road trip must eat food

THE ULTIMATE ROAD TRIP FOOD LIST: 50 Scrumptious Travel Snacks

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Ultimate Road Trip Food List

Healthy snacks for a road trip

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

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

Essential Road Trip Snacks

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

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

Road Trip Snacks For Kids And Toddlers

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

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

Essential Non Food Items

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

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

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

Best Road Trip Coolers

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

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

Yeti Roadi 24 Cooler

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

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

Igloo MaxCold Cooler

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

Arctic Zone Titan Deep Freeze

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

Yeti Tundra 45

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Road Trip Food List: Easy to Pack Meals & Snacks

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Table of Contents

Road Trip Food List: Breakfast

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

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

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

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

Road Trip Breakfast Ideas

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

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

Road Trip Food List: Lunch

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

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

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

Road Trip Lunch Ideas

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

Road Trip Food List: Dinner

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

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

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

Road Trip Dinner Ideas

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

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

Road Trip Food List: Snacks

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

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

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

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

Road Trip Snacks Ideas

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

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

Travel Snacks for Toddlers

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

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

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

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

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

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

9 Essential Tips For Traveling With Food

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

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

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

2. Every family needs an organized packing strategy !

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This prevents build-up and smelliness.

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

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

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

*Before leaving, be sure to check our  Travel Resources Page  to find our exclusive travel discounts and to book hotels, rental cars, and guided tours.*

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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Travel Tips and Trivia

Last Updated: February 21, 2024

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

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

Danny Newman

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

You’ve planned the route.

You’ve made your road trip playlist.

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

But what should you take?

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

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

Heads up, this post contains affiliate links.

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

You might also like these:

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

Food for Road Trips: The Essentials

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

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

1. Peanut butter (100% peanuts)

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

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

2. Bananas &/or apples

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

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

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

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

3. Oats/Oatmeal

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

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

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

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

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

5. Pita bread, bagels, or tortilla wraps

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

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

They’re versatile too.

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

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

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

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

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

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

6. Crackers

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

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

7. Tinned legumes/pulses

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

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

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

Tins of pre-cooked lentils are great as well.

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

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

8. Spices, herbs, salt & pepper

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

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

I always pack:

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

9. Plant-based milk

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

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

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

10. Sauces (ketchup, mustard, BBQ…)

Sauces serve the same purpose as the herbs and spices.

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

11. Olive/coconut oil

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

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

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

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

Road trip foods for Breakfast

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

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

12. Oats (whole or rolled)

13. Dry cereal

14. Peanut butter (& banana) bagel/crackers

15. Sliced bread + topping of choice

16. Fresh fruit

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

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

19. Sweet/savoury muffins

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

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

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

Best Lunchtime Food for Road Trips

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

21. Leftovers!

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

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

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

22. Pita pockets/tortilla wraps

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

23. Filled sandwiches/bagels

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

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

24. Premade falafel & salad

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

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

25. Mixed salad

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

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

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

26. Hard-boiled eggs

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

27. Veg & dips

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

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

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

Food to Pack for a Road Trip: Dinnertime

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

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

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

28. Chicken salad

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

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

29. Lentil Dahl

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

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

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

30. Lentil Bolognese/Pasta

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

31. Veggie Curry

Veggie curry is one of my favourite travel meals.

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

Eat with rice for another hearty, healthy meal.

32. Stuffed Tortilla/Pita Bread

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

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

33. Bean Burrito

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

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

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

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

36. Stir Fry

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

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

Want to make it even quicker?

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

36. Burger & Salad

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

37. Cold Pizza

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

38. Eat Out!

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

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

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

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

Quick & Easy Road Trip Food Ideas

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

These five options should help:

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

40. Peanut butter & jelly/banana sandwiches

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

42. Pita bread/tortillas wraps with varied fillings

43. Eat your leftovers

Good Road Trip Food for Snack Time!

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

Check these out:

44. Dried Fruit

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

45. Fresh Fruit

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

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

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

47. Trail Mix

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

48. Potato Chips

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

49. Dark Chocolate

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

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

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

51. Granola/Protein Bars

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

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

52. Beef Jerky

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

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

Tips for Packing Road Trip Food

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

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

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

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

i) Use a cooler

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

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

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

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

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

ii) Make sure packages are watertight

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

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

iii) Separate meals before you go

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

Imagine having a chicken salad for dinner.

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

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

iv) Take the right food

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

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

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

v) Separate your stuff into different boxes/bags

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

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

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

This worked well for me for two main reasons:

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

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

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

Road trip Food Tips & Ideas

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

1. Use free water refill stations whenever possible

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

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

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

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

2. Collect & stash napkins in the glovebox

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

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

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

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

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

4. Don’t open the cooler too much

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

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

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

5. Cook double quantities at dinner

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

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

Food for Road Trips: Gear Ideas

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

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

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

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

1. Cooler/Coolbox

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

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

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

–> Check out this Yeti Cooler on Amazon!

2. Cooking Equipment

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

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

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

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

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

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

–> Check out this Coleman cooker on Amazon!

3. Plates, bowls, cutlery…

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

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

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

–> Check out this camping crockery set on Amazon!

4. Insulated Flask (Growler)

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

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

–> Check out this Stanley growler on Amazon!

5. Food storage containers/bags

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

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

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

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

–> Check these Rubbermaid tupperware containers out on Amazon!

6. Mini-Fridge

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

A mini-fridge.

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

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

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

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

Don’t Forget This Road Trip Food List!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Healthy road trip snacks, homemade road trip snacks.

• High energy foods on the go

Road trip snacks for kids

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

• Essential supplies you’ll need

Best road trip food

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here’s the list of healthy road trip snacks

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

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

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

High energy foods on-the-go

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kid-friendly road trip snacks:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Anyways, back to best meals for road trips:

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

More snacks to pack on-the-go

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More supplies for your car

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

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

Road trip food – that’s a wrap!

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

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

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

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

Wednesday 12th of May 2021

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

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

Tuesday 11th of May 2021

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

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

Awesome list! I definitely saved on Pinterest for later 😊

Glad you got some inspiration from this list! :)

Sunday 22nd of November 2020

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

Monday 23rd of November 2020

Thanks - glad you found it helpful!

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

Oh yes Jiayi! They're so good!!

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The Ultimate Road Trip Food Packing List

April 7, 2021 //  by  Follow Me Away //   Leave a Comment

If you are planning a road trip anytime soon, then you are probably looking for some ideas for delicious and healthy road trip food. You have come to the right place for yummy ideas! We have created lists organized by each meal of all our favorite road trip foods.

Packing your own food for a road trip is a great idea for multiple reasons. For one, it is a healthier choice. You don’t want to be bogged down by fast-food calories. Eating healthier on the road will help you feel good.

Also, bringing your own meals saves money because you will not have to eat out all the time. You’ll save time too since you won’t be stopping every few hours for your next meal.

There will also be less waste and trash build-up in your car from fast food wrappers, so it is a good environmental choice as well.

Besides, you want to spend your road trip looking for beautiful sights , not keeping an eye out for the next exit sign with the best restaurant choices. Having all your meals planned out ahead of time helps to make the rest of your trip less stressful. Food will be one less thing to worry about.

Okay, clean out your cooler and get your grocery list ready! It’s time to meal plan for a road trip! Keep reading for some of the best food for road trips.

Table of Contents

Quick Tips For Road Trip Food

Keep the cooler cold.

It might seem obvious, but it worth reminding you of how important it is to keep your cooler cold, especially on a long trip. To help with this, make sure to only open your cooler when necessary. By opening it as little as possible, you help to keep that cold air inside and prevent the ice from melting.

It helps to know exactly what you plan on taking out before you even open the lid. That way you can get what you need quickly without having the cooler open for long. Keep the contents organized so you know where everything is.

Also, consider putting your ice on top of the food instead of on the bottom. This way the cold air will move down and keep your food colder more efficiently.

Pack With Care

How you pack your road trip food plays a big role. You need to make sure everything is organized by how likely it is to get smashed. Softer foods go on top and away from anything that might shift and smash it.

Overall, consider packing snacks that won’t get crushed. Things will move around as you drive and you don’t want to open a bag of crackers and find only crumbs.

Another thing to keep in mind is where you put your cooler and food containers in your car. If they are far in the back, you won’t be able to easily reach them without having to stop. Make sure they are within arm’s length and also out of direct sunlight.

Don’t Bring Delicate Foods

Going along with the last point, you might want to consider leaving more delicate foods such as certain fruits at home. If not, eat them first before they get smashed or go bad.

Also, think about alternatives to certain foods. For instance, tortillas for wraps take up less space than a loaf of bread and also won’t get crushed.

Use a Filtering Water Bottle

Instead of bringing a pack of single-use water bottles, bring along a few reusable water bottles. These of course take up less space and are better for the environment.

Also, consider using a filtering water bottle specifically. These water bottles will keep your water tasting fresh and clean, even when you have to fill them up at the gas station.

Use Two Coolers

Using two coolers will not only help you pack more food, but you will also be able to keep things more organized. One cooler can be used as your fridge and the other as your freezer. Use big ice blocks to keep things super cold in the freezer.

Avoid Too Much Sugar

Sugar is bad not only because it is unhealthy but also because of its effects. Too much sugar will lead you to feeling tired and sluggish, which is not want you want while on a fun road trip.

We’ve tried to list healthy road trip food options that are low in sugar, especially highly processed food. If you start to crave sugar try something with natural sugar like fruit.

Use Condiment Packets

Big bottles of ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise take up a lot of space, plus they need to be refrigerated after they are opened. Instead, try stocking up on individual condiment packets.

These packets can be stowed easily and won’t take up precious space in your cooler. Plus you can use just as much as you need, and you won’t be left with a bunch of half-full bottles.

Pack Non-Food Essentials

Along with food, you need to remember to pack all of the essentials that go with road trip food. Napkins and wet hand wipes will keep you clean before and after you eat.

Pack plastic or bamboo utensils that can easily be wiped clean and stored after use. Travel-worthy bowls won’t let food go flying with the movement of the car. Garbage bags will keep your car clean from litter and can easily be disposed of at a pit stop once they are full.

Another helpful thing to bring is a plastic cutting board. You can use this as a makeshift counter to prepare your food.

