The estimated reading time for this post is 6 minutes
If you’re headed out on a road trip this weekend or this summer, don’t leave your house without the tech tools that will make the trip as enjoyable and efficient as possible. True, none of these tech tools were available twenty years ago and people did just fine, but life was more difficult then. Not covered wagon difficult, but still.
These days you can spot traffic jams, low gas prices and great places to stay and eat, all from the comfort of your car. Tech advances can make your journey much more pleasant (though imagine what our kids will tell their kids about how rough travel was when they were young…).
Warning: let your co-pilot operate the tech. I mean it. Don’t get distracted by the tech when you’re driving, instead put your co-pilot to work. Don’t even think about texting, checking email, programming your GPS or using other tech while driving. Okay, you can change the radio station since the radio is the driver’s domain. At least that’s what I try to tell my kids.
1. GPS device or smartphone app – even if you know exactly where you are going, have been there a thousand times before and could drive the route blindfolded (though driving blindfolded is certainly not suggested), take along some sort of navigation aid. Why? Because you never know what the day holds. Construction, road closures, collisions and other detours could take you to parts unknown. Or perhaps you could choose to get lost. Maybe the best way to get to where you are going isn’t A => B. Maybe you could throw in some C, D, E, F or Z stops along the way.
Whether you are tempted or forced to take an alternate route, a GPS (Sat Nav in the UK) will guide you and give you confidence that you won’t get lost.
If you don’t have or want a separate GPS device, try using a smartphone app instead. Android phones come preloaded with Google Maps Navigation, an app that uses Google Maps as a GPS, giving you turn-by-turn directions. For some people, this native app is their key reason for choosing an Android phone.
For iPhone owners, check out the Motion X app for $2.99 in the iTunes App Store. While other iPhone GPS apps can cost $50 and up, Motion X gives you GPS functionality at a fraction of the cost of the more expensive apps.
Don’t forget that even iPhone users can get traffic information from the Google Maps app. See, Killer Apps for instructions on how to activate Show Traffic on the iPhone’s Google Maps app.
2. GasBuddy – to avoid driving around endlessly looking for the lowest gas prices, download GasBuddy, a free app, from the iTunes App Store or Android Market. Check out my review of GasBuddy in 6 Reasons to Love Gasbuddy, Your Friend for Lower Gas Prices!.
3. AppBox Pro – consider this app to be your Swiss Army knife for your smartphone. AppBox Pro, a $0.99 app, available in the iTunes App Store, does the work of dozens of other apps. If you need a tip calculator, currency converter, calendar, level, ruler, translator, price checker, flashlight or other tool, AppBox Pro is your go to app.
4. iExit – for those of you who aren’t clairvoyant, iExit is an incredibly useful app that will help you find hotels, restaurants and rest stops are located along your route. I reviewed the app last month, before Memorial Day weekend (see, Road Trip? iExit Is Your Must-Have App!), but if you haven’t downloaded the app yet, make sure to download it now.
5. TripAdvisor – when I lived in Europe, I relied upon the TripAdvisor to find hotels to accommodate our family of five. TripAdvisor provides very accurate reviews and helped me find hotels that would allow our family to stay together in European hotels in a single large room or suite. The TripAdvisor app, available for free in the Android Market and the iTunes App Store, brings TripAdvisor goodness to your smartphone.
TripAdvisor gives you information about hotels, restaurants and things to do nearby or you can search for a destination, with the ability to search for listings that are the closest to you or those with the highest ratings. Definitely download this free app before you leave on your next trip!
6. Roadside America – if you enjoy unusual attractions, or exploring off of the beaten path, Roadside America is a must have app for you. Check out the full review of Roadside America here: Roadside America: For the Quirky Traveler in You! Roadside America is an app that can take a boring journey and make it a memorable experience for the entire family!
7. SlingPlayer – no, I’m not suggesting you watch movies while you drive. But if you arrive at a hotel or a rental home with a less than ideal selection of channels to watch, launch your SlingPlayer app and enjoy all of the tv programs you would be watching at home.
You may roll your eyes, thinking, “Why would I want to watch tv from my home while I’m on vacation?” Well, if you arrive at a hotel late at night and need your kids to settle down, a dose of their favorite tv show from home might just do the trick. Or maybe you want to watch your home team baseball game when you’re in another city. No need to miss a game when you’re away from home!
Check out TV Fan? This Sling Is for You! to find out more about the wondrous device known as Slingbox. With a Slingbox and the SlingPlayer app, you can watch what is on your home tv from anywhere you have a high speed Internet connection.
