Application IconRoadside America App for iPhone

Frequently Asked Questions

Please note: If you forgot your username, your email address used to create account, and you contact us and mistype your email address (for example, my-misspelt-name@yahoo.com) -- we have no way to look you up or respond back to you!

June 15, 2023: Please update latest version (2.5), which fixes a Restore regions bug affecting some users (check your version # at the top of the More > About view). Thanks!

  1. Application Purchase
  2. Initial Set-Up
  3. Network Connection
  4. User Account
  5. Regions
  6. All Access
  7. Near Me
  8. On Route
  9. Finding and Exploring Attractions: Maps, Research Places
  10. Been There
  11. Saving Attractions
  12. History View
  13. Filter Attractions
  14. Missing Attractions
  15. Submitting Tips About Places
  16. iPad
  17. Export/Import Personal Data
  18. Troubleshooting:
    1. Restoring Lost Paid-for Regions
    2. Freeze
    3. First Time Opening Application
    4. Purchasing a Single Region or All Access
    5. User Account - Activation Email, Forgot or Change Password, Forgot Username
    6. Location Services or "No Network Connection"
    7. App Won't Update: Wrong Apple ID
    8. Attraction Directions: Apple Maps Won't Launch

    1. APPLICATION PURCHASE

    What does the App cost cover?

    The basic app as purchased in the App Store includes unlocking access to ONE region you choose (out of 7 regions) when first launching the app. You will continue to have access to that region.

    How do I unlock more than one region?

    You can buy and unlock up to 6 more regions as in-app purchases (In the App, on the lower right, tap More ••• tab, then tap All Access). If you anticipate wanting more than 3 regions, it's economical to buy All Access, which unlocks all remaining regions.

    What is the All Access upgrade?

    By selecting this optional in-app purchase, you unlock the contents for remaining regions, which includes all 50 States (+ DC) and Canada. The additional cost is $6.99. More ••• All Access; if the purchase button isn't visible, tap ocean around the map.

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    2. INITIAL SET-UP

    Do I need a network connection when I first run the app?

    Yes, so that the application can retrieve information from RoadsideAmerica.com. The app needs at least WiFi access to locate you. If you initially set up the app with a bad or intermittent connection, you may encounter a problem after region selection where the app asks you to log in. In the Settings app, Privacy, Location Services must be set to When in Use or Always, or you won't be able to select a region. (Follow these Troubleshooting instructions)

    Why am I choosing one (1) Region?

    As described in the App Store, the app you purchased comes with access to any one of seven regions in the United States and Canada. You choose which region. Most users choose the region they live in or travel in frequently. Later you can purchase additional regions, or all remaining regions. First choose your 1-Region on the Welcome screen. You can purchase more regions or All Access at any time by tapping the More ••• tab, All Access. (Note: You must have a network connection)

    I have an iPad and an iPhone. Will the App run on both simultaneously?

    Yes, it will run on compatible devices (running iOS 12.3 and higher). The basic 1-region version of the App easily downloads via the App Store with the same Apple ID. If you've bought additional regions, add them to your second device using the same Apple ID and your RoadsideAmerica account (see regions Restore procedure)

    When I launch the App on a new or second device, it asks me to register a region again. Is this okay to do?

    Yes. You can register your initial 1-region on the second device. The region is permanent, so we strongly recommend choosing the same region as on your original device to avoid later syncing conflicts. In the Settings app, Privacy, Location Services must be set to When In Use or you won't be able to select a region.

    If you already paid for All Access on the original device, on a new or reset device you can Restore so that we can unlock access for the new device. To Restore, tap More •••, tap All Access, then tap the red Restore button and follow the instructions.

     

     

    3. NETWORK CONNECTION

    Do I always need a network connection to run the app?

    The app will perform best, with all functionality, when you have a strong cellular network or wifi network signal. It should work on the EDGE network as well, though might be slower in retrieving data. The app retrieves attraction text and images from the RoadsideAmerica.com servers, to ensure you have the most up-to-date info. If you SAVE attractions to your device while connected to a network, that info will stay in the app on that device when you're offline or in a dead zone.

