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The Passport 3 Month Rule - Country Requirements & More

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Are you ready to plan an international trip? Before booking your tickets and traveling abroad, make that the validity of your passport is up-to-date. One crucial part of this process usually overlooked by people is the 3-month rule enforced by certain countries.

Even if your passport has not expired yet, there are places you cannot travel to or through unless you have at least 90 days' worth of validity remaining before the expiration date. These passport requirements are not negotiable.

If you are looking to travel internationally, you need to be prepared with a passport that will allow you to travel to and through all the countries on your itinerary.

Short Summary

• The 3-month passport validity rule requires passports to be valid for at least 3 months beyond the intended date of arrival, with exceptions and special cases.
• It is important to research entry requirements, obtain necessary visas in advance, and verify a passport's expiration date before traveling.
• If your passport does not have enough validity remaining, you will need to apply in person at a regional passport agency. Alternatively, our expert advice is to enlist the help of a registered passport expediting service to get your passport renewed as fast as possible .
• Emergency situations may require contacting one's home nation embassy or consulate to apply for emergency passport renewal service .

Click for reliable expedited passport courier service .

Understanding the 3-Month Passport Validity Rule

The 3-month passport validity rule mandates that a passport is valid for up to three months after the anticipated date of arrival. This regulation is in place to prevent illegal residency and guarantee travelers possess legal passports throughout their stay. Simply put, if you don't have the right travel documents, countries will deny you entry across their borders.

It's important for people intending to travel abroad to be informed about their destination country's rules about expiring passports. These differ from one nation to another.

While some countries require just a 3 month validity period, others might have different passport validity requirements. Some simply require a valid passport at time of entry. Many countries require more.

For example, many countries impose 6 month passport validity rules where individuals must have at least six additional months left before their passport expires. In some cases, requirements include other validity periods based on the nature of the traveler's stay and the corresponding visa.

To learn more, be sure to check out our guide to the six month validity rule for passports . We also maintain a list of countries that require six months of validity for entry.

Europe, The Schengen Agreement, and the 3-Month Rule

Many European countries are a part of the Schengen Agreement. This decades-old agreement between 27 European countries was designed to make travel within member nations faster, more efficient, and less expensive.

The agreement requires travelers to have valid passports during their stay, and it is governed by a 3-month passport validity rule. This same rule is also imposed by most other non-member nations across Europe in order to ensure that visitors do not overstay beyond their visa period.

Because of this common policy, countries can more efficiently monitor movement at their borders while reducing any risks connected with extended visits.

If you are planning to travel to Europe, be sure to read more about the Schengen Agreement , its rules, and its history.

Countries with a 3-Month Passport Validity Requirement

Again, passport validity is a critical factor for anyone planning international travel. Many European countries that are part of the Schengen Agreement require passports to be valid at least three months after an intended date of departure, including France, Germany, Italy and Spain among others.

Aside from these nations within Europe's borders, other non-European states impose this same 3 month passport rule too. Albania, Guatemala, and Panama being some popular examples.

It is important to research the passport policies for each country you plan on visiting. This is the only way to make sure you don't have hiccups during your travels due to invalid passports or failure to meet requirements regarding particular validity periods (which may also include six month rules). Ensure your U.S. passport holds sufficient time before leaving home by double checking beforehand!

Schengen Area Countries

The following countries are part of the Schengen Agreement and require 3 months of validity remaining on your U.S. passport:

*Travel through the microstates of Monaco , San Marino, and Vatican City are also governed by the Schengen Agreement.

It's necessary that all people in transit through any of these 27 signatory nations are certain their passports maintain at least 90 days of validity throughout the duration of their travels.

Other Countries That Require 3 Months Passport Validity

Be advised that passport validity requirements can change with little notice, so please pay attention to these rules when traveling internationally so you don't stumble upon unexpected complications!

For instance, be sure to pay attention to whether the three month validity rule is calculated based on your date of entry or anticipated date of departure from your desitnation country.

As of 2023, the countries listed below have a 3-month validity rule for U.S. passport holders:

Traveling to Countries with a 3-Month Rule: Tips and Advice

When it comes to passport validity, researching the passport requirements and regulations of each destination country is key to a successful trip.

Check your passport expiration date

Check if you need a visa.

Certain countries might require a travel visa while others allow you to enter without one. Visas are issued based on why you are traveling (e.g. tourism, school , work , business , etc.). The types and lengths of each visa is determined by each country's bilateral agreements with the United States.

Like passports, visas can take time to acquire, so make sure any permits are obtained well in advance of your trip. Even though some countries offer visas on arrival , there can be issues if you are relying on this type of service.

Be prepared for emergency situations.

Even if you plan on a short trip to a destination with a low (or no) validity rules, you want to be sure you are covered in case you have to stay longer due to a medical or personal emergency. Should you need to travel internationally in a hurry, you want to be sure your passport allows you to take the most direct and efficient route without having to worry about whether your passport has enough months remaining before it expires.

As a rule, it is wise to prepare yourself before any trips by having contingency plans ready just in case anything unpredicted may occur during your trip abroad. There is a chance an unexpected emergency may require you to travel to or through a country with a three or six month validity rule. If your passport has plenty of validity left, this is something you won't have to worry about.

In case of an emergency abroad, such as a lost or stolen passport , you should contact the nearest U.S. consulate or embassy for help. You will not be able to continue your travels without a passport-no matter what the validity rules are for the countries you need to travel to or through.

Based on over 20 years of helping readers with their passport related questions, our best advice is to maintain a valid passport with at least 9 months of validity or more. When your passport gets within a year of its expiration date, don't delay; renew it!

How to Renew Your Passport and Reset Your Passport Validity

Again, if you plan to travel internationally and your passport will not be valid for three months or more, don't wait. Renew your passport as soon as possible. This will ensure you have access to any country that allows American travelers-even if it has a three or six month validity requirement.

To get yourself a new or renewed passport, you need to send an application form along with the required supporting documentation , current passport photos , and pay the passport application fees .

It should be taken into account that the time needed for this renewal process may vary, so making sure everything's in order beforehand can help avoid issues during travel plans. Currently, the time to process a passport application is 6 to 8 weeks . An expedited application will be processed in 2 to 3 weeks .

Be sure to take into account these current processing times for renewal applications before planning any international trips. Also be advised that you will need to submit your current passport as part of the passport renewal process. This means you will not be able to travel internationally until your renewed passport arrives.

Visit our complete guide to renewing a U.S. passport for step-by-step instructions for how to get your passport renewed and our best tips for speeding up the process.

Expedited Passport Services

For those who require a new passport or need to renew theirs in a hurry, expedited services are available. Choosing expedited passport renewal on your application can save you several weeks of waiting for your new travel document, but it may not be fast enough for your needs.

For a faster passport renewal, you can try to make an appointment at one of the 26 regional processing agencies across the U.S. Know that you will need to demonstrate a need to travel internationally within 14 days. This option also includes several additional costs that must be considered.

The fastest and most efficient way to get a passport renewed is through a passport expediting service . These professionals use their expertise and experience to get you a passport faster than you likely can on your own. While they charge a fee for their services, these fees are often much less than what it costs to travel to a regional passport agency on your own and potentially wait days for your new passport to be issued.

Should you opt to go this route, consult our directory of top passport expediters .

Frequently Asked Questions

Can i travel with less than 3 months on my passport.

When planning any international travel, it is important to ensure that your passport will be valid for the duration of your trip and beyond. You should have at least three months remaining on your passport before going abroad. Many countries may require a validity period of six months or more.

Most airlines refuse boarding if you don't meet this requirement, so make sure you check in advance! To avoid issues while traveling overseas. For maximum travel flexibility, make certain that there's still enough time left on your passport by checking that it is valid for at least six months after departure dates from each destination on your itinerary.

Can I travel with 2 months on my passport?

Most countries require that your passport remain valid for a minimum of either three or six months beyond the duration of your trip. If you are planning to travel to one of these locations, you can't travel with only two months left. You likely will not even be able to board your international flight as most airlines deny boarding if relevant passport requirements for the destination country are not met.

To make sure that you are able to have a secure and safe journey, be certain to check all details in advance like dates or other information about any passports used before taking off.

However, some countries require only that your passport is valid upon entry. For peace of mind, always be sure your passport has enough extra validity remaining to account for any potential emergencies or disruptions to your travel plans.

Can I travel to Mexico if my passport expires in 3 months?

As long as your passport is still valid for the duration of the trip, you may go to Mexico even if it's expiring in three months. Mexican travel regulations don't mandate any minimum validity period for passports.

Can I travel to Canada if my passport expires in 3 months?

You can go to Canada as long as you have a valid passport during your stay-even if it's expiring in three months. Canadian travel requirements do not have any minimum validity period for U.S. passport holders.

Top 5 Questions About Expedited Passport Couriers

1. How can you get a passport when you're in a hurry? 2. What exactly does a passport expediter do? 3. Are passport expediting services legitimate? 4. How can I identify a reliable passport expeditor? 5. Is expedited passport service worth it?

You can also visit our library of articles about passport expediting .

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Ultimate 3 Month USA Road Trip Itinerary – New York To California

This post about the ultimate 3 month USA road trip itinerary contains affiliate links.

Our 3 month USA road trip from New York to California was nothing short of amazing and even now, I’m still processing all the incredible things we saw, did and ate during our time in the United States.

After spending an amazing month in New York City over Christmas and New Year , I couldn’t imagine how our trip could get any better, but it really did just seem to get more and more awesome as we made our way across the vast country.

We spent the full 90 days of our allotted time in the USA (British citizens are entitled to a 90-day visa-free stay in the US with a valid ESTA ) and every single moment is something I’ll cherish forever.

A cross-country American road trip is something I’d always dreamed of, but I assumed it would be something I’d do when I was more “grown-up”.

However, after the shambles of the last two years that the Covid pandemic caused, Matt and I were determined to get back out into the world again and start our dream life of full-time travelling and there was really no better place to begin again than the gargantuan United States of America.

Read more: 3 Months In The USA – How Much Does A USA Road Trip Cost?

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Top tours and attractions to experience on a 3 month USA road trip

• Top of the Rock Observation Deck Ticket In New York
• Magnolia Plantation Tour & Transport
• Orlando Universal Studios Park to Park Ticket
• Evening Jazz Cruise on the Steamboat Natchez In New Orleans
• From South Rim: Grand Canyon Helicopter Tour
• Lower Antelope Canyon: Admission Ticket and Guided Tour
• Bryce Canyon National Park Sightseeing Tour
• Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, Lunch, Skywalk Option From Las Vegas
• Universal Studios Hollywood Entry Ticket Los Angeles
• Alcatraz Visit with Ferry and Bay Cruise From San Francisco

We spent 3 months travelling across 18 states (however, we only spent some proper time in 15 states) via plane, train, bus, car and bicycle all the way from New York City to San Francisco in California. We used various modes of transport during our trip which was such a cool experience and instead of just driving the entire way across the country, it meant that we experienced numerous different ways of travelling across America.

I’m still struggling to process the fact that we’ve ticked off this incredibly huge bucket list experience (although there are definitely still many states that I’d like to visit!), but I’ve attempted to document our remarkable trip below in the form of my ultimate 3 month USA road trip itinerary.

In my guide, I’ve covered the exact route we used for our 3-month road trip USA itinerary, all the different modes of transport we used, where we stayed and a brief list of the top things to see and do in each place.

It’s an absolutely mammoth post, so I hope you’re ready to start planning your epic 3-month road trip across the USA!

I want to preface this epic 3-month USA road trip guide by really enforcing the fact that this was our route, so it’s very tailored to our personal experiences and preferences. For example, I don’t expect you guys to spend a month in New York City or a week in Richmond, Virginia as those were very unique experiences as part of our USA road trip. I do, however, hope that you can take a lot of inspiration from our road trip across America and I really hope that it helps you to plan your own epic cross-country USA trip!

Map of our 3 Month USA Road Trip

As you can see from the map above, we didn’t drive the entire way across America; we took several buses, trains and planes before we eventually hired a car in Dallas, Texas. I’m going to be writing an entirely separate post all about the driving part of our USA road trip, so that will be helpful for you if you only want to drive across America or if you only want to take a route from Texas to California.

We didn’t hire a car straight away in America as we weren’t sure if we even wanted to at all. I was very worried about driving in America, plus the cost of a hire car and gas prices put me off at first. However, it turned out to be the very best decision for the rest of our American road trip and I’m so glad we hired one in Dallas.

The first part of our trip was 1 month in New York City , so we didn’t use any modes of transport there apart from the subway. After that, we took multiple trains and buses from NYC to Washington , Richmond, Charleston , Savannah, Orlando and Miami and then we flew to New Orleans where we took a few more buses until we finally got to Dallas where we hired our car.

Below, I’ve included all the details of our 3-month American road trip itinerary, so I hope it helps you to plan your own amazing journey across the USA!

Read more: 3 Months In The USA Budget – How Much To Travel America

3-month road trip USA itinerary summary

• Washington D.C.
• New Orleans
• Albuquerque
• Colorado Springs
• Glenwood Springs
• Arches National Park
• Dead Horse Point State Park
• Bryce Canyon National Park
• Zion National Park
• Grand Canyon National Park
• Joshua Tree
• Los Angeles
• Kings Canyon National Park
• Yosemite National Park
• San Francisco

Read more: The Ultimate 1 Month USA Road Trip Itinerary – California To Texas

Day 1-31 of our 3 Month USA Road Trip – New York City

We started our epic 3-month road trip across the USA with a one-month stay in New York City . It’s been my dream to live in New York ever since I can remember so making it a reality, even if it was just for one month, was quite literally one of my biggest dreams come true.

Naturally, I don’t imagine that many of you guys will start your American trip by spending a month in NYC, but if you do decide to, I’ve covered everything you need to know about living in New York for one month in this post .

Where to stay in NYC

We lived in an apartment for the one month that we stayed in NYC, but I have also stayed in numerous hotels on my previous visits to New York.

My favourite hotels in New York City include:

• Courtyard New York Manhattan/Times Square
• New York Marriott Marquis in Times Square
• The Plaza Hotel

Top things to do in NYC :

• Go to SUMMIT One Vanderbilt
• Enjoy drinks on the rooftop at 230 Fifth
• Visit the Top of the Rock at sunset
• Take a self-guided walking pizza tour
• Hang out in Central Park

Check out my New York content here.

Days 31-33 – Washington D.C.

After one month in New York, we got a bus to Washington D.C. for two nights. I’d been to D.C. twice before, so I’d already seen and done many things in the city, but it was Matt’s first time in the United States’ capital, so it was fun to explore the city with him.

Two or three days in Washington D.C. is more than enough time to see and do as many things as possible and while it’s not my favourite city in the US (it actually was before this trip, though!), I’d still recommend adding it to your USA road trip itinerary as there are some great cultural experiences to be enjoyed there.

Where to stay in D.C.

We stayed at the Motto by Hilton Washington DC City Center which was a great place to base ourselves while in D.C. It’s just a stone’s throw from the Capital One Arena and as it’s located in Chinatown, there are plenty of great places to eat around the hotel.

Top things to do in Washington D.C.

• See the Lincoln Memorial
• Walk the National Mall
• Visit the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
• See the National World War II Memorial
• Check out the Thomas Jefferson Memorial

Here’s more of my Washington D.C. content!

Days 33-41 – Richmond, Virginia

We spent eight days in Richmond, Virginia, which as I said above, I wouldn’t expect you to add it to your USA road trip itinerary as it’s not your typical tourist city. However, my aunty, uncle and two cousins live in Richmond so we decided to head there for just over a week to spend some quality time with them.

I don’t get to see them very often so it was so incredibly lovely to spend that time with them as part of our road trip across America. If you do decide to go to Richmond, I’ve included a few ideas of the best things to do below.

Top things to do in Richmond

• See the Virginia State Capitol
• Visit the American Civil War Museum
• Go to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
• Stroll through the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
• Take a day trip to Kings Dominion

Days 41-44 – Charleston, South Carolina

Charleston wasn’t originally on our road trip itinerary from New York to California, but after hearing so many incredible things about it and after seeing that it was voted as the best city in America by Travel+Leisure , we decided to visit and I’m so glad we did!

It’s such a beautifully charming city with plenty of stunning architecture and lots of fascinating history, which can’t actually be said about an awful lot of US cities. If Charleston isn’t on your USA road trip bucket list, add it now!

Where to stay in Charleston

Our hotel in Charleston, Wingate by Wyndham Charleston Airport Colesium , was actually one of my favourite places that we stayed during our entire trip across America and even though it wasn’t in the best location for exploring Downtown Charleston, the room was huge and the bed was so comfy and it was just a really lovely place to stay.

Top things to do in Charleston

• Take a tour of Magnolia Plantation
• Go on a tour of Boone Hall
• Admire St Matthew’s Lutheran Church
• Wander around The Battery
• Visit Charleston City Market

Read my ultimate guide to Charleston here.

Days 44-46 – Savannah, Georgia – 3 Month USA Road Trip

Savannah is another city that took me by surprise and it’s another great spot to visit on a trip across America. There aren’t tonnes of things to do in Savannah, so a day or two should be enough time to explore the city and check out some of the fun hotspots.

Where to stay in Savannah

We stayed at Days Inn by Savannah Airport for two nights and even though it wasn’t my favourite hotel, it gave us the chance to explore the awesome city of Savannah for a few days and it was one of the cheapest accommodation options in the city.

Top things to do in Savannah

• Stroll through Forsyth Park
• Spend an afternoon at Pour Larry’s Bar
• Admire the beautiful Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist
• Eat a delicious breakfast at Clary’s Cafe
• Check out the River Street Market Place

Days 46-51 – Orlando, Florida

I never expected to visit any theme parks in Orlando, Florida on our road trip as I always assumed that you need to go on a huge two-week holiday there, but I was so happy that we carved out four days in our road trip schedule to visit Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure .

Where to stay in Orlando

The hotel we stayed at in Orlando, Quality Inn at International Drive , was another one of my favourite hotels from our trip. While it’s not exactly anything special, our room was huge, it had a pretty sizeable pool and it was just 10 minutes from Universal Studios!

Top things to do in Orlando

• Visit Universal Studios & Islands of Adventure Orlando
• Go to Disney World
• Ride the Orlando Starflyer
• Spend a day at SeaWorld Orlando
• Visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal

Days 51-54 – Miami, Florida

Miami, Florida turned out to be one of my favourite cities in America and despite the fact that I’m not normally the biggest fan of the heat, especially when it comes to city life, I truly fell in love with Miami.

The beaches here are as good as everyone says they are, the food is awesome and the whole area of South Beach and the Downtown metropolis area are so much fun.

Where to stay in Miami

Our hotel in Miami, SoBeNY The Variety , was by far the most expensive place we stayed during our coast to coast American road trip, yet it was also one of my least favourite places that we stayed during our trip. It’s a hotel that clearly used to be a hostel and while the rooms were nice enough and the location was pretty great, it was just far too expensive for what it actually is in my opinion.

Top things to do in Miami

• Explore South Beach
• Ride bikes across to Downtown Miami from South Beach
• Get a Fat Tuesdays frozen cocktail
• Check out the Art Deco District
• Party on Ocean Drive

Check out my ultimate guide to Miami, Florida here.

Days 54-57 – New Orleans, Louisiana

From Miami, we decided to fly to New Orleans as there were very few places in between Miami and NOLA that we wanted to see, so it made the most sense for us to fly.

Unfortunately, if there’s one major place that we visited on our American road trip that I wouldn’t personally recommend, it would have to be New Orleans.

I was so disappointed to discover that I didn’t enjoy New Orleans very much, especially after hearing nothing but rave reviews from literally everyone I knew who had been, but it just didn’t do it for me.

However, I would never tell you not to go to a place as I’m a firm believer in encouraging people to visit new places and see what they think for themselves, but I wanted to give my honest opinion and say that I just didn’t love it as much as I expected to.

Where to stay in New Orleans

We stayed at Balcony Guest House in New Orleans which was a very adorable place to stay. It’s a guest house that very much feels like someone’s home and while we never actually met the hosts of the house, it felt very welcoming and it’s located in a nice neighbourhood of NOLA.

Top things to do in New Orleans

• Eat a scrumptious beignet from Café du Monde
• Go drinking down Bourbon Street
• Explore New Orleans City Park
• Admire the beautiful houses and buildings in the French Quarter
• Check out Jackson Square

Days 57-61 – Austin, Texas – 3 Month USA Road Trip

Austin, on the other hand, was a city in the US that I really loved. While I didn’t think that there were tonnes of things to do there, Austin has one of the best nightlife scenes I’ve experienced in any major city around the world and it just has a very nice feel to it.

Where to stay in Austin

We stayed at Days Inn by Wyndham Austin/University/Downtown which was a nice enough motel but it wasn’t in the best location if you haven’t got a car (we didn’t at this stage), so the walk into the main part of the city was around an hour or so. It was a nice enough walk though, and it takes you through the university campus which is brilliant, so I wouldn’t actually mind staying there again, it would just probably be more convenient if you have a car.

Top things to do in Austin

• Wander around the university campus
• Eat some barbecue (Black’s Barbecue)
• Check out the cool food trucks on Rainey Street
• Have a stroll through Waller Beach at Town Lake Metropolitan Park
• Spend an evening drinking and dancing on 6th Street

Dys 61-64 – Dallas, Texas

We mainly headed to Dallas to see one of my very good friends who’s originally from Doncaster (like me!) but has lived in the US for the last three years. It was so wonderful to see her and her beautiful one-year-old daughter and she made our time in the city very enjoyable.

We didn’t do loads of things while we were in Dallas and I definitely don’t think you need to spend four days there, but it’s a good place for a pit stop on a US road trip.

We also picked up a hire car in Dallas for the remainder of our road trip, so this is where the trip really gets interesting as we started to stay in a different town/city/state almost every night!

Where to stay in Dallas

We spent four nights in Dallas which you definitely don’t need to do, but we spent two of those with a friend of mine and two of them working. We stayed at the Comfort Inn & Suites Love Field – Dallas Market Center which was actually a pretty nice hotel. The location isn’t the best, but Dallas is so incredibly big that you really do need a car to get around the city (which is why we picked up a hire car here!).

Top things to do in Dallas

• Visit the Fort Worth Stockyards
• Watch the sunset over the city from the Ronald Kirk Bridge
• Go to The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden
• Check out The Sixth Floor Museum
• Head to the top of the Reunion Tower

Days 64-65 – Roswell, New Mexico

On our first full day with our hire car, we made the 7+ hour drive from Dallas, Texas to Roswell, New Mexico. It felt so amazing to have our own vehicle to explore the country and even though I was incredibly nervous about hiring a car in America as I was scared that the roads would be too big and scary, I am beyond grateful that we did as it made the whole trip so much better and easier.

We really only wanted to visit Roswell because of all the alien connotations and the International UFO Museum was a great place to learn more about the history of the ‘Roswell Incident’, so if you’re into that kind of thing, definitely add Roswell to your American road trip bucket list.

Where to stay in Roswell

We only spent one night in Roswell and we stayed at the Days Inn by Wyndham Roswell (can you sense a theme of motels here?!) and it was a great place to stay for one night. The breakfast here was also one of the best we experienced out of all the free motel breakfasts on our trip which was a warm welcome as most of them were pretty terrible!

Top things to do in Roswell

• Go to the International UFO Museum
• Check out the alien-themed McDonald’s
• Visit the Roswell Museum
• Wander through the town and check out all the alien and space-themed memorabilia
• Explore the Roswell Historic District

Days 65-66 – Albuquerque, New Mexico

The following day we left Roswell and made our way toward Albuquerque with a stop at White Sands National Park first. This was the first official national park of our road trip and it was a great way to officially begin seeing incredibly cool stuff while driving through the many terrains in America.

Albuquerque itself was also a nice enough place to visit and while I wouldn’t necessarily be in a rush to visit again anytime soon, it was a logical place to spend the night between visiting different national parks.

Where to stay in Albuquerque

We stayed at the GreenTree Inn Albuquerque North I-25 and while the staff here weren’t the friendliest, there are on-site laundry facilities and free breakfast, so it was a good enough place to spend the night on our road trip.

Top things to do in Albuquerque

• Ride the Sandia Peak Tramway
• Wander around the adorable Old Town and Plaza
• Visit the Albuquerque Museum
• Check out the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center
• Admire the beautiful San Felipe de Neri Church

Days 66-67 – Santa Fe, New Mexico – 3 Month USA Road Trip

After Albuquerque, we drove to Santa Fe and even though there isn’t loads to do there, it made sense for us to spend the night there so that we were in a good location to head to the Great Sand Dunes the following morning.

Where to stay in Santa Fe

The place we stayed in Santa Fe, Motel 6 Santa Fe , was one of my least favourite places that we stayed during our entire road trip. It was also one of the cheapest places we stayed, but Motel 6 are probably one of the least desirable motel chains in America as they just feel super seedy and dodgy and there are always weird people hanging around. I’d recommend splashing out even just $10 more a night and staying somewhere slightly nicer.

Top things to do in Santa Fe

• Check out the Santa Fe Original Route 66 signs
• Wander around Santa Fe Plaza
• Visit the New Mexico Museum of Art
• Go to the IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts (MoCNA)
• See the Palace of the Governors

Days 67-68 – Colorado Springs, Colorado

The next morning we ventured to the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve which was such an incredibly cool place to visit. I also just want to note that the way I’m writing these brief snippets makes it sound like everywhere is really close together, when in fact, it’s the total opposite!

We did almost 100 hours of driving just on our self-drive itinerary from Texas to California, and that’s without all the places we visited before we got to Dallas, so be prepared for an awful lot of driving if that’s the mode of transport you choose to travel across America!

After the Sand Dunes, we drove to Colorado Springs, which was our first stop in Colorado and even though we only spent one night there, it was a lovely little place to spend time on our road trip.

The drive from Santa Fe to Colorado Springs was around 5 hours, so we didn’t really do very much in the evening when we arrived apart from eating at Olive Garden and hanging out in the common room/kitchen of our hostel!

Where to stay in Colorado Springs

We stayed at the ColoRADo Adventure Hostel while in Colorado Springs and it was such a cool and fun place to stay; I kind of wished we could have stayed there longer! We met some really cool and interesting people at the hostel and there’s the cutest little hostel dog which is so funny and adorable!

Top things to do in Colorado Springs

• Take a trip to the Garden of the Gods
• Check out Pikes Peak
• Head to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
• Visit the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum
• Stroll around Prospect Lake

Days 68-69 – Denver, Colorado

Once we’d had breakfast at the hostel in Colorado Springs, we were on our way again, this time to the nearby Garden of the Gods Park, just outside of Colorado Springs.

This place is absolutely awesome and definitely somewhere to add to your USA road trip itinerary. It’s free to visit and the rock formations throughout the park are absolutely incredible.

We then headed to Denver for the afternoon/night where we explored the Downtown area before heading back to our hotel and having a McDonald’s for dinner as it was starting to get ridiculously cold and we couldn’t be bothered finding anywhere proper to eat!

This is where the weather really started to get freezing cold for the next few days of our road trip!

Where to stay in Denver

The hotel we stayed at in Denver, La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Denver Gateway Park , was another one of the nicer places we stayed during our road trip across America. Again, it wasn’t anything flashy or fancy, but it just felt much smarter and cleaner than many of the other places we stayed and it was in a nice enough part of the city.

Top things to do in Denver

• Take a trip to the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge
• Explore Downtown Denver
• Spend an afternoon at Denver Zoo
• See the beautiful Denver Botanic Gardens
• Check out the Colorado State Capitol

Days 69-70 – Glenwood Springs, Colorado

Our morning started with a drive around the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge in Denver before driving through Glenwood Springs to Aspen where we spent a few hours frolicking in the snow and checking out the awesome mountains (there was a lot of snow and it was unfathomably cold!), before driving back to Glenwood Springs again to spend the night.

It might seem silly to drive through Glenwood to Aspen and then come all the way back again and we did originally intend to spend the night in Aspen, but the hotels were a minimum of $600 a night because it was peak ski season and we couldn’t justify spending that much money just for one night!

Glenwood Springs was a great place to stay, however, and I’m still glad we made the little detour to go to Aspen as it’s such a cool little place and I’d definitely love to head back there again one day for ski season (if I ever actually learn to ski, that is!).

Where to stay in Glenwood Springs

The place where we stayed in Glenwood Springs was perhaps one of the most beautiful in terms of the surrounding views as we woke up to many inches of snow and gorgeous snowy mountains all around us at Silver Spruce Inn . This was a wonderful place to stay and Glenwood Springs was a surprisingly lovely little town.

Top things to do in Glenwood Springs

• Visit the Glenwood Hot Springs Pool
• Eat at Glenwood Canyon Brewpub
• Spend the day at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park
• Relax at the Iron Mountain Hot Springs
• Explore Glenwood Canyon

Days 70-71 – Moab, Utah – 3 Month USA Road Trip

The next day we woke up and made our way over the border into Utah which marked our 12th state of the trip!

Utah welcomed us with crazy amounts of snow and some of the most glorious scenery I’ve ever seen. Spoiler alert; Utah is probably my favourite state in the USA!

The first place we visited in Utah was Arches National Park , just a short 10-minute drive from where we spent the night in Moab. Arches National Park is undoubtedly one of my favourite places of our entire three-month cross-USA road trip and I really must insist that you add it to your itinerary because it’s such a ridiculously beautiful and amazing place!

Where to stay in Moab

The Inca Inn in Moab was a fine place for us to base ourselves once we arrived in Utah. We spent the night there after visiting Arches National Park and while it wasn’t my favourite place we stayed as the room wasn’t the cleanest and the shower fluctuated so much in pressure and heat, it was still an OK place to spend the night for a very cheap price.

Top things to do in Moab

• Spend the day in Arches National Park
• Explore the Potash Road Dinosaur Tracks and Petroglyphs
• Check out the Sand Flats Recreation Area
• Take a trip to Dead Horse Point State Park
• Visit the Moab Museum

Days 71-72 – Panguitch, Utah

We started day 71 of our bucket list road trip across the USA by heading to Dead Horse Point State Park which is a place that easily rivals the Grand Canyon. This place was recommended to me by my very good friend and fellow travel blogger, Nele , and I am so glad we followed her advice because this place is absolutely freaking awesome!

Afterwards, we drove four hours across Utah to a tiny little town called Panguitch so that we were set up for the next day to head into Bryce Canyon National Park.

Where to stay in Panguitch

We stayed at the Color Country Motel in Panguitch and while the motel itself was a nice enough place to stay, there’s absolutely nothing in the town at all, so we actually struggled for something to eat when we arrived fairly late at night (we ended up eating at Subway at the gas station on the drive into the town!).

Days 72-73 – Big Water, Utah

The following day, we checked out of the motel in Panguitch and drove half an hour to Bryce Canyon National Park, which is another one of my trip highlights from our time in America.

This place is beyond beautiful and as I’d only ever seen pictures of it in the summer months, I was so shocked to see it completely covered in snow; it looked so otherworldly and magical. Please add Bryce Canyon NP to your USA road trip itinerary!

After Bryce, we drove approximately an hour and a half to our second national park of the day; Zion. This national park also needs to be on your USA bucket list and while I personally think that Bryce Canyon just trumps the top spot for me, Matt said he preferred Zion National Park, so you’ll have to visit both yourself and let us know which one you prefer ;). It’s a very tough call to make as they’re both so awesome and I’d highly recommend trying to add both to your road trip itinerary across America.

That evening, we drove to a little town called Big Water where we spent the night before heading into Arizona the following day.

Where to stay in Big Water

We stayed at Rodeway Inn & Suites Big Water – Antelope Canyon which is basically a motel on a ranch in the middle of nowhere and while there isn’t really anything to do in Big Water at all, it was an ideal spot for us to stay the night as we made our way into Arizona as it’s right next to the Utah/Arizona state border. This motel is also so lovely and homely, it has on-site laundry facilities and it was the cheapest place we stayed during our entire trip!

Days 73-74 – Flagstaff, Arizona

We were technically only in Arizona for 24 hours, but we managed to see and do quite a lot during that short window of time!

Firstly, once we’d driven over the border between Utah and Arizona, we went to Horseshoe Bend which wasn’t actually quite as cool as I thought it would be. It’s definitely an awesome feat of nature and I’d still recommend visiting, but the water didn’t look as nice as I’d seen in pictures online, but I think that’s because it hadn’t rained very much.

After Horseshoe Bend, we drove into the Grand Canyon National Park which was obviously another incredible highlight of our 3-month USA trip. I couldn’t get over just how big it is (did you know that it’s bigger than the state of Delaware?!) and I honestly think you could spend an entire week there and still not cover it all!

Unfortunately, we only spent a few hours at the Grand Canyon but this gave us time to embark on a few walks to various viewpoints so that we could see this remarkable natural landscape from a few different angles.

That evening, we drove to a place called Flagstaff which is actually a much bigger place than I first thought. We headed to the Lowell Observatory where we looked through several telescopes and learned plenty of awesome things about space. If you’re a bit of a space nerd, you’re sure to enjoy the Lowell Observatory, so if you pass through Flagstaff while you’re near the Grand Canyon, I think it’s worth making the stop to visit the observatory.

Where to stay in Flagstaff

The Travellers Inn in Flagstaff was definitely one of the worst places we stayed during our road trip across the USA. Even though it gets fairly respectable reviews on Booking.com, we really didn’t enjoy staying here; the staff took 15 minutes to come to the front door of the motel lobby when we rang the buzzer (even though there’s supposed to be a 24-hour front desk service), the room was really dirty and the shower was so filthy that we didn’t actually use it because it was so gross. I definitely wouldn’t recommend this place in Flagstaff, but there are numerous other hotels/motels in the city that would probably be much better; we only stayed here because it was by far the cheapest.

Top things to do in Flagstaff

• Spend an evening at Lowell Observatory
• Check out the North Pole Experience
• Look out for the Route 66 signs

Days 74-77 – Las Vegas, Nevada – 3 Month USA Road Trip

Once we’d woken up from a not-so-great night’s sleep due to the pretty shoddy motel in Flagstaff, we made the four-hour journey to Las Vegas !

We were in Las Vegas for Matt’s 24th birthday which was such a ridiculously cool place to enjoy his birthday celebrations. We had so much fun exploring all the crazy cool hotels, gambling (and inevitably losing!) money in the casinos and eating some truly remarkable food.

I totally get that Vegas isn’t for everyone, but I do think it’s a place you should try and experience while on an American road trip, even if it’s just for one day so that you can get a feel for what this crazy city is like!

Read more: 10 Best Party Cities In The US – Best Nightlife Cities

Where to stay in Las Vegas

We spent three nights at the SAHARA Hotel in Vegas and this was undoubtedly the nicest place we stayed on our 3-month road trip across America. Our room was absolutely beautiful, so clean and modern, and the only negative review I have to say about it is that the shower curtain didn’t go right down to the floor so the bathroom floor got soaking wet any time the shower was used.

Apart from that, the hotel is beautiful and it’s right at the top of the Strip so you get to enjoy walking all the way down to see every hotel and casino along the iconic Strip in Vegas.

Top things to do in Las Vegas

• Watch the Bellagio Fountain show
• Eat at Stripsteak in Mandalay Bay
• Explore the spectacular Venetian Hotel
• Go to the top of the Stratosphere observation deck
• Check out the New York New York hotel and rollercoaster

Days 77-78 – Yucca Valley/Joshua Tree, California

After our three days in Vegas were up, we made our way into the fifteenth and final state of our American road trip; California!

Our first stop was Joshua Tree National Park where we embarked on a few hikes on some relatively short trails in the park (such as Arch Rock and Heart Rock) and even though we didn’t spend a tonne of time there, it was still so great to see and it’s yet another spot that I’d highly recommend adding to your USA itinerary for a 3-month trip.

We actually spent the night in Yucca Valley which is just on the outskirts of Joshua Tree National Park.

Where to stay in Joshua Tree

We stayed at Super 8 by Wyndham Yucca Val/Joshua Tree Nat Pk Area for one night once we arrived in California and while it wasn’t exactly the fanciest hotel we stayed in, it was more than nice enough and did the job for the night.

Top things to do in Joshua Tree National Park

• Do the Arch Rock trail
• Walk to see Heart Rock
• Check out Keys View scenic point
• Hike to the Skull Rock viewpoint
• Go on a short walk on the Hidden Valley Nature Trail

Days 78-80 – San Diego, California

We’d heard mixed things about San Diego and while I personally really liked the city, I didn’t quite love it as much as New York , Miami or San Francisco , for example.

It is a really lovely city, however, with a lot of things to see and do and Balboa Park and the Gaslamp Quarter, in particular, are great places to hang out. While you’re in San Diego, be sure to get a burger from Hodad’s Downtown; it might not look like much, but Matt claims it’s the best burger he’s ever had (and he’s had a lot of burgers!).

Where to stay in San Diego

The Baymont by Wyndham San Diego Downtown where we stayed in the city was a great place to base ourselves as it’s in such a great location for exploring many of the city’s top sights and attractions. There was also free breakfast included and as we got a free room upgrade thanks to our Genius Level 3 status on Booking.com, we were given a room with two double beds. The only qualm I had about this hotel is that the people in the room next to us were ridiculously noisy all night until I called reception at around 4am and then they swiftly fixed the issue, so the staff were great. There’s also on-site parking, although it costs around $20 a day which is unusual for motels/hotels to charge for parking in the US.

Top things to do in San Diego

• Eat the best burgers (Matt’s words!) from Hodad’s Downtown
• Spend an afternoon in Balboa Park
• Take a trip to Mission Beach
• Eat and drink in the Gaslamp Quarter
• Watch a college baseball game

Days 80-84 – Los Angeles, California

After our two nights in San Diego, we made the three-hour drive to Los Angeles which is a city that had been sitting firmly at the top of my to-visit list for many years.

We spent four nights in LA which I think is about the right amount of time that you need to spend in the city. I honestly didn’t realise just how huge Los Angeles is until we got there and started planning an itinerary of things to see and do and while it is possible to get around without a car, I promise it’ll make your life 100 times easier if you have your own vehicle as everything is so vast and spread out and public transport is pretty poor in the city.

We had an awesome few days in LA, exploring the Downtown area and visiting some of the city’s top beaches such as Santa Monica and Venice Beach and we also had a wonderful experience watching a magical sunset from the Griffith Observatory.

Where to stay in LA

Los Angeles is such a huge city that it was difficult to decide where to stay. In the end, we settled for Park Cienega Motel which I was a bit apprehensive about when we first arrived as it looked a bit odd, but it was in fact a really lovely place to stay in LA. It’s not really within walking distance to anything, however, so you will have to be prepared to drive in this crazy city!

Top things to do in LA

• Spend the afternoon in Santa Monica
• Check out Venice Beach and the Venice Canals
• Visit the Griffith Observatory at sunset
• See the Hollywood Sign
• Go shopping on Rodeo Drive

Days 84-85 – Porterville, California – 3 Month USA Road Trip

After Los Angeles, we drove to Porterville, which is approximately a 3 hours drive north of LA. While we didn’t see or do anything in Porterville itself (largely because there aren’t many things to do there), we decided to stay here so that we would be close to the Sequoia National Park for a trip the following day.

The only thing we did when we arrived in Porterville was head out into the little town to a restaurant called The Vault Bar & Grill for something to eat. From checking various Google reviews, it seemed that Porterville has many highly-rated places to eat, so if you do happen to spend a night there, at least you know that you’ll be well-fed!

Where to stay in Porterville

America’s Best Value Inn Porterville was a very pleasant place to stay for the night in Porterville. Like many of the places we stayed on our cross-country American road trip, it wasn’t anything flash or fancy, but it did the job of letting us rest for the night without any complaints!

Days 85-86 – Mariposa, California

Once we’d left Porterville the following morning, we made our way to Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Park where we saw the giant Sequoia trees. This place wasn’t my number one favourite national park (although it is hard to pick an absolute favourite as we visited so many incredible places), but it was still remarkable to see the giant trees, particularly the General Grant Tree which is so cool to see!

When we left the national park, we drove two and a half hours to our next hotel in a tiny town called Mariposa. We decided it was worth driving that far on this day so that we would be as close as possible to go to Yosemite National Park the following day.

Where to stay in Mariposa

Mariposa was the most adorable little town that I really wished we’d have spent more time in. We stayed at 5th Street Inn which was such a beautiful guest house with the loveliest rooms and the comfiest bed!

Days 86-87 – Merced, California

Yosemite is undoubtedly one of the most iconic national parks in the United States and in my opinion, perhaps the number one best national park in the whole country!

It’s a place I’d wanted to visit for so many years and I’m so happy that it not only lived up to my expectations, but it also far exceeded them! Despite several of the trails and roads being closed due to winter weather conditions, we still managed to enjoy plenty of the awesome things that Yosemite has to offer, including the iconic Dawn Wall (El Capitan), Tunnel View, Half Dome, Bridalveil Falls, Upper Yosemite Falls and Lower Yosemite Falls.

Yosemite National Park simply has to be on your 3 month USA road trip itinerary!

Where to stay in Merced

After a busy day of exploring Yosemite National Park, we stayed at Days Inn Merced/Yosemite Area as it was a logical place for us to spend the night after a busy day in the national park before we headed to San Francisco. It was a nice hotel with a pretty decent free breakfast and even though the surrounding area isn’t the nicest, it was a perfectly acceptable place for a rest stop on our road trip.

Days 87-90 – San Francisco, California – 3 Month USA Road Trip

The following morning, we drove the two and a half hours to San Francisco where we spent the last three days of our American road trip.

I absolutely adored San Francisco and it’s probably my second favourite city in the US (after New York). There’s so much to see and do there with plenty of great restaurants and it just has such a great vibe to it. I was a bit worried that we wouldn’t enjoy it as we’d heard very mixed reviews about it, but San Francisco completely exceeded all my expectations and it was such a brilliant place to conclude our epic 3 month trip across America!

Where to stay in San Francisco

Alpha Inn & Suites was the last place we stayed as part of our 3-month trip across America and we spent three nights there. It’s located in a pretty good location to many of the city’s top sights such as the Golden Gate Bridge and Lombard Street and the bar and restaurant scene in the surrounding area is brilliant.

Top things to do in San Francisco

• Take a tour of Alcatraz Island
• Check out the viewpoints of the Golden Gate Bridge
• Eat at Super Duper Burger
• Explore Fisherman’s Wharf and the sea lions on Pier 39
• Play retro arcade games at Musée Mécanique

Writing this blog post has been such a good way for me to reminisce on our incredible time in America and I really hope it helps you to plan your own awesome USA road trip itinerary!

Related posts:

• 3 Months In The USA – How Much Does A USA Road Trip Cost?
• 111 Best Things To Do In New York City – Ultimate NYC Travel Guide
• Ultimate Miami Travel Guide – 25 Best Things To See, Do & Eat In Miami
• How To Spend Two Days In Washington D.C. – Best Things To Do & See
• 40 Best Things To Do In San Francisco – Ultimate San Fran Travel Guide

Pin for later – 3 month USA road trip

Do you have any of these places on your 3 month USA road trip itinerary? Would you like to add anywhere else to your trip? Let me know in the comments or on Instagram at @imjustagirl_16 .

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United States Travel Guide

Last Updated: April 14, 2024

The United States isn’t a popular destination for backpackers and budget travelers. Most overseas tourists come here for a short vacation, visit one or two cities, and then head home. They usually stick to the big coastal cities or places like Disney.

And it wasn’t until COVID that Americans en-masse bothered to hop in their cars and explore their backyard.

The U.S. is massive country that lacks a lot of tourist infrastructure or good cross-country transportation. Hostels haven’t quite caught on, trains don’t go to many places, and we don’t offer working holiday visas to attract young working backpackers. In short, it’s hard to get around.

However, the United States has a lot to offer: stunning national parks, gorgeous landscapes, incredible and diverse culture, world-class music, and a variety of delicious cuisine that varies from region to region.

I think the U.S. is one of the best destinations in the world to road trip . I’ve done several multi-month road trips across the United States . While the coastal cities are fun, the U.S. really reveals itself in the middle and countryside (it’s much more affordable there too). It’s in the nooks and crannies of America that you get a sense of its quirks.

But even if you aren’t spending months visiting the country in a car, there’s still a lot you can do via train, bus, or plane.

This travel guide to the United States can help you navigate the country, save money, and get off the beaten path.

Table of Contents

• Things to See and Do
• Typical Costs
• Suggested Budget
• Money-Saving Tips
• Where to Stay
• How to Get Around
• How to Stay Safe
• Best Places to Book Your Trip
• Related Blogs on the United States

Click Here for City Guides

Top 5 things to see and do in the united states.

1. Explore New York City

The city that never sleeps is one of the greatest cities in the world. There’s nothing you can’t do or see and you’ll find every language and food from around the world here. From world-class museums and art galleries to innovative theater performances to unique restaurants to the expansive Central Park, you can fill a lifetime of activities here. You can take the ferry to Ellis Island, see the Statue of Liberty, hang with the hipsters in Brooklyn, see a Yankees game, and so, so much more. Check out my detailed guide for everything you need to do .

2. Visit the Grand Canyon

Words can’t describe how epicly beautiful the Grand Canyon is. It’s simply breathtaking. Most people just look out at the canyon from the overlook at the top, but its vast size and beauty are best appreciated with a hike down to the Colorado River so try to do that if you have time (make the time). The canyon itself is 6,000 feet deep, and you can find plenty of hikes to take you further into the canyon that will give you a chance to experience it in more detail. For a shorter hike, Grandview Trail to the first overlook at Coconino Saddle and back is only a couple of miles. If you have a whole day to spend and want to challenge yourself, try the 12.5 miles from Bright Angel Trail to Plateau Point. Just be sure to bring plenty of water!

3. Discover Austin

The warm weather, lively honky-tonks, funky house bars on Rainey Street, amazing walking and biking trails, tons of outdoor activities — Austin is great (I lived there for many years). You can always find great live music on 6th Street. On a hot day, Barton Springs pool is the perfect place to cool off, there’s always something to do, the food scene gets better and better, and everyone is very welcoming. It’s one of the best cities in the U.S., boasting a combination of nature, city, and delicious food. Be sure to binge on BBQ while you’re here!

4. Visit Glacier National Park

This is my favorite national park in the country. It’s home to gorgeous snow-topped mountains, a beautiful lake from which to admire said mountains, large glaciers, and hiking trails galore. It is one of the most mind-blowing places I’ve seen on my adventures. There are more than 700 miles of hiking trails in the park that provide everyone an opportunity to explore the landscape. Park rangers offer various programs and guided tours are also available. There are spots for fishing and additional trails for biking and horseback riding. (If you plan to visit multiple national parks while traveling throughout the United States, it’s worth it to get the America the Beautiful Park Pass, which costs just $80 USD and provides entry to all the national parks for a year.)

5. Drive the Pacific Coast Highway

The Pacific Coast is considered one of the most scenic landscapes in the world, offering sheer cliffs, forests descending to the shoreline, miles of beaches, and giant redwoods. The Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) runs 1,650 miles from San Diego, California to Seattle, Washington taking you from the warm, sunny beaches to the lush temperate rainforests of the Pacific Northwest. Highway 1 thorough California is one of the longest historic state highways in the country. The California portion alone route takes 10 hours without stopping but I recommend dedicating at least several days to enjoy all the great stops along the way.

Other Things to See and Do in the United States

NOTE: There’s a lot to do in the United States and you can spend months traveling around the country . I could write an entire book on the places to visit! This is just a list to give you some ideas. Be sure to check out some of my other articles and city specific guides (scroll to the bottom of this guide for links) for more suggestions.

1. Have fun in Memphis

Gritty and industrial, Memphis appears like its best days are behind it. But don’t let the rough exterior fool you — the city is home to some killer food and a vibrant blues music scene. It is a cool city with boisterous and friendly locals. I love the vibe here. There’s Graceland (Elvis’s home) for fans of the King, a big waterfront for walking, and the phenomenal Museum of Civil Rights (it’s huge, so don’t rush it!). The city is going through a big revival right now. To use a cliché, it’s a hidden gem as most people, to their detriment, skip over it.

2. Discover Asheville

Asheville is full of tasty craft beer, great restaurants, and plenty of outdoor loving residents. The beautiful Smoky Mountains are a short drive away, Asheville Botanical Gardens are right near the university, and the gigantic Biltmore estate (the largest privately-owned home in the U.S. and once home to George Vanderbilt) is on the outskirts of the city. (If you’ve ever seen Downton Abbey, that’s what the house is like!) The town has a lot of parks and there are a lot of beautiful biking and hiking trails that you can get to from the center of town.

3. Explore Redwood National Park

Along the Pacific Coast is Redwood National Park, a huge expanse of towering redwood trees filled with picnic areas, places to camp, and miles upon miles of hiking trails. Trails range from easy to strenuous, and there are many loops that head out to nearby beaches. The trees range from 200-240 feet tall. It’s utterly beautiful, awe-inspiring, and humbling in every way. Admission is free, though the three adjoining state parks (Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park, and Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park) each charge $10 USD.

4. Explore Denver

Known as the Mile High City (the city is one mile above sea level), Denver offers a mix of outdoor ruggedness and big-city living. It has a huge craft beer scene, excellent restaurants (including, Sushi Sasa, one of my favorite sushi restaurants), a large international airport with lots of connections, and is close to the mountains. There are a lot of interesting museums, including the Denver Art Museum, Meow Wolf Denver, and the Clifford Still Museum. There’s plenty of art outside of the museums as well and there are walking tours available to show you around, if you prefer that to exploring on your own. It’s clean, lively, and the locals are incredibly friendly.

5. Get off-the-beaten-path in Natchez

I was surprised by Natchez . I didn’t know anything about it when it was recommended as a place to see historic 19th-century homes. These mansions were built by white plantation owners wanting to escape the summer heat and socialize with each other. As cotton became king, the houses became ever larger and more elaborate. Today, the homes are historic monuments you can tour while enjoying a view of the Mississippi River. It’s far off the beaten path and you’ll need a car to visit but it’s worth the trek.

6. Visit Savannah

Sitting on Georgia’s coast, Savannah escaped the wrath of the Civil War, allegedly because General Sherman thought it was too pretty to be destroyed. With streets lined with Spanish moss-covered oaks, large and inviting parks, and a bustling waterfront, Savannah is a wonderful place to experience the slow pace of the South. There are a number of interesting historical sites like the Bonaventure Cemetery and Factors Row. The city is full of small squares and sprawling parks where you can enjoy a stroll or a picnic. And nearby Tybee Island is a draw for many visitors due to its sandy beaches and slow pace of life.

7. Dive into Nashville’s music scene

Nashville is one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S. It’s got a wonderful music scene (duh), a growing cocktail bar culture, and some world-class down-home Southern restaurants. There’s not a lot of “touristy stuff” to do here, but what makes this city one of my favorites are the music, the food, the wildly friendly people, and the positive energy the city seems to exude. When you’re here, plan to spend a few hours at the Tennessee State Museum. It goes into detail about the state’s history (and it’s more exciting than you might think!).

8. Catch some rays in sunny San Diego

I love San Diego. San Diego’s weather is almost always perfect, leading to a permanently happy population that’s friendly and outgoing and that loves the outdoors. From hiking, days at the beach, or running, people here love to get out and enjoy the sun. The downtown Gaslamp area — as well as the famous Pacific Beach — is full of trendy restaurants, bustling bars, and some seriously life-changing taco stalls.

9. Get tipsy in California’s Wine Country

California is home to some of the best wine in the world, and a visit to the Sonoma or Napa Valley shouldn’t be missed. While Sonoma is cheaper than Napa, both these destinations are meant for splashing out. Take a tour, book a cozy vineyard Airbnb, and enjoy a relaxing few days learning about the region’s wines. Tastings usually cost between $15-20 USD. If you go to Sonoma, check out Three Fat Guys winery. They have phenomenal reds.

10. Hike around Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe is impressive and beautiful. Ringed by tiny mountain communities, this is a terrific place for hiking and boating in the summer and skiing in the winter. For fun in the sun, be sure to spend some time lounging at Kings Beach. For hikes, check out the Rubicon Trail (16 miles/25.7 kilometers) or the Cascade Falls Trail (1.4 miles/2.2 kilometers). You can’t really go wrong here.

11. Anywhere in Montana

A lot has been written about how stunning Montana is, but words cannot do this state justice. To me, it’s the most beautiful state in the Union, filled with wondrous mountains and hills as far as the eye can see. It’s a nature-lover’s paradise and there is a huge craft beer scene here too, with tons of local breweries all around the state. If you want nature, good food, friendly locals, and just quiet, Montana is it!

12. Relax in Cape Cod

I spent a lot of summers on the Cape since I grew up in Boston. You’ll find plenty of small beach towns along the coast (Provincetown and Hyannis being the most famous but I also love Chatham, Falmouth, Wellfleet, and Brewster). There’s not a lot to “do” but if you’re looking for seafood, beaches, boardwalks, and that perfect family vacation, visit the Cape! Just avoid the weekends when it gets a little too crowded.

13. Explore Deadwood

Tucked away in western South Dakota, this town was famous during the Old West days (noteworthy enough to be the focus of the eponymous HBO series). Wyatt Earp, Calamity Jane, Wild Bill Hickok, and many other infamous gunslingers all spent time here. Sort of kitschy and re-created, it’s nonetheless a very cool place where you can experience a taste of the old frontier days. It’s also conveniently located near the Black Hills and Mount Rushmore so you can use it as a base for exploring the region.

14. Be surprised by Kansas City

I really loved this city, which features some of the world’s best BBQ and a lively downtown core. There’s a detailed and enlightening jazz museum here, as well as the eye-opening Negro Leagues Baseball Museum (that’s the actual name). This is yet another super underrated and under-visited destination.

15. Stay weird in Portland

Portland , Oregon is incredible. Here you’ll find an impressive food truck scene, cool bespoke bars and cocktail lounges, a craft beer scene that’s religion to residents, relaxing parks (including a peaceful Japanese garden), a vibrant art scene, and hiking in the nearby mountains. Portland is just an awesome city, especially in the summer when the weather is perfect and there are festivals and events galore.

16. Hike our national parks

America has 63 national parks as well as countless state and local parks. These parks highlight the best of the American wilderness. Yellowstone, Yosemite, Glacier, Zion, Byrce, the Smokey Mountains, Rocky Mountain Park, the Badlands — the list goes on. Make sure you visit as many national parks as you can to get a sense of the grand and diverse landscape that is the United States. You can use this government map to find a park near you! If you plan to visit multiple parks, get the America the Beautiful Park Pass, which costs just $80 USD and gets you free entry to all the national parks for a year.

17. Admire the architecture in Chicago

One of my favorite cities in the world, Chicago is full of amazing architecture, great parks, delicious and hearty food, and a fun nightlife. One of the best ways to see the city’s unique architecture is on a river cruise. There are multiple operators and prices start around $45. Don’t miss trying deep-dish pizza (it was invented here, along with stuffed-crust pizza) and seeing the iconic “Bean” sculpture in Millennium Park. Additionally, check out the city’s famous pier, aquarium, and waterfront park. The city also hosts one of the biggest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the country.

18. Enjoy Lively New Orleans

This French-influenced city has incredible seafood and Cajun cuisine and even better live music. A visit to New Orleans is a must for any jazz or blues fan. Live music is available seven nights a week. Frenchman Street is one of the best places to go (my favorite venue is the Spotted Cat). There are also tons of amazing walking tours that highlight the city’s unique culture and history (including ghost and voodoo tours). Nature lovers will enjoy wandering through the massive oak trees in City Park where you can also visit the city’s Botanical Gardens, which are open year-round. Admission is $12. Plus, there’s incredible independent bookstores, creole food, art museums, and the simply incredible and informative World War 2 museum. Don’t skip roaming the redone and revitalized Bywater district too. It’s a bit hipster. If you plan on celebrating Mardi Gras in NOLA , book early. Accommodations fill up fast.

19. Get some sun in Hawaii

Closer to Asia than the United States, Hawaii is America’s slice of South Pacific paradise. White sands beaches, clear blue water, tropical jungle, and great surf — Hawaii has it all! Don’t miss the otherworldly landscapes of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, the somber memorial at Pearl Harbor, and the hikes at Diamond Head and the Lanikai Pillbox Trail near Honolulu. There are a ton of opportunities for snorkeling and scuba diving where you get a chance to see manta rays, sea turtles, and plenty of colorful fish. Waimea Canyon and the Napali coast on the island of Kauai are places you can get up close and personal with the natural landscape. There are helicopter and boat tours or, if you’re up for a challenge, you can hike the iconic Kalalau Trail. Every island has its own vibe so, if you can, visit more than one.

20. Check out Boston

The birthplace of the revolution (and my hometown), no one leaves Boston disappointed. It’s a big city, but its lack of high-rises, as well as its cobblestone streets and brick buildings, give the city a small-town feel. The Freedom Trail, which covers all the main historic stops, is a must because it gives you a look at the city’s historic past. Be sure to lounge in the Boston Common and catch a Red Sox game at Fenway Park too (the city is big on sports).

21. Visit the nation’s capital

The country’s capital is home to many of the best museums in the country. And, given the large number of international embassy workers here, it’s unsurprising one of the most international cities in the country. You can find food from anywhere in the world thanks to all the embassies in the city. Plus, there’s a vibrant music and cocktail scene. Don’t miss the National Mall and all its monuments, the Holocaust Museum, and the various Smithsonian Museums (some of the best are the Air and Space Museum, the Museum of the American Indian, the African American Museum, the National Zoo, the Smithsonian Castle, and the American Art Museum). If you visit in the spring, you’ll get to see the cherry blossoms bloom along the Mall.

22. Learn about Mt. Rushmore

Completed in 1941, this historic monument in the Black Hills of South Dakota is a lot smaller than you expect, but it makes a good stop while driving. Originally, the indigenous Lakota Sioux inhabited this area, however, when gold was found in the hills, white settlers forcibly removed them from their homeland. At the Wounded Knee massacre, U.S. forces killed over 250 indigenous women and children. Decades later, Rushmore was built, much to the dismay of the local indigenous population, who consider the land to be sacred. Take a guided tour to learn more about this iconic monument’s complex and tragic history.

23. Be a kid at Disney World

Sure, it’s cheesy . Yes, it’s built for kids. True, it’s not authentic. But despite all that, Disney World is still a fun time and they have a lot of rides for adults too. I recently went back as an adult and there’s a lot to do there: they have some good restaurants, and Disney Springs has a fun nightlife. If you are in Florida, take a stop for a few days. Indulge your inner child. Tickets cost around $110 USD per day and go up from there.

24. Hike the Appalachian Mountains

Stretching the east coast of America, these mountains are almost 500 million years old and offer great hiking, camping, and trekking. For a multi-month adventure, hike the 2,190-mile (3,524-kilometer) Appalachian Trail which covers the entire mountain range and takes 5-7 months to complete. You can also do day hikes or weekend hikes of its various sections if you want a more manageable outdoor getaway.

25. Unwind in Put-In-Bay

One of the coolest, not-so-hidden places in the U.S. is this group of islands in Lake Erie. Widely known to Midwesterners (but unknown to most everyone else), South Bass Island is home to Put-in-Bay, where Midwest hospitality meets Caribbean vibes (you ride around in golf carts and bars have sand as floors). My favorite spot is Mojito Bay, an outdoor tiki bar with sand floors and swings for bar seats that offers up more than 25 different mojitos. These places get very wild on the weekends too.

26. Explore Maine

Tucked away up in the northeast, Maine evokes images of endless shorelines, wild forests, iconic lighthouses, and lots and lots of lobster dinners. It’s often overlooked yet it’s incredibly beautiful and perfect for a short road trip. Don’t miss trying lobster rolls (a regional favorite) and hiking in Acadia National Park. Portland has some great eateries (such as Duckfat and Eventide Oyster Co.) and picturesque historic lighthouses, including Maine’s oldest operating lighthouse, the Portland Head Light, which opened in 1791 when George Washington was president. Additionally, tiny Bangor is home to tons of breweries and Moosehead State Park is an incredible place to go hiking for a few days. And you can’t go wrong stopping in any of the quintessential New England fishing villages up and down the coast. Maine is one of the best states in the union!

27. Take a road trip

The only good way to see this vast and diverse landscape and the small towns that populate it is with a road trip . I highly suggest renting a car and driving across the U.S. It’s an amazing experience. I’ve done several coast-to-coast trips as well as regional trips around New England , California , and the South . It’s the best way to see the country and you can do it for under $50 USD a day.

For the best rental car deals, use Discover Cars .

28. Take a tour

You can find all sorts of amazing walking tours, bike tours, and food tours all around the country. They’re a great way to get an in-depth look at the city you’re in with the help of an expert local guide. Take Walks is my go-to walking tour company when I’m looking for something thorough and insightful (and fun). They can get you behind the scenes and are much more comprehensive than your average free walking tour.

For information on specific cities in the United States, check out these city guides:

• Austin Travel Guide
• Boston Travel Guide
• Chicago Travel Guide
• Hawaii Travel Guide
• Las Vegas Travel Guide
• Los Angeles Travel Guide
• Miami Travel Guide
• New York Travel Guide
• Philadelphia Travel Guide
• San Francisco Travel Guide
• Seattle Travel Guide
• Washington D.C. Travel Guide

United States Travel Costs

Accommodation – Hostels can be found in most major cities, though options are generally slim in the country. A bed in a dorm room with 4-6 beds usually costs between $35-55 USD per night. Rooms with more beds are marginally cheaper (they start around $25-30 USD per night). Private rooms are usually $75-125 USD. Expect prices on the higher end in bigger cities and during peak season. Free Wi-Fi is standard and most hostels also have self-catering facilities. Hostels with free breakfast are rare.

If you plan on camping, expect to pay at least $20-30 USD per night for a basic tent plot for two without electricity.

Cheap motels usually start around $60-75 USD per night and can be found along any highway. Expect basic amenities like TV, Wi-Fi, and AC. Some have pools.

Budget two-star hotels start at $90 USD per night. But, in major cities like NYC, LA, or Chicago, they start closer to $125 USD. The U.S. is very vast and prices fluctuate a lot depending on what region you’re in so check out the specific city guides listed above for more detailed information on accommodation. The United States is too diverse to pin down a specific number!

Airbnb is available around the country, with private rooms starting at $40 USD per night, though for good rooms, you’ll likely pay closer to $60 USD. For an entire home/apartment, expect to pay at least $100 USD per night. Prices in large cities are usually double. Again, there’s a lot of variation depending on where you’re going so check out the city guides for more specific prices!

Food – From seafood in New England to BBQ in the South to Tex-Mex and organic whole foods in the West to German influenced food in the Midwest, there is no singular food culture in the US. Every region has its own staples, which means you’ll never get bored of eating your way around the country.

Since the country is so big, prices for food vary a lot. What is $5 USD in Kansas is probably $15 USD in New York City. Below are some country averages but, if visiting a big metropolis/coastal city, add about 25% to the price.

Grab-and-go sandwiches usually cost around $10 USD while fast food costs $10-12 USD for a combo meal. Meals from food trucks will cost between $10-15 USD. Mid-range casual restaurants cost between $25-30 USD for a meal and drink. At some place a little nicer (think white table cloth), expect to spend at least $60 USD per person on dinner. Prices go up from there and the sky is the limit. Again, consult the city and destination guides for specific prices.

You can generally find takeout pizzas for around $10-15 USD while Chinese and Thai cuisine start around $10-12 USD for a main dish.

Beer is around $6-8 USD, a glass of wine is $8-10 USD, and cocktails start at $14 USD in most cities (about $20 USD in NYC though!). A latte/cappuccino is $4-5 USD and bottled water is $2 USD.

If you cook your own food, expect to pay about $60-80 USD per week for basic staples like rice, pasta, vegetables, and some meat.

Backpacking the United States Suggested Budgets

How much does it cost to visit the United States? Well, how much you spend largely depends on where in the United States you’re going to visit. For example, New York City is much more expensive than Memphis and San Francisco is going to hit your budget harder than Boise. The South is cheaper than the North and the interior states are cheaper than the coasts. The comparisons are endless! However, this overview can give you a basic look at what to expect based on your travel style and assuming you’re going to mix cheap and expensive destinations.

