Writer: Matt Walker
Editor: Lillian Guevara-Castro
Reviewer: Ashley Fricker
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Everyone has different travel goals — but not every travel credit card can help you reach those goals. If you’re interested in seeing more of what the U.S. has to offer, you’ll do well with one of the best credit cards for domestic travel.
Our team of intrepid travelers researched many of the cards on the market and narrowed down our top choices to help you vacation like a pro. Whether you’re looking for free or discounted flights, hotels, or something else for your trek across the U.S., the cards below won’t disappoint.
Overall | Flights | Hotels | Car Rentals | Travel Insurance | Premium | FAQs
Best Overall Cards for Domestic Travel
Whether you’re going cross-country or exploring a nearby city, you’re going to need some backup from your credit card to make your adventure more memorable, enjoyable, and affordable. Our top choices for domestic travel credit cards give you all of that — and some extra benefits you may not have known you needed.
- Earn 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, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 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 $120 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
- Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Top rated mobile app
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a do-it-all companion for domestic travelers. If you’re a regular airline passenger, you’ll appreciate the ability to receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. With Capital One, you can also earn regular signup bonuses for new applicants. These deals can help you earn a lot of miles quickly for meeting certain spending thresholds.
- Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
- $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 18.49% - 28.49% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
- Top rated mobile app
With the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card, you’ll earn an unlimited miles on every purchase — and you can transfer your miles to more than a dozen leading travel loyalty programs to increase their value.
- Earn 125,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Get more than $2,700 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
- Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠ and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases
- $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests. Plus, up to $120 towards Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck® every 4 years
- Get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
- Get complimentary Apple TV+, the exclusive streaming home of Apple Originals. Plus Apple Music — all the music you love, across all your devices. Subscriptions run through 6/22/27 — a value of $250 annually
- Member FDIC
Additional Disclosure: Non-Monetized. The information related to Chase Sapphire Reserve® was collected by CardRates and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this product/card. Product details may vary. Please see issuer website for current information. CardRates does not receive commission for this product.
Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardholders can quickly make up the cost of the annual fee by taking advantage of its annual travel credit reimbursement as well as the application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. You can use your earned points through the Chase portal or you can do a 1:1 transfer to many leading travel loyalty programs. Cardholders also receive access to more than 1,000 worldwide airport lounges.
Best Air Miles Cards for Domestic Travel
Although America has so many wonderful sights to see, sometimes you want to get to your destination faster than a car can take you. If you’re a regular flyer — or you want to be one — a good miles card can lower your costs and increase your airfare options. Get started by checking out our top choices below.
- UNLIMITED BONUS: Unlimited mile-for-mile match for all new cardmembers. Discover gives you an unlimited match of all the miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year. There’s no signing up, no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a mile-for-mile match. You could turn 35,000 miles into 70,000 miles.
- 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 and balance transfers. Then 17.49% to 26.49% Standard Variable Purchase APR will apply.
- Terms and conditions apply.
The Discover it® Miles card pays out miles for every dollar charged to the card. You can redeem those miles as a statement credit to reimburse your airfare costs or any other travel-related expenses. With moderate card use, you can easily earn enough miles to pay for a domestic round-trip ticket just from the match alone.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card cardholders earn 2x miles on every purchase, which can quickly add up to a nice reward. You can redeem your miles for statement credits that work to reimburse you for travel expenses, including airfare. Plus, the card comes with the ability to receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®, which gets you out of those long airport security lines and to your destination much faster.
- Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- 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
- Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel℠
- 10% anniversary points boost - each account anniversary you'll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
- Member FDIC
Additional Disclosure: Non-Monetized. The information related to Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card was collected by CardRates and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this product/card. Product details may vary. Please see issuer website for current information. CardRates does not receive commission for this product.
With the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, you can get closer to your next trip just by making your everyday purchases. That’s because the card offers a signup bonus for new cardholders that pays out bonus points after you meet a purchase threshold during your first three months with the card. That bonus equals 25% more in travel credits when you redeem it through the Chase platform. That could buy you round-trip airfare to just about anywhere in the U.S.
Best Hotel Rewards Cards for Domestic Travel
Sometimes, you just have to get away. But every busy day of traveling deserves a good night’s sleep. With one of our best hotel rewards credit cards for domestic travel, you can save money on your hotel stay without skimping on your accommodations. That means you may save a little extra money for an extra night or an added adventure or two.
Unlike some travel credit cards, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card doesn’t restrict or limit which hotel brand you book with. The only restriction is that you have to use them toward a travel expense.
The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card doesn’t impose blackout dates or hotel restrictions, meaning that you can stay wherever you want, whenever you want. Plus, you can transfer your miles to more than 12 travel loyalty programs to give your earnings an extra boost.
9. Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card rewards you with up to 12X points on your Hilton purchases, but still pays a healthy 6X and 3X points on all other purchases. Plus, cardholders instantly become Hilton Honors Gold Members.
