CHARLOTTE, N.C. — According to AAA, about 44 million people are expected to travel over Memorial Day weekend, the second-busiest Memorial Day traffic forecast ever, at least since AAA began forecasting travel numbers.
As always, the majority of Memorial Day travelers will be using the highways, so expect increased traffic congestion, crowding at roadside restaurants, higher gas prices, and increased traffic to cell towers.
But don’t worry, we’ve got some tech tips to make your journey smoother.
First, download the following important apps:
● GasBuddy: This app helps you find the cheapest gas near you.
It is user-friendly and provides accurate, real-time pricing.
● Waze: Forget Apple Maps. Waze is your go-to navigation app for road trips.
It offers real-time traffic information, accident reporting, and even fun voice options for kids.
● iExit: This app is popular with RVers because it shows you on a map what’s available at each exit.
For example, if you decide to “settle down” at a restaurant because you don’t know what else is around, iExit will show you what will happen on the next few exits.
Next, pack your next gadget.
● Earphones or headsets: Entertain your passengers and avoid distractions while driving in the backseat.
● Fast chargers: Your car’s USB ports are slow, and a fast charger that plugs into the cigarette lighter is a must to keep your devices powered up.
● Portable battery packs: These are useful if you need to charge multiple devices.
Finally, here are some tips about cellular dead zones. Ask everyone to turn on airplane mode for a moment and then turn it off. This will cause your phone to search for the nearest base station and usually resolves the issue.
With these technology travel tips, you’ll be ready for a great Memorial Day road trip. Have a safe journey!