For any leftovers, use airtight containers to keep your food fresh. These containers are also more stackable. Alternatively, Ziplock bags might fit more snugly in your cooler.

Road Trip Breakfast Ideas

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and can really set your attitude for the rest of the morning. You want to eat a healthy road trip breakfast that will keep you going.

Foods like whole grains and nuts will keep you energized. Plus, they are better in the long run than a greasy breakfast sandwich from McDonald’s every day.

Yogurt makes a great starting point for a healthy road trip breakfast. Choose ones that have low sugar and are non-dairy to make it even healthier. The great thing about yogurt is how you can customize it. Mix in granola and fruit to add even more flavor.

You can make your own healthier version of an Egg McMuffin by using hard-boiled eggs and precooked, turkey bacon. Or try a filling bagel with cream cheese and jam.

If you like to bake, you can make some banana bread or blueberry muffins for a delicious road trip meal. These will keep better than the fruit alone as well.

If traveling with younger kids, a bag of dry cereal like Cheerios could satisfy.

• Hard-Boiled Egg and Bacon on English Muffin
• Fruit Such as Bananas, Strawberries, and Blueberries
• Bagels with Cream Cheese and Jam
• Croissants with Nutella
• Homemade Banana Bread

Road Trip Lunch Ideas

When lunchtime rolls around, you will want something a little more filling than breakfast. You can prepare road trip meals before you leave on your trip. Or you can bring ingredients that can easily be put together in the passenger seat.

Mix a salad in a Mason jar for easy packaging and consumption later. Use a Thermos to keep soup warm for the first leg of your journey or eat it cold later.

• Vegetable Wraps
• Pre-Made Salad or Salad in a Jar
• Soups in a Thermos
• Pre-Cut Summer Sausage, Cheese, and Crackers
• Ham and Cream Cheese Pinwheels
• Smoked Fish on Crackers

Road Trip Sandwich Ideas

Sandwiches are such a go-to easy lunch idea, why not create a list specifically for them? Not all sandwiches have to be the same and there are so many ways to make them with different ingredients.

You can make these sandwiches traditionally with bread or mix it up by rolling the ingredients up in a tortilla. Premade salads such as egg or chicken are great on bread, just add some lettuce. You can also use single packets of tuna that do not need to be refrigerated.

• Peanut Butter and Jelly
• Chicken Salad
• Hot Dog Sandwich
• Pizza Sandwich with Pepperoni and Cheese
• Cucumber With Cream Cheese
• Peanut Butter, Banana, and Honey

Best Road Trip Snacks

The road trip snacks you choose can really make or break your trip. You will want to bring snacks you like. Healthy road trip snacks will leave you feeling good physically and mentally.

Also, bring a variety of snack types so you won’t get bored of what you are munching. Have a mix of salty and sweet so you have the best road trip snacks for whatever you are craving.

There are so many healthy and organic choices for snack foods these days that this road trip food category is easy to prepare for. Most of these ideas can easily be bought off the shelf and packed as they are.

If you want to keep portions small, open your bags and boxes of snacks and separate them into smaller containers. This helps if you have kids, too, since then each kid will have their own treat.

Another tip if you have kids is to have them help prepare the snacks ahead of time. They can help make the no-bake bars and cookies or dip pretzels in melted chocolate. This will make them excited to try their creations and give them something to look forward to during the ride.

• String Cheese
• Clementine Oranges
• Pita with Peanut Butter and Chocolate Chips Rolled Up
• Goldfish Crackers
• Homemade Trail Mix
• Healthy No-Bake Energy Bars or Cookies
• Carrot Sticks
• Celery With Peanut Butter
• Bell Pepper Slices With Veggie Dip

Best Road Trip Meals For Dinner

Your road trip dinner should be easy to make and healthy as well. This is where meal prep comes in the most. Of course, you can’t cook while on the road, but there are plenty of road trip meals that you can eat cold.

Do some cooking before your trip so you are prepared to feed your family on the go. Things like soup, salad, and pasta are easy to make and come in so many varieties. They also keep well and can be easily stored in Tupperware.

Your meals do not have to be complicated to be good. Keep it simple! Pita and veggies dipped in hummus, for example, takes little prep and is a healthy road trip food idea.

• Hearty Soups
• Hearty Salads
• Pasta Salad or Cold Pasta
• Potato Salad
• Pita with Hummus
• Pre-Cooked Chicken for Wraps or Salad
• Pre-Made Pulled Pork on Buns

Best Drinks For A Road Trip

Road trip drinks are important in keeping you hydrated. Options like coffee and tea will keep you energized for hours behind the wheel. You will want healthy drinks to keep your calorie intake low when you are sitting for hours.

Consider the vitamins you can get from your drinks as well. Be mindful of what you are allowing into your body. Try making some health smoothies ahead of time or buy some bottled ones at the health food store.

Of course, water is the best choice health-wise. Plus it is free to fill up almost anywhere. Freeze your water bottles the night before so you can enjoy cold water throughout the day as it melts.

If riding in the car makes you queasy, try drinking ginger tea to settle your stomach.

• Pre-Made Herbal Tea
• Cold Matcha Tea
• Fruit Juices
• Healthy Smoothies
• Water with Refillable Water Bottles

At the end of the day, you will want road trip food that will keep you both happy and healthy. Overloading on a bunch of sugary food while sitting in the car for long stretches might not make you feel good about your choices. However healthy road trip snacks are great tasting and good for your body.

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

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

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

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

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

Road trip food

Everyone has different road trip strategies and traditions.

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

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

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

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

How to store your road trip food

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

A few tips on coolers:

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

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

Road Trip Breakfast Ideas

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

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

Road Trip Lunch Ideas

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

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

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

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

Road Trip Dinner Ideas

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

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

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

Road Trip Snack Ideas

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

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

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

Road Trip Desserts and Treats

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

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

Don’t forget to Bring…

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

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

Road Trip Food Tips

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

Benefits of packing your own food for a road trip

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

It’s more cost-effective

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

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

It saves time

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

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

It’s often healthier

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

Easier to Accommodate Preferences and Dietary Restrictions

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

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

Cream Cheese and Raisin Bread Sandwich Recipe

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

Ingredients

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

Instructions

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

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

Final Thoughts

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

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

Other posts you might be interested in:

How to Have a Successful Road Trip with a Toddler

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

7 Essential Tips for Road Tripping with a Baby

30 of the Very Best Travel Activities for Kids!

Related Posts:

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

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

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

Comments are closed.

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The Ultimate Cross-Country Road Trip Itinerary: 6 Days of the Best Food in America

After driving across the country too many times, I think I've found the absolute best, most delicious road trip ever. Pennsylvania Dutch classics, a crawfish boil along the Gulf Coast, and the best tacos in San Diego—this one has it all.

As the contributor of many of Food & Wine's comprehensive Best Of lists, designed to highlight and celebrate all aspects of American food and drink culture, David spent much of a typical year traveling on assignment. Besides having lived in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Seattle and San Francisco, he visited each of the 50 states many times over, often for extended periods of time, revisiting at least half most years.

So you're driving cross-country, or thinking about it—congratulations. Now, which route to take? The country is enormous, there is so much to see, and there are so many ways to accomplish one of the most memorable domestic adventures you will ever embark upon, there is just enough choice to spoil you—selecting the right path can be a challenge. The most popular routes may appear to be quite similar to one another, in terms of time and mileage, and yet each of these epic road trips offers a wholly unique experience.

Boston to the Bay Area , Los Angeles to Philadelphia —you may begin anywhere, and chances are it's all going to be great. After making the trip enough times during the last twenty years that I've lost count, my personal preference would easily be somewhere in northern Florida to anywhere in Southern California, hugging the Gulf Coast, taking in the whole of Texas, and a great deal of the Southwest. The trip is somewhat shorter than you might expect, a reasonable 34 hours, and the food along the way is, for the most part, excellent.

Many more travelers are likely to choose a route beginning in the Northeast, however, and that's perfectly fine—the drive between the New York City area and Southern California can be accomplished in just 41 hours if you don't dawdle, and it is generally agreed that you can do this in five days time, with a little more than eight hours on the road, each day. I've done the trip in four days, and I don't recommend it, not that five could be called leisurely; if you're making trip for fun reasons, six days is the sensible move. Not long enough to take up more than a week of your time, but with just enough extra padding in the itinerary to give you a better feel for all that ground you're covering.

Following a great deal of trial and error, my ideal New York-California adventure begins in or around New York City, and takes me to San Diego, but with a considerable twist on the usual endurance drive across the Midwest, no offense to any of the states along I-80 intended. By adding just four hours to the base total of 41, I can turn my itinerary into a movable feast, sampling some of the country's most spectacular regional cooking. Those with time to spare might spend weeks covering the highlights; for the rest of us, I've mapped out a six-day, five-night adventure you won't soon forget, with as much good food as possible along a relatively efficient route. Safe travels.

45 hours of driving

3,140 miles

Approximately 520 miles (8.5 hours) per day

Day 1: New York to Bristol, TN (596 miles)

In a perfect world, you'd have all the time you needed to wind your way through the Mid-Atlantic, home to one of the country's strongest regional food cultures, and it all kicks off pretty soon after the New York City skyline disappears from view. But you've got an entire country to get across, so you'll likely leave Philadelphia, or the smorgasbords and farms of Lancaster County for another, more targeted adventure, instead heading straight for Pennsylvania's state capital, Harrisburg. Less than three hours from your chosen Hudson River crossing, and you'll be walking the aisles of the historic Broad Street Market , one of many historic public market halls still serving so many communities around the region, offering up an array of fresh produce, a selection of food as diverse as the city itself, plus all of those Amish Country favorites, like whoopie pies, shoo-fly pies, and extremely buttery soft pretzels, straight from the oven.

Stock the car with enough snacks to power you well into Virginia on I-81, where each town and city along the way offers at least one powerful lure from the highway, from the sensational house hams at the vintage Fulks Run Grocery, fifteen minutes from Exit 257, to the accessible, Jewish-influenced Southern cooking at The Shack in handsome old Staunton, to the port-in-a-storm Lexington Coffee Roasters, found next to a still-operating drive-in movie theatre near Exit 195. You'll need the jolt by then, to power you through to today's finish, the fast-growing Tri-Cities region, located along the Virginia-Tennessee line; this is the proud home of one of the more unique regional fast food finds you'll come across on your journey, the quirky-delicious Pal's Sudden Service . It's the best burger joint you've probably never heard of .

