If you’re an RV owner, then you already know what a blessing it is to have your home on wheels. You can take it anywhere, and it’s always with you.
But there are certain things that can make being on the road extra difficult—like finding your next stop, or finding the best places to eat.
We’ve done some research into some of the best apps for RV owners like you. Take note: these are INCREDIBLE! They’ll let you plan everything from your next gas station to your next camping spot.
Best Apps For Rv Owners
Full time travel in the digital age means we have an array of mobile apps at our disposal. With over five years of RV living under our belts, we’ve used our fair share of mobile apps for RVers and travelers. Whether you’re looking for free dispersed camping options, a place to dump your RV tanks, read campground reviews, connect with other travelers, plan your route or check the weather, there’s a mobile app or two (or three) to help you do just that. Keep reading for a list of our favorite apps for RVing and travel.
Top Apps for RVing
Apps for RVing
Most of the apps on this list are free to download. The one thing you should monitor is the cellular data usage of each app unless you have an unlimited wireless data plan.
Table of Contents
- Allstays Camp & RV
- GasBuddy
- Google Maps
- Gaia GPS
- AccuWeather
- Speed Test
- Yelp
- iOverlander
- Google Translate
- Campendium
- The National Park Services
- Harvest Hosts
- Boondockers Welcome
- Allstays Camp & RV
400×300 Supersize Pro and App Logos
One of the best apps for RVing is Allstays Camp & RV. This mobile app is great for planning your next trip and for when you’re on the road. We paid $9.99 for the app and it has more than paid for itself.
Allstays Camp & RV has helped us find truck stops, rest areas, RV dump stations, camping options with review and so much more. Instead of having separate apps for finding a Walmart or a Pilot, we only need this one.
Read our Allstays Review to find out if it’s worth it.
iPhone: https://www.allstays.com/apps/camprv.htm
Desktop & Other Devices: https://www.allstays.com/proamember
- GasBuddy
Gasbuddy app for RVing
Photo credit: GasBuddy.com
GasBuddy is a free mobile app that displays user updated gas prices in the United States and in Canada. Finding cheap fuel is key to saving money on the road. There have been many instances where we have saved over $.30/gallon on fuel thanks to this app.
Whether you’re fueling up an 80 gallon gas tank like we did on our first RV or the 55 gallon diesel tank in our 2000 F350 Superduty, money saved on fuel means more for the fun fund. See our one year cost of full time RVing to get an idea of how much was spent on fuel.
You can even look up fuel prices in other cities along your route. GasBudy has several filters where you can look for specific stations and type of fuel. For example, we use the filters to search for diesel fuel at a Costco stations.
Next time you’re going an RV road trip, use this app to help plan your fuel stops to maximize savings. You can even enter to win prizes by reporting the most recent fuel prices in the free app.
Android & iPhone: http://www.gasbuddy.com/App
- Google Maps
You may be surprised to learn that we’re not recommending Google Maps for navigation purposes. We use this free app to save all the great places we discover and new places we want to explore.
This is especially helpful when planning your next camping trip because you can save fuel stops, campgrounds, specific GPS coordinates, favorite restaurants and other designations along your route. We have just about every national park and monument in the U.S. stared on our map.
When a fellow traveler offers a recommendation, we open the Google Maps app on our smartphone and tap on “save” to add it to our map. You can even create a lists in the app to sort all your saved spots. For example, you can save all your favorite coffee roasters under a “Coffee” list.
For example, if we are driving from Tucson, Arizona to Flagstaff, Arizona, we will open Google Maps and see what stars we have along the route. That will help us determine where we want to stop and maybe even camp for a night or two. The search feature is also very easy to use to find popular destinations in an area with user generated reviews.
Android & iPhone: https://www.google.com/maps
- Gaia GPS
gaiagps app for rving
Gaia GPS is one of our new go-to mobile apps. It is also a popular app for hikers and off-roaders. We love it because you can use it offline when you don’t have cell service. Just be sure to download the map(s) for the area first and it will track your position.
There is a record feature that lets you track your route so you can look back on it and have it for reference for your next trip. We have found that the tracking feature will pause unexpectedly so we make sure to check it occasionally to make sure it’s still tracking.
