Starlink for RVs Explained: Is the Roam Plan Worth It?
Hey there, fellow travelers & digital nomads! If you've spent any time in the RV community, on van life forums, or even just dreaming of a life less stationary, you've DEFINITELY heard the buzz around Starlink. It's been touted as a complete game-changer, the holy grail of internet for those of us who like to work & play off the beaten path. But with all the different plans, constant updates, & tech talk, it can get confusing REAL fast.
So, let's break it down. We're going to do a deep dive into Starlink for RVs, specifically the "Roam" plan. Is it the magical, always-on internet solution we've all been waiting for? Or are there catches you need to know about? Honestly, it's a bit of both. I've been following this stuff closely, so let's get into the nitty-gritty of what it is, how it works, how much it costs, & whether it's truly worth your hard-earned cash.
What in the World is Starlink, Anyway?
Before we jump into the whole "Roam" thing, let's do a quick refresher. Starlink is an internet service from SpaceX—yep, Elon Musk's rocket company. Instead of using underground cables or cell towers, it uses a massive network of thousands of small satellites zipping around in low Earth orbit (LEO).
Here's the thing: because these satellites are so much closer to Earth than traditional satellite internet (think HughesNet or Viasat), the signal has way less distance to travel. This means much faster speeds & lower "latency." Low latency is CRUCIAL for stuff like video calls, online gaming, or anything that requires a real-time connection. With old-school satellite, the lag could be brutal. Starlink has pretty much solved that problem, which is why it's been such a big deal for rural & remote users, & of course, for us travelers.
Introducing Starlink Roam: Your Internet Co-Pilot
Okay, so what makes "Starlink Roam" special? Initially, Starlink was just for houses—a "Residential" plan locked to a single address. That was cool, but not for those of us whose address changes with the seasons. The RV community basically screamed, "WE NEED THIS!" & SpaceX listened.
They first launched "Starlink for RVs," which has since been rebranded & expanded into what we now know as Starlink Roam. This is the plan designed specifically for people on the move: RVers, van lifers, campers, overlanders, you name it. It lets you take your Starlink hardware, affectionately known as "Dishy," pretty much anywhere Starlink has service & get connected.
The key difference is portability. With the Residential plan, you're supposed to use it at your registered service address. With Roam, the whole point is to use it wherever your adventures take you. You can pause & un-pause the service, which is a HUGE perk for seasonal travelers who don't need it year-round.
The Nitty-Gritty: Roam Plan Tiers & Pricing (This is Where it Gets Complicated)
This is where you need to pay attention, because Starlink loves to tweak its plans. What was true six months ago might not be today. As of mid-2025, here's the general breakdown of the mobile "Roam" plans.
First, there's the hardware. No matter which plan you choose, you have to buy the kit.
- Standard Dishy: This is the rectangular dish most people have. It costs a hefty $599 upfront. It comes with a stand & is designed to be set up on the ground or a table when you're parked.
- Flat High-Performance Dishy: This one is designed for in-motion use. If you want to have internet while you're literally driving down the highway, you need this. But brace yourself—it costs $2,500.
Once you've swallowed the hardware cost, you have the monthly service plans. Starlink has shaken things up recently, offering more than just one "unlimited" option.
Roam Unlimited (formerly Mobile Regional): This is the main plan for most RVers. It costs $165 per month. This plan gives you unlimited data for use on land anywhere on your home continent. So, if you're based in the US, you can travel through the US, Mexico, & parts of Central America. A pretty cool recent update is that this plan now includes in-motion use (up to 100 mph) even with the standard dish, which wasn't the case before.
Roam 50GB: This is a more affordable tier, coming in at $50 per month. It gives you 50 gigabytes of high-speed data. Once you use that up, you can either buy more data at $1 per GB, or your internet will be throttled to a crawl. This plan is great for people who are more casual users or who already have other internet sources (like a cell hotspot) & just want Starlink as a backup for when they're truly off-grid.
