40 Easy-to-Pack Road Trip Snacks
Updated: Mar. 25, 2021Your bags are packed, you're ready to go. But what will you eat along the way? Ditch the drive-thru and stay clear of pricey gas station grub. These road trip snacks are simple to pack, easy to eat in the car and will keep you happy mile after mile.
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Savory Cracker Snack Mix
A Taste of Home recipe inspired this one! Because I love everything bagel seasoning, I decided to give this a try. A friend later suggested I make the mix more versatile with something other than oyster crackers, and now it’s a deliciously addictive snack! —Cyndy Gerken, Naples, Florida—Cyndy Gerken, Naples, FloridaIf you can’t escape the gas station, try one of our favorite gas station foods that are worth stopping for!
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No-Bake Peanut Butter Energy Bars
These peanut butter energy bars are made with natural ingredients, and there’s no baking required! You can substitute sunflower seeds for the walnuts. Want more fiber? Add a little wheat germ. —Amy Crane, Richland, Michigan
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Chili-Lime Roasted Chickpeas
Looking for a lighter snack that’s still a crowd-pleaser? You’ve found it! This zesty, crunchy chickpea recipe will have everyone happily munching. —Julie Ruble, Charlotte, North Carolina 4 / 40
Easy Puppy Chow
This easy puppy chow recipe uses a whole package of cereal, so there’s less messy measuring. And it makes enough to feed a hungry crowd. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen 5 / 40
Sweet & Spicy Peanuts
With a caramel-like coating and a touch of heat from the hot sauce, these crunchy peanuts make a tasty anytime snack. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen 6 / 40
Tex-Mex Popcorn
Spicy Southwest seasoning makes this snackin’-good popcorn ideal for any fiesta. —Katie Rose, Pewaukee, Wisconsin 7 / 40
Basic Banana Muffins
This banana muffin recipe goes over so well with kids. Not only are these banana bread muffins like cupcakes, but they’re ready, start to finish, in just half an hour! —Lorna Greene, Harrington, Maine 8 / 40
Crispy Snack Mix
This recipe proves you can make just about anything in a slow cooker, even a delightfully crispy snack mix. —Jane Sims, De Leon, Texas 9 / 40
Chocolate Date Energy Balls
Eating just one of these healthy chocolate date energy balls satisfies my sweet tooth without added refined sugar. My recipe is a spinoff of an energy ball my daughter made for me when I was testing for my taekwondo black belt. —Barbara Estabrook, Appleton, Wisconsin 10 / 40
Homemade Honey Grahams
The way my boys eat them, I would spend a fortune on honey graham crackers at the grocery store. So I decided to make a homemade version that is less processed—and less expensive. These are wonderful, although they still don’t last long. —Crystal Jo Bruns, Iliff, Colorado 11 / 40
Snack Crackers
Our 13-year-old daughter, Dana, loves to make this crunchy and flavorful snack for us. Her four older brothers finish off a batch in no time. —Sue Manel, Milladore, Wisconsin 12 / 40
Date Oatmeal Bars
In no time at all, these bars will be ready for your family. They'll be surprised at how light and tasty the treats are. —Helen Cluts, Eden Prairie, Minnesota 13 / 40
Caramel Chex Mix
This wonderfully crunchy snack is loaded with cereal, pretzels and nuts—and coated with a not-too-sweet brown sugar mixture. Package this up as gifts, or set out a bowl at your party and watch it disappear by the handful. —Samantha Moyer, Oskaloosa, Iowa 14 / 40
Teriyaki Beef Jerky
Jerky is a portable, chewy snack. You can make your own with our recipe. The meat has a savory flavor and a bit of heat. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Greendale, Wisconsin 15 / 40
Spicy Almonds
We like to venture out into the mountain range that surrounds our family cabin. These nuts never taste better than when we enjoy them together at the peak of an amazing hike. Almonds are extremely nutritious, and when dressed up with a wonderful blend of spices, they go from ordinary to awesome! —Gina Myers, Spokane, Washington 16 / 40
Dried Fruit Energy Bars
These dried fruit energy bars are the perfect breakfast option for busy people. They’re easy to make ahead and jam-packed with ingredients like chia seeds, quinoa and oats that will keep you fueled throughout the day. — Andrea Potischman, Menlo Park, California 17 / 40
Walnut Zucchini Muffins
Shredded zucchini adds makes these walnutty muffins extra tender. If you have lots of zucchini in summer as many of us do, this is a good way to use some of it. —Harriet Stichter, Milford, Indiana 18 / 40
Nutty Cereal Crunch
This is one of my favorite snacks to take to large get-togethers. Cinnamon, brown sugar and butter create a lip-smacking coating for cereal and a variety of nuts in this change-of-pace party mix. One handful simply isn’t enough! —Grace Yaskovic, Branchville, New Jersey 19 / 40
Chia Seed Protein Bites
I keep these little bites on hand in my refrigerator and grab them for breakfast or a snack when I’m in a hurry. We have a lot of food allergies in our family and I like to keep healthy snacks around that everyone can eat. This recipe has no gluten, eggs, dairy or corn, so it’s the perfect go-to treat in our house. —Tanja Miller, Peoria, Arizona 20 / 40
