5 Navigation Apps That Leave Google Maps in the Dust for Bikepacking

5 Navigation Apps That Leave Google Maps in the Dust for Bikepacking

Google Maps will get you from point A to point B. But for bikepacking, you need more than directions—you need terrain data, offline capability, route sharing, and surface type information that Google simply doesn’t provide. These five apps are built specifically for cyclists who venture beyond paved roads.

Why Google Maps Falls Short for Bikepacking

Google Maps treats bicycles like slow cars. Routes follow roads, avoid “difficult” terrain, and prioritize the fastest path rather than the most rideable. For a weekend bikepacking trip, this approach sends you onto busy highways while ignoring quiet gravel roads running parallel just a quarter mile away.

The fundamental problem: Google optimizes for efficiency, not experience. Bikepacking is about the experience—scenic routes, rideable surfaces, and avoiding traffic. Generic navigation apps can’t distinguish between smooth gravel and rocky jeep trails, between quiet back roads and shoulderless highways.

Offline limitations: Cell service disappears quickly in bikepacking territory. Google Maps requires a connection for dynamic routing, and downloaded offline maps still lack the detail cyclists need. Dedicated cycling apps solve this with comprehensive offline functionality built from the ground up.

Ride With GPS. The Route Planning Powerhouse

Ride With GPS has become the de facto standard for serious route planning. Its strength lies in the massive library of user-created routes and the powerful planning tools that let you build custom routes with surface type awareness.

Route library: Over 20 million public routes created by other cyclists. Search by location, distance, and difficulty. Many established bikepacking routes are mapped in detail by riders who’ve completed them, complete with notes about water sources, camping spots, and challenging sections.

Surface type data: The planning interface shows surface types—paved, gravel, dirt, singletrack. This prevents the surprise of discovering your “gravel route” includes 15 miles of hike-a-bike through a rocky wash.

Cue sheets and turn-by-turn: Generates detailed cue sheets that work without a screen. Export to GPS devices or print paper backups. Voice navigation works when connected, and the app provides audio cues for upcoming turns.

Offline maps: Download entire route corridors for offline use. Maps include the route overlay and enough surrounding detail to navigate if you go off-course.

Best for: Serious planners who want to build custom routes with confidence in surface conditions. The free tier offers basic functionality; the $50/year premium subscription unlocks advanced features like surface type filtering and unlimited offline maps.

Komoot. The European Standard Comes to America

Komoot dominates European cycling navigation and has built strong coverage in North America. Its voice navigation and surface type data make it particularly strong for exploring new areas.

Smart routing: Select your bike type—road, gravel, mountain—and Komoot adjusts route suggestions accordingly. The algorithm learns from millions of rides to suggest routes matched to your equipment and fitness level.

Highlights: User-contributed points of interest mark viewpoints, water sources, and interesting stops. This crowdsourced information adds context that pure mapping can’t provide.

Turn-by-turn voice navigation: Reliable voice directions that work with the screen off, preserving battery life. Particularly useful on gravel roads where looking at a phone means risking a crash.

Regional maps: Purchase individual region maps for offline use. The pricing model (about $4 per region, or $30 for the world package) can add up but ensures high-quality offline coverage.

Integration: Syncs with Garmin, Wahoo, and other GPS devices. Plan on the app, ride with your dedicated device.

Best for: Riders who want reliable voice navigation and are willing to invest in quality regional maps. Particularly strong in areas with European-style cycling infrastructure.

Gaia GPS. The Backcountry Expert

Gaia GPS isn’t specifically a cycling app—it’s a backcountry navigation tool used by hikers, hunters, and overlanders. But for remote bikepacking, this broader focus becomes an advantage.

Map variety: Access dozens of map layers—USGS topographic, satellite imagery, forest service roads, public lands boundaries. Layer these for comprehensive understanding of terrain.

Public lands data: Shows land ownership, helping you identify legal camping spots on BLM and Forest Service land. This information is crucial for multi-day routes through the American West.

