The Best Snacks for Road Trips & Traveling

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Easy, delicious, and healthy snacks for the road!

Co-authored by Dina Garcia, RD, LDN, CLT and Aly Rusciano

Last Updated: October 15, 2025 Fact Checked

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Quick & Easy Snacks

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Healthy Snacks

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Kid-Friendly Snacks

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Packing Advice

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Video

It’s road trip time! Planning a road trip can be just as fun as the destination, and there’s certainly one thing you can’t forget: snacks. Snacks are a crucial part of any road trip (for some folks, it’s the only reason to set off at all!). So, what should you bring on a road trip? Keep reading for a list of the best indulgent and healthy road trip snacks. Plus, we’ve even thrown in a few tips on how to choose the perfect one.

What are the best road trip snacks?

The best road trip snacks are easy to eat, portable, and low-mess. Classic road trip snacks include popcorn, potato chips, beef jerky, and candy. Healthier options include fruit and nut butter, string cheese, and yogurt.

Section 1 of 4:

Quick & Easy Road Trip Snacks

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Keep it simple with classic snacks that have stood the test of time. These road trip snacks are a classic for a reason! Not only are they tasty, but they’re also super easy to pick up just about anywhere. Hungry? Just head to the nearest gas station! Plus, most of these snacks are non-refrigerated, making them ideal for throwing into your bag or car.
- Beef jerky
- Candy (M&M’s, Skittles, gummy bears, etc.)
- Cheetos
- Chex Mix
- Chocolate bar
- Combos
- Cookies
- Crackers
- Dry cereal
- Goldfish
- Ice cream
- Little Debbie Snack Cakes
- Lollipop
- Mixed nuts and seeds
- Muffin
- Popcorn
- Potato chips
- Pretzels
- Pringles
- Trail mix
- Turkey or beef sticks
- Make the drive even more fun by asking these questions while you snack!

Section 2 of 4:

Healthy Road Trip Snacks

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Keep your energy and spirits up on the road with these balanced snacks. Who says you have to throw your healthy diet out the window just cause you’re on a road trip? While snacking on chips and candy is fun, it can give you a tummy ache. Stay alert and energized with these healthy snack options:
- Apple
- Applesauce pouches
- Banana
- Blueberries
- Celery sticks
- Cherry tomatoes
- Cottage cheese cup
- Dried fruit
- Energy balls
- Granola bar
- Grapes
- Hard-boiled eggs
- Hummus and veggies
- Meat and cheese roll-ups
- Mini bell peppers
- Olive cup
- Oranges
- PB&J sandwich
- Raisins
- Roasted chickpeas
- Roasted edamame
- Snap peas
- String cheese
- Tuna and crackers
- Yogurt cup
- For more info on how to choose healthy snacks, check out this article!

Section 3 of 4:

Road Trip Snacks for Kids

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Please even the pickiest of eaters with these fun and delicious snacks. Kids can be tricky to pack for, especially if they’re picky. But road trip snacks don’t have to be boring! Many of the snacks above are perfect for kids, but the ones below have just a bit more whimsy to keep them entertained in the back seat:
- Ants on a Log: Fill the inside of celery with peanut butter and top with raisins or chocolate chips.
- DIY Trail Mix: Mix together all of their favorite treats (plus a few healthy options).
- Frozen Yogurt: Freeze a tube or small container of yogurt for an ice cream-like treat.
- Fruit Caterpillars: Skewer grapes together to look like a caterpillar.
- Fun Sandwiches: Make a traditional PB&J fun by cutting the sandwich into a fun shape.
- Homemade Lunchables: Place crackers, cheese slices, sliced meat, and a chocolate treat inside a bento box.
- PB&J Sushi: Spread peanut butter and jelly on a tortilla, then roll it up. Cut the tortilla into sushi-style pieces.^{[1]
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- Rainbow Fruit Skewers: Cut up small cubes of different fruits and place them on a skewer.
- Tortilla Wraps: Wrap deli meat and cheese inside a tortilla.
- Keep kids entertained with these fun road trip games!

