31 Filling Road Trip Snacks That Are Perfect For Vacation

From healthy, high-protein snacks to guilty pleasure sweets.

off roading

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Let's be honest: highway rest stops aren't known for being prime culinary destinations. Most travelers are limited to gas station snacks and a few fast food options in between long stretches of the open road. But what happens if you're hungry while driving through the middle of nowhere? Or if you want something more health-conscious than a bag of Hot Cheetos ?

That's why the most essential component of a perfect road trip—or off-roading adventure—is a cooler full of snacks to keep you full while on the go. From crispy and salty to sweet and refreshing, there's a single-serving snack to satisfy whatever you're craving—and the ones below will taste much better than soggy gas station French fries , trust us.

So load up with some caffeine in your cup holder. Turn up that curated Spotify playlist on your speakers. Make sure your partners in crime are in the passenger seat—and buckle up, for heaven's sake! With this lineup of sweet and savory snacks in the car, you're guaranteed to have the best road trip ever.

BjornQorn Popcorn

BjornQorn Popcorn

When it comes to pre-popped popcorn, no brand comes close to BjornQorn. Each and every kernel is dusted in a savory nutritional yeast-based seasoning blend. It's like a vegan, nutrient-dense version of Pirate's Booty.

Crystal Light Crystal Light Sugar-Free Grape Energy Drink Mix with Caffeine

Crystal Light Sugar-Free Grape Energy Drink Mix with Caffeine

Pack these flavor packets in your car whenever you need to switch up your plain water. Reviewers say grape is the best flavor, followed by lemonade, but for those who can't decide, grab the variety pack.

Nora Seaweed Tempura

Nora Seaweed Tempura

This snack is a favorite for our editorial director Jo Saltz. Think of these savory seaweed snacks as a crunchy roll at your favorite sushi spot, minus the rice and fish. They're light, crispy and perfectly salty—A.K.A the ideal road trip snack.

SmartSweets SmartSweets Sour Blast Buddies

SmartSweets Sour Blast Buddies

Instead of plowing through that whole bag of Sour Patch Kids, try this brand as a super easy swap. They still give you that pucker feeling without all of the sugar.

SKINNYDIPPED SkinnyDipped Snack Attack Minis Almond Variety Pack

SkinnyDipped Snack Attack Minis Almond Variety Pack

Packed with protein; these have just the right amount of sweet coating to keep your sweet tooth at bay. Beware: If you're traveling in the heat, these may melt—so eat quickly 😈.

YERBAÉ Yerbae Naturally Caffeinated Sparkling Energy Water

Yerbae Naturally Caffeinated Sparkling Energy Water

Long trips = Tired eyes. When you need that last hour boost, these energy waters are where it's at. Each can is the equivalent of one cup of coffee but tastes far better. One reviewer says, "It is like LaCroix with caffeine".

OMG! Pretzels Garlic Gourmet Seasoned Sourdough Pretzel Nuggets

OMG! Pretzels Garlic Gourmet Seasoned Sourdough Pretzel Nuggets

When we say these are the best pretzels we've ever eaten, we're not exaggerating. Each crispy sourdough pretzel nugget is coated in a cheesy, herby, garlic seasoning that makes it nearly impossible to stop at just a handful.

Afraid of subjecting your fellow passengers to your garlic breath? OMG! Pretzels also carries other filling flavors like Cheddar Jalapeño, Chesapeake Spice, and even Salty Butterscotch.

Blue Diamond Almonds Oven Roasted Dark Chocolate Almonds

Oven Roasted Dark Chocolate Almonds

If you happen to be a fan of chocolate-covered almonds, you'll want to stock up on this on-the-go pack for the car ride gang.

Wonderful halos Mandarins

Mandarins

You may not have thought to bring mandarins along for the ride before, but now that it's in your mind, how could you resist?

Nutella Chocolate Hazelnut Spread with Breadsticks

Chocolate Hazelnut Spread with Breadsticks

Not only will the kids love this on-the-go snack, but you will too! Just make sure you bring enough for seconds (and maybe thirds!).

Legally Addictive Snack - The O.G.

Legally Addictive Snack - The O.G.

Do you like to make toffee and chocolate-coated crackers for Christmas or Passover ? Now you can enjoy the salty sweet treat from behind the wheel any time of year. Legally Addictive's cracker-slash-cookie is truly the best of both worlds.

Jack Link's Beef Jerky Variety Pack

Beef Jerky Variety Pack

Need a snack that can hold you over until your next pit stop for a meal? You can't go wrong with beef jerky.

That's it. Fruit Bars Variety Pack

Fruit Bars Variety Pack

This variety pack of two-ingredient fruit bars will be the better-for-you snack that everyone can't get enough of.

Snyder's of Hanover Pretzel Sandwiches

Pretzel Sandwiches

It's no secret that pretzels and cheese can make a big mess on a road trip (especially if you have kids), so these single-pack cheddar and cheese pretzel sandwiches will make the ideal substitute.

Brewer's Food Sea Salt Baked Pita Chips

Sea Salt Baked Pita Chips

Whether you're pairing them with hummus or enjoying them by themselves, these sea salt baked pita chips will be the most shared snack in the car.

Vintage Italia Marinara Penne Straws

Marinara Penne Straws

Love pasta, but don't want to bring a big plate of it on the drive (LOL)? This traditional Italian pasta-inspired snack will be a great fill in. These vegan and gluten free penne straws are so good, a six-pack won't be enough.

bakerly Chocolate Hazelnut Filled Crêpes

Chocolate Hazelnut Filled Crêpes

This 9-pack of delicious crêpes will be the ideal ready-to-eat snack, breakfast, or brunch item for travelers of all ages. And, each of the crêpes are individually wrapped making it easy for everyone to have their own without making a chocolatey mess.

Brothers-ALL-Natural Fruit Crisps

Fruit Crisps

Perfect for kids and adults alike, this variety pack of fruit crisps gives the whole car options on options on options.

Hippeas Nacho Vibes Organic Chickpea Puffs

Nacho Vibes Organic Chickpea Puffs

With 3 grams of fiber and 4 grams of plant protein, these crunchy chickpea puffs will satisfy your chip craving—without the trans fat potato chips tend to pack.

Annie's Homegrown Organic Bunny Fruit Snacks

Organic Bunny Fruit Snacks

Hey, there's no age limit on fruit snacks. These gummies are parceled out by serving, so you can easily avoid mindless eating while driving.

Headshot of Katie Bourque

As an Editorial Fellow for Good Housekeeping, Katie covers health, beauty, home, and pop culture. Outside of the office, you can find her killing it on the karaoke machine or listening to true crime podcasts.

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Ni'Kesia Pannell is an entrepreneur, multi-hyphenate freelance writer, and self-proclaimed Slurpee connoisseur that covers news and culture for The Kitchn. She's the former Weekend Editor for Delish who also writes about faith, health and wellness, travel, beauty, lifestyle, and music for a range of additional outlets.

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Julia is the director of video at Delish. Previously, she worked on Food Network's Snapchat team as their "try" girl: trying new products and bizarre diets on the market. Currently she oversees the video team where content lives on YouTube, TikTok, onsite, Snapchat, and Facebook. She's also previously a host of the hit series "Julia Tries Everything" where she goes to top chain restaurants in America and finds her favorite menu items. 

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Insanely Good Recipes

21 Best Road Trip Snacks for Long Drives

Road Trip Snacks

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!

A Bowl of Vegetable Chips

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.

Homemade Puppy Chow

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.

Caramel Popcorn

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.

Salty Snack Party Mix with Cereals and Pretzels

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. 

Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies

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.

Apple Chips

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. 

Stacks of Fantasy Fudge with Nuts

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.

Apple Fritters

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.

Banana Muffins

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.

Blueberry Muffins

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.

Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

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

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!

Road Trip Snacks

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Hey there! I'm Kim. I love running, cooking, and curling up with a good book! I share recipes for people who LOVE good food, but want to keep things simple :)

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Fresh Off The Grid

30 Healthy(ish) Road Trip Snacks To Bring on Your Next Adventure

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Pinterest graphic with text overlay reading "The best healthyish road trip snacks"

We share our favorite road trip snacks (and which types of snacks you should definitely avoid!) 

A box full of road trip snacks

We lived on the road for over two years, and we also run a camp cooking blog. So we feel uniquely qualified to share our thoughts on what foods make great road trip snacks. We have given this topic A LOT of thought. 

We’ve learned a lot over the thousands of miles we’ve travelled and countless hangry meltdowns we’ve had, and we’re excited to share our best road trip snack recommendations with you. 

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We feel snacks are an essential part of any long distance road trip . And we never leave home without them! 

Sometimes you need a little energy boost, sometimes you need to stabilize your blood sugar, and sometimes you need to munch on something just to stay alert and keep blood flowing to your brain.

Snacks can also dramatically improve the overall road trip experience. They turn an otherwise monotonous process into a moveable feast. 

Below we share our thoughts on what snacks you should bring on your next road trip (and which snacks you shouldn’t). 

What snacks should you bring on a road trip?

This will largely depend on your personal taste, but the general rule is that road trip food should be easy to access and easy to consume. They should keep your body fueled, your blood sugar stable, and your mind alert. Keep reading for some of our favorite suggestions!

While there are lots of foods that are great for long road trips, there are few food categories you will absolutely want to avoid. 

Here are some of the worst foods for a long road trip: 

  • Food that creates lots of crumbs or waste (e.x. crackers, pistachios) 
  • Powdery foods (e.x. Cheetos)  
  • Greasy or oily foods (e.x. olives) 
  • Foods with strong smells (e.x. some soft cheeses, bananas) 
  • Foods that can spoil on a dime (e.x. avocados) 
  • Food in excessive packaging

Eating While Driving 

Snacking while driving can be done safely if you have taken the time to properly set up your cab area beforehand. Food should be within easy reach and not require you to take your eyes off the road. 

When driving with another person, delegate as much as possible so you can stay focused on the road. For example, asking them to grab a snack, unwrap it (if necessary), and hand it to you.  

While eating on the road is possible, whenever possible, we highly recommend stopping at roadside rest stops. Taking a 10-15 minute break to eat, go to the bathroom, stretch, and readjust your setup is sooo worth it. 

We know the urge to press on is strong, but taking a few small breaks can improve everyone’s mood. 

The Best Road Trip Snacks 

These are some of our favorite road-tripping snacks. We’ve personally consumed every item listed below at some point or another and can attest to their roadworthiness and superior snackability. 

Greenbelly Meals

Greenbelly Meal Bars

Taking a page from hikers & backpackers, these Greenbelly meal bars contain 650 calories per serving, which is as much as a complete meal. While we don’t recommend skipping meals on the road, if you need to, one of these could be a good option.

Vegan Bars

Energy Bars

There are a million kinds of energy bars, so our advice is to go for variety. Just stay away from those super crumbly ones like Nature Valley. Here are some of our favorite brands: Bobo , RX Bars , GoMacro , Lara Bar , Dang , Aloha , and 88 Acres Seed Bars .

Munkpack Cookies

Energy Cookies 

If you prefer your energy bars in a circular form, then perhaps you would be interested in the growing energy cookie sector. (This is just a way to stand out from the 8 billion energy bar brands!) Nevertheless, we are fans of MunkPack Cookies and Lenny & Larry Cookies

Fig newton product image

Fig Newtons

Fig Newtons are by far our preferred road trip cookies. They’re soft, don’t generate crumbs, and are absolutely delicious. 

Yum butter product image

Nut Butter Packets

Yum Butter nut butter packets make them super easy to eat while on the road. Sometimes we eat it straight from the packet, but it would also be good with sliced apples or bread if you’re taking a break at a rest stop. This resealable squeeze packet means you don’t have to dirty a knife or spoon to scoop it out of a jar.

Rye chip bag product image

Roasted Rye Chips 

Rye chips are our go-to gas station pick up. They are fairly robust and don’t generate crumbs like other chips. When compared to the other deep-fried options in the chip aisle, this is on the healthy-ish-er* side of the spectrum. 

*Healthy, only by comparison to other very unhealthy options. 

Good Crisp Co product image

The Good Crisp Co. 

While these potato chips violate our no-crumb rule, these Good Crisp Co. chips are just too good to leave out. These are basically a healthier version of Pringles and feature the same cylinder, which protects the crips from getting crushed. 

Chocolate covered espresso bean product image

Chocolate Covered Espresso beans

These are a great little caffeine and sugar burst all at once. We like to reserve these guys for the end of our trip when we’re likely at our most fatigued. 

Yogurt covered raisins product image

Yogurt Covered Raisins

These are a real treat and can easily be picked up at a bulk bin in most grocery stores. If you are able to keep these chilled in a cooler, we highly suggest it! 

Peanut butter pretzel bites product image

Peanut Butter Filled Pretzels 

We love these things. We often pick them up from Trader Joe’s and Quinn’s makes a gluten-free version you can find on on Thrive Market . We find that the bags tend to split down the middle, so we like to repack these into a sealable container or a big ReZip bag . These also make great hiking snacks !

Apples oranges and grapes

Fresh no-peel fruit 

Grapes are great for road trips because they don’t need to be peeled and don’t have cores. Apples and pears are also good options. Oranges, clementines, and tangerines will hold well in a sealed container if you peel and segment them ahead of time.

*Do not throw fruit cores (or anything else for that matter) out the window. Just because something is biodegradable doesn’t mean it will decompose sitting on the shoulder of the freeway. It just attracts wildlife, which leads to more roadkill and more accidents. 

Cucumbers carrots and cherry tomatoes

Fresh Vegetables

Fresh vegetables are one of the healthiest road trip snack options out there. Baby carrots, sliced cucumbers, celery sticks, cherry tomatoes are all super healthy and easy to eat while driving.

