Roadtrippers - Detailed Review
Travel Tools
Roadtrippers - Product Overview
Roadtrippers is a versatile and user-friendly road trip planning tool that has been a staple in the travel industry since its launch in 2011. Here’s a brief overview of its primary function, target audience, and key features:
Primary Function
Roadtrippers is a web-based software application and mobile app that helps travelers plan and organize road trips. It allows users to discover and visit independently owned points of interest in the United States and Canada, and it syncs trip plans with the mobile app for turn-by-turn navigation and local discovery on the go.
Target Audience
The target audience for Roadtrippers is diverse and includes various types of travelers such as vanlifers, thrill-seekers, hikers, history buffs, overlanders, and those who champion public lands. It caters to individuals and families planning weekend road trips as well as those embarking on longer RV adventures.
Key Features
- Trip Planning: Users can plan trips by calculating time, gas expenses, and selecting from over 5 million independent locations. The application recalculates mileage and gas costs based on the chosen route and points of interest.
- Points of Interest: Roadtrippers accesses a database of over 5 million points of interest, allowing users to select categories such as accommodations, food and drink, history, nature, culture, shopping, and sports. Users can rate, review, and read reviews from other users.
- Guides and Recommendations: The platform offers curated lists of locations, such as “Diners to Die For” or “Wine Country,” which help users discover unique attractions.
- Hotel Booking: Roadtrippers allows users to book hotels through a meta search feature that displays prices from multiple booking providers.
- EV Charging Stations and RV-Friendly Routes: Recent updates include the addition of EV charging station information and RV-friendly trip routing tools, which consider vehicle dimensions, safety alerts, and route avoidances.
- AI-Powered Trip Planning: The latest innovation, Roadtrippers Autopilot™, uses AI to provide personalized trip recommendations based on users’ interests, preferences, and vehicle type. This feature factors in budget levels and interests to suggest potential stops.
- Syncing and Navigation: Trip itineraries built on the web platform sync with the mobile app, ensuring users have their plans and navigation available on their smartphones.
Overall, Roadtrippers is an essential tool for anyone looking to plan and enjoy a memorable road trip, offering a wide range of features to make the planning and execution process seamless and enjoyable.
Roadtrippers - User Interface and Experience
User-Friendly Design
The app boasts an intuitive design with high-quality graphics and easy navigation. The interface is visually appealing and well-organized, allowing users to quickly find and access the information they need. The app’s layout is straightforward, making it simple for users to plan trips, add stops, and manage their itineraries.
Interactive Map and Planning Tools
One of the key features of Roadtrippers is its interactive map. Users can enter a starting point and an ending point, and the app will suggest a route with various stops based on popular categories such as hotels, sights, outdoor activities, restaurants, and more. This feature allows users to customize their trip plans easily by adding or removing stops with just a click.
Customizable Planning
Roadtrippers offers significant flexibility in planning. Users can create trips with up to 150 stops, depending on their subscription level. The app allows you to keep waypoints of interest on your list but not necessarily on your route, and you can quickly toggle them on or off as needed. This flexibility is particularly useful for planning complex trips or adjusting plans on the go.
Collaboration and Sharing
The app enables seamless collaboration with friends and family. Users can share their trip plans and invite others to contribute, making it easier to plan group trips. This feature is especially helpful for family vacations or trips involving multiple people.
Navigation and Offline Maps
Roadtrippers includes in-app navigation that integrates with your planned trip, favorites, and gas estimates. The app also offers offline maps, which are crucial for areas with poor cell phone signal. This feature ensures that users can get turn-by-turn directions even without a reliable internet connection.
Additional Features
The app is rich in additional features that enhance the user experience. These include estimating gas prices based on the route, finding and saving favorite places, and accessing reviews and photos from other users. Roadtrippers also provides live traffic updates, travel deals, and recommendations for interesting waypoints along your route.
RV and Camping Specific Features
For RVers and campers, Roadtrippers offers specialized features such as campground reviews, comprehensive map overlays for public land and cell coverage, and advanced filtering options. These features help users find the best campsites and plan their RV trips more effectively.
