Hitting the open road is an adventure, but a successful road trip often comes down to smart planning and using the right tools. With the right apps, you can save on gas, navigate easily, and stay safe throughout your journey. Here are seven essential apps every road-tripper should have to maximize savings, efficiency, and fun.
- GasBuddy
GasBuddy is a must-have app for finding the cheapest gas prices near you. It crowdsources real-time fuel price data from users across the country, helping you avoid overpriced stations. You can also track your fuel spending, join challenges, and access a free gas rewards card to earn additional discounts. - Upside
Upside offers real cashback on gas purchases when you check in at participating stations or upload a receipt. The app frequently partners with major gas stations, allowing you to earn up to 25 cents back per gallon in some cases. It’s an excellent tool for stacking savings alongside loyalty programs and reward cards. - Fluz
Fluz lets you purchase discounted digital gift cards for gas brands like Shell and BP, earning instant cashback at the point of purchase. You can buy a gift card for the exact amount needed when you are filling up, making it a seamless way to save money without planning far ahead. Combining Fluz with station loyalty programs can lead to even deeper discounts during a road trip. - Rakuten
Rakuten is typically known for cashback on online shopping, but road-trippers can benefit too. Through Rakuten, you can earn cashback when booking hotels, renting cars, or even shopping for supplies at stores like Walmart and Target. Planning parts of your road trip through Rakuten’s portal can stack significant savings. - Ibotta
Ibotta offers cashback on a wide range of everyday purchases, including groceries, gas, and travel essentials. Ibotta often partners with convenience stores, making it a helpful app for stocking up on snacks, drinks, and other road trip necessities while earning some money back. - Waze
Waze is a real-time navigation app that helps you avoid traffic, road hazards, and even police speed traps. By relying on live user reports, Waze consistently recommends the fastest, most efficient routes. For road-trippers, saving time also means saving gas, making Waze a valuable addition to your app lineup. - Google Maps
Google Maps remains a reliable backup navigation tool and offers excellent trip-planning features. You can pre-load maps for offline use, discover gas stations, restaurants, and hotels along your route, and access detailed business reviews to plan pit stops more effectively.
Maximize Your Road Trip Savings and Experience
The right combination of apps can transform a good road trip into a great one. Use GasBuddy and Upside to find and earn on fuel, Fluz to maximize cashback opportunities, and Rakuten and Ibotta to offset travel expenses. Pair those savings with reliable navigation from Waze and Google Maps to make every mile smoother and more affordable.
