Timeline for How to access the internet during a road trip in the USA?
Current License: CC BY-SA 3.0
27 events
| when toggle format | what | by | license | comment | |
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| May 27, 2016 at 15:49 | comment | added | Peter M | @bdesham As of 4/26/16 WaWa (East coast USA) gas stations offer free wi-fi at 700 locations. | |
| May 14, 2014 at 13:45 | comment | added | Paul | This is as exactly what I did in exactly the same situation. I looked into other solutions but they were all pricey and fiddly. | |
| May 1, 2014 at 19:02 | comment | added | 300D7309EF17 | another option for wifi is this: yourkarma.com | |
| Apr 30, 2014 at 6:03 | comment | added | iHaveacomputer | Some of the overland busses in the US have free wifi on board (and advertised on the outside of the bus). Check the schedules, then follow the bus as he leaves the station. Your Co-pilot and your passengers can now enjoy free wifi as long as you stay behind the bus. Cruise control is your friend :) | |
| Apr 30, 2014 at 0:42 | comment | added | Basil Bourque | Cell phone stores such as AT&T may offer free wifi. So do some computer stores, such as Apple stores. And the chain of Denny's diners, as seen in this list of fast food places with wifi. | |
| Apr 29, 2014 at 14:59 | comment | added | M C | I converted the answer to community wiki. Feel free to modify the answer to include the information from your commments. | |
| Apr 29, 2014 at 14:51 | history | made wiki | Post Made Community Wiki by M C | ||
| Apr 29, 2014 at 13:25 | comment | added | Engineer2021 | @bdesham: They are typically for truckers, but regular joe's can use it. | |
| Apr 29, 2014 at 13:23 | comment | added | bdesham | @staticx Oh, good thought. I don’t usually use the “travel plaza”/“truck stop” kind of places but they do seem more likely to offer amenities like Wi-fi. | |
| Apr 29, 2014 at 13:14 | comment | added | Engineer2021 | @ChrisMueller: Target, Lowes, Home Depot, Apple Stores, McDonald's, Panera Bread, Fazoli's, and Starbucks have free wifi. | |
| Apr 29, 2014 at 13:14 | comment | added | Engineer2021 | @user8272: Target offers free wifi for guests along with Lowes Home Improvement and Home Depot | |
| Apr 29, 2014 at 13:13 | comment | added | Engineer2021 | @bdesham: I think he might be referring to the Flying J type gas stations. | |
| Apr 29, 2014 at 8:17 | vote | accept | Bart | ||
| Apr 29, 2014 at 7:40 | history | edited | M C | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
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| Apr 29, 2014 at 7:06 | history | edited | M C | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
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| Apr 29, 2014 at 7:03 | comment | added | M C | @Chris Mueller and the others: Thanks for the comments. I updated my answer. | |
| Apr 29, 2014 at 7:00 | history | edited | M C | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
Updated answer to reflect comments
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| Apr 28, 2014 at 21:40 | comment | added | Rob Hoare | In small towns, the best free wi-fi is often at public libraries (policies do vary though, sometimes it's totally open, sometimes it's members only, or you need a guest pass). Plus, they often have computers you can use (handy if you're travelling with just a tablet and need a "real" computer, or if you need to report the theft of your tablet or laptop!). Sometimes you can print as well. Plus, you can read books on the local area there. Also, surprisingly, many Best Buy (electronics), Barnes and Nobles (books), Home Depot, and Lowes (both building supplies) big-box stores have free wifi. | |
| Apr 28, 2014 at 20:34 | comment | added | user56reinstatemonica8 | I hope there's no free wifi in cinemas (except maybe the foyer or cafe), imagine being sat behind someone who is online on their phone during the film... bright glow and facebook message noises every 20 seconds... Then half way through they say to their friend "Huh, says on IMDB that this guy dies", "Yeah, about 10 minutes from now. That other guy does it with a chainsaw, sounds cool" | |
| Apr 28, 2014 at 16:46 | comment | added | Chris Mueller | Along the same line as the other two comments. This answer is generally correct in that you can find free wi-fi all over the US, but... 1) Gas stations, grocery stores, and cinemas do not usually have wi-fi, free or paid. 2) Many budget hotels have free wi-fi, but (a bit paradoxically) nicer hotels often make you pay ~$10 per day to use the wi-fi. 3) If you are on a road trip your best bet for finding free wi-fi is at coffee shops and McDonalds particularly in rural areas. | |
| Apr 28, 2014 at 16:39 | comment | added | user8272 | Same with grocery stores. Lots of stores don't offer wifi because they are concerned with customers using apps to price check everything on their shopping list. | |
| Apr 28, 2014 at 16:28 | comment | added | bdesham | I live in the U.S. and I’d be inclined to remove “gas stations” from that list. If there are gas stations that offer free Wi-Fi—or any Wi-Fi at all—I haven’t come across them. | |
| Apr 28, 2014 at 6:49 | review | First posts | |||
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| Apr 28, 2014 at 6:44 | history | edited | M C | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
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| Apr 28, 2014 at 6:42 | history | edited | Mark Mayo | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
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| Apr 28, 2014 at 6:39 | history | edited | M C | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
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| Apr 28, 2014 at 6:31 | history | answered | M C | CC BY-SA 3.0 |