Best Road Trip Travel Tips

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

I’ve driven a lot of miles over the years (cue Allman Brothers’ “Ramblin’ Man”) and, after countless dozens of mistakes, mishaps, and enlightening conversations with full-time truckers, I’ve learned how to make the most of a road trip.

If you, too, are frequently behind the wheel — or even if you’re just planning a weekend getaway — here are seven tips that will make your next asphalt odyssey far cheaper, safer, and more enjoyable. 

. . .

1. Use GasBuddy or a Box Store Membership for Cheap Gas

One of the best ways to save money on a road trip is to use the GasBuddy app to find cheap gas within a certain radius. 

Or, better yet, invest in a box store membership (e.g., Sam’s Club, BJ’s, or Costco) so you can score cheap gas for the whole year. 

Sure, box store memberships aren’t free, but all three chains listed above are pretty generous with new member promos. It should only take a quick Google search to find a way to score a $25 new-member special. 

Plus, that membership should pay for itself pretty quickly on a long road trip. 

Let’s say you’re driving 500 miles each way in a vehicle that gets an average 25 miles per gallon. That means you’ll need 40 total gallons of gas — at $3.50 per gallon, your total gas budget will be $140.

But if you fill up at a big box store where gas is 15% cheaper, you’ll save $21 and continue scoring cheap gas for the rest of the year (plus, Costco hot dogs). 

2. Fill Up Your Tires at Costco

One of the “hidden” perks of a Costco membership is that you used to be able to pull up to the tire center, smile and wave, and a technician would come out and inflate your tires for free. 

Obviously, this practice wasn’t sustainable, so by late 2023, Costco had quietly installed free self-service tire inflators at most of its U.S. stores. 

Just pull up, find the recommended PSI in your door jam (see photo below), set the pressure using the keypad, and start inflating!

You can often find these self-service tire inflators at many Sam’s and BJ’s locations, as well as many gas stations — though in the latter case, you may have to pay $1.50 in quarters. 

3. Stop at Grocery Stores for Food

Imagine this: You’re 2.5 hours into your road trip and your tummy starts rumbling. You’d like something quick, cheap, and satisfying, so your mind starts gravitating towards fast food. 

But if you think about it, fast food isn’t as quick, cheap, and satisfying as it used to be. Drive-thru lines can be 15 minutes long, combo meals are $12.38, and you probably won’t be getting the actual nutrition your body needs for a long stretch of highway driving. 

So instead of fast food, head to the nearest grocery store. Kroger, QFC, and Ingles all have expansive fresh food options, many of which manage to be healthier — and cheaper — than what you’d find beneath the Golden Arches. 

Plus, you can grab additional snacks for the trip and visit a clean restroom while you’re inside, and many large supermarket chains now have a Starbucks right inside!

4. Use Google’s “Offline Maps” Feature

This one is simple but can seriously save your bacon if you run out of 5G at any point in your travels. 

In a nutshell, Google Maps has an “Offline Maps” feature where you can download custom maps (up to the size of a whole state) over wifi, so you can still pull up directions in areas with zero cell reception. 

Not only does this feature save data and battery life, but it can also bring huge peace of mind and improve safety along your route. 

5. Bring the Right Travel Rewards Card

Bringing the right rewards card is an easy way to score extra points, perks, and cashback on your road trip. 

There are credit cards specifically tailored to earning maximum rewards on gas purchases and restaurants — the two things you'll spend the most on when you're on the road.

For example, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is great for gas, parking, and supermarkets, and the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is great for dining out or grabbing groceries, as well as for rental cars, should you need to rent for your road trip.

With the right card, every time you fill up (either your gas tank or your belly), you’ll earn points or cashback that you can use to pay down your statement at the end of the month or put towards future travels.

LEARN MORE: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

. . .

LEARN MORE: Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

. . .

If you’re on the road a lot, it’s also worth looking into a credit card that offers free roadside assistance. For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card covers up to five miles of towing, tire changes, and fuel delivery.

LEARN MORE: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

. . .

6. Get a Neck Pillow, Seatback Organizer and Trash Can

While this may not save you money in the short term, upgrading your car’s interior with various comfort and storage solutions can be a huge boon on a road trip — and save you a pricey chiropractor bill later on. 

My three favorite road trip accessories are: 

• A memory foam neck pillow for reducing neck cramps and fatigue ($15 on Amazon)
• A seatback organizer for storing snacks, water bottles, and dirty stuff (e.g., shoes after a hike) ($12 on Amazon)
• A middle-seat trash can to keep your interior clean and stink-free ($10 on Amazon)

7. Tint Your Windows and Wear Sunblock

Since most vehicle windows have very little UV protection from the factory, sitting in a car for a five-hour road trip is tantamount to sitting on the beach for five hours. 

In both cases you’ll need lots of sunblock to deflect breathtaking amounts of radiation. 

As a pale German dude, I’m definitely at risk of becoming like that trucker who aged half his face after 28 years on the road. 

In addition to sunblock, I also recommend tinting your windows. 

Not only does a perfectly legal $50-per-window tinting job help to shield you from the sun’s death rays, but it also protects your interior plastic and leather, improves privacy, deters crime, and helps keep the cabin cool so you don’t have to blast the aircon (and therefore save on gas). 

TL;DR: Travel Tips for Your Next Road Trip 

While road trips can be loads of fun, they can also be expensive and stressful. Gas isn’t cheap these days, and the stress of traffic, maps, and potential hiccups like flat tires can put a serious damper on your drive.

But a few simple tricks can make your trip run smoother and cheaper. 

Be strategic with your fueling (both your car’s gas tank and yours), get your car as comfy as possible for long hauls, and make sure you’re carrying a credit card that can both save you money and get you out of a jam. 

For more money-saving tricks, follow Erika on Instagram and YouTube! That's where she shares all her best budgeting tips.

. . .

---

Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.