# eSIM for United States

Viasimo's United States eSIM starts at $1.29 for 500 MB over 1 day, running on AT&T and Verizon with 5G where available. Plans last 1 to 180 days, arrive by email in minutes and install from your phone's settings, with no app.

Canonical page: https://viasimo.com/destinations/united-states/

## United States eSIM prices

| Plan | Data | Days | Price | Price per GB |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 500 MB, 1 day | 500 MB | 1 | $1.29 | $2.64 |
| 2 GB, 1 day | 2 GB | 1 | $3.00 | $1.50 |
| 10 GB, 1 day | 10 GB | 1 | $9.00 | $0.90 |
| Unlimited, 3 days | Unlimited | 3 | $8.00 | - |
| Unlimited, 5 days | Unlimited | 5 | $12.99 | - |
| 100 MB, 7 days | 100 MB | 7 | $1.29 | $13.21 |
| 500 MB, 7 days | 500 MB | 7 | $1.59 | $3.26 |
| 1 GB, 7 days | 1 GB | 7 | $2.00 | $2.00 |
| Unlimited, 7 days | Unlimited | 7 | $17.00 | - |
| Unlimited, 10 days | Unlimited | 10 | $22.99 | - |
| 2 GB, 15 days | 2 GB | 15 | $4.00 | $2.00 |
| 3 GB, 15 days | 3 GB | 15 | $4.29 | $1.43 |
| Unlimited, 15 days | Unlimited | 15 | $34.99 | - |
| 3 GB, 30 days | 3 GB | 30 | $4.29 | $1.43 |
| 5 GB, 30 days | 5 GB | 30 | $6.99 | $1.40 |
| 10 GB, 30 days | 10 GB | 30 | $11.99 | $1.20 |
| 15 GB, 30 days | 15 GB | 30 | $14.99 | $1.00 |
| 20 GB, 30 days | 20 GB | 30 | $20.99 | $1.05 |
| 50 GB, 30 days | 50 GB | 30 | $46.99 | $0.94 |
| Unlimited, 30 days | Unlimited | 30 | $61.99 | - |
| Unlimited, 60 days | Unlimited | 60 | $129.99 | - |
| 20 GB, 90 days | 20 GB | 90 | $25.00 | $1.25 |
| Unlimited, 90 days | Unlimited | 90 | $189.99 | - |
| 50 GB, 180 days | 50 GB | 180 | $58.00 | $1.16 |
| Unlimited, 180 days | Unlimited | 180 | $364.99 | - |

## Which networks does the United States eSIM use?

- **AT&T**: 5G
- **Verizon**: 5G

Your eSIM picks one automatically; you do not choose or switch between them.

The operator list comes from the network partner that carries this eSIM. Verified October 30, 2026.

## eSIM Details

- **Data**: 100 MB – 50 GB or unlimited
- **Validity**: 1–180 days
- **Speed**: 4G LTE / 5G
- **Hotspot / tethering**: Supported on most devices
- **Activation**: Automatic on arrival
- **Speed management**: Roughly 2-3 GB per day at full speed, sometimes less depending on the local carrier, then reduced
- **Top-ups**: Add more data from your account, before the plan expires
- **Text messages (SMS)**: Data only: use an app for verification codes
- **Connects via**: United States
- **Unused validity**: 180 days before it must be installed

## United States: what to know before you land

Source: https://viasimo.com/destinations/united-states/#destination-guide · Researched October 2026 by Viasimo

Your eSIM in the United States uses AT&T and Verizon. Both closed their 3G networks in 2022, and the last 2G network in the country, T-Mobile's, went offline in August 2026, so phones now rely on 4G and 5G. Before you land, the UK government warns that border officers may ask to inspect your phone, messages and social media.

### United States: quick facts

| Fact | United States |
| --- | --- |
| Emergency number | 911 |
| Main airports | John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York (JFK); Los Angeles International Airport (LAX); Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD); Miami International Airport (MIA); San Francisco International Airport (SFO) |
| Plug types | Type A, B (120V) |
| Currency | US dollar (USD) |
| Apps worth having | Uber, Lyft, Google Maps, WhatsApp, GasBuddy |

### AT&T, Verizon and the end of 2G and 3G in America

(United States · https://viasimo.com/destinations/united-states/#guide-at-and-t-verizon-and-the-end-of-2g-and-3g-in-america)

The US has three national networks: **AT&T**, **Verizon** and **T-Mobile**. Your eSIM uses **AT&T and Verizon**, so the T-Mobile signal you may see listed in your settings isn't one it connects to.