    Do the maps work without a network connection?

    The maps are provided via Apple's Map app, so they won't work without a connection to the map server. With this in mind, we've included text addresses and directions (where available) to most attractions. In a pinch you can simply follow these, just like the good old 1990s!

    4. USER ACCOUNT

    Do I need a RoadsideAmerica.com User Account to use the app?

    No. You can use your 1-region chosen with purchase of the app without registering a RoadsideAmerica.com user account. If you want to unlock more regions or all regions, or want to export your Been There data, you must sign up for an account.

    To get a free user account, tap More •••, then tap Account.

    Troubleshooting: User Account

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    What can I do with a RoadsideAmerica.com User Account?

    You can purchase and unlock additional regions (tap More •••, All Access). You can Restore access to purchased unlocked regions on a new/reset device or 2nd device (using the same Apple ID). Use the Account section (tap More ••l;•, Account) for any of these functions: 1) Account Verify -- quick check if you already have an account and remember credentials; 2) Change Password; 3) Change Account Email; 4) Export Data (mail yourself your Saved/Been There file without signing in); 5) Delete Account.

    To get a free user account, tap More •••, then tap Account.

    Troubleshooting: User Account

    How do I delete my RoadsideAmerica.com User Account?

    In the App, tap More •••, Account, and tap the Delete Account button at the bottom. An email is sent so you can confirm the request was made by you. Note: The app remains functional on the user's device without an account, and Saved and Been Theres will likely remain locally on the device. But after account (and related data) deletion the user can't Restore or repurchase regions.

    Troubleshooting: User Account

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    5. REGIONS

    Can I buy more than one Region?

    Yes, you can make a la carte in-app purchases to unlock access to additional regions. To see your choices, in the App tap the More tab, then tap All Access. Users need a free RoadsideAmerica.com User account to purchase additional regions. To get a free user account, tap More, then tap Account and Sign Up. If you anticipate unlocking more than 3 regions, it's economical to Unlock All (All Access), a purchase which unlocks all regions.

    Can I change from 1-Region access to another Region?

    If you've already locked in a "home" Region on your device, you can't change it. Reinstalling won't change the Region you selected on your device. You can purchase an additional region. To see your choices, tap More •••, then tap All Access.

    Does my original 1-region access expire?

    No. The original region you selected will continue to work and retrieve the attraction data for that region from RoadsideAmerica.com for this app. We'll continue to update our data for as long as we can (we've been updating our info online since 1996, so our chronic compulsion is your highway to vacation fun!).

    Can I use Family Sharing to give others access to regions that I paid for?

    No. While the basic app can be shared for free by the original purchaser as part of Family Sharing, in-app purchases unlocking regions (or All Acesss) are not shareable for different Apple IDs. A family member enjoying the basic app can create a Roadside America account to purchase optional regions to associate with their respective Apple IDs.

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    6. ALL ACCESS

    How do I upgrade my access to All Access?

    In the App, lower right corner of the screen, tap the More ••• tab, then All Access. In All Access, tap the green button, "Unlock All" (If a purchase button isn't visible, any unlit region and you should see buttons for Unlocked Selected and Unlock All).

    Do I need a RoadsideAmerica.com User Account to purchase regions or All Access?

    Yes. In All Access, pick a region on the map and tap the green "Unlock Selected" button, or tap "Unlock All." You can "Sign Up" for a new account, or tap "I have an Account" and sign in. You can also get a free user account by tapping the More tab, then Account.

    • Important: If you see "Purchase Successful" then "Purchase Unsuccessful" and region fails to unlock, uninstalling/reinstalling will not help, but we can! Please contact our support through the app via More •••, Feedback. We will unlock for you. Tell us your username and what regions won't restore.)

     

     

    7. NEAR ME

    The Near Me list shows nearby attractions, but how do I see what's ahead that I haven't already driven past?

