tips
Ting app roundup: the best apps for road trips
Christine Ottoni • July 16, 2019
Planning a road trip this summer? Want to take it to the next level? We’ve got a roundup of apps for road trips that make travel a breeze, from the tried and true to the one you’ve never heard of. Dodge traffic, get bargain hotel rooms, save on gas and more.
Download your road trip playlist and grab your sunnies, this is going to be a smooth ride.
Download these awesome apps for road trips
Waze
Waze is a community-based traffic and navigation app. Waze works by aggregating user traffic tips and tricks, so you get the most accurate, up-to-date information possible.
Avoid traffic and stay on route so you can cruise to your destination on time. If a fellow Wazer spots and reports one, you’ll even be alerted to speed traps.
Get it on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
Hotel Tonight
Hotel Tonight is perfect for spontaneous trips and surprise getaways. The app gets bargain rooms from hotels up to a week in advance of booking dates. This is an awesome resource for travelers who like to go with the flow.
You can download Hotel Tonight for iPhone and Android.
Animoto
Animoto is a video editor that let’s you build your trip slideshow as it happens. Pull video and photos from your smartphone and edit on the go with visual and audio effects. Your friends and family will be impressed with the results.
You can get it on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
GasBuddy
GasBuddy crowdsources the best gas prices around. It also helps you find the closest gas stations, friendliest service, cleanest restrooms, tastiest coffee and more.
Get it for your iPhone or Android phone.
Findery
Findery helps you discover local gems and hidden secrets. Travelers leave stories and notes featuring tips and tricks on their favorite spots so others can discover them too. Think hidden waterfall in a park and the best viewpoint to catch a sunset on a hike.
You can grab Findery on the Apple App Store and on Google Play.
TVFoodMaps
With TV Food Maps you can locate the restaurants featured on over 40 food and travel shows. Yes, this means you can eat at the joints featured on Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. No judgments here.
Download TV Food Maps for your iPhone or Android phone.
The best apps for road trips might be the ones you already have
These familiar apps are ideal for road trip navigation, finding accommodations and keeping yourself entertained on the road.
Your music streaming app of choice
Whether you’re team Spotify, Google Play Music or Apple Music, you need to know how to take your streaming service offline while you’re on the road.
– Select an album or song > Tap the Download toggle to the On position.
– Select an album or song > Select the iCloud icon with the arrow to download.
– Select an album or song > Select Download.
Don’t have a music streaming app? Check out our post where we weigh the pros and cons of the big three streaming apps.
Google Maps
Download Google Maps for offline use while you’re on Wi-Fi. Then, take your maps, complete with points of interest info, with you on the go.
Use Google Maps to share your location with each other while you stop off for a pit stop or split up to do different activities in a town.
Don’t have Google Maps? Download it for your iPhone or Android.
Air BnB
The Air BnB app lets you narrow your search results easily and find the hippest accommodations in town. Air BnB hosts rent out their apartments, rooms and homes so you can live like a local. View ratings, reviews and scores and narrow your search by accommodations that let you book instantly.
Want to download AirBnB? Get it on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
Audible
Getting sick of your road trip playlist on repeat? For long hauls on the road try listening to an audiobook instead. Amazon’s Audible has an enormous selection of audiobooks you can download for offline use.
Get Audible for your iPhone or Android phone.
Podcasts
If you’re an iPhone user you probably love your Podcasts App. It’s easy to take and listen to your favorite podcasts offline. Just watch our Ting Tip to find out how.
For Android users check out Pocket Casts. It’ll cost you $3.99 in the Google Play Store but we think it’s well worth it for a beautiful, easy to use interface. Best of all, Pocket Casts automatically downloads episodes for offline playback.