A system for managing network connections for AVs can store a spectrum heat map that indicates network coverage strength for networks throughout a given region. The system can identify a travel route for a selected AV. Using the spectrum heat map, the system can determine a connection schedule for the selected AV. The connection schedule can indicate location points along the travel route at which the selected AV is to switch from previous network connections to succeeding network connections. The system may then transmit the connection schedule to the selected AV to enable the selected AV to switch network connections at the location points along the travel route.