car travel food ideas

THE ULTIMATE ROAD TRIP FOOD LIST: 50 Scrumptious Travel Snacks

Post Summary: The definitive road trip food list with 50 snack ideas and meals to keep you happy the entire car ride. Plus, tips for what else to bring and recommendations for the best road trip coolers.

Road trips are the classic adventure that everyone needs to do at least once in their life, whether you’re traveling solo, with your best buds, or packing in the whole family. What’s the secret to a great road trip? Besides having your maps already downloaded to your phone (travel must #1), it’s to have a collection of the best road trip food at your disposal. Being prepared with good travel food will ensure you don’t:

• Kill your travel mates because you’re hangry.
• Get killed by your travel mates because they’re hangry.
• Get lured in by every gasoline stop and somehow end up with bright orange Cheetos and Slim Jims.
• Waste your travel budget dining on Subway and Wendys road trip meals.

After road tripping with a toddler for half a year around the US, we’ve figured out the ultimate road trip food list so we can enjoy the journey together feeling nourished and happy. Our list includes road trip food ideas for adults and kids as well as healthy car snacks.

After the road trip food list, we’ve included non-food items you’ll want to bring and some tips on choosing the best road trip cooler.

Need More Road Trip Tips? Check out our other articles below:

The Ultimate Road Trip Packing List: 41 Essentials For The Road 160 Fun, Deep, and Sometimes Silly Road Trip Questions 41 Fun and Challenging Road Trip Trivia Questions 17+ Fun Things To Do On A Road Trip How To Survive A Road Trip With A Toddler 40 Must Have Items To Have In Your Camper

*This road trip food list post may contain affiliate links, which means we might earn a small commission if you purchase from them. This is at no extra cost to you! We only recommend products and services we genuinely think are helpful.

The Ultimate Road Trip Food List

Healthy snacks for a road trip

We’ll start with healthy snacks for the road. I don’t know about you, but when we go on road trips, we tend to fall back on fast food and junk food. In an effort to have a quasi healthy road trip we make sure to include some healthy options so we can at least feel like we’ve balanced out all our snickers bars and Wendy’s frosties. Here’s our list of the best road trip foods that won’t leave you feeling sluggish at the end of the day. We also added in a few recommendations of some of our favorite brands.

Healthy Snacks For Car Rides 1. Fruit: Bananas, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, grapes, apples, oranges 2. Sliced veggies: carrots, cucumbers, celery, bell peppers, pickles, radishes 3. Cherry tomatoes 4. Olives (buy the pitted kinds) 5. Salsa 6. Deli sandwiches or wraps (already made from home or pre-purchased) 7. A simple charcuterie spread (summer sausage, pepperoni, sliced cheese, dried apricots, olives, crackers, etc.) 8. Popcorn 9. Yellow corn chips, blue corn chips, kale chips 10. Granola Bars and Energy Bars ( Munk Bars are our favorite! ) 11. Dried Fruit 12. Crackers (cheese crackers, saltines, whole wheat crackers, these almond crackers are my favorite!) 13. Pretzels 14. Nuts (almonds, peanuts, cashews, macadamia, walnuts, pecans) 15. Trail mix 16. Tuna (Get the kind that doesn’t need to be refrigerated! It can become a snack on crackers, a sandwich, or added to a salad) 17. Coconut chips ( Dang chips are our favorite. ) 18. Dark chocolate 19. Wasabi peas 20. Fruit leather 21. Whole-grain muffins 22. Bread (pretzel rolls, pita bread) 23. Water (Preferably in a water bottle like a Hydro Flask that will keep your water cold for hours.) *The following are all still healthy snacks for a road trip but will require a cooler. Skip them if you are going sans cooler. Further down, we’ll talk about the best road trip coolers. 23. Hard-boiled eggs 24. Small yogurt containers or drinkable yogurts 25. Humus 26. Guacamole 27. Pasta salad 28. Lentil salad 29. Grocery store salad kits (Can be eaten out of the bag! Just cut the top, pour in the salad dressing, and shake it away. You can also opt to do salads in a jar) 30. Cheese

Essential Road Trip Snacks

These road trip snacks might not be the healthiest, but look…you can’t always be perfect!

Road Trip Snack List 32. Beef Jerky 33. Chips 34. Fun candy (Any kind of candy that brings you joy for your road trip. Gummy bears, reeses pieces, airheads) 35. Ranch dip to go with your healthy veggies 36. Fun drinks (Just make sure the drink is able to be resealed or small enough that you’ll drink it all quickly. My favorite road trip drink is coconut water!) 37. Cookies

Road Trip Snacks For Kids And Toddlers

While we don’t put a distinction between road trip food for the adults and road trip food for kids, here are some fun ideas you can add in addition to the travel food listed above. We found that allowing for leniency with what we let our kid snack on will mean a more fun time for everyone in the car.

Road Trip Snacks For Toddlers and Kids 38. String Cheese or Babybels 39. Peanut butter pretzels 40. Clementines 41. Squeezable applesauce 42. Squeezable nut butters (peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter) 43. Graham crackers 44. Goldfish 45. Fruit snacks 46. Fruit roll ups 47. Peanut butter and jelly sandwich 48. Dry cereal 49. Nutella 50. Snap pea crisps ( I love the wasabi ones from Harvest Snaps . I can only get them online because my grocery store never has them!)

Essential Non Food Items

Now that you’ve got your travel food and made your road trip food list, let’s talk about non food items to have on your road trip packing list. We are both advocates for minimal waste living so we do advise using reusable items like real utensils, glass containers, and reusable straws rather than single-use items. I know it can feel like a nuisance, but once you get used to doing it, it’s easy to integrate it into your habits. We’ve provided links to different products, so you can check out some good options.

-Trash bags (old shopping bags work well) – Stackable glass or plastic containers (While glass may feel like a hazard, I find that most of them are built for endurance and would require some extreme throwing around to actually break. Either way, bringing containers rather than an entire bag of snacks is a great space saver.) -Reusable straws (we like this multipack option here ) -Bento boxes (another option is to make individual bento boxes with everyone’s preferred snacks put in. It’s essentially a healthier version of a Lunchable. Great option if you’re traveling with kids.) Check out these cute bento boxes here . -Utensils -Plates -Paper towels -Hand sanitizer -Ziplock bags -Wipes -Cups if you want to share drinks -Ice packs for the cooler (We prefer to use reusable ice packs like these , but frozen water bottles or ice cubes in a ziplock back will do the job as well.) -Reusable grocery bag to carry your non-perishable stuff -Plastic tub (If you’re going on a long road trip and will have lots of snacks, a good option is to pack all your non-perishable items in a tub like this .) -Cooler

Related : A Comprehensive Guide To the Best Toddler Carriers For Traveling

Best Road Trip Coolers

If you’re going on a long road trip, you’ll definitely want to bring a cooler so you can have more options for the journey. Things to consider when deciding what kind of road trip cooler to bring.

• How much space will you have in your car?
• How many days will you be driving and subsequently how much food will you need?
• Cost of the cooler
• If you road trip or camp a lot and will use a cooler several times a year.

Yeti Roadi 24 Cooler

Our choice for the best road trip cooler is the Yeti Roadi 24 Cooler . It’s a mid-sized cooler that can fit a bottle of wine standing upright. We like its lightweight design and that its compact size can fit on the ground behind the passenger seat.

It has a mid-range price point, so if you are wanting something more economical, you’ll probably want our next pick.

Igloo MaxCold Cooler

If all you need is a no-frills cooler to keep your food cold, the Igloo Maxcold Cooler is a great option. The thin design also makes it a great choice for someone wanting to save room in the car.

Arctic Zone Titan Deep Freeze

If you like a soft cooler, the Arctic Zone Titan Deep Freeze consistently offers the best bang for your buck.

Yeti Tundra 45

Lastly, if you are wanting a high-end cooler that will be great for camping and can take the wear and tear of consistent use, the Yeti Tundra 45 is your best bet. Yeti is the reigning champion of coolers and you can’t go wrong with anything you purchase from them.

Before you head out on your epic road trip, we suggest packing the night before. Alleviating as much stress as possible on the day you leave, especially when you’re doing a road trip with a toddler , is key to enjoying the road trip journey. We find that the night before, it’s best to:

• Wash, cut, and peel all vegetables and fruit.
• Pack up all non perishable food and supplies.
• Prepare any road trip sandwiches you plan to eat.

Lastly, don’t forget to make sure all your tasty road trip snacks are within reaching distance in the car.

We hope you enjoyed our complete road trip food list. Happy road tripping!

** For more road trip inspiration follow us on Instagram . We travel… a lot.

NEED SOME TRAVEL INSPIRATION? A Complete Guide To A Utah National Parks Road Trip How To Plan A Cross Country Road Trip + Fun Routes To Take 10 National Parks To Visit In The East 50 Family Bucket List Experiences In The US

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Hi, we’re Christina and Brad, Idaho based writers and photographers who live to explore. We did a short stint of traveling full time with our two year old and discovered we're much happier as part time nomads. What does that mean? We travel a lot! And then we go home. We love helping fellow parents and everyday adventurers discover new places and experiences.

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Road Trip Food List: Easy to Pack Meals & Snacks

This post may contain affiliate links, view our disclosure policy .

Are you looking for a road trip food list that includes the best road trip snacks and other food to bring on a road trip?

Road trips can range from being budget-friendly to out-of-this-world expensive if you do not plan ahead, especially when it comes to eating food.

The temptation to grab a snack at every gas station, as well as to eat out at restaurants or gorge on fast food, can really start to add up in terms of money and wasted time.

One way to save money and time while road tripping, however, is to bring your own food!

By making a road trip food list and packing fun road trip snacks, you’ll avoid having to stop and spend as much.

Our road trip food list includes easy road trip snacks, as well as portable breakfast, lunch, and dinner options – plus, a FREE Road Trip Food List printable to take with you to the grocery store.

The links on this page are Amazon affiliate links. If you click on the links and make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Table of Contents

Road Trip Food List: Breakfast

One of our absolute best family road trip tips is to leave bright and early in the morning when starting a long road trip.

As the most important meal of the day, luckily, having breakfast on the road is the easiest meal to eat cold and on the go.

If you decide to hit the road early, or if your hotel en route doesn’t offer a free breakfast, plan ahead by bringing along these simple road trip breakfast foods.

Our tried-and-true road trip food list awaits!

Road Trip Breakfast Ideas

• Yogurt tubes and granola bars
• Muffins, donuts, and scones
• Bagels and cream cheese
• Squeezable applesauce
• Hard-boiled eggs
• Peanut butter, banana, and granola wrapped up in a tortilla
• Make-Ahead Fruit & Yogurt Breakfast Parfaits

Additional planning tip: For added morning fun, use the category “breakfast foods”, “brands or cereal”, or “types of fruit” while you play a road trip word game .

Road Trip Food List: Lunch

When it comes to planning for lunch and beyond, your road trip packing list should always include a reliable portable cooler .

Whether you chill made-ahead sandwiches, salami & cheese, fruits, or veggies, there are so many awesome road trip food ideas when it comes to having lunch on the go.

What we love about these road tip lunch ideas is that they keep us out of congested cities and fast-food drive-thrus during the busy noon hour.

Road Trip Lunch Ideas

• Premade sandwiches with deli meat and cheese (make them extra fun by using shaped sandwich cutters !)
• Peanut butter sandwiches (skip the jelly to avoid sogginess)
• Pita pocket with mozzarella, tomato, basil, turkey, cheese, hummus, cucumber, and/or tuna salad
• Home-ade Lunchables with summer sausage, cheese, and crackers
• Tortilla with cream cheese, sliced olives, and pepperoni
• Veggies and single-serve packs of ranch dressing, hummus, or guacamole
• Pre-assembled Salad In A Jar

Road Trip Food List: Dinner

If there is one meal that you choose to splurge on, I recommend stopping to have dinner at a roadside restaurant or cafe.

Though this may not be your final destination, experiencing another city in this way will help you check more places off of your family travel bucket list !

If you’re not keen on stopping, however, here are the road trip foods we enjoy that are tasty and hearty enough to serve as dinner.

Road Trip Dinner Ideas

• Cold rotisserie chicken, chunked and served with a garden salad (package in a disposable salad container )
• Pre-made pasta salad, such as Pizza Pasta Salad
• StarKist ready-to-eat tuna salad in an avocado half or on a bun
• Chicken and pickled veggies in pitas
• Hummus veggie wrap

Additional planning tip: If you’re road tripping in the winter when driving conditions are much more unpredictable, packing extra road trip food is an essential component of your winter road trip packing list .

Road Trip Food List: Snacks

In my opinion, snacks   are the No. 1 way to keep everyone (including you!) happy on a family road trip.

Homemade snack mixes and individual pre-purchased snacks are also a great way to help cut costs associated with buying food on the road.

For this reason, I suggest assembling an entire tub filled with fun and appetizing snacks and surprises that you know your kids will love.

We use these  16-quart storage tubs from Sterilite  that are the perfect size, price, and durability!

Road Trip Snacks Ideas

• Chips and pretzels
• Animal crackers (Suprise them with Barnum’s Originals !)
• Filled crackers (peanut butter, cheese)
• Nuts (cashews, almonds, peanuts)
• String cheese, Babybel, Laughing Cow cheese wedges
• Fresh or dried fruit
• Healthy no-bake cookies
• Candy and gummy candy

Be extra organized for your family road trip by clicking the following image to get your FREE family vacation packing list that is both customizable and printable!

Travel Snacks for Toddlers

Road tripping with toddlers presents its own set of challenges and requires additional thought when it comes to toddler-friendly road trip activities and food.

(It’s much harder to keep a close eye on them when they’re in the backseat, and you’re in the front.)

When considering toddler road trip foods, the most important thing is to avoid giving them anything to eat that could be deemed a choking hazard.

In addition, opt for healthy versus overly sweet options that may give them a tummy ache.

Our favorite healthy toddler car snacks and road trip foods include:

• Graham crackers
• Snap pea crisps
• Applesauce and/or yogurt pouches
• Cheese sticks
• Soft mini muffins
• Whole-grain crackers
• Bananas and/or this apple slices

9 Essential Tips For Traveling With Food

As seasoned travelers, we’ve assembled a list of tips for traveling with road trip foods and make-ahead hotel room meals.

• Use up your most delicate fruit first when on long-haul road trips.

In other words, start by eating bananas and berries, then move on to more sturdy produce such as apples and oranges that don’t spoil as easily.

2. Every family needs an organized packing strategy !

When it comes to road trip food, tortillas, pitas, or other sturdy flatbreads work better to bring along than do loaves of bread. They take up a lot less room and do not risk getting smashed.

3. When packing a cooler with items that need to stay chilled, be sure to lay the ice on the top, versus the bottom of the cooler.

This is because cold air sinks and will, therefore, disperse itself more evenly if laid on top of the food.

4. Aim to open the cooler only 1 or 2 times a day in order to maintain its refrigeration and keep the ice from thawing.

5. Also, make all food, including snacks, easily accessible throughout the duration of your family road trip.

This prevents someone (likely mom or dad!) from having to constantly bend over the back seat or stop to open the trunk every time hunger or boredom hits.

6. Avoid bringing anything made of glass on your road trip, including glass food containers. Glass is heavy, bulky, and very dangerous when broken within the confines of your family vehicle.

7. Assemble and bring along a road trip kit with the following road trip essentials for spills, clean-ups, and car sickness:

• Anti-bacterial wipes
• Hand sanitizer
• Garbage bags
• Ziplock bags
• Napkins/paper towels
• Saltine crackers and motion sickness medicine

8. Each time you stop while on a road trip, don’t forget to pitch any garbage that has accumulated.

This prevents build-up and smelliness.

9. Head to the grocery store with our FREE printable checklist and purchase all of your road trip food in one shopping trip!

If you enjoyed reading our best Road Trip Food List , click here to check out our Related Posts:

• Top 10 Tips for Planning a Family Road Trip (And Enjoying it Too!)
• 7 Road Trip Word Games to Play in the Car With Kids
• 18 Amazing “Are We There Yet” Road Trip Activity Bags
• Top 16 Tips for Flying With Kids & Ways to Keep them Calm
• The Ultimate Guide for International Travel with Kids
• 8 (Unexpected) Benefits of Traveling With Kids

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Jen Brommer is a family travel expert. She has been featured as an authority on several notable travel websites and is a member of the Family Travel Association (FTA), Midwest Travel Network, and TravMedia global media network.

A prominent content creator and influencer on Instagram, Jen has over 150K unique monthly blog readers from countries all over the world. She has spent the last 16 years planning fun, and hassle-free family vacations for her family of 5.

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Thank you for the road trip food list and travel tips.

You’re welcome! Was there something you saw that you hadn’t thought of before? Happy travels!!

This is a great list as we also big in road trip. Snacks is so important especially to keep them from asking are we there yet. Haha… I myself like peanuts to keep me awake when it’s my turn to drive.

Thanks for reading and for sharing your favorite road trip snack!!

This is such a comprehensive list and it is so helpful as I predict a lot of us will be going on more road trips once we can. Prepping these meals will definitely save some money and help the kids feel less bored. I know that my kids are usually pleased munching stuffs during road trips. I also like that it is more likely for the road trip snack to be more healthier than what you’ll buy elsewhere.

Thank you! Yes, the health factor of pre-packing is a big one, as is the enormous cost savings 🙂

I like to have a good mix of healthy (kids like apples, those are easy to eat) and snacky/salty. I am also very particular. about road trip drinks. Big coffees, la croix, iced tea!

I like your ideas! We’d be good road trip buddies!

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105+ Easy Road Trip Meals & Snacks: Best Road Trip Food

Packed for Life contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using one of these links, we may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. See my Disclosure policy for more info.

Road trips are exciting adventures to take with your friends, family or solo. However coming up with a list of the best road trip food & easy road trip meals and snacks can be hard.

Which is where our ultimate list of the best food for road trips comes in handy. To help you avoid hangry companions, outrageous food costs, and unhealthy gas station food stops.

We’ve taken our share of cross country & multi-day road trips over the years, both as adults, and with kids from months old to teenagers. So we know quite a few tricks when it comes to road trip meal planning.

Our list includes easy ideas for healthy snacks, breakfasts, lunches & dinners, for all ages we love. As well as gluten-free, and vegetarian options too.

Plus we provide essential packing tips and a list of non-food items to bring along, at the end of this post. Hop in the car, & let’s go!

Table of Contents

ULTIMATE HEALTHY ROAD TRIP MEALS LIST

If you plan ahead and pre-make some yummy snacks and meals, your family will be well fed on the road. Whether you are heading on a Southwest USA road trip or a coastal road trip from Boston to Acadia National Park or elsewhere.

Healthy road trip food & easy meals the whole family will love.

Why Bring Make Ahead Meals For Road Trips?

Before I get into our epic food list, I’ll quickly go over a few reasons why we bring our own make-ahead road trip meals and snacks. And why you should too:

• Road trip meal planning is a great way to reduce fast food temptation, junk food and save money for your family road trip .
• Bringing good food for road trips frees up some of your hard earned cash to splurge on meals you will actually look forward to . 
• We find our own make-ahead meals & road trip food tends to be healthier.
• If you have dietary restrictions or allergies, creating a road trip meal plan will allow you to have safe meal options on the road.
• Have fun picnics at rest stops, parks, or in your hotel room along your long drive.
• Avoid hungry kidlets with healthy road trip snacks , so they can focus on road trip activities , not driving you crazy with whining. I know you feel me on this one!

Bringing your own food is well worth the time and money you can save on your adventure. Use our road trip planner to help organize your trip.

I love how make ahead easy travel meals are great for cutting down on the mess, stress and time it takes to prepare and clean up on the road. Because as a parent anything I can do to make my life easier is golden.

Road Trip Breakfast Ideas

We’ve found it’s easy to take these road trip breakfast ideas to go, or quickly eat hot in the morning.

As long as we’ve made them ahead of time, and brought them in our cooler. Or if we have access to hot water or basic kitchen facilities or a microwave.

Grab tasty breakfast recipes .

Cold, Non-Perishable Road Trip Breakfast Ideas

• Granola 
• Cereal Bars & Granola Bars
• Breakfast Bars
• Fruit & Veggie Pouches 

⭐️ PRO TIP : Bring a reusable coffee mug and water bottles for each family member. They’re a great option for filling up with hot water, tea, coffee and water on the go. We’ve found they’re less likely to spill in the car if you use a spill-proof refillable cup and snack cup for the littles.