If you have the premium version of the Gaia App, there are layers that can help you find dispersed camping on public land through layering. The recommended layers are Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUM), public lands overlay and USFS Classic.
Since we have Verizon as our cell service provider, we use the Verizon cell coverage layer to identify areas with cell coverage. You will also find layers for AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and other carriers. This has been super helpful for planning backcountry trips like the Rimrocker Trail (watch the video).
Since we’re newer users to Gaia, we’re still learning what it has to offer. I’m sure there are a ton of other features we don’t even know about yet. But so far it’s definitely an app we’re finding to be useful and recommend.
Android & iPhone: https://www.gaiagps.com/
gaiagps
- AccuWeather
A good weather app is important when you’re traveling. We’ve used several weather apps throughout the years and have found AccuWeather to be the most reliable.
Beyond hourly and daily forecasts, the app has information on air quality and provides severe weather updates. You can customize the app to show the data that’s most relevant to you.
The location search feature makes it easy to get weather forecasts in areas you plan to travel to. This comes in very handy when planning a route to avoid severe weather including tornado watch.
We use the radar layer in this app when there are thunderstorms in the area to see precipitation type and intensity. Other layers available include satellite, current alerts, snowfall forecast and temperature contour.
Read our post on RV Safety Tips to learn more about dealing with severe weather.
Android, iPhone & Windows: https://downloads.accuweather.com/
- Twitter
When there is severe weather, Twitter can be a very useful tool (watch the video below). Follow @NWS for NOAA’s National Weather Service tweets. There are also separate accounts for sever thunderstorms (@NWSSevereTstorm), tornados (@NWStornado) and specific regions and cities in the United States.
Android & iPhone: https://twitter.com/download
- Speed Test
If you’re a digital nomad and work on the road like we do, having access to good internet speed is important. The Speed Test app will show you the download and upload speed. Our average video file is over 4 gigabytes. A slow upload speed could mean taking hours to publish a video on our YouTube channel.
This app can also help save money if you frequent coffee shops for their complimentary WiFi. Before paying for that cup of coffee, test their WiFi speed to make sure it’s usable for your needs.
We do have a device to help boost the WiFi signal. Read our WiFi Booster Review to learn more.
If you plan on using public WiFi at places like coffee shops or libraries, make sure to use a VPN service to protect your privacy and decrease security risks. We use ExpressVPN which has an easy to use mobile app.
Android & iPhone: http://www.speedtest.net/mobile/
To learn more about staying connected on the road, read our post on Internet for RVers.
- Instagram
We love Instagram when it comes to connecting with people and making new friends. Many travelers we follow geo tag their location on Instagram posts. When we see they are nearby, it’s as easy as leaving a comment on the post or sending them a message to see if they want to hang out.
We’ve met some great people through Instagram and some of them have become life long friends.
The Instagram app is also has a great search feature that can help you find things to do at popular travel destinations or what dish to order at well known restaurants. To do this, look for the business account on Instagram or find all posts tagged with the location of the business.
Connect With Us on Instagram
Android & iPhone: https://www.instagram.com/
- Yelp
In addition to meeting locals and asking them for recommendations, we also use Yelp. This mobile app is great for finding everything from a veterinarian or a good mechanic to work on an old Ford diesel truck.
You can also save money by looking for check-in offers. Some businesses offer discounts to Yelp users and we’ve saved money at coffee chops and restaurants thanks to the Yelp mobile app.
The reviews on Yelp aren’t always reliable so we usually cross reference them with reviews on other apps such as Google Maps.
The Yelp app can also help you find local gems and places you may have missed otherwise. As much as we enjoy boondocking in the national forest, when it’s time to make a supply run, we like to search for local spots in town.
Android & iPhone: https://www.yelp.com/
- iOverlander
While doing research for our Baja RV Trip, the iOverlander app was one of the many tools we used to find places to camp, water sources, and see where the military checkpoints are located. When traveling in the U.S., we use this app to supplement information on found in other RVing apps.
It’s important to keep in mind that some campsites are submitted by users with off-road RVs like our 4×4 flatbed truck camper. Be sure to research the area and road before taking a large motorhome.
