About SmartStops

We built SmartStops, a mobile app that solves one of the biggest challenges of family road trips: keeping everyone happy and energized during long car rides. The core insight came from realizing that cranky kids aren't really upset about the drive itself - they're frustrated from sitting still for hours without being able to move and play. And let's be honest, parents need their fuel too - the caffeine kind.

SmartStops flips the typical road trip planning approach. Instead of just finding gas stations along your route, it finds parks and playgrounds first, then shows you nearby gas stations with your preferred brands, plus restaurants and coffee shops for the grown-ups. This way, every fuel stop becomes a perfect opportunity for kids to run around and play while parents grab that essential coffee or a proper meal.

The app lets families plan routes around these multi-purpose stops - a playground for the kids, a Starbucks for mom's latte, dad's favorite gas station brand, and maybe a quick bite for everyone. It transforms necessary travel breaks into planned family activities that actually recharge both kids and parents, making the journey as enjoyable as the destination.

What started as a personal solution to our own family travel frustrations has grown into something that addresses a real gap in the market. Most travel apps focus on efficiency - getting from point A to B as quickly as possible. SmartStops focuses on making the journey better for families by prioritizing what everyone actually needs: kids need regular opportunities to move and explore, parents need decent coffee and real food, and families need breaks that leave everyone refreshed rather than more stressed.