Overall User Experience
The overall user experience with Roadtrippers is positive and engaging. Users appreciate the ease of use, the wealth of information provided, and the ability to plan and adjust trips effortlessly. The app’s AI-powered trip wizard, Roadtrippers Autopilot™, further enhances the experience by offering personalized trip recommendations based on user interests and preferences.
In summary, Roadtrippers offers a seamless, intuitive, and feature-rich user interface that makes planning and executing road trips a breeze. Its ease of use, collaborative features, and comprehensive planning tools ensure a positive and engaging user experience.
Roadtrippers - Key Features and Functionality
Roadtrippers Overview
Roadtrippers is a comprehensive road trip planner that integrates AI to make travel planning more efficient, personalized, and enjoyable. Here are the main features and how they work:Route Planning
Roadtrippers allows users to plan trips with up to 7 waypoints in the free version and unlimited waypoints in the paid versions. You can enter your departure and final destination, and the app will suggest stops along the way, including attractions, landmarks, and other points of interest. Users can add these suggested stops to their itinerary as waypoints.AI-Powered Trip Planning – Autopilot™
The latest feature, Roadtrippers Autopilot™, uses AI to plan trips based on user preferences and vehicle specifications. Here’s how it works:How Autopilot™ Works
- You answer a few questions about your trip, such as where you’re starting and ending, travel dates, vehicle type, and the number of travelers.
- Autopilot™ then generates a trip plan using data from over 38 million real-life trips, covering more than 42 billion miles.
- The AI suggests accommodations, dining options, and activities based on your preferences and price range.
Suggested Stops and Activities
The app provides travel guides that recommend various stops, including hotels, unique stays, attractions, outdoor activities, bars, restaurants, camping sites, and auto services. These suggestions are based on real traveler experiences and can be easily added to your itinerary.Navigation and Maps
Roadtrippers offers turn-by-turn navigation similar to Google Maps. For RV users, the app can customize routes based on vehicle height, weight, and propane status, ensuring safe and suitable routes. Additionally, users can access offline maps, live traffic updates, and various map overlays such as cellular coverage and public lands.Gas Cost Estimator
The app helps users budget their trip by estimating gas costs based on their vehicle’s MPG. This feature is particularly useful for long trips where fuel expenses can be significant.Reviews and Feedback
Users can read reviews from other travelers about destinations and stops along their route. This helps in making informed decisions about where to go and what to do.Collaboration and Sharing
Premium members can collaborate with friends and family to build and edit a single trip. This feature allows multiple users to contribute to the itinerary, making group travel planning easier.RV-Specific Features
For RV travelers, Roadtrippers offers several specialized features:RV Features
- RV-friendly routes and campgrounds that can be booked instantly.
- Access to thousands of boondocking locations through Overnight RV Parking.
- Customized routing based on RV specifications.
Additional Features for Premium Members
Premium members enjoy several additional benefits:- Ad-free experience.
- Unlimited trip planning.
- Exporting trip guides as PDFs or GPX files.
- Access to member discounts from travel partners.
- Various map styles and overlays, including live traffic and cellular coverage.
Roadtrippers - Performance and Accuracy
Evaluating the Performance and Accuracy of Roadtrippers
Evaluating the performance and accuracy of Roadtrippers, particularly with its new AI-driven features, reveals both strengths and areas for improvement.
Strengths
AI-Powered Trip Planning
AI-Powered Trip Planning: Roadtrippers has introduced Autopilot™, an AI-powered trip planner that leverages data from over 38 million real-life human trips and 42 billion miles traveled. This tool quickly generates personalized trip recommendations based on users’ interests, preferences, and vehicle type, making it highly efficient and user-friendly.
Personalized Recommendations
Personalized Recommendations: Autopilot™ asks users a few simple questions to understand their travel style and then combines these answers with real human experiences to build an ideal trip. This approach helps in creating sensible routes with spectacular stops, avoiding backtracking and ensuring a more direct and enjoyable trip.