Veggie chips product image

Veggie Chips 

Veggie chips are another snack we often pick up at the bulk bin or from Nuts.com . These are the perfect “bored/hungry” snack and don’t need to be refrigerated.

Plantain chips product image

Plantain Chips

Healthier than potato chips, less pungent than a fresh banana, plantain chips are slightly sweet, salty, and crunchy—which checks a lot of boxes!

Bag of trail mix

Opt for trail mix with large pieces. You don’t want to deal with a handful of finely chopped nuts and tiny seeds. They’re just going to get all over the car. The bigger the pieces, the better. 

Cashews and almonds

We prefer cashews or almonds when driving. They are big enough to easily handle and don’t need to be shucked. Peanuts are just a little too small for us and pistachios and sunflower seeds are the worst.

Whisps packaging

Cheese 

Hard cheese that doesn’t need refrigeration is a great option. We also LOVE the Trader Joe’s Baked Cheese Bites as well as Parmesan or Cheddar Whisps (the latter are a bit less sturdy though).

Epic bar product image

Jerky And Meat Bars

Unlike a lot of the carb-heavy options on the list, Jerky and meat bars have some serious sticking power. We are big fans of Epic Provisions, Wild Zora, and other meat products that don’t have a ton of additives (looking at you Slim) 

Gin Gins package

If you or your road trip buddies tend to feel a little queasy on those winding roads, ginger is a natural way to settle your stomach without causing drowsiness like over-the-counter meds can. We like to keep a bag of Gin Gins ginger chews in our snack bin for this reason.

Pur gum package

Need help staying alert while driving? In addition to the usual caffeinated remedies, there has been a lot of scientific evidence that suggests that the act of chewing gum can help focus and alertness.

Masticating (the act of chewing) increases blood flow to your head and helps increase cognitive ability and focus. So if you often get drowsy when driving, consider picking up a pack of gum . 

Best Road Trip Drinks 

This is where having a small soft sided cooler really comes in handy. After a couple of hundred miles, a cold drink can really make a big difference to revive you. 

Spindrift can

Sparkling water/seltzer

Take it from us, it’s really easy to get dehydrated on long drives. So be sure to drink water along the way. There’s a world of sparkling water out there, but our favorite brand is Spindrift ! 

Rise coffee can

Iced coffee

A can of iced coffee or even nitro cold brew coffee can be a great pick-me-up to carry you through that final stretch. 

Humm kombucha can

Another lightly carbonated, non-alcoholic option, kombucha is another one of our favorite drinks on the road.

Best Road Trip Snacks For Kids 

If you’re road tripping with kids, having a strong snack game is an absolute must! Some enticing snacks may not prevent a meltdown entirely, but it can buy you some time. 

However, unlike snack time at home, the kids will be strapped in the backseat. So whatever snacks you choose, they’ll have to be able to deal with themselves.

Carrots snap peas and bell pepper

Sliced vegetables 

Cut slices of bell pepper, carrot, celery, or snap peas are a great snack option for kids since they are healthy and don’t have the potential to become a mess or leave crumbs everywhere.

Fresh fruit

Likewise, fruit that has been pre-sliced makes a great snack for kids. Choose fruit that isn’t overly juicy or soft. Apples, pre-peeled oranges, and grapes (for older kids) are good places to start. 

To keep apples from browning, try soaking them in a water & lemon juice bath for a few minutes before packing them.

String cheese

String cheese

Kids love these and they’re a great way to add some protein into their diet. Ideally, these should be chilled in a cooler or insulated lunch bag.

Clif mini energy bar

Kid-sized energy bars

If the kids see mom or dad partaking in an energy bar, you can bet they’re going to want one too! These “kid-sized” bars are a great way to include them, without having to split your own bar!  Clif Minis and Lara Bar minis are a good place to start.

Annies snack mix

Annie’s Snack Mix

You’ll probably be cleaning these out from between the car seat cushions, but this is just such a popular snack – particularly if your kids like salty & crunchy things. For toddlers, pair this type of snack with a snack-catching cup, like this one by Munchkin .

Annies bunny graham crackers

Annie’s Bunny Grahams: 

Annie’s Bunny Grahams are usually a crowd favorite! Since they are bite-sized graham crackers, there won’t as many crumbs left behind as there would with full-sized graham crackers.

Mini peanut butter crackers bag

Mini Peanut Butter Sandwiches

Bite-sized mini peanut butter sandwiches are perfect for little hands. They are a nice balance of carbs, protein, and fats to help satiate your backseat companions.

Fruit tape box

Organic Fruit Tape

Ok, fruit rolls might not make it to the top of every parent’s “Healthy Road Trip Snacks” list, but they are just so nostalgic for us! 

This version is organic and made from real fruit and not much else, so it’s gotta be healthier than whatever we were eating in the 90’s, right?

These can also be used (leveraged?) as a reward or perhaps as a last resort if things start to really go sideways.

Helpful Snacking Items

You don’t need much, but there are a few pieces of gear that we find to be very useful on long haul trips. 

Soft-Sided Cooler : Generally speaking, you should select road trip snacks that don’t need refrigeration. But having a way to keep some items cold can be very helpful—particularly fresh fruits & veggies. 

Mini Trash Can / Large Sealable Container : We like to keep a mini trash can or sealable container nearby to help us keep the front cab area clean and tidy. Don’t let this be you . A clean, uncluttered car can really improve your overall driving experience. 

Insulated cup with lid : An insulated cup with a lid can keep your morning coffee hot or your afternoon kombucha cold for hours. It can really extend the enjoyability range of your beverage.  It’s also reusable, so your car doesn’t fill up with paper coffee cups.  

ReZip Bags : Ditch the single-use baggie, and consider using these reusable zip bags instead. They are great for sliced fruit and veggies, bulk bin items, or pre-portion out serving for kids. 

Wet Wipes : Sticky, greasy fingers are the worst. Having some easily accessible wet wipes handy is a great idea. 

Megan & Michael are the creators of Fresh Off The Grid, a blog dedicated to helping you fuel your adventures by sharing camp cooking recipes, backpacking meals, and outdoor travel guides. Their recipes and outdoor cooking expertise have been featured in Backpacker Magazine, Outside, REI Co-Op Journal, Food & Wine, and New York Times Cooking.

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I love pistachios. I buy a big, shelled bag at Costco for road trips. And no shells!

Oh, smart! I love pistachios, too, but always find the shells to be a hassle. Good to know you can pick them up pre-shelled!

I really enjoy reading all your tips and tricks from your various trips. They are all SO helpful and well communicated. Keep ‘em coming!!

I’m so glad to hear that! Thanks, Danielle 🙂

I love you guys! Such good ideas and great information. I’ll be looking into an Oregon trip for sure!

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Tasty Road Trip Snacks That Are Actually Good for You

Here’s the skinny on what snacks to pack ahead of time and what to look for on the road..

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Tasty Road Trip Snacks That Are Actually Good for You

Hit the road fully stocked with snacks that you won’t regret a few hundred miles down the highway.

Photo by Dino Reichmuth/unsplash

We’ve all had that moment at a gas station in the middle of nowhere: You’re several hours into the drive, the next rest stop is 50 miles away, and the only edible thing left in the car is half a pack of chewing gum. Faced with aisles full of candy bars, chips, trail mix, beef jerky, and energy drinks, what do you do?

It’s not a trick question—you can have your road trip snacks and feel good about your choices, too. Outlined below are the major food groups that will nourish your body, along with the best healthy road trip snacks to seek en route to your destination and which foods to pack before you hit the road.

What to Look for in a Healthy Road Trip Snack

Whether you’re staring down a gas station snack aisle or figuring out what to pack from home, here are four categories of healthy road trip snacks to look for:

  • Protein: Protein isn’t just essential for body builders; your body needs it to keep all your organs running properly. High-protein snacks like eggs or nut butter will keep you fueled up and full for long stretches of driving.
  • Healthy fats : Yes, there’s such a thing as fat that’s good for you . Polyunsaturated fats are required for basic bodily functions such as muscle movement, and because our bodies don’t naturally produce these specific fats, we need to ingest them through food.
  • Fruits and vegetables : They contain vitamins and minerals that help form red blood cells, reduce cholesterol, and promote healthy bowel function.
  • Complex carbohydrates : A major difference between simple and complex carbs is how quickly they’re digested. Complex carbohydrates take longer to digest and contain more fiber; both factors keep you feeling full longer.

Goodfish salmon skin crisps are a sustainable, protein-rich alternative to potato chips.

Goodfish salmon skin crisps are a sustainable, protein-rich alternative to potato chips.

Courtesy of Goodfish

1. Salmon skin chips

Buy now : Goodfish starter pack, $25 for 8 bags, goodfish.com

If you’re an umami fan, Goodfish is about to become your go-to chip replacement. Packed with protein and omega-3 unsaturated fats, the paleo- and keto-friendly crisps are upcycled from Wild Alaskan Sockeye salmon skins that would otherwise go to waste.

2. Dry-roasted edamame or chickpeas

Buy now : Biena Sea Salt Chickpeas, $13 for four, amazon.com

Put down the Cheetos and reach instead for these salty finger foods. Legumes are high in protein and iron but low on carbs, making them a nutritious alternative to pretzels and other crunchy snacks.

3. Nut butter

Buy now : Justin’s nut butter; $10 for 10, amazon.com

Justin’s , Rx , and a number of other brands sell single-serving nut butter packets that nip munchies in the bud. For the full PB&J nostalgia experience with none of the additives, check out Split Nutrition squeeze packets, which combines a variety of preservative-free nut butters and fruit spreads to delicious ends. Embrace your inner first grader with peanut butter and grape jelly, or try the cashew butter with sour cherry spread.

4. String cheese

Mozzarella’s most snackable format is a good source of protein to keep hunger at bay. But don’t go overboard, cheese lovers—each serving contains almost as many grams of fat as protein, which adds up quickly when you’re sitting for long periods of time.

5. Hard-boiled eggs, greek yogurt, or pouches of tuna

Buy now : Itsumo all natural tuna packs, $25 for 5, amazon.com ; Chobani greek yogurt, $1 for 1, amazon.com

You may not care as much if you’re driving solo, but if you’re making the trip with other passengers, they may have unfavorable opinions about hard-boiled eggs, Greek yogurt, and pouches of tuna. All three of these foods are rich in protein and healthy fats, but they don’t smell the best, especially in tight quarters.

6. Nuts and seeds

Buy now : Wonderful salt and pepper pistachios, $4, amazon.com

Pistachios and walnuts are especially good finds as they’re low in calories and carbs, high in fiber and protein. Regardless of your chosen nut, look for options that are unsalted and free of additional flavors (like cheddar, ranch, and barbecue) that will decrease the nutritional value.

Buy now : New Primal Sea Salt Beef Thins, $40 for 8, thenewprimal.com or amazon.com

Again, go for the pure stuff when possible—no Slim Jims or teriyaki flavoring. Look for brands such as the New Primal , which is low in sodium and sugar, made from grass-fed beef, and free of monosodium glutamate (MSG).

Buy now : Sabra Classic Hummus Snacker, $3, target.com

As vegetarians and vegans know, hummus is an excellent source of protein. If you forget to pack hummus and baby carrots before you hit the road, keep an eye out for Sabra Snackers when you stop for gas. The single-serving cups come with pita chips or mini pretzels, making them both tasty and convenient.

9. Protein bars

Buy now: Oatmega Vanilla Almond Bars, $20 for 12, amazon.com or amazon.com ; Rx Chocolate Sea Salt Protein Bars, $19 for 12, rxbar.com or amazon.com ; Exo Cocoa Nut Cricket Protein Bar, $30 for 12, exoprotein.com or amazon.com ; Primal Kitchen Coconut Lime Protein Bars, $24 for 12; primalkitchen.com or amazon.com ; Aloha Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Protein Bars, $30 for 12, aloha.com or amazon.com

When all else fails, go for a protein bar. Just make sure you buy something that’s actually good for you, not a glorified candy bar that tastes like cardboard. Start with Bon Appetit ’s favorite protein bar brands, which include Oatmega, Rx , Exo , Primal Kitchen , and Aloha .

As if we needed another reason to love avocados.

As if we needed another reason to love avocados.

Illustration by svtdesign/Shutterstock

10. Avocados

Remember to pack a spoon and a resealable bag where you can discard the skin and pit. Also note that this suggestion is for pure avocado, full of (healthy) monounsaturated fat, not guacamole. If you’re spooning store-bought guacamole straight from the container to your mouth, we have no less respect for you but do caution that some of the fruit’s nutritional value is going to be lost in the mix.

Buy now: Olove’s 50-calorie Packs, $29 for 30, amazon.com

Salty, refreshing, and immensely flavorful, olives are also chock full of healthy fats to keep you feeling good on the road. If you love olives but not enough to pack an entire jar, check out Olove’s 50-calorie packs .

12. Chia seeds or flax seed

Buy now: Organic Black Chia Seeds, $7, target.com

These snack ingredients require a little prep work. Plan on an overnight soak to make chia seed pudding for your road trip, pack flax seed crackers to go with hummus or avocado, mix either into overnight oats. Have fun with it.

Healthy fats are admittedly difficult to find at gas stations and convenience stores. Those driving on the West Coast may see single-serving cups of avocado spread, and smoothie chains such as Jamba Juice offer chia seeds as add-ins. Your best bet is to plan in advance and buy these kinds of snacks online or at the grocery story before you hit the road.

Balancy healthy fats with veggies such as celery sticks to avoid lethargy on long drives.

Balancy healthy fats with veggies such as celery sticks to avoid lethargy on long drives.

Illustration by LAN02/Shutterstcok

13. Sliced vegetables

Carrots and celery are high in fiber and water content, low in fat and calories. If you’re lucky enough to find either on the road, they’re usually paired with unhealthy dips such as ranch and cream cheese. Stop temptation in its tracks and pack your sliced veggies ahead of time.

