Vacationing is a great way to spend some downtime and recharge yourself. In my opinion, one of the cheapest and most fun ways to vacation is camping. Even though you may want to detach as much from your everyday world as you can, you will still bring your phone.

The number of apps geared toward the camping and outdoorsy crowd. Below is a varied list of different Android apps to help you plan, track activities and survive if something disastrous happens.

1. Camping Trip Planner

We don’t usually recommend paid Android apps here, but Camping Trip Planner is an exception. One of the hardest parts of any trip is planning it. Well worth the 99 cents. When you are just starting out or haven’t been camping in a while, you are bound to forget something important. Using the Camping Trip Planner, it gives you lists of things to consider and a check box to mark them complete. Lists like “Before leaving” have great tips such as turn off the water to your home and give handheld radio codes to friends or family in case you are lost.

Camping Trip Planner

2. Camping Recipes!

When you’re out in the wild, why eat the same old stuff you make at home? Camping Recipes is a collection of about 100 recipes to make your meals outstanding. This app is more than just recipes though, it’s actually more of a camping resource. There are links to online courses and videos too. To get the recipes, click on the camping recipes ebook option.

Camping Recipes!

3. U.S. Army Survival Guide

Sometimes taking a wrong turn can really make for a bad vacation. Being lost in an area you aren’t familiar can be pretty scary. The limited amounts of food and water are in your backpacks but what if it runs out? The U.S. Army Survival Guide app helps you make shelters, finding food and different survival techniques based on the climate.

U.S. Army Survival Guide

4. Tiny Flashlight + LED

This a simple to use flashlight app with a few different options. Aside from the flashlight, there is a morse code signal. Type in what you want to say and the app converts it.

Tiny Flashlight + LED

5. Compass

Since Google Maps isn’t going to be able to route you back to your camp, you may need to go old school and use a compass to find your way. Compass gives you a spot to make notes and also add places. By adding a place, you can see if you are headed in the right direction even without a map. So save your campground and you should be able to find your way if you get lost.

Compass

6. Sky Map

The stars seem so much brighter when you are out of the city. Using Sky Map, you will be able to tell what constellations you are seeing. Information about the night sky from years past is searchable in Time Travel mode. On the nights a planet is visible, you can enter in the planet or group of stars you’d like to see and Sky Map will point you in the right direction.

Sky Map

7. AllTrails – Hiking & Biking

Exploring nature is the whole reason for camping. Knowing where some great hiking trails are can really make or break a trip. All Trails offers locations and guides for trails near you. When you know a little more about the history and other possible activities, you can plan more of your day and make sure you don’t miss out on any of the possible fun.

AllTrails – Hiking & Biking

8. Where’s My Droid

Outdoor activities can cause you to be a little more careless with your phone. You could drop it on a trail or a furry woodland creature could sneak up behind you and carry it off. Regardless of how you lose your Android, you need a way to find it. Where’s My Droid is one of the best options to help you find your phone. Sending your phone a text message can activate the ringer or send back a GPS location.

Wheres My Droid

Final thoughts

Getting out and breathing in some of that fresh air is good for you as long as you come prepared. Other than your phone, you can leave your life behind for a few days and just enjoy being disconnected from your everyday world.

Trevor is a freelance writer covering topics ranging from the Android OS to free web and desktop applications. When he is not writing about mobile productivity, He is coaching and playing the world’s greatest game… Soccer.

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