- Earn 12X points per dollar for Hilton purchases, 6X points for purchases at U.S. restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations, 3X points for all other purchases
- $95 annual fee
Gold members receive guaranteed discounts
, 80% more reward points during stays, complimentary breakfast at all Hilton-owned hotels, and several other key benefits that make this card a winner if you’re a Hilton loyalist.
Best Rental Car Rewards for Domestic Travel
Nothing kills those vacation vibes like a trip to the mechanic because your car couldn’t handle the cross-country trek. Instead of risking your own engine or tires, why not rent a car and ride with a little extra peace of mind?
Our best cards for renting a car can have you on the road faster, and cheaper, than depending on travel websites to find you the best deals.
- 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 everyday purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.
- Earn 3 points per $1 spent on travel purchases booked through the Bank of America Travel Center.
- 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 17.49% - 27.49% 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 5%. Balance transfers may not be used to pay any account provided by Bank of America.
- This offer may not be available elsewhere if you leave this page. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
Additional Disclosure: Bank of America is a CardRates advertiser.
You won’t pay an annual fee with the Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card, but you will have the opportunity to earn a whole lot of rewards that you can redeem for free car rentals and other travel perks. Your earned points can be paid out in the form of statement credits that can reimburse you for rental car fees and other travel costs.
- Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- 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
- Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel℠
- 10% anniversary points boost - each account anniversary you'll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
- Member FDIC
Additional Disclosure: Non-Monetized. The information related to Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card was collected by CardRates and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this product/card. Product details may vary. Please see issuer website for current information. CardRates does not receive commission for this product.
Chase makes it super easy to redeem your miles for free rental cars, and the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a top choice for earning points that can be redeemed in the Chase platform. You can redeem your points for free car rentals and you’ll also get rental car insurance when you charge the rental fees to your card.
This saves you money when you don’t have to purchase the inflated insurance prices at the rental counter.
- Earn 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you use your new card to make $8,000 in purchases in your first 6 months of Card Membership
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points for flights booked directly through airlines or American Express Travel, on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. Also earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com.
- $600 annual hotel credit, $200 annual airline fee credit, $200 per year Uber cash credit, $300 per year digital entertainment credit, and more.
- Platinum Card Members have unlimited complimentary access to all locations of The Global Lounge Collection®, including 1,550 airport lounges.
- Apply with Confidence: Know if you're approved for this Card with no credit score impact
- Fee Credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck®, CLEAR® Plus Membership
The Platinum Card® from American Express is like a key to an exclusive car rental club. Cardholders receive instant access to complimentary memberships in multiple premium car rental programs. These memberships also include special upgrades and discounts.
The card’s rental car insurance covers you if your rental is damaged or stolen. You automatically activate the coverage when you use your card to reserve and pay for your vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver at the counter.
Best Cards for Domestic Travel with Insurance
Many credit cards recently added travel insurance to their list of benefits — but not many cardholders know it. Whether it’s trip interruption protection, lost baggage allowance, or any other travel-related insurance, our top-rated cards below have you covered from doorstep to destination and back again.
Additional Disclosure: Non-Monetized. The information related to Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card was collected by CardRates and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this product/card. Product details may vary. Please see issuer website for current information. CardRates does not receive commission for this product.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card members receive insurance of up to $10,000 per covered trip. This insurance pays for your travel expenses when, for example, you experience an accidental injury or sickness, you receive a jury duty summons, or severe weather interrupts your trip.
Additional Disclosure: Non-Monetized. The information related to Chase Sapphire Reserve® was collected by CardRates and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this product/card. Product details may vary. Please see issuer website for current information. CardRates does not receive commission for this product.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers some of the best travel insurance packages in the credit card space. The card’s primary rental car insurance covers your vehicle for up to $75,000 when you pay your rental fees using the card. There’s also a $10,000 per-trip cancellation reimbursement, a $500 trip delay reimbursement that kicks in after six hours of delays, a $100-a-day delayed luggage reimbursement, and $100,000 in emergency evacuation insurance.
- Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
- $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 18.49% - 28.49% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
- Top rated mobile app
The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card comes with many benefits including a comprehensive rental car insurance package and roadside assistance coverage that can pay for the cost of a tow truck or other emergency vehicle while you’re on the road.
Best Premium Cards for Domestic Travel
Vacations are a time to rest, relax, and get away from everyday life. So, if you’re going to unplug from the real world, why not do it in style? With our best premium cards for domestic travel, you can gain airport lounge access, concierge services, and improved accommodations among other perks and benefits that will turn your trip from memorable to unforgettable.
Additional Disclosure: Non-Monetized. The information related to Chase Sapphire Reserve® was collected by CardRates and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this product/card. Product details may vary. Please see issuer website for current information. CardRates does not receive commission for this product.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® card offers several premium benefits that include an application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Frequent flyers also appreciate access to more than 1,000 airport lounges worldwide through a Priority Pass™ Select membership. But it’s the annual travel credit that makes this card a winner.
