Stay Online Wherever You RV with Portable Satellite Internet

If you need reliable portable internet service while traveling, there are several options available. You can take a look at our post on our RV internet solutions to see what we did to stay connected for the 20+ years we lived and worked on the road full-time. But in this post, we’re taking a look at portable satellite internet as a means of staying connected while you travel… an option that’s growing in both availability and popularity, especially with the arrival of Starlink on the mobile satellite internet scene.

So, let’s take a look at three of the top options for portable satellite internet.

What Is Portable Satellite Internet?

We’re all familiar with internet services provided by cell towers, cables that tether us to broadband connections, and wireless internet. But satellite internet is a whole different ballgame. Satellite internet is wireless internet, but it’s beamed down from satellites that orbit the Earth. The process works by an internet provider sending a signal to a satellite in space. The internet signal comes to you (the subscriber) via a satellite terminal, most commonly a small satellite dish.

The satellite dish is connected to a modem, and your modem connects your computer, mobile hotspot, or other devices to the internet signal (either hardwired via Ethernet or by providing a Wi-Fi signal that wireless devices can connect to). The portable aspect is what allows you to travel and access internet service via satellite wherever you go.

This is accomplished using portable hardware, namely a satellite dish mounted on your RV or on a tripod. The hardware travels with you wherever you go, and the wireless internet signals are beamed down to that hardware (wherever you travel) from the satellites orbiting the Earth.

Are All Satellite Dishes the Same?

No. Satellite dishes vary in size and type. Some satellite dishes are mounted on your RV and can be folded down when your rig is underway. This is generally accomplished electronically from inside the cabin.

There are also smaller satellite dishes that are operated manually. They usually sit on a stand or tripod. You may need to move the entire stand/tripod and dish around to find a better internet connection, although some tripods allow the dish to be repositioned. It’s essential to note that, in general, the larger the satellite dish, the larger the area of the sky it covers and the better the quality of the incoming internet you’ll receive. This is simpler, of course, when you’re using a large dish attached to a stationary structure, such as a house.

In this case, you’d have a residential satellite internet plan, and your house would be connected to a large satellite dish, likely mounted on the roof of your home or on a large stand in an open area with a clear, unobstructed view of the sky. However, the satellite internet available at your home isn’t mobile and won’t be available to you when you’re traveling. It can only provide an internet connection to you in your home, where your location stays the same.

With portable/mobile satellite internet, whenever you deploy or set out your satellite dish, your new location coordinates must be obtained for the dish to properly be aimed so it can establish a connection. This makes matters more complicated.

What Are My Best Options for Satellite Internet In My RV?

Currently, there are limited options available for obtaining full satellite internet in your RV. Please note that we’re NOT talking about satellite TV here. There are a number of additional options for television (not covered in this article… instead, check out: Satellite TV for RV Use: Your Favorite TV Programming On the Go!).

We’re referring specifically to full portable internet solutions for travelers. Fortunately, the few options available are good ones, and are getting better all the time. Internet speeds vary for each of these options, so if you’re a traveler who works on the road (or who does a lot of video streaming), you’ll want to choose the portable satellite internet option that offers the right balance of speed and cost for your needs.

Let’s take a look at the three most popular options for RV portable satellite internet…

Starlink Roam

Starlink RV is the latest (and arguably the greatest) portable satellite internet provider on the scene. Of the three options we’re laying out in this post, Starlink RV offers the best price and the best speed… two things we think most users are interested in.

Starlink currently has the world’s largest constellation of satellites. And their Starlink Roam plan allows RVers to access high-speed, low-latency internet at any time… from any destination where Starlink provides active coverage. To see Starlink’s current coverage map, click here and then mouse over the area(s) that interest you. As you mouse over the map, where areas are noted as “High Capacity,” Starlink indicates that you can expect high-speed, low-latency internet. In areas noted as “Low Capacity,” you’ll notice considerably slower speeds (especially during hours of peak usage).

For Starlink’s Roam services, you’ll pay a one-time hardware cost of $299 (this price is for Starlink Mini – price depends on which hardware you choose) and then you can choose to pay $50/month for 50GB (best for infrequent travel with low usage) or $165/month for unlimited service (which can be turned on/off at any time since there’s NO contract… though you do have to pay in monthly chunks, as Starlink doesn’t pro-rate for only partial-month usage).

