(CNN) - If you're packing up and heading home this weekend, it may be a bumpy ride. Winter weather has thrown a wrench into holiday travel plans in many parts of the country this week. There are some apps for you to make winter travel a little smoother.
With frozen runways and mounting snow, winter travel can get messy. And all it takes is a snowstorm in one part of the country, to trigger a ripple effect of delays and cancellations well across it.
While a smartphone can't dial up mother nature, it can make travel interruptions more tolerable. Apps like Gate Guru for Apple and Android and Travel Nerd help navigate unfamiliar airports for traveler essentials. Gate Guru maps out food, coffee, shopping and other amenities closest to your gate, and includes tips and reviews from other travelers.
Travel Nerd has similar information about dozens of airports, plus an overview of ground transportation options to and from the airport, in case weather keeps you grounded.
If a flight delay or cancellation is going to amount to an overnight stay, the Hotel Tonight app helps travelers with last-minute plans with deeply discounted same-day, or night, bookings in about a dozen major cities.
And for those on the ground making an airport pickup, don't get stuck circling the airport while a delayed traveler is in the skies. The Just Landed app for iPhone tracks flights. And, based on location, tells a driver when to leave for the airport to ensure an on-time pickup.