User Experience
User Experience: Many users praise Roadtrippers for its ease of use, especially in planning complex trips. The app allows users to add up to 150 waypoints, integrate with Google Maps for navigation, and share detailed itineraries with family members. Users appreciate the ability to filter various types of information and the app’s overall convenience.
Limitations and Areas for Improvement
Itinerary Panel Issues
Itinerary Panel Issues: Despite the advancements, some users have reported issues with the itinerary panel, particularly after adding dates to the trip. The panel can become cluttered with excessive whitespace, oversized buttons, and large typography, making it difficult to view the entire itinerary at once.
Segment Highlighting
Segment Highlighting: The maps on Roadtrippers do not highlight different segments of the trip as effectively as some other tools, such as TripWizard. This can make it hard to distinguish between different parts of the route, especially when segments overlap.
Waypoint Management
Waypoint Management: Adding multiple waypoints, such as fuel stops and pit stops, can obscure the total daily distances and travel times, making it less clear how far you’re going on any particular day. This can be frustrating for users who need precise daily totals.
User Feedback and Support
Positive Feedback
Positive Feedback: Many users are highly satisfied with Roadtrippers, praising its support, cost-effectiveness, and the wealth of features it offers. Users appreciate the integration of various types of information and the ease of planning and booking trips.
Support
Support: The support team at Roadtrippers is often highlighted as a positive aspect, with users finding it helpful and responsive to their needs.
In summary, while Roadtrippers has made significant strides with its AI-powered trip planning tool, there are still some areas that need improvement, particularly in the user interface and the handling of multiple waypoints. However, the overall user experience and the app’s ability to streamline trip planning have been well-received by many users.
Roadtrippers - Pricing and Plans
The Roadtrippers App
The Roadtrippers app offers a variety of plans to cater to different types of travelers, each with its own set of features and pricing.
Free Version
The free version of Roadtrippers allows you to plan short trips with several key features:
- Plan trips with up to 5 stops (or 7 waypoints, including the starting and destination points).
- Use the route planner to enter your starting point and destinations.
- Add unique locations along your route.
- Get turn-by-turn navigation.
- Access travel guides and suggested stops such as hotels, attractions, and restaurants.
However, the free version has limitations, including the presence of ads and no offline maps.
Basic Membership
The Basic Membership is priced at $35.99 per year and includes:
- The ability to plan up to 3 trips at a time, with each trip allowing up to 20 stops.
- Export your trip guide as a PDF or create GPX exports of waypoints and routes.
- Additional map styles, including light and dark versions.
Pro Membership
The Pro Membership costs $49.99 per year and offers:
- The ability to plan up to 5 trips at a time, with each trip allowing up to 50 stops.
- Route avoidance options and navigation, allowing you to avoid dirt roads, highways, ferries, or toll roads.
- No ads.
- Collaboration with friends to build and edit trips.
- Export your trip guide as a PDF or create GPX exports of waypoints and routes.
- Additional map styles.
Premium Membership
The Premium Membership is the highest tier, priced at $59.99 per year, and includes:
- The ability to plan unlimited trips with up to 150 stops per trip.
- Autopilot™ AI trip planner, which builds an itinerary based on your preferences.
- Route avoidance options and navigation.
- No ads.
- Collaboration with friends.
- Offline maps.
- Live traffic conditions.
- Discounts and deals from travel partners.
- Export your trip guide as a PDF or create GPX exports of waypoints and routes.
- Additional map styles.
Additional Offers
- Roadtrippers also offers a free 7-day trial period for planning your first road trip.
- There are promo codes available, such as BTR5QTP, which can give you $5 off the Premium membership, reducing the cost to $24.99 per year.
Summary
In summary, Roadtrippers provides a range of options to suit different travel needs, from a free version for short trips to premium memberships with extensive features for more complex and frequent travel planning.
Roadtrippers - Integration and Compatibility
The Roadtrippers App
The Roadtrippers app is a versatile and integrated travel planning tool that offers seamless compatibility across various platforms and devices, making it a convenient choice for travelers.
Cross-Platform Compatibility
Roadtrippers is available on both iOS and Android devices. For iOS users, the app requires iOS 16.0 or later, while for Android users, it supports versions 10.x, 11.x, 12.x, and 13.x.