14. Freeze-dried fruit and veggies

While freeze-dried snacks often resemble astronaut food, the resulting product tends to explode with flavor. (Don’t believe us? Try the freeze-dried strawberries at Trader Joe’s.) The crunch adds to the snackability, making it easy to ingest all those vitamins and minerals. You might even want to split this snack into portions so you don’t eat it all at once.

15. Vegetable juice powder

Buy now : Athletic Greens, $107 for 30 travel packs, athleticgreens.com

Concerned about the sugar in freeze-dried fruits and the lifespan of fresh vegetables in a hot car? Throw all your excuses out the window with vegetable juice powder, also known as green powder . Buy ahead of time and shake in a bottle with water or juice to power up on vitamins in a flash.

16. Pickles

Buy now : Old Bay Pickles, $12, mouth.com

This is one case in which you’d benefit from bringing the whole jar. The low-calorie snack is great for munching, and sipping on the pickle brine helps restore electrolytes .

17. Kind bars

Buy now: Kind Bars, $15 for 12, kindsnacks.com

These minimally processed bars are made from fruit, nuts, and seeds, ensuring you get all of the nutrients and none of the filler. Bonus: They’re gluten-free.

18. Fresh fruit

Depending on where you’re driving to or through, you may pass stands for fresh fruit. Support local farmers and stock up! What you find at these stands will likely be much fresher than what you would find at the grocery store.

19. Dried fruit

Buy now: Organic Dried Mango (with no added sugar), $14 for 1lb, nuts.com

This recommendation comes with one glaring caveat: Avoid anything with added sugar. If the ingredients list anything other than the fruit itself, reshelf that bag.

20. Coconut chips

Buy now: Dang Toasted Coconut Chips, $20 for 4, amazon.com

While not terribly filling, these crunchy nibbles will satisfy a sweets craving without breaking the caloric bank. We love the fun, Asian-inspired flavors by family-run Dang Foods .

21. Vegetable juice

In most cases, you’ll want to look for low-sodium V8 , which is available at most convenience stores. Check the nutrition facts before going to the register since excess sugar will negate a lot of the health benefits.

Pair the antioxidants in dark chocolate with the complex carbohydrates in popcorn for a highly addictive treat.

Pair the antioxidants in dark chocolate with the complex carbohydrates in popcorn for a highly addictive treat.

Courtesy of Drizzled Popcorn

22. Popcorn

Buy now: Drizzled Popcorn, $5, safeandfair.com ; Skinny Pop, $16, amazon.com

As is the case with nuts and jerky, steer clear of flavor additives. Skinny Pop is a good choice for basic, prepopped popcorn. For something dangerously addictive, try Safe + Fair’s Drizzled Popcorn , a very mild kettle corn with ribbons of dark chocolate. Your greatest challenge will be sharing with your fellow passengers—Drizzled Popcorn is that good.

23. Puffed rice cakes

Buy now: Qaker Lightly Salted Rice Cakes, $3, target.com

Think of these plain rice cakes as fiber-rich vessels for more flavorful items in your cooler, such as hummus, avocado, olives, or nut butter.

24. Overnight oats

Get the recipe: Overnight oats, loveandlemons.com

Dress up your plain, rolled oats with almond milk, yogurt, fruit, sliced nuts, shredded coconut, chia seeds, or anything else that strikes your fancy. The more you load up on things you love, the more likely you are to reach for the overnight oats instead of pulling over for fast food at the next rest stop.

25. Whole-grain crackers

Buy now: Triscuit original, $3, amazon.com

In this case, you’ll want to look for function over flavor . Try to find something with at least four grams of fiber. Then pair the crackers with string cheese, a Split Nutrition packet, or another tasty ingredient you’ve packed for the road.

How to pack your road trip snacks

Don’t wait until you’re on the road to find out how long cheese and hard-boiled eggs last without refrigeration. These four pieces of gear will help prevent the majority of your road trip snack woes.

Pack a cooler

Buy now: Yeti Roadie 24 Hard Cooler, $200, yeti.com

Keep perishable items chilled with a cooler that’s made for long hauls. The Roadie 24 Hard Cooler from Yeti is slim enough to squeeze behind the driver’s seat, tall enough to fit a bottle of wine (just saying), and insulated enough to keep ice frozen for four or more days . When you’re toting snacks such as string cheese, pickles, eggs, tuna, or yogurt, your passengers will thank you for keeping everything nice and chilled.

Remember the ice packs

Buy now: Yeti Ice, from $15, yeti.com

Avoid the hassle of discarding melted ice and refilling the cooler at gas stations and motels by bringing reusable ice packs. Yeti sells three different sizes of its ice packs, which reach lower temperatures than water-based ice and stay cold longer. When the durable packs finally do begin to thaw (exact timing depends on the size of the ice pack and the quality of the cooler), they do so without leaving “sweat” or condensation behind, meaning you won’t need to worry about damp or soggy treat containers.

Save space with collapsible containers

Buy now: Prepworks Collapsible Storage Bowls with Lids (Set of Three), $15, bedbathandbeyond.com

Even the most spacious car cabin has limited real estate, so do yourself a favor and pack homemade snacks in Tupperware-style containers that are not just reusable but also collapsible—the less room you occupy with clunky, empty containers, the better. The set of three by Prepworks includes multiple sizes in bright colors that make them hard to lose. This versatile set is also safe to use in microwaves, freezers, and dishwashers, making them a convenient addition to any food storage collection.

Consider reusable cutlery

Buy now: Sea to Summit Delta Cutlery Set, $10, moosejaw.com

While treats such as popcorn and carrot sticks are ideal finger food, not all snacks are created equally consumable. Sure you could eat avocados and overnight oats sans cutlery, but the car upholstery will never forgive you. Rather than creating waste with disposable utensils, invest in reusable cutlery that will also come in handy on a camping trip. The Delta Cutlery Set from Sea to Summit includes a fork, a knife, and a spoon, connected by a carabiner clip for both easy removal and easy organization.

>>Next: The 17 Best Weekend Bags for a Quick Getaway

A woman laying in a super bloom of golden California poppies in Antelope Valley

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The Best Road Trip Snacks, According to Eater Editors

From Swedish Fish to charcuterie, these are the snacks that keep Eater staffers sated on long car rides

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A wall of packaged snacks at a rest stop.

This summer, the road trip was the only option for many of us to get in some kind of vacation or pay a long-overdue visit to faraway loved ones. And given the unpredictability of food options along routes these days, road trip snacks — always an essential item on the road trip packing list — were more important than ever.

There are certain essential qualities to a road trip snack: You should be able to eat it with one hand and with minimal mess. But beyond that, there are several interpretations of the genre. Road trip snacks may be the foods you find at gas stations and convenience stores, or indulgent treats that make the trip more bearable. Some road trippers select snacks based on their resemblance to an actual balanced meal, or on whether or not they’ll ensure the driver stays alert at the wheel. Eater staffers’ preferred snacks run the gamut. Here’s what fuels them through long car rides these days, as well as in better times.

Bit-O-Honey: Bit-O-Honey works as a road trip snack because you can eat an entire bag of them and not feel awful (trust me, I just did this on a six-hour drive from Northern to Southern California). It’s somewhat hilarious that this honey-flavored taffy seems to only be available at truck stops and gas stations. Drivers and passengers alike will crush hours gnawing on these glorious sweets, with microscopic almond pieces giving a modicum of texture. Getting the sticky bits out of your teeth is the rest of the fun. — Matthew Kang, Eater LA editor

Swedish Fish: I always have a bag of Swedish Fish on hand for a road trip. They perk you up, they’re chewy and sweet, and they’re the kind of candy I don’t eat every day. It’s also the ONLY time I drink Red Bull. — Lesley Suter, travel editor

Frozen Snickers: I’ve always maintained that a frozen Snickers bar is much, much better than an ice cream Snickers bar, the latter being an inferior product that melts too quickly and the former being something that will last in the car. — Ryan Sutton, Eater NY chief critic/data lead

Sour Patch Kids: My husband and I both agree that Sour Patch Kids are an absolute must on the road. I prefer the watermelon, but he likes the classics. I’m still bitter that the classic recipe seems to have changed, though; I swear they’re not as sour as they used to be. — Rachel Blumenthal, Eater Boston editor

Beaver Nuggets: Road-tripping in Texas means you have to stop by Buc-ee’s and grab a bunch of their packaged snacks. Despite the unfortunate name, the Beaver Nuggets (actually sweet corn puffs) are really great. — Nadia Chaudhry, Eater Austin editor

Trail mix: I buy Archer Farms trail mix from Target — specifically the Monster one with tons of chocolate. Ignore the raisins. — Ellie Krupnick, managing editor

Snyder’s of Hanover Pretzel Pieces, Honey Mustard & Onion: These carry a Midas touch, covering your fingertips in a golden powder that plays off plain hard pretzels with two sources of tangy-sweet flavor: onion and honey mustard. Grasping for the few thin pieces that hold more powder than pretzel turns every bag into a treasure hunt. — Gabe Hiatt, Eater D.C. editor

Blue Diamond Almonds, Bold Wasabi & Soy: Those thin tubes of wasabi and soy sauce almonds are my road trip snack of choice for a number of reasons. First, they give you all the savory and salt pop of potato chips without the gross “ugh, did I just eat a whole bag of potato chips?” hangover. Second, the pain of wasabi build-up is a great way to stay awake during more monotonous stretches, far less cliched than slapping yourself or other self-abuse you see in the movies. Third, its narrow container is perfect to just tip into your mouth — an act that seems obscene (and obscures your vision) when it’s a chip bag, but makes perfect sense when the bag is long and narrow... and it saves your steering wheel, upholstery, etc. from every road tripper’s nemesis: snack grease. — Eve Batey, Eater SF news editor

Corn Nuts : Corn Nuts are not the sexiest snack, but they fit conveniently in your cupholder and you can just pick at them and shove a handful in your mouth with relative ease. Bonus: If you drop some, they don’t melt all over your car like a bunch of jerks. — Stefania Orrù, coordinating producer

Pizzeria Combos: Combos are so good, but not just any kind: pizza-flavored Combos are the best. They are super salty, bite-sized, and filled with some type of cheesy pizza flavoring. It’s like getting to dip a pretzel in cheese in every bite. I will always eat the whole entire bag on the road regardless of how long the drive is. — Stephen Pelletteri, executive producer

Regional chips: I go for regional takes on barbecue/red hot chips, especially if I am in a new-to-me area where there’s more opportunities to experiment with unfamiliar brands. Pennsylvania gas stations are the best bet for the intersection of multiple brands: One place might get you Snyder’s, Wise, Herr’s, Martin’s, Middleswarth, Utz... No real interest in mesquite/sweet varieties, though. — Missy Frederick, cities director

Ritz Bits, cheese: I only ever buy them at rest stops; I’m scared to invite them into my life outside of that context. — Emma Alpern, senior copy editor

The more holistic meal plans

Carrots and celery: My most recent preferred road trip snack is just straight carrot sticks and celery. I did that on a road trip recently and, magically, I didn’t feel like crap at the end of the trip. Plus, they have that snap and crunch that’s a necessity for a good snack. — Brenna Houck, Eater Detroit editor

Cheese and charcuterie: On the very Los Angeles end of the spectrum, I get mini-cheese and charcuterie boards from Lady & Larder in Mar Vista and then hand feed my boyfriend soft cheeses and cured meats while he drives. — Nicole Adlman, cities manager

Beef jerky, nuts, coffee, and electrolytes: Most of my road trips of late are about the destination, not the journey, and involve driving for 10-14 hours straight — so the idea is to make as few as stops as possible. My road diet therefore is gas station hillbilly x keto bro: beef jerky, nuts, coffee, and Smart Water (or any other electrolyte-loaded water). All the salt means you only need to pit stop when your car does, no matter much you drink, while a zero carb regimen blunts any possible post-prandial zzzs; there’s nothing worse than feeling super full when you’ve got six more hours in a car, even if you have that many episodes of You’re Wrong About left in your podcast queue.

The deep flaw in this plan is that you’re totally at the mercy of the gas station and whatever it merchandises. It’s sort of cheating, because going with the flow is how I approach long drives, but on my usual run between New York and Georgia, I’ve taken to plotting out where the territories of Wawa and Sheetz begin and end to guarantee access to actually edible jerky (the national brands are all trash now, RIP Field Trip) and potable coffee. (As someone who has no particular dog in that regional skirmish , I think Wawa and Sheetz are equally good? SORRY.) At the end of the day, it’s a road trip, and you can’t really appreciate arriving if you haven’t suffered along the way. — Matt Buchanan, executive editor

Illustration of Ruffles chip bag, big plastic container of cheese balls, Chips Ahoy cookies, a toaster oven with two Pop-Tarts popping out, and a box of Cheez-Its.

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Stuffed Suitcase

37 Road Trip Snacks You’ll Actually Like

By: Author Kim Tate

Posted on Published: May 22, 2020

road trip snacks collage

Food is a big part of any successful road trip. No one wants to be stuck in a car with a hangry person! The key to great road trip snacks is packing food that won’t make a mess and can travel well at room temperature. Here are some of our favorite snacks for road trips.

road trip snack ideas

Best Vacation Road Trip Snacks

If you’re cereal eaters, just opening your pantry can give you a multitude of options. Multi-Grain Cheerios are one of our favorites because they have just a touch of sweetness. They’re nut-free too! We also love Lucky Charms and Life.

We love to pack healthy snacks on vacation and fruit and veggies certainly fit the bill. Just remember if you’re driving across the border (i.e. Canada) you might not be able to bring across produce.

