‘Tis the season to hit the road to visit family and friends. If you’re road tripping over the holidays, here are some of my favorite road trip apps for the road, changing weather conditions, and to book a hotel.
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For the Road:
In addition to Apple Maps or Google Maps, I use several apps in case there’s an emergency and for information about rest areas and exits.
AAA is my number one app. I write for AAA, but I’ve also been a member for years. The app makes it really easy to request roadside assistance. There’s also a section call “Near Me.” On the map you can select filters for fuel, food, hotel, auto repair, and more including AAA rated and AAA discounted. You can also check out traffic flow on the map and see where there are traffic jams. For road trip planning I also use AAA TripTik. It’s great for mapping out an adventure.
USA Rest Stops is great for locating rest stops by mile marker. Services are listed for rest areas and if you click on a mile marker you can see reviews. The map feature is great for a quick glance of which ones are open or closed. It also shows welcome centers.
iExit is great to see what’s available at exits. You can get a quick check with icons for services or click on an exit for names of places including fuel, food, and lodging. Gas prices are listed and there’s yelp reviews.
For Changing Weather:
Especially in winter you have to keep an eye on weather changes. As a meteorologist, I like to keep an eye on current and future radars. The Weather Channel app is my go to for travel weather information in a hurry. I have the premium level so I get quick access to additional resources like their 72-hour future radar. Another radar app I like is Clime. It’s live NOAA Weather Radar and offers features like future radar.
I also check out Department of Transportation websites. Colorado has a great webpage cotrip.org for road conditions with cameras. Other states have something similar. I just Google the state name and DOT and then search for the camera section.
For Hotels:
My go to for a place to stay for a night on the road is Booking.com app. I’m a Marriott Bonvoy member, Hilton Honors, IHG One Rewards, and a few other hotel chain loyalty member, but Booking.com is always the first place I check for a hotel for a night. As a Genius Level 2 booker, I get 20% off stays. It’s a nice benefit for a frequently user. I always read the reviews since roadside accommodations can run the gamut.
Hope these apps help. Happy road tripping!
