Canada is the second largest country and navigating your way on the open road does come with some challenges. If you’re a traveller looking to drive across the country, be aware that it’s not all glorious mornings by the warm sunny beach that you have to yourself. While so many social media posts make it look that way, it’s actually a disservice to those who want to experience vanlifing across the country. With so many challenges to overcome, learning about how that type of living really works can be made a little easier is important before you go.
The van life movement has captivated adventurers across Canada, combining the freedom of the road with a few of the comforts of home. It’s not for everyone. There’s a lot to consider and for those embarking on this nomadic lifestyle, several essential apps can make the journey smoother and more enjoyable. Here’s a roundup of the top travel apps every Canadian vanlifer should have on their digital dashboard.
1. iOverlander
A must-have for any road tripper, iOverlander is a comprehensive resource for finding campsites, essential services, and points of interest. This app provides detailed information about the locations that are van-friendly, including user reviews and the availability of amenities like water, showers, and Wi-Fi. Its extensive database is particularly useful for finding off-the-beaten-path spots that are ideal for vanlifers. If you’re vanlifing and don’t have a rushed itinerary, spending time in less popular locations can be enlightening and exciting.
2. GasBuddy
Traveling in a van means keeping a close eye on fuel costs. The price of gas in Canada has become outrageous thanks to the ridiculous taxes that are being added to further impoverish Canadians. With that said, GasBuddy helps travellers save money by locating the cheapest gas stations along their route. Users can update fuel prices to assist their fellow vanlifers, making it a community-driven app that’s great for budget-conscious travelers (which is most vanlifers!).
3. Fuelio
Since gas is so important, you might want to use Fuelio as well. It’s a comprehensive app for tracking your gas mileage and fuel costs. It helps you manage your travel budget more effectively by logging your fuel purchases and vehicle expenses, providing detailed reports and statistics. If you work remotely and expense your gas in your business, this app could help keep track of fuel for accounting purposes.
4. Roadtrippers
You can plan your epic road trip a little more easily with Roadtrippers. This app allows you to map your route while discovering unique stops along the way. You can find an array of stops from scenic viewpoints to quirky roadside attractions. Roadtrippers also provides information on local restaurants, hotels, and natural wonders, making it an excellent tool for planning your journey and finding new adventures.
5. Weather Apps
Weather plays a significant role in the van life experience, influencing everything from travel safety to sleeping comfort. The weather apps in general offer reliable, up-to-date weather forecasts and alerts, helping you avoid severe weather and plan your travel days around the best conditions. Since weather apps tend have some variation between their predictions, it’s best to try a few different ones. Sometimes you’ll find that a specific app is more reliable than others or at least have more detailed info. Make sure not to get caught up in the sensationalized hype of “warnings” from apps such as WeatherCAN that now make it sound like any big storm is a destructive force so strong that you should hide underground. That’s not to say it’s not a good app and you shouldn’t heed its warnings. Just be aware that in attempts to scare you, it has been a little over the top recently.
6. AllTrails
For vanlifers who love to venture into nature, AllTrails is a guide to Canada’s vast network of hiking trails. This app provides detailed trail maps, user-submitted reviews, and photos to help you find the perfect hike, bike ride, or running path. Whether you’re looking for an easy scenic stroll or a challenging mountain trek, AllTrails connects you with nature wherever you are parked. The more you use AllTrails, the more you realize how incredible helpful it can be. Even the shortest, seemingly more insignificant trails are often listed.
7. Park4Night
Finding a safe and legal place to park overnight can be one of the biggest challenges of van life. Park4Night helps alleviate this stress by showing nearby parking options that are suitable for overnight stays. The app includes user comments, providing insights into the safety and amenities of each location. When you’re in central Canada, you may not see other vehicles or places to park for a long period of time so plan accordingly.
8. Flush – Toilet Finder & Map
Speaking of not finding places to park, flush is a practical tool for finding public restrooms. This can be a lifesaver on the road, especially in unfamiliar towns or cities. The app details the location of toilets along with information on accessibility, charge (if any), and the availability of disabled access.
9. Off the Grid
you can manage your energy usage and monitor battery life with Off the Grid. This app is particularly useful for vanlifers who rely on solar power or need to manage their energy reserves while traveling away from conventional power sources. Canada is such a vast country, with relatively few people living outside of the handful of major cities. So having access to power is something you need to think about and deal with regularly.
10. Boondocking
Use the Boondocking app to find free camp site locations. The app is designed for those who want to camp off the beaten path and is populated with locations where you can park overnight without fees, often in remote and beautiful settings. So if other apps such as Park4Night don’t find you the legal parking spots you’re looking for, maybe this one will.
11. Wikicamps Canada
Wikicamps is the ultimate camping companion, specifically tailored to Canadian landscapes. It helps users find campsites, hostels, and information centers, all curated and reviewed by fellow campers. The app also works offline, which is ideal for areas with limited mobile reception.
12. Campendium
This app is a treasure trove for campers and vanlifers. It provides user-generated reviews of campgrounds, RV parks, and national parks across North America (in case you’re travelling across Canada, the US, and Mexico!). It includes details on fees, accessibility, and amenities, making it easier to find ideal spots to park for the night or longer.
13. Star Walk
For those who love stargazing from their van or campsite, Star Walk offers an interactive astronomy guide. The app allows you to easily identify stars, planets, and satellites by pointing your phone at the sky. It makes for a great enhancement to those clear night experiences in the wild. There are other apps that offer similar features as well.
14. Spotify
Long drives require good tunes or engaging podcasts, and Spotify delivers both. With millions of tracks and thousands of podcast episodes, Spotify can keep you entertained for days. Create your playlists or explore the vast array of music curated by others. Make your soundtrack as free-spirited as your travels!
15. Audible
For the long drives across provinces or into remote areas, Audible offers audiobooks and podcasts that can keep you entertained and engaged. From bestsellers to classics, there’s enough variety to suit any taste. This is different from Spotify in that both provide podcasts but Audible has a focus on books.
16. Google Maps
No vanlifer should hit the road without at least one map app and Google Maps is the minimum requirement. Renowned for its detailed and accurate navigation, Google Maps offers real-time traffic updates, route changes to avoid congestion, and the locations of essential services like grocery stores and laundromats. Its offline maps feature is particularly useful when traveling in remote areas with spotty cell service.
17. Maps.Me
Maps.Me provides detailed offline maps for Canada and around the world. For vanlifers, having a reliable, accessible map without needing Internet access is crucial, especially when exploring more remote areas, as mentioned above.
These apps are invaluable tools for anyone living the van life in Canada. Of course, there are more out there but this list is a great start! Have a great trip!
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