Note: Be careful of hotel Wi-Fi charges or 3G data plans when using the SlingPlayer app.
8 ChargePod – if you’re using tech in the car, you need to keep it charged. None of these tech devices or apps will be of any use if the battery dies. You should always travel with car chargers in the car, but if you forget to pack them or they get lost somehow, check out your closest Best Buy or Radio Shack. Also, check out my favorite charging device, the Chargepod, that will allow you to charge up to six devices from a single car or wall outlet. My full review of Chargepod can be found at Ready, Set, Charge!
9. Digital Camera or cell phone with camera – a digital camera with an SD card will allow you to take pictures and then transfer them to other devices so you can share them with others, create online albums, and print them out from your home printer. But a smart phone camera can allow you to share your pictures instantly through Facebook, email, texts, or online photo sharing sites (Shnap anyone?). Take both if you have an important trip planned to maximize your photo taking and sharing potential!
10. AAA Roadside Assistance – I hope you have no need of roadside assistance, but if you do and if you’re a AAA member, make sure to load this app before you leave home. This app is available in the iTunes App Store and the Android Market.
If you’re not a AAA member but have some other roadside assistance plan, see if there is an app that will help you report your need for help.
If you are a AAA member, also check out AAA TripTik and AAA Discounts, other free apps that help you take full advantage of your AAA membership.
Do you use tech for your road trips? What tech helps you when you’re on the road? Let us know in the Comments section below!
* Image by Evelyn Proimos
** Image by Atwater Village Newbie
I really like all of your suggestions. Wow, you really gave this some thought!
I use AppBox more than I ever thought I would. I’m glad you included it. I’m also a big fan of iExit after I read your review.
Is it correct that iPad 2 and ipod Touch do not have gps capability?
Thank you.
Hi Melody, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! Great question about the GPS capabilities of the iPod Touch and the iPad. The Wi-Fi only iPad (both the original iPad and the iPad 2) and the iPod Touch do not have GPS capabilities because the GPS function uses the cell phone antenna to determine your position.
If you are very interested in using the Wi-Fi only iPad and/or the iPod Touch as a GPS, there are external devices that will turn an iPod Touch and a Wi-Fi only iPad into a GPS device. Here’s a link to a review by TUAW of New Sky, a device that connects with Bluetooth to the iPod Touch and the iPad to give them GPS capabilities: Getting GPS on a Wi-Fi iPad with New Sky. You have to be very interested, though because the cost of New Sky ($100) and similar devices is more than many stand alone GPS devices.
Thanks for your visit and your brilliant question! 🙂
Concidentally, I was at AAA yesterday, and noticed, its few days before July 4th. Had it been 10yrs back, the place would have been packed with people trying to collect maps for their roadtrips. And since its free (for members) people go overboard, and collect local, street, state, city level maps.
Aren’t we glad at the advent of these new technologies, which made the paper map obsolete and saved countless trees?
(For the records, I was not at AAA to collect maps) 🙂
Hi iRewardChart, I’m thinking the AAA office was fairly empty, considering that most of their services can be performed online and with apps now. The last time I was at their office was to obtain my international driver’s license before I moved to England five years ago.
Great point that times have changed. I used to get TripTiks and maps before the days of GPS but now trees are safer and people can get instant information at any time!
It’s okay if you were getting AAA maps. I won’t tell anyone… 😉
Thanks for your visit, comment and tweet!
Hi Carolyn,
I have been using a GPS App for Scandinavia, and it was really cheap. It wasn’t perfect, but it did the job for me.That’s really the only app I have been using on the road, that and Spotify… I listen to music while driving 🙂
It seems to me that most of the other apps I have found for the road, is for US drivers and not Norwegians.
Jens
Hi Jens, Many of the GPS apps also have European and North American version, but these seem to be the more expensive apps. I am glad you found a cheap one for Norway. That’s all you need! Well, that and Spotify. 😉
Thanks so much for your visit and comment!
Wow, more cool apps that I don’t have. Dang it, I need to upgrade girl… There are some really cool things you share but then again, they might distract me. LOL!!! But seriously, I feel so behind with the times. But I love reading all these really cool new things that they have out now. You always share such great stuff so thank you for that.
Adrienne
Hi Adrienne, I predict that as soon as you get a smartphone you will wonder how you lived without it! Okay, it might be a day or so, but once you get your first few apps on the phone, you will be rocking. Yes, there are distracting apps, but there are also utility apps that you will love such as Evernote! I can only imagine how efficient you will be with calendar, contact and to do list apps.
