The Best Apps For A Road Trip
Last Updated on June 11, 2015 by Janell
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and Walmart Family Mobile. All opinions are mine alone. #Save4Summer #CollectiveBias
This summer we are taking a long road trip - we are moving from Florida to Kentucky! We have packed up the moving van and will be on the road today. We will go a little more than half way since we can't go too far with a big truck and 3 little kids.
Our kids are pretty good at road trips. They have books to read, coloring books, and electronics to play with. Every once in a while I will give my youngest my ZTE ZMAX cell phone to play some games. I have had to give it to her a few times because she has really had to go to the bathroom and we weren't near a rest area. It does a really good job of keeping her occupied.
Having a phone with unlimited talk, text, and web with Walmart's Family Mobile Plan makes it affordable to have a cell phone plan. It's just $29.88 per month (for the first line) Unlimited Talk, Text & Data service plan which includes up to 1G of 4G LTE data.
Because I have unlimited data, I don't have to worry about going over and paying extra. So we can actually use the apps. Here are some of the apps I use all the time when we travel.
The phone isn't just good for keeping my kids occupied, I use it too. There are a few apps that really help with the trip. I have GasBuddy. This saves me so much money! Have you every filled up your tank and then gotten a few miles down the road and it was 10 cents cheaper per gallon? With Gas Buddy, you can see the gas prices at the gas stations near you. We are filling up a van and a truck, so I can use all the savings I can get!
Another app I love is the Weather Channel. When we are driving we can know if we are about to hit serious storms or if it is just something small. Usually if it looks pretty bad, we will stop to eat and let it pass.
I can get bored too, so I love that I can browse Facebook and Pinterest while my husband is driving. It helps the time pass and I can stay connected with friends or find great ideas to decorate my house.
My husband has another cell phone company and last month he went over his data limit and his bill is so much than the Walmart Family Mobile Plan. This phone plan saves me lots of money so we can have a little extra money in our budget to do a few fun things this summer.
Another perk about this plan is that it is a "post paid plan". That means that they send me a bill but I am not locked into a contract. So I can cancel anytime. I think when it's time to get my son a cell phone - this is the plan we will use. It is so affordable!
What you need to get started:
- A phone - The ZTE ZMAX is a great option. I love the huge screen!
- Purchase a starter kit for $25. This has a SIM card for your phone.
- Sign up for the Walmart Family Mobile's 4G LTE service for $29.88 per month. You can do this in-store or online once you have purchased your phone and starter kit.
Disclaimer: All prices for phones and plans included in this post are accurate as of the date of posting; however, these prices are subject to change. Please refer to http://cbi.as/ax84 or your local Walmart for current pricing.
With the right apps and unlimited data from Walmart FamilyMobile you can survive any summer road trip!
What are some of your favorite apps to play with when you are having some summer fun? Leave a comment and let me know!
I will have to check some of these apps out! My son loves to read and play games on my phone.
We love GasBuddy. We use it every road trip we take.
Wow thanks so much for this list! Definitely can be helpful on my next family trip!
We don't often go on road trips but this is great to know for if and when we do! I have facebook, pinterest and all those fun social apps!
I'm a freak for weather apps - I always need to know the possible forecast so I can plan my layers, habit from living in Chicago.
We go on road trips a few times a year. This list of apps is a fantastic way to keep up to date while we are traveling.
I have apps for the weather, gas, dining, and lodging on my phone. My tablet is full of games for the kids. I am prepared! =D
I'm leaving for a road trip tomorrow so this post couldn't have come at a better time! Thanks for the great list of apps.
When my kids were small we didn't have all this technology. Now when we go on a trip or just to the store my phone is the first thing I grab. I don't know how I survived without it and love all the app suggestions, Ill be downloading some soon.
These sounds like great apps. I need to download the GasBuddy app. My son loves to play games on his phone mainly Candy Crush. Hope your move goes smoothly.
Those apps will definitely make road trips easier for everyone. I've used GasBuddy a few times when traveling.
I spend most of my free time browsing social media. Thanks for these great app suggestions and wishing you safe travels during your upcoming move.
You gave some great app suggestions. We already use gasbuddy and the weather one...both come in very handy. That phone with unlimited data sounds like a good idea for our two kids that need phones soon.
I have heard about GasBuddy before. It sounds like an app I need to get.
That family plan is great. I have used gasBuddy before.
Apps are a lifesaver even for adults! I am getting ready for my own roadtrip so good timing for post!
We are going camping this weekend and I'm stressing about not having enough for the kids to do. I need to download a few of these for the car.
I have a ton of games to keep the kids occupied on long drives!
I don't know what I'd do without my phone and that goes for my kids too. Between using map apps while traveling, looking up places to eat and as you said, keeping entertained. It can be so costly though. Love knowing about the family plan!
This seems like a great mobile plan. I also like the fact you have the freedom to cancel at anytime without a penalty. Fab!
I must admit my favorite app for road trips is Instagram. I just love looking at all of the pictures and seeing what everyone is up to!
I've been a fan of gas buddy for years. I am always looking for ways to save some money.
I don't know what I did before smart phones/apps. Really, I don't. 🙂 They are life-savers, for sure. I play Candy Crush on long trips, Facebook and Twitter mostly, but my son plays games. The Weather Channel app is a must!
These are great apps. I will have to try Gas Buddy for our road trip. I am excited to get going.
I am so grateful for technology during long, boring things. My kids are little, but they still have heir favorite apps.
I use google maps the most. The last trip I went on my friend drove. She has a GPS app on her phone that is better than my actual GPS
I am on the hunt for a new plan with unlimited data, so I'm definitely going to be checking this out!!!
I need to get that gas buddy app for sure! I'm always running on E!!!
I know - the phone GPS is so much better!
I need to get that gas buddy app. That sounds like a winner!