I’d love to hear from fellow roadtrippers. I mean people who make long drives more than once a year especially. What tricks and tips have you learned using Maps? What do you wish Maps did differently? And what other apps do you use on roadtrips?
I’ll go first!
I currently use both Google maps and the Roadtrippers app. I have tried gas buddy type apps and did not find them useful. What works better for me is to know in advance which cities offer cheaper gas, rather than looking for specific gas stations. This way I can plan my stops loosely but not feel tied to one place if I decide to change plans.
What I love about Maps - I can make lists now. I can look at multiple route options before choosing. It offers faster routes when they come up.
What I would change:
In my perfect world, there would be a separate app completely devoted to roadtripping. When I use maps for day to day exploring, I don’t have the same needs as on a road trip. Hence why I sometimes reference the far less reliable Roadtrippers app too. Roadtrippers lets me select ALL categories of stops I might want (food, sightseeing, camping for example) and it shows them for my whole route and I can zoom in and out. Since I’m driving through a lot of small towns and dead cell zones, it’s helpful to know in advance if I’m about to have to face two hours of driving with nowhere but gas stations and rest stops ahead. I think Google could make a WAY better version of this kind of app.
What else would be different:
-the ability to pause your trip (weve ALL stopped for gas or fast food and had to turn our volume down because it was confusing to hear Google redirecting us while we tried to get in and out of a stop quickly)
-optimized for Android auto. I think maps offers some features I often don’t even notice because I’m always on Android auto. For example I’ve never been able to contribute when there’s an accident or speed trap ahead.
-the ability to avoid specifically. For example I hate driving in Virginia. Is there a route that’s quicker than option B but doesn’t dip through VA? Or perhaps I only want to avoid a certain highway.
-multiple stop navigation that runs more smoothly. I think this feature is wonderful on the computer but can be a bit confusing in the mobile app but maybe that’s just me.
-this is pretty advanced and distant wishful thinking but perhaps an OR feature. Like sometimes I save multiple coffeeshop ideas because idk exactly when I’ll hit that town and I have one spot I’d love to hit but it doesn’t open until later or maybe I have multiple restaurants saved because I’m not sure what I’ll be in the mood for. This feature might direct me to that area on the highway, but when it’s nearing time to exit, it might pop up and ask me to select my stop. I know that is a long shot but it WOULD be AWESOME.
Anyway I’m so interested to hear what your experiences are like!!! Happy roadtripping. X
We went to Alaska last year for the summer. I just put out some thoughts on this topic last month (