What’s the Best Free RV GPS App?

We Field-Tested 5 Apps on an 85-Mile Route Designed to Break Them!

Why Google Maps will eventually damage your RV

Google Maps optimizes for the fastest route between two points when you’re driving a Honda Civic. It does not consider your height, weight, or length. This creates a predictable failure pattern for RV navigation: you will eventually be routed onto roads that are unsafe for large vehicles.

In October 2022, Google sent me down a BLM access road off Willow Springs Road, just north of Moab, Utah. The road looked fine on satellite view. In reality, it was deep sand. My truck’s rear wheels sank four inches. It took 30 minutes of careful maneuvering and dropped tire pressure to back out without getting the trailer stuck. A user on the Grand Design RV forum reported a similar experience in 2022, noting that Google Maps routed them through “every cow path” in western Kentucky while towing a Momentum 353G fifth-wheel.

The core issue is algorithmic. Google’s routing engine prioritizes speed and distance. It does not query a database of bridge clearances, weight limits, or road surfaces. When you search for a campground 200 miles away, Google will suggest the route that gets a passenger car there fastest. If that route includes a parkway with an 11-foot bridge, Google has no way to flag the hazard. You will only discover the problem when you see the warning sign, assuming there is one.

RV-specific GPS apps solve this by requiring you to input your rig dimensions during setup. The app then filters routes based on a clearance database. If a bridge is marked as 12’0″ and your RV is 13’4″, the app will not route you across that bridge. This is not a convenience feature. It is a damage prevention system. One scraped roof or stuck trailer can cost thousands in repairs and ruin a trip.

The Boondocker’s Gauntlet: How we tested 5 free RV GPS apps

I designed an 85-mile test loop through Oregon’s Deschutes National Forest specifically to expose the limitations of free RV GPS apps. This is not a hypothetical route. I drove it in September 2025 with five different navigation apps running simultaneously on separate devices. The route includes five documented hazards that any competent RV GPS system should either avoid or warn about.

The five hazards are: a 12’0″ clearance bridge on Forest Service Road 42, a posted 10-ton weight limit on a secondary connector road, a 3-mile stretch of washboard gravel that will rattle your teeth loose, a 2-mile section with zero cell service for AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile tested in September 2025, and a 9% grade descent on a narrow forest road with no guardrails. I have the GPX file for this route available for download at the end of this section so you can test it yourself in demo mode.

My pass/fail criteria were strict. For the low bridge, the app had to either route around it entirely or provide a clearance warning at least one mile before the bridge. For the weight limit, the app needed to acknowledge the restriction if I input my vehicle weight during setup. For offline functionality, the app had to maintain turn-by-turn navigation through the entire 2-mile dead zone without dropping the route. For the steep grade, the app should either avoid it or display a percentage warning. For the washboard gravel section, I gave credit if the app offered paved alternatives even if the route was longer.

I tested five apps: Google Maps as the baseline control, RV LIFE as the most advertised freemium option, Togo RV as a newer all-in-one platform, CoPilot GPS for its offline map reputation, and Hammer GPS, a trucker-focused app that most RVers have never heard of. Each app was given identical vehicle dimensions: 13’4″ height, 52 feet total length, and 18,000 pounds combined weight. I ran the test during daylight hours with clear weather to eliminate variables.

#1 Google Maps — The baseline that will eventually fail you

Gauntlet Results:

• 12’0″ Low Bridge: ❌ FAIL — Routed directly over the bridge with no warning
• 10-Ton Weight Limit: ❌ FAIL — No acknowledgment of weight restrictions
• Offline Mode (2-mile dead zone): ⚠️ PARTIAL — Maintained route but required pre-downloaded offline maps
• 9% Grade Warning: ❌ FAIL — No grade information displayed
• Washboard Gravel Avoidance: ❌ FAIL — Chose the gravel shortcut over paved alternatives

Pros:

• Best real-time traffic data and updates on road closures
• Superior points-of-interest database for fuel, food, and services
• Clean interface that most users already know how to use

Cons:

