Have you ever wished that you had a tour guide in the backseat of your car for road trips through national parks or along scenic byways? The beauty of the GuideAlong App (formerly known as GyPSy Guide) is that it offers location-based audio tours to perfectly direct you to all of the best things to see and do along your way so you don’t miss a thing. Plus they are:
- Easy to use
- Allow you to travel and explore at your pace
- Quick to download for offline use
This post provides information on the benefits of guided tours and how to use the GuideAlong app throughout your amazing tours and travels in the United States, Canada, or Australia. The bonus? New audio tours are being created and added all of the time.
What are the GuideAlong App Audio Tours?
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The GuideAlong driving tours are the best audio guided tours that you can download that provide narrated guides for your road trips and scenic drives. It really is like having a tour guide in the backseat of your car for road trips!
The GuideAlong Audio Tours provide a guided commentary that uses free satellite GPS signal along with the GPS on your cell phone.
Even Yellowstone National Park recommends the GuideAlong narrated driving tours as one of their main tips for seeing the park with the best audio guides tours app. PS. If you know you will be driving in the mountains for your tours, be sure to brush up on your skills and safe driving tips.
How Does the App Work?
Begin by downloading the app and then selecting the audio tour for the destination of your choice.
Click the link below and then scroll to the bottom of the page to download the best audio tour app from the Apple Store or on Google Play.
Using free GPS signals provided by satellites around the world as well as your phone’s GPS chip, the GuideAlong app determines your location.
As you drive along, the GPS signal uses your location and when you pass a pre-determined point, the commentary from the app plays pre-recorded content automatically.
You don’t have to do anything to queue the commentary.
Your GuideAlong narrator may suggest side trips to take, crack a corny joke, give a history lesson of the area, share insights on significant historical figures from years gone by, or present behind-the-scenes stories to enhance your visit.
Often locals know of little known tips and locations to visit. GuideAlong shares them with you too. You can travel at your own pace, choose to skip a side route, spend a little longer at a scenic overlook, or return to a highlight on the route that sparked your interest.
The path and the timeline are up to you. You can start anywhere on the tour or start from the official tour start location. It is up to you.
There are no time limits to its use and no monthly subscriptions to maintain. As tours are updated, you will receive FREE updates.
Recently Added Tours
One of the benefits of guided tours with GuideAlong is that ALL of your purchase are yours to keep. Forever. So, if you have done any of these tours before, try them again or check out the newly added tours to see what is new for your upcoming travels.
- Keweenaw Copper Country Trail Tour in Michigan, USA
- Acadia National Park in Maine, USA
- Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina and Virginia, USA
- Catskills in New York, USA
Check out these new tours here:
Benefits of Guided Tours
The benefits of guided tours with the GuideAlong App includes offering an immersive experience that enhances your personal trips and makes your already amazing tours and travels even more unique. How?
- Improves visitor engagement – The tours guide you to destinations along your route that may not be on your travel radar.
- Personalizes your experience – Because you can go at your own pace, stop where you want, or skip a certainly section you have the freedom to personalize your audio tour to you and your family’s needs.
- It’s like having a fun tour guide in the backseat of your car for road trips.
- Inspires you to travel to new destinations, especially if you have purchased a “bundle” and have the option to visit a variety of destinations.
- You don’t have to join a live group tour but can relax in your own car with your snacks and drinks.
- Flexibility and freedom – You can stop for the day when you want, pick up the tour the next morning, or come back to it next year!
- The tours are user friendly. Since they are GPS guided, you don’t have to worry about remembering where you were in the narrative or be tech savvy to queue up the next waypoint.
- I think you’ll be surprised at just how cost effective the tours and tour bundles really are.
Just Wander More GuideAlong Reviews
Sometimes all you need is a suggestion from others to inspire you to try something new. These GuideAlong reviews from Just Wander More articles show our enthusiastic support of these amazing tours and travels:
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina
In his research, my husband, Chris found an app called GuideAlong. It was an excellent guided tour throughout the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Using the wonders of GPS and satellites, the commentary played automatically as we passed a GPS point, sharing behind-the-scene stories, tips, side trips, and driving directions. The guide was excellent.
Yosemite National Park, California
Chris and I highly recommend the GuideAlong app for Yosemite National Park or other national parks you may be visiting this summer. The guides are available for a number of destinations, and provide lots of information, history, significant historical contributions of different people, and random interesting information.
GuideAlong Bundled Locations
Currently, the GuideAlong app offers audio tours throughout the United States, Canada, and Australia. You can purchase each tour separately or check out the pre-packaged bundles in a variety of locations to save money.
1. Utah “Mighty 5” National Parks
Includes Arches National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, and Zion National Park.
2. Glacier National Park and US Northern Parks Tours
Includes the Black Hills, Badlands, and Mount Rushmore of South Dakota, Glacier National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Yellowstone National Park, and Grand Teton National Park.
Buy the US Northern Parks Bundle
3. Yosemite, Grand Circle and California
Includes Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, GuideAlong Big Sur Pacific Coast Highway 1, Capitol Reef, the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas (Grand Canyon West, Hoover Dam, and Red Rock Canyon), Sedona, Yosemite National Park, and Zion & Bryce Canyon National Parks.
