There’s nothing better than taking a road trip. Blaring music, spending time with friends or family, and gazing at the open road ahead… hitting the highway conveys a sense of pure freedom and possibility.
But to truly savor every mile and stay energized, you need the right fuel. And that's where road trip snacks come in. They’re the fuel you need for sustained energy and good vibes on any adventure.
During a road trip, it’s important to have the appropriate trip essentials and keep your stamina up, especially when driving long distances. Healthy road trip snacks are the key to feeling refreshed, nourished, and energized.
In this blog post, we’ve gathered 20 of the best road trip snacks for your next car ride. Stock up on them for your next journey and be sure your adventures are filled with delicious and healthy snacks for road trips.
What Are the Qualities of Healthy Road Trip Snacks?
Before making your grocery list, it’s important to first understand what to look for in healthy road trip snacks. Make sure you’re choosing foods that are low in fat and sugar, but high in water and fiber.
This helps keep you full for a longer period of time (and prevents mindless snacking!) These qualities make for truly good road trip snacks.
It’s helpful to pair carbohydrates with your road trip snacks, such as pairing a veggie with hummus dip, or plain greek yogurt with blueberries.
Think about convenience too; grab-and-go car snacks make snacking on the move a breeze.
Why Healthy Snacks Are Important on a Road Trip
Snacking gets a bad reputation. But when they’re healthy, the best road trip snacks can be an excellent energy source between meals!
When you’re in the driver’s seat or riding as a passenger on a long road trip, it’s easy to feel bloated, lethargic, or even cranky. That’s because when you nibble on common road trip snacks like salty chips or sugary candy bars, your body experiences a burst of energy that’s followed by a “crash.” Families who travel with little ones probably know this all too well!
So how do you avoid the crash? By packing healthy snacks for road trips of course!
20 Healthy Road Trip Snacks For Your Upcoming Travels
You don’t need to stock the cooler with elaborate, homemade road trip snacks. Simple, grab-and-go foods and beverages can keep you full between meals on the road. These are the snacks for road trips that make a real difference:
1. Meat Sticks
There’s a Chomps jerky for every occasion, and yes, this includes road trip snacks! With 10+ grams of protein, 0 grams of sugar, and 100 calories or fewer, Chomps meat sticks keep you feeling full without the post sugar-high crash. Our smaller version of Chompling mini sticks are great snacks for road trips too!
If you have picky eaters in the group, original beef sticks, beef Chomplings, or Sea Salt beef Chomplings are safe bets. But if those you’re traveling with have a gusto for adventure, our spicy jalapeno beef or Smoky BBQ beef sticks are the road trip snacks needed to break up the monotony of the open road.
If you have a little time to spend in the kitchen before the trip, you can even make these mini zucchini pizzas and stick them in a tupperware to enjoy while traveling!
2. Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and veggies are an excellent source of vitamin C and potassium. Plus, they’re rich in fiber, which promotes a healthy gut and prevents digestion issues. Not to mention there are many fruits and vegetables to choose from, which caters to different preferences and makes it easy to keep healthy road trip snacks exciting.
A few common road trip snacks from the fruit aisle are bananas, apples, grapes, and mandarin oranges. All keep well without refrigeration and can be easily grabbed from a knapsack in a crowded car. These are fantastic and easy road trip snack ideas.
Healthy snacks for road trips can include broccoli, cauliflower, celery, bell peppers, and carrots. These pair with a variety of dips, like ranch, hummus, or pesto, so you can avoid food boredom while feeling full and satisfied!
3. Nuts and Seeds
There are numerous health benefits of nuts and seeds. Since they’re so nutrient-rich, a little bit goes a long way and often just a handful delivers vitamins and minerals your body needs.
When on a road trip, there are a few nuts and seeds that stand out as the best road trip snacks for a boost of energy. These include walnuts, almonds, cashews, pumpkin seeds, and sunflower seeds.
