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Whether you’re a weekend camper, part-time traveler, full-time RVer, or a roadschooling family like ours, the right apps can save you money, prevent costly mistakes, and dramatically reduce travel-day stress.
After thousands of miles on the road, traveling with kids, running a business remotely, and navigating a large rig through cities, mountains, and deserts, these are the top must-have RV apps we personally rely on.
These aren’t theoretical. These are the apps that actually get used on travel days.
1. RV LIFE App + RV LIFE Trip Wizard
Best Overall RV Planning App (Essential)
🔗 https://rvlife.com
If you download only one RV app, make it RV LIFE. It is our literal FIRST STOP when planning any of our RV trips, long or short. We have used it for years now and it’s been a game changer making sure our rig can handle certain routes based on width, height, weight, and everything in between and under the hood.
RV LIFE Trip Wizard is widely considered the gold standard for RV route planning because it was built specifically for RVs—not cars.
Why It’s a Must-Have:
- RV-safe routing based on height, weight, length, and propane restrictions
- Identifies low bridges, steep grades, restricted roads, and hazards
- Integrated campground database
- Syncs between desktop and mobile
- Turn-by-turn navigation with RV considerations
How We Use It:
We use RV LIFE Trip Wizard to plan entire multi-week roadschooling routes, including:
- Rally routes
- National parks
- Museums
- Presidential libraries
- RV resorts and overnight stops
It allows us to see the big picture and the fine details before we ever leave the driveway. In fact, we love it so much, we went an snagged you a link for a free 7 day trial. That’s how we first tested it out on a two week long cross country trip and it blew our socks off! We weren’t more than a couple days in and we knew were were going to keep the subscription. It made our life on unfamiliar roads much less stressful! All we did was plug in our rig’s Make, Model, and year and it pulled the data for us and calculated our safest routes. It’s amazing.
💰 Cost:
- RV LIFE App: Free
- Trip Wizard: ~$49/year (worth every penny)
2. Arvie App
Best for Hard-to-Get Sites, Auto-Booking & High-Demand Destinations
🔗 https://arvie.com
Arvie is one of the most powerful—and most overlooked—RV apps available. Where Arvie truly shines is in securing hard-to-get campsites automatically.
If you’ve ever tried to book:
- Yellowstone
- Zion
- Yosemite
- Grand Canyon
- Or any popular coastal campground
…you know it can feel like trying to buy concert tickets. Kind of like getting a good spot in Northern Arizona in the dead of summer when every Phoenix resident is trying to escape to Flagstaff, Payson, or Pinetop to beat the heat. (IYKYK). This app literally does all of that for you. Select your desired RV resort or campground, select your dates or window you are open to booking, what type of site you are needing or wanting…. and go about your business. Arvie will snag it for you while you sleep… Or work… Or drive. You know, the life stuff that keeps you from hovering over your keyboard 24/7 like some sort of fiend. Highly, HIGHLY reccomend this app. Especially if you have a day job that requires your attention so you can actually afford the trip Arvie is booking for you.
Why Arvie Is a Game Changer:
- Automatic booking feature that monitors availability and books the moment a site opens
- Excellent for high-demand parks and sold-out campgrounds
- Smart itinerary planning
- Includes RV parks, public lands, boondocking, and unique stays
- Clean, fast, modern interface
Why This Matters (Especially for Families & Roadschoolers):
When you’re juggling:
- Kids
- School schedules
- Work
- Travel days
…you don’t have time to sit there refreshing reservation pages at 5:59 AM.
Arvie does the watching for you.
We use RV LIFE for routing + Arvie for booking strategy, and together they are incredibly powerful. I honestly started out with the free version. But within a week I found myself frustrated with the hassle of trying to lock down a specific spot at a specific RV resort we fell in love with… and getting impatient with checking the website constantly. So we bit the bullet and ponied up for the paid version. It worked! And now we’re hooked.
💰 Cost: Free (with optional paid features),
3. AllStays Camp & RV
Best for Filters, Categories & Backup Options
🔗 https://www.allstays.com
AllStays is a classic in the RV world and still one of the most comprehensive databases available.
What It’s Best At:
- Detailed filters
- Shows:
- RV parks
- Campgrounds
- Walmarts
- Cracker Barrels
- Truck stops
- Rest areas
- Dump stations
- Overnight parking
This is the app for RVers who like options, control, and redundancy. It’s especially valuable on long travel days when plans change and you need a backup fast. However… they don’t have a free version. And that’s a huge bummer in my book. I like to test things out before I commit. So, if you are hesitant on what to choose before spending money, I recommed trying RV Life Trip Wizard first. Canceling that membership the first time I signed up for a free trial was easy to do from my phone on the road.
💰 Cost: One-time fee (usually under $10)
4. GasBuddy
Best for Saving Money on Fuel
🔗 https://www.gasbuddy.com
When you’re driving a vehicle that gets 6–9 MPG, fuel is not a small expense. Price differences matter. I also love being able to see ALL the gas options even when in my daily driver in my professional life as a Realtor. Those of you in the real estate space know how much we drive and how important getting quality gas is with a decent price when we are in a new-to-us neighborhood (or state for we RV enthusiasts). Gas buddy is one of those apps that I use regularly both at home and on the road. It’s that helpful. It’s also helpful for figuring out which next truck stop is closer/cheaper without having to flip back and forth between the Love’s and Pilot/Flying J apps. If we are truly only stopping for gas and not needing to overnight and haven’t taken the time to completely plot out our fuel stops in the RV Life Trip Wizard… this is the app to use. Hands down. It’s super quick and efficient and will save your fuel preferences to your default search until you search for something different. If you search for diesel once, it stays that way until you switch to unleaded and vice versa. It makes figuring out your stops on the fly super easy.
