Blinkie

There's also a low-cost option called Freedom Pop someone I know is looking into:
https://www.freedompop.com/

CarolynBikesUSA

I'm not sure if this will be the case in the regions you'll be travelling through, but on my tour through Massachusetts and New York this September, most campgrounds I stayed at did NOT have wifi. For the national parks, state parks, BLM campgrounds, etc. it's pretty much a certainty they will not have it. For KOAs...I stayed at two--one advertised it, but it was not working; the other allowed 1 hour free then wanted me to pay after that.

I had most success with stopping at fast-food chains (even if I wasn't going to eat there) like McDonald's, Dunkin Donuts, and Panera (I think somebody already mentioned). Panera is the best, food-wise, of those three. Maybe other people know of more chains besides these? Also, I would stop at libraries for wifi--quiet, comfortable--but they often have really limited hours of operation. Although, I WAS able to get wifi from outside a library after-hours once or twice.

valygrl

My experience has been most RV park style campgrounds DO have wifi, and none of the other types do. But, the RV Park camping experience is truly horrible (lights, generators, RV people) whereas the state/national park campgrounds are usually cheaper and set in more attractive and natural surroundings. I found it not worth it to stay in RV parks just for those services, most of the time. I occasionally will choose an RV Park for laundry, since that's time consuming. Obviously, sometimes there is no choice, you camp where ever you can.

Watch out, some places close for the winter.

Best option I have used so far is my iPhone - can get service lots of places, often enough 3G service to use the browser on the phone. AT&T and Verizon have wide coverage, T-Mobile and Sprint will likely be useless for where you are travelling. THis of course applies to any WiFi stick type product as well. You should probably visit the AT&T and Verizon stores to see what you can find.

Machka 

Looking at routes south of Calgary, through Pincher Creek or Cardston, southward ... and debating between heading for Missoula, and taking in a bit of Idaho ... or Great Falls, and aiming directly for Colorado and Texas.

I know Calgary has had a signficant dump of snow, so now I'm thinking that some of the more northern attractions will be buried in snow ... and closed.

sstorkel

WiFi services are often provided by AT&T. Many locations offer free WiFi, some charge a small fee. If you have an AT&T cell phone, most (all?) service plans include free WiFi access. AT&T WiFi locations include McDonald's restaurants, Starbucks coffee shops, Barnes and Noble bookstores, Hilton hotels, and FedEx Office copy centers. Probably lots of other locations, too.

Motel 6, an inexpensive motel chain, claims to offer wired or wireless Internet at many locations. My experience has been hit-or-miss with it actually working, however.

valygrl

Machka - if I were in your shoes I would not try to ride in the northern rockies. We are due for snow here in CO tomorrow night, at 5000 feet. Season is over. Yellowstone is one of the coldest places in the country.

It's the wrong time of year to be cycle touring here in the USA, but you can maximize your happiness by just getting some kind of motorized transportation far south, right now, and take advantage of what is left of the nice weather in southern california, arizona and new mexico, and maybe utah. It is already too late for WA, MT, WY, CO, etc. If you try to ride from north to south, you are just going to be in bad/cold weather the whole time - why not have some nice weather right now.

My $0.02, FWIW, YMMV, etc. etc.

Machka 

We are driving down to Louisiana ... we're just trying to pick a route that won't be too nasty to drive through.

The plan is to take about 2.5 weeks to drive to Louisiana ... 2 days to drive to Wyoming or Colorado, stop for 2-3 days to explore the area, preferably by bicycle ... 1 days to drive to wherever next, stop for 2-3 days to explore the area, preferably by bicycle, etc. A series of hub-and-spoke tours like that.

Then we'll be in the Louisiana area for a couple weeks or so.

We've allowed about 2.5 weeks, but we could shorten that and arrive there a little bit earlier, and then spend more time exploring Louisiana and eastward, maybe even into Florida.

Machka 

So I guess the first thing we're looking for is a good place to stop for 2-3 days approx. 1-2 days' drive from the Calgary area.

jamawani 

Yes, there is a big system over much of the West with very cold temps and snowfall.
However, there should be a warm-up next week.

Going to the Sun Road in Glacier NP can be spectacular in late fall on a nice day.
Consider driving thru Cardson and following US 89 at least to Choteau, MT.
(You can cut west on Hwy 200 to Missoula if you choose.)

Then again, this would be a good time to explore New Mexico and Big Bend NP in Texas.

Machka 

We'll be on the road again tomorrow. The plan is to go to Alberta ... and then to head for the Grand Junction area, along the west side of Grand Teton National Park.

Hopefully we'll be able to find some sort of internet provider when we get into the US.

andrewclaus

Come to Prescott, Arizona if you can--I'd like to meet you guys and my wife and I are on Warmshowers. There are some good snow-free mountain rides around here.

eofelis 

The riding and hiking weather has been great in Grand Junction lately.

Machka 

Thanks!!

Machka 

We're just over the border in Canada right now, with plans to aim for somewhere in the Helena, Butte, or Bozeman areas tomorrow (or maybe the next day). I don't think I've been to any of those places.

bike eagle

I'm not sure what the weather will be in Missouri during your visit, but my wife and I rode this entire trail last summer and had a ball:

https://www.bikekatytrail.com/

Firetngguy

Charlene,

Many Texas State Parks now offer Wi-fi. Here's a listing.

stevepusser

Most California State Parks offer AT&T wifi, but only in a limited area, such as just around the headquarters, not in the actual camp area.

The best one I've experienced was Bull Taco's free wifi at their taco shop in the heart of the San Elijo State Beach campground. Just ask them for the password and connect to their encrypted network, not the open "-guest" one.

Machka 

We're in Grand Junction, CO and will likely be in this area for a few days. When we leave, I'm thinking that we'll make our way toward Colorado Springs (maybe via Denver), and then head southeast toward Texas and Oklahoma.

What's Amarillo like?

Any nice places in western Oklahoma?

eofelis 

I'm in Grand Junction! Where are you staying?

Machka 

We're staying with family ... and planning to do a little bit of cycling up on/in the Colorado National Monument this afternoon. We'll drive up and check it out that way, then see about tackling the wind on a short ride.

Tomorrow we're thinking of going out to Arches National Park to do a little bit of hiking or cycling or both.

Shifty

In Arches there is a ranger led hike into the Fiery Furnace area. This is the best hike in the park IMHO, takes 2 - 3 hours. Check at the visitor center at the park entrance to sign up.

The hike to Delicate Arch is nice. Cycling in the park is excellent, if windy watch out for blowing sand. Have fun.

eofelis 

I went on a ranger lead hike into the Fiery Furnace just a few weeks ago. I think it was the last ranger lead one of the season. You can get your own permit and go in on your own though. We ran a GPS track while we were in there (and got a fairly good signal) and can supply a .gpx file for anyone that wants it to go in there with it and help you find your way around.

Tower Arch, on the western side of the park, is an excellent hike and visited less than other parts of the park.

chefisaac

If you find yourself in NJ or Philly, my wife and I would love to take you both out to dinner.

Machka 

We are hoping to be somewhere around about in the general neighbourhood of McKinney, TX on about Thursday 15 November, and we might stay in that area the next day as well.

Machka 

We're hoping to come through the Austin area somewhere about Tuesday 27 November or thereabouts. From there we'd like to head up into New Mexico, because I've never cycled in New Mexico. I'm guessing we might pass through Fort Stockton on the way there, but I'm not sold on that.