🔥 The Tools and Tricks That Keep Us Moving 🚀
As full-time travelers, we roam the country with ease—but life on the road comes with its own challenges. Over time, we’ve discovered incredible ways to make travel smoother, from handling mail and money to simplifying food, fuel, and everything in between!
Whether you’re gearing up for full-time travel or just hitting the road for an adventure, this list has key insights to make life on the move easier!
Savings At The Pump
Finding diesel discounts used to be a guessing game—now we rely on these two apps to keep the tank full without draining our budget.
Mudflap – Instant Diesel Discounts! 🚛 Mudflap helps you save big on fuel at independent stops and major chains like AMBEST, Roady’s, Casey’s, Road Ranger, and Sapp Bros. 💰 Average savings: 50¢–$1 per gallon (varies by region) 🎁 Bonus: Use the link provided to get a $10 credit—and we’ll get one too!
Upside – Upside lets you earn cash back on fuel, groceries, dining, and more—helping you save on the things you already buy. 💰 Fuel savings & beyond—Get cash back at thousands of locations 🎁 Bonus for signing up—Use our link to earn a reward (Upside keeps the amount a mystery!) 💳 Easy cash-out options—Redeem via PayPal, bank transfer, or gift cards
🎒 The Digital Duffle
📱 Road-Tested Apps We Actually Use
Not just downloaded—daily drivers. These apps smooth out the bumps in travel life, from finding Wi-Fi to locating that weird dump station behind a bowling alley in Missouri. (Yes, that happened.)
🛒 Flashfood Partnered with major grocery stores, this app lets you browse and buy discounted food that’s close to its sell-by date—often for 50% off or more. Great for stocking up without overloading your budget or your fridge. If you’re new to it, here’s our invite link to get started—you’ll get $5 off your first order, and we’ll get a little thank-you too. → Mentioned again under Food Resources, because it’s that good.
📶 Free WiFi Internet Finder Helps you locate free, open, or unsecured Wi-Fi networks wherever you land. Easy to use, with no weird hoops to jump through. Your mileage may vary by location, but it’s a handy tool to have in the digital back pocket. This app will be subjective to your location. We have not tested this in many locations yet! If this app doesn’t work for you, there are others available that may!! Download on iOS|Android
🛣 iOverlander 2 Created by and for overlanders, this app is loaded with user-submitted spots: wild camps, water fill-ups, dump stations, mechanic recommendations, you name it. It’s community-powered and always evolving. Download on iOS| Android
🏕 Recreation.gov This is the go-to app for booking federal campsites, checking availability, and managing your America the Beautiful pass. It covers national parks, forests, BLM land, and more—and it’s surprisingly user-friendly. You can filter by price, amenities, and site type, plus view maps and photos before you commit. Great for planning ahead or snagging a last-minute spot when your boondock dreams fall through. Download on iOS | Android
🚐 RVLife (Free Version) Even without the Pro upgrade, RVLife gives you access to a massive database of RV parks, campgrounds, and user reviews. It’s one of the most comprehensive listings we’ve found, and the free version is great for quick searches and planning on the fly. If you’re just looking for a place to park or scope out amenities, this one’s worth a download. → Pro version adds GPS routing and trip planning, but we’ve gotten plenty of mileage out of the free tools. Download on iOs | Android
🚐RVParky – RV Park directory built by a full-time RV’er with the help of the RV community to help fellow RV’ers on the road. Here you can find information, images, and reviews for the most complete collection of RV Parks, campgrounds, and dump stations in the United States and Canada. Download on iOS | Android
🥡 Too Good To Go A food-rescue app that lets you snag surprise “magic bags” of unsold meals from local restaurants, bakeries, and cafes—usually for just a few bucks. It’s a win for your wallet and food waste. We’ve scored some great last-minute dinners this way—and if you’re new to the app, here’s our invite link to check it out. → Also listed under Food Resources.
🌐 Websites We Love
We lean pretty hard on our apps, but these websites earn their spot in the bookmarks bar. They’re the quiet MVPs—handy when you need fresh water, free laundry, or a campsite that doesn’t involve your wheels sinking into mystery mud. Not flashy, not needy—just solid tools for road life.
💧 FindASpring.org – Community-powered and surprisingly thorough, this site maps out natural springs where you can collect clean drinking water. Many listings include GPS coordinates, water test results, and notes from other travelers. A solid resource when you want hydration that doesn’t come from a vending machine.
🧺 Laundry Love More movement than website, but absolutely worth bookmarking. This nonprofit partners with laundromats around the country to offer free laundry days for those who need them. It’s helped us out more than once—and you never know when clean clothes might come with warm conversation.