Track recording: Records your route with elevation and speed data. Export as GPX for sharing or import others’ tracks to follow their routes.

Offline reliability: Download massive map areas for offline use. The app is designed for wilderness use where connectivity doesn’t exist—exactly the conditions of serious bikepacking.

Navigation tools: Compass, GPS coordinates, distance/bearing calculations. These tools help when trails don’t match maps and you need to navigate by terrain features.

Best for: Remote backcountry routes where detailed topographic information and public lands data matter more than turn-by-turn directions. The $40/year subscription provides access to premium map layers.

OsmAnd. The Privacy-Focused Open Source Option

OsmAnd uses OpenStreetMap data, providing global coverage with offline capability and no subscription fees. It’s popular among cyclists who value data privacy and open-source principles.

Free offline maps: Download entire countries for offline use without subscription fees. Map data comes from OpenStreetMap, constantly updated by volunteers worldwide.

Cycling profiles: Configure routing for different bike types. The app considers surface type, elevation, and road classification when suggesting routes.

Track recording: Records GPX tracks with configurable detail levels. Import tracks from other sources to navigate existing routes.

Privacy: No account required, no tracking, no data collection. Your route data stays on your device unless you explicitly export it.

Learning curve: The interface isn’t as polished as commercial alternatives. Expect to spend time in settings configuring the app for your preferences.

Best for: Budget-conscious riders who want comprehensive offline capability without subscriptions. Also appeals to privacy-conscious users who want control over their data.

Trailforks. When Your Route Is the Trail

Trailforks focuses on trail networks rather than road routing. For bikepacking routes that use extensive singletrack, it provides detail that road-focused apps can’t match.

Trail condition reports: Real-time updates from riders about trail conditions—wet, dry, muddy, closed. This information can save a trip when spring conditions make trails unrideable.

Trail difficulty ratings: Consistent rating system helps you understand what you’re getting into before committing to a trail.

Network maps: Shows trail systems as networks rather than individual routes. Useful for exploring new areas and connecting trails into longer routes.

Descent planning: For routes with technical descents, Trailforks shows trail features and challenging sections. Preview what you’ll encounter before dropping in.

Best for: Routes that rely heavily on singletrack trail networks. Less useful for road and gravel routes but invaluable when trails are the backbone of your trip.

Building Your Navigation Stack

Most serious bikepackers don’t rely on a single app. A typical setup combines strengths:

Planning: Ride With GPS or Komoot for building routes with surface type awareness and community input.

Backup navigation: Gaia GPS with downloaded topographic maps for when things go wrong or routes need improvisation.

Trail detail: Trailforks for singletrack sections that need real-time condition updates.

Device integration: Export routes to Garmin or Wahoo devices for battery-efficient navigation that doesn’t require your phone.

The Case for Dedicated GPS Devices

Phone apps have improved dramatically, but dedicated GPS devices still offer advantages for multi-day trips:

Battery life: 20+ hours versus 4-6 hours for a phone with screen active. On a three-day trip, this difference matters.

Durability: Purpose-built for outdoor use, with water resistance and impact protection that phones can’t match.

Screen visibility: Transflective displays remain readable in direct sunlight where phone screens wash out.

Phone preservation: Keep your phone charged for emergencies rather than draining it on navigation.

The ideal setup: plan on apps with their superior interfaces, export to a dedicated device for riding, keep your phone as backup.

Before You Ride

Test offline functionality at home: Enable airplane mode and verify your downloaded maps and routes work completely offline. Some apps claim offline capability but still require connections for certain features.

Download generous map areas: Extend downloads beyond your route. If you need to detour or evacuate, you’ll want coverage for alternatives.

Carry paper backup: Print cue sheets and overview maps. Technology fails; paper doesn’t run out of battery.

Know your bail-out options: Identify towns and roads along your route that can get you out if problems arise. Mark these in your navigation app before you leave.

Navigation technology has made bikepacking more accessible than ever. But the best navigators still understand that apps are tools, not substitutes for planning, judgment, and the ability to read terrain when technology fails.