    See what lies ahead by using the Near Me map view. Tap the map icon in the upper right. A blue dot shows your map position, and will move as you drive. Tap any pin ahead to see the name and link to more info or route recommendation. More on: Is an attraction in front of me or behind me

    Why is "Near Me" not showing an updated list of places near where I am now?

    Map IconTap the arrowhead button: You can get your position and nearby attractions reset in Near Me by tapping the arrowhead button at top left. The Near Me map view shows real-time movement: a blue dot with a pulsating ring is where you are, and will move as you make significant location changes. If you remain in the list view while moving, it will not auto-refresh, but you can refresh by tapping the arrowhead button.

    Set a Temporary Near Me: Users can set a location in Near Me that is... not-near-me. It's a great way to explore ahead on your route. Tap-and-hold on the map, or search for a specific distant city, address or postal code.

    Places from an earlier trip lingering on Near Me? Tap the arrowhead button to reset to your location. If it's still stuck, force-close the app: On an iPhone X or later, or an iPad with iOS 12 or later, or iPadOS, from the Home screen, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause slightly in the middle of the screen. On an iPhone 8 or earlier, double-click the Home button to show your most recently used apps. Swipe right or left to find the app. Swipe up on the app's preview to close the app.. Now relaunch the App and shake-reload the Near Me view.

    Why is Near Me only showing attractions that are far away, in another region?

    If you are outside of your original 1-region you selected and have not unlocked the region you are in, you're seeing places that are closest in your selected region, probably clumped along the region border. This will also occur if you are outside of the United States and Canada.

    On my device, why is Near Me showing incorrect distances for attractions I know are really closer?

    Map IconFirst, tap the Near Me arrowhead to see if it reorients to your true position. If not, it may be a rare issue not caused by the app. It might occur if you recently moved your wifi router from another town/state, etc., or bought or received a router from someone far away. Apple™ uses a service called SkyHook which provides them with a database of WiFi locations around the country (they drive by your house and sniff the router ID). If you moved and SkyHook hasn't driven by your new location, they may still have your router listed in the old place.

    You can verify this is the issue one more way: If you have a neighbor whose WiFi you can use with your touch -- (restart your device, enter the app, then shake and reload in the Near Me tab) -- and suddenly you see attractions close by, it's the router info in SkyHook, which you can easily fix by requesting the change:
    https://www.skyhookwireless.com/submit-access-point

     

    8. ON ROUTE

    "On Route" tab: Input a Start and End city/state to see what attractions are along the path between them. You can adjust the corridor width to see places further off the route.

    On Route maximum distance between cities is 700 miles (as the crow flies), and displays places in the regions you have unlocked. In an attraction-dense region, such as Los Angeles, the pins will max out. Try a narrower corridor, shorter distance and/or filter pins to higher ratings.

    Plan Trips Longer Than 700 miles: Divide your On Route queries into smaller, point-to-point chunks. Filter to view only the higher rated places, mark them to your Saved list, and then view them all strung along a corridor —- even if it’s coast-to-coast -- in the Saved Map view (More ••• > Saved > All, and tap the upper right Map icon). For a safety backup, save your choices by Exporting Data.

     

    9. FINDING AND EXPLORING ATTRACTIONS

    How do I find attractions in the app?

    Map IconFind Via Near Me: From the list view, tap the map icon. The blue dot indicates your location. Tap-and-hold on the map to temporarily drop a pin and see what attractions are near it. Return to your regular Near Me position by tapping the arrowhead button.

    Find Via Search: by name of the attraction, or using the Where filter, search with location details.

    Find Via Cities: Search for specific attractions near a city (Cities > state > city). Place your thumb on the list and gently pull down to reveal a search field.

    Find Via Themes: 70+ categories created by RoadsideAmerica.com editors of expected and unexpected groupings of attractions (Animals, Crime, Utopia, Wild West, Weather....)

    Where are the Maps showing attractions?

