North America might be big, but with a plan and a little perseverance, travelers can hit the road and explore it. You might not be Lewis and Clark in their canoes or Ma and Pa Ingalls in their covered wagon. However, your car can get you most places to chart your own journey. Before setting out, road trips require preparation, snacks included. Here are the best snacks for road trips.
As a part of our culture, travelers load up and explore America. Jack Kerouac et al did it. Ford and Edison did it. Hitting the open road just soothes our yearning for discovery with the Great American Road Trip. To do it well that you need the best road trip snacks for kids.
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Best Snacks for Road Trips
Road trip snacks might be as important as a map and a spare tire. Make it a family affair and ask for suggestions and favorites from your road-tripping companions. Remember to make it fun and pack fun food.
I could tell you I pack the most nutritious items that I can find, but Mom needs a break, too. I want to be the Fun Mom for our road trip, so I pack all the fun snacks just for vacation. We’ll go back on the good-for-you wagon when we get home, promise.
The Classic Road Trip Snacks
Pringles
Cheez-Its
Beef Jerky
Pretzels
Cracker Jacks
Moon Pies
Twizzlers
Corn Nuts
Slurpees (Remember free 7/11 is Free Slurpee Day)
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Best Bars for Road Trips
Bars are a must. Stash a few in the console compartment, just in case.
Protein bars
Granola bars
Cereal bars
Fig Newtons
Fruit Snacks for Road Trips
Kids love fruit, but most fresh fruit doesn’t travel well. It really needs a cooler or to be eaten on the first day.
A banana or two. Not too many because they bruise.
Mandarin oranges or Cuties
Apples
Fresh Cherries
Grapes
Fruit leather
Freeze-dried fruit– Apples and pears seem to be the winners here.
Applesauce pouches
Yogurt-covered raisins
Dried cherries or apricots
Bagged fruit snacks
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Road Tripping Protein
Sometimes I’m in the middle of a desert and I can’t find a place to eat.
Cheese
A good source of protein and travels well if individually wrapped. Put cheese in a cooler during the summer.
String cheese
Babybel
Laughing Cow
Individually packaged pieces of cheddar or Colby.
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Hard-boiled eggs
Yogurt. Don’t forget the spoons or get the tubes.
Breakfast in a Pouch, a combination of nuts and fruit in a single-serve pouch
Flavored almonds, sweet or salty
Hummus
Nut butters, peanut, almond or cashew
Pre-made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
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Just for Fun Sweet Treats
Cookies, a couple of varieties.
Rice Crispy Treats
Graham crackers
Gummy anything
Animal crackers
Marshmallows
Trail Mix
Muddy Buddies Mix
Salty Snacks
I stay away from any snacks that will cover my SUV in cheesy fingerprints. Sorry, kids I will never buy a barrel of cheese puffs.
Cracker sandwiches. I get the variety pack to keep everyone happy.
Gold Fish
Pretzels
Popped popcorn
Chex Mix
Bagel chips
Potato chips
Pita chips
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Road Trip Snack Bag Must-Haves
Paper towels
Wet wipes
Disposable silverware
Ziploc bags, quarts and gallon size
Clothes pins or Chip Clips
Refillable water bottles
Snacks for Mom
I do the majority of the driving on our road trips, so I have my snacks in the front seat since my kids will eat everything within their reach.
Sweet and salty nuts
Good crackers
Edamame
Bean Chips, like the SnapPeas Crisps
Good Cheese
Bottled cold coffee drinks
Canned sparkling water
Gum
Sweet tarts or other really tart candy
I also pack treats that wake up my mouth so I can stay alert. After a few hours on the road, I like to chew gum. I have a roll of Sweet Tarts or other candy that’s really tart. I alternate unsweetened ice tea or iced coffee and sparkling water.
What About Dads and Dudes?
Dads want a break from the daily obligations of parenting, too. So let him eat junk, just for the trip.
Pork Rinds
Bugles
Pistachios, just give him something for the shells
Sunflower seeds, same
Gas station hotdog
Slim Jim
Hot Fries
Hostess Cupcakes
Twinkies
Fried Pies
Antacid
Tips for Road Trip Snacking
First, I make it easy and fun. I forget about the cute containers I saw on Pinterest. Let’s get real: What am I supposed to do with all those containers on the second day of our trip?
I skip the plastic containers, especially the glass Mason jars. I buy individual serving sizes so I can grab all the trash from the back seat when I stop for gas. Don’t think I’m the only one with messy kids.
Then, I load everything into one of my reusable shopping bags. Since it’s soft-sided, I can stash the bag in another place if needed.
Since it’s vacation, my kids get what they want, except for chocolate, a giant barrel of Cheez balls and Capri Suns. The chocolate and the cheez balls for obvious messy reasons.
Let me tell you a story from one summer: a Capri Sun gunfight broke out in the backseat of my Toyota 4 Runner. I didn’t know my boys could turn drink pouches into sticky, sweet weapons. They did, and they had a great time. Now, Capri Suns are permanently banned from my SUV.
The snack bag is another passenger and has its own spot in the back seat. My oldest is in charge of the snack bag en route. As the driver, I need to stay focused on driving. That, and I don’t have time for any snack squabbles that break out.
I really have two snack bags, one with the kids and one hidden in the back of the SUV. I use the latter as a backup stock. If I gave all the snacks to my kids at once, they would eat everything like a pack of puppies.
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