On a backpacking budget of $75 USD per day, you can stay in a hostel dorm, cook your meals, use public transportation to get around, limit your drinking, and do free activities like walking tours, hiking, and hanging out at beaches. If you plan on drinking, add another $10-20 USD per day. If you can camp or Couchsurf, you can likely get this down to $50-60 USD per day.

On a mid-range budget of $210 USD per day, you can stay in a private Airbnb or motel, eat out for most meals, enjoy some drinks, take the occasional taxi to get around, and do more paid activities like museum visits and food tours.

On an upscale budget of $350 USD or more per day, you can stay in a midrange hotel, eat out for all your meals, drink more, rent a car to get around, and do as many guided tours and activities as you want. This is just the ground floor for luxury though. The sky is the limit!

You can use the chart below to get some idea of how much you need to budget daily, depending on your travel style. Keep in mind these are daily averages – some days you’ll spend more, some days you’ll spend less (you might spend less every day). We just want to give you a general idea of how to make your budget. Prices are in USD.

United States Travel Guide: Money-Saving Tips

There are plenty of ways to save money when you travel the U.S. but it varies a lot by region (as I’ve been repeating). The general tips below can help you get started but, for more specific tips, visit my city guides.

• Take a free tour – Taking a free walking tour is the best way to get introduced to a new place, and most major cities in the U.S. have free walking tours. You get to see the main sights and ask all your questions to a local guide. Just be sure to tip your guide at the end!
• Take the bus – The cheapest way to get around the U.S. is by bus. Bus fares cost as little as $1 USD, though 2-3-hour journeys start around $30 USD. Between cities, the best companies are Megabus, Greyhound, and FlixBus.
• Redeem hotel points – Be sure to sign up for hotel credit cards before you go and use those points when you travel. This is especially helpful in big cities. Be aware that most hotels charge parking fees if you have a car.
• Get a U.S. Park Pass – This national park pass lets you into all the national parks for free so you don’t have to keep paying admission. The annual fee is $80 USD and it pays for itself after four parks.
• Cook – The United States has some of the cheapest groceries in the developed world, while eating out here can add up quickly once you factor in a tip and tax (which varies by state). Grocery shopping can about $60 USD per week and is way cheaper and healthier than eating out every day. Cook and save!
• Stay with a local – Couchsurfing lets you stay with a local for free, cutting your accommodation costs drastically. You’ll get to spend time with a local who can share their tips and advice while sharing your own travel stories and culture. You can also use the app to meet people for activities (coffee, museum visits, etc.) if you don’t feel comfortable staying with a stranger.
• Camp – Most campsites start around $20-30 USD per night for a tent — much cheaper than a hostel. You can use nps.gov to find campsites run by the National Park Service. You can also camp for free in National Forests or Bureau Land Management (BLM) lands (search for “dispersed camping” options). Just be sure to respect the environment and follow Leave No Trace principles when camping.
• Use city tourism cards – City tourism cards allow you to see a large number of attractions (and often include free public transportation) for one low price, usually $75–100 USD. If you plan on seeing a lot, these can save you a ton.
• Share your ride – If you have a car, taking on riders can be a way to lower your costs. On my first trip across the U.S., I offered rides to people I met in hostels. On another trip, I had friends and readers join me along the way. You can post ads on Craigslist and at hostels to find riders. This not only makes the trip more enjoyable but lowers your gas costs too. If you don’t have a car, you can use look for rides in the same places.
• Stay at roadside hotels – There are a plethora of cheap roadside hotels such as Motel 6 and Super 8 to the rescue. Rooms start around $60-75 USD a night (plus tax). They’re great when you’re traveling with someone and can split the cost.
• Find free museums and events – Inquire at tourism offices, use Google, or ask hotel or hostel staff for information about free events and museums. Many museums offer free or discounted admission times throughout the week.
• Get free water or free refills – If you order a drink, most restaurants allow free refills while you eat your meal or refills at a low cost. If you ask, tap water is usually provided for free.
• Save on gas – If you’re on a road trip, use the app GasBuddy to find cheap gas near you. Also, sign up for gas station loyalty programs as they can save you money on fill ups.

Where to Stay in the United States

Hostels are not all that plentiful across the United States yet. Generally, those that do exist are clean, social, and fun. You’ll find a lot of budget hotels wherever you go. here are some of my recommended places to stay around the USA (the cities guides will have even more suggestions):

• HI Hostel (Boston)
• The Revolution Hotel (Boston)
• HI Hostel (Chicago)
• The Arlo (Chicago)
• Banana Bungalow (Los Angeles)
• Hollywood Historic Hotel Los Angeles
• Hostel Memphis (Memphis)
• Hu Hotel (Memphis)
• Freehand (Miami)
• Hotel Ocean (Miami)
• HI New Orleans (New Orleans)
• Villa Convento (New Orleans)
• The Local (New York City)
• Heritage Hotel (New York City)
• ITH Adventure Hostel (San Diego)
• Old Town Inn (San Diego)
• The Green Tortoise (San Francisco)
• SW Hotel (San Francisco)
• The Green Tortoise (Seattle)
• MarQueen Hotel (Seattle)

How to Get Around the United States

City transportation – Most U.S. cities have public transportation, including metro systems and buses. Fares cost around $2-3 USD for a single journey, but there are usually packaged options for visitors. For example, you can get a 7-day unlimited MetroCard in New York City for $34 USD, which covers both buses and the subway system, while San Francisco offers a 7-day transit pass for $41 USD.

Outside of major cities, subways are rare. Some of the smaller cities have trams. Everywhere has a bus though and that’s usually the best way to get around.

Taxis – Taxis are metered with charges starting around $3 USD plus $2-3 USD per mile. This is one of the most expensive ways to get around, however, so I’d skip it unless you have no other choice.

Ridesharing – Uber and Lyft are generally cheaper than taxis and are the best way to get around a city if you don’t want to take a bus or pay for a taxi.

Intercity Bus – Taking the bus is one of the cheapest options for getting around the country, with fares as low as $1 USD if you book far enough in advance. Popular bus companies include:

A 4-5-hour bus ride from New York to Washington D.C. starts at $30 USD, while the 7-hour journey from Chicago to Detroit starts at $27 USD. Austin to New Orleans is around $54 USD. Booking early can save you upwards of 50% so try to plan ahead if you’re going to be taking the bus.

To find bus routes and prices, use BusBud .

Flying – Flying is your quickest option for long distance. You can occasionally find sales for as little as $100 USD so it’s worth it to check several websites ahead of time to see what deals are on. Post-COVID, fares are a lot higher than they were in the past. But if you find a deal, book in advance, or go off season, you can usually get a cheap fare. Sample one-way fares include San Francisco to Maui for $100-150 USD, Seattle to Austin for $85-115 USD, or New York to L.A. for $250 USD (round trip). However, prices can easily double if booked last minute.

For more information on how to find a cheap flight, check out this article .

Train – Amtrak is the rail provider for the United States, but it’s not the quickest or most affordable way to travel. They have routes all around the country ( here’s their route map ) and offer a cross-country pass for $499 USD. The USA Rail Pass gives you 30 days of travel over 10 segments, which averages out to around $50 USD per leg.

If you have a valid student ID you can save 15% on your tickets.

As for prices, A 20-hour train ride from Chicago to New Orleans costs around $110 USD, while a multi-day trip from New York to Los Angeles is around $280 USD. Book in advance to find the best deals. Shorter trips lasting 2-4 hours are usually under $40 USD.

Car rental – Roadtripping is a great way to explore the country, and car rentals can be found for as little as $35 USD for a multi-day rental. Renters need to be at least 21 years old. For the best rental car deals, use Discover Cars .

Hitchhiking – Hitchhiking in the United States is common and safe. Dress respectably, smile while making eye contact with drivers, and use a cardboard sign to tell people where you’re headed. Be prepared for long bouts of no pick-ups, especially if you’re traveling through more rural areas. Pack plenty of water and a light meal or two, like sandwiches and fruit. Hitchwiki is a great resource for additional hitchhiking tips.

When to Go to the United States

Since the United States is such a large country, the climate and temperature change drastically from coast to coast and from north to south.

The northern states have clearly defined seasons. In cities like Chicago, Boston, and New York, winter can bring heavy snowfall and more severe temperatures. Coastal areas like Seattle and Portland, Oregon, tend to be milder. Spring can start as late as May in the northernmost parts of the country, but this is a good time to visit because the weather begins to warm up and the busy tourist season hasn’t started yet. Summers are gorgeous and temperatures climb into the 80s°F (30s°C). It’s also the busiest time of year for tourism. Autumn is a wonderful time to visit the northern states because many parts of this region have a lot of trees. Temperatures have cooled, crowds have dwindled, and the changing leaves offer an something extra to enjoy.

The southern states have less defined seasons. In the southwest, winters tend to be dry and mild. In the southeast, temperatures are mild but places like and Memphis can be rainy. Spring is a wonderful time to visit this part of the country because temperatures are warm but not stifling. Summers get incredibly hot and humid in the southeast. In the desert areas of the southwest, like Las Vegas, temperatures can soar well above 104°F (40°C) on some days. Autumn cools things off across the southern states, but can also bring severe weather in the southeast. .

Ultimately, the best time to travel to the United States depends on where you’re headed and what kind of activities you’d like to do. Visit our city guides for more specific information on when to go.

How to Stay Safe in the United States

The United States is a massive country and “safety” changes a lot depending on where you go and what you do. Generally, the US safe place to travel around — even if you’re traveling solo.

Violent attacks tend to be confined to certain areas (especially where drug and gang violence are a problem). You may encounter petty crime, like theft, especially around popular tourist landmarks and in larger cities, especially on the west coast where theft is a much more common problem. Keep an eye on your belongings at all times, especially while taking crowded public transportation.

Gun violence and mass shootings tend to dominate headlines when they happen. However, the chances of it happening to you are slim. Do not let this discourage you from exploring the United States. The U.S. is very big and very, very diverse. And, due to this size, there is a lot of cultural (and political) variation. Despite what you hear, crime in America is low. (There was far more crime in the US in the 1990s!). For more information, read this post, “ Is it Safe to Visit the United States?”

If you rent a vehicle, don’t leave any valuables in it overnight. Take common sense safety measures and you’ll be fine.

Moreover, be sure to read about common travel scams to avoid here .

When hiking, always bring water and sunscreen. Be sure to check the weather before you depart and dress accordingly.

Solo female travelers should generally feel safe but all the standard safety cautions apply. For specific tips, I would read one of the many incredible solo female travel blogs on the web. They’ll give you tips and advice that I can’t.

If you do experience an emergency, dial 911 for assistance.

Always trust your gut instinct. Make copies of your personal documents, including your passport and ID.

The most important piece of advice I can offer is to purchase good travel insurance. Travel insurance protects you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. You can use the widget below to find the policy right for you:

United States Travel Guide: The Best Booking Resources

These are my favorite companies to use when I travel. They consistently have the best deals, offer world-class customer service and great value, and overall, are better than their competitors. They are the companies I use the most and are always the starting point in my search for travel deals.

• Skyscanner – Skyscanner is my favorite flight search engine. They search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites tend to miss. They are hands down the number one place to start.
• Hostelworld – This is the best hostel accommodation site out there with the largest inventory, best search interface, and widest availability.
• Booking.com – The best all around booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. In all my tests, they’ve always had the cheapest rates out of all the booking websites.
• Get Your Guide – Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions. They have tons of tour options available in cities all around the world, including everything from cooking classes, walking tours, street art lessons, and more!
• SafetyWing – Safety Wing offers convenient and affordable plans tailored to digital nomads and long-term travelers. They have cheap monthly plans, great customer service, and an easy-to-use claims process that makes it perfect for those on the road.
• LifeStraw – My go-to company for reusable water bottles with built-in filters so you can ensure your drinking water is always clean and safe.
• Unbound Merino – They make lightweight, durable, easy-to-clean travel clothing.
• Top Travel Credit Cards – Points are the best way to cut down travel expenses. Here’s my favorite point earning credit cards so you can get free travel!

United States Travel Guide: Related Articles

Want more info? Check out all the articles I’ve written on United States travel and continue planning your trip:

Where to Stay in San Francisco: The Best Neighborhoods for Your Visit

The 12 Best Things to Do in Chicago

The 5 Best Hotels in San Francisco

How to Experience Milwaukee Like a Local

The 7 Best Hotels in New York City

The 7 Best Hotels in Miami

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The perfect itinerary for an epic USA roadtrip (48 states at once)

• Post author: Andrew D'Amours
• Post published: December 28, 2022
• Post category: Travel inspiration / Trip itineraries & destination discoveries
• Post comments: 23 Comments

Do you like roadtrips? They happen to be a very American tradition and we found the perfect itinerary to visit every state in the continental USA during 1 epic roadtrip. A great trip idea for those who have a lot of time but want to stay closer to home .

Personally, I love roadtrips and I hit the road as much as I can, despite also being an aviation geek: you can like both, right? What matters is traveling and seeing new places , no matter how.

So here are the maps and details of the 2 itineraries that allow you to see all the lower 48 states at once, depending on your travel preference.

Basics of the 2 epic USA roadtrip itineraries

The USA is a huge country, almost as big as Europe (it’s even larger than Canada when considering land area alone).

So the USA has a lot of variety in terms of landscapes, but even in terms of culture too (even if many who aren’t from the country don’t realize that).

If you aim to eventually visit every state, any 1 of these 2 itineraries is a great way to almost all of them at once. The only 2 states you’ll have left to visit after this roadtrip will be Hawaii and Alaska.

There’s a version for national parks and points of interest and a version for cities.

I’m on the quest to visit all 50 states myself (in addition to also visiting every country obviously), and I’m not doing too bad with 47 already.

But let’s just say it would’ve been much quicker to get to 48 at once with this roadtrip instead of having to do it over dozens of trips.

Here are the details.

48-state roadtrip – national parks/points of interest version

Here’s a map of the 1st itinerary.

It was conceived by American Ph.D. student Randy Olson, on  his blog , and it was done scientifically to optimize the routing: each stop represents a national park or a point of interest.

So you’re not just seeing every state, you’re seeing cool parts of every state (which sadly wasn’t our case in North Dakota during our very random 1200-miles-nonstop-in-2-days Flytrippers roadtrip across the Midwest just for fun).

Good times. Roadtrips always make for great stories.

Anyway, the itinerary has also been optimized to be as efficient a route as possible to see all 48 states, so you can rest assured you won’t be wasting any time.

If you only stop to sleep, you can complete this roadtrip in only 9 days, but we recommend taking at least a couple of weeks to explore all these places obviously.

And gas is significantly cheaper in the US in case you were wondering. You can start anywhere, it’s a continuous loop, and it passes through many spots near the Canadian border.

You can even take a shortcut from Michigan to Vermont through Canada, as the stop in Cleveland is only to keep Americans without a passport from crossing into the Great White North.

Here is the complete list of all 50 landmarks (48 states + Washington, DC + a bonus stop in California):

1. Grand Canyon, AZ 2. Bryce Canyon National Park, UT 3. Craters of the Moon, ID 4. Yellowstone National Park, WY 5. Pikes Peak, CO 6. Carlsbad Caverns National Park, NM 7. The Alamo, TX 8. The Platt Historic District, OK 9. Toltec Mounds, AR 10. Elvis Presley’s Graceland, TN 11. Vicksburg National Military Park, MS 12. French Quarter, LA 13. USS Alabama, AL 14. Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL 15. Okefenokee Swamp Park, GA 16. Fort Sumter National Monument, SC 17. Lost World Caverns, WV 18. Wright Brothers National Memorial Visitor Center, NC 19. Mount Vernon, VA 20. White House, Washington, D.C. 21. Colonial Annapolis Historic District, MD 22. New Castle Historic District, DE 23. Cape May Historic District, NJ 24. Liberty Bell, PA 25. Statue of Liberty, NY 26. The Mark Twain House & Museum, CT 27. The Breakers, RI 28. USS Constitution, MA 29. Acadia National Park, ME 30. Mount Washington Hotel, NH 31. Shelburne Farms, VT 32. Fox Theater, MI 33. Spring Grove Cemetery, OH 34. Mammoth Cave National Park, KY 35. West Baden Springs Hotel, IN 36. Abraham Lincoln’s Home, IL 37. Gateway Arch, MO 38. C. W. Parker Carousel Museum, KS 39. Terrace Hill Governor’s Mansion, IA 40. Taliesin, WI 41. Fort Snelling, MN 42. Ashfall Fossil Bed, NE 43. Mount Rushmore, SD 44. Fort Union Trading Post, ND 45. Glacier National Park, MT 46. Hanford Site, WA 47. Columbia River Highway, OR 48. San Francisco Cable Cars, CA 49. San Andreas Fault, CA 50. Hoover Dam, NV

These are all very enticing attractions, for the most part. It seems I’ve only seen 14 of those, so maybe I should hit the road again after all.

How about you? Tempted?

48-state roadtrip – city version

Here’s a map of the 2nd itinerary.

If you’re more of a city slicker, the map’s author has created a 2nd version that routes you through amazing cities instead.

It is slightly shorter but quite as impressive: it makes you go through the “Best City to Visit” in each state, according to TripAdvisor .

But you won’t have all the lower 48 states, unlike the other itinerary. That’s because no city in Vermont, West Virginia, or North Dakota made the top 400 cities to visit ranking, unfortunately. So plan on making a few extra detours if you want to hit all states at once with this version of the itinerary.

Here is the complete list of all cities:

• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
• Wichita, Kansas
• Denver, Colorado
• Albuquerque, New Mexico
• Phoenix, Arizona
• Las Vegas, Nevada
• San Francisco, California
• Portland, Oregon
• Seattle, Washington
• Boise, Idaho
• Park City, Utah
• Jackson, Wyoming
• Billings, Montana
• Sioux Falls, South Dakota
• Omaha, Nebraska
• Des Moines, Iowa
• Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• Chicago, Illinois
• Indianapolis, Indiana
• Louisville, Kentucky
• Columbus, Ohio
• Detroit, Michigan
• Cleveland, Ohio
• Manchester, New Hampshire
• Portland, Maine
• Boston, Massachusetts
• Providence, Rhode Island
• New Haven, Connecticut
• New York City, New York
• Ocean City, New Jersey
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Wilmington, Delaware
• Baltimore, Maryland
• Washington, D.C.
• Virginia Beach, Virginia
• Charlotte, North Carolina
• Charleston, South Carolina
• Orlando, Florida
• Atlanta, Georgia
• Nashville, Tennessee
• Birmingham, Alabama
• Jackson, Mississippi
• New Orleans, Louisiana
• Houston, Texas
• Little Rock, Arkansas
• Branson, Missouri

I do a little better on this list, with 31 already visited. You can see I love cities. How about you?

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If you were looking for an excuse to go on a roadtrip, this is it. And since we always enjoy giving you more for your money, we think 48 states instead of only 1 or 2 is something you’ll enjoy!

What’s the coolest roadtrip you’ve ever been on? Tell us in the comments below.

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Featured image: The itinerary (image credit: Randy Olson)

Original publication date: May 29, 2018

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This post has 23 comments.

Hello Andrew, the PHD student suggests in the 1st Itinnerary that the one stop to make in Washington State is the Hanford Nuclear Reservation?! Flat out, that is a terrible idea. It is in the middle of nowhere, I am just shocked it’s mentioned. Out of all the beautiful and amazing places to see in such a diverse state as Washington, a Nuclear Site was chosen? Surely this student could have done so much better. Thank you for allowing comments.

Having been all around the Olympic Peninsula, I agree that’s there are better stops. But my understanding is that he really optimized for the quickest way to do all 48 and had to choose a point of interest that wasn’t too far off that optimal path, hence that choice (I think).

thanks for sharing this information with us.

I have taken a road trip from California to the the most northeastern part of theUS. west Quaby light house. it was my 1st trip across the us. .I seen so many amazing places.

Quite the drive for sure! Must have been epic.

Why do Americans always think the Statue of Liberty is in NY? it is in NJ. I’ve done road trips now that have taken in 39 states. Here’s a quiz to see how well you know the USA: Which state has only one syllable? Only one city has been name-checked on the moon. In which state is it? Which is the most Northerly of the contiguous states? In which state were Tennessee Williams and Elvis Presley born? Which was the last of the contiguous states to be admitted into the USA? Which four states all share a border with each other? Which state has the lowest population? Twelve cities are name-checked in “Get Your Kicks on Route 66” but only three states. Which? Which state has the longest name? Which two states have the most borders with other states? In which state is the geographical centre of the USA – and which one if you exclude Hawaii and Alaska? Which of the states of the USA has respectively the most Northerly, Southerly, Easterly and Westerly points?

The official Statue of Liberty address is Liberty Island, New York, NY, 10004.

Wow, these comments are very rude for no reason. Thanks for the article, maybe when I graduate from college I’ll consider hitting part of one of these itineraries.

“it’s a huge country (even larger than Canada when considering land area alone).”

Canada – 3.855 million mi² USA – 3.532 million mi² Where does this math fail you?

Where did reading fail you :P? It explicitly says “ when considering LAND area alone ” The quote you copied literally has a link provided under “even larger than Canada” and if you read that, it explains how Canada is only larger than the US due to water area being counted 🙂

There is no stop in North Dakota on the city version. You should stop in Fargo after Billings and before Sioux Falls

I’m 46 years old .. I have been to all 50 states and I’m 17 away from all 50 twice .. I have driven to 47 .. flown to Alaska, Hawaii and Washington..

Wow! That’s impressive :O

This is awesome

This is inspiring! Thank you for sharing!

“this roadtrip in only 9 days“ is extremely false statement. It is only 9 days if you are driving non stop, no breaks to even get out of your car, get gas, or actually see these places. From start to finish drive time it is 225 hours, 16 minutes = 9 days. Wow. Take some time to enjoy the view.

Yes, that’s what we said too 😛

Thanks for the tip 😊

Do you know the total distance of this itinerary? At what moment of the year doing this trip would be the best? Thanks!

Hi! It is 13,699 miles (22,046 km) for the landmarks itinerary and 12,290 miles (19,780 km) for the city version. You can even have the Google Maps links on the creator’s original post (I’ve reposted the link below). As for the timing, I guess it depends on your preferences, but I’d want to avoid that top half of the country (so half the itinerary) in the winter for sure! http://www.randalolson.com/2015/03/08/computing-the-optimal-road-trip-across-the-u-s/

Crappy itinerary! Does not even include Zion National Park… and so many stops in the North Eastern states?? Nobody cares about those places except maybe a couple of places.

As explained, the PhD student who built the itinerary wanted to have one stop per state, and there are many states in the North-East so that’s why there are many stops there. I agree that Zion is an iconic spot, but his goal was also to optimize a routing that was as short as possible so that’s why it’s billed as an itinerary to see all lower 48 states at once and not an itinerary to see *the best spots*. But those interested in doing this can definitely adapt it and add many interesting stops for sure 🙂

Curtis, you are crappy. Obviously this is meant as a guide that can be adapted to add spots. I think it’s awesome.

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Our three month, cross USA road trip route

Our USA road trip ended a month ago (a month already!) and it was incredible. We saw so much and we’ve pretty much been enjoying summer since mid-March. Which, if you ask me, is well deserved having converted our van in the freezing cold of a Home Depot car park in Toronto.

Below is the road trip route we took around the US (including the West Coast USA road trip section).

During the route, we covered over 20,000 km, 22 States, 11 National Parks, 1 lost passport mishap, a punctured tire, an expensive visit to the garage, one gun spotted in a restaurant, and 2 bear sightings.

AllTrails is my go-to hiking app for finding, planning, and navigating while I’m out on the trails. With offline maps on AllTrails+ you can be confident you’re still on the right track, even without mobile signal.

We covered a lot but it also looks like we really didn’t do all that much?!

I’ve still got SO much to write about our trip (even over a year after we finished). I also kept a diary full of my observations from on the road which I may share a bit of it here (if you’re lucky!).

If you’ve got any questions about our route, want advice on how to plan your own, or just want to say hi then please do 🙂

If you’re wondering how to pack for a USA road trip, I’ve shared some great trips in my road trip packing checklist.

Get a USA National Parks Pass for just $80 and save a tonne of money if you’re planning on visiting multiple National Parks in a year, or visiting the same one more than once!

US National Parks we visited

In the end, our road trip became more of a 3 month national park road trip. Sure, we visited some cities, but we preferred to be out in nature, exploring the beautiful national parks.

Arches National Park, UT

• How to visit Arches and Canyonlands National Parks in one day
• Ultimate guide to Arches National Park (permits, must-sees & more!)
• A complete packing list for Arches National Park
• Things to do in Arches National Park in one day
• The arches you need to see in Arches National Park
• The best half day hikes in Arches National Park
• The ultimate adventurer’s Guide to Moab, Utah

Canyonlands National Park, UT

• The complete guide to Canyonlands National Park, Utah
• What to pack for Canyonlands National Park
• Best things to do in Canyonlands National Park
• The best hikes to do in Canyonlands National Park

Bryce Canyon National Park, UT

• A guide to Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
• The best things to do in Bryce Canyon National Park
• What to pack for Bryce Canyon National Park
• The best hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park

Zion National Park, UT

• 16 of the best things to do in Zion National Park (Including a SECRET hike!)
• Hiking the Angel’s Landing in Zion National Park

Grand Canyon National Park, AZ

• A guide to the Grand Canyon’s South Rim
• Grand Canyon South Rim best hikes
• 10 best things to do in the Grand Canyon National Park
• Hiking into the Grand Canyon on the South Kaibab Trail

The Everglades National Park, FL

• How to do a self guided Everglades tour

Redwoods national park, CA

• A guide to visiting Redwood National Park
• 9 Best hikes in Redwood National Park

Yosemite national park, CA

• The best things to do in Yosemite National Park
• How to hike Yosemite Falls

Death Valley, CA

• A guide to visiting Death Valley National Park, California
• The best day hikes and backpacking in Death Valley National Park, California!
• 9 things to see and do in Death Valley National Park

Mount Rainier, WA

• Guide to visiting Mt Rainier National Park, WA
• The best Mt Rainier day hikes & backpacking trails

Cascades National Park, WA

• Complete guide to visiting North Cascades National Park
• Some of the best North Cascades National Park hikes!

See all posts by state

If you use the map above, you can click on each state and see the blog posts and guides I have that relate to that state during our 3-month road trip USA itinerary.

This will show you posts such as the best things to do in Seattle , what to do with 48 hours in New York, and exploring Savannah Georgia amongst other cities and towns we visited during our 3 months in USA.

3 month road trip USA budget

This road trip was done in 2017 from March to June and we budgeted $50 US a day per person. This was to include all our fuel, any accommodation costs (though actually we only paid for accommodation twice in the whole three months), food, activities — everything.

We stuck to it pretty well and if anything were slightly under by the end.

Since we’d converted a van into a campervan and used that as our accommodation, we didn’t need to book any hotels or campsites while traveling.

The West Coast was definitely easier when it comes to finding free places to sleep since there are more national parks and national forests, and BLM land. On the east coast, it was mostly Walmart and Home Depot parking lots.

Final thoughts on this 3 month road trip USA route

Our 3 month road trip around America was one of the best trips I’ve ever done. We didn’t really have any American road trip routes in mind. It was very much a case of down one coast, along the bottom, and up the other side.

3 months isn’t really enough time to do everything we did. You have to be prepared to move quite fast and there are definitely places we missed that I’d love to go back and see. I actually include some of them in my USA bucket list post.

They include seeing more of Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming, perhaps visiting places like Iowa and Cleveland in Ohio or more of California since we missed places like Joshua Tree and Los Angeles.

But, this USA trip was still a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I feel very lucky to have had. Maybe one day we’ll get to plan another 3 month road trip USA itinerary, who knows?!

If you love road trips be sure to check out this guide to the best places to visit on an East Coast road trip USA as well as trip this awesome New England fall foliage road trip itinerary .

Last Updated on July 31, 2023 by Hannah

Hannah started That Adventurer after graduating back in 2013 and has documented all of her adventures since then. From backpacking South America to city breaks in Europe , a 3 month road trip across the USA in a self-converted van and 6 years living in Canada , you’ll find posts on all of this.

Hannah specialises in active travel and on That Adventurer you’ll find hiking, walking, biking, skiing and all sorts of active travel guides to allow you to see a destination in an adventurous way.

Now back in Europe, you’ll find new guides as Hannah and her husband spend the next year ‘digital nomading’ from Norway to Portugal, Switzerland to Scotland and places in between.

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[…] 1.5 hour’s drive north to discover White Sands National Monument in New Mexico. During our three month USA road trip we were told to make sure we visited this National Monument by a man in a Home Depot parking lot […]

I’ve just come across your blog through a blogger group and your’s just stopped me in my tracks. What amazing photos and what a wonderful adventure! Thanks for posting about it.

Thank you! So glad to hear you’ve enjoyed what you’ve seen

Wow, I can’t believe you drove over 20.000 km! I recently did a 2.5 month road trip myself and covered 10.000 km which I thought was a lot! It must’ve been an amazing trip 🙂

It was incredible! Would love to do another one seeing the states we didn’t see that time!

You went to some of the best places in the States! Next year it’s time to hit up the interior US! =)

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Frequently Asked Questions: Guidance for Travelers to Enter the U.S.

Updated Date: April 21, 2022

Since January 22, 2022, DHS has required non-U.S. individuals seeking to enter the United States via land ports of entry and ferry terminals at the U.S.-Mexico and U.S.-Canada borders to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and provide proof of vaccination upon request.  On April 21, 2022, DHS announced that it would extend these requirements. In determining whether and when to rescind this order, DHS anticipates that it will take account of whether the vaccination requirement for non-U.S. air travelers remains in place.

These requirements apply to non-U.S. individuals who are traveling for essential or non-essential reasons. They do not apply to U.S. citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents, or U.S. nationals.

Effective November 8, 2021, new air travel requirements applied to many noncitizens who are visiting the United States temporarily. These travelers are also required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination. All air travelers, including U.S. persons, must test negative for COVID-19 prior to departure. Limited exceptions apply. See  CDC guidance  for more details regarding air travel requirements.

Below is more information about what to know before you go, and answers to Frequently Asked Questions about cross-border travel.

Entering the U.S. Through a Land Port of Entry or Ferry Terminal

Q. what are the requirements for travelers entering the united states through land poes.

A:  Before embarking on a trip to the United States, non-U.S. travelers should be prepared for the following:

• Possess proof of an approved COVID-19 vaccination as outlined on the  CDC  website.
• During border inspection, verbally attest to their COVID-19 vaccination status. 
• Bring a  Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative  compliant border crossing document, such as a valid passport (and visa if required), Trusted Traveler Program card, a Department of State-issued Border Crossing Card, Enhanced Driver’s License or Enhanced Tribal Card when entering the country. Travelers (including U.S. citizens) should be prepared to present the WHTI-compliant document and any other documents requested by the CBP officer.

 Q. What are the requirements to enter the United States for children under the age of 18 who can't be vaccinated?

A:  Children under 18 years of age are excepted from the vaccination requirement at land and ferry POEs.

Q: Which vaccines/combination of vaccines will be accepted?

A:  Per CDC guidelines, all Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved and authorized vaccines, as well as all vaccines that have an Emergency Use Listing (EUL) from the World Health Organization (WHO), will be accepted.

Accepted Vaccines:

• More details are available in CDC guidance  here .
• 2 weeks (14 days) after your dose of an accepted single-dose COVID-19 vaccine;
• 2 weeks (14 days) after your second dose of an accepted 2-dose series;
• 2 weeks (14 days) after you received the full series of an accepted COVID-19 vaccine (not placebo) in a clinical trial;
• 2 weeks (14 days) after you received 2 doses of any “mix-and-match” combination of accepted COVID-19 vaccines administered at least 17 days apart.

Q. Is the United States requiring travelers to have a booster dose to be considered fully vaccinated for border entry purposes?

A:  No. The CDC guidance for “full vaccination” can be found here.

Q: Do U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents need proof of vaccination to return to the United States via land POEs and ferry terminals?

A:  No. Vaccination requirements do not apply to U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs). Travelers that exhibit signs or symptoms of illness will be referred to CDC for additional medical evaluation.

Q: Is pre- or at-arrival COVID testing required to enter the United States via land POEs or ferry terminals?

A: No, there is no COVID testing requirement to enter the United States via land POE or ferry terminals. In this respect, the requirement for entering by a land POE or ferry terminal differs from arrival via air, where there is a requirement to have a negative test result before departure.

