Best Road Trips Credit Cards for Travelers

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In this article, we are sharing all the information about Best Road Trips Credit Cards for Travelers.

Road trips are an affordable alternative to flying these days since travel costs are skyrocketing. A road trip is an excellent way to explore more places than you would otherwise see on a plane or cruise, regardless of whether you drive up California’s Highway 1 or pack for a cross-country trip. When you drive a car, you can venture off the beaten path and better understand places at a slower pace and at a deeper level. You don’t have to break the bank to do it.

You can save money and enhance your travel experience if you bring the right credit card on your road trip. Some of these credit cards even offer generous welcome bonuses that can offset the cost of a road trip. Your credit card can be used for hotel stays along the roadside, rental cars, gas, and almost anything else you need. Earn points you can use for a future vacation so you don’t have to incur additional expenses.

While air travel prices remain high, travellers are still planning their summer getaways. Travel plans are being adjusted to better suit budgets for many people. Twenty-three percent of respondents to a recent survey said they’d travel shorter distances to cut costs, and 26 percent said they’d drive rather than fly.

A road trip is much more affordable than a flight, so this idea makes sense. Having a cost-effective road trip takes more than jumping in the car and hitting the road. Planning, budgeting, and even carrying a credit card will make road trips more cost-effective and safe for you.

The best part about road trips is that they allow you to view the country up close and slow down simultaneously. While flying is more about efficiently getting from A to B, road trips are about creating experiences along the way. A road trip plan can be important to your success for this and many other reasons.

It is certainly possible to earn rewards and redeem them as you plan your adventure and continue earning rewards as you follow your adventure. Either or both of these goals can be accomplished with our help.

What are Road Trip Credit Cards?

Many credit cards offer rewards and perks geared toward road trips, even if they aren’t explicitly branded as road trip cards. When travelling on the road, you’ll likely incur various expenses, including rental cars, maintenance on your vehicle, gas, tolls, parking, hotel fees or campsite fees. The best credit cards for road trips will allow you to maximize rewards on these expenses.

Besides rewards, cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve also provide discounts at popular car rental agencies, such as National Car Rental, Avis, and Silvercar, as well as roadside assistance and insurance.

A rental car insurance policy (auto rental collision damage waiver) provides theft or collision damage coverage. In contrast, roadside assistance assists in roadside emergencies, such as a jumpstart or tire change. You may need to make a copay for roadside assistance, even though these perks don’t have a monthly or annual fee. Sapphire Reserve cards, for example, charge $50 per claim and allow four per year.

The best road trip credit cards can also be used all year long. The credit cards on this list can be used for car rentals, gas, dining, takeout, groceries and more throughout the year. Credit cards shouldn’t be limited to specific purchases but rather versatile for all life’s expenses.

Top 5 Best Road Trip Credit Card

A variety of credit cards can be used for road trips, depending on your goals. You may choose a card different from the one you’d use to earn rewards during your trip if you’re looking to earn rewards in advance and redeem them to offset the cost of your trip.

Consider a Co-Branded Credit Card like hotel-branded credit card with an attractive welcome bonus that can be redeemed for free hotel stays as an example if you want to cover some of the lodging expenses you would incur during your trip. You should have a credit card on a trip that earns points at gas stations, restaurants, and supermarkets.

Here are the list of top 5 Best Road Trip Credit Card

Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card

The Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card is a great choice for loyal Bank of America customers who are passionate about travel. You can earn unlimited 1.5X points on all purchases (travel-related or not) and redeem them for various benefits. These options include gift cards, cash and statement credits for travel purchases.

The statement credit option allows you to cover many travel purchase categories not found on other travel credit cards, making it a unique choice for road trips. Campgrounds, trailer parks, rentals for motorhomes and recreational vehicles, and tourist attractions such as art galleries, museums, amusement parks, and zoos fall under this category. Furthermore, you can request statement credits for travel purchases up to 12 months after purchase.

Discover it Chrome

The Discover it Chrome includes everything you need for a road trip. Restaurants and gas stations will offer you 2 percent cash back on combined purchases up to $1,000 each quarter, then 1 percent back, while everything else will offer you 1 percent cash back. Additionally, cardholders will be matched dollar-for-dollar on all cash back they earn for the first year. For example, you’ll get double cash back on your first road trip with this card.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card offers compelling rewards and strong travel benefits, making it an excellent choice for road trips. This card is a winner no matter where you go because it has a moderate annual fee, an annual hotel credit, and no foreign transaction fees.

You get 5 points for every dollar you spend on Chase Ultimate Rewards travel, 3 points for dining, streaming services, and online grocery purchases, 2 points for every dollar you spend on travel, and 1 point for every dollar you spend on everything else.

Chase Sapphire Reserve

The Chase Ultimate Rewards portal offers Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders 10X points for booking car rentals and hotel stays. You can also get up to $75,000 in coverage for physical damage, theft, or collision damage when you book a rental car with the Sapphire Reserve card.

