Android Auto road trip apps: PlugShare and Drive Weather stand out

Two apps one driver never leaves behind

Android Police has published a first-person feature on the two free Android Auto apps its writer keeps on the phone for long road trips: PlugShare and Drive Weather. The author argues that everyday navigation tools such as Google Maps and Waze are excellent at routing, but fall short on two things that matter on longer journeys: detailed EV charging information and weather conditions along the route.

The piece explains that the writer rents an electric car when travelling to other cities, and that limited charging details in mainstream navigation apps have caused range anxiety in the past, including unexpected heavy rain and snow during trips.

PlugShare for finding charging stops

According to the article, PlugShare is a community-driven app where drivers share reviews, recent photos and charging details for stations. The writer says its filters are the main strength, letting users narrow results by charging speed, such as Level 2 or DC fast charging, by network provider, by connector type, and by amenities like restrooms and restaurants.

The app also shows whether a station is operational and which individual chargers are out of service, which the author says saves wasted detours. A Trip Planner feature spaces out charging stops and shows the distance between them, and after picking a station a one-tap handoff starts navigation in Google Maps or Waze. The writer credits the app with preventing breakdowns from a flat battery, including during the daily commute.

Drive Weather for route-timed forecasts

The second recommendation, Drive Weather, provides forecasts timed to a route rather than to individual cities. The Android Police writer says users enter a starting point and destination, and the app shows snow, rain, wind, temperature and visibility for each segment of the journey, along with estimated arrival times.

A slider lets drivers shift the departure time to see how conditions along the route would change, which the author uses to pick a better window for leaving. The app also displays a live animated radar, and conditions can be monitored inside Android Auto while driving. The article notes the interface is not especially polished, but the features are what keep the app installed.

What this means for drivers

It is worth stressing that this is one writer's experience, not an independent test. The claims about how well each app works come from personal use and are unverified. The features described, such as filtering by connector type and route-based forecasts, match how the apps are presented in the article, but readers should check current app listings before relying on them.

The author's broader point is that preparation, not the default apps, makes the difference on long drives. Checking both apps the night before and again before departure has reportedly become a routine. The piece also mentions Organic Maps as another option for offline navigation on road trips.