Cold Breakfast Ideas for Road Trips

• Yogurt – Tubes, Drinks
• Fresh Fruit
• Rye Crisp Breads & Goat Cheese
• Chia Pudding – Make the night before
• Granola & Overnight Oats – Make the night before
• Muffins & Peanut Butter (or other nut or seed butters)
• Egg Muffins or Mini Quiches (To heat or not to heat. That is the question)
• Hard-Boiled Eggs
• Breakfast Cookies 
• Vegan Blueberry Muffins
• Bagels and Cream Cheese
• Peanut Butter and Banana Wrap
• No Bake Oat Bites 
• Apple Pie Oat Bliss Balls
• Croissant, ham, cheese
• Croissant, jam & cream cheese
• Pancake Sandwiches – nut butter / jam between two mini pancakes (make ahead)

Hot & Quick Breakfast Ideas

• Instant Oatmeal 
• Cup of Soup or canned soup
• Pre-made Mini Quiche (just heat up)
• Egg, Cheese, & avocado tortilla wrap
• Haloumi Cheese and Bacon Breakfast Sandwich
• One Pan Chickpea Hash (fried chickpeas, veggies, herbs) & Fried eggs

More kid friendly breakfast ideas here .

Road Trip Lunch Ideas

Road trip lunch ideas are probably the easiest for most people to come up with, when it comes to thinking of meal planning for road trips . We like to think of them as picnic lunches.

What is the first thing that comes to mind, but sandwiches. Sandwiches are such a staple we’ve given them their own section below. 

To be honest, I often just prepare and pack foods I would usually take for lunch at work, for the first day or two.

Then I add easy road trip lunches to grab and prep along the way, like sandwich fixings. Or cheese, meat  and cracker plates for a longer trip.

Easy Non-Refrigerated Road Trip Lunch Ideas

• Canned Tuna & crackers – The mini pull tab tins come in many flavours
• Protein Bars , Energy Bars
• Sardines or Mackerel canned with avocado, crackers or bread
• Snacks for lunch: Beef Jerky, Trail Mix, Smoothie Pouches, Nut Butter Pouches
• Peanut Butter (or other nut & seed butter) & Jam Wraps
• Canned grape leaf rolls

Cold Road Trip Lunches

• Sushi / nori rolls – sweet potato, cucumber and avocado,  smoked salmon, cucumber and avocado, smoked salmon & cream cheese
• Sandwiches (see Road Trip Sandwiches below for ideas) 
• Tortilla Pinwheels
• Meat Kabobs
• Pasta Salad
• Corn & Zucchini Fritters
• Fruit (apple slices, cantaloupe, grapes), cheese and bread or crackers
• Charcuterie plate – cheese, deli meats, olives, dried fruit
• Chickpea or Bean Salads
• Quinoa Salad
• Mason Jar Salad – keep the dressing separate
• Pre-made Quesadillas – Refried beans and cheese. Keep salsa & sour cream separate in small leak-proof containers

Sides to Add to Lunch Ideas

• Cut up veggie sticks and hummus
• Fruit – apple, berries, melon, grapes
• Homemade cookies or energy balls
• Cucumber, cherry tomatos & peppers salad

Road Trip Sandwiches

What’s a road trip, without a sandwich or two. In fact sandwiches are so iconic, portable, easy to make and ideal for lunch and family vacation dinners they deserve a section, all on its own.

For easy,  awesome sandwiches we’ve found you will only need a few things to mix and match:

• Bread: First you’ll need some kind of hearty bread (kaiser bun, wraps, pita, baguette, ciabatta)
• Protein: Pair with protein such as deli meat, sliced chicken or beef, bacon, eggs, tofu, nut butters
• Extras: Add on the extras such as cheese, lettuce, pickles, fruit 
• Condiments: mayo, mustard, olive tapenade, other sauces

Tasty Sandwich Ideas for Traveling:

• Cheddar and Jam
• Egg Salad 
• Cream cheese and cucumber
• Spicy Tuna and Cucumber – leave out the spice if it’s not your thing
• Pesto Egg Salad Baguette
• Ham & Cheese Baguette or Wrap
• Turkey and Cheese Baguette or Wrap
• Turkey Club Sandwich
• Turkey, Pear, Feta Wrap
• Apple, Cheddar and Mustard Sandwich
• Roasted Red Pepper & Hummus Sandwich
• Curry Chicken or Curried Chickpea Salad Sandwich

Tips for Packing Sandwiches on Road Trips

• Start with heartier bread or toast it first . Put a layer of mayo, or mustard on each side. It actually helps prevent soggy sandwiches.
• I often toast the bread, and then wait until it’s completely cooled before making and storing the sandwiches.
• Keep wet sandwich ingredients separate like tomatoes. We add them right before eating.
• Pack each ingredient separately . Then everyone can assemble their sandwich how they like, on-the-go. We’ve found this helpful with our pickiest eater.
• Pack sandwiches in a hard sided container . Either use reusable individual sandwich containers or larger leak-proof containers for multiple sandwiches. We also love silicone sandwich bags to cut down on plastic.
• Keep the sandwiches on top of the cooler for easy to grab meals on the road.

You may also like 50+ Easy to make, healthy road trip snack recipes

Easy Road Trip Meals Dinner Ideas

Dinner is the one meal we often splurge on, and choose to eat out at a local restaurant, instead of on the road when possible. 

I like to do a bit of research and see what the area is known for, or if there are special meals we can’t get at home. Also after a few days of packed road trip meals, it’s nice to sit down at a restaurant and have someone else clean up and organize.

However, there are times I find when you need a few dinner in the car ideas on hand. You can always re-use the lunch or even the travel breakfast ideas , because they are all tasty anytime of day. 

Check out our favourite easy vacation dinner recipes .

Cold Road Trip Dinner Ideas

• Pasta Salad & Greek Salad
• Cobb Salad 
• Other Cold salads – Potato, bean, egg, chickpea, salmon, tofu, quinoa, rice and bean
• Sandwiches – check out ideas in sandwich section
• Chicken salad / caesar wrap
• Falafel Wrap
• Rice Paper Rolls & Peanut Sauce
• Chicken wings & pre roasted veggies
• Grilled or roast chicken, rice and veggies
• Tortilla Chips, Bean Dip and Salsa
• Egg roll pinwheels with spinach, and cheese 
• Mason Jar grain + protein + roast veggies (pre-made)

Salad Tips – Keep the ingredients & dressing separate. That way each person can assemble to their liking, and the lettuce doesn’t get soggy from swimming in the dressing all day.  

KOA has 10 fun on-the go recipes to try.

Mason Jar Meal tips

Mason Jars are a fun and easy way to store pre-made meals.

They are fairly sturdy (I’ve dropped them many times without breaking them) and come in different sizes. The 500ml and 250 ml are perfect for individual meals.

Choose a grain + a protein + roasted, steamed or stir fried veggies and you have a delicious meal to go.

• Pre-cook a grain: brown rice, basmati rice, white rice, quinoa,
• Choose a protein : roast chicken or beef, curried chickpeas, tofu
• Cooked veggies: stir fries, steamed broccoli, curries, stew,

Hot Road Trip Dinner Ideas

One pan or pot dinner ideas are perfect for travel, camping and road trips. Especially if you ‘ve been entertaining the kids with road trip conversations all day.

As long as you remember the hot plate, or cook stove. I’ve been there, done that, forgetting the stove. Another option is to choose motels, or places to stay that have basic kitchen facilities. 

I’ve also gone the route of meal prepping ahead of time and putting individual meals in separate containers that are easy to reheat and clean up. 

If you are a camping family, what you plan for pre-made camping meals is similar.

Think easy camping type meals:

• Baked Beans
• Cup of Soup or Canned Soup
• Frozen Homemade Soup (use the first day or two after it defrosts. Bonus it helps keep the cooler cold)
• Bacon or Sausages and Eggs
• Quesadillas
• Rice and beans or ground beef for tacos or wraps
• Chickpea Curry and Rice (pre-make and heat up)
• Spaghetti 

ROAD TRIP SNACK & DRINKS LIST

We have a full article on our favorite road trip snacks to bring that both adults and kids will love. Good food for long journeys.

Here are a few snack ideas to get you started:

• Energy Balls
• Baby Carrots, Cherry Tomatoes, Snap Peas, Celery Sticks & Dip 
• Cheese and Crackers
• Apple Pear Muffins
• Jerky, Beef Sticks
• Potato Chips
• Plantain Chips
• Moon Cheese
• Cheese Crisps
• Seaweed Snacks
• String cheese
• Sunflower seeds
• Gluten-Free Bars –  We like these mini Gluten-Free Bars  

Who doesn’t drink too much on the road because they are avoiding using restrooms at pull-outs or gas stations?  

I’m guilty of this too, but this often leads me to crankiness and wicked headaches, sooo…… Do as I say, not as I do (said Parents everywhere).

Staying hydrated is super important. While water should be the number one choice, sometimes you need a little something different like:

• Coconut water
• Water with crushed berries, or cucumber slices, or lemon
• No sugar added fruit juices 
• Flavoured Sparkling water 
• Almond / Oat / Soy Milk

🚙 More road trip ideas 7 day Zion, Bryce and Grand Canyon itinerary

Road Trip Food & Meal Planning Tips

Meal Planning Tips

When meal planning healthy road trip foods, I think it’s important to consider a few key important things:

• What road trip meals you want to bring, and which one’s you’d like to buy.
• If travelling with kids, which foods do they already like. They aren’t going to magically start liking raw broccoli and raisins on your long trip. Adapt your food for road trips with kids.
• Road trip meal ideas – Make a list of food ideas for breakfast , lunch, dinner, snacks and drinks. Make sure they’re easy food to travel with.
• Creating a road trip grocery list is a good idea, so important items don’t get forgotten. But don’t stress, as usually you’ll be able to pick up ingredients along the way if needed.
• How to pack food for your road trip, so it doesn’t get squished, and stays cool longer.

With so much to do when planning a road trip, it’s sometimes hard to be prepared when it comes to traveling food.

Road Trip Food Tips

Beyond throwing a bunch of items into the cooler and food bag and hoping for the best. Let’s give you a few of my top tips to make packing a bit easier:

• Bread: Bring wraps, pitas and flatbreads – we find they take up less room, and won’t get squished like bread loaves
• Perishables: Eat your perishables and more fragile fruits first (bananas, raspberries, pre-cut fruit like melons, pineapple, mango etc.)
• Freeze Water bottles: When hot out, freeze a couple of the water bottles the night before. They’ll keep your cooler cold, and we love that they give us cold water to drink as they melt.
• Pre-Make Meals & Portion Out: Pre-make meals, and portion them out in mason jars or reusable plastic or glass containers.
• Place your cooler somewhere cool the night before, or pre-chill the cooler for up to 12 hours with ice / ice packs you won’t be using on your trip. 
• Lay solid blocks of ice or reusable ice packs on the bottom, plus put a layer of ice on the top
• Pack the cooler full – too much space helps the inside heat up faster
• Freeze food you won’t need for a couple of days, and use frozen water bottles to help keep the inside colder, longer
• Try to limit the number of times you open the cooler in the day.
• Pack your food in order of when you want to eat it, leaving the next day or two’s meals on top. 
• Garbage Bag for the car: We always have a designated garbage bag for the car. It helps to keep the garbage contained, and the car organized.
• Clean-Up Kit :  Bring a clean up kit. Kids, adults, toddlers all on occasion make messes. Having a clean-up kit handy just in case is good practice. Include wipes, paper towel, extra water, and an easily accessible change of clothes.
• Storage: To keep things organized, we usually use small stackable Rubbermaid containers to pack our non-perishables.

🚙 More Road Trip Ideas: 4 Day family friendly itinerary in Acadia National Park

Road Trip Essentials

Now that we’ve got the meals all planned out, and the best road trip SNACKS organized  let’s move on to the non-food items you’ll need to add to your road trip packing list. 

Reusable Items

Our goal is to reduce our impact on the earth whatever mode of travel. Bringing reusable items on our trips to cut down on waste is one simple way to do this. If you make it part of your routine, you will be pleasantly surprised how easy it becomes.

Here are some other reusable items to pack for your road trip:

• Plastic, glass or stainless steel containers – Can be used for leftovers, as dishes, hold snack packs, or even small toys, art supplies
• Cutlery – knives, forks, spoons, 
• Dishes – Cups, plates, bowls
• Coffee Mugs – Our favs are Yeti Mugs or the Klean Kanteen  
• Reusable Straws
• Water bottles for the kids
• Water bottles for the adults
• Cloth fruit bags 
• Bento Boxes
• Garbage bags – reuse grocery bags

Storage & Cleaning Supplies

• Reusable Ice Packs 
• Hand sanitizer
• Paper Towels & Wet Wipes 
• Biodegradable Soap

Travel Backpacks

You will definitely want to make sure you and your kids have their own travel backpack for the trip.

A good travel backpack can be multipurpose, for hiking, storing road trip activities and entertainment, plus give easy access to a couple of snacks, and a handy change of clothes.

There’s been numerous times my “safety first” approach & extra clothes has saved us on long trips. From puking children, to epic diaper blow outs, and unexpected spills, with kids it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Best Road Trip Coolers

Coolers provide more flexibility with the types of meals and snacks  you can bring on your trips. We think they are a road trip essential, without a doubt. Before choosing one, there are a few things to consider:

• How long is your trip?
• Which meals will you be packing from home?
• How often will you have access to a grocery store?
• How much space do you have in your vehicle? Where do you want to put the cooler?

Answers to these questions will give you an idea of the size and cooling ability needed from your cooler. We’ve put together a list of the best coolers to try, that are easily available on Amazon.

Best Overall Cooler – Yeti Roadi 24 Cooler

The Yeti Roadi 24 Cooler is narrow, so it easily fits behind the seat, is well insulated, which holds the cold, and is lighter than previous versions.

It can also be transformed into a stool if you buy the cushion. It’s a bit of an invesment, so a good buy if you are planning on using it a lot.

Best Afforable Family Cooler – Coleman 316

The Coleman 316 Cooler is a top pick for size, flexibility and price. It can hold a lot of food and ice, which can be kept cool at higher temps for 2-3 days.

Perfect for shorter trips, or if you plan on replenishing your food / ice every few days.

Best Soft Sided Cooler – TOURIT Leak-Proof Backpack

The Tourit Leak Proof soft-sided backpack is an excellent option for shorter road trips or if you are planning a picnic or day at the beach. This leak-proof high-density insulated backpack can keep food cold for up to 3 days. It also has side pockets for extra storage.

Tips to Prepare For Your Next Road Trip

Anything you can do the day or two beforehand to prep your food, and pack your non-perishables, do it. This will save rushing around at the last minute, and forgetting important things like your water bottles.

We recommend doing the following ahead of time:

• Make a Shopping list and meal plan.
• Check off the items as you pack them. 
• Wash and cut veggies and fruit
• Prepare sandwiches, meat slices, cheese slices
• Freeze meals and water bottles the night or two before
• Prepare the snack bags or snack tote 
• Prepare your Clean up kit
• Pack non-perishable foods in small totes or bags
• Pack your perishable foods in the cooler, & an airtight container, right before you leave.

PRO TIP: Pack your car the night before you leave, to make sure everything fits. Make sure your cooler and essential road trip snacks are easily accessible. 

Conclusion: Ultimate Easy Road Trip Meals & Snacks List

With over 100 delicious and easy road trip meal ideas, you will find a party in your cooler for all taste buds or your next long journey.

 Plus don’t forget that a little pre-trip planning can go a long way towards a stress free vacation.

Grab a great road trip snack or two and head on out on the open road. I hope this helps you have an epic road trip.

Related travel tips and destination articles:

• Easy ways to take a frugal road trip
• Epic RV Gift Ideas: Gifts RV Owners will love and use
• Epic Gifts for Beach Lovers – prep for your beach vacation
• Best Walkie Talkies For Road Trips
• Complete Road Trip Packing List For Families

Donna Garrison is the founder of Packed for Life, an ever curious traveler with a passion for making memories with her family. With a unique perspective on travelling on a budget gathered over 30 years, 20 countries and 5 continents she gives families the tools & resources they need to experience the joys of travelling more for less through practical solutions. She helps over 20,000 families a month plan & take the family travel, camping and road trip adventures of their dreams in Canada, the USA and around the world. Contact her at: Donna [at] packedforlife.com

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25 Easy Make-Ahead Road Trip Meal Ideas they’ll love!

Planning a road trip? Looking for easy, make-ahead meal ideas, whether for a weekend break or a longer trip? Or maybe you want some easy recipes for meals on the road? Here are 25 great ideas for you!

*We work hard to make this the best motorhome travel blog and road trip website possible, full of helpful content for you. The website is supported by our readers, so if you buy through links on this site we may earn a commission- at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain our own .

If you find this post useful, you can also treat us to a coffee – we promise to enjoy it while creating more useful content like this- we might even indulge in a biscuit (or two!)

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Easy Make-Ahead Road Trip Meals

I’ll be honest- planning meals for a road trip is one of the things I dislike most.

Don’t get me wrong- I like cooking and I DEFINITELY like eating … but I am not good at creating a meal plan.

I also have a daughter who has gone from eating whatever we give her to being more and more particular about what she likes- and she’d rather not eat at all than eat something she doesn’t love. At home, it’s pretty easy to cook separate meals, but in the van, it becomes a whole different issue- and it makes the process of meal planning a lot harder.

Why plan meals on a road trip at all??

Oh, I hear you. In an ideal world, we’d just head off into the unknown and see what we find. One of the things we enjoy most about travelling is sampling local foods and dishes and enjoying discovering new things.

Both Mr WB and myself are fairly easy to please and can make do with all sorts, but anyone with kids knows that it’s just not that easy. I also don’t want to spend my time on the road worrying about whether she’ll eat anything- so it makes MY life easier if I plan it out a little in advance.

Make planning your next road trip EASY (& fun!)

When you’re planning a road trip, keeping track & organising all your ideas is often the hardest part. Fix that TODAY with our printable pdf road trip planner. Grab yours FREE now

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Road Trip Meal Planning

So, where do you even start with planning meals for a road trip??

For me, I break it down into 2/3 day intervals. Generally, we like to pop into a shop and buy fresh bread, fruit and other bits every 2/3 days. We don’t do MASSIVE week long shops when we travel- our fridge is nowhere near big enough to deal with that and there’s the worry about what happens if you lose power or gas? All that food will go to waste.

Of course, if you’re only going to a weekend, you can easily make-ahead several dishes and just heat them up- much easier.

TOP TIP for picky eaters- Make them choose some meals

One way I tackle our favourite picky eater is to get her to pick 5-7 dinners she will eat. (Annoyingly, this seems to change every week or so!) I also make her come shopping with me- I find if she chooses it, there’s a higher chance she’ll eat it.

While we’re on the subject of kids, here are some posts you might find useful:

• 21 EPIC Children’s car games & road trip activities
• 14 quiet time activities for kids, tweens and teenagers

Our Normal Road Trip Food shopping method

On a ‘normal’ two-week road trip to mainland Europe, this is my tried and trusted routine:

• Buy stuff in UK which we struggle to get overseas (see below)
• Make-ahead meals for first night or two
• Buy things as you travel (at local markets, supermarkets or Lidl)
• Do this every couple of days so we can buy fresh bread, fruit and croissants! Yum!!
• Try to ignore jeans not doing up….!! 
• Remember that people eat EVERYWHERE and try not to overbuy before you leave the UK.

This system has worked fairly well for us. It’s allowed us to discover new things, let Jade choose what she fancies and my stress levels don’t get too high trying to plan out a whole weeks worth of meals.

What about perishable foods?

We have a fridge which works both whilst we’re driving (battery) and when we’re parked up (gas). So we bring a small amount of perishable food with us- milk, cheese, ham, meat, yogurt, fruit, bacon.

We don’t buy too much in case there is a problem and the fridge breaks- it’s always been a little tempermental and is the part of the motorhome I trust the least!!

Easy Road Trip Recipes

When I’m on a road trip, especially if it’s a holiday, I don’t want to spend hours of my time in the galley, prepping, washing, chopping, cooking and washing up!

Here are a few easy recipes we use and love. Most only use one pot and many can be made in advance if you prefer.

5 easy road trip Breakfast ideas

• Greek Yogurt and fresh fruit
• Muesli/ cereal
• Scrambled eggs in a wrap or on toast (toast is HARD to cook on a gas hob though!)
• Bacon/ sausage sandwich (bring your own bacon from the UK. Alternatively, look in European supermarkets- but it won’t look the same. It’s usually much thinner and cooks MUCH faster.)
• One Pan English Breakfast 

Note how those went from fairly healthy to full-on delicious! I’m making myself hungry!

