Must-Have Mobile Apps For Your Summer Road Trip

Summer is the perfect time for planning weekend getaways with the family, but instead of flying, many choose to hit the road! When getting ready for an adventurous road trip, you always want to be prepared and organized, especially when you're traveling with your loved ones. With the help of Smartphones, you can beat the stress of having to search for the next gas station or rest stop, and actually enjoy traveling on the road to your vacation spot.

GetPacked: packing list

When looking to hit the road this summer, it’s important to make sure no one leaves any essentials behind (all while making sure not to over-pack the car!) The GetPacked: packing list mobile app helps make packing for the whole family quick and easy.  With a checklist at the palm of your hand, you can choose from over 600 items to put on your list, with the ability to even add your own items.

Roadside America

Make the most of your trip by visiting unique regional monuments and museums along the way. A perfect way to break up the monotony of a long drive, the Roadside America mobile app helps you explore one-of-a-kind attractions nearby. The app even provides directions and detailed information so you won't get lost on your detour.

CheapOair

If you haven't booked a hotel—or have to make last minute changes to your travel plans—rest assure you can find a reputable respite with the CheapOair mobile app. Much like its popular website, the app provides user reviews, pricing information and the best deals of nearby hotels. The app’s 24/7 Live Chat option offers a CheapOair travel specialists is also available to assist in answering any questions or concerns you may have.

Gas Buddy

With the Gas Buddy mobile app, you never have to face the fear of running out of gas again. With this mobile app, users can get the best price per gallon around by using Gas Buddy, an app that displays nearby gas station prices, allowing users to choose the most affordable option in the area. You can also earn points by reporting updated gas prices for a chance to win a $250 gas card.

LocalEats

Driving for hours on end is sure to build up an appetite. While making your way through an unfamiliar city and looking for a restaurant the whole family will enjoy, the LocalEats app allows you to search through recommended restaurants that have been reviewed by local food critics. With so many restaurants to choose from across the country, the app filter restaurants by Top 100, cuisine, neighborhood, feature, savings, price range, hours, bar information, patio seating, vegetarian friendly, and more!

Expense Tracker

For road trippers on a budget, this is the best way to organize your expenses in a spreadsheet format. The Expense Tracker mobile app allows you to easily store your trip costs in several categories: client, expense type, and date. You can even export the data in CSV format, which can be used in a number of other applications.

License Plate Game

This fun app won’t track your journey with GPS or show you where to go, but it will make some of those long stretches of open road more fun. The License Plate Game mobile app takes the age-old license plate game to a whole new level, allowing for passengers (even the kids!) to avoid becoming restless on this memorable vacation and enjoy a classic game that can involve the whole family.

Guest Post: 15 Tips to Make Your Trip to the Pump Less Painful

by  Chris Faulkner

1. Fill up your tank on Wednesday or Thursday before 10 am. Gas prices rise on Thursdays in anticipation of weekend travel.  10 am is when most station owners make their price change for the day.  Unless it is an emergency, do not buy gas Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

2. Don't let your car idle, either when you warm it up or when you are at a standstill. If you're going to be standing for more than a minute, running your engine wastes more gas than restarting the engine.

3. Buy gas when it's cooler during the day (like the early morning or at night) to reduce gas evaporation.

4. Remove unnecessary items in your car. Every 250 extra pounds eats up an extra mile per gallon of gas.

5. Avoid the convenient gas station on the side of the highway as you drive home from work which can be up to $.15 more per gallon. 

6. Save money with self-service and look for gas stations where paying cash costs the same as using a credit or debit card.

7. Double check the attendant and ensure, if you are paying by cash, that “cash” is noted on the pump.  You could lose $.05 a gallon if he mistakenly presses “credit.”

8. Drive less - combine errands, carpool, and plot out the shortest route with a driving website beforehand.  It may sound obvious but it is often overlooked.

9. Check for traffic and detours online or on the radio prior to beginning your drive to avoid wasteful backtracking and idling.

10. Keep your windows closed when driving on the highway. Open windows can reduce your gas mileage by as much as 10%.  In stop-and-go traffic, open the windows and turn off the air conditioning to save more money.

11. Rent fuel-efficient cars when you travel and research reasonably priced places to buy gas before you leave.

12. Confirm with your mechanic what octane gasoline your car’s engine really needs.  Most car engines do not require high octane though the manual will say its "recommended."

13. Download a Gas App for your phone.  If you have a Smartphone, there are plenty of free apps that help you find the cheapest gas near your destination. GasBuddy makes it easy with its free app, and Mapquest has an online finder for gas prices.

14. Buy Discount Gas Gift Cards - Did you know you don't have to pay full price for a gift card? Sites like GiftCardGranny.com offer a diverse selection of discount gas gift cards from various card vendors.

15. Be loyal to one gas company and get rewarded with its cash-back credit card reward program.

 

Chris Faulkner is President and Chief Executive Officer Breitling Oil and Gas, (www.BreitlingOilandGas.com), a Dallas-based independent oil and gas exploration and production company.

Related articles

• Minimizing Pain at the Pump (drivenct.com)