Travel

Trip Advisors

You’ll Be Needing These Road Trip Apps

With great summer comes great responsibility. None, however, is more urgent than finding the nearest automobile, filling it with gas and road-tripping off into the sunset. But you’ll need provisions. You’ll need meticulously handcrafted playlists. You’ll need Cheez-Its. Also, you’ll need these iPhone apps...

WEATHER OR NOT

Hey, It’s a Route-Specific Weather App

The What: This thing takes into account where you’ll be and when you’ll be there before spitting out a personalized weather forecast based on your exact route.
The Why: If it’s going to be raining on Exit 21B at 3:41pm two Tuesdays from now, you damn well better know about it.
Keywords: Cumulonimbus clouds, Brick Tamland

SHOCK AND LAW

Beating the System One State at a Time

The What: Pure misdemeanor-avoiding genius. More specifically, an app that tells you which laws have changed as you cross state lines. Alcohol sales laws. Cell phone/texting bans. It’s all there.
The Why: If we have to answer that, you’re not doing it right.
Keywords: Super Troopers, open container, above the law

EXIT NOW

Roadside Hidden Treasures, Less Hidden

The What: An app with an uncomfortably enthusiastic name. Also, an app that tells you exactly where to find thousands of roadside treasures otherwise hidden in plain sight—think giant twine balls and Johnny Cash–themed dive bars.
The Why: Johnny Cash–themed dive bars.
Keywords: Johnny Cash–themed dive bars

THE VOICE

Follow a Strange Voice. See Sights.

The What: It displays every major landmark around you. Click on one, and you’ll see pictures. Then you’ll hear a creepy female computer voice reading said landmark’s corresponding Wikipedia page out loud.
The Why: It’s like having your own personal tour guide. With an unsettling voice.
Keywords: Liberty Bell, Battery Park, nightmares

WE’RE THERE YET

For the Anti-Road-Trip Road Trip

The What: In short: it’s a road trip calculator. In long: it tells you the exact distance and estimated travel times between any two points in the world.
The Why: Road trips are about spontaneity, and this... pretty much kills that. But if you happen to get stuck rerouting your grandma to Boca Raton: gold.
Keywords: Break in case of emergency