This may sound silly but – my favorite part of planning for a road trip is picking out the snacks. Am I the only one?! It literally will make or break a road trip. In this post, I’m going to be covering all of my favorite easy, no-prep, non-refrigerated road trip snacks for every type of traveler!
Whether it’s a short weekend getaway or a long cross-country trip, having road trip snacks is an absