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The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
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Not just for flights: Using points and miles to save on summer road trips
Benji Stawski is a former reporter for the site, covering all things points, miles, credit cards, travel and aviation.
June 6, 2023 • 7 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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Quick summary
The article outlines strategies to maximize points and miles for summer road trips, including car rentals, gas, accommodations and activities.
Travelers can save on car rentals by using price-tracking tools and booking relocation rentals, and may earn airline miles or loyalty points through certain rental programs.
Gas station and third-party loyalty programs offer discounts and the potential to earn rewards, while hotel points can be used for stays, especially given dynamic pricing trends.
Points can also be redeemed for activities through select travel portals, sometimes at higher redemption values than typical options.
What to consider
Some offers mentioned in the article are no longer available, so current availability may differ.
Car rental insurance and rewards eligibility vary by card and may exclude certain vehicle types such as RVs; terms and conditions apply.
Hotel award pricing may fluctuate due to dynamic pricing, and stacking loyalty programs can further enhance savings.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed breakdown of how to combine loyalty programs, credit card benefits and booking strategies to maximize value on every aspect of a road trip.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Although points and miles are generally maximized when booking luxury travel, you can redeem your travel rewards for road trips. Road trips can also provide a fantastic opportunity to earn many points and miles for future vacations.
Today, we'll look at a few ways to maximize your points and miles for a road trip.
Save money on your rental
Hertz President's Circle at Washington's Dulles International Airport (IAD). ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Unless you use your car, the first step of the road trip planning process is booking your car or RV rental. You can save on rental car bookings using AutoSlash, which notifies you when your car rental price drops. You can also save on your RV by booking a relocation rental, which can cost as little as $1.
By going through a shopping portal and including your frequent flyer number in your booking, you may even be able to earn airline miles on your rentals. Or, in the case of American Airlines, you may earn Loyalty Points, which count toward elite status.
Accommodations are another major expense on road trips, so your points can go a long way here.
Most major hotel programs now use dynamic pricing, meaning award rates can fluctuate wildly based on demand. However, if you like the predictability of award charts, you can still get that through World of Hyatt (with peak and off-peak pricing, however).
You'll likely stay at many hotels during a road trip — which can differ from typical vacations. Staying at multiple hotels can be beneficial if your points are spread across different hotel loyalty programs.
You might also consider redeeming your credit card's annual free night certificate on a road trip. The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card and IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card offer free night certificates that can be topped off with additional points. Hilton's free night certificates from cards like the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card can be used at almost any Hilton property worldwide with standard room availability.
The information for the Hilton Aspire Amex Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
You can use your points to go horseback riding. IMAGES SOURCE/GETTY IMAGES
Redeeming your points for activities can sometimes be a lucrative redemption.
The Chase Ultimate Rewards Travel Portal allows you to redeem points for all types of travel, including car rentals and activities. If you hold theChase Sapphire Preferred or the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, each point is worth 1.25 cents (so a $100 activity would cost 8,000 points).
If you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve, your points are worth 1.5 cents apiece, so a $100 activity would only cost around 6,700 points. That's a lot more generous than most other credit card travel portals. Expedia operates the Chase Travel Portal, so if an activity is available on Expedia, it should be bookable through Chase at the same price.
Most credit card issuers typically do not count sightseeing activities and tourist attractions as travel. So, if you're not redeeming points and are planning to pay cash, use a card that offers a good return on everyday spending, like the Chase Freedom Unlimited®.
Points and miles are not just about first-class flights and fancy hotel stays. Even if it doesn't provide the most appealing redemption on paper, you can use your rewards to have a fun, action-packed summer road trip.
Additional reporting by Kyle Olsen.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
