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20 Best RV Trip Planners in 2024: Perfect RV Trip Planning Tools for Road Trip Adventures

• Last Updated: June 3, 2024
• 13 minutes read

Going on an RV adventure is both thrilling and demanding, requiring meticulous preparation to ensure a seamless journey.

Central to this preparation is choosing the best RV trip planners .

Having tested over 30 different RV trip planning tools firsthand, I’ve navigated my way through countless routes, campsites, and destinations to find the most reliable and user-friendly options that cater to the unique needs of RV travelers.

In my search for efficient planning tools, I found that RV Trip Wizard stands out as the best overall for its comprehensive features that cater to all aspects of RV travel planning, including route planning, campsite reviews, and essential stopovers, making planning an RV trip in 2024 a breeze.

This level of in-depth exploration and testing has equipped me with the knowledge to confidently guide others in their RV travel preparations.

Based on my experience, the top RV trip planning tools are:

• RV Trip Wizard : Best overall for comprehensive RV trip planning
• CoPilot RV : Optimal for detailed route planning
• Google Maps : Great for familiar interface and real-time updates
• RoadTrippers : Excellent for discovering unique roadside attractions
• RV Parky : Top choice for free campground and parking lot finds
• The Dyrt : Ideal for comprehensive campground reviews and tips
• Free Campsites : Best free RV route planner for boondocking
• HipCamp : Superior for finding private and unique camping spots
• Campendium : Great for detailed campground info and RV park reviews
• iOverlander : Top for international RV travel planning
• Harvest Hosts : Best for unique overnight stays at wineries and farms
• Oh, Ranger! : Ideal for U.S. national and state park information
• AllTrails : Excellent for hiking trail explorations
• Spotify : Must-have for road trip entertainment
• Libby : Top for free access to books and audiobooks
• Drive.fm : Great for hands-free guided tours
• GasBuddy : Essential for finding the best gas prices nearby
• MyRadar : Ideal for weather predictions on the go
• American Red Cross : Must-have for emergency preparedness resources
• Outdoorsy : Best for RV and gear rentals

IN THIS ARTICLE

Best RV Trip Planner Apps

A good plan can help you save money, relax, and stay organized, so you can see and do more.

Below are the two best RV Road Trip Planner apps on the market for Planning the Perfect RV Trip Route:

1. RV Trip Wizard (iOS, Android, Web Browser) (PAID)

If you’re looking for the best RV trip planner app on the market look no further.

RV Trip Wizard is a versatile and user-friendly that offers a more expansive and diverse list of campgrounds and points of interests than it’s closest competitor CoPilot RV. 

If you don’t believe me, just check out these useful features, including:

It’s a web-based program. No installation required so you can use it on any device with access to the web. 

No internet, no problem! Download your trip onto a device and use it offline.

A stream-lined, interactive map helps users plot the safest route for their RV’s exact class and size.

No stop limit. Users can select as many stops as they want along their route, from a database of over 20,000 campsites and 57,000 points of interest.

Save money. The programs money tracking tool will help you keep track of expenditures and better budget your trip.

But that’s not all! RV Trip Wizard recently teamed up with the RV LIFE GPS & Campgrounds app to provide it’s users with safe, RV-relevant navigation. All you need is a mobile phone, or other GPS enabled device.

Then you just download the RV LIFE GPS & Campgrounds app from the app store (Android or iOS), sign in using the same credentials as RV Trip Wizard, and voila!

Now you can enjoy the app’s full premium features while also being able to navigate any of the trips you saved in RV Trip Wizard.

You can try RV Trip Wizard out with a 7-day free trial, or buy it for $49.99/year . 

2. CoPilot RV (iOS, Android) (PAID)

CoPilot RV is a cheaper and slightly lower quality RV Trip Planner than it’s competitor, RV Trip Wizard.

It lacks RV Trip Wizard’s versatility and range of options, but it’s still miles ahead of the free options.

For those of you looking for a cheaper, but still more than adequate RV Trip Planner app this is the app for you.

It provides all the useful features you’ll need, including:

Reliable offline navigation. Now you won’t lose your route when you lose your connection.

Finds safe routes for any RV. It does so by calculating your route according to your vehicle’s height, class, and weight

Save gas money. It allows you to choose up to 50 stops and gives you the best route so you can avoid road closure, traffic, and backtracking. 

Safe navigator with RVs in mind. It alerts you about complex intersections and helps you to avoid low bridges and tunnels with propane restrictions. 

An in-app search bar will help you find campgrounds, gas stations, hotels, restaurants and more near you

One strength that CoPilot RV has that RV Trip Wizard does not, is it’s one-stop shop app.

Unlike RV Trip Wizard you do not need to download two separate apps to plan and navigate your trip. It all comes together in one app. 

Try it out for a 14-day free trial . If you like it you can subscribe to CoPilot RV for an affordable $29.99/year .

Best Free RV Trip Route Planning Tools

These apps aren’t RV specific, but unlike RV Trip Wizard and CoPilot RV they’re free.

Those of you that don’t mind putting in a little extra work to save some cash will find these trip planning apps helpful. Check them out:

3. Google Maps (iOS, Android, Web Browser)

They may never let me into an Apple store again for saying this, but, Google Maps is superior to Apple Maps. 

It allows for offline use, let’s you plan longer trips by selecting multiple stops along your route, and gives you the option to save trips to your home-screen.

Furthermore, it’ll show you live traffic updates, speed traps, and even gas prices. 

4. RoadTrippers(iOS, Android, Web Browser)

This app makes planning your next road trip easy. I mean, come on, it’s in the name people! Don’t believe me? Well, RoadTrippers’s interactive map let’s you plot your trip with ease.

It even calculates your trip’s overall driving time and estimates your gas cost based on your vehicle’s MPG.

As if all of that wasn’t enough, it also helps you locate nearby accommodations, attractions, and restaurants along your route.

Plan Your Accommodations

States differ greatly in their laws and restriction regarding RVs. Some are relaxed, while others, will not even let you park your rig on the side of the road.

Needless to say, you’re going to need to find places to stay along your way.

I’ve divided this section into, “Just RV Parks”, “Just Boondocking and Camping”, and “All the Above—RV Parks, Camping, and Boondocking” to help you find the tool that best fits your needs.

5. RV Parky (iOS, Android, Web Browser) (FREE)

I use this app ALL the time. RV Parky interactive map provides you with over 25,000 options for places to park overnight.

Each RV Park listing provides all the necessary information for amenities and cell service as well as user reviews.

Even better, it will also assist you in locating those elusive overnight parking lots, like the ones you find at places like Cracker Barrel and Walmart as well as overnight rest stops.

6. The Dyrt (iOS, Android, Web Browser) (FREE)

The Dyrt app allows you to find outdoor accommodations across the United States, whether you’re in a tent, trailer, RV, or cabin.

It provides millions of listings, reviews, prices, and tips from other campers who have already visited. If boondocking is your game, The Dyrt is the name.

7. Free Campsites (Web Browser) (FREE)

Gotta love simplicity. And that’s exactly what Free Campsites provides. The site allows you to plan a travel route through their ‘trip planner’ option.

Not only will it provide text directions, but it’ll also show you any and all campsites along the way (free, or otherwise).

Unfortunately, there’s no app for this tool yet, but it’s easily accessible through most web browsers. 

8. HipCamp (iOS, Android, Web Browser)

If there was one accommodation app to rule them all, HipCamp would be it. It allows you to search for campsites and RV parks all over the United States.

Tired of your RV? They have you covered on that as well. The app provides options for cabins, and even treehouses!   

RVs and Campgrounds (Android / iOS) (FREE)

RVs and Campgrounds (Android / iOS) is as straight forward as it’s name. You can search for RV Parks and Campground across North America.

Like many of the other options in this article, each listing includes user reviews of these accommodations so you know what you’re getting into before you get there.

Unfortunately, there’s no web browser version, so you’ll need your phone for this app. 

9. Campendium (iOS, Android, Web Browser) (FREE)

Campendium is the prettier, more user-friendly version of Free Campsites. It also provides you with more options than just campsites.

You can use filters to locate any, and every, type of outdoor accommodation.

It provides a plethora of useful information for RV-ers as well, including: last paid price, longest RV reported at site, and clearance access information.

And while it doesn’t have an app yet, you can add the Campendium’s icon to your phone’s home screen by following these helpful instructions (iOS / Android).

10. iOverlander (iOS, Android, Web Browser) (FREE)

“There can only be one!”

Oh wait, that’s Highlander. But seriously if you’re going to plan an RV trip with only one app, iOverlander is the one.

It’ll help you find water and propane refill stations, dump stations, mechanics, boondock sites, RV parks, showers, and more.

Best part? The app covers a 100+ countries so you can use it almost anywhere in the world. 

11. Harvest Hosts (iOS, Android, Web Browser) (PAID)

With Harvest Hosts you can kill two birds, with one stone. Sorry, proverbial birds.

This app requires that you pay $79.99/year, but connects you to over 1500 host, ranging from museums, breweries, wineries, gift shops, and farms.

Most of these hosts only require you to buy one of their products as payment for staying on their property overnight. 

So, you can buy a souvenir for your dear grandma AND pay for a place to stay while doing it. 

Love golfing? Well, Harvest Hosts does too. You can pay $119/year and expand that normal subscription to include their hosts’ golf courses. Waking up to a round of golf, means money well spent. 

Be sure to ask about their amenities before deciding on which host you want to use. Some hosts provide full hook-ups, while others provide no amenities at all

Plan Things to Do in the Great Outdoors

RV’s and the Outdoors go together like roads and maps. Once you get to your campsite, you’ll probably want to explore nature, do some fishing, or find a good hiking trail. These are the best apps for doing just that.

12. Oh, Ranger! (iOS, Android, Web Browser) (FREE)

Oh, Ranger! app is like having a little park ranger in your pocket (without the kidnapping charges!).

Not only will it help you find National Parks, State Parks, and BLM land near you, but it also provides maps, activities, and other information specific to that park.

Not only can you use it to plan where you want to camp, but also what you want to do and what you want to see. 

13. AllTrails (iOS, Android, Web Browser)

There’s no better way to experience the Outdoors like a good hiking trail. But how do you know which trails are the best for you? Download AllTrails.

You can use the app to browse over 50,000 trails across North America. Find the ones that best suit your interests by using the interactive map and helpful filters. 

Entertainment Apps for Road Trips

Hitting the road in your RV sounds like a blast, until you’re on the road. Then it’s mostly monotonous scenery and blurring cars. You’re liable to drive yourself, and your passengers, crazy unless you plan ahead with these apps:

14. Spotify (iOS, Android, Web Browser)

Spotify a road trip tenet that predates the road: “Go forth, but do it with music”. Humans have been rolling around with tunes since the first Homo Sapiens drummed a beat on their knee.

Fortunately, we’ve come a long way since turning our patella into a rhythm section. For example: Spotify.

This free app gives you access to millions of songs, lets you create that all-important road trip playlist, and even offers podcasts. Best yet, you can download audio for offline use!

The only drawback? Advertisements. Erase them by subscribing to Spotify Premium.

For $9.99 a month you can erase those pesky ads, access exclusive podcasts, use unlimited skips, and more.

15. Libby (iOS, Android, Web Browser)

Got a library card? It’s that decaying piece of plastic in your wallet/purse/keychain. Dig it out. Download Libby.

Now, you have access to millions of e-books and audiobooks. The app even works like a library.

You check-out the book, borrow it for a designated amount of time, and then digitally return it.

Libby allows you to check-out up to 25 titles, and renew them when needed. Not impressed? Libby even lets you download the book for use offline. That way, when your cell-service disappears, your audiobook won’t.

16. Drive.fm (iOS, Android)

Your passenger won’t stop talking about their Aunt’s foot fugus. Instead, of turning your wheel towards the nearest cliff, download this app! Drive.fm only has a few free features, but they’ll keep you busy for at least one road trip.

If you’re a road addict you may want to consider the $4.99/month subscription.

It will give you access to a number of hands-free games, including: quizzes, Jeopardy, movie trivia, interactive stories and more!

On the Road

Helmuth von Moltke famously said, “No plan survives first contact with the enemy”. Incidentally, no plan survives first contact with the road either. Be prepared, download these apps:

17. GasBuddy (iOS, Android, Web Browser)

Haven’t bought the new, electric Dusseldorf RV yet, huh? Me neither. Don’t worry though, you don’t have to cry every time you visit the pump. GasBuddy finds you the cheapest gas and diesel prices in your area.