Day 2: Bristol, TN to Mobile, AL (620 miles)

Today is all about compromise—you'll need to make tracks for the Gulf Coast, but there's temptation aplenty along the way, and you'll have to make choices, difficult choices, and you'll also need to make sure to conserve some energy for the days ahead. Will it be a morning walk in the lower regions of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the worthiest of detours, or a leisurely buffet breakfast with all the trimmings at Dollywood's DreamMore Resort in nearby Pigeon Forge, or even a coaster or three (and those terrific beans and greens, accompanied with perfect skillet cornbread) next door at Dollywood proper? Then of course there's everything to eat in Knoxville , right along the highway, or memorable lunches around the lazy susan at Bea's Restaurant, a vintage treasure buried in a part of Chattanooga they don't typically tend to tell visitors about, and Birmingham, home to one of the South's most satisfying food scenes, even if it all feels something like a well-kept secret.

From famed Greek-influenced meat-and-three restaurants like Bright Star and Johnny's, to Alabama barbecue (with all the white sauce you can handle) at Saw's, to standout coffees at Domestique , and even Nashville hot chicken at Hattie B's and Carolina-style whole hog at Rodney Scott's BBQ, there's a little bit of everything here for you to try, before you power through your last long stretch of the day. If they're still open by the time you pass through, pay tribute to Alabama's favorite sausage, the smoky, delicious Conecuh , at the very highway-adjacent factory store in Evergreen, but make sure to save room for your first bites of Gulf seafood in Mobile . Opt for the new South cooking at The Noble South, or Southern National, or go with the crowd-pleasing, waterfront Felix's Fish Camp for baked oysters and crab soup. Either way, you'll not go hungry, and if you can, get your hands on some of the region's sweetly delicious royal red shrimp, a well-earned reward for making it here from New York in just two days.

Day 3: Mobile, AL to Houston (493 miles)

Alabama and Mississippi certainly have their selling points, chief among them their respective Gulf Coast frontages—diminutive, certainly, but packed with interest, and depending on how fast you'd like to get to New Orleans, which is absolutely something you'll want to think about, you might hop off of I-10 at artistically-inclined (and very charming) Ocean Springs for a look around, for barbecue at The Shed, for delicate savory biscuits, pimento cheese, and terrific coffees at the Green House on Porter, or a melt-on-the-tongue twist at the long-running TatoNut, where they famously use potato flour in their donuts. You're this close to one of the highlights of the trip, however, so don't eat too much—less than two hours away in New Orleans, you'll have to make some very difficult choices regarding what to eat. And while you could certainly go for the classics—turns out, the muffuletta at Central Grocery in the French Quarter might be even better a few hours after you buy it—the more road-trip friendly Mid-City section of town is packed with worthy stops.

There's Food & Wine Best New Restaurant 2019 Piece of Meat, a carnivore's dream for charcuterie plates and boudin egg rolls and ribs and so much more, all in a casual setting in the middle of a working butcher shop; across the street, there's the come-as-you-are Neyow's, one of the city's best Creole restaurants right now, with chargrilled oysters and red beans and rice and all the barbecued shrimp you can eat. Hungry for a crawfish boil? Around the way, there's the excellent, very casual Bevi's Seafood , a couple of doors down from Angelo Brocato's, one of the country's finest historic Italian bakeries, where the gelato (try the zuppa inglese) is just about as good as it gets, in these parts. But you're not done with Louisiana, not—in Baton Rouge, hop off the highway for sticky and strong cafe au lait, and those delicate beignet fingers (why isn't everybody doing this?) at the old school Coffee Call , and make sure to find room in your heart (and your stomach) for the delicious smoked boudin at Johnson's Boucaniere in Lafayette, just one highly-recommended stop in a region where the streets are nearly paved with the stuff. Once you cross into Texas, everything changes; austere Beaumont isn't typically known as a barbecue capital, but it's home to one of the state's most unique smoked meat traditions—the beef link. Today, you'll try one at the deceptively humble Patillo's Bar-B-Q , one of the oldest barbecue restaurants in the entire state—the hot link, redolent with garlic, is the very definition of #uglydelicious, but be careful—besides the fact that cutting into one can be messy business, you'll also likely start craving the things, and trying to figure out ways to get back to Beaumont for another hit. For now, you've got more important things on your mind, such as how to make the most of a too-short visit to Houston, now the fourth largest city in the country and home to one of the country's most dynamic food cultures this side of Southern California.

Julie Soefer

There are so many ways you can play this—barbecue fans should dive straight into the city's suddenly explosive scene, from the melting-pot vibes at Blood Brothers to stellar brisket at Pinkerton's; then there are Houston's favorite chefs, like Chris Shepherd, whose Georgia James is one of the country's most exciting steakhouses right now, or his neighborhood bistro-like UB Preserv, where Momofuku alum Nick Wong is at the helm and doing some very interesting things. There's Hugo Ortega, whose Xochi celebrates Oaxaca, there are worth-a-journey bars like Nancy's Hustle and Goodnight Charlie's, Vietnamese-Cajun feasts at Crawfish & Noodles, spicy fried chicken with a South Asian-twist at the idiosyncratic Himalaya Restaurant, or the most glamorous dim sum in the country, perhaps, at London-transplant Yauatcha, at the Galleria. Think of this more as a fact-finding mission, because you will be back.

Day 4: Houston to Fort Stockton, TX (506 miles)

Breakfast in Houston could take you anywhere on the planet, really, but after last night, a restorative bowl of something delicious could be just the thing—head down to Bellaire for Pho Dien, before waving goodbye to the green east and hello to San Antonio, just a couple of hours and a world away—come hungry, because you've got an incredible amount to eat, and if timing allows, you should begin at one of the best barbecue joints in Texas right now, 2M Smokehouse . Try the unusual and delicious house sausages, the typically exemplary brisket, sides of cactus salad, or macaroni and cheese with chicharrones , but save a small amount of room for a portion of the house specialty at the equally worthy Carnitas Lonja , and if you can eat anymore, anything at all, a stop at Tex-Mex legend Garcia's Mexican Food, though most reasonable people will by then be ready for a coffee and one of the most delicate conchas of all time at the modern La Panaderia, with two locations to serve you on your way out of town.

If you're on schedule, detour through the Hill Country, one of the country's most underrated wine regions, dotted with charming towns and villages, most notably Fredericksburg, which trades heavily on its German heritage; head due west and eventually you'll end up at I-10, on the doorstep of wild and woolly West Texas, for the last leg of your day. Bed down in surprisingly charming Fort Stockton, or go the extra mile for the Marfa experience (though Alpine is equally memorable, just with a very different, more comfortable feel, and one of the only great barbecue joints in West Texas, the new and promising Smokehouse BBQ).

Day 5: Fort Stockton, TX to Tucson (558 miles)

For those who've been waiting for wide open spaces, this is your big day—nearly eight hours of nothingness, or something close to it, with one very big city, right in the middle. El Paso's remote setting—a space shared with the equally mighty Juarez, just across the Rio Grande—has helped to create one of the most unique cultures in the already fascinatingly different border region. Sitting down to eat is the best way to acclimate, preferably at the vintage-as-they-come H&H Car Wash, founded half a century ago by a Syrian immigrant family, serving up everything from huevos rancheros to Chile rellenos in a no-fuss environment (yes, it's actually a car wash, as well). There's no place quite like it, and it should be experienced at least once, but so should the slightly more genteel L&J Cafe, serving up exemplary enchiladas, sizzling fajita platters, worthy chile con queso and some great soups, too. Known as the "old place by the cemetery," they've been at it since the 1920s, so they've had plenty of practice. Hungry for one last bite of barbecue? You used to take your chances around here, on that front—with the opening of Desert Oak BBQ not very long ago, El Paso is now making a name for itself (finally!) as a home to quality brisket. (Helpfully, it's right on your way into town.) On the other side of things, as you head north into New Mexico, skip the freeway and make your way toward Las Cruces on the very scenic back roads that parallel the Rio Grande, all the way up to historic Mesilla—along the way, Chope's Cafe in tiny La Mesa is a solid bet for a New Mexican meal; enchiladas in red chile (though feel free to ask to try the green, as well), chips and their fiery, fresh house salsa, plus puffy sopapillas for dessert.

Day 6: Tucson to San Diego (407 miles)

The crusty birote is a humble thing, by all appearances, it is a traditional, Guadalajara-style roll made with beer malt and lemon, and when you eat one fresh out of the oven at Tucson's Barrio Bread, there's nothing quite so delicious—that is, unless, we're talking about the city's famed flour tortillas, perhaps still the best you will find north of the border, so tasty you could just eat them on their own, but you don't have to—at the classic Anita Street Market, it's said that they're made extra soft with the addition of cottage cheese, and even though the house breakfast burrito may contain an abundance of meat (chorizo, for starters), nothing is allowed to overshadow the tortilla itself—nothing ever could. Even though this is your final day on the road, and you've got the smallest amount of ground to cover, relatively speaking, you'll still need coffee—stop by Presta Coffee Roasters inside the appealing Mercado San Agustin for something strong, and maybe a bit of pan dulce for the road at La Estrella Bakery, just next door.

With that, it's goodbye Arizona—a little more than three uneventful hours later, you'll cross into California on Interstate 8, making your way through the picturesque Imperial Sand Dunes (the largest in California), the heavily agricultural Imperial Valley, and over the pine-covered Cuyamaca Mountains, finally breathing that Pacific Ocean air as you wind your way down into San Diego. Let the beaches wait, only for a moment—head into the South Bay region, where you'll find some of the country's absolute best Mexican food. From juicy, rich birria and bone marrow tacos at Tuetano Taqueria in San Ysidro to the aguachile (raw shrimp cured in lime juice) en molcajete at the impossibly tiny and also perfect TJ Oyster Bar up on Bonita Road, if it's a thing in just-next-door Tijuana, chances are, it's a thing here too, and you could spend days down here, eating extremely well.