Processing Changes Announced on January 22, 2022 

Q: new changes were recently announced. what changed on january 22.

A:  Since January 22, 2022, non-citizens who are not U.S. nationals or Lawful Permanent Residents have been required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter the United States at land ports of entry and ferry terminals, whether for essential or nonessential purposes. Previously, DHS required that non-U.S. persons be vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter the United States for nonessential purposes.  Effective January 22, all non-U.S. individuals, to include essential travelers, must be prepared to attest to vaccination status and present proof of vaccination to a CBP officer upon request. DHS announced an extension of this policy on April 21, 2022.

Q: Who is affected by the changes announced on January 22?

A: This requirement does not apply to U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents. It applies to other noncitizens, such as a citizen of Mexico, Canada, or any other country seeking to enter the United States through a land port of entry or ferry terminal.

Q: Do U.S. citizens need proof of vaccination to return to the United States via land port of entry or ferry terminals?

A: Vaccination requirements do not apply to U.S. Citizens, U.S. nationals or U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents. Travelers that exhibit signs or symptoms of illness will be referred to CDC for additional medical evaluation. 

Q: What is essential travel?

A:  Under the prior policy, there was an exception from temporary travel restrictions for “essential travel.” Essential travel included travel to attend educational institutions, travel to work in the United States, travel for emergency response and public health purposes, and travel for lawful cross-border trade (e.g., commercial truckers). Under current policy, there is no exception for essential travel.

Q: Will there be any exemptions? 

A: While most non-U.S. individuals seeking to enter the United States will need to be vaccinated, there is a narrow list of exemptions consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Order in the air travel context.

• Certain categories of individuals on diplomatic or official foreign government travel as specified in the CDC Order
• Children under 18 years of age;
• Certain participants in certain COVID-19 vaccine trials as specified in the CDC Order;   
• Individuals with medical contraindications to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine as specified in the CDC Order;
• Individuals issued a humanitarian or emergency exception by the Secretary of Homeland Security;
• Individuals with valid nonimmigrant visas (excluding B-1 [business] or B-2 [tourism] visas) who are citizens of a country with limited COVID-19 vaccine availability, as specified in the CDC Order
• Members of the U.S. Armed Forces or their spouses or children (under 18 years of age) as specified in the CDC Order; and
• Individuals whose entry would be in the U.S. national interest, as determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security.

Q: What documentation will be required to show vaccination status?

A:  Non-U.S. individuals are required to be prepared to attest to vaccination status and present proof of vaccination to a CBP officer upon request regardless of the purpose of travel.

The current documentation requirement remains the same and is available on the CDC website . Documentation requirements for entry at land ports of entry and ferry terminals mirror those for entry by air.

Q: What happens if someone doesn’t have proof of vaccine status?

A: If non-U.S. individuals cannot present proof of vaccination upon request, they will not be admitted into the United States and will either be subject to removal or be allowed to withdraw their application for entry.

Q: Will incoming travelers be required to present COVID-19 test results?

A: There is no COVID-19 testing requirement for travelers at land border ports of entry, including ferry terminals.

Q: What does this mean for those who can't be vaccinated, either due to age or other health considerations? 

A: See CDC guidance for additional information on this topic. Note that the vaccine requirement does not apply to children under 18 years of age.

Q: Does this requirement apply to amateur and professional athletes?

A: Yes, unless they qualify for one of the narrow CDC exemptions.

Q: Are commercial truckers required to be vaccinated?

A: Yes, unless they qualify for one of the narrow CDC exemptions. These requirements also apply to bus drivers as well as rail and ferry operators.

Q. Do you expect border wait times to increase?

A:  As travelers navigate these new travel requirements, wait times may increase. Travelers should account for the possibility of longer than normal wait times and lines at U.S. land border crossings when planning their trip and are kindly encouraged to exercise patience.

To help reduce wait times and long lines, travelers can take advantage of innovative technology, such as facial biometrics and the CBP OneTM mobile application, which serves as a single portal for individuals to access CBP mobile applications and services.

Q: How is Customs and Border Protection staffing the ports of entry? 

A: CBP’s current staffing levels at ports of entry throughout the United States are commensurate with pre-pandemic levels. CBP has continued to hire and train new employees throughout the pandemic. CBP expects some travelers to be non-compliant with the proof of vaccination requirements, which may at times lead to an increase in border wait times. Although trade and travel facilitation remain a priority, we cannot compromise national security, which is our primary mission. CBP Office of Field Operations will continue to dedicate its finite resources to the processing of arriving traffic with emphasis on trade facilitation to ensure economic recovery.

Q: What happens if a vaccinated individual is traveling with an unvaccinated individual?  

A:  The unvaccinated individual (if 18 or over) would not be eligible for admission.

Q: If I am traveling for an essential reason but am not vaccinated can I still enter?

A:  No, if you are a non-U.S. individual. The policy announced on January 22, 2022 applies to both essential and non-essential travel by non-U.S. individual travelers. Since January 22, DHS has required that all inbound non-U.S. individuals crossing U.S. land or ferry POEs – whether for essential or non-essential reasons – be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and provide related proof of vaccination upon request.

Q: Are sea crew members on vessels required to have a COVID vaccine to disembark?

A:  Sea crew members traveling pursuant to a C-1 or D nonimmigrant visa are not excepted from COVID-19 vaccine requirements at the land border. This is a difference from the international air transportation context.

Entering the U.S. via Air Travel

Q: what are the covid vaccination requirements for air passengers to the united states  .

A:  According to CDC requirements [www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/noncitizens-US-air-travel.html | Link no longer valid], most noncitizens who are visiting the United States temporarily must be fully vaccinated prior to boarding a flight to the United States. These travelers are required to show proof of vaccination. A list of covered individuals is available on the CDC website.  

Q: What are the COVID testing requirements for air passengers to the United States?  

A:  Effective Sunday, June 12 at 12:01 a.m. ET, CDC will no longer require pre-departure COVID-19 testing for U.S.-bound air travelers.

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One thing that is on everyone’s bucket list is a road trip across the United States. From retirees rolling around in the R.V. to college students on spring break to high school graduates, most everyone dreams of the idea of traveling across the U.S. But where and when is the best place to start? Well, for this three-month long journey, plan to start in April and end in June. This way, you can visit all the warmer states in decent weather and hit all milder states toward the summer months.

First stop: California

There are tons of sites to see in California, which makes it the best place to start for a three-month road trip. Start out in San Francisco and drive over the Golden Gate Bridge and make sure to snap a few photos. It’s a quick start to your long journey and is a must-see when visiting California. Plus, it’s a free stop before the real adventure begins!

Next, head down to Yosemite National Park, which is located in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Yosemite is best known for its giant, ancient sequoias, and for Tunnel View, the iconic vista of towering Bridalveil Falls and the granite cliffs of El Capitan and Half Dome. Within the park are restaurants, shops, and the Yosemite Museum and the art gallery of Ansel Adams, which features the black-and-white prints of the area landscapes.

Plan your visit to Yosemite .

After, travel down to Los Angeles and visit all the sights of Hollywood. Walk the Sunset Strip and Hollywood Boulevard, being sure to find your favorite Hollywood stars on the Walk of Fame, and don’t forget to visit the famous Hollywood sign. The Sunset Strip also features a variety of restaurants and shops to indulge in. Then, while you’re in the area, swing over to Disneyland in Anaheim. Factor in an entire day’s worth of time here so you can enjoy all the rides and park attractions that occur during the day and in the evening.

View the park attractions at the Disneyland website .

Another fun event that happens in Indio, California during the month of April is the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. This festival takes place every year at the Empire Polo Club and features music genres such as hip hop, rock, electronic dance, and independent. The site offers camping, boutiques, food and beverage, and other fun activities during your weekend spent at Coachella. Activities include things like the Bad Dancing Competition, dodgeball, and the Coachella Art Studio.

To buy your tickets and find out more information, visit the Coachella website .

Viva Las Vegas

Definitely spend some time in the city that never sleeps. Whether you decide to stay here for a few days or just take in all the sights, Las Vegas, Nevada is worth every penny. The city is absolutely incredible with all the marvelous shows, casinos, and hotels, making it a great destination to experience. When you decide to leave Nevada, go visit the Hoover Dam on your way to Arizona. The dam is a concrete archway in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River and rests right on the border of Nevada and Arizona, making it a quick stop before your next destination.

The Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon is an extraordinary sight to see while in Arizona. There are so many things to do here, including camping, biking, hiking, and lodging. While at the park, you can plan tours or visit on your own time, but make sure to see all the sights. There’s Hermit Road, Desert View Drive, the North Rim, Toroweap, Havasupai Indian Reservation, and don’t forget the Skywalk. The park offers a shuttle bus to all areas of the Grand Canyon, which allows you to see every incredible view. Travel out to Hermit’s Rest on the South Rim or venture out on the Skywalk which is located on the Haulapai Reservation at Grand Canyon West. The horseshoe-shaped steel frame with a glass floor that juts out from the canyon rim is the most famous attraction, but visitors should definitely experience the rest of the amazing views of the park.

For park information, visit the Grand Canyon National Park website .

Houston Space Center

After a visit to the Grand Canyon, make your next stop in Houston, Texas to visit the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center. The center features over 400 artifacts, as well as educational exhibits and attractions. The world’s largest collection of moon rocks and lunar samples can be found at the NASA Johnson Space Center, and guests are taken behind the scenes to see what it takes to be an astronaut. You can take tours of the space station, see what the life of an astronaut is like, and see the historic Boeing 747 shuttle carrier aircraft at the Independence Plaza.

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Baton Rouge is the capital of Louisiana and is full of sights to see. It is the second-largest city in the state and is located along the Mississippi River, and the city is absolutely breathtaking. While you’re in the area, there are a few attractions to visit. First on the list is the Old State Capitol building that has a gothic-castle appearance. It is a noteworthy sight both for its historical and architectural significance. There are also the USS Kidd and Veterans Memorial Center, Louisiana State University, where there are 1,600-year-old American Indian mounds, and the Magnolia Mound Plantation.

Planetware offers eight top-rated tourist attractions in Baton Rouge as well as places to stay in the area.

“Thank you, thank you very much!”

Next stop: Tennessee! There is plenty to see in the great state of Tennessee, but you definitely need to add Graceland to your list of road trip must-sees. Graceland is the home of the King of Rock, Elvis Presley. The mansion has been voted the world’s Best Music Attraction by USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, and you can even stay at the guest house in Graceland. Tour the home of Elvis Presley and visit the museums and gain some extra knowledge about the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.

To see everything you can experience in Graceland, visit the website .

Also, while you’re in Tennessee, drive through Nashville, where the legendary Grand Ole Opry is located, and maybe visit the Country Music Hall of Fame on your way out.

Washington, D.C.

Drive on up to the New England states and visit the capital of the United States. Here you can see the National Mall, the Capitol, and the Lincoln Memorial. Visiting Washington, D.C. is definitely a trip to be made at least once, which makes it a perfect stop on a three-month road trip across the U.S. There are so many places to visit and sights to see while you’re here, so don’t worry if you can’t do everything. But to get you started, here is a list from TripAdvisor to give you a few ideas.

New York, New York

The state of New York also offers countless attractions and events for visitors and locals alike. During your stay definitely make time for a few things: visit the Statue of Liberty, the World Trade Center, and walk through Times Square. These are three easy trips since they are all located in New York City. Plus, Times Square offers tons of shops and restaurants, as well as event venues like Broadway, where you can see the current show that’s playing on stage.

While in New York, you should make the journey to  Niagara Falls, a group of three waterfalls that are on the border of Canada and the United States. The falls are a breathtaking sight, and the park offers places to camp, and you can also find hotels, restaurants, and other things to do while in the area.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is located in Cleveland, Ohio, and is definitely worth the stop. You can stop in and visit the museum as well as view all the special exhibits that the hall of fame has to offer. In addition, the hall of fame also offers some of the most celebrated and award-winning education on music and fine arts. They also keep a large repository of the history of rock and roll in their Library and Archives for everyone’s viewing pleasures.

To see the current exhibits at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, visit their website .

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago is another city that offers a wide array of attractions and events to attend. Make sure you at least try to do all the touristy things like take photos of yourself by the Bean, also known as Cloud Gate, and visit the Skydeck, the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. The Skydeck offers some of the best views of Chicago, so it should definitely be on your bucket list of road trip attractions. Here is a list of other things to do in Chicago.

Gateway Arch

On your way back across the United States, drive through St. Louis, Missouri to see the Gateway Arch, also known as the St. Louis Arch. It is a 630-foot monument built from stainless steel in the form of an arch, making it the world’s tallest arch.

The Black Hills

Although South Dakota doesn’t sound like one of the most fascinating places in the U.S., the state does offer a few top destination places to hit on your road trip. You can drive through the Black Hills National Forest, which is home to two historic monuments, including Mount Rushmore that displays the heads of four US Presidents (George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, and Theodore Roosevelt), and the Crazy Horse Memorial, which pays tribute to the well-known Native American tribal leader.

Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone is a large, 3,500-square mile wilderness recreational area that serves as a habitat for multiple species including elk, bison, wolves, bears, and antelope. Although the park is mostly in Wyoming, it also covers some of Montana and Idaho as well. The park resides atop a volcanic hotspot and is home to many gushing glaciers–the most famous being Old Faithful–as well as canyons, rivers, and hot springs.

To plan your visit, go to the national park website .

The Rockies

The Rocky Mountains run through the state of Colorado and are a beautiful sight to see. You can easily drive through the mountains and climb up to the peak. There are shops and restaurants along the way before you enter the mountain range, and be prepared for some ear-popping and altitude changes. In addition to the peak of the mountains, there are some other stops along the way where you can get out of the car and take in the breathtaking views.

Zion National Park

The last stop on this road trip is located in southwest Utah on a nature preserve distinguished by the steep red cliffs of Zion Canyon. There is a scenic drive that cuts through the main section of the canyon, which leads to forest trails that run along the Virgin River. The river flows to the Emerald Pools, home to waterfalls and a hanging garden. For more travel information on Zion National Park, you can visit the website .

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Travel the U.S. for $30 A Day: The Ultimate Budget USA Road Trip

This post may contain affiliate links. This just means I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you for helping them promote their product or service. I don’t endorse any services I don’t personally use or recommend.

Budgeting for a road trip can be difficult. Food, gas, parking, groceries, restaurants, much-needed coffee stops, all adds up. Especially if you’re planning to take on a route as large as the entire United States. But traveling in a van is the perfect way to do a budget USA road trip.

We traveled the United States for three months in our converted camper van Phoebe. She’s nothing fancy–Just a 1994 Dodge Ram Van that we laboriously dismantled and converted one summer. She has a massive bed, kitchenette, and a table with a u-shaped bench. We set out to explore America’s National Parks and also to sample all the best (& underrated) American food .

& we spent more than we had originally planned.

I recorded every single transaction. From the $0.44 water refills to the $75 gas tank fill-ups so that you can have an educated guess on your own cross-country road trip expenses.

& so that you can understand exactly what van life costs before you make the leap and begin converting your own vehicle. Because there are tons of benefits to van life but it may not be as cheap as you think.

The Ultimate Budget USA Road Trip

Let’s talk logistics.

Where are you headed? Whether your planning to live in your van full time & just want a look at the average expenses of van life or you’re planning an epic cross-country road trip & want to know how much to have in the bank before you go…this post will shed some light on the subject.

But be aware that traveling in cities tends to be more expensive than exploring the more rural areas of the USA. We did a bit of both on this trip.

Best Way to Travel America on a Budget? Van life.

Okay. I might be biased. But van life has changed the road trip game. It’s made it cheaper. More comfortable. & helped me to travel more off-the-beaten-path. But van life isn’t always as glamorous as it’s made out to be. & if you’re on the fence you should test out van/RV travel before you invest in your own rig.

My favorite RV rental company is RVShare. They have rentals all over the U.S. & are a very affordable option ( Van rentals can be so overpriced ). Another perk…they are locally owned RVs which means they are cozier than a generic rental and you’re supporting small businesses.

3-Month USA Road Trip

This specific road trip budget breakdown is from our 3-month USA road trip where we visited every single National Park in the U.S.

If you’re looking for route specifics be sure to check out my blog post on our Great American Foodie Road Trip where I talk about every single place we ate on the road or our Ultimate USA National Park Road Trip Route outlining how we hit every single national park in the United States.

If you want access to our massive master Google Map with 400+ destinations –food stops, roadside attractions, state parks, etc. you can sign up for my email list below & I’ll send you a copy. You won’t even need to plan for your next cross-country road trip.

Our USA Road Trip Budget

We’ve been full-time traveling on a budget for quite some time now. I actually wrote a blog post all about how we traveled the world on a budget of $50 a day . But the U.S. is an expensive place to travel. & we wanted to get the full American Foodie Road Trip experience which meant we would be eating many meals in restaurants.

Our goal for the cross country road was to spend around $50 a day for the both of us.

Spoiler: We missed our mark a little bit. It was a lofty goal. Considering we drove over 18,000 in a vehicle that only got 13ish miles to the gallon.

But honestly, we were pretty damn close. & considering all the amazing food we got to try along the way…100% worth it.

What We Actually Spent on Our Cross Country Road Trip

Let’s break it down item by item. This is where our money went on our 3-month USA road trip.

That comes to a grand total of around $29 per person. About $720 over our total intended budget.

Food & gas were the bulk of our spending since we spent most of our free time exploring National Parks or people-watching in cities.

How We Saved Money on Our Cross Country Road Trip

First, let’s talk about the things we did well.

We NEVER stopped for coffee on the road . Which was painfully difficult sometimes. But I did the calculations and we saved around $500 simply by using our French press every morning instead of hitting the coffee stands.

We cooked the majority of our meals ( despite what our restaurant costs say ) inside the van . A major perk of van living. Groceries are just so much cheaper than eating out.

We used GasBuddy to find the cheapest gas available. When you’re living life on the road gas is a major expense. Especially when your “home” is a gas-guzzling 13mpg (if you’re lucky) tank. We saved on average $10 a fill-up just by choosing gas strategically.

We got a great credit card. Specifically, with gas rewards. We use the Bank of America card Cash Rewards Card and it gave us 3% cashback on gas. Which ended up being about $70 in earnings!

We got the A merica the Beautiful Pass. For $80 it gives you access to every single National Park and Monument in the United States. If you plan on visiting even just 3 of the major national parks it’s worth the money.

We also refused to pay for parking unless ABSOLUTELY necessary and Stealth camped all across the United States. If you’re looking for tips on Stealth Camping you’ll find them here.

& now let’s look at the ways you can spend less money on your road trip across America.

Tips For Spending Less on your Budget-Friendly USA Road Trip

We did a fairly good job at keeping our costs low. But there are a few things we could have done differently on our cross-country road trip to save us even more money!

1. Pick Grocery Stores Strategically

We just shopped wherever was convenient. We didn’t bother learning the budget chains across America & definitely spent more money at fancy organic places like Sprouts and Publix.

2. Eat Out Less Often

Obviously, our restaurant costs were huge. If you want to save more money on the road just cook more meals inside the van. It has a kitchen after all!!

I don’t regret spending the money we did on food across America because I discovered my love for Southern Food. Seriously. If you splurge anywhere…make it the south.

3. Cut out Alcohol

You don’t see it on the budget breakdown but hidden in those grocery and restaurant bills are copious amounts of local beer and cocktails. Post-hiking beers, nightcaps, and brewery stops after a long day of driving. We spent about $775 on alcohol. Pretty much the exact amount we went over-budget.

Cut out ( or cut down ) on alcohol consumption to save a considerable chunk of change.

Planning your budget for a USA road trip is difficult without seeing a budget-breakdown from other travelers. We spent $60 a day or $30 per person per day on our cross-country road trip.

Let me know in the comments if you managed to spend more or less on your last road trip!!

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Further Reading...

A Vanlifers Guide to Stealth Camping (+ 10 Places I Sleep In Cities)

Van Life Essentials: Best Gear & Gadgets for Life on the Road

How to Travel Immersively in Hawaii (The Big Island)

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Guide to the 6-month passport rule — what is it?

Editor's Note

It may sound trivial, but one of the best rules you can follow as an international traveler is to remember to check your passport validity before you book flights and hotels.

Why? Because the requirements for entry differ from country to country. In the midst of planning my 2024 travel, I realized my U.S. passport expires in April, which could mess with my plans abroad.

Thankfully, I use a travel checklist to avoid disruptions to my travel itinerary.

I immediately started the passport renewal process online and had my photo taken at my local Walgreens — although you can DIY your passport photo if you prefer — so I could send out my application as quickly as possible. I also opted to expedite the processing time for an additional $60 fee and sent my application on its way.

If you're also in the middle of planning 2024 travel or simply want to know the ideal time to begin getting ready to renew your passport, the TPG team has you covered.

We collected information from the U.S. Department of State website and the United Kingdom's government website to create a one-stop cheat sheet examining a range of nations that typically require you to have a passport that lasts longer than your trip — whether by one, three or six months.

Note that certain countries deviate from the standard six-month requirement. These findings are also only related to passport validity dates — we're not covering visa requirements here. Those can vary depending on where you're going and where you're coming from.

Schengen countries in Europe

Many European countries are signers of the Schengen Agreement . As a result, they follow the 3+3 Rule, meaning your passport must be valid for three months beyond your three-month entry visa or for a total of six months, regardless of the duration of your initial stay.

While some Schengen countries only require passports to be valid for three months beyond your intended stay, others assume you may stay the full 90 days of your visa validity — thus the six-month time period.

The signers of the Schengen Agreement are Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. Bulgaria and Romania will join the group March 31, 2024.

The countries listed below abide by the usual six months of passport validity unless otherwise noted.

Non-Schengen countries in Europe, Asia and the Middle East

Abide by the usual 6 months of passport validity.

• Bosnia-Herzegovina
• New Caledonia
• North Korea
• Saudi Arabia
• Turkmenistan
• Turkey (British passports must be valid for at least 150 days from the date you arrive in the country)
• United Arab Emirates
• West Bank/Gaza Strip

Passport must be valid 3 months beyond the scheduled departure date

Passport must be valid 1 month beyond the date of your intended stay, passport only needs to be valid for the proposed duration of your stay.

• Central African Republic
• Cote d'Ivoire
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Equatorial Guinea
• Morocco (British passports must be valid for at least three months on the date of entry)
• Sao Tome and Principe
• South Africa (passports must also have 30 days beyond your intended date of exit from the country)
• South Sudan

Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Dominican Republic
• Trinidad and Tobago

Central and South America

• El Salvador

Passport must be valid 3 months beyond arrival

• Brazil (British passports need to be valid six months beyond arrival)

South Pacific

• American Samoa
• French Polynesia
• Marshall Islands
• Papua New Guinea
• New Zealand

Bottom line

When examining the rules, note that some countries have a slight distinction: They may require validity to be either six months from the date of entry or six months from the date of intended departure . For simplicity, we've taken the conservative approach and assumed that for any country with a six-month rule, like most of the ones above, you should ensure your passport is valid six months past the date of intended departure just in case.

Of course, the list above only includes just a few popular destinations worldwide. If your intended destination isn't on the list, it's always best to check with your relevant passport issuer.

How frequently can I visit the United States as a visitor (B1/B2) and how long can I stay for each visit?

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Passenger Volumes Home

Archived Data

* Archived Data has been updated including Known Crewmembers and later flight travel numbers.

An official website of the United States government

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Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( Lock A locked padlock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

• For International Visitors

Visa Waiver Program

The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) , administered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in consultation with the State Department, permits citizens of 41 countries to travel to the United States for business or tourism for stays of up to 90 days without a visa. In return, those 41 countries must permit U.S. citizens and nationals to travel to their countries for a similar length of time without a visa for business or tourism purposes.

Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA)

ESTA is an automated system that determines the eligibility of visitors to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Authorization via ESTA does not determine whether a traveler is admissible to the United States. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers determine admissibility upon travelers’ arrival. The ESTA application collects biographic information and answers to VWP eligibility questions. ESTA applications may be submitted at any time prior to travel, though it is recommended that travelers apply as soon as they begin preparing travel plans or prior to purchasing airline tickets.

Other Visa Information

• Frequently Asked Questions about the VWP and the VWP Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015
• Frequently Asked Questions about the VWP and the ESTA
• VWP Signatory Carriers List
• Guam- CNMI Visa Waiver Program
• Guam-CNMI VWP Signatory Carriers
• Travel by Pleasure Boats or Ferries

Flying to Canada? Entry Rules Have Changed

Canada has introduced a new entry requirement, known as Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) , for visa-exempt foreign nationals traveling to Canada by air. Exceptions include U.S. citizens and travelers with a valid visa.

Apply for a Canada eTA

Knowledge Article

Visiting the U.S. - Documents required for Canadian Citizens / Residents / Landed Immigrant to enter the U.S. and how long they can stay

• Canadian passport
• Enhanced Driver's License/Enhanced Identification Card
• NEXUS, FAST/EXPRES
• SENTRI enrollment cards.
• Groups of Children: Canadian citizen children under age 19 arriving by land or sea from contiguous territory and traveling with a school group, religious group, social/cultural organization, or sports team, may also present an original or copy of his or her birth certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, a Naturalization Certificate, or a Canadian Citizenship Card.
• The group should provide, on organizational letterhead: The name of the group and supervising adult, a list of the children on the trip, the primary home address, phone number, date of birth, place of birth, and name of at least one parent or legal guardian for each child.
• A written and signed statement of the supervising adult certifying that he or she has obtained parental or legal guardian consent for each participating child.

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International Travel as a Permanent Resident

In general, you will need to present a passport from your country of citizenship or your refugee travel document to travel to a foreign country. In addition, the foreign country may have additional entry/exit requirements (such as a visa). For information on foreign entry and exit requirements, see the Department of State’s website .

If seeking to enter the United States after temporary travel abroad, you will need to present a valid, unexpired “Green Card” (Form I-551, Permanent Resident Card). When arriving at a port of entry, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer will review your permanent resident card and any other identity documents you present, such as a passport, foreign national I.D. card or U.S. Driver’s License, and determine if you can enter the United States. For information pertaining to entry into the United States, see U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s webpage .

Permanent residents are free to travel outside the United States, and temporary or brief travel usually does not affect your permanent resident status. If it is determined, however, that you did not intend to make the United States your permanent home, you will be found to have abandoned your permanent resident status. A general guide used is whether you have been absent from the United States for more than a year. Abandonment may be found to occur in trips of less than a year where it is believed you did not intend to make the United States your permanent residence. While brief trips abroad generally are not problematic, the officer may consider criteria such as whether your intention was to visit abroad only temporarily, whether you maintained U.S. family and community ties, maintained U.S employment, filed U.S. income taxes as a resident, or otherwise established your intention to return to the United States as your permanent home. Other factors that may be considered include whether you maintained a U.S. mailing address, kept U.S. bank accounts and a valid U.S. driver’s license, own property or run a business in the United States, or any other evidence that supports the temporary nature of your absence.

If you plan on being absent from the United States for longer than a year, it is advisable to first apply for a reentry permit on Form I-131 . Obtaining a reentry permit prior to leaving the United States allows a permanent or conditional permanent resident to apply for admission into the United States during the permit’s validity without the need to obtain a returning resident visa from a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad. Please note that it does not guarantee entry into the United States upon your return as you must first be determined to be admissible; however, it will assist you in establishing your intention to permanently reside in the United States. For more information, see the Travel Documents page.

If you remain outside of the United States for more than 2 years, any reentry permit granted before your departure from the United States will have expired. In this case, it is advisable to consider applying for a returning resident visa (SB-1) at the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. An SB-1 applicant will be required to establish eligibility for an immigrant visa and will need a medical exam. There is an exception to this process for the spouse or child of either a member of the U.S. Armed Forces or civilian employee of the U.S. Government stationed abroad on official orders. For more information on obtaining a returning resident visa, see the Department of State’s webpage on returning resident visas .

Additionally, absences from the United States of six months or more may disrupt the continuous residency required for naturalization. If your absence is one year or longer and you wish to preserve your continuous residency in the United States for naturalization purposes, you may file an Application to Preserve Residence for Naturalization Purposes on Form N-470. For more information, please see the Continuous Residence and Physical Presence Requirements page.

If you lose your Green Card or reentry permit or it is stolen or destroyed while you are abroad, you may need to file a Form I-131A, Application for Travel Document (Carrier Documentation) . This carrier documentation will allow an airline or other transportation carrier to board a lawful permanent resident bound for the United States without the carrier being penalized. For more information, please see the Form I-131A, Application for Travel Document (Carrier Documentation) page.

More Information

• Welcome to the United States: A Guide for New Immigrants (PDF, 3.57 MB)
• How Do I Get a Reentry Permit? (PDF, 667.32 KB)
• I-131, Application for Travel Document
• I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card

Other USCIS Links

• Green Card Resources
• How Do I Help My Relative Become a Lawful Permanent Resident? (PDF, 577.38 KB)
• How Do I Renew or Replace My Permanent Resident Card? (PDF, 550.19 KB)
• "How Do I" Guides for Permanent Residents

How Much Money Do I Need to Travel America for 3 Months?

The US is a huge place, really immense – like can spend a lifetime traveling it and still not see it all. Maybe you’re a nature lover and want to see the national parks – I highly recommend Utah’s Mighty 5 National Parks by the way. Maybe you’re a city dweller and want to try the best food and attractions. Or maybe you want to travel the coasts and beaches during the summer. If you have three months on your passport, and you want to see as much of the US as possible, you should be aware of what’s cheap and what’s not in America right now. That way you’ll know how much money you’ll need.

How Much Money for Food in the USA for 3 Months?

Almost anywhere in the world, you would save money by cooking at home and buying at markets and groceries. That’s not always the case in the US. For example, a week’s worth of groceries that include healthy servings of fruits and vegetables for two people might cost up to $200 (depending on the grocer chain you visit), whereas it’s easy for two people to eat at a restaurant for $20 or less including tip. This really ranges depending on if you are in rural America or in an expensive USA city like San Francisco or New York . Breakfast, brunch, and lunch are the particularly inexpensive meals to eat out, and if you like the food served at a lot of the major sit-down restaurant chains, you could definitely get by on the same price (expect good food options but not a lot of flare). If you go the fast food route, a Big Mac is a Big Mac. $10 or less can easily buy a meal for two people at a McDonalds or Wendy’s. Just make sure to save back a couple dollars for antacids and insulin shots.

Obviously, the cities will have much more exciting and extravagant options for fine dining. Being that you want to live a little more elegant, a nice three-course meal with a glass of wine can range from $35 to $100 per person . Granted, this is where there is the most fluctuation. Manhattan will have largely higher prices than Philly.

So for two people, depending on the depth of your tastes and/or wallet, two people could expect to spend between $150/$200 if you are buying from the supermarket and more towards $800/$1000 if you were eating out every meal a week. It really ranges. Sit down restaurants with tipping really add up. Hopefully you won’t need surf n’ turf at every meal, but just know you’ll need to spend one of the larger parts of your money on food.

How Much is Transportation in America for 3 Months?

Your expenses in this area will depend largely on what part of the country you’re traveling to. Here’s an example: In New England, the price of everything is typically a little higher than when traveling in the West. But the East Coast tends to have a lot more public and economic transport options. Check out Megabus and Goto Bus , and with enough time in advance for your booking you can get city-to-city bus tickets for as low as $5 per person.

Car rentals a very feasible options, as most rental companies give huge price breaks to those who book for weeks at a time. A 12-week rental might be as cheap as $1200, and shorter times respective. But in any case, that means about $100 a week in rental fees, plus maybe $50 or so in fuel, and that way you have total freedom to cruise the country at your leisure. Know that some of the tolls on the East Coast are pretty hefty ($18 to cross bridges in NYC at times), whereas they pretty much don’t exist west of the Mississippi. Any city, however, will have parking fees that can get as low as 50 cents a day or as high as $60 a day. Travelling by car is definitely the most convenient way to see some of America’s best small towns and more remote areas.

How Much is Accommodation  in the America for 3 Months?

