Road trip planning tools

One of the first tools I use when planning a road trip is, in order to get an idea of what a place might look like and what I might expect to see there, Google Images. The reason that Waze is such a beloved and excellent road trip app is because users are encouraged to post updates on road conditions around them passengers, not drivers.

Specially designed to keep feeding your wanderlust, Pinterest is a great app to see what places look like and explore potential trip itineraries. Or arrive at the only game in town late enough to forgo searching reviews and just wing it?

You can add photos, links, details, and more about different points of interest for the road trip. I particularly love the sheets application similar to Excel for organizing road trip planning by day. We rated AllTrails as the best hiking app earlier this year and for this same reason it is a great road trip planning tool. Through AllTrails users can easily find and save hikes all over the US.

Complete with trail guides, trail photos, trail reviews, and more, if your road trip includes hiking then AllTrails is a great companion.

Every single time I go on a road trip I create a shared album and invite everyone in the group to join so that we can all have access to the photos.

Simply go into your respective Photos app and create a new shared album, then invite whoever you want. Many people still use maps to figure out the shortest routes as well as to find the most scenic roads, rather than taking the standard interstate highways. Some people use maps when they want to see several attractions in the same region, but not all on the major roads. In the modern world, many people use global positioning system GPS devices.

These handy tools eliminate the need for complicated, over-sized maps, as well as helping when you make a wrong turn or get lost. There are several fuel calculators available online to help people create trip budgets. They usually give accurate estimates of how much the gas will actually cost for the entire trip.

My favorite site for booking hotels is Hotels. They have their own loyalty program, giving you one night free after 10 days. The popular short-term rental site is perfect for road trips to more remote areas. Having a kitchen is a great way to cut down on costs when traveling, particularly for week-long trips. The ultimate source for national parks, Recreation. Gov allows you to book camping and activities in parks across the country. They even have a mobile app, allowing you to book or view your trip details on the go.

Popular campgrounds are reservable online exactly 6 months out. If you want to camp outside of an official campground, Freecampsites. To find a camping spot along your route, use the map to search for free, paid, or permitted campsites nearby. Search for local restaurants and read reviews to find the perfect dinner spot.

I love reading through Yelp reviews for dish recommendations too! Looking for more tips on what to pack for your road trip? Check out my guides on the ultimate road trip packing list and the best road trip planning tools for all my favorite gear picks and tips to make packing for your trip a breeze!

Last, but certainly not least, is Google Maps. But you might not be using it to its full capability. Google Maps allows you to download maps offline, ensuring you can continue to navigate after you lose cell service. To download a map for your road trip, go to your Google Maps app and select Offline Maps from the menu.

Always remember the key to a successful road trip is being prepared whoa, did my inner Girl Scout just come out?

Using road trip planning tools before you hit the road is the best way to have a safe and fulfilling road trip. The most important part of planning a road trip is figuring out your ideal route.

Using inspirational tools, you can determine all your key points of interest and use Google Maps to determine the best route to all of them. Share your road trips with family and friends. Unlimited use with a Free Account. Add an unlimited number of stops and substops to your trip. Schedule stops ranging from minutes to days. Search through thousands of myscenicdrives. Instantly display nearby myscenicdrives.

Plan stops from your home computer, IPad or Android Tablets, or mobile phone with the same easy-to-use interface.