The right apps can transform your RV experience from stressful to seamless. From avoiding low bridges to finding free camping and tracking expenses, here are the essential digital tools every RVer should have.

Navigation & Route Planning

1. RV LIFE GPS & Trip Wizard

Best For: Custom RV-safe routing

• Enter your RV's height, length, and weight—the app routes you around low bridges and weight-restricted roads
• Trip Wizard lets you plan multi-stop trips with mileage and cost estimates
• Offline maps available
• Cost: $79.99/year (includes maintenance logs)

2. Roadtrippers

Best For: Discovering attractions along your route

• Find quirky roadside attractions, scenic routes, and hidden gems
• Plan multi-day trips with fuel, food, and lodging stops
• Syncs across devices
• Cost: Free (Pro version $35.99/year)

3. Google Maps (with RV Height/Weight Awareness)

Best For: General navigation with caution

• Google Maps doesn't have RV-specific routing, but it's still useful for finding services
• Cross-check routes with RV GPS apps to avoid trouble spots
• Cost: Free

Campground Discovery & Booking

4. Campendium

Best For: Finding free and paid camping with real reviews

• User-submitted reviews with photos and cell signal reports
• Shows BLM land, national forests, and Walmart parking spots
• Filter by hookups, price, and amenities
• Cost: Free (Pro version $35/year)

5. The Dyrt

Best For: Tent and RV camping with heavy community input

• Over 1 million campgrounds listed
• Detailed reviews and photos from campers
• Offline maps with PRO subscription
• Cost: Free (PRO $35.99/year)

6. Recreation.gov

Best For: Booking federal campgrounds

• Official booking for National Parks, COE, and BLM sites
• Real-time availability
• Alerts when sold-out spots open up (via third-party tools)
• Cost: Free (booking fees vary)

7. iOverlander

Best For: Off-grid and international camping

• Crowdsourced database of wild camping and boondocking spots
• Includes water fill-ups and dump stations
• Popular with overlanders and international travelers
• Cost: Free

Utilities & Maintenance

8. Sanidumps

Best For: Finding dump stations

• Database of dump stations with user reviews
• Shows free vs. paid options
• GPS navigation to nearest station
• Cost: Free

9. GasBuddy

Best For: Finding cheap fuel

• Real-time gas prices updated by users
• Filter for diesel and card-lock stations
• Potential savings: 10-20¢/gallon
• Cost: Free

10. RV Checklist

Best For: Pre-departure and arrival checklists

• Customizable checklists for departure, arrival, and maintenance
• Prevents forgetting to retract awning or unhook water
• Cost: $2.99

Weather & Safety

11. Weather Underground

Best For: Hyper-local weather forecasts

• More accurate than generic weather apps for remote areas
• Crowd-sourced data from personal weather stations
• Cost: Free (ad-free version $1.99/month)

12. Windy

Best For: Wind and storm tracking

• Critical for avoiding awning-destroying wind gusts and storms
• Animated wind maps and forecasts
• Cost: Free

Money Management

13. Trail Wallet

Best For: Tracking RV trip expenses

• Simple expense tracker designed for travelers
• Daily budget alerts
• Multi-currency support
• Cost: $4.99

Our Essential App Stack

Don't download everything. Here's the core toolkit we recommend:

• Navigation: RV LIFE GPS + Google Maps (backup)
• Camping: Campendium + iOverlander (for free spots)
• Booking: The Dyrt + Recreation.gov
• Utilities: GasBuddy + Sanidumps
• Weather: Weather Underground
• Checklists: RV Checklist (one-time $3 is worth it)

Conclusion

The right apps turn your smartphone into an RV command center. Start with the essentials (navigation, campgrounds, and weather), then add specialized tools as you discover what you need most.

Don't forget to download offline maps and save critical information before heading into areas with spotty cell coverage!