Android & iPhone: https://ioverlander.com/apps
- Google Translate
Meeting people is one of our favorite things about traveling and we have met people from all over the world. The Google Translate app makes it easier to communicate with each other when we don’t speak the same language.
When we’re traveling internationally to places like Tibet or Barcelona, we will download the languages spoken in the region so we can use the translation feature offline. The two language we always have downloaded are Chinese (simplified) and Spanish.
The camera feature is handy when looking at a menu in a foreign language, but the translation isn’t always accurate. For the most part, we can figure out what the dish is based on the English translation.
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/
iPhone: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/google-translate/
- Campendium
Campendium RV App
Photo credit: Campendium.com
Campendium is a great camping and RV app to find campgrounds near you. While it’s similar to the Allstay App mentioned above, the best part about this app is the user generated reviews. You can find useful details and helpful information from photos to cell service coverage to different GPS coordinates.
Kait uses the nearby filters to help us find free camping and overnight parking at places like Cabela’s and Cracker Barrel.
Learn How to Find Free Camping on Public Land.
iPhone: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/campendium-rv-tent-camping/
- The National Park Services
The NPS App
Photo Credit: NPS.gov
I normally don’t get excited about an app but the new National Park Service app has me pretty jazzed and I think it’s something that will benefit anyone who spends time in our National Parks. The NPS app has detailed interactive maps about the park with even more interesting information along with all of the amenities of the park. The app also includes suggestions of all of the things to do in the park with directions and things to do while in that area. It’s also updated with closures and other pertinent information about the park that you won’t get with the map.
For example, the app lists all of the camping and hotel information of a park and will show you which ones are open or closed. When you select a campground, it will show all of the campground information (how many sites, WiFi info, cell service availability, etc…) with a link to reserve a site.
Now I know a lot of you will be saying that you need the physical map because there’s never cell service at the parks. Well that’s no longer the case with offline access. The National Park Service has made it so you can download all of the information, maps, etc… of a park to use when you don’t have a data signal. (Learn more about how to stay connected on the road.)
There’s a lot more to the NPS app and I’m impressed with the level of information and detail as I’ve been playing around with it. Next time you’re at a national park, consider saying no to all of the physical handouts and give the app a try. Not only does it save resources but the money saved on printing all of the materials can (hopefully) go back into the park.
Android & iPhone: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/digital/nps-apps.htm
- Harvest Hosts
Harvest Hosts Unique RV Camping Mobile App
For RVers who have a Harvest Hosts membership, the mobile app is the quickest way to locate hosts nearby, read reviews and access detailed information about each host in the network. There is no additional cost for the mobile app and is included with your membership.
Read our full review of Harvest Hosts to learn more about the RV membership program.
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/
iPhone: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/harvest-hosts/
- Boondockers Welcome
Boondockers Welcome RV Membership
The team over at Boondockers Welcome also released a mobile app in 2021. If you don’t know about this RV membership, check out our Boondockers Welcome Review. With the Boondockers Welcome mobile app, you can explore over 2,700 hosts in the program using different filters, submit requests to stay, send messages, read and leave guest references for hosts and so much more.
best rv travel apps 2022
Technology has helped to improve the camping and travel experience for RVers everywhere. No longer do you have to sit and study the maps before you get on the road and hope that you’re headed the right direction and will find a gas station when you need it. There are tons of apps on the market to make your RVing experience a good one. Some apps were designed specifically for RVers and other general use ones still come in handy as you travel in your RV.
Here are 12 of the most highly reviewed RV apps for 2022:
- AccuWeather
It’s the most trusted forecasting app that guarantees users reliability. AccuWeather is internationally recognized thanks to its user-friendly design, ease of access, and customization.
It comes in handy for RVers since it allows them to easily see the weather conditions of multiple places several days ahead. It offers comprehensive information, including live weather forecasts with MinuteCast, daily forecasts, RealFeel and RealFeel Shade Temperature, WinterCast, and local weather.
Download: Android | iOS
- National Park Services app
This brand-new app features more than 420 national parks. National Park Service app provides users with interactive maps, on-the-ground park accessibility information, and the best tours offered by different parks.
