Last Updated on March 31, 2024 by Jessica Lauren Vine
Are you trying to figure out what the best apps for RV trip planning are? We can help.
People often look at those who live in an RV or go on camping trips and assume it’s easy and fabulous. While both of these things are a ton of fun, they don’t happen on their own and can often be stressful. It’s tough plotting a course and planning an RV-friendly trip route, and the planning process can be very stressful.
If you’ve struggled with planning RV trips in the past or are new to the process, you may want to consider downloading an app to assist you. RV trip planning apps can be all-in-one tools that do everything or single-use tools for a sole purpose. So whether you choose one app to rule them all or download several different ones, RV trip planning apps are the way to go.
If you know you need the best apps for RV trip planning but don’t know where to start, you’ve come to the right place. This article will look at some of the best apps of 2022 to make your RV travels more manageable and less stressful. In addition, we’ll look at gas apps, camping apps, and other valuable tools to help along the way.
Favorite App for RV Trip Planning
When it comes to apps for RVing, RV Life has a corner on the market. It’s a must-have, and it’s affordable.
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- Visual RV Trip Planner
- Customized to Your RV
- Always Up to Date Maps
- Navigate with confidence
- No bulky (and expensive!) RV GPS required
- Must have access to the internet unless you download needed information
Best Gas Apps for RVing
I don’t know about you, but one of the most stressful things I think of while towing an RV is not being able to find a gas station to park it. This is a real fear, whether driving a motorhome or pulling a travel trailer. However, you can travel without worrying when using one of these apps.
Gas Buddy
Gas Buddy is one of the market’s most popular and fastest-growing gas apps. Signing up for the app and getting a gas card mailed to you is a bit of a process, but it’s well worth the work. Once you have the app downloaded, you can enter your vehicle information and the type of fuel you need, and Gas Buddy will do the rest.
It will show you a list of gas stations near you, their current fuel prices, and a figure in your Gas Buddy discount. When you purchase fuel with the Gas Buddy card, you can get up to 25 cents off per gallon. You’re sure to go through a ton of energy on your travels, so having the Gas Buddy app can save you big bucks down the road (pun intended).
Flying J or Love’s Gas Apps
You can opt for an individual gas station if you don’t want to download an all-encompassing gas app. Certain gas stations, such as Love’s and Flying J, are popular amongst truckers because of their enormous size and easy accessibility. No matter how big your RV is, you should have no trouble pulling in and out of one of these stations.
Best Campground Finder Apps
It’s tough to go on a camping trip if you don’t know how to find campgrounds. While many campgrounds aren’t listed on Google, using Google is still a viable option. There’s also a good chance you can find a better rate or deal when you book a campground with one of these campground finder apps.
Campendium
When it comes to finding any campground or campsite in the country, Campendium is the way to go. Campendium has the most extensive collection of campgrounds, state parks, national parks, and RV resorts. In addition to having a massive number of campgrounds, Campendium also lists the amenities and features of each location. It will also specify details such as wifi capabilities, cell reception, and other information.
The only downside of Campendium is that users partially run it, so accuracy isn’t always on-point. However, it’s right most of the time and serves as a great starting ground to find campgrounds no matter where you are.
KOA Camping App
The KOA Camping App isn’t as all-inclusive as Campendium because it deals exclusively with finding KOA campgrounds. However, there are more than 500 KOAs across the country, which means that if you’re a rewards member, you’re never too far from a campground.
The KOA app is also great because you can book and pay for campgrounds within the app. The app will also have each campground’s listed amenities, prices, and photos. So if you want to save 10% with every campground you book, downloading the KOA app and becoming a rewards member is worth it.
The Dyrt
Similar to Campendium but even more detailed, The Dyrt is tough to beat. Not only is it the fastest-growing camping app in the nation, but it’s also one of the most informative and valuable. You can find campgrounds of all sizes and types using the free app, including primitive spots that aren’t on Google.
