But those are features, not bugs.
The paid apps sell you efficiency. The free method sells you memory . free road trip planning
You need three tools. All of them are free. All of them run in a browser. But those are features, not bugs
Eating on the road can be expensive, but there are ways to save money: You need three tools
Let’s plan a hypothetical 5-day trip from Denver, CO to Moab, UT. A premium app might route you via I-70 (fast, boring) and suggest $30 guides. Here is the free plan:
Ignore the prompts to pay for premium. The desktop version of Google Maps is a beast of a planning tool. Use "Directions," then add up to 10 destinations. Click and drag the route manually to force it onto scenic byways. Use Street View to "pre-drive" tricky intersections or check if that campsite pull-off actually exists.
The goal of free planning is not to replicate the premium experience—it is to surpass it by knowing the terrain intimately before your tires touch the asphalt.