All the older network layers have now gone:

- **AT&T** switched off 2G at the start of 2017 and 3G on **22 February 2022**.
- **Verizon** closed 3G on **31 December 2022**.
- **T-Mobile** retired its 3G in 2022, along with Sprint's old CDMA network, and closed its GSM (2G) network on **3 August 2026**. The last tower, in Sacramento, went dark the next day.

The practical result is that **every call and data session in the US now runs over 4G or 5G**. Data on the eSIM works on any phone that supports AT&T's or Verizon's 4G and 5G bands. For calls on your home SIM, your phone needs 4G calling (VoLTE) on US networks. Without it, an older model may show signal but be unable to make a voice call, including to 911. If you're travelling with an old or unusual handset, check this with your home operator before you go.

### ESTA, the selfie check and border inspections of your phone

(United States · https://viasimo.com/destinations/united-states/#guide-esta-the-selfie-check-and-border-inspections-of-your-phone)

If you're visiting under the Visa Waiver Program, apply for your **ESTA** only through the official website, **esta.cbp.dhs.gov**, or the official ESTA app. The UK government notes that an ESTA without the required **selfie photo** may need to be redone, so log in and check your application before you fly. An approved ESTA doesn't guarantee entry. Officers can still refuse you if they believe you'll overstay or that your information is inaccurate or incomplete.

The UK government also warns that border officials **may ask to inspect your electronic devices, emails, text messages and social media**, and that refusing can delay your entry or lead to refusal. Think about what's stored on, or logged in on, the phone you bring. Make sure your ESTA answers match what's on your devices and in your travel plans.

Once you're through, your eSIM should already be connected.

### 911, text-to-911 and what a data-only eSIM can't do

(United States · https://viasimo.com/destinations/united-states/#guide-911-text-to-911-and-what-a-data-only-esim-can-t-do)

For a life-threatening emergency anywhere in the US, call **911**. The Federal Communications Commission says **text-to-911** is available only in some areas, because each emergency call centre decides whether to offer it. Where it isn't available, you should get an automatic bounce-back message telling you to call instead. Even where texting works, the FCC says a voice call is still the most reliable option.

Your eSIM is **data only**: it has no phone number and can't send SMS, so it can't text 911. Keep your home SIM switched on for calls and texts, and if you're travelling with someone, make sure at least one of you has a working voice line.

In severe weather, check the **National Weather Service** for flash-flood warnings, the **National Hurricane Center** during hurricane season, and local news for wildfire evacuation orders. In national parks, the UK government advises carrying a map, compass, GPS and a way to communicate, leaving your route with someone and considering a guide. Large areas of parks such as Yellowstone, Death Valley and Big Bend have no signal.

### Hire cars, the 1949 permit and petrol prices near airports

(United States · https://viasimo.com/destinations/united-states/#guide-hire-cars-the-1949-permit-and-petrol-prices-near-airports)

A UK photocard licence is accepted, but the UK government says some states may also require a **1949-version International Driving Permit**. You can only get one before you leave the UK. Check the rules for each state you'll drive through on its Department of Motor Vehicles website, and check your hire company's own conditions, which are often stricter. If you have an old paper licence, carry your passport as well.

Watch fuel prices near airports and tourist areas. The UK government notes that **petrol stations that don't display their prices** usually charge well above the national average. A fuel-price app will find cheaper options nearby before you return the car.

The UK government also advises sticking to main roads, using well-lit car parks and **not sleeping in your car by the road or in rest areas**. If someone bumps your car, ask them to follow you to a public place before you stop and call the police. Your phone's map and data connection make it easy to find the nearest lit petrol station or shopping centre.

### Sources for the United States guide

- [3G - Wikipedia (phase-out section)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3G)
- [2G - Wikipedia (phase-out section)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2G)
- [USA travel advice: entry requirements - GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/usa/entry-requirements)
- [USA travel advice: safety and security - GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/usa/safety-and-security)
- [What You Need to Know About Text-to-911 - FCC](https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/what-you-need-know-about-text-911)

## Seven days in the American Southwest: Zion, Bryce Canyon, Page and the Grand Canyon

7-day itinerary · 7 days · Source: https://viasimo.com/destinations/united-states/#itinerary

A self-drive loop from Las Vegas through three of the best-known national parks in the US, with a stop at Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon. Suits first-time visitors who want canyon country, and gives an honest picture of how often you will be out of signal.

