What the Tech: app of the day ‘iExit’
If you have ever been cruising down the interstate and asked yourself, “Should we get off at this exit or wait for something better,” you are exactly who the iExit app is for.
iExit has been popular for years with truckers and RV travelers, but families and everyday road trippers are finally catching on. It takes the guesswork out of highway stops and can save you from settling for fast food when something much better is just a mile or two away.
The app uses your phone’s GPS to show exactly what is coming up at the next several exits. Let’s say you are approaching Exit 336. On the surface, it might look like your only options are a handful of restaurants. But iExit reveals the bigger picture. Wait one more exit, and suddenly there are dozens of dining choices instead of just a few.
iExit does more than list places. It shows which direction to turn after you exit, how far you will need to drive, and even pulls in Yelp reviews so you can judge your options without opening another app. That alone makes it a favorite for the person riding shotgun.
Food is only part of the story. iExit also shows gas stations, hotels, rest areas, and electric vehicle charging stations. If you are running low on fuel, this feature can really pay off. Gas prices can vary widely from exit to exit, even on the same stretch of highway. A quick check of iExit can show that you might save as much as forty cents a gallon by driving just a few more exits.
All of this information is crowd-sourced, meaning it is updated by other drivers. According to iExit, users contribute more than 350,000 updates every month. With millions of people using the app, the information is surprisingly accurate and usually very current.
The iExit app is free to download for both iPhone and Android devices. If ads bother you, there is a one-time two-dollar upgrade that removes them forever. The app also works with Apple CarPlay, making it even easier to use while on the road.
If you are traveling by car, especially with family, iExit is one of those apps that quickly earns a permanent spot on your phone. It is simple, smart, and genuinely useful for highway travel.