If your aim is cheap and comfortable, you might forget hotels altogether. A Holiday Inn Express will most likely charge you close to $100 a night (for decent but mostly subpar accommodations), whereas AirBnb has some incredible places to stay and will have a wide range of cool houses, apartments, and rooms for as low as $20 a night. They will also usually include the attention and help of switched-on hosts. If you haven’t already used Airbnb, you can score $40 worth of free stay credit here . If you are driving around the country, you can find motel chains with parking right outside of major cities for around $60 per night. Many of these have been renovated and have flat screens and comfy beds, but you can also end up in some roach motels that you have seen in shoots outs on TV. However, no trip to America would be complete without staying in some motel that you have seen in a horror slasher film or in a Vegas honeymoon/drunken elopement storyline.

How Much Does Entertainment Cost for a 3 Month USA Roadtrip?

If you want cheap or free entertainment, check out the parks and museums in any city you go to. Almost all the museums in Washington DC have free entry, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art allows free entry to any self-guided tourist (i.e. you).

On the other hand, a Red Sox game at Fenway Park will be about $35 a person for tickets, or more if you want better seats. Competetive sports teams in the USA that have sold out crowds, you will be looking at more in the $100 starting price range for a ticket. Typical entry fees to a movie theater are around $10 for main showings, or $6 for an afternoon matinee. Musicals and live theatre performances, like Broadway in NYC and each major cities own productions are $75 starting usually to upwards of a few hundred for a popular show in a big town.

National Parks will almost always offer voluntary donations as an entry fee. The US is big on promoting its parks as a sustainable attraction for tourists, so whether it’s Utah’s Mighty 5 or Redwood Forest in the West, or the Great Smoky Mountains in the South, there are weeks of fun to be had in the parks on almost no expense.

So if you’re wondering, “How much money do I need to travel America for 3 months?” this will give you an idea. Think $150/week in transport, $200/week for food, $350/week in accommodations, and whatever you want to spend or not spend on entertainment. Obviously if you’re a high-roller, there’s plenty of ways to spend your money in the great USA, but it is possible to have a blast and not break the bank.

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More reading, 1 thought on “how much money do i need to travel america for 3 months”.

Great post! A road trip for 3 months is high on the bucket list. Thanks for the tips! Also, I’m glad to have found an all round American blog and I’m a fan of your writing style (sarcasm included ;-)). Keep up the good work!

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• Credit Cards
• Best Travel Credit Cards

19 Best Travel Credit Cards Of June 2024

Expert Reviewed

Updated: Jun 6, 2024, 11:02am

For anyone who travels enough to have a travel savings account, like I do, credit cards are a valuable resource toward booking and paying for your trip. The rewards can offset a huge portion of your out-of-pocket expenses, and the best cards often pay for themselves both in savings and avoided headaches.

Why you can trust Forbes Advisor

Our editors are committed to bringing you unbiased ratings and information. Our editorial content is not influenced by advertisers. We use data-driven methodologies to evaluate financial products and companies, so all are measured equally. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and the credit card methodology for the ratings below.

• 113 countries visited
• 5,500 hotel nights spent
• 93,000,000 miles and points redeemed
• 29 loyalty programs covered

Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards

• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card : Best Travel Credit Card for Beginners
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card : Best Flat-Rate Rewards Credit Card for Travel
• Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card * : Best Travel Earnings Without a Portal
• Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card : Best Card for Bank of America Preferred Rewards Members
• Chase Freedom Flex℠ : Best Intro APR Travel Card
• American Express® Green Card * : Best Travel Card for Varied Spending
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card : Best Premium Travel Rewards Card
• Chase Sapphire Reserve® : Best Travel Credit Card for International Travel
• The Platinum Card® from American Express : Best Travel Rewards Credit Card for Lounge Access
• American Express® Gold Card : Best Travel Rewards Earning for Foodies
• Aeroplan® Credit Card : Best Airline Rewards Program for International Travel
• British Airways Visa Signature® Card : Best for British Airways Passengers
• United Quest℠ Card : Best United Credit Card
• United Club℠ Infinite Card : Best Premium Airline Card
• IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card : Best Midrange Hotel Card
• The World of Hyatt Credit Card : Best Travel Credit Card for Hyatt Loyalists
• Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card * : Best for Road Warriors
• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card * : Best for Marriott Customers
• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card : Best Credit Card for Hilton Travelers
• Best Credit Cards Of 2024
• Credit Cards With Travel Insurance
• Best Hotel Credit Cards
• Best Credit Card For Lounge Access
• Best No-Annual-Fee Cards For Travel
• Best Airline Credit Cards

OFFER ENDING SOON: EARN 75K WELCOME BONUS POINTS

Chase sapphire preferred® card.

Up to 5x Reward Rate

Earn 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all Read More

Welcome Bonus

75,000 bonus points

Regular APR

21.49%-28.49% Variable

Credit Score

Excellent, Good (700 - 749)

Offering a rare mix of high rewards rates and redemption flexibility, this card is a dream for frequent spenders on travel & dining – while charging a modest annual fee.

• Earn high rewards on several areas of spending
• Transfer points to travel partners at 1:1 rate
• Many travel and shopping protections
• No intro APR offer
• Best travel earning rates are only for bookings through the Chase Travel portal
• Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 75,000 points are worth $937.50 toward travel.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
• Member FDIC

Best Travel Cards with a Low Annual Fee

Best travel credit card for beginners.

I jumped at the chance to get the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card when it was first launched. More than a decade later, I’m still a loyal cardholder. It’s the ideal starter card for someone dipping their toe into travel rewards and I’m living proof you may never need to upgrade. Cardholders earn valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards® points for access to transfer partners or for easy, no-strings-attached redemptions through Chase Travel℠. There’s no foreign transaction fee and a wide selection of travel insurances.

Why We Like It

For a modest annual fee of $95 (which can be partially offset with an annual $50 hotel credit) you get a rare mix of high rewards rates and redemption flexibility.

What We Don’t Like

The highest earning rate requires making reservations through Chase Travel℠, which doesn’t include direct bookings or online travel agencies.

Who It’s Best For

Travelers who want to earn transferable points without a steep annual fee.

I​​t’s the granddaddy of travel credit cards, but it still earns its reputation as one of the best around with solid bonus categories, strong travel protections, a great set of domestic and international transfer partners and a reasonable annual fee to boot. You can’t go wrong with it as your first travel credit card.

Best Flat-Rate Rewards Credit Card for Travel

Capital one venture rewards credit card.

Up to 5X Reward Rate

Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Earn 5X miles on Capital One Entertainment Read More

Earn 75,000 bonus miles

19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)

Casual travelers who don’t plan to carry a balance will find good value in the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card‘s earnings rates ( rates & fees ). And if you appreciate the skip-the-line perks of TSA PreCheck® and Global Entry as much as I do, you’ll be grateful for the up to $100 credit toward program fees.

You can earn double miles on every purchase and can access transfer partners without ponying up a triple-digit annual fee.

Expect dialed-back benefits compared to more premium travel cards. You’ll still enjoy select trip protections along with no foreign transaction fee. Keep in mind that you’ll want to redeem for travel bookings or transfers to partner programs (cash back redemptions are often not the best value).

Cardholders who want to earn travel rewards at a flat rate.

The Capital One Venture Rewards card is extremely low maintenance as far as travel reward cards go. It provides consistent value and flexibility when it comes to earning and redeeming points for travel and is an excellent alternative for anyone a bit leery of the high Venture X annual fee ( rates & fees ).

• Solid rewards rate
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® statement credit (up to $100)
• No foreign transaction fees
• Miles are easy to redeem either via partner transfers or by applying against travel purchases
• $95 annual fee
• No introductory APR on purchases or transfers
• Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
• Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options
• Miles won’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how many you can earn
• Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
• Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
• Enrich every hotel stay from the Lifestyle Collection with a suite of cardholder benefits, like a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more
• Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs

Best Travel Earnings Without a Portal

Wells fargo autograph journey℠ card *.

Earn unlimited 5X points on hotels, 4X points on airlines, 3X points on other travel and restaurants, and 1X points Read More

60,000 bonus points

21.24%, 26.24% or 29.99% variable APR

We love that the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card * bestows you with strong earning rates on travel without requiring you to book through a card’s portal. Go ahead and book directly with your preferred airline and hotel: You’ll earn 5 points per dollar on hotels, 4 points per dollar on airlines, 3 points per dollar on other travel and restaurants and 1 point per dollar on other purchases.

There’s a minimal annual fee for this card and it comes with the opportunity to earn a $50 statement credit each year when you spend $50 or more on airline purchases. That’s a bargain travelers will love.

For now, there’s a limited number of transfer partners, which means you’ll have fewer redemption options than what some other issuers provide.

We think this card is a perfect fit for travelers who like to book trips directly, especially if they’re looking for cash-back rewards rather than travel transfers.

Wells Fargo has entered the premium card market with its highly anticipated Autograph Journey card which offers accelerated points earnings on airfare, hotels and restaurants. It’s also the newest card to offer the option to redeem points by transferring them to travel partners.

• Solid welcome bonus
• High rewards rates on travel and restaurants
• Annual statement credit for airfare
• Limited everyday bonus rewards
• Few transfer partners
• Charges an annual fee
• Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months of account opening – worth up to $600 toward your next trip
• Earn unlimited 5 points per dollar spent on hotels, 4 points on airlines, 3 points on other travel and restaurants and 1 point on other purchases
• Earn a $50 annual credit with $50 minimum airline purchase
• Cell phone protection against damage or theft, subject to a $25 deductible
• Complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge

Best Card for Bank of America Preferred Rewards Members

Bank of america® premium rewards® credit card.

Up to 2X Reward Rate

Earn unlimited 2 points for every $1 you spend on travel and dining purchases. Earn 1.5 points for every $1 Read More

60,000 points

21.24% - 29.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers

Good, Excellent (700 - 749)

The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card won’t turn heads unless you’re a Preferred Rewards member with substantial account balances at Bank of America. But if you are, watch your rewards grow at amazing rates.

I have no problem earning $100 in statement credits annually for airline incidental charges, my favorite perk of the card. And while it won’t be relevant to everyone, some Bank of America account holders could earn an incredible 25-75% more in rewards on every purchase.

The standard earning rate on this card isn’t notable. You’ll earn 2 points per dollar on travel and dining purchases and 1.5 points per dollar on all other purchases.

This card stands out for someone who already qualifies for Preferred Rewards, or is willing to move banking balances to Bank of America and their partners accordingly.

The best travel credit cards make it easy to earn back the annual fee every year, and the Premium Rewards credit card is one of those. It’s also a rewards powerhouse for Bank of America Preferred Rewards customers.

• No foreign transaction fee
• TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry fee credit
• Visa Signature concierge benefit
• Flexible reward redemption options
• High penalty APR
• High balance transfer fee
• High standard APR and cash advance APR
• No airport lounge perks
• Low $95 annual fee.
• Receive 60,000 online bonus points – a $600 value – after you make at least $4,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
• Earn unlimited 2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases and unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all other purchases. No limit to the points you can earn and your points don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
• If you’re a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means you could earn 2.5-3.5 points on travel and dining purchases and 1.87 – 2.62 points on all other purchases, for every $1 you spend.
• Redeem for cash back as a statement credit, deposit into eligible Bank of America® accounts, credit to eligible Merrill® accounts, or gift cards or purchases at the Bank of America Travel Center.
• Get up to $100 in Airline Incidental Statement Credits annually and TSA PreCheck®/Global Entry Statement Credits of up to $100, every four years.
• Travel Insurance protections to assist with trip delays, cancellations and interruptions, baggage delays and lost luggage.
• No foreign transaction fees.
• This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.

Best Intro APR Travel Card

Chase freedom flex℠.

Up to 5% Reward Rate

Earn 5% cash back in categories that rotate quarterly on up to $1,500 when enrolled, 5% on travel purchased through Read More

20.49%-29.24% Variable

I don’t automatically think of the Chase Freedom Flex℠ as a travel card, but it’s a great everyday card that also rewards you generously for bookings made through Chase Travel℠.

In addition to the welcome offer and ongoing rewards this card offers, new cardholders can also take advantage of a 0% introductory APR to help pay off their travel expenses: 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% – 29.24% applies. Balance transfer fee of up to 5% (min. $5) of the amount of each transfer applies.

Rewards are initially made available as cash back. If you want to transfer your rewards to partnering airlines and hotels, you’ll also need to hold an Ultimate Rewards card that offers that feature.

The Freedom Flex requires a little more hands-on management to earn in its quarterly bonus categories, so it’s a better fit for someone willing to stay on top of details.

Kudos to Chase for always keeping the rotating categories relevant on the Freedom Flex. From Amazon to PayPal and Starbucks to Walmart, you’re almost guaranteed to find at least one quarter every year (or even several) where the 5 bonus points roll in with almost no effort. Just don’t forget to activate the categories every quarter.

• No annual fee
• Rotating quarterly categories earn 5% rewards when activated, up to a combined quarterly $1,500 maximum
• Travel rewards rate rivals some of the best premium travel cards
• Generous rewards rate in several other categories
• Travel bookings must be made through Chase Travel℠ to earn 5% cash back
• Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
• 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter!
• 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more
• 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
• No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
• 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49%-29.24%.
• No annual fee – You won’t have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Flex℠ card
• Keep tabs on your credit health – Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, real-time alerts, and more.

Best Travel Card for Varied Spending

American express® green card *.

Up to 3X Reward Rate

Earn 3X Membership Rewards points on eligible travel, transit and restaurant purchases including takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn Read More

Earn 40,000 points

See Pay Over Time APR

Excellent/Good (700 - 749)

When you don’t want to limit your earnings only to travel charges, check out the American Express® Green Card * . It offers elevated rewards on dining and local transit, too.

Cardholders have access to annual statement credits for CLEAR® Plus and LoungeBuddy charges, which can easily exceed the cost of the card’s annual fee.

Amex isn’t always accepted overseas, which could be a major issue for international travelers, if they don’t have a backup card.

This is a great midrange card that has access to American Express Membership Rewards®, making it a good choice for someone who doesn’t want the high cost of a Gold or Platinum card.

Occasional travelers who want to be treated like VIPs will find that the Amex Green card has an ideal set of perks. The $100 annual LoungeBuddy credit is just enough to cover airport lounge access a few times a year, and the CLEAR credit provides expedited access through TSA security at major airports across the country. Put them together and it’s a perfect balance of benefits for infrequent flyers at a relatively low annual fee.

• Flexible redemption and points transfer options
• High rewards rate on dining, travel and transit
• Mediocre base rewards rate
• Limited features and perks
• No balance transfer option
• Earn 40,000 points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 6 months
• Earn 3 points per dollar spent on travel, transit purchases and eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide
• Earn 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases
• $189 CLEAR® Plus and $100 LoungeBuddy credits
• Trip delay insurance

Best Premium Travel Cards

Best premium travel rewards card, capital one venture x rewards credit card.

Up to 10X Reward Rate

Earn 2 miles per dollar on all eligible purchases, 5 miles per dollar on flights and 10 miles per dollar Read More

Excellent (750 - 850)

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card ( rates & fees ) is packed with extras that put it firmly in competition with other upscale credit cards. Just as important, the easy earnings structure is ideal for anyone who doesn’t want to stress over details.

Its annual fee is easily recouped through an annual $300 credit for bookings through Capital One Travel and 10,000 bonus miles after your anniversary, which makes the perks feel almost free. A Priority Pass membership also provides value, giving you access to 1,300+ lounges worldwide.

The flat-rate earnings mean that if you have high spending in a single category, you might be better off with a different card.

Travelers who want premium benefits and are willing to book through Capital One Travel, at least once a year.

If you’re looking for lofty perks without a lofty annual fee, the Venture X fits the bill. While other cards with elite benefits run nearly $700 a year, you’ll only pay a little more than half that for the Venture X. And you’ll still get Capital One and Priority Pass airport lounge access for you and your guests, an annual travel credit and solid earnings on everyday purchases.

• Annual fee lower than others in its category
• Annual travel credit through Capital One Travel and anniversary miles alone could justify the annual fee
• Miles are easy to earn and easy to use
• Lack of domestic airline and upscale hotel travel partners
• Capital One lounge network in its infancy
• Lack of hotel status benefits
• Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options
• Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
• Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
• Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
• Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• Elevate every hotel stay from the Premier or Lifestyle Collections with a suite of cardholder benefits, like an experience credit, room upgrades, and more

Best Travel Credit Card for International Travel

Chase sapphire reserve®.

Up to 10x Reward Rate

Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Read More

22.49%-29.49% Variable

Earn superior points rates if you spend frequently on travel and dining out with the Chase Sapphire Reserve® . Its greatest selling point, though, is the awesome list of 1:1 transfer partners. There’s also best-in-market travel insurance benefits and no foreign transaction fee. Plus, as a Visa card , it’s also widely accepted worldwide, so if you travel at least a couple times per year, this card deserves serious consideration.

Cardholders can make up for a chunk of the annual fee with the $300 annual travel credit, a Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership and up to a $100 credit every four years to cover your Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS application fee, all of which make far-flung travel easier to bear. The travel protection benefits have personally reimbursed me more than $1,000.

There’s an extra fee to add an authorized user to your account.

Anyone looking to take advantage of built-in travel insurance protections.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card is one of the most valuable flexible rewards credit cards thanks to its lucrative bonus categories and easy-to-use travel credit. Cardholders can offset the annual fee and get great value when redeeming Chase Ultimate Rewards points earned on the card, thanks to partnerships with numerous airlines and hotels and its convenient travel booking portal, Chase Travel℠.

• $300 annual travel credit is incredibly flexible
• Generous welcome bonus
• Get 50% more value when you redeem points for travel through Chase
• Points transfer to valuable airline and hotel partners
• High annual fee
• High variable APR on purchases
• Excellent credit recommended
• Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $1,125 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 75,000 points are worth $1125 toward travel.
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®

Best Travel Rewards Credit Card for Lounge Access

The platinum card® from american express.

5X Reward Rate

Earn 5 Membership Rewards Points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel and on flights booked directly Read More

Earn 80,000 points

Good,Excellent (700 - 749)

The Platinum Card® from American Express  is destined for frequent travelers who intend to fully leverage the rich set of travel benefits. Trust me when I say the perks can make you feel like a VIP. The staggering annual fee for this classic status card won’t be worth it for everyone, but in the right hands the expense can be well justified.

Lounge access with this card extends beyond the Priority Pass membership you see on other premium cards. Plus, if you’re looking for a giant welcome bonus to get things started, the Platinum Card certainly shakes things up.

Many of the perks are very specifically applied and may require enrollment. Examples include statement credits toward Uber, Saks Fifth Avenue, select digital entertainment, select hotel stays and airline incidental fees.

Cardholders who will track and maximize the long list of member benefits.

Being an Amex Platinum cardholder grants access to the International Airline Program, which can save you money on first and business class seats on more than 20 airlines as well as premium economy tickets for you and up to seven traveling companions. Start your search on the Amex Travel website to find international flights departing or arriving in the U.S. on any of those premium cabins.

• High reward potential on flights and hotels booked through American Express Travel
• Multiple credits can help justify the fee
• Comprehensive airport lounge access
• Luxury travel benefits and elite status with Hilton and Marriott with enrollment
• Very high annual fee
• Maximizing the statement credits takes some work and could be impractical for many
• Reward rate outside of travel is sub-par for a premium card
• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
• $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
• $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
• Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 year period for TSA PreCheck® application fee for a 5-year plan only (through a TSA PreCheck® official enrollment provider), when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
• $695 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.

Best Travel Rewards Earning for Foodies

American express® gold card.

Up to 4X Reward Rate

Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.; Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at Read More

Earn 60,000 points

Foodies and travelers can leverage the American Express® Gold Card  to the hilt, earning up to 4 points per dollar. The annual fee may seem intimidating—I get that. But my household comes out ahead by taking advantage of the card’s dining credits and rotating Amex Offers. It’s an appealing option for anyone who wants to redeem travel rewards but doesn’t spend enough on flights or hotels to require elevated earning categories on travel itself.

The grocery earnings on this card are impressive and rare for a travel card. For someone who wants to transform everyday expenses into a vacation, this card seamlessly blends the experience.

The Amex Gold provides dining credits valid at GrubHub and more plus Uber Cash, but you’re required to enroll and credits are dished out monthly rather than in an annual lump sum.

Cardholders with high spending on food expenses.

This card makes it easy to earn Membership Rewards points while doing regular grocery shopping since the card earns bonus points at supermarkets. And for the nights that cardholders don’t want to cook, they can make use of the monthly dining and Uber credits (which can be used on Uber Eats orders).

• High rewards earnings possibilities
• Points transfer option to many partners
• Add up to 5 authorized users for no additional annual fee
• Can choose from regular or rose gold versions
• No lounge benefits
• Limited options to carry a balance
• High APR for pay over time feature
• High pay over time penalty APR
• Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
• $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
• $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. Enrollment required.
• Get a $100 experience credit with a minimum two-night stay when you book The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel. Experience credit varies by property.
• Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• Annual Fee is $250.

Best Travel Cards for Airlines

Best airline rewards program for international travel, aeroplan® credit card.

Up to 3x Reward Rate

Earn 3x points for each dollar spent on grocery stores, dining at restaurants including takeout and eligible delivery services, and Read More

Earn 70,000 points

21.74% - 28.74% Variable

Many people—myself included—might be tempted to overlook this card that seems geared toward Air Canada passengers. But the Aeroplan® Credit Card recently caught my eye for its strong earning potential and the option to redeem miles for award flights on partner airlines, of which there are dozens.

This card allows you to earn quickly and stretch your miles far. Cardholders may also have access to reduced-price award flights.

Learning the ins and outs of Aeroplan rewards requires a little extra attention. And if you’re drawn in by the automatic status benefits, keep in mind that maintaining status after your initial benefit requires spending $15,000 on the card in a calendar year.

Savvy travelers who mostly fly internationally.

Chase and Air Canada’s co-branded Aeroplan Credit Card will serve as an excellent companion for frequent flyers of Star Alliance and its carriers from United to Lufthansa as you earn valuable Aeroplan points. Maximize your Aeroplan points and redeem for flights and hotels through an extensive partner network. Enjoy additional points-earning opportunities in key everyday categories.

• Excellent rewards earning
• Travel benefits including perks for Air Canada flyers
• Lacks non-travel-related benefits
• Earn 70,000 bonus points
• Earn 70,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
• $95 Annual Fee
• Redeem points for both international and domestic flights with the Aeroplan® Credit Card.
• Fly to another continent and travel the world with the Aeroplan® Credit Card.
• Earn 3X points for each dollar spent at grocery stores, on dining at restaurants, and Air Canada directly. Earn 1X point for each dollar spent on all other purchases.
• 500 bonus points for every $2,000 you spend in a calendar month – up to 1,500 points per month.

Best for British Airways Passengers

British airways visa signature® card.

Earn 85,000 Avios.

British Airways’ Avios reward currency is looked down upon by lots of travelers, but the British Airways Visa Signature® Card offers value, if you know where to look.

This card makes it even easier to lock in a deal, thanks to flight discounts, statement credits toward award flights and the chance to earn a Travel Together Ticket.

Many British Airways redemptions have really high fees associated with them, which takes some of the fun out of booking award flights.

Travelers who fly British Airways annually or more often.

Those who spend enough to earn the Travel Together Ticket can get 50% off the price of their award ticket when traveling solo or get a second seat on the same flight and cabin for a companion at no additional cost beyond taxes and fees. Travel Together Tickets are now valid on British Airways, Iberia and Aer Lingus flights and any of their subsidiaries on itineraries from anywhere in the world for both one-way or round-trip flights.

• Generous rewards on eligible flights
• Potential to earn a companion ticket
• Lucrative welcome bonus
• Rewards rate poor outside of Avios-earning airlines
• Subject to Chase’s 5/24 rule
• No checked baggage or lounge perks
• Limited time offer! Earn 85,000 Avios after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.
• Earn 3 Avios per $1 spent on purchases with British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia, and LEVEL.
• Earn 2 Avios per $1 spent on hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel.
• 10% off British Airways flights starting in the US when you book through the website provided in your welcome materials.
• Every calendar year you make $30,000 in purchases on your British Airways Visa card, you’ll earn a Travel Together Ticket good for two years.
• Pay no foreign transaction fees when you travel abroad.
• Simply tap to pay with your contactless British Airways Visa Signature Card. Just look for the contactless symbol at checkout. It’s fast, easy and secure!

Best United Credit Card

United quest℠ card.

3 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases. 2 miles per $1 spent on dining, select streaming services & all Read More

Earn 60,000 bonus miles

21.99% - 28.99% Variable

Good/Excellent (700 - 749)

Frequent United Airlines customers will appreciate that the United Quest℠ Card comes with an annual $125 United credit, rewards on travel and dining and travel protections such as primary car rental coverage and trip cancellation insurance.

This card rewards your loyalty. You can earn award flight credits after renewing the card and booking eligible award flights with your miles. You’ll also earn 25 Premier Qualifying Points for every $500 in net purchases (including purchases made by authorized users) up to a maximum of 6,000 PQPs, in a calendar year.

The annual fee on the United Quest is more than double the average airline card.

United flyers who aren’t interested in committing to an ultra-premium card.

Don’t let the card’s annual fee scare you off. Even if you’re not a frequent flyer, the perks can make this card worth your while, and the rewards rates are better compared to most airline cards.

• $125 annual United purchase credit
• Earn up to two 5,000-mile award flight credits annually
• Two free checked bags for cardholder and a companion traveling on the same reservation
• Earn up to 6,000 Premier Qualifying Points annually
• Primary auto collision damage waiver for eligible rentals
• Checked baggage benefit only applies to one companion
• Earnings for general purchases are only 1 mile per dollar
• Earn 60,000 bonus miles and 500 PQP after qualifying purchases
• Earn 3 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases
• Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel, dining and select streaming services
• Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Free first and second checked bags – a savings of up to $320 per roundtrip (terms apply) – and priority boarding
• Up to a $125 United® purchase credit and up to 10,000 miles in award flight credits each year (terms apply)
• Earn up to 6,000 Premier qualifying points (25 PQP for every $500 you spend on purchases)

Best Premium Airline Card

United club℠ infinite card.

Earn 4 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases; Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel and Read More

Earn 80,000 bonus miles

United’s top-tier card ties up the whole package. A suite of travel perks makes the United Club℠ Infinite Card a compelling value, with the United Club membership alone worth more than the annual fee. If I flew more often, I’d be tempted by the ability to earn Premier Qualifying Points for eligible charges.

The most prominent benefit is access to United Club airport lounges and other Star Alliance Gold lounges. You’ll also receive two free checked bags for yourself and another person traveling on the same reservation, expedited check-in, security screening and boarding, expanded access to award flights and Premier Upgrades on award tickets, if you have status.

Many loyal customers may already have elite status with United, making the included Premier Access benefits redundant.

United flyers who want airport lounge access when traveling.

If reaching a higher status with United is a priority, the United Club Infinite all but guarantees it, as long as the card is used regularly. Cardholders also enjoy frequent seat upgrades (depending on route and availability) plus always-free United Club access. But these perks come with a hefty price tag.

• United Club membership is worth more than the annual fee
• First and second checked bag free when you pay for your flight with your card
• High regular APR
• Earn 80,000 bonus miles after qualifying purchases
• Earn 4 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases
• Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel and dining
• Free first and second checked bags – a savings of up to $320 per roundtrip (terms apply) – and Premier Access® travel services
• 10% United Economy Saver Award discount within the continental U.S. and Canada
• Earn up to 10,000 Premier qualifying points (25 PQP for every $500 you spend on purchases)

Best Travel Cards for Hotel Points

Best midrange hotel card, ihg one rewards premier credit card.

Up to 26X Reward Rate

Earn up to 26 points total per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts; 5 points per Read More

Earn 140,000 bonus points

21.49% - 28.49% Variable

I stay at IHG properties only a few times a year, but the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is a mainstay in my husband’s wallet. Get it for the benefits, not the points potential: We love the Anniversary Free Night—which alone justifies the annual fee—and appreciate the fourth-night-free feature.

High spenders are showered with extra love. You can earn statement credits, bonus points or upgraded elite status when hitting spending thresholds on the card.

The earning rates aren’t as high as they seem once you realize that IHG One Rewards are typically worth less than a penny apiece.

Travelers who stay at IHG properties one or more times per year.

The IHG One Rewards Premier blows all other mid-tier hotel credit cards out of the water with perks alone. You don’t even have to use the card regularly to offset its annual fee every year.

• Earn up to 26 points per dollar spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts, 5 points on travel, gas stations, and restaurants and 3 points on all other purchases
• Free night award every account anniversary
• Fourth night free on point redemption stays
• Automatic Platinum Elite status
• No worthwhile redemption options outside of IHG properties
• Low overall point value
• Earn 140,000 Bonus Points
• Enjoy an Anniversary Free Night at IHG Hotels & Resorts. Plus, enjoy a fourth reward night free when you redeem points for a consecutive four-night IHG® hotel stay.
• Earn up to 26 total points per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts
• Earn 5 points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, at gas stations, and restaurants. Earn 3 points per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Automatic Platinum Elite status as long as you remain a Premier cardmember
• Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS Statement Credit of up to $100 every 4 years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card
• IHG One Rewards Bonus points are redeemable at Hotels & Resorts such as InterContinental®, Crowne Plaza®, Kimpton®, EVEN® Hotels, Indigo® Hotels & Holiday Inn®

Best Travel Credit Card for Hyatt Loyalists

The world of hyatt credit card.

Up to 9X Reward Rate

Earn up to 9 points total per $1 spent at Hyatt - 4 bonus points per $1 when you use Read More

Up to 60,000 Bonus Points

21.49% - 28.49% variable

While Hyatt doesn’t have an extensive network of properties compared to other chains, the value offered by The World of Hyatt Credit Card is outstanding. If you’re a regular at Hyatt, a combination of high redemption values, sweet perks and one free night per year easily covers the annual fee and then some.

The card comes with five qualifying night credits, but cardholders can earn more through card spending to work their way up the elite ladder.

The automatic Discoverist elite status for cardholders is, frankly, uninspiring.

Hyatt enthusiasts looking to earn extra points and work toward status.

For many Hyatt loyalists, earning Globalist status each year is a priority and this card can help them get there faster by providing five elite night credits annually. Plus the complimentary yearly certificate for a category 1 to 4 Hyatt hotel counts toward elite status too and can offset the card’s annual fee.

• Annual free night certificate on cardmember anniversary
• Complimentary World of Hyatt Discoverist status
• High points redemption values
• Limited number of properties
• No worthwhile redemption options aside from Hyatt properties
• Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Plus, up to 30,000 More Bonus Points by earning 2 Bonus Points total per $1 spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent.
• Enjoy complimentary World of Hyatt Discoverist status for as long as your account is open.
• Get 1 free night each year after your Cardmember anniversary at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort
• Receive 5 tier qualifying night credits towards status after account opening, and each year after that for as long as your account is open
• Earn an extra free night at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel if you spend $15,000 in a calendar year
• Earn 2 qualifying night credits towards tier status every time you spend $5,000 on your card
• Earn up to 9 points total for Hyatt stays – 4 Bonus Points per $1 spent at Hyatt hotels & 5 Base Points per $1 from Hyatt as a World of Hyatt member
• Earn 2 Bonus Points per $1 spent at restaurants, on airline tickets purchased directly from the airlines, on local transit and commuting and on fitness club and gym memberships

Best for Road Warriors

Wyndham rewards earner® plus card *.

Up to 6X Reward Rate

Earn 6 points per $1 spent on eligible purchases made at participating By Wyndham hotels and at gas stations; Earn Read More

100,000 bonus points

20.99% - 29.99% variable

Excellent/Good Credit (700 - 749)

The Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card * offers solid hotel benefits and earning rates for travelers—especially road trippers, thanks to gas rewards and properties that line the interstates.

Guests have access to discounts on both paid and award stays with Wyndham-family hotels. Cardholders are also boosted to Platinum status for upgrades and extras while traveling. And high spenders get an additional reward on top of all this: You’ll earn 7,500 bonus points each anniversary year.

Wyndham Guest Rewards don’t always provide outsized value, which puts your earning rates in perspective.

This card is an obvious choice for regular Wyndham travelers who can take advantage of the discounts and bonus points.

Wyndham loyalists will enjoy the array of perks and benefits offered by the Wyndham Earner Plus card. By providing complimentary PLATINUM loyalty status, this card is primed to ensure an enhanced experience at Wyndham’s 9,000+ properties.

