The Best App for Road Trips with Kids
SmartStops is a family road trip planning app that automatically finds playgrounds, parks, and kid-friendly stops at 2-hour intervals along your route. With a database of over 197,000 parks across America—60% with verified amenity data—SmartStops is purpose-built for parents traveling with children ages 0-12. Unlike Google Maps or Roadtrippers, SmartStops optimizes for family happiness, not just speed.
We get it: road trips with kids can be stressful. The backseat meltdowns, the "are we there yet?" on repeat, the frantic Google searches for a decent stop. SmartStops changes all that.
How it works:
No re-planning, no guesswork. Your stops are ready when you are.
⭐ Free 7-day trial • Plans from $4.99 • Built to be accessible for every family
See SmartStops in Action!
Explore real family road trips with actual SmartStops data
Stops Designed for Real Families
Not just any stops—the kind that actually work when you're traveling with kids. Space to play, and nearby essentials so you can check multiple boxes in one stop.
Kid-Friendly Parks
Actual playgrounds where kids can run, climb, and burn energy—not just parking lot stretches
Good Breaks
Stops in cities with reliable facilities—essential for potty training toddlers and long drives
Smart Stop Spacing
Stops spaced every 2-3 hours—the sweet spot for kids' attention spans and bathroom needs
Less Stress, Fewer Meltdowns
Stop before kids get cranky. Prevention is way easier than dealing with car meltdowns
What Makes SmartStops Different
Park-First Planning
We find cities with parks and playgrounds first, then show you what else is nearby—gas, food, coffee. Everything you need in one stop.
Timing That Works
Based on how kids actually travel—not just mileage. Stop intervals designed around attention spans, not arbitrary distance markers.
Plan Before You Drive
Preview all your stops at home, not while you're on the highway with kids asking questions. Less scrambling, more peace of mind.
Multiple Options Per Stop
See several nearby cities for each stop point. If plans change or a playground disappoints, you have backup options ready.
"Finally, a road trip app that gets it."
"We used to spend hours researching stops on Google Maps, Yelp, and random blogs. SmartStops showed us everything we needed in one place—parks, bathrooms, food, all at the right intervals. Our 8-hour drive to Grandma's was actually enjoyable."
— Rachel K., mom of three (ages 3, 6, and 8)
Free guide: How to plan road trips with kids (without losing your mind)
See How SmartStops Works
From planning to navigating, SmartStops makes family road trips simple and stress-free.
Plan your trip in seconds
Enter your start and destination, set your preferences, and let SmartStops find the perfect family-friendly stops.
Discover Kid-Friendly Places with Rich Stop Details
SmartStops helps families discover parks, playgrounds, gas stations, restaurants, and coffee shops with enriched stop information — including distance off route and nearby essentials — so you can make informed choices about where to stop.
Perfect for families with kids ages 2–12.
Parks & Playgrounds
Discover park-anchored stops with primary park picks and distance details, so you know exactly how far off route you'll go for quality playtime
Family-Friendly Food
Find restaurants, cafes, and dining options perfect for families traveling with kids
Gas Stations
Find gas stations near parks and family amenities, with clear distance information to help you plan efficient, kid-friendly fuel stops
Coffee for Parents
See coffee shops near your park stops with distance details, ensuring parents can grab quality coffee without adding unnecessary detours
Why SmartStops Beats Google Maps for Family Road Trips
Looking for a Google Maps alternative? SmartStops is the best app for road trips with kids. Unlike generic navigation apps, our family navigation app is designed specifically for parents traveling with children.
SmartStops
Designed for family travel, not generic navigation
Built from the ground up for parents with kids ages 2-12
Compare route options and explore city choices
See different route possibilities and multiple city options per stop to choose what fits your family
Shows parks, playgrounds, and enriched stop data
See park picks, distance details, and nearby essentials to make informed stop choices
Time stops based on family needs, not just mileage
Perfect 1.5-5 hour intervals aligned with kids' energy levels
Helps prevent meltdowns with perfectly timed break intervals
Strategic stops before kids get restless or cranky
Google Maps
Generic navigation for everyone
Not specialized for family travel needs
Random gas stations and rest areas
No focus on kid-friendly amenities or playgrounds
Stops based on shortest distance
Doesn't consider children's comfort or energy levels
No family-specific planning features
Parents must manually search for kid-friendly stops
Plan Ahead and Compare Your Route Options
The best family road trip planner lets you plan trips ahead, save routes for future use, and explore different route possibilities. Smart parents know that successful road trips with kids require advance planning and the flexibility to choose what works best — SmartStops makes it effortless.
