You're taking a family trip! But what will you eat along the way? These road trip snacks are simple to pack, easy to eat in the car and will keep you happy mile after mile.
The 36 Best Road Trip Snacks You Can Pack
Updated on Feb. 23, 2024
Lemony Snack Mix
A portable snack mix that tastes like lemon bars? Yes, please! This sunshiny snack pairs crunchy Chex cereal with creamy white chocolate and lots of bright, fragrant lemon zest. Plus, it’s one of our favorite gluten-free road trip snacks.
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Homemade Cheez-Its
Wish Cheez-Its were… cheez-ier? This recipe for homemade Cheez-Its packs in the shredded sharp cheddar, so you can have the extra-cheesy crackers you’ve always dreamed of.
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Teriyaki Beef Jerky
Total Time
3 hours 40 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Jerky is a fun and portable snack. The meat has a savory flavor and just a bit of heat. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Buying beef jerky at a gas station can be expensive if you’ve got lots of hungry mouths to feed. Instead, save a couple bucks by making homemade beef jerky before you go.
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Nut Butter Cups
Total Time
20 min
Servings
1 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
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
Why settle for store-bought peanut butter cups when you can easily make them at home? Pair the richest chocolate with nut butters, then pack on the fresh chopped nuts. Just taste homemade peanut butter cups once and there’s no going back.
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Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins
Total Time
45 min
Servings
6 jumbo muffins
From the Recipe Creator:
These golden goodies are always popular at brunches and bake sales. For a great holiday gift, put the muffins in a pretty basket or other container and add a jar of preserves. Kimberly Baxter, Exeter, Rhode Island
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Homemade Potato Chips
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
8-1/2 cups
From the Recipe Creator:
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
If you’ve never made homemade potato chips before, a road trip is a great excuse to try! To make flavored potato chips, sprinkle them with your favorite spice blend while they’re still warm.
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Chili-Lime Roasted Chickpeas
Total Time
50 min
Servings
2 cups
From the Recipe Creator:
Looking for a lighter snack that's still a crowd pleaser? You've found it! These zesty, crunchy chickpeas will have everyone happily munching. —Julie Ruble, Charlotte, North Carolina
Looking for something healthy to snack on mindlessly? These chili-lime chickpeas are crunchy, good for you and full of bold flavor.
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Cinnamon-Cranberry Oat Bars
Total Time
20 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
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
These kid-friendly cinnamon-cranberry oat bars pack a hidden healthy punch thanks to ground flax seeds. Once cut, wrap each bar individually in waxed paper to make them road trip-friendly. Find more helpful hints for traveling with food.
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Soft Beer Pretzel Nuggets
Total Time
1 hour 10 min
Servings
8 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
What goes together better than beer and pretzels? Not much that I can think of. That’s why I put them together into one recipe. I’m always looking for new ways to combine fun flavors. I love the way this recipe turned out! —Alyssa Wilhite, Whitehouse, Texas
This recipe for soft pretzel nuggets uses amber beer to create an irresistible flavor. If you’d rather another style of beer (like a rich lager or dark stout), or prefer to use a nonalcoholic brew, you can certainly switch it up any way you please.
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Birthday Cake Fudge
Total Time
10 min
Servings
64 pieces
From the Recipe Creator:
This decadent treat is the perfect sweet to make your birthday special. Or prepare it ahead and package it as a surprise gift for a friend. —Rashanda Cobbins, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
You don’t need to be celebrating a birthday in the car to enjoy the taste of birthday cake! This fudge takes less than 5 minutes to prepare thanks to a secret ingredient: boxed Funfetti cake mix.
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Savory Cracker Snack Mix
Total Time
30 min
Servings
4-1/2 cups
From the Recipe Creator:
After trying a snack mix with the flavors of my favorite Everything bagel seasoning, a friend suggested I make it even more versatile with something other than oyster crackers. Now it’s a deliciously addictive snack! —Cyndy Gerken, Naples, Florida
Love the taste of everything bagel seasoning? Then you’ll love this crunchy snack mix that tosses it with pretzels, potato sticks and more.
Before you stop to fuel up, check our list to find the best gas station foods to grab on the go.
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Spicy Almonds
Total Time
40 min
Servings
2-1/2 cups
From the Recipe Creator:
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
This spicy almond recipe could not be easier to make—and it’s endlessly customizable. Once you’ve got the technique down pat, mix things up with homemade spice blends to create a special recipe all your own!