It comes outfitted with a trip cost calculator, gas price map, and even offers a free credit card that will save you up to 25¢ per gallon. Keep your money for what really matters on the road — snacks.

18. MyRadar (iOS, Android, Windows)

Sure, you could just type ‘weather’ into Google, and get the temperature. The only problem? A road trip requires foresight. MyRadar is free app like a weather prophet! Allow the app to track your current location, or type in a destination.

It’ll produce a real-time map of the region. MyRadar will then show you the weather stats for the area, and the forecast for the next couple of days.

But that’s not all! The app populates the map with real-time weather systems. Useful when you’re trying to avoid blizzards, or track a storm

19. American Red Cross (iOS, Android, Web Browser)

I might be the most accident-prone person I know. If you’re not one yourself, you most likely know someone that is.

Do them, and yourself, a possibly lifesaving favor. Download the American Red Cross App. This tool provides solutions to common emergencies you’ll run into on the road.

It also includes videos and interactive quizzes that will, not only help keep boredom at bay, but also teach you important, life-saving 

Need an RV?

Want to plan an RV trip, but don’t have an RV? Normally that would be an issue, if it weren’t for an app like this:

20. Outdoorsy (iOS, Android, Web Browser)

Outdoorsy is basically an AirBnB for campervans, trailers, Class A rigs, and Class C rigs.

It connects you with owners in your area who are willing to rent out their recreational vehicles. It’s usually cheaper than other rental companies, and with less hassle. 

There you have it! The best apps and tools for planning your next RV road trip at your fingertips. But that’s enough talking from me. What’s your favorite RV trip planning app or tool?

About Author / Aaron Richardson

Aaron Richardson is an expert RVer and the co-founder of RVing Know How. Aaron, along with his wife Evelyn, has been living and traveling in their Keystone Fuzion RV since 2017. Their adventures span across the country and beyond, including memorable RVing experiences in Mexico. Aaron's passion for the outdoors and RVing shines through in his writings, where he shares a blend of travel stories, practical tips, and insights to enhance the RV lifestyle.

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15 Best RV Trip Planner Apps: Save Money, Time & Stress

Jonathan Holmes 5.0 5.0 out of 5 stars (based on 45 reviews)

Thank you for reading our post, please rate this article at the end.

Last Updated on May 18, 2024 by Paul Clayton

Table of Contents

15 Best RV Trip Planner Apps: Save Money, Time & Stress

There are three broad ways to plan an RV trip.

• Highly organized
• Color coordinated

All are heavily researched and implemented itineraries that plan out every last detail. Then there’s the loosely pieced-together idea of an RV road trip, where the emphasis is placed on getting from A to B, and what happens in between can be decided along the way.

The last camp falls somewhere between the two extremes. Whatever type of RV trip planning you prefer, using a trip-planning app can save you time and money and alleviate much of the stress.

Planning an RV trip involves art as well as science. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of choices available.

Since I’m also a techie at heart, I like to use gadgets and technology to help.

I also don’t feel penned into our plans; if I want to take a diversion to check out something that interests me, the RV trip planning app must accommodate this.

Luckily for me, creating and implementing a fantastic RV road trip using a planner is easier than ever with apps.

I’ve reviewed the most popular RV planning trip apps with a fine toothcomb and rated them against my ease of use, usefulness, flexibility, and cost criteria. I’ve also included some RV road trip planning tips that everyone who owns an RV should know.

So, without further ado, let’s look at the best RV route planners.

The Best RV Trip Planner Apps

1. google earth / maps.

Google Maps certainly has its limitations. However, it can be combined with Google Earth to create a powerful visualization tool if you want to see a route before setting off, mainly focusing on areas of interest such as potential low bridges, steep inclines, or narrow roads.

If you plan your route on Google Maps, you can export it to a KML and import it into Google Earth.

Once imported, you can use the full suite of Google Earth tools, including viewing Panoramio photos and your route.

I wouldn’t recommend using Google Earth and Maps as your primary RV planning tool, but they’re great supplements to your existing efforts.

In the video below, you can see how to export Google Map files to KMP and then import them into Google Earth:

2. Garmin BaseCamp

Despite what you might think, Garmin is still relevant today, especially if you’re towing or driving oversized vehicles.

Development on Garmin BaseCampe was stopped a couple of years ago, but it’s still available to download and use and, in my opinion, is quite helpful.

Garmin Basecamp was designed to allow the planning and sharing of road trips. The most significant advantage of BaseCamp was the introduction of RV and Truck modes.

These two modes allow you to avoid roads that would be difficult to drive along in an RV, including avoiding low bridges, steep inclines, and narrow inner city streets.

However, its database is incomplete, so you must supplement the information it presents with additional research, which is a bit of a pain.

If you own a Garmin GPS unit, there’s no reason not to try BaseCamp and see what it can do.

You’d have difficulty entirely relying on BaseCamp to manage your RV journey planning.

Its journey planning capabilities are based on dates and spending x amount of days at each location, which goes against the flexibility I would expect from an RV journey planning app.

The time I spend in each location might rapidly change, depending on how well I like any area. If that also sounds like you, you might find BaseCamp slightly clunky.

3. Good Sam’s Trip Planner Review

If you don’t already have a Good Sam membership, you should consider getting one, even if it’s just for access to Good Sam’s Trip Planner.

Membership for a single year costs $29, but you can secure a discount if you buy more than a year . When writing this article, it costs $75 for three years, plus you’ll receive some freebies.

Then, at the tail end of 2014, I discovered the Good Sam Trip Planner, and it just worked, making what was previously a time-consuming and often mentally taxing task much more straightforward.

It’s probably one of the best RV trip-planning tools available. It looks good, is intuitive to use, and does a primarily respectable job of avoiding low bridges or roads that could be difficult to navigate.

Creating a trip on the Good Sam Trip Planner could not be simpler and involves all the two clicks. Once you’ve populated the application with a few details, you can add additional information and work on more in-depth planning from within the planning interface.

The planning interface contains five separate tabs:

• Trip Manager
• Campgrounds
• Things to Do

I found that the Trip Manager is where I spend most of my time planning a route. However, you’ll probably end up using all sections once you finish.

Thankfully, the campgrounds tab is not restricted to just Good Sam RV parks; it contains many private and public campgrounds in addition to Good Sam locations.

From a budgeting point of view, the ability to estimate the mileage, time, and cost of gas is an invaluable addition. Despite enjoying traveling, I like to keep the time driving to a minimum. So, being able to see that a particular leg of a journey may take 8 hours, we may opt to split up into two trips.

Plus, seeing the cost of each leg is a big help when we want to stick to a particular budget.

As mentioned above, the Good Sam Trip Planner will try to identify and avoid any roads that might be troublesome for an RV, such as low bridges or steep inclines.

However, in practice, it’s not 100% accurate. We found that it would sometimes try to send us up the side of a mountain on an incline we would not usually be comfortable with. You’ll have to keep this in mind, and you’ll probably have to supplement their route planning capabilities with another source of information.

We cover some of the other sources of information below.

Given the low price of the Good Sam Trip Planner, it’s difficult not to recommend it. This is especially true when considering the other benefits of a Good Sam Club Membership. Remember to double-check any planned routes for potential RV obstacles.

4. RV Trip Wizard Review

RV Trip Wizard is a strong contender for one of the best RV Trip planning apps available today.

At first glance, RV Trip Wizard might seem like the ugly sister of the Good Sam Trip Planner; it certainly doesn’t look as sleek or as easy to use.

It’s one of the more expensive applications, coming in at roughly $39 a year, but given its capabilities, I’m more than happy to pay this small premium.

At its heart is Google Maps, supplemented with almost every tool you could want from an RV planning application.

While Good Sam Trip Planner will only calculate the estimated fuel cost for your trip, RV Trip Wizard goes far beyond this. In addition to calculating fuel costs, it’ll factor in the price of campgrounds, meals for all passengers, and all the small, innocuous costs that can quickly add up.

Another brilliant feature is the ‘bounding radii.’ This feature allows you to quickly and easily set a maximum travel distance for each day of your trip, which helps avoid spending too many hours at the wheel on any day. It should be noted that the maximum distance is calculated as the crow flies and doesn’t consider any windy roads, but it still provides a base measurement from which to work.

One of our favorite features of the Good Sam Trip planner was the ability to view campgrounds along your journey. The good news is that RV Trip Wizard also has this feature, and it’s even better than Good Sam.

While Good Sam broke RV parks into three distinct categories, RV Trip Wizard has over thirty categories, including national parks, monuments, seashores, state parks , beaches, and more. Its database has thousands of RV parks, with more being added constantly. It might be the most comprehensive RV park database available.

When planning an RV road trip, I predominantly use RV Trip Wizard. Using anything else feels like a step backward and often frustrates me. It’s by far my favorite RV Trip planning app.

5. CoPilot Truck GPS Review

Several trucks and RV GPS applications are available for smartphones, but we think CoPilot Truck GPS is one of the better ones.

Several smartphone GPS applications are available if you don’t want to spend money on a Garmin or TomTom. Many do an admirable job of avoiding low-clearance bridges and hard-to-navigate roads.

While its primary focus is on truckers, you can use it for any oversized vehicle, including RVs.

Once configured with your RV’s dimensions, it’ll efficiently plan your route to avoid low clearances, sharp turns, and roads unsuitable for your RV’s size.

Like almost anything, it does have some faults. The app has been known to crash unexpectedly, which is more inconvenient than anything else.

I must confess. I have no first-hand experience with this app, so if you do, please let us know what you think of it, good or bad.

6. Mountain Directory

One of the biggest frustrations I’ve faced with most RV planning applications is the lack of awareness about the gradients of roads. This is where Mountain Directory comes into its own and shines.

They are available in various formats, from physically printed books to digital options for Android, Windows, Mac, and Apple products.

One significant advantage of digital options is that once you’ve purchased and downloaded them to your device, they’re always available, regardless of whether you have an internet connection .

The interface is a tad clunky, but they’re infinitely more accessible and faster to use than looking at a topographical map and guessing whether or not a particular stretch of road might pose a challenge.

Both Good Sam and RV Trip Wizard have tried to send up a road with severe gradients and very tight turns, which are stressful in a car, let alone a 15,000-pound RV. Thankfully, thanks to Mountain Directory, we spotted these issues before they became problems. They are saving us what could have been a memorable journey for all the wrong reasons.

7. LowClearances.com

We estimate that RV Trip Wizard and most RV GPS units have, at most, a directory of 1,500 low-clearance bridges. However, it’s been estimated that between 4,000 and 6,000 bridges are classed as low clearance in the US alone.

This means that you could be missing out on thousands of low-clearance bridges.

These bridges could easily remove a satellite dish or cause a deadly accident.

Lowclearances.com maintains the most comprehensive database of low-clearance bridges we’ve come across. A small upfront cost of $75 will ensure lifetime access to the Canadian and US databases, which is a small price for peace of mind.

You can quite easily install the database on your GPS unit to ensure you’re not caught out and don’t become another statistic on the road.

8. Allstays LLC

Allstays LLC is one of the newer applications to come onto the market. It’s not one I’m intimately familiar with, but it’s got great reviews and a legion of fans. On paper, it seems very promising.

It promises to do everything you could ever want.

You’ll not only be able to find nearby campsites, including suitable boondocking spots and Walmart parking lots that allow overnight stays, but it also provides warnings for low-clearance bridges and information for RV-friendly service stations.

We’ll test this application and update this article with our findings as soon as possible. In the meantime, if you already have some experience, please let us know in the comments below.

If you’d rather not be caught out by a storm or stuck behind a queue of cars because of an accident, then InRoute might be just what you’re looking for.

It can provide real-time updates on the weather along your route, traffic conditions, and any delays you might experience due to accidents.

This app is the best choice if you need to stay informed about what lies ahead in your journey.

10. Ultimate US Public Campground Project

I love saving money when I can, and the Ultimate US Public Campground Project is one app that helps me to do this.

After parting with a measly $4, you have an incredible database of public and cheap camping options.

No matter where you’re headed in the country, you’re bound to find many options.

If you’re looking for a particular type of campsite, for example, specific amenities, then the advanced filtering will allow you to find exactly what you’re looking for.

11. Passport America

The app will provide you with a ton of information about campgrounds and secure a decent discount at many RV parks. Given the discount available, you’ll probably find the app pays for the Passport America discount in no time.

12. US Public Lands

This is a must-have app if you are interested in Boondocking your way around the country.

