Planning a trip can get complicated and difficult if you don't know how to keep yourself organized. If you need some help, you should get a trip planner app to create itineraries while having a map to guide you. They can even advise you on how and where to load up on gas and what roads to use if you choose to road trip instead. Since going through lots of apps can take time away from your trip planning, we made this 10 best list to share our favorite options.
Out of the ones we came across, we felt TripIt stands out the most since it allows you to books flights and hotels, gives you directions, and provides a safety score for different areas. As you go through the trip planner apps on our list, you can also go through the buying guide to see what features you should look for.
Image | 1 ![]() TripIt | 2 ![]() Roadtrippers | 3 ![]() Tripadvisor | 4 ![]() Wanderlog | 5 ![]() Travel Planner - Trip Assistant | 6 ![]() American Automobile Association | 7 ![]() AimzSol Technology | 8 ![]() Sygic | 9 ![]() Gasbuddy | 10 ![]() Polarsteps |
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Name | TripIt | Roadtrippers | Tripadvisor | Wanderlog | Travel Planner | AAA Mobile | GPS Route Planner | Sygic Travel Maps Offline | Gasbuddy | Polarsteps |
Features | A Planner App Focused on Itineraries and Safety | Plan Seven Stops and Find Attractions | An App That Lets You Plan While Looking at Reviews | Allows Multi-Day Itinerary Creation With Unlimited Stops | Plan Trips Based on Your Interests | A Trip Planner With Helpful Services for Car Problems | An App With Multiple Stops and Traffic Updates | A Travel Itinerary With Offline Maps | A Planning App Built Around Saving Gas Money | A Trip Planner That Saves and Shares Your Experiences |
Price | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Trip planner type | Travel package, road trip | Road trip | Road trip | Travel package, road trip | Travel package, road trip | Road trip | Road trip | Road trip | Road trip | Road trip |
Number of stops | 1 | 7 | Not specified | Unlimited | Not specified | 1 | 10 | Not specified | Not applicable | Not specified |
In-app purchases | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No |
Collaboration tools | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Itinerary creation | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
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Here are 10 favorite trip planner apps with a variety of features that can help you with your next vacation! We made our choices based on the points listed in the buying guide below, as well as reviewer comments when available.
$0.00
Trip planner type | Travel package, road trip |
---|---|
Number of stops | 1 |
In-app purchases | Yes |
Collaboration tools | Yes |
Itinerary creation | Yes |
$0.00
Trip planner type | Road trip |
---|---|
Number of stops | 7 |
In-app purchases | Yes |
Collaboration tools | Yes |
Itinerary creation | Yes |
$0.00
Trip planner type | Road trip |
---|---|
Number of stops | Not specified |
In-app purchases | No |
Collaboration tools | Yes |
Itinerary creation | Yes |
$0.00
Trip planner type | Travel package, road trip |
---|---|
Number of stops | Unlimited |
In-app purchases | No |
Collaboration tools | Yes |
Itinerary creation | Yes |
$0.00
Trip planner type | Travel package, road trip |
---|---|
Number of stops | Not specified |
In-app purchases | No |
Collaboration tools | Yes |
Itinerary creation | Yes |
$0.00
Trip planner type | Road trip |
---|---|
Number of stops | 1 |
In-app purchases | No |
Collaboration tools | No |
Itinerary creation | Yes |
$0.00
Trip planner type | Road trip |
---|---|
Number of stops | 10 |
In-app purchases | Yes |
Collaboration tools | No |
Itinerary creation | Yes |
$0.00
Trip planner type | Road trip |
---|---|
Number of stops | Not specified |
In-app purchases | Yes |
Collaboration tools | Yes |
Itinerary creation | Yes |
$0.00
Trip planner type | Road trip |
---|---|
Number of stops | Not applicable |
In-app purchases | No |
Collaboration tools | Yes |
Itinerary creation | Yes |
$0.00
Trip planner type | Road trip |
---|---|
Number of stops | Not specified |
In-app purchases | No |
Collaboration tools | Yes |
Itinerary creation | Yes |
Trip planner apps help you find different locations in the area and offer other useful tools. Let's take a look at common features to see how they can benefit you!
