How to Get Wi-Fi While Camping

If you like to get away on the weekends but want to stay connected, your mobile phone plan may be your best bet, especially if you have unlimited data and hotspot tethering.

This is a convenient option that makes use of things you probably already have, so it doesn’t require a large investment. In fact, if you already use a lot of data while camping, switching to an unlimited data plan could save you a lot of money by eliminating overage charges.

Visible is an excellent phone plan for unlimited data. It lets you not only run data-heavy apps on your phone without worry, but also use your phone as a hotspot to connect another device like a laptop to the internet.

The downside of Visible is that hotspot data speeds are capped at 5 Mbps, so while it’s great for posting pictures to Instagram or listening to Spotify, it’s not well suited to getting out a laptop and watching Netflix.

One important factor in choosing a phone plan for camping is the provider’s coverage area. Most phone plans use AT&T, Verizon, or T-Mobile’s cellular networks to deliver service. All three of them are nationwide, but coverage areas vary, especially in more remote areas. Before choosing a plan, make sure its network covers the areas you most frequently visit. Visible runs on the Verizon network.

Pros:

• Unlimited data
• Low monthly cost

Cons:

• Slow speeds

Glamping is an increasingly popular way for people to enjoy nature while also enjoying many of the amenities you might expect in a hotel or resort. Many glamping locations come with Wi-Fi, similar to a traditional hotel, but this isn’t a given, especially in smaller locations.

If you want to make sure you can always get online without relying on the site to have Wi-Fi, a mobile hotspot like the Inseego 5G MiFi M2000 may be your best answer.

Much like your smartphone, wireless hotspots connect to cellular networks to access the internet. They then put out a Wi-Fi signal for your devices to use. In contrast to using your phone as a hotspot, a hotspot is designed specifically for the task, allowing faster speeds and more connected devices. Hotspot data plans also usually give you more data at a lower price compared to phone plans, which often specifically restrict hotspot data.

The Inseego 5G MiFi M2000 is one of the best hotspots on the market. Although some hotspots allow you to use SIM cards from any carrier, the M2000 uses only T-Mobile’s network; however, the default plan for the M2000 comes with 100 GB of data for just $50 per month—a pretty great deal.

The M2000 also comes with Wi-Fi 6, the most recent and most powerful Wi-Fi standard. Wi-Fi 6 can handle a large number of devices on its network without slowing, which means that even if the place you stay has internet, your Wi-Fi might actually be better.

Pros:

• 5G connection
• Multiple devices supported

Cons:

• T-Mobile exclusivity
• Limited 5G availability

With more and more workplaces switching to remote work, online workers have been making the most of this flexibility by packing up their laptops and heading out on adventures any day of the week.

Portable 4G internet has long been a staple for digital nomads, but those taking the first steps into remote work, this flexible technology can provide speeds and reliability comparable to many wired types of internet, so you can work from anywhere with cell reception.

The downside is that portability comes with a price—these plans are considerably more expensive than home 4G plans that require a fixed location.

Nomad Internet is a great option for remote flexibility. Perhaps most importantly, it has no data caps, which is a big deal if you’re planning to use it for your job. In lieu of activation and equipment fees, Nomad charges a one-time membership fee that covers all your initial costs. It also gives you the choice between a standard router or a battery-operated travel router. Nomad Internet can run on either T-Mobile or Verizon networks.

Pros:

• No contract
• Unlimited data

Cons:

• Inconsistent speeds
• Higher costs than fixed 4G

Starlink Roam Unlimited customers can take their dish with them to connect to the internet as they travel. Roam Unlimited comes in either a regional plan that costs $150 per month or a global plan that costs $200 per month. The regional plan comes with the additional perk of offering in-motion service for those using either Starlink’s Flat High Performance equipment (which is very expensive) or the new Starlink Roam 50GB (which is much cheaper, but still twice the cost of a hotspot). It’s also the cheaper of the two. In-motion service means that you not only have reliable internet when you get to your destination, but also while you’re on the road.

Roam Unlimited’s monthly cost is comparable to portable 4G plans, but offers much higher speeds. A better option for weekend campers is to get Starlink’s Mini Roam plan. It only provides 50GB of data, but the plan will only cost you $50 each month and can be paused when you don’t need it.

The biggest issue is the upfront equipment cost. The Mini is the same price as Standard Starlink equipment, with a one-time cost of $599, which is already expensive when compared with other providers. The Flat High Performance equipment costs $2,500, which is prohibitively expensive and not really practical for a camping trip.

Starlink Roam Unlimited is an amazing service for a very specific niche. If you need fast, reliable internet while you’re on the road, Roam Unlimited can be a game changer. For most of us, a fast connection on the highway isn’t worth several hundred (or thousand) dollars.  As cool as it may be, there are much cheaper options that can still deliver a decent online experience.

Pros:

• Widest possible coverage
• High data cap
• In-motion use option

Cons:

• High upfront equipment costs
• Delays in equipment delivery