Have you been designated as the RV trip planner for your next vacation? Though planning a trip can be exhilarating, we also know it can be stressful. With so many places to see, things to do, and people to meet, where do you even start? Well, don’t worry! Like with most things nowadays, there’s an app for that.
And if you’re looking to rent an RV for your trip, check out our guided search right here.
RVs For Rent Near You
Here’s all you need to plan the best RV road trip. We’ll get into:
Best trip planners for RVs
It’s about the journey and not the destination, as they say. And these apps help take the stress out of finding destinations so that you can focus on said journey.
RV route planners
These RV trip planners have it all. They get you from point A to point B and also help you choose worthwhile stops along the way.
Roadtrippers
Roadtrippers is the trip planner app that has it all. Put in your desired destination, your starting point, and whether you’re planning for auto or RV travel. From there, Roadtrippers will show you the best route with potential stops you can make along the way. Add those stops to your route, and you’re ready to roll. Sync your trip to your phone and the app will lead you safely with turn-by-turn navigation.
Along with that, you can also estimate fuel costs and book your stays! And if you’re not sure where you’re headed quite yet, check out their RV trip planner guides.
RV Trip Wizard
Integrated into the RV Life app, RV trip wizard helps you plan your entire trip from the road to the campground. Plan for fees, fuel stops, recreation, and more all on the website. Then when you’re ready you can download the route onto your GPS or the RV Life app, or you can print out a summary.
Gas Buddy
For help finding cheap gas along your route, there’s Gas Buddy. With their trip cost calculator, you can put in your vehicle’s make and model along with your starting and ending destination. From there Gas Buddy will estimate the number of fuel stops, give you the best fuel stops for each fill, and give you an estimated cost.
Campground trip planners
There are plenty of great campgrounds around. The campground trip planners help find the ones on your route that fit your preferences.
KOA RV Trip Planner
With KOA’s Trip Planner, you can search and save your favorite KOA campgrounds on your route. Narrow down your search to match your preferences and let KOA do the rest. Make reservations from there is easy.
Though it’s not a phone app, you can use it on your phone, tablet, or computer.
RV Life
The RV Life app includes navigation for RVers that takes into account steep mountain passes, low clearances, bridge weight limits, propane-restricted tunnels, and the dimension of your vehicle. So whether you’re looking for a campervan route planner or are planning your route with a trailer, you’re covered.
The campground feature lets your filter based on factors including things like pet-friendliness, hookups, group camping availability, and wifi connectivity. And it all works seamlessly with RV Trip Wizard!
RV GPS apps
Sure, there’s Google Maps and Waze; however, depending on the size of your RV, you may encounter some restrictions that these navigation apps don’t take into account.
Togo RV
With Togo RV, you can locate local RV repair services, access helpful RV how-to guides, and more for free. With Togo RV plus, you get all that plus:
- Customized GPS navigation
- Unlimited access to 15k+ boondocking locations with OvernightRVParking.com
- Premium trip planning with Roadtrippers Plus
- Discounts
And a whole lot of other extras!
If you plan to take multiple RV trips or live the digital nomad lifestyle, $39.99 a year is a great deal!
CoPilot GPS
CoPilot RV navigation finds the best route based on your RV specifications. Features like audio navigation, speed limit indicators, and clear road sign and turn lane details make sure you can get to your destination safely.
With the app, you can add up to 50 stops and even search with Yelp to find even more cool places along the ride.
inRoute
The difference between inRoute and other GPS apps is that this trip planner considers weather, elevation, and curves. The voice-guided, turn-by-turn system automatically checks your route for severe weather as you go.
RV trip planner tips
1. Start planning early
The earlier you can start planning the better, especially if you decide to hit the road during one of the busy seasons. Campgrounds, especially at or near National Parks, can be completely booked months in advance. And RV travel is more popular than ever!
If you’re having trouble finding available campsites, check out these alternatives.
2. Make (and stick to) a budget
The most exciting part of being the RV trip planner? Budgeting! Okay, not really. But it must be done. Set your budget before getting into all the nitty-gritty of planning and booking. The budget will help guide your plan!
Here are some helpful blogs to help you plan your RV road trip on a budget:
3. Leave room to roam freely
Plan as much as you can, but always leave a little time to get off the beaten path. That’s the fun of RV travel! You never know what unexpected adventures you’ll find along the way.
Do also note that you won’t be traveling as quickly in an RV as you would in a car, so plan and adjust accordingly!
4. Pack accordingly
What you pack will vary by RV, destination, number of travelers, etc.
Here are a few guides to get you packing just enough:
5. Find itineraries online
Still unsure of where to take your trip or what to do along the way? You can find plenty of sample itineraries online, including on the Outdoorsy blog.
Check out these road trip resources for inspiration:
Get out that planner
It’s time to start planning your RV trip. Pick your dream destination, rent an RV to get you there, and hit the open road!