**When to go:** April to May and September to October are best for walking; July and August are very hot in the canyons and bring monsoon thunderstorms and flash-flood risk, and in winter Bryce and the Grand Canyon rims can be snowy, with the shuttle in Zion paused for part of December.

### Day 1 in United States: Las Vegas to Zion

- **Base:** Springdale
- **Getting there:** About 2.5–3 hours by road from Las Vegas to Springdale (roughly 260 km); Kolob Canyons is just off I-15 near Cedar City.
- **Plan:** Pick up your hire car at Harry Reid International Airport and drive north-east on I-15 into Utah. Stop at the Kolob Canyons section of Zion for the short scenic drive to the Timber Creek Overlook, then continue to Springdale at the main entrance. Walk the Pa'rus Trail along the Virgin River at sunset, with views of the Watchman.
- **Mobile signal:** AT&T and Verizon 5G in Las Vegas and solid 4G along I-15; Springdale has reasonable 4G, but coverage fades quickly inside the canyon.

### Day 2 in United States: Zion Canyon by shuttle

- **Base:** Springdale
- **Getting there:** Shuttles start at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center; check the last shuttle time, or face a long walk back.
- **Plan:** Take the free shuttle up Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, which is closed to private cars in shuttle season. Ride to the Temple of Sinawava and walk the Riverside Walk to the start of the Narrows, wading upstream if water levels and flash-flood forecasts allow. On the way back, walk to the Emerald Pools from Zion Lodge. Angels Landing needs a permit applied for in advance; it is not available on the day.
- **Mobile signal:** Expect little or no signal in Zion Canyon beyond the visitor centre and Zion Lodge; the lodge has public Wi-Fi.

### Day 3 in United States: Through the Mount Carmel tunnel to Bryce Canyon

- **Base:** Bryce Canyon
- **Getting there:** About 1.5–2 hours by road from Springdale to Bryce Canyon; large vehicles need an escort through the tunnel.
- **Plan:** Drive the Zion–Mount Carmel Highway through the switchbacks and the long tunnel, stopping for the short Canyon Overlook Trail on the far side. Continue to Bryce Canyon National Park and walk the rim between Sunrise Point and Sunset Point, then drop below the rim on the combined Queen's Garden and Navajo Loop trail among the hoodoos. Watch the evening light from Inspiration Point or Bryce Point.
- **Mobile signal:** The highway east of Zion has long gaps; 4G is available near Bryce Canyon City and at some rim viewpoints, but drops below the rim.

### Day 4 in United States: Page: Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend

- **Base:** Page
- **Getting there:** About 2.5–3 hours by road from Bryce to Page via US-89.
- **Plan:** Watch sunrise at Bryce, then drive south-east via Kanab to Page in Arizona. Join a booked guided tour of Upper or Lower Antelope Canyon, the narrow sandstone slot canyons on Navajo land, which can only be visited with a Navajo-authorised guide. In the late afternoon walk the short path to the Horseshoe Bend overlook above the Colorado River for sunset.
- **Mobile signal:** US-89 has stretches with no signal between Kanab and Page; Page has 4G, but there is none inside Antelope Canyon.

### Day 5 in United States: To the Grand Canyon via Desert View

- **Base:** Grand Canyon South Rim
- **Getting there:** About 2.5 hours by road from Page to Desert View; Grand Canyon Village is about 40 minutes further.
- **Plan:** Drive south across the Navajo Nation to the east entrance of Grand Canyon National Park. Climb the Desert View Watchtower, designed by Mary Colter, for the first view down to the Colorado River, then follow Desert View Drive west, stopping at Lipan Point and Grandview Point. Reach Grand Canyon Village by late afternoon and watch sunset from Mather Point or Yavapai Point.
- **Mobile signal:** Coverage is sparse across the Navajo Nation and along Desert View Drive; Grand Canyon Village has 4G, though it slows at busy times.

