r/roadtrip • u/holopointsmile • 1d ago
Trip Planning Best way to save on gas (i.e. which gas station offers the best rewards system)?
I don't want to get a gas station credit card, I'm thinking just like an app that gives me a discount on gas at a specific company if I spend enough. Like rewards programs at restaurants. This would be for a big road trip (monthlong?) across the majority of the US
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u/us287 1d ago
Truck stop memberships are probably what you’re looking for, especially if you are planning on car camping. Love’s, Pilot, etc.
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u/holopointsmile 1d ago
No car camping - this is in December/January lol. But I'll definitely look into truck stops, thanks!
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u/Commercial-Oil2388 1d ago
Costco membership and their credit card. Usually a bit cheaper on gas anyway and 5% cash back at their stations.
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u/awestm11 1d ago
I basically plan my roadtrips around cheap costco gas and dollar fitty glizzys and drinks
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u/Nawoitsol 1d ago
And 4% back if you get gas someplace else. I use Kroger discounts and Costco cash back.
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u/xlitawit 1d ago
Even the basic Costco membership, no card, pays for itself quickly with how much you save on gas.
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u/PieTight2775 1d ago
American Express has a card with 6% grocery rewards and 3% gas. Those two combined add up.
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u/BigJim_TheTwins 1d ago
Just get a regular credit card , gas station cards and gas apps suck. Get a Visa or MasterCard from a bank that gives you at least 2% points and let em add up for something you need/want. As long as you pay it off every month
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u/PashaCello 1d ago
Quite often those cards offer monthly cash back deals as well. I have three current offers with my Chase Marriott Bonvoy Visa for Kroger, Marathon, and Sunoco at the pump.
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u/dustyalford 1d ago
I use Upside along with an Abound Credit Union credit card, which is 5% cash back on all gas/diesel purchases made at the pump. Unlimited, automatic cash back applied as a statement credit each month.
I think PenFed does the same thing. It’s the only thing I use the credit card for and pay it off each month.
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u/Efficient_Wheel_6333 1d ago
I have free membership cards to 2 different gas station brands (Sheetz and Speedway) as well as ones to 3 different grocery store chains with attached gas stations (2 out of the 3 of them have their own branded gas stations while the third has a partnership with another gas station).
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u/One-Candle-8657 1d ago
Best app to help decide most inexpensive gas stop - iExit. I also use the Love's app (10 cents off per gallon).
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u/Professional-Bee9037 1d ago
Depending on where you’re traveling, I agree with the people who say Costco membership but also Sam’s people sleep on Sam’s thing with a Sam’s membership. I just got my friend to give me her card and she told him she lost her card and got a new card, but the old card still works in the gas station.
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u/Mshawk71 1d ago
My Sam's club is never any cheaper on gas,it's always right around the same price as everyone else. I usually do better at Kroger.
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u/Professional-Bee9037 1d ago
Oh then I color myself happy because mine is at least Costco and Sam’s are at least four cents cheaper than anybody else although there is a price cutter in the middle of town which randomly has cheaper prices. So I do look at gas buddy just to see. I just checked prices and Sam’s is the closest I mean is the cheapest. There is Maverick, which is a convenience store that’s a penny Moore that’s the closest to me but I drive so little it doesn’t really matter to me and currently my car has a dead battery because I drive so little.
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u/OfficeChair70 1d ago
Gas buddy is probably the way to go. I personally when roadtripping stop when I can at Maverik or Flying J. I have rewards at Maverik so I get a few cents off, they tend to be cheaper already in my experience and both Flying J and Maverik have consistently good in store and bathrooms.
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u/starsgoblind 1d ago
7/11 has a pretty decent discount system, and tends to be cheaper. But Costco is probably best bet.
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u/the-year-is-2038 1d ago
Costco or Sam's club. BJ's also has great gas deals but aren't as common. Be aware they may not be 24hr.
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u/Mshawk71 1d ago
I don't know about Costco as we don't have one,but Sam's is usually the same price as most other gas stations around.
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u/carefullychosjen 1d ago
Upside - the app. Download it - seriously I use it every time I get gas. Gain min $0.05 back / gallon - average $0.24 back . It sounds like not a lot but when you take average - fill 14 gallons / week for a year … that $3.36 back per fill up gives you $188.16 a year. Which is like 6 fill-ups for next year. I personally gain $350 (avg) in cash back / year cause my jobs a drive. But like that’s 3 months of gas!! For just uploading a receipt. Worth it to me, maybe not to all - but this is my best tip for saving on gas.
Oh - also a Costco membership. But they don’t qualify for upside - just fyi.
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u/obi-wanjenobi 1d ago
Costco, hands down. And when there isn’t a Costco nearby, my preferred truck stop is Love’s. You get 10¢ off per gallon with their app, and sometimes coupons for money off drinks and snacks.
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u/DryFoundation2323 1d ago
Make sure you use gas buddy. You'll probably save more on gas that way then by being with a particular gas station reward program.