🚐 RVDumpsites No-frills but wildly useful. This site lists RV dump stations by location, with user-submitted info on pricing, access, and whether someone’s added a padlock and a passive-aggressive sign. Great for finding the unsung heroes of the sanitation world.
🛣 Recreation.gov – Also in the app world, but the website is where the serious planning happens. You can filter, compare campgrounds, and scout availability with fewer taps and better map views. It pairs well with your America the Beautiful pass—and your desire not to gamble on walk-up sites in peak season.
🗺 Roadtrippers A planning tool with personality. Roadtrippers helps you map your route, discover quirky roadside attractions, and find campgrounds, fuel stops, and food along the way. The free version is solid, and the Plus upgrade unlocks even more filters and integrations. Great for visual thinkers and spontaneous detours.
🏞 Find Your Park If you’ve got an America the Beautiful pass (or just a soft spot for national parks), this site helps you explore all the federally managed lands across the U.S.—from iconic parks to lesser-known monuments and preserves. Bonus: there’s a quiz to help you find your park soulmate. No swiping required.
Food Resources
Whether you’re navigating a tough week or just need a little extra support on the road, these programs offer access to nourishing meals.
Flashfood Also listed in The Digital Duffle, Flashfood partners with major grocery stores to offer near-expiration food at steep discounts. It’s perfect for keeping the fridge stocked on a budget, and we’ve used it to build solid pantry hauls without breaking the bank.
Freefood.org – Find the closest food bank, food pantry or soup kitchen near you by clicking on your state.
Lasagna Love – Lasagna Love is a global nonprofit and grassroots movement that aims to positively impact communities by connecting neighbors with neighbors through homemade meal delivery. Meals are not immediate, you sign up and then are matched with available volunteers, who then coordinate a day in the future to provide the meal. There is no set wait time, so you could sign up and immediately be matched, or it could take a little longer! You can also sign up to provide a meal to a family near you, if you feel so inclined!
Too Good To Go – Also mentioned above in The Digital Duffle, this app connects you with local restaurants, bakeries, and cafés offering surprise “magic bags” of unsold food at the end of the day. We’ve grabbed some incredible meals this way for just a few dollars—it’s one of our favorite road-friendly ways to save money and fight food waste.
Hygiene & Health
Staying well on the road means more than just grabbing a shower. From fuel-stop rinses to dry shampoo, clean clothes to cracked-lip fixes, this section covers the practical stuff that helps you feel good, smell decent, and keep rolling.
🚿Planet Fitness can be a great option for folks looking to stay active on the road and keep up with personal hygiene in one stop. For $25 a month, members can access locations nationwide—most open 24/7—and get their workout in before a solid rinse. Whether you’re sticking to a fitness routine, walking off drive-day stiffness, or just wanting to feel human again after a few dusty miles, it’s a straightforward, affordable way to get moving and clean up before you roll out. If you’re thinking of joining, this referral link lets you sign up for just $1 down—and it tosses my daughter a free month in return. She’s not a traveler, just a gym-going night owl who’ll happily take the win if you’re signing up anyway. No pressure, just perks.
🛢️ Love’s Travel Stops – Love’s Travel Stops are a reliable choice for road travelers looking for fuel, snacks, and a hot shower all in one place. Their My Love Rewards program is free to join and well worth it—fueling up earns you points you can spend in-store, plus perks like free drinks and shower credits. Once you hit 50 gallons at a time, a shower credit lands on your account automatically (and it sticks around for about a week, depending on your status). The showers are private, clean, and come with fresh towels—which is a small luxury when you’ve been rolling dusty for a few days. The Love’s Connect app also makes it easy to track rewards, check shower availability, and skip the kiosk line entirely.
🚚 Pilot Flying J – Pilot and Flying J truck stops also offer private showers, and they’re available to anyone—not just truckers. You can reserve a shower through the myRewards Plus app, which shows availability and queue time. Fueling up earns you rewards and discounts (plus, they sometimes run shower coupons or promos inside the app). Facilities vary a little by location, but generally you’ll find clean stalls, included towels, and solid water pressure. It’s not glamorous, but it gets the job done when you need a proper rinse.
🧼 Water-Free Hygiene – If you’re in a pinch—or saving your onboard water—there are a few products that can carry you surprisingly far. We keep a few water-free backups tucked away for low-water days or lazy evenings when a full rinse just isn’t happening. A pack of compostable body wipes handles the essentials, and dry shampoo can buy your hair a little breathing room until the next real wash. Micellar face wipes are another small win—easy, refreshing, and enough to make you feel somewhat presentable after a dusty stretch of highway. Simple, compact, and road-ready.
