diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index c65864f..6731cf1 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -59,5 +59,8 @@ venv
 # PyCharm
 .idea
 
+# VS code
+.vscode
+
 pytest_doctestplus/version.py
 pip-wheel-metadata/
diff --git a/CHANGES.rst b/CHANGES.rst
index d52aa83..63f16fb 100644
--- a/CHANGES.rst
+++ b/CHANGES.rst
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 0.10.0 (unreleased)
 ===================
 
+- Added ``..doctest-remote-data::`` directive to control remote data
+  access for a chunk of code. [#137]
+
 - Drop support for ``python`` 3.6. [#159]
 
 - Fixed a bug where the command-line option ``--remote-data=any`` (associated
@@ -10,6 +13,7 @@
 - Fix wrong behavior with ``IGNORE_WARNINGS`` and ``SHOW_WARNINGS`` that could
   make a block to pass instead of being skipped. [#148]
 
+
 0.9.0 (2021-01-14)
 ==================
 
diff --git a/README.rst b/README.rst
index 0452729..78cb5d6 100644
--- a/README.rst
+++ b/README.rst
@@ -273,7 +273,17 @@ marked:
 
 The ``+REMOTE_DATA`` directive indicates that the marked statement should only
 be executed if the ``--remote-data`` option is given. By default, all
-statements marked with ``--remote-data`` will be skipped.
+statements marked with the remote data directive will be skipped.
+
+Whole code example blocks can also be marked to control access to data from the internet
+this way:
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+    .. doctest-remote-data::
+
+        >>> import requests
+        >>> r = requests.get('https://www.astropy.org')
 
 .. _pytest-remotedata: https://github.com/astropy/pytest-remotedata
 __ pytest-remotedata_
diff --git a/pytest_doctestplus/plugin.py b/pytest_doctestplus/plugin.py
index f540556..86e3b13 100644
--- a/pytest_doctestplus/plugin.py
+++ b/pytest_doctestplus/plugin.py
@@ -90,9 +90,9 @@ def pytest_addoption(parser):
 
     parser.addoption("--text-file-format", action="store",
                      help=(
-                        "Text file format for narrative documentation. "
-                        "Options accepted are 'txt', 'tex', and 'rst'. "
-                        "This is no longer recommended, use --doctest-glob instead."
+                         "Text file format for narrative documentation. "
+                         "Options accepted are 'txt', 'tex', and 'rst'. "
+                         "This is no longer recommended, use --doctest-glob instead."
                      ))
 
     # Defaults to `atol` parameter from `numpy.allclose`.
@@ -140,8 +140,8 @@ def pytest_addoption(parser):
                   default=[])
 
     parser.addini("doctest_subpackage_requires",
-                  "A list of paths to skip if requirements are not satisfied. Each item in the list "
-                  "should have the syntax path=req1;req2",
+                  "A list of paths to skip if requirements are not satisfied."
+                  "Each item in the list should have the syntax path=req1;req2",
                   type='linelist',
                   default=[])
 
@@ -157,7 +157,8 @@ def get_optionflags(parent):
 def pytest_configure(config):
     doctest_plugin = config.pluginmanager.getplugin('doctest')
     run_regular_doctest = config.option.doctestmodules and not config.option.doctest_plus
-    use_doctest_plus = config.getini('doctest_plus') or config.option.doctest_plus or config.option.doctest_only
+    use_doctest_plus = config.getini(
+        'doctest_plus') or config.option.doctest_plus or config.option.doctest_only
     if doctest_plugin is None or run_regular_doctest or not use_doctest_plus:
         return
 
@@ -324,6 +325,9 @@ class DocTestParserPlus(doctest.DocTestParser):
              installed.
 
            - ``.. doctest-skip-all``: Skip all subsequent doctests.
+
+           - ``.. doctest-remote-data::``: Skip the next doctest chunk if
+             --remote-data is not passed.
         """
 
         def parse(self, s, name=None):
@@ -355,7 +359,8 @@ def parse(self, s, name=None):
                     required = []
                     skip_next = False
                     lines = entry.strip().splitlines()
-                    if any([re.match('{} doctest-skip-all'.format(comment_char), x.strip()) for x in lines]):
+                    if any(re.match(
+                            '{} doctest-skip-all'.format(comment_char), x.strip()) for x in lines):
                         skip_all = True
                         continue
 
@@ -382,6 +387,15 @@ def parse(self, s, name=None):
                             skip_next = True
                             continue
 
+                    if config.getoption('remote_data', 'none') != 'any':
+                        matches = (re.match(
+                            r'{}\s+doctest-remote-data\s*::'.format(comment_char),
+                            last_line) for last_line in last_lines)
+
+                        if any(matches):
+                            skip_next = True
+                            continue
+
                     matches = [re.match(
                         r'{}\s+doctest-requires\s*::\s+(.*)'.format(comment_char),
                         last_line) for last_line in last_lines]
diff --git a/setup.cfg b/setup.cfg
index c1df38c..f01003b 100644
--- a/setup.cfg
+++ b/setup.cfg
@@ -35,6 +35,10 @@ install_requires =
     setuptools>=30.3.0
     packaging>=17.0
 
+[options.extras_require]
+test = 
+    pytest-remotedata>=0.3.2
+
 [options.entry_points]
 pytest11 =
     pytest_doctestplus = pytest_doctestplus.plugin
diff --git a/tests/docs/skip_some.rst b/tests/docs/skip_some.rst
index 63e75e7..b05410f 100644
--- a/tests/docs/skip_some.rst
+++ b/tests/docs/skip_some.rst
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ available:
 
 .. doctest-requires:: sys
 
-    >>> import sys 
+    >>> import sys
 
 Bad Imports
 ===========
diff --git a/tests/docs/skip_some_remote_data.rst b/tests/docs/skip_some_remote_data.rst
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9ecf828
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/docs/skip_some_remote_data.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+Some test cases for remote data
+*******************************
+
+We only run tests on this file when ``remote-data`` is not opted in as most
+of the code examples below should fail if not skipped.
+
+
+Remote data block code sandwiched in block codes
+================================================
+
+This code block should work just fine::
+
+    >>> 1 + 1
+    2
+
+This should be skipped when remote data is not requested
+otherwise the test should fail::
+
+.. doctest-remote-data::
+
+    >>> 1 + 3
+    2
+
+This code block should work just fine::
+
+    >>> 1 + 1
+    2
+
+
+Remote data followed by plain block code
+========================================
+
+This one should be skipped when remote data is not requested
+otherwise the test should fail::
+
+.. doctest-remote-data::
+
+    >>> 1 + 3
+    2
+
+This code block should work just fine::
+
+    >>> 1 + 1
+    2
+
+
+Several blocks of Remote data
+=============================
+
+The three block codes should be skipped when remote data
+is not requested otherwise the tests should fail:
+
+.. doctest-remote-data::
+
+    >>> 1 + 3
+    2
+
+.. doctest-remote-data::
+
+    >>> 1 + 4
+    2
+
+.. doctest-remote-data::
+
+    >>> 1 + 5
+    2
+
+Composite directive with remote data
+====================================
+
+This should be skipped otherwise the test should fail::
+
+.. doctest-remote-data::
+
+    >>> 1 + 1
+    3
+    >>> import warnings
+    >>> warnings.warn('A warning occurred', UserWarning)  # doctest: +IGNORE_WARNINGS
diff --git a/tests/test_doctestplus.py b/tests/test_doctestplus.py
index 6c10e97..2cf29e0 100644
--- a/tests/test_doctestplus.py
+++ b/tests/test_doctestplus.py
@@ -433,7 +433,7 @@ def test_ignore_warnings_rst(testdir):
     # First check that we get a warning if we don't add the IGNORE_WARNINGS
     # directive
     p = testdir.makefile(".rst",
-        """
+                         """
         ::
             >>> import warnings
             >>> warnings.warn('A warning occurred', UserWarning)
@@ -444,7 +444,7 @@ def test_ignore_warnings_rst(testdir):
 
     # Now try with the IGNORE_WARNINGS directive
     p = testdir.makefile(".rst",
-        """
+                         """
         ::
             >>> import warnings
             >>> warnings.warn('A warning occurred', UserWarning)  # doctest: +IGNORE_WARNINGS
@@ -486,7 +486,7 @@ def myfunc():
 def test_show_warnings_rst(testdir):
 
     p = testdir.makefile(".rst",
-        """
+                         """
         ::
             >>> import warnings
             >>> warnings.warn('A warning occurred', UserWarning)  # doctest: +SHOW_WARNINGS
@@ -498,7 +498,7 @@ def test_show_warnings_rst(testdir):
 
     # Make sure it fails if warning message is missing
     p = testdir.makefile(".rst",
-        """
+                         """
         ::
             >>> import warnings
             >>> warnings.warn('A warning occurred', UserWarning)  # doctest: +SHOW_WARNINGS
@@ -509,7 +509,7 @@ def test_show_warnings_rst(testdir):
 
