# Offline maps and dead zones: navigating without signal

> How to prepare for the stretches of road where your phone loses signal.

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/magazine/offline-maps/

*By CampingSpirit Editors, 2026-05-21*

Many of the best drives in the country have no cell service for hours. Big Sur, most of Nevada and the backroads of every large national park are examples. Prepare the night before and it won't matter.

## Download before you drive

Save offline maps for each region you will pass through, not just the destination. Download your trip itinerary and any reservation confirmations as well. Screenshots also work.

## Keep a paper backup

A state road atlas is cheap and needs no battery or signal. It also shows the whole region, which a phone screen can't.

## Tell someone

If you are heading somewhere remote, share your route and expected arrival time with someone at home. CampingSpirit's trip sharing is a quick way to do this.