Perhaps even more interesting to RVers, Starlink Roam plans now allow in-motion use (at up to 100mph!). In-motion use is portable satellite internet while your RV is actually moving down the road, not just when you’re stationary and have manually deployed your satellite dish. Just be aware that this requires additional hardware (not included) for mounting the dish on your RV’s roof.

Perhaps the one downside to Starlink RV (though it may not be different from any other provider) is that mobile plans (i.e. the Starlink Roam plan) get de-prioritized relative to stationary residential StarLink customers in heavily congested areas. So, if your travels take you to a location with a high density of active Starlink users with a residential plan, your internet speeds may be reduced during peak usage periods.

HughesNet and Viasat

The following two satellite internet providers are also popular among RVers, but they operate differently from Starlink. Although they’re two of the three most popular satellite internet providers for RVers, neither of these providers offers specific support for portable use of their product.

To use a plan from either of these providers, you’ll need to purchase equipment from resellers (such as MobilSat) rather than directly from the providers themselves. You will then need to install the equipment yourself (or hire an installer) and relocate it as necessary to achieve the best reception. Neither provider directly offers support for RV installations or for mobile use, as their services are targeted to residential and business users.

Additionally, with these two providers, every time you move your RV, you’ll need to reposition your satellite dish to ensure optimal reception at each new location.

You can access HughesNet or Viasat satellite internet when your RV is stationary in a campground or RV park, but for every new location, you’ll need to re-aim your dish (a website like DishPointer can be helpful). In some cases, that will mean manually setting up a tripod and orienting the dish correctly. In other cases, it will simply mean pressing a button on control hardware and allowing the dish to automatically point itself. It depends on the provider and your hardware budget.

HughesNet

HughesNet is a satellite internet provider powered by two high-capacity satellites, known as EchoStar XIX and EchoStar XVII. With HughesNet, you’ll get speeds comparable to broadband speeds, as well as data options available (according to HughesNet) even in remote locations.

Please Note: the advertised speeds are not guaranteed and may be affected by various factors, resulting in slower speeds.

The plans offered by HughesNet range from 16GB ($50) to 100GB ($95) per month, although there are new-customer deals available on some plans (taxes and fees are extra and subject to change). The Select Satellite plan offers download speeds of up to 50 Mbps for about $50/month. The Elite Satellite plan costs $65/month, offering download speeds of up to 100 Mbps. The Fusion Satellite plan is reportedly the most responsive and offers low-latency service with download speeds of up to 100 Mbps. You’ll pay $95/month for this service.

For each of these plans, you’ll choose the number of GBs you and your family require per month and pay for that amount. Should you go over the number of allotted GBs in your plan, you’ll remain connected, but at reduced speeds until the next billing cycle.

Viasat

Another popular provider of satellite internet is Viasat. Their Essentials plan offers 150 GB of high-speed data (in addition to unlimited standard data) for $40/month. This plan is best for lighter data users. Viasat’s Unleashed plan offers unlimited high-speed data with no caps or contracts, starting at $70/month.

As we write this in 2025, new users are being offered a $10 discount. Please note that caps vary, and costs vary accordingly. If you exceed your data cap, you’ll likely experience reduced speeds, just as with HughesNet. Viasat offers extensive coverage, and, as last we checked, all plans include a 2-year price lock. However, be sure to verify this important detail when shopping.

Do You Use Portable Satellite Internet in Your RV?

If you use portable satellite internet on the road, we’d love to hear about your experience! Drop us a comment and let us know what provider or providers you’ve used and how it’s worked out for you!

Or if you’re interested in what the best solution is for your internet connectivity needs while on the road, read our article: “Best Internet For RV Use? There’s No One-Size-Fits-All Answer!”

Free RVing Tips, Tricks, Reviews & Giveaways

As 20-year full-timers, we share everything we’ve learned about RVing over the years. Join our online community to receive a wealth of great RVing knowledge delivered daily to your inbox.

Whether you’re a new RVer or a seasoned full-timer, you’ll love the wide range of RVing topics we cover. Don’t miss a single article or any of our famous Giveaways. Subscribe to our newsletter today!

We'd Love It If You Shared This!