    Map IconFor a list: tap the map pin icon in the upper right corner. In the Near Me map view, you can tap-and-hold on the map to temporarily drop a pin in a location to see what's around it. Tap the arrowhead button at the top to reload your actual location and nearby attractions. For a single attraction: in the detail page "Where" section, tap the map pin icon.

    Many "Near Me" attractions are in the opposite direction that we're traveling. How do I know what's ahead instead of what we already passed?

    Map IconIn Near Me, tap the map icon in the upper right corner. This flips the Near Me list view to map view. A dot shows where you are, and you can tap the pins that are "ahead" to see what’s coming up.

    Helpful tip: You can drop a temporary map pin (tap and hold for 2 seconds) on a spot ahead on your trip, and see attractions ahead more distantly. To revert to your normal location orientation, tap the Near Me arrowhead icon.

    How do I get route directions from where I am to get to an attraction?

    Map IconIn any list, tap an attraction to see a Detail view. In the "Directions" section, tap the route map icon.That gives you options to open in Apple Maps, Google Maps, or Waze to plot a route. The route map icon can also be found for any attraction in a map view -- just tap the attraction pin and you'll see it in the popup label.

    What are "Research" Attractions?

    Some places in the app are watermarked "RESEARCH." They're offbeat finds we believe have potential. We may not have visited in person yet, or haven't received a coherent tip. You may be the first! It's an exciting chance to explore and find nuggets of comedy and wonder before the stampede. Please write at least 3-4 descriptive sentences on the place (we won't convert Research attractions to Active attractions with only photos).

     

    10. BEEN THERE

    How does Been There work?

    Been There map pin

    On any Detail page about a particular attraction, there's a check box labeled "Been There." Mark if it's a place you've visited in person on a trip in the past. The list of places marked is available by tapping the More ••• tab, then tapping Been There. You can also see Been There places marked with a green-check pin in map views. You can mark up to 950 places.

    What can I do with Been There once I've checked off a bunch of places?

    If you go to the More tab then tap Been There, all your places can be viewed in an "All" list in the order you checked them, or broken out into state-by-state lists. You can also use the Ratings Filter on select maps and lists to temporarily hide your Been Theres (useful to quickly determine what's left to visit in an area).

    Is there a way to get my Been Theres on my other devices?

    Starting with v1.9.1, users with Roadside America accounts can move the Been There list from one device to another. Login (More ••• Account) and use the Export button to email yourself a file containing Saves/Been Theres. Just open that Roadside America Data (.rad) file on your second device, and it will be added to the app. See: Export/Import Personal Data

     

    11. SAVING ATTRACTIONS

    Why should I "Save" attractions?

    Been There map pin

    On a Detail page about an attraction, there's a Save button. If you save an attraction on your device, our info about it will be kept on that device. So if you're taking a trip where connections might be spotty, save a bunch of places in advance. Save up to 600 attractions. You can always view what you've saved in the More ••• view, under Saved. You can also see Saved places marked with a heart pin in map views.

    How do I remove attractions from my Save list/view?

    You can remove places when you're done with them: in the Detail view, by tapping to un-highlight the Save icon; in the More > Saved view, by swiping your thumb right-to-left on the item to reveal the red Delete button.

    Is there a way to get my Saves on my other devices?

    Starting with v1.9.1, users with Roadside America accounts can move the Saved list from one device to another. From More ••• Account use the Export data button to email yourself a file containing Saves/Been Theres. Just open that Roadside America Data (.rad) file on your second device, and it will be added to the app.

     

    12. HISTORY VIEW

    Does the History view save everything I've looked at in the app?

    The History view keeps a list of any attraction Detail views you have looked at recently on your device. This can be helpful if you forgot to save a place for offline use -- it may still be in the History. History is a rolling list, so older stuff will be eventually deleted to save space on your device. To see the History list, tap More, tap History.

     

    13. FILTER ATTRACTIONS

    Is there a way to show only higher rated places?

    Yes -- Filters (added v1.9.1 2017) lets you display on select lists or maps according to the Rating designated by Roadside America's discerning editors. Look for the Funnel icon at the top, tap to mark or unmark what ratings levels you want to display, and tap the Filter button. You can also filter to temporarily hide your Been Theres (useful to quickly determine what's left to visit in an area) .