But it's the ocean for you, finally, the cherry on top of a remarkable journey—head up into the city, stopping in the historic (and recently, very happening) Barrio Logan for an exemplary Mexican mocha at Por Vida, fueling your final journey out to the Cabrillo National Monument lands, where Spanish explorers first landed in what we know today as California. The preserved coastline, with its dramatic tidepools, is easily one of the most photogenic places in one of the country's most attractive cities.

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Easy Packable Meals for Long Drives

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

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

Loading the cooler

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

Creating a portable platter

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sippin’ Green Gazpacho

Yield: 6 cups

Ingredients

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

2 garlic cloves, smashed

2 cups coarsely chopped arugula

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

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

Kosher salt

3/4 cup (or more) olive oil

Instructions

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

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

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

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

5. Pour into chilled glasses.

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75+ Easy Road Trip Snacks To Pack, Grab & Go

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Road trips are fantastic adventures to take with friends, family or solo. You’ll definitely need a road trip food list and all the best and easy road trip snacks for a successful trip. Because who wants hangry travel companions? Not to mention all those fast-food stops can really add up cost-wise. 

We’ve taken our share of road trips over the years, from cross country adventures to many, many multi-day road trips back and forth between our current home and where our extended family lives. Both as adults, and with kids ranging from months old to teenagers, and everything in between. 

With young kids, there is a strategy for finding the best road trip snacks . One’s that aren’t too messy, too crumbly, won’t stain or are low risk for choking.

Our road trip food list includes ideas for kids, adults, healthy car snack ideas , keto & gluten-free snacks. Plus tips for packing and what you’l l need to bring to pack all the snack essentials.

Table of Contents

Ultimate Road Trip Food List: Best Road Trip Snacks

There is something about road trips that lends itself to snacking on junk food and grabbing something somewhat edible to go from the gas station.

Vibrant orange Cheetos and a snickers bar are ok on occasion (hey, snickers has peanuts, that’s protein, right?).

While I’m all for a bit of indulgence on the road, let’s balance it out with foods that won’t leave you feeling sluggish or weird at the end of the day.

Here are some of the best road trips snacks around.

Healthy Road Trip Snacks

Let’s focus first on healthy road trip snacks. Many non-refrigerated prepared snacks are full of sugar and things that are hard to pronounce or spell.

While I do like the convenience, as there are soooo many details when planning a road trip (like this one from Boston to Acadia) . Just make sure to check the ingredient list first. 

We’ve broken up the healthy road trip snacks into those requiring a cooler and those that are non-perishable, to make planning a bit easier.

⭐️ Or check out some healthy & delicious snack recipes here

Healthy Road Trip Snacks Non-Refrigerated

Sometimes you need a boost of energy and nutrients on the road. Having a few non perishable snacks for travel on hand makes things easier.

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
• Roasted Legumes 
• Cheese Crisps 
• Homemade muffins
• Mary’s Gone Crackers
• Tuna – the little cans (come in many flavours) with pull tab 
• Bread – pizza buns, PB&J, pretzel buns etc.

Learn some tips for making a trip meal plan.

Healthy Road Trip Snacks That Require A Cooler

Many of these car snacks can be replenished along the way at a local grocery store. If you know there will be long distances between towns, make sure to stock up on travel food, and ice for the cooler before you leave for the day.

• Pre-Cut veggies – carrots, peppers, cucumbers, radishes, celery
• Cut up fruit for a sweet treat – pineapple, cantaloupe, honeydew melons
• Energy Balls / Protein Balls
• Crackers and cheese
• Charcuterie plate – get all “fancy” with crackers, cheese, olives, salami, pepperoni, dried fruit
• Sliced meat -roast chicken, turkey, beef
• Yogurt / Yogurt drinks
• Hard-boiled eggs
• Broccoli Cheese Bites
• Egg Bites – ham, cheese, peppers, spinach
• Egg Muffins – olives, feta and sundried tomato
• Sausage rolls
• Stuffed Grape leaves (or buy canned food version for ease)
• Chicken wings
• Hummus Packs & pita bread/pita chips ( my daughter loves dipping pretzels in hummus)

Essential Road Trip Snacks

A road trip is not a road trip without your favourite road trip snacks. I mean hey, you gotta live a little, and you are on vacation, right. Splurge a little. These are good additions to add on occasion. 

I fondly remember our summer road trip each year where we were given a 5 pack of Hubba Bubba gum to chew as we pleased throughout our holiday. As the flavour would be gone in 5 minutes, we soon had chipmunk cheeks full of gum. 

Whether you are road tripping through the States to Bryce Canyon National Park , or taking a weekend trip up Vancouver Island, Canada to the sea side town of Parksville, BC , you’ll want to pack some yummy snacks.

Essential road trip snacks non refrigerated

These non perishable road trip food ideas are a great option for a little bit of a treat when you’re craving a little bit of sweet or salty goodness.

Sweet non-refrigerated snacks for your sweet tooth:

• Dark Chocolate
• Cookies – Homemade chocolate chip is the best 
• Candy – I like to add some gummy bears and smarties to the trail mix to get a little indulgence and some protein/fat at the same time.
• Licorice, small packs of oreos
• Rice Krispie Squares
• Black Bean Brownies

A salty non-refrigerated snack or two :

• Potato Chips
• Corn Chips & Salsa
• Plantain Chips
• Salted, roasted sunflower seeds

Road Trip Snacks For Kids

In addition to the other essential family road trip snacks mentioned previously, here are some additional classic road trip snacks kids will love. These aren’t just for kids. I like checking out the lions and camels in animal crackers with the best of em’.

Packing their favorite high-protein snack with some healthy fats, will tide them over til their next meal.

Here are some easy kid-friendly travel snacks for your next long road trip:

• Cheese strings
• Babybel Cheese
• Fruit Pouches or Smoothie Fruit Pouches (no refrigeration needed)
• Nut butter pouches
• Moon Cheese
• Seaweed Snacks
• Green Pea Crisps (Black Pepper is our favourite)
• Apple Crisps
• Organic Bunny Fruit Snacks
• Yogurt – small containers or drinks
• Veggies & dip – Baby carrots, snap peas, cucumbers
• Ants on a log – Peanut butter & raisins on celery
• Fresh Fruit
• Goldfish crackers
• Animal Crackers
• Kids Trail mix – combine pretzels, goldfish, smarties, cereal, nuts (almonds, cashews, macadamia, brazil, hazelnuts etc.)
• Bagels & cream cheese or nut butter
• Cereal 

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Staying hydrated is an integral part of any road trip. I know the tendency is to try not to drink too much, so there are fewer bathroom breaks. Gas Station and pull-out restrooms are NOT my favourites either. 

Drinking water is essential and should be the number one choice, but sometimes you want something a little more exciting. Here are some other healthy road trip drink options:

• Coconut water
• No sugar added fruit juices 
• Flavoured Sparkling water (or fizzy water as we call it in our house)

Road Trip Food List: Road Trip Snacks for Special Dietary Needs

If you are road tripping with special dietary requirements or restrictions, packing your own food will be the best option. Taking a rest stop and buying travel food at convenience stores may or not pan out.

Best to be prepared with your favorite road trip snacks on hand. Just in case.

Keto Road Trip Snacks

If you are strict keto, then packing some low-carb snacks will help prevent the temptation to stray, “just this once.” Not to mention these are all yummy, so the non-keto peeps in your road trip party will enjoy them as well.

• Beef sticks
• String Cheese
• Cheese Crisps
• Seaweed Sheets
• Giant Pickles
• Pecans, Macadamia nuts, Brazil Nuts
• Olive snack packs 
• Berries – raspberries, blueberries
• Coconut Chips
• Cherry tomatoes, Cucumbers
• Celery sticks & Peanut Butter or cream cheese
• Fat Bombs or Keto Nut Butter with MCT Oil packaged

Gluten-Free Road Trip Snacks

The majority of items listed above can be gluten-free, as long as you watch the ingredients list and check the labels of pre-packaged food. Here are a few of our favourite gluten-free snacks/brands:

• Seaweed Snacks – Sea Snaxs – salty cruncy goodness!
• Cheese Crisps – Whisps and astronaut cheese Moon Cheese
• Gluten-Free Bars – favs include these mini Gluten-Free Bars and their cousin the Gluten-Free Bites
• Nut Butter packets – Yumbutter (twist-off tops)
• Chips – Late July (often available at Costco too)
• Jerky – Country Archer Jerky or their beef sticks
• Beef Sticks – Paleo Valley Beef sticks
• Crunchy, Salty, Protein Snacks – Hippeas Puffed Chickpeas

PRO TIP: We pack everything in small stackable Rubbermaid containers.

Non-Food Items To Add To Your Road Trip Packing List

Now that we’ve got the most crucial thing sorted, SNACKS, let’s move on to the non-food items you’ll need to add to your road trip packing list. 

Reusable Items; Cutlery, Water bottles, Containers and more

We like to bring reusable items on our trips as much as possible to cut down on waste. It’s also quite easy once you get the hang of it and make bringing these along part of your routine.

Here are \ reusable items you’ll feel good about using and bringing on your next road trip:

• Cutlery – Knives, Forks, Spoons, 
• Dishes – Cups, Plates, Bowls
• Coffee Mugs, Thermos
• Straws of many colors
• Plastic, glass or stainless steel containers
• Water Bottles
• Cloth Fruit Bags 
• Bento Boxes
• Chopping Board
• Garbage bags – reuse grocery bags

Pro Tip: A few empty plastic, stainless steel or glass containers are super handy to have in the car just in case. Empty containers can do double duty as dishes, store leftover food, and hold sandwiches or snack packs for the next day. They also can become emergency crayon/toy holders in a pinch.

👉 You may also like Tips to save money on road trips .

Storage & Cleaning Supplies

• Reusable Ice Packs 
• Hand sanitizer
• Paper Towels & Wet Wipes (not just for kids, awesome for road trips)
• Washing items: Sponge, tub, biodegradable dish soap

PRO TIP – We pack everything non-perishable into small stackable Rubbermaid containers to keep things organized.

Travel Backpacks

We like to make sure both adults and the  kids have their own travel backpack for the road trip.

A good travel backpack can be used for many things. These include hiking, storing road trip activities and entertainment, using as a pillow in a pinch, plus provides easy access to a couple of snacks, and a handy change of clothes.