10 easy Lunch ideas for a road trip

We tend to do lunch as we travel- or if we’re exploring we’ll treat ourselves to a cheeky lunch out. Just don’t do that at Neuschwanstein Castle ! ( Jeez- you thought Norway was expensive!!!! )

• Fresh crusty bread and… anything. Cheese, ham, tuna, butter, garlic cheese, crisps, chicken, leftover beef, fish fingers…
• Salad. We try and add some fruit or salad in where possible- we’ll pretend to be healthy every once in a while! If we’re parked up I love to fry up some chicken and pop it onto a quick salad with avocado, tomatoes and peppers. Or try these delicious healthy salad recipes . TOP TIP- WASH your salad. Even the ones in bags. They don’t always wash it in Europe. It also doesn’t seem to last as long (that might be the heat) so don’t over buy.
• Grilled Cheese (see below for recipe)
• Couscous (see below)

I have still not found a decent way to make toast in the van. It’s an ongoing process that I will continue to work at! Still, Grilled Cheese sandwiches are a perfect snack:

Grilled Cheese Sandwich Recipe

• Sliced Bread
• Cheese (Cheddar and Mozzarella work well)

Butter bread thinly and put butter side down into hot frying pan (not too hot and use butter, not oil.) Add slices of cheddar and mozzarella cheese. Add other slice of bread on top, butter side up. After a couple of minutes (when bottom slice is brown but not burnt), flip sandwich over. Grill for a couple of minutes. For an extra touch, transfer sandwich to oven tray and bake in oven at 170’c for 5-7 minutes until cheese is totally melted.

Burritos are basically large wraps, with beans and/ or rice added into the wrap. One of the easiest ones is the bean and cheese burrito, but you can easily add in meat, sauces and any leftovers you might have.

Ingredients: 

• 1 whole-grain tortilla wrap
• 1 medium-sized can of black beans (cook in advance if needed)
• Cheese- sliced or grated

Simply spread ingredients over wrap, fold in all ends tightly and enjoy!

5 Easy Road Trip Sandwich ideas

Sometimes, simple is best. Here are some easy road trip sandwich ideas:

• Sausage or Bacon Sandwich – great for breakfast or lunch!
• Ham/Chicken/ Salami Sandwich – with or without cheese
• Jam or Peanut Butter Sandwich
• Egg Mayo Sandwich
• Tuna sandwich

Couscous is magical. Lighter than rice and so versatile. I make a big helping of this and it lasts for lunch and dinner quite happily.

The trick is to double the amount of liquid to cous cous. One cup couscous= 2 cups stock. I love to use chicken or vegetable stock. Nothing fancy; those little cubes in some boiling water are just fine. Stir until the cube disolves, then pour it over the couscous. Leave to stand for 10 minutes. The beauty of this is you can add whatever you like to it. We like lemon, mint, feta, avocado, red peppers, spring onions, celery… the list is endless. I generally make a bowl of plain couscous and we each add different fillings to it.

10 easy or make-ahead road trip meals for dinner

Ahhhh… now this is the fun part. Everyone’s been driving in the exact same motorhome for several hours… and as soon as you arrive somewhere and the van is parked up for the night, they all turn to you and ask ‘what’s for dinner?’…!

All of these recipes take no more than 30 minutes or you can make many of them ahead for the first few days of the trip.

TOP TIP- Be kind to yourself. Many people dislike ‘pre-made’ sauces, feeling that they’re ‘cheating’ if they don’t cook everything from scratch. But it’s your trip too, so don’t be judgemental about sauces from a jar. Yes, there might be a bit more sugar or salt- but it’s a heck of a lot better than a pizza or McDonalds. So be kind to yourself and make things easy.

Some easy or make-ahead meal ideas for dinners on the road:

• 3-way mince (Bolognaise, Chilli, Savoury)- can be made in the slow cooker

Spanish Omelette

• Easy make-ahead taco Bowl

Chicken Quinoa

• Pea/ Pesto Pasta

Cheats Pizza

3-way mince: bolognese, chilli or savoury.

Here’s the recipe for 3 way mince bulk cooking. You can get savoury mince, bolognese and chilli from 1 pack of mince. It’s the perfect ‘make-ahead’ recipe and is very easy to heat up on the road.

1 pack of 500g mince makes 5 meals: 2 x savoury mince 2 x chilli 1 x bolognese

Start with chopped onion, pepper, garlic and grated carrot all in one large pan with a little oil (or butter) until softened.

Split the mix between 3 pans & add the mince. Cut it long ways in the packet before adding so it’s easier to break up in the pan.

You can add any vegetables at this point. Previously I’ve used courgette, mushrooms and aubergine, all finely chopped. You can get 6/7/8 kinds of vegetables in there!

Brown the mince on a low to medium heat so it doesn’t clump together, break it up with a spoon as it cooks.  Add the seasoning to the chilli pan (cumin, turmeric, chilli powder, garlic powder and paprika) and garlic powder to the savoury mince & bolognese pans. 

Once browned, strain peas & sweetcorn (one small can of corn & 1 small can of peas and add to savoury mince pan.

Add one can of chopped tomatoes to the chilli pan & 1 to the bolognese, stir through. Drain and rinse the kidney beans and add to the chilli. I used half a can of beans, I’ll save the rest for a salad.

Rinse the tomato cans out with a little water & add to the savoury mince pan. Stir in Bisto granules (or beef stock & maybe cornflour or thickener as needed). Add a little Worcestershire sauce & pepper to taste.

Taste & adjust seasonings if necessary.

Divide & eat, or store in the fridge until ready.

Many thanks to Phillippa from PhilyaBelly for the recipe – follow her on Instagram

Serve with:

• Spaghetti, rice or potatoes.
• Garlic or crusty bread
• Grated cheese
• Side salad if your family will eat it.

I LOVE this Spanish Omelette. It’s so easy to make and only uses one pan.

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, chopped

Heat the oil in large frying pan. Peel potatoes and slice thinly. Put the slices in the pan with the onion & garlic. Cover the pan and cook until the potatoes are tender, turning them occasionally. Beat the eggs.

When the potato and onion mixture is cooked, add it to the eggs and mix together. Heat another spoon of oil in the pan, and turn the heat down as low as it will go. Pour the egg, onion & potato mixture into the pan.

The essence of this dish is slow cooking and it should take about 20 minutes. When there is no liquid left turn omelette over for 2 minutes. It’s now ready to serve and eat! Delicious- perfect with salad or french loaf.

Lamb Kebabs

Take 500g (4 people) of lean lamb mince and add spices (salt, pepper, cumin, coriander, paprika… whatever you like!) Mould into balls or around a skewer and cook on BBQ or in oven until browned.

If using BBQ and wooden skewers, soak the skewers in water for about 30 minutes first.

Serve with Tzatziki- Greek yogurt, mint, lemon and cucumber

Easy make-ahead Taco bowl

• 1 can of beef
• ½ of a small jar of salsa
• Bag of tortilla chips
• 1 can of beans
• 1 avocado/ guacamole

Warm beef and cook beans as directed on label. Mix and add on top of chips (can be warmed in oven) Add Salsa, avocado/ guacamole, sour cream and grated cheese as desired (we pop the whole thing in the oven to melt the cheese.

Ingredients

• 4 chicken breasts
• 1/4 tsp. herb de Provence (or any herbs)
• 1 cup. quinoa
• 1/4 cup. white wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup. olive oil
• 2 green onions
• 2 tbsp. Dijon mustard
• 4 cup. rocket/ lettuce/ salad
• 2/3 cup. olives, quartered
• 12 oz. tomatoes, halved
• Season chicken breasts with herbs, salt and pepper. Grill 3 minutes per side on medium-high or until cooked through.
• Cook quinoa as label directs.
• Mix vinegar, olive oil, green onions, Dijon mustard and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Toss half of the vinaigrette with cooked quinoa, salad/ rocket, tomatoes and olives. Serve chicken over quinoa with remaining vinaigrette.

Pea / Pesto Pasta

• Pasta  
• fresh or frozen peas
• Chopped chives, for serving
• Cook pasta. Drain and return pasta to pot. 
• While pasta is cooking, roughly chop 1 cup peas. Add ricotta and lemon zest and mix well. Season with salt and pepper. 
• Add ricotta mixture, remaining 1/2 cup peas, and pasta water; toss to combine. Sprinkle with chopped chives, if desired.

Alternatively, cook pasta, add several large spoons of pesto and some grated cheese and mix well.

Salmon with rice and vegetables

We eat salmon a lot- it’s very good for you.

Grill (or use a low-wattage air fryer ) and serve with rice, couscous (see above) and vegetables.

Sure, you can make your own dough and add toppings- and if that works for you, then go for it. However, we cheat.

• Grab 2 pitta breads per person and pop them under the grill
• You want them warm, but not ‘crispy’
• Turn over, and spread with pesto (green or red)
• Add mozzarella cheese, ham, salami, mushrooms… whatever you like!
• Grill until bubbling

If you’d like more inspiration, here are a couple of our favourite camping cookbooks:

Healthy Road Trip Snacks

We’ve done an entire post on 15 quick & healthy road trip snacks (many of them Keto friendly) but here are a couple more ideas for you:

• 1 large can of tuna
• ½ cup of cranberries
• A packet of whole-grain crackers

First, take the tuna out from the can and empty it into a bowl. Next, mash a whole avocado and add it with the cranberries into the tuna. Use whole-grain crackers to dip into your tuna.

Apple Cookies

• 2 green apples
• Peanut butter
• Dark chocolate chips
• Almond slices

Cut an apple into slices that resemble a cookie, then layer the rest of the ingredients in between two slices to make the snack look like an apple sandwich. The snack will stay fresh in an ice cooler for two days.

Barabrith – great snack for afternoon tea!

Other things:

Whilst we’re on the subject, don’t forget to bring:

• Washing up liquid
• Big scrubbing pad for BBQ if using
• cleaning supplies
• Kitchen roll
• Bottle/ can opener
• Mugs and glasses
• Tea/ coffee/ sugar

How else can I help you today??

• See the BEST Road Trip Journal to record your adventures!
• Show me essential Road Trip Accessories
• Get 100+ essential road trip songs (+ playlist)
• Help me plan my road trip
• See gift ideas for road trippers

Kat never planned to buy a motorhome. She also never planned to quit her job as an air traffic controller, go touring around Europe in said motorhome, start one of the UK’s largest motorhome travel websites… or get a cocker spaniel.

Find out how she went from stuck in the rat race to being a digital nomad and inspiring thousands of people to have their own epic adventures here.

If you’d like to connect with Kat, send her an email or follow her adventures on social media.

Last update on 2024-04-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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Hi Kat I’ve not tried these yet but they get a good review on Amazon. As I’ve bought the barbecue you recommended in your blogs I thought I would try to keep my new BBQ clean as I absolutely hate scrubbing it after use. Just bought a pack to try on our trip to France in September BBQ Grill Mat, Set of 5 Beeway® Non Stick Barbecue Baking Mats for Charcoal, Gas or Electric Grill – Heat Resistant, Reusable and Easy to Clean, FDA Aproved – Bonus 12″ Just thought you may also find these useful

They look amazing- let me know how you find them 🙂

The https://wandering-bird.com website is one of the best we have found, and the 15 Easy Road Trip Meal Ideas article is very well written and useful! Thanks and kisses! 🙂

I recommend a ridge monkey for camper van cooking. You can cook chicken breasts, steaks, poach eggs, bake a cake, make an omelette, and it also makes great toast!

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Travel Tips and Trivia

Last Updated: February 21, 2024

50+ Tasty Road Trip Food Ideas and Tips [Ultimate Road trip Food List]

Wondering what food to pack for a road trip? Discover the best food for road trips in this comprehensive road trip food list (complete with my top travel food tips!).

Danny Newman

I hope this road trip food list helps you plan the perfect travel food for your upcoming trips!

You’ve planned the route.

You’ve made your road trip playlist.

Now all that’s left to do is pack a trunk full of road trip food !

But what should you take?

With no fridge to keep things fresh nor kitchen to prep meals, deciding what to put on a road trip food list is tough.

Want help deciding what food to take on a road trip? Check out this comprehensive list.

Heads up, this post contains affiliate links.

Unsure what what road trip food to take on your upcoming trip? Here are 50+ ideas that should go down a treat!

You might also like these:

• 20 road trip games for couples
• 50 funny road trip quotes
• Quotes about roads in life
• 85+ road trip trivia games and questions
• Gifts for road trippers

Food for Road Trips: The Essentials

Just like the essentials you stock in your kitchen cupboards, the coming road trip food ideas are versatile, flavourful, and should mean you never go hungry.

If you don’t take any other food on your road trip, I recommend packing:

1. Peanut butter (100% peanuts)

Delicious, filling, and somewhat nutritious (full of protein and good fats), I eat an ungodly amount of peanut butter both in general and on the road.

Put it on crackers, in sandwiches, on your cereal (trust me), or consume straight off the spoon! You can’t beat it.

2. Bananas &/or apples

Bananas are another tasty, nutritious, and hunger-busting snack that also count as one of your 5-a-day.

I love bananas by themselves, sliced and put on top of almost everything (especially cereal, crackers, or toast) or mushed up and made into pancakes (mash the fruit and mix in some oats for an easy batter).

Same goes with apples! These have practical benefits too though.

For one thing, you get some refreshing fresh fruit into your system. For another, they’ll keep for longer and are at less risk of being squashed compared to softer fruit!

3. Oats/Oatmeal

I eat oats/oatmeal every single day for an unbeatable breakfast. They’re also ideal as a snack between meals (try oats, cinnamon, sliced banana, mixed nuts, pumpkin seeds, and chopped dates with a spoonful of peanut butter on top).

They’re awesome for road trips (almost as awesome as these road trip questions to spark conversation in the car) for numerous reasons:

• First, they’re healthy.
• Second, they fill you up.
• And third, they stay fresh (once opened) for ages.

Nuts are a perfect snack to take along in the car. Packed full of protein, good fats, and various vitamins and minerals, they’ll fill you up and fuel your body at the same time.

I eat them as road trip snacks, on my breakfast, and sometimes in salads too.

5. Pita bread, bagels, or tortilla wraps

I like having some sort of easy carb in the car for lunches and dinners (and an occasional extra meal if I’m particularly hungry).

Tortilla wraps are my go-to because they last for ages in the packet (make sure it’s re-sealable) and are less carb/calorie-dense.

They’re versatile too.

You can put whatever you want inside- regardless of the meal. My favourite?

Chickpeas (from the can), hummus, a sauce of some kind, avocado, lettuce, tomato, beetroot, and other salad stuff I have in the car/van.

It’s tasty, filling, and full of good, healthy stuff.

Even better, you can keep most of it in your vehicle/cool box for a while without it going off.

Pita bread, bagels, or even ordinary sliced bread could work as well. Just be prepared for these to go stale quicker.

Being stocked up on essentials is one of my number one road trip food ideas! Here are a few more basics that are sure to come in handy on the road…

6. Crackers

There’s no shortage of cracker varieties out there! Pick your favourite and stick it in the car for a super quick and easy snack to eat on the road.

I tend to get flavoured rice crackers, which are relatively tasty by themselves, but even better with toppings (think avocado and hummus, peanut butter and banana, and so on).

7. Tinned legumes/pulses

Legumes/pulses of one form or another are an ideal travel food too.

Full of protein and unlikely to ever go off (when you buy them in cans/tins), they’re a great meat-substitute to put in your meals.

You can’t go wrong with chickpeas. But I also like to take kidney beans, black beans, and cannelloni beans on occasion too.

Tins of pre-cooked lentils are great as well.

You can stick them in things like veggie pasta for a quick protein boosting addition.

Tip: if you do buy tins/cans of legumes, make sure you have a sharp knife or a can opener too- just in case they don’t come with a ring pull!

8. Spices, herbs, salt & pepper

Going on a long road trip (AKA a week or more)? I recommend taking something to flavour your travel food with.

Even if it’s just salt and pepper, you’ll be grateful for the added taste at the end of a long day on the road.

I always pack:

Salt and pepper, dried cinnamon (for my breakfast), dried cumin, dried coriander, dried turmeric, dried chilli flakes, dried smoked paprika, dried mixed herbs.

9. Plant-based milk

Switching from cow’s milk to plant-based milk (such as soy, almond, oat, or rice milk) might not be on your agenda. But it would make a difference on long road trips! Why?

Because unopened, you don’t have to store these types of milk in the cold.

They stay fresh until you open them, which means you save some all-important space in the cooler. Simply pop your plant-based milk with everything else until you need it for your cereal/tea!

10. Sauces (ketchup, mustard, BBQ…)

Sauces serve the same purpose as the herbs and spices.

It might seem a little bit ‘extra’, but having your favourite sauces in the car can turn an average meal into something far more enjoyable.

11. Olive/coconut oil

Aside from adding extra flavour to things, having olive or coconut oil in your pots and pans should stop them becoming a nightmare to wash-up.

Having travel food in the car is perfect for when you want/need to pull over. You can stop, eat a snack, and get back behind the wheel feeling refreshed.

Love road trips? You might enjoy these blog posts too:

• 40 Things to Do On a Road Trip
• 125 Road Trip Questions to Spark Conversation in the Car
• 25 Fun RV Accessories
• The Advantages & Disadvantages of Travelling By Car
• Expert Tips for Full-Time RV Living

Road trip foods for Breakfast

With the staples sorted, it’s time to move onto the main meals. Here’s a selection of quick-fire ideas for what to take/eat for breakfast when you’re on a road trip:

(Be sure to refer back to the ‘Essentials’ section above for specific ideas on how to use/consume them.)

12. Oats (whole or rolled)

13. Dry cereal

14. Peanut butter (& banana) bagel/crackers

15. Sliced bread + topping of choice

16. Fresh fruit

17. Nuts and seeds (eat alone or with cereal)

18. Breakfast burrito (hard boil the eggs and keep any meat/cheese in the cooler!)

19. Sweet/savoury muffins

20. Tea/Coffee (not strictly food, I know, but you can’t miss your morning cup of Joe when you’re driving and having to concentrate all day long!

Love coffee? Check out these travel French presses for ideas on how to brew it up and take it away.

With lots of ground to cover, being well stocked up on food for road trips is all-important! Here’s what I’d take for lunch:

Best Lunchtime Food for Road Trips

With breakfast down, let’s move on to lunch. Here are some top travelling food ideas for what to eat on a road trip at lunch:

21. Leftovers!

Leftovers are literally my go-to meal of choice for lunchtime on the road.

I cook up a big meal in the evenings and make sure I have enough to eat for an easy and filling lunch the next day.

Pop the leftovers in a container/sealable bag, stick them in the cooler, and voila- lunch is served whenever you want it the next day.

22. Pita pockets/tortilla wraps

Your choice of filling! Meats, cheeses, legumes, salad…It’s all good in a pita pocket or wrap.

23. Filled sandwiches/bagels

As above, sandwiches and bagels (filled with whatever you have in the car/feel like eating) are a quick and easy meal to eat on a road trip.

You can either prepare them the night before or pull over and prep them at a pit-stop.

24. Premade falafel & salad

I love falafel! It’s healthy, filling and packed full of protein- a winning combo in my eyes.

However, it can be a hassle to make from scratch when you’re on the move. That’s why I recommend buying it pre-made from the store to eat in wraps and with salads (just remember to store in the cooler!).

25. Mixed salad

Most salad stuff goes bad quite quickly when it’s left out of the fridge/cooler.

Nevertheless, I still recommend taking it (in small quantities) on a road trip because it’s nice to have something fresh and nutritious to eat.

Eat it alone or in sandwiches/wraps, but be sure to keep it in the cooler when not in use.

26. Hard-boiled eggs

Alas, taking ordinary eggs in the car is a recipe for mess. That’s why (if you want some eggs for lunch) you should always try to hard-boil them ahead of time. Put them in a salad, stick them in a wrap, or eat alone for a quick protein fix in the middle of the day.

27. Veg & dips

Looking for something quick, no-nonsense, and really good for you? Chop up some peppers, carrots, and celery and pair with whatever dips you want!

Whether you make or buy them, guacamole, hummus, and spicy tomato salsa always go down well.

Road trip foods for dinner can be particularly hard to choose. Here are a few ideas that should provide an easy, filling, and nutritious meal in the evenings:

Food to Pack for a Road Trip: Dinnertime

Last but not least: dinner! It isn’t just your car that needs refuelling.

After a long day of driving, you need something that’ll both fill you up and provide all the nutrients you need to feel replenished and energized. At the same time, you don’t want to spend forever preparing it, cooking it, and cleaning up!

The following meals should tick all of those boxes- simple, healthy, and hearty:

28. Chicken salad

If you eat meat and can keep it fresh in the car, then there’s no reason not to buy it for your road trip!

Fry up some chicken with a basic marinade, combine it with a simple salad (think lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, avocado, etc…), and away you go.

29. Lentil Dahl

If you don’t eat meat or don’t want the hassle/risk of transporting it in a hot car, then try cooking up a lentil dahl.

Simple, and nutritious, you can make it in one pot, boil up some rice in another, and bob’s your uncle! A delicious and nutritious meal.

However, you will need some spices to make it taste like anything other than lentils and rice…

30. Lentil Bolognese/Pasta

Prefer pasta? Use those lentils in a pasta sauce instead.

31. Veggie Curry

Veggie curry is one of my favourite travel meals.

Super cheap, you can buy a bunch of veg (I like combining onion, garlic, broccoli, carrots, zucchini, and spinach), pop in some spices, legumes (chickpeas work well) and tinned tomatoes, and let it cook away for 30 mins or so.

Eat with rice for another hearty, healthy meal.

32. Stuffed Tortilla/Pita Bread

Remember the essentials I talked about before? It’s time to break them out for a super quick and easy meal with minimal prep or cleanup required.