• Automatically receive Wyndham Rewards Platinum elite status
• Enjoy extra discounts on local attractions when booking “Go Free” awards
• APR can be high, depending on your creditworthiness
• Target and Walmart only earn 1 point per dollar spent
• Only hotel redemptions offer good value
• Earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first six months of account opening. Resort fees may apply
• Earn 6 points per $1 spent on hotels by Wyndham and gas purchases
• Earn 4 points per $1 spent on dining and groceries (excluding Target and Walmart)
• Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Receive Wyndham Rewards PLATINUM membership, which includes early check-in, car rental upgrades and more
• Receive 7,500 bonus points each anniversary year

Best for Marriott Customers

Marriott bonvoy boundless® credit card *.

Earn 6 points for every $1 at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels, 3 points for every $1 spent each year (up Read More

Earn 3 Free Night Awards

Overwhelmed by all of Marriott’s credit card options? So am I. The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card * is the best value for most customers, given a robust set of perks and rewards potential without an eye-popping annual fee.

The Free Night Award, provided each year after renewal, is valued at 35,000 points and can be topped off if you prefer an upgraded stay.

If you currently hold a Marriott-branded credit card, you may not be eligible for this one. Choose your card wisely before applying!

Marriott Bonvoy members looking for a little extra without a high annual fee.

The card’s free award night perk alone makes the card worth a spot in any traveler’s wallet. The option to combine the certificate with up to 15,000 points to get more flexibility for your annual stay is a nice touch.

• Free night certificate every year (valued at 35,000 points)
• 15 Elite Night Credits per year
• Automatic Silver Elite status
• Stingy earnings structure
• Earn 3 Free Night Awards after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening
• Earn 6 points per dollar on qualifying Marriott Bonvoy hotel stays
• Earn 3 points per dollar spent on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on groceries, gas stations, and dining
• Earn 2 points per dollar spent on all other purchases
• Points don’t expire as long as you make purchases on your credit card every 24 months

Best Credit Card for Hilton Travelers

Hilton honors american express surpass® card.

Up to 12X Reward Rate

Earn 12X Hilton Honors bonus points on eligible purchases at participating hotels or resorts within the Hilton portfolio; Earn 6X Read More

Earn 130,000 bonus points

20.99%-29.99% Variable

For a midrange card, you’ll enjoy fabulous on-site perks with Hilton just for being a Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card  member. You’ll have automatic Gold status without any spending or earning requirements.

The elite status is significant, but so are the points. The Surpass is known for its sizable welcome offer and strong earnings on Hilton spending. There’s hotel savings, too: You can earn statement credits when using your card to pay for a Hilton stay, up to $50 per quarter (that’s $200 per year).

Though some other hotel credit cards dole out free night certificates like candy, you have to earn one with the Surpass. It takes $15,000 in annual eligible spending for a free night reward.

Unsurprisingly, this card is best for someone who travels with Hilton throughout the year. The quarterly statement credits mean you’ll need to stay often to maximize that benefit.

The Hilton Surpass is a great fit for Hilton fans who don’t want to pay a high annual fee to earn points and status with their favorite hotel chain. The card’s complimentary Hilton Gold elite status and Free Night Reward after spending $15,000 on the card in a year are nice perks and the up to $200 in credits for purchases at Hilton properties each year are more than enough to offset the card’s entire annual fee on their own.

• Complimentary elite Gold status
• Up to $200 back annually on eligible Hilton purchases
• 4 points per dollar on U.S. online retail purchases
• Points have a low redemption value aside from Hilton properties
• Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points plus a Free Night Reward after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 7/31/2024.
• Get up to $200 back each year on eligible Hilton purchases after you use your Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card.
• Earn 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio.
• Earn 6X Points for each dollar of purchases on your Card at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations.
• Earn 4X Points for each dollar on U.S. Online Retail Purchases.
• Earn 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
• Earn a Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
• Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors ™ Gold Status with your Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card.
• Spend $40,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn Hilton Honors™ Diamond Status through the end of the next calendar year.
• Enjoy complimentary National Car Rental® Emerald Club Executive® status. Enrollment in the complimentary Emerald Club® program is required. Terms apply.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
• $150 annual fee.

Here's a Summary of the Best Travel Credit Cards

Methodology.

Forbes Advisor considered dozens of airline, hotel and flexible-rewards credit cards to create this list of the best travel credit cards. The primary factors taken into consideration for all types were:

• Estimated annual earnings—25% to 50% depending on card category
• Welcome bonus—15% to 25% depending on card category
• Travel benefits—15% to 25% depending on card category
• Annual fee—5% to 15% depending on card category
• Consumer benefits—0% to 10% depending on card category
• Foreign transaction fee—0% to 5% depending on card category

Hotel earnings rate was weighted 25% for hotel credit cards and airline earnings rate was weighted 15% for airline credit cards.

Forbes Advisor rates cards both as stand-alone products (the card rating on the review) and compared to others in a specific use case. Sometimes, cards with average stand-alone ratings may still rank highly on a particular list according to how a person looking for a card in that category may value certain card features.

For instance, a card that might be considered mediocre overall could be the top card on a list of rewards cards with no annual fee. That’s because the card might offer limited features compared to other rewards cards, but after we remove cards that charge an annual fee, it’s the best card that remains.

Forbes Advisor uses data from multiple government agencies to determine how much a typical cardholder might spend. We use the same numbers for cards in the same category to make sure we are comparing cards the same way. The bonus categories for spending included with each card are factored into our determination of how many rewards a cardholder could expect to earn if they use the card as a consumer normally would.

Read more: How Forbes Advisor rates credit cards

Complete Guide to Travel Credit Cards

What is a travel credit card, how do travel credit cards work, types of travel credit cards, co-branded travel cards vs. general travel cards, pros and cons of travel credit cards, how many travel credit cards should i have, how to compare travel credit cards, evaluating airline credit cards, evaluating hotel credit cards, how to maximize credit card points for travel, how to travel for free with credit cards.

• Travel Rewards Cards in the News

Are Travel Credit Cards Worth It?

Frequently asked questions (faqs).

A travel credit card is a card that earns rewards on travel. Rewards may be earned in the form of airline miles, hotel points or flexible points that can be transferred to partners or applied towards travel charges.

Many travel credit cards also come with additional benefits such as free checked bags, priority boarding, elite status, access to airport lounges and even discounts on hotels or rental cars. Some cards offer welcome bonuses when you meet an initial purchase threshold, which can provide a nice cache of points or miles to help you start redeeming for valuable rewards. The best travel cards also charge no foreign transaction fees, which means there is no extra charge from the credit card company to make purchases abroad.

A travel rewards credit card accrues miles or points for each purchase made with the card. Every card has a different earning and redemption structure.

• A co-branded card , like one labeled with Marriott or Southwest, will earn rewards in the specifically named travel brand.
• General travel cards may instead earn flexible bank points, like those you see with Chase Ultimate Rewards® or American Express Membership Rewards® .

Here’s how credit card points and miles work:

1. Earn rewards when you make purchases. Nearly all purchases on a card will earn rewards at the rate specified by the card. Rates may vary based on the type of purchase.

2. Rewards are deposited into your account. Most cards update your rewards balance once per month, after your billing statement closes. On co-branded cards, travel rewards are typically deposited into your existing airline or hotel account automatically. On general travel cards, you’ll most likely have a bank of points where rewards pool.

3. Consider your reward options. Airline and hotel point values often are variable, which means that the value of a point may fluctuate depending on the specific redemption. Before you make a redemption, ensure that you’re happy with the value of your specific reward.

4. Make a redemption. Once you’ve chosen a redemption option, you’ll need to follow the specific direction to request your reward. Depending on the type of redemption, you might request this through your card issuer through their travel portal or your preferred travel partner.

There are many other intricacies to redeeming miles and points , so if you’re not confident on all your options, you’ll want to review the opportunities from your program before committing to a redemption.

Not all travel credit cards are alike. Here’s how the various types break down, so you can choose which type of rewards card is best for your unique circumstances.

Transferable Rewards Credit Cards

These types of credit cards earn rewards that can be transferred to other programs, like airline or hotel loyalty programs. Transferable rewards include Capital One Rewards , Bilt Rewards , Brex Rewards , Chase Ultimate Rewards® , American Express Membership Rewards , Wells Fargo Rewards and Citi ThankYou® Points .

Airline Credit Cards

Airline credit cards earn miles that can be used to redeem for future purchases with that airline. You can also use that airline’s miles to book flights on partners, which may yield more award opportunities. Some common airline credit card extras may include free checked baggage, priority boarding, a TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry application fee credit and airport lounge access. If you’re able to max out these extras, the perks can often be worth more than the annual fee.

Hotel Credit Cards

With hotel cards, you’ll earn rewards in the hotel’s currency, like Marriott Bonvoy points , Hilton Honors points or World of Hyatt points , which are redeemable towards any eligible hotel property under that brand’s umbrella. Some cards also confer automatic elite status upon ownership, which comes with benefits that can range from late check-out to free breakfast to room upgrades. Additionally, many cards also offer one night free annually every year you renew your card membership, as well as other perks such as airport lounge access.

Fixed-Value Credit Cards

Credit card points may often have a fixed-value when redeemed for things like cash back or travel, where the issuer publishes the cash value per point. For example, a card may offer a value of a penny per point when redeemed for any valid travel purchase. Fixed-value points currencies can also vary by redemption type. For example, points on a card might be worth 1.5 cents each when redeemed for travel rewards, but only be worth 1 cent each when redeemed for cash back.

Business Credit Cards for Travel

If you’re traveling for work and you want to keep your business expenses separate from your personal expenses, a travel business credit card may be worth considering. Business credit cards for travel function the same as consumer credit cards for travel, although the business versions often offer different earning rates and perks, as well as a different annual fee structure.

A co-branded card generally makes sense if you tend to stay loyal to that brand when you travel. Using a co-branded card can fast-track you towards elite status with a hotel or airline and often comes with other valuable benefits. If you’d prefer to fly any airline you choose and stay at any hotel brand you’d like, a general travel card is likely a better choice for your needs.

What You Get With General Travel Credit Cards

With travel credit cards, the level of benefits will most likely be associated with the annual fee. A premium card might come with airport lounge access, travel protections including trip cancellation and delay insurance and exclusive privileges at luxury hotels. A midrange card might still offer auto rental insurance and a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® benefit . Even a card with no annual fee might offer some basic benefits depending on the card.

What You Get With Co-branded Travel Credit Cards

A co-branded travel card will offer benefits specific to that brand. For airline cards, you might see a checked bag benefit or a discount on in-flight purchases. For hotel cards, you might see a status level, a free annual night award or anniversary points. Both types of cards might offer you the ability to spend towards higher levels of status.

To learn more about the best co-branded credit cards, see our guides below:

• Best Southwest Credit Cards
• Best American Airlines Credit Cards
• Best Delta Credit Cards
• Best United Credit Cards
• Best Hyatt Credit Cards
• Best Marriott Credit Cards

Ask an Expert

Is it better to choose a flexible travel rewards card or one branded to a specific airline or hotel?

Yanely Espinal

Credit Cards Expert

Clint Proctor

Credit Cards Lead Editor

Becky Pokora

Credit Cards Writer

If I had to choose, I’d say flexible travel rewards because it allows for much more versatility in your redemption options beyond just flights and hotel stays. But the best approach is to have both. You can maximize benefits from each card type by earning rewards across all of the spending you normally do, while getting perks with your favorite travel providers at the same time.

Since I’m not particularly loyal to any airline or hotel, I prefer the flexibility of general travel cards. I especially appreciate travel cards that offer transfers to travel partners. With flexible rewards, I can access 10 to 20 or more loyalty programs from a single card. This increases my chances of being able to take advantage of the best award deals that are available for my next trip.

I love that most co-branded travel cards include benefits when booking with that brand. Free night certificates on hotel cards and free checked bags with airlines are valuable perks. Plus, even though earning a single type of point might seem limited, big hotel chains have more than a dozen brand choices and airlines may have 10 or more alliance partners, so you’ll still find plenty of versatility.

The number of travel credit cards you should have depends on how often you travel, which benefits you value, your financial situation and whether you’re willing to spend time tracking multiple cards. Frequent travelers can find value in holding at least one travel card, but may consider holding several. For example, having both an airline card and a hotel card can provide complementary benefits and the ability to earn rewards for all aspects of your travel plans.

When comparing travel credit cards, items to consider include:

• Annual fee. The annual fee on credit cards ranges from zero to several hundred dollars. In general, the more expensive the card, the richer the perks and rewards. It can be well worth it to pay an annual fee, if you’ll use the associated benefits. However, there are travel credit cards without an annual fee , if you’re more comfortable with that structure.
• Foreign transaction fee. If you’re traveling out of the country, be sure your travel card doesn’t carry any foreign transaction fees. Foreign transaction fees can be an additional 2% to 3% surcharge on top of the price of your purchase and makes everything you buy in a foreign country more expensive. Foreign transaction charges also apply to purchases made in other currencies, even if you haven’t left the U.S. The best no foreign transaction fee cards ensure you’re not paying this surcharge.
• Sign-up bonus. If you’re trying to decide between two similar cards, it can help to consider the welcome offer on a given card. Since these are one-time offers, it shouldn’t be the only thing you think about in a travel card comparison, but they can certainly offset the annual fee and/or the cost of future travel.
• Rewards rate. When choosing a card, think about your spending patterns. If you rarely fly, it may not make sense to own a card that offers the most rewards on airline purchases. Choose a card that rewards where you’ll spend most.
• International acceptance. In some countries, all credit cards may be accepted, but that isn’t always the case. When traveling outside of the United States, Visa and Mastercard tend to be more widely accepted than American Express or other cards. Because of this, if you travel often, you may want to choose a Visa or Mastercard either in addition to or in lieu of other types of cards.
• Travel protections. Many travel credit cards include various forms of travel protections, such as trip interruption coverage or collision damage waivers for rental cars. These included protections could save you money compared to separately purchased policies, but won’t necessarily be as comprehensive. If you travel often, it might be worth specifically seeking out the best credit cards with travel insurance or the best credit cards for car rental insurance .
• Perks. Also consider any special perks when you compare credit cards. These might range from airport lounge access to statement credit reimbursements for certain purchases made with select brands or on purchases in specific categories.

Airline credit cards typically earn frequent flyer miles on every purchase. Co-branded airline cards also frequently come with perks while traveling, like free checked bags, enhanced award space or lounge access. They may also help you achieve elite status more easily.

When evaluating the best airline credit cards , think about:

• Earning rates. Many airline credit cards don’t offer elevated earnings on categories other than airline spending, so you’ll need to choose carefully if that’s important to you.
• Perks while flying. Typically, only cards with an annual fee include benefits while flying such as priority boarding or complimentary checked bags.
• Elite-qualifying bonuses. Some cards include bonus elite-qualifying miles when hitting spending thresholds, which can further enhance your flying experience.
• Companion fares. Some airline cards offer the opportunity to earn a companion certificate, which allows you to bring a second traveler on your trip for a reduced price.

Additionally, redeeming frequent flyer miles can be more complicated than requesting cash back or other types of rewards. Though using miles for award flights can lead to tremendous value, you’ll need to learn the ropes of the program.

Hotel credit cards earn points toward future free stays, but this is one case where the benefits can often outshine rewards. More often than not, hotel cards come with automatic elite status, as well as a fast track to even higher levels of status. Plus, annual free night certificates or statement credits add even more to their value proposition.

Many hotel loyalty programs offer multiple co-branded cards to choose from, making it even more important to compare the characteristics of an individual card. It’s not uncommon for a single hotel brand to offer a no-annual-fee card, a mid-tier card and a premium card—each with different earning rates and benefits.

When evaluating hotel credit cards, consider:

• Elite status offers. Generally speaking, cards with higher annual fees may automatically bump you to higher elite status levels, which can be invaluable for frequent stays.
• Free night certificates. Many, but not all, hotel cards offer free night certificates either upon renewal of your card or when hitting spending thresholds. Each certificate may come with restrictions on when or where you can redeem it, so compare fine print.
• Earning rates. Hotel cards may offer huge multipliers on bonus categories, allowing you to earn five to 10 times on certain purchases. However, keep expectations in check: Hotel points may not be worth a full penny per point.
• Statement credits. Some cards may include statement credits toward eligible purchases made at hotels and resorts or even on airline fees or restaurant purchases, which can be valuable, but you’ll need to actually use them.

The best way to make the most of your credit card is to use a card that aligns with your spending patterns.

• Choose a card that offers bonus points in spending categories meaningful to you
• Credit card pairings can maximize your earnings by pooling points from two or more cards that have different bonus categories
• Use your credit card instead of cash or debit when possible

Airline and Hotel Rewards Loyalty Programs

Understanding how to get the most out of the points and miles you earn from your travel credit card goes hand-in-hand with using the loyalty programs offered by most airlines and hotel brands. It’s free to join and you can belong to as many loyalty programs as you like. Typically, when you sign up for a co-branded credit card affiliated with a particular brand, you’ll automatically become a member of the loyalty program if you aren’t already.

Track Your Credit Card Points and Miles Earnings

Tracking your spending allows you to make sure that every time you make a purchase, you’re using the card that earns the most rewards. This means knowing which card to use in which scenario based on how a particular merchant codes the purchase . For example, if you own two credit cards, one that earns high rewards on dining and one co-branded airline card, it might not make sense to use the airline card to pay your restaurant tab since the dining card likely earns more rewards. You can do this by various methods as complicated as creating a spreadsheet or as simple as putting stickers on each card to remind you when to use it.

How To Use Credit Card Points for Travel

Beyond earning rewards, there are strategies to get the most value when it comes time to redeem your rewards, too. When you’re ready to cash in your travel rewards, there’s generally two ways to do it. You can plan the itinerary you want and use your rewards to fully or partially off-set the cost. Or, you can research to see where the rewards you have can be used to get the most bang for your buck. Now, American Express is making it easier for some cardmembers to redeem miles for flights due to a partnership with Point.me .

Find the Best Credit Cards for 2024

No single credit card is the best option for every family, every purchase or every budget. We've picked the best credit cards in a way designed to be the most helpful to the widest variety of readers.

Travel with credit card points can save you a lot of money on travel compared to paying full price. A combination of welcome bonus offers and the rewards you earn from everyday spending can add up to hundreds of dollars in value toward free travel. However, you’ll need to learn the rules of your specific program to maximize travel points and get the most possible value

Included statement credits or card benefits can also help you travel for free. Premium credit cards may offer annual credits toward the purchase of select travel, effectively serving as a rebate. Alternatively, you might have airline companion certificates or hotel free night certificates, which work more like a coupon.

Travel Rewards Cards In the News

It’s hard to imagine there’s a need for even more travel credit cards, but a few new cards have launched recently providing even more options for frequent flyers. Qatar Airways launched two new credit cards and Avianca Airlines has a waitlist for their forthcoming card . These are more niche programs that won’t appeal to everyone, but advanced miles gurus will appreciate the new opportunities these cards present.

Study: Many Americans Don’t Want To Pay Credit Card Annual Fees

Many travel rewards cards come with premium benefits—but premium fees to match. While some people find this a fair trade, the vast majority of Americans aren’t interested. According to a survey for Forbes Advisor in May 2024, 38% of respondents prefer no-annual-fee credit cards , regardless of the potential perks. When consumers do consider paying credit card annual fees, the lower the better.

Some of the most rewarding travel cards come with triple-digit annual fees, but not all of them. There are fantastic mid-range choices with annual fees of $99 or less—and they often include benefits that are worth double or triple that cost if you travel a few times a year. However, don’t shy away from travel cards completely even if you’re set against annual fees. The best no-annual-fee travel cards offer fantastic rewards without the out-of-pocket cost.

Generally speaking, yes, travel credit cards are worth it —if you’ll use the benefits. Travel rewards credit cards can be a strategic addition to your finances, if you travel with any regularity. You’ll be able to earn rewards on every purchase and later redeem those rewards toward future trips—often at a higher yield than cash back. Many travel cards also include benefits to enhance your travel experience along the way to add even more value.

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.

To view rates and fees for The Platinum Card® from American Express please visit this page . To view rates and fees for American Express® Gold Card please visit this page . To view rates and fees for Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card please visit this page .

What is considered travel for credit cards?

Each issuer’s definition of purchases or categories may vary slightly, but categories likely to be included by any issuer include airfare, hotels, rental cars and cruises. For example, Chase offers a fairly wide definition of travel including airlines, hotels, motels, timeshares, car rental agencies, cruise lines, travel agencies, discount travel sites, campgrounds and operators of passenger trains, buses, taxis, limousines, ferries, toll bridges and highways and parking lots and garages all considered travel eligible for rewards.

Even if your purchase would typically count toward a category, it’s worth noting that merchants are usually responsible for the categorization. So if the merchant you purchase from isn’t categorized correctly, your transaction likely won’t earn rewards.

Is it a good idea to use a credit card when traveling?

Paying by credit card can be a smart idea while traveling since it offers additional protections compared to paying with cash or debit card. You might also earn rewards on your purchases by paying by card. Before traveling internationally, check to see whether or not your credit card charges a foreign transaction fee. If it does, every transaction will cost you a little extra (usually around 3%). The best travel cards don’t charge this fee.

What is the easiest travel credit card to get?

Most travel credit cards require good to excellent credit scores. However, generally speaking, travel cards with no annual fee are typically easier to be approved for than the ultra-premium travel cards with high annual fees.

What is the best credit card with travel insurance?

Forbes Advisor’s best credit cards for travel insurance list has a variety of cards offering solid travel insurance. Although you shouldn’t get a credit card for this feature alone, it can be a useful money-saving extra. Credit cards that offer travel insurance tend to have high annual fees, so keep this in mind when weighing whether or not you are likely to use the feature.

What is the best card for international travel?

Many credit cards are well suited for international travel. You want to make sure that the card has no foreign transaction fees . It also helps if the card’s points are suitable for the locations where you wish to travel. For instance, if you want to go to Asia, an airline card co-branded with a U.S.-based airline that doesn’t fly to Asia, like Southwest, won’t help you.

How many miles do you need for a free flight?

The number of miles you need for a free flight depends on different factors, including which airline miles you are using, your departure and arrival destination, your dates and other factors. Most domestic airlines have ditched award charts, meaning the price in miles for any flight can vary, even between flights, on the same day.

Domestic flights in the U.S. generally require fewer miles than international flights. Typically, count on spending between 5,000 and 20,000 miles for a domestic one-way economy flight. Long-haul international flights can cost quite a bit more. Plan on spending between 20,000 to 40,000 miles each way to fly to Europe in economy and even more for flights to Asia, Africa and Oceania.

Don’t forget to consider the cost of checked bags and fuel surcharges before booking your ticket. Flights booked with rewards are also often subject to government taxes and fees, which you’ll still be responsible for even when you redeem miles.

How much is a point or mile worth on travel credit cards?

Point values are as varied as the types of points themselves. Some cards’ point values are more straightforward because rates are somewhat tied to the cash prices. However, if a program uses an awards chart, the value of the point varies widely depending on how you are redeeming it. In general, you’ll get the highest value per point on premium airline seats and luxury hotel stays.

What is the difference between points and miles on a credit card?

Points and miles are effectively the same, they’re just different names for the rewards earned on a particular credit card. Some credit cards offer points, some—particularly airline cards—offer miles. But the fundamental function is the same. Rewards cards all earn a specified type of award currency based on your spending that can be used in various ways.

How should I inform my credit card company of upcoming travel?

Notifying your credit card issuer of your travel plans before you travel can help avoid denied transactions due to suspected fraud. An issuer’s system may flag a transaction as suspicious and prohibit a transaction, if it suspects your card or card information has been stolen. For this reason, issuers typically make it fairly easy to notify them when you’re headed out of town. You can notify your issuer of your travels by calling the number on the back of your card or logging onto your card issuer’s website to find the option to submit a travel notice.

Many cards do not require this step, but you can always call your card provider to be certain.

Is three credit cards too many?

As long as you can pay your bills on time and don’t charge more than intended, it’s fine to have three (or more) credit cards. Some people prefer to hold additional cards because they each have different rewards and benefits, though it requires more account management and potentially annual fees. Having additional cards can be beneficial if you ever need to suspend an account for suspicious activity, as well.

Do I have to tell my credit card company when I travel?

Most credit card issuers no longer require you to notify them before travel. In fact, Chase and some other companies have removed the travel notification tools from your online account or app. Card fraud alerts are more advanced now and legitimate transactions should post without incident.

However, you may want to be sure you have access to confirm whether or not something is suspected of fraud just in case—either by making sure your phone number has service abroad to respond to automated text messages or by downloading your card app in advance, to manage your account.

Other Credit Cards To Be Considered

• Best Business Credit Cards for Travel
• Best No Annual Fee Travel Credit Cards

*The information for the following card(s) has been collected independently by Forbes Advisor: Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card, American Express® Green Card, Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card, Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card . The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

With more than 50 million redeemed miles under her belt, Becky Pokora is a rewards travel expert. She's been writing about credit cards and reward travel since 2011 with articles on Forbes Advisor, BoardingArea, The Points Guy and more. Her redemptions have helped her travel to more than 50 countries and all seven continents.

Over a decade of editorial experience across a number of publications and more than 60 countries visited have given Dylan Pearl a wealth of travel knowledge, and the tools to effectively communicate that knowledge to others. Dylan has made it his mission to see as much of the world as possible, and strives to give everyone the tools to get out and do the same with simple, actionable information.

Yanely Espinal is the director of educational outreach for Next Gen Personal Finance, a nonprofit working to ensure that every high school student gets a full semester of personal finance education—including lessons in proper credit card usage—before graduation. She is often described as a ball of energy, with a gift for storytelling, and a passion for explaining credit cards and other financial concepts in a straightforward way.   While working as an elementary school teacher, Yanely decided to change her financial life by paying off $20,000 of debt in just 18 months. In 2015 she created MissBeHelpful, a YouTube channel and social media platform that now has over 5 million views, to help others learn the money skills she never learned in school. Some of her most popular videos on the channel include “5 Things to Consider When Applying for a Credit Card” and “When To Pay Your Credit Card Bill and Increase Your Credit Score.”   Her book, “Mind Your Money,” is an Amazon bestseller and was a Plutus Award finalist for Best New Personal Finance Book of 2023. She hosts Financially Inclined from Marketplace, a video podcast for teens about money lessons for living life your own way. Yanely is also a member of CNBC's Financial Wellness Advisory Council and an Advocate at the NGPF Mission 2030 Fund.  

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Traveling like a local for Pride: Grindr tips will help you make the most of 10 US cities

• Grindr users voted for their favorite queer-owned businesses, bars, gyms, and gay-friendly hotels in 10 cities.
• The results will get posted on Instagram throughout the month for Pride.
• Here’s what Grindr users recommend in the app’s 10 selected cities.

Grindr, the popular gay dating app, has been on a mission to become more than a source for quick encounters.

Earlier this spring, it announced Roam, an update to the app’s Explore feature, that lets users place their profile in another location for up to an hour. The company says that feature lets travelers talk to locals and make connections ahead of any trip.

Grindr also polled its users for local tips in 10 gayborhoods across the U.S.

“Forget TripAdvisor, Grindr users are the travel agents when it comes to sniffing out the best spots to eat, drink, sweat, and sleep in these 10 gayborhoods across America,” a statement from Grindr said. “We asked them to vote for their favorite queer-owned businesses, bars, gyms, and gay-friendly hotels in each city.”

The results will get posted on Instagram throughout the month for Pride. Here’s what Grindr users recommend in the app’s 10 selected cities:

Learn more: Best travel insurance

San Francisco

• Best Hotel: Bay Bridge Inn
• Best Gym: Fitness SF
• Best Queer Owned Business: Fabulosa Books
• Best Gay Bar: Hi Tops SF

Los Angeles

• Best Hotel: Ramada West Hollywood
• Best Gym: Gold's Gym
• Best Queer Owned Business: Circus of Books
• Best Gay Bar: Akbar
• Best Hotel: The Clarendon
• Best Gym: Planet Fitness
• Best Queer Owned Business: Window Coffee Bar
• Best Gay Bar: Charlie's

New Orleans

• Best Hotel: New Orleans Mardi Gras Inn
• Best Gym: New Orleans Athletic Club
• Best Queer Owned Business: Bourbon Pride
• Best Gay Bar: Good Friends Bar
• Best Hotel: W Hotel Midtown
• Best Gym: LA Fitness
• Best Queer Owned Business: Boy Next Door Menswear
• Best Gay Bar: Eagle Atlanta

Here to stay: Why drag is critical in the U.S. and sometimes safer abroad

Wilton Manors, Florida

• Best Hotel: The Gaythering
• Best Gym: Crunch Fitness - Oakland Park
• Best Queer Owned Business: Hamburger Mary's
• Best Gay Bar: Hunters Nightclub

Columbus, Ohio

• Best Hotel: Moxy
• Best Gym: Club Columbus
• Best Queer Owned Business: Torso
• Best Gay Bar: AWOL
• Best Hotel: Best Western Plus Hawthorne Terrace
• Best Gym: Steamworks 
• Best Queer Owned Business: The Men's Room
• Best Gay Bar: Sidetrack Bar
• Best Hotel: Hampton Inn
• Best Gym: Club Pittsburgh
• Best Queer Owned Business: 5801
• Best Gay Bar: Blue Moon

New York City

• Best Hotel: The Standard
• Best Gym: Equinox 
• Best Queer Owned Business: Big Gay Ice Cream
• Best Gay Bar: The Eagle NYC

Zach Wichter is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in New York. You can reach him at [email protected].

The Key Points at the top of this article were created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and reviewed by a journalist before publication. No other parts of the article were generated using AI. Learn more .

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Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported comparison service. The offers that appear on this site are from companies from which Bankrate.com receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site, including, for example, the order in which they may appear within listing categories. Other factors, such as our own proprietary website rules and the likelihood of applicants' credit approval, also impact how and where products appear on this site. Bankrate.com does not include the entire universe of available financial or credit offers.

Bankrate has partnerships with issuers including, but not limited to, American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Citi and Discover.

Best travel credit cards of June 2024

• • Credit card strategy
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Bankrate expert Garrett Yarbrough strives to make navigating credit cards and credit building smooth sailing for his readers. After regularly featuring his credit card, credit monitoring and identity theft analysis on NextAdvisor.com, he joined the CreditCards.com and Bankrate teams as a staff writer to develop product reviews and comprehensive credit card guides focused on cash back, credit scores and card offers.

• • Rewards credit cards
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Nouri Zarrugh is a writer and editor for CreditCards.com and Bankrate,  focusing on product news, guides and reviews. His areas of expertise include credit card strategy, rewards programs, point valuation and credit scores, and his stories on building credit have been cited by Mic.com, LifeHacker, People.com and more. Through his thorough card reviews and product comparisons, Nouri strives to demystify personal finance topics and credit card terms and conditions to help readers save money and protect their credit score.

• • Credit cards
• • Personal finance

Stephanie Zito is a professional traveler, self-employed humanitarian consultant and collector of credit card points. She shares savvy travel tips that she’s learned firsthand circling the globe for more than 25 years. She’s a backpacker, expect and premium traveler who’s visited more than 130 countries and all seven continents. Her life motto is “See the world, change the world, have fun doing it!” and her mission is to inspire others along the journey.

The listings that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which Bankrate receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Here's an explanation for how we make money.

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You have money questions. Bankrate has answers. Our experts have been helping you master your money for over four decades. We continually strive to provide consumers with the expert advice and tools needed to succeed throughout life’s financial journey.

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We’re transparent about how we are able to bring quality content, competitive rates, and useful tools to you by explaining how we make money.

Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison service. We are compensated in exchange for placement of sponsored products and services, or by you clicking on certain links posted on our site. Therefore, this compensation may impact how, where and in what order products appear within listing categories, except where prohibited by law for our mortgage, home equity and other home lending products. Other factors, such as our own proprietary website rules and whether a product is offered in your area or at your self-selected credit score range, can also impact how and where products appear on this site. While we strive to provide a wide range of offers, Bankrate does not include information about every financial or credit product or service.

Travel credit cards help you earn valuable points and miles on your purchases. For maximum value, some cards earn rewards not only on travel, but also everyday purchases like dining, groceries and gas. You can redeem these rewards for free or discounted flights, hotel stays or to cover other travel-related expenses.