A great way to keep portions under control is to buy pre-portioned packs as your snacks for road trips. It’s easy to overeat nuts when bought in bulk, so bringing pre-portioned road trip snacks keeps bored eating at bay!
4. Beverages
When you’re on the road, there are times when healthy road trip snacks just don’t sound appetizing and that’s okay! It’s also important to keep hydrated when in a hot vehicle, but sometimes plain old water won’t do.
While soda is a go-to road trip staple, it has high levels of sugar. Healthier beverage options are tea, black coffee, milk, fruit juice, or a smoothie. When you need to make a gas station pit stop, try to look for beverages with low or zero sugar content.
5. Veggie Spring Rolls
Veggie spring rolls make for refreshing and nutritious road trip snacks. Made with rice paper, filled with a variety of vegetables like carrots, cucumbers, and bell peppers, they are perfect for a light, crunchy bite on the go.
Pair them with a light dipping sauce for extra flavor. These healthy snacks for road trips are easy to prepare and keep well in a cooler, making them among the best snacks for a road trip.
6. Cottage Cheese Cups
In our book, cottage cheese cups are one of the best snacks for road trips because they provide a protein-packed option that stays fresh in your cooler. Top individual servings with a sprinkle of cinnamon or a few berries for added flavor.
These healthy road trip snacks are convenient and delicious. They’ll keep you satisfied and energized while traveling.
7. Turkey Roll-Ups
Turkey roll-ups are another one of our favorite simple yet healthy snacks for a road trip. Roll slices of turkey breast around a cheese stick or a slice of avocado for a high-protein, low-carb treat.
These healthy road trip snacks are easy to prepare and perfect for a quick bite. This makes them one of the best snacks for road trips whether you’re by yourself or with friends and family.
8. Greek Yogurt with Honey
Greek yogurt with honey offers a balance of protein and a touch of sweetness. This contrast makes it one of the best road trip snacks in our mind.
Pack small containers of Greek yogurt and drizzle with honey for a delicious, nutritious option. Yogurt tubes or pouches are less messy for kids, and you can also freeze them ahead of time to minimize mess even more. These road trip snacks are easy to keep cool and enjoy while on the go.
9. Smoothie Packs
Smoothie packs are ideal for those seeking healthy road trip snacks. Prepare packs with frozen fruit, spinach, and protein powder.
Blend them before your trip and keep them in an insulated bottle for a nutritious, refreshing drink. They make for one of our favorite healthy road trip snacks since they provide a tasty and convenient way to stay energized.
10. Energy Balls
Homemade energy balls are ideal road trip snacks. Make your own by packing them with oats, nut butter, chia seeds, and a touch of honey.
These bite-sized treats provide a quick energy boost, are easy to make, and can be stored in a cooler. Customize them with your favorite mix-ins like dried fruit, coconut flakes, or dark chocolate chips for delicious and nutritious road trip snacks.
11. Cheese and Crackers
Cheese and crackers are classic road trip snacks that are both satisfying and easy to pack. Opt for whole grain crackers paired with slices of your favorite cheese for a balanced snack.
This combination offers protein, fiber, and healthy fats to make it one of the best road trip snacks you can take with you on your travels. We’re confident they’ll keep you feeling full and energized!
12. Popcorn
Next up on our list of the best road trip snacks is a bite-sized classic. Air-popped popcorn is a light and crunchy snack.
Season it with a little sea salt or nutritional yeast for added flavor without the extra calories. Popcorn is a whole grain snack that is easy to pack and munch on - both qualities that make it one of our favorite road trip snacks.
13. Roasted Chickpeas
Roasted chickpeas are a nutritious and simple road trip snack. These crunchy, savory legumes are packed with plant-based protein and fiber. They are an excellent choice for sustained energy on the go.
You can buy them pre-roasted or easily make your own at home with your favorite spices. Roasted chickpeas offer a satisfying crunch without the unhealthy fats found in many traditional snacks.