We love to buy the mini apples you can get in a bag. You can find them easily at Trader Joes, Target, and most grocery stores. The smaller sized apples are perfect for road trips.

Mandarin Oranges

Another healthy road trip snack idea is mandarin oranges, sometimes called clementines. These do have to be peeled and you’ll want some wet wipes (on my road trip essentials list), but the smell is amazing for freshening the car — as long as you like the fresh orange smell. :)

The other fruit we like to pack for road trips is grapes. They’re easy to grab and pop in your mouth and are fairly mess-free. Just remember to wash them before you leave.

grapes in a bowl

Carrot Sticks

Vegetables can also make great healthy road trip snacks, and carrot sticks are easy. You can either buy the mini carrots in a bag or cut up your own from full-size carrots.

You could pack a dipping sauce in the car but we normally avoid dairy products in the car and we don’t want to worry about keeping the dip cold.

Sugar Snap Peas

Sugar snap peas are also a great snack that are easy to pack and pop in your mouth. They’re also a good source of fiber and very low in calories, making them healthy.

Grape Tomatoes

We have packed a container of cherry or grape tomatoes along for the trip, but it’s not necessarily one of our go-to snacks. They are easy to grab at the store and easy to eat, but they can make a mess if you drop one in the car.

Don’t miss my tips for How to Pack for a Road Trip !

Fruit leathers.

Our girls first fell in love with fruit leathers at Trader Joes and I have to say that it’s one of my favorite snacks, too. Just realize that they’re packed with sugar bc of the fruit concentrate. You can pick up single strips at Trader Joes or grab a big box of Stretch Island Fruit Leathers at Amazon or Costco.

Fruit Snacks

Another fruit treat snack is single-serving fruit snacks. While they aren’t really healthy, they’re popular with kids and you can buy a big box of the pouches at Target or Costco.

Crackers/Pretzels

Put some Cheez-its, Triscuits, Wheat Thins, or Pretzels in single-serve containers or baggies. You could keep the whole box in the back of the car and refill each when needed at stops. Just know they’re salty, so you might get thirsty.

pretzels in bag

This is a kid favorite but even adults can enjoy some cheesy fishies. While these count as crackers, I felt they were important enough for our family that I needed to call them out specifically.

Pirate’s Booty

This stuff is so good and SO addictive! They have different flavors but our favorite is the Pirate’s Booty Aged White Cheddar. Trader Joes also has some flavored corn puffs that are tasty. This snack will require a napkin or wipe because of the seasoning.

You can either pop up a big bag of your own popcorn or buy one of the pre-packaged bags from the store. Popcorn can be addictive — as any movie-goer will know — and it makes a tasty, filling snack.

This is a family favorite and conveniently you can buy it as packaged food or make your own!

Granola Bars

I spoil myself on road trips and buy the chocolate-dipped chocolate chip granola bars for the trip, and they’re so good. But traditional granola bars can be a great snack for road trips since they provide some grains and protein.

If you’re traveling with kids, be sure to look for hidden sugar snacks (fruit snacks and granola bars) and try to limit those.

granola bar

This might just be our family, but there’s just something great about taking Pringles on a road trip. One of the big perks is that the canister helps keep the chips from getting beat up in the car! Just make sure to pack a couple of cans since we all know, “once you pop, you can’t stop.”

If you’re a sweets lover, cookies can be great to bring on road trips. Just keep in mind that they do have crumbs. Girl Scout Cookies are especially yummy on road trips!

Animal Crackers

Animal crackers are really more of a cookie than a cracker, but they’re still a good snacking treat. Plus, even as an adult I like looking at what animal I’m about to eat. :)

Rice Crispie Treats

While you can make your own Rice Krispie Treats, you can also buy them pre-packaged. They’re another sugary treat, but oh so yummy! Just make sure you add wet wipes when you pack your car .

We love GoGo Squeez Applesauce because it’s easy to eat in the car and there are a lot of fun flavors. Applesauce pouches are a great mess-free (hopefully) snack.

Sunflower Seeds

We have a kiddo with a nut allergy, so sunflower seeds are a great “nut-like” road trip snack. You can get a package that is in the shell and have fun shelling them — just have a cup ready for the shells — or you can buy just the seeds.

sunflower seeds in hands

Pepitas / Pumpkin Seeds

Another seed that we love to bring on our road trips is pumpkin seeds. Again, you can get the ones in the shell, or get just the seeds, called pepitas.

If you don’t have a nut-allergy then nuts are great snacks. Before we had my daughter I used to love eating honey-roasted peanuts on a road trip. My husband is a big fan of the tins of almonds and cashews, too.

You can create your own trail mix with your favorite mix-ins, or buy a pre-made one. The basic formula is nuts & seeds for protein, carbs for salt and energy, and something sweet like dried fruits or chocolate.

Roasted Chickpeas

We’ve really loved making our own roasted chickpeas . You can create any flavor you want and they’re a healthy snack option.

These are another odd-ball snack that people either love or hate. For some reason on every road trip we buy bags of corn nuts at a gas station. I like the BBQ flavor and Lizzy likes the Ranch flavor. They’re hard on your teeth but tasty!

Energy Bites

If you like to create your own snacks, no-bake energy bites can be great for your trip. They’re a bit like trail mix meets peanut butter in one protein-powered bite.

Peanut Butter Crackers

You can either buy some pre-made peanut butter cracker snacks, or grab some of those single-serve peanut butter cups and pair it with some pretzels, crackers, or apples.

Nutella & Go

If you love some chocolatey hazelnut goodness, grab some Nutella & Go snacks.

While now we’re mostly vegetarian, we used to love beef jerky on road trips. We would get the big bags at Costco. It’s a great protein source.

Pepperoni Sticks

These are similar to the idea of beef jerky but used to be another popular road trip snack we’d enjoy in the car. You can buy packages of little pepperoni sticks at most grocery stores.

Cheese Sticks

This is a snack that we don’t often pack because as I mentioned above we typically avoid bringing dairy in the car since it can smell bad if there’s a spill. However, cheese sticks are easy enough to eat, you just have to make sure you can pack them with an ice pack to stay cold on the drive.

Cheese & Cracker Dips

You can find these pre-packaged with one side of crackers and breadsticks and one side of cheese dip. These were popular with my girls when they were younger, but not so much anymore.

Dried Fruit

Dried fruit is a great car snack since it’s so easy to pack. Our family loves dried pineapple and mangos, but you can get all kinds of dried fruit like apples, blueberries, and even bananas. Check Trader Joes and Costco for a good variety.

dried fruit on spoons

Dried Veggies

Like the dried fruit, you can also get some veggie snacks that are typically found in the chip aisle. We really like Veggie Straws and the Harvest Snaps dried pea pods.

We have very limited candy eating at home, so it’s a special road trip snack for us. Twizzlers and M&Ms are our road trip favorites.

Water Flavor

It’s a good idea to pack your own reusable water bottle for the road trip. But over time you might get sick of just drinking water. So, pack a small bottle of water flavoring that you can add to your refillable water bottle to make your own sweet drink and avoid buying a bottled drink at a gas station.

Did I miss any? Do you have a favorite road trip snack? Please share your own ideas! And if you’re looking for more snack ideas, check out this list of airplane snacks for kids .

road trip snack ideas pinterest image

Share and Save This Post:

Thursday 28th of July 2022

Going on a 4 hour road trip for our vacation this weekend. And this list gave me a few ideas that sound great to pack in our snack pack list! So thank you for helping me with ideas!

Sunday 27th of June 2021

Love the ideas,our family does water tubing trips in the summer, slot of these ideas will be great. I also came across putting snacks in empty Pringles cans so you don't lose it if they are bite size.

Wednesday 30th of June 2021

Nice! Sometimes storage is half the battle!

Recipe for Roasted Chickpeas - The Perfect Travel Snack!

Thursday 9th of March 2017

[…] Related Post: Road Trip Snacks for Family Travel Vacations […]

Sunday 3rd of July 2016

Great list!!! I also include the little jello or pudding cups for when we stop at a rest stop, it gives them something to look forward to and they won't mess up the car!

Friday 8th of July 2016

Yum! My girls would love those!

Suzanne Holt

Saturday 13th of June 2015

Mini vanilla wafers or goldfish are nice crackers because they do not crumble as much when you bite into them. Thanks for all of these suggestions. Pinned.

Sunday 14th of June 2015

Crumbly snacks can really ruin a road trip! We travel with a mini vac sometimes so we can clean out seats and floors that get crumbs. Thanks for the ideas & for pinning!

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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.

Road trip foods, yogurt parfait

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, colorful sandwich

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 salad

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 .

The best Road Trip Food List from Top U.S. family travel blog, Travel With A Plan!

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!

Road Trip Food

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

Road trip sick bag essentials

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!

Road tripping is one of our favorite family vacations!  Get our awesome road trip food list that includes ideas for meals and snacks on-the-go and a printable checklist to take to the grocery store!  #roadtripfoodlist #bestroadtripfoods #roadtripsnackideas #toddlerroadtripsnacks #healthyroadtripsnacks #roadtripmeals

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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The Best Road Trip Snacks, According to Our Editors

By Charlie Hobbs

The Best Road Trip Snacks According to Our Editors

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Science may advise against eating in the air , but on the road consumption is more than fair game. In fact, there’s no better way to break up the time on that long and often monotonous journey (Hello, the Midwest and its many cornfields!) than by eating to your heart’s content. While most rest stops proffer hot foods of various cuisines and qualities, the safest bet for consistency and familiarity amidst an ever-changing landscape is the pre-packaged snack and beverage available for purchase in the mart attached to any given gas station . Whether its crunch or cream, savory or sweet that you seek, there’s something wrapped up in plastic for you. Below, our editors round up some of their essential bites for you to stock up on before or during your next drive.

This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date. Additional reporting by Megan Spurrell.

Health is wealth

I am not a traditional snacker. I generally care not for potato chips, nor do I understand the appeal of pretzels. I view eating on the road, when you’re cranky and bored and your body is stationary, as a utilitarian exercise—eating to live, you could say, rather than living to eat. It is for these reasons that I prefer a hearty bag of jerky with its powerful punch of protein. I skip the flavored bags, the smoke of the original supplying more than enough flavor for me, although one variation I’ve enjoyed recently is the BBQ chicken thigh jerky a roommate’s sister brought over to my apartment recently. Wash it down with an unsweetened green tea and I’m a happy camper. If pushed to go for some junk, I’d go for the pepperoni pizza combos my mother favored on the road trips of my childhood, although one bite of such a thing now would probably kill me. — Charlie Hobbs, editorial assistant

road trip snacks to pack

Crunch with a punch

As a kid, I unabashedly loved Cheetos Puffs. Sometime in the last few years, I discovered the grown-up version: its packaging leads you to believe that Simply White Cheddar Puffs are healthier than the original (who am I to argue?), and the white powder is less alarming on your fingers than the neon orange of yore. Most importantly, they are just as, if not more, delicious. I could go through an entire bag, depending on the length of the road trip. As a sour complement, I love Oh Snap! Pickling Co.’s spicy pickle pouches. They’re pretty easy to find in grocery stores and gas stations, and come in a fresh dill flavor if you don’t like heat.— Madison Flager, senior commerce editor

road trip snacks to pack

Acid & heat

I want my mouth to be excoriated by the snacks I'm munching on, to lose a cluster of taste buds every mile, to be satisfied only when my mouth has essentially gone numb. My poisons of choice? Flamin' Hot Cheetos, kettle-cooked salt and vinegar chips, and a hodgepodge of sour candy—Airheads Xtreme Bites are my favorite, but Sour Patch Kids do in a pinch. I could coddle my tongue with crisp fruit or soft snack cakes, but I like to use my time on the road as a no-holds-barred extreme snack wonderland, convincing myself that I won't regret every bite in a mere hour and wishing I'd been kinder to my palate. But once I reach my destination, as the angry red Cheeto-dust stains fade from my fingers and feeling slowly returns to my mouth, I'll be counting down the days until I can do it again. (Pro tip: Ask your backseat chef to add the Cheetos to the turkey-and-cheese sandwiches they're whipping up for the car—you won't want your road lunch any other way after.) — Taylor Eisenhauer, editorial operations manager

road trip snacks to pack

Ruffles & Rollinos

The undeniable highlight of road trips is spilling out of the car at gas stations and loading up on junk food that you don’t normally eat at home. Among my family and oldest friends, it’s considered a fact that “orange chips” (aka Ruffles Cheddar & Sour Cream) are the very best on the planet, so those always end up getting passed around the car (Kettle Salt & Vinegar chips are a worthy back-up plan). If I’m feeling fancy, and the gas station has a cold fridge, I’ll splurge on a vacu-sealed pack of Rollinos—those tasty little prosciutto-wrapped mozzarella sticks (protein, right?). — Megan Spurrell, senior editor

road trip snacks to pack

Salty meets sweet

Terra vegetable chips have been a go-to snack of mine for years. They’re delicious, light, and just the right amount of salty. And while a chip is by no means the healthiest option out there, these feel like a better alternative to the classic potato chip (whether true or not!). And when it comes to road trips or long-haul flights , I love nothing more than to treat myself to a sweet snack—preferably, Brookside dark chocolate-covered pomegranates. I could eat an entire family-size bag of these bite-size, melt-in-your-mouth chocolates to myself. The ever-so-slightly bitter dark chocolate coating on the sweet and gummy pomegranates is heavenly. I keep my eyes peeled for these in every airport, gas station, or other pit stop along the way. — Meaghan Kenny, associate commerce editor