     

    14. MISSING ATTRACTIONS

    Hey, some attractions are missing! I swear I saw them in the app earlier...

    Please make sure you don't have the Ratings Filter on, which hides pins. It's the Funnel icon at the top of select maps and lists.

    Why can't I find an attraction I recall reading about on RoadsideAmerica.com?

    The attraction may not be there because it:

    • Is mediocre (in our opinion), moves around, or the location info is too vague.
    • Closed, disappeared, or is no longer compatible with public access.
    • Is now listed under a different town or different attraction name.

    For the mobile app, we clean out dead wood. Check the website if you really want to dive into a vague lead or lament some dusty relic in Gone But Not Forgotten, and let us know what you discover that we might map and add.

     

    15. SUBMITTING TIPS ABOUT PLACES

    Can I suggest adding a new attraction or oddity I discover?

    Yes! Submit oddball places for consideration. Tap More •••, and then tap Submit Tip. First make sure we don't already have it, by doing a search or checking in the Cities tab. To maintain the oddball quality of our collection, we don't add everything submitted -- you can get a sense of what might qualify by looking at Themes and what we already cover. We're picky. Think: unusual, weird, funny, over-the-top, or inexplicable! Here are more detailed tip guidelines.

    An attraction listed in the app is gone or missing. What should I report?

    We can quickly change the status on a place after the change has been confirmed. It might turn out a tipster was in the wrong place (inputting a street address into another app sometimes misleads), the attraction was removed temporarily for repair, or a tipster read somewhere online about an imminent status change but was not an eyewitness. If you're at an actual attraction location, please snap a photo of the vacant spot to help confirm. Also, ask someone nearby (store manager, dog-walking neighbor, city employee) if they know what happened, and let us know.

    What if I want to suggest a place that's not in my 1-Region, and I don't have All Access?

    C'mon, sign up for All Access! But yes, with 1-Region Access you can submit a tip about anywhere. Tap More, and then tap Submit Tip. We may already have it listed. You can check the RoadsideAmerica.com web site.

    Can I snap a photo directly within the app?

    No, but it's easy to snap pics in your phone camera, access your Photos library from the app, and submit cool shots for our editors to consider. (App versions before 2.2 included direct camera access. The feature was rarely used and needlessly complicated app user privacy settings.)

    I shot good photos earlier, and I also have some from my other digital camera. Can I submit those?

    Yes! Photos you shot earlier on the iPhone should still be in your Photo app. Just select "Submit Tip," then "Add Photo." Photos from other cameras that you've imported into your phone can also be submitted this way.To change or delete a photo already in the tip form, tap the photo thumbnail. Make sure all photos were shot by you, and please don't submit photos taken by others or from websites and other sources. You can also submit tips with photos via our website.

    Do you post selfies?

    Not so much. We prefer photos of the attraction itself, perhaps with a tiny person next to it for scale. Here's our Selfies Guide.

    How come the tip I just sent about an Attraction isn't displaying in the App yet?

    RoadsideAmerica.com editors review all tips to determine suitability. If the information and images submitted meet our criteria, the tip may be added to the Attraction database. Tips that provide new info on a place are more likely to be added than those repeating prior postings, or just checking in. Note: At times there's a backlog of submissions (especially during summer), so it may take weeks, but we read and carefully consider everything.

     

    16. IPAD

    Does the app work on an iPad?

    Yes! The latest version of the app (2.3) includes native iPad views and is compatible with any iOS iPad running iOS 12.3 or higher. The maps are more expansive, and we'll be tuning more iPad elements in subsequent updates. It's best to have an iPad cellular plan activated for network access on the road when out of range of wifi hotspots.

    What doesn't work on an iPad that works on an iPhone?

    Depending on your particular device, certain app features optimized for the iPhone are not available (for example, on an iPad you probably can't call an attraction from the phone link in the app).

