According to AAA, about 44 million people are expected to travel over Memorial Day weekend, the second-highest Memorial Day traffic forecast ever, at least since AAA began forecasting travel numbers.
As always, most Memorial Day travelers will be on the highways, so we can expect increased traffic congestion, crowded roadside restaurants, higher gas prices and increased traffic to cell towers.
But don’t worry, we’ve got some tech tips to help make your journey a breeze.
First, download these essential apps:
● GasBuddy: This app helps you find the cheapest gas near you. It’s easy to use and provides accurate real-time prices.
● Waze: Forget Apple Maps. Waze is the best navigation app for road trips. It offers real-time traffic updates, accident reporting, and even fun voice options for kids.
● iExit: This app is popular with RVers. It shows you on a map what’s available at each exit. For example, if you decide to “settle” at a restaurant because you’re not sure what else is available, iExit will show you what’s waiting for you at the next few exits.
Next, pack your next gadget.
● Earphones or headset: Entertain your passengers and avoid distractions while driving in the backseat.
● Fast charger: Car USB ports are slow. A fast charger that plugs into the cigarette lighter is a must to keep your devices powered.
● Portable battery packs: These are useful if you need to charge multiple devices.
Finally, a tip about cell phone dead zones: tell everyone to turn airplane mode on for a second and then off – this forces the phone to find the nearest cell tower and usually solves the problem.
With these tech travel tips, you’ll be all set for an amazing Memorial Day road trip!