🧺 Laundry on the Road – Whether it’s a laundromat pit stop or a bucket-and-plunger day behind the bus (it never comes to this 😂), clean clothes matter just as much as clean hair. RV-safe detergent sheets (very space-saving) and a sturdy laundry bag keep things simple, and in some towns, pickup apps or assistance programs like Laundry Love can make fresh socks feel downright luxurious.
🪥 Dental & Skincare Basics – We keep it simple and useful when it comes to daily care: toothbrushes, toothpaste, flossers, and a small bottle of mouthwash take care of the dental side, and a gentle face wash and basic body lotion round out the skincare stash. It’s not fancy, but it’s everything we need to stay fresh and keep things from going off the rails after a few too many dusty miles. Living tiny means you learn fast: you don’t need 100 products to take good care of yourself—just a few that actually work.
🩺 Health on the Road – Accessing care while traveling can be tricky, but there are a few nationwide options worth bookmarking. Walk-in clinics like CVS’s MinuteClinic offer basic services and travel vaccines, and Passport Health has locations across the U.S. for pre-trip checkups and immunizations. For more ongoing needs, some travelers use telehealth apps or keep a list of urgent care centers along their route. We’ve used GoodRx more than a few times when we’ve needed prescriptions on the road—it’s a free tool that helps you compare prices and find discounts at pharmacies nearby. Whether you’ve got insurance or not, it can shave a surprising amount off the sticker price, especially when you’re far from your usual pharmacy.
Mail and Package Delivery
No fixed address? No problem. Here’s how we wrangle Amazon packages and cards from Mom & Dad while bouncing across four states in a week.
Amazon – Need an Amazon package but don’t have a physical address? No problem! Click the button below to find Amazon Locker and Pickup Counter locations—no address required! Most are conveniently placed in gas stations and small stores for easy access.
Find a Secure Amazon Locker Near You!
USPS – Most Post Offices offer General Delivery, allowing travelers to receive mail without a permanent address. Find the closest location and call ahead to confirm the address and pickup details.
Miscellaneous Assistance
Not everything fits in a tidy category—but that doesn’t mean it’s not a game-changer. These might seem random, but trust: they’ve saved our butts more than once.
Laundry Love – Laundry Love is a neighboring movement that partners with groups, schools, and local laundromats to wash the clothes and bedding of low-income and/or no-income families and person(s). If you are in need of laundry assistance, please reach out to them and see if they can help!
🦴 Traveling With Pets (Without Losing Your Mind)
Your travel companions might be furry, feathered, or four-legged—and they deserve solid support too. These tools help with everything from emergency vet care to finding a safe spot to zoom around after a long drive.
🩺 Pethelpfinder.org – A nationwide directory of low-cost pet resources, including veterinary clinics, boarding, and food pantries. Great for when you’re far from home and need help fast—or just want to plan ahead.
💻 Vetster Online vet appointments from wherever you’re parked. Vetster connects you with licensed professionals for everything from late-night questions to full-on telehealth visits. Available in over 100 countries.
🌳 DogPack Dog parks, pet-friendly beaches, hiking trails—this tool’s got ‘em all. Use the app or the website to find safe places for your pup to stretch their legs and make a few tail-wagging friends. It even shows who’s currently at the park, so you’re not guessing whether it’s a ghost town or a doodle convention. Download on iOs | Android
Photo Editors
Let’s be honest: our camera roll is 10% blurry sunsets, gas station snacks, and cat paws. These tools help turn chaos into content—without needing a graphic design degree.
Adobe Photoshop – Combine, retouch & remix your pics.
Snapseed – Snapseed is a complete and professional photo editor developed by Google.
Where to Stay
From national parks to wineries that let you crash out back, these are our go-tos when we’re ready to call it a night (and maybe find some unexpected magic along the way).
America The Beautiful Pass – National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Passes are a suite of annual and lifetime passes that provides U.S. citizens and visitors an affordable and convenient way to access Federal recreational lands. Up to 100% of the Pass program’s proceeds are used to improve and enhance visitor recreation services.
Freecampsites.net – An interactive map listing free campsites across the United States. This is a community-driven website. They also list campsites that are not free, if you are in need of amenities not provided by free sites.
Harvest Host & Boondockers Welcome – A network of wineries, breweries & distilleries, farms, attractions, private properties, and golf courses that invite RVers to stay overnight. The yearly membership gives members unlimited access to stay at any one of our Host‘s unique locations.
If any of this helps you out on the road—fuel, food, Wi-Fi, or figuring out where to park with a cat and a half-charged phone—drop a comment and let us know. Or share your favorite road resource we haven’t mentioned yet. We are always looking to update this list with real stuff that works.
Let’s make life on the move a little smoother, one tip at a time.
Last updated June 2025. I’ll keep refreshing this page as we discover new tools, better gear, or just smarter ways to stay human on the road.