# SmartStops: Road Trip Planner — Find Parks & Playground Stops > Road trip planner for families finding kid-friendly stops along routes. (iPhone/iPad app by Maple Ridge LLC.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartstops-road-trip-planner/id6747735128 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Maple Ridge LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1822379851) - Category: Travel, Lifestyle - Price: Free with in-app purchases - Rating: 5.00/5 from 10 App Store ratings · 10 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 15.1 · 47 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2025-08-28 - Data updated: 2026-07-18 - Monetization: free with in-app purchases - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartstops-road-trip-planner/id6747735128/reviews.md ## What is SmartStops? Long drives with kids don't have to end in tears. SmartStops automatically finds parks, playgrounds, gas, and kid-friendly food along your route — timed so everyone stays happy. Unlike Google Maps, SmartStops doesn't optimize for speed. It optimizes for your family's sanity. Stops are spaced around how kids actually travel — so you pull over before the meltdown, not after. SMART STOP PLANNING Enter your start and destination. SmartStops builds a complete stop plan with parks, playgrounds, restaurants, gas, and coffee — spaced at kid-friendly intervals. No more guessing where to pull over. No more juggling apps. MELTDOWN MODE Kid losing it right now? Tap once. SmartStops instantly finds the nearest parks and playgrounds within minutes of your location. Emergency stops, solved. 194,000+ PARKS & PLAYGROUNDS The largest database of family-friendly parks in the US. See amenities like restrooms, picnic areas, trails, and playground equipment before you stop. COMPARE NEARBY CITIES At each stop, see what's available across nearby cities. Pick the town with the best combo of parks, food, and fuel — so every stop counts. WORKS WITH YOUR MAPS Plan in SmartStops, then navigate with Apple Maps or Google Maps. No switching apps mid-drive. PARK REVIEWS Rate and review parks you've visited. See what other families thought before you stop. Build your traveler profile as you explore. FREE TO USE 2 trips every month at no cost. Upgrade to Weekender ($4.99/14 days) or Adventurer ($39.99/year) for unlimited trips, Meltdown Mode, and route comparison. Rated 5.0 on the App Store. Built for families, not algorithms. ## Key features - Find parks and playgrounds on route - Locate rest stops and amenities - Preview stops on interactive maps - Save and reuse routes - Discover kid-friendly food options - Compare nearby cities at stops ## Pricing and in-app purchases Base price: Free. **One-time purchases** | Purchase | Price | Type | | --- | --- | --- | | Weekender | $4.99 | one-time | | Explorer | $12.99 | one-time | | Adventurer | $39.99 | one-time | | Road Warrior | $49.99 | one-time | ## Recent user reviews (10 of 10) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartstops-road-trip-planner/id6747735128/reviews.md ### 5/5 — Well designed! *2026-05-15* This app is really nicely designed, I just opened it and noticed the developers are adding all sorts of new features since launching. I really like how I can add things to my trip and make a plan. ### 5/5 — Subscribe right now! *2026-03-17* What a nice app, such a beautiful design, and works so well! We use it to find nice parks for kids to play anywhere we go! ### 5/5 — Totally Worth It *2026-03-05* This trip planner is so much fun. We took a trip from Tampa, FL to Pittsburgh, PA and had loads of fun finding all the parks and other fun little stops along the way. Made the 2 day drive a lot more bearable. ### 5/5 — Great app for traveling with kids *2025-11-28* While traveling with my grandkids having timed intervals available is a real lifesaver! Makes roadtrips smooth. ### 5/5 — So easy! *2025-11-24* Used this for a family day trip and was perfect for finding the right stops to please everyone! Coffee, food gas, dog park… check! Made the trip easy for all! ### 5/5 — Travel Companion *2025-11-22* What a great travel companion for a family road trip. Easy to use app provides everything you need to plan stops along your journey. I used it for an 8 hour trip and found it relieved the stress normally associated with trying to plan on-the-fly. Literally won’t leave home again on the open road without SmartStops. ### 5/5 — Super helpful! *2025-11-07* Highly recommend this app for parents with young kids going on road trips! Was able to coordinate and enjoy stops with my family and let the kids burn off energy during our family vacation. ### 5/5 — Saves a lot of time and energy *2025-11-05* Every time we go somewhere I am always spending so much time googling where to stop for gas, food and coffee. Now that we have kids there is even more to think about (even on trips that are only a couple hours). This app is so helpful in showing where to stop with multiple criteria to have the most efficient trip. It seems like you have to use the navigation in real time (I would like to be able to pre plan trips and then come back to them on the day of when I actually need the navigation). Maybe that is a feature of a higher paid plan, I’m not sure. Overall this is a very helpful app. **Developer response:** Thank you for your kind review! We’re so glad SmartStops has been making your trips easier. Trips are automatically saved at the end of planning for easy retrieval under Past Trips, all part of one of our paid plans. The Navigate button is for those times you’re planning the trip for now. Thanks again! ### 5/5 — This is a great little app! *2025-11-03* We took a trip to Orlando for our wedding anniversary and used this app for stops, restaurants… great find **Developer response:** Thanks so much! ### 5/5 — You won’t regret it! *2025-09-03* This app made our family road trip from Houston to Fort Worth a breeze. It was incredibly easy to use and eliminated the stress of finding last-minute stops. We loved being able to see all the safe places to pull over for our kids. The integration with Google Maps was a game-changer; it seamlessly incorporated all our stops into a single, navigable route, which saved us from having to manually note them. This app is a must-have for any family trip! If you have a family roadtrip planned soon, I definitely recommend this app!! **Developer response:** Thank you so much for sharing your experience! We’re thrilled to hear SmartStops helped make your family trip smoother and stress-free. We really appreciate the recommendation! ## Frequently asked questions about SmartStops ### How does SmartStops help with long drives? SmartStops finds parks, playgrounds, and rest stops along your route, perfectly timed to keep children happy. It helps avoid random stops by showing you exactly where to go and what's available. ### What kind of stops can I find with SmartStops? You can find parks, playgrounds, rest areas, bathrooms, gas stations, coffee shops, and kid-friendly food options. It also allows you to compare nearby cities at each stop. ### Is SmartStops suitable for short trips? SmartStops is best for drives over 90 minutes. It's designed to make longer journeys more manageable and less stressful for families. ### How does SmartStops pricing work? SmartStops offers simple pricing with no subscriptions. You can get 2 free trip searches as a starter, with options for weekly, monthly, or yearly access at different price points. ### What devices does SmartStops support? SmartStops is available on iPhone, iPad, and iPod. It is designed for Apple devices. ### How often is SmartStops updated? The latest version of SmartStops is 1.3.1, and it was last updated on March 12, 2026. This indicates regular updates to improve functionality and add features. ### What do parents like about SmartStops? Parents love that SmartStops eliminates the stress of finding last-minute stops, helps avoid meltdowns with better-timed breaks, and turns gas stops into mini-adventures. It provides helpful suggestions without adding extra decisions. ### Is SmartStops safe for children? SmartStops has an age rating of 4+, making it appropriate for children. The app focuses on finding safe and suitable places for kids to take breaks during travel. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 1.3.5 — 2026-07-10 Bug Fixes, Slight Enhancements ### 1.3.4 — 2026-05-08 Weather forecasts at every stops. Bug Fixes. ### 1.3.3 — 2026-04-27 Weather forecasts at every stop — see conditions, temperature, and rain chance before you hit the road (paid plans). New app icon. Improved error messages for long routes. Bug fixes and UI polish. ### 1.3.2 — 2026-04-01 Free tier is here! Everyone now gets 2 free trip searches every month — no purchase required. Plan a route, find stops, and see exactly how SmartStops works before you buy anything. ### 1.3.1 — 2026-03-12 Bug fixes ## Apps similar to SmartStops | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [ExploreHere - Roadtrip Guide](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/explorehere-roadtrip-guide/id1485772125) | 4.7 (794) | Free | Travel | | [Roadtrippers - Trip Planner](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/roadtrippers-trip-planner/id944060491) | 4.6 (61,176) | Free | Travel | | [Road Trip! 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