14. Rice Cakes with Avocado
Rice cakes topped with mashed avocado, a sprinkle of salt, and a dash of chili flakes create a crunchy and creamy snack perfect for your travels. These healthy road trip snacks are easy to prepare and provide a good source of healthy fats and fiber. They’re no doubt a great choice for sustained energy.
15. Veggie Chips
Veggie chips, whether homemade or store-bought, offer a crunchy alternative to traditional potato chips. Options like kale chips or beet chips are nutrient-dense and flavorful. These healthy road trip snacks are easy to pack and provide a satisfying crunch without the added calories and fats of regular chips.
16. Dark Chocolate Covered Almonds
Have a sweet tooth? A small portion of dark chocolate covered almonds can satisfy your cravings while providing healthy fats and antioxidants.
These are another one of our favorite road trip snacks that are easy to pack and offer a delicious balance of sweet and savory flavors.
17. Guacamole Packs with Veggie Sticks
Individual guacamole packs paired with veggie sticks like bell peppers, cucumbers, and carrots make these one of the more flavorful and healthy road trip snacks.
These convenient packs are perfect for dipping and provide a good source of healthy fats and fiber. Who wouldn’t think a pack of guac makes for one of the best road trip snacks?
18. Edamame
Shelled edamame is an excellent plant-based protein source that is easy to pack and enjoy on the go. Seasoned with a bit of sea salt, these healthy road trip snacks are not only good for you but also incredibly satisfying. Edamame is a great choice for those looking for a protein and fiber boost while traveling.
19. Hard-Boiled Eggs
Hard-boiled eggs are among the best road trip snacks. They offer a portable and protein-packed option that keeps you full and energized.
Easy to prepare ahead of time, they can be stored in a cooler for freshness. Packed with essential nutrients like vitamins B12 and D, hard-boiled eggs are a simple yet nutritious choice for healthy road trip snacks.
20. String Cheese
String cheese is one of the more convenient and delicious healthy snacks for road trips that’s perfect for portioning. Individually wrapped and easy to pack, string cheese provides a good source of calcium and protein.
They’re fun, mess-free road trip snacks that can be enjoyed by both kids and adults alike. Their wide appeal makes it one of the best snacks for road trips.
The Perfect Travel Companion for Your Empty Stomach
Again, when in doubt, Chomps variety of meat snacks are a great go-to! Their convenience and satisfying flavors make them ideal for any trip. Whether you're looking for keto travel snacks or simply a delicious protein option, Chomps has you covered.
These snacks are not just for the road, but can satisfy the cravings of any traveler or camper. They’re great for packing in your kid’s lunchbox when they’re off on field trips too!
Enjoy a variety of tasty, protein options to keep you fueled and happy on your journey. Happy snacking!
ROAD TRIP SNACKS FAQS
What are good road trip snacks?
Good road trip snacks are those that are low in fat and sugar, but high in water, protein, and fiber to keep you full and energized.
This includes healthy snacks for road trips such as Chomps meat sticks, fruits like bananas and apples, vegetables like baby carrots and bell peppers, nuts and seeds, hard-boiled eggs, string cheese, and whole-grain crackers.
What is the best road trip snack?
While "best" can be subjective, a top contender for the best road trip snack is a protein option like Chomps meat sticks or hard-boiled eggs.
These provide sustained energy without a sugar crash. Pairing them with a healthy carb like fruit or whole-grain crackers creates a balanced and satisfying road trip snack.
What are easy snacks to eat while driving?
Easy car snacks that are not super messy include fruits like clementines (peeled ahead of time) and bananas, pre-cut veggies like baby carrots and bell pepper strips, string cheese, yogurt tubes/pouches, and individual packs of nuts or roasted chickpeas. Chomps meat sticks are also easy to eat while on the move.
Basically, look for snacks for road trips that only require one hand to eat and allow you to keep your eyes on the road.
What food to make for a road trip?
For a road trip snack idea, you can make homemade items like energy balls, muffins or bars packed with veggies and legumes, smoothie packs, or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. You can also prep fruits like grapes and pre-slice vegetables to make them ready for dipping.