Compare Route Possibilities
Explore your fastest route alongside alternate options. See how different paths affect travel time and available stops, then choose what fits your family best
Explore Multiple City Options
Discover several nearby cities for each stop point. Compare amenities and choose locations that match your family's preferences
Auto-Saved Routes
All your routes are automatically saved. Complete pending routes or re-navigate your favorite family trips anytime
Build Your Trip Itinerary
Plan trips ahead with detailed stop information including parks, restaurants, and activities for each location
Customize Stop Intervals
Choose your preferred stop timing between 1.5-5 hours to match your family's needs and kids' energy levels
Why Plan Ahead?
of parents say planning ahead reduces road trip stress
average time families spend planning a successful road trip
more likely to have a smooth trip when you plan trips ahead
"Planning our route in advance made our 10-hour drive with toddlers actually enjoyable!"
— Sarah M., SmartStops user
Parents Love SmartStops
Real families, real road trips, real relief from road trip stress.
“Saves a lot of time and energy! I used to spend so much time researching stops for gas, food, and coffee. With kids, planning became even more complex. This app helped identify multiple stop options efficiently.”
“You won't regret it! So easy to use for our Houston-to-Fort Worth road trip. Great for identifying safe stopping locations for children and the Google Maps integration consolidated all stops into a single navigable route.”
“The timed intervals are invaluable when traveling with grandchildren. Makes road trips so much smoother. Great app for traveling with kids!”
“Super helpful! Highly recommend for families with young children. Successfully coordinated stops allowing kids to exercise during our family vacation.”
See Our Family Road Trip Planner in Action with Real Routes
Don't just take our word for it. Explore actual SmartStops route data from real family road trips, showing exactly how our family travel planning app finds kid-friendly road trip stops with parks and playgrounds on your route at perfect intervals to keep kids happy. For complete planning strategies to plan road trips for families, check out our ultimate family road trip planning guide.
San Diego → San Luis Obispo
334 mi
California
Denver → Albuquerque
449 mi
Colorado → New Mexico
Raleigh → Washington DC
281 mi
North Carolina → Virginia
Houston → McKinney
270 mi
Texas
View real SmartStops data • See actual family-friendly cities & stops • No signup required
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about planning family road trips with SmartStops.
What is the best app for road trips with kids?
SmartStops is the best app for road trips with kids. It automatically finds playgrounds, parks, and kid-friendly stops along your route at 2-hour intervals. With a database of over 197,000 parks across America—60% with verified amenity data—SmartStops is built specifically for families. Unlike Google Maps or Roadtrippers, it optimizes for kid comfort, not just speed. Plan your stops in SmartStops, then navigate with your favorite maps app.
How do I find playgrounds along my road trip route?
SmartStops is the only app that automatically finds playgrounds along your driving route. Enter your start and destination, and SmartStops shows you cities with quality parks and playgrounds at perfect intervals for kids. Our database includes 197,000+ parks nationwide, with detailed amenity information for over 118,000 of them. Each stop also shows nearby gas stations, restaurants, and coffee shops so you can handle all your needs in one place.
Is SmartStops better than Google Maps for family travel?
For family travel planning, yes. Google Maps excels at navigation but can't find playgrounds along your route, doesn't understand kid stop intervals, and doesn't show family-friendly amenities grouped together. SmartStops handles the planning (finding where to stop), then you use Google Maps for the driving. They work together—SmartStops plans, Google Maps navigates.
How often should you stop on a road trip with toddlers?
Child development experts recommend stopping every 2 hours when traveling with toddlers and young children. SmartStops is built around this principle—it automatically finds quality stops at 2-hour intervals (adjustable from 1.5 to 5 hours based on your kids' ages). Each stop includes a playground or park so kids can burn energy before the next leg.
Is SmartStops free?
SmartStops offers a free 7-day full-access trial with all features unlocked and unlimited searches. After that, choose Weekender ($4.99 for 14 days) for short trips or Adventurer ($39.99/year) for the best annual value. All plans include playground finding, gas station locations, and restaurant suggestions. The app is available on both iOS and Android.
Can I use SmartStops with Apple Maps or Google Maps?
Yes. SmartStops is a planning app, not a navigation app. You plan your route and stops in SmartStops, then tap any stop to open directions in Apple Maps or Google Maps. This intentional design means you get SmartStops' family-focused planning with the real-time navigation of your preferred maps app.
How is SmartStops data different from AI-generated recommendations?
SmartStops uses real, verified location data—not AI-generated suggestions that may be outdated or completely fictional. Our database of 197,000+ parks comes from authoritative sources and is regularly updated. AI chatbots often hallucinate parks that don't exist or recommend closed locations. SmartStops shows you real places with accurate amenity information you can trust.
Who created SmartStops?
SmartStops was created by J & L, parents who experienced firsthand the challenges of road trips with young children. L is a software engineer with over a decade of experience, and J is the mom who ensures the app works for real families. After years of juggling Google Maps, Yelp, and random blog posts to find decent stops, they built the tool they wished existed—designed by parents who actually use it with their own kids.