Road trips are characterized by long periods of driving in between occasional sightseeing. To make your road trip truly amazing, make sure those chunks of driving time aren’t boring and those sights are awe-inspiring. And of course, it doesn’t hurt to find some killer road-trip food along the way.
Don’t Get Lost (Or Pulled Over)
While Google Maps is the king of navigation, there are some terrific lesser-known navigation apps out there. For one, Waze – for IOS, Android, and Windows phones – is a real-time app fueled by information from other drivers on the road. Make an account with Waze and watch your little thought-bubble-car travel along with other Wazers. Everyone pitches in to let each other know when there’s a roadblock, traffic accident, delay, and even where police hang out below overpasses looking for speeding motorists.
If you’re on one of those road trips where you really have no idea where you’ll lay your head at night, you need Gogobot. Gogobot for IOS, Android, and the web is a collection of user-uploaded photos, reviews, and information for everything from hotels to restaurants to outdoor adventures. If you don’t know exactly where you’re headed, just ask Gogobot and you’re sure to have a good time.
Don’t Get Bored
One of the worst threats to a road trip is dead air on the radio. When passing between towns, you’re likely to go up to a hundred miles without encountering a decent radio station. Download TuneIn for IOS, Android, and Windows phones and never be without your jams. TuneIn streams 100,000 global radio stations and brings them right to your ride.
You have to have fun in the car, but you also need to get out and stretch your legs between destinations. Take advantage of everything the boonies have to offer by finding the hidden gems with Field Trip. Google’s Field Trip app for Android and IOS sends you a notification whenever you’re near something of interest on the road. You’ll never miss those hidden marvels like Meteor Crater or the Birthplace of Television again.
Don’t Go Hungry
The best places to eat are often tucked away where only the locals know where to peek. Foursquare gives you the local insight by pointing out the very best in places to eat. Not only that, but Foursquare will give you tips on the best things to order like local craft beers, specialty dishes, and shareable appetizers. If you’re only going to eat there once, it better be the best, right?
You might be a fan of burgers and fajitas, but your car requires a different diet. Download GasBuddy – available on IOS, Android, Windows, Blackberry, and the web – to find the nearest and cheapest gas stations. Not only will GasBuddy quench your car’s thirst, but it’ll stretch your dollar as far as possible.
These are the three tenants of road tripping: don’t get lost, don’t get bored, don’t go hungry. Obey these laws and you’ll be bragging about your awesome road trip to everyone you know back home.
Image via Pixabay
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