Community Forums

lost texans · 03-26-2016, 09:46 PM

Are there any states that provide wifi at roadside rest stops?

JohnHenry · 03-26-2016, 10:52 PM

Maryland does. Others probably do too but I don't know which.

BFlinn181 · 03-26-2016, 10:58 PM

If you use Google to search for a specific state, information about free Wifi is often listed on their Dept. of Transportation website. Budget concerns often makes Wifi one of the first things to go. Besides rest stops, Mcdonalds and many fast food restaurants, Starbucks, Panera, town parks, are all places I've used Wifi. Also, many truck stops offer Wifi and are places you can stop.

Ron_H · 03-27-2016, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BFlinn181

...Besides rest stops, Mcdonalds and many fast food restaurants, Starbucks, Panera, town parks, are all places I've used Wifi. Also, many truck stops offer Wifi and are places you can stop.

Don't forget Walmart. may of the WallyWorld stores provide free wi-fi if you are able to park close enough to receive their signal or if you have a booster antenna.

TBS-POPS · 03-27-2016, 08:11 AM

Cell phone with a hot spot!! Wi-fi everywhere!!! if there's cell service of course.

BFlinn181 · 03-27-2016, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TBS-POPS

Cell phone with a hot spot!! Wi-fi everywhere!!! if there's cell service of course.

I was listing free WiFi. Data charges can kick in on mobile phones. While traveling in New Zealand, we often ran into Wifi that was limited in time or amount of data. While we were in NZ, a friend was in Hawaii and kept sending large photos of her trip. A photo or two would tie up my phone and often eat so much time or data I couldn't do anything else!

04fxsts · 03-27-2016, 10:30 AM

Some Walmarts will have very good wifi, I have tried parking at the far end of the lot just to check and it was good. I have also been to a WM in Florida where you had to go inside the store to get anything. A McDonalds we stopped at you had to park in the front of the lot to get anything. Jim.

yrrebmay · 03-27-2016, 10:32 AM

Iowa rest areas

jlabit · 03-27-2016, 01:05 PM

The Florida Department of Transportation is currently offering Free Wireless Internet (WIFI) access at all of its Welcome Centers and the Turkey Lake Service Plaza on the Florida Turnpike. Once the public is connected, the user will have 15 minutes of free internet access followed by a subsequent period of up to 90 minutes of paid internet access. Following that, they will have a two hour shut out period that does not permit the same laptop to access the internet again at that rest area for two hours.

Welcome Centers are only those interstate rest stops encountered on entry to Florida. The remainder of the rest stops in the state do not have wi-fi capability.

lost texans · 03-29-2016, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yrrebmay

Iowa rest areas

Yes, I was aware of Iowa; I used them a great deal on a road trip last June.
Thanks much to all who responded. We like to keep a close eye on weather
conditions as it can change rapidly, and sometimes for the worse.

I'll try to figure out the hotspot mentioned with my somewhat antique Android.
I know this technology has been available for several years.

Thanks again, and stay safe.
Jim

Gary RVRoamer · 03-30-2016, 08:10 AM

Texas, Iowa and NY have it at most, if not all, rest stops. Other states have it here and there, e.g. Florida and Maryland. Allstays has a rest area services map on their website or via their RV app and wifi is one of the categories you can select for viewing. See Rest Areas with WiFi