This clever app allows you to quickly and easily see if a piece of ground you’re considering boondocking on is public land owned by the BLM and, therefore, legal. Knowing that boondocking is permitted before you set up your camp for the night is much better and safer.

13. GasBuddy

You might not think saving a few cents on a gallon will amount to much, but those few cents can quickly add up throughout a long trip when you’ll probably be using hundreds of gallons of gas.

GasBuddy allows you to find the cheapest local gas prices when it’s time to fill up. Best of all, it’s free to use, so there’s no excuse for not using it.

14. SaniDumps

There’s just no escaping the call of nature. So, finding a local dump and fill station is invaluable.

SaniDump has a massive database of dump locations, so you’ll never be caught short again.

It’s another free app, so there’s no reason not to use it.

15. RV Checklist

Planning is critical to a successful RV road trip. Even with the best intentions, missing something essential is straightforward, and if you’re unprepared, a trip can quickly ruin.

RV Checklist provides a digital checklist to ensure your RV road trip goes smoothly.

I’ve used it, and more than once, it’s provided that lightbulb moment when I’ve realized I’ve missed something important. It’s free, so use it and save yourself the frustration of missing something.

The Art Of RV Road Trip Planning

We’re fortunate on our little blue planet; there’s no shortage of exciting and unique destinations. Over a lifetime, we might not see everything we want, but an RV can show us a lot.

Unfortunately, that massive potential for destinations can make RV planning challenging and sometimes stressful.

• How do you narrow down your choices to just a few locations?
• How do you know if you’ve made the right choice?
• How can you ensure you’ve hit all the high points along your route while avoiding all the low points?

If that sounds like you, you need to look at all the RV trip planner apps discussed above and learn the art of RV planning.

RV Trip Planner

If you’re the organized type or have somehow been designated as the RV Road Trip Planner, we’ve compiled some resources and tips to make your next RV road trip the adventure of a lifetime.

Choose An Event

There will be a festival or event around the country at any time of the year. Whether that’s a music festival, a chili carnival, or a fishing tournament, we guarantee you’ll find something that takes your fancy if you look hard enough.

Why not plan an RV road trip around whatever event type you like?

Organizing a vacation around the dates of an event is a great way to lay out a template and timeframe to adhere to. Planning a trip around a particular goal and time frame is much easier than knowing you want to go to a specific area.

Knowing that you need to be in a particular location on a specific date makes planning much more accessible, and the logistics fall into place naturally.

You’re then free to explore the surrounding area or give yourself time to take the scenic route to reach your destination.

What’s On Your Bucket List

No matter how far out of the way the locations on your bucket list are, there’s probably a route to get you there. So why not plan a trip around ticking these off your list?

Even if your ultimate destination is utterly unobtainable by RV, if you look at how you might get there by RV, you’ll probably find many exciting locations en route that are well worth a visit.

If you’re unsure where you’d like to go, there are books dedicated to the subject; check out The Lonely Planets Guide to America, for starters.

Don’t Rush Things

If you need to plan every minute detail, this ‘skill’ might be challenging to master.

A large part of the appeal of RVing is that it’s incredibly flexible. If something piques your interest on the road, you’re free to stop and look. Or if you want to stay on at a location for a couple of days (or even weeks), then there’s very little stopping you from doing so.

The most significant restricting factor for most people is money.

If you make reservations and commit to being in a particular location daily, you lose much of that flexibility and might miss something extraordinary.

We also understand that RV parks can get busy during peak seasons, so you must use your judgment and make well-thought-out decisions. Use your intuition and opt for a happy medium between the two extremes.

Inspiring RV Trips

Whether you’re looking to tour every inch of your country or you’re looking to get to know your local RV parks better, excelling in RV trip planning is about balancing flexibility with understanding what you want to get out of a trip.

The upside of all of this is that it’s tough to end up with a bad trip. Even if you don’t end up where you wanted to go, chances are you’ll have made many memories, and it’ll be something you’ll look back on with fond memories.

Without a sound, too cheesy, truly epic RVing is about the journey and is rarely only about the destination.

Use An RV Trip Planner Like A Pro

We hope you now have a solid and in-depth understanding of the various RV trip planner apps available to us and what you can do to make your adventure as awesome as it deserves.

We know there is no perfect RV trip planner tool; most should be supplemented with another. Some are very good and lack that vital point, while others fill a particular niche and excel at what they do.

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If I had to use one RV trip planner tool for the rest of my life, it would almost certainly be RV Trip Wizard. It gets so many features right and has a range of functionality that isn’t available in other tools.

However, I would strongly suggest using a suite of tools if you’re planning a significant RV trip. Not only will this save you time and money in the long run, but it could also make your trip much safer than it would be otherwise.

Final Thoughts

We hope you’ve found our article helpful and that you’ve found something useful you can put into practice when you plan your next RV road trip.

As always, if you have any comments or disagree with anything we’ve said, please let us know in the comments below, and we’ll do our best to respond with an answer or revision.

Happy RVing.

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The 5 Best Free RV Route Planner Tools

Whether you’re new to RV life or a seasoned pro, planning your route is important. But who has time to look at the maps, estimating turns and clearances? That’s where an RV route planner tool comes in.

I’ve used a few different ones over the years and found a few best free RV route planner tools. They make routing a breeze by showing you gas stops, rest areas, RV parks, and campgrounds along your journey. You can even filter for hookups, amenities, and reviews. 

No more guessing if that countryside road can handle your coach. I’ve reviewed the best RV trip planner tools, so you can plan for worry-free travels. 

1. Roadtrippers

2. the dyrt, 3. koa rv trip planner, 5. recreation.gov, best free rv route planner tools: take your pick.

Options are quite limited for the best free RV route planner . Most tools are paid and require a monthly or one-time fee. However, I’ve searched for hours and found these planners that offer a free version. 

Pick your best RV route planner app or tool from the following list: 

When you’re traveling in a big rig, you need to be sure your route is RV friendly. Not all roads are created equal for large vehicles. The last thing you want is getting stuck somewhere with no way to turn around. Roadtrippers, a free RV trip planner , helps solve that problem.

You start by entering your RV size and tow vehicle. Then put in where you’re starting from and headed to. This app analyzes the information and generates the best route for your vehicle. It only sends you down roads that can properly accommodate your rig.

This is a big advantage over navigation apps like Google Maps. Those are great for cars but don’t account for an RV’s needs. Roadtrippers was designed with RVers in mind. You can feel more at ease following its directions.

You can also compare gas prices along your route. This helps budget fuel costs for the trip. And scheduling overnight stops is convenient when campground spots book up fast.

The free app limits you to 5 stops maximum when planning a trip. There is a paid version that offers more features. 

If you’re in need of a reliable resource for finding great campgrounds across North America, The Dyrt should be your go-to cross country RV trip planner . With its massive database of places to pitch your rig, route planning becomes a breeze.

Whether browsing on their well-designed website or easy-to-use app, the wealth of details, photos, and reviews on each location takes the guesswork out of where to spend the night. Want to find a spot with a certain hookup? Just filter for it.

Beyond campground listings, The Dyrt treats users to an online magazine packed with tips, destinations, and gear roundups. As if that wasn’t enough, they regularly run contests where you can score everything from coolers to camp chairs.

For serious route mapping, The Dyrt’s PRO upgrade delivers. Its innovative Trip Planner builds customized itineraries factoring your rig size and route preferences. Simply enter start/end points and vehicle specs, and the app will plan a route for you. You can also download maps for offline use, so you’re never lost without a signal. 

KOA offers one of the best free RV route planner tools. With this tool, it’s easier than ever to get your next RV outing on the calendar without stressing over the details.

All you need is an internet connection and a few minutes of your time. Create a personalized account on the Trip Planner site and start adding your favorite KOA locations along your proposed route. You can search by area or campground name, filter by amenities like Wi-Fi or pools, and view all the key details like rates and policies. Save your selections to view later or book right from the site.

While it’s not an app, the Trip Planner works great from any device. Everything syncs seamlessly between devices, so you stay organized wherever you go.

Once your route is planned, making reservations is just a click away. No more calling individual parks or trying to piece together dates. The Trip Planner takes care of booking your whole trip at once. You’ll even get an itinerary emailed to you for easy reference on the road.

The RV Life is undoubtedly one of the best free RV route planner tools. Although the free version is quite limited, you can still make good use of its various features. 

Within the app, you can search thousands of campgrounds across North America. Fellow RVers have left reviews for most spots, sharing details on amenities, noise levels, and even wifi reliability. These reviews have saved me from more than one disappointing night. You can also browse pictures to get a sense of each campground.

I’ve also found great discussions on the built-in RV forums. Folks ask questions about certain areas or campgrounds all the time. It’s easy to search old posts too if you have a similar query come up.

If you’re looking for an easy way to plan your trail and book campsites along the way, Recreation.gov is a perfect free tool. It lets you search over 3,600 campgrounds nationwide. You can filter by location, amenities, and more. It’s especially great for finding spots in our National Parks and Forests. Just type in the area you’re headed to see your options.

Once you’ve picked out the route, you can book sites right on the Recreation.gov app or website. It’s an easy one-stop shop to get your camping reservations in order. I really appreciate how it shows all the key details like electric hookups, bathroom facilities, and pet policies.

If any destinations along your route are first-come, first-served, don’t worry. The app lets you claim those sites right from your phone when you arrive. No need to scramble for a spot or wait in line at the ranger station. Just scan and pay. It’s perfect for spontaneous explorers like me.

About The Author

David Kelly

David Kelly is the founder of Effortless RVing. He is an accomplished writer and passionate traveler who specializes in the RV lifestyle. With a keen eye for undiscovered gems and a love for adventure, David's articles provide a unique and insightful perspective on camping and RV travel. As a former Sales Manager at Camping World, David is dedicated to staying up-to-date with new trends in RV world and the ever-changing landscape of RV travel, making him a valuable resource for both experienced enthusiasts and newcomers to the lifestyle. Whether you're looking for RV product reviews, tips, inspiration, or a glimpse into the camping lifestyle, David's sharing posts are a must-read.

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Hi, I am planning a 2 to 3-month trip, from Ottawa Ontario to Santa Monica CA following the historic Route 66. Would like to visit major cities and parks. And to get back using a different routes. I have a fifth wheel (35ft) .

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The 8 Best RV Navigation Apps For A Smooth And Safe Road Trip

These eight robust RV navigation apps offer additional features that can make your drive smoother and safer.

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When setting out on an RV road trip, the journey should be part of the fun! Thankfully there are many high-quality, useful apps that will help you enjoy a smooth, stress-free drive to your destination.

While you can hop in your car for a traditional road trip without much planning, it’s better to do some navigation research in advance for an RV trip, especially if you’re a new RVer . Your route might include roads, bridges, and tunnels with height and weight restrictions. Additionally, some bridges and tunnels have regulations regarding onboard propane. 

RELATED:  Tips For First Time RVers

It’s also important to note that getting gas, food, and other supplies may be more challenging while towing or driving an RV. Some parking lots won’t accommodate larger vehicles. The larger your rig, the more advance planning is recommended. Some RVers prefer to stop at truck stops or certain chain gas stations, thanks to the larger lots. RV navigation apps can help you see what options are along your planned route.

Without a good RV navigation app, you might find yourself in a sticky situation. Many RVers have gotten themselves in jams that can be time-consuming, scary, or potentially dangerous. At best, you’ll simply have to turn around or reroute. At worst, you could damage your RV. Advance planning and useful apps can truly save the day.

Leave the spiral-bound truckers’ atlas behind and use one of these seven recommended RV navigation apps:

Best for Easy-to-Use Navigation: Google Maps

GOOGLE MAPS may be the most familiar app for most travelers. That familiarity makes it a good choice because you won’t have to spend any time learning a new app. Also, many other apps and websites feature the ability to open routing in Google Maps with a single click. Another bonus? It’s free. 

The downside is that Google Maps doesn’t take your RV dimensions into account when mapping a route and can lead you to restricted or difficult-to-navigate roads. You’ll be on your own to watch for low-clearance bridges, weight and length limits, and propane restrictions while driving. Google Maps also assumes you’ll be driving the speed limit when calculating arrival time, while many RVers find they drive more slowly. Some RVers use Google Maps for basic routing suggestions, but then double check that route using height, weight, and propane restrictions found in the other RV navigation apps found in this article. 