Essential for when you have a fully packed vehicle. Staying organized is easier.

How to Pack For a Road Trip: Tips for Keeping Snacks Organized

Snacking Tote – Yes, those Pinterest road trip hacks will come in handy. Grab a small plastic Dollar Store Caddy / Open Tote that you can throw your snacks into that don’t need to be cooled. As well it can hold entertainment items (crayons, books, small toys, magazines etc.). Reorganize and restock at the end of the day, for your next day’s adventures.

Water Bottles – Bring a stainless steel water bottle for each person. If you are travelling in the summer or in hot weather, freeze the bottle the night before, take it out in the morning, and it will melt as the day goes on. 

Handing out food – For young kids, bring a spill proof snack cup (it will fit in the cup holders), and fill with snacks.

Snack Bags – For older kids/adults, make each person a snack bag before your trip; they can keep with them. Avoids the constant asking for snacks, and they can monitor their own snacking. Of course, this will depend on the age of your kids. 

Clean-Up Kit – Kids, adults, toddlers all on occasion make messes. Have a clean-up kit handy just in case; wipes, paper towel, extra water, change of clothes.

Garbage Bag for the car – Have a designated garbage bag for the car, to keep the garbage contained. Empty or replace at rest stops. Reuse plastic grocery bags. 

Road Trip Coolers

A cooler is the essential item to add to your road trip packing list. It will provide you more flexibility with the types of snacks and food you can bring.

You may even want to cook up some make ahead vacation dinner recipes and keep them fresh too.

We’ve outlined some things to think about and a few great road trip cooler options available on Amazon, to help you out. 

Here are some things to consider before buying a cooler :

• How long is your trip?
• How much space do you have in your vehicle? Where do you want to put the cooler?
• How much food will you need? Can you stop at grocery stores along the way to replenish supplies quickly (ie. can you get away with just a day or two worth of food)

Best Overall Cooler ( Size and Holds the Cold) – Yeti Roadi 24 Cooler

This Yeti Roadi 24 Cooler is narrow, so it easily fits behind the seat , is well insulated, which holds the cold, and is lighter than previous versions. It can also be transformed into a stool if you buy the cushion. Plus it comes in cool colours.

Best Family Cooler & Long Road Trips – ORCA ORCP026 Cooler 

This Orca Cooler is a top pick for size and flexibility . It can hold a lot of food and ice, which can be kept frozen for up to a week or more. Plus it has cool whale tail latches.

Best Soft Sided Cooler – TOURIT Leak-Proof Soft-Sided Cooler Backpack

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

Tips to Prepare For Your Road Trip

Check your road trip food list to see if there is anything you can do ahead of time, to make food prep and snacking easier while on the road. We recommend doing the following ahead of time:

• Make a Road Packing List, and check it off as you pack
• Wash and cut veggies and fruit
• Prepare sandwiches, meat slices, cheese slices etc.
• Prepare snack bags or snack tote – for easy grabbing
• Prepare your Clean up kit
• Pack non-perishable foods
• Pack your perishable foods in the cooler, right before you leave.

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

What foods are easy to pack?

Foods that are easy to pack for road trips include single serving foods such as applesauce or fruit pouches, granola bars, trail mix, string cheese hummous and tuna. Other easy foods to bring require a bit of preparation like sandwiches, whole fruit (apples, oranges and grapes), or baby carrots.

What Snacks are good for a trip?

Snacks that are good for trips are high in protein and contain some good fats, as well as one’s that are full of nutrients like fruits and vegetables. Our top picks for travel snacks include grapes, homemade trail mix, bagels with creamcheese or peanut butter, popcorn, energy balls, beef jerky, and cheese and multugrain crackers.

What can I eat to keep me awake when driving?

If you are trying to stay awake while driving, focus on eating crunchy foods like apples, carrots, celery and grapes, combined with protein like nuts, deli meats, nut butters or beef jerky. Make sure you are well hydrated (carbonated water is fun), and avoid eating too many sweet snacks as dehydration & sugar swings can also cause tiredness.

Chocolate or a little bit of caffeinated coffee or tea can also help you stay awake.

Road Trip Food List: 75+ Easy Road Trip Snacks

With over 50 delicious road trip snack options, you will find something for everyone in your party. Plus some tips to make packing and travelling easier.

Now all you need is your next road trip destination. Here are some family favourites:

• Zion National Park in Utah .
• What not to miss at Bryce Canyon in a day
• Big Sur California Road Trip itinerary; Best places to visit, eat & stay
• Boston to Acadia National Park

What are your favourite road trip snacks and favourite hacks for keeping food and snacks organized? Let us know in the comments below, or connect with us on social media, we’d love to hear from you.

Related Family travel tips and resources :

• Camping gift ideas outdoorsy kids will love
• Road Trip Packing List, all the essentials you’ll actually need & use
• 150 Road Trip questions to entertain your travel companions
• Best Anti-Theft Travel Bags

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.

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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Great tips! It gets better as the kids grow up and become less messy and fussy:)

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The Ultimate American Foodie Road Trip (Map Included)

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Delicious food is one of the main reasons we all travel. & every region of the world has its own unique delicacies & flavor combinations. The United States is no different. If you’re itching for a great American foodie road trip, you’ve come to the right place.

I just finished eating & hiking through an epic 3-month long American road trip in my converted camper van.

And although vanlife is definitely not as glamorous as it’s made out to be, it’s undoubtedly the best way to see America ( & there are loads of other benefits of vanlife ). Just set your GPS to avoid highways & hit the road.

Don’t have a lot of cash to spare? Don’t fret. Every item on this list is under $23. It turns out the iconic American dishes don’t break the bank.

Let’s ditch the fast food on your road trip and travel better this year.

What Exactly is American Food?

Burgers & fries. Malted milkshakes. What else is America famous for? Turns out a lot more than I originally thought.

American food is regional. The Deep South and New England regions couldn’t be more different. From the climate to the foods they lay claim to…they might as well be completely different countries.

American food is also heavily influenced by immigrants . Many of the iconic dishes created here were developed by Italian, Jewish, or Russian immigrants and paid homage to their ‘home’ countries. Think Deep Dish Pizza (Italian) or a Traditional Fish Fry (Russian) .

If you’re up for an “American” foodie road trip expect it to be a very diverse, unhealthy, & delicious adventure.

The Ultimate American Foodie Road Trip

Here is a breakdown of all the iconic American eats we stumbled upon on our trip across America and a map to guide you on your foodie quest.

Burgers, burgers, & more burgers. Montana likes its meat. These were our favorites. I’ll save you some time right now, if you’re looking for a vegan foodie road trip….this isn’t gonna be the map for you.

Cowboy Burger at Mint Bar & Grill (Livingston)

The single best burger I’ve ever eaten. I can still taste the perfectly cooked juicy patty. Paired with PBR battered fries it’s truly an American staple on a foodie road trip.

Buffalo Burger with Habenero Huckleberry Jam at Cowboys Bar & Grill (Gardiner)

You won’t find a more Montana burger. A locally sourced buffalo patty topped with house-made sweet and spicy habanero huckleberry sauce (you’ll want extra to dip your fries in) & white cheddar cheese curds.

South Dakota

The Dakota’s food scene owes thanks to its original inhabitants. The Native Americans. You’ll find a lot of buffalo meat and traditional fry bread at local restaurants all over the state.

Be sure to thoroughly explore South Dakota during your trans-American road trip. It became one of my favorite US states.

Chislic at Buglin’ Bull (Custer)

Tender grilled chunks of buffalo served with house-made steak sauce.

Indian Taco at Cedar Pass Lodge (Badlands National Park)

Imagine the lightest fluffiest fry bread topped with ground buffalo, lettuce, tomato, cheese & hot sauce. Think taco salad sitting atop a savory doughnut.

This is technically an iconic drink stop. But it still makes the cut.

Root Beer Float at Schooney Malt Shop (Taylor Falls)

A good old fashioned root beer float. Served with any ice cream your heart desires. I’m not a big soda person but there’s just something about fresh-tapped root beer from a malt shop that really satisfies.

We didn’t get to delve into the Mid-West much on this trip but Wisconsin provided the perfect taste.

I know I said to forgo the fast food BUT Wisconsin is home to Culvers. The best fast food joint in the entire United States. (Sorry In & Out fans) They specialize in frozen custard, tasty fresh burgers, and cheese curds.

Cheese Curds at The Old Fashioned (Madison)

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Half a pound of piping hot, gooey, perfectly crispy fried cheese curds. These are regularly voted the very best in Wisconsin. For good reason.

Fish Fry with Potato Pancake at Lakefront Brewery (Milwaukee)

Beer-battered cod (or walleye/perch), that’s both light and satisfying paired with a pineapple juice coleslaw, & traditional potato pancake. You can even kayak straight up to this brewery and eat along the water.

Friday night Fish Frys are a tradition in Wisconsin. German and Czech influences, as well as the practice of avoiding meat on Fridays during Lent, made it widely popular.

Illinois (Chicago)

I say Illinois, but this is really just a list of places to eat in Chicago. & there are hundreds more. Chicago is one of the best foodie cities in the entire US. (Most likely because it was an immigration hotspot in the 1920s)

Chicago Dogs at Portillos.

The most basic (& delicious) Chicago dog. An all-beef dog wrapped in a steamed poppyseed bun topped with mustard, relish, tomato, onions, sport peppers, and a large dill pickle spear. You’ll want 2-3 to make it a meal.

These hotdogs rival the world-famous Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur dogs of Iceland.

Italian Roast Beef Sandwich at Al’s Italian Beef.

Dipped with hot peppers. It’s the only way to go. This un-assuming sandwich joint serves up a sopping wet flavorful beef masterpiece.

Deep Dish Pizza at Pequods.

If your thinking “I’m really more of a thin crust person”, let me change your mind. Pequod’s isn’t an over-touristed joint turning out mediocre pies. It’s the real deal. Thick fluffy crust topped with homemade Italian sausage and hand-cut pepperoni served in a black cast-iron dish. Pequods is unique because of their burnt layer of cheese covering the top.

Chicago was once a thin crust city itself. Neapolitan immigrants brought over their cheap working-class thin crust pizza just like New York. Then in 1943, Pizzeria Uno (which still exists today), created the Italian-American hybrid…deep dish pizza.