The best travel cards also come with additional features. Even no-annual-fee travel cards are likely to offer perks like sign-up bonuses, intro APR offers and travel insurance. But for top-of-the-line benefits like airport lounge access, elite status and travel credits, expect to pay an annual fee.

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Bankrate's Best Travel Credit Cards of June 2024

• Best starter travel card:  Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
• Best for flat-rate rewards:  Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
• Best for luxury travel:  The Platinum Card® from American Express
• Best for no annual fee:  Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card  ( See Rates & Fees )
• Best for foodies:  American Express® Gold Card
• Best for everyday spending: Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
• Best for intro APR:  Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
• Best for point values:  Chase Sapphire Reserve®
• Best for practical perks:  Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
• Best for pairing:  Chase Freedom Unlimited®
• Best for hotel bookings: Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card
• Best no-annual-fee hotel card:  Hilton Honors American Express Card
• Best luxury hotel card:  Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
• Best for transfer partners:  Bilt Mastercard®
• Best for gas:  Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card
• Best for companion tickets:  Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
• Best starter airline card:  Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
• Best for expedited security screening:  Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card
• Best for first-year value:  Discover it® Miles
• Best for fair credit:  Credit One Bank Wander® Card
• What to know about travel credit cards
• Tips for choosing the best travel card

Travel credit card perks

How do credit card points and miles work.

• Expert advice on travel cards

How we assess the best travel credit cards

• Frequently asked questions
• Ask the experts

Credit range

A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.

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Best starter travel card

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

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Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.

Intro offer

Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

We calculate this number by multiplying the card's intro offer by Bankrate's valuation of this issuer's rewards program , showing you how much your points or miles are worth in dollars.

Rewards rate

5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠. 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries. 2x on all other travel purchases. 1x on all other purchases.

Regular APR

• 5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠.
• 3x 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries.
• 2x 2x on all other travel purchases.
• 1x 1x on all other purchases.

What we love: This popular card comes loaded with features that can make it easy even for occasional travelers to offset the modest $95 annual fee without eating into hard-earned rewards. Plus, its rewards program is one of the best, giving you some of the most valuable travel redemptions — through both Chase and transfer partners — and Chase card pairing opportunities if you want to build your card portfolio eventually. Learn more: Why expert Margaret Weck loves using the Chase Sapphire Preferred Alternatives:   If you’re looking for an even simpler travel card, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a terrific option. Its flat rewards rate makes it easy to know exactly how much you’ll earn with every purchase and though it can’t match the Sapphire Preferred’s redemption flexibility, it offers more redemption options than the typical travel rewards card. 

• You earn Ultimate Rewards points with this card — some of the most valuable and flexible rewards around, especially if you pair it with Chase’s cash back cards in the future.
• The card touts significant long-term benefits like anniversary bonus points and travel credits, as well as travel protections like trip cancellation insurance and a car rental collision damage waiver.
• Doesn’t offer airline- or hotel-specific perks like free checked bags, elite status or free night stays.
• The sign-up bonus is decent, but the card has previously offered higher, chart-topping bonus points.
• Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 75,000 points are worth $937.50 toward travel.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
• Member FDIC

Best for flat-rate rewards

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

New Venture cardholders can earn 75,000 miles once they spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening

5 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day

2 Miles - 5 Miles

• 5 Miles 5 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 2 Miles 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day

What we love: It’s a great option for travelers looking for a straightforward rewards program and flexible redemption options. You'll earn unlimited miles on all eligible spending and can redeem not only for travel bookings, but also as a statement credit to cover travel purchases made in the past 90 days. Learn more: Why expert Jacqueline DeMarco loves the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card Alternatives: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers a higher rewards rate in some everyday spending categories and potentially more valuable points. Chase points are worth 1.25 cents each if you redeem for travel through Chase, while Capital One miles are only worth 1 cent each when you redeem for travel. Plus, Chase rewards are more helpful for occasional travelers since you can redeem as cash back at 1-cent-per-point value.

• Carries solid perks given its low annual fee, including expedited airport purchase security and hotel experience credits, lost luggage reimbursement and more.
• Zero foreign transaction fees make this an excellent choice for international travelers.
• You can’t offset the annual fee with annual travel credits or bonuses alone as you can with some rival cards.
• The card’s sign-up bonus carries a high spending requirement, so it may be tough to earn if you don’t have large purchases on the horizon.
• Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
• Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
• Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
• Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
• Enrich every hotel stay from the Lifestyle Collection with a suite of cardholder benefits, like a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more
• Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs

Best for luxury travel

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.

• 5X Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
• 5X Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.

What we love: Luxury travelers and big spenders will appreciate the bevy of travel benefits, including annual statement credits worth around $1,700, elite hotel loyalty status and access to perhaps the most comprehensive airport lounge access available with a credit card. Learn more: Why expert Holly Johnson loves the Platinum Card® from American Express Alternatives: The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offers a taste of luxury at a lower cost than many premium travel cards. You can unlock a generous rewards rate on both travel and general purchases, complimentary access to popular airport lounge memberships and valuable annual travel credits and anniversary miles.

• Comes with a generous welcome offer and a longer time period to earn it compared to most rewards cards.
• A robust line-up of airline and hotel partners and related perks make this card truly valuable for travelers.
• The $695 annual fee may not be worth it if you don’t spend much on travel frequently or can’t take full advantage of the card’s luxury — and often niche — perks.
• Redeeming and maximizing the card’s credit and benefits requires some legwork and can be a bit confusing.
• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
• $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
• $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
• Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 year period for TSA PreCheck® application fee for a 5-year plan only (through a TSA PreCheck® official enrollment provider), when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
• $695 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.

Best for no annual fee

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

• Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel

5 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel 1.25 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day

1.25 Miles - 5 Miles

• 1.25 Miles 1.25 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day

What we love: This card offers some of the same advantages as the Capital One Venture, without the burden of an annual fee. It gives you the chance to earn flat-rate miles on your everyday spending and the option to transfer miles to over 15 loyalty program partners to even cover travel purchases outside Capital One — a unique level of redemption flexibility for a starter travel card. Learn more: Reasons to get the VentureOne Rewards Card Alternatives: A general-purpose flat-rate credit card that offers 2X points or 2 percent cash back on all purchases may bring more value if you don’t travel often and aren’t ready to upgrade to a travel rewards credit card with an annual fee. However, the Discover it® Miles earns a flat-rate 1.5X miles that can also be redeemed for cash back at 1-cent per mile, which is unusual for travel rewards.

• The welcome offer is generous for a no-annual-fee travel credit card.
• Booking hotel stays and rental cars through Capital One Travel nets you an impressive 5X miles.
• Unlike several no-annual-fee travel cards, redeeming for non-travel purchases waters down your rewards’ value.
• Capital One has no major U.S. carrier in its line-up of travel partners.
• $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
• Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
• Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies

Best for foodies

American Express® Gold Card

Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

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

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

What we love: Few credit cards are more rewarding for traveling foodies than the American Express Gold Card. Both the food-related annual credits and the rewards rates at restaurants, U.S. supermarkets and on flights booked directly with airlines or via the Amex travel portal are some of the best on the market. In fact, the up to $240 in credits each year alone nearly make up for the annual fee. Learn more: Why the Amex Gold is worth the annual fee Alternatives: If the Amex Gold Card’s annual fee sounds high, consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card . It carries key travel perks, high travel and dining rewards rates, and a much lower annual fee.

• This card features one of the best rewards return rates available on dining, groceries and food deliveries.
• There is no preset spending limit, so you can enjoy extended purchasing power, and you also have the option to pay off purchases with Pay Over Time if necessary.
• Although the card touts a solid collection of travel perks, it doesn’t include popular premium card perks like airport lounge access or trip cancellation/interruption insurance.
• Only eligible airfare earns more than 1X points, while rival cards often earn similar (or higher) reward rates on hotel stays and other travel purchases as well.
• Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
• $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
• $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. Enrollment required.
• Get a $100 experience credit with a minimum two-night stay when you book The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel. Experience credit varies by property.
• Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• Annual Fee is $250.

Best for everyday spending

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

• Earn 70,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $700 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com

Earn 10 points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on CitiTravel.com. Earn 3 points per $1 on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases, at Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas and EV Charging Stations. Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases

• 10X Earn 10 points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on CitiTravel.com.
• 3X Earn 3 points per $1 on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases, at Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas and EV Charging Stations.
• 1X Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases

What we love: This card’s high rewards rate in everyday bonus categories makes it an especially good choice for occasional travelers and people looking for a standalone rewards card. Its practical bonus categories mean you can earn rewards quickly, even if you don’t actually spend a ton on travel. Alternatives:   As long as you don’t mind buying groceries online, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card could be an even more lucrative everyday rewards card. That’s thanks mostly to its high point redemption value (1.25 cents per point when you use points to book travel with Chase, versus just 1 cent per point when you book with Citi using the Strata Premier).

• It’s one of the only travel cards that offers a high rewards rate on groceries, dining and gas, so it should work well whether it’s your standalone card or just one part of your card stack.
• Its annual hotel benefit carries enough value to potentially offset the annual fee on its own.
• The annual hotel benefit, though generous, isn’t very flexible: You’ll only get the $100 discount if you book a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) through CitiTravel.com.
• Based on Bankrate’s latest point and mile valuations, Citi ThankYou rewards carry a lower average redemption value than Chase, Amex and Capital One rewards.
• Earn 10 points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on CitiTravel.com.
• Earn 3 points per $1 on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases, at Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas and EV Charging Stations.
• Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• $100 Annual Hotel Benefit: Once per calendar year, enjoy $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when booked through CitiTravel.com. Benefit applied instantly at time of booking.
• No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
• No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases

Best for intro APR

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

• 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.
• Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.
• 1.5X Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.

What we love: This entry-level travel card keeps things simple for occasional travelers. It offers simple flat-rate rewards and lets you redeem for a broad mix of travel options not typically available on many travel cards, such as cash back toward purchases with travel agencies,  zoos, art galleries and more. It’s even more valuable if you’re a Bank of America customer and can qualify for a rewards boost through the Bank of America Preferred Rewards® program. Learn more: Is the Bank of America Travel Rewards card worth it? Alternatives: The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is another great starter travel card, but, unlike many cards in this category, it lets you transfer your miles to airline and hotel partners, potentially for a higher redemption value.

• Its easy-to-earn sign-up bonus and intro APR offers give this card good short-term value.
• No annual fees or foreign transaction fees sweeten this offer.
• It only offers 1.5X points on purchases, and you can’t transfer points can’t to airline partners for more rewards value, so it may not be as lucrative as competing cards.
• The top tiers of the Bank of America Preferred Rewards® program may be out of reach for many cardholders.
• Use your card to book your trip how and where you want - you're not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions.
• Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for travel or dining purchases, such as flights, hotel stays, car and vacation rentals, baggage fees, and also at restaurants including takeout.
• 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 19.24% - 29.24% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%.
• If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means instead of earning an unlimited 1.5 points for every $1, you could earn 1.87-2.62 points for every $1 you spend on purchases.
• Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
• This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.

Best for point values

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,125 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Earn 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠. Earn 5x total points on flights through Chase Travel℠. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining. Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

• 10x Earn 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠.
• 5x Earn 5x total points on flights through Chase Travel℠.
• 3x Earn 3x points on other travel and dining.
• 1x Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

What we love: Rewards-savvy travelers will be hard-pressed to find a card with better rewards potential than the Sapphire Reserve. Points are worth 50 percent more through Chase Travel, and potentially more with the right transfer partner. It’s a stellar partner for Chase’s cash back cards and stacks on even more value with enough perks to recoup the annual fee without relying on hard-earned rewards. Learn more: Why expert Holly Johnson loves the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card Alternatives: The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offers some of the same key perks as the Sapphire Reserve at a much lower cost. Along with a generous rewards rate on both Capital One Travel and general purchases, the card boasts valuable, practical benefits like competitive airport lounge access , up to $300 in annual Capital One Travel credits and 10,000 bonus miles every year on your account anniversary.

• You can kickstart your rewards bank with one of the most valuable sign-up bonuses on the market.
• Its top-tier benefits include up to $300 in annual travel statement credits, Priority Pass airport lounge access, exhaustive travel protections and stand-out partner perks.
• The card’s cost could be a deterrent for some new cardholders, especially if they plan on encountering adding multiple authorized users.
• You won’t get as many luxury hotel and airport lounge perks with this card as you would with some of its rivals.
• Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,125 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 75,000 points are worth $1125 toward travel.
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®

Best for practical perks

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

• Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel

10 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel 5 Miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day

2 Miles - 10 Miles

• 10 Miles 10 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 5 Miles 5 Miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel

What we love: This is the perfect middleground for travelers who want the practical benefits from luxury travel cards without dealing with bloated features and an annual fee upwards of $500. It offers complimentary lounge access, high-earning bonus rewards categories, anniversary credits and bonus miles, which can easily make the card worth it for frequent travelers. Learn more: Capital One Venture X Benefits Guide Alternatives: If a higher annual fee is no issue, consider The Platinum Card® from American Express. It’s a top choice for frequent travelers thanks to its impressive welcome offer and luxury perks like annual travel credits, lounge access and hotel elite status. However, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® may be better if your luxury travel experience calls for racking up more rewards.

• Offers anniversary bonus miles and a chance to earn credits worth hundreds of dollars starting at your first account anniversary.
• Comes with complimentary lounge access at over 1,300 lounges for you and two guests per visit.
• To earn the anniversary credit, travel must be booked through the Capital One Travel portal. That’s not as flexible as some other cards, which offer credits that cover any travel purchases, regardless of how you book.
• Lacks some perks found on other premium travel cards like airline or hotel elite status, which can get you benefits like free checked bags or room upgrades.
• Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
• Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
• Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
• Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• Elevate every hotel stay from the Premier or Lifestyle Collections with a suite of cardholder benefits, like an experience credit, room upgrades, and more

Best for pairing

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.

Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service 1.5% on all other purchases

• 5% Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more
• 3% 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service
• 1.5% 1.5% on all other purchases

What we love: Not only does it earn 1.5 percent cash back on general spending, but it also has a bonus cash back rate for drugstores and dining at restaurants. And if you pair it with one or two premium Chase travel cards, you could pool your rewards for better travel redemption value.  Learn more: Why I love the Chase Freedom Unlimited Alternatives: If you want to take advantage of even more rewarding cash back categories and remain in the Chase family, consider the Chase Freedom Flex℠ .

• You can pool rewards with other Chase cards to maximize your earnings.
• The additional rewards rate offer can add even more cash back to your pocket for the first year.
• The welcome offer isn’t as competitive as other cards’ offers.
• Maximizing rewards with this and other Chase cards can get complicated for people who like simple rewards programs.
• Intro Offer: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
• Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
• After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
• No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
• Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%.
• No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
• Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.

Best for hotel bookings

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card

• Earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months – that’s $600 toward your next trip.

Earn unlimited 5X points on hotels Earn unlimited 4X points on airlines Earn unlimited 3X points on other travel and restaurants Earn 1X points on other purchases

• 5X Earn unlimited 5X points on hotels
• 4X Earn unlimited 4X points on airlines
• 3X Earn unlimited 3X points on other travel and restaurants
• 1X Earn 1X points on other purchases

What we love: It offers a great rewards rate on hotel bookings and gives you a chance to earn a $50 annual statement credit with a $50 minimum airline purchase. Add in a solid rate on airline purchases, other travel and restaurants and this card carries great value as a standalone mid-tier card for occasional travelers. Alternatives: If you want to earn travel rewards but don’t actually spend much on hotels and airfare, the lower-tier Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card is also worth a look. Though it earns also rewards on travel, it boasts a great mix of other practical everyday categories (including gas stations).

• You can transfer points to Wells Fargo’s new list of airline and hotel partners, including popular programs like British Airways Executive Club, Choice Privileges and more, which could boost the redemption value of your rewards.
• The $50 annual statement credit offsets more than half the card’s $95 annual fee and should be a cinch to earn if you fly at least once per year.
• Wells Fargo only offers one other card that earns travel rewards (the Autograph), and there is some category overlap between the two, so they may not be as lucrative as some competing card stacks.
• The card doesn’t carry some popular travel perks available on other mid-tier travel cards, such as credits for expedited airport security screening or rideshares.
• Select “Apply Now” to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
• Earn unlimited 5X points on hotels, 4X points on airlines, 3X points on other travel and restaurants, and 1X points on other purchases.
• $95 annual fee.
• Book your travel with the Autograph Journey Card and enjoy Travel Accident Insurance, Lost Baggage Reimbursement, Trip Cancellation and Interruption Protection and Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver.
• Earn a $50 annual statement credit with $50 minimum airline purchase.
• Up to $1,000 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
• Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.

Best no-annual-fee hotel card

Hilton Honors American Express Card

• Earn 70,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points plus a Free Night Reward after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 7/31/2024.

Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio. Earn 5X Points per dollar on purchases at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations. Earn 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.

• 7X Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
• 5X Earn 5X Points per dollar on purchases at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations.
• 3X Earn 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.

What we love: This card earns rewards in a terrific mix of everyday bonus categories, so it should be easy to rack up Hilton points even if you don’t spend a ton on hotel bookings. Since it charges no annual fee and provides a few Hilton Honors benefits like Silver status, it’s also a great fit if you’re new to hotel cards and want a single no-annual-fee option instead of juggling multiple rewards cards. Learn more: Why expert Holly Johnson loves the Hilton Honors American Express Card Alternatives: The American Express® Green Card could be more flexible since it lets you earn and redeem rewards on a much wider variety of travel purchases, including airfare and bookings with several hotel brands, not just Hilton. You can transfer points to the Hilton Honors program as well, but the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card may be better if you prefer upgraded Hilton-specific rewards, loyalty status and other perks.

• Comes with automatic Silver Elite status, which includes a free fifth award night when you book at least four consecutive nights with points.
• Earns rewards in three of the average person’s biggest spending categories, making it a terrific standalone option for earning Hilton points.
• A higher-tier Hilton card would earn more on Hilton bookings and could be more lucrative for frequent guests, even with an annual fee.
• You can only redeem points with Hilton and its partners, which limits the rewards value you earn on the everyday categories compared to a general-purpose cards’ rewards.
• Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
• Earn 5X Points per dollar on purchases at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations.
• Earn 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
• Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors™ Silver status with your Card. Plus, spend $20,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn an upgrade to Hilton Honors™ Gold status through the end of the next calendar year.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
• No Annual Fee.

Best luxury hotel card

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

• Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines 2X points on all other eligible purchases

• 6X Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®
• 3X 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines
• 2X 2X points on all other eligible purchases

What we love: Frequent Marriott guests looking for luxury card-level perks and elite status should be able to justify this premium card. Along with a terrific rewards rate on Marriott bookings and an annual free night award, you could enjoy generous annual credits for restaurant purchases and Marriott property stays, airport lounge access, elite night credits and more. Learn more: Best Marriott credit cards Alternatives: If you’re looking for top-tier travel perks but want the flexibility to earn and redeem rewards for stays at any hotel chain, consider an elite travel card from Chase or Amex, which can come with generous travel benefits, airport lounge access and the ability to transfer points to Marriott. The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is another lucrative alternative.

• Outperforms other Marriott cards with its boosted rewards on travel-related categories and 21X points at Marriott Bonvoy hotels, thanks to the automatic Platinum Elite status.
• It’s one of the only hotel cards that includes complimentary Priority Pass lounge access, top travel protections and credits for expedited airport security screening.
• Unlocking some of the card’s best perks — like Five Suite Night Awards — requires a $60,000 annual spend, which may be tough to reach even for frequent Marriott guests.
• Unless luxury perks are at the top of your wishlist, the annual fee may not be worth it and a lower-tier hotel card may offer more value overall.
• $300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) in statement credits for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card at restaurants worldwide.
• With Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status, you can receive room upgrades, including enhanced views or suites, when available at select properties and booked with a Qualifying Rate.
• Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines. 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
• Free Night Award: Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
• Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you will be eligible to select a Brilliant Earned Choice Award benefit. You can only earn one Earned Choice Award per calendar year. See https://www.choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliant for Award options.
• $100 Marriott Bonvoy Property Credit: Enjoy your stay. Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton® or St. Regis® when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your Card.
• Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®: Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($100) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
• Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card you can receive 25 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express. Terms apply.
• Enroll in Priority Pass™ Select, which offers unlimited airport lounge visits to over 1,200 lounges in over 130 countries, regardless of which carrier or class you are flying. This allows you to relax before or between flights. You can enjoy snacks, drinks, and internet access in a quiet, comfortable location.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees on international purchases.
• With Cell Phone Protection, you can be reimbursed, the lesser of, your repair or replacement costs following damage, such as a cracked screen, or theft for a maximum of $800 per claim when your cell phone line is listed on a wireless bill and the prior month's wireless bill was paid by an Eligible Card Account. A $50 deductible will apply to each approved claim with a limit of 2 approved claims per 12-month period. Additional terms and conditions apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
• $650 Annual Fee.

Best for transfer partners

Bilt Mastercard®

Intro offer is not available for this Wells Fargo credit card.

3x points on dining 2x points on travel 1x points on other purchases Earn up to 1x points on rent payments without the transaction fee, up to 100,000 points each calendar year. When you make at least 5 posted transactions in a statement period using your Bilt Mastercard, you'll earn points on rent and qualifying net purchases.

1X Points - 3X Points

• 3X Points 3x points on dining
• 2X Points 2x points on travel
• 1X Points 1x points on other purchases
• 1X Points Earn up to 1x points on rent payments without the transaction fee, up to 100,000 points each calendar year. When you make at least 5 posted transactions in a statement period using your Bilt Mastercard, you'll earn points on rent and qualifying net purchases.

What we love: Not only is this card is a terrific choice for renters since it earns rewards and waives transaction fees when using it to pay rent, it’s also great for rewards strategists considering the extremely robust travel rewards program. You can earn rewards on travel and dining and your points carry a high value whether you redeem through the Bilt travel portal or one of the many airline and hotel transfer partners. Alternatives: If you like the Bilt card’s travel rewards program but don’t see yourself renting long term, consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. It earns generously on both travel and dining and also boasts high-value points and transfer partners. If the way you pay rent doesn’t incur credit card payment fees, a flat-rate card may also be worth weighing. 

• It’s the only card that helps you avoid the fees typically associated with paying rent with a credit card.
• Offers a solid collection of travel perks for a no-annual-fee card, including trip cancellation and interruption protection, trip delay reimbursement and other high-level travel protections.
• You can only use rewards to cover rent, toward a future home down payment or for travel and shopping. Cash back isn’t an option.
• There is no sign-up bonus. Most competing travel cards — even those with no annual fee — offer at least a $200 bonus.
• $0 Annual Fee.
• Earn up to 1x points on rent payments without the transaction fee, up to 100,000 points each calendar year.
• 2x points on travel.
• 3x points on dining.
• 1x points on other purchases.
• Earn points when you make 5 transactions that post each statement period.
• When renting at a Bilt Alliance property, you can choose to have your rent payments automatically reported by Bilt to the three major credit bureaus each month; Experian™, TransUnion™, and Equifax™.

Best for gas

Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

• Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $200 cash redemption value.

Earn unlimited 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans. Earn 1X points on other purchases

• 3X Earn unlimited 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans.

What we love: The Wells Fargo Autograph card is a great option for occasional travelers and households on the go looking to earn rewards while avoiding an annual fee and reduced redemption value for cash rewards. It’s one of a few entry-level travel cards to offer high, year-round bonus rewards for gas, dining, transit and other key travel needs. Learn more: Is the Wells Fargo Autograph worth it? Alternatives: If you’re looking for ways to maximize the value of your rewards, you should consider a travel card that lets you transfer your points to airlines or hotels, like the Bilt Mastercard® or Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.

• While some issuers only reward travel purchases made directly with airlines or through issuer portals, this card lets you shop around for the best deal on third-party travel sites and still earn extra rewards.
• Carries decent perks such as rental car collision damage waiver coverage, roadside assistance and Visa Signature® Concierge benefits, like access to Visa’s Luxury Hotel Collection (terms apply).
• Unlike with traditional travel cards, you cannot transfer your points to airlines or hotels
• The travel perks and intro APR are weak compared to competing travel-oriented cards’ offers.
• Select "Apply Now" to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
• Earn unlimited 3X points on the things that really add up - like restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services, and phone plans. Plus, earn 1X points on other purchases.
• $0 annual fee.
• 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases. 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% variable APR thereafter.
• Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
• Redeem your rewards points for travel, gift cards, or statement credits. Or shop at millions of online stores and redeem your rewards when you check out with PayPal.

Best for companion tickets

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

• Earn 85,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets. Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.

• 3X Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
• 2X Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
• 1X Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.

What we love: The annual companion certificate on Main Cabin domestic flights (taxes and fees apply) comes with this card after the first year is valuable enough to justify the annual fee even if you’re just looking for great Delta perks to make travel smoother with a partner. Plus, the companion certificate is easier to obtain than other airline cards’ since it carries no spending requirement that must be met beyond the card’s annual fee. Alternatives: The American Express® Green Card could be a great alternative since it charges a lower $150 annual fee, lets you earn and redeem rewards on travel with any eligible airline (not just Delta) and offers credits for Loungebuddy lounge access and Clear Plus. You can even transfer points to Delta at a 1:1 ratio.

• Boasts several valuable travel perks, including priority boarding, a free first checked bag and specialized annual credits for select rideshare services and reservations with Delta Stays and Resy.
• Gets you closer to Medallion Status and discounts on in-flight purchases, complimentary upgrades, and more.
• Its rewards rate on non-travel purchases is lacking — a general-purpose travel card could potentially offer better rewards value and flexibility for rewards travel outside Delta.
• No longer offers complimentary Delta Sky Club lounge access as of this year, although airport lounge access is a staple perk for premium travel cards.
• Receive a Companion Certificate on Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean, or Central American roundtrip flights each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Ticket requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights and no more than $250 for roundtrip international flights (both for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
• Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year and get closer to Status with MQD Headstart.
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
• Earn $1 Medallion® Qualification Dollar for each $20 of purchases made on your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card in a calendar year and get a boost toward achieving Medallion Status for next Medallion Year.
• Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
• Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
• Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights.
• Receive Zone 5 Priority Boarding on Delta flights; board early, stow your carry-on bag and settle in sooner.
• Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($100) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Members with an eligible ticket will be added to the Complimentary Upgrade list, after Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members and Reserve Card Members.
• $350 Annual Fee.

Best starter airline card

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

• Earn 85,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases. Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming. Earn 2X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners. Earn 1X points on all other purchases.

• 2X Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases.
• 2X Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
• 2X Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
• 2X Earn 2X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners.
• 1X Earn 1X points on all other purchases.

What we love: This card’s anniversary bonus offers enough value to nearly offset the annual fee on its own, so it should be a terrific low-stakes option whether you’re new to airline cards or a regular Southwest flyer looking for a low-maintenance card. Plus, its sign-up bonus value is on par with the value you’ll get with much pricier airline and travel cards. Learn more: Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus benefits guide Alternatives: The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card could offer better value overall, despite its $149 annual fee. It carries an annual $75 Southwest travel credit and 7,500 bonus points each year on your account anniversary — more than enough value to justify the higher fee.

• You’ll automatically earn 3,000 Rapid Rewards points each year after your account anniversary, which could offset much of the card’s already-low annual fee.
• Delivers the same hefty sign-up bonus as higher-tier Southwest cards.
• Unlike several travel cards, it doesn’t carry rewards categories for popular everyday purchases like gas or dining.
• It may not be the best Southwest value for frequent flyers since it poses a 3 percent foreign transaction fee and doesn’t offer perks like upgraded boardings or elite status benefits.
• 3,000 anniversary points each year.
• Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases.
• Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
• Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
• 2 EarlyBird Check-In® each year.
• Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.

Best for savers

Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card

• Receive 60,000 online bonus points - a $600 value - after you make at least $4,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.

Earn unlimited 2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases. Earn unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all other purchases.

• 2X Earn unlimited 2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases.
• 1.5X Earn unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all other purchases.

What we love: If you do your banking with Bank of America and qualify for Preferred Rewards status, this card could provide an exclusive 25 percent to 75 percent rewards rate boost. The  rewards rates — 2X points on dining and travel, with 1.5X points on all other purchases — could increase to an incredible 3.5X on travel and dining with an unrivaled flat 2.62X points rate. Learn more: Why expert Sara Coleman loves the Bank of America Premium Rewards Card Alternatives: The similarly-priced Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of the best alternatives thanks to its stellar travel protections, yearly bonus rewards and stronger rewards program. However, flat-rate cards like the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card or the Discover it® Miles card could be lucrative if you don’t think the $95 annual fee is worth it.

• The $95 annual fee is relatively affordable for this card category thanks to the up to $100 in yearly airline incidental statement credits.
• You can smooth out your travel experience with great benefits like credits toward TSA PreCheck or Global Entry and comprehensive travel insurance.
• Attaining the highest rewards rate is not an easy feat, since you’ll need to hold significant funds in Bank of America accounts.
• This card does not offer a few popular premium travel perks like lounge access.
• Low $95 annual fee.
• Earn unlimited 2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases and unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all other purchases. No limit to the points you can earn and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.
• If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means you could earn 2.5-3.5 points on travel and dining purchases and 1.87 - 2.62 points on all other purchases, for every $1 you spend.
• Redeem for cash back as a statement credit, deposit into eligible Bank of America® accounts, credit to eligible Merrill® accounts, or gift cards or purchases at the Bank of America Travel Center.
• Get up to $100 in Airline Incidental Statement Credits annually and TSA PreCheck®/Global Entry Statement Credits of up to $100, every four years.
• Travel Insurance protections to assist with trip delays, cancellations and interruptions, baggage delays and lost luggage.
• No foreign transaction fees.

Best for first-year value

Discover it® Miles

• Unlimited Bonus: Unlimited Mile-for-Mile match for all new cardmembers—only from Discover. Discover gives you an unlimited match of all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year. You could turn 35,000 Miles to 70,000 Miles. There’s no signing up, no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a Miles-for-Miles match.

Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase.

• 1.5X Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase.

What we love: In addition to the exceptionally valuable Discover Match® , this card combines solid flat-rate rewards with consumer-friendly terms, like minimal fees and an equal value for both travel and cash back redemptions. Travelers who value simplicity will appreciate this card’s straightforward rewards and adaptability — even when you aren’t traveling. Learn more: Why expert Holly Johnson loves the Discover it® Miles Alternatives: The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card carries a more straightforward and still easy-to-reach welcome bonus. The VentureOne card also gives you the option of transferring miles to more than a dozen airline and hotel partners, which could increase the redemption value of your rewards.

• All miles earned in your first year will be matched at the end of the year, which could make it one of the most valuable first-year offers for no annual fee.
• Miles don’t lose value when they’re redeemed for cash back, which gives it a leg up over many travel rewards programs for occasional travelers.
• You’ll miss out on pretty standard travel perks like travel insurance, and car rental damage protection.
• The rewards structure lacks flexibility; you won’t be able to transfer your miles or use them to book travel.
• Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase
• No annual fee
• Turn Miles into cash. Or redeem as a statement credit for your travel purchases like airfare, hotels, rideshares, gas stations, restaurants and more.
• 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 18.24% - 28.24% Standard Variable Purchase APR will apply.
• Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
• Discover is accepted nationwide by 99% of the places that take credit cards.
• Terms and conditions apply.

Best for fair credit

Credit One Bank Wander® Card

Intro offer is not available for this Credit One Bank credit card.

Earn 10x points on eligible hotels and car rentals booked through the Credit One Bank travel partner site Earn 5x points on eligible travel, dining, and gas Earn 1x points on all other purchases

• 10X Earn 10x points on eligible hotels and car rentals booked through the Credit One Bank travel partner site
• 5X Earn 5x points on eligible travel, dining, and gas
• 1X Earn 1x points on all other purchases

What we love: The Credit One Bank Wander® Card is a solid option if you want to earn points on travel but have trouble qualifying for mainstream travel cards. Not only is this card accessible with only fair credit, but its rewards program boasts generously high rewards rates in key travel categories. Learn more: Best travel cards for people with bad or fair credit Alternatives: If you don’t mind putting down a refundable security deposit, consider a no-annual-fee secured card like the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card *. It’s a unique secured card that lets you build credit while earning rewards in a category of your choice (with travel just one of many popular options) as well as grocery stores and wholesale clubs.

