While it's easy to assume travel credit cards work best for flights or hotels, some offer rewards that cover a broader range of options.
And yes, certain cards are even perfect for families who would rather fly by the seat of their pants than plan a traditional resort getaway.
If your idea of summer fun involves traversing the country in an RV or hitting up all your favorite campgrounds, check out these cards and offers:
Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite MasterCard
The Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite MasterCard offers utmost flexibility for road-trippers and spontaneous travelers. You don't have to plan ahead to use your points.
Instead, you earn "travel credit" to cover your purchases after-the-fact. Once you rack up enough points, you can use your card to pay for any type of travel, then erase the purchase using at least 10,000 points worth $100.
Currently, the Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite MasterCard is offering 50,000 points worth $500 in travel after you spend $3,000 on your card within three months. The card does charge an $89 annual fee, but it's waived the first year.
Chase Sapphire Preferred
The Chase Sapphire Preferred card lets you earn flexible points in the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel program. Once you start racking up points, you can use them to book hotels or activities through the Chase portal at a 20 percent discount, or you can transfer them to popular hotel loyalty programs like Hyatt, Marriott, and IHG.
Right now, you can earn 50,000 points after you use your card for $4,000 in purchases within the first 90 days. Those points are worth $625 in travel booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, which means you can use them for nearly any travel expense. You can also redeem your points for cash back at a rate of one cent apiece to cover gas or other expenses.
[READMORE]READ MORE: 10 Road Trips You Can Complete in a Weekend[/READMORE]
Capital One Venture Rewards Card
The Capital One Venture Rewards card is another option that's perfect for a cross-country road trip. You'll earn 40,000 points worth $400 in travel after you spend $3,000 within 90 days. You can then use your card to make any travel purchase, using the points you've accrued to erase the expense.
Each point is worth one cent each, making them a valuable currency for cross-country hotel stays, campground rentals and other travel expenses. This card does charge a $59 annual fee, but it's also waived the first year.
[READMORE]READ MORE: From Charleston to L.A.: The Ultimate Coast-to-Coast Road Trip[/READMORE]
Blue Cash Preferred from American Express
While the Blue Cash Preferred from American Express isn't necessarily a travel credit card, it works great for cross-country travel. Since you redeem your points in the form of a statement credit at a rate of one cent each, you can use them to cover any type of travel including gas, incidentals or hotels.
If you sign up for the Blue Cash Preferred from American Express right now, you'll earn $150 in cash back after you spend $500 on your card within 90 days. For a limited time, you'll earn 10 percent back on your first $2,000 spent at U.S. restaurants for the first six months.
Furthermore, you'll always earn 6 percent back on your first $6,000 spent at grocery stores each year, 3 percent back at gas stations, and 1 percent back on all other purchases. A $75 annual fee does apply.
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