road trip snacks to pack

Indian-made biscuits and TJ's crisps

The great thing about going on a road trip, plane ride, or train journey with my family is that someone always bring along a pack of Parle-G biscuits. The bad thing about it is that everyone devours them. If you’re not acquainted with the packaging on this Indian-made milk biscuit, the animated little girl on it is legendary. What’s on the inside is pretty darn great, too. When I’ve run out of supplies from my Indian grocery, I resort to my other favorite snack—cheese and crackers. In this case, a travel-friendly pack of Tillamook cheddar sticks and a box of Trader Joe’s fig & olive crisps—add some grapes and assorted nuts pried out of ziplock bags and it’s a road-trip version of a charcuterie board! — Arati Menon, global digital director

road trip snacks to pack

Crush-proof

Whether I’m road-tripping or packing snacks for the plane, I typically want crush-proof options that can withstand my overpacking. My favorite non-chip (if I’m being real there’s always a bag of Cape Cod chips in the car for road trips, too) snacks hit both sweet and salty. For sweet, Trader Joes’ Sweet and Juicy Mango are my favorite dried-fruit option, ideal for when you need a sugary pick-me-up. A more nutritious, whole-wheat treat I always find myself packing (and buying at truck stops when I spot them) for breakfast or on-the-go is Nature’s Bakery fig bars, preferably an original fig bar (but apple or raspberry will do if the OG ones are sold out). For salty, I love shelled pistachios, which are easy to snack on, healthier than the standard mixed-nuts fluff, and pack well in the bottom of a bag so you can finish them off whenever you get around to unpacking. — Shannon McMahon, destinations editor

road trip snacks to pack

Sweet & tangy twists

While home, I’m not the biggest snacker. My cabinets aren’t stocked with sweet treats or savory snacks, but while on the road a bag of Honey Barbecue Fritos is never too far from my reach. There is something about the crunch of a Frito that is just so addicting when paired with the honey barbecue spices. There are a ton of barbecue chips on the market, but they just don’t compare to what Fritos has crafted. It’s the perfect blend of sweetness, tanginess, and slight heat. While I love the sweetness from the chips, it won’t ever be able to curb my sweet tooth like a Butterfinger. I understand it's a bit messy and crumbles after each bite, but every peanut butter flake I have to clean up afterward is worth it. —Paris Wilson, commerce producer

road trip snacks to pack

Nostalgic treats

Whether a long or short journey, the little things make all the difference when road tripping. You have to be prepared—and not ‘hangry,’ especially when traveling with a group. While that means different things to different travelers, I need options: the trifecta—sweet, salty, and some sort of chocolate. The sweet, for me, has always been Haribo Happy Cherries—a bundle of cherry shaped and flavored gummies that my grandmother got me hooked on early in my childhood. A perfect pair, the salty adjacent is either the red salsa or orange cheddar Sun Chips—depending on my mood. The bag could go on forever and I could never get sick of them. Of course, a crucial saving grace to crumbs and sticky fingers on the road is napkins or hand wipes. My chocolate pair of choice is more of a subtle delight: a jar of Pirouline’s wafer cookie sticks. Also nostalgic of my childhood, these were always in my house when I was growing up. I never buy them during my general food shopping, but there’s something about seeing them on a rest stop right before hitting the road. They’re almost like tasty good luck charms. These snacks have nothing to do with standard levels of ‘health’, yet everything to do with fulfillment—and a reminiscence of youthful searches for deliciousness. — Jessica Chapel, editorial assistant

road trip snacks to pack

Worldwide wonders

What makes a perfect road trip? The company, the music, and the snacks. I’m all about the flavors of the world. I don’t usually keep processed foods at home but all bets are off on a road trip. I’m partial to the umami and savory flavors. Korean Cosmos Hot Rice Tteokbokki Snacks? Sign me up. These are sweet, tangy and crunchy. For something with some heat I’m looking at Magic Masala Crisps or Trader Joe's Jerk-Style Plantain Chips, with garlic, onion, all spice, black pepper, cinnamon, coriander, red pepper, and thyme, they are spicy and satisfying. Perfect with a Limonata on a hot sunny drive. For something mildly sweet my go to are these Thai Chewy Milk Fruit candy. These candies always remind me of driving along the beaches in Phuket with friends. They are a bit of surprise—you expect them to be hard because they feel like a marble but they are in fact, little melty pillows and the taste is almost elegant in it’s lightness. Which means you can easily eat 10 and not feel sick. I’m partial to the mango flavor but the durian is a fun one to try! — Pallavi Mohan Kumar, associate visuals director

road trip snacks to pack

Swimming with the fishes

I’ve long had a penchant for eating Goldfish on the beach—something about the saltiness makes for endlessly satisfying grazing after a dip in the Atlantic—and now they’ve also become my go-to road trip snack to reach for, usually acquired while ambling aimlessly among the aisles of some gas station in the middle of nowhere. I eat them while sitting in the passenger seat on the way to my in-laws, on sun-tired journeys back from surfing at Rockaway in New York, hungover on a Saturday morning trip upstate, along the highways of the Nevada desert, and on stormy eight-hour drives up to Maine. Although I should include an apology to my friend for the latter, after splitting open the bag and spilling hundreds of Goldfish onto the floor of his car—apparently he’s still finding them. — Lale Arikoglu, articles director

road trip snacks to pack

While I believe there’s nothing better than a hearty sandwich for a meal on the go (a prosciutto bocadillo or turkey-pickle-mustard on a roll, to be exact), road trip snacks are about indulging in those guilty gas station pleasures. For this, I gravitate toward the chewy and spicy, two qualities that exaggerate the act of eating into a proper activity. Loudly smacking gobs of Twizzlers is a bad car habit I picked up from my mom who, growing up, always had a bag in her purse—though, to be honest, I’m not even sure I like the taste. Their entertaining texture and bland faux-strawberry flavor is perfectly complemented by tastebud-destroying Takis, which force even spice lovers like me to slow down (meaning, sometimes, the bag will even last you the entire ride). As an honorable mention, I reliably reach for Cape Cod salt and vinegar chips or Fritos if I’m craving salt. —Heather Towey, associate news editor

road trip snacks to pack

Fun-to-eat treats

My road trip snack choices still reflect that which I developed in my childhood. My parents were relatively strict about eating healthy at home, but on the open road, we were allowed to indulge in whatever our hearts desired from the gas station aisles. The first item is something that I don’t think I have eaten outside the confines of a vehicle: Bugles, the cone shaped corn chips which function as both snack and entertainment, perfect for slipping on your fingers to poke at your siblings in the envied bucket seats. The other snack that lures me in with its neon colors are Trolli sour gummy worms. I used to only eat the blue and red ones, but I’m a grownup now, so my palate has thankfully expanded. If I splurge for a third choice, it’s always cheddar Chex mix, which contains an elite variety, in my opinion. —Mercedes Bleth, global associate director of social

road trip snacks to pack

Liquid diet

I am a hydration girlie, first and foremost! (This is something I am manifesting for the year 2024.) At any given time, I am sipping on a minimum of three beverages; as I write this, I have a coffee, a water, and a tea at my desk, all competing to see which will be the first to reach room temperature. However, the drink missing from this tableau is Gatorade. Yellow Gatorade, specifically. I used to drink the stuff only when I was sick, but these days, I’ve found myself enjoying it with dinner, after a long night out, and in cars. I get car sick easily, and it may totally be a placebo effect, but Gatorade helps me feel better. Give me those electrolytes, honey! Yes, I’m also ingesting a high amount of sugar with it, but it—much like a road trip (in my opinion!)—is best enjoyed in small doses. — Matt Ortile, associate editor

road trip snacks to pack

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50+ Easy, Healthy Road Trip Snack Recipes: Road Trip Foods

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Planning a road trip? It’s important to keep up your energy, and avoid the lows of sugar crashes by bringing along some easy to pack road trip foods and snacks. We’ve rounded up the best healthy road trip snack recipes to make your trip planning a breeze. 

From energy balls and granola bars, to cookies, muffins, salty mixes, and heartier savoury snack foods we’ve got it all. Making our own road trip snacks are a family tradition for all our road trips. These are all kid and adult approved travel snacks.

Satisfy all your travel companions cravings (and your own). A lot of these homemade road trip snack recipes also have gluten free, vegan, or low carb options . So no matter what your dietary requirements are, there’s something specially for you.

Are you ready for some quick, healthy road trip snacks to make? Grab your car cooler and Let’s go!

Table of Contents

How to Eat Healthy on Road Trips

First things first is to plan out your travel snacks and meals.

The times we’ve not prepped ahead, inevitably we’d end up starving in the middle of nowhere, with only a gas station for food. And end up feeling low energy or tired afterward.

Bring a cooler and shop at your local market / grocery store.

When driving long distance you should bring and eat a combination of proteins, fats, fibre, textures and tastes . As well as nutrient dense whole foods to curb your cravings, and satisfy your hunger.

Delicious and healthy homemade road trip snacks will help make sure you and your family stay nourished and energized.  Use our free Road trip templates to make things easier.

Some of the best road trip snacks include:

  • Granola Bars
  • Energy Balls / Energy Bites
  • Sweet and Savoury Muffins
  • Salty or sweet  crunchy snacks: Roasted Chickpeas, Kale Chips, Dried Fruit
  • Dips / Spreads & Veggies, Crackers or Pretzels
  • Veggie Fritters
  • Fresh Spring Rolls
  • Chicken Kabobs or Poppers

road trip snacks to pack

Easy, Healthy Road Trip Snack Recipes

Prepping your road trip snacks, and meals is just as important as finding a great deal on your car rental , and booking your accommodations.

We’ve gathered easy & tasty recipes together to make this easier for you.

Homemade Road Trip Snacks 

While it may take a bit of extra time, bringing homemade road trip snacks can save you time, and money on your journey with family or friends.

We’ve broken these DIY road trip snacks into the following categories:

  • Energy Balls / Bites  and Protein Bites Recipes

Healthy Snack Bar Recipes

  • Healthy Cookie Recipes
  • Sweet and Salty Road Trip Snack Recipes
  • Dried Fruit and Veggie Chips
  • Roasted Chickpea Recipes
  • Road Trip Muffin Recipes – Sweet and Savoury
  • Granola and Overnight Oats Recipes
  • Savoury Make Ahead Road Trip Snacks

We’ve rounded up some delicious, healthy and easy to make recipes for you to try. Let us know which ones are your favourites!

Please note : All the photos you see in this post belong to the website / bloggers the recipes are from.

Grab your Free Road Trip & Meal Planner HERE :

Free Road Trip Planner fanned over paved road through barren hills and sunset

More road trip snack ideas here.

Quick Road Trip Snack Recipes: Energy Balls, Energy Bites, Protein Bites

Whether you call them energy balls, bites, bliss balls or protein bites , they all have something in common.  They are super quick and easy to make, nutritious and versatile enough to fit all your travel companions road trip snack preferences and dietary needs. 

Plus they are no-bake and can be made in under 15 minutes. 

Sweet, salty, protein filled bites of goodness, these one bite wonders are easy to pack and store in your cooler. The perfect quick road trip snack recipes for busy parents.

road trip snacks to pack

1. Coconut Date Balls | Healy Eats Real

Easy No Bake Coconut Date Balls have only three ingredients, and are a naturally sweet paleo and vegan snack. Crunchy coconut taste on the outside combined with creamy, soft inside = bliss in one bite. Plus no nuts!

Road Trip Snack Ideas Balls of dried fruit Ladoo on a plate.

2. Dried Fruits Ladoo – Easy Energy Balls | Dassana’s Veg Recipes

Dry Fruits Laddu is an easy, nutritious recipe of energy balls that are healthy and tasty. Packed with nutrients, good fats and fibre, these energy balls are made with dates, figs and various nuts. An ideal long road trip snack.

road trip snacks to pack

3. Lemon Coconut Chia Balls | Cathy’s Gluten Free

Lemon Coconut Chia balls are a refreshing and sweet snack. With only 5 nutrient packed ingredients, they are easy to make and bring along for the day.

If you want a little more protein, check out this similar recipe for Coconut Protein Balls

road trip snacks to pack

4. Pumpkin Energy Balls | Plant Powered Cooking

Looking for a unique energy ball recipe? You’ve found it. Pumpkin Energy balls are made with inexpensive chickpeas, lots of spices, and are gently sweetened with dates. Pumpkin pie in  hand held form.

road trip snacks to pack

5. Pistachio Energy Balls | Hoorah to Health

Pistachio energy balls are great for road trips, as they don’t need to be refrigerated and provide a nice energy boost so your travelers don’t get too cranky!

10 different road trip snacks; energy balls, cookies, overnight oats, pretzels, corn fritters, roasted chickpeas and granola bars. Text overlay  50+ Easy to amke recipes. Road trip snacks kids and adults will love.

6. Low Carb Peanut Butter Balls | Cassidy’s Craveable Creations

Looking for an alternative to eating cookie dough straight from the bowl? This recipe has got you covered. These sweet, peanut butter cookie dough flavoured balls will satisfy your cravings and hunger. 

road trip snacks to pack

7. Salted Caramel Bliss Balls | It’s Not Complicated

With just 5 ingredients, these delicious Salted Caramel Bliss Balls are so easy to make. A perfectly healthy sweet road trip snack or treat, they are vegan, gluten and refined sugar free.

road trip snacks to pack

8. Vanilla Coconut Bliss Balls | My Plantiful Cooking

Vanilla coconut bliss balls are a wonderful, healthy sweet treat to have on hand. Naturally sweetened with dates, they are perfect for a midday pick-me-up after a long hike or drive.

🚙 You may also like Simple Ways to Save Money on Road Trips

road trip snacks to pack

9. Apple Pie Oat Bliss Balls | Kidgredients

Yummy and portable, these apple pie bliss balls are the perfect road trip snack. Plus they are super kid-friendly, nut free, and no bake. When you are craving the apple pie taste, without all the work, or mess on the road, these will satisfy.