It offers comprehensive details regarding everything about National Parks at the touch of a button. For RVers, it’s not easy to find reliable phone service while in parks, but this app makes accessibility better since it offers much-needed information for offline use. This includes amenities such as restrooms, shopping areas, food, and transportation.
Download: Android | iOS
- Harvest Hosts
RVing off-grid has been made better with Harvest Hosts. You can have a tasty and fun time RV camping while drinking your favorite brewery or wine. This subscription-based application links RVers with distillery farms, breweries, farms, golf clubs, and wineries. Besides that, users have the best chance of finding the best sleep locations, especially those surrounded by dairy farms and vineyards. As a result, hosts can market their business while RVers are guaranteed the best opportunity to explore and fully enjoy their RVing lifestyles.
Download: Android | iOS
- Google Maps
It’s the most used navigation app, thanks to its reliability and versatility. Google Maps offers real-time GPS navigation information alongside transit information and traffic. Besides that, you can search and find what you need easily by using the search option or exploring your surroundings. RVers can also use Google Maps to find Gas stations and download maps for offline access.
Download: Android | iOS
- Boondockers Welcome
It’s one of the best RV apps to be released in 2021. Boondockers Welcome provides a practical and affordable way of making RV camping even more unique and special. The mobile app allows you to find RV hosts willing to let you park on their property for free. You can explore various hosts using filters, send messages, and submit requests.
Download: Android | iOS
- Speedcheck
For RVers working while on the road, the Speedcheck app comes in handy to check your internet speed connection and performance. It’s known to produce the most accurate internet test by offering an overview of your upload and download internet speeds.
Networks can be unreliable outdoors, especially on camping grounds. An RVer needs options to find the best place with a stable internet connection. Speedcheck can also show a map of open Wi-Fi connections close to you.
Download: Android | iOS
- Waze
It comes in second after Google maps. It is among the most used RV apps for navigation. Waze’s profile is quite versatile as it allows drivers to seamlessly integrate apps such as music and books with this software program. So, you can listen to your favorite music or audiobook without leaving this app. It also provides RVers with information such as real-time traffic updates, directions, speed traps, and road conditions.
Download: Android | iOS
- Roadtrippers
For those RVers who are in constant search of the most epic road trips in the US, Roadtrippers can make your work easier. This RV app offers information regarding unique stops along your trip route, and therefore, you can plan your trip and select different roads based on your points of interest or attractions you want to see. Besides that, it also has a feature that allows you to collaborate with friends or view live traffic.
Download: Android | iOS
- Allstays
It offers new information regarding RV parks, campgrounds, and other relevant information. It compares more than 700,000 deals from selected booking sites and then provides the lowest price options and availability. The top-rated campground locator has a built-in user rating system where other campground guests can share their experiences and leave reviews. Besides that, this app also offers information such as truck stops, road grades, dump stations, and low clearances. It’s only available for iOS.
Download: iOS
- RV Parky
It’s among the most sought-after RV apps that directly act to help you find an RV park. This makes it ideal for full-time RVers who constantly search for camping grounds. It offers recent and reliable information, allowing other users to upload photos and give campground reviews.
Download: Android | iOS
- RV Dump Stations
This apple-only RV app was designed to help RVers locate dump stations anywhere in the US and Canada. RV Dump Stations shows 7000+ stations, including truck stops, rest areas, and KOAs. It operates on a map-based search engine, and so it precisely highlights the closest dump stations within your surroundings. Additionally, it provides station details such as an address, GPS coordinates, the cost of dumping, and phone number.
Download: iOS
- GasBuddy
Are you worried about running out of gas while RVing? Don’t worry since GasBuddy is the app you need to locate nearby gas stations with the best prices. The best thing about this app is that other drivers can help verify the current fuel costs in real-time. Note that you can save money on fuel purchases with the GasBuddy fuel card.
Download: Android | iOS
The above-reviewed apps are among the most recommended in the RV world. You can install one or several, depending on your personal preferences. RV apps offer a wide range of information that would make your camping trip manageable and safe. Besides that, some of them allow you to plan and schedule your trip based on different underlying factors.
Conclusion
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