Best For Awesome Roadside Attractions: Roadtrippers

ROADTRIPPERS  has long been a favorite for travelers looking for amazing roadside attractions. The website has cultivated a collection of the best cultural, historic, and natural sites, each with colorful descriptions. The app offers navigation and allows you to also search for campgrounds and a variety of RV service locations. Upgrading to the Pro version gets you extra features, including the ability to save maps offline, collaboratively plan trips and avoid ad pop ups.

Best For Customized RV Routes: RV LIFE Trip Wizard And RV LIFE RV Safe GPS

RV LIFE TRIP WIZARD and RV LIFE RV SAFE GPS allow you to customize your route based on your RV’s restrictions. RV LIFE Trip Wizard is web-based, and it works hand-in-hand with the RV LIFE RV Safe GPS app. You can also download your route to navigate in Google Maps, which is convenient for those who prefer using a familiar app. 

The suite of RV LIFE tools offers additional trip-planning features, including campground searches and trip budgeting. If you’re a member of any camping clubs (such as KOA or Good Sam), you can prioritize those options when searching for an RV park. The RV LIFE Pro subscription costs $65 per year after your 7-day free trial and includes access to a suite of features. There’s a monthly subscription option that’s also available for $19.99, but doesn’t include a free trial. 

RELATED:  10 Tips for Saving Money On RV Trips

Best For Different Map Styles: CoPilot GPS

COPILOT GPS features an app specifically designed for RV navigation. Simply input information about your rig, and CoPilot will find an appropriate route for your RV weight and height. Maps are available in both 2D and 3D versions and include detailed information about road signs and turn lanes. Clear, simple audio navigation and speed limit indicators make it easy to safely use CoPilot while driving without looking at the screen. Note that the current lack of CarPlay integration is a downside for some subscribers.

You can store offline maps on your device, meaning you’ll never go without a map, even when driving in remote areas. You can also easily search for and add roadside stops to your route. A 14-day free trial is available, and an annual subscription costs $29.99. You can subscribe to the app in the App Store or Google Play. 

Best For White-Knuckle Drivers: inRoute

INROUTE shares many features with other RV navigation apps, but it has one unique feature RVers might especially appreciate: This app allows you to devise a route based on various options, including curviness and elevation. So travelers to mountainous regions will especially appreciate this to avoid white-knuckle drives.

inRoute also checks the weather, giving you a heads up about severe weather ahead. You can plan a trip with up to eight stops for free or test out a free 7-day trial for access to all features. A subscription costs $39.99 per year or $4.99 per month. The app is currently only available for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. CarPlay integration is available for iOS users.

Best For Finding RV-Friendly Amenities: AllStays

Though the name “AllStays” sounds as though it focuses on places to stay, the ALLSTAYS CAMP & RV app includes so much more. In addition to 37,000 campgrounds, the app lets users search for big box stores, parking, truck stops (with fuel prices listed), rest areas, and RV stores. The dump station filter is particularly helpful for boondockers and dry campers who need to find locations to empty their tanks.

As you drive, the map continually refreshes to show locations that fall within your filters, making it easy to plan on the go. Then, simply click a button for turn-by-turn directions to your selected destination. You can also check for weather and driving conditions. Expect to pay $34.95 for an annual subscription that renews at $32.95 per year. Note: AllStays isn’t currently available on Android devices.

Best For Finding Gas Stops: GasBuddy

While GASBUDDY can’t be used to plan your whole route, it shines in helping you find one of the most important things you need while driving – gas. Pull up the app to find gas stations within a range of your current location, and easily find nearby options. As an added bonus, GasBuddy displays fuel prices, helping you to find the most affordable station on your route. 

RELATED:  5 Areas to Control Your Costs When Planning a Budget RV Trip

GasBuddy can also help you save money by earning “GasBack” whenever you use the app to pay for purchases. This app is free to download, but a premium subscription costs $9.99 and adds benefits like gas station deals and roadside assistance.

Best For Planning Pit Stops: iExit

Available for both iOS and Android platforms, iExit is a user-friendly app that enhances your road trip experience by providing real-time information about services and amenities at upcoming highway exits.

The app's intuitive interface allows you to easily browse through a comprehensive list of services such as gas stations, restaurants, hotels, and more, all conveniently organized by exit number. What sets iExit apart is its ability to display these amenities well in advance, giving you ample time to plan your stops and make informed decisions on where to refuel, grab a bite, or take a break.

iExit is compatible with CarPlay and free to download, making it an affordable and valuable companion for any road trip. Whether you're on the open road or navigating through unfamiliar territory, iExit will prove to be an invaluable tool for maximizing convenience.

Before your next big road trip, download and explore any app of interest in advance, taking advantage of available free trials. That way, you — and your copilot — can get a feel for the app’s functions, strengths, and limitations before you drive or tow your RV. When it’s time to hit the open road, you’ll be confident that your navigation won’t lead you astray.

Author and co-host of the RV Atlas podcast

Jeremy Puglisi is the co-host of the RV Atlas podcast and the co-author of See You at the Campground: A Guide to Discovering Community, Connection, and a Happier Family in the Great Outdoors , and Where Should We Camp Next: A 50 State Guide to Amazing Campgrounds and other Unique Outdoor Accommodations. He loves nothing more than hitching up and heading out to the next campground with his family.

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20 Remarkable RV Trip Planner App and Tools

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Planning an RV trip can seem a bit stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. Using the best RV trip planner app, website, or a combination of the two can make it so simple.

RV planner apps are great for finding campgrounds, planning your route, choosing the best route without low clearances, and even finding great gas prices.

No need to keep bulky maps in your glove compartment. Just download these RV trip planning apps, or check out the trip planning websites we list, and have access to some great tools on your next  USA road trip!

THIS ARTICLE MAY CONTAIN COMPENSATED LINKS. PLEASE READ OUR DISCLAIMER FOR MORE INFO. THIS POST WAS WRITTEN BY JILL GREISING-MURSCHEL , A FAMILY TRAVEL AND RV LIVING EXPERT .

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What is the best RV trip planner? It depends on what type of RV traveler you are and what your needs are.

Do you want to find free camping or an RV park? Are you full-time RVing or taking an RV vacation around the USA ?

RV trip planning can be a big part of the excitement. You can research and learn about where you want to visit, what the weather will be like, and all the fun things to do there. 

Yet, the logistics of finding places to camp can become a bit overwhelming. That’s why we created this detailed post listing some of our favorite RV travel planner apps and websites. 

RV Trip Planning Apps and Websites

Campendium – This is one of our family’s favorite RV trip planning websites when we are planning out our travels. 

I love how easy it is to read and find what you need, gives reviews on paid campsites and FREE campsites, AND provides reviews of the cell signal at the campgrounds or boondocking locations. It also works great as an app on your iPhone!

Roadtrippers – We used Roadtrippers as our free RV trip planner when planning our route after looking up great places to camp on Campendium. Some would say it’s the best RV route planner app. 

Roadtrippers is very easy to use and is a free road trip planner app that is available online and now in an app. They do have a ‘Plus’ membership which provides a lot more features.  Check out the Plus membership here and use the code: BTR5QTP to receive $5 off!

AllStays – Camp and RV – The Allstays app works only on iOS, not Google Play. We use this RV trip planning app when we are en route and need to find an RV-friendly gas station, rest stop, check for low clearances, and more. 

iOverlander – This is another app that will help you find reviews of RV parks, dry camping areas, propane fills, and more.

Keep in mind that this app is international and may not have as many reviews for North American locations as some others. 

RV Parky – RV Parky is another one of the RV route planners that work well if you want to find an RV park and don’t need to know about cellular signal. However, if you’re looking for ‘free’ camping, boondocking sites, or want to know about previous cell signals then this app is NOT for you.

This app is available on both iOS and Google Play. You can also use their online platform to search by filter.

Related Post: Discover 8 Best RV Parks Near Boise Idaho

Good Sam Camping – This website offers reviews of campgrounds. They used to have a Good Sam Trip Planner that is no longer available.

I’m not a huge fan of their online search feature to find reviews of campgrounds, as it doesn’t have a map view or list anything about cell signal. 

Grab your complete RV Apps Cheat Sheet to refer back to the best RV trip planners.

Harvest Hosts – Search for a winery, distillery, or farm that opens up their property for you to stay at for a night of dry camping. This membership and website will allow you to stay ‘for free’ at some pretty remarkable places around the USA. 

They do hope that you will make a purchase from the farm or brewery while visiting, and arrive during business hours. With your membership, you can find hundreds of Harvest Hosts and many RVers will use this as a great stopover on their way to a distant destination. 

Boondockers Welcome – We’ve used our Boondockers Welcome membership several times. I love how easy it is to search online and see the maximum RV length that can fit, length of stay (some will let you stay up to 5 nights) if dogs are welcome, and other people’s reviews! 

Once you do stay, it’s best to leave a review of your host and they will do the same for you as a guest. 

Passport America – This membership offers up to a 50% discount on campground fees at select campgrounds across the nation. Most of the time the discount is only valid during the off season and limited to 1-3 nights total. 

I find the interface hard to work with as you have to go into each campground to read the fine print under ‘Additional Campground Notes’ regarding what days the discount applies. 

Campground Reviews – We don’t use this app, but I’ve heard it mentioned and wanted to list it here as another option to check out.

Fun Road Trip App

Drive.fm – Drive.fm App is a fun and entertaining road trip app where you can play interactive audio content such as trivia and quizzes hands-free on a travel day! Available on the App Store and on Google Play.

Play Jeopardy!, Drive.fm Trivia Show, or a name that song quiz, all by responding using your voice. It’s totally hands-free! They even have a Superfan Showdown channel with big movie titles such as Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, and Star Wars! 

RV Trip Planner Apps that cost Money

RV Trip Wizard  – RV Trip Wizard is a paid RV trip planner app, but one that might be worth the cost. I just tried their demo and wow, I was impressed. Some would rate this the best RV planning app available.

They not only list the most private, public, and National Park campgrounds but even some BLM campgrounds. In addition, the RV Trip Wizard also lists if there is internet connectivity and shares reviews of each camping area. 

You can use the RV road trip planner app on your smartphone, laptop, or iPad. Then transfer the trip to your GPS or download the map and import it into Google Maps. Their RV trip planning software even has roadside stops, gas stations, Walmart, and other locations available to add to your trip. 

Tony and I were impressed that they allow you to find hazards such as low clearance and I loved how you can add in the cost of each night and keep a running budget for your RV trip.

What a great RV vacation planner app and software.

You can also prioritize which RV club campgrounds to show such as Good Sam’s or Passport America. 

This might be the best RV trip planning app available to those of us in North America. 

RV Travel Route and Travel Day

iExit – – This simple app will tell you in real-time how close your next exit is, if there’s food or gas there, and even how close the nearest rest stop is. It works with your GPS so it tells you in real time. The iExit app is available on iOS and in the  Google Play store . 

GasBuddy – – Plan your trip around cheap gas station stops with Gas Buddy! This is one of our favorite RV trip planning features. I love how this app allows you to see current prices at upcoming gas stations on your travel day.

You can also go to their website and type in the start and end point, make/model of your vehicle, and it will list how much money in gas it might cost you if you stop at the gas stations along the way (showing the current prices at each gas station). It’s also available in the Google Play store .

Google Maps – Make it simple and plan a road trip with Google Maps. We have used several other mapping apps, yet we always come back to Google. Pro tip: use the satellite view to see if your RV will fit in the upcoming gas station BEFORE you attempt to get off the highway. 

I’m not sure we have an RV travel day without using Google Maps and to be honest, I’m pretty sure most other RVers use Google Maps as well.

Maps.me – If you want to download maps to look at offline, this app might be for you. We don’t use this one, but I do know friends that do. It’s available for both iOS and Google Play. 

Boondocking Specific Apps for RV Vacations 

US Public Lands – Do you want to try to dry camp or boondock on BML land ? This app, which is only available for iOS devices, allows you to determine if you are actually on BLM land or over the border onto private property. It also has a list of maps where all public lands are in the US. 

Freecampsites.net – This is another great website to find RV route planner free camping around the US. There isn’t an app for it at this time, so I’d recommend using your computer.

Also, be sure to read the fine print of each campsite as many are for tents only, or may even require a permit ahead of time. 

Weather Specific Apps

Radar Scope  – This is by far our favorite radar app out there. Tony uses it anytime a storm is coming so that we know if we need to plan to stay put an extra hour or if we can keep traveling. It is a paid app and available on iOS and Google Play. 