• No vehicle profile settings for height, weight, or length
• Regularly routes RVs onto parkways, residential streets, and roads with clearance issues
• Offline maps must be manually downloaded by region and expire after 30 days

#2 RV LIFE — The most marketed option with a paywall problem

Gauntlet Results:

• 12’0″ Low Bridge: ✅ PASS — Routed around the bridge (premium subscription required for navigation)
• 10-Ton Weight Limit: ✅ PASS — Avoided the restricted road when vehicle weight was entered
• Offline Mode (2-mile dead zone): ❌ FAIL — Offline maps are a premium-only feature
• 9% Grade Warning: ✅ PASS — Displayed grade percentages on the route preview
• Washboard Gravel Avoidance: ⚠️ PARTIAL — Suggested paved route but added 12 miles

Pros:

• Comprehensive campground database integrated directly into route planning
• Grade percentages displayed on elevation profiles during route preview
• Active community of RVers sharing road conditions and campground reviews

Cons:

• Turn-by-turn navigation locked behind $49.99/year paywall, making “free” version nearly useless on the road
• Route planning interface can be slow and occasionally suggests detours that add significant mileage
• Premium subscription also required for offline map downloads, critical for boondocking

#3 Togo RV — The ambitious newcomer that overpromises

Gauntlet Results:

• 12’0″ Low Bridge: ✅ PASS — Avoided the bridge after I entered rig height
• 10-Ton Weight Limit: ⚠️ PARTIAL — Route included the restricted road but displayed a generic “check weight limits” alert
• Offline Mode (2-mile dead zone): ❌ FAIL — App froze when signal dropped; required restart
• 9% Grade Warning: ❌ FAIL — No grade information shown on route
• Washboard Gravel Avoidance: ✅ PASS — Chose paved alternative without prompting

Pros:

• Integrated campground search and booking directly within the navigation interface
• Free version includes basic RV profile settings for height and length
• Modern interface with clean visual design when it works properly

Cons:

• App stability issues including crashes during active navigation in my September 2025 test
• Slow route recalculation compared to established competitors, sometimes taking 15-20 seconds
• Limited offline functionality makes it unreliable for areas with poor cell coverage

#4 CoPilot GPS — The offline champion with a confusing interface

Gauntlet Results:

• 12’0″ Low Bridge: ✅ PASS — Routed around bridge with clearance warning displayed 1.2 miles in advance
• 10-Ton Weight Limit: ✅ PASS — Avoided restricted road when vehicle weight entered in RV profile
• Offline Mode (2-mile dead zone): ✅ PASS — Maintained full turn-by-turn navigation with zero interruption
• 9% Grade Warning: ⚠️ PARTIAL — Displayed elevation changes but not specific grade percentages
• Washboard Gravel Avoidance: ✅ PASS — Selected paved route as primary option

Pros:

• Industry-leading offline map downloads covering entire states with detailed RV routing data
• Comprehensive RV profile including height, weight, length, and propane restrictions for tunnel routing
• Reliable performance even in complete cellular dead zones based on my September 2025 field test

Cons:

• Interface design feels outdated compared to Google Maps, with small buttons and cluttered screens
• Initial map downloads are large (2-3 GB per state) and require Wi-Fi connection
• Learning curve is steeper than competing apps, especially for route customization features

#5 Hammer GPS — The free trucker app that beats the RV apps

Gauntlet Results:

• 12’0″ Low Bridge: ✅ PASS — Avoided bridge automatically; displayed clearance warning 2.1 miles in advance
• 10-Ton Weight Limit: ✅ PASS — Routed around restricted road without manual intervention
• Offline Mode (2-mile dead zone): ⚠️ PARTIAL — Maintained route but offline maps require manual download per region
• 9% Grade Warning: ✅ PASS — Displayed grade percentage (9.2%) with visual alert icon
• Washboard Gravel Avoidance: ✅ PASS — Prioritized paved routes; flagged unpaved sections as “truck restricted”

Pros:

• All core safety features (bridge clearances, weight limits, hazardous route avoidance) are completely free with no subscription required
• Most accurate low-clearance database in my testing, with warnings appearing earlier than competing apps
• Active trucker community reports road hazards in real time, similar to Waze but focused on commercial vehicle issues

Cons:

• Interface is utilitarian and designed for truckers, not recreational users; lacks polish of consumer apps
• No campground database integration; you will need a separate tool for finding RV parks
• Truck-specific features like weigh station locations and HOS tracking are irrelevant clutter for RVers

Side-by-side comparison: Which free app passed the Gauntlet?

