a system and method for providing a congestion optimized address resolution protocol for a wireless ad - hoc network . the system and method enables a node in the wireless ad - hoc network to issue an arp request without the need to broadcast the request to all of the nodes in the wireless ad - hoc network , to thus minimize radio traffic on the wireless ad - hoc network for handling the arp request . the node includes an address resolution protocol module which is adapted to generate an arp request for a media access control address corresponding to an internet protocol address , and a transceiver which is adapted to transmit the arp request for delivery to an access point of a network portion , such as a core lan of the network , without broadcasting the arp request to a plurality of other nodes in the wireless ad - hoc network . the transceiver can transmit the arp request to the access point directly or via other nodes in the wireless ad - hoc network .