Drop a digital pin on rest stops when planning vacation route

Published on June 10, 2014 07:41 PM in Driver Tech

Rest stops are ideal for stretching the legs and grabbing a snack. But sometimes you don’t notice the stop until you’ve zipped past it on the freeway. Now smartphone technology is simplifying the search.

Some of the latest apps offer motorists comprehensive details about the rest stops available to them along their trek.

Sean Peck of AppAvenger, which offers the Rest Areas app for the Android platform, urges consumers to consider several questions when choosing the right app for their journey. "You have to ask, 'Is it accurate?' 'How easy is it to use?' 'When was it last updated?' 'How are the reviews?' and 'Will it work without a network connection?'," he said.

Attention to detail is key is creating such an app, and Peck urges consumers to download software that's the most intuitive and suitable to their needs.

An app which offers a filter for the direction of travel can eliminate confusion on exactly where the next stop is.An app should say more than just the location, Peck said. It should offer insight as to what amenities are available (showers, vending machines and pet areas).

Rather than referring to a dusty map stored in the glove compartment, navigators can watch the route unfold in real-time. Such apps can range in price from free to a few dollars and are available on all platforms.

Peck had the following suggestions when choosing a rest stop app:

Find out when the app was last updated and whether it works without a network connection. You don’t want to be driving out of cell range and lose the ability to find nearby rest stops.
Read user reviews. They often have good feedback on using the app and any issues they may have encountered.
Does the rest stop app show amenities such as showers, overnight stops and scenic outlooks? Having these kinds of extras help make your stops more useful and fun.
Look for an app that sets a filter for your direction of travel and eliminates stops that aren’t conveniently located or are on the opposite side of the freeway.