Best Credit Cards for Road Trips

Planning a road trip and want to maximize your travel rewards? What are the best credit cards for road trips? That’s what the Vanessa wants to know.

She commented on my post on how to use points for car rentals asking,

This is great information because I am entering a time in my life where I will be making monthly road trips to see my kids while I go to graduate school. I need something that will earn me points on hotels and possibly gas. Do you have any suggestions for my specific needs?

Lately, I’ve been taking a lot of staycations and road trips to places like Newport Beach and Costa Mesa. I’m enjoying exploring California and visiting cities I would normally just drive through.

The freedom to decide when and where to go versus maintaining a strict time schedule is exhilarating.

It’s gotten me so excited that I’m planning road trips to other states for later in the year and visiting National Parks like White Sands, Zion, Moab. Plus going to Las Vegas every month.

If you’re a miles and points junkie like me you’ll want to make sure to bring the right credit cards to hit the road.

So you don’t leave any miles (pun intended), points, or cash back behind, here are the best credit cards to use for a road trip.

1. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

One of the best cards for a road trip is the card_name. You earn a $50 yearly hotel credit on rooms booked through the Chase travel portal, 5 points for every dollar you spend on travel booked through the Chase portal: airline tickets, hotels, and rental cars. You earn 3 points for every dollar spent on dining and 2 points per dollar spent on travel booked directly with the airlines, hotels, and rental car companies. If you use this card you’ll earn lots of points on a road trip.

Points are transferrable to 13 airline and hotel partners like Southwest and Marriott. So you can use the points for free nights on the road.

This is a great card if you’re getting started earning travel rewards. The annual fee of $95 is reasonable. The only downside, you won’t earn points for gas purchases.

Pro-tip: Here’s how to earn points for gas purchases with the card_name.

Prepay your fuel on your rental car for your road trip and you’ll earn points for gas. You may end up paying more for gas but you’ll earn 2 points per $1 spent instead of only one.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE card_name

2. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

card_name is one of the best credit cards for road trips.

Because you earn unlimited 2 miles per dollar on all purchases. You also earn 5 miles per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE card_name

3. Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

You can earn cash back during your road trip with the card_name. Some people prefer cash back to points. Because you can use cash for everything. 🙂

You get 3% cash back at US gas stations, 6% cash back at US supermarkets (up to $6,000 a year then 1%), and 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases. You can stock up on snacks for the road and earn cash back. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.

With this card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred, the annual fee is a reasonable $95. During your first year, there’s $0 introductory annual fee, then $95. (rates and fees) You won’t earn cash back on hotels but there’s a workaround.

Pro-tip: You can buy Visa, Mastercard, and Hotels.com gift cards at many US grocery stores. If you pay with your Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express you’ll earn 6% cash back.

This card also makes our list of 10 best balance transfer credit cards with 0% intro APR.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE card_name

4. Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Another top credit card for a road trip is the card_name because it’s so handy.

You earn 4.5% cash back at restaurants (including takeout and delivery) your first year up to $20,000 then reverts to 3% cash back and 1.5% cash back when you fuel up, when you sleep (at hotels), and everywhere you use the card.

Because there’s no annual fee this card_name should have a permanent spot in your wallet.

Pro-tip: You can transfer points to participating airlines and hotels if you have a card like the card_name or card_name.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE card_name

5. Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card

One of the best credit cards for road trips is the card_name. You earn 10 points per dollar spent on hotels and car rentals booked through the Chase travel portal (3 points per dollar when you book directly with the hotel and car rental companies). 

You also earn 3 points per dollar spent at restaurants including fast food. Which any road tripper knows is practically a road trip staple!

Not only do you earn lots of points but you get perks that come in handy on a road trip. You get elite status, upgrades, and discounts on car rentals. Plus you get free room upgrades, meals, and other discounts when you book hotels through the Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection and Relais & Chateaux.

You can offset the $550 annual fee because you get a yearly $300 travel credit. The credit is automatically applied to all travel purchases including Airbnb rentals.

If you have to cut your road trip short and fly home, you earn 5 points per dollar spent on airfare booked through the Chase portal (3x points if booked direct with the airlines).

Pro-tip: The card_name doesn’t earn bonus points for gas but you can use the same trick as you would with the Chase Sapphire Preferred. Prepay your fuel on rental cars.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE card_name

6. Citi Premier® Card

The card_name is one of the best credit cards for road trips. You earn 3x points at gas stations, restaurants, and supermarkets.

You earn 10x points when you book your hotel or car rental through the Citi Travel portal through June 30, 2024.

Points don’t expire and you can use them for hotels, flights, cruises, and other travel. You can also transfer them to participating airline and hotel partners.

Pro-tip: You get $100 off your hotel stay of $500 or more not counting taxes and fees every calendar year. You can’t combine multiple stays to get the $100 off. It has to be one reservation totalling $500 or more.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE card_name

7. Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

If you prefer cash to points, consider the card_name because you can earn cash back on your road trip.

You earn 3% cash back at US gas stations (up to $6,000 a year then 1%), 3% cash back at US supermarkets (up to $6,000 a year then 1%), and 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases. You’ll save money on gas and road trip snacks and other goodies. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.

This is a great card to keep because there is no annual fee. (rates and fees)

Pro-tip: To save on your road trip hotel and lodging costs, you can buy Visa, Mastercard, and Hotels.com gift cards at many US grocery stores.

This card also makes our list of 10 best balance transfer credit cards with 0% intro APR.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE card_name

Conclusion

These best credit cards for road trips can help you cover your travel expenses.

Whether you’re on the road for work, planning the epic family vacation road trip a la National Lampoon, or relocating across the country with the right card you can earn lots of points and/or cash back.

You can earn free hotel nights with cards like the card_name, card_name, and card_name.

Cards like the card_name, and card_name earn cash back on all purchases. You’ll earn 6% cash back on gas with the card_name and 3% cash back from the card_name.

With a few of these cards in your wallet, your next road trip just got cheaper.

Which is your favorite credit card for road trips?

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For Amex Blue Cash Preferred rates and fees, click here.
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Traveling Well For Less has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Traveling Well For Less and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.

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card_name

card_name is the best card to get started in the world of miles and points. It is the first card you should get to start traveling for free because the welcome offer is 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first three months.

 

My favorite perks about this card are earning 5X points on travel when booked through the Chase portal (2X if direct purchase), 3X points on dining, $50 yearly credit on hotels booked through the Chase portal, no foreign transaction fees, and transferring points to 13 airline and hotel partners like Hyatt, United, and Southwest.

 

Learn more about the card_name and how to apply

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card_name

The card_name is one of my favorite cards for earning cash back card and travel rewards. It offers a welcome offer of 3% cash back = an extra 1.5% cash back on up to $20,000 in purchases your first year.

 

My favorite perks about this card are earning 6.5% cash back on travel booked through the Chase Travel Portal, 4.5% cash back at drugstores and restaurants (including delivery and takeout) your first year up to $20,000, unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases and no annual fee. When paired with cards like the card_name, you can use your points to travel for free.

 

Learn more about the card_name and how to apply