Stuff your wraps/pita bread with anything you want/have in the car. Legumes, meat, refried beans, cheese, eggs, salad, sauces, leftovers from the night before…You name it, and it’d (probably) go well inside.

33. Bean Burrito

Bean burritos are another personal favourite road trip food of mine.

I’ll cook up some black/kidney beans (with onions, garlic, tinned tomatoes, cumin and paprika) and put them inside a tortilla wrap with rice, avocado, lettuce, and hummus. It hits the spot every time.

Don’t want a burrito? Do everything the same as above but without the wrap. Instead, break open a bag of chips and serve yourself a hearty plate of nachos.

Top tip: take it up a notch and serve with guacamole and a tin of sweetcorn.

36. Stir Fry

Slice up an assortment of veg and fry it up with chicken (or chickpeas if you’re veggie).

Add a packet of pre-bought stir-fry sauce and away you go- another quick, delicious and nutritious meal. You could also buy a packet of pre-steamed rice to pad it out a bit.

Want to make it even quicker?

Prep everything in advance (chop the veggies etc) and place it in a container/re-sealable bag so you can put it straight into the pan at dinner time.

36. Burger & Salad

It doesn’t matter whether it’s veggie or meat-based, you could fry up a patty (or two) that you’ve been keeping in the cooler, pop it between some bread (or inside a pita), slather over some sauce and eat with a side salad!

37. Cold Pizza

Whether you made or purchased pizza the night before, eating it cold for dinner on the drive makes for a fast, filling, and tasty meal on the move.

38. Eat Out!

If you’re not on a budget, then you could always eat out for dinner as well.

Pull over, explore a new town, and find somewhere with good reviews that serves nice food at a reasonable price.

Aside from eating restaurant-quality meals, you save the hassle of cooking and cleaning up after yourself too.

The best food for road trips is usually quick and easy to make! These quick-fire road trip food ideas tick both boxes:

Quick & Easy Road Trip Food Ideas

Cooking might be the last thing on your mind at the end of a long day’s driving. Looking for road trip food ideas you can prep and eat in a hurry?

These five options should help:

39. Avocado (sliced or smashed) on crackers/bagels/bread (with hummus)

40. Peanut butter & jelly/banana sandwiches

41. Hummus & chopped veggies (in a wrap, with salad, or by themselves)

42. Pita bread/tortillas wraps with varied fillings

43. Eat your leftovers

Good Road Trip Food for Snack Time!

If you’re anything like me, then you’re sure to get hungry outside of meal times too. Want some good road trip food ideas to eat as snacks as you drive?

Check these out:

44. Dried Fruit

Dates, raisins, apricots, banana chips, cranberries…Dried fruit’s a firm personal favourite when I’m on a road trip. It doesn’t matter which fruit you go for either- delicious, healthy, and long-lasting, they’re ideal for the road.

45. Fresh Fruit

Harder to carry and quicker to go off, fresh fruit isn’t always ideal from a practical perspective. However, the all-important vitamins contained inside justify its place in the car!

I tend to go for hardier fruit (such as apples, bananas and pears) because they’re usually less messy.

Tasty, nutritious, & filling, nuts are an ideal snack for any road trip. They’re also easy to eat when you’re trying to keep your eyes on the road and will last for ages without going bad/off.

47. Trail Mix

Whether you put it together yourself or buy it ‘ready-made’, you’ll have a tasty and nutritious snack that’s sure to stave off hunger on your road trip.

48. Potato Chips

Not the healthiest of road trip snacks, but potato chips are definitely a tasty treat to munch on when driving! Just be wary of crumbs…

49. Dark Chocolate

Another not-so-healthy option, but I love having a bar of dark chocolate with me on the road. It’s perfect when you need a pick-me-up on a long drive.

Road trips should be fun, and there’s nothing more fun (especially if you’re a child) than having some candy to chew on as you go!

Pop some family favourites in the car for a sugar kick when you need it.

51. Granola/Protein Bars

You can’t go wrong with granola bars. Sweet and filling, they’re great for keeping the wolves at bay until your next stop/meal.

Just be wary of the sugar content, which can be crazily high (even in supposedly healthy options!).

52. Beef Jerky

Look no further than beef jerky if you’re looking for a carnivorous, protein-filled snack that won’t go bad for days/weeks.

Now you know the food to pack for a road trip, it’s time to think about how you actually pack and keep it fresh in the car…

Tips for Packing Road Trip Food

You’ve got the food and the gear. Now it’s time to get it all packed up into the car. Unfortunately, this is another task that can be easier said than done.

How do you pack your road trip food so that it:

• Can be accessed easily, and
• Won’t go off too soon…or roll/slide around in the back…or get squished…or (my personal pet peeve) jiggle and jingle annoyingly as you drive?

If you’re asking yourself those kinds of questions, then this next set of ‘packing food for road trips’ travel tips should help:

i) Use a cooler

Taking a cooler (or two, if you’re feeding lots of people) isn’t just a handy way to keep your food fresh. It should help you keep everything that’s inside it organized and in one spot as well.

Pack the cooler up (remembering the ice/ice packs), sandwich the whole thing in place inside the trunk to stop it sliding around or falling over, and away you go.

Oh, and avoid cramming too much other stuff around and on top of it- you want to be able to get inside with minimal fuss at the end of the day!

Try putting frozen gel ice packs around the inside of the cooler instead of putting actual ice in there. It’ll:

• Keep everything cold without ice melting and making a watery mess
• Prevent food from being ruined by said water (more on this next), and
• Mean you can re-use the ice packs on the homeward journey

ii) Make sure packages are watertight

The last thing you want is ice-cold water from the cooler getting into your bag of sandwiches!

If you’re packing food into a cooler and putting plain old ice inside, then make sure nothing could be ruined by the meltwater.

iii) Separate meals before you go

Want things to be nice and organized in advance? You could plan your meals before you leave and separate everything into individual containers or zip-lock bags.

Imagine having a chicken salad for dinner.

You could take sliced, pre-cooked chicken and pop it into a re-sealable bag with shredded lettuce, sliced tomatoes, cucumber, and so on; then put it into the cooler.

At dinner time, you’ve got everything ready-made to put onto a plate and eat. This saves time, reduces clean up, and means you’ve got less to worry about all-around.

iv) Take the right food

Packing your road trip food will be a thousand times easier if you take the right food in the first place!

Make sure everything will keep (aka remain edible) without spoiling, breaking, moving around too much, and so on.

Quick tip? Anything canned (be it baked beans or entire meals) or pre-made (such as falafel burgers) will usually work well.

v) Separate your stuff into different boxes/bags

When I was travelling around Australia in my van, I had boxes in the back that were full of particular things:

One had my dried food (rice, pasta, tortilla wraps etc) and spices. Another had my breakfast stuff and teas/coffee. And then I had two more that were full of my pots, pans, and cutlery.

Oh, and then I had my mini-fridge with all my fresh stuff.

This worked well for me for two main reasons:

First, I knew where everything was at any given time, which made prepping meals more efficient. Second, the boxes kept it all in place and meant I didn’t have food flying everywhere as I drove!

You could try doing something similar in your car/truck to enjoy the same advantages.

Food for travelling can get tricky when you’re on the road! These tips should make life a little easier:

Road trip Food Tips & Ideas

Last but not least, here’s a bunch of my best travel food tips that might prove useful on your road trip:

1. Use free water refill stations whenever possible

It isn’t just food you need to think about when road-tripping! Staying hydrated will be just as important.

Sure, you could fill the car up with water bottles.

But for a more eco-friendly and cost-effective choice, try taking advantage of the free water refill stations that you’ll come across along the way.

State parks, rest stops, and water fountains in cities are all useful sources of water.

2. Collect & stash napkins in the glovebox

Eating in the car can be a messy business! Having some napkins to hand at all times can be a life-saver when you’ve got ketchup all over your hands and face…

Want my advice? Get into the habit of grabbing a handful whenever you go to a cafe or rest stop! Nobody will bat an eyelid and you’ll never be short of napkin when you need it.

3. Keep the essentials in reach! (cooler, snacks…)

Life on the road is always easier when you keep things organised. With that in mind, try keeping the most important food and drinks close-by and easily accessible!

You won’t be digging around at the bottom of the cool box for a beer, rifling around the backseats for a snack, and so on.

4. Don’t open the cooler too much

Having a cooler is great. But it can’t do its job if you keep opening it every few minutes!

Warm air gets in every time, which jeopardises the temperature of whatever you have inside; fresh food won’t stay fresh for as long as it could have done.

Do yourself a favour and only open the cooler when you have to.

5. Cook double quantities at dinner

Leftovers always make for the quickest and easiest of travel meals. That’s why I always try to cook up double portions at dinner.

Do the same, and you’ll have lunch ready and waiting for you whenever you want it! You won’t have to stop and go through the hassle of preparing (and cleaning up) yet another meal.

Food for Road Trips: Gear Ideas

Stocking up your car or truck with road trip food is one thing. But it’s also important to think about how you’ll store, cook, and keep things fresh on the move.

That’s where having the right gear comes into play.

From prepping dinner and storing leftovers to keeping the beers cold, taking a few simple pieces of equipment on a road trip can make an almighty difference to your culinary experience.

With that in mind, I thought I’d begin with a few key culinary items that I recommend anybody takes on a road trip (especially long-distance ones):

1. Cooler/Coolbox

Of all the gear to take on your road trip, having a cool box is arguably the most important!

Without the fridge-freezer you’re used to at home, you need something to keep any fresh food, well, fresh (…and the beers ice cold!).

The easiest way to do it? Grab yourself a cool box (or two), pop some bags of ice and/or ice packs inside, and away you go.

–> Check out this Yeti Cooler on Amazon!

2. Cooking Equipment

Whether or not you decide to cook on the road is up to personal preference and the type of road trip you’re going on.

For example, someone going on a day-long (or even two-day) drive might not need or want the bother of cooking on the go; stopping in at restaurants or cafes could be preferable instead.

But if you’re driving huge distances over days and weeks, then being able to cook can:

• Help you save money, and
• Provide greater control over your diet as you travel.

That’s where having a camping cooker or something similar can come in handy. Without it, you’ll be stuck eating cold meals or eating out for the duration of your trip.

…Using a gas cooker? Don’t forget to take a lighter or some matches too!

–> Check out this Coleman cooker on Amazon!

3. Plates, bowls, cutlery…

There’s a good chance you’ll need some plates/bowls on which to serve the meals you prepare and some cutlery with which to eat it too.

Keep the porcelain at home though! Too brittle for the rigours of the road, you’re far better off with some unbreakable camping crockery instead.

Check out these mess kits if you’d like some further ideas on what you could take.

–> Check out this camping crockery set on Amazon!

4. Insulated Flask (Growler)

Having a high-quality insulated flask isn’t essential for the road, but it does make a difference.

For instance, you can brew up your tea/coffee in the morning and keep it hot all day long, keep your soup hot overnight to eat as a quick and easy lunch the next day, or stop your water from going warm to quench your thirst on long, hot driving days.

–> Check out this Stanley growler on Amazon!

5. Food storage containers/bags

Leftovers from the night before are a lifesaver when you’ve got miles of road to cover (and can’t be bothered to cook/prepare anything new up).

That’s where food storage containers or re-sealable bags come into play.

You can put your leftovers inside and stow them in the cool box for whenever you next get the munchies.

Of course, they’re also ideal for storing anything that might otherwise spill/leak in your car, as well as any food you might want to keep fresh as you travel.

–> Check these Rubbermaid tupperware containers out on Amazon!

6. Mini-Fridge

When I travelled around Australia in a campervan last year, there was one bit of kit that made all the difference to the experience (aside from the camping shower !):

A mini-fridge.

Sure, a cool box could have sufficed. But I would have had to buy ice from supermarkets as I went, which would have been both expensive and inconvenient.

Instead, powered by the van’s cigarette lighter, I could plug in the fridge and drive for days in sweltering heat without having to worry about my fresh food going bad.

It was a game-changer on that trip and I fully recommend anyone does the same if they’re going on an extended road trip!

–> Click here to see this AstroAI fridge on Amazon!

Don’t Forget This Road Trip Food List!

Planning a road trip? Well, taking the perfect road trip food is sure to add to the experience.

You’ll stave off pesky hunger pangs, stay in better control of your diet, and save money. Alas, not all food is made equal when you’re travelling in a car!

Hopefully, though, the road trip food list above has helped out.

Keep it in mind (along with the food for traveling tips), and you should be a step closer to packing the perfect road trip food for your upcoming trip.

Unsure what to listen to in the car? Check out these top adventure songs next!

Road Trip Food Ideas: Packable Snacks and Make-Ahead Meals

This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I (The Winding Road Tripper) earn from qualifying purchases.  Read more . 

Are you planning a road trip and looking for snack and meal ideas that are convenient, mostly healthy, and money-saving? Then look no further.

We love a good road trip and one of our favorite things is packing fun snacks and meals to eat along the way.

This list of road trip food ideas will give you everything you need to plan all of your food for your next road trip. 

We include both refrigerated and non-refrigerated options to help you free up space in your cooler or to provide you options if you don’t have a cooler on this road trip. And we also share our tips for packing your cooling and restocking while on the road. 

Let’s dive in and find some mouth-watering road trip food ideas.

What Makes for Good Road Trip Food

When packing road trip snacks and meals, it is important to understand what makes for good road trip food. Not every meal or snack works well on the road. 

When coming up with your meal plan here are a few things to keep in mind when picking out your road trip food.

Try to focus on these types of foods when planning your road trip:

• Easily packable
• Easy to clean up
• Individual packaging 
• Easy to open
• Finger food
• Avoid strong odored food
• High protein and fiber (to keep everyone feeling fuller longer)

Road Trip Healthy Snack Ideas

Road trips are all about the snacks. And, of course, we always include our favorite sweet treats. 

But we also try to pack a bunch of healthy snacks to keep the hunger monster away and keep us energized until our next meal break. 

Non-Perishable Healthy Snacks

• Dehydrated fruits and vegetables (Mango is our favorite)
• Trail mix (w/o chocolate)
• Laughing Cow Cheese and Crackers
• Roasted almonds
• Whole apples
• Sunflower seeds
• Homemade energy bars, such as no-bake peanut butter energy bars  

Cooler-Required Healthy Snacks

• Fruits and vegetables, including celery, grapes, cut apples and pears, and baby carrots
• String Cheese
• Individual hummus, dressing, or dips for fruits and vegetables
• Spicy Hummus and Veggie Jar 
• Crackers and cheese
• Pre-packaged all-natural smoothies that come in drinkable containers
• Dark chocolate

Road Trip Indulgent Snack Ideas

Indulgent snacks are an essential part of a road trip because they are fun, tasty, and decadent. In addition, indulgent snacks, such as potato chips and cookies, are affordable and easy to pack in individual plastic baggies. 

Non-Perishable Indulgent Snacks

• Banana bread
• Cookies, such as sugar cookies (they don’t melt) 
• Fruit leather
• Potato chips
• Pretzel, cracker, and peanut mixtures
• Snack cakes and cupcakes
• Boiled peanuts
• Snack box – Check out Amazon for some unique snack boxes. We love the snack boxes from different countries.

Cooler-Required Indulgent Snacks

• Mini Roasted Vegetable Burritos 
• Peanut butter sandwiches
• Parfaits in a jar 
• Cheese spread for crackers
• Pudding cups 
• Power Balls

Make-Ahead Road Trip Breakfast Ideas

Enjoying a road trip often means early days and breakfast on the go. These make-ahead breakfast meals are perfect for those early mornings.

Non-Perishable Breakfast Ideas

• Granola bars
• Cake Donuts
• Power Scones – A Winding Road Tripper Favorite
• Whole fruits

Cooler-Required Breakfast Ideas

• Parfaits in a jar (see recipe above)
• Rainbow fruit kabobs with yogurt dipping sauce
• Bagels and cream cheese
• Hard-boiled eggs
• Peanut butter, granola, and banana wrap

Make-Ahead Road Trip Lunch Ideas

Make-ahead lunch meals provide easy-to-eat food items if you plan on driving through lunchtime. Road trip lunch ideas are perfect if you want to take a break, stretch your legs, and have a roadside picnic lunch. 

Non-Perishable Lunch Ideas

• Nut butter with pita chips
• Snack packs with crackers, grapes, and peanut butter
• Rice cakes with peanut butter
• Pita bread with canned tuna and mayo packets

Cooler-Required Lunch Ideas

• Vegetables with ranch, hummus, guacamole, or veggie dip
• Premade lunch sandwiches with deli meats and cheeses
• Salad in a jar
• Fruit salad
• Cucumber sandwiches
• Pita pockets stuffed with turkey, cheese, hummus, and cucumber
• Homemade lunch packs with summer sausage, crackers, and cheese
• Tortillas rolled with olive cream cheese and deli meat (such as turkey or pepperoni)
• Roll-up or pita sandwiches, such as a chicken tortilla wrap 

Make-Ahead Road Trip Dinner Ideas

Road trips are often exhausting. And by the time you make it to your destination, you may be ready to shower, eat dinner, and get some sleep. Making dinner meals ahead of time allows you to do these things while eating comfortably in your hotel or campsite. 

Non-Perishable Dinner Ideas

• Canned chili and cornbread
• Couscous and white beans, topped with salsa
• Garlic bread and marinara sauce (to go with the buffalo chicken pasta salad listed below)
• Microwave macaroni and cheese cups (if microwave is available)

Cooler-Required Dinner Ideas

• Salad topped with cubed rotisserie chicken
• Buffalo chicken pasta salad 
• Cold veggie pizza 
• Mediterranean pasta salad 
• Hummus and veggie wrap

Eating on the Road Non-Food Essentials

To help enjoy your preplanned road trip snack and meal ideas, it is helpful to pack some non-food essentials. Use this list to make sure you have everything you need for an easy and clean road trip meal time. 

• Paper plates
• Paper bowls
• Plastic cutlery — forks, knives, and spoons
• Sharp knife (for cutting fruits, veggies, and sandwiches)
• Paper towels or napkins
• Zip-locking food storage bags
• Plastic food storage containers
• Hard-sided cooler for trunk
• Soft-sided cooler for inside the car
• Reusable grocery bags to organize and store food
• Refillable water bottles
• Plastic trash bags

Protip: Splurge on Stasher bags (or any other silicon bag) for road trips. They are pricey but they are in your budget we highly recommend them as they are one of our favorite splurges. They are great to keep things dry in the cooler and to keep things organized and portioned out. 

More Road Trip Essentials: Road Trip Accessories You Need for Your Next Road Trip Family Road Trip Essentials: Things You Need to Pack for a Road Trip with Kids The Ultimate Camping Road Trip Camping List

Tips for Road Trip Meal Prepping 

Meal prepping before heading out on a road trip helps save time while on the road and makes grabbing snacks and meals easier. Additionally, road trip meal prepping helps ensure you have all the food, snacks, and beverages you need to keep everyone full and satisfied. 

• Create a list of meals and snacks to make ahead of time.
• Select meals with foods that can easily be mixed and matched together for more options.
• Choose finger foods to avoid the need for cutlery.
• Consider the trip length and plans to determine foods and how long ice will keep cooler-required foods cold.
• Pack ingredients for meals together using plastic and paper bags.
• Pack individual packets of condiments, such as mayo, ketchup, mustard, salt, pepper, and barbecue sauce.
• Clean and cut vegetables and store in individual size plastic bags for quick access.
• Split big bags of snacks into individual serving sizes.
• Consider storage space, such as how much room you have in the car and coolers.
• Keep things simple.
• Pack plenty of water or refillable water bottles to keep everyone fully hydrated.

Tips for Packing a Cooler for a Road Trip

Efficiently packing a cooler for a road trip means the difference between having all the foods you want and having to leave some food behind. Plus, the issue many road trippers face is their food getting soggy as the ice in the cooler starts to melt. 

• Use zip-locking plastic or silicon bags to keep ice in the cooler from getting things wet.
• Use zip-locking plastic or silicon bags to store food in the cooler in case ice bags break open.
• Keep what you plan to eat that day on the top, so you do not have to dig around the cooler, letting cold air out.
• Use leak-proof containers for meats and poultry, especially if raw, and pack these items on the bottom, separate from foods that will be eaten raw.
• To keep cooler food colder longer, freeze items, such as juices, and milk before packing in the cooler.
• Refrigerate items overnight before putting them in the cooler
• Keep the cooler full to help keep it colder longer.
• Layer food with ice bags, ice, or ice blocks (ice blocks take longer to melt than ice cubes).
• If not bagging ice, consider bagging some ice cubes to use for beverages.
• If possible, keep the cooler in the car instead of the hot trunk.
• If there is room, use two coolers, one for food and the other for beverages.

Tips for Restocking Food On Your Road Trip

When preparing meals for a road trip, you may realize that you cannot pack all the food you need for the duration of your trip. Additionally, you may run out of items sooner than expected because of excessive hunger or kids eating out of boredom.

