Heading out on a road trip? Don’t forget to bring these credit cards along.

Prior to the pandemic, flying was the go-to option for reaching our destinations quickly. Now, as vaccination rates increase and more locations are welcoming travelers, many are opting for road trips this summer instead.

Regardless of the situation, there’s something uniquely enjoyable about embarking on a classic road trip. Yet, this kind of travel inevitably brings expenses for food, accommodation, fuel, and various little extras (like those irresistible roadside mementos).

Although these expenses can dampen your travel plans, choosing the right credit card can help you make the most of your spending with valuable rewards. Whether you’re taking a weekend getaway or cruising along Route 66, here are the top credit cards to consider for your upcoming road trip.

Citi Premier® Card

Sign-up bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months after opening your account.

Annual fee: $95

Key benefits: In our view, the Citi Premier® Card (see rates and fees) stands out as the top credit card for road trips. Its earning structure truly sets it apart. Cardholders can earn 3x ThankYou points for every dollar spent in the following categories—without caps or annual limits: air travel, hotels, gas stations, supermarkets, and restaurants (including takeout). For all other purchases, cardholders earn 1 ThankYou point per dollar. Additionally, there’s a $100 annual credit available on a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) booked through ThankYou.com (limited to once per calendar year). With a reasonable $95 annual fee, these perks make the Citi Premier card essential for any road trip enthusiast.

Check out our review of the Citi Premier card.

Application link: Sign up for the Citi Premier card and receive 60,000 bonus points.

American Express® Gold Card

Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after charging $4,000 to the card within the first six months of membership.

Annual fee: $250 (see rates and fees)

Key benefits: This card is an excellent choice if your road trip includes dining at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, as it offers 4x points in those categories (up to $25,000 per year at U.S. supermarkets; then 1x). Dining encompasses everything from upscale restaurants to fast-food spots, while supermarkets can help with essential road trip snacks and supplies. Additionally, you can earn up to $10 in statement credits each month when using the Amex Gold card at participating dining partners like Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar, and select Shake Shack locations.

You can link your card to your Uber account and automatically receive $10 in Uber Cash each month, totaling up to $120 annually for Uber Eats or Uber rides within the U.S. When you book a stay through the Amex Hotel Collection, you’ll get up to $100 credit for dining, spa, and resort activities at the hotel. Please note that this credit only applies to stays of two consecutive nights or longer. The card has an annual fee of $250 (see rates and fees). Enrollment is required for select benefits.

Explore the CardMatch Tool to find out if you qualify for a welcome offer of 75,000 points (offer may change at any time).

Check out our review of the Amex Gold card.

Application link: Sign up for the Amex Gold card to earn 60,000 bonus points.

The Amex EveryDay® Preferred Card from American Express

Welcome offer: Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $1,000 within the first three months of card ownership.

Annual fee: $95

Standout benefits: For those who prefer to skip dining while on a road trip, the Amex EveryDay Preferred Card is an outstanding choice. With an annual fee of just $95, you can earn 3x points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year; then 1x) and 2x points at U.S. gas stations. The real highlight is the opportunity to earn a 50% bonus on points after making 30 purchases in a billing cycle, making it a fantastic option for longer journeys.

The information about the Amex EveryDay Preferred card has been independently gathered by Dinogo. The details presented here have not been reviewed or endorsed by the card issuer.

Check out our review of the Amex EveryDay Preferred Card.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Sign-up bonus: Receive 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of opening your account.

Annual fee: $95

Standout benefits: The Venture card is appealing due to its straightforward earning structure – you earn a consistent 2x miles on every purchase. These miles can be effortlessly redeemed for travel expenses incurred while on the road. Capital One has enhanced the card's value by introducing four new transfer partners: British Airways, Turkish Airlines, TAP Portugal, and Choice Hotels, along with a 1:1 transfer ratio for select partners. With the fixed value of Venture miles, this equates to a 2% return on all travel-related purchases. Therefore, you can accumulate miles by using this card for gas, hotels, fast food, groceries, tolls, and any other expenses during your road trip.

Check out our review of the Venture Rewards card.

Application link: Venture card offering 75,000 bonus miles

Chase Sapphire Reserve

Sign-up bonus: Receive 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of opening your account.

Annual fee: $550

Standout benefits: The Chase Sapphire Reserve provides 3x Ultimate Rewards points on a wide range of dining and travel expenses (after utilizing the annual $300 travel credit), covering everything from hotel stays and Airbnb reservations to parking fees and road tolls. Given the challenges of staying loyal to specific hotel brands during road trips—often due to limited options along highways—the broad eligibility of the Reserve's travel rewards ensures you earn points wherever you choose to rest.