Section 4 of 4:

Tips for Packing

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A small cooler or insulated bag can be a game-changer on a road trip! Not only can you keep perishable snacks cool, but you can also use it to store away any leftovers you might gather on the journey. ^{[2]
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Pre-portion snacks. When you’re driving, you don’t want to be digging through a big bag of goodies, whether you’re snacking yourself or passing something along. Pre-portion your snacks into smaller bags or containers so they’re easier to grab. Plus, this is a great way to control your portion and ensure no one gets too full on the journey.^{[3]
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- Make a “snack box” for yourself or kids that features small portions of the best snacks. Aim to use a plastic container with separate sections (like a bento box) for the best experience.
EXPERT TIP

Dina Garcia, RD, LDN, CLT
Registered Dietitian-Nutritionist
Dina Garcia is a Registered Dietitian, Nutritionist, and the Founder of Vida Nutrition and Conscious Living, her private practice based in Miami, Florida. Dina specializes in helping yo-yo dieters and binge eaters overcome food guilt, practice self-love, and rediscover self confidence. She has over 15 years as a dietitian. She received a BS in Dietetics from Ball State University and completed her supervised dietician practice at California State University, Fresno. She is certified as a Registered Dietitian (RD) by the Commission on Dietetic Registration and is a Florida Licensed Dietician/Nutritionist (LDN).

Dina Garcia, RD, LDN, CLT
Registered Dietitian-Nutritionist

Look for snacks that will fill you up and be satiating. Don’t go for something “just to eat.” Ensure that what you’re snacking on will leave you full and satisfied.
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Aim for high protein options. It can be hard to stick to a balanced diet on a road trip, especially if you’re just starting your vacation. Help keep your diet in check by packing protein-rich snacks. Not only will these help you stay full longer, but they will also give you the energy you need for all the fun to come!
- Some of our favorite protein-rich snacks include string cheese, peanut butter granola bars, trail mix, and mixed nuts.
- Learn how to incorporate more protein into your diet with these articles.
EXPERT TIP

Amy Chow
Registered Dietitian
Amy Chow is a Registered Dietitian and the Founder of BC Dieticians, a group of certified dieticians collaborating on an online directory to provide a central hub of qualified nutrition experts based in British Columbia (BC), Canada. With over ten years of experience, Amy has a special interest in pediatric nutrition, food allergy management, and eating disorder recovery. Amy holds a Bachelor’s degree in Nutritional Sciences from McGill University. She gained her clinical experiences at residential and outpatient eating disorder treatment programs, as well as at BC Children’s Hospital, before starting her own business. She has been featured on Find BC Dietitians, Dietitians of Canada, Food Allergy Canada, Recovery Care Collective, Parentology, Save on Foods, National Eating Disorder Information Centre (NEDIC), and Joytv.

Amy Chow
Registered Dietitian

Some of the best road trip snacks are healthy! A popular go-to is baby carrots and celery in a to-go container with an apple and nut butter or nuts and seeds.
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Think “low mess.” No one wants to be pulling over to clean up a mess in the back seat. So, do your best to choose “low mess” snacks. Think: can a kid open this without spilling? If the answer is “yes,” the snack is good to go!
- Also, think about how easy the snack would be to clean up. Will napkins and maybe some wipes be enough to leave you and the car mess-free?
- Just to be safe, make sure to pack paper towels and cleaning wipes for your journey. You never know when they’ll come in handy!
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Remember the drinks! The last thing you need is to be trapped on a long stretch of highway with no water after downing a package of crispy, salty chips. Remembering drinks for the road is just as important as filling up your snack bag. Our advice? Keep a pack of water bottles in the back of the car, or bring a separate cooler full of water, juice, soda, and sports drinks.^{[4]
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- If you have a snack cooler, fill the bottom with chilled drinks to help keep all of your snacks cool.