Geocaching with RoadTrippin

Two sources, side by side

The Geocaches tab shows geocache locations from two different places:

• Known Locations (OpenStreetMap) — geocaches tagged in OpenStreetMap near a city or town you search. Coverage is sparse, because most real-world geocaches have never been added to OpenStreetMap.
• User-Logged Geocaches — finds logged directly by RoadTrippin users. These are always shown, whatever you've searched for.

New to the hobby? Start with our beginner's guide to geocaching.

Searching known locations

1. Enter a city or the nearest town, or tap the location button to use your current position.
2. Choose a search radius.
3. Tap Search Known Locations. Matching geocaches tagged in OpenStreetMap appear on the map and in the list below it.

If nothing turns up, you'll see a message saying so. That's a gap in OpenStreetMap's data rather than a bug — try a larger radius or a different area, and check geocaching.com for complete listings.

Logging a find

Because most geocaches aren't in OpenStreetMap at all, logging what you find directly is how this part of the map actually grows.

1. Scroll to Log a Geocache Find at the bottom of the tab.
2. Enter the cache name and, if you have it, its GC code.
3. Enter the coordinates in decimal degrees, or tap Use My Current Location to fill them in from GPS while you're standing at the spot.
4. Tap Log This Find. It appears immediately in User-Logged Geocaches, on the map, in your Log tab, and on your My Account page.

Why every log matters

A find log is how geocachers know a cache is still there. Caches that go unlogged for months may have been damaged, moved, or taken — your log tells the next seeker the cache is real and reachable. Even if you don't sign the physical logbook, a log in RoadTrippin creates a time-stamped record that helps everyone.

Coverage notes

OpenStreetMap geocache coverage is limited, and you may get zero results in many areas — rural areas especially. For the most complete listings, use the official Geocaching app or geocaching.com alongside RoadTrippin, and use RoadTrippin to plan the drive and record your finds.