Roam 10GB: This is the newest, super-budget option at just $10 per month for 10GB of data. It seems like Starlink is targeting this at people with paused subscriptions to lure them back into keeping the service active year-round. If you go over your 10GB, extra data is pricier at $2 per GB. This is really only for very light use—checking emails, basic web browsing, maybe some music streaming.
A quick note on "Global Roam": There's also a "Global" version of the unlimited plan that costs around $200-$400/month, which removes the "home continent" restriction. This is for the serious world travelers who plan to be outside their home continent for more than two months at a time.
So, How Fast Is It, REALLY? The Performance Question
This is the million-dollar question. The answer? It depends.
Starlink's biggest "catch" with the Roam plans is deprioritization. In the eyes of the Starlink network, Residential users at their home address are VIPs. Roam users are, well, not. This means that in congested areas—popular campgrounds, national parks, cities—where there are a lot of other Starlink users, your speeds will be the first to slow down. Starlink's Fair Use Policy is pretty clear about prioritizing network resources for stationary users first.
- Expected Roam Speeds: You should realistically expect download speeds anywhere from 5 Mbps to 50 Mbps.
- Expected Residential Speeds: For comparison, Residential users typically see 25 Mbps to 100 Mbps.
- Upload Speeds: For Roam, uploads are usually in the 2 Mbps to 10 Mbps range.
Now, don't get me wrong—even 20-30 Mbps is PLENTY for streaming HD movies, taking Zoom calls, & doing pretty much anything you need to do online. I've seen RVers post speed tests hitting over 100 Mbps in the middle of nowhere. The key is location. If you're boondocking in a remote spot with a clear view of the sky, you'll probably get fantastic speeds. If you're in a crowded RV park in Moab during peak season, you might feel the slowdown.
One of the challenges of the RV lifestyle, especially when you're moving frequently, is finding a place to park your rig. It can be a hassle trying to find a spot at a campground, & sometimes you just need a place for a night or two. This is where services like Prked can be a lifesaver. Prked connects people who have extra driveway or garage space with drivers who need a place to park. It's a simple, brilliant idea that can make life on the road a little less stressful, giving you a secure spot to land while you figure out your next move or get your Starlink set up for the night.
Coverage & Limitations: Where It Works & Where It Doesn't
Starlink's coverage is constantly expanding as they launch more satellites (literally, they launch them almost weekly).
The Good News:
As of now, Starlink reports having coverage across virtually the entire landmass of the United States, most of Europe, Australia, & a growing number of other countries. You can check their official availability map on their website to see for yourself. The map shows areas that are "Available" & areas that are "At Capacity" or "Waitlist."
The Caveats & Restrictions (READ THIS PART):
- Clear View of the Sky: This is non-negotiable. Starlink needs a wide, unobstructed view of the sky to connect with its satellites. Tall trees are Dishy's mortal enemy. If you're camping in a dense forest, you're going to have a bad time. You'll get constant dropouts, making it unusable for anything important. Many RVers carry a long cable (up to 150 feet) so they can place the dish in a clearing away from their RV.
- The "Two-Month" Rule: If you're on a standard Roam plan & you use it in a foreign country for more than two consecutive months, Starlink will require you to change your service country. This is to prevent people from buying the service in a cheaper country & using it permanently elsewhere.
- "Sold Out" Area Restrictions: This is a newer & important change. If you spend more than 60 consecutive days in an area that's marked as "Sold Out" or at capacity on the Starlink map, they reserve the right to limit your service. This is to protect the experience for the Residential users in that area. They might even limit your ability to un-pause your Roam service in these sold-out zones.
- No Open Ocean: The standard Roam plans are for land and inland/coastal waters only (within 12 nautical miles of shore). If you're planning on crossing an ocean, you need to upgrade to a much more expensive "Mobile Priority" plan.
Roam vs. Residential: What's the Real Difference?