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Courtside Caramel Corn
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
about 5-1/2 quarts
From the Recipe Creator:
My guests say they can't stop eating my caramel corn! For our basketball party I fix enough to fill a big red tin with our team's logo. The delectable syrup coats the popcorn well but isn't sticky. —Sharon Landeen, Tucson, Arizona
You might not think caramel corn is the best snack to bring in the car, but this recipe is an exception. Even though it’s coated in a rich brown sugar caramel with a touch of salt, it’s not sticky in the slightest.
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Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
Total Time
10 min
Servings
9 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I have to be super careful when cooking for my daughter because of food sensitivities, so I make these no-bake peanut butter oatmeal bars with certified gluten-free oats. Everyone loves these bars when we go to picnics or potlucks, and I know there will be a dessert for my daughter! —Angela Lively, Conroe, Texas
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Cheddar-Pecan Crisps
Total Time
40 min
Servings
24 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
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
Looking for a road trip snack you can prepare well in advance? The dough for these cheesy, nutty crisps can be prepped, rolled into logs and frozen ahead of time. Before you leave for your trip, just slice and bake!
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Air-Fryer Kale Chips
Total Time
15 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Harvesttime means big bunches of kale from local farmers. These crunchy air-fryer kale chips are delicious, super healthy and easy to make. I make them with seasoning to take the flavor up a notch. For extra zip, add a dash of cayenne pepper. —Luanne Asta, Hampton Bays, New York
These kale chips are a healthier alternative to packaged chips, and they’re so delicious, even the kids will love them. Season your kale chips simply with salt, or break out a spice blend like Old Bay to upgrade this nutritious snack.
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Oatmeal Date Bars
Total Time
40 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
In no time at all, these oatmeal date bars will be ready for your family. They'll be surprised at how light and tasty these treats are. —Helen Cluts, Eden Prairie, Minnesota
Dates are super sweet and super healthy, making them a great pick-me-up snack for a long road trip. Wrap each bar individually in waxed paper or parchment paper to make them easier to store (and easier to eat).
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Chia Seed Protein Bites
Total Time
15 min
Servings
2-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
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
This recipe has no gluten, eggs, dairy or corn, so it’s the perfect road trip snack for those with certain food allergies. They’re also no-bake, so even the littlest hands can help make these protein-packed treats!
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Caramel Chex Mix
Total Time
25 min
Servings
3 quarts
From the Recipe Creator:
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
This wonderfully crunchy snack is loaded with cereal, pretzels and nuts—and coated with a not-too-sweet brown sugar mixture. Pack this mix in resealable bags for easy eating while you’re on the road.
Homemade Chex Mix
You can make crunchy homemade Chex Mix in the oven, slow cooker, microwave or air fryer. No matter how you whip up this back-of-the-box recipe, it’s the king of road trip snacks!
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White Chocolate Cereal Bars
Total Time
15 min
Servings
about 3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
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
Jazz up the typical rice cereal treat with rich, indulgent white chocolate. If you’d like to make these cereal bars more festive to celebrate a birthday or holiday, add some sprinkles for a dash of color.
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Carrot Cookies
Total Time
20 min
Servings
4-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These cookies are both flavorful and colorful. The shredded carrots add nice bright flecks of orange color.
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Sesame-Garlic Pumpkin Seeds
Total Time
45 min
Servings
2 cups
From the Recipe Creator:
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 Lee, West Palm Beach, Florida.
Punch up pumpkin seeds! This simple road trip snack combines pumpkin seeds with everything bagel spice and can be prepped in less than 10 minutes.
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Spicy Peanuts
Total Time
30 min
Servings
3 cups
From the Recipe Creator:
Liven up plain peanuts with a sweet-and-spicy blend of flavors from sugar, cumin and cayenne pepper. You'll want to double...or triple...this spicy peanuts recipe! —Holly Kunkle, Walton, Kentucky
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Snack Crackers
Total Time
5 min
Servings
12 cups
From the Recipe Creator:
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
This classic recipe elevates the munchable mini crackers with the zesty flavor of ranch dressing. No soup required!
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Slow-Cooker Coconut Granola
Total Time
3 hours 45 min
Servings
6 cups
From the Recipe Creator:
Here's a versatile treat with a taste of the tropics. Change the recipe up a bit by using dried pineapples or other tropical fruits instead of cherries. —Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
You can make granola in the slow cooker. Who knew? Make this recipe your own by subbing dried pineapple or other dried tropical fruits for the cherries.
