Top caravan and motorhome apps

Many caravanners and motorhome owners are very tech-savvy nowadays, with a desire to have everything at the touch of a button, whether it be on a tablet, laptop or smartphone.

The world, including the camping and caravanning one, is incredibly easier to access at the tip of your finger. We take a look at some of the great caravan and motorhome apps, giving you all the touring help you need when on the go or when planning your trips!

Apps have been on the market since 2008, growing at an extraordinary rate since the first one was produced for Blackberry, to now having millions across both Apple and Android smartphones and tablets. With these apps opening the doors to so many useful downloads, we take a look at some apps specifically designed for touring, to see if any could help you when preparing for your caravan and motorhome holidays, when on the road when staying in the ‘van or even cooking up a meal on the barbecue and shopping for wine!

Top app tips

1. Look for the hidden costs if there are any, particularly any annual or monthly subscriptions. Try looking for the features which benefit you and your caravan or motorhome.
2. Look into specific apps when travelling overseas.
3. Think about frequent issues you might have with your caravan or motorhome, or when touring, and whether any of these apps will help you out.
4. Think about a backup plan if you have no GPS, phone signal or wi-fi or if see they’ll work without these!

Direction Apps

1. CoPilot GPS Sat-Nav & Traffic

CoPilot is a satellite navigation app, which has routes and directions designed for caravan and motorhome owners. It can be used offline, removing data charges and the app is able to tailor your holiday routes specific to the size of your vehicle – making sure you don’t get stuck down narrow lanes or under low bridges!

For more information: www.apps.apple.com or www.play.google.com

Price: £29.49 – 1-year caravan navigation

2. Maps.Me

An extensive map app with the most remote of locations included – literally the whole of the world is available at your fingertips. Maybe you wouldn’t be scaling the length of the planet in your caravan or motorhome but there are other positives to this app. Like others there are offline maps available, saving your mobile data, plus the app includes ready-made travel guides, directions to points of interest as well as hiking trails and lots of categories to search from, such as restaurants, ATMs, and public transport etc.

For more information: www.apps.apple.com or www.play.google.com or www.amazon.com

Price: From £0.99. Monthly and yearly subscriptions available

Campsite and travel apps 

3. Searchforsites

This app has more than 31,000 motorhome stopovers and touring campsites in Europe. They’re categorised into touring campsites, overnight parking (with or without services), wild camping sites, independent and Club campsites and small campsites. As with other campsite apps, details for each site are shown, including photos, reviews, even weather forecasts and links to sat nav apps or Google Maps.

For more information: www.play.google.com or www.apps.apple.com

Price: Free

4. WikiCamps UK

This app is a crowdsourced database of campsites, caravan parks, water points, information centres and more. There are more than 6,500 site listings which are constantly updated by users.

Filters allow users to narrow down their results for things like pet-friendly sites, showers, electric etc. The content and map can be downloaded so you have all the information in the palm of your hand if you have no Wi-Fi or phone signal. Other features include a camping checklist, trip planner, compass and a satellite dish pointing tool.

For more information: www.play.google.com or www.apps.apple.com

Price: £0.89

5. Campercontact

For motorhomers, the Campercontact app promises to find you a motorhome site that suits you. The app has information about more than 37,000 motorhome sites, service areas and campsites, including GPS coordinates, price, number of pitches, facilities, photos and customer reviews. There’s also the option to save your favourite locations and the app can also be used offline

For more information: www.play.google.com or www.apps.apple.com

Price: FREE

6. Park4Night

Another app for motorhome owners and campervanners. Park4Night allows users to find and share more than 140,000 picnic stops or stopovers across the world! The offline mode enables maps to be downloaded so you can access them if you have no mobile data.

For more information: www.play.google.com or www.apps.apple.com

Price: £8.99 annual subscription or £1.79 monthly

7. ACSI Campsites Europe

From Europe’s campsite specialist ACSI, its app has information on 9,500 European campsites. Using GPS technology, you can see which campsites are near where you’re travelling, or you can search for specific campsites by name. Handy filters, such as price, amenities and region help you to find a campsite to meet your needs. You can also book via the ACSI app too and leave a review after your stay.

