Working from the Road: How My Wife and I Stay Connected While Overlanding in New England

Shay
May 5
9 min read

Summer is just around the corner, and with it comes the season for travel. Whether it is a long weekend at a family camp or a cross-country adventure, many of us still need to stay connected to work.

For some, that might mean answering emails or hopping on a Zoom call. For us, it means supporting clients, staying on top of projects, and managing everything remotely without missing a beat.

This summer, my wife and I are taking a month and a half to travel through New England. We will be driving our Land Cruiser, using my aunt’s camp as a home base, and camping throughout the region. We both work remotely and plan to stick to our usual work schedules while enjoying the freedom of life on the road.

My wife is a Senior Lead Recruiter for a university. She works fully remote and spends much of her day on Zoom calls and Microsoft Teams meetings. Her work includes conducting interviews for faculty positions, sourcing candidates, and managing several side projects that support broader hiring goals and university initiatives.

I run a small IT support company, handling client security, troubleshooting, and daily tech needs. Overlanding has always been a passion of ours, and this trip gives us a chance to blend our professional lives with the outdoors.

Our Remote Work Setup: Gear That Keeps Us Connected and Powered Up

When it comes to remote work on the road, having the right gear makes all the difference. Over the years, we have tested different setups and refined what we bring based on what actually works in real-world conditions. For this trip through New England, we are bringing equipment we know we can rely on.

One of the most important tools in our remote work kit is our mobile hotspot. We use a Solis hotspot that connects to all three major carriers and automatically switches to whichever one has the strongest signal in the area. This has been a game-changer for us. There are no drops in service, and we rarely find ourselves in a dead zone. The internal battery lasts about five hours, which means we do not need to keep it plugged in constantly.

A few years ago, we drove the northern route from Maryland to Wyoming. I was behind the wheel while my wife worked from the passenger seat. She joined Zoom and Microsoft Teams meetings throughout the entire trip using our Solis hotspot and never missed a beat.

Although we do not yet have Starlink Roam, it is something we are seriously considering for this trip or one in the near future. The flexibility and range of Starlink would be ideal for some of the more remote camping locations we like to visit. For now, the Solis hotspot has done an excellent job, and we plan to continue using it as our primary connection.

Here is a quick look at how Starlink compares to other satellite internet options available for travelers:

Why we like Starlink Roam: It is fast, portable, and designed specifically for travelers. While it is not the most affordable option on the list, it performs well in remote areas where cellular coverage drops off. The fact that it continues to improve with software updates makes it an investment we are strongly considering.

Power is another essential part of our setup. We picked up a power inverter from Amazon that plugs into the Land Cruiser’s cigarette lighter. It allows us to charge both of our laptops while driving, which has been a simple but incredibly useful solution.

We also have a Jackery power system with a 1000-watt solar panel. This setup keeps our gear running when we are at camp or parked for the day. We do plan to upgrade to a more robust model with additional solar panels for extended stays off-grid, but for now, this system gets the job done.

Here is what keeps us connected and powered up:

Solis Mobile Hotspot
Jackery 1000 with solar panel
Power inverter for charging while driving
Anker power banks (compact, high-capacity, and solar)
MacBook and iPad (with screen extension)
Folding camp table
Inflatable camping couch
Road atlases and offline navigation apps
MacBook and iPad (I use Sidecar to turn my iPad into a second screen while working remotely)

Managing Bandwidth and Power for Two Remote Workers

One of the questions we often get is how we both manage to work remotely at the same time, especially while traveling or camping in remote areas. The truth is, with the right tools and a bit of planning, it works better than most people expect.

Our Solis hotspot typically provides between 30 to 40 megabits per second, which is more than enough for both of us to stay connected. We have tested the speed extensively, even going so far as to stream a 4K movie over the connection at home. It never buffered. That kind of reliability gives us confidence when we are both on Zoom or Teams calls, uploading files, or supporting clients.

My wife handles university recruiting and spends most of her workday on video calls and phone interviews. She is constantly sourcing new candidates, conducting interviews for faculty positions, and juggling multiple internal projects. I am often remoting into systems or responding to client requests, and our connection continues to hold up no matter what we throw at it.

Even when we stay overnight at hotels, we avoid guest Wi-Fi entirely. Security is too important, especially when we are dealing with client systems or sensitive information. We also will not use public USB charging ports in hotel rooms or airports. There are too many risks associated with using outlets that are not under our control.

Instead, we travel with several Anker power banks. These keep our phones and tablets charged whether we are hiking for the day, camping at night, or spending time in a hotel room.

When my wife travels alone for work, she takes our high-powered Anker battery pack that can even charge our laptops. It gives her the flexibility to stay productive and safe without relying on public power sources.

We each keep a compact power bank in our hiking bags, which have saved the day more than once when we are out exploring. Our most recent additions are two solar-capable power banks. These have built-in solar charging panels, and we are really looking forward to testing them out on this upcoming trip. Being able to recharge off-grid is one more way we stay independent and mobile.

Security First: Why We Never Use Public Wi-Fi and How We Stay Protected on the Road

One of the most important parts of our remote work setup has nothing to do with gear or internet speeds. It is our commitment to staying secure no matter where we are.