In addition to mobile apps, Roadtrippers can be accessed via the web on any computer, ensuring users can plan and manage their trips from any device with an internet connection.
Browser Support
The web version of Roadtrippers is compatible with major web browsers, including Google Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge. This ensures that users can access the service without worrying about browser compatibility issues.
Multi-Device Access
Users can log into their Roadtrippers account on multiple devices, allowing them to access and manage their trips across different platforms. Any changes made to trips on one device are synced across all logged-in devices, ensuring consistency and convenience.
Integration with Other Tools
Roadtrippers has integrated features from other popular travel and camping apps such as Campendium, Togo RV, and Overnight RV Parking. This integration provides users with a comprehensive resource for finding campgrounds, unique stays, and other travel-related services all within one app.
AI-Powered Trip Planning
The app includes Roadtrippers Autopilot™, an AI-powered trip planning tool that uses data from over 38 million trips to provide personalized and interactive trip recommendations. This feature factors in users’ preferences, vehicle type, budget levels, and interests to suggest optimal routes and stops.
Additional Features
Roadtrippers also offers features like customizable trip planning, RV-friendly GPS navigation, offline maps, and trip collaboration. Users can add up to 150 stops per trip with the Premium membership, and the app provides comprehensive map overlays for public land, cell coverage, and wildfire smoke, among other useful overlays.
Conclusion
Overall, Roadtrippers ensures a seamless and integrated travel planning experience across multiple devices and platforms, making it an invaluable tool for road trippers and campers.
Roadtrippers - Customer Support and Resources
Customer Support Contact Options
Phone Support
The primary and most commonly used method to contact Roadtrippers is through their customer service phone number: (251) 975-8800. This line is available for resolving issues, requesting information, handling activation or cancellation of services, and addressing payment and charge-related queries.
Email Support
For written inquiries, users can send emails to specific addresses. For general customer support, use support@roadtrippers.com. For privacy-related inquiries, use privacy@roadpass.com.
Website Contact Form
Users can also contact Roadtrippers through the “Contact” page on their website. Here, you can fill out a contact form or click on “VISIT HELP CENTER” for technical support or subscription-related questions.
Additional Resources
Help Center
The Roadtrippers Help Center is a comprehensive resource that provides answers to frequently asked questions and technical support. Users can access this by clicking on the “VISIT HELP CENTER” button on the website.
Contact Page
The contact page allows users to reach out for various types of inquiries, including partnerships, affiliate network questions, and media-related inquiries.
Roadside Assistance
For users who have subscribed to Roadtrippers’ Roadside Assistance, help is available by calling 844-204-3610. This service includes dispatching a service vehicle for covered emergencies and reimbursement for authorized services obtained from other providers.
Product Features and Support
Trip Planning Tool
Roadtrippers offers a detailed trip planning tool that allows users to plan road trips, add stops, and get turn-by-turn navigation. The app and website provide features such as offline maps, live traffic updates, and collaboration with friends, especially beneficial for those upgrading to the Roadtrippers Plus membership.
User Guides and Tutorials
For those who prefer visual instructions, there are video tutorials available that demonstrate how to use the Roadtrippers app and website effectively.
Engagement and Availability
Availability
While the exact business hours are not specified, users can contact the support team via phone or email at any time. The longest wait times are typically on Mondays, and the shortest are on Fridays.
24/7 Support
Although Roadtrippers does not explicitly offer 24/7 human support, the resources and help center are always available, providing immediate assistance for many common queries.
By leveraging these support options and resources, Roadtrippers ensures that users can plan and execute their trips with ease and minimal hassle.
Roadtrippers - Pros and Cons
Pros of Roadtrippers
User-Friendly Interface
The app has an easy-to-use interface that simplifies trip planning, allowing users to effortlessly map out their journeys and discover exciting attractions and stops along the way.
Extensive Customization
You can plan trips with up to 150 stops, and the app automatically reroutes when you add or remove stops. This feature is particularly useful for planning multi-day trips with numerous stops.