For more information: www.play.google.com or www.apps.apple.com  

Price: Free trial. In-app purchases from £1.99

8. Campsites and Caravan Parks UK

Only available for iPhone and iPad, Campsites and Caravan Parks UK has more than 6,200 campsites listed in its app, including contact details, amenities, and reviews. The map is GPS enabled and sites are filtered for touring caravans, motorhomes, camping and more. All sites are stored in the app so you can access information about the campsites if you don’t have an internet connection. And users can leave site reviews as well as update out-of-date site information via the app.

For more information: www.apps.apple.com

Price: £2.49

9. Caravan Buddy

Caravan Buddy says it’s designed for those who like to plan their caravan holidays smoothly and efficiently. Available on Google Play for Android users Caravan Buddy has a range of features, including; finding a campsite, caravan friendly service stations, caravan leveller, TV signal finder, document store for things like your caravan insurance, service and storage reminders, and more.

For more info: www.play.google.com

Price: Free

Levelling help

10. Level Assist

 Level Assist is an acoustic bubble level, available for iOS devices.

Put your iPhone on a flat surface inside your caravan or motorhome in the direction where you are going to level your unit and the app will send out high pitched beeps if you need to go further up or low-pitched beeps if you need to go lower. You can connect through Bluetooth to your tow car or motorhome’s sound system.

For more information: www.apps.apple.com

Price: Free

11. Caravan Leveler or Camper Leveler

For Android users, you need to calibrate this app before use. Then you place your phone on a flat surface inside your caravan or motorhome and it shows how many centimetres you need to adjust your vehicle’s wheels.

For more info: www.play.google.com

Price: Free

Cooking apps

12. Weber Barbecues

We know many of you like to cook up a feast on the barbecue when on your caravan or motorhome holidays. The Weber Barbecues app from this well-known manufacturer has a range of features, from mouth-watering recipes to barbecue skills. There‘s also a guide to barbecue methods from the experts themselves, barbecuing guides and advice for different foods, a timer and the option to create grocery lists.

For more information: www.apps.apple.com

Price: FREE

13. BBQ & Cookout recipes

Another app which allows you to browse barbecue recipes, create shopping lists and save your favourite meals. Recipe details also include nutritional information and macro breakdowns.

Price: £1.79 for all access without ads

For more information: www.apps.apple.com

14. Vivino

If you enjoy a bottle of wine on your caravan or motorhome holidays then the Vivino app could be up your street. With 50 million users the app gives you unbiased information about wines from this community. Simply take a photo of any wine label at a supermarket or restaurant or search by wine and you can instantly see the wine’s rating, price, tasting notes and food pairings. The app also gives you wine recommendations, “best rated of the week” and bestselling wine in the UK.

For more information: www.play.google.com or www.apps.apple.com

Price: Free

Heating apps and more

There are a few heating control apps out there for specific modern heating systems, allowing you to remotely control the temperature of your ‘van from your smartphone or tablet – a big advantage if you want to turn the heating on whilst travelling back to your caravan or motorhome so it’s nice and warm for your arrival!

15. Alde Smart Control

For those with an Alde heating system, the Alde heating app has the ability to control the heating in your caravan or motorhome at the touch of a button from your phone or tablet device. This is specific to Alde boilers, with later 3010 models and all 3020 models able to work with this app. The company would fit the relevant electronics box to your ‘van so it’s compatible with the app from the device of your choice.

The Alde Service app, also includes guides, manuals, service locations in case something happens when you’re on the road.

For more information: www.apps.apple.com or www.play.google.com

Price: Free

16. The Truma app

Only relevant if you have a Truma heating system, the Truma app offers control of your caravan or motorhome’s central heating, as well as the air conditioning, through the use of Bluetooth and SMS. It also allows the owner to analyse the power systems so you make any necessary adjustments to save power as well as see how much gas you have left. This means being able to control on/off switches on lights as well as other appliances, excellent when tucked up comfortably in bed and needing to switch off the bathroom light!

Outside of the caravan or motorhome, there’s the opportunity to support the levelling of your leisure vehicle to make it as steady as possible, as well as helping you find the perfect sunny location – or the optimum place for sun alignment. All of this is available offline.