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    17. EXPORT/IMPORT PERSONAL DATA

    Can I save my list of Saves and Been Theres outside the device?

    Yes. The app (version 2.2 and newer) no longer requires an account login to export the saved places file. Just go to More •••, Account and use the Export button to email a file containing Saves/Been Theres to yourself. Open that Roadside America Data (.rad) file on your second device, and it will be imported into the app. We also advise keeping this email on file, and regularly exporting an updated file if you frequently mark places for your lists. You can import the most recent data file if you ever need to re-populate the app with your places after a device catastrophe or app reset or on a new device. Note: In order for this feature to work and display an email window so you can input your email address, you must have an email account active via the device Mail app.

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    18. TROUBLESHOOTING

    18.1. Restoring Lost Paid-for Regions

    My new/upgraded (or reset) phone is only showing one region, but I'd already paid for others in the past.

    [June 15, 2023: Please update to the latest app version (2.5), which fixes a Restore regions bug affecting some users (check your version # at the top of the More > About view).]

    New or reset devices need to be reconnected with previous region purchases (made with the same Apple ID). To restore region In-App purchases: Launch the app. Select your primary region (whichever you selected on the original device, probably your "home" region). Once that's unlocked, you'll see the red Restore button (can also be found via More •••, All Access). To restore already paid-for region access, tap the red Restore button. Select "I have an account" and login with your RoadsideAmerica.com username and password. You may be asked to log into the App Store (but not buy again, only to verify previous purchase was made with your Apple ID). After access is retrieved ("Success"), the All Access map shows your unlocked regions, and states/provinces are listed in the Cities tab.

    If you don't see the unlocked regions or a way to exit the region screen, please try force-closing the app, then relaunch the app. (https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201330)

    If Restore doesn't unlock region access, please contact us via More > Feedback and provide your Roadside America username, and/or the EXACT original email address associated with the account (and also a current, working email address if you've moved on -- otherwise we have no way to contact you! Example: bigfoot.com mail accounts are defunct). Tell us what regions are affected and the approximate date of purchase if you can determine.

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    18.2. Freeze

    What should I do if the app freezes the first time I open it, or after an update? Or I get a Welcome screen that says "Network Unavailable"....

    If the app "freezes" or becomes non-reponsive to app buttons tapped, a complete quit should clear this issue.

    "Unlock Selected Region" button non-responsive? Force-close App: On an iPhone X or later, or an iPad with iOS 12 or later, or iPadOS, from the Home screen, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause slightly in the middle of the screen. On an iPhone 8 or earlier, double-click the Home button to show your most recently used apps. Swipe right or left to find the app. Swipe up on the app's preview to close the app. Launch the Settings app. Under Privacy set Location Services to ON. Now launch the Roadside America app and make your region selection.

    If you get "Network Unavailable" (even though your other apps are able to connect), then quit the app. Go into the Settings App, tap Roadside and set Access Location to "Always." Launch the app.

    If the problem persists, please contact us via our mobile support contact or using Feedback in the app (under More, Feedback) so we can try to reproduce.

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    18.3. First Time Opening Application

    When I try to open the app the first time, it says: "Connecting to App Store" but it never connects.

    Make sure you first open the app while you have an active internet connection that is not behind a proxy/firewall (such as might be in place at a school or company). If that isn't the problem, then you might try the following:

    Go into the Settings App, tap Store, and sign out of your Apple ID account. Shut down the device. Turn on the device. Launch the app.

    More: http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1368

    After selecting my 1-region, the app asks for a login and password, which I don't have... What do I do?

    Though rare, this might happen if you launched the app for the first time and made your region selection while in a location with a failing, bad, or no network connection. You don't need a login and password for that first region, so force-closing the app should clear the problem.

    Force-close App: On an iPhone X or later, or an iPad with iOS 12 or later, or iPadOS, from the Home screen, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause slightly in the middle of the screen. On an iPhone 8 or earlier, double-click the Home button to show your most recently used apps. Swipe right or left to find the app. Swipe up on the app's preview to close the app.