     # Make sure it fails if warning message is missing
     p = testdir.makefile(".rst",
-        """
+                         """
         ::
             >>> import warnings
             >>> warnings.warn('A warning occurred', UserWarning)  # doctest: +SHOW_WARNINGS
@@ -775,3 +775,142 @@ def test_doctest_skip(testdir):
         """
     )
     testdir.inline_run(p, '--doctest-plus', '--doctest-rst').assertoutcome(skipped=1)
+
+
+# We repeat all testst including remote data with and without it opted in
+def test_remote_data_url(testdir):
+    testdir.makeini(
+        """
+        [pytest]
+        doctestplus = enabled
+    """)
+
+    p = testdir.makefile(
+        '.rst',
+        """
+        # This test should be skipped when remote data is not requested.
+        .. doctest-remote-data::
+
+            >>> from contextlib import closing
+            >>> from urllib.request import urlopen
+            >>> with closing(urlopen('https://www.astropy.org')) as remote:
+            ...     remote.read()    # doctest: +IGNORE_OUTPUT
+        """
+    )
+    testdir.inline_run(p, '--doctest-plus', '--doctest-rst', '--remote-data').assertoutcome(passed=1)
+    testdir.inline_run(p, '--doctest-plus', '--doctest-rst').assertoutcome(skipped=1)
+
+
+def test_remote_data_float_cmp(testdir):
+    testdir.makeini(
+        """
+        [pytest]
+        doctestplus = enabled
+    """)
+
+    p = testdir.makefile(
+        '.rst',
+        """
+        #This test is skipped when remote data is not requested
+        .. doctest-remote-data::
+
+            >>> x = 1/3.
+            >>> x    # doctest: +FLOAT_CMP
+            0.333333
+        """
+    )
+    testdir.inline_run(p, '--doctest-plus', '--doctest-rst', '--remote-data').assertoutcome(passed=1)
+    testdir.inline_run(p, '--doctest-plus', '--doctest-rst').assertoutcome(skipped=1)
+
+
+def test_remote_data_ignore_whitespace(testdir):
+    testdir.makeini(
+        """
+        [pytest]
+        doctest_optionflags = NORMALIZE_WHITESPACE
+        doctestplus = enabled
+    """)
+
+    p = testdir.makefile(
+        '.rst',
+        """
+        #This test should be skipped when remote data is not requested, and should
+        #pass when remote data is requested
+        .. doctest-remote-data::
+
+            >>> a = "foo         "
+            >>> print(a)
+            foo
+        """
+    )
+    testdir.inline_run(p, '--doctest-plus', '--doctest-rst', '--remote-data').assertoutcome(passed=1)
+    testdir.inline_run(p, '--doctest-plus', '--doctest-rst').assertoutcome(skipped=1)
+
+
+def test_remote_data_ellipsis(testdir):
+    testdir.makeini(
+        """
+        [pytest]
+        doctest_optionflags = ELLIPSIS
+        doctestplus = enabled
+    """)
+
+    p = testdir.makefile(
+        '.rst',
+        """
+        # This test should be skipped when remote data is not requested, and should
+        # pass when remote data is requested
+        .. doctest-remote-data::
+
+            >>> a = "freedom at last"
+            >>> print(a)
+            freedom ...
+        """
+    )
+    testdir.inline_run(p, '--doctest-plus', '--doctest-rst', '--remote-data').assertoutcome(passed=1)
+    testdir.inline_run(p, '--doctest-plus', '--doctest-rst').assertoutcome(skipped=1)
+
+
+def test_remote_data_requires(testdir):
+    testdir.makeini(
+        """
+        [pytest]
+        doctestplus = enabled
+    """)
+
+    p = testdir.makefile(
+        '.rst',
+        """
+        # This test should be skipped when remote data is not requested.
+        # It should also be skipped instead of failing when remote data is requested because
+        # the module required does not exist
+        .. doctest-remote-data::
+        .. doctest-requires:: does-not-exist
+
+            >>> 1 + 1
+            3
+        """
+    )
+    testdir.inline_run(p, '--doctest-plus', '--doctest-rst', '--remote-data').assertoutcome(skipped=1)
+    testdir.inline_run(p, '--doctest-plus', '--doctest-rst').assertoutcome(skipped=1)
+
+
+def test_remote_data_ignore_warnings(testdir):
+    testdir.makeini(
+        """
+        [pytest]
+        doctestplus = enabled
+    """)
+
+    p = testdir.makefile(
+        '.rst',
+        """
+        # This test should be skipped if remote data is not requested.
+        .. doctest-remote-data::
+
+            >>> import warnings
+            >>> warnings.warn('A warning occurred', UserWarning)  # doctest: +IGNORE_WARNINGS
+        """
+    )
+    testdir.inline_run(p, '--doctest-plus', '--doctest-rst', '--remote-data').assertoutcome(passed=1)
+    testdir.inline_run(p, '--doctest-plus', '--doctest-rst').assertoutcome(skipped=1)
diff --git a/tox.ini b/tox.ini
index 9016f7d..4dc7920 100644
--- a/tox.ini
+++ b/tox.ini
@@ -21,13 +21,20 @@ deps =
     pytest62: pytest==6.2.*
     pytestdev: git+https://github.com/pytest-dev/pytest#egg=pytest
 
+extras =
+    test
+
 commands =
     pip freeze
+    # Ignore directly running tests in ``skip_some_remote_data.rst`` with
+    # ``remote-data`` as there are some artifical failures included in there.
+    pytest {toxinidir}/tests --ignore={toxinidir}/tests/docs/skip_some_remote_data.rst --doctest-plus --doctest-rst --remote-data {posargs}
     pytest {toxinidir}/tests {posargs}
     pytest {toxinidir}/tests --doctest-plus {posargs}
     pytest {toxinidir}/tests --doctest-plus --doctest-rst {posargs}
     pytest {toxinidir}/tests --doctest-plus --doctest-rst --text-file-format=tex {posargs}
 
+
 [testenv:codestyle]
 changedir =
 skip_install = true