# Places with Free Wireless Internet? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 25, 2007, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/places-with-free-wireless-internet/431198 "2007-12-25T11:24:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Will\_Repair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a698b9/32.png) [@Will\_Repair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Will_Repair)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2007, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/places-with-free-wireless-internet/431198/1 "2007-12-25T11:24:08Z")
Just got a [laptop](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/search.php?searchid=3076111) and don’t want to have to use it at the [public library](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=406153). So where can I use it to connect to the Internet for free (without those nasty tip and ring alligator clips dangling at the end of my modem cable.) Some I know of: **Airport** , or the Hilton Hotel decided to quit charging $200 a day. **Starbucks**. **McDonald’s** , but only some are free while others require payment. **Panera Bread**. ---
**Author:** ![Pullet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Pullet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pullet)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2007, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/places-with-free-wireless-internet/431198/2 "2007-12-25T12:07:06Z")
Panera is the only large chain that I’ve found to have truly free WiFi. Crepeville, if there is one in your area. Starbucks uses T-mobile, which is a pay-per-use service. There are adapters you can buy for your laptop that let you use a cellular phone signal, but those often require special service packages with the cell phone company. Otherwise, SOL. ---
**Author:** ![Will\_Repair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a698b9/32.png) [@Will\_Repair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Will_Repair)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2007, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/places-with-free-wireless-internet/431198/3 "2007-12-25T12:43:43Z")
I am not believing I didn’t [search](http://www.google.com/search?q=free+wireless&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a) before I posted this question. :smack: [First hit.](http://www.wififreespot.com/) ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2007, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/places-with-free-wireless-internet/431198/4 "2007-12-25T17:06:07Z")
Dunkin Donuts. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2007, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/places-with-free-wireless-internet/431198/5 "2007-12-26T04:58:43Z")
Caribou Coffee. Many mom & pops are leaving their WAPs wide open nowadays. ---
**Author:** ![whistlepig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/73ab20/32.png) [@whistlepig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whistlepig)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2007, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/places-with-free-wireless-internet/431198/6 "2007-12-26T05:49:44Z")
Public libraries are offering more free wifi (in Montana.) I’m spoiled - five blocks of our downtown are a local open network, as it much of the state capital campus. ---
**Author:** ![Rhubarb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/59ef9b/32.png) [@Rhubarb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhubarb)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2007, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/places-with-free-wireless-internet/431198/7 "2007-12-26T06:14:21Z")
The Hooter’s restaurant chain, at least in my part of Texas, has free WiFi at all of their fine eating establishments. ---
**Author:** ![Will\_Repair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a698b9/32.png) [@Will\_Repair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Will_Repair)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2007, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/places-with-free-wireless-internet/431198/8 "2007-12-26T23:57:16Z")
[QUOTE=whistlepig] Public libraries are offering more free wifi [/QUOTE] But often without SMTP capability. ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2007, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/places-with-free-wireless-internet/431198/9 "2007-12-27T04:00:58Z")
[QUOTE=Will Repair] I am not believing I didn’t [search](http://www.google.com/search?q=free+wireless&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a) before I posted this question. :smack: [First hit.](http://www.wififreespot.com/) [/QUOTE] Speedway gas stations? While I think that’s a great idea if you’re traveling and need to mapquest, I would have never considered taking my laptop into a gas station! Ignorance fought once again. ---
**Author:** ![Kerrigan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/49beb7/32.png) [@Kerrigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kerrigan)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2007, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/places-with-free-wireless-internet/431198/10 "2007-12-27T04:12:25Z")
The Schlotzsky’s near me offers free wifi - with the purchase of something, anything. I’d just get a $1 water bottle, or a $1.40 drink. I’ve looked at other stores in the chain, though, and none of the others I’ve seen offer Internet at all. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2007, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/places-with-free-wireless-internet/431198/11 "2007-12-27T04:23:58Z")
I believe all Super 8 motels have wi-fi that can be accessed from their parking lot. I’ve had decent luck with Howard Johnson, Best Western and the Choice Hotel chains - Comfort/Quality Inns. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2007, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/places-with-free-wireless-internet/431198/12 "2007-12-27T05:36:19Z")
There’s two Kinkos in town here that have it. ---
**Author:** ![Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b3f665/32.png) [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2007, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/places-with-free-wireless-internet/431198/13 "2007-12-27T07:02:16Z")
Roadside rest areas in Iowa have free wifi. (my first post from my iPod touch! ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2007, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/places-with-free-wireless-internet/431198/14 "2007-12-27T08:59:18Z")
You can always look in the window for a sign. People with laptops inside is a dead giveaway, too. Coffee shops are good places to get online. I was in Missoula the past two weeks and I got online in a very nice little mom-and-pop coffee shop that even allowed me to plug in my laptop’s power supply. [It was City Brew Coffee, as reported on this website.](http://www.openwifispots.com/FinderDirectoryCity.aspx?City=Missoula&State=MT) You can probably use that website to good advantage to find hotspots in other cities. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2007, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/places-with-free-wireless-internet/431198/15 "2007-12-27T21:57:01Z")
[QUOTE=Derleth] People with laptops inside is a dead giveaway, too. [/QUOTE] Of wifi, perhaps, but not necessarily _free_ wifi. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2007, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/places-with-free-wireless-internet/431198/16 "2007-12-27T22:05:59Z")
[QUOTE=Misnomer] Of wifi, perhaps, but not necessarily _free_ wifi. 🙂 [/QUOTE] OK, I should have specified “Ragged slackers with laptops”. If you hear the name “Ron Paul”, the wifi is free. 😉