The Dyrt also has a Pro version where you can plan your trip from start to finish. The Pro also allows you to book sites through the app, make payments, and earn discounts and rewards. It’s one of the best and most interactive apps on the web, and it’s well worth your while to download.
Best GPS Apps for RVing
While having gas and finding a campground is essential, they won’t do any good if you don’t know where you’re going. The nice thing about using GPS apps specific to RVs is that they consider items non-RV drivers don’t have to worry about anymore.
CoPilot
The original Copilot GPS app was for truckers, but it’s quickly grown into one of the top GPS apps for RVers. It does a great job of helping you plot your course and navigate your way in a big rig. For example, it enables you to steer clear of low bridges that don’t have enough clearance for your RV. It will also notify you if your route has steep roads along the way. If you’re planning a long road trip, the Copilot app allows you to add up to 50 stops! And this is one of the best apps for RV trip planning.
Togo RV
In addition to doing everything that Copilot does, Togo RV can do much more. It allows you to find RV repair shops and gas stations and plan your trip from start to finish. Because of its many features, the Togo app is a paid-for GPS app. However, at just $40 per year, it’s not a bad deal for one of the market’s best apps for RV trip planning.
Best Apps for RV Trip Planning (All-in-One)
While having multiple apps for your RV trip is sometimes necessary, keeping track can also be overwhelming. So if you’re looking for a single app that can do everything, here are the two best on the market.
RV Trip Wizard
Use coupon code RVIDIOTS for 25% off of your subscription
- Visual RV Trip Planner
- Customized to Your RV
- Always Up to Date Maps
- Navigate with confidence
- No bulky (and expensive!) RV GPS required
- Must have access to the internet unless you download needed information
Regarding all-in-one RV trip-planning apps, RV Trip Wizard is number one. While RV Trip Wizard is an online-only tool, its capabilities are integrated into the RV Life app. Using these tools, you can plan your trip from start to finish, and any stops along the way. In addition, RV Trip Wizard covers gas stations, RV-friendly routes, campgrounds, and more.
You can even use the app to check out campground reviews and amenities and make reservations. This is one of the best apps for RV trip planning.
Roadtrippers
As with RV Trip Wizard, you can use either the Roadtrippers app or go straight to their website. The website is better for thorough and lengthy planning, but the app is perfect for on-the-go use. Using the Roadtrippers app, you can find RV-friendly gas stations, repair shops, and campgrounds.
The app also lets you stay up-to-date on all the latest RV news and information you might need. One of its best perks is the massive collection of attractions, parks, and roadside stops. In terms of the best overall all-in-one RV trip planning apps, Roadtrippers is tough to beat.
Advantages of Using the Best Apps for RV Trip Planning
You might be wondering why you should use an RV trip planning app vs. just breaking out a normal map. Here are some great reasons you shouldn’t forget when you’re trying to find the best apps for RV trip planning.
Less Stress
Planning an RV trip on your own is stressful and time-consuming. However, using helpful apps removes much of the stress and question marks of not knowing what to expect. At the end of the day, if you’re not enjoying your RV trips, what’s the point in taking them?
Many Tools are Free
Most of the tools we have looked at in this article are free, at least on a limited basis. Most of them also allow you to upgrade down the road if necessary.
Offer Safer Travels
Your path will be much safer if you know exactly where and how to get there. It also helps that most RV GPS apps show low-clearance bridges, steep roads, and sharp curves.
Allow You to Budget
To take things to the next level, you can budget your trip from start to finish with RV trip planning apps. For example, you can plan your gas stops and know prices ahead of time, book campsites in advance, and find affordable restaurants.
Best Apps for RV Trip Planning – Final Thoughts
While all RV trips are enjoyable, they’re even more enjoyable when you use RV trip planning apps. Whether you choose an all-inclusive app or use several individual ones doesn’t matter. The main thing to keep in mind when choosing apps is to select ones that will meet your needs. Gas, GPS, and campgrounds are the three most important things to consider, and everything else comes secondary.
Jalin's day job has been working as an HVAC professional but it's transitioning to full time writer and RVer.
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