### Day 6 in United States: The South Rim: Rim Trail and South Kaibab

- **Base:** Grand Canyon South Rim
- **Getting there:** Free park shuttles connect the village, the South Kaibab trailhead and Hermit Road.
- **Plan:** Start early with a short descent on the South Kaibab Trail to Ooh Aah Point or Cedar Ridge, carrying plenty of water and turning back well before you tire; the climb out is far harder than the walk down. In the afternoon walk sections of the Rim Trail past the Yavapai Geology Museum, or take the free Hermit Road shuttle west to Hopi Point and Hermits Rest for sunset.
- **Mobile signal:** 4G is usable on the rim near the village, but drops away soon after you start down the trails; do not count on your phone below the rim.

### Day 7 in United States: Route 66, the Hoover Dam and back to Las Vegas

- **Base:** Las Vegas
- **Getting there:** About 4.5–5 hours by road from the South Rim to Las Vegas via Williams, Seligman and Kingman.
- **Plan:** Drive south to Williams and follow a stretch of historic Route 66 west through Seligman, with its old filling stations and diners. Rejoin the interstate towards Kingman and stop at the Hoover Dam on the Nevada–Arizona border, walking out on the Mike O'Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge for the view of the dam. Return to Las Vegas for the evening or your flight.
- **Mobile signal:** Good 4G along I-40 and near the towns, with gaps on the quieter Route 66 sections between Seligman and Kingman; 5G returns in Las Vegas.

### Staying connected on this United States route

- Download offline maps for southern Utah and northern Arizona and the NPS app's offline park content before leaving Las Vegas.
- Phone clocks can jump between time zones: Utah and the Navajo Nation observe daylight saving time but the rest of Arizona does not, so check tour times carefully in Page.
- Apply for any Angels Landing permit and book Antelope Canyon tours in advance on your phone; neither can be sorted on the day.
- Your eSIM is data only and cannot text 911, so keep your home SIM on for calls, especially on trails where a voice call may get through when data does not.

### Sources for the United States itinerary

- [National Park Service: Zion Canyon shuttle system](https://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/zion-canyon-shuttle-system.htm)
- [National Park Service: Bryce Canyon, plan your visit](https://www.nps.gov/brca/planyourvisit/index.htm)
- [National Park Service: Grand Canyon, plan your visit](https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/index.htm)

## About this eSIM

Almost nothing in the United States is built for a visitor without a phone. Parking is paid in an app, ballgame and concert tickets live only in a wallet, rideshare pickup is a lettered zone somebody has to tell you about, and your hotel would rather hand you a digital key than a card. A United States eSIM covers all of that from the jetway onward, while your home number keeps taking the two-factor codes your bank will inevitably send.

### Getting online when you land

Do the install at home, over wifi. The profile download needs a connection, and fighting airport wifi at JFK or LAX with a queue building behind you is a poor plan. Only turn the line on once you have landed.

At the gate, drop out of airplane mode, activate the travel line, choose it for mobile data, and switch data roaming on for that line if you are prompted. Kill mobile data on your home line and leave everything else about it alone: calls and texts to your usual number keep arriving as normal.

Get it done before you leave the terminal, because the first thing you will open is a rideshare app, and most large American airports will send you to a specific pickup island, deck or lot number that differs by terminal and changes without much warning. Ground transport signage here assumes you are already looking at a screen.

### The networks you'll be on

Your data rides on Verizon or AT&T. Both run 4G/LTE and 5G. You do not pick between them and you will rarely notice which one you are on: the phone attaches and gets on with it.

Where it does matter is on a long drive. City coverage from either is thick enough that the distinction is academic, but out in the empty parts of the country the footprints are not identical, and that is where whichever network you are attached to decides whether your map keeps rerouting or sits there spinning.

### Where coverage holds, and where it thins

Metro areas are reliable. New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, Seattle and Boston hold signal on the street, in most transit stations and throughout airports. In the New York subway, service lives at the stations rather than in the tunnels between them, so load your route before you head down the stairs.

Interstates and the towns strung along them are generally fine. The thin parts are enormous and easy to underestimate: canyon country in Utah and northern Arizona, the basin and range emptiness of Nevada, long crossings in west Texas, high passes in Colorado, and the national parks, where Yellowstone, Death Valley, Big Bend and Glacier all contain large areas with nothing at all. Appalachian valleys behave the same way, and so do long-distance Amtrak routes, which spend hours well away from anywhere.

