MotionX GPS Drive
Essential Driving Apps
Learn How We Rate ##### Wired
Alternate voices (
.99 each) range from the calming “Graham” to the bizarrely sultry “the Cougar.”
Live voice guidance costs a month or .99 a year.
1/10 A complete failure in every way
2/10 Sad, really
3/10 Serious flaws; proceed with caution
4/10 Downsides outweigh upsides
5/10 Recommended with reservations
6/10 Solid with some issues
7/10 Very good, but not quite great
8/10 Excellent, with room to kvetch
9/10 Nearly flawless
10/10 Metaphysical perfection
Nothing has done more to ease the journey between point A and point B than GPS voice navigation. MotionX is a perfect example, providing clear verbal and visual directions, and sporting a number of useful features—an easy-to-hit mute button, quick search for nearby services like hospitals and coffee shops, and the ability to cut-and-paste addresses from other apps. Live guidance takes into account traffic conditions to get you to your destination more quickly, and it even has an option to remember your parking spot.
$0.99 (iOS) Android user? Try out Sygic. | MotionX GPS Drive
Rating: 9 out of 10
Expedia Hotels
Expedia’s app is designed to help you book a room in a hurry and on the go. Upon launch, it immediately brings up a list of nearby hotels and displays the average per-night price for one person—no taps necessary. Changing dates and numbers is a breeze, requiring neither squinting nor typing.
WIRED Positive and negative reviews in separate lists for easy comparison.
TIRED Selection is a bit thin. Can’t filter by amenities like free Wi-Fi or an onsite gym.
Free (iOS, Android) | Expedia Hotels
Rating: 9 out of 10
iExit
On the interstate, sometimes knowing what’s nearby isn’t as helpful as knowing what’s down the road. iExit displays an easy-to-read list of upcoming exits and rest areas, with colored icons indicating available services, from the standard food, gas, and lodging to camping sites and big-box stores. You can filter the list by category—say, if you need diesel or crave Taco Bell—and by distance from the freeway.
WIRED Push alerts for favorite restaurants.
TIRED Not much help off the interstate.
$0.99 (iOS, Android) | iExit
Rating: 7 out of 10
GasBuddy
Much of your road trip budget goes directly into your gas tank. This app helps you find the cheapest and/or nearest gas. The large Find Gas Near Me button brings up a list of stations within about 15 miles, showing brand, price, and distance. Crowdsourcing enthusiasts can sign up to add more prices to the database.
WIRED Map View displays prices, plus where you are.
TIRED Crowdsourced prices scarce in some areas.
Free (iOS, Android, Windows Phone) | GasBuddy
Rating: 9 out of 10
Yelp
Hungry and on a budget? Ask this local review app to find only cheap restaurants within a mile. Need to pee now while driving in Sketchville at 1 am? Just select Everything and “Open Now” to locate a 24-hour Walmart or dive bar for a pit stop.
WIRED So many categories and filters. Check-ins make you a social nomad.
TIRED A search for the highest-rated bar within 20 miles returned a vegan restaurant with no spirits on the premises.
Free (iOS, Android, Windows Phone) | Yelp
Rating: 8 out of 10
Road Trip Scavenger Hunt
When the license plate game has lost its charm and the little darlings have switched to punching, fire up this lifesaver. It gives everyone something to look for—”a horse” or “the word waffle” or “something striped.” When someone spots their target, tap the player’s name and another challenge pops up.
WIRED Up to six players. Look for words, objects, or both.
TIRED Same challenges show up multiple times per game.
$0.99 (iOS) Android user? Try out Road Trip Travel Games. | Road Trip Scavenger Hunt
Rating: 8 out of 10
Stitcher
This app makes finding verbal company for a late-night drive as easy as spotting Skynyrd on an Alabama jukebox. Browse On-Demand Shows—aka podcasts—and pick something funny, educational, or entertainingly infuriating in just a few taps. Or add shows to Favorites, then set the app to stream the newest episodes.
WIRED Streams live radio, both broadcast and Internet.
TIRED No offline mode for Android—no data connection, no podcasts.
Free (iOS, Android) | Stitcher
Rating: 9 out of 10
