TNAA Healthcare provided this article.
You’re about to drive a hefty distance from assignment A to assignment B and could use some tools to make the time in the car a little more fun (or wallet-friendly). We get it. Here are a few road trip planning apps loved by travelers and ways your travel nurse agency can support you on your adventures.
5 Road Trip Planning Apps
1. Recreation.gov
On Recreation.gov, you can find cultural sites to explore, locate camping spots or unique lodging, and reserve your spot for different experiences. Thirteen federal partners, including the National Park Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and Burea of Land Management, help provide the tools and tips on Recreation.gov and its app.
2. Waze
Want to avoid traffic? The navigation platform Waze can help with that. Waze relies on its community of drivers and partners to report highway nightmares like potholes, wrecks, and construction and get you on the best route at the moment.
3. GasBuddy
Those nationwide travels can cost a pretty penny, but there’s an app that might make the journey a little easier on your wallet. The GasBuddy app helps you find the cheapest gas stations, which you can filter by price, distance, amenities, and fuel type.
4. Roadside America
Quirky roadside attractions can make a long stretch of interstate more interesting. Roadside America helps you find hidden gems like the Lost Sea in Tennessee, the World’s Smallest Park in Oregon, or the Junk Art Park in Michigan. Roadside America is available as an app only for Apple users. It costs $2.99 to use, and there are in-app purchases to unlock maps of sites in all US/Canadian regions. However, you can browse the attractions on the RoadsideAmerica website and plan your stops from there.
5. AllTrails
AllTrails can help you find the right place to stretch your legs for a road trip break. Use it to find hiking, biking, and backpacking trails, read trail reviews, map out the route, and much more. It costs to access the full app but includes handy features like downloading offline maps and getting alerts for wrong turns.
Agency Support on the Road
Okay, we’ve talked about ways to make your trip more exciting. Now, how can your agency give you the best possible experience as a nationwide traveler? Here are a few ideas.
Travel Reimbursement
You’ve seen gas prices – a multi-state adventure can be costly. Does your agency help you with the bill? See if your agency has a travel reimbursement program that can offset some of the moving costs, whether you travel by car or plane. Just keep your receipts, document your mileage, and you should be good to go!
Housing Assistance
Being a traveler is fun, but the upfront costs of moving are not. See if your agency can help! Some agencies might have programs to help cover these expenses, like utility fees, pet deposits, and first and last month’s rent. Your agency can divide the total cost of the moving expenses over your first few checks once you start your assignment.
Your Way is Paid
As a travel nurse, you’ll likely need multiple licenses, certifications, vaccinations, and more as you go from facility to facility and state to state. While many agencies pay for some of these expenses, others don’t pay for anything. Ask your agency if they help you cover these costs (and if they ensure you’re following all compliance requirements before you drive off to your new assignment).
Being a travel nurse allows you to make great moves in your life. Pick an agency that supports you in the venture.
We hope you found this article on road trip planning apps for your cross-country travels helpful. Are there any other apps you think should be included in this list? Comment them below.
Our job board is a great place to search for your next travel nurse assignment. We have you covered with our housing page if housing is an issue. You can search for what you are looking for.