We've touched on this, but let's lay it out clearly.
| Feature | Starlink Roam | Starlink Residential |
|---|
| Price | $165/mo (Unlimited) | ~$120/mo |
| Portability | Yes, designed for it | No, locked to one address |
| Network Priority | Deprioritized (Slower) | Prioritized (Faster) |
| Pause Service | Yes, you can pause billing | No, you have to cancel |
| Use Case | RVs, Nomads, Campers | Homes, Stationary locations |
For a while, some savvy RVers were getting a Residential plan & just changing their service address every time they moved. This gave them prioritized service for a lower price. Reddit threads are full of discussions about this workaround. And honestly, for some people, it still works. However, Starlink is cracking down a bit. You can only change your address to a location that isn't "at capacity." As more areas fill up, this becomes less of a reliable strategy. The Roam plan is the official, supported way to use Starlink on the move, even if it comes at a premium & with lower priority.
The Full-Time RVer Dilemma: Storage & Stuff
Living on the road is incredible, but it often comes with a practical problem: what to do with your stuff? Many full-timers sell their homes but still have cherished belongings, seasonal gear, or items they just can't part with. Renting a traditional storage unit can be expensive & inflexible.
This is another area where peer-to-peer platforms are changing the game. Just like finding a parking spot, you can also find affordable storage space with Prked. The platform connects you with homeowners who have unused space in their garage, basement, attic, or even a closet. For a full-time RVer, this is an amazing solution. You can find a secure, local spot to store your things for a fraction of the cost of a commercial storage facility. It’s a great way to manage your possessions while you’re out exploring, knowing they're safe & sound without draining your travel budget. And if you're a homeowner with extra space, it's a fantastic way to earn some passive income. Prked lets you monetize that empty garage or driveway, turning it into a consistent side hustle by offering it up for parking or storage. It’s a win-win.
So, Is the Starlink Roam Plan Worth It?
Alright, after all that info, let's circle back to the big question. Is it worth it?
The Roam plan is likely worth it for you if:
- You work remotely from your RV & need a reliable, high-speed connection to do your job.
- You frequently travel to remote areas where cell service is non-existent or unreliable. This is Starlink's superpower.
- You value convenience & want an "it just works" solution without having to fuss with changing service addresses.
- The cost isn't a deal-breaker. Let's be real, $599 for hardware & $165 a month is a significant investment.
You might want to think twice or consider alternatives if:
- You mostly stay in RV parks with good Wi-Fi or strong cell signal. A cellular hotspot plan from a provider like T-Mobile or Verizon might be a much cheaper & sufficient option.
- You're a casual user who just needs to check emails and browse a bit. The Roam 50GB or even the 10GB plan might be a better fit than the expensive unlimited plan.
- Your primary camping spots are in heavily forested areas. The obstruction issue is real & can be a major source of frustration.
- You're on a tight budget. The high upfront & monthly costs are hard to ignore.
The Final Verdict
Here's the thing: Starlink Roam is an absolutely incredible piece of technology that has fundamentally changed what's possible for life on the road. It has enabled thousands of people to become full-time digital nomads, exploring places they never could before while staying connected to work, family, & the world. For many, it's not just a gadget; it's an enabler of their entire lifestyle.
However, it's not perfect, & it's not cheap. The deprioritization is a real factor in crowded areas, & the need for a clear sky can be a frustrating limitation. The constant changes to plans & pricing mean you have to stay on your toes.
My advice? Be realistic about your needs. Think about where you travel, how you use the internet, & what your budget looks like. For the dedicated RVer who needs to be online no matter what, the Starlink Roam Unlimited plan is probably the best mobile internet solution on the planet right now. For the weekend warrior or the budget-conscious traveler, a smaller data plan or a robust cellular setup might be all you need.
Hope this was helpful in breaking down the wild world of Starlink for RVs! It's a rapidly evolving space, but one that is making the dream of travel & connectivity a reality for more and more people. Let me know what you think or if you have any of your own experiences with it