GasBuddy helps you:
- Find the cheapest fuel nearby
- Compare prices along your route
- Avoid overpriced stations near tourist areas
We regularly save $20–$40 per fill-up just by checking GasBuddy before stopping.
On a long multi-state trip, that can mean hundreds of dollars in savings.
💰 Cost: Free (And that’s the best part!)
5. Love’s Connect App
Best for RV-Friendly Fuel Stops, Rewards & Quick Overnights
🔗 https://www.loves.com
Love’s is one of the most RV-friendly truck stop chains in the country, and their app makes it even better.
Why RVers Love Love’s:
- Large, easy-to-navigate fuel stations
- Wide turning radiuses (huge for big rigs)
- Clean restrooms
- Consistent layouts (you know what you’re getting)
App Benefits:
- My Love’s Rewards points on fuel and purchases
- Mobile pay
- Exclusive app-only discounts
- Store locator with amenities listed
Overnight Bonus:
Many Love’s locations are friendly to overnight RV parking (always ask the manager, but this is common). On top of that, Love’s has begun rolling out simple RV overnight campgrounds with full hook ups in some of their locations.
You use your app to check in and turn on your electric at your spot (after booking through the app of course) then you’re in! I really love this feature. We’ve had the opportunity to try these stops out a time or two when they first opened on long hauls and they really worked out great. Sometimes when you are just passing through you don’t need anything fancy. Picking a new RV park for just a quick overnight can be hard to know if it’s clean, safe, and if your site will even be an easy in/out situation. And full RV parks or results usually come with a matching price tag. So, if you’re gonna be parked on the side of the road at a truck stop anyway… You might as well dump your black tank and take a long hot shower while you’re at it. We found their RV parks simple, but safe and clean. And what more can you ask for when you are on the road?
For long hauls, this can mean:
- Free overnight stay in designated RV parking
- Full RV park style hook ups in select locations
- Safe, well-lit locations
- Restrooms and food on site
When you’re pushing through 700–900 mile days, this is invaluable.
💰 Cost: Free
6. Pilot Flying J App
Best for Big Rigs, Member Perks & Long-Haul Travel Days
🔗 https://www.pilotflyingj.com
Pilot and Flying J are staples in the RV world, especially for Class A motorhomes and fifth wheels.
Why RVers Use Pilot/Flying J:
- Massive lots
- High-clearance diesel lanes
- Easy in-and-out access for large rigs
- Locations everywhere
App & Member Benefits:
- MyRewards Plus points on fuel and food
- Frequent discounts on diesel
- Targeted offers and promotions
- Mobile fueling at some locations
Overnight Advantage:
Like Love’s, many Pilot/Flying J locations allow overnight RV parking. When you’re in:
- Transit mode
- Bad weather
- A tight schedule
- Or just need to sleep and roll
…this can save you time, money, and stress.
💰 Cost: Free
7. Google Maps (Satellite View)
Best for Final Approach, Tight Turns & Visual Checks
🔗 https://maps.google.com
This probably seems obvious. Or even redundant given our heavy use of the RV Life Trip Wizard. Even with RV-specific routing, we always check the last 1–2 miles using satellite view. But sometimes, you need to make changes on the fly. So double checking distance and accessability for our rig is absolutely necessary. Some times your pre-planned stops fall through or you need to make a quick exit.
This has saved us from:
- Tiny gas stations we couldn’t enter
- Dead ends
- Sharp residential turns
- Campground entrances that were not RV-friendly
Pro Tip:
Before arrival, check:
- Entrance layout
- Road width
- Parking configuration
- Cross-verify with data and route calculated with RV Life Trip Wizard.
Less chance of any type of surprise at the last minute this way. Especially important with:
- Large Class A rigs, Super C’s, or 5th Wheels
- Towed vehicles
- Low-clearance areas
💰 Cost: Free
Why These Apps Matter (Especially for Families & Roadschoolers)
When you’re traveling with:
- Kids
- Homeschool schedules
- Work commitments
- A rolling house
- And limited margin for error
…the right tools make all the difference.
These apps:
- Reduce stress
- Prevent wrong turns
- Help avoid unsafe roads
- Save money
- Improve sleep (truly)
RV travel is incredible—but it rewards preparation.
Our Real-World Setup (What We Actually Use)
On every trip, we run:
- RV LIFE Trip Wizard – Master route planning
- Arvie – Booking strategy & hard-to-get sites
- GasBuddy – Fuel price comparison
- Love’s + Pilot/Flying J apps – Fuel, perks, and overnights
- Google Maps (satellite) – Final approach safety check
This setup has served us across:
- Arizona deserts
- California coast
- Mountain passes
- Midwest plains
- East Coast cities
With these apps, we have found ourselves hard pressed to need anything else. Our travel days and planning are fully covered using these together like I listed out above. That allows us to worry about nothing but just getting there and enjoying the drive.
Final Thoughts: Start With These 3
If you’re new to RVing and want the biggest impact quickly:
- RV LIFE Trip Wizard
- Arvie
- Love’s or Pilot/Flying J App
That trio alone will dramatically improve your planning, booking, and travel days.
Copper State Homeschoolers & Roadschoolers 