Let me know when you take the plunge. I’ll be happy to help you along. : -)
Thanks so much for your visit, kind comment and tweet!
Wow! These are stellar suggestions, Carolyn! My family usually does a small road trip to the States whenever I’m back in Canada and the trip would be a lot more streamlined with some of these tech tools, especially the apps you bring up!
I also really like the concept of ChargePod as we each have our own electronic devices, such as iPods and cell phones.
Wish I could add more, but I think you’ve covered the cream of the crop! Great list, friend!
Hi Samantha, Welcome back to The Wonder of Tech! Yes, these tech tools can make road trips much more enjoyable. The Chargepod is amazing because it can charge so many devices at once. If you’re limited by the number of outlets in the car or a hotel, the Chargepod can save the day because everyone can charge at once!
Thanks so much for your visit and wonderful comment! 🙂
Wonderful tips you provided. I fondly recall a time six years ago when I used a GPS for the first time while visiting San Francisco. I was mesmerized! I drove and drove and drove. Even though I never had a clue where I was the GPS ensured that I was never lost! I will spare you the stories of how I would rent a cellphone in the late 90’s whenever I was traveling. Can you even imagine?!
Hi Anne, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! I agree, GPS devices (and apps) can open up a whole new world for people because they no longer fear getting lost. I love to stray off the beaten path, secure in the knowledge that I can find my way back home.
That was a great idea renting a cell phone when travelling. You were way ahead of your time. When I lived in England (I just moved back last year), I would suggest that visitors consider renting a cell phone if they were going to stay for a while and travel around the country. No need to worry about huge international roaming cell phone bills when they returned home.
Thanks so much for your visit and fascinating comment!
Hi Carolyn, I took the GPS on our Queensland holiday and it was the best thing I ever did. It took all the stress out of driving from one place to the next.
Something you didn’t mention, probably because it’s not really a tech product 😉 , is an ergonomic camera bag. This is essential for photographers as it allows them to take all their camera equipment. Mine carried my SLR, two extra lenses, my point and shoot, camcorder, iFlip as well as extra batteries, cards and cables. No matter where I was I was prepared for any photographic occasion that came my way.
Oh, the bag I used was the Lowepro 🙂
Hi Sire, Welcome back to The Wonder of Tech! I agree, GPS devices can take a lot of the stress away from traveling. I used to get quite stressed traveling unknown roads, but now I seek them out.
Great suggestion about the camera bag. You sound very well equipped for your travels and it shows with your amazing photographs on your photography blog. Here is a link to the US Amazon site with listings for Lowepro camera bags: Lowepro Camera Bags on Amazon.
Thanks so much for your visit, comment and camera bag recommendation!
You know Carolyn before my Lowepro bag lugging my cameras around used to annoy me so much I used to leave it behind. I lost so many good photo opportunities because I didn’t have the right lens. Not a problem with my Lowepro.
Hi Sire, They say the best camera is the one you have with you so the Lowepro bag makes your camera the best camera! I’m so glad you found the bag so we can all enjoy the photos on your blog now. 🙂
Thanks for your visit and your comment.
This is a great post, definitely have to take some of these tools into consideration.
The disclaimer does make sense, I can sometimes be guilty of multitasking as I’m driving.
Can’t wait for Google to finalize their self driven cars!
Hi Vitaly, Self-driven cars would be fantastic, most of the time. I do like driving when the conditions are right and the car is one I enjoy driving. But self-driven cars would sure make life easier and (hopefully) eliminate accidents and collisions.
Thanks for your visit, comment and tweet!
I’ve used the GasBuddy app and highly recommend it.
I’ve also developed a website (no app, yet) that automates the process of finding the lowest gas price along your route: http://fuelmyroute.com. Currently it will show you the lowest gas price every 100 miles that is within 1 mile of your route. I’ve used it to check gas prices on my commute. Our family also made use of it last fall when we drove to Disney World.
I’d be really interested in your feedback. Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions.
http://fuelmyroute.com/contactus
Hi Marcus, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! Wow, great website you have and very timely with high gas prices and summer travels these days. I am very glad you developed this site and shared it with Wonder of Tech readers.
Thanks so much for your visit, comment and link!
Love the list. I need to look into the iExit one. I’m always on the lookout for a good app!
Thanks.
Hi Larry, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! It sounds as if you have a road trip planned. Nothing like tech to make the trip more pleasant, both for the driver and for the passengers. I think you’ll really enjoy iExit.
Happy travels! 🙂