Quick answer
Several well-known road-life apps have closed in the last few years: Sēkr (the vanlife community and campsite app, formerly The Vanlife App), FreeRoam (the nonprofit free-camping map, offline since early 2024), RVillage (the RV social network, closed March 31, 2023) and the Ultimate US Public Campground Project (sold to Garmin in 2022). Their users mostly moved to campsite databases such as iOverlander, Campendium and The Dyrt, to Facebook groups, and to newer community apps such as RME.
Key points
- Sēkr: closure notice on sekr.com in 2026, after more than two years on “auto-pilot” under Peace Vans.
- FreeRoam: the free BLM, Forest Service and cell-coverage map went offline at the start of 2024.
- RVillage: the RV social network with about 500,000 members closed on March 31, 2023.
- Ultimate US Public Campground Project: the data went to Garmin RV devices in 2022.
- Crossroads, the nomad community app, has not shut down; it is invite-only.
Which vanlife and RV apps have shut down?
| App | What it did | What happened | Where to go instead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sēkr (formerly The Vanlife App) | Campsites and overnight parking, a people map, events, caravans and forums | Peace Vans bought it in December 2023 as it was shutting down, paused a relaunch in 2024, and sought a new owner in April 2026. Its site now says it has closed. | A campsite app (iOverlander, The Dyrt, Campendium, Park4Night) plus a community app (RME, Crossroads, nomatch) |
| FreeRoam | Free nonprofit map with BLM, Forest Service and cell-coverage overlays, road-difficulty filters and overnight parking | Went offline at the beginning of 2024, per Boondockers Bible; no official announcement was found. | Campendium RV PRO and iOverlander Pro for land overlays and coverage; free databases for spots |
| RVillage | Social network for RVers | Roadpass announced it would close on March 31, 2023; members were pointed to a Facebook group. | Facebook groups, Reddit, and community apps with events |
| Ultimate US Public Campground Project | Public campground database and app | Gone from the App Store by April 2022; its developer said the data went to Garmin. | Garmin RV devices, or public campground databases such as The Dyrt and Campendium |
What happened to Sēkr?
Sēkr was the best-known vanlife community app. In April 2026 its owner, Peace Vans, wrote that it had just under 100,000 lifetime downloads and still got 400 to 500 installs a month with no marketing, but had run on auto-pilot since a relaunch was paused in 2024 (Peace Vans (opens in a new tab)). Its site now says it “has finally closed its proverbial doors.” We cover replacements in detail in Sēkr alternatives.
What happened to FreeRoam?
FreeRoam was run by a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and was free, with no ads. Its App Store description listed BLM, USFS and cell-coverage map overlays, filters for road difficulty, safety, cell signal and crowds, Forest Service motor vehicle use maps, low-clearance bridges, and overnight parking at Walmarts, casinos and rest areas. Boondockers Bible (opens in a new tab) noted in April 2024 that “FreeRoam went offline in the beginning of 2024.” See FreeRoam alternatives.
What happened to RVillage?
RVillage was a social network for RVers with about 500,000 members. In March 2023 Roadpass announced that the website and mobile apps would shut down on March 31, and members were pointed to a Facebook group (RV Travel (opens in a new tab), RV News (opens in a new tab)). See RVillage alternatives.
What happened to the Ultimate US Public Campground app?
The Ultimate US Public Campground Project was a public campground database built by two developers. By April 2022 the app was gone from the App Store, and in a July 2022 forum post one of its developers wrote that it had been hard to compete with larger apps, that both developers were ready to retire, and that Garmin had taken over the data, which now needs an RV-specific Garmin device (Sportsmobile Forum (opens in a new tab)).
Why do vanlife apps shut down?
In the closures above, the reasons given were about people and momentum more than technology: “we simply lost momentum and couldn’t continue” (Sēkr), developers ready to retire (Ultimate Campgrounds), and a parent company choosing to close a product (RVillage). Community apps also have a particular problem: a map of people is only useful if people near you are on it, and travelers spread out across a continent.
Before you invest time in any app, including ours, check that it is still being updated, that it says who runs it, and that it doesn’t lock your data away. The safest habit is to keep your favorite spots and contacts somewhere you control.
Where does RME fit?
RME is built by Evan, a vanlifer who lives on the road, and it covers the community side these apps left behind: meeting people nearby, events, caravans and a Friends Map, plus a spot map with road essentials.
Events on the Roam map can be filtered by Public, Friends, Attending and Mine, with Going, a waitlist and an event chat. Organizers can keep the exact pin hidden until a set time or share it only with people going, and can ask guests to agree to event rules before they join.
Caravans are dated routes other travelers can follow and join. The organizer chooses Open, Request (approve each person) or Invite only (with a code), and can show the route approximately until someone is approved.
Roam spots, Trailprint, Events and Friends Map are included with a free RME account. The app shows the current plan details, so check there for anything that is still optional. Available on the App Store for iPhone and on Google Play for Android.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sēkr still working?
No. Sēkr’s website now says the service has closed. Its owner, Peace Vans, had been looking for a new owner in April 2026.
Is FreeRoam still available?
FreeRoam went offline at the beginning of 2024, according to Boondockers Bible. An old App Store page may still show up, but don’t count on the service.
When did RVillage shut down?
RVillage’s website and apps closed on March 31, 2023, as announced by Roadpass.
Has Crossroads shut down?
No. Crossroads, the nomad community app run by volunteers, was still updating its iPhone app in 2026. It is invite-only: joining needs a 6-digit code.
How can I tell if a vanlife app is about to close?
Look at when it was last updated, whether its social accounts and website are active, and who runs it. Keep your own copy of the spots and contacts that matter to you.
Sources
Sources and further reading are listed below. Research dates and any illustrative assumptions are identified in the article. Tell us at support@roammeetexplore.com if something has changed.
- sekr.com closure notice (opens in a new tab)
- Peace Vans: Sēkr, help us start a new chapter (April 2026) (opens in a new tab)
- Boondockers Bible: FreeRoam (updated April 2024) (opens in a new tab)
- FreeRoam App Store page (opens in a new tab)
- RV Travel: RVillage shutting down (March 2023) (opens in a new tab)
- RV News: RVillage to shut down March 31 (March 2023) (opens in a new tab)
- Sportsmobile Forum: Ultimate US Public Campground Project (opens in a new tab)
- Crossroads App Store page (opens in a new tab)
Disclosure: RME publishes this page. We make RME. Other apps, events and tours mentioned are run by their respective organizations. Check their current details before making plans.