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Ten Apps every RVer needs to have

| Updated Jun 19, 2023

The camping season is here again and we can help!

We rely heavily on apps to help us get from place to place, to find the right spots to camp and to find things to do out there on the road.

So we want to show you our favorite 10.

Now we use the iPhone and iPad, but most of these apps also have an Android version. Also, a couple of these apps are for subscription services. But check the links because we can get you discounts on the membership cost. To find the apps, just search for them by name in the app store you use.

Here's a video showing the 10 apps we think every RVer should have and use. Below are descriptions and links to the apps themselves.

Here are the 10 apps every RVer needs to have

#1 Allstays Camp & RV – This has been our main go-to app for years now. It lists campgrounds, boondocking spots, BLM land, parks, attractions and more, and it shows them all on a map. You can search near you or along a route or by state and you can have the map show you everything from campgrounds to interstate rest areas to Walmarts, RV dump sites, pretty much anything an RVer needs to find.

#2 Harvest Hosts – We’re members of Harvest Hosts and love it. More than 1,000 farms, wineries, and attractions across North America are listed in this subscription service…places where RVers can stay free overnight.  The app shows details, gives directions, contact numbers, photos, and reviews from other RVers. Many of the Harvest Hosts offer overnight camping in absolutely beautiful spots. We’ve never been disappointed! To get a 15% discount go to https://rvlivestyle.com/hh

#3 Cracker Barrel – The Cracker Barrel app shows Cracker Barrel locations near you or on your route, many of which allow free overnight stays in the parking lot for RVers. You can also order take-out meals from restaurants along your route. Allowing you to have it ready by the time you get there. Cracker barrel is very friendly to RVers, usually offering plenty of parking even for big rigs.

#4 KOA app – KOA is our go-to campground of choice when it’s time to overnight on the road and we need a commercial campground to get some laundry done and empty the tanks. The app lets you see photos of the campground, get an idea of what amenities are available, and read reviews from other RVers who have stayed there. You can also reserve a spot from the app.


Ten Apps every RVer needs to have 1

And don’t forget to follow our 330 Rule to enjoy your travel.

That means don’t drive more than 330 miles a day and stop by 3:30 pm local time to keep from being exhausted and still have time to explore.

We’ve printed up Rule 330 T-Shirts to help spread the word.

Take a photo of you wearing the Rule 330 shirt in your summer travels and post it to Instagram using the hashtag #rvlifestylemike (you can also follow us on Instagram with that account name). We’ll show those photos on our RV Lifestyle travel blog and in our &PM ET Sunday night live stream videos on our YouTube RV Lifestyle Channel.

Now back to our top 10 apps!


#5 iExit – This app is great for finding out what’s at the next exit from the interstate, or an exit miles down the way. It locates fuel stops, tells you the average cost per gallon, notes what restaurants and businesses are at that exit. They call it your Roadtrip pit stop finder and it helps save time and figure out where to pull off and find the services you need.

#6 Yelp – We love Yelp and use it all the time to find great restaurants. Pick a location and see what’s near you. Here’s a hint: We always look for places with the best reviews, four or five stars and we’ve never been disappointed and, in fact, have found some awesome local restaurants that we would have passed right by.

#7 Roadtrippers – This app helps you find fun and interesting things to see along your travel route. You can filter it however you want but the app covers just about every region in the country and makes some great suggestions for off-the-beaten-path exploration. Read the reviews from others who have been there and we guarantee you’ll find some fun places to stop.

#8 Waze – Yes, we have GPS built into our RV. But Waze is hands down the best app we have found to not only navigate us to where we need to be but to show us in almost real-time, things like traffic backups, speed traps, road construction, debris on the road, and other important information about what’s ahead. It’s updated by users like you who are up ahead, and you’re encouraged to report issues you encounter for those behind you.

#9 Overnight RV Parking/TogoRV – This is another subscription service and it is awesome, listing something like 14,000 places where you can camp overnight for free or at a very low cost. From inexpensive county and local parks to boondocking locations to the parking lot of welcoming businesses to national and state forest campgrounds, this app will find you a place to stay anytime. To get 15 months for the price of 12, use the link https://rvlifestyle.com/togorv

#10 Road Trip Planner – This is a great app for planning a trip. Enter your destination, places where you want to stop and it suggests the best routes to take. This is our plan for a trip to the Adirondacks this summer. You can add notes, side trips and make it a very handy itinerary with all the info you need right at your fingertips. I believe this is only for iOS.

So there you go… our top 10 apps for RVers.

Most are free.  A couple have a small fee. A couple are subscription services. Again look in the links we provided above for discounts on the subscription apps.

Ten Apps every RVer needs to have 2

Looking for Expert RV Trip ideas and RV Travel suggestions?

We've written a library of RV Travel books that lay out seven-day guided explorations of scenic areas of the US that we've explored and think would make an excellent RV trip for you.

In each location, we provide a suggested route and itinerary (7 stops in each guide, one for each day of a week trip!) as well as links to multiple campgrounds and boondocking spots, local tips, and interesting things to do at each location.

You can hit everything in seven days, do a whirlwind weekend tour, or you can take your time and explore the area over a 2+ week period.

Planning an RV trip can be very time-consuming so that’s why we’ve done the research for you! Just take our guides and use them, we’re sure you’ll have an RV trip for the ages! Instant download. CLICK HERE for information on our RV Travel Guides

Mike Wendland

Published on 2019-05-23

Mike Wendland is a multiple Emmy-award-winning Journalist, Podcaster, YouTuber, and Blogger, who has traveled with his wife, Jennifer, all over North America in an RV, sharing adventures and reviewing RV, Camping, Outdoor, Travel and Tech Gear for the past 12 years. They are leading industry experts in RV living and have written 18 travel books.

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