We never connect to public Wi-Fi. It is simply not worth the risk. Whether we are staying in a hotel, camping at a remote site, or grabbing coffee along the way, we rely solely on our own mobile hotspot or devices we control. That means we are not exposing ourselves to potential threats like man-in-the-middle attacks, rogue access points, or network sniffing.

We also never post our location in real time. All of our travel photos, updates, and stories are shared only after we have left a campsite or town. This adds a layer of safety for us, our dogs, and our gear.

How I Set Up a Secure VPN to Our Home Network

And How I Help Other Businesses Do the Same

To protect our data, I built a secure VPN tunnel that connects our devices to our home network. It allows us to work from the road just as securely as we would from our desks.

Here is how I set it up:

A business-grade firewall that supports encrypted VPN connections
A Dynamic DNS service so our devices can always find our home network
VPN clients installed on our laptops, iPads, and phones
Custom access rules and monitoring with logging and alerts
Full access to file shares, printers, and remote tools.

I help other small businesses implement this same setup. Whether you are managing sensitive files, remote employees, or just want peace of mind while traveling, I can help you build a secure remote work solution that fits your business.

Working in Nature: Finding Balance Between Productivity and Peace

There is something incredibly calming about working with the sound of a nearby stream in the background or birds chirping in the trees above. It is a world away from the usual office environment, but in many ways, it helps us focus even more.

I use my MacBook for most of my work while traveling. When I need more screen space, I connect my iPad using Sidecar, which turns it into a second monitor. This setup gives me the flexibility to work on multiple tasks at once. Whether I am remoting into a client’s network, reviewing security alerts, or pulling up offline maps and checklists, the extra screen space helps me stay organized and efficient without weighing down our setup.

My wife jokes that I am basically a Boy Scout. She is not wrong. I always bring road atlases for every state we travel through, and I never leave home without a fully mapped route, paper backups, and offline GPS options saved on my iPad. To some people, that might seem like overkill, but to me, it is how I make sure we are always prepared for the unexpected.

I take that same mindset into my work. Whether it is helping a business recover from an outage or protecting a client from a security breach, I approach everything with a plan in place. Just like we would never head into the backcountry without navigation and backup power, I never build an IT solution without thinking through the worst-case scenarios and how we will recover from them.

It is like having a disaster recovery plan, but for your entire life. And when you are living and working on the road, that kind of thinking keeps everything running smoothly no matter what comes your way.

When we set up camp, we make it as comfortable and functional as possible. We bring along a folding table where we can both work side by side, and we carve out small workspaces that allow us to concentrate without stepping on each other's toes.

My wife’s favorite addition to our gear is our inflatable camping couch. I am not joking — she loves that thing. It is probably one of the most talked-about items in our entire setup. And to be fair, I have taken some of the best naps of my life on that couch, especially with the sounds of the river running behind us.

We are already planning future upgrades. One of the things we are looking into is a small pop-up tent that can serve as a dedicated office space while we are camping. It would give us a shaded and bug-free environment where we can set up monitors, sit comfortably, and focus even during longer workdays on the road.

I also picked up a portable travel monitor from Costco that my wife does not know about yet. It is slim, lightweight, and will be perfect for her mobile office setup. I am planning to surprise her with it when we set up at our first long-term campsite. I think she is going to love having a second screen just like I do, especially when she is deep into interviews or projects.

Being out in nature reminds us why we love what we do. It clears our heads, sharpens our thinking, and helps us show up as the best versions of ourselves for our clients.

Final Thoughts: Remote Work, the Road, and Living a Life That Feels Right

One of the best parts about working remotely from the road is that we get to bring our dogs along for the ride. Just like us, they are noticeably calmer when we are out in nature. Whether we are posted up by a river or tucked into a quiet forest spot, they settle right in and make themselves at home. Most days, you can find them stretched out next to us, soaking up the peace and quiet while we work.

Working this way gives us a rhythm that feels more balanced. We can take a longer lunch break to explore a hiking trail near our campsite or just walk the dogs through the woods.

Those moments in the middle of the day remind us why we built this lifestyle in the first place. We are not just getting work done. We are living fully and doing it on our terms.

This trip through New England is not a vacation. It is an extension of the way we live and work. Preparedness, flexibility, connection, and peace of mind.

We are not just chasing Wi-Fi signals. We are building a life that works wherever we are.

When we return, I will share what worked even better than expected, the challenges we faced, and a few surprises along the way. Keep an eye out for the follow-up post.

✅ Need Help Setting Up a Secure Remote Work Environment?

I help small businesses create reliable, secure, and flexible remote work solutions, whether you are home-based or working from the road.📞 Contact me to learn more.

📌 Coming Soon: Lessons from the Road

Once we return from this trip, I will share a follow-up with everything we learned while working from the road. Keep an eye out for our next post, where I will cover:

What worked even better than expected
The gear we wish we had packed
Unexpected challenges we ran into
The best “office” moment of the trip
Photos of our favorite camp-working setups and views

We are looking forward to sharing the real-world side of remote work and overlanding. We will include the wins, the lessons, and maybe even a few surprises.

🧭 Want to See Our Full Gear Setup?

We created a quick-reference checklist of the gear we use to stay powered, connected, and productive while overlanding and working remotely. You can save it, print it, or use it to build your own setup.

Check out the checklist below or download the PDF version for your next adventure.