For more information: www.apple.com or www.play.google.com

Price: Free

17. Swift command app

The Swift command app has the ability to manage the power system of your Swift leisure vehicle if fitted with the Smart Control Panel. This includes controlling the lighting, which means you can control light switches, including dimmers, (if you have them) to find the perfect lighting to suit the mood. On top of this, there’s the ability to control the water systems, view tank information and control the heating systems.  with the option to set timers and configure the power source.

You can also track the location of your vehicle, meaning if you get lost there’s an easy way to find your way back. You can also review previous locations that you might want to return to, and dealer information is stored in the app so you can keep up to date.  Other features include an alerts page for the water tank, frost, leisure and vehicle battery and alarm, plus a manuals page for the current manual for your make and model of vehicle.

For more information: www.swiftgroup.co.uk or www.play.google.com or www.apps.apple.com

Price: Free (Standard)

18. Antenna Aligner

This app says it can take the guesswork out of aligning and tuning your Freeview aerial in the UK. Antenna Aligner will show you where to point your caravan or TV aerial and which channels to focus on when fine-tuning. No internet connection is needed.

For more information: www.apps.apple.com or www.play.google.com

Price: From £2.49

19. SatFinder

For those with a satellite dish on their motorhome or caravan, SatFinder will help you set up your satellite antenna quickly and easily.

For more information: www.apps.apple.com or www.play.google.com

Price: £3.49

20. BBC weather

Aren’t all Brits obsessed with the weather? With the BBC Weather app, you can be prepared for what’s in store on your caravan and motorhome holidays with the latest weather forecast in easy to understand, hourly forecasts from across the world.

Features included at a glance forecasts, hourly data, a heads-up about rain, hail or snow, what the temperature “feels like” and Met Office weather warnings – great for giving you notice to take down your awning or delay your travel plans.

For more information: www.play.google.com/ or www.apps.apple.com

Price: Free

21. National Trust – Days Out

Whether you’re a member or not, with the National Trust app you can explore the 550+ places that it looks after across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. From days out, to historic homes, the coast, countryside and more, you’ll find lots of places close to where you’re touring.

The app also allows you to download maps, trails and audio files to your mobile device.

For more information: www.play.google.com or www.apps.apple.com

Price: Free

22. All Trails

Explore the outdoors with your caravan or motorhome and the AllTrails, hike, bike and run app. With over 300,000 trails around the world, including child, dog and wheelchair-friendly ones, this app will help you plan ahead, navigate on your chosen trail and keep track of your progress. There’s no reason why you can’t get out there and explore with this great app!

For more information: www.play.google.com or www.apps.apple.com

Price: Free

23. OS Maps

This app will also help you to explore the outdoors using Ordnance Survey maps. Discover Great Britain and all of the exhilarating hiking, cycling, or walking routes it has to offer. Features includes being able to share, favourite, download and explore routes as well as searching for new routes by your fitness level. This app has all the detail of OS Mapping in 1:25K and 1:50K.

For more information: www.play.google.com or  www.apps.apple.com

Price: Free

24. Petrol prices

With high fuel prices at the moment, this app will help you to find the cheapest petrol and diesel nearby. You can search, filter and compare petrol stations and the app will show you the fuel prices and how far the filling station is from where you or – in a list or map format. Other features include adding or editing petrol station facilities, updating the price if it’s wrong and leaving a petrol station review.

For more information: www.play.google.com or www.apps.apple.com

Price: Free

25. Spotify

There’s nothing like having a good playlist – or even listening to a podcast – when on your caravan and motorhome travels and even when on-site. You can stream free albums, discover music and download songs with the Spotify app. You can also create your own travel playlist.

With Spotify Premium you can download songs and free albums from your favourite artists.

For more information: www.play.google.com or www.apps.apple.com

Price: Free. Offers In-App purchases

Over to you…

What app could you not live without when holidaying in your motorhome or caravan, or preparing for your touring adventures?

Or perhaps do you go tech-free when you’re off in the ‘van? We’d love to hear your views…Please comment in the box below.