Vermont. It’s practically Canada. The states focus on small local farming and organic produce means tasty healthy food.

Poutine from Citizen Cider (Burlington)

Crispy fries covered in house made gravy and local Maplebrook cheese curds.

Apple Cider Doughnuts from Cold Hollow Cider Mill (Stowe)

Get there are peak hours and every doughnut will be piping hot & fresh. They only have one flavor, no-frills old-fashioned apple cider. & I’m not exaggerating when I claim it’s the best doughnut I’ve ever had.

Maple Syrup from Nebraska Knoll Sugar Farm(Stowe)

Everyone has heard of Vermont maple syrup. Syrup tastings (some with cheese pairings) are one of the top Vermont things to do.

Where the most important question is ‘hot with butter’ or ‘cold with mayo’? Either way, it’s a damn good lobster roll. If you don’t like seafood…you probably shouldn’t be in Maine.

Mussels, Clam Chowder, & Lobster Bisque at Galyn’s (Bar Harbor)

YUM. Hit Galyn’s for their epic Happy Hour & stay for the seafood.

Lobster Roll at The Highroller Lobster Co. (Portland)

Whether you’re a lobster fanatic or a slight skeptic you’ll LOVE their BYO Lobster Roll. Each roll is served on a toasted brioche (locally made) slice with 4 oz of chilled claw meat. The rest is up to you. Choose from ghee, drawn butter, jalapeno mayo, curried ketchup, or roasted pineapple mayo to spice up your sandwich.

Blackened Fish & Chips at Thirsty Whale Tavern (Bar Harbor)

A massive pile of fried cod covered in “blackened” seasoning. A dressed up Maine classic.

Fried Clams at Pilot House Restaurant (Kennebunkport)

Love them. Fresh clams, I’ll take them or leave them. But I could have eaten 3 baskets of these scrumptious little snacks.

Whoopie Pie from The Landing Store (Kennebunkport)

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It looks like a giant Oreo & it is the unofficial state dessert of Maine. It’s two circles of fluffy chocolate cake sandwiched around rich creamy frosting. Traditionally, it was made from the leftover cake batter. Waste not, want not.

Massachusetts (Boston)

With 15% Irish & nearly 10% Italian you know you’re getting good food in Boston.

Roast Beef Sandwich at Kelly’s.

Kelly’s was the original inspiration for the fast-food chain Arby’s. It’s been featured on the food Network numerous times & a 6-generation family-owned chain in Massachusetts.

Cannoli at Mike’s Pastry or Modern Pastry.

There’s a heated debate over which cannoli is better & everyone in Boston seems to have an opinion. For me, Modern Pastry took the cake with its traditional ricotta filling & pistachio sprinkle.

Classic Italian Sub from Monica’s Mercado.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gina Marie (@fatbetchh)

This is the best sandwich I have ever eaten. It was so good when we passed through Boston a second time it’s the only place we stopped. The Italian sub is stacked with 4 different cured meats, fresh provolone cheese, balsamic, and pickled veggies.

New York (New York City)

Is there a city that has a better food reputation? We stuck to budget food options (it is a road trip after all) but if you’re looking for a world-class high-end meal…this is the city to find it in.

Jewish Deli

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Carnegie Deli (@carnegiedeli)

A New York staple. Matza Ball Soup or a pile of Pastrami on Rye. These delis have been thriving in New York since the late 1800s. Check out 2nd Ave Deli or Carnegie Deli for New York’s best.

A simple slice of Thin NY Pizza from Joe’s Pizza. Or Mama’s Too. Or Lombardi’s.

These are infinite good pizza options in New York City. But these three are the best. Joe’s is serving up the simple & iconic cheap slice. Mama’s Too has a slightly thicker crusted pepperoni square that will knock your socks off. & Lombardi’s is the oldest coal oven pizza joint left in the city creating a perfectly tasty charred crust.

NY Bagel from Murrays Bagels or Utopia Bagels.

It’s a sin to toast them. NYC bagels are perfectly steamed and require no additional toasting. It will make you question if those circular pucks you buy at the grocery store can even be called bagels.

If you’re looking to burn off those pizza calories there are plenty of hikes in New York State to keep you busy.

Pennsylvania

In the 19th century, Americans avoided food waste at all costs. So, What is there to do with leftovers and drying out bread? Out of resourcefulness and frugality, the sandwich trend began. & Pennslyvania has some of the best American sandwiches in the country.

Rueben at Hershel’s Eastside Deli at Reading Terminal Market (Philidelphia)

You simply cannot fit more meat on this sandwich.

Philly Cheesesteak at Johns Roast Pork. (Philidelphia)

This is the unanimous favorite for Philly cheesesteaks. Perfectly melty & a family recipe from 1930. Their Hot Pork Sandwich is equally as tasty.

Washington D.C.

The heart of America’s melting pot.

Asian Fusion at Copycat.

Why here? Because it’s an exceptional meld of classic Chinese street food & American techniques. & it’s an amazing cocktail bar to boot.

North Carolina

There are 4 styles of BBQ born out of the United States: Kansas City, Texas, Memphis, & North Carolina.

North Carolina BBQ from Luella’s Bar-B-Que. (Ashville)

Tasty succulent pork with southern sides. Don’t skip the pineapple upside down if it’s available.

Southern cooking is my favorite style of American food. Fried veggies coated in butter & pig chunks, perfectly crisp fried chicken, and fluffy biscuits with gravy. What could go wrong?

Fried Chicken from Mary Macs Tearoom. (Atlanta)

Mary Macs Tearoom is historic & for the past 75 years, everything has been made in-house fresh daily. You even get a pile of fresh-baked cinnamon rolls and bread if it’s your first visit.

& Waffles from Homegrown. (Atlanta)

Chicken & Waffles. A southern staple. Don’t forget to try their Comfy Chicken Biscuit since you’re there.

Southern Cooking from Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room. (Savannah)

This place made me fall in love with southern food. All you can eat home cooking served at a community dining room table. Fried chicken, Jambalaya, Sweet Potato Souffle, and Banana Pudding were our favorites. Don’t forget to drink your fill of sweet tea.

South Carolina

The true breakfast of champions.

Shrimp & Grits from Acme Low Country Kitchen (Isle of Palms)

From traditional to flavor-packed Acme has this South Carolina favorite all day long. Super rare since it’s technically a breakfast food. My favorite version had fried green tomatoes and rich polenta cheese grits.

The Southernmost point in the United States. Home to teeny endangered Key Deer and of course Key Limes. & the best state for van life.

Key Lime Pie from Kermits Key West Key Lime Shop. (Key West)

It looks touristy from the outside but they really know how to whip up a mean slice of Key Lime Pie.

Louisiana (New Orleans)

Everything in Louisiana is an 11/10 for taste. Here’s what made the short list of dishes you must try.

Shrimp Po’ Boy & Jambalaya from Parkway Bakery and Tavern.

Flash-fried perfectly seasoned Louisiana gulf shrimp. You’ll find Po’ Boys all over the state even in gas stations…but trust us, this one is the best.

Muffuletta from Central Grocery & Deli.

A Sicilian sandwich created right here in the ol’ USA. & at this very Deli! Back in 1906 a Sicilian immigrant threw together the classic Muffuletta round sesame roll & topped it with an olive spread, cured meats, and cheese. It’s pure magic & a New Orleans creation.

Beignets from Cafe Du Monde.

Serving coffee & beignets since 1862 in the French Quarter. Coated in powdered sugar these french treats create a line that wraps around the block every morning.

Catfish from Toast.

Fried catfish is most popular during lent but you can find. it year round in New Orleans.

Crawfish Boil at Schaefer Seafood.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Emma Poling, RD, LDN (@emmaeatsnola)

Perfectly boiled little crustaceans with all the fixings.

It’s not Mexican food. It’s New Mexican food. A combination of Northern Mexican influence & Pueblo Indian foods. The heaping mounds of green chile are a dead giveaway.

Carne Adobada from Perea’s New Mexican Restaurant. (Albuquerque)

Melt in your mouth pork chunks marinated in red chile sauce.

Frito Pie from Horseman’s Haven. (Santa Fe)

Texas & New Mexico have been in a long-standing feud over who created the sloppy dish. But either way, this pile of Fritos topped with taco meat, lettuce, & tomato are delicious.

USA Foodie Road Trip Map

Here’s a complete map of every destination on this list to make your foodie road trip even easier to plan.

America is a lot more than burgers. The US is blessed with one of the most diverse cuisines in the entire world and these iconic dishes are essential stops on your next foodie road trip.

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Further Reading...

A Vanlifers Guide to Stealth Camping (+ 10 Places I Sleep In Cities)

3 Stunning Alpine Hikes For The Perfect Weekend In Rainier National Park

The Ultimate Florida Road Trip: 21 Spectacular Places you Must-See

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50 Embarrassing Travel Fails & Mishaps You Can Learn From

Beyond_the_bucketlist.

21 Best Road Trip Snacks for Long Drives

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

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

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

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

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

21 Healthy Snacks for Your Next Road Trip

1. trail mix   .

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

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

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

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

2. Puppy Chow  

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

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

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

3. Beer Nuts  

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

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

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

4. Popcorn  

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

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

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

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

5. Texas Trash  

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

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

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

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

6. Granola Bars  

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

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

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

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

7. Chocolate Chip Cookies  

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

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

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

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

8. Fire Crackers  

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

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

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

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

9. Apple Chips  

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

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

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

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

10. Fantasy Fudge  

These fantasy fudge squares are truly a dream come true.

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

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

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

11. Bagel Chips   

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

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

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

12. Apple Fritters  

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

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

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

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

13. Roasted Chickpeas  

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

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

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

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

14. Banana Muffins  

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

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

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

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

15. Peanut Butter Pretzels  

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

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

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

16. Coconut Chips

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

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

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

Best of all, these chips are healthy.

17. Baked Veggie Chips

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

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

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

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

18. Blueberry Muffins  

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

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

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

19. Green Bean Chips  

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

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

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

Believe me, even the kids will love them. 

20. Chocolate Covered Almonds

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

I can never say no to chocolate-covered almonds.

