VanLife Tips
8 Must-Have #VanLife Road Trip Apps for 2020 (FREE APPS ONLY)
By the VanCraft Team | April 15, 2020
Let’s be real, as much as we bad mouth our phones for taking up too much of our time, we’d be lost without them, like really lost. And when it comes to travel, there’s nothing worse than losing a day (or more) to last-minute scrambling. Whether that’s scrambling to find a place to stay, getting un-lost, seeking out the cheapest gas, or otherwise.
That’s where these road trip apps come in! We’ve tested them, we use them often…we wouldn’t boast their benefits if we weren’t the truest of fans. These 8 apps are the ones we recommend when friends and fam ask for guidance before any given road trip.
Read on to learn all about your best opportunities for saving on time, money, stress and the like.
1. iOverlander: FREE CAMPING ROAD TRIP APP
iOverlander is the most OG app of them all. Featuring more than 100,000 camping spots, you’re sure to find a sweet spot to crash with the quick click of a button. Gorgeous sunrise and sunset views usually included.
Even better, most of the said camping spots happen to be FREE. Hands down, this road trip app is the real MVP.
2. Maps.me: OFF-LINE MAPS
While touring new terrain comes with its own set of challenges, don’t let getting lost be one of them. With Maps.me, sit back and enjoy the ride, knowing you’ll get exactly where you’re trying to go.
This app even provides turn-by-turn navigation without the use of data or cell service. Pro tip: just be sure to download the offline maps BEFORE you lose service. With Maps.me, going off the grid has never been more doable.
3. Instagram: #FORTHEGRAM
If you don’t ‘gram your next road trip, did it really happen?! In all seriousness, Instagram is a great place to get inspired for future trips and share everywhere and anywhere you’ve been lucky enough to encounter.
Hop on the hashtag train and see for yourself. Bonus points for those of you tagging #VanCraft along the way. We love seeing our sprinter vans in action.
4. Spotify: ROAD TRIP PLAYLIST APP
It wouldn’t be a proper road trip without good music to match! Our VanCraft campervans have upgraded stereo systems that will melt your eardrums in the best way. Keep the vibes high with a killer playlist (or podcast) of your choosing.
Our personal favorites depending on mood include Bob Moses, Rufus Du Sol, or kick it old school with some classics like The Rolling Stones or Fleetwood Mac…nothing better than hitting the open road, windows down, speakers pumping.
5. Audible: LISTEN TO A GREAT BOOK
When else do you have six-plus hours to indulge in some fictional (or otherwise) entertainment? There’s something for everyone here, whether you’re looking to dig into a new murder mystery or learn all about the CEOs who quit their 9-5 to create something more meaningful.
Truly something for everyone on Audible. Get downloading and see for yourself. Be advised, this road trip app might make you crave long drives.
6. Gas Buddy: SAVE MONEY ON FUEL
We’re all for saving money along the way. That’s where Gas Buddy comes in. Just remember to filter by “Diesel ONLY” when driving a Sprinter campervan.
Let us reiterate, do not put regular gas in a Sprinter campervan, ever. Ours or otherwise! This way, you can feel good about upgrading to that double mocha of yours later. Go ahead, You deserve it.
7. Splitwise: KEEP TRACK OF EXPENSES
It’s almost as if we can’t remember what it was like to travel pre-Splitwise. Fact. If you’re traveling with a larger group, payments (surrounding food, entertainment, gas…) can and will add up, and quickly.
This app allows you to track your daily expenses, and later, charge friends what they owe at your earliest convenience. The best of finds, trust us.
8. The Outbound: ROAD TRIP APP TO FIND ADVENTURE
The Outbound boasts a huge community component (similar to Instagram’s) that’ll help inspire your next trip, from where to stay to which activities to get after. Plus, it features spots all around the world! Once you have access to this app, ideas for your next escape will surely start flooding in.
You can get sharing on here too, should you feel inspired to tell your own stories and connect with other like-minded adventurers.
In summary, whether you choose to travel with more or less of a game plan, our go-to road trip apps are real game-changers when it comes to hitting the road with more ease. We hope you’ll find the above as useful as we have.
Happy adVANturing.
Let’s get to it.