    Launch the app (then agree to allow Location Services). You should now see the Near Me list of places. If not, then tap the arrowhead button in the top left.

    If the app complains that it can't find your location, try checking another app on your device that uses location, such as Maps. If one app can find you, they should all be able to find you, so check to make sure you are in a place where location-dependent apps are working.

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    18.4. Purchasing a single Region or All Access

    I tried to purchase a new region or All Access to unlock everything, but still only see what I already had.

    Please try force-closing the app: On an iPhone X or later, or an iPad with iOS 12 or later, or iPadOS, from the Home screen, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause slightly in the middle of the screen. On an iPhone 8 or earlier, double-click the Home button to show your most recently used apps. Swipe right or left to find the app. Swipe up on the app's preview to close the app. Launch the app, check the Cities tab to see if all states in the region(s) are now listed.

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    "Unlock Selected Region" button non-responsive?

    This could occur if a user didn't allow the app to know their location. Force-close App: On an iPhone X or later, or an iPad with iOS 12 or later, or iPadOS, from the Home screen, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause slightly in the middle of the screen. On an iPhone 8 or earlier, double-click the Home button to show your most recently used apps. Swipe right or left to find the app. Swipe up on the app's preview to close the app. Go to the iPhone's Settings App (gray icon with gears), then Privacy, Location Services, Roadside, and change it to ON. Now launch the Roadside America app and make your region selection.

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    When I try to purchase a region or All Access and confirm, the screen mentions I must own the App and won't purchase.

    If you have more than one Apple ID, you may have switched between them since when you bought the App and when you tried to purchase additional region Access. Go into the Settings App, tap iTunes & App Store, and see what Apple ID is logged in. Sign out, then sign back in with the Apple ID used to originally purchase the App.

    If you are trying to purchase or restore a region or All Access, and see this alert: "You Can't Purchase This - You must purchase the app that this item is for before you can purchase this item" or "Regrant Failed" -- it's the same issue. You bought the App with a different Apple ID, and at some point you signed in with a different Apple ID (perhaps a family member or iCloud account). You can verify this by looking at your App Store purchase history and you won't find the app purchase. If you sign into iTunes (via Settings, then iTunes & App Store) using the original, correct account you will see it listed in the Purchase History for that account. Using that correct purchasing Apple ID, you can make the region or All Access purchase or Restore in the App. After you complete the purchase or the Restore, you can sign out of the Apple ID and return to the other Apple ID if you wish.

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    When I try to purchase a region or All Access it won't let me.

    If your parents or significant other have implemented Restrictions or Parental Controls on your device, they have prevented you from making any in-app purchase. Don't blame us -- talk to your parental units!

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    18.5. User Account

    Activation: I signed up for an account, but never received the account activation email. What do I do now?

    The account activation mail should reach you within a few minutes. First, check your spam or "promotions" folder to see if the Activation mail (subject: Roadside America New User) ended up there. If not, then it is possible you mistyped the email address in the sign-up form, or your ISP is not recognizing it as a valid email. Use our mobile support web contact, provide your username and a functioning email address. Even better: please provide a 2nd functioning email address of yours, not using the same mail service as the address with the missing mail problem. Otherwise, if your email provider is filtering or blocking us, we have no way to contact you. We'll activate your account and let you know.

    You might not hear from us if: 1) your ISP responds that your mailbox is full; or 2) your ISP (example: aol.com) blocked our mail, and doesn't send us bounces. If you don't hear a peep from us, please email us a phone number and that alternate email address. If all else fails and you need to hit the road, create a new account with a different user name and different email (Gmail, Yahoo, etc.). Let us know and we'll delete your unused account.

    Forgot or Change Password: I have an account. How can I reset the password?

    You can request a password reset if you forgot it, or want to change it as a good security practice. Go to roadsideamerica.com/forgot and provide your username and email address used to sign up for the account. A confirmation for password reset will be sent to that email address for you to approve. After approving, go to Account Login, sign in, and then Change Password to a new password known only to you (at least 10 characters, upper and lower case letters, numbers, special characters). Don't use your name or email address as a password. Don't use the same password as used in other accounts.

