Finding wireless internet on the road -- suggestions?

[Mickey'snewestfan]

We were supposed to drive from DC to New England tomorrow to spend Christmas with my brother. With the amount of snow on the ground there's no way that's happening.

So, I'm hoping we can go Monday, but there's a problem. I'm taking an online grad school class with a required meeting from 6:45 to 7:45 on Monday. I've hit major snags due to computer crashes twice this semester, and I really can't miss this class again (I've missed 2, if I miss 4 I fail automatically, given the bad luck I've had I really don't feel safe missing a 3rd and assuming that I'll have perfect luck from here on out).

But if we go Monday, there's no way we won't be on the road at 6:45 p.m.. I can't leave super early, because I need the sun to soften the snow for me to be able to get from my neighborhood to major roads.

The problem is that with the snow it's going to be really hard to predict where we'll be come 6:45. Is there a website where I can print out a list of places close to the highway that will have wireless internet.

To complicate things, we'll have the dog with us, so I can't stop at a restaurant and just go inside -- I can't leave him in the car that long. Oh, and my computer battery lasts about 45 minutes

OK, the more I think about this, there's no way. If we were at home, I could figure it out - for example, I know the Petsmart is close to Starbucks so I could drop my mother and son and dog off to browse in Petsmart for an hour or two while I attend class.

Any ideas? Do I need to just give up and go on Tuesday?

 

[TDC Nala]

if you are in DC I can't believe you'd be able to go anywhere tomorrow.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

if you are in DC I can't believe you'd be able to go anywhere tomorrow.

Tomorrow's Sunday, and you're right, we aren't going anywhere. Class is on Monday and I'm trying to figure out if going up Monday is even a possibility.

 

[maelstrom]

Places like Starbucks, McDonald's, and Panera Bread have wifi...

 

[swkmom]

I have a Sprint Satellite card, plugs into the usb port on my laptop and it provides internet service where ever Sprint phone service is. It can be used while driving in the car, pretty cool and very handy. Not sure how much they are because they are provided by my employer but we are allowed to use them for personal use as well.

 

[scrapquitler]

Panera has free wifi. Most public libraries also have public wifi.

Have you got an Itouch or an Iphone? I have an app for the Itouch that shows where wireless networks are if you type in a zip code. But I don't know how accurate it is....

 

[P.I. Squirrel]

Places like Starbucks, McDonald's, and Panera Bread have wifi...

Not every McD's has wifi. There is a search tool at Mcdonalds.com, but you would have to input the city you are currently in to find McInternet. To do that, of course, you'd need the internet.

 

[mikehn]

My guess is class will probably be canceled tomorrow.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

My guess is class will probably be canceled tomorrow.

No, it's an online class with people around the world. The T.A.'s in Florida chaperoning from his own home -- no way it'll be cancelled. I think I'm just going to risk skipping it. It's a gamble, but I can't figure out another solution.

 

[englishteacha]

Can you email the instructor and let them know what's going on?

The other thing is to leave after your class and drive through the night. Super 8s have wi-fi in most locations...could you leave early Monday, drive till a bit before your class, then stay overnight at a Super 8 and finish the drive the next day? That could be more costly, though. I guess it depends on how quickly you want to get to NE and how much you want to do your class.