The Best Way to Access the Internet While Camping in Your RV

One of the perks of camping is getting escaping the rat race, unplugging, and relaxing in the woods without a care in the world. However, the reality is that access to the internet while camping is sometimes necessary. People require access to the internet for a variety of reasons. The best ways to access the internet while camping in an RV are satellite, remote internet broadband service, cellular hotspots, and campground WiFi.

Choosing the Best Internet Option For You

First, you must determine your internet needs when selecting your best access method. There are two primary factors to consider when choosing your internet options. The first factor is budgetary because all options have an inherent cost associated with them. Secondly, for what purpose do you need internet access?

Campground WiFi is the least expensive internet option. If all you want to do is surf the internet, check emails, and maybe watch the occasional Youtube video, then campground WiFi will probably work for you most of the time. It can be slow, so if you are a fair-weather browser of the internet, then campground WiFi is a great option.

If you stream movies or television, you will need a cellular hotspot at a minimum. While camping, we generally stream a movie or a television program before we go to bed at night, so we use our phone as a hotspot to stream the material on our television (read our article on the best ways to stream television while camping).

If work or school requires consistent access to high-speed internet, a remote broadband or satellite internet service may be your best option. You will probably need a dedicated internet service if you camp in highly remote areas without cellular service. Remote broadband services and satellite internet services are the most expensive options.

Challenges of Accessing the Internet While Camping

Accessing the internet while camping can be challenging. Many campgrounds lack a good cell signal. Cell service is usually minimal when boondocking in highly remote areas.

WiFi Options

WiFi is an amenity provided by many campgrounds. However, there are numerous drawbacks to campground WiFi, so we do not recommend relying on WiFi as your sole internet source unless you do not care if you can access the internet.

Not all campgrounds offer WiFi, and when they do offer WiFi service, it is often low-speed and only designed to give minimal access to complete tasks such as checking email because it does not require much speed.

The ability to connect to WiFi at most campgrounds is spotty. Access points are spread throughout the campground; the further you are from the access point, the worse the connection. Also, when many people attempt to use the same access point simultaneously, the connection will slow down and come to a halt.

To overcome the inherent difficulties of accessing WiFi in a campground, we suggest investing in a WiFi booster or extender/repeater. A WiFi booster will increase the WiFi signal, making it easier for your device to connect to the campground WiFi. A booster or extender is handy if you are not camped near a WiFi access point. A WiFi extender or repeater does the same thing by grabbing the WiFi signal and redistributing it.

Since the extender or repeater will be located in or near your camper, it will be easier for your device to connect to the internet. The CampPro 2 (check it out on Amazon) is a WiFi booster that can be mounted to the outside of your rig to boost the signal inside the campground.

The King KWM1000 WiFi Max (check it out on Amazon) is a good WiFi extender made for RVs. While both of these devices will improve the signal in your camper, they will not increase the bandwidth, so they will not increase the WiFi speed.

Cellular Hotspots

A cellular hotspot is an excellent option to access the internet while camping. Our family uses a cellular hotspot when camping. Our phones serve as our hotspots. We turn on the personal hotspot feature, then connect our devices to the phone to access the phone’s cell signal. For example, we connect our laptops to our phones when we need to work, and we connect our Roku streaming device to watch television at night. You can purchase a dedicated mobile hotspot if you prefer not to use your phone.

Our children often have virtual tasks for school and must have internet access while we are camping. We have never had a problem accessing the internet or streaming while using our phones as a hotspot. However, there are some drawbacks to using this option.

The biggest potential drawback is the lack of a cell signal. If you are in a remote location without cell service, you will not have access to the internet. We have never had a situation where we did not have any cell signal at all, but we do not boondock in highly remote locations. We have camped where the signal was too low to stream without using a cell booster (read our article on cell boosters). However, using a cell booster, we can use the internet for all our needs, including attending meetings for work remotely during COVID.

Another drawback to cellular hotspots is the cost of the data package. You might need to upgrade your service if you do not have unlimited data with your cell package. Streaming videos and movies use a lot of data; if your package has limited data, this might cause you to exceed your allotted quota. Also, some cellular providers limit the data from a personal hotspot on your mobile device. Be sure to check out your current plan and options before going with a hotspot to determine if this is the best option for you.

If you do not want to use your phone as a hotspot, you can purchase a dedicated mobile hotspot rather than use your phone as a hotspot. You will need to buy the mobile hotspot. For AT&T or T-Mobile, we suggest using the Netgear Nighthawk (check it out on Amazon), and for Verizon, we recommend the Verizon Jetpack MiFI 8800 L (check it out). In addition to the hotspot, you must pay for the cellular service, which will vary from provider to provider. You need to check with your provider to see their hotspot options.

If you plan to use a mobile hotspot, we suggest you consider using a different provider than your cell provider if it is not cost prohibitive. For example, if you use AT&T for your cell phones, look into getting a mobile hotspot through Verizon. Since cell phone coverage varies by provider, this will give you two options for cell service anywhere you camp.

Dedicated Broadband Internet Service

Nomad (check them out) is a leading provider of remote broadband internet. Nomad works with major cellular providers, such as AT&T, Verizon, and T-mobile, to use their cell towers to deliver broadband internet to rural areas. Because Nomad works with all major providers, they have an extensive network of cell towers to give extended coverage throughout the United States (check out their coverage map). While Nomad covers most of the United States, they still have large pockets, especially in the Western United States, where service is lacking.

To use Nomad, you will need a modem. Obtaining the modem is an area that is a little tricky. To use Nomad Internet, you need to pay a one-time membership fee. The fee covers administrative costs and a modem lease necessary to access the internet. You do not own the modem and must return it once you discontinue using the service. Membership cost varies depending on which modem you choose. There is a 30-day trial period to return the equipment and get your membership fee refunded.

In addition to the one-time membership fee, Nomad has a monthly charge for internet access, which currently is $129 per month. If you are not a full-time RVer, you can pause your service when you are not camping.

Satellite Internet

Several companies offer internet access through satellites. Satellite internet service is the most reliable signal source to use the internet while camping, even in highly remote locations.

In our opinion, the best company for satellite internet is StarLink (check them out). Elon Musk started Starlink to provide internet service to the most remote locations of the world. Musk is also the driving force behind Tesla and SpaceX.

StarLink has been building the infrastructure necessary to offer internet service anywhere in the world and has recently begun offering its service to customers. It is a great internet option for RVers, especially those living full-time in their RVs.

Starlink offers multiple internet plans. The plan that RVers would use is referred to as Roam. You can use Roam while camping in remote locations, and Starlink also offers in-motion internet access to use the internet while driving. For in-motion service, you hook up satellite equipment to your RV so that you can use the service while driving.

There is a one-time cost to purchase the equipment necessary to use Starlink. The portable satellite equipment costs $599, and the charge for the in-motion equipment is $2500. After making that initial purchase, the monthly cost is $150 for regional access and $200 for global access. Like with Nomad, you can pause the Starlink service while not on the road.

Amazon is also expected to launch its satellite internet service, Project Kuiper (check it out), in late 2024.

Access to the internet has become an integral part of our daily life, and it does not need to be forsaken while you are on the road camping. Numerous methods can be used to help ensure that you have access to the internet while camping, no matter where you are located. As this technology continues to develop, even more options will become available, but these are some viable internet options for traveling in the present.

How do you access the internet while camping? We would love to hear from you. Please drop us a line in the comment section below!