Dark Sky  – This weather app is a hyper-local weather app that will tell you when the rain will start and stop by the minute, almost like magic. It’s only available on the App Store with IOS.

Windy – This free wind app is available on both iOS and Google Play. It will give you a wind forecast or tell you the current wind to help you decide if today is a great day for taking your RV on a road trip. 

NOAA Weather Radio  – Tony and I both have this app on our phones. It alerts us if we are in a tornado warning or watch with a loud noise (if you set it to alter you that is) so that it works as your weather radio in your RV. Now keep in mind that we need cell signal and a charged cell phone for it to work. 

How To Plan A Trip In Your RV?

To answer this question, you need to take into consideration your travel style.

Do you enjoy planning every detail out and following the best route each time?

Or, do you enjoy some spontaneity and use your favorite road trip app from above on your travel day?

I do recommend that you have some idea of the route you plan to take when traveling in a Motorhome or pulling your RV behind you. It will decrease your chance of any major RV safety mistakes with low clearances and give you a better idea on how long to expect your travel day to take.  

As a full-time RV living family, we use several of these apps, but no longer all of them.

You see, if you live the RV lifestyle for awhile, you’ll learn what works best for you and what you are looking for when it comes to RV travel planning. However, if you are a beginner to the RV life , then having a good plan will help you make the most of your travels.

Make your life easier and download your RV apps cheat sheet here.

Please note that this blog post was originally written during the time when we lived in an RV. However, we want to inform our readers that we have recently transitioned out of RV living. Despite this change, we are committed to providing you with accurate, on-point, and up-to-date information about RV living. Our goal is to share our knowledge and experiences to help you make informed decisions and enhance your RV lifestyle. So, while our personal circumstances may have changed, the quality and relevance of the information we provide remain our top priority.

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12 Best RV Trip Planner Apps To Use On Your Next Adventure

Phil and I are diving into the RV trip planning this week to prepare for our adventures in 2023 and when you’re planning a road trip, there are so many details that need to be covered.

We need to figure out the best route to take, where we will be able to stay once we leave home, where we can stop for supplies along the way, and so much more. Planning an RV trip can be a challenge, especially if you do not have experience doing it before and don’t know the best apps and resources to use. There are just so many things that need to be organized in order for your trip to go smoothly. 

Thats why we set out to right this list of best RV trip planner apps to use as a resource each time we or anyone else gets started planning their next camping trip!

There are many different apps that can help you with this important process and this article will list some of the best RV trip planning apps that you can use.

Let’s get started!

Considerations for RV Trip Planning Apps

Apps for planning RV trips vary greatly in quality. These are some of the most important aspects to us when choosing which one to use for your trip.

Campground Information

It’s crucial to have a RV trip planning process that allows for precise lodging arrangements. You might not be able to find a place to park your RV if you procrastinate. We recommend making reservations at RV parks well in advance of your vacation, and a dependable travel planner can help you figure out where you want to stay ahead of time.

However, if you prefer to wing it and decide where to camp at the last minute, a trip planning app could be more useful in this scenario, as it will give you a wealth of information about where you can camp.

Routing Suggestions

Having a road trip planner for your RV travels is a great resource. For instance, knowing where to find gas stations that are accessible by big rigs is helpful, especially for those who value having some more space to move around. Also, we think it’s important that RV travelers have the opportunity to pick a route that takes into account factors like overpass levels, bridge weight restrictions, and propane limits.

Scenic Opportunities

Also, try to discover a RV trip planner that includes recommendations for interesting places to visit along the road. Many breathtaking views can be seen while traveling great distances by RV. You might pass up something very remarkable using a conventional GPS system since you typically have no idea these stops even existed.

Our Favorite RV Trip Planner Tools

Rv trip wizard.

The RV Trip Wizard has existed for a long time and has consistently been a great tool. It’s a web-based trip planner with a plethora of options to make preparing for your next RV trip as simple and pleasant as possible. Its map-based interface makes it simple to navigate around a destination, identifying RV parks, overnight parking alternatives, fuel stops, rest stops, dump stations, and more. The RV Trip Wizard is fantastic at recommending fun and fascinating activities to visit and do along your trip.

RV Trip Wizard will provide you with everything you require to guarantee that your trip is within your budget and does not leave you fatigued from traveling too far.

RV Trip Wizard can assist you in customizing it to display just the most critical elements. It’s incredibly useful to be able to find disposal stations, rest spots, and overnight parking. The app’s sightseeing feature is a fantastic addition to all of this. Many other trip planners concentrate just on the big picture, but RV Journey Wizard attends to the minor things that make your travel more pleasurable and less stressful. Furthermore, the RV Life Pro suite means that a single membership grants you access to other features such as RV Trip Wizard, , RV Safe GPS, Maintain My RV and  Campground Reviews.

Although Campendium is not a traditional RV trip planner tool, we felt it was important to include it here. Campendium’s strength is not just in its extensive database of public and private campgrounds, but also in the unparalleled wealth of information it has accumulated regarding boondocking sites.

Campendium is an excellent resource if you’re in the planning stages of a trip and want to incorporate some fantastic boondocking places. Campendium can help you save money even if you just plan to boondock on rare occasions. You can save a lot of money by staying at a free campground for even a short period of time. You have nothing to lose since using Campendium doesn’t cost anything (but you can remove advertisements by becoming a Community Supporter).

Campendium is indeed the go-to source for finding secluded boondocking locations. They feature hundreds of users, which ensures a constant flow of current, useful reviews and photographs. Both the site and the app are sleek and simple to use, making it simple to discover precisely what you’re looking for.

If you haven’t already, consider checking out Allstays Camp & RV as a second recommendation for a top-notch RV trip planner. Once more, this is not a genuine trip planner where you may arrange your travel schedule. RV parks, truck stops, rest areas, dump stations, RV supplies, RV repairs, and even low overpasses may all be found with the help of Allstays.

It’s an app that can help you locate places not mentioned in other applications for just $9.99, and then you have access to it for life. The app’s ability to function without an internet connection has come in handy several times when we wanted to look up campsites quickly but didn’t have any cell phone service.

Allstays Pro is a good option if you like to plan your trips on a desktop or laptop computer. Claimed costs money (now a yearly subscription of $34.95; rumor has it this will increase shortly), but it has benefits over the free version of the website and app.

More than half a million different search options are available through Allstays Pro, which the company claims is faster than the app and website, has no ads, provides better privacy, allows full-screen maps, can be used offline with Google Earth, provides more filters for traffic, biking, transit, and more.

The Dyrt PRO

The Dyrt provides free access to their massive database of campgrounds and RV parks via their website or mobile app both for iOS and Android users. You can view all of the extensive information available about each location, as well as any user-submitted images and reviews, making it easier to choose a place to stay.

If you increase your subscription to The Dyrt (pro version), you will also have access to their Travel Planner. You begin by selecting your beginning and ending places, and then you may arrange your route from scratch, including as many stops and waypoints as you wish. You may also ask The Dyrt to propose a vacation for you. It also includes map overlays for BLM, US Forest Service, and National Park Service borders.

It’s simple to let The Dyrt (pro version) organize your trip. It’s a terrific substitute for spending endless hours surfing the web in search of the ideal camping spots. The Dyrt will automatically locate the best RV campgrounds along your journey. You’ll be able to get to the park faster and, more importantly, with the confidence that you’re going to the park that best suits your needs.

KOA Camping App

The KOA App works with mapping systems to provide easy instructions to your campsite. As campsites become more difficult to reserve, you can typically locate a place in a KOA alongside your route. The app features a map feature that allows you to discover forthcoming KOAs along your path. By clicking on the KOA symbol, you may get information on the individual campsite location, facilities, recreation, upcoming events, photographs, area attractions, and more. It also indicates how far you are from your present location. The app is intended to be used to book straight through the app.

KOAs differ because they are managed by individual camp owners. They are now classified by kind of camping; those labeled “Journey” are mostly for vacationers and may only be suitable for one or two nights. The ones labeled “Holidays” are destination campsites, generally near tourist attractions. People may remain longer if they have additional facilities. In reality, holiday KOAs include large, hard-surfaced patios with something like a grill, tables, chairs, and a fire pit , as well as a glider. Although expensive, the increased room and facilities are sometimes well worth it.

RV Life’s Campground Reviews

RV Life’s Campground Reviews are an excellent resource for finding campgrounds around America. The website is simple to navigate. Simply select a state to examine the campgrounds, which are displayed on a map. They are also presented alphabetically, and counties and cities may be searched to refine the results.The site also allows you to narrow down your search by park type, features, hookups, activities, ratings, pricing, and distance. In reality, it also enables you to read genuine camper reviews and browse images of various campgrounds.

RV Life’s Campground Reviews are accessible free via the internet or through a membership to the RV Vacation Wizard website, which may make your trip much more fun and less stressful.  

GasBuddy can help you discover cheap gas throughout your trip. You may enter your vehicle’s make and model, as well as your starting and finishing points, into their trip cost calculator. GasBuddy will then figure out how many fuel stops you’ll go through and will recommend the best gasoline locations for each fill, and provide an anticipated cost.

Because you can arrange your journey around inexpensive gas station stops, this is among the favorite RV travel planning tools of many. You’ll enjoy how this app shows you current gas prices at future petrol stations on your trip day.

You can also navigate to their website and enter your starting and ending points, as well as the make and model of your car, and it will calculate how much gas it will charge you if you stop at petrol stations along the route. It is also accessible through the Google Play store.

One more thing is that the feature “Pay with Gasbuddy” is incredibly amazing because it is accepted in most stations where you can do it manually.

RV Parky 

RV Parky is another RV trip planner that works great if you only need to visit an RV park and don’t care about cell phone coverage. This software is not for you if you’re seeking “free” camping or wish to know about prior cell signals.

RV Parky allows you to find and add campsites, parking lots, and other facilities. All you have to do is select the “Find a place to stay” button next to the city you’re interested in. The option to filter what you’re searching for is wonderful since you can filter for utilities such as whether or not you require power, water, WiFi, and so on.

When you click on a location, you’ll see all of the information RV Parky has about the site. This software is available for download both on iOS and Google Play. You may also search by filter on their internet platform.

Good Sam Camping 

This Good Sam campground app is compatible with over 14,500 campsites and RV parts from the Good Sam RV Travel Guide and also the Campground Directory. It provides camping reviews. There was formerly a Good Sam Trip Planner, but it is no longer accessible.

The best feature of the Good Sam Camping app is indeed the ability to find exactly what you’re searching for. Look for spots that provide a pool, WiFi, pet allowance, primitive camping and pull-through space, RV hookup, slide-out room, and much more.

Harvest Hosts

With a low-cost subscription to Harvest Hosts, you may park your RV, van, or trailer for free every night at tens of thousands of breathtaking places around the United States and abroad. You might look for a distillery, vineyard or farm that lets you spend the night dry camping on its grounds. In reality, using its website and membership will let you stay “for free” in some very amazing locations around the USA.

The Harvest Hosts certainly hope that if you come during business hours, you’ll buy a product from the winery, farm, or brewery. You can locate thousands of Harvest Hosts with your membership, and many RVers will utilize this as a nice pit stop en route to a far-off location.

Boondockers Welcome

Perhaps now is the right moment for you to obtain a Boondockers Welcome membership since many RVers have already utilized one. You’d be amazed at how simple it is to conduct a search online to find out the max RV length that could fit, the duration of stay, if pets are permitted, and customer reviews!

Boondockers Welcome is a sensible, economical approach to RV camping. On a website such as Harvest Hosts or Airbnb, you may discover hosts eager to just let you park your RV vehicle on their land for free overnight.

Once you’ve stayed, it’s common courtesy to give your host a review; in return, they’ll do the same for you.

Roadtrippers

The final app of this comprehensive RV trip planning list that we need to include is Roadtrippers. If your initial journey has no more than five destinations, signing up and using the tool is completely free of charge. Which of course is excellent news if you’re operating on a budget! As a result, you can use the Roadtrippers app for a while, take some time, and see if it is the ideal app for you.

Roadtrippers’ trip-planning options are intuitive and simple to use. Simply enter your starting and ending places, change the slider to determine how far from your route you’re prepared to go for areas of interest, and start exploring. You may scroll in and out as you go to see what there is to explore and do.

Overlays for camping spots, tourist hotspots, landmarks, restaurants, and more are also available. Find nearby businesses like gas stations, campgrounds, and more that cater to your car or RV.

