Filling the gap of route sharing and collaboration

When we first came together to talk about building Fernveh, we didn’t start with the name. We started with the problem — and it was clear. Most route planning apps were built for the basics. "Point A to Point B." But traveling — especially in RVs, caravans, or with friends and family — is so much more than that. There were no real tools for route sharing and collaboration. There wasn’t an easy way to discover niche vendors and services at campsites. And campground owners themselves? They had few options to showcase what makes their site unique.

So we got to work. The idea was simple: create something that makes discovering, planning, and sharing adventures effortless. Something built for real travelers. (You can see where we’re headed at https://fernveh.travel/)

As for the name? That took some real late-night debates.

Fernweh, Fernway, Fernvuh, Fernveh

We kept circling back to this German word — Fernweh. It means "farsickness," or a deep longing for distant places. The more we said it aloud, the more it stuck. It captured the essence of why we were building Fernveh: to help people satisfy that pull to go farther and explore.

But there were a few problems. First, Fernweh.com was already taken. Second, most people (ourselves included) weren’t sure how to pronounce it right away. In German, the "W" sounds like a "V" — so it’s actually Fern-vuh, not "Fern-way". We worried that people would stumble on the pronunciation, or miss the meaning entirely.

That’s when inspiration hit. What if we embraced the way it sounds? What if we made it easier and more familiar without losing the spirit of the word? That’s how Fernveh was born. Same feeling, easier to say, and a name we could make our own. (You’ll see it everywhere at https://fernveh.travel/)

Bringing RVers with us to build Fernveh together

Since that day, Fernveh has come to stand for more than just an idea. It's become a rallying cry for building something better. A route planner that goes beyond simple directions. A tool that helps you share trips, find unique camp services, and connect with others who are on the road too.

Naming it was the easy part. Building it — and empowering journeys everywhere — that’s what drives us every day.

Join us on the road and build with us at https://fernveh.travel/.