• Make a list of everything you packed, and when you use items, mark them to know which items to pick up at the store. 
• Make a list of meals and snacks you could not fit in the cooler before leaving and use that to shop during your trip.
• To save time, check online for a grocery store ahead of you and see if they offer curbside pick-up. If so, order ahead of time for pickup, and you can save time not having to shop yourself.
• Consider shopping for fresh fruits, veggies, and homemade snacks at a farmers’ market where you stop for a night or two. Stopping at a local farmers’ market offers the opportunity to explore the area and restock your snacks and meals.

More Road Trip Tips: How to Prepare Your Car for a Road Trip Best Weather Apps for Your Road Trip 20 Road Trip Hacks for a Stress-Free Road Trip

You Got This!

Preparing for a road trip may feel overwhelming, especially when you decide to do some meal prepping in advance. 

Don’t worry you got this. 

Use this list to help you prepare make-ahead food and pack the snacks you need for your upcoming road trip.

101 Road Trip Food Ideas: Best Fun and Healthy Snacks You’ll Love

Posted on Published: November 18, 2020  - Last updated: June 21, 2023

Who doesn’t love a good road trip? Better question: who doesn’t love a good road trip snack? Well here’s a mega list of road trip food ideas that you’ll want to pack along.

One of the worst things that can happen on a road trip is running out of food and dealing with a hangry family member. Don’t let that happen! Keep your ride peaceful with these road trip snack ideas!

This list of road trip snacks goes beyond gas station junk food and difficult-to-eat-on-the-go meals. The best road trip foods are convenient, satisfying and healthy (but also sometimes not!)

This post may contain affiliate links. For more info, see my  disclosures .

On this mega list of 101 road trip food ideas, you’ll find:

Healthy road trip snacks, homemade road trip snacks.

• High energy foods on the go

Road trip snacks for kids

Vegan road trip snacks, ideas for your sweet tooth, meals for road trips, packing tips and food containers.

• Essential supplies you’ll need

Best road trip food

As someone who checks off bucket list locations and takes many road trips every year, I know my road trip food. 🙂 It’s important for food to be portable, easy to eat in the car and it needs to be able to travel well.

Some of the food ideas below you’ll want to prepare and package up at home before you hit the road. Be sure to pack a cooler to keep foods fresh as needed.

Note: stick around to the end of the list for the best packaging solutions and containers . Because it matters when packing food for a road trip!

You want something convenient and healthy, right? Well it’s just as easy to grab an apple for a long car ride as a bag of Doritos!

Now, before you head to the store to buy a bunch of fruit, make sure to think through them all. Like bananas…

Bananas are not a good option for road trips, as they get mushy. On my road trip to Moab, Utah, the bananas I packed split open and made a mess of my reusable grocery bag. So skip the bananas, okay?

Here’s the list of healthy road trip snacks

• Sugar snap peas and ranch
• Healthy granola (think savory seasoning, not sweet ingredients)
• Popcorn (my favorite budget-friendly snack using this air popper )
• Homemade trail mix
• Carrots and ranch
• Strawberries
• Sugar-free, gluten free muffins
• Veggie chips (store bought or homemade)
• Blueberries
• Basil, tomato and mozzarella salad
• Rice cakes with nut butter
• Cottage cheese and almonds
• Pita chips and hummus
• Healthy zucchini muffins
• Yogurt with mix-ins (just watch the sugar content)

Next let’s dive into the things you can make – or bake – from home. My kiddos always ask for a few of these on every road trip. Their favorite on our way to Glacier National Park was # 20 below!

• Rice crispy bars
• Or their yummy cousin, fruity pebble bars
• Other cereal bars – think Cheerios, Lucky Charms…the possibilities are endless!
• Paleo, keto and Whole 30-friendly nut bars
• Cheese quesadilla
• Pretzel hugs (just don’t pack a bunch – they’re addicting!)
• Ditch the flour with these black bean brownies
• Sweet trail mix (DIY – just throw pantry staples together!)
• ‘Cookie’ protein balls
• Almond bark with mix-ins
• Spicy roasted cashews
• Peach oatmeal muffins

High energy foods on-the-go

Sitting in the car can be B-O-R-I-N-G and an energetic snack can help to pick you up. Or if you’re driving an all-nighter like I did from Omaha, NE to Gulf Shores, AL , you’ll need some energy to get you through the long drive.

Here are some of my favorite high-energy snacks for the car:

• Greek yogurt
• Ham, chive and cream cheese pinwheels
• String cheese
• Cinnamon apple energy bites  
• Hard boiled eggs
• Energy bars ( RX bars are my favorite for road trips and hiking snacks)
• Salmon in a pouch
• Favorite energy drink (as needed) for driving over night

Let’s focus for a minute on food for little ones. While most road trip food on this list can be given to kids, there’s just some foods that are naturally designed for kids.

Pro tip: make sure to give the kids healthy road trip snacks first. It’s way harder to get them to eat an orange after having a bunch of chocolate. Don’t ask me how I know. 😉

Just a quick note: many of these food are pre-packaged which isn’t the most eco-friendly way of traveling. However if you balance it with homemade and reusable packaging when possible , it lessens the environmental impact.

Kid-friendly road trip snacks:

• On-the-go yogurt
• Homemade double chocolate zucchini muffins (my kids go crazy over these!)
• Kid-friendly trail mix
• Suckers (or any long-lasting sucking candy)
• Applesauce pouches
• Pirate’s Booty
• Fruit snacks (save money by buying them at a bulk bin grocery store)
• Pepperoni slices and cheese cubes
• Baby carrots
• Juice boxes or pouches
• Kid-friendly pinwheels
• Fun cheeses, like Baby Bell or Laughing Cow
• Raisins or cranberries
• Healthy toddler mini muffins

Also make sure out check out the 15 Things to Pack on a Road Trip with Kids

If you’re more comfortable with the vegetarian or vegan diet, here are some great options for your next road trip. Many of these will need to be prepared or portioned out ahead of time. (See recommended containers below.)

• Veggie chips (sweet potatoes, beets, parsnips, etc.)
• Bell pepper slices and hummus
• Celery and nut butter
• Pumpkin cake pops
• Cherry tomatoes with vegan ranch
• Cinnamon apple chips
• Cajun roasted chickpeas
• Roasted pumpkin seeds
• Vegan lemon blueberry muffins (homemade)
• Chocolate-drizzled caramel popcorn

Okay there comes a point in the road trip where cravings take over. Some of my favorite food to take on a road trip are the special sweet treats. I just try not to pack too many!

• Yogurt dipped pretzels
• Puppy chow / muddy buddies
• Chocolate covered almonds
• Medjool dates
• Scotcharoos
• ‘Crack’ popcorn (candy covered popcorn with sprinkles)
• Homemade cookies
• Candied almonds (make them in the crock pot before you leave to save money)
• Gummy bears, or chocolate covered gummy bears
• Your favorite candy bar (mini size bags are perfect for sharing)

It’s sometimes nice to plan stops for gas or stretching around mealtime. And eating out is nice and convenient when on the road!

But it can also really add up! If you’re on a budget trip , then eating out every meal isn’t always a great option.

Pro tip: make sure to pack items that you won’t mind eating cold or room temperature. I sometimes freeze snacks and to keep them longer and prolong ice in the cooler from melting.

One strategy my family uses for road trips is to pack food for the first meal in a cooler. We’ll stick other road trip snacks in there too, and if it’s a long road trip we’ll pack multiple meals.

Anyways, back to best meals for road trips:

• Egg salad sandwich
• Cranberry almond chicken salad wrap
• Pre-portioned salads (homemade or store bought)
• Peanut butter and jelly sandwich
• Packaged tuna (not canned) and crackers
• Fruit salad (misc. fruit with a splash of honey and lime)
• Deli meat and cheese sandwiches
• Chips and guacamole (buy the small portion guac so it doesn’t go bad)
• Banana bread muffins for breakfast
• Gluten free strawberry oatmeal bars
• Milk, orange juice or iced coffee

More snacks to pack on-the-go

We’re almost there! Here are a few more ideas to add to your road trip food list:

• Water (of course this needs to go with!)
• Peanut butter filled pretzels
• Store-bought breakfast bars
• Mints or tic-tac’s (helps to pass the time)
• Traditional chips
• Sweet Tarts
• Hot Tamales (my husband’s favorite!)
• Yogurt covered raisins
• Dried fruit
• Jelly on rice crackers (use jelly packets for this)
• Mini cheese and cracker sandwiches
• Almond butter packets
• Sunflower seeds (what gets me through overnight driving)

So now that you have a ton of ideas, let’s move onto packaging. Breaking foods up into convenient portion sizes ahead of time saves a lot of headache – not to mention mess – in a moving vehicle.

Here are my favorite packaging solutions that are convenient, eco-friendly and ultimately will save you money.

Coolers – my family usually travels with a small, collapsible cooler in an easy-to-reach spot in the car that’s filled with drinks and snacks. Then we put meals and back-up drinks in the large cooler in the back.

Collapsible containers – great for making meals ahead of time and takes up less space in your car.

Mini containers – perfect for dips, trail mix, salad dressings and kid portions. I love these mini containers for road trips! I’ll even use them for snacks that I buy while on the road.

Reusable water bottles – my whole family has reusable bottles that we use for water on road trips. We usually put filtered water in old milk jugs (that have been cleaned) to refill water bottles throughout the trip. These water bottles are perfect for hiking or beaches, too!

Portable silverware set – perfect for meals, yogurt and to eliminate the need for plastic utensils during drive-through’s.

More supplies for your car

Alright now that you have your food list and packaging solutions, it’s time for the extra supplies that may help on the road . These are items I pack that help with snacks and meal times.

• Paper towels/napkins
• Gallons of filtered water for refills
• Wet wipes for sticky fingers
• Anti-bacterial gel
• Sharp knife for food prep (as needed)
• Plastic bag for trash

Road trip food – that’s a wrap!

Well there you have it! 101 ideas for road trip food! With a huge variety of options, you’re bound to find some you can buy or make ahead for your upcoming trip.

Hope you have a great trip, stay safe and satisfied!

Check out these fun road trip destinations you’ll love: Perfect Colorado Itinerary: 22 Road Trip Stops You Need to See 16 Midwest Road Trips: Scenic Routes You Can’t Miss Miami to Key West Road Trip: 22 Awesome Activities You Need to Do Denver to Moab: 16 Gorgeous Stops Along the Way

Find this article helpful? Save it now or share it on social media!

Wednesday 12th of May 2021

These are great ideas, thanks! We are just doing a big road trip in a few weeks, so this is perfect timing! Thanks!

Welcome, Erin! Have a great time on your road trip!!

Tuesday 11th of May 2021

Wow great ideas! Love this list and so many options!

Thanks... it was a fun one to create!

Awesome list! I definitely saved on Pinterest for later 😊

Glad you got some inspiration from this list! :)

Sunday 22nd of November 2020

Wow! This is one epic list of the best road trip snacks! Love it!

Monday 23rd of November 2020

Thanks - glad you found it helpful!

These are such wonderful and creative suggestions! :) Need to bring some peach oatmeal muffins for my next road trip :)

Oh yes Jiayi! They're so good!!

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Easy Packable Meals for Long Drives

Road trips don't have to mean days of fast food. here, how to fuel your excursion with healthy options..

A major challenge of road tripping ? What to eat and how to pack it up. (Back-to-back fast-food meals appeal to almost no one over the age of 10.) However, with a little forethought, mealtime on the go can be satisfying and energizing.

Loading the cooler

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First, a few notes about packing: Generally, you'll want to pack the food that needs to stay coldest (meats, dairy) at the bottom and keep the cooler closed as much as possible. Resist the urge to go in and out for cold drinks and ice up an insulated water bottle instead. It's also worth investing in refreeze-able ice bricks because they stay colder longer than ice and you don't have to deal with melting. Lastly, it's best to keep dish components separate and assemble on site, so nothing gets soggy and wilted.

Creating a portable platter

Eating on the go doesn't have to be lowbrow: One elevated and filling meal that can be eaten for lunch or dinner, and doesn't require much on-site prep or deep refrigeration, is an antipasto plate filled with crudité, dips, charcuterie, cheese, nuts and crackers. It's an easy way to hit all your food groups, too. Keep it healthy by going heavy with veggies like carrots , green beans, radishes or sugar snap peas. (Consider blanching the veggies ahead of time, which keeps them crisp but not totally raw.)

From there, go for a few ounces of different styles of cheese (maybe a white cheddar or Manchego plus something softer like blue or Brie), and add a little high-quality salami or prosciutto (but keep in mind these are the less healthy options on the plate.) And while it's easy enough to buy a tub of a dip, you can also easily make something like your own protein-packed baba ghanoush. Recipes abound online, and the only time-consuming part is broiling or roasting the eggplant before scooping out the flesh and blending it with a few ingredients like lemon and tahini.

Then, load up a few small containers with the fun stuff: Marcona almonds, a fig jam, baguette or crackers, olives and market-made marinated veggies like roasted peppers and artichokes. Pack up a large plastic platter, and once you find a park along your way, you might as well be at your favorite bistro.

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Rotisserie chicken sandwiches, salad-in-a-jar or thermos gazpacho

If it turns out that you'll be doing most of your driving during the day, there are plenty of sandwich options well beyond peanut butter and jelly. Homemade chicken salad tastes even better (and packs more nutrition) when you add  fruit, nuts and fresh herbs . Poaching or roasting chicken isn't hard but using rotisserie chicken is a great no-cook option. Spread it in a croissant and add avocado slices to get more filling, healthy fats. (Keep the avocado whole until you are ready to eat; don't forget to pack a knife.)

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You can also whip up a quality BLT while on the road. Cook some turkey bacon that morning — it can stay crisp for hours unrefrigerated — and marinate tomatoes the night before you go. (Just sprinkle tomato slices with a splash of red wine vinegar and olive oil and store in a container in the fridge.) Get fresh bread, lettuce and mayo or an avocado and assemble it when you're ready to eat.

Need dinner? Make your time on the road work for you: whip up a salad that gets better the longer in marinates, like an Asian slaw salad that you can toss with pre-pulled rotisserie chicken, cooked shrimp and/or cashews before serving. Another creative way to get your greens in is to compose a salad in a jar that you stash in the cooler. These score lots of road-trip friendly points for being easy to store and eat, and the layers keep ingredients fresher and crisper.

You can add what you want — think blue cheese and bacon bits for a take on a Cobb salad, or shrimp and beans for a taco spin — then shake to dress it all up. Pasta salad versions work here, too. Try combining jarred chickpeas with onion and oil and vinegar, then layering it on top of spiraled pasta, a handful of arugula and a couple tablespoons each of olives and feta. Mix it up and dig in!

Lastly, consider a light lunch or dinner of drinkable soup like gazpacho. The recipe below is tasty, fresh and stores well in an insulated travel cup.

Sippin’ Green Gazpacho

Yield: 6 cups

Ingredients

2 pounds English hothouse cucumbers (about 2 large), chopped

2 garlic cloves, smashed

2 cups coarsely chopped arugula

2 cups coarsely chopped mixed tender herbs (such as basil, parsley, cilantro and/or mint)

3 tablespoons (or more) sherry vinegar or red wine vinegar

Kosher salt

3/4 cup (or more) olive oil

Instructions

1. Purée cucumbers, garlic and 1/2 cup water in a blender until smooth.

2. Add arugula, herbs, vinegar and a large pinch of salt and purée, stopping to scrape down the sides of the blender as needed, until very smooth.

3. With the motor running, slowly stream in oil; blend until emulsified. (The mixture will turn pale green and look creamy, almost like a salad dressing; add more oil and/or water if needed.)

4. Taste gazpacho and season with more salt and vinegar, as desired. You want it to be borderline too salty and acidic at room temperature. Transfer to an airtight container. Cover and chill until very cold, 4 — 12 hours. 

5. Pour into chilled glasses.

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50+ Road Trip Food Ideas- Easy Meals On the Go!

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When you’re taking a road trip, bringing the right food can make a huge difference.

Not only is sustenance a necessity on a long trip, but it also breaks up the drive and gives everyone something to look forward to. Especially when you’re traveling with kids! 

There are a lot of factors to consider when picking food for a road trip. Which foods are best for eating on the road? How much should you pack? How should you store it? How can you stay organized and neat? 

Not to worry, this guide has all the information you need to create a perfect road trip meal plan!

Road trip food

Everyone has different road trip strategies and traditions.

Some families prefer to bring food for breakfast and lunch and eat out for dinner, whereas others would rather bring all the food they will need for their entire trip.

Some families prefer to focus on healthy meal and snack options, while others see road trips as a perfect excuse to let loose and enjoy some “fun” food choices.

Whatever your preferences are, we’ve got you covered. 

We’ve divided up our food ideas by meal, although there may be some overlap (a meal that’s good for lunch can also be a great option for dinner, etc).

How to store your road trip food

For any road trip longer than a couple of hours, we highly recommend bringing a cooler with ice or ice packs . This allows you to bring food that needs to be kept refrigerated and greatly increases your meal and snack options.

A few tips on coolers:

• The ice in your cooler should last for several days, depending on the kind of cooler you have and how often you take the lid off.
• If you find you need more ice, you can pick some up at a gas station or grocery store.
• Avoid opening your cooler frequently to prevent the ice from melting quickly and to keep the food cool for longer. 
• Keep ice/ice packs on top of your food, not just at the bottom of the cooler. This will keep your food cool better and longer, as cold air sinks.

**Meat and dairy products should not be left at room temperature for longer than two hours. The warmer the room (or car), the shorter the time perishable food can be left out. 

Road Trip Breakfast Ideas

Breakfast is arguably one of the easiest road trip meals to plan for. There are a variety of breakfast foods that are simple to pack and convenient to eat on the go. Here are a few of our top choices.

• Banana bread
• Banana with peanut butter
• Fresh fruit
• Protein bars
• Boiled eggs
• Bagel and cream cheese
• Yogurt parfait
• Mini cereals

Road Trip Lunch Ideas

There are a lot of different options for lunch on a road trip. Some people might prefer light snacking throughout the day, whereas others might want a full lunch meal. If you prefer hearty snacks as opposed to a large meal, scroll down to the snack section for ideas of foods to supplement your lunch. 

And even if you’re packing a lunch instead of eating out, this still might be a convenient time to stop and get out of the car for a little bit. A park or rest stop is often a convenient place to stretch your legs and have a quick picnic lunch. 

Sandwich tip – wait to add ingredients that have any moisture (tomatoes, condiments, avocado, etc) until right before you eat to prevent your bread from getting soggy.

• Peanut butter and jelly sandwich
• Sub sandwich with lunch meat and cheese
• Cream cheese and raisin bread sandwiches- this has been a favorite of our family’s for years. We would always have it for road trips growing up, but I’ve never seen anyone make it like we do, so I’m sharing the love by including the recipe here! Scroll to the bottom to learn the simple recipe. They are a huge hit with kids!
• Hawaiian roll with cheese
• Rotisserie chicken- presliced, great on a roll, bread, or just eaten plain
• Crackers with cheese and summer sausage- precut cheese and sausage into slices before you leave
• Tuna sandwich
• Egg salad sandwich
• Lunchables- kids love these and honestly, they can be fun for adults too
• Salad- prepared from fresh ingredients before you leave (wait to add dressing until you’re ready to eat) or from a salad kit

Road Trip Dinner Ideas

Dinner always seems like the hardest meal to plan for on the road. Many people are used to eating hot meals for dinner, but that’s not really an option for a road trip unless you stop to heat something up at a gas station. 

But there are some delicious meals you can prepare ahead of time for dinner, especially if you are bringing a cooler. 

• Barbeque chicken sandwich
• Chicken and cheese sandwich
• Pita sandwiches
• Chicken salad sandwiches
• Turkey rollups – from Costco or homemade
• Premixed salad kit
• Fruit salad
• Chicken Caesar salad (Costco has a great premade kit)
• Taco salad- store chopped ingredients separately, then combine and add dressing when you’re ready to eat
• Pasta salad
• Potato salad

Road Trip Snack Ideas

No road trip is complete without road trip snacks. Having something to snack on can prevent people from getting hungry and grumpy during the stretches between meals. It can also help to keep the driver awake if they start to feel drowsy while driving and keep kids entertained!

• Granola bars- Lara bars, Cliff Bars, fig bars, Kind bars
• Crackers- Goldfish, Pirates Booty, Wheat Thins, Cheez-Its, animal crackers
• Pretzels- regular or peanut butter filled
• Pringles- a nice, non-greasy chip option
• Yogurt- Gogurts are less mess and easy to eat in the car
• Fresh fruit (apples, grapes, strawberries, mandarin oranges, blueberries, bananas)
• Dried fruit (apricots, apples, bananas, mangoes, pineapple) 
• Celery and peanut butter- prepack the peanut butter in a condiment cup and dip the celery sticks
• Veggies and hummus- carrots, broccoli, celery, cherry tomatoes
• Fruit leather
• Popcorn- Simply Pop brand or make a fresh batch before you leave and snack on it throughout your trip.
• Sunflower seeds- great for snacking on if you’re starting to feel drowsy 
• Nuts- Mixed nuts, almonds, peanuts, cashews
• Cheese- Babybel cheese, string cheese, cubed cheddar, mozzarella, and/or pepperjack
• Rice cakes with peanut butter

If you’re traveling with kids, plan a “movie night” during the drive and pull out the popcorn and treats while you watch a fun show the whole family can enjoy. It’s a fun way to break up the drive!