Most trip planner apps will let you plan road trips or create your own travel package, so let's look into the differences between these two options.
Some trip planners focus on road trips. They provide useful information about your current location, like the best roads to take to avoid traffic. These planners differ from GPS systems since they let you create multiple points on the map while providing tons of information on travel destinations, food places, and even tourist sites.
You can also see different detours and locations on the app, allowing you to visit interesting places as you make adjustments to your plans. However, these apps aren't always accurate, so you may get to your destination later than expected.
You can get travel package apps that let you pick your flights and hotels ahead of time. Through them, you can make flying and hotel planning much easier as you book reservations through trip planners. You can also compare rates and prices to get the best deals available.
However, since you need to pay for these reservations ahead of time, you won't be able to make adjustments to your plans during your trip. If you want to plan your trip effectively and always have a place to stay, however, you should look for an airplane trip planner.
As you travel, you will want to find destinations and experiences at your location. If you want to get the most out of your trip, look into apps with information about the area!
Maps are one of the most important tools during a trip since they help you figure out your current location and where to go. Most planner apps include maps that will guide you to specific locations. They also make it easier to navigate busy cities or areas you don't know since they tell you exactly where to go.
On the other hand, apps with detailed maps may use more of your data and drain your battery. But even if you don’t plan to use a map, it never hurts to have one ready if you find yourself in a pinch.
Some apps let you pick stopping points during your trip. Creating a route with different stops helps you plan travel over multiple days. For example, if you travel from California to Washington D.C., you can create multiple stops to keep you on the right pace to arrive on time.
This also helps you save time since these apps will tell you the fastest route to your next stop. You can also use stops to plan out the places you will visit at your destination. However, using multiple stops can cause some people to feel anxious if they don’t reach those locations in a reasonable amount of time.
If you like the idea of plotting out a route, you should pick an app that allows for multiple stops. Some apps may offer as many stops as you want, while others may only let you pick three, so keep this in mind as you pick one.
On top of plotting your route, some apps give you updates about local attractions and food locations in the area. This lets you find something fun to do or a place to eat during your vacation. You can also find new attractions or restaurants through these apps. On the other hand, you may miss out on some hole-in-the-wall spots if the app doesn't have them.
These apps can have additional features that make them more useful during a trip. Make sure you check out these collaboration tools and itineraries to see if you want to use them.
Some trip planner apps include collaboration tools that let you interact with others about your upcoming trip. Collaboration tools make it easy for people to share photos and locations with you, allowing you to add plans to your itinerary.
You can also share your experiences with others and hear their comments. If you want to get input from locals or people who have been on similar trips to you, you can’t go wrong with collaboration tools.
If you plan to get a road trip planner app, you may want to get one with voice support. Voice support is safer since you don’t need to type in addresses as you drive. On top of that, some people will find it easier and faster to say the address or location rather than typing it.
However, voice support can be difficult to use in noisy enviroments since the device may not understand what you said.
Itineraries are programs that let you schedule which locations you will visit at specific times. You can prioritize activities by visiting the most important locations first. Using an itinerary makes things easier when you need to cut out activities if you don't have the time to visit all of them.
They can also reduce your stress during the day since you won't be short on time if you plan effectively. If you like to plan and have everything set up for your trips, you may want to get an app with the ability to make itineraries.
Even though trip planner apps can help you get to your location, you still need supplies to keep your trip running smoothly. Take a look at these top 10 lists to see if you need any of these items for your trip.
Household goods
Home electronics, PC, camera
Cosmetics and skincare
Food and drinks
Kitchen supplies
Clothing
Shoes
Accessories
Kids and baby
Interior and furniture
Hobbies
Outdoor
DIY and tools
Sports and fitness
Pets
Books, CDs, DVDs
Games
Cars and motorcycles
Gifts
Housing equipment and renovation
Smartphones and mobile phones
Mobile data
Investment and asset management
Credit cards and loans
Insurance
Music
Smartphone applications