    If you don't hear from us: Your mail service may be blocking us because of your email settings. Make sure your email account settings don't block mail from roadsideamerica.com. Also, if your email address is sent with errors/typos, we may be unable to contact you! If you don't hear back, please send a feedback email (tap More •••, Feedback) and provide an alternate email address and/or phone number.

    Forgot Username: I can't remember my user name... did I ever have one?

    Maybe. A user account is required only if you've purchased additional regions or All Access. Many users don't have accounts since they use just the basic app. If you've made an additional region in-app purchase, and want to unlock access on a new or reset device, check to see if you saved an email with the subject "Roadside America New User," which contains the username. You can also send yourself a password reset -- in the app tap More •••, Account, Forgot Password and submit your email address. The reset email will contain your username. If you encounter problems, contact us via the App (tap More •••, Feedback) and tell us the EXACT email address you associated with your account.

    If you purchased US Access before July 17, 2010, there's a good chance you never had an account. We didn't require user accounts until that date. It's not a problem -- you can sign up for a free account now (tap More, Account).

    Forgot Everything: No clue about my user name or password. Also don't have access to the old email account used to set up my account. Help?

    When you contact us via the App (tap More •••, Feedback) tell us your EXACT old email address, and make sure to also provide your newer working email address, or we have no way to respond to you. We can update your account email and send you a password reset.

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    18.6. Location Services

    When I first got the App, I said "No" when it asked to locate me. Now I can't get the App to show me places or ask me for location again. Error message reads: "Sorry! location permission needed here for the app to do its thing."

    Force-close App: On an iPhone X or later, or an iPad with iOS 12 or later, or iPadOS, from the Home screen, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause slightly in the middle of the screen. On an iPhone 8 or earlier, double-click the Home button to show your most recently used apps. Swipe right or left to find the app. Swipe up on the app's preview to close the app.

    Go to the iPhone's Settings App (gray icon with gears), then Privacy > Location Services > Roadside, and change it to ON - While Using.

     

    No Network Connection

    My other apps work fine connecting online, but this app says "No Network Connection"

    Make sure you allow the app to use Cellular to connect. Quit the app. In device Settings, Roadside, allow Roadside to Access "Cellular Data." Launch the app.

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    18.7 App Won't Update: Wrong Apple ID

    The App Store won't update the app -- "Unable To Install "Roadside' - You must purchase this app to install it." But it's already on the phone, and now the app doesn't open at all.

    Your Apple ID currently signed into the device must match the Apple ID that originally bought the app (and made in-app region purchases). Check device Settings and the App Store. If you are part of Family Sharing, confirm with the original app purchasing family member that your sharing group status is valid and the basic app is still shared. Note: additional unlocked region in-app purchases can't be shared beyond the devices using the original purchaser's Apple ID. Each share member must create their own Roadside America user account (so that they can restore access in the future, if needed).

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    18.8 Attraction Directions: Apple Maps Won't Launch

    Each attraction in our app connects to a mapped point you can open in Apple Maps (or Google Maps or Waze, if those apps are installed). Apple Maps might be unresponsive if you've never used it before. Close the Roadside America app, launch Apple Maps, and give that app location permission. Now relaunch the Roadside America app, and Apple Maps should respond with a route from your location to the attraction.

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    [Older expired subscriptions: Roadside America App version 1.0 - 1.3 (in 2010-11) included an option to purchase and unlock US Access, and required an annual renewal. US Access purchased before 2012 has expired. If you would like to purchase All Access (which includes the US and Canada and will not expire), tap More, then All Access, then Unlock All.]


    If you have additional questions about the Roadside America App for iPhone, send us a note. We can't promise an individual response but will continue to add to the FAQs to help users!

    Apple, the Apple logo, iPod touch, and iTunes are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the US and other countries. iPhone is a trademark of Apple Inc. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc.

    [revised 2023-12-9]