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Tex-Mex Popcorn
Total Time
15 min
Servings
4 quarts
From the Recipe Creator:
Spicy Southwest seasoning makes this snackin'-good popcorn ideal for any fiesta. —Katie Rose, Pewaukee, Wisconsin
Southwest seasoning makes this snackin’-good popcorn ideal for any fiesta, whether you’re at home or on the road. Pack this popcorn up in extra-large resealable Stasher bags.
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Sesame Cheese Crackers
Total Time
40 min
Servings
77 crackers
From the Recipe Creator:
These tasty homemade crackers are irresistible! Enjoy them with soups, or munch on them all by themselves. Cayenne pepper adds a bit of a kick. —Margaret J. Inlow, Joliet, Illinois
If you’ve never tried making your own crackers before, this is a great recipe to start with. Enjoy these sesame cheese crackers on their own, or pack a cooler with some sliced deli meats and cheeses.
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Crispy Snack Mix
Total Time
2 hours 40 min
Servings
13 servings (2-1/2 quarts.)
From the Recipe Creator:
This recipe proves you can make just about anything in a slow cooker, even a delightfully crispy snack mix. —Jane Sims, De Leon, Texas
The delightfully crispy snack mix is made in the slow cooker, and couldn’t be easier to put together. Just mix all the ingredients directly in the slow cooker, give it an occasional stir, and in less than 3 hours you’ve got a road trip-worthy snack!
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Chocolaty Chips
Total Time
15 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My two little guys can't get enough of this sweet and salty snack that uses just three ingredients and is ready to eat in 15 minutes. The boys like to drizzle on the melted chocolate. Sometimes we replace the potato chips with apple slices. —Jami Geittmann, Greendale, Wisconsin
You know sweet and salty are made for each other. It’s impossible to eat only one bite of these chocolate-drizzled potato chips.
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Garlic & Onion Cashews
Total Time
15 min
Servings
3 cups
From the Recipe Creator:
You'll be set for either a quick snack or an easy hostess gift when you use this recipe. —Anndrea Bailey, Huntington Beach, California
If you love sour cream and onion potato chips, then you’ll really love these garlic and onion cashews. Best of all, they take less than 10 minutes to make!
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Snackers
Total Time
20 min
Servings
about 1-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These crispy, chewy treats pack lots of peanut flavor. They're our favorite travel snack. I always make a double batch so we have some left when we reach our destination. —W.H. Gregory, Roanoke, Virginia
Peanuts, peanut butter, crunchy rice cereal — what’s not to love? Better still, these supremely easy five-ingredient cookies are made in the microwave, so you don’t have to heat up your kitchen by turning on the oven.
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Homemade Honey Grahams
Total Time
25 min
Servings
32 crackers
From the Recipe Creator:
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
These homemade graham crackers are less processed—and less expensive—than store-bought versions. If your road trip involves a stop to camp, you’ll want to try this recipe out for s’mores.
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Parmesan-Ranch Snack Mix
Total Time
15 min
Servings
3 quarts
From the Recipe Creator:
This is a quick, easy and delicious snack, especially for kids. No one I've made it for can have just one handful—they always come back for more, and more! So if you’re thinking about cutting the recipe in half to make less, I wouldn’t recommend it. —Tammy Landry, Saucier, Mississippi
Parmesan and ranch are irresistible flavors on their own. Put them together in this easy-to-make snack mix and you’ll find yourself with a road trip snack you can’t get enough of.
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Chocolate Date Energy Balls
Total Time
20 min
Servings
1 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Eating just one of these healthy treats 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 tae kwon do black belt. —Barbara Estabrook, Appleton, Wisconsin
These healthy chocolate date balls will satisfy your sweet tooth without added refined sugar. You only need to eat one (or two) for a quick pop of energy.
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Buttery Cajun Popcorn
Total Time
15 min
Servings
3 quarts
From the Recipe Creator:
Cheesy and spicy, this finger-lickin' snack with just a hint of lime is downright addictive! —Beth Stengel, North Hollywood, California
You’ll need five ingredients to make this Cajun-inspired snack that’s perfect for your next road trip. If you’d like your popcorn to be extra spicy, then add some ground cayenne pepper to taste.