Roadtrippers is an incredibly effective RV trip planner, in addition to being surprisingly simple to use. Especially the idea that you may join up and utilize the tool for free for the first five days

Frequently Asked Questions About RV Trip Planning

What is an rv trip planner.

Using a smartphone navigation program like Google Maps to bring you to your final destination is convenient, but taking the shortest route possible could mean missing some amazing views on the way there. Which is a total rookie move.

Thats where RV Trip Planners come in. You can organize your entire trip with the help of these programs and websites. Campgrounds, including their rates, amenities, and more, may all be found with the help of a trip planner.

You may get a lot more out of your road trip if you use an app to help you organize your stops for sightseeing.

Routing your trip in an RV is much easier with the help of a trip planner; with some you can even include the dimensions of your RV. No need to worry about narrow roads and low bridges that can’t handle your rig since they’ll figure out the best and most efficient route for you automatically.

A significant benefit of RV trip planning apps is the ability to locate RV-specific services. The ability to find gas stations, refill stations , service centers, dump stations, and more for your RV is a common feature among trip planning apps.

What is the best way to plan an RV trip?

There are a few things you must do to plan a fluid, versatile, and fun RV trip! To make it easy to understand and take action on your RV trip planning, I broke it up into this list.

1. Pick the right RV for the road trip you’re planning.

A 35-foot Class A motorhome doesn’t leave much room for spontaneity on the road or in the campground. However, a 15-foot Class B van may not provide enough storage space to stock up on goods and create your own gourmet meals. The first priority in arranging a great RV road trip is to ensure that your vehicle is suitable for your intended journey.

2. Come up with a plan that works with your budget.

Costs for fuel, campsites, and food add up quickly on an RV road trip. Depending on the nature of your road trip, you may encounter vast differences in all three.

You can save money on gas and tolls by carefully plotting your route with your RV’s or tow vehicle’s MPG in mind. You should note that a cross-country road trip isn’t necessary for a thrilling experience.

If you plan ahead and set aside money for camping, you can stay in a more luxurious RV park at one stop and save money by boondocking or camping in a state park somewhere else. To save spending money on expensive private campgrounds, some people choose to spend the night in the parking lots of stores such as Walmart, Cracker Barrel, and Cabela’s.

In any case, it’s best to phone ahead and find out what the rules are in each area.

3. If you can, book your campsites far in advance.

Many new RVers find it difficult to accept that available camping spots are hard to come by nowadays. Traveling freely, going wherever the road takes you, is a desire shared by many others (like us!). Sadly, that means the best campsites in state and national parks tend to fill up months in advance, so booking ahead of time is usually your best chance.

You can make sure the campground is right for you by reading reviews online too or asking a RV facebook community for their opinions. Be sure the campground provides the vibe you are going for, whether is be a pool, hot tub, or even just immaculate restrooms.

Be sure to take note of the reservation details, jot down any cancellation conditions and add them to the calendar. That way you can adapt quickly to any changes in your itinerary that may com up on the road; and trust us, things come up on the road.

4. Map out a path that is suitable for a RVs.

When getting from one RV destination to another, many seasoned RV travelers prefer to take the beautiful byways and lesser-traveled back roads. When traveling by RV, you’ll need to adjust your strategy for trip planning accordingly.

Find out whether there are any limits on propane or having a low enough clearance on any bridges or tunnels. The next time you need gas, plan a pit stop that won’t force you to find a spot in a crowded and cramped parking lot too. A steep incline or a series of switchbacks can be dangerous for an RV.

5. Look into RV parking ahead of time.

When you have all the time in the world on your trip then you start to enjoy stopping for no particular reason and discovering hidden gems along the road. When taking an RV, this becomes a little more complicated. Because we love to do this, we now have a standard practice for me to call ahead to attractions on our route and check about RV parking. We’ve had no trouble finding parking at popular tourist destinations from this method.

And what about the unexpectedly enjoyable detours that spring up on the way? See if you can go there and back out using the satellite map on your phone.

6. Time your arrival later than you think.

One of the many frequently made mistakes first-time RVer make is the assumption that they can maintain the same speed as when they are driving a car. Expecting it to happen is unrealistic, so keep that in mind as you plot out your schedule.

In general, it’s a good idea to aim for a speed near 50 miles/hour as your average for the entire trip. Because of this, travel times at gas stations will be more frequent than usual too.

To avoid exhaustion and potential sleepy accidents, try the “3/300 rule,” which states that you shouldn’t travel more than 300 miles in a day and plan to get to your destination before 3 in the afternoon.

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My husband and I are full time RVers in a 45ft 5th wheel toy hauler. I use RV Trip Wizard to plan our route. It has made my trip planning so much easier since I can filter out campgrounds that cannot accommodate our trailer. The ability to check reviews and to go to the campgrounds' websites from the app is also extremely useful. I recommend RV Trip Wizard to other RVers all the time.

If you are worried about low bridges on your trip or where the best, low cost parks are, worry no more because this App is absolutely the best RV trip planer out there. We've tried them all and this ones smokes them all. Spot on! If you have a smart phone or a tablet, RV Trip Wizard works with either, we absolutely rely on it and would not leave our home without planning our route with this tool first. Highly recommend it…

We took a 3 month trip last year and I looked for a good trip planner. I tried winging it with google earth and researching the internet at first. Then I found RV Trip Wizard. I thought I try it. Just a few hours in to planning our trip I was hooked. It has everything I need to plan our trips. Way worth the small price. And the great part it's got better since last years trip. They keep adding and making it better all the time. I've got this years about ready to go and a few small side trips already planned.

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Ultimate RV Trip Planner: A Guide to Planning your RV Road Trip

Post Updated June 2021

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RV travel is one of the best ways to explore the United States! Planning an RV vacation can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re new to the RV life. Not to worry! Two years of full time RV living taught me how to easily plan an RV adventure, and in this ultimate RV trip planner you’ll find a complete guide to planning your RV road trip!

Best Time to RV Across America

The good news is that you can RV the USA any time of the year. If you want to RV across the whole country then a shoulder season like Fall/Spring is best. Alternatively, you can plan your trip based on my seasonal recommendations for the best RV destinations below!

The best time for your RV vacation will depend on the type of scenery you’re interested in seeing. Below I share the best areas of the country for each season.

If you’d like to include Canada in your RV adventure I highly recommend it. Read about the best Canada road trips !

Summer RV Trips

Summer in the Pacific Northwest is absolutely glorious, and not to be missed. If you want to experience gorgeous forest waterfalls, pristine coastal scenery, and crystal clear mountain lakes then summer in Oregon and Washington is your best bet.

Fall RV Trips

New England is known for it’s striking fall foliage, where the leaves turn brilliant shades of orange, red, and yellow. Fall also brings milder weather to the humid east coast, and it’s a great time to explore the Eastern United States.

Winter RV Trips

Snow and ice make RVing much more difficult so for the winter months I’d recommend heading to the southern USA where temperatures are mild and comfortable.

Southern Florida is a popular winter RV destination, but be prepared to pay high prices for campsites and activities.

If you prefer a more affordable, and, in my opinion, more beautiful option, consider RVing the Southwestern United States. In the Southwest free and cheap campsites are plentiful, the dry air makes outdoor activities easier, and some of the most beautiful desert national parks become more accessible.

Death Valley and Joshua Tree National Parks are two excellent options for a winter RV vacation.

Spring RV Trips

Spring is when the high desert really shines, and this is a perfect time to explore all of the beautiful scenery in Northern Arizona and Utah.

If the Grand Canyon and Utah’s Zion National Park are on your bucket list then a springtime RV trip is the way to go!

Should you Rent an RV or Buy an RV for your RV Trip?

Whether you should rent or buy an RV for your USA RV travel is a very personal question. Here I’ll discuss some of the pros and cons of either choice!

How long is your trip?

If you’re only traveling for a week or two then renting an RV makes the most sense. While renting an RV is the more expensive option, it saves a lot of hassle, and is certainly more simple than purchasing an RV.

RV rentals provide you with the peace of mind that the RV is in good condition, and if you run into any mechanical issues the rental company will have you covered.

If you’re traveling for a month or more then you may want to consider purchasing an RV and re-selling it when you finish traveling. We met many travelers on the road who used this strategy for their RV journeys.

How Much Money can you Invest Upfront in your RV Trip?

The major advantage of purchasing a used RV then re-selling it is the fact that you can save the rental fees so that you will only be paying for travel costs (gas, campsites, etc), since you will recoup the cost of the RV at the end of your trip.

The downside to purchasing an RV rather than renting is that you will likely need more money upfront, and you will need to educate yourself on what to look for in a used RV. However, when you’re considering a savings of $7,000 or more (the amount you can expect to spend on a one month RV rental), it may be worth the extra hassle to buy and sell rather than rent.

Where to Rent an RV?

If you decide that RV rental is the best option for your trip then I recommend checking out the rentals on Outdoorsy.

Outdoorsy is a company that manages the rental of privately owned RVs when the owners are not using them.

Renting with Outdoorsy tends to be quite a bit cheaper than renting with a traditional RV rental company, and since you’re renting privately owned RVs you will have lots of different makes and models to choose from.

For more information check out this complete guide to RV rental in the USA!

Best RVs for Families, Singles, or Couples

Whether you’ve decided to rent an RV or purchase an RV for your RVing adventure, you’ll want to consider the type of RV that best meets your needs. RVs come in many shapes and sizes, and the RV you choose will directly impact the cost of your vacation, as well as the types of campsites you can visit on your travels.

Best RV for Family of 4

For families with children, a traditional motorhome makes the most sense, because they tend to provide the most space and the most sleeping options.

Class C motorhomes are an excellent option for families because they feature an over-cab bed that really makes the most of the space in the RV (plus kids love to sleep in these fun, lofted beds).

There are plenty of decent Class C motorhomes on the market, and if you’re purchasing an RV you should be able to find one for less than $20,000. Lazy Daze, Gulf Stream, and Jamboree are all brands to keep an eye out for when you’re searching for your class C RV.

Best RV for Couples

If you’re planning to travel as a couple, and you’re going to purchase an RV, then I am definitely partial to Toyota motorhomes for roadtripping the USA. Toyota motorhomes are micro-RVs, which means they are about the same size as a campervan but thanks to an over-cab bed they feel much more spacious than a campervan.

Read about why we chose a Toyota Motorhome for our RV travels here!

Toyota motorhomes are the best small RV, and they also hold their value well, making them easy to re-sell quickly. The downside to Toyota motorhomes is their age, as the last ones were built in 1993. This means that you need to VERY thoroughly inspect a Toyota motorhome before purchasing it.

If you’d prefer to purchase (or rent) something newer, a campervan is the best RV choice for a couple. Campervans have exploded in popularity lately, and for good reason! Campervans are smaller than traditional RVs, which means they are easier to drive, easier to park, and they get better gas milage than a motorhome.

Campervans are also cheaper than a motorhome, so you can easily find one for less than $15,000 if you’re planning to purchase an RV for your trip. Trusted campervan brands in that price range include Road Trek, Dodge Pleasure Way, and Horizon.

If you’re planning to rent an RV, Outdoorsy features LOTS of campervans, and they are cheaper to rent than a motorhome!

Best RV for Singles

If you’re planning to take a solo RV trip then your options are endless because the smallest RV options will work for you.

Campervans, converted mini-vans, SUVs with rooftop tents, and truck campers are all excellent choices for solo travelers since you won’t need as much space as a couple or family would. You can easily find an RV in this category for around $10,000.

If you’re renting an RV, you will be able to find most of these options on Outdoorsy, especially campervans!

For detailed information on all of the different types of campers, tips for purchasing a camper, and the very best tips and tricks for long term RV travel check out my Ebook- Nomads in Campers: A Step by Step Guide to Living Your Nomadic Adventure.

RV Trip Planner Apps

There are a few apps that make RV trip planning a breeze, and that we use CONSTANTLY on our RV road trips. If you’re the RV road trip planner for your family, then you need these four apps!

Google Maps

This is an app that most people already have on their phone, and if you don’t it’s free to download.

Click here to download Google Maps for Android , and click here to download Google Maps for Apple IOS .

After trying several different mapping apps that claimed to be “the best”, we always found ourselves using Google Maps as our primary mapping app. Google Maps has the most data of any mapping app, and that really makes a difference when you’re in remote areas of the US.

A sweet hack for Google Maps is to check when you’re going to lose cell phone coverage (use the next app in our list for this), and before you reach that point have Google Maps start the directions to your destination. Once you lose coverage Google Maps will still pick up your GPS signal, and it will complete the directions even though you no longer have cell service!

