10 Ultimate Road Trip Snacks You Can't Resist

A great road trip isn’t complete without some delicious snacks to keep you fueled and happy along the way. These tasty treats are so good, you might find yourself planning a trip just for the excuse to munch on them. Get ready to hit the road with these must-have snacks!

AUTHOR: Rebecca Holcomb

Table of Contents

1. Trail Nachos
2. Canned Stew
3. Asian Market
4. Camping Stove
5. Eggs and Dried Produce
6. Canned and Jarred Treats
7. Shelf-stable Items
8. No-prep Foods
9. Condiments
10. To-go Treats
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1. Trail Nachos

One commenter gave a recipe for some honest-to-goodness' trail nachos,' saying, "What I like to do while hiking (similar requirements for refrigeration and space) is pack a hard avocado. By day three, it's ripe, and you can make what I call "trail nachos." Cut the avocado in half, remove the pit, cover it in hot sauce, scoop out with a knife, and put on chips, crackers, or tortillas." Not bad advice!

2. Canned Stew

When food options are limited, one person offers up a viable possibility. "Canned stew and heat with the engine." While this may not be the most elegant of meals on the go, it is certainly an intuitive way to make the most out of what you have!

3. Asian Market

Dry anchovies — Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Another contributor said a local Asian marketplace might have something to offer other travelers. "I'm not sure where home base is for you, but if you've got a legit Asian market there, check out the dried goods section. The little fried and dried anchovies are freaking delicious with a little lemon squeezed into them. And the dried shredded pork (consistency of cotton candy) is so good when put on a slice of bread with some BBQ sauce." Yum!

4. Camping Stove

Another person, skilled in making meals on the go, mentioned that a small propane stove option might be worth the investment. "We live on the road in a fairly small vehicle. We carry a small backpacking stove, which makes a lot of difference." When I was in college, I had a hotplate that saved my life when it came to varying my diet from what my school offered, so this seems like a very handy option.

5. Eggs and Dried Produce

Hard Boiled Eggs — Image Credit: Corrie Cooks

One foodie reminded everyone that "Eggs don't need refrigeration if they haven't been processed. Dried fruits, meats, and hard cheese also work well. We buy those tubs of washed greens. There is honestly nothing that tastes quite as good for any meal as fresh farm eggs." This is definitely a good tip to keep in mind!

6. Canned and Jarred Treats

Another netizen suggested an easy on-the-go option. "Canned tuna and meats, and canned and jarred veggies are yummy. We pick up fresh stuff at supermarkets whenever we can." Being able to stretch your meal budget from town to town, especially where stores are few and far between, is essential when on the road for longer stretches of time.

7. Shelf-stable Items

Ranch Crackers — Image Credit: Shutterstock.

One of the best options for anyone going on a road trip and trying to save on food is the shelf-stable options. Items like Chef Boyardee, shelf-stable milk (yes, it exists!) peanut butter, crackers, and bread are all options for creating snacks and meals that can sustain you while on the road between towns or when you don't want to eat out.

8. No-prep Foods

Beef jerky — Image Credit: Shutterstock.

If you're looking for food you can consume in one sitting, anchovies, shredded chicken, sardines, tuna, salmon, beef or turkey jerky, and mackerel are all excellent options you can eat with little to no preparation. Bring a small packet of seasoning, and you can brighten up just about anything!

9. Condiments

ham and cheese — Image Credit: Shutterstock.

These are tricky because you can't exactly keep them in your hot vehicle as they'll go bad. However, you can usually get them from gas stations, so if you want to make a sandwich for breakfast or lunch, they're a great option. As mentioned above, dried seasoning packets can add a needed kick to just about anything!

10. To-go Treats

Banana chips — Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Everyone has a sweet tooth at some point. Fixing it when you're on a trip with non-perishable food can be a challenge. Thankfully, there are some great options out there. You can take apple crisps, banana chips, freeze-dried berries, and even shelf-stable yogurt on a trip without keeping them in a refrigerator or cooler. Get the recipe

Source: Reddit, Good Housekeeping.