Sesame-Garlic Pumpkin Seeds
This “everything” mix of pumpkin seeds with other seeds and seasoning is a fun treat—a lively way to use the seeds left over from your Halloween jack-o’-lantern! —Danielle Ulam, Hookstown, Pennsylvania 21 / 40
Granola Trail Mix
My family has always enjoyed this crunchy four-ingredient snack. When we go camping, each person includes one additional ingredient like mini marshmallows, corn chips or cookie pieces. The taste is never the same, and we're often surprised by the combinations. —Shelley Riddlespurger, Amarillo, Texas 22 / 40
Parmesan-Ranch Snack Mix
Every party needs a big bowl of snack mix! No one that I’ve made this for can have just one handful—they always come back again and again!—Tammy Landry, Saucier, MS
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Slow-Cooker Coconut Granola
Here’s a versatile treat with a taste of the tropics. Change it up by subbing dried pineapple or tropical fruits for the cherries. —Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 24 / 40
Nut Butter Cups
My indulgent, nutty treat is simple to make and looks fabulous. At our house, we use all-natural ingredients for them. —Courtney Stultz, Weir, Kansas 25 / 40
Ranch Snack Mix
This is a wonderful fast-to-fix munchie. The recipe makes tons and doesn't involve any cooking. It's a cinch to package in individual snack bags, it keeps its crunch and it's a savory alternative to the cakes and pies usually offered at bake sales. —Linda Murphy, Pulaski, Wisconsin 26 / 40
Chocolate Banana Muffins
I bake something almost every day—either in the morning before everyone's awake or in the evening. I whip up these tender muffins in no time and serve them with jam for breakfast or ice cream and chocolate syrup for dessert. —Stephanie Kienzle, North Miami Beach, Florida 27 / 40
Sweet & Salty Peanut Butter Bites
My son Micah and I love peanut butter cups, so we made them into a new treat. We entered these peanut butter no bake cookies in a creative baking contest and won first place! —Autumn Emigh, Gahanna, Ohio 28 / 40
PB&J Chex Mix
As a kid, I loved to add crunchy textures, like chips or popcorn, to my PB&J sandwiches. This mix has all the necessary components of that childhood favorite: sweet jelly, rich peanut butter, a little saltiness from peanuts and, finally, that irresistible crunch from the Chex mix. —Shelley Ward, Isle of Palms, South Carolina 29 / 40
Rhubarb Nut Muffins
Muffins are my weakness! When I make these to take to a gathering, I always come home with an empty plate. —Mary Kay Morris, Cokato, Minnesota 30 / 40
Orange-Ancho Spiced Nuts
Get ready for a flavor adventure. These nuts offer a tasty combination of orange, ancho chili pepper and chocolate. The pepper gives a smoky taste. Increase it to add more warmth.—Leigh Doutt, Pueblo West, Colorado 31 / 40
Fruity Cereal Bars
With dried apples and cranberries, these crispy cereal bars are perfect for snacks or brown-bag lunches. —Giovanna Kranenberg, Cambridge, Minnesota 32 / 40
Rosemary-Parmesan Popcorn
Fresh herbs and real cheese make this popcorn a homemade favorite that will make you forget about store-bought seasoning mixes. —Dan Kelmenson, West Bloomfield, Michigan 33 / 40
Chewy Honey Granola Bars
There's sweetness from the honey, chewiness from the raisins, hints of chocolate and cinnamon, and a bit of crunch. To save a few for later, wrap individual bars and place in a resealable freezer container. When you want a satisfying treat on short notice, just grab one and let it thaw for a few minutes. —Tasha Lehman, Williston, Vermont 34 / 40
Cheddar-Pecan Crisps
Lots of holiday treats are sweet. For a change of pace, I fill goodie bags with my cheese crackers. The recipe has a large yield, but you can freeze the dough logs to bake later. —Heather Necessary, Shamokin Dan, Pennsylvania 35 / 40
Carrot Cookie Bites
This recipe is a longtime family favorite. The cookies are soft and delicious, and the aroma while baking is absolutely irresistible! I'm always being asked for the recipe. —Jeanie Petrik, Greensburg, Kentucky 36 / 40
Nuts and Seeds Trail Mix
A filling blend of nuts, seeds, chocolate chips and dried fruit keeps you healthy by the handful. —Kristin Rimkus, Snohomish, Washington 37 / 40
Poppy Seed Mini Muffins
These moist muffins may be small, but they're always a big hit on a brunch buffet, as a quick snack or as part of a bread basket assortment. The combination of poppy seeds and a hint of lemon makes them irresistible. —Kathryn Anderson, Casper, Wyoming 38 / 40
White Chocolate Cereal Bars
A friend shared with me this fresh take on traditional crispy treats. My husband loves them, and I feel so efficient with their quick prep time. —Anne Powers, Munford, Alabama 39 / 40
Homemade Potato Chips
Forget buying a bag of potato chips at the grocery store when you can make these at home. This quick and easy recipe will delight everyone in the family. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen 40 / 40
Cinnamon-Cranberry Oat Bars
I'm a swim coach for kids, and I started making these bars for them as a snack. I wanted something that was easy to eat but would also give them energy. The kids loved them from the very first time I brought them. Now I bring them to every team event. —Sarah Riviere, Prescott, Arizona Originally Published: March 04, 2021
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