The Reserve’s $300 annual travel credit is applicable to a variety of travel-related costs, significantly reducing your expenses during road trips. As one of the top rewards cards available, the Reserve is an excellent addition to your wallet for any travel adventure.

Explore our review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

Application link: The Chase Sapphire Reserve card offers a welcome bonus of 60,000 points.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Sign-up bonus: Receive 60,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months after opening your account.

Annual fee: $95

Standout benefits: For those who find the $550 annual fee of the Reserve a bit steep, the Chase Sapphire Preferred presents a fantastic alternative. It offers 3x Ultimate Rewards points in the same broad categories for dining and 2x points on travel, although it lacks bonus points for gas purchases. With a more budget-friendly annual fee of $95, the Sapphire Preferred is a great choice for individuals seeking valuable travel rewards.

Check out our review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred.

Application link: Chase Sapphire Preferred is available with a 60,000 bonus points offer.

Citi Prestige® Card

Sign-up bonus: Earn 50,000 ThankYou points after you spend $4,000 using the card within the first three months of opening your account.

Annual fee: $495

Standout benefits: The Citi Prestige card is a fantastic choice for road trippers, featuring remarkable hotel perks such as earning 3x points on all hotel expenditures. Additionally, if you plan on staying in one place for an extended duration during your road trip, the 4th Night Free benefit stands out as one of the most valuable perks available. Plus, you’ll earn 5x points on dining, making it perfect for meals and snacks while on the road.

Citi is also stepping up to assist cardholders during the coronavirus pandemic by temporarily broadening the use of its $250 travel credit. This credit can now be applied at supermarkets and restaurants until the end of 2020, including online grocery delivery services like Instacart, as well as delivery services like Grubhub and DoorDash, which classify as dining expenses.

The details regarding the Citi Prestige have been independently gathered by Dinogo. The information presented on this page has not been reviewed or supplied by the card issuer.

Check out our review of the Citi Prestige card.

Chase Freedom Flex

Sign-up bonus: Receive $200 cash back after you spend $500 on purchases within the first three months of opening your account.

Annual fee: $0

Standout benefits: Receive 5% back on the first $1,500 spent on rotating categories each quarter (activation required), with the second-quarter 2021 categories including gas (ideal for road trips) and home improvement stores. Additionally, earn 5% on travel booked via Chase Travel℠, 3% on dining (also beneficial for road trips) and drugstores, and 1% on all other purchases.

Thanks to Chase's collaboration with DoorDash, cardholders can enjoy three months of free DashPass, which provides complimentary delivery on eligible orders and reduced service fees, especially handy if room service isn’t an option at your hotel. Be sure to enroll for this benefit by Dec. 31, 2021.

To truly maximize your spending, consider pairing your Freedom Flex card with another card that offers Ultimate Rewards points – like the Chase Sapphire Reserve, Chase Sapphire Preferred, or the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card – allowing you to transfer your cash-back rewards from Freedom to that card. Plus, the Freedom Flex card has no annual fee.

Check out our review of the Chase Freedom Flex.

Application link: Freedom Flex card offers $200 cash back.

Chase Freedom Unlimited

Sign-up bonus: Get an extra 1.5% cash back on all your purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - potentially worth up to $300 cash back!

Annual fee: $0

Standout benefits: Utilizing the Chase Freedom Unlimited during your road trip provides excellent flexibility. You can earn 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1.5% cash back on all other purchases (including gas or a new Spotify subscription to keep you entertained on your journey). Importantly, similar to the Freedom Flex card, the Freedom Unlimited can be combined with an Ultimate Rewards card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred for even better redemption options through point transfers. With the added benefit of no annual fee, this card is a highly versatile choice for managing your road trip expenses.

Check out our review of the Chase Freedom Unlimited.

Application link: Chase Freedom Unlimited card offers an additional 1.5% cash back on all purchases (up to $20,000 spent in the first year).

Citi® Double Cash Card

Annual fee: $0

Standout benefits: The Citi Double Cash Card (see rates and fees) provides an impressive 2% cash back (1% when you make a purchase and an additional 1% when you pay it off). This card is ideal for those who appreciate cash back, ensuring a 2% return on all expenditures as long as you settle your balance punctually. Moreover, if you possess the Citi Prestige or Citi Premier card, you can convert your cash back rewards into Citi ThankYou points. With no annual fee included, this card presents a reliable choice for roadtrippers who prioritize simplicity and value.

Explore our review of the Citi Double Cash Card.

Application link: Citi Double Cash Card

Bottom line

While numerous credit cards are available for travel, certain options are more suited for typical road trip expenses than others. Therefore, when planning your next adventure, ensure you have at least one of these cards with you to maximize your rewards from the journey.