps simplify your card load. It makes a digital copy of all your cards so you can leave the oversized wallet at home. Simply download the free app and scan in the barcodes on your reward or club cards. The app even offers coupons at some of the retailers.
- OpenTable (Android or Apple) — This app helps you make dinner reservations even if you are three states away and stuck in traffic. It allows you to search for available restaurants by location, rating, cuisine, and price. Restaurants that use this service often provide photos, menus, and more to make those dreaded dinner convos a little easier.
Camping and RV Apps for Staying Connected
Connection is important. If you’re looking to connect with other RVers or stay connected to the outside world while on the road, these are the apps you’ll need to do so:
- RVillage (Android or Apple) — The very best social media app for meeting and keeping in touch with fellow RVers, RVillage is a must-have for those social butterflies out there.
- WiFi Map (Android or Apple) — This app helps locate the best free WiFi hotspots in your area. It also provides crowdsourced information on passwords, making staying connected to the internet easier.
- Digital TV Antennas (Android) or TV Towers USA (Apple) — Either of these apps will help you locate the closest TV towers. This helps you aim your TV antenna the correct way for the best TV reception possible.
- Coverage? (Android or Apple) — This handy app takes all the cell phone company’s data coverage maps and fuses them together as one. No more guessing! Now you can easily discover where you can camp with a great signal. This app is especially helpful if you work online and need to be able to schedule Skype calls or any form of uploading.
- AroundMe (Android or Apple) — Just passing through and need to find a bank, grocery store, or movie theater? Around Me is a simple app that puts you in touch with the world around you. Search for a category and locate anything you might need with a simple swipe. You can also search by name. Easy to use & winner of the Time Magazine Best App award!
- BatteryGuru (Android or Apple) — If your mobile phone has battery-related issues, this app can help. It will take a few days to “learn” how you use a smartphone. This info helps the app create a unique battery optimization plan for you. This will make sure your battery lasts for a longer period of time.
- Postagram (Android or Apple) — Postagram is perfect if you want to keep your loved ones informed about the status of your road trip. This app will send personalized postcards to anyone you wish in the United States for only $2. All you have to do is take a picture, design your card, and write your message. The app will do the rest!
Tool Apps for RV Camping
We all know how important it is to have tools on hand when camping. Why not expand upon your camping tool collection by using your phone as a tool as well?
- Bubble Level — There are a number of bubble level apps out there. Most work perfectly well and are great for helping get the trailer or motorhome level.
- Compass — As is the case with the bubble level, there are lots of compass apps out there. (Depending on your phone, you may even have one built in.) One is as good as the next, and any of them are great to have while out hiking.
- PeakFinder AR (Android and Apple) — This fun app helps you identify what mountains you might be looking at while out exploring.
- Night Sky (Apple) or Sky Map (Android) — Night Sky and Sky Map are beautiful apps that help you find planets and constellations for stargazing purposes.
- iNaturalist (Android and Apple) — Curious about the plants and critters you find while hiking? iNaturalist will help you identify them quickly and easily.
Final Thoughts
Whew! That’s a lot of super cool, highly useful RV apps. Now that you know the best roadtrip apps to download, you can go RVing with confidence, knowing your handy phone will be by your side to guide you every step of the way.
Why not give all these amazing apps a try by planning a RV getaway? Start by choosing your perfect rental RV. Once you have a rig picked out, you can start planning your trip by checking out our top national parks, state parks, and RV campgrounds.
Looking for more tips and tricks for your next RV excursion or purchase? Check out these articles on the blog:
Now, we want to hear from you. What are your favorite apps for RV travel? Leave your choices in the comment box below.
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