This app works by providing you with a good idea on how your car is running. More specifically, how many true miles per gallon you are getting. These figures are all based upon data you enter over time.
It also shows you the average price for gas you have paying. Its can become very useful when taking those long road trips, especially with the gas prices on the rise. Maybe finally it will force you to go get those small fixes you need to get your car in tip top shape and running as fuel efficiently as possible.
Car Charger/Mount for the iPhone
I know this may not be an app… but what good is your iPhone if it has died?
This iPhone charger is unique for a few reasons; it holds, charges and plays your iPhone up in a device that rotates 360 degrees which allows for hands free calling. In addition to all of that, it also has a built in FM transmitter!
Best of all it has a 3 year warranty. So don’t worry about your clutsy friend in the front seat who tends to break things. 
If you are an AAA member… download this app immediately!
It provides you with information about discounts for AAA members that are neighboring your current location.
It also allows you to enter in your AAA information for special roadside assistance that calls AAA and provides them with your current location. This app is great not only for practical money saving reasons, but also for safety in case anything happens in an area and you are not sure as to where you are. A definite must have for long road trips!
Yelp
You have all heard of the online version of Yelp!
It helps us all find great places to eat or shop and then review it before having the make the long trek there only to be disappointed.
Well now it’s an app too. Whatever you may be craving on your road trip simply open up this app and search nearby, narrow down your search by specifying price, what’s open and distance, but make sure to check out some reviews first because you wouldn’t want to be left disappointed!
Pandora Radio
For those of you that aren’t already avid listeners of Pandora on your desktop; here is the lowdown…
…Pandora is your very own personalized and free radio station, or stations. You choose an artist, genre or song and based upon your selection Pandora will make a radio station that sounds similar to that.
Every once in a while a song may come up that you aren’t that big of a fan of. No problem, just click the thumbs down and they will never play that song again on your station. Pretty neat huh?
Urbanspoon is an app that uses GPS to find restaurants near you. You can filter by neighborhood, price or food type and it also provides reviews of your restaurant choice.
The different thing though about this app is after searching nearby restaurants the app gives you a few different choices in a slot machine display. Simply shake your phone and you will randomly be suggested a restaurant. Shake again if you are not satisfied with the initial suggestion. A great app for those that are indecisive and never can all come up with a restaurant selection.
Still having trouble narrowing down your meal choice? This app may help a little…
…the Restaurants app has the nutritional value of most fast food joints, it may make you think twice about your previous selection and opt for something a little less fatty .
Accident Assistance: iWrecked
Although you always hope for the best, drive safely and take all precautions, accidents do happen.
And if one does, this is a great app to have to get you through it a little easier. It gives you information on the closet police station to call, reminds you of all the different types of photos you need to take to document the accident and gives you a list of towing services (in case it is needed).
Lastly it gives you a checklist of everything you need to have for the accident report. At a time like this, most people aren’t thinking as clearly so this is a great app to keep you on track and not freaking out anymore than need be.
This little app turns your screen completely white and allows for the iPhone to function as a flashlight.
Whether you are searching around in the trunk for something, or stopped at night and checking the car for any trouble, this app can sure help. It also gives you other colors to change the phone to, but I have noticed that white works best for the flashlight purpose.
Speed Traps: Trapster
I am the first to admit, when I’m on those desolate roads that seem to go forever with no other cars in site, I go a LITTLE over the speed limit sometimes. (But just a “little” 
This app helps you avoid speed traps and traffic cameras as you drive through voice warnings which remind you to check your speed and drive safe.
This app helps you to not only keep tabs on when your meter is about to expire, but also where your car is parked so you can fill the meter back up.
This app is really handy on road trips since you usually aren’t familiar with the area when you stop. Losing your car can become quite the ordeal.
Also when you are taking the scenic route and driving along beach towns all of the parking spots are sure to have meters and those beach gift shops sure can suck away a lot of time without you even noticing it, so a reminder can sure come in handy.