These healthy snack bar recipes are easy to make, with minimal ingredients, so you can spend more time enjoying your trip, than preparing for it. Add these to your list of healthy snacks for road trips.

road trip snacks to pack

10. Low Carb Granola Bars | Wholesome Yum

These homemade Kind Bar copycats are the easiest low carb, gluten-free, sugar-free granola bars you can make at home. Plus they take only about 10 minutes to make, so you are ready to head out on your adventures in no time at all.

road trip snacks to pack

11. Coconut Candy Bars | A Sweet Alternative

If you are looking for an alternative to store bought chocolate bars, and love coconut, then you have found the right recipe!

These coconut candy bars are refined sugar free (sweetened with maple syrup, YES!) and made from simple, nutritious ingredients. They’re easy to make and so satisfying. 

road trip snacks to pack

12. Homemade Protein Bars  | Masala Herb

Homemade protein bars without protein powder are enriched with nuts and dried fruits. Know what’s in your protein bars!

road trip snacks to pack

13. Vegan Raspberry Rhubarb Bars | By The Forkful

Raspberry Rhubarb Bars are my dream breakfast snack on the go. Quick and easy to make, portable, and filled with fresh summery fruit. What more would you want?

road trip snacks to pack

14. No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch Bars  | Vegan Huggs

Five ingredients + fifteen minutes  = No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch Bars. A cross between a Rice Krispie treat and Nutty Buddy bars this portable snack is perfect for indulging any time of day.

🎒 Check out this Road Trip Packing List & tips too

road trip snacks to pack

15. Healthy Carrot Cake Protein Bars | Any Reasons Vegan

Carrot Cake Protein Bars are a perfect road trip snack made of carrots, dates and pistachios, a no bake dream. These nutritious bars are full of protein, vitamins and iron, but shhhhhh don’t tell the kids they’re healthy.

road trip snacks to pack

16. Peanut Butter, Banana Oatmeal Bars | My Plantiful Cooking

Peanut Butter, Banana, Oatmeal Bars have only three ingredients, are vegan and a wonderful on the go snack. Whether you are looking for breakfast to go, or a snack mid day these chewy moist bars will satisfy.

road trip snacks to pack

17. Two Ingredient Nutella Brownies  | Momma Lew

Two ingredient fudgy, rich nutella brownies will satisfy your sweet tooth. Cooked in a muffin tin, they are easy to transport wherever you travel. Sometimes you just need to indulge a little.

road trip snacks to pack

18. Homemade Granola Bars | Ottawa Mommy Club

Homemade granola bar recipe is slightly different as it does not contain any oats. It is also a great snack for when you are hungry, but want an alternative to store bought bars.

road trip snacks to pack

19. Oat and Honey Granola Bars | Healthy Life Trainer

Chewy No-bake Oat and Honey Granola Bars are quick and easy to prepare in under 15 minutes. They are loaded with wholesome ingredients such as oats, almond, honey, butter, and cranberries.

Homemade Road Trip Snacks – Cookies

Cookies! Now who can resist a delicious cookie especially homemade ones. They are portable, easy to make and pack, and can be full of nutritious and delicious add ins, so are ideal for road trips.

road trip snacks to pack

20. Anzac Biscuits | Mama Loves To Cook

Tap into a  tradition from Australia and New Zealand with some buttery, caramel flavoured Anzac Biscuits. These coconut oat cookies are quick and easy to make, travel well and last for ages.

road trip snacks to pack

21. Best Road Trip Breakfast Cookies | Boulder Locavore

The name says it all, but don’t be fooled by the title. You don’t have to be on a road trip or only eat them for breakfast. As the name suggests they are a great source of nutrition in a few bites without a crazy amount of sugar and processed ingredients. They pack a great amount of protein, fiber and essential fats into their two-bite form as well.

Two round Besan Ladoo cookies topped with nuts.

22. Besan Ladoo – Chickpea Flour Sweet Cookies | So Yummy Recipes

Make these chickpea flour  sweet treat balls for your next trip and enjoy them as your scrumptious sweets that offer an energy and protein boost.

road trip snacks to pack

23. Carrot Cake Breakfast Cookies | Just As Tasty

Combining two of my favourite things into one is heavenly. Carrot Cake Breakfast cookies are soft, bursting with flavour, and can be eaten as a snack any time of the day.

road trip snacks to pack

24. Flourless Chocolate Chip Cookies | Living Healthy With Chocolate

Amazing flourless,  gooey and  soft cookies, filled with chocolate chips that are super easy to make (and eat). This recipe is gluten-free, dairy-free, and Paleo with Keto and Vegan options.

Road Trip Snack Ideas – Sweet and Salty Recipes

If you are looking for healthier, homemade road trip snack ideas to replace the frequent stops at gas stations, and grabbing a bag of chips and pop, then this section is for you. 

Trail mix is a must bring travel snack for all our road trips, camping trips and adventures. Kids love it when you add a bit of smarties & gummy bears.

road trip snacks to pack

25. Smoky Trail Mix | Boulder Locavore

Snackers unite! Trail Mix is a perfect snack when on the go or for traveling. This version takes it up a flavor notch with smoked almonds as the central ingredient. The mix to sweet, salty and crunchy can’t be beat. If not a lover of the smoky almonds, regular almonds may be substituted.

road trip snacks to pack

26. Sweet and Salty Trail Mix | Neighbor Food

Curb your crunch craving with this sweet and salty trail mix. The beauty of homemade trail mix is you can mix and match your favourite nuts, seeds, dried fruits and extras to your liking.

road trip snacks to pack

27. Instant Pot Popcorn | Nourish Plate

This recipe just blew my mind. Popcorn in an instant pot is a brilliant idea. Cheap, easy to make, popcorn travels well and is a tasty snack, with many seasoning choices to try.

road trip snacks to pack

28. 3 Ingredient Popcorn Balls | Crave The Good

Delicious 3 ingredient popcorn balls are a sweet addition to your day. Technically the base recipe is 2 main ingredients, with customizable options. Popcorn + Honey + Seasonings = endless options for hand held snacks.

road trip snacks to pack

29. 5 Minute Cheese Snack Mix | Recipes From A Pantry

Need a quick last minute snack before heading out on your road trip? This 5 minute cheese snack mix will save the day. Plus it can also be used as last minute snacks for guests, holiday gifts, potlucks, so it’s a good one to keep in your back pocket. 

road trip snacks to pack

30. Snickerdoodle Muddy Buddies | The Short Order Cook

Chex sweet treat meets Snickerdoodle taste equals an addictive road trip snack. Plus it’s no bake, which is a bonus for prepping in the summer months.

road trip snacks to pack

31. Seasoned Ranch Pretzels  | Budget Delicious

Nothing says road trips more than a pack of pretzels. Take your snacking up a notch with ranch seasoned pretzels. If you aren’t a fan of ranch, not to worry there are many other variations you can try as well.

road trip snacks to pack

32. Slow Cooker Candied Nuts | Casserole Chrissy

Poppable, sweet and crunchy, these candied nuts make the perfect on-the-go snack, any time of year.  You can choose any combination of nuts that you like for a unique blend each time.

Need road trip ideas? Check out this One Day in Zion National Park or this 4 Day Itinerary in Acadia National Park , both are family friendly .

Easy Road Trip Snack Recipes: Dried Fruit & Veggie Chips

One of the simplest, whole food ways to prepare foods is by dehydrating. Dried fruit and veggie snacks make for some delicious crunchy, sweet and salty road trip snack ideas.

road trip snacks to pack

33. Easy Homemade Fruit Rollups | Amanda’s Cookin’

Plum fruit rollups have just 3 ingredients and are a fun and healthy snack that the whole family will love. Plus they’re easy to pack and carry around for all your family vacations.

road trip snacks to pack

34. Crispy Air Fryer Apple Chips | Recipes From A Pantry

Addictive, crunchy and healthy,  cinnamon apple chips are the next best thing to add to your road trip snack list. Using an air fryer cuts down dehydrating time to a fraction of what you need for the oven so makes this snack even easier.

road trip snacks to pack

35. Chewy Dried Bananas | Healthy Green Savy

Sometimes you just want something a little sweet with a chewier texture. Dried bananas do just this. It’s a great way to use up those fast ripening bananas on your counter, and have an easy road trip snack to bring with you. 

road trip snacks to pack

36. Dried Mango  | Masala Herb

Dehydrated mangoes can turn into a food obsession. They are super good and ridiculously easy to make from scratch.

road trip snacks to pack

37. Dehydrated Pears | Emily Fabulous

Dehydrated pears are so easy to make and are a healthy snack, that’s perfect for kids, adults anytime, anywhere. 

road trip snacks to pack

38. Oven Baked Beet Chips | Pink Fortitude

Crispy, curled beet chips, are a slightly sweet and salty chip alternative, that adds a little colour to your palate. Plus beets are high in vitamin C, fiber, potassium, protein, folate, and manganese, so you’re getting your vitamins and satisfying your crunchy salty tooth.

39. Baked Kale Chips | Healthy Green Savy

Kale chips are a delicious new fad, that I hope doesn’t go outta style. Kale chips are a great way to get your kids, or partners in to travel to eat more veggies. Easy to make and very addictive, they help curb your  salty-crunchy cravings. The only problem is trying not to eat them all right away. They may not make it into your car for the road trip.

Roasted Chickpea Snacks 

Roasted chickpeas are a crunchy, salty alternative to too many potato chips on the road. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy my salt n’ vinegar chips, but sometimes  you need something a little heartier that packs a protein punch.

Not to mention roasted chickpea snacks are vegan, full of fibre, iron and folate. 

road trip snacks to pack

40. Crispy Air Fryer Chickpeas | Little Sunny Kitchen

Crispy Air Fryer Chickpeas are spicy, crunchy, and packed with plant protein.  Using an Air Fryer makes sure that every single chickpea is perfectly crunchy.

41. Curried Air Fryer Chickpeas | That Girl Cooks Healthy

This easy to make recipe is packed with protein and flavour from herbs and spices. Plus they are easy to make in large batches, right in your air-fryer. The hard part will be not eating them all before you pack them away for your road trip.

42. Healthy Roasted Chickpeas with Seasonings | Amy Gorin Nutrition

If you don’t have an air fryer try this general roasted chickpea recipe  with over 10 seasoning options. Packed with all the tips you’ll need on how to make a grab-and-go chickpea snack that keeps it’s crunchy texture. 

Healthy Snacks for Road Trips: Muffin Recipes

I have a confession to make. Muffins are not my favourite. There I said it, don’t judge me too harshly. Mostly because I find commercially they are made too sweet, and taste more like cake. 

But muffins are super handy to have on hand for long (or short road trips), especially with kids. Which is why I often tend to make and pack savoury muffins or lean towards recipes that use alternatives to white sugar. 

We’ve rounded up some yummy, healthier road trip ideas with these muffin recipes to expand your snack offerings. My favourite “sweet” recipe is below:

43. Packed for Life’s Kid Favourite Muffin Recipe – The Best Banana Muffin Recipe

This is my favourite muffin recipe by Chocolate Covered Katie. I make it 2-3 times a month, and everyone I’ve fed them to have loved them.  So if you are looking for an easy recipe, you can’t go wrong with this one. 

Sweetened only with ripe bananas, easy to make, they are kid-friendly and delicious. To make them gluten-free I use GF oat flour, plus add my own spin by adding  ½ tsp to 1 tsp each of ground cinnamon, and  ginger and about  ¼ tsp of ground cardamom. 

I am excited to add some of these next sweet and savoury muffin recipes below to my regular muffin rotation.

Savoury Road Trip Muffin Recipes

road trip snacks to pack

44. Broccoli and Cheese Breakfast Muffins | End Of The Fork

Savoury muffins filled with broccoli and cheesy goodness. These muffins are delicious warmed up at breakfast time or for an on-the go road trip snack. Light, fluffy, fits in your hand and so easy to make, your kids can help you.  

road trip snacks to pack

45. Greek Breakfast Egg Muffin | Always Use Butter

Not just for breakfast, these greek egg muffins are packed with feta cheese, sun-dried tomatoes and black olives. Savoury goodness in a couple of bites, to fill your belly on the road.

road trip snacks to pack

46. Air Fryer Pizza Rolls | Crave The Good

Ok, so these are not technically a muffin, but air fryer pizza rolls would be soooooo good for a road trip snack, or an afternoon snack, or breakfast, or anytime really. Stretch, gooey mozzarella cheese, and delicious tomato sauce wrapped in pizza dough cooked to perfection in an air fryer, can’t be beat.

Road Trip Snack Ideas: Sweet Muffin Recipes

road trip snacks to pack

47. Peanut Butter Banana Muffins | Wholesome Family Living

Peanut Butter and Banana muffins are versatile, packed with protein, and are delicious any time of day. Plus this recipe makes a big batch, so whether you’re road tripping with hungry kids or friends, there will be more than enough to share.

road trip snacks to pack

48. Vegan Blueberry Lemon Muffins | Get Set Vegan

Not just for vegans! These Blueberry Lemon Muffins combine the best things, fresh berries and lemon for a moist, delicious portable snack.

road trip snacks to pack

49. Banana Pear Muffins  | Mrs. Jones’s Kitchen

Banana Pear Muffins will be  well loved by the kids in your life, big and small. With no added sugar, they are  naturally sweetened with banana and pear, and travel really well.

