CarPlay is an often-overlooked feature on the iPhone. Sure, people use it as a medium to connect their devices to their cars, but there are a lot of apps that can improve the experience beyond the most common picks like Spotify and Maps.

As someone who spends quite a bit of time behind the wheel (a hazard of living in Atlanta), I've optimized my CarPlay setup so that rush-hour traffic isn't as mind-numbing as it could be, and that long trips don't come with unexpected surprises.

Below are several of the key apps that I use.

Weather on the Way

No more surprise showers

Weather on the Way keeps me updated about weather conditions on my route. If I'm going somewhere nearby, it's not necessary, but for multi-hour road trips? It's helpful to know what to expect. The information displays on both my phone and the CarPlay screen, and it updates periodically to match changing conditions. It's not just limited to driving, either; there are also hiking and cycling modes, though I haven't used those.

Some of the features are locked behind the Pro subscription ($20 per year), but there's a seven-day free trial you can take for a spin before committing to it. Weather on the Way provides information not only about upcoming weather, but the temperature, chance of rain, time of sunset and sunset, and much more.

Overcast

So much better than the basic Podcast app

Overcast is better-known than some of these others, but it's probably the single best CarPlay app I use. As far as podcasts go, I haven't found a better alternative. It has a host of features that improve the playback and audio quality of podcasts without distorting the original material; for example, Smart Speed removes silences and dead air, while Voice Boost streamlines podcasts whose production quality might not be quite as high.

Overcast displays on the CarPlay screen with a large play/pause button, and I can easily browse through my downloaded podcasts. I can also download a single episode to try a new podcast out without subscribing to it, and create custom playlists of podcasts on related subjects.

SpotHero

I don't dread parking

Atlanta is home to a world-class theater, and it puts on amazing shows. The problem? Parking is a nightmare, and many nearby lots jack prices up the day of the show. SpotHero lets me get around that annoyance by booking parking spots in advance. I'm going to have to pay for it, anyway, so I would prefer to get a spot that doesn't have me walking 10+ blocks to get to where I'm going. SpotHero works with thousands of different locations nationwide, in a wide variety of cities.

In CarPlay, I can bring up a list of nearby parking spots up to 24 hours in advance, and it displays exactly how far away those spots are and how much it would cost to reserve. In many cases, the 24-hour reservation is less expensive through the app than it would be in person. If I ever have to park for a business reason, I can create a separate account and have it send receipts to whatever app I use to generate expense reports.

Simple Radio

I never lack for music

Spotify is great, but sometimes, I just want to listen to the radio. If none of my local stations appeal to me (and they often don't, as many are country-focused), I can fire up Simple Radio and get access to more than 90,000 stations from all over the world, straight from my phone. This free tuner app is a great way to explore musical tastes from all around the globe, and you can easily save your favorite one just by tapping the Star icon.

Simple Radio opens in CarPlay, but browsing on the CarPlay screen isn't as easy as it is on your phone. I'd suggest looking through and saving your favorite stations before you start your trip; it's much easier to jump between a handful of saved stations than to try and browse literally thousands of options in the time you're stopped at a red light.

Libby

Audiobooks for free

Do you have a library card? No? Get one. Libby is a fantastic app that lets you access your local library's repertoire from your phone. You can check out eBooks, audiobooks, and much more for a limited amount of time, and this offers a great way to listen to audiobooks while driving without paying for an Audible subscription. This app is more than just a tool for borrowing books; it has an adjustable timer like you'd expect from any audiobook app, capable of playing books up to 3x speeds. You can also set a sleep timer, swipe to skip around, and sync your progress across all of your devices.

Best of all, you can even send eBooks to your Kindle for when your trip is done and you want to relax. Audiobook rentals through Libby can be controlled through the CarPlay interface, and you can adjust playback speed with just the touch of a button.

GasBuddy

Yes, a few cents does matter

GasBuddy is a must-have for anyone who spends a lot of time on the road. It helps me find the cheapest gas in the area, and those savings add up. While I drive a sedan now that caps out at ten gallons, I used to drive a truck with a 33-gallon tank. Filling it all the way was exorbitantly expensive, and a difference of $0.30 could result in savings of nearly $10 per fill-up.

Here's the thing: GasBuddy doesn't technically work on CarPlay, but I consider it a CarPlay app because, well, what else would I use a gas-finding app for? GasBuddy can, however, integrate with Apple Maps to direct you to a station once you choose where you want to go.