Maps.Me is a great secondary app for when you will be outside cellular coverage for long periods of time. It allows you to download maps to access when you’re offline.

Occasionally we will spend several days in an area with no cellular coverage, and in those cases Maps.Me is great as long as we remembered to download a map of the area before we lost coverage!

Coverage is a free and simple app that allows you to check where you will or will not have cell phone coverage. You can filter the maps by cellular carrier and signal type (LTE, 4G, etc), making it easy to figure out how good your cellular coverage will be in any location.

Trail Wallet

Trail Wallet ROCKS for budgeting your RV trip! This vacation budgeting app was designed by travel bloggers for travelers. It allows you to set a daily budget, or a budget for your entire trip, and it alerts you when you’re overspending.

You can select the categories and currency you want to use for your budget, and it’s free to download!

Best RV Camping Apps

There are two camping apps that will cover all of your RV trip planning needs. These are the only two apps we ever needed while RVing the United States (we certainly tried plenty of other apps, but these two were the BEST).

AllStays is not free, but it is WELL worth the cost. Allstays lists nearly every single official campground and RV park in the USA, both private and public. This app allows you to filter by all kinds of parameters including cost, facilities, campground type (BLM, KOA, etc.), and much more.

AllStays will help you find the best RV parks on your route, and it also lists free overnight parkings spots like Walmart, Cabelas, and casinos.

The app will use your GPS signal to locate all of the nearby campgrounds in seconds, and the provided campground reviews make it easy to choose a place to park for the night!

Unfortunately, this app is only available on Apple IOS at this time ( download it here ), but you CAN use the Allstays website on your Android phone to locate the same information.

iOverlander

iOverlander is the best RV app for finding free campsites. This app is free to download, and crowd sources its information. This means that real RV travelers contribute the GPS coordinates for places they camped, and you can contribute to the app as well!

iOverlander features reviews and photos of campsites, and it also lists services that are useful to RVers such as truck stops, mechanics, and dump stations.

We used iOverlander constantly to find good boondocking sites in both the United States and Mexico.

Best RV Campgrounds

In our experience the best RV campgrounds are not RV parks (in fact, we wrote a whole article about why we avoid RV parks ). Instead, we prefer state and federally run campgrounds which tend to be quiet, affordable, and beautiful!

With that said, sometimes you will have to bite the bullet and stay in an RV park. When this happens be sure to read the reviews beforehand, and don’t forget to ask about discounts! Tom often received a discount at RV parks for being a retired firefighter.

The AllStays app lists BLM, USFS, and state park campgrounds when you search for a campsite, and that’s the easiest way to find publicly owned campgrounds.

Check out this guide for all the information you need to find beautiful, affordable RV campsites!

Best RV Road Trip Routes

The most fun part of planning an RV road trip is choosing where you’ll go! There are so many incredible road trips in the USA it can be tough to choose one!

Here I’ll list our favorite US RV road trips by region. If you have a few months you may be able to do all of these in one trip!

Best RV Route in the Eastern United States- Gettysburg and the Blue Ridge Parkway

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania is one of the famous historical sites in the United States. Here you can learn all about the history of the American Civil War, and walk the fields of Gettysburg, where one of the most infamous Civil War battles took place.

There are tons of RV parks around Gettysburg, so you shouldn’t have any trouble finding a campsite, though the camping in this area is quite expensive.

After Gettysburg make your way south to Shenandoah National Park where you can hop on the gorgeous Blue Ridge Parkway, America’s longest scenic highway!

The Blue Ridge Parkway stretches for 469 miles, and I recommend taking 7 days for this road trip so you can really enjoy all the beautiful sights. The best time for this drive is in the fall when the trees will turn bright red and orange all along the parkway.

Best RV Route in the Southwestern United States- Joshua Tree National Park to Lake Tahoe via Highway 395

Highway 395 is my favorite US road trip for RVers! This spectacular drive begins in Joshua Tree National Park, then takes you north to Death Valley National Park, and along the mind blowingly beautiful Eastern Sierras to Lake Tahoe in California.

I can’t think of any other US road trip as jam-packed with beautiful scenery, while also offering plenty of uncrowded, quiet stops.

This route also features tons of gorgeous, affordable campsites, making it a great option if you’re RVing on a budget!

Be sure to stop in the Alabama Hills, just north of Bishop, CA. There you’ll find several BLM campgrounds that cost just $5 per night, and feature the most beautiful mountain views I’ve seen in ANY United States campground. (Just check out the view from our RV window in the picture below!)

I recommend giving yourself two weeks for this RV trip so you can spend a few days in each national park and still have plenty of time to visit the many sites along the highway (Bishop, the Alabama Hills, Mono Lake, and Lake Tahoe are all must-see stops)!

This drive is best done in the late spring because it will be cool enough to enjoy Joshua Tree and Death Valley, but still warm enough to avoid snowfall in the mountains!

Best RV Route in the Western United States- Highway 101 from Olympic National Park, WA to Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, CA

Highway 101 runs along the Pacific Ocean from Washington all the way to southern California.

Most RVers only ever drive the southern portion of Highway 101 in California, and that is a huge mistake! Highway 101 is actually at its best along the Oregon coast, where the lack of mansions lining the coast means that you’ll actually get to ride along the ocean for most of the drive.

Also, Washington and Oregon both feature well-managed state park systems with beautiful, clean, and affordable RV campsites all along this route. While I do recommend you head all the way to Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park in California (the redwoods are AMAZING), prepare to be disappointed by the campgrounds there.

I recommend taking at least two weeks to complete this epic RV trip so you can spend time hiking, swimming, and really enjoying all of the scenery you encounter! This trip is best done in late spring, summer, or early fall, as the rest of the year will be cold and rainy in this area of the country.

Best RV Route in the Northern United States- Yellowstone and Glacier National Park

Yellowstone and Glacier are two of the most beautiful national parks in the United States, and you can visit them both in one epic RV vacation !

Begin this 962 mile journey in Yellowstone National Park, then make your way through Southwest Montana and up to Missoula. From Missoula you’ll make your way to Glacier National Park, and then loop back to Yellowstone.

Expect to encounter epic scenery, incredible wildlife, and plenty of delicious local food and drink options on this trip. There are many campgrounds along the route, but if you want to stay in the national parks reserve in advance- they fill up fast!

I recommend at least three weeks for this trip, and it should be done in the summer when you won’t have to worry about snow and ice.

Essential RV Road Trip Accessories

There are a few items that you must have with you for a successful RV road trip (no, a cute dog is not required, just highly recommended)!

These are especially important if you plan to spend any nights in remote, wilderness camping areas (BLM land, for example). In our experience, wilderness campsites are the most beautiful and peaceful campsites in America, so you’ll want to be able to enjoy them!

RV Leveling Blocks

You NEED leveling blocks for any RV road trip. These are an absolute essential item. Leveling blocks slip under the wheels of your RV to make sure that it’s completely level.

Keeping your RV level is really important because RV refrigerators don’t work like a normal, in-home refrigerator. RV refrigerators use an internal chemical reaction to cool them down, and the chemicals won’t combine properly unless your RV is level.

If you try to run your refrigerator when your RV is not level it will break, and RV refrigerators are one of the most expensive items in the entire RV.  A new RV refrigerator costs at least $1000 so be smart and keep your RV level!

Click here to check prices on leveling blocks!

Suitcase Style Portable Solar Panel

Solar power gives you so much more freedom in your RV adventures!

Why? Well, when you have solar power you don’t need to search out campsites with electrical hookups or run a loud, stinky generator to meet your basic power needs!

A 100 watt folding suitcase-style solar panel is plenty to run your RV’s basic necessities like your lights and your water pump. This panel easily clips on to your coach battery, so there’s no technical know-how required to use this free, clean power source!

Since this solar panel folds up and has a handle, it’s easy to transport. Another huge perk to a portable panel like this is that you can park in the shade, and then set the panel in the sun!

Click here to check prices on a suitcase style 100 watt solar panel!

Quality Camping Chairs

Camping chairs are SO important when you’re traveling by RV! Sure, a lot of campsites will have a picnic table, but that won’t allow you to sit around the fire, or turn your chair in the direction of the sunset, or take a nap outdoors…you get the idea.

Having a comfortable camp chair is an absolute must on an RV vacation. Once you’re parked in camp you don’t want to have to sit inside your RV all day!

There are two camp chairs that we always travel with, and that we highly recommend:

Zero Gravity Camp Chair

This is the most comfortable camp chair we’ve come across, and we always travel with at least one of these (sometimes two, because we end up fighting over the one)!

This chair reclines back far enough to allow you to take a nap, which means it’s also awesome for reading, sunbathing, and any other relaxing activity.

On a warm night you could easily put a pillow and blankets in this chair and sleep under the stars!

Click here to check prices on zero gravity camp chairs!

Director’s Camp Chair

This camp chair provides the best back support of any camp chair we’ve tried, so if you tend to run into back pain this is the chair for you!

This chair is sturdy, and the seat and backrest stay firmly in position, unlike most camp chairs which tend to buckle a bit under weight. This chair also has a side table with a cup holder, which is really convenient for morning coffee, afternoon beers, evening beers…

Click here to check prices on director’s style camp chairs!

Now you’re armed with plenty of information to prepare you for your first big RV trip!

For much more in depth information on camper travel around North America, check out our Ebook, Nomads in Campers , where we share all of our very best tips and tricks, and tons of other useful information to make your RV travels a success!

For information on taking your RV off the grid, check out my complete guide to RV dry camping and boondocking !

We traveled North America full time for two years in a Toyota Dolphin micro-RV! Read about our favorite RV destination, Baja California, Mexico !

We don’t just travel by RV! Last winter we spent 6 months traveling Southeast Asia with only carry on backpacks! Read all about that adventure here .

Every summer we return to the western United States for our favorite festivals, including Burning Man !

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About The Author

7 thoughts on “Ultimate RV Trip Planner: A Guide to Planning your RV Road Trip”

What a treasure trove of the most interesting and useful information. I plan on using all the apps. Wife and I starting soon with our new tiny camper. It will be ready next month. Maybe we will upgrade to a class c in the future. Thanks for people like who inspire all of use to venture out.

Jake and Cynthia

Thank you so much for the tips, just bought a Dolphin, here we go!

Yay!! Dolphins are the best 🙂 Always happy to hear from fellow Toyota Motorhome owners!

Thanks so much for the comment Jake! And congratulations on your new camper! Camper travel really is the best 🙂

Hola! I’ve been following your blog for a while now and finally got the bravery to go ahead and give you a shout out from Lubbock Texas! Just wanted to mention keep up the fantastic work!

This article was really helpful! We’re planning a 2 month road trip in our class C Winnebago from GA to….somewhere! We haven’t decided where to go yet but this gave me a few ideas. Also THANK YOU for the solar panel link! We don’t have solar and haven’t wanted to install it yet so we may buy this before we hit the road!

Hi Brianna! Glad this was helpful. We LOVE our solar panel, it’s so awesome getting free, clean power! 🙂

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• 11 Best RV Trip Planning Tools

Feb 7, 2023 | RV Guides

Planning an RV trip can be a lot of work, but these tools will make it a fun and stress-free experience! From route planning to finding campgrounds and gas stations, and trying to fit in sightseeing along the way – you can utilize these resources and make it easy to map out your trip in minutes. Check out these 11 best tools to help you plan your next RV trip.

1. RV Trip Wizard – Now called RV Life Trip Wizard

RV Life Trip Wizard is an excellent tool for RV trip planning. It allows you to easily search for campgrounds, RV parks, and other camping options along your desired route. You can also view information about each location, including photos, reviews, and amenities. With RV Life Trip Wizard , you can easily plan your route and find the perfect camping spot for your next RV adventure.RV Life Trip Wizard is unique because it shows all campgrounds regardless of affiliation.

• Over 20,000 campgrounds with reviews from real campers like you.
• Find campgrounds based on discounts like Good Sam, AAA, Passport America, and more.
• Helps you estimate the cost of your trip with gas and campground stays.
• Set driving times and map out points of interest along the way.

Price: Free 7-day trial, $59/year

The nice thing about Togo RV is that they offer a completely free version. 

The app has a lot of benefits outside of trip planning.

With the free version you can take advantage of these great features:

• Find tires and service and repair for your RV, truck, and/or trailer
• Find nearby RV parks and explore the area
• Track RV maintenance with convenient reminders
• RV how-to guides, tips, and tricks

With the paid version you can do even more. Get discounts on lots of things like tires, service and harvest hosts membership.