Buy the Grand Circle and California Bundle
4. Canadian Rockies and Vancouver
Includes Banff National Park, Lake Louise, Yoho, the Icefields Parkway, Jasper, Vancouver, Whistler and locations along the Canadian Rockies.
Buy the Canadian Rockies Bundle
Buy the Canadian Rockies and Vancouver Bundle
5. Rocky Mountain National Park and All United States West Tours
This bundle includes Arches and Canyonlands, Big Sur, Capitol Reef, Badlands, Black Hills and Mount Rushmore, Going to the Sun Road in Glacier National Park, the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas (Grand Canyon West, Hoover Dam, and Red Rock Canyon), Sedona, Yosemite National Park, and Zion & Bryce Canyon National Parks, Rocky Mountain National Park, and Yellowstone and Grand Teton.
6. Road to Hana Tour and Four Hawaiian Islands
The GuideAlong Road to Hana Tour and Four Hawaiian Islands includes Oahu, Maui, Kauai and Big Island, Hawaii (the complete collection of the Hawaiian Islands).
Buy the Road to Hana Tour and Hawaii Bundle
All of these locations can also be purchased as individual tours as well.
More Amazing Tours and Travels
If you are traveling to Montana and plan to visit Glacier National Park, download the audio tour from the Glacier National Park. Upgrade your vacation experience to a whole new level.
If your travels take you to the East Coast, take a GuideAlong Tour along with you to Great Smoky Mountain National Park, Vermont, or Key West in Florida.
The Australia tour includes the scenic drive along the Great Ocean Road.
There are many more GuideAlong driving tours not listed above. Check out the website to see if there are audio guide tours that fits your travel destinations this year.
Click the Pic to Search
Pair the GuideAlong app with an American the Beautiful National Parks Pass. The Pass will require a separate purchase but allows you entry to ALL National Parks within the United States.
Check out the Discovery Pass (also a separate purchase) when visiting National Parks within Canada.
How Do I Access the GuideAlong App?
The App is free to download from the Apple Store or on Google Play (scroll to the bottom of the link). You would then buy individual tours or bundles as IN-APP purchases.
Need a refresher on how to download an app?
Follow these simple instructions:
- Open the Apple or Google Play App Store to GET apps for your device.
- Search for the GuideAlong app.
- Touch the “GET” button to download the app to your device (Note, there will be In-App Purchases).
- Click the button to Install the app on your device. If you see “OPEN” the app, you have already downloaded the app and simply need to open it on your device.
- Search or browse for content or destinations on the GuideAlong App that you wish to purchase.
What Happens if the Area You Visit Does Not Have a Great Cell Signal?
Download the GuideAlong App and the tour you have selected while you DO have wifi or good cell service.
Because the app uses the magic of GPS to automatically play the audio tours, you do not need to have cell service to use the app once you have downloaded your tour.
The GPS signal comes from satellites and is free.
Reminder * Download the App and your selected tour BEFORE you set off on your adventures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is GuideAlong worth it?
Yes! Sarahbera2 offers one of many reviews: “Wow! Significantly improved our trip to Maui! We are so impressed with the GuideAlong app, we bought the Maui packed and used it for road to Hana among other routes. The commentary is useful and spot on! We would drive by past something and say “I wonder what this is?” And then our audio guide would answer that exact question. It was so informative and perfectly paced. Can’t wait to use it in other areas of the world!”
Is GuideAlong free?
The GuideAlong app is free to download. Once downloaded, there are In-app Purchases for each of the audio tours or bundled tours you wish to enjoy.
Who is the GuideAlong Narrator?
Dave Pettitt, a Canadian actor who has also done voice overs for television series and video games, is the GuideAlong Narrator.
Do your GuideAlong purchases expire?
Once you make a purchase, that specific tour is yours for good. You can do the whole tour again, pick up where you left off, or start from the opposite end for MORE sensational views and information.
Are there any GuideAlong app discounts?
There is a FREE tour “From Calgary to Banff” that introduces you to the Canadian Rockies. Your best discounts would come from purchasing “Bundled” Tours.
When is the best time to download GuideAlong?
The BEST time to download the app and your selected tours is when you have access to WiFi or have good cell service. I recommend doing this BEFORE you set off on your adventures.
Is the GuideAlong app the BEST audio tour app?
In my humble opinion, yes. Check out the GuideAlong reviews if you want to read what other people are saying.
What does GPS mean?
GPS stands for Global Position System. It was developed by the U.S. Military and is free for anyone to use.
I have always wanted to see giant sequoia trees. Is there a GuideAlong Sequoia tour?
You can see the giant sequoia trees in the Grand Circle and CA bundle as well as in the Mariposa Groves of the Yosemite GuideAlong audio travel guide.
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Final Thoughts on Using the GuideAlong App for Awesome Road Trips
The GuideAlong App audio tours are amazing. You will love the stories, the quaint side trips, and intriguing historical information from the GuideAlong Narrator. Dave Pettitt has a voice that is interesting to listen to and his crazy “dad” jokes will have you laughing, rolling your eyes, or shaking your head! Your kids will love it too.
