Over the river and through the woods, to grandmother's house we go — probably in a car! Yup, it's holiday time, which for many of us means piling into a cramped Dodge with Ma and Pa and some creepy cousins. Imagery of smushed road kill and IHOPs abound. A sense of powerlessness fills the air, particularly if you're in the backseat with the carsick cat. A new app by Roadtrippers.com may be just what you need to take the edge off this nightmare on wheels.

The Roadtripper.com app, which syncs trips planned on the Roadtrippers website to one's iPhone (News - Alert), is poised as a trip planner. It features a trove of tools including navigation, maps and an interface that gives ideas for attractions, eateries and hotels that are tailored to a user's preferences. The app spotlights indie businesses that may be less nauseating than the typical commercial chain companies frequented all too frequently on long car rides.

Roadtrippers.com cofounder Tatiana Parent asserts that this year, more than 58 percent of holiday travel will be on the road. Parent suggests that it doesn't all have to be pit stops at Shell and Denny's; road travelers can take the opportunity to endorse small, local businesses, creating a win-win situation.

“Why not take a scenic route, or stop to support an independent restaurant on the way?" Parent challenges, adding: "We can help with that!”

The Roadtrippers.com app is positioned as a companion to the website, and for many it will serve as the primary way to access the site, since mobile is how one most often browses the web on the go. The lets users sync saved itineraries to their iPhones. It's available now, in time for the Thanksgiving traffic rush, but there will be more available in the full-featured version due by Christmas.