Moreover, through Chase Sapphire, you can get roadside assistance (emergency fuel, towing or a key lockout) 4 times a year for $50 (assuming the vehicle is not at your primary residence). Any traveller looking for a quality vehicle should consider the Sapphire Reserve.

Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express

A road trip companion who prefers to eat snack bars instead of restaurants may benefit from this card. Regarding road trip-related purchases, the American Express Blue Cash Everyday Card offers solid rewards.

A cardholder will receive 3 percent cash back at U.S. gas stations, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. online retailers on purchases up to $6,000. They will also receive 1 percent back, plus 1 percent cash back on all other purchases. You won’t be charged an annual fee, and you can earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in your first six months.

What Are the Benefits of a Road Trip Credit Card?

The benefits of most rewards cards can come in handy while on a road trip. The following are among the ones to watch out for.

Earning Bonuses

If you’re going on a road trip, check to see whether any credit card you have will give you bonus points or cash back.

Statement Credits and Discounts

Certain rewards cards offer statement credits on travel purchases that you can use on a road trip to save money.

Insurance for Auto Rentals

A credit card with rental car insurance is a great choice if you plan on renting a car on your trip. The cards may be subject to limitations, such as a maximum rental period or exclusions for exotic or commercial vehicles.

Assistance on the Road

Some cards include roadside assistance, such as a flat fee for towing up a certain distance, changing tires, starting engines, unlocking locks, and delivering fuel.

How to Choose the Best Road Trip Credit Card?

Your financial situation and what you need from your credit card will determine which credit card is best for your road trip. Road trips aren’t specifically designed for rewards cards, but many cards can help you save while travelling and maximize perks.

The following are things to consider when choosing a road trip credit card:

• Restaurants, Hotels, and Gas Rewards. You will spend most of your money on hotel stays (or other lodgings), gasoline, and eating out on your road trip. If you choose a card, be sure that at least some of those categories are generously rewarded.
•  A Welcome Bonus. Road-trip travellers love rewards credit cards that earn bonus points for dining out and gas, which can help them earn their welcome offer quickly. The right credit card with a low spending threshold could give you an easy reward windfall when you’re on a road trip.
•  Requirements for Credit Scores. Travel cards require good credit scores, but you should be rewarded for road trips (even if your credit is not great).

Who Should Get a Credit Card for Road Trips?

Road trip credit cards are a good option for those who are comfortable using credit cards responsibly. Using a credit card for travel expenses such as dining, gas, and hotel expenses can be a great way to earn rewards. You can set out on the road knowing you’re covered in an accident if you use a travel credit card offering travel insurance. 

A credit card that offers a generous welcome bonus can help you earn rewards when you use your road trip expenses to earn points. Capital One Venture Rewards, for instance, offers 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in the first three months after you open your account. A travel bonus of $750 can be used to cover road trip expenses, including rental cars and hotels. The Wyndham Rewards points can also be transferred at a 1:1 ratio to book hotels starting at just 7,500 points per night with Wyndham Rewards. 

What Should You Look for in a Credit Card for Road Trips?

If you are looking for a credit card for your road trip, look for one with a generous welcome bonus, generous recurring rewards, rental car insurance, and no foreign transaction fees.

FAQs

What is a Road Trip Credit Card?

There are airline and hotel credit cards and cash back credit cards, but road trip credit cards still need to be created. That means you can still maximize your options on your next extended journey.

When you travel, your credit card should offer advantages you can use at home and while away. Gas and dining rewards, statement credits for your trip expenses, and roadside assistance if you need a tow are just some options you could choose from.

How Do Travel Rewards Cards Work?

Those with travel rewards cards earn rewards on the types of purchases frequent travellers make, have redemption options related to travel, and have travel perks. You can earn rewards with the cards by earning cash back, points, or miles.

Flights, hotels, and statement credits can be redeemed for rewards, or rewards can be transferred to airlines and hotel programs.

Is It Beneficial to Bring a Credit Card on Road Trips?

Credit cards are a good way to pay on road trips, as they provide a secure payment method. Several credit cards offer travel and purchase protection, which you would otherwise need to pay for. The only thing you have to do is use your credit card to pay for your trip. It is also common for travel expenses to be high, so a credit card can help you earn rewards that may be redeemed for future vacations.

What Credit Score is Required for a Road Trip Card?

No cards on this list require poor credit scores (scores below 670). Considering alternative cards for people with bad or fair/average credit is a good idea if you need stellar credit. It’s important to remember that credit cards for bad and fair credit don’t offer the same money-saving benefits, but they can help you build good credit. After your score has improved, you can apply for a new rewards card.

Is a Credit Card or Debit Card Better for International Road Trips?

International road trips are better taken with a credit card than a debit card. Most debit cards do not offer rental car insurance or earn points. The consumer is better protected against fraud and theft with a credit card. Most debit cards charge up to 3% for foreign transactions, but the cards on this list don’t.