11 best free car travel apps

Traveling by car is one of the most popular types of summer holidays - it gives you complete freedom of movement and route planning. In order not to get lost in Paris or not to be left without a cup of good coffee in Istanbul, many tools have been invented. Applications for tourists take on most of the concerns for organizing future travel, and are also an important help on the road.

Preparing and organizing road trips is different from planning and preparing other types of trips. Anything can happen on the road - either the car breaks down, or bad weather will prevent you from reaching your destination on time. The possibility of changing the route for one reason or another is not ruled out. It is also necessary to foresee places of "halts" in advance, during which it is possible not only to replenish fuel supplies, but also to eat and rest. Although it is not always possible to strictly adhere to the plan, it is not always advisable. The main thing is not to end up on a deserted road in the middle of a prairie without gasoline, communications and food.

The mobile apps below are listed in alphabetical order. With their help, you can plan your trip in advance and prepare yourself for all sorts of twists and turns of fate during your trip. They will help you plan a route, choose a direction, book a hotel room or make changes to already placed orders, find interesting places along the way and not be afraid to starve to death on the road. The main thing is that these programs will not increase your vacation budget in any way, since everything is absolutely free.

Field Trip (by Google)

Google's The Field Trip app uses information about places that are of interest to you and, based on your location, selects the most useful information. In order not to distract the driver from the road, you can connect an audio device via Bluetooth that will voice this information aloud. Field Trip uses sites such as Thrillist, Zagat and Sunset to generate recommendations, as well as Songkick and Flavorpill to find local music. The application is available in various languages, including Russian, and provides information around the world.

The app is available on Android and iOS.

Gas Buddy

GasBuddy will come in handy when it's time to refuel your car. This app and website will help you find the nearest gas stations and get the best deal. GasBuddy will tell you if you can fill up cheaper by driving a few extra kilometers ahead. While most of the travel apps listed in this compilation are available on iOS and Android, only GasBuddy has a version for BlackBerry and Windows Phone. The application has information about gas stations on the roads of the United States and Canada and is available only in the English version.

The application is available on Android, iOS, BlackBerry, Web, Windows Phone.

gogobot

Gogobot is a social travel app that helps you find places to stay, eat, and relax. Members of the Gogobot community upload photos, information, and ratings of places to it, dividing them into categories according to their interests - "family", "gourmet", "outdoors", "economy" and "adventure". Before the trip, you can explore the area along the route according to reviews and photos of community members, choose places worth visiting. The language of the application interface and the web version of the service is English.

Google Maps

It's hard to imagine someone who hasn't used Google Maps. The route planning function allows you to get acquainted with the upcoming route. In addition, Google Maps can save travelers time by alerting them to accidents or repairs along the way, automatically suggesting an alternative route. This is an excellent navigation system if you have GPS in your smartphone.

The app is available on Android, iOS, Web.

iExit

The iExit app will show you what you can find if you turn off at the next highway exit. Using the user's location, iExit determines the nearest exit points and provides a list of restaurants, hotels, gas stations, campsites and more. If you prefer to eat at a certain chain of restaurants or fill up at gas stations of the same company, just indicate this in the preferences section, and iExit will show you where to turn to get to the nearest favorite location. Thanks to the application, you will never miss the right exit. This English-language application will be useful while traveling on US highways.

Maps.Me

The Maps.Me mobile application allows you to view maps around the world by zooming in to a region or city, as well as download a detailed map of a specific area for offline use. The first time you use the app, it will offer you the option of downloading a map only or a map with a route builder that allows you to navigate from point A to point B without an internet connection. The difference between Maps.Me is the high level of detail on the maps, even for very remote places. The Russian-language interface and a wide selection of maps make this application a universal navigation tool in the absence of the Internet.

The app is available on Android, Amazon Fire, BlackBerry, iOS.

Roadtrippers

Tell Roadtrippers your location and destination, travel dates and what you are interested in this trip, and the application will build a route for you. Roadtrippers will help you find unusual sights, restaurants, museums, amusement parks, camp sites and more. Roadtrippers also takes into account the wishes of the user, if he indicated exactly where he would like to go. The application is presented only in English.

The app is available on Android, iOS, Web.

Roomer

Booking hotels early can go a long way in cutting down on your travel budget. The problem with traveling by car is that we are not always able to get to our destination by the time indicated in the booking. And if the hotel is paid for, then this is a double expense. However, if you use the Roomer app, things are different. This app and website (roomertravel.com) helps travelers sell their prepaid bookings to other people and thus save unnecessary expenses. Also, using the application, you can find a free room that was not claimed by other Roomer users for some reason. The application is available in English. To pay for the number, you can choose different currencies, including the Russian ruble.

The app is available on Android, iOS, Web.

triposo

Heading into the desert or into the mountains, you cannot be sure that you will have Internet access for the entire journey. Triposo installs offline maps and guides directly on your mobile device so you can use them even without a web connection. After arriving at your destination, Triposo will offer you a sightseeing tour, weather forecast and other opportunities to explore the new area. The English-language application contains maps and guides for the main tourist routes.

The app is available on Android, iOS.

Waze

Waze is an application that allows users to share traffic and traffic data, as well as other information about the road, including police and pothole locations, accidents and repairs.

While Google Maps will provide general information about the situation ahead along the route, Waze will add to it the smallest details from eyewitnesses. You can even find out how fast cars are moving in traffic jams. In urban areas, this application is useful for taxi drivers and delivery services, but it will not be superfluous on the highway either. Please note that in order to correctly display information, Waze requires data on the location of the car, even in the background, which can lead to battery drain on the gadget. The application is adapted for Russian-speaking users.

The application is available on Android, iOS, Windows Phone.

Yelp

The advantage of Yelp over other recommendation services is its high popularity, hence the greater number of different reviews. If you're setting a destination and want to find the nearest coffee shop for a cup of real coffee, Yelp's recommendation is worth heeding. While other travel apps contain recommendations from other travelers, Yelp is mostly based on reviews from locals. This is especially good for restaurants, but Yelp can also help you find auto services, shops, clinics, and other places you might need along the way.

The application is available on Android, iOS, Windows Phone, BlackBerry.