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

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

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

21. Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

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

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

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

21 Best Road Trip Snacks For Long Car Rides

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

Ingredients

Texas Trash

Granola Bars

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Fire Crackers

Apple Chips

Fantasy Fudge

Bagel Chips

Apple Fritters

Roasted Chickpeas

Banana Muffins

Peanut Butter Pretzels

Coconut Chips

Baked Veggie Chips

Blueberry Muffins

Green Bean Chips

Chocolate Covered Almonds

Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

Instructions

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

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INSANELYGOOD

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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Storm's Drive-in (Lampasas, Texas)

You know if Elvis approved of a hamburger, it had to be good. Storm's in Lampasas hosted the iconic rock-n-roller several times in the '60s while he was stationed at Fort Hood. And the burger legend lives on. George Strait will still swing through from time to time, along with an all-star cast of other Texas country legends, drawn by the Storm's Special, a massive three-patty half-pound burger ground fresh in-house. Add an old-fashioned hand-mixed malt and you're ready to be on the road again.

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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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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

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Road trip food stops you need to try in every state this summer

• Road trips are a perfect opportunity to travel to new places and check out the best local spots.
• Insider consulted Yelp reviews for popular "road trip" restaurants and restaurants conveniently located by main highways.
• From soul food in Alabama to Texas barbecue, these road trip food stops are worth a try.

ALABAMA: Saw's Soul Kitchen in Birmingham

"My mom and I were on a road trip and decided to eat dinner here after reading the reviews.  The only thing disappointing about that decision is that now we know what we are missing out on, not living in Birmingham," wrote Yelp user Alli F.

Learn more about Saw's Soul Kitchen here.

ALASKA: Turnagain Arm Pit in Indian

"After leaving the Alaskan Wildlife Conservation Center, we headed back up Seward Highway towards Anchorage. We then decided that it would be nice if we could find a little roadside eatery for dinner in such beautiful surroundings. Then Turnagain Armpit BBQ came into view. It didn't take either of us long to realize that it was just what we had been looking for," wrote Yelp user Ronald M.

Learn more about Turnagain Arm Pit here.

ARIZONA: Satchmo's in Flagstaff

"This place was on the list for places that checked all of the boxes and I am not disappointed we stopped here on the road trip. Not only is the staff super friendly and helpful but the food is beyond anything I can find at home. Everything we ordered was so good including but not limited to the pulled pork sandwich, the brisket sandwich, and the shrimp po-boy. They have seating inside and outside and beer on draft. This place is like a symphony of deliciousness in your mouth. I wish I lived closer," wrote Yelp user Christine M.

Learn more about Satchmo's here.

ARKANSAS: The Root Cafe in Little Rock

"Very cute local restaurant in Little Rock. We were driving through on a long road trip, and the restaurant came out and delivered the food to the car (due to COVID). Everyone was very nice, and the food was delicious," wrote Yelp user Nicole W.

Learn more about The Root Cafe here.

CALIFORNIA: Yaks on the 5 in Dunsmuir

"The garlic burger was incredible and the wings were top notch. The tater tots were a dream... this is roadside diner food at its best," wrote Yelp user ZumaJay Z.

Learn more about Yaks on the 5 here.

COLORADO: Westbound & Down Brewery in Idaho Springs

"If [you're] ever in Idaho Springs go to Westbound and Down. We ate there three times in a week, our last visit we meet the owner, super friendly pumped up guy. We already paid but asked if I got my military discount, made sure to give me it to me, then gave me a coin. Whenever I come back to Colorado this is an every time stop. Thanks for your outstanding service and food," wrote Yelp user Kyle L.

Learn more about Westbound & Down Brewery here.

CONNECTICUT: Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana in New Haven

"The pizzas are crispy and on the thin side, the slices aren't cut perfectly but that's part of the charm... The only downside is the line. Expect a small line to form before this place opens especially on the weekends and holidays. Another tip is to call in the pizza for pickup and on a nice day just eat it outside while it's hot! Perfect for road trips up I-95," wrote Yelp user Eunice H.

Learn more about Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana here.

DELAWARE: Marlena's Mediterranean Deli in Middletown

"Great chicken shawarma and the staff is really friendly. This is a great, quick road trip stop as it's conveniently located and fast," wrote Yelp user Emerson H.

Learn more about Marlena's Mediterranean Deli here.

FLORIDA: 925 Nuevo's Cubano's in Fort Lauderdale

"If you're thinking of coming here, do it. This is what eating Cuban food should be like. It's a roadside eatery, stolen road signs in the parking lot, fresh food, delicious," wrote Yelp user Tim R.

Learn more about 925 Nuevo's Cubano's here.

GEORGIA: Zunzi's in Savannah

"These sandwiches were unbelievable. We found this joint on our road trip escaping from Hurricane Irma. It was just a pit stop on our way to ATL. We weren't expecting how good this place would be. Next time I'm in Savannah I'll definitely stop by again," wrote Yelp user David L.

Learn more about Zunzi's here.

HAWAII: Chicken In A Barrel BBQ-Kapaa in Kapaa

"Awesome roadside BBQ! The meat just falls apart. No need for a knife," wrote Yelp user Luis M.

Learn more about Chicken In A Barrel BBQ-Kapaa here.

IDAHO: Arugula Deli in Idaho Falls

"I went here with my family on a road trip stop. I ordered the Patacones with chicken. So yummy, and the food is unique and healthy," wrote Yelp user Menka J .

Learn more about Arugula Deli.

ILLINOIS: Blue Springs Cafe in Highland

"We stopped here for lunch on a recent road trip. The lunch plate is $7.95 (entree and sides). It was great! On the return leg of our trip, we called ahead and picked up carry-out (walleye filets, side salad, green beans, and coconut pie). The food was great and better than getting fast food," wrote Yelp user Terri W.

Learn more about Blue Springs Cafe here.

INDIANA: Payne's Restaurant in Gas City

"I loved this place! It's quirky, fun, and a treasure find on a road trip. I'm a sucker for British cuisine like bangers and mash, fish and chips, and toffee pudding," wrote Yelp user Ericka D.

Learn more about Payne's Restaurant here.

IOWA: Zombie Burger + Drink Lab in Des Moines

"Their burgers are awesome, and an order of fries is huge! As we are originally from Utah, seeing they had 'fry sauce' was an extra bonus. Their cereal shakes are also fun. We would definitely stop here again on our yearly road trips, just for fun," wrote Yelp user Joni C.

Learn more about Zombie Burger + Drink Lab here.

KANSAS: Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que in Kansas City

"Oh my god. Saying this was the best barbecue I've ever had would be an understatement. I am the luckiest eater on the planet and one of my friends brought me here during a road trip because she wanted to eat it. I was hesitant. I have never liked barbecue sauce, in fact, I avoid all sauces and condiments like the PLAGUE. But this place had me slathering my sandwich with barbecue sauce and licking my fingers when I was done. I've been craving it ever since and I'm saddened that I don't live closer," wrote Yelp user Janie S.

Learn more about Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que here.

KENTUCKY: Red State BBQ in Lexington

"A classic roadside BBQ restaurant, all the classic stuff including double-smoked brisket and several different sauces that cover the basics from South Carolina mustard to Texas spicy. And the green beans are amazing! Overall a good place to stop while traveling along 75, being a little over a mile from the highway," wrote Yelp user Gunnar D.

Learn more about Red State BBQ here.

LOUISIANA: Pamela's Bayou In A Bowl in Alexandria

"Holy moly! How did we get lucky enough to stumble into this place?!  The food here is so good, we started planning future road trips through Louisiana. The food was all delicious, flavorful, and completely satisfying! I got the beans and sausage, greens, and mac and cheese. Once we started eating, we realized we must be at somebody's granny's house," wrote Yelp user Mary Beth C.

Learn more about Pamela's Bayou In A Bowl here.

MAINE: Red's Eats in Wiscasset

"The absolute best lobster roll we have ever tried! We stopped here while doing a road trip through Maine and someone had recommended this place along the way. We didn't think it looked that special or any different from the other 1,000 places that advertise their lobster rolls, but boy were we mistaken," wrote Yelp user Jessica K.

Learn more about Red's Eats here.

MARYLAND: Chaps Pit Beef in Baltimore

"This is one of those roadside eateries you pass by, never giving it a second thought. 'Nah, just locals and working-class eat at such a dive.' Being situated in front of a strip club doesn't exactly add to the ambiance. But trust me, and the TV shows it's been featured on... Chaps is where it's at! The food is beyond compare," wrote Yelp user Brook H.

Learn more about Chaps Pit Beef here.

MASSACHUSETTS: B.T.'s Smokehouse in Sturbridge

"We just stopped here on our road trip and had to write a review right away. The brisket burrito was smoky and delicious. The buffaloed fried chicken sandwich was delicately breaded, juicy, and moist. Pick-up was very organized and timely," wrote Yelp user Tess L.

Learn more about B.T.'s Smokehouse here.

MICHIGAN: The Mason Jar Cafe in Benton Harbor

"Hard to believe such a place exists in small-town Michigan after struggling to find healthy, fresh, and quality food choices on a road trip through rural Michigan. Friendly service, great coffee, diverse menu, fresh, healthy, and vegetarian friendly. Thumbs up, five stars, highly recommended," wrote Yelp user Camille M.

Learn more about The Mason Jar Cafe here.

MINNESOTA: The Taco King in Albert Lea

"We stopped while road tripping to Wisconsin Dells and [were] greatly surprised! Expecting fast-food type Mexican due to the location and were so happy to discover otherwise! The burritos were hot fresh and delicious, the al pastor was excellent and the service great! Will definitely be stopping again," wrote Yelp user Carrie F.

Learn more about The Taco King here.

MISSISSIPPI: The Pig & Pint in Jackson

"We were so happy to stumble upon this place on our road trip to NOLA thanks to my trusty Yelp! We stopped here on a Thursday for lunch with our toddler. The girl at the register welcomed us on our first time and told us what their most popular dishes were... Our food came fairly quickly and the portions were huge! I didn't expect 'chicken fries' to be a glorious sloppy mess of BBQ chicken, beans, sauce, sour cream, and jalapeños. It was AMAZING! It was the best road trip stop we made all day! Definitely going to stop here on our way to NOLA every year," wrote Yelp user Haley S.

Learn more about The Pig & Pint here.

