How to get wifi on the road
Road tripping over a country, state, or even a small area of a country, doesn’t mean you have to go completely off the grid! There are many ways, depending on your needs that you can stay connected wherever you are.
Whether you need the internet to stay connected with friends and family, keep track of your emails, update your social media channels or if you need to work online, here are some great ways how to get wifi on the road!
What are your Internet needs?
The first thing to consider when choosing which method you will consider having the Internet while on the road is what are your actual needs. Are you planning on working remotely, are you just going to need WIFI to find your way around or check social media, are you publishing on youtube…
Take the time to sit down and ask yourself why you need WIFI while on the road. This way, if you only need it to do a couple of small things, you can consider cheaper options that will still work very well. However, if you need WIFI to work while road-tripping all over the place, there might be better-suited options to fit your needs.
How to get WiFi on the road
Stay at a campground
If you need some Internet connection mostly when you are not driving, staying at a campground can be a great option that will allow you the possibility to use their WIFI.
Unfortunately, it is not every campground that offers WIFI, either paid or free, so you might not find it at every campsite.
The camping’s WIFI can also be spotty. However, this can be a great option for someone who would want to check some information on the web, check social media, and even do some work that doesn’t require WIFI.
If you are working remotely, this might not be the best option for you though. It might help for some time though.
Buy a SIM card at your destination
This is another great option for someone who doesn’t plan on working while on the road. You’ll be able to check your social media and still do a lot of things from your cell phone.
We actually did this while road tripping for three weeks around Scotland. My partner and I each bought a data plan and changed our SIM cards in our phones and it was all we needed to do.
We were able to check our social media, update our families, post plenty of photos, use the GPS to get around, and find local restaurants to just name a couple of things.
Here again, it wouldn’t be the best option for someone working remotely but it can get you by for your basic WIFI needs on the road.
Mobile hotspot
If you are only going to use the data to keep in touch with family, email, and update social media, you could easily create a hotspot with your phone to use your tablet or laptop. This will however use your phone’s battery very quickly.
If you are planning on working though, this is not the best option for you. It is really for minimal uses to help you out on your road trip and keep connected.
portable hotspot
If being connected while on your road trip is something very important because you need it for work, for example, a portable hotspot can be a good solution.
A portable hotspot is a portable device that will create WIFI from a cellular data plan. You will be able to connect any device, such as a phone, tablet, or laptop.
Using a portable hotspot device will be great to stay connected on the road but also in cases where your internet goes down, while you are at home.
You will need to sign up for a plan in order to use a portable hotspot. Look around for different options. Make sure to check the plan type such as unlimited or if you would rather have a cap. There are some unlimited plans out there that will be slowed down, especially at peak times. Some companies will prioritize their customers over customers using mobile hotspots. Make sure to check that as well as to not be limited in some way while you need your connection.
Traveling all over the world? Choose a plan that will allow you to auto-connect to local networks without having to buy a local SIM card.
While choosing your plan, don’t forget to take into consideration the number of people who will be using the hotspot. Only one person, the whole family? Make sure to choose a plan according to your needs.
Also, choose a device with a built-in battery if you are planning to use your portable hotspot without a power source for a while.
Using your own portable hotspot is a great way to keep your network a bit more secure as you won’t be connected to unsecured public networks. Choose a portable hotspot device the right size for you. A more compact one will be better for someone on the move or road-tripping all over the place.
One drawback to using either a mobile or portable WIFI hotspot is that you need cellular coverage in order for them to work. Which is fine if you are going to be anywhere near cellular coverage. However, if you plan on going more off the grid, it might not work for you then.
WiFi signal boosters
A WIFI signal booster will improve your WIFI coverage. Using a WIFI signal booster will extend the WIFI signal by amplifying pre-existing signals.
If you are getting frustrated because the WIFI signal is weak, this option is a good one to use. As explained earlier though, this option is to amplify an already-existing connection. This can be useful if you are staying at the campground during your road trip and they have WIFI available.
WIFI at the campground can be very spotty depending on where you are parked in that said campground. Having a WIFI signal booster could help you access the connection better.
It’s also an option you can use when there is some WIFI in range but not strong enough to get a good connection wherever that may be during your road trip!
Satellite Internet
Satellite internet will work anywhere in the world as it is not limited to cellular coverage. To use satellite internet, you will need a clear sky and a satellite modem.
You might need a bit more patience to set up your satellite antennae properly. It will require a precise configuration in order to work properly. Also, keep in mind that the equipment is bigger to transport than a small portable device.
You’ll also need a clear sky to be able to use it. If the weather isn’t great, chances are, it might not be working at all.
Use a vehicle WiFi hotspot
Nowadays, some car models offer WIFI directly in the car. You can connect any of your devices to the WIFI in your car so you can stream, check social media, check your itinerary, use google maps, and more.
The car’s WIFI will usually be on 3G, 4G, or LTE. You will have to buy a plan in order to use it though.
If your car doesn’t have a built-in WIFI, you can still add it.
You can have a wireless router installed professionally or you could use an OBD II device that you plug directly into your car.
Temporary internet service without a contract
This portable WIFI device works somewhat like a router. Basically, the device will find a cell signal and transform it into a WIFI connection that you will be able to connect your devices to.
