A passenger prince or princess enjoys being the sidekick in a car while someone else drives. The experience can be addictive because you only need to sit back, enjoy the ride, and focus on your phone for miles. Even though you aren’t behind the wheel, you still play an important role in keeping the driver company, choosing the entertainment, or giving directions.
Your presence makes the ride more interesting and less stressful for the driver. In addition to providing navigation with Google Maps, hidden gems in your device’s store help you make the most of the drive. Here are the top free options I use to inspire you.
9 Toilet Finder
You can’t predict when your body will need to use the bathroom. On long road trips, that urgency can catch you off guard. A toilet finder app ensures you’re never stuck searching for a restroom when you need one the most. This Toilet Finder app taps into Google Maps and uses your location data to find nearby pit stops.
It even shows gender-specific bathrooms and the distance to each one. Photos may also be available if provided by users, and you’ll know whether it’s free or you need to pay. If you spot a restroom that’s not listed, you can add it to the app to help others find it.
8 Calm
Driving meditation is a thing, though it’s not as common as other forms of meditation. If you’re in stressful traffic situations, Calm is one app that will help you prevent road rage and encourage a peaceful mindset.
You can roll up the windows, adjust the air conditioning, and get comfortable with the collection of breath work, reflection, and music tools. Calm offers a seven-day free trial of its yearly plan with premium features. You’ll have access to lessons from experts and 50,000 minutes of content.
7 Fuelio
In the past, you had to pull over, unfold a large paper map, and search for the nearest gas stations, often in unfamiliar areas. It’s fantastic how technology has evolved to the point that you can find them from your phone or car’s infotainment system. Particularly with Fuelio, you can make customizations.
You can input your car’s details, such as how far it can travel on a full tank, its tank capacity, and other specifics. The app will provide more accurate suggestions for gas stations that suit your needs. It also has a calculator that estimates how much you’ll spend on fuel based on the vehicle’s efficiency and the distance you plan to travel.
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6 Wanderlog
Wanderlog is a travel planning app that helps you organize your trips. It asks quite a few questions at the start, but this is to gather the necessary information to provide you with the most relevant and useful suggestions. By learning your preferences, travel style, and destination, it will recommend accommodations, activities, and routes.
After setting up your trip details, you can add and organize reservations, including hotels and car rentals. The app also stores your important travel documents so that they’re easily accessible when needed. The Notes section is where you’ll jot down helpful reminders or tips for the trip. These basic features are free, but offline access and live flight updates, among other features, are locked behind a Pro subscription.
5 Weawow
Google’s stock weather app does a great job, but it’s heavily dependent on location data, which might not be ideal for everyone. If you’re looking for a weather app with more customization options, better widgets, and the choice of skipping sharing your location, Weawow works fine. It’s gaining traction in the Android community. Still, it seems to fly under the radar for many.
Weawow provides hourly and daily forecasts on temperature, humidity, wind speed, Ultraviolet (UV) index, and more. If you feel overwhelmed by information, use the customizable options to display the weather data that matters most. The app is ad-free, free to use, and available in over 50 languages.
4 Uber Eats
Uber Eats is a delivery service and a great guide for finding places to stop and eat during road trips or short drives. Use it to explore nearby restaurants or eateries along your route. The app’s easy-to-use interface allows you to quickly view dining options and see ratings and prices. When you need to stock up on items or run errands before heading home, the app shows you nearby grocery stores. To save time, you can place an order for pickup and skip delivery fees.
3 Parky.AI
It might sound odd to need a parking sign interpreter, but parking signs vary from region to region. When you’re in a foreign place, it’s important to understand the local regulations to avoid fines or having your car towed. Parky AI is an innovative app that helps you avoid these problems.
You’ll use your phone’s camera to scan parking signs in real time. The app analyzes the image and compares it with its extensive database of parking regulations. It interprets the sign and tells you the rules, including whether parking is allowed, if there are time restrictions, or whether you need special permits.
2 First Aid: American Red Cross
No one ever wants to find themselves in an accident or an unfortunate situation. If it happens, you want to know what steps to take, especially when your driver or another passenger’s life is at risk. This First Aid Red Cross app aids you with tools for handling different types of accidents.
It offers classes around cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and other topics. It also has interactive quizzes to test your knowledge and prepare beforehand. Additionally, there’s an emergency contact to help you call from the app.
1 Spotify
It’s not advisable to watch shows on your car’s infotainment system, as it can distract the driver. But that doesn’t mean you can’t listen to music and test your DJ skills. Spotify is a fantastic option as it offers a wide variety of content, including podcasts, curated user playlists, and the option to create your own playlists tailored to the mood.
The app is free, although there are premium plans inside. Subscribing to them is not compulsory unless you want ad-free listening, offline downloads, higher sound quality, and other exclusive content.
Take the fun way home
These apps are more than enough to kick off any road trip or short drive and make it exciting. However, some might not be compatible with car displays, so you can use them on your phone for convenience. If you’d rather use a screen that anyone in the back seat and the front can see, there are more Android Auto apps on the Play Store. Feel free to explore them.
