Best RV Apps for Travel Planning in 2026: Essential Tools

Modern RV travel is as much about the apps on your phone as the equipment in your rig. The right combination of mobile tools can help you find campgrounds, locate dump stations, avoid low bridges, discover free camping on public lands, track fuel costs, and navigate safely — all from a single device. But with hundreds of RV apps available, which ones are actually worth installing? Here's our tested list of the essential apps every RVer should have in 2026.

Navigation and Route Planning

RV LIFE Trip Wizard

Best for: Custom RV route planning with size restrictions

RV LIFE Trip Wizard (formerly Togo RV) is purpose-built for RV navigation. You input your rig's height, length, and weight, and the app routes you around low bridges, weight-restricted roads, and tight turns that standard GPS systems ignore. The route planner integrates campground bookings and points of interest directly into your itinerary. The free version offers basic routing; the premium version ($49/year) includes offline maps and advanced route customization.

Google Maps with RV Overlays

Best for: General navigation with real-time traffic

Standard Google Maps doesn't know your RV's dimensions, but it's still the best real-time traffic and navigation tool available. Use it in combination with an RV-specific app: plan your route in RV LIFE or another RV GPS tool, then use Google Maps for turn-by-turn navigation with live traffic updates. This hybrid approach gives you both safety (avoiding RV-inappropriate roads) and efficiency (re-routing around accidents).

Roadtrippers

Best for: Discovering attractions and planning scenic routes

Roadtrippers isn't RV-specific, but it's excellent for planning multi-stop road trips with points of interest, quirky roadside attractions, and scenic byways. The app calculates drive time, suggests overnight stops, and shows you what's worth seeing along your route. Great for the planning phase before you switch to RV-specific navigation for actual driving.

Campground and Camping Spot Finders

Campendium

Best for: User reviews and free camping spots

Campendium combines paid campground listings with extensive coverage of free dispersed camping on BLM and Forest Service land. The user review system is robust — you'll find detailed reports on site conditions, cell coverage, road access, and nearby amenities. The free version is fully functional; the pro version ($29/year) adds offline maps and no ads. Essential for boondockers and budget travelers.

iOverlander

Best for: Off-grid and international travel

iOverlander started as an international overlanding app but has deep North American coverage. It's particularly strong for remote areas where other apps have thin data. The community-submitted database includes free camping spots, water sources, dump stations, propane refills, and mechanic shops. Fully free, works offline, and updated constantly by users. If you're camping off the beaten path, install this.

The Dyrt

Best for: Campground photos and detailed reviews

The Dyrt has one of the largest campground review databases in the RV world. The photo galleries are particularly useful — you can see what sites actually look like before booking. The free version shows basic listings and reviews; the PRO membership ($35.99/year) adds offline maps, exclusive discounts, and booking integration. Strong for researching state park and national park campgrounds.

Dump Station Finders

rvdumpstations.cc (This Site)

Best for: Dedicated dump station searches

Our dump station search tool is purpose-built for finding RV dump stations quickly. Filter by location, cost (including free-only), hours, and amenities. No app download required — it works on any mobile browser — and there are no paywalls or subscriptions. Browse by state using our state directory to plan dump stops before leaving home. For dump station data specifically, this is the most focused and current resource available.

Sanidumps

Best for: Long-established community database

Sanidumps has been around for years and has a large user-submitted database. The mobile site works on any phone browser. Data can be hit-or-miss depending on when a listing was last verified, so cross-reference with a more current source like rvdumpstations.cc before driving out of your way.

Fuel, Propane, and Cost Tracking

GasBuddy

Best for: Finding the cheapest gas along your route

GasBuddy shows real-time gas prices updated by users. Essential for RVers pulling big rigs or driving Class A motorhomes with large fuel tanks. A 10-cent-per-gallon difference on a 100-gallon fill-up saves $10. Filter by fuel type (diesel, regular, premium) and amenities (RV-friendly lanes, truck pumps). Free with no subscription required.

RV Trip Planning by RoadWhiz

Best for: Tracking fuel costs and mileage

This app focuses on the financial side of RV travel. Track fuel purchases, maintenance costs, campground fees, and mileage. Generate reports to see your actual cost per mile and identify where your budget is going. Useful for full-timers and anyone who wants detailed expense tracking. Free with optional premium features.

Weather and Road Conditions

Weather Underground

Best for: Hyperlocal weather forecasts

Weather Underground uses a network of personal weather stations to provide extremely localized forecasts. This matters when you're camping in a canyon, near a coast, or at high elevation where microclimates make standard forecasts unreliable. Free with ads; premium version ($19.99/year) removes ads and adds extended forecasts.

Mountain Hub

Best for: User-reported road and trail conditions

Mountain Hub is a community app where users post real-time reports about road conditions, gate closures, snow levels, and accessibility. Invaluable if you're heading to remote mountain areas or traveling Forest Service roads where official information is sparse. Free and community-driven.

Dump Station, Waste, and Maintenance Trackers

RV Checklist

Best for: Maintenance schedules and checklists

RV Checklist helps you track routine maintenance tasks like dumping tanks, changing oil, checking tire pressure, and servicing appliances. Set reminders for recurring tasks and build custom checklists for departure, arrival, and winterization. Simple, effective, and free.

Satellite Communication (For True Off-Grid Travel)

Garmin inReach

Best for: Emergency communication in areas with no cell service

If you boondock in remote areas where cell coverage doesn't exist, the Garmin inReach satellite communicator is a safety essential. Send and receive text messages, share your GPS location, and trigger SOS emergency response from anywhere on the planet. Requires hardware device ($350+) and subscription service ($14.95+/month). Not an app alone, but integrates with your phone via Bluetooth.

Building Your Essential App Stack

You don't need every app listed here. Start with this core stack and add specialized tools as your travel style demands:

• Navigation: RV LIFE Trip Wizard + Google Maps
• Camping: Campendium or The Dyrt (choose one based on whether you prefer free/dispersed camping or traditional campgrounds)
• Dump stations: rvdumpstations.cc (bookmark the site on your phone's home screen — no app needed)
• Fuel: GasBuddy
• Weather: Weather Underground
• Off-grid: iOverlander (if you boondock regularly)

This six-tool stack covers 90% of what most RVers need for safe, efficient, and enjoyable travel. For more on finding dump stations specifically, see our complete dump station app guide.