The paid version Togo RV also grants you access to their large library of checklists and resources.

Price: Free option, Pro version is $49.99/year

3. AllStays

AllStays is a comprehensive RV travel app that provides information about campgrounds, RV parks, and other overnight parking options. The app allows you to search for locations based on your location, desired amenities, and trip budget. It also provides information about RV-friendly businesses, rest areas, and truck stops.

• Filter the map by type and amenities
• Search for campgrounds only or tenting only
• Identifies truck stops, rest stops, dump stations, supplies, RV service, and low bridges
• Can check the weather in the area
• Find military famcamps
• Stores data on your phone so it works without a cell signal

Price: $34.95/year

4. Google Maps

Google Maps is a must-have tool for RV travel. It allows you to plan your route, find campgrounds, and get directions to your destination. With Google Maps , you can also view traffic updates, construction alerts, radar traps, and road conditions, making it an essential tool for RV trip planning. Google maps is free and perfect to use while you’re driving. First, plan your trip using a different tool, then you can use Google maps for directions. Price: Free

RV Parky is a user-friendly app that helps you find RV parks and campgrounds in North America. With RV Parky , you can search by location, desired amenities, and trip budget. It also provides detailed information about each location, including photos, reviews, daily rates, and contact information. The public can add their review, photos, and more, so you can get unbiased opinions about the parking or camping spots you find on the platform. Price: Free

6. CampgroundReviews

Looking for feedback on camping spots from real campers like you? CampgroundReviews is an online community where RV enthusiasts share their experiences and provide recommendations for campgrounds and RV parks. With CampgroundReviews, you can search for campgrounds based on your location, desired amenities, and trip budget. You can also read reviews and get recommendations from other RV travelers, making it an excellent resource for planning your trip. CampgroundReviews is unique because they have campground virtual tours for over 35,000 campgrounds. View each campsite, and simply click it to book it! Price: $99/year

7. Gas Buddy 

With Gas Buddy you can compare gas prices, find the cheapest gas near you, and even save money at the pump. The app provides up-to-date information on gas prices at nearby stations, making it easy to find the cheapest option. You can enter the make and model of your car and calculate the cost of fueling up. The prices on Gas Buddy are updated by users, ensuring that you get the most accurate information possible. With Gas Buddy, you can earn points for reporting fuel prices, which can be redeemed for discounts and other rewards. The app can also be used to plan RV road trips, providing you with information on fuel prices and distance between stops. Some of its key features are:

• Some of its key features are:
• Real-time fuel prices
• Fuel cost calculator
• Gas station locator: With Gas Buddy, you can find the nearest gas station and get directions to it.
• Fuel price trends
• In-app rewards program
• RV Trip planning

Price: Free with paid option

RV Life is an online magazine that provides information and resources for RV enthusiasts. With RV Life , you can find articles and information about:

• Outdoor adventures.
• The magazine also provides a directory of campgrounds and RV parks, making it an excellent resource for planning your trip.

RV Life is affiliated with RV Life Trip Wizard, but they offer so much free advice you can absorb and learn from. They even offer a masterclass so you can become an expert RVer. Price: Free

InRoute is a versatile route planning and navigation app, perfect for RV owners (or renters!). With the following features, it simplifies the process of planning and navigating on road trips:

• Customizable Route Planning RV owners can plan their routes based on the size and weight of their vehicles, ensuring a smooth and safe journey.
• Real-time Traffic Information Stay up-to-date with real-time traffic updates, avoiding any potential delays and taking the quickest route.
• RV-Specific Points of Interest The app includes RV-specific points of interest, such as campgrounds, RV parks, and rest areas, to make it easy for RV owners to find what they need on the road.
• Fuel Cost Estimation The app’s fuel cost calculator helps RV owners estimate fuel expenses and compare the cost of different routes, helping them make informed decisions.
• Detailed Maps InRoute offers customizable maps, including satellite, terrain, and street view, to help RV owners get a better understanding of the road ahead.

InRoute is a nice option because you can also save your routes to your device so they work offline – getting stuck in the middle of nowhere is no longer a problem, your maps will still work.

Price: $29.99/year

10. RV Parks & Campgrounds App

Completely free with no ads, this app will help you find campgrounds and RV parks, view photos and reviews, and plan your trip. Here’s another app option that will help you find gas stations and routes. And it works across North America (USA, Canada, Mexico). Find over 40,000 RV parks, campgrounds, rest areas, gas stations, and stores. RV parks can be sorted by rating. Since the app uses a local database, it’s less dependent on the internet, however the internet is required to view maps and pictures.

Find several types of RV Parks and Campgrounds:

• Privately owned (commercial) RV parks
• Public RV parks including U.S. Forest Service, State Park, County/City Parks, BLM (The Bureau of Land Management), and State Fairgrounds
• U.S. Military Campgrounds
• Jellystone Family campgrounds
• KOA and 1000 Trails (Thousand Trails RV Resort & Campgrounds)
• 55+ Senior Retirement Communities

In addition, the RV Parks & Campgrounds App will help you find RV friendly stores and parking like Walmart, Costco, Camping World, CrackerBarrel, Cabela’s, Rest areas, RV dump stations, Fuel stations, and more!

11. RV Rental Sites & Marketplaces

Every good RV trip starts with a great RV! If you’re looking to rent an RV there’s lots of options.

There are plenty of places you can rent an RV – Outdoorsy, RVShare, Rvezy, and more. These sites make it easy to book your next rental online so you can start planning your RV trip.

If you’re looking for an alternative, Travel Happy RV is a family owned RV rental company in Scottsdale, AZ offering more affordable RV rentals without all the added fees, and the RV’s come fully stocked with everything you need for the perfect road trip.

Whether you’re looking for campgrounds, RV parks, or other overnight parking options, these tools can help you find the best locations for your trip. With the right tools, you can plan your route, find scenic drives and the best gas prices, and plan your activities, making your RV trip a fun and stress-free experience. So, be sure to take advantage of these resources and start planning your next RV adventure today!

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Then $35.99 (that's only $2.99/month), then $49.99 (that's only $4.17/month), then $59.99 (that's only $4.99/month).

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The Best RV Trip Planner Tools of 2024 (Our Top Recs)

The snow is thawing , and the national parks are gearing up for another season, which means it’s time to de-winterize your RV and prepare for your next RV road trip. And this year isn’t going to be like last year. 

No more last minute campsite booking for you. No more putting up to the narrow sardine parking spots because that was the only spot left. And you’re definitely not skipping pitstops and must-see attractions–just because you can’t fit an extra stop in your schedule. 

Nope , this time, you’ll do a little more research and plan your road trip with an RV trip planner. And we’ve got the best options for you right here!

Top RV Trip Planner Tools

RV trip planners are digital tools that make it easy to plan your next road trip. They provide a space where you can:

• Map out your route
• Find awesome campgrounds
• Research points of interest along your route
• Estimate your travel costs

Here are some of the top RV trip planner tools available today. We’ll delve into the features and benefits of seven of these tools:

#1: The Dyrt PRO

The Dyrt PRO offers a bundle of benefits for its subscribers. With the Dyrt PRO, you can lay out the best route to take, and then find the best campgrounds and sightseeing along that route. 

With a database of over 45,000 campgrounds across the United States, and access to over 5,000 campsites that are absolutely free, you’re sure to find the perfect spot to park your RV for the night. 

But the Dyrt PRO is more than just a campground finder. It also pinpoints overnight parking spots , dump stations , and water stations along your route. 

Add to that the additional discounts, no booking fees, and alerts for when a popular campground has a spot open up, and the $34.99/year is totally worth it. 

The Dyrt PRO: Camping maps, discounts & reservations at sold-out sites

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#2: RV LIFE Trip Wizard

RV LIFE app covers all of your RV trip planning needs.

• Plan Routes Using an RV-Safe GPS: The app’s navigation system is designed to provide safe RV routes, taking into account height, weight, and other restrictions for safe, turn-by-turn GPS-guided routes. 
• Find Campgrounds: over 20,000 campgrounds with favorable campground reviews from Good Sam and Passport America. 
• Locate Points of Interest: Stop by all the best sightseeing locations on your route, and plan out how long you’d like to stay.
• Set Your Own Driving Preferences: You decide when to start and how long you want to drive per day. 
• Calculate the cost of your trip: Add up the amount of gas you need and what your campground fees will be. 

You can complete all of these tasks in one centralized place (your computer, tablet, or phone)— all for the small price of $65/year.

RV LIFE Trip Wizard – RV Trip Planner & RV Safe Routes

#3: Allstays RV Trip Planning Resource 

With more than 60,000 pins for…

• RV parks, 
• truck stops, 
• campsites, 
• Weigh stations
• Dump stations
• Walmart parking
• Moose and Elk lodges
• RV Service centers 
• and more…

…across the United States and Canada, Allstays offers a wealth of information for RV travelers to plan their trip. It also features a community-driven feedback system with baked-in user reviews and ratings–all of which provide valuable insights into the quality and amenities of each location.

Pro Tip: Allstays gives you the information to plan your route, but it’s not a trip-planning tool in and of itself. Plug this information into an RV trip planner tool for the perfect RV road trip. 

Allstays LLC Apps on the App Store (apple.com)

Is There an App for RV Routes?

Driving an RV requires another level of awareness. You have to be aware of your height, your RV’s weight, the grades ahead, and the routes that accommodate your RV. 

Now, if you have a class B RV or camper van, then RV routes aren’t as important to you–as most highways, bridges, etc. can support the weight of your Class of RV. 

However, owners of larger RVs need to be aware of them, and an RV route planner is a great tool to bring peace of mind on the road. 

Yes, the Garmin RV GPS

If you’re tired of having to navigate through another app on your phone while you’re driving, then Garmin has something for you. 

The Garmin RV GPS  has a large, 7” display that is readable in landscape or portrait mode. No more straining your eyes or having to zoom in and out of Google Maps while driving. The GPS provides custom RV routing that takes into account the size and weight of your RV. You can also save profiles for different vehicles or trailers.

On top of large-RV-safe routes, the Garmin RV GPS includes:

• Road warnings for upcoming steep grades and sharp curves
• A preloaded directory of RV parks and services
• Compatibility with backup cameras
• Control for vehicle accessories
• The ability to pair with the Garmin Drive app for easy trip planning

And this isn’t a subscription that you have to pay for every year. You’re purchasing a device, so it’s a one-time cost of $449.99 that you can use for years to come. 

Garmin RV 795 | RV GPS Navigator

Save up to $1,200/year on RV storage & parking

Bonus: rv parky.

When planning a road trip, you always want to have a backup plan for when the unexpected (inevitably) happens–be it a tire blowout or engine trouble. That’s where RV Parky is a lifesaver. 

For last-minute route planning and finding places to park close by, RV Parky you can find a place to park your RV quickly . 

The best part? Its free version of the app is all you need. 

RV Parky – Parks & Campgrounds on the App Store (apple.com)

RV Parky – Apps on Google Play

Before You Go

When your road trips come to an end, there’s one more thing you have to plan for… a place to store your RV (at least until your next road trip).  

You want your rig to stay in good condition, so it’s ready to use for the next excursion. For this reason, you’ll want to store it properly, undercover, and away from the elements . 

So where can you find covered or enclosed RV storage in your area?

I’m glad you asked because that’s where Neighbor can help . 

Neighbor is a peer-to-peer RV storage marketplace that offers RV storage that’s up to 50% cheaper than traditional storage options.  

With Neighbor, you can find RV storage options in all 50 states, and you may even find storage spaces in your very own neighborhood . 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is rv trip wizard worth it.

Yes , RV Trip Wizard is worth it for planning RV group trips , as it provides detailed park listings and reviews. 

What Are Some Essential Features to Look for in an RV Trip Planner?

When looking for an RV trip planner, make sure it includes RV-safe routing , a c ampground database , fuel and water station locators , and weather data. 

How Can I Avoid Potential RV Hazards on My Trip?

Use RV trip planners and navigation apps to route based on your RV’s height and weight. These tools will help you avoid low clearances, propane restrictions, steep grades, and toll roads. 

Related Posts

How to plan a cross-country road trip effortlessly, top 10 best rv apps to enhance your road trip adventures, top picks: the best rv gps systems for effortless navigation, the best campgrounds and rv parks near greenville, sc , the best rv road trip routes: rving across america  , top 8 rv camping options in rocky mountain national park.

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