Offline Maps and Navigation
Roadtrippers allows you to download maps for offline use, which is invaluable in areas with sparse cell service. The app also includes built-in GPS navigation, compatible with CarPlay.
Real-Time Traffic Updates
The app provides real-time traffic updates and road conditions, helping you adjust your route accordingly and avoid delays.
Budget Management
Roadtrippers estimates fuel costs based on your route and vehicle type and provides pricing information for waypoints, accommodations, and restaurants. The AI-powered Autopilot feature can even plan your trip within a specified budget range.
Collaboration Features
You can collaborate with friends and family in real-time to build a better itinerary, making it easier to plan group trips.
Discovery of Hidden Gems
The app helps you discover must-see landmarks, quirky roadside attractions, local eateries, and other unique stops that you might not have found otherwise.
AI-Powered Trip Planning
The Autopilot feature uses AI to create personalized itineraries based on your interests, preferences, and vehicle type. This includes recommendations for accommodations, dining, and activities.
Vehicle-Specific Routing
Roadtrippers offers vehicle-specific routing for cars, RVs, and motorcycles, ensuring that the route is suitable for your vehicle.
Cons of Roadtrippers
Subscription Requirements
Many of the advanced features, including offline maps and the Autopilot AI, require a paid subscription.
Geographical Limitations
The app is currently limited to planning trips in the US, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia.
Feature Limitations on Basic Plans
Some features are only available on the higher-tier plans, which can be a disadvantage for users on the basic plan.
Storage Requirements for Offline Maps
Offline maps require storage space on your device and are only available with the Premium plan.
Trip Duration Limit
The app can only plan trips for up to two weeks at a time.
By weighing these pros and cons, you can make an informed decision about whether Roadtrippers is the right tool for your next road trip.
Roadtrippers - Comparison with Competitors
Unique Features of Roadtrippers
AI-Powered Trip Planning
AI-Powered Trip Planning: Roadtrippers has recently launched Roadtrippers Autopilot™, an AI-powered tool that offers personalized and interactive trip recommendations based on user preferences, interests, and vehicle specifications. This tool leverages data from over 38 million planned trips and more than 42 billion miles to suggest unique and personalized itineraries.
RV-Friendly Features
RV-Friendly Features: Roadtrippers Autopilot™ includes specific features for RV travelers, such as suggesting RV-friendly routes and recommending campgrounds that can be booked instantly. This integration with apps like Campendium, Togo RV, and Overnight RV Parking makes it a comprehensive resource for RV travelers.
Comprehensive Database
Comprehensive Database: Roadtrippers has a vast database of over 7 million unique points of interest, which helps users discover and plan trips extensively.
Competitors and Alternatives
TripIt
TripIt: TripIt is a popular travel planning app that allows users to organize their trips by importing information from emails and other sources. However, it lacks a map view for the entire itinerary and has limited automation capabilities compared to Roadtrippers. TripIt does not offer personalized recommendations or RV-specific features. It is more focused on organizing existing plans rather than suggesting new destinations or routes.
My Scenic Drives
My Scenic Drives: My Scenic Drives is another competitor that focuses on scenic routes and drives. While it provides beautiful and scenic routes, it does not have the same level of AI-driven personalization or the extensive database that Roadtrippers offers. It also lacks the RV-specific features and integrations that Roadtrippers provides.
Atlas Obscura
Atlas Obscura: Atlas Obscura is known for its unique and offbeat travel recommendations. It offers a wealth of information on unusual destinations but does not have the same level of trip planning and navigation tools as Roadtrippers. Atlas Obscura is more about discovery rather than comprehensive trip planning.
TripAdvisor
TripAdvisor: TripAdvisor is a well-known travel planning tool that offers free services and is easy to use. It includes a map to display itinerary locations but lacks the AI-driven personalization and RV-specific features of Roadtrippers. TripAdvisor is more geared towards general travel planning and reviews rather than detailed road trip planning.
Key Differences
Personalization and AI
Personalization and AI: Roadtrippers stands out with its AI-powered Autopilot feature, which provides highly personalized trip recommendations. This is a significant advantage over competitors that do not offer such advanced personalization.