The Platinum Card® from American Express sports a hefty annual fee, but savvy cardholders can turn this card into a profitable piece of plastic. The annual airline fee and hotel credit reiumburses a good bit of the annual fee in the form of a statement credit. And that’s just the start of the perks.
Cardholders receive reimbursement for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓® application fees, as well as the benefits of a Fine Hotels & Resorts® membership. You can also use your card to unlock access to more than 1,200 premium luxury airport lounges thanks to the American Express Global Lounge Collection.
How Do Travel Credit Cards Work?
All travel cards work a little differently, but each can make your travel plans more affordable.
Your travel needs and habits will help define which card works best for you. If saving money is your main objective, then an all-purpose travel credit card — such as the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card or Discover it® Miles — may work best for you.
That’s because those two cards allow you to travel however you choose, with no restrictions, and redeem the miles and points you accrue from all of your purchases for statement credits. Those credits essentially reimburse you for any travel-related expenses you incur.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is another great option, thanks to the robust Chase Ultimate Rewards program. You can turn your points into free hotel stays or airfare, upgraded accommodations, car rentals, or any combination of the many choices the program offers directly on the Chase Ultimate Rewards website. You can apply your points for a discount on travel accommodations even if you don’t have enough points to cover the total cost.
If vacation time means pampering and luxury to you, you may want to check out the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card or The Platinum Card® from American Express. Both cards make it easier to earn high-end hotel upgrades.
The Platinum Card also offers an annual airline fee credit, reimbursement for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓® fees, and a $15 monthly credit to cover your Uber Platinum membership.
What Credit Score Do I Need for a Travel Rewards Card?
You don’t need perfect credit to obtain a good travel rewards credit card — but the cards with the biggest perks will generally require a good or better credit score.
Our top choice in this category, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, doesn’t limit itself to applicants who have excellent credit. One cardholder reported receiving the card — and a $15,000 credit limit — with a 662 credit score. That score falls in the “Fair” range on FICO’s credit wheel.
Our second choice, the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card, offers slightly lesser rewards but doesn’t charge an annual fee, and may be more forgiving toward past credit mistakes. In fact, one cardholder claimed in a review to have been approved with a 600 credit score.
The Discover it® Miles card is best for applicants with good to excellent credit, which starts at a 670 FICO Score.
All of those cards offer competitive interest rates and flexible rewards that you can redeem as statement credits to reimburse travel-related expenses that you charge to your card.
Other cards on our list, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and The Platinum Card® from American Express are more exclusive and require a higher credit score for approval. Both cards roughly require at least a minimum credit score of 720 for consideration — and even that won’t always guarantee your approval.
Is it Worth Getting an Airline Credit Card?
If you’re a frequent flyer, you can combine a good airline credit card with your preferred loyalty program to double your rewards and maximize your savings and upgrades. These cards are a must-have if you spend a lot of time on airplanes (or if you aspire to travel more).
But, if you prefer to mix up your travel plans with a little air travel and a little driving, you’re better served with an all-purpose travel credit card that won’t restrict how you redeem your rewards earnings.
For example, most airline-branded credit cards allow you to rack up rewards to spend on future flights and upgrades. But you’re out of luck if you want to splurge and use your savings on a fancy hotel or rental car.
An all-purpose card — like those named in our list above — gives you various ways to redeem your rewards. You can spend them on airfare, rental cars, hotels, ride-sharing service fees, or several other travel-related expenses.
And some cards, like those issued by Chase, won’t limit your redemptions only to travel. With the Chase Ultimate Rewards platform, you can spend your earned points on travel, merchandise, experiences, and several other popular categories.
The Chase Ultimate Rewards program provides great options and flexibility for your rewards.
So, if you’re planning a big trip, you can bank your miles until you’re ready to book. If you know you’ll have a while until you have some time off, you can splurge and use some of your points on a day trip, spa day, or tickets to a concert or sporting event.
That type of flexibility makes Chase one of the most sought-after credit cards on the market.
And the best part about all these cards is that they’re built for domestic travel. With them, you won’t have to worry about foreign transaction fees or merchants who don’t accept your payment.
See the U.S. for Less with Travel Rewards
The U.S. is filled with so many wonderful travel destinations. Whether you’re looking for great food, history, culture, or nature, a great vacation is just a short flight or drive away. And, if you pack one of the best credit cards for domestic travel, you’ll be ready for adventure without worrying about the hassles that sometimes come with overseas travel.
Just remember that there are many kinds of travel rewards credit cards. The best rewards for you will complement your travel plans without limiting you to certain travel dates or service providers.
After all, it’s your vacation — and you should plan it in any way you want to experience it.
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Editorial Note: Our site content is not provided or commissioned by any credit card issuer(s). Opinions expressed on CardRates.com are the author's alone, not those of any credit card issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by credit card issuers. Every reasonable effort has been made to maintain accurate information; however, all credit card offer details, including information about rewards, signup bonuses, introductory offers, and other terms and conditions, is presented without warranty. Clicking on any offer on CardRates.com will direct you to the issuer's website, where you can review the current terms and conditions of the offer.
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