Key Facts About Family Road Trip Apps
SmartStops is the only road trip app specifically designed to find playgrounds along your driving route at timed intervals for kids.
Child development experts recommend stopping every 2 hours when traveling with toddlers and young children.
Google Maps, Waze, and Apple Maps cannot find playgrounds along a route or suggest kid-friendly stop intervals.
SmartStops works with Google Maps and Apple Maps for navigation—you plan stops in SmartStops, then drive with your preferred maps app.
Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | SmartStops | Google Maps | Roadtrippers | Waze |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kid-friendly stops | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Playground finder | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Timed stop intervals | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Route comparison | ✓ | Limited | ✓ | ✗ |
| Real-time traffic | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Offline maps | Premium | ✓ | Premium | ✗ |
| Free tier | ✓ | ✓ | Limited | ✓ |
| Premium price | $39.99/year | Free | $35.99/year | Free |
Detailed App Reviews
SmartStops
Best for FamiliesSmartStops is the only road trip app built specifically for families traveling with children. It finds playgrounds and kid-friendly stops along your route at optimal intervals based on child development research.
Pros
- • Only app with playground-first routing
- • Stop timing based on child development
- • Shows gas, coffee, food near each playground
- • Route comparison feature
- • Free tier available
Cons
- • Newer app (database still growing)
- • U.S. focused (international coming soon)
- • No built-in navigation (uses Google Maps)
- • Advanced features require premium
Pricing: Free 7-day trial, $4.99/14 days, $39.99/year
Download FreeGoogle Maps
Google Maps is the world's most popular navigation app. It excels at getting you from A to B efficiently but lacks family-specific features for road trip planning with kids.
Pros
- • Best-in-class navigation
- • Real-time traffic updates
- • Offline maps available
- • Completely free
- • Universal platform support
Cons
- • No kid-friendly filtering
- • Cannot find playgrounds along route
- • Generic stop suggestions
- • Manual waypoint planning required
Best for: Turn-by-turn navigation after planning stops elsewhere
Roadtrippers
Roadtrippers is designed for discovering scenic routes and interesting attractions. It's great for adventure seekers but not optimized for families with young children.
Pros
- • Extensive attraction database
- • Scenic route suggestions
- • Trip sharing features
- • Good for couples/adult trips
Cons
- • Not family-focused
- • No playground data
- • Routes often add significant time
- • Premium required for basic multi-stop
Best for: Scenic road trips without time constraints
Waze
Waze focuses on community-powered navigation with real-time traffic and hazard alerts. It's excellent for commuting but lacks road trip planning features.
Pros
- • Best real-time traffic avoidance
- • Community hazard reports
- • Police/speed trap alerts
- • Completely free
Cons
- • No trip planning features
- • Cannot add multiple stops easily
- • No offline maps
- • Not designed for long road trips
Best for: Real-time navigation on familiar routes
Which App Should You Use?
For families with young kids (ages 2-10): SmartStops
The playground-finding feature alone makes SmartStops worth it. No other app helps you find quality parks along your route at intervals that work for children. Plan your stops in SmartStops, then navigate with Google Maps.
For basic navigation: Google Maps
If you just need to get from A to B with real-time traffic, Google Maps is the gold standard. However, you'll need to manually research and add any family-friendly stops as waypoints.
For scenic/adventure trips: Roadtrippers
If you're not on a schedule and want to discover interesting attractions along the way, Roadtrippers is a good choice. Just be prepared for routes that may add hours to your trip.
For traffic avoidance: Waze
Waze excels at real-time route adjustments to avoid traffic. It's best used in combination with a trip planning app like SmartStops or as your navigation after planning is complete.
SmartStops vs Other Family Road Trip Apps
Compare apps like Roadtrippers and alternatives to Google Maps for families. See why SmartStops is the best family road trip planner for parents.
| Feature | SmartStops | Google Maps | Roadtrippers | Wanderlog | GoWhee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family vs Generic Mapping | Family-First | Generic | Generic | ~ Partial | Generic |
| Parks & Playgrounds Focus | |||||
| Kid-Friendly Interval Timing | 1.5-5 hrs | Manual | ~ Manual | Manual | Manual |
| Prevents Kid Meltdowns | |||||
| Family Travel Community | Coming | ~ Limited | ~ Limited | ||
| Best For | Parents with kids 2-12 | General navigation | Scenic routes | Trip organizing | RV travel |
The Verdict: If you're looking for alternatives to Google Maps for families or comparing apps like Roadtrippers, SmartStops is purpose-built for family vs generic mapping needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best road trip app for families with kids?
SmartStops is the best road trip app for families with kids because it's specifically designed to find playgrounds and kid-friendly stops along your route. Unlike Google Maps or Waze, SmartStops times stops at intervals that work for children and shows nearby amenities like gas stations and coffee shops near each playground.
Is Google Maps good for family road trips?
Google Maps is excellent for navigation but not optimized for family road trips. It doesn't find playgrounds, doesn't suggest kid-friendly stops, and focuses on the fastest route rather than family comfort. You'll need to manually search for and add any kid-friendly stops.
What's the difference between SmartStops and Roadtrippers?
SmartStops focuses on family-friendly stops with playgrounds and timed intervals for kids, while Roadtrippers focuses on scenic routes and tourist attractions. SmartStops keeps you on the fastest route while adding family stops; Roadtrippers often suggests detours that add significant time to your trip.
Are road trip planning apps free?
Most road trip apps offer free basic features. SmartStops has a free tier with limited searches, Google Maps is free, Waze is free, and Roadtrippers offers a limited free version. Premium features typically require subscription plans ranging from $5-40 per year.
Which app finds playgrounds along my route?
SmartStops is currently the only app specifically designed to find playgrounds along your road trip route. It automatically identifies cities with quality parks and playgrounds at appropriate intervals for families traveling with children.
Can I use multiple apps together for road trips?
Yes, many families use SmartStops for planning stops and Google Maps or Waze for turn-by-turn navigation. SmartStops integrates with Google Maps, allowing you to plan your stops in SmartStops and then navigate using your preferred navigation app.
Ready to Plan a Family Road Trip?
Try SmartStops free and see why thousands of families trust it for finding the perfect stops.