9 Best Credit Cards for Road Trips [Gas, Dining, & Hotels]

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Hittin’ the road for an epic adventure across the country? That sounds awesome! But let’s be real, road trips can burn a hole in your pocket.

Gas, hotel stays, food, and supplies can all add up very quickly – but having the right credit card can help you save money on your next road trip.

Several credit cards offer rewards or cashback for spending on things like gas, hotels, and food. And guess what? We’ve lined up the top choices for you below. Check it out.

Best All-Around Travel Card: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (review)

Best for Dining & Groceries: American Express® Gold Card (review)

Best for IHG Stays & Gas Expenses: card_name (review)

1. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Best All-Around Travel Card

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
  • bonus_miles_full
  • $300 Annual Credit for Bookings through Capital One Travel
  • 10,000 Miles for Each Account Anniversary
  • Hertz President’s Circle Elite Status
  • Airport Lounge Access (Priority Pass, Capital One, & Plaza Premium)
  • 10X Miles on Hotels and Rental Cars, and 5x Miles on Flights Booked with Capital One Travel
  • 2X Miles on All Other purchases
  • $395 Annual Fee
Learn More Our Review

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (review) is a premium travel rewards card that’s perfect for travelers who want outstanding travel perks like annual travel credits, worldwide airport lounge access, and travel and purchase protections. 

The Venture X earns 2x miles on all purchases helping you maximize every dollar of your spending. Plus, you can earn 10x miles on hotels and rental cars, and 5x miles on flights booked through Capital One.

The card has a $395 annual fee, completely offset by a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, and 10,000 points (worth at least $100) for each account anniversary.

Plus, you get airport lounge access via Priority Pass, Capital One, and Plaza Premium Lounges, Hertz President’s Circle elite status, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit, rental car insurance, trip and luggage insurance, cell phone insurance, and purchase protection.

2. American Express® Gold Card

Best for Dining and U.S. Supermarkets

The American Express® Gold Card (review) is one of my favorite cards because it earns:

  • 4x Membership Rewards® points at restaurants, including takeout and delivery in the U.S.,
  • 4x Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1x). 
  • 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com

Plus, card members get nice credits when you enroll your Gold Card to offset the annual fee:

  • $120 Uber Cash: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account, and each month automatically get up to $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations.

3. IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

Best for Hotel Elite Status and Free Annual Hotel Night

Platinum Elite Status

card_name

  • bonus_miles_full
  • 10x Points at IHG Hotels and Resorts
  • 5x Points on Travel, Dining, and Gas
  • 3x Points on All Other Purchases
  • IHG Platinum Elite Status
  • Anniversary Free Night
  • 4th Night Free on Awards
  • Baggage and Trip Interruption/Cancellation Insurance
  • Purchase Protection for 120 Days
  • $99 Annual Fee

Click Here to Learn How to Apply

The card_name (review) is the easiest shortcut to obtaining IHG Platinum elite status, which is a higher tier that offers a 60% points bonus, complimentary suite upgrades, milestone rewards, and late check-out. 

The $99 annual fee is easy to recoup for IHG loyalists, as the card comes with a free anniversary hotel night at hotels costing 40,000 points or at least $125 per night plus a fourth night free that you can use to maximize the 140,000 welcome bonus points earned after spending $3,000. 

The IHG Premier offers solid returns on spending, earning 10x points at IHG properties plus 10x points for your IHG Rewards membership and 6x points for having the Platinum Elite status for a total of 26x points on hotel stays, and 5x points on travel, gas, and dining

This card has a wide array of protections, including trip cancellation, travel accident, baggage delay, purchase, and secondary rental car insurance. 

4. Citi Premier® Card

Best for General Spending

Citi Premier® Card
  • bonus_miles_full
  • 3x Points at Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas Stations, Air Travel, and Other Hotels.
  • $100 Off a Single $500 Hotel Stay Per Year
  • Extended Warranty and Purchase Protections
  • $95 Annual Fee
Our Review Learn More
Non-Affiliate Link

The Citi Premier® Card is the best card for earning points because it offers 3x points at:

The Premier card also comes with no foreign transaction fees, purchase protection, and an extended warranty for items purchased, adding an additional 24 months to the manufacturer’s warranty.

5. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Best Starter Travel Card

Best Starter Travel Card
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
  • bonus_miles_full
  • 5x Points on Travel Booked Via Chase
  • 3x Points on Dining and Eligible Delivery Services
  • 2x Points on All Other Travel Purchases
  • 10% Anniversary Points Boost
  • Trip Delay and Trip Cancellation Insurance
  • Primary Rental Car Insurance
  • $95 Annual Fee

Click Here to Learn How to Apply

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (review) is one of the best rewards cards for travelers who want solid earning rates for travel and dining expenses. 

For only $95 per year, this card earns 5x Chase Ultimate Rewards points on travel booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, 3x points on dining, online groceries, and streaming services, and 2x on all other travel purchases

Cardholders will also get a 10% anniversary points bonus, a 12-month DoorDash DashPass subscription when activated by December 31, 2024, and a $50 anniversary hotel statement credit. 

Plus, it provides extensive travel protections, including trip delay, primary rental car, baggage, and purchase protection plans. 

6. Citi Custom Cash℠ Card

5% Cash Back on Your Top 2 Spending

5% Cash Back in Top Category
Citi Custom Cash℠ Card
  • bonus_miles_full
  • 5% Cash Back on Purchases in Your Top Eligible Spend Category Each Billing Cycle up to $500 (1% after that)
  • 0% Intro APR for 15 Months on Purchases and Balance Transfers ($5 or 5% fee). After that, reg_apr,reg_apr_type.
  • No Annual Fee
Our Review Learn More
Non-Affiliate Link

The Citi Custom Cash℠ Card is a no-annual-fee card that earns 5% cash back in your top spending category each billing cycle.

Eligible 5% cash back categories, among several others, include:

This allows you to turn the Custom Cash into your 5% cash back card for your favorite category.

7. Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi

4% Cash Back on Gas (up to $7,000 per year)

Costco Anywhere Visa Card
  • 4% Cash Back on Eligible Gas and EV Charging for the First $7,000 Per Year, 1% Thereafter.
  • 3% Cash Back on Restaurants and Travel
  • 2% Cash Back at Costco and Costco.com
  • Purchase Protection
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees
  • No Annual Fee With Your Paid Costco Membership
Our Review Learn More
Non-Affiliate Link

The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi is a no-annual-fee card that earns:

  • 4% cash back on eligible gas and EV Charging up to $7,000 per year (then 1%)
  • 3% cash back at restaurants and eligible travel purchases
  • 2% cash back at Costco. 

The Costco card also offers purchase protection and no foreign transaction fees.

8. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card

Free Annual Hotel Night & 3X on Gas

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
  • Earn 5 Free Night Awards valued up to 250,000 Points (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after you spend $5,000 on purchases in your first 3 months.
  • 6x Points at Marriott Hotels & Resorts
  • 3x Points on Groceries, Gas, and Dining on the First $6,000 in Combined Purchases Each Year
  • One Annual Free Night Award (Up to 35,000 Points Every Year After Account Anniversary)
  • Automatic Silver Elite Status + 15 Elite Credits
  • Trip Delay, Baggage Delay, and Lost Luggage Insurance
  • $95 Annual Fee
Learn More Our Review
Non-Affiliate Link

The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card (review) is a good option for travelers who want benefits at Marriott for a reasonable annual fee of $95, which is offset by a free night award of up to 35,000 points after each account anniversary.

The Bonvoy Boundless card also offers Bonvoy Silver status, 15 elite night credits, 6x points at Marriott Bonvoy hotels, 3x points at grocery stores, gas stations, and on dining on the first $6,000 in combined purchases each year.

Plus, the card offers benefits such as baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, trip delay reimbursement, purchase protection, and no foreign transaction fees.

9. Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Best for Drugstore Purchases

No Annual Fee

card_name

  • bonus_miles_full
  • 5% Cash Back on Travel Purchased Via Chase
  • 3% Cash Back at Restaurants and Drug Stores
  • 1.5% Cash Back on All Other Purchases
  • 0% Intro APR for 15 Months (After that, a reg_apr,reg_apr_type APR.)
  • Purchase Protection and Extended Warranty
  • No Annual Fee

Click Here to Learn How to Apply

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® (review) is a good no-annual fee credit card option that offers 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% cash back at restaurants, takeout, eligible delivery services, and on drugstore purchases. Plus it offers 1.5% cash back on all other eligible purchases.

The card also offers nice benefits such as purchase protection, extended warranty, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, and secondary rental car insurance.

For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, please click here.

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