You can either rent the device or buy it through the provider of your choice. You’ll also be able to choose a plan according to the duration of your trip, or the timeframe you will need the device and the data you plan on needing.
Renting one long-term might not be the best solution if you travel a whole lot. Buying it might be better in the end for you. You’ll only pay when you connect to the portable WIFI device.
Unfortunately, this device doesn’t work in every single country. Make sure to check the coverage before opting for this option considering the country you are traveling to. It wouldn’t be the best WIFI option if there is no coverage in the country you are traveling to.
This can be a good option if you are planning on doing more than catching up.
Tips for reducing data usage & making your data last longer
Download music and movies when you’re using WiFi
One way to save yourself some data from your plan is by downloading playlists or movies from your streaming platforms while you are somewhere you can use WIFI to do so.
It will be way quicker to download them on a reliable (sometimes) WIFI, from a cafe for example.
Before leaving the house, make sure to download a couple of movies on your favorite streaming apps. This way, you’ll have a couple of movies or TV shows preloaded for some downtime. Once you’ve gone through them, you can delete them and download some new ones when you have access to a WIFI network.
This is a good way to limit your data usage so you have more for more important matters but you will also save your high-speed data for when you really need it.
Wait for WiFi to upload files online
This goes the same way as downloading music and movies while using a WIFI network. If you need to download some larger files, it might be better to wait to have some WIFI.
This way, if the files take a couple of minutes to download to your phone or laptop, it won’t be using your valuable data.
Stop apps from doing some background refresh
Background refresh is when you aren’t using an app but it is still gathering data. This is especially true for social media apps. Even though you aren’t using it, the app will keep refreshing anyways so that when you do open it again, you’ll have the latest feed available.
To help you save on your data, you could put the refresh settings off. You’ll still be able to use all your apps but it won’t be using your data while the app isn’t opened.
Turn on the Use Less Data setting on Instagram
This goes in the same sense as turning your background refresh off but this happens when you are actually using the app.
While scrolling through your feed on Instagram, the app will be preloading the videos in your feed. Which is nice when you don’t have to worry about your data usage. However, if you are trying to save your data for important uses on your road trip, this can be annoying as the app will load videos that might not interest you in the first place.
To help you save your data, you can turn the use-less data setting into your Instagram settings.
Turn cellular data off on all the apps that you don’t use
All apps will use your data, some when they are in use only and others will use your data even though you are not using the app.
You can turn off your data for every app on your phone and just turn it on as you need to use it. This can also save you a bit of data on your plan.
Public WIFI options on the road
Internet cafe
In cafes such as Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts, Tim Hortons, Krispy Kreme, and Costa when you purchase a coffee (in Europe), and in smaller coffee shops, you can access free WIFI. While some might have a time limitation, some don’t.
This is a great opportunity to enjoy a laid-back ambiance, and a hot beverage while getting some work done, downloading valuable content, or just catching up on life.
Breweries
Visiting local breweries while on your road trip is a great way to discover local beer and enjoy a nice moment. Some of them offer free WIFI.
It might not be the best time to get some work done while it is super busy in the evening and it might feel a bit awkward too. But you could definitely enjoy a nice afternoon on the breweries patio, weather permitting of course while doing what you gotta do online.
Libraries
Libraries are another great option to find some free WIFI. You can rent books but you can also find a reliable free WIFI.
Libraries are a great option because you can stay there as long as you want! They are also usually open for long hours so you aren’t going to be limited on the time you can get there.
Fast food restaurants
Big chain restaurants such as Mcdonald’s, Burger King, Taco Bell, Wendy’s, and Arby’s to only name a few, often have free WIFI.
You might have to buy something in order to use it but it will still allow you to use it for a little while to get your stuff done.
Accessories for working while on the road
If your WIFI needs are only for basic stuff such as finding your way, updating and going through your social media, and keeping in touch with friends and family, you might not need much to make your life easier. Your phone, your Ipad, or your laptop might just be enough.
If you are planning to be working online though, these accessories will make your life easier on the road and you’ll also be better organized to get that work done comfortably and efficiently.
First off, make sure you can have a reliable connection while you are on the road. Choose the best option for you. Whether it’s a mobile hotspot, a portable hotspot, campgrounds internet, a local SIM card, a WIFI signal booster, satellite internet, or even a temporary internet service without a contract. Make sure it will cover your internet needs.
Here is a list of accessories to make it easier to get your work done either in a van, campervan, your car, or wherever you are planning to work from. You can purchase them by clicking on the links below!
So there you go, at least you have a couple of different options to stay connected while road tripping wherever that is! Don’t forget to evaluate your needs. It’s not worth paying more than necessary to stay connected. Buy a plan that will fit your needs or your family’s needs.
Once you’ve chosen the way you are going to stay connected, buy the equipment you will need or rent it. Check different plan options as well with different providers.
Another important point to consider is to stay safe while using public networks. If your plan is to use quite a lot of them to stay connected while on the road, get yourself a VPN to keep your information secured while traveling.
I hope these will help you stay connected while traveling! These are all great ways to get WIFI on the road.
Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, I earn a small commission if you make a purchase through these links. I would never recommend anything I don’t personally love and use!
Want to plan a road trip your friends and family will envy? I have all the best resources for you to help you do just that!
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