With new apps
being created all of the time, your smartphone could easily become one of
your favorite pieces of camping gear. Here are 10 apps to consider
downloading before your next camping trip:

1. Coleman Camping Cookbook & Meal Planner
| By Coleman Company, Inc. | Free for
iOS 

Why bring along recipes when you can keep track of them on your
phone? This free app lets you filter recipes by cooking method, type of meal
or available ingredients, and you can use it to create meal plans and lists
of your favorite recipes. It also includes handy cooking
tips.

2. Star Walk 2 | By Vito
Technology, Inc. | For iOS and Android

There are many apps designed for stargazing, but this one is a
next-generation tool for learning the exact position of stars, planets,
constellations, comets, the ISS, satellites, star clusters, nebulae and
meteor showers in the night sky. All you have to do is point your device
toward the part of the sky you want to learn about. Ideal for use by young
and old, it offers a simple interface, atmospheric visual and sound effects,
a soundtrack and 3D models of celestial bodies.

3. First Aid | American Red
Cross | Free for iOS and Android

This useful app helps you be prepared to handle everyday
emergencies by guiding you step-by-step through a variety of first aid
scenarios. It’s also fully integrated with 911 so you can call for Emergency
Medical Services (EMS) from the app at any time. The First Aid app also
includes videos, animations and safety tips for weather emergencies, and its
preloaded content means you can access the safety information you need even
when you don’t have cell service or an Internet connection.

4. History Here | By History
Channel | Free for Android, iOS and Apple Watch

This Webby Award-winning interactive travel guide covers thousands
of historic locations across the United States. You can use your GPS location
to get the facts about the history that’s all around you, including
architecture, museums, battlefields, monuments, famous homes and more.
 There’s also a “Tour” feature to help you learn about historical
themes and topics, such as Marilyn Monroe’s Hollywood, Civil War Atlanta and
Al Capone’s Chicago. You can also use the app to check distances and get
driving or walking directions to points of interest or you can tap the
“Surprise Me!” feature to learn about a random location somewhere in the
U.S.

5. Merlin Bird ID App
| Cornell Lab | Free for iOS and
Android

If you’re an avid birdwatcher like so many people are, this app
will help you identify which species you’re seeing. Simply answer five simple
questions about a bird you are trying to identify and Merlin will come up
with a list of possible matches so you can learn more about North America’s
most common birds. You can also snap a photo or pull one from your camera
roll and Merlin will come up with a list of potential matches. You can also
browse more than 2,000 images captured by top photographers or listen to more
than 1,000 audio recordings.

6. Postagram | By Sincerely
| For iOS and Android 

Who doesn’t love to receive postcards in the mail? This app, which
is free to download, lets you take photos from your phone or Instagram or
Facebook accounts and turn them into postcards delivered by mail for a rate
starting at 99 cents each. It’s a great way to share your camping adventures
with friends and family.

7. inRoute | By Carob Apps |
For iOS

What’s cool about this voice-guided navigation app is that it will
automatically check your route for severe weather, elevations, curvy roads
and times of daylight — things that are important to know when you hit the
road in your RV.  The inRoute app can help you plan the route that’s
optimal for you.

8. Sygic GPS Navigation & Maps
| By Sygic | For iOS and Android

What makes this GPS navigation app stand out is that you can
download high quality 3D TomTom maps of your route to your device so you
don’t have to worry about getting cell service when you’re traveling in areas
where coverage is spotty.  It provides door-to-door voice-guided
navigation, live traffic updates to help you avoid traffic jams, and police
radar/speed camera warnings. It also offers suggestions on where to park with
info about availability and rates. The app lets you share your route with
others in real time and can help you find the cheapest gas based on the type
of fuel you use. The optional Head-Up Display (HUD) feature projects your
navigation onto your car’s windshield.

9. iExit | By Metrocket, LLC
| For iOS and Android

When you’re traveling on US Interstate highways, it’s hard to know
which exits will have the services you need. iExit takes care of that
uncertainty by displaying upcoming exits in real time. For each exit, there’s
a list of services available such as restaurants, gas stations, coffee shops,
Wi-Fi and ATMs, so you can decide which exit will best meet your needs. As
the app’s developers say, “Your GPS will tell you how to get there. iExit
will tell you where to stop along the way.”

10. Creepy Campfire Tales
| By Coleman Company, Inc. | Free for
iOS

There’s nothing quite like sitting around the campfire and telling
scary stories. This free app, which is rated for ages 9 and above, offers
categories of stories for kids, teens and adults with titles like “The
Outhouse of Terror” and “An Old Man at 19.”  The app includes 15
creepy stories, and some of them even have spooky sound
effects!