RV Travel
RV Travel: For RV travelers, Roadtrippers is particularly useful due to its RV-friendly route suggestions and campground booking features, which are not as prominently available in other travel planning apps.
Comprehensive Planning
Comprehensive Planning: Roadtrippers integrates features from multiple apps to provide a one-stop solution for road trip planning, including discovery, planning, booking, and navigation. This makes it a more comprehensive tool compared to its competitors.
In summary, while competitors like TripIt, My Scenic Drives, Atlas Obscura, and TripAdvisor offer valuable travel planning tools, Roadtrippers’ unique AI-driven personalization, extensive database, and RV-specific features make it a standout in the category of road trip planning apps.
Roadtrippers - Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions about Roadtrippers
What are the main features of the Roadtrippers app?
The Roadtrippers app offers a range of features to help you plan your road trip. These include road trip planning for trips with up to 150 stops, budgeting tools to estimate gas costs, discovery features for suggestions on accommodation, dining, landmarks, and activities, and navigation for the entire trip. Additionally, it allows collaborative planning with other users, especially with the Roadtrippers Plus and Premium plans.
How much does a Roadtrippers subscription cost?
Roadtrippers offers several subscription plans. The Basic plan costs $35.99 annually and allows up to 20 stops per trip. The Pro plan is $49.99 per year and includes up to 50 waypoints, auto-routing, and trip collaboration features. The Premium plan, which is currently available for a limited time at $44.99 for 15 months (normally $74.99/year), offers up to 150 stops per trip, unlimited trip saves, and other premium features.
What is Roadtrippers Autopilot and how does it work?
Roadtrippers Autopilot is an AI-powered trip planning tool available for Premium members. To use Autopilot, you select the “Plan it for me” option and answer questions about your trip, such as your starting and ending points, travel dates, vehicle type, number of travelers, preferred accommodation and dining options, and activity preferences. Based on this information, Autopilot generates a customized trip itinerary for you.
Can I use Roadtrippers for free?
Yes, Roadtrippers offers a free version of the app. The free version allows you to plan short trips with up to 7 waypoints, includes suggested stops for hotels, attractions, and other points of interest, and provides turn-by-turn navigation and gas cost estimates. However, for more extensive trip planning and additional features, you would need to subscribe to one of the paid plans.
Does Roadtrippers offer any discounts or promotions?
Yes, Roadtrippers occasionally offers promotions and discounts. For example, there is a current limited-time offer for a 15-month Premium membership at $44.99, which is a discount from the regular annual price of $74.99. Additionally, new users can start with a 7-day free trial before committing to a subscription.
Can I plan trips collaboratively with others using Roadtrippers?
Yes, with the Roadtrippers Plus and Premium plans, you can plan trips collaboratively with other users. This feature allows multiple travelers to create, access, and update joint itineraries, making it convenient for group travel planning.
Does Roadtrippers provide offline maps and navigation?
Yes, the Roadtrippers app offers offline maps and navigation, which is particularly useful when you are in areas with limited internet connectivity. This feature is available in the paid versions of the app.
How does Roadtrippers help with budgeting for a road trip?
Roadtrippers helps with budgeting by estimating the cost of gas for your planned trip based on your vehicle’s MPG. This feature is available in both the free and paid versions of the app, helping you to better plan your expenses before and during your trip.
Can I book hotel stays and restaurant reservations directly through Roadtrippers?
Yes, you can book hotel stays and restaurant reservations directly within the Roadtrippers app. This feature makes it convenient to organize all aspects of your trip in one place.
Is Roadtrippers suitable for RV trips?
Yes, Roadtrippers is suitable for RV trips. The app includes RV-friendly tools, such as suggestions for overnight RV parking, campgrounds, and auto & RV services. These features are particularly useful for those planning RV adventures.
Does Roadtrippers offer reviews and ratings from other travelers?
Yes, Roadtrippers allows you to read reviews from other travelers about destinations along your route. This feature helps you make informed decisions about where to stay, eat, and visit based on real user experiences.