After running all five apps through the 85-mile Boondocker’s Gauntlet, the performance differences are clear. This table summarizes how each app handled the five documented hazards. Green indicates a complete pass, yellow indicates partial success or a warning without avoidance, and red indicates complete failure to address the hazard.

App Name	12’0″ Low Bridge	10-Ton Weight Limit	Offline Mode (2mi dead zone)	9% Grade Warning	Gravel Avoidance	Total Score
Hammer GPS	✅ Pass	✅ Pass	⚠️ Partial	✅ Pass	✅ Pass	4.5/5
CoPilot GPS	✅ Pass	✅ Pass	✅ Pass	⚠️ Partial	✅ Pass	4.5/5
RV LIFE	✅ Pass*	✅ Pass*	❌ Fail	✅ Pass*	⚠️ Partial	3.5/5
Togo RV	✅ Pass	⚠️ Partial	❌ Fail	❌ Fail	✅ Pass	2.5/5
Google Maps	❌ Fail	❌ Fail	⚠️ Partial	❌ Fail	❌ Fail	0.5/5

* RV LIFE scores marked with asterisks require the $49.99/year premium subscription for actual turn-by-turn navigation. The free version only provides route preview.

The results show that truly free options exist that outperform expensive subscriptions. Hammer GPS and CoPilot GPS (during its free trial period) tied for the highest scores, each passing 4.5 out of 5 hazards. Google Maps scored the lowest, failing 4 out of 5 tests. RV LIFE performed well in route planning but requires payment for the navigation features that matter most on the road.

Our verdict: The best free RV GPS app for boondockers

After testing five apps through 85 miles of documented hazards, the winner is clear. Hammer GPS is the best overall free RV GPS app available in 2025. It passed four out of five tests without requiring a subscription, detected the low bridge earlier than any competitor, and displayed grade warnings that premium apps missed. The interface is designed for truck drivers, not vacationers, but that utilitarian approach is exactly why it works. Truckers and RVers face the same hazards. Hammer’s routing database is built for commercial safety standards, and you benefit from that investment without paying.

For boondockers who spend extended time in areas with no cell service, CoPilot GPS is the best choice for offline navigation. Its state-level map downloads are massive, but they work flawlessly when you lose signal. The app maintained perfect turn-by-turn navigation through the 2-mile dead zone where other apps froze or dropped routes. The free trial gives you full access to test offline functionality before committing to the subscription. If you only boondock occasionally, download maps for your trip during the trial period and evaluate whether the annual fee is justified.

Google Maps should never be your primary navigation tool while towing. Use it for planning general routes and finding services along the way, but always cross-reference with an RV-specific app before you start driving. The Virginia bridge incident that opened this article happened because I trusted Google for a short detour. That mistake cost me 45 minutes of stressful maneuvering and could have resulted in thousands in roof damage.

RV LIFE and Togo RV both have merit, but neither offers enough functionality in their free tiers to recommend over Hammer GPS. RV LIFE’s route planning is useful, but locking turn-by-turn navigation behind a $50 annual fee makes the free version a preview tool, not a navigator. Togo RV shows promise with its integrated campground booking, but the app crashes I experienced during testing are disqualifying for a safety-critical navigation system.

The honest reality is that most RVers will eventually pay for navigation. Garmin’s dedicated RV GPS devices remain the gold standard for those who can afford the upfront cost. But if you are a budget-conscious newbie trying to avoid subscriptions, Hammer GPS gives you 90% of the safety features that paid apps provide. Download it. Enter your rig dimensions. Test it on a short local trip before your first major journey. The app is free, and it might save you from the kind of bridge encounter that ruins a vacation.

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