Cheap Gas: iGasUp
This app helps you to find the cheapest gas around your current location. The app is only $3 and totally worth it once the savings begin adding up, especially needed for those long road trips!
Although it comes in at one of the most expensive weather apps, it truly has everything you need from radar, wind speed and direction to 7-day forecasts.
And this data is all available for over 10,000 U.S. cities. It also offers 36 hour trend graphs for precipitation, UV index and more. It is a great way to map out your road trip and make that decision to stay in a hotel that night or drive on though to your next destination.
Pinpoint your Location with ZIP Codes
Ever driving through the dessert on a long road trip and wondering where heck you are? You haven’t seen signs in what seems like hours, but now with this simple app you can at least figure out what ZIP Code you are in (even if you have no GPS reception)!
Say your long road trip is going to take longer than just a day, sure you could pull over and go stay in a hotel, but why not take advantage of the great outdoors (especially if the weather permits)?
Here are is a great app if you decide to soak up all nature has to offer and rough it a night by camping outside, or just spend some of your time outside while on your road trip:
See the Stars: GO SKYWATCH PLANETARIUM
While out camping easily locate and identify all of the different planets stars and constellations with a full 180 degree display of the night sky on your iPhone.
You can set it to your city or location specifically and check out 200+ images that come with this app. Hopefully it’s a clear night out so you can enjoy all this app has to offer.
**As an added bonus: they are offering special: 50% off in celebration of The International Year of Astronomy
Ever get bored on those long car rides? These games are sure to have you intrigued and playing for hours….
If you want to play some on your own (and are not the driver) try out:
This app is a 1 person puzzle game, in which you free kittens from their frozen ice cubes by arranging falling blocks. The more ice blocks you set, the more kittens you save!
The falling blocks composed of different kinds of block pieces that need to be arranged in such a way that similar types of pieces are touching in order to eliminate them and keep yourself safe from the line at the top of the screen. As you get better and proceed move up the levels for more and more challenging play. (Tim’s note: this is our game so I’m a little biased; it’s kind of awesome!)
If you want to include the rest of the car:
This app is a multiplayer game where you get to unscramble words of different difficulties. You get 30 seconds to unscramble, but the quicker you are, the better your time is, so imagine the chaos in the car as you all are trying to figure it out in the quickest time possible. The best part about it is, even the driver can play!
{ 1 trackback }
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
We get a lot of road warriors send us their testimonials letting us know that they can’t do without our apps:
Yellow Pages – Has been the #1 downloaded Navigation app for months
http://itunes.com/app/yellowpages
Showtimes – Named “Best Movie App” by Macworld with 4.5 mouse rating, 1.5 mouses higher than our nearest competitors
http://itunes.com/app/showtimes
Hi,
Thanks for the reference.
Tim
…Q: in particular for the restaurant apps: do they also work here in Europe??
I’m waiting for my 3GS to arrive one of these days, and was looking across the App Store already a couple of times (already put quite some on my wife’s 3G – mostly things she in the end doesn’t use), but I didn’t yet get to the restaurant ones.
Any experiences with Yelp / UrbanSpoon / others? in Europe??
Thanks and Greets,
DD
Fun to see the possibilities, now I just need an iPhone which we don’t have service for up here in NW Montana ;-{
Hi Dirk,
I love UrbanSpoon. It’s amazing. I’m not sure if they work in Europe though. Yelp has this on their website about European offerings and it doesn’t look good unfortunately. I can’t find any such item on UrbanSpoon.
Tim
Hi Tammie,
I understand completely. Coverage can be so fickle in different areas.
Tim
To entertain the kids on long trips, check out “Beer 99 Bottles” iPhone app. Its sings “99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall” starting at any number up to 1 vigintillion (10 followed by 63 zeros)., and tells you how long it would take to sing it. Good for short trips or very very very long ones.