Healthy Road Trip Snacks: Granola & Overnight Oats Recipes

road trip snacks to pack

50. Cocoa Fig Granola | Healy Eats Real

Cocoa Fig homemade granola is a flavour explosion filled with crunchy clusters of chocolatey goodness.  Sugar free, paleo and vegan,  pack this granola snack for the road and don’t look back. It’s ok if you don’t want to share.

road trip snacks to pack

51. Cinnamon Vanilla Granola | Brooklyn Active Mama

Cinnamon Vanilla Granola is so full of dried cranberries, chia, flax seeds, nuts, and yummy goodness, this will quickly become your favourite on the go snack.

road trip snacks to pack

52. Chunky Peanut Butter Banana Protein Granola | My Plantiful Cooking

Peanut Butter and Banana is such a classic taste combo.This high protein granola is chunky, crispy & utterly delicious. Happens to also  be naturally vegan & gluten-free. A portable snack to have on hand. Grab a handful whenever you are feeling snacky.

road trip snacks to pack

53. Dark Chocolate Cherry Granola | Aspen On Main

Chocolate and cherry are such a classic taste combination, that this granola is sure to please even the crankiest of road trip companions. Naturally sweetened with maple syrup and includes other healthy ingredients like oats and flax seed, making it a great on the go snack with or without yogurt.

road trip snacks to pack

54. Banana Cinnamon Overnight Oats | Plant Powered Cooking

These banana cinnamon overnight oats are a  well-balanced, easy to pack and eat  breakfast that tastes like banana bread!

What I love about overnight oats are: 

  • They are easy to make even while on the road, as long as you have a few simple ingredients and a container. 
  • Versatile – don’t like bananas, switch them out for applesauce, or berries.
  • Can be eaten any time of day, not just for breakfast.
  • One of the best road trip snacks for kids as they can combine good fats, proteins, and other nutrients.

Road Trip Foods: Savoury Make Ahead Road Trip Snack Recipes

Sometimes you just want something a little more substantial than an energy bite, or a handful of trail mix. Take a look at these delicious, savoury make ahead road trip snack receipes. Easy to grab and eat as snacks on your next adventures.

road trip snacks to pack

55. Chicken Seekh Kabob | So Yummy Recipes

These succulent chicken seekh kebabs are delicious to have as they are. But you can have them rolled in tortilla wraps, naan bread, flatbread or just in hot dog buns. Making them easy to take with you for a quick snack or meal on the road.

road trip snacks to pack

56. Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken | Budget Delicious

Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken is the perfect recipe for making an appetizer or a road trip snack that will be well  loved by the whole family. 

road trip snacks to pack

57. Cheesy Smashed Chickpea Spread | Veeg

Looking for a protein packed, delicious spread to dip your veggies, pretzels, or crackers on the road? This cheesy smashed chickpea spread is just the ticket and it’s kid approved. 

road trip snacks to pack

58. Fresh Vegan Spring Rolls | Happy Kitchen

Fresh spring rolls with peanut sauce are a family favourite while being a healthy mess-free portable snack. Mix and match your favourite veggies, add in some tofu or tempeh if desired roll em’ up and away you go. 

If you are wanting a non-vegan version we usually add cooked prawns/shrimp to ours.  

road trip snacks to pack

59. Vegan Zucchini Corn Fritters | Happy Kitchen

Crispy, delicious and full of veggies such as zucchini and corn, these fritters are a perfect addition to your family road trip snack list.

road trip snacks to pack

60. Vegan Pinwheels | Get Set Vegan

If you are trying to avoid dairy, or just want to expand your recipe horizons, these vegan pinwheels are a great addition to your road trip. Full of beans, beets, avocado and veggies, these pinwheels  will provide a delicious on the go snack or lunch.

Six free road trip planner pages fanned out over colored background. Awesome road trips await. Never eat bad gas station food again. Check off all your bucket list goals. Be prepared so you can focus on what's important - having fun!. Grab it heree.

Conclusion: Road Trip Foods: 50+ Easy, Healthy Road Trip Snack Recipes

Whether you are heading out for a day trip or an epic week long family road trip up Vancouver Island, there are 50+ easy, healthy road trip snack recipes to inspire your vacation planning and taste buds.

Enjoy the journey while munching on these scrumptious yet nutritious bites that’ll keep your energy levels high and your taste buds satisfied.

So, buckle up, hit the road, and let these wholesome goodies fuel your wanderlust. Don’t forget to bring a cooler, and share your favorites with friends and fellow travelers. Because great snacks and epic road trips are always better together!

Happy snacking, explorers!

What’s your favourite road trip snack recipe? Let us know in the comments below, or connect with us on social media. We’d love to hear from you.

ROAD TRIP IDEAS & RESOURCES

Here are our favourite resources we use to research and book our trips. They offer competitive deals, and good customer service. Plus itineraries and more travel ideas for Acadia area: Bryce Canyon in One Day Tips for Zion National Park with Kids Road Trip Meals Ideas Big Sur Road Trip Itinerary Boston to Acadia: New England Road Trip —- 150 Car Conversation starters to beat boredom Essential road trip packing list Easy Toddler & Kid Road Trip Activities Simple ways to have a budget road trip RV Travel gift ideas Booking.com – Book your accomodations here. Excellent booking site for lowest lodging rates. VRBO – Book family friendly accommodations here, but no cleaning! Viator – Find & book even more experiences, tours & lessons world wide. Discover Cars – Make finding the cheapest or best car for your trip easy (worldwide) Going (Formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights) – Find cheaper flights Anything else? Check out our Family Travel Resources & Tips page

Packed for Life is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.ca.

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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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Thanks for some tasty options! I am really looking forward to being able to travel again one of these days! Pinning for later 🙂

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30 Best Road Trip Snacks That the Whole Family Will Love

Choose from sweet, salty, and healthy snacks.

road trip snacks

Every item on this page was chosen by a The Pioneer Woman editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.

It's been years since the entire Drummond clan took a proper family road trip, but Ree took the kids on lots of by-car adventures when they were younger, especially as part of homeschooling lessons. Ree got the kids in the car bright and early to avoid traffic, and would always make sure to pack a Thermos of hot coffee. "Mornings are my favorite part of the day to be on the road," she says. "Most people are just waking up, the roads are significantly less populated…coffee tastes better."

No matter where you're traveling this year, these road trip snacks will fuel you and your family through even the longest drives. Have a safe trip!

Angie's BOOMCHICKAPOP Sweet and Salty Kettle Corn

Angie's BOOMCHICKAPOP Sweet and Salty Kettle Corn

For the ultimate sweet and salty snack, try this kettle corn. It's made with 100% whole grains and is gluten free and non-GMO, so it's a snack you can feel good about!

JUSTIN'S Classic Gluten-Free Almond Butter Squeeze Packs

JUSTIN'S Classic Gluten-Free Almond Butter Squeeze Packs

Whether you're spreading it onto another snack like an apple (without any mess!) or enjoying it on its own, an almond butter squeeze pack is a great on-the-go snack.

CLIF BARS - Mini Energy Bar Variety Pack

These miniature energy bars are perfect for giving you a little boost when you're on the last leg of your trip. Buy this variety pack to find your favorite flavor.

Newtons Soft & Chewy Cookies Variety Pack

Satisfy your sweet tooth and skip the crumbs with a few Fig Newtons. This variety pack comes with fig and strawberry cookies.

Goldfish Crackers Big Smiles Variety Pack

Goldfish are always a crowd-pleaser. Get the variety pack so everyone in the crew can enjoy their favorite flavor!

Happy Bites 3 Flavor Covered Coffee Beans

When you need a little caffeine but can't stop for coffee, reach for these chocolate-covered coffee beans. Just be sure to keep them away from the kids. 😂

All the Snacks

Who says road trip snacks can't be fancy? Dress up your drive with a curated snack box filled with dried fruit, artisanal hard and chewy candies, popcorn, jerky, and more.

Garden Veggie Straws

The whole family can enjoy this snack, from toddlers to teens to adults. Try a fun flavor like Zesty Ranch to mix things up.

Goya Foods Plantain Chips

For a satisfying crunch without the crumble, try plantain chips. They're healthier than potato chips but still lightly salted for when you want something savory. These come in original and garlic flavors.

Organic Roasted Seaweed Sheets

Get your greens on the go with these roasted seaweed snacks. They're kid and parent-approved!

David Sunflower Seeds Original Jumbo Pantry Pack

Sunflower seeds are a truck-stop classic. Not only are they fun and easy to eat on the road, but they're also packed with vitamin E.

REESE'S Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Popped Snack Mix

Reach for this peanut butter-y snack mix when you want something sweet but more substantial than a candy bar. It's made with Reese's cups, pieces, and more!

Dried Mango Slices

Traveling with fresh fruit can be tricky—it's so frustrating to reach for a banana, only to find it smushed at the bottom of a bag. Plus, what do you do with that pesky peel when you're on the road? We recommend packing dried fruit for no-fuss snacking.

Fritos Scoops! Corn Snacks

Satisfy a salty craving with some simple corn chips. There's a reason they've stayed popular for more than 80 years. And if you're looking to dip, Scoops! will help you avoid a mess.

Jack Link's Beef Jerky

Ditch the carby snacks and opt for beef jerky when you're craving some protein. This family-sized bag is big enough to share!

Honey Nut Cheerios

Cereal is delicious even without milk. Fill a baggie with your favorite kind for a great on-the-go snack.

CraveBox Care Package

If you're heading on a cross-country road trip, one or two kinds of snacks might not cut it. So buy a wide variety instead! This CraveBox comes with a mix of 45 different salty and sweet snacks.

Great Value Mountain Trail Mix

Is the highway kind of like a trail for cars? Either way, this sweet and salty trail mix will satisfy your hunger on long trips.

YumEarth Organic Tropical Fruit Snacks

Who said fruit snacks are just for kids? These vegan and gluten-free gummies are great for the whole family—and they taste delicious, too!

Snyder's of Hanover Pretzels

Skip the plain salty pretzels that just leave you feeling parched. These twists are seasoned with a buttery blend of spices including onion, garlic, and pepper.

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The Road Trip Snack Hack You Need to See Before Your Next Trip!

Before you set out on your next traveling adventure, learn how to make a snackle box, an easy-to-pack charcuterie board road trip snack box for kids and adults! They are a fully customized travel kit for each person and filled with the best travel snacks for a stress-free vacation!

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Our extended family lives in Idaho and Wyoming, and we don’t. This means whenever we want to see them, we have to go on a road trip. When we lived in Utah, that meant a trip of about 4 hours one way. Now that we are in Arkansas that is a 20+ hour trip one way! 😩

But during these trips, we have found ourselves engaged in a snack war. With one bag of snacks, child 1 asks for a snack. Then child 2. Then child 3. Child 4 finally asks for some. All just in time for Child 1 to ask for more snacks. And so it continues round and round, for the entire trip. And Mom never gets a rest! I don’t know about you, but this mama gets pretty tired of being on snack duty for the entire trip.

❤️ Why You Will Love the Snackle Box

The Snackle Box is seriously the best traveling hack that will save your sanity and make traveling so much easier! Here are just a few of the benefits of using a snackle box for your next trip:

  • Easy road trip snack boxes  for kids!
  • Awesome travel snack kits  for adults! Yes, adults love these too!
  • Fully Customized  to each person.
  • Keep snacks compartmentalized  so it prevents your snacks from getting crushed or mixed together.
  • No more handing out snacks  – everyone already has their box for the trip.
  • Keeps snacks within a set portion  – less overeating on the trip.
  • No more big bags of snacks  to get squished, keep track of or tip over and make a mess. Each person is in charge of their own box.
  • Save money  – you can actually buy non-perishable snacks ahead of time in bulk, and fill up each snackle box before leaving. Then save the rest of the bulk snacks at home for another occasion or road trip.
  • Not just for traveling!  They make excellent snack boxes for a day at the beach, lake, park, movie night, or even for a birthday party activity!

I’ve tried ziplock bags. But all the snacks get crushed during the trip. I’ve tried a little lunch box, but all the snacks get mixed together and then the picky ones complain. Trust me, after we started using these travel snack kits, a  snackle box is SO MUCH EASIER  when you are traveling with kids!

🤔 What is a Snackle Box?

The term Snackle Box is a play on words between the words  Snack  and  Tackle  coining the term Snackle. 

Snackle boxes are a fun and creative way to serve snacks.  They are essentially portable charcuterie boards that can be made from any type of container with compartments. Most are made with tackle boxes, although I’ve also seen them made in bento boxes. Both are great options for snackle boxes because they are durable, easy to clean, and come in a variety of sizes.

To make a snackle box travel kit you only need a few items. And they are all very easy to get! Ready for this?

You need a  tackle box  or  bento box  and your favorite snacks! That is it! See I told you it was easy! For the best results, find a tackle box that lets you customize the size of the compartments.

Let’s dive deeper into the different ideas so you can make the best travel snack kit possible for you and your kids.

What type of box can I use for a snackle box?

There are many different types of boxes you can use to make a travel snack box. You can use a bento box or a  tackle box . I’ve seen both. Some are made out of metal and some are plastic. I prefer plastic simply because I don’t have to worry about rust after washing or loud noises when the kids drop them. You can get them in all kinds of sizes too!

You can find these tackle boxes all over like Amazon, Walmart, and hobby and craft stores. Don’t limit yourself to just the fishing section. Check out craft departments and look for craft, sewing, utility, etc storage boxes as these also work really well! 

Recently I just found this adorable  snack spinner  that would work also. It is so cute and little kids would really have fun with it.

🚨 SAFETY TIP!

When looking at a tackle box, check the bottom for a recycle symbol with a number in the middle. This number indicates the type of plastic material and whether or not it is safe to store food in.

If the number is 2, 4, or 5, the plastic is considered food-safe.

What should be in a snack box?

When I pack a charcuterie-style snack box I try to have a variety of snacks to cover all the bases. Fill your snack boxes with a variety of sweet, salty, healthy, and charcuterie foods. Include textures such as crunchy, chewy, creamy, and juicy. And don’t forget drinks! But above all, all snacks need to be finger food friendly!