Headed to a national park this summer? Download the app today and bring GuideAlong audio tours on all of your road trips this summer. Consider giving the tours as gifts to family and friends as they set off on travel excursions of their own!
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I had no idea this was even a thing! How cool! I am so excited to check this out.
We have enjoyed using the app. Hope you find it helpful as you travel.
This isn’t available in my country just now, but what a good idea. Love the idea of getting a bit of insider knowledge!
They seem to be expanding, slowly but surely. Hopefully it will make it to the United Kingdom and beyond soon.
This is a great find! I’d love to have it while still enjoying my alone time! Thank you for sharing.
It is pretty great. Let me know what you think if you decide to try it.
This app sounds SO cool. I’m definitely going to look into it. Thank you so much for sharing this!
You’re welcome.
Great explanation of the app! It sounds perfect for our full time RVing!
Thanks so much for sharing!! Always looking for new apps for trip planning, especially for the National Parks.
I had never heard of the GyPSy app before. But I do like the idea of getting an audio tour as I take a drive. And awesome to get tips from locals and tidbits of history. I will have to check this out on our next road trip.
I hope you love it.
I have never heard of this app. I wish they did destinations on the East Coast. I would buy it to get narrated tours of Skyline Drive in Shenandoah Park.
They have added more tours in the past year and I am sure they will continue to add more. Keep checking back.
This is so cool! I had no idea GyPSy Guide existed, and I really wish I’d known for my Utah Mighty 5 road trip. What a missed opportunity! I’ll know better now for my next road trip – thank you. Xx Sara
I haven’t heard of the GyPYsy guide before, but it’s definitely an app that I’d find useful. Thanks for recommending it!
Let me know what you think.
I’d never heard of GyPSy Guides before but it sounds so helpful! Especially great that you can download it so that it works where there’s poor reception, I’ll have to give it a try!
As most people here saying I had no idea about this app. I will give it a try when in Australia:) Thanks for sharing!
I’d love to try out the Australia tour as well!
what a fun app! I love audio guides!!!
I can’t wait to check out the GyPSy app on my next US road trip!
This sounds so awesome! We are heading to a few parks over spring break, so I’ll be sure to download this!
Wow, I didn’t know about this app out there, so helpful! thank you for putting it together
I hope you get a chance to try it. Let me know what you think of the audio tours if you do.
We really enjoyed listening to the tours last summer and hope to listen to a few more in our travels this summer.
How fun! This will be so helpful in national parks.
I never thought this was even possible! Love it! Thanks for sharing!
What a great travel app! New to me, I will definitely be sharing this with my kids on our next road trip. Thanks for sharing it – we love hearing local stories and legends.
This sounds awesome! Thanks for sharing about this resource!
GyPSy Guides are terrific! I purchased the Yosemite and the Candian Rockies tours and so happy that I did. The auto tour added so much to our experience.
We used the GyPSY app for the first time in Maui for Haleakala NP and the Road to Hana. We really enjoyed it, I cant wait to use it again at other parks!
This is such a good idea! Definitely the sort of tool I’d use as I’m not a guided tour kinda gal.
How did I not know this was a thing? This is definitely something that I will check out before our next vacation. Thank you for such an informative post on something I didn’t know existed!
Wow this is such an awesome app, I did not know this existed!
You learn something new every day! I will look into this app!
I love that there is an element of humanness to this guide. And of course, Gypsy Guides sounds great for those who prefer to listen rather than read. I had heard about this, so will look up the Hawaii one now 🙂
GyPSy Guide seems to be the best! We are planning an Australia trip soon and I will download this app. The tip to download earlier if there is no phone signal is great! Thank you for this great blog post. 🙂
What a great concept. I have never heard of it but will keep a lookout for the Australian ones. Thanks for sharing.
Wow! This is such an amazing application. Love the idea behind it. Self-guided tours are the best.
I’ve never heard of this before. But, since we are traveling to more and more places like this, I’m sure it will come in handy. Thanks for sharing!
I’ve never heard of this app, but it sounds really useful! I might look at trying it out. Thanks for sharing 🙂
I definitely need to check out this app. I love audio guides and I love that you can download it ahead of time!
Oh I’ve never heard of this app before but what a fantastic idea, thank you for introducing it to me!
This sounds like a great idea for an app in the modern day! I hadn’t heard about it before but I’ll definitely be checking it out now.
This sounds like a perfect app. We’ve used a similar app before on a tulip route in Flevoland, the Netherlands and thought it so convenient.
I’ve never heard of anything like this, but it’s such an incredible idea! That’s for sharing such a thorough review
This is such a helpful tool! I’ve gone on so many road trips and never new about GuideAlong. Thanks for sharing this.
What great useful information! I will bookmark this and remember to use on my travels
I pinned this for later as the hubs and I are discussing a road trip this fall. Very cool!
This peaked my interest so much that I had a look at their other guides and found that they have an Australian guide for the Great Ocean Road, so I may use that at some point. Thanks for the info!
What a great idea this app is. As sometimes you miss amazing things without a tour guide!