Road Trip Desserts and Treats

Sometimes it’s nice to have some food that feels a little special when you’re on a long driving trip. Pack a couple of these dessert foods for a fun treat to pull out during your drive. 

• Rice Krispie treats
• Cookies (chocolate chip, peanut butter, snickerdoodles)- made in advance or store bought
• Brownies- make and individually wrap before your trip
• Candy- if you want something non-meltable choose a candy like Sourpatch Kids, Redvines, Starbursts
• Fruit snacks

Don’t forget to Bring…

In addition to meals and snacks, there are some other non-food essentials that you don’t want to forget on a road trip. Skim through this list to make sure you aren’t missing anything important. 

• Paper towels – a necessity for inevitable spills and messes
• Wet wipes – for wiping hands and faces after eating
• Reusable water bottles – it’s important to stay hydrated on a road trip. Bring reusable water bottles and refill as necessary when you stop for gas. 
• Sandwich bags – useful for for divvying up food, storing leftovers, etc
• Garbage bags – bring a couple of garbage bags for storing trash so you can keep you car clean and organized
• Grocery bags- useful for organizing food, trash, etc
• Hand sanitizer – prevent germs by cleaning everyone’s hands before eating. Also very useful if the place you stop to go to the bathroom doesn’t have soap…
• Plates and bowls – may be a necessity, depending on your meals
• Plastic utensils – forks, spoons, knife
• Cooler and ice/ ice packs – store food that needs refrigeration
• Collapsible car organizer – hugely helpful for storing non-refrigerated food and staying organized, especially in a van
• Condiment cups – These are amazing for dividing up condiments and dips in small portions 
• Salt/pepper packets , condiment packets – useful for adding flavor to your foods (depending on your meals). You can pack your own or buy small packets before your trip.
• Snack catcher – If you’re traveling with a toddler or young child, bring a snack catcher to use for crackers and other small foods. They are much less likely to spill their snack all over the car and create a mess. And it acts as an activity to keep them entertained trying to get their food out of the container!

Road Trip Food Tips

• Keep a hand held vacuum in your car – you can easily vacuum up any spills and inevitable food crumbs, keeping your car feeling much cleaner.
• Make food in advance and freeze it – there is so much to do to get ready for a road trip. Where possible, make food several weeks in advance and freeze it until you’re ready to leave on your trip. This works great for muffins, breads, cookies, and some sandwiches and meat dishes.
• Throw out your trash when you stop for gas. Regularly clearing out the garbage will prevent buildup of trash in your car and the stinky smell of rotting food.
• Have a pre-filled road trip bag- If you’re going on road trips frequently, have a bag ready with the nonperishable items you need for your road trip. Keep inside a list to restock the bag after a trip. It’s much easier to just grab your bag when you’re getting ready for a trip than having to repack it every time.
• Try to avoid foods that are excessively greasy, sticky, or crumbly – messy foods can be a pain on a road trip. Minimize mess, minimize stress.
• Bring a couple of water bottles and refill as necessary when you stop for gas. We try to stick to mostly water as our beverage of choice for road trips to avoid sticky spills.
• Stock up on food and meals at a wholesale store before your trip. Costco has great pre-made meal options that you can buy right before your trip. We love the Costco sandwich rolls, Caesar salad, muffins, potato salad, and fruit bowls for road trips. And of course, you can’t go wrong with their bulk snacks like trail mix, dried fruit, fruit leathers, popcorn, crackers, etc.

Benefits of packing your own food for a road trip

Although it’s a little more work and preparation than stopping for food, there are a lot of benefits to bringing your own road trip food. Here are some reasons to skip the fast food and pack your meals.

It’s more cost-effective

Eating out for every meal, even if it’s at a fast-food restaurant, can get expensive. This is especially true if you’re traveling with your whole family. 

Save money by bringing your own food! If you plan ahead, you can buy most of your road trip foods at a wholesale store, then divide it up into the portions that you want. 

It saves time

Stopping to order and pick up food takes time. Sometimes it can be nice to break up your trip with a food stop.  But if you’re trying to make good time, stopping for every meal adds extra hours to your road trip. 

If you’ve packed all or most of the food you will need, you have snacks and meals to pull out when people get hungry without having to pull over!

It’s often healthier

Eating out for every meal is often quite unhealthy. When you pack your own food, you have more options and control over what kinds of foods you are eating and how many sweets and treats you want to include. 

Easier to Accommodate Preferences and Dietary Restrictions

If you’re traveling with dietary restrictions, it can be risky leaving food to whatever you happen to find along the way. Packing your own meals ensures you have plenty of safe food to eat. 

And if you’re traveling as a family, you can easily cater to everyone’s preferences by packing food you know everyone will enjoy. That way you don’t have to spend a lot of time picking a place that everyone can agree on.

Cream Cheese and Raisin Bread Sandwich Recipe

As promised, here is our family recipe of cream cheese and raisin bread sandwiches. They are sure to be a road trip hit for people of all ages!

Ingredients

• 8 oz cream cheese
• ¾ C powdered sugar
• 1 loaf cinnamon raisin bread

Instructions

• Soften cream cheese to room temperature. 
• Using a mixer, combine cream cheese with powdered sugar. 
• Lay out half of the raisin bread and spread the cream cheese mixture evenly between all pieces. 
• Top the cream cheese with another piece of raisin bread to complete your sandwiches. 

**You can freeze the whole premade loaf and pull it out when you want to use it, just let it come to room temperature before eating. This is perfect for road trips because you can pull it out in the morning and it’s ready to eat by lunch!

Final Thoughts

Selecting and preparing road trip food can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be! With this list of food and road trip tips, you have everything you need to prepare for a great trip.

If you’re planning on flying with kids, check out these awesome toddler airplane snacks !

Other posts you might be interested in:

How to Have a Successful Road Trip with a Toddler

Road Trip Activities for Toddlers (That They Will Really Love!)

7 Essential Tips for Road Tripping with a Baby

30 of the Very Best Travel Activities for Kids!

Related Posts:

2 thoughts on “50+ Road Trip Food Ideas- Easy Meals On the Go!”

Very thorough with lots of good information. Makes me want to go have a cream cheese raisin bread sandwich right now.

Thank you!! And yes, they really are so delicious!

Comments are closed.

Road Trip Food List: The Ultimate Food for Road Trips

If you want to make a road trip food list for a family vacation that involves a lot of car travel, then you’re in the right place. We’ve taken many family road trips over the years, so we now have some experience in picking out the best food for road trips.

Kids are notorious for asking ‘are we nearly there yet?’ along the way, but surely the second most commonly heard words involve how hungry they are! This is why a good stash of the best road trip snacks is always the number one priority on our road trip grocery list.

While some treats will help to keep kids happy, we’ve tried to include as many healthy road trip snacks as possible. If the children are going to be eating more or less constantly, we want at least some of what they consume to have nutritional value. Too much refined sugar might only make them hyperactive, anyway, which isn’t great when they need to stay in their seats.

So what can you include on a long road trip food list? That is of course your call, but we cover everything from make-ahead meals for your road trip to non-perishable road trip food you can keep in the car for those snack attacks.

Whether your priority is road trip food on a budget, making a healthy road trip food list or simply finding ideas for good road trip snacks, this guide is here to help you stave off the hunger pangs (as well as the boredom of a prolonged car journey).

Don’t go anywhere before you’ve checked out this guide to road trip snack ideas and make ahead meals for a road trip. All the best food for traveling in the car as a family can be found here, saving you time as well as money!

Why write a road trip food list?

There’s a whole bunch of reasons why a little planning can go a long way when it comes to road trip food ideas, as follows. Just pack your favorite travel backpack with some snacks to keep handy when you need some.

Road trip snacks help beat the boredom

Many of us are tempted to eat when we’re bored, so packing plenty of food for long road trips can quite simply help to keep the kids entertained. Especially when you include the best travel snacks – such as favorites of theirs or even exciting new foods to try.

Healthy car snacks can become reality

It’s often hard to find healthy foods to eat while traveling in a car when you stop at gas stations or make other quick pitstops. Selecting your own snacks to take on a road trip in advance helps to ensure you have more control over what your kids are consuming – and gives you more choice too.

You can buy cheap food for road trips

Stock up on good travel snacks – or even make-ahead meals for traveling – and you can save a small fortune. Whether you take homemade road trip snacks or buy them already packaged, it can be so much more cost-effective to buy from the grocery store before you leave than from the likes of the overpriced gas station shops you’ll pass along the way.

What to look for when choosing food for road trips

Before you make a final decision about what food to take on a road trip, it’s worth bearing these factors in mind.

The messiest road snacks

First, let’s take a look at what we don’t recommend! The best road trip food is not that which will leave a permanent mark on your car’s upholstery . Who wants to spend the first part of their vacation cleaning up the car interior?

Even when it’s not that warm, chocolate will quickly melt when held in little fingers, and if wiped on the car seats may either leave a brown stain or a greasy mark you can’t clean off. Chocolate is also high in both sugar and fat.

Potato chips

Potato chips are full of salt – and again they can leave greasy imprints behind. When crumbled into lots of tiny pieces they are also really hard to clean up – even with a powerful vacuum cleaner. Too much salt will also make children more thirsty.

Yes, fresh and dried fruit is a must for any snack list for a road trip – but choose carefully. Certain fruits, like berries in particular, really can stain clothing and your car interior. So while blueberries make great finger food and are packed with goodness, they’re not so great when it comes to cleaning up.

Check out the fruits listed below for some good family road trip snacks that will not leave a permanent reminder of your trip on your kids’ favorite clothes or the car seats. As well as berries, avoid oranges, mandarins and tomatoes, which can squirt out juice everywhere and leave stains.

Drinks other than water

We’d recommend giving the kids nothing but water to go with those snacks for traveling in the car. Soda can make a really sticky mess if spilled, and as for milk – you might never get rid of the remaining sour odor. Even fruit juice might taste so good that they drink more than they need, leading to cries for a restroom stop before another is actually due.

Nothing more than a bottle of water is really required to keep everyone hydrated. If it will be warm in the car, you could freeze the drinks bottles the night before to make sure each person has their own chilled drink.

Car trip food prep time

When you’re planning those road trip lunch ideas and snacks for car rides, don’t forget that you’re taking a vacation. Before you even leave you’ll therefore have to pack all the bags, check over the car and leave everything at home as tidy and organized as possible for your return.

So how much time will you really have to prep healthy road trip meals and snacks? Realistically, would a good supply of non-perishable road trip food work better, or perhaps a combination of both?

Could the kids help with car trip snacks?

Depending on the age and abilities of your children, could they help with the prep? If you can depend on them to make easy road trip meals or pack the best car snacks for all the family, then you may be able to delegate.

It’s also worth getting them involved when it comes to the next factor on the list – keeping the car in as clean and tidy a condition as can reasonably be expected!

Cleaning up after road trip sandwiches and snacks

Getting everyone to clean up after themselves as they go will make life much easier all around. Cleaning the car when you get there will thus be much less of a chore.

Where this is concerned, investing in certain items to pack alongside those easy meals for road trips and snack food for a trip can really make life much simpler – and cleaner!

In-car trash can

Buying a trash can for your car means there’s a place to put all the wrappers and packaging – rather than on the floor or all over the seats.

Most types hang over the headrest of a front seat, so they’re easy for the kids in the back to access. They’re generally very affordable and should last for years.

Click here to check out car trash cans

Paper napkins

Taking a stack of napkins is always a good idea – you can use them for wiping fingers and faces, mopping up spills and they could even be drawn on or used as origami paper if the kids run out of things to do.

Choosing recycled napkins is better for the planet – and may also help to ease any guilt you have about using some throwing away packaging!

Click here to check out packs of recycled napkins

Wet wipes or baby wipes really come in handy when a dry napkin isn’t quite up to the job of cleaning up a sticky or oily mess. Especially if you have younger kids.

As they’re designed for sensitive skin they shouldn’t cause any irritation, and again choosing eco-friendly baby wipes means doing your bit for the future.

Click here to check out eco-friendly wet wipes

Stain remover

If you have kids, keeping a stain removal product in the car is a good idea, period. Tide to Go makes a handy stick, which is easy to store in a door pocket or the glove box.

Click here to check out Tide to Go stain remover sticks

Carrying food to bring on a road trip

Finally, think about how you can carry all your food for a road trip. You may have items to use for this already, or it may be worth buying some of the following for future family adventures.

Rubbermaid take alongs

Take Alongs by Rubbermaid or other similar containers can be used to hold everything from essential road trip snacks to those simple road trip meals you want to pack. They come in all sorts of packs, shapes and sizes.

Click here to check out a range of Rubbermaid Take Alongs

Take & Toss cups

Rather than using them for drinks, take and toss cups can be used for sharing out and holding snacks while on the move.

Click here to check out Take and Toss cups

Ziploc bags

A ziplog bag is great for carrying those snacks to bring on a road trip. It can even help reduce mess by catching the spills or crumbs as you go if you munch while leaning over the open bag. (It may also come in handy in the event of travel sickness too.)

Click here to check out Ziploc sandwich and snack bags

A cooler is a must unless you want to stick solely to road trip snacks that are non refrigerated when the weather’s hot. Think about where you’ll keep it when choosing, as in some cases a bag might be easier to squeeze in if space is tight.

Click here to check out car cooler boxes and bags

Cooler ice packs

Don’t forget to buy some cooler ice packs if you’re ordering a cooler to keep everything cold and fresh. Pop them in the freezer the night before – perhaps along with your water bottles if you want chilled drinks.

Click here to check out cooler ice pack products

Water bottles

Don’t forget about having to hydrate! A good water bottle for each family member is ideal to take on vacation, as you can save on costly bottled drinks. A reusable water bottle is also again better for the environment.

Click here to check out water bottle options

Food for road trips: The best food for road trips ideas

Here are some of our top suggestions regarding what food to take on a road trip. Where possible, we’ve gone for less messy, more healthy options!

PB & J sandwiches

Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches – or one or the other – make good finger food. Cut into ready-to-eat pieces; bite-sized is ideal for younger children.

Pita fingers or bagels

As pita bread and bagels are less crumbly than other breads, they make the best road trip food for those who love baked goods. Cut them into fingers or pieces beforehand to minimize mess.

Cooked pasta

Many kids love pasta so much that they will happily munch on it cold. Stir in some red or green pesto after cooking to add a little flavor.

You can cut a block of cheese up into cubes if you like – or go for Babybels which require no prep at all.

Buy Babybels here

Hard boiled eggs

Packed with protein and iron, these are a great way to supplement all those in-car carbs. Ask the kids to peel the shell off over a ziploc bag or container – or you could do that part for them if they pass it to the front.

Ham or poultry, such as chicken or turkey, are ideal for cutting into cubes to eat as protein-packed finger food.

Mini salami

Mini salami is great for a salty umami hit and again can be bought individually wrapped.

Buy mini salami here

Being less juicy, bananas are also a less messy fruit option.

For the younger ones, don’t forget to cut grapes in half as they’re a choking hazard.

Apples & pears

Pears and apples are also among the least juicy fruit choices and require no prep at all.

Dried fruits

Dried fruit is one of the best foods to take on a road trip, and there are so many kinds available. As well as ever-popular options like raisins and apricots, there are freeze-dried fruits and dried fruit slices too. Plus fruit bars, roll-ups and other options that may seem more like a sweet treat than a healthy alternative!

Buy kids’ dried fruit packs here

Lots of kids will happily eat cucumber, and you can either cut it up or buy mini ones that are ready to munch on.

Sweet or bell peppers are often popular with children, especially in the case of the sweeter, milder varieties. You can either buy tiny ones or slice them up.

Many children love the sweet taste and bright orange color of a carrot. Buy baby ones, or cut them into sticks.

Sugar snap peas often appeal to kids, and they’re also one of the least messy veggies around!

Some children do like the savory flavor of celery, and it’s simple to slice up into pieces or fingers.

Cheerios come in family sized bozes or individual pots, and are also available in a range of flavors.

Buy Cheerios here

Froot Loops

Kelloggs’ Froot Loops come in small pots or as bars, as well as in the usual bigger boxes.

Buy Froot Loops here

Chex come in various flavors and are ideal for packing into snack containers.

Buy Chex here

As with Chex, Kix come in a range of flavor options.

Buy Kix here

Variety cereal

Kids’ multipacks of cereal comes with lots of little packs they can munch on in the car. The Kellogg’s variety packs contain cereals such as Apple Jacks, Mini Wheats and Frosted Flakes, and come in boxes or even small bags or pots of Tiger Paws, Raisin Bran, Pops and more.

Buy Kellogg’s Variety cereal here

Other non-perishable foods

Cereal bars.

Granola bars are normally the best option here, as they contain slow-release sources of energy like oats. They also tend to be lower in sugar than other kinds of cereal bar.

Buy granola bars here

Fig Newtons

Fig Newtons also make great snack bars for kids on the road.

Buy Fig Newtons here

Kids’ snack bars

There are all kinds of kids’ snack bars available, from fruit-filled ones to cereals drizzled with chocolate.

Buy kids’ snack bars here

Energy balls

Energy balls are usually packed with goodness, and make very easy foods to take on a road trip. Great for adults and kids’ snack attacks during the journey.

Buy energy balls here

Trail mix is a great compromise, as there are little goodies in there to tempt the kids. As long as they actually eat the nuts, seeds or dried fruit as well as the sweets!

Buy trail mix here

Graham crackers

These come in so many shapes, flavors and sizes to suit every kid (and grown-up), and they contain fibre as well as energy.

Buy graham crackers here

Rice crackers

As in-car snacks go these are pretty good – and often gluten-free too.

Buy rice crackers here

Savory crackers

There are various multipacks of savory crackers. Love Corn make packs with four different savory flavors, while Nabisco offer boxes packed with two types of Ritz plus Cheese Nips and Wheat Thins.

Buy savory crackers here

Pretzels also come in handy snack packs and a range of flavours and shapes.

Buy pretzels here

Individual bags of nuts make a good savory snacking alternative to potato chips.

Buy nut packs here

Mostly it’s made from beef, but some dried meat strips are made using other products like pork, turkey or even salmon.

Buy jerky here

Savory treats

Pirate’s booty.

A little better for kids than standard potato chips, as these are baked cheesy snacks.

Buy Pirate’s Booty here

Goldfish are also baked instead of fried, making them a little healthier.

Buy Goldfish here

Not so good for you, maybe, but it is a vacation! Get the kids to eat these less crumbly potato chips over the carton to minimize the mess.

Buy Pringles here

Sweet treats

Lollies don’t only make small sweet treats, they can also be good to suck on if you’re going up and down hills as it can help stop kids’ ears from popping.

Buy lollipops here

What kid – or adult – can resist a mini pack of Haribo Gold Bears, Mini Rainbow Frogs or a tube of Mega Roulette?

Buy Haribo here

Which food for road trips will make it onto your road trip food list?

What will you choose as the best food for a road trip? There are lots of healthy and tasty options to pick from, and sometimes it’s easier to snack as you go rather than sticking to regular mealtimes.

We hope this list of road trip food ideas has given you some inspiration regarding healthy snacks for traveling, road trip lunch ideas and road trip snacks for adults and kids.

Even just a little forward planning can make all the difference when it comes to good food for long journeys taken in the car as a family!

If you liked this guide, why not check out our Disney cost calculator , best hiking boots under $100 or list of free printable road trip games ?

Christine is a Disney World annual pass holder and overall Disney expert and fanatic. She often visits the Disneylands around the world naming Disneyland Paris her favorite. To continue reading, click more about me .

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21 Best Road Trip Snacks for Long Drives

From granola bars and cookies to chips of all kinds, here are some of the best road trip snacks to take with you on your next road trip.

Road trips aren’t complete without snacks. Be sure you’ve packed enough nourishment for the long drive!

Whether you’re in the mood to indulge or want something clean to nibble on, I have you covered.

This last has everything from healthy roasted chickpeas to sinful caramel corn.

Fill up the tank and get your itineraries ready. This list will take care of the snacks.

21 Healthy Snacks for Your Next Road Trip

1. trail mix   .

Let’s start things off with a snack that’s loved both by kids and adults. This trail mix isn’t just about nuts and dried fruit.

Also loaded with pretzels, Cheerios, mini-marshmallows, and M&M’s, it gets a 12/10 for color, flavor, and texture.

It’s so good, it’s almost impossible to stop snacking on it.

So instead of packing it in one big bag, I suggest you place it in smaller bags so everyone gets their own.

