Two Roadworthy iOS, Android Apps for Summer Travel (Both Free)

I don’t know about you, but I’ve already been bitten by the summer travel bug. Big time. I’m raring to hit the road. When I do, I’m taking these two apps with me.

GasBuddy (Free for iOS and Android)

GasBuddy is all about finding the cheapest nearby gas. You can sort gas stations by distance or price, and you can view prices for regular, mid-grade, premium and diesel fuel. GasBuddy shows you gas stations in a list, my preferred mode, or on a map. You just tap a station to get its address, phone number and related driving directions.

GasBuddy has a strong social component, too. The app encourages users to report gas prices to earn points and awards. Recent reviews criticised the latest software update; one reviewer complained that you can no longer set and view your favorite gas stations. And because GasBuddy is a free app, you’re exposed to ads on practically every screen.

Still, GasBuddy doesn’t cost anything, and it can save you money during your travels this summer.

YP Local Search & Gas Prices (Free for iOS and Android)

Like GasBuddy, this Yellow Pages app also steers you to the best gas prices, and you can view a list of stations or see them on a map. But unlike GasBuddy on iOS, YP Local Search & Gas Prices provides driving directions to stations using Google Maps (provided you’ve installed it) or Apple Maps.

The Yellow Pages app also provides a restaurant guide that can be used to make reservations via OpenTable; locate nearby banks, coffee shops, drug stores and more; search local deals and events; and find movies and theatres. It’s a handy, GPS-based pocket guide..

One more travel app for the road: National Geographic World Atlas, a $2 iOS app. Its maps aren’t as detailed, in terms of roadways, as some other similar apps, including Rand McNally 2014 Road Atlas ($5) for iPads. But the National Geo app is far superior in other ways. For details read my comparison of the two apps, “Rand McNally Road Atlas for iPad is Mostly a Dead End.”