Internet and Vanlife: How We Get Internet on the Road

Internet access is a must, even for those who like an adventurous life off the grid. Whether it’s trip research, like figuring out where to go and downloading offline maps. Doing your job, with phone calls, emails and invoicing. Or just the usual, like watching Netflix and scrolling Instagram. We get internet in some creative ways. Here’s how we stay connected, and run our business, on the road.

Tech Options	Data Plan	Mobile Hotspot
Boosters	Cell Booster	​Wifi Booster

Where to Find FREE Wifi on the Road

Libraries	Coffee Shops & Restaurants	Visitor Centers
Laundromats	​Gyms	Grocery Stores
Lodge & Hotel Lobbies	Remote Workspaces	Paid Campsites

Let’s start with the tech-based solutions:

1. Unlimited Cell Phone Plan with Hotspot

There are many cell phone providers in the US. We’ve had Verizon plans for almost two decades, because regardless what others say, it's the best. Verizon consistently has the most coverage across the country. Plans are always changing but here’s a look at their current offerings.

As of May 2020, for a single line, unlimited plans with a hotspot option start at $90/month.

We’re on a family plan, where the pricing does come down quite a bit per line.

An Unlimited plan means unlimited calls, texting, and data for your actual cell phone. In addition, we recommend you get a plan that includes a mobile hotspot. This allows you to turn your phone into a wifi network so you can connect your laptop, tablet etc. to it. But keep in mind: An unlimited plan doesn’t mean that your Hotspot is also unlimited 4G LTE. There is a cap on hotspot data.

For example, the “Play More Unlimited Plan” allows for 15GB of 4G LTE hotspot data per month. As soon as you hit that quota, the speed drops to 600 Kbps until your next billing cycle. That’s painfully slow, but it is unlimited.

How much data do you need? We recommend starting with the “Play More Unlimited Plan.” Check your data after a month, and see if you need to upgrade or downgrade from there.

Keep in mind, no matter what cell provider you choose there are still plenty of dead zones where you won’t find any cell service.

If you want to shop around, check out what AT&T, Sprint, and TMobile are offering

1. Mobile Hotspot

If you work from the road you’ll quickly learn how fast 15GB flies by. Especially if you’re sending and downloading photos and videos. For this reason, we also have a Verizon Jetpack Hotspot and pay for an additional 15GB of 4G LTE data per month. This is a hotspot device, separate from our cell phones. Verizon does offer a lower price to activate a hotspot if you already pay for a phone line.

The hotspot features on our iphones are sometimes a little glitchy and doesn’t connect 100% of the time. But the Jetpack is awesome! It’s designed to do one specific thing, and works every time.

Money Saving Tip: Rather than buy a new $200 jetpack from Verizon, look for a used one. We found a used Jetpack Verizon MiFi 6620L for $85 online and it works perfectly.

1. WeBoost Cell Phone Booster

News Flash: The best locations to camp and explore the US also have the worst cell reception. When you live on the road and base yourself in these areas, it poses a major problem for getting work done. One way to beat it - is with a cell phone booster.

We have the weBoost Drive 4G-X RV. It’s not foolproof, but it boosts service up to 32 times stronger. This can take a weak cell signal and boost it to a workable internet speed. It’s an expensive purchase, and not guaranteed to always work, but we’ve been pleasantly surprised. If you’re full time on the road, and cell reception is a must, then it’s worth having all the gadgets to make this possible.

1. Wifi Extender Antenna

This is a great tool to boost the connection to wifi networks around you. Let’s say you’re in a parking lot and want to grab the nearby free wifi from McDonalds, Panera, Walmart, the gym, or the library? Plug this into the USB port of your laptop and see a 2-4x boost in connection.

We use the Bearify Outdoor wifi Extender. When this guy works, it’s a real lifesaver. But it can be finicky - not connecting to some networks even though it shows maximum wifi bars. Still, for under $60, it’s definitely worth getting!

Note, this won’t make the wifi speed faster, but it does boost the signal range so you are able to connect to the nearby wifi.

Ways we get FREE wifi on the road:

1. Cafes and Restaurants

Internet, power, and coffee? What’s not to love. While it’s great to work in small, local cafes to support the community - we usually start getting looks after an hour or so if we’re not constantly buying more food and drinks. For this reason (and so we don’t go broke), we often stick to franchises like Panera Bread and Starbucks. The employees leave us alone even if we’re sitting there for 8 hours. And as a bonus, both offer free or discounted coffee refills!

Sometimes we’ll use the wifi or recharge with a power outlet when eating at a diner or small restaurant - but like a local cafe, we prefer to not overstay our welcome.

Looking for the best wifi near you? Check out our Digital Nomad Wifi Review list here!

Other helpful apps include Wifi Finder, Wifi Map, and Workfrom.

AndTheyTravel Tip: We always test the wifi speed before setting up shop and ordering something. Going to speedtest.net or using the Speedtest by Ookla app are a great way to know if it’s worth working at that location or moving along. In general, anything under 3Mbps is too slow for us.

Fun Fact: Fastest internet we’ve ever had - a Starbucks in Whistler, Canada. Over 300Mbps download and 300Mbps upload speeds! So far, it could melt your laptop. Plus, they offer free refills on coffee. One of the many reasons to visit the Great White North.

1. Libraries

When’s the last time you were in a library? For us, almost every week - they’re basically our remote offices! As a free public resource, you can spend all day there sprawled out on their big tables, charging devices and using their wifi. And yes, it’s completely free. There’s no account or check in process necessary to enter. A local library card is only needed if you want to check out a book.

Other library perks: It’s quiet. Except for the occasional screaming child. The worst is during the summer season when some libraries also double as daycares/camps. But there are usually quiet areas to retreat to.

• It’s free. Yup, no purchase necessary.

• (Usually) free parking. Don’t need to feed the meter or fight for limited Starbucks parking.

• You can work all day. Unlike local coffee shops where you may overstay your welcome.

• Free bathrooms + Water fillup. Most offer water fountains to keep you hydrated.

Learn more about the community. Either through the fliers, the look of the location, or the people.