15 Homemade Road Trip Snacks to Fuel Your Adventures (2024)

FAQs

What are good snacks for road trips? ›

I ALWAYS pack fresh fruit on any trip we go on, it's just so refreshing, healthy and really easy to snack on. Depending on the season, we love to pack strawberries, blueberries, grapes, watermelon, peaches or nectarines, apple slices, cantaloupe, kiwi and even dried fruit like raisins and cranberries.

Similar to carrots, grapes are a great option for when you are bored and want to eat something on the road. Healthy, clean, and easy to eat, grapes will help stave off the boredom. Just don't go overboard with the grapes — they do have a lot of sugar in them.

While potato chips were the road trip snack champion by a decent margin, there were quite a few other snacks that were the favorite of at least 2 states, including rice cakes, Combos, Sour Patch Kids, sunflower seeds, hummus, Flamin' Hot Cheetos, popcorn, and pork rinds.

Pre-Packaged Snacks – Chips, granola bars, mixed nuts, fruit snacks, or cookies are never a bad idea to have around. And they're portable! Pop them in a purse or fanny pack so you have snacks available wherever your travels may take you. Jerky/Meat Sticks – Affordable, easy to transport protein for the win!

Although every meal consumed behind the wheel poses a risk, some meals cause bigger distractions than others. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, hot coffee, tacos, hamburgers, fried chicken, jelly donuts and chocolate are on the list of top ten most dangerous foods to eat while driving.

More healthy options for a grab and go snack

Things like popcorn, sweet potato chips and dried fruit bars are strips can be great options. We love That's It bars and Just Bare apple chips.

Budgeting for Food

“On average, it costs about $4 per person per meal when doing the cooking yourself.” By using this cost estimate, you can get ahead on planning by multiplying $4 by the number of times a day you will be making meals at home, and multiplying that number by the number of days the trip will be.

Our staples include canned beans, tomatoes and vegetables as well as rice, eggs, cheese, tuna packets, soup, energy bars, fruit, and carrots. We always have a few special treats like chocolate to snack on while driving or camping that make us feel more at home.

How to travel with food in a car? ›

Prevent Food from Sliding in the Back Seat

Collect your yoga mats or extra drawer liners before you place any dishes in your car. Line a trunk, or back seat, with these no-slip materials to keep food from slipping and sliding when you hit the interstate.

Look for options with more vegetables, such as salads, stir fries, sandwiches, wraps or soups. Try lean protein choices such as turkey chili, chicken kebobs, bean burritos, pea soup, quinoa or lentil salad, steamed edamame (soybeans), grilled tofu, or fish.

Some easy-to-eat car-friendly foods include sandwiches, wraps, cut-up fruits and vegetables, granola bars, trail mix, and pre-portioned snacks like cheese sticks or yogurt cups.