MISSOURI: Pappy's Smokehouse in Saint Louis

"The best BBQ I've had. Our road trips following the Florida Gators have taken us all over the south and beyond. Had the 'que in Memphis, Birmingham, Lexington, Nashville, Knoxville, Atlanta and beyond. Pappys is the best," wrote Yelp user Craig J.

Learn more about Pappy's Smokehouse here.

MONTANA: Hummingbird Cafe in Butte

"Super delicious great little spot to stop. I was on a road trip and needed to grab a bite and let my baby out of the car seat. We sat on the patio and had a lovely coffee and lunch. Will definitely stop in again next time I drive through Butte," wrote Yelp user Sara H.

Learn more about Hummingbird Cafe here.

NEBRASKA: Open Range Grill in Ogallala

"We stopped at the Open Range Grill on our drive from Denver, CO to Wisconsin, and were so happy that we did! This is a great, family-friendly spot with delicious, fresh food," wrote Yelp user Clare C.

Learn more about Open Range Grill here.

NEVADA: Odeh's Mediterranean Restaurant in Elko

"My friends and I were on a road trip to Wisconsin so we randomly stumbled upon this cute little place. It was by far some of the best Mediterranean food I have ever had. Come and try it out, you won't be disappointed," wrote Yelp user Emilee K.

Learn more about Odeh's Mediterranean Restaurant here.

NEW HAMPSHIRE: Lexie's Joint in Portsmouth

"Fun little place we came across on our big road trip. They offer a decent selection of burgers, fries, and a few other things. I felt they did a nice job and enjoyed our lunch here," wrote Yelp user Mark G.

Learn more about Lexie's Joint here.

NEW JERSEY: Steve's Burgers in Garfield

"Where do I begin? First, just know it's basically a roadside stand, in the fact that there are very few tables inside and a few outside. Don't let that deter you! The burger is amazingly juicy, fries with cheese and gravy are on point, they serve C&C Black Cherry soda, and the fried Oreos are to die for! The owner is super nice and always makes conversation with us! We love it here," wrote Yelp user Stephanie Darrell S.

Learn more about Steve's Burgers here.

NEW MEXICO: Western View Diner & Steakhouse in Albuquerque

"So you want a steak dinner and you want to feel like you're at home, this is your place. The staff is unbelievably friendly! If you come in the morning you will probably see the owner walking around greeting guests like they are family and the hand-cut steaks are cooked to perfection," wrote Yelp user Key V.

Learn more about Western View Diner & Steakhouse here.

NEW YORK: The Cheese Traveler in Albany

"The best grilled cheese (the classic) with fabulous tomato soup. Gourmet everything and a great trip of women running the place. Pretty close to the Thruway. Definitely worth the trip," wrote Yelp user Jim D.

Learn more about The Cheese Traveler here.

NORTH CAROLINA: The Prime Smokehouse in Rocky Mount

"Stopped toward the end of a long road trip. Absolutely fabulous smokehouse. Had the brisket, ribs, and chicken, came with a side of cornbread. Everything we had was fabulous and full of flavor," wrote Yelp user Kevin S.

Learn more about The Prime Smokehouse here.

NORTH DAKOTA: Fireflour Pizza + Coffee Bar in Bismarck

"Stopped for a road trip lunch on our way through North Dakota. Staff was awesome, restaurant/bathroom was clean. The pizzaiola was skilled at her craft. Pizzas were thin, perfectly browned, with a beautiful crust. Topping to pizza ratio was perfection," wrote Yelp user Kiki C.

Learn more about Fireflour Pizza + Coffee Bar here.

OHIO: Lucky's Cafe in Cleveland

"I visited Lucky's while on a road trip to see the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with my dad and my brother. I scoped out the place because I saw it on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives and it looked like my cup of tea... I love how local the food is, and the quality shows! I had the Canoewreck. Curried tofu, hash browns, lots of veggies, toast, and fruit. It was so delicious! The dudes were happy with what they ordered as well. I'm sad I don't live near Cleveland because I'd eat here every day," wrote Yelp user Amanda A.

Learn more about Lucky's Cafe here.

OKLAHOMA: Arbuckle Mountain Fried Pies in Davis

"So fun to run across this awesome place on a recent road trip from KC to Dallas. We couldn't resist a sign advertising 'fried pies,' so we pulled over to get gas and then thought we'd ask at the gas station what the fried pies thing is all about. Turns out, the gas station is pay inside only, and you pay at the fried pies counter... The pies were indeed wonderful. The crust is the best part- so flaky and buttery. These pies are handheld and similar to those Hostess ones we all begged our moms for when we were kids, but a million times better," wrote Yelp user Karen P.

Learn more about Arbuckle Mountain Fried Pies here.

OREGON: Screen Door in Portland

"One of my favorite meals of a 3-week road trip, the chicken and waffles were excellent. We went shortly before they closed and were seated at the bar right away," wrote Yelp user Marla M.

Learn more about Screen Door here.

PENNSYLVANIA: Picasso's Erie in Erie

"My entire family loved it here. I ordered the Mona Lisa (turkey, artichokes, spinach, pesto, amazingness). I also ordered mac n cheese as my side. Holy good. Definitely not your average mac and cheese. They have a kid's menu. We ordered the grilled cheese and pickle for my daughter. Best pickle ever lives up to its name," wrote Yelp user Julia E.

Learn more about Picasso's Erie here.

RHODE ISLAND: Tavern by the Sea in Wickford Village

"Awesome view and atmosphere!! The food is delicious with good choices and good prices. The server was very friendly and attentive. This is a great place to enjoy a beautiful patio in a quaint town with views of the water," wrote Yelp user Gerri M.

Learn more about Tavern by the Sea here.

SOUTH CAROLINA: Katie's Sandwich Shop in Gaston

"If you're driving up or down I-26 and need a great lunch, look no further. Katie's is the alternative to all those fast food interstate exit options. Just a quick drive (less than 5 minutes) from the exit you'll find this awesome local place serving up some great sandwiches by some friendly Southern ladies. Bookmark it for your next road-trip and you won't regret it," wrote Yelp user Andrew J.

Learn more about Katie's Sandwich Shop here.

SOUTH DAKOTA: Murdo Drive-In in Murdo

"We stopped on a very long road trip with 3 kids. It was delicious! We ordered cheeseburgers, cheese balls, jalapeño poppers, a corn dog, and fries. Everything tasted great, even the buns! Food was great, service was friendly, and the lobby was clean," wrote Yelp user Sheli D.

Learn more about Murdo Drive-In here.

TENNESSEE: Arnold's Country Kitchen in Nashville

"I was in town from Florida on a two-week road trip... I wanted to eat at a local place and this was it. Arnold's is southern cooking at its best. Fresh and made with love. Yes, it may be cafeteria-style but well worth every moment. The staff made you feel welcome and at home. This little spot is always busy and constantly had a line but well worth the stopping. We surely will be back," wrote Yelp user Mary Ann R.

Learn more about Arnold's Country Kitchen here.

TEXAS: Tyler's Barbeque in Amarillo

"My husband and I stopped in here on a whim on our cross country road trip to California. We were tired and hungry, and as soon as we walked in we were immediately salivating at the mouth... Upon recommendation from the owner, I got the brisket sandwich with a side of the jalapeño cream corn. I could honestly eat a bucket of that stuff, it's that good. My husband got the pulled pork sandwich with the potato salad and it was gone before I could blink, so needless to say his was great too! The food, service, and hospitality are all top-notch," wrote Yelp user Kaelee J.

Learn more about Tyler's Barbeque here.

UTAH: Centro Woodfired Pizzeria in Cedar City

"We were driving through town on a road trip and sick of diner and fast food. We found this place on yelp and I thought, If it's half as good as the reviews I will be shocked. Started with the meatballs and garlic bread, followed with the Brooklyn Pepperoni pizza, and finished with the Nutella baked pizza with whip cream! The food quality was excellent inline with what you would expect at a high quality metropolitan Italian restaurant," wrote Yelp user Judi M.

Learn more about Centro Woodfired Pizzeria here.

VERMONT: Top of The Hill Grill in Brattleboro

"We stopped at this roadside BBQ stand for a great lunch on a road trip. I had the delicious pulled pork sandwich, and my husband had the fish burrito. The salad was perfect — fresh from the Farmer's Market mesclun. I didn't enjoy the noisy road behind me, but the great food and novel atmosphere more than made up for it," wrote Yelp user Kari T.

Learn more about Top of The Hill Grill here.

VIRGINIA: Angelle's Diner in Troutville

"This diner was delightful. Such a pleasant surprise for me, my husband, and our kids age 8 and 10 while traveling from DC. I am not usually a diner fan but Angelle's is not your average diner. It was nice and clean and lives up to its many good reviews," wrote Yelp user Amy B.

Learn more about Angelle's Diner here.

WASHINGTON: Piroshky Piroshky in Seattle

"The line is worth it. Let me repeat that: the line is worth it. The pastries are extremely fresh and filling. Like most of the others here, I highly recommend the salmon pate, and the meat and cheese. I ordered about 10 pastries, but these two were my favorite. Since we were on a road trip, we even saved some pastries for the next day, and they were still delicious cold," wrote Yelp user Vinnie W.

Learn more about Piroshky Piroshky here.

WEST VIRGINIA: Hillbilly Hot Dogs in Lesage

"Best hotdogs I have ever had! Great road trip stop! The prices are great," wrote Yelp user Scott H.

Learn more about Hillbilly Hot Dogs here.

WISCONSIN: The Old Fashioned in Madison

"Without question the best cheese curds in Wisconsin! I went here at the tail end of a road trip through Wisconsin and loved the food, vibe, and service. Definitely a must if you're in the area. Good prices, and the burgers are great too! The place was packed but there was a reason for that," wrote Yelp user Tom O.

Learn more about The Old Fashioned here.

WYOMING: Anong's Thai Cuisine in Rawlins

"Some friends and I were road-tripping through Wyoming to Colorado and needed a place to stop for dinner. This place was one of the top-rated places and we all like Thai food so we thought 'what the heck.' We all wish we had this place back in Provo cause we would definitely stop again. The service was quick and helpful but also very personable. It was a great experience, and we didn't have to wait long for our food either! 10 out of 10 would recommend," wrote Yelp user Logan B.

Learn more about Anong's Thai Cuisine here.

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