• It’s one of the only travel rewards cards available with a fair credit score, making it a decent option if you want to earn travel rewards as you work on your score.
• Provides 5X points in travel, dining and gas, plus 10X points on eligible hotel and rental car bookings through Credit One Bank — rare and impressive rates with only fair credit.
• Its annual fee is high compared to other cards you can get with a fair credit score , so it may not be the best fit if you prioritize building credit over earning rewards.
• Other travel cards may offer better perks, fewer redemption restrictions and more value, so it may be worth working on your score with a lower-cost card before committing to the costly annual fee.
• Earn 10x points on eligible hotels and car rentals booked through the Credit One Bank travel partner site
• Earn 5x points on eligible travel, dining, and gas
• Earn 1x points on all other purchases
• Redeem your reward points for statement credits, gift cards, merchandise, flights, hotels, and more
• With $0 Fraud Liability, you won’t be responsible for unauthorized charges
• Free Online Credit Score and Credit Report summary, terms apply
• If you are a Covered Borrower under the Military Lending Act, you may get a different offer
• See Rates & Fees

Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit  AmericanExpress.com/benefitsguide  for more details. Underwritten by Amex assurance company.

The information about the American Express® Green Card and Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured card has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuers.

Compare Bankrate's best travel credit cards of 2024

What are travel credit cards.

Travel credit cards allow cardholders to earn points or miles on a variety of purchases (typically travel-related), which are redeemable for travel bookings, statement credits, gift cards and more.

The best travel credit cards do more than help you foot the bill for your next flight — travel cards also offer perks to upgrade your entire travel experience. Trip insurance , annual travel credits, concierge services and lounge access are all common benefits. Airline and hotel co-branded credit cards sometimes offer specific discounts and perks for loyalty program members.

Pros and cons of travel credit cards

Although a well-chosen travel card can pay huge dividends, it might not be the right move for every traveler. Before you apply, take time to weigh the benefits versus the drawbacks of travel credit cards .

Tips on choosing the best travel credit card for you

The right travel credit card for you will carry features and benefits that give you the best value. To help you narrow down your choices, here are the steps to choosing the best travel card.

How to choose a travel credit card

1. know how you prefer to travel.

Knowing whether your travel expenses lean toward airfare, hotel stays or a mix of other travel will help you decide whether you should get an airline card, hotel card or general-purpose travel card. A co-branded airline or hotel credit card may be a good fit if you mostly travel with a certain brand and want exclusive privileges to enhance your experience. A general-purpose travel card is better if you prefer to keep your travel options open.

2. Prioritize redemption value

You may have to pick between simplicity and maximum value when comparing cards and rewards programs. Many travel cards offer a standard point or mile redemption value of 1 cent when you redeem toward travel through the issuer portal, but some cards can get you a higher redemption value when you transfer rewards to airline or hotel partners. However, it's common for many travel reward programs to reduce the redemption value toward non-travel options or limit these redemption options altogether. If you prefer simplicity over maximizing rewards, you may want to consider cards that allow you to redeem points or miles at an equal 1-cent value toward general travel purchase credits, cash back or other non-travel options.

3. Match your card to your spending habits

Take a look at your typical spending and find which travel categories and non-travel categories you spend the most in to help you choose a card that offers a high rewards rate for your regular spending. Just make sure you factor in rewards spending caps.

4. Note what's worth the extra money

High rewards rates and valuable travel perks are the biggest reasons to get a travel card, but many of the best cards carry a high annual fee. You could stick with a no-annual-fee travel card (or at least one with around a $99 fee) if you're mainly focused on earning rewards, but you may have to pay up to $500 or more for luxurious perks like airport lounge access, comprehensive travel insurance and hundreds of dollars in annual travel credits .

5. Look toward your next trip abroad

If you travel overseas, check to see if the card you're considering charges a foreign transaction fee. And since some credit cards aren't as widely accepted as others, you'll also want to make sure your credit card will work when traveling overseas . For example, merchants may not accept Discover and American Express cards as widely as Visa and Mastercard. If a trip is coming up in the next three to six months, keep an eye out for the big sign-up bonuses travel cards are known for. As a rule of thumb, the higher the annual fee, the higher the sign-up bonus should be.

Co-branded travel cards vs. general travel cards

Experts typically divide travel credit cards into two categories: co-branded travel cards and general travel cards. Co-branded cards are linked to a particular airline or hotel, while general travel cards offer more flexible reward opportunities. Here’s why and when you might want one or the other.

• Co-branded cards
• General travel cards

Co-branded travel cards tend to offer higher rewards rates on eligible travel purchases in exchange for limiting your reward redemption options to just one airline or hotel program . These cards may also feature more specific perks associated with the respective hotel or airline, such as free award nights, complimentary airline elite status or priority boarding — which general-purpose travel cards don’t often carry).

However, you won’t be able to use your rewards with a wide variety of different hotels and airlines like general-purpose cards allow. Plus, despite co-branded travel cards’ typically higher rewards rates, many brand-specific rewards tend to be worth less than the potential value of general-purpose cards’ points and miles.

When to get a co-branded travel card : When you often fly or stay with a specific airline or hotel and want to maximize your benefits with that brand.

General travel cards earn rewards on various travel categories and aren’t limited to a particular airline or hotel. Such cards may lack some of the dedicated perks you’ll find on a co-branded travel card, such as in-flight discounts, but make up for it with rewards flexibility and broader perks like general travel credits, expedited security screening and wider airport lounge access. 

The top travel cards even let you transfer your points or miles to airline and hotel loyalty programs, often at a 1:1 rate. Redeeming with some airlines and hotels can even make your rewards more valuable than they would be if you redeemed with the card issuer.

When to get a general travel card : When you have no preferred airline or hotel and want the additional flexibility a general travel card offers. 

Who should get a travel credit card?

A travel credit card is almost always worth it for frequent travelers or anyone who wants to earn rewards toward their next vacation.

If you can save up airline miles, rack up points for free nights at hotels or get discounted travel through your credit card issuer, you’re on your way to significant travel savings. However, the right travel card for you will depend on your travel habits.

Frequent travelers

Naturally, the ideal candidate for a travel card is someone who travels a lot or plans to book several flights and hotel stays per year. However, in some cases, you don’t have to be a frequent traveler to reap the benefits of a travel rewards card. A number of cards offer good rewards rates on general purchases.

Travel beginners

If you’re new to travel rewards, a good place to start is with a travel card that makes it easy to earn and redeem points, without requiring you to navigate a complex rewards program or worry about tiered rewards rates or varying point redemption values. 

Brand loyalists

If you tend to book travel with the same brands frequently or already belong to an airline or hotel loyalty program, a co-branded travel card can offer terrific value.  Airline- and hotel-specific rewards cards often earn a top rate on bookings with the brand as well as exclusive perks like lounge access and automatic elite status. 

Business travelers

Some of the most valuable travel credit cards are business cards . Whether you're a freelancer on the go or the CEO of a Fortune 500, the right travel credit card can help you earn high rewards rates on everyday business purchases. 

International travelers

If you frequently travel abroad, a card with no foreign transaction fees is a great way to help you avoid extra costs on overseas purchases. Plus, if you hate waiting in line at airport security or customs, a lot of travel cards offer statement credits to reimburse you for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees.

Luxury travelers

Luxury travel cards often charge a pretty penny but also offer a ton of value via perks like lounge access and annual travel credits. These perks not only make travel more comfortable, but also often carry enough value to offset the card’s cost on their own.

Still unsure if a travel credit card is right for you? Check out our Credit Card Spender Type Tool where you can get personalized credit card recommendations based on your credit score, spending habits and daily needs.

Here’s how a Bankrate editor chose his travel card

Here’s how a bankrate editor chose his travel card.

With all of this advice in mind, let’s see how a credit card expert made their pick. Here’s Bankrate editor Nouri Zarrugh on how he chose his travel card:

When it comes to earning rewards, I’ve always stuck with cash back cards, preferring the simplicity of knowing exactly how much my rewards are worth and the ease of redeeming for statement credits. Recently, though, I decided I wanted to travel a bit more frequently, and I figured a new travel rewards card could be a great tool to help me earn free trips. When choosing the right card for me, a few major points of consideration stood out: Cost: I didn’t feel like I traveled enough to justify a huge annual fee. Simplicity : I wanted to stick with a single, streamlined travel card and not worry about juggling multiple rewards programs or rewards rates. Perks : While I didn’t need anything too fancy, I thought it might be nice to have a perk like TSA Precheck included, since I hate waiting in long airport security lines. To my surprise, the card that stood out most was the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. Though it carried an intimidating annual fee of $395 ( See Rates & Fees ), I found this cost was more than worth it once I dug into the details. In fact, its benefits were so valuable, I barely needed to worry about offsetting the cost.  Two of its annual perks — a $300 Capital One travel credit and 10,000 bonus miles every year on my account anniversary — are valuable enough to offset the fee on their own. This means as long as I take one flight a year, I can basically break even on the card. Any rewards or perks I get beyond that feel like pure upside. It’s a huge bonus, then, that the card also includes practical benefits like Priority Pass lounge access and a credit of up to $100 toward the cost of Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. While I’ve never frequented airport lounges, I see these privileges as essentially free considering the value of the annual travel credit and bonus miles. So, I figure, why not take advantage?  For me, the Venture X strikes the perfect balance: A flat rewards rate that makes it easy to earn miles on everything I buy; flexible redemption through Capital One or via transfer to airlines and hotels, and practical perks I know I’ll use when I travel. I never imagined I’d have a $395 travel card in my wallet, but for me, it’s at worst a coupon for a flight every year, which can nudge me to take that next trip. — Nouri Zarrugh, Editor, Bankrate

Travel benefits may differ from card to card, but some of the most popular travel cards available often feature a few key perks. 

Travel insurance

Travel cards may offer various travel insurances , such as trip delay protection, trip cancellation insurance, lost baggage insurance or car rental insurance. These benefits aren’t worth anything until you need them, but you’ll be glad you have them when your flight is canceled or your luggage gets lost.

Travel credits

Credits toward TSA PreCheck or Global Entry are a popular and common benefit on many travel cards. You can typically use this credit once every four years, which roughly corresponds to how long a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry membership lasts. Some cards may also provide an annual credit toward Clear Plus — another expedited security membership. Higher-end travel cards often offer annual statement credits toward travel purchases, and many of these credits nearly offset these cards’ annual fees. 

In-flight perks

Co-branded airline cards typically offer some airport and in-flight benefits on top of their reward-earning capabilities. These can include discounts on in-flight purchases (usually 25 percent back on refreshments and WiFi), free checked bags, flight seating upgrades or priority boarding. 

Free hotel award nights

Co-branded hotel cards may include free hotel award nights annually as part of their benefits. Some cards also add an extra complimentary awards night to your stay if you’ve booked a certain number of consecutive nights. These nights are typically capped at a certain value (sometimes based on the card or your elite status), and may be valuable enough to make up for some cards’ annual fees.

Airport lounge access

One of the most popular (and valuable) travel benefits featured on high-end and luxury travel cards is complimentary access to airport lounges. The lounges you gain access to depend on the card, though co-branded cards will often grant access to the lounge corresponding to the card’s airline. The Amex Platinum card currently offers the best airport lounge access .

If you want to add a credit card to your portfolio for your travel needs, knowing what cards are popular and why people like them can help steer your decision. We regularly stay abreast of these conversations online and noticed two travel cards come up regularly: the Chase Sapphire Reserve and The Platinum Card from American Express .

These cards shine because they offer some of the best rates on travel purchases and the most comprehensive set of benefits and perks . Despite their annual fees, what you get in return can far outweigh your costs. And the conversation around these two cards isn’t new: Is the effort of maximizing their perks worth it?

What people say about travel credit cards perks

The Sapphire Reserve is often referred to as the gold standard in travel benefits and protections, and the value of its trip insurance is a big part of that. A member of the Rick Steves Forum remarks on the value of the insurance: “It has pretty extensive coverage wherever I travel … my entire trip is covered as long as I charged any portion of the trip to my card.” This feature is unique to the Sapphire Reserve and sets it apart from other premium cards, which require you to charge your entire trip purchase to the card to have active coverage.

But using trip insurance isn’t always a simple process. As a user in the r/CreditCards forum on Reddit cautions: “Credit card travel insurance in general is very specific on what it covers, and people tend to overestimate just how useful the coverage actually is,” they write. “These are named peril policies, so unless you see your exact situation as a covered hazard the policies won't pay out.”

The Platinum Card from American Express gets a lot of buzz for reasons similar to the Sapphire Reserve. The card gives so many benefits, credits and additional perks that it’s often called a coupon book for luxury travel. But for many people, the value comes down to whether they’re willing to do the work to maximize its features. Another r/CreditCards member says they use the card’s Hilton and Marriott status boosters, rental car company loyalty program automatic status features, Centurion lounge access, hotel and airline incidental credits, membership credits and more. Using all these features helps them offset the annual fee.

While some people love maximizing the card’s features to extract  as much value as possible, others, like this Redditor, think it’s too much work:

“The only benefit the Platinum card really adds is Centurion but only to the [cardholder] … I believe the Platinum is worth [it] at least the first year for the [sign-up] bonus but then it doesn't get much use after that. Trust me the credits are really annoying to use.” — r/CreditCards user

These two premium cards stand out from the rest because they offer the most comprehensive features available to suit your travel needs and protect you from any issues that arise. The Chase Sapphire Reserve is an exceptional option to protect you from travel issues, but make sure you know the fine print. While the Amex Platinum may not be as ideal for travel protections, the credits offered more than offset its annual fee if you can put in the effort to fully maximize them.

Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned cardholder, your travel card should always work in your favor by offering the features and benefits you’ll actually use and that make your travels more enjoyable. But whether you’re willing to put in the effort to maximize a card’s value is something you’ll need to decide for yourself.

*The quotes and citations included on this page have been verified by our editorial team and are accurate as of the posting date. Be sure to check the issuer's website/terms and conditions for all up to date content. Outlinked content may contain views and opinions that do not reflect the views and opinions of Bankrate.

Credit card points and miles are two of the key types of credit card rewards , along with cash back. You’ll earn points and miles by making purchases with your credit card, but you can typically redeem these rewards for travel, gift cards and more — not just statement credits.

Points and miles tend to be more flexible than cash back, but since their value depends on how you redeem them — and, in the case of travel redemptions, where you’re going, when you book, your fare class and more — it may take a bit more effort to make the most of them.

What are your points and miles worth?

Since many airlines and hotels use dynamic pricing models that continually optimize airfare and room prices, it can be hard to know exactly how much your rewards are worth without doing a little math.

Luckily, you don’t need to be a travel hacker to get a sense of this idea. Before you redeem, you can check your reward redemption value by dividing the cost of a plane or hotel booking in cash by its cost in points or miles. This calculation will result in the cash value of your points or miles.

You can also compare this value to Bankrate’s latest points and miles valuations to determine if you’re getting a good deal on your redemptions. Bankrate collected data on hundreds of bookings across dozens of airline, hotel and credit card rewards programs and estimated how much each program’s rewards are worth on average .

• Airline rewards values
• Hotel rewards values
• Credit card program rewards values

The table below shows Bankrate’s estimated reward redemption value for a variety of popular airline loyalty programs. You’ll notice how widely the value varies between airlines, with some offering close to 3 cents per point in average redemption value and others struggling to meet a 1-cent-per-point value.

Keep in mind, however, that these values are averages based on a variety of fare classes, destinations, booking periods and more. For example, while Bankrate estimates Delta SkyMiles carry an average redemption value of around 1.2 cents per mile, they could be worth more or less depending on the details of your booking. 

*Based on weighted average of median point/mile values across economy and first/business class fares.

Like airline miles, hotel points fluctuate in value. The table below shows Bankrate’s estimated point values for some of the most popular hotel brands. 

As you can see, hotel points tend to be worth less than airline and credit card rewards on average, often carrying less than 1 cent per point in redemption value. That said, hotel loyalty programs sometimes offer more favorable exchange rates when you transfer rewards from a credit card rewards program. For example, you may be able to turn 1,000 credit card points into 2,000 hotel points (a 2:1 transfer ratio). 

*Based on median point values across budget, mid-tier and luxury hotel bookings.

Unlike hotel and airline rewards programs, credit card reward programs typically earn points or miles that offer a consistent redemption value when you use them with the issuer. Though the redemption value of your rewards may vary based on how you redeem, each redemption method should offer a consistent baseline value. 

Some credit card rewards programs may also allow you to transfer your points or miles to airline and hotel loyalty programs, which could boost their value considerably. For each major credit card rewards program, we estimate a baseline redemption value (assuming you book for travel with the issuer) and a Bankrate’s Value, which averages the program’s best-value transfer partners.

*Based on an average of the issuer’s five highest-value transfer partners (if available).

When to use rewards vs. cash

To demonstrate when it’s best to use your reward miles versus paying in cash, we set up this example:

We estimate American Airlines AAdvantage miles are worth 1.0 cents. If you book a seat in the main cabin on a one-way flight from Boston to Miami, and it costs either $139 or 21,500 miles, your miles are only worth $0.006 ($139 / 21,500 miles = $0.006). Since your miles for this flight are worth less than 1.0 cents, you may want to save your miles and pay cash for this flight.

But if you book a first-class seat on the same flight for $433 or 31,500 miles, your miles are now worth $0.013 ($433 / 31,500 = $0.013). Since 1.3 cents is higher than our latest valuation, you’re coming out ahead if you use your miles to pay for this flight.

Bankrate experts share their advice on using travel credit cards

It’s important to know how to maximize your rewards and perks. Otherwise, a travel card could end up being a money pit. Here are a few pointers from our experts for making the most of your travel card: 

Combine cards to maximize rewards

Knowing how much you spend in different categories and which merchants are eligible for rewards will help you earn more and build an optimized stack of rewards cards. A flat-rate card is often a great starting point to earn the same rate on every purchase you make. As you build out a rewards strategy, you can incorporate a card with bonus categories to earn even more in your highest spending areas.

Expert Insight:

“For a long time, I’ve used a combination of Chase credit cards known as the Chase trifecta for all my family’s spending…. [I] don’t typically use my Sapphire Reserve for everyday spending and bills. Since it only offers 1X points on non-bonus category spending, I use my Freedom Unlimited to make sure I earn a minimum of 1.5 percent cash back on everything I buy.” “I use each card strategically to earn as much in rewards as possible, then I pool them in my Sapphire Reserve account to redeem them for airfare, excursions, hotels and more.” — Holly D. Johnson — Award-winning personal finance writer and Bankrate contributor: Why I love the Chase Sapphire Reserve

Maximize your rewards value with transfer partners and issuer travel

Save your rewards for the most valuable redemption options. Travel points and miles often lose value toward non-travel options like cash back, so you’ll want to redeem your rewards for travel through the issuer portal for at least 1 cent per point or mile. However, transferring your rewards to the right airline or hotel partner program is usually worth the extra effort since it could net you even more value.

Expert Insight

“When I redeem my points through the Chase Ultimate Rewards program, the most I can get is 1.25 cents apiece, which is pretty good. However, if I transfer them to a partner airline’s loyalty program, I will often get much more. For example, I can transfer my points to United Airlines MileagePlus and use them to pay for flights. When I do, I generally get a value of 2 or more cents per point — in line with Bankrate estimates that Chase Ultimate Rewards points are worth around 2 cents apiece on average when used with the right transfer partner.” — Margaret Wack — Personal finance expert and Bankrate contributor: Why I love the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Make the most of your travel perks

Travel benefits are one of the main reasons to get a travel card, and are often key to making up a card’s annual fee. Be sure to read the fine print to make sure you can take full advantage of these offers . For example, one card’s travel credit may apply to any travel purchase, including airfare, while another card’s may only cover costs like baggage fees or in-flight purchases. 

“This is the year to take inventory of your credit cards and make sure they’re serving you well. If you’re paying an annual fee, look for a card with recurring benefits. Whether it’s annual award nights, waived luggage fees or elite status benefits, these perks can offset your annual fee and make your travels more pleasant … Despite putting minimal spending on my Hilton Honors Amex Aspire card, I keep renewing it every year. That’s because the card provides automatic Hilton Diamond elite status, which can easily offset the $550 annual fee. Recurring card benefits like [these] can save you a lot on travel and are worth considering when shopping for a new credit card.” — Ariana Arghandewal — Travel rewards expert and Bankrate contributor: Five benefits you need from a travel credit card

Plan for the sign-up bonus

The best travel cards come with generous welcome offers, but these bonuses may require a high spend in a short timeframe. That’s why it’s important to consider whether the spending requirement fits with your typical spending habits or whether you need to plan purchases to meet the requirement. Just be sure not to overextend yourself or take on debt you can’t pay back just to earn a bonus — interest and fees can easily eat through any value you’d get.

“Keep in mind that credit card sign-up offers change often. So if you’re interested in a particular card but not blown away by its current offer (there are some for 100,000 points or more that aren’t always worth the trouble), it could be worth your while to wait for a better one.” — Ariana Arghandewal — Travel rewards expert and Bankrate contributor: 6 ways to get bigger credit card bonuses

Look out for limited-time offers, partner perks and other benefits

Keeping an eye out for limited-time offers like extraordinarily high sign-up bonuses, perks with partner services (like rideshares or delivery services) and other reward-earning opportunities is a great way to squeeze the most value from your travel card. Issuers sometimes provide shopping and travel portals and card-linked reward programs for select purchases (like for pre-paid dining or participating merchant spending), which can help you bank extra rewards.

“Keep an eye on your email inbox and rewards portal for any limited-time promotions your issuer may be offering. Many American Express cards feature Amex Offers, which lets you access perks like statement credits for spending a certain amount on specific hotels and other retailers.  Other cards, like the Capital One Venture X, also have occasional promotional offers, such as a credit for 5 percent back on VRBO rentals.” — Lori Zaino — Travel expert and Bankrate contributor: How to maximize credit cards for cheaper accommodations this holiday season

Track your spending and rewards each account statement

Track your favorite stores’ and services’ merchant category codes (MCCs) to fine-tune your spending habits for maximum rewards. If you notice your expenses changing, this practice may also help you notice whether you need to change which rewards cards you carry.

“The first step to optimizing your spending is to take the time to collect the MCCs of stores you frequently shop at. During the process, you might find that some stores in the same chain may have different MCCs, depending on their primary inventory. Even different counters or sections in the same department store may carry different MCCs. You can use this to your advantage if you know one location near you will provide a better cash back rate than the other. These “loopholes” can provide great opportunities to reap cash back on purchases that typically wouldn’t earn rewards.” — Garrett Yarbrough — Writer and credit cards expert at Bankrate: Merchant category codes: How to earn more cash back

Our data: What credit score do you need for the best travel cards?

It’s no secret that your credit score heavily influences which cards you’re likely to get approval for. But how good does your credit need to be to get the best credit cards for travel? We analyzed our data of Bankrate readers who applied for credit cards on our pages in 2023 and compared the approval rates of readers’ different credit tiers.

We found that, on average, 61.9 percent of users with excellent credit were approved for travel cards on our site. Then, an average of 39.5 percent and 19.5 percent of users with good and fair credit, respectively, got approval for travel credit cards they applied to.

If you have fair or bad credit, you still have options for travel credit cards. For example, the Credit One Bank Wander Card caters to people with fair credit — 57 percent of people with fair credit who applied on our site in 2023 were approved for this card , according to our data.

Obviously, the better your credit, the more likely you are to get the card you apply for , but other factors can affect your application. Issuers may also consider your income, recent credit applications, homeownership status and monthly rental or mortgage payment. Keep these other factors in mind with your credit score when you apply for credit cards.

Have more questions for our credit cards editors? Feel free to send us an email , find us on Facebook , or Tweet us @Bankrate .

When evaluating the best travel cards, we consider a mix of factors, including how cards score in our proprietary card rating system and whether cards offer features that fit the priorities of a diverse group of cardholders, from earning rewards in popular categories to scoring a large sign-up bonus or high-value perks. Whenever possible, we also feature cards that are available at various credit levels and price points. 

We analyzed over 150 of the most popular cards and scored each based on its rewards rate, estimated annual earnings, welcome bonus value, APR, fees, perks and more to determine whether it belonged in this month’s roundup of the best travel cards.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the key factors in our rewards card scoring methodology — our primary scoring category for travel cards — and details we considered when putting together our list of the best travel cards.  

• Flexibility 15%
• Customer experience 5%

Great rewards value

The primary criteria for a rewards-earning card’s rating is its rewards value. This includes the card’s average rewards rate, estimated annual rewards earnings, sign-up bonus value and reward redemption value.

To estimate a card’s average annual rewards earnings, we first calculate its average rewards rate based on how much it earns in different bonus categories and how closely its categories align with the average person’s spending habits. In other words, we assess whether the card earns rewards at a high rate in the most popular spending categories. 

We use consumer spending data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to get a reliable third-party measure of people’s spending habits. The most recent BLS data estimates average total spending in 2022 was $72,967 per consumer. We then narrow our focus to which purchases are likely to be put on a credit card and earn rewards, subtracting expenditures like housing, vehicle purchases and education. This gives us a total “chargeable” annual spend of around $25,500.  

This includes the following spending by category:

• Groceries: $5,700
• Dining out: $3,600
• Entertainment: $2,400
• Gas: $3,100
• Apparel and services: $1,900

Using this data, we assign a weighting to each of a card’s bonus categories. For example, a card’s grocery rewards rate receives a 22 percent weighting based on how much of the average person’s budget is spent on groceries.

We also estimate the redemption value of points or miles from various issuer, airline and hotel rewards programs.

This weighting and rewards valuation allows us to estimate a card’s average annual rewards earnings — how many points or miles you’d earn with a given card if your spending was about average and you used the card for all of your purchases — as well as what those points are worth. We also use point valuations to determine a card’s sign-up bonus value

With these calculations complete, we assign each card a score based on how its average rewards earnings, sign-up bonus value, rewards rate and redemption value stack up against other rewards cards.

The better these values, the higher its score will be, making it more worthy of inclusion in our list and increasing its potential ranking.

Reasonable rates and fees

We also score cards based on how much it costs to keep them in your wallet or carry a balance. 

To start, each card is scored based on whether it offers an intro APR and how its ongoing APR compares to the rates available on other rewards cards. However, the latter rating only has a slight influence on the card’s score and whether the card is included in our list, since rewards card users generally try to avoid carrying a balance.

More important to both a card’s score and its inclusion in our list is how its annual fee influences its overall value. We consider a card’s annual fee in two ways — how it ranks relative to the fees you’ll find on other cards in the category and how it impacts a card’s overall rewards value. 

Cards with an annual fee will always be at a slight disadvantage in our scoring system since annual fees inherently cut into your rewards value. However, if a card offers terrific value via its ongoing rewards and perks, it can earn a high score and a spot in our list even if it carries a high annual fee. After all, the highest rewards rates and most valuable perks are often found on cards with annual fees. 

With this in mind, we rate a card based primarily on how its ongoing rewards value and ongoing perk value (such as annual credits or bonuses) stack up against those of other cards in the category when you subtract annual fees.

That said, we strive to include as many no-annual-fee options in our list as possible since many people would rather not worry about offsetting fees, even if a card carries impressive rewards and perks.

Redemption flexibility

Rewards cards may make it easy to earn a lot of points, miles or cash back, but how easy is it to use those rewards? After all, if it takes a ton of effort to redeem rewards or you can only redeem rewards in a couple of ways, a card may be more trouble than it’s worth. 

As such, we rate each card’s flexibility based on the restrictions it imposes on earning and redeeming rewards. We factor this rating into a card’s overall score and consider it when deciding on a card’s inclusion in our list. 

Flexibility factors include whether a card only allows you to earn a high rewards rate on only a small amount of spending or requires you to meet a certain earning threshold before you can redeem rewards. We also examine whether your points are worth less when you opt for some redemption options over others and whether a card gives you the flexibility to transfer rewards to travel partners.

Valuable perks

We also score each card’s set of features – its perks and benefits — against five tiers of features to provide a rating. 

We break down these tiers as follows:

• Tier 1 includes fewer features than even standard credit cards (for example, an ultra-streamlined card that offers basic utility and next to nothing in the way of ancillary benefits). 
• Tier 2 includes the benefits you’d expect on standard Visa or Mastercard credit cards, such as free access to your credit score, car rental insurance and $0 liability for fraudulent charges. 
• Tier 3 includes “prime card” or better-than-average card features like cellphone insurance, lost luggage insurance, concierge services and purchase protection. 
• Tier 4 includes luxury features such as airport lounge access, elite status with an airline or hotel and credits for expedited security screening membership programs. 
• Tier 5 includes the sort of exemplary benefits you’ll find on top-tier luxury cards, such as high-value travel credits, cardholder memberships and other unique and valuable perks.

In evaluating the best cards, we tend to favor cards that offer at least Tier 3 benefits, unless they include other unique features that could make up for less-impressive perks.

And since this list focuses on travel cards, we tend to favor cards that carry travel-centric features like travel insurance, airport lounge access and credits for expedited security screening, instead of more general perks like food delivery credits or shopping discounts.

More information on travel credit cards

Frequently asked questions about travel credit cards, are travel credit cards worth it.

Travel cards can be well worth it since they often have exclusive travel perks like credits for airfare, hotel stays, expedited airport security services and more, as well as complimentary airport lounge access and airline or hotel privileges. However, many of the best travel credit cards come with annual fees. It’s important to at least offset the cost of these cards by taking advantage of the various travel perks and features included on the card. 

What credit score do you need for a travel credit card?

It’s possible to get a travel credit card with bad or fair credit, but most travel rewards cards are geared toward people with good or excellent credit (a FICO score of at least 670, or a VantageScore of at least 661).

Do travel miles or points expire?

Even though many major credit cards earn rewards that don’t expire, you may lose your points and miles if your account closes or isn’t in good standing. However, some co-branded cards’ rewards may expire if you don’t earn or redeem rewards within a certain timeframe (typically 12 to 36 months after the rewards are earned).

Check out our guide to credit card rewards expiration for a thorough breakdown of several popular issuers’ policies.

Are points or miles better on a credit card?

Whether points or miles offer better value will depend on the specific rewards program and how you redeem rewards. One airline loyalty program may earn miles that offer less than 1 cent each in average redemption value while another program’s points may offer close to 3 cents each on average. Similarly, a hotel card’s points may be worth less than half of a credit card issuer’s rewards points. Some programs offer points with only average baseline redemption value but high value when transferred to a partner airline or hotel. 

Ask the experts: Is it a good idea to have multiple travel credit cards?

Thomas Nitzsche

Stephanie Zito

Erica Sandberg

Financial Educator, Debt and Credit

Whether you should have multiple travel credit cards depends on several factors, including your brand affinity, frequency of travel and ability to pay off your cards in full each month. As a credit counselor, I see many people carrying credit card debt at high interest rates while continuing to make charges to the account for the sake of earning rewards. They lose far more than they earn each month. Having more than one travel credit card could make sense for you if you’re able to maximize your earnings by strategizing spending across each card. Just take into account annual fees and actual interest paid.

Contributor, Personal Finance

If you’re up for managing multiple cards and their benefits, then there are definitely big reward payouts to be had. But if the thought of multiple cards is overwhelming, it’s also a good strategy to have one or two more flexible cards and focus on maximizing your earnings and redemptions until it becomes second nature.

Contributor, Credit Cards

Definitely! I currently have two travel credit cards. In addition to the Chase card that I use for my United Airlines purchases, I have the Capital One Venture card for all other airlines. I earn a solid amount of miles on everything I buy with it, so it's an easy go-to for non-travel related expenses.

Article sources

We use primary sources to support our work. Bankrate’s authors, reporters and editors are subject-matter experts who thoroughly fact-check editorial content to ensure the information you’re reading is accurate, timely and relevant.

Global entry: Trusted traveler enrollment program . U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Accessed on Feb. 21, 2024

Discover International acceptance . Discover. Accessed on Feb. 21, 2024.

* See the online application for details about terms and conditions for these offers. Every reasonable effort has been made to maintain accurate information. However all credit card information is presented without warranty. After you click on the offer you desire you will be directed to the credit card issuer's web site where you can review the terms and conditions for your selected offer.

Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The information, including card rates and fees, is accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information.

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