Sidetrip supports CarPlay so you can quickly access your trip itinerary while driving. This guide explains what CarPlay supports, what is required, and how navigation works.
Requirements
To use Sidetrip in CarPlay, you need:
- Sidetrip Pro — CarPlay access requires an active Pro purchase
- An iPhone connected to a CarPlay-compatible vehicle or head unit
- At least one unarchived trip in Sidetrip
If Sidetrip Pro is not active, CarPlay shows a Pro-required message. If you do not have any unarchived trips, CarPlay shows a no-trips message.
What You Can Do in CarPlay
The CarPlay app is designed for quick, driving-friendly itinerary access:
- View your unarchived trips
- Open a trip to see its days
- Open a day to see its stops
- Tap a stop to start navigation
- See progress icons for days and stops
Trip editing, importing, AI generation, sharing, and detailed planning are still handled in the main Sidetrip app on iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
Using Sidetrip in CarPlay
- Connect your iPhone to CarPlay.
- Open Sidetrip from the CarPlay home screen.
- Select a trip from the Trips list.
- Select a day.
- Tap a stop to open navigation.
When you return to Sidetrip from navigation, the app attempts to return you to the stop list for the day you were viewing.
Day and Stop Progress Icons
Sidetrip uses icons to show progress at a glance:
Days
- Not Started: No stops have been marked yet
- Started: At least one stop has been updated, but the day is not complete
- Complete: All stops are marked visited or skipped
Stops
- Not Visited: You have not visited this stop yet
- In Progress: You are currently at or working through this stop
- Visited: You completed this stop
- Skipped: You intentionally skipped this stop
Stop statuses are managed in the main Sidetrip app. In CarPlay, tapping a stop starts navigation.
Choosing a Navigation App
You can choose which navigation app Sidetrip opens from CarPlay:
- Open Sidetrip on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
- Go to Settings.
- Find CarPlay Navigation.
- Choose a Navigation App.
Available options are:
- Apple Maps
- Google Maps
- Waze
This setting only affects navigation launched from CarPlay. Navigation from Sidetrip on iPhone, iPad, or Mac continues to use the system maps behavior.
If you choose Google Maps or Waze and that app is unavailable, Sidetrip asks whether you want to use Apple Maps instead or cancel.
Troubleshooting
Sidetrip Does Not Appear in CarPlay
- Confirm your iPhone is connected to CarPlay.
- Confirm Sidetrip Pro is active in Sidetrip Settings.
- Restart Sidetrip and reconnect CarPlay.
No Trips Are Shown
- CarPlay shows only unarchived trips. If all trips are archived, they will not appear.
- Open Sidetrip on your iPhone to allow iCloud sync to finish.
- Tap the refresh button in CarPlay.
Google Maps or Waze Is Unavailable
- Install the selected navigation app on your iPhone.
- Choose Use Apple Maps when prompted.
- Or change the CarPlay Navigation setting back to Apple Maps.
iPhone Shows a Permission Prompt
The first time Sidetrip opens another navigation app, iOS may show a system prompt on your iPhone asking whether Sidetrip can open that app. This prompt is controlled by iOS and cannot be skipped by Sidetrip.