### What you'll actually use data for here

Driving, mostly. Live traffic and lane guidance genuinely change your day in Los Angeles or Atlanta, and the apps for fuel stops, charging networks and rest areas all assume you are connected. Toll roads in Florida and the northeast increasingly bill a rental by reading the plate, so you may end up checking an account balance from the passenger seat.

Then the ticket layer. Stadium and arena entry, theme park queues in Orlando, timed entry at busy national parks, ferries and museum slots have almost all moved to phone-only, and a screenshot is not always accepted because some tickets rotate their code.

After that: rideshare, restaurant waitlists that text you when the table is ready, mobile ordering at coffee chains, hotel digital keys, weather radar in hurricane and snow season, and constant map searching, because American distances turn "is there anything to eat before the next exit" into a real question with real consequences.

### Before you fly

Confirm your phone is unlocked and eSIM capable before you rely on any of this.

Download offline maps for the empty stretches, and be generous about it. If you are driving from Las Vegas toward the Utah parks, or anywhere across the mountain west, cache the whole route rather than a few towns along it.

Sort out power in the car. A phone mount plus a charger that can actually keep up matters, because sustained navigation with the screen on will outrun a lot of rental car USB ports.

Then handle the small admin at home: install the rideshare app and add a payment method that works abroad, download your airline app, and turn off your home carrier's data roaming so nothing quietly bills you on the side.

## Before you travel to United States

The United States has no SIM-registration requirement. Nothing to register with a travel eSIM.

Local SIM-registration rules apply to buying a SIM in the country. A travel eSIM is a foreign profile roaming onto the local network, so you are not registering anything locally and there is no counter to queue at.

## Frequently asked questions

### Does an eSIM work in United States?

Yes. Your United States eSIM connects automatically the moment you arrive, with no roaming fees and nothing to set up at the airport. The host networks it can use are AT&T, Verizon. Coverage runs on 4G LTE and 5G where the network has rolled it out, and falls back to 4G elsewhere.

### Do I get 5G in United States?

Yes, where it has been deployed. 5G runs on AT&T, Verizon in United States, and your eSIM uses it automatically on a 5G-capable phone, dropping back to 4G LTE outside covered areas. No country is covered everywhere, so 5G availability varies by location.

### Does the US still have 3G or 2G networks?

No. AT&T switched off 3G in February 2022 and Verizon in December 2022. T-Mobile retired 3G in 2022 and shut its GSM (2G) network on 3 August 2026. Everything now runs on 4G and 5G. Your eSIM uses AT&T and Verizon. For voice calls on your home SIM, your phone needs to support 4G calling (VoLTE) on US networks.

### Can US border officers check my phone?

Yes. The UK government warns that US officials may ask to inspect your electronic devices, emails, text messages and social media when you arrive, and that refusing can delay your entry or result in being refused. An approved ESTA doesn't guarantee entry, so make sure your application is accurate and matches your travel plans.

### Can I text 911 in the United States?

Only in some areas. The FCC says each 911 call centre decides whether to offer text-to-911, and where it isn't supported you should get an automatic message telling you to call instead. Voice calls are more reliable. Your data-only eSIM can't send SMS, so use your home SIM to call or text 911.

### Do I need an International Driving Permit to drive in the US?

Possibly. The UK government says a UK photocard licence can be used, but some states may also want a 1949-version International Driving Permit, which you must get before leaving the UK. Rules vary by state, so check with each state's Department of Motor Vehicles. Hire companies may have stricter requirements of their own.

### How much data do I need for 7 days in United States?

For 7 days in United States, Viasimo sells 100 MB for $1.29, 500 MB for $1.59, 1 GB for $2.00, and unlimited data for $17.00. Our sizing recommendation, not a measurement: maps, messaging and the occasional lookup, about 1 GB a week; maps, social, photos and some browsing, about 3 to 7 GB a week. The data calculator on this site works it out from how you actually use your phone.

## Information and verification

- **Prices and plans**: Every price and allowance on this page is read from the live catalog, not typed in. Verified October 30, 2026.
- **Host networks**: The operator list comes from the network partner that carries this eSIM. Verified October 30, 2026.
- **Local rules**: SIM registration and device rules, checked against the sources below. Verified September 23, 2026. Source: [privacyinternational.org](https://privacyinternational.org/long-read/3018/timeline-sim-card-registration-laws)