Here is a great list of ideas to get you started:

Sweet Snacks

  • Homemade snickerdoodle cookies
  • Oatmeal Chocolate Chips cookies
  • Swedish Fish
  • Sour Patch Kids
  • Gummy Worms
  • Chocolate dipped Goldfish crackers
  • Twizzlers Trail Mix
  • Honey Maid Grahams
  • CHIPS AHOY!
  • OREO Cookies
  • NILLA Wafers
  • Mini Smore’s Popcorn Balls
  • Mother Goose Popcorn
  • Fruit Snacks
  • Chocolate candies like M&M’s or chocolate-covered raisins
  • Mini Marshmallows
  • Sweet Cereals that kids love to snack on like Lucky Charms or fruit loops
  • Homemade Breakfast cereal bars
  • Yogurt-covered pretzels
  • Granola bars
  • Animal crackers
  • Nerd Clusters
  • Licorish nibs

Salty Snacks

  • RITZ Crackers
  • WHEAT THINS Snacks
  • TRISCUIT Crackers
  • Goldfish Crackers
  • Cheese-It crackers
  • Kettle Corn
  • Jerky Strips
  • Veggie straws
  • Goldfish Trail Mix

Healthy/Charcuterie Snacks

  • String cheese
  • cubed cheese
  • Sliced meats
  • Peanut Butter Sandwich Bites
  • Celery Sticks
  • Apple Slices
  • Strawberries
  • Blueberries
  • dried fruit
  • sliced cucumbers
  • small tomatoes
  • broccoli florets

Drink Ideas to put in your travel snack kit

  • Juice boxes
  • Bottled water
  • Propel Flavor packet to add to water
  • Small chocolate milk

👩🏻‍🍳 How Do You Make A Snackle Box?

The very first thing you should do is thoroughly wash your tackle box with soap and water. And then dry it completely. it is essential that it is completely dry to keep your snacks fresh.

The great thing about using a tackle box is that many of them let you personally set up the dividers inside. So you can create custom cubbies of the perfect size. I always begin by making sure I have one spot that will fit a juice box and string cheese. If your chosen drink is too big for the snack box, that is alright. You can carry it separately and you don’t have to worry about a compartment to fit the drink.

Then insert the rest of the dividers to create individual compartments to the size you want.

When it comes to filling up the snack compartments, you have a lot of freedom here.

I like to give my kids choices in snacks when we travel. I like a balance of fun snacks and a little more health-conscious. And all snacks need to be finger food friendly.

Don’t forget a napkin or wet wipe of some kind. Traveling and snacks can get a little messy.

Fill in the various compartments with your kid’s favorite fruit and snacks.

For the younger kids like toddlers, you can simply create a small snack kit with a smaller utility box or the  snack spinner .

For the older kids, I let them put their own snack box together, picking their favorites from the choice platter I set out.

Once all the snack kits are completed, they can easily be snapped shut and packed up for the drive.

Easy as that! Now whenever the kids want a snack, they each have their own little easy snack box they can enjoy as they please.

Many times we have leftovers once the kids get their snack kits packed. There are three very easy options for the leftover treats.

  • Pack up the extra snacks in the luggage, and let the kids remake their trip snack kit for the drive home. For this option, you will need to make sure you have room in the luggage and probably need to keep them hidden while on vacation so they don’t all get eaten before you begin your trip home.
  • Store in the pantry for later.
  • Let the kids have an easy movie party or outdoor water party with friends before the road trip.

💡 Snackle Box Ideas

As I mentioned earlier, snackle boxes aren’t just for a car road trip. There are so many fun ways that you can use these snack boxes for kids and adults! Here are some popular ideas to get you started:

  • Road trips – obviously
  • Fishing trips
  • Picnic at the park
  • Airplane travel – just ensure the snacks you pack meet  TSA regulations
  • Day at the beach or lake
  • Sports tournaments
  • School extracurricular activities where your kids need to pack a snack
  • Church youth activity where your child needs to bring a snack
  • A day at the pool
  • A day hiking – this is if you are using a small bento or tackle box – remember to pack light.
  • A movie party – Have a snack station full of your favorite snacks for movie parties. Each person gets their own bento or tackle box and fills it up with their treats before the movie begins and then no one needs to get up to get more snacks! 
  • A Kids Party! This would be an excellent idea for an activity at a kid’s party. Have a station where each kid can make their own snackle box to take home! 

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YIELD: ONE SNACKLE BOX

Easy Customized Snackle Box Ideas

PREP TIME  15 minutes

ACTIVE TIME  5 minutes

TOTAL TIME  20 minutes

ESTIMATED COST  $10-20

  • 1 Tackle Box or Bento Style Box - Adjustable compartments recommened.
  • Napkin or wet wipe
  • String Cheese
  • Sweedish Fish
  • Other than your favorite snacks, a tackle box, and napkin - no other tools are required.

Instructions

  • Thoroughly wash the tackle box with mild soap and water
  • Allow to fully dry
  • Gather your favorite road trip finger food snacks
  • Insert the compartment dividers to create the sized compartments of your choosing
  • Add in a napkin or wet wipe along
  • Place your juice box in the largest box.
  • Add string cheese to the desired compartment
  • Add your favorite snacks into the appropriate compartment, keeping each one separate from the others.
  • Close the lid and latch tightly closed
  • Pack for the adventure

When selecting a tackle box, check the bottom for a recycle symbol with a number in the middle. This number indicates the type of plastic material and whether or not it is safe to store food in. If the number is 2, 4, or 5, the plastic is considered food-safe.

You can include perishable foods such as sliced meets if you have a way to keep the snackle box cool.

We advise including a mixture of sweet, salty, and healthy snack options.

You will want all foods included to be finger food friendly.

Pick the size of the tackle box that will fit your needs. A toddler will need a smaller tackle box or a snack spinner. A teenager or adult will probably enjoy a larger tackle box.

Do you love easy-to-make family friendly Crafts and DIY projects? Check out our  DIY Catalog  for more ideas! You can also subscribe to our  email newsletter  and follow Busy Creating Memories on  MSN ,  Pinterest ,  Instagram ,  Facebook  and never miss a new project!

IMAGES

  1. Easy Road Trip Snacks

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  2. 37 Road Trip Snacks You’ll Actually Like

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  3. Ultimate Guide to Packing Healthy Travel Food (Best Foods and Tips

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  4. Road Trip Snack Boxes-

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  5. Road Trip Packing, Road Trip Essentials, Road Trip Hacks, Packing List

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  6. 10 Road Trip Snacks to Pack For Your Next Trip

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COMMENTS

  1. The 38 Best Road Trip Snacks You Can Pack

    Caramel Chex Mix. This wonderfully crunchy snack is loaded with cereal, pretzels and nuts—and coated with a not-too-sweet brown sugar mixture. Pack this mix in resealable bags for easy eating while you're on the road. Go to Recipe. 23 / 39.

  2. 25 Best Road Trip Snacks to Keep You Fueled On Long Drives

    Snacks that pack protein and complex carbs are your allies. Try almonds, apples, bananas, whole grain crackers, or cheese. Drink plenty of water, too - staying hydrated keeps you alert. But dodge high-sugar snacks - they can lead to a quick energy burst followed by a slump.

  3. THE ULTIMATE ROAD TRIP FOOD LIST: 50 Scrumptious Travel Snacks

    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.

  4. The Best Road Trip Snacks 2024

    Nora Seaweed Tempura. $4 at Target. Credit: Target. This snack is a favorite for our editorial director Jo Saltz. Think of these savory seaweed snacks as a crunchy roll at your favorite sushi spot ...

  5. 21 Best Road Trip Snacks for Long Drives

    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.

  6. 75+ Easy Road Trip Snacks: Road Trip Food List

    From dried fruit to granola bars, here are some fun ideas for non-refrigerated road trip food to pack: Fruit; apples, blueberries, grapes, cherries. Fruit Leather. Dried fruit - dates, apricots, figs, mango. Granola Bars. Protein & Healthy Snack Bars. Trail Mix / Homemade Trail Mix.

  7. 30 Healthy(ish) Road Trip Snacks To Bring on Your Next Adventure

    Food that creates lots of crumbs or waste (e.x. crackers, pistachios) Powdery foods (e.x. Cheetos) Greasy or oily foods (e.x. olives) Foods with strong smells (e.x. some soft cheeses, bananas) Foods that can spoil on a dime (e.x. avocados) Food in excessive packaging.

  8. 25 Healthy Road Trip Snacks to Pack in Advance or Buy on the Drive

    12. Chia seeds or flax seed. Buy now: Organic Black Chia Seeds, $7, target.com. These snack ingredients require a little prep work. Plan on an overnight soak to make chia seed pudding for your road trip, pack flax seed crackers to go with hummus or avocado, mix either into overnight oats. Have fun with it.

  9. The Best Snacks for Road Trips

    Grasping for the few thin pieces that hold more powder than pretzel turns every bag into a treasure hunt. — Gabe Hiatt, Eater D.C. editor. Blue Diamond Almonds, Bold Wasabi & Soy: Those thin ...

  10. 37 Road Trip Snacks You'll Actually Like

    Great list of 37 delicious road trip snacks that are perfect to pack. Healthy snack ideas plus the classic sweet and salty snacks for road trips. Food is a big part of any successful road trip. No one wants to be stuck in a car with a hangry person! The key to great road trip snacks is packing food that won't make a mess and can travel well ...

  11. Road Trip Food List: Easy to Pack Meals & Snacks

    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 ...

  12. 10 Best Road Trip Snacks to Pack for Your Driving Adventure

    Buy Now: Ruffles Potato Chips, 40 for $14 at amazon.com. Buy Now: Takis Fuego, 3 for $19 at amazon.com. Buy Now: Haribo Peach Gummies, 12 for $24 at worldmarket.com. Tips & Advice Road Trips.

  13. 50+ Easy, Healthy Road Trip Snack Recipes: Road Trip Foods

    2. Dried Fruits Ladoo - Easy Energy Balls | Dassana's Veg Recipes. Dry Fruits Laddu is an easy, nutritious recipe of energy balls that are healthy and tasty. Packed with nutrients, good fats and fibre, these energy balls are made with dates, figs and various nuts. An ideal long road trip snack. 3.

  14. 44 Healthy Road Trip Snack Ideas

    Fruit snacks :: grab the organic ones if you can. Whole grain dry cereal. If you have some extra time before your trip, you can also whip up your own homemade goodies (some of which would also be great for breakfast-on-the-go): Muffins :: pick whole grains and keep the sugar content lower. Scones :: same as above.

  15. 30 Healthy Road Trip Snacks to Pack in the Car

    Tex-Mex Popcorn. Save money and time on your road trip with this quick and inexpensive snack. Tex-Mex popcorn is loaded with flavor, and you can make a big batch to last the entire trip. One cup contains just 44 calories, 3 grams of fat, 5 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber and 1 gram of protein. Go to Recipe.

  16. 25 delicious travel snacks for road trips and long flights

    Justin's peanut butter is naturally delicious, and each squeeze pack is gluten-free with 7 grams of protein. Each pack weighs 1.15 ounces, which means they're also a solid option for taking ...

  17. 30 Best Road Trip Snacks 2024

    Snyder's of Hanover Pretzels. $12 at Walmart. Credit: Walmart. Skip the plain salty pretzels that just leave you feeling parched. These twists are seasoned with a buttery blend of spices including onion, garlic, and pepper. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below. Keep hangry feelings at bay on any car trip with the best road trip snacks of 2024.

  18. 31 Best Healthy Road Trip Snacks (2021)

    Healthy sweet snacks to quench road trip cravings. 17. Oat bites: Oats are a great source of filling fiber and protein. Bobo's Oat Bites are vegan, gluten -free, and contain 2 grams each of ...

  19. 25 Best Road Trip Snacks—and They're Healthy!

    Justin's Squeeze Pack, Classic Peanut Butter. Nutrition per 1 container: 190 calories, 16 g fat (3 g saturated fat), 35 mg sodium, 7 carbs (5 g fiber, 2 g sugar), 8 g protein. Filled with protein, fiber, and only natural ingredients this squeeze pack is a great pick me up. Snag a piece of fruit to go with it, or if you're a huge peanut butter ...

  20. 50 Healthy Snacks for Your Next Epic Road Trip

    Tuna and crackers. Tuna is a great way to get a healthy dose of omega-3s, and the crackers are a great way to round out the snack with some complex carbs. 20. Guacamole with sliced bell peppers. Though chips and guac are a classic, chips are not the healthiest snack.

  21. 45 Easy to Make and Pack Road Trip Snacks

    Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies. Photo Credit: https://www.easyanddelish.com. These healthy oatmeal chocolate chip cookies are made with only 4 pantry ingredients in less than 30 minutes. They make the perfect pack and go snack for road trips that your kids will love. Continue Reading.

  22. The Road Trip Snack Hack You Need to See Before Your Next Trip!

    Keeps snacks within a set portion - less overeating on the trip. No more big bags of snacks to get squished, keep track of or tip over and make a mess. Each person is in charge of their own box.

  23. Easy to Pack Low Carb & Keto Road Trip Snacks

    Check out the best low-carb and keto road trip snacks, including store-bought and homemade snacks, to keep you going while on the road. Road trips are so much better when you've packed the right stuff, especially snacks for the long car ride. And if you follow a low-carb or keto diet, it's important to pack snacks that not only pack well, but ...

  24. A Comprehensive Guide To Packing For The Epic Journey On The Road To

    Here are some essential items to pack for a trip on the Road to Hana: Maps and Guidebooks: While there are GPS devices and smartphone apps available, it's always a good idea to have a physical map or guidebook of the Road to Hana. ... In addition to packing snacks and meals, it is also a good idea to bring along some extra utensils, napkins ...