2. Puppy Chow  

Puppy chow, also called muddy buddies, doggy bag, and reindeer chow is a snack made of rice cereal squats (such as Chex) coated in peanut butter and chocolate and dusted with powdered sugar for good measure.

While its sounds like something a dog would it, it is nothing of the sort.

In fact, no matter how your pup begs for it, you mustn’t give in. Remember, it contains chocolate.

3. Beer Nuts  

Personally, I don’t find peanuts a fun and exciting snack. Beer nuts, however, is an entirely different story. These nuts I can eat all day!

Cocktail peanuts are cooked in sugar syrup. Once it sets, the sugar crystallizes, forming a sweet and crunchy coating covering the nuts. 

Finishing it off is a sprinkling of sea salt, adding a nice salty contrast to the sweet sugar coating.

4. Popcorn  

If you’re a sucker for caramel corn, you’ll love this recipe.

If you think there’s no way to make your very own without making a huge mess, think again.

This recipe for caramel popcorn takes place in the microwave. This is not a drill, people!

Yes, you can achieve that sweet, crunchy, beautiful golden brown caramel popcorn by only using this nifty kitchen appliance.

5. Texas Trash  

The name may be disgusting, but Texas Trash is a treasure.

It’s a sweet, salty, and savory mix of Cheerios, pretzel crisps, peanuts, and a variety of Chex cereals.

It doesn’t end there, though. The medley of crunchy munchies is coated in a garlic-y, buttery, and umami-rich sauce to tie all the flavors together. 

Finally, they’re popped in the oven to give them that extra crunch.

6. Granola Bars  

Granola bars are awesome at keeping you energized throughout the day. The only thing is, they cost a lot.

Don’t spend all your money on granola bars. Save it for pocket money and souvenirs. With this easy, budget-friendly recipe, your problem is solved. 

A mix of almonds, oats, peanut butter, maple syrup, and dates, these homemade granola bars are just as delicious, if not more, than any you can find in stores.

The best part? You’ll get to enjoy as many granola bars as you can at a fraction of the cost. 

7. Chocolate Chip Cookies  

Nothing adds more joy to a road trip than chocolate chip cookies do. These classic treats are iconic for a reason – they’re seriously delicious.

These aren’t your average chocolate chip cookies, though.

This recipe is a copycat of the famous Doubletree cookies – gigantic cookies that are outrageously buttery and chewy.

They’re not just packed with chocolate chips, but walnuts as well – a wonderful combination of gooey and crunchy.

8. Fire Crackers  

Let’s be honest – saltines are no fun. If there’s any way to put a damper on your road trip, it’ll probably be saltine crackers.

That’s not to say you can’t turn the boring crackers into something exciting, though.

This recipe for fire crackers will revamp those squares from bland to banging.

Saltin crackers are drizzled with spiced melted butter and baked until golden. The difference it makes is simply astonishing.

9. Apple Chips  

Excursions with friends and family are generally fun, but the long drive can get boring.

What better way is there to pass the time than with a bag of chips?

Sure, potato chips are king, but if you’re looking for a cleaner option, these apple chips have you covered.

They’re just as crispy and crunchy as potato chips, but they won’t make you feel guilty. 

10. Fantasy Fudge  

These fantasy fudge squares are truly a dream come true.

They’re chewy, ooey-gooey, and oh so chocolatey. They’re loaded with walnuts, too, giving you a crunchy surprise in every bite.

Here’s a bonus: fudge is so easy to make. It’s impossible to fudge up!

The hardest part is waiting for it to set. It takes 4 hours, but the wait is worth it.

11. Bagel Chips   

Got some stale, leftover bagels? Put it to good use and turn it into bagel chips. You’ll be snacking on these crispy-crunchy delights all day and night!

It couldn’t be easier to make. You can use seasoned bagels for a flavorful snack, or use unseasoned and flavor them yourself.

You can make them smokey and savory with BBQ seasoning, or sweet and spicy with cinnamon sugar. Either way, these chips will be a road trip hit.

12. Apple Fritters  

Got a hankering for fall flavors? Scratch that itch with these glorious apple fritters.

Pillowy cakes are bursting with sweet apple chunks and bathed in a sweet cinnamon-sugar glaze.

These fritters are extra special, too, because, for this recipe, we’re using donut batter.

That’s why they’re so plump and pillowy. Move over, Krispy Kreme! 

13. Roasted Chickpeas  

Chickpeas aren’t exactly the first thing that comes to mind when it comes to road trip snacks.

But trust me, you’ll definitely want to take this treat with you wherever you go.

Canned chickpeas are soft, sometimes mushy. But when you pop them in the oven, a magical transformation occurs. 

They become wonderfully crispy and addictive. Seasoned with a slew of herbs and spices, they’re so tasty they’ll blow your taste buds away.

14. Banana Muffins  

Muffins are always a good idea for road trips. These grab-and-go snacks aren’t only mess-free, but insanely delicious as well.

These banana muffins are dense and moist at the same time.

Flavored with sweet, overripe bananas, their delicious banana flavor can’t be denied.

The recipe calls for Bisquick for the batter, so you know it’s an easy one.

15. Peanut Butter Pretzels  

Pretzels are already a fun snack, but you can always take it up a notch.

Coat those crunchy treats with a mixture of melted chocolate and peanut butter, and they become a thousand times better.

Drizzled with even more melted chocolate garnish, these pretzels are as tasty as they are pretty.

16. Coconut Chips

I love all things coconut. Whether it’s in cake or cookie form, I’ll eat it all. So when I saw this recipe for coconut chips, I just had to give it a try. 

These coconut chips are mind-blowingly amazing! They’re sweet, nutty, and unbelievably crunchy.

They’re sprinkled with a bit of salt, so they also have that sweet and salty contrast going on.

Best of all, these chips are healthy.

17. Baked Veggie Chips

Just because you have diet restrictions doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy an addictive snack.

These veggie chips are oil-free, vegan, gluten-free, and definitely guilt-free. 

Most importantly, they’re delicious. With this recipe, you get a mixed bag of crispy beetroot, zucchini, carrots, sweet potato, and rutabaga.

How fun is that? The colors alone will make your mouth water.

18. Blueberry Muffins  

Need some last-minute road trip snacks? These blueberry muffins are here to save the day. 

They’re soft, moist, and bursting with fresh blueberries. Also, they’ll only take you 15 minutes to make – and that’s not a typo!

Thanks to Bisquick, these muffins come together in no time, without sacrificing flavor. 

19. Green Bean Chips  

If you have a dehydrator, I know exactly what you should make.

These green bean chips are a billion times tastier and healthier than store-bought veggie sticks, and they’ll cost you a lot less.

Flavored with just a bit of salt and nutritional yeast and dehydrated overnight, these green bean chips are surprisingly crispy and delicious.

Believe me, even the kids will love them. 

20. Chocolate Covered Almonds

Almonds and chocolates are great. Put them together and you’ll get a snack that’s even better.

I can never say no to chocolate-covered almonds.

They have the perfect combination of smooth and crunchy, sweet and nutty. They’re absolutely addictive.

Instead of buying them, I prefer making them myself. It’s more affordable and tastes just as good, if not better.

If you want to stay within budget, this recipe is a must-try.

21. Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

How about some thirst quencher? If you’re looking for a sweet, hearty, and refreshing drink to bring on your next road trip, this smoothie perfectly fits the bill.

Bananas and peanut butter are an age-old combination that never disappoints.

Turn them into a smoothie, and you’ll have an outrageously tasty refreshment that’ll keep you full throughout the long drive.

21 Best Road Trip Snacks For Long Car Rides

These road trip snacks are a must for your next car trip! From roasted chickpeas to caramel corn to trail mix, don’t hit the road before packing these tasty snacks.

Ingredients

Texas Trash

Granola Bars

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Fire Crackers

Apple Chips

Fantasy Fudge

Bagel Chips

Apple Fritters

Roasted Chickpeas

Banana Muffins

Peanut Butter Pretzels

Coconut Chips

Baked Veggie Chips

Blueberry Muffins

Green Bean Chips

Chocolate Covered Almonds

Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

Instructions

• Select your favorite recipe.
• Organize all the required ingredients.
• Prep a road trip snack in 30 minutes or less!

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Grab and Go Breakfast in the Car Ideas

• Pinterest 8

Easy recipes for breakfast in the car will help you grab and go that first meal of the day. Perfect for your next family road trip if you have an early start or even for using at home during your weekly work and school commute.

Every single morning, I drive my teenage daughter to school in the wee hours of the morning.

As most sleepy teens do, she loves to wake up just minutes before we have to run out the door.

Over the last couple of years, I’ve perfected our breakfast in the car routine with a list of easy to grab breakfasts that won’t slow us down as we head out the door.

If you’re planning a family vacation that requires an early start, you could package up several servings of these easy breakfasts.

And for those of you who have a daily morning commute like we do, they obviously work great for eating on the way to school or work!

Tips for Eating in the Car

• Choose One-Handed Foods: Everything on the list below could be eaten with one hand if you need to.
• Pre-Pack Your Food: You can pack your breakfast into individual bags or containers in one session over the weekend or before your trip. Then you can hand out a portion to everyone in the car even easier.
• Use a Paper or Melamine Plate: These picnic supplies are great for eating on the run.
• Don’t Forget Napkins: Before you get moving, be sure you have everything you need to eat your breakfast in place, including a napkin in case you have a spill.

14 Easy Ideas for Breakfast in the Car

Heading out early for a family road trip? Need some new ideas for eating breakfast in the car on the way to work? Either way, these delicious recipes are perfect for a quick grab and go as you run out the door to your next adventure.

Frozen Breakfast Burritos

The #1 most popular and delicious idea for breakfast in the car is this make-ahead breakfast burrito filled with sausage, eggs, and tater tots. Prep them in one big batch and freeze them individually. Pop one in the microwave just before you run out the door!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

My kids get super excited when these protein-heavy peanut butter granola bars appear on the breakfast menu. They are easy to make ahead and will last all week long in an airtight container. Slice them ahead of time so they are easy to grab and go.

Hardboiled Eggs

Make an easy batch of hardboiled eggs in your Instant Pot over the weekend and keep them in a basket in the fridge for the easiest on the go breakfast ever.

You could pair them with your favorite toast or a baggie of raw veggies. I especially love cherry tomatoes.

Granola Packets

Make homemade granola and then prep it in individual baggies for easy breakfast on the run. If you know you'll be eating it in the car, simply break the granola into nice large chunks so they are easy to eat while driving.

Grab a banana or a baggie of fresh strawberries or even a yogurt pouch for sipping along with your granola.

Banana Zucchini Bread

This hearty banana zucchini bread would be a delicious way to start your day. Cut a nice thick slice and eat it on a paper plate or carry it along in a baggie for the car.

To add a little protein, chopped walnuts or pecans in the mix would be especially tasty.

Homemade Trail Mix

Prep one of the three trial mix recipes from this article and keep them in individual baggies for easy grabbing.

I love the mix of dried fruits and cereals for custom trail mix blends each family member will love.

Easy Protein Smoothies

Regular smoothies are so delicious but these delicious protein smoothies will stick with you so much longer. There are 3 easy recipes to choose from, including one without bananas just in case.

Blueberry Scones

If you're more a coffee and pastry type person, these homemade blueberry scones are freezer-friendly and could be prepped ahead. Just thaw one in the fridge overnight. For the kids, just add a to-go milk!

Monte Cristo Pinwheels

You can bake a batch of these yummy monte cristo pinwheels in advance and keep them in a plastic baggie in the fridge for several days. Just heat up what you need for breakfast and take them to the car on a paper plate. The bite-sized pinwheels are perfect for eating in the car.

Pumpkin Pecan Waffles

These hearty pumpkin pecan waffles are thick and crispy and totally delicious even without syrup. We toast them in the toaster to get crispy edges and then just eat them as-is when we're in a rush to get to the car.

Load them with chopped pecans and butterscotch chips if you want something a little more sweet.

Deviled Egg Salad

Egg salad isn't just for lunch, it would actually make a perfect make-ahead breakfast sandwich. You could prep it on your favorite bread or tuck it inside a pita pocket, sliced croissant, or even a tortilla.

Apples & Peanut Butter Dip

Sometimes it is nice to have a breakfast in the car that you can nibble on for a longer drive. In those cases, pack fresh apple slices and a container of this creamy peanut butter dip. You could even add a baggie of salted pretzles.

Sausage Crescent Roll Swirls

If you're more a savory breakfast person, these spicy sausage pinwheels have a hint of mustard in the mix, too. Bake them up in one big batch and keep them in the fridge for the week. Just heat up what you need for breakfast on the run.

Apple Pie Chex Mix

This sweet Chex Mix recipe is loaded with dried apples and yogurt covered raisins. It's the perfect breakfast Chex Mix for easy snacking in the car. You could even add salted pecans or walnuts to the mix if you wanted a little more protein for your breakfast.

More Easy Travel Recipes

The best way to save money on a family trip is to be mindful of your food budget and pack a few things from home.

As much as we love to dine out for our trip, often breakfast, lunch, or snacks, is a place I’m willing to put in the work to bring something from home.

Here are a few of my favorite ideas:

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Car Camping Food List: Essential Items to Pack for Your Next Trip

C ar camping is an excellent way to experience the great outdoors while still enjoying the comforts of home. With the right gear and a well-planned food list, you can enjoy delicious and satisfying meals even when you’re miles away from civilization. Whether you’re a seasoned camper or new to the world of car camping, having a comprehensive food list is essential to ensure that you have everything you need to prepare meals during your trip.

When planning your car camping food list , it’s important to consider the type of meals you want to prepare, the equipment you have available, and the storage space you have in your vehicle. Non-perishable food items such as canned goods, granola bars, and instant oatmeal are always handy to have on hand, as they don’t require refrigeration and can be easily stored in a camp kitchen bin.

However, if you have the means to keep food cold , you can also bring perishable items such as fresh fruits and vegetables, cheese, and meat. Just be sure to pack them in a cooler with plenty of ice to keep them fresh throughout your trip.

Essential Car Camping Food List

When planning a car camping trip, it is essential to have a well-stocked food supply. Here are some of the essential food items to include in your car camping food list.

Protein is an essential nutrient that helps keep you feeling full and satisfied. Here are some great protein sources to include in your car camping food list:

• Canned tuna or chicken
• Jerky or meat sticks
• Peanut butter
• Canned beans
• Pre-cooked sausage or bacon

Vegetables are an important part of any healthy diet. Here are some great vegetable options to include in your car camping food list:

• Carrots, celery, and other raw veggies for snacking
• Canned or fresh corn
• Canned or fresh green beans
• Canned or fresh tomatoes
• Canned or fresh peppers

Fruits are a great source of vitamins and minerals, and they make a great snack or dessert option. Here are some great fruit options to include in your car camping food list:

• Apples, oranges, and other whole fruits
• Dried fruit
• Fruit snacks

Grains are a great source of carbohydrates, which are important for energy. Here are some great grain options to include in your car camping food list:

• Bread or rolls
• Cereal or oatmeal
• Pasta or rice

Dairy products are a great source of calcium and other essential nutrients. Here are some great dairy options to include in your car camping food list:

• Milk (if you have a cooler)
• Cottage cheese

Staying hydrated is important when camping, especially if you are hiking or doing other physical activities. Here are some great beverage options to include in your car camping food list:

• Sports drinks
• Juice boxes or pouches
• Coffee or tea

Snacks are an important part of any camping trip, and they can help keep you fueled throughout the day. Here are some great snack options to include in your car camping food list:

• Granola bars
• Chips or crackers
• Cookies or other sweet treats

By including these essential food items in your car camping food list, you can ensure that you have a well-rounded and satisfying meal plan for your next camping trip .

Meal Planning for Car Camping

When planning meals for a car camping trip, it’s important to consider the type of food that will be easy to prepare, store, and transport. A well-planned menu will not only keep you well-fed but also save time and effort. Here are some meal ideas to help you plan your next car camping adventure.

Breakfast Ideas

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, especially when you’re camping. Here are some easy and delicious breakfast ideas that will get you energized for a day of adventure:

• Instant oatmeal packets
• Pancake mix (just add water)
• Breakfast burritos (pre-made or DIY)
• Bagels with cream cheese or peanut butter
• Yogurt cups with granola

Lunch Ideas

Lunch can be a quick and easy meal that doesn’t require a lot of preparation. Here are some ideas for a satisfying lunch on the go:

• Sandwiches (pre-made or DIY)
• Wraps (pre-made or DIY)
• Crackers with cheese and meat
• Tuna or chicken salad kits
• Ramen noodle cups

Dinner Ideas

Dinner is the perfect time to gather around the campfire and enjoy a hot meal. Here are some ideas for a hearty and delicious dinner:

• Foil packet meals (chicken, veggies, and potatoes)
• One-pot pasta dishes (spaghetti, mac and cheese)
• Grilled burgers or hot dogs
• Pre-made frozen dinners (lasagna, enchiladas)
• Pre-made camping meals (Mountain House, Backpacker’s Pantry)

Dessert Ideas

No camping trip is complete without a sweet treat. Here are some ideas for a delicious dessert:

• S’mores (graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallows)
• Fruit cups with whipped cream
• Instant pudding cups
• Pre-made brownies or cookies
• Trail mix with chocolate chips and dried fruit

In conclusion, planning your meals ahead of time will make your car camping trip more enjoyable and stress-free. With these meal ideas, you’ll have a variety of options to choose from and won’t have to worry about going hungry on your next adventure.

Food Storage and Preservation

When it comes to car camping, proper food storage and preservation is crucial to ensure that your meals remain safe to eat throughout your trip. In this section, we will cover some tips and tricks for managing your cooler, as well as general food safety tips to keep in mind.

Cooler Management

Your cooler is one of the most important pieces of equipment when it comes to keeping your food fresh during a camping trip. Here are some tips for managing your cooler:

• Use block ice instead of ice cubes: Block ice lasts longer and helps keep your cooler colder.
• Pre-chill your cooler: Before you pack your cooler, put some ice in it and let it sit for a while to cool down.
• Keep your cooler out of direct sunlight: Keep your cooler in the shade or cover it with a blanket or tarp to keep it cool.
• Keep your cooler closed: Every time you open your cooler, you let cold air out and warm air in. Try to keep your cooler closed as much as possible.

Food Safety Tips

Food safety is always important, but it’s especially crucial when you’re camping. Here are some general food safety tips to keep in mind:

• Wash your hands: Always wash your hands before handling food.
• Keep raw meat separate: Keep raw meat separate from other foods to avoid cross-contamination
• Cook food thoroughly: Make sure to cook your food thoroughly to kill any harmful bacteria.
• Use a food thermometer: Use a food thermometer to ensure that your food has reached a safe temperature.
• Store food properly: Store your food in airtight containers or resealable bags to keep it fresh.

By following these tips for cooler management and general food safety, you can ensure that your car camping meals are safe and delicious.

Cooking Equipment Essentials

When it comes to car camping, having the right cooking equipment can make all the difference in the quality of your meals. Here are the essential cooking equipment items that you should consider bringing on your next car camping trip.

Cooking Stove

A reliable cooking stove is an absolute must-have for car camping. There are many different types of stoves available, from propane to butane to alcohol, and each has its own pros and cons. Propane stoves are the most common and are known for their ease of use and reliability.

Butane stoves are more compact and lightweight, making them a great option for backpacking trips. Alcohol stoves are also lightweight and easy to use, but they can be slow to heat up and are not as powerful as propane or butane stoves.

When choosing a stove, consider the size of your group, the type of food you will be cooking, and the length of your trip. Make sure to also bring enough fuel to last for the duration of your trip.

Cooking utensils are another essential item for car camping. Here are some items to consider bringing:

• Bottle opener
• Cutting board
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Mixing bowls

Make sure to choose utensils that are durable and easy to clean. Consider investing in a set of utensils specifically designed for camping, as they are often more compact and lightweight than regular kitchen utensils.

Having the right cookware can make cooking a breeze while car camping. Here are some essential items to consider bringing:

• Pot(s) with lid(s)
• Grill grate
• Roasting sticks

Make sure to choose cookware that is durable and easy to clean. Consider investing in a set of cookware specifically designed for camping, as they are often more compact and lightweight than regular kitchen cookware.

By bringing the right cooking equipment, you can enjoy delicious and satisfying meals while car camping.

Cleanup and Waste Management

When it comes to car camping, it’s important to practice proper cleanup and waste management to minimize your impact on the environment. Here are some tips to help you keep your campsite clean and tidy.

Eco-Friendly Practices

• Use biodegradable soap for dishes and personal hygiene.
• Bring reusable utensils, dishes, and cups instead of disposable ones.
• Avoid using disposable wipes and paper towels. Instead, bring a reusable cloth or towel.
• Use a portable camp shower or take a dip in a nearby lake or river instead of using a lot of water to clean yourself.
• Pack out all your trash and recyclables. Leave no trace behind.

Leftover Management

• Plan your meals carefully to avoid having too many leftovers.
• Store food in airtight containers or resealable bags to prevent spoilage.
• If you have leftover food, try to incorporate it into your next meal to minimize waste.
• Compost food scraps if possible. If you don’t have a compost bin, look for a local composting facility or dispose of food waste in a trash bin.

By following these eco-friendly practices and leftover management tips, you can help keep your campsite clean and minimize your impact on the environment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some non-perishable food options for car camping.

When it comes to non-perishable food options for car camping, there are plenty of choices. Canned goods like beans, tuna, and soup are great sources of protein, and dried fruits and nuts make for healthy snacks. Other options include granola bars, crackers, and jerky. Just make sure to check the expiration dates before packing.

What are some easy meal ideas for a 3-day car camping trip?

For a 3-day car camping trip, meal planning can be simple and delicious. Some easy meal ideas include breakfast burritos, sandwiches, and pasta dishes. You can also bring pre-made salads, wraps, and quesadillas. Don’t forget to pack snacks like trail mix, fruit, and energy bars.

What are some tips for storing food while car camping?

Storing food while car camping can be a challenge , but there are a few tips to keep in mind. Use coolers with ice to keep perishable foods fresh, and store them in separate containers to avoid cross-contamination. Keep non-perishable items in a separate bin, and make sure to seal all containers tightly to prevent insects and animals from getting in.

What are some healthy snack options for a 5-day car camping trip?

For a 5-day car camping trip, it’s important to have healthy snack options on hand. Some great options include fresh fruit, veggies and hummus, nut butter and crackers, and protein bars. You can also make your own trail mix with nuts, seeds, and dried fruit.

What are some essential items to pack on a 2-day car camping trip?

For a 2-day car camping trip, there are a few essential items to pack. Don’t forget to bring a cooler with ice, a camp stove or grill, cooking utensils, and dishes. You’ll also want to pack a first aid kit , insect repellent, and sunscreen.

What are some budget-friendly food options for a 7-day car camping trip?

When it comes to budget-friendly food options for a 7-day car camping trip, there are plenty of choices. Some ideas include pasta dishes, rice and beans, and grilled veggies. You can also make your own sandwiches, wraps, and salads. Don’t forget to pack snacks like popcorn, fruit, and granola bars.

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Road Trip Essentials: The Best Tech and Gadgets, According to Experts

The experts at Good Housekeeping have tested and reviewed some of the best travel electronics and tech gadgets on the market. Here are some of the picks that will make your next road trip more memorable.

More Road Trip Gear: Best Driving Sunglasses | Best Travel Luggage | Road Trip Toolbox

Our Top Picks

Best Travel Portable Coffee Maker

Cera+ portable electric coffee maker.

Best Travel Wi-Fi Hotspot

Verizon mifi 6620l jetpack 4g lte mobile hotspot.

Best Travel Dash Cam

Garmin dash cam 57.

Best Travel Gadget Cooler

Koolatron thermoelectric iceless cooler and warmer.

Best Travel Gadget Radar Detector

Escort max 360 mkii radar and laser detector.

Best Travel Action Camera

Gopro hero9.

Best Travel Electronics Organizer

Bubm electronics organizer.

Best Travel Gadget for Portable Power

Anker 325 power bank.

Best Travel Gadget Charging Cord

Rolling square keychain charger cable.

Best Travel Mug

Ember travel mug.

We all have our own ideas about what tech we need and which gadgets and devices we enjoy, so the Gear Team could have simply thrown together a list of some of our favorites. But Good Housekeeping has been testing and evaluating products for over a century, and its testing has become an industry standard. So we hit up our colleagues over at the Good Housekeeping Institute to make sure we weren't missing anything.

Relying on the expertise of the Gear Team and the testing acumen of Good Housekeeping, here are some of the Best Travel Gadgets and Tech for your next road-trip adventure.

Note: Road & Track has paraphrased Good Housekeeping 's findings to reflect our purposes here; we have omitted some of the Institute's non-automotive selections and included other products more suited for our car-loving audience.

The Best Road Trip Gadgets & Tech

Don't settle for whatever truck-stop cup of joe you come across while on the road. The CERA+ portable coffee maker will allow you to indulge your inner coffee snob wherever you are. It can perform cold or warm brews, and its rechargeable battery allows you to make several cups, no matter the type of coffee you choose.

Wi-Fi on your road trip can be a game changer. For those who lack the luxury of integrated Wi-Fi found on many newer cars, the Jetpack allows Verizon customers to connect up to 15 devices to their personal Wi-Fi network in more than 200 countries. During Good Housekeeping’s testing, the battery showed impressive all-day life. As a plus, it includes an extra USB port for charging other devices.

Dash cams can be a fantastic tool for recovering damages, beating tickets, or recording incredible situations. The Garmin 57 mini dash cam takes the functionality up a notch with a Swiss Army knife–like list of features. It can record in 1440p and features incident detection, forward-collision and lane-departure warnings, and a cool option that lets you turn hours of driving into a time-lapse video. Best of all, it measures just about 1.0 by 2.0 inches.

Staying hydrated and keeping your appetite at bay while on the road can be tough if gas-station jerky and drive-thru fare aren't your thing. Koolatron 's thermoelectric cooler and warmer plugs into your vehicle's 12-volt outlet and keeps the contents as cool as 40 degrees Fahrenheit and as warm as 140 degrees Fahrenheit. The 18-quart version can hold up to 23 standard soft-drink cans; the much larger 45-quart version is ideal for families.

Even if you don't consider yourself much of a speeder, having an additional layer of protection against hefty fines is a wise move. The Escort MAX 360 will keep you covered, just in case you lose track of your speed over hours of cruising. It's loaded with features, including dual antennas for increased range, 360-degree awareness, an easy-to-use app, and many more we don't have the space to list here.

GoPro has been offering compact action cameras since 2004, and the HERO9 is perfect for road-tripping. It's durable and waterproof up to 33 feet, allowing you to take it with you just about anywhere. It shoots in 5K so you're guaranteed sharp, high-quality memories once your trip is over. GoPro also offers an array of accessories for attaching it to a helmet, your chest, your car—even a toddler.

Keep your wires and other small gear organized with this neat-looking organizer from BUBM . It comes in ten different colors, and the testers at Good Housekeeping loved the compact fold-flat shape and zipper enclosures.

Charging ports can be a point of contention in cars and trucks, particularly when a family is on the road for extended periods. This Anker portable battery will help nip back-seat fisticuffs in the bud. The 20,000 mAh Li-ion battery allows you to charge up to two devices at a time via dual USB-A ports, and it can be recharged through either its micro-USB or USB-C ports.

Rolling Square's keychain charger is the perfect accessory to keep alongside your keys or in your glovebox. It offers multiple outputs and inputs including USB-C, USB-A, micro-USB, and even a lightning port for your iPhone. It complements the Anker portable battery above very nicely.

When you're on the road for hours on end, a warm beverage can be key in getting your body's motor started and keeping it going. This travel mug from Ember won't just keep your beverage warm, it will keep it exactly the temperature you prefer. The temperature can be controlled from an app on your phone, and its two-hour battery life can be extended by placing it on its charging coaster.

Apple AirTag

Many are already familiar with the invaluable functionality that Apple 's tiny tracker provides. It can be used to track anything from your valuables to your luggage and even your car, right from your phone. It does require you to use Apple's digital ecosystem, but its overall functionality could just be enough to convert Android users. Its one-year battery lifespan makes it an easy set-and-forget tool.

JACO ElitePro Digital Tire Pressure Gauge

Before and after long drives, it's important to keep tabs on your tires, as they are the only thing keeping you and your family on the road. Investing in a quality tire pressure gauge is key, especially if you drive an older car that doesn't come equipped with a tire-pressure monitoring system. JACO 's gauge is calibrated accurately to professional ANSI 2A standards and offers a full lifetime warranty.

Leatherman Wave Plus Multitool

If you don't already carry a good multitool, it's about time you do. The Wave Plus from Leatherman is a handy everyday tool for popping bottle tops, tightening screws, opening packaging, and a plethora of other odd jobs. Out on the road, it's great for small inconveniences and quick fixes, such as replacing burnt-out bulbs, tightening hose clamps, or whatever other mishaps may arise.

DJI Mini 3 Pro Drone Bundle

This DJI camera drone will elevate your ability to log your road-trip memories. When you're no longer limited to the ground, the photo and video opportunities you'll realize are pretty vast. The GH Institute testers loved that it can fold away into a compact carrying case and lauded its sharp picture quality. The included Fly More Kit opens up the potential to capture professional-quality aerial shots of your car ripping through the twisties. It includes spare batteries, chargers, parts, and more.

DJI Osmo Mobile 6 Gimbal Stabilizer

The DJI Osmo gimbal is a nice piece of kit to keep handy if you’re even remotely serious about capturing solid images of you and your flock while out on the road. Even if you're solo-tripping, it's an excellent way to capture photos or videos of your car in action. During testing, the gimbal held the phone stable and has a nice feature that allows it to rotate in a single sweeping motion. The magnetic clamp attaches easily to almost any phone.

Reliefband Classic Wristband for Motion Sickness

Lots of us are burdened with the unfortunate affliction known as carsickness. This can get pretty messy on long drives, particularly if you have little ones prone to nausea. The Reliefband is a drug-free remedy to general motion sickness. If it really works—and most users claim it does—it's definitely worth it.

Bose QuietComfort OverEar Headphones

If you plan to spend many hours in a packed car, you will inevitably be met with conflict when everyone disagrees on what to fill your collective ears with. These noise-canceling cans from Bose provide a convenient solution, allowing your passengers to escape to their own audio reality for a bit. Testers found them very comfortable over extended periods and really appreciated being able to switch between Quiet and Aware modes to filter outside noise.

Caveat: No matter how tempting it may be to drown out the world around you, and despite settings that allow you to control ambient noise, we don't recommend over-ear cans like these while driving. Opt for a pair of AirPods or earbuds , if you must—but be advised, state laws vary on their use behind the wheel.

How do I determine which items are essential to my trip?

A good rule, particularly with gadgets, is if you can't name around two-thirds of the buttons on your device, you probably won't use it (or at least to its fullest potential). Carry only what you might need and use.

I'm new to road-tripping. Will all these gadgets be daunting?

Some gadgets like a DJI drone can indeed have somewhat steep learning curves. We recommend trying out your gadgets at home to familiarize yourself with their features and controls. Apps are a requirement for some gadgets, so having those pre-loaded onto your phone can save time and hassle.

Can I buy stuff on the road?

Lots of gear can be a hassle to keep track of, so sometimes it is more efficient to forgo some of the less essential pieces and just pick them up as you need them. Rechargeable electronics are a great solution—they keep working and alleviate the need to carry around or purchase extra batteries.

Why Trust Good Housekeeping ?

The Good Housekeeping Institute has been testing products and providing expert reviews and advice on all types of travel gear in their labs, from luggage trackers and noise-canceling headphones to drones and mobile hotspots. The gadgets chosen for this list were evaluated by product testing analyst Selina Tedesco and updated by media and tech reviews analyst Olivia Lipski .

Why Trust Hearst Autos?

Hearst Autos combines the talent, resources, and expertise of three of the largest, most influential automotive publications in the world. We get our hands on each and every product we test. Most are purchased; some are supplied by manufacturers. If we're unable to test a product or category ourselves, we'll sometimes turn to noted experts such as the Good Housekeeping Institute .

Hearst Autos doesn't need to game SEO algorithms for traffic or promote lousy products to earn a buck. We're far more concerned with our legacy, our reputation, and the trust that our readers have in Autoweek , Car and Driver , and Road & Track to deliver honest opinions and expert evaluations. Read more about our product testing and evaluation process here .

The Assistant Commerce Editor for Hearst Autos, Justin Helton is an enthusiast with a passion for heavily depreciated autos and a penchant for philosophical debate. As a lifelong Manhattanite, he has mastered the ins and outs of classic car ownership in one of the least car-friendly cities in the world.

Rachel Rothman was the chief technologist and executive technical director of the Good Housekeeping Institute for over 15 years , overseeing testing methodology, implementation and reporting for all GH Labs. She also managed GH's research division and the analysis of applicants for the GH Seal and all other testing emblems. 

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5 Best Electric Kitchen Composters, Tested and Reviewed

These countertop compost bins offer a speedy way to handle your food waste — no yard required.

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.

But recent technology has brought about a new option: Countertop electric composters that help shorten the time to decompose waste. Most of these devices use a heating element and a stirring arm or augur to dehydrate and grind food scraps to create fine soil akin to mulch — but only some of them create nutrient-dense compost (or pre-compost), which requires controlled time, oxygen, moisture and microorganisms.

So is an electric composter a good choice for your household? Our experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute have tested and reviewed the top models — here are their top picks for countertop composting.

Lomi Classic Home Food Upcycler

Lomi's electric composter is particularly countertop-friendly due to its sleek, minimalist design that can blend in with your decor. It will fit under standard cabinets, but the footprint is somewhat wide.

As with most electric composters, this model includes a mechanism for heating and stirring the contents of a removable inner bucket. This dehydrates and grinds the scraps — including dairy and meat, but not bones — reducing its volume so you can empty the bin less frequently.

As a lead Kitchen Appliances Lab analyst who has tested several compost bins, I like that the Lomi starter bundle includes Lomi Pods , which are tablets that contain microorganisms to help the decomposition process. This creates output that the brand claims is more nutrient-rich — and much closer to standard compost — rather than just ground food, which is more like mulch.

During Lab use, we found that it was easy to fill and was quiet. The charcoal filter pellets are a bit messy to install before the first use (and every few months), and some testers still reported odors when the cycle was running. You can choose from three modes, which correlate to how long the cycle runs. According to the data available from the brands on this list, Lomi's Eco Express cycle requires the least amount of wattage. It's about 0.6 kilowatt hours for the three-to-five-hour run, which is only slightly more wattage than a curling iron .

The brand says the charcoal and Lomi pods included here will last for 90 cycles; then you can purchase replacement tablets and charcoal . We look forward to testing the company's latest, the Lomi Bloom , which Lomi says is more energy-efficient, comes in four colors and helps you track your CO2 and waste savings.

Vitamix FoodCycler FC-50

This model from Vitamix earned a recent GH Kitchen Gear Award . I liked that the large handle on top made the lid easy to rotate and remove. The machine has simple, one-button operation and will indicate what stage of the process the cycle is in.

The majority of our consumer testers gave the FoodCycle FC-50 high scores for being easy to set up and to use. One at-home tester said, "It keeps down the bad smells in the kitchen or outside that can happen with regular composting," noting that they see "less fruit flies with the collecting bucket and cover" than with traditional bins. But another tester did note that the machine struggled to break down corn husks.

It's not the most attractive appliance, so the good news is that you can opt to store the larger housing in a pantry or garage and keep only the less-obtrusive, lidded inner bin out on your counter.

Reencle Home Composter

Though this Reencle model is designed for countertop use, it is one of the taller options in our test, and Kitchen Appliances Lab Director Nicole Papantoniou chose to place it on the floor. It includes a motion sensor that provides a no-touch option for opening. Papantoniou liked that this feature kept access hands-free when disposing of waste, but she did note that it can cause the appliance to emit odors if it opens unintentionally. (Fortunately, if you want to place your device in a high-traffic spot, you can turn off that function.)

We like that Reencle is designed to create nutrient-rich compost, like a traditional compost bin. It comes with ReencleMicrobe , a compost starter that contains activated carbon, wood chips, glucose and microbes. You add it to the inner chamber and let a colony form. Then you add food waste — including meat and fish scrap, but not bones or shells — and let the machine run.

Unlike the other models on this list, which operate via a run cycle, the Reencle maintains a constant schedule of agitation — the brand claims more than 940 churns a day — so that the contents are aerated in a manner that more closely approximates the stirring of a traditional compost pile. And according to the data available from the brands on this list, Reencle is also the quietest of our picks at 30 decibels, which is roughly equivalent to a soft whisper .

This pick is a great choice for gardeners and plant lovers who can use a steady supply of soil supplement. It even comes with a scoop that hangs on a dedicated hook on the side so you can sprinkle your plants easily. It also includes two carbon filters.

The Reencle comes in both dark silver and white, and you can purchase for about $500 or rent for $35 per month.

Vitamix Eco 5 FoodCycler

The latest Vitamix FoodCycler, the Eco 5, offers a more streamlined design that might look better in most kitchens than the previous model, the FC-50. But if you're not sold on the aesthetics then, like the FC-50, you can keep only the removable lidded bucket out on your counter and store the main machine elsewhere.

When the food scrap bucket is in place, you'll have to press only one intuitive button on the front of the machine. It operates quietly while it dries, grinds and cools the waste. I've been using it in the Lab for months, and I can confirm that it reduces the volume of the waste significantly and does not require frequent emptying.

Our at-home testers were also pleased with this pick. "I loved using this for leftover food and cooking scraps," said one. "This helped us feel better about not putting it directly into the garbage."

The Eco 5 has double the capacity of the FC-50, so it's a better choice for a family. (Vitamix suggests the FC-50 is good for one to two people, and the Eco 5 can handle a household of three or more .) It is also more energy-efficient than the FC-50.

The filter is refillable with charcoal pellets , and the brand says each refill will last for about three months. It does not include any microorganisms, so the output is not true compost.

Mill Food Recycler

The sleek Mill food waste system performed well in our tests and earned a recent Cleaning & Organizing Award . It's not, strictly speaking, a countertop model. It's roughly the size of a kitchen trash can and is meant to be placed on the floor. But its design is intended to make it part of your daily waste routine; the lid opens with the press of the foot pedal, like many kitchen bins.

It accepts the usual compostable waste — fruit, vegetables, eggs, coffee grounds, etc. — as well as small bones, which is unique. It holds up to 6.5 liters and then heats and grinds it into a dry meal. In our tests, we found that the activated charcoal filters (which, according to the brand can last six months to a year, depending on usage) worked well; we detected no odors over months of use.

It was also very quiet. The noise level was aided by the fact that the bin can be programmed to run overnight, and it alters the runtime based on how much food is present. You can schedule your cycle and track your input via the Mill app for Apple and Android .

Mill estimates that you'll need to empty the bin about once a month. The grounds can go into municipal bins or your own yard, but Mill offers a unique option as well: It's what the brand calls the "chicken feed pathway." For an additional fee, you can choose Mill Pickups , which entail pre-paid boxes and labels so you can send your grounds to a program that converts them to chicken feed.

There are three payment options: You can rent annually for $360 a year or monthly for $50 per month, or you can buy the bin outright for $999.

How we test electric compost bins

To find the best electric compost bins, our pros in the Kitchen Appliances Lab review the capacity, material and type of filter for each model. We consider any data on the run time and noise level of each and whether the device includes a removable inner bucket. We also read the specifications and consumer reviews for the top products on the market.

We sent some models to at-home consumer testers and provided them with a feedback survey. For those tested by our experts, we use the models at home to replicate the frequency and variety of home use. We focus on ease of use, and we test using food scraps and household waste rather than yard trimmings.

Do electric composters use a lot of electricity?

The range of wattages for the products here is 0.6 kilowatt hours (kWh) to about 1.5 kWh, which is roughly equivalent to a typical blender . The Department of Energy offers equations for determining the annual energy consumption costs . (It is worth mentioning that traditional compost bins use no electricity.)

What are the pros and cons of an electric kitchen composter?

• Allows you to reduce food scraps in any climate and any space
• Works quickly
• Controls food-waste odors
• Diverts food waste from landfills
• Can be used as mulch — or, in some cases, as compost — in your garden
• Heating process kills the good bacteria present in true compost
• Requires electricity to run
• Generally more expensive than standard compost bins

Why trust Good Housekeeping?

This guide was written by Sarah Gregory Wharton , a deputy editor in the Good Housekeeping Institute. She holds a certificate of culinary arts from the International Culinary Center and has been cooking professionally and testing kitchen gear since 2016. She composts at home and has used several of the bins on this list. Nicole Papantoniou reviewed this article for accuracy. She is the director of the Kitchen Appliance and Innovation Lab. She has worked in kitchen product development since 2014, and she oversees all testing related to cooking appliances and tools. She tested many of the bins on our list in her own home.

Sarah (she/her) is a deputy editor in the Good Housekeeping Institute , where she tests products and covers the best picks across kitchen, tech, health and food. She has been cooking professionally since 2017 and has tested kitchen appliances and gear for Family Circle as well as developed recipes and food content for Simply Recipes, Martha Stewart Omnimedia, Oxo and Food52. She holds a certificate in professional culinary arts from the International Culinary Center (now the Institute of Culinary Education).

Nicole (she/her) is the director of the Good Housekeeping Institute 's Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, where she has overseen content and testing related to kitchen and cooking appliances, tools and gear since 2019. She’s an experienced product tester and recipe creator, trained in classic culinary arts and culinary nutrition. She has worked in test kitchens for small kitchen appliance brands and national magazines, including Family Circle and Ladies’ Home Journal .

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