Methods and systems for selective scanning and connecting to a wireless network are described. In an example, a mobile device may be configured to scan for availability of a wireless network and measure, at the mobile device, signal strengths of a wireless signal from the wireless network. Also, the mobile device may be configured to determine a rate of signal strength change for the wireless signal from the wireless network based on the measured signal strengths; and compare the rate of signal strength change to a threshold value. If the rate of signal strength change is less than the threshold value, the mobile device may be configured to establish a connection with the wireless network; if not, the mobile device may be configured to stop scanning for the wireless network.