In addition to maps and Spotify, four road trips always rely on Android Auto App

With Android Auto, your phone can be one of your most useful travel tools, managing your navigation, on-the-go entertainment, and more.

Apps like Google Maps and Spotify get the most attention, but they're far from the only apps you need for your next road trip. Some of them will save you money, some of them will save you time, some of them will just make your driving a little easier, but all of them will make you wonder how you ever took a road trip without them.

Here's a look at the four best Android Auto apps for your next road trip, plus a bonus recommendation that isn't compatible with Android Auto but is definitely worth downloading.

MyRadar: You probably have your favorite weather app, and it can give you a pretty reliable forecast. But nothing slows down a road trip like stormy weather, and MyRadar is one of my favorite choices for keeping an eye on the dark clouds ahead.

This app gives you real-time radar information that lets you see where storms are and where they're heading, helping you decide if it's a good time to go to lunch or if the storm will pass.

Fuelio: Not only is it a useful app for tracking your fuel costs and mileage, but it's especially handy during road trips because it displays the nearest gas stations and current prices. This app also allows you to log maintenance, making it ideal for all-around driving, not just road trips.

Scanner Radio: Got stuck in unexplained stopped traffic? Scanner Radio lets you access live local dispatch feeds for police, emergency and fire. You can know exactly what's happening miles in advance and decide whether you should turn around and take another route or whether you can hold on.

For example, if you're in traffic and you hear that the highway is closed, you can quickly make other plans. It almost has a nostalgic CB radio feel if you let it play in the background, and it's also surprisingly useful in bad weather.

PlugShare and A Better Routeplanner (for electric vehicles only): You're probably familiar with PlugShare if you're an electric vehicle owner, but if you're not, it's a fantastic directory of chargers around the world. You can sort by outlet type or network, read user reviews to see if the chargers work, and much more.

A better route planner helps you plan your route based on the availability of EV chargers, ensuring you never get stranded.

iExit: I had to add a bonus app that doesn't support Android Auto, but it's my favorite road trip app. iExit is a favorite among truckers and RVers, but it's making its way to family travel. The app shows you what's available at upcoming outings, including hotels, gas stations, restaurants, and more.

Instead of blindly stopping at an exit or waiting for signs only pointing to the next exit, you can see information about all upcoming exits. You can search (up to the next 100 exits, in fact) for a specific company, but the app knows what road you're on and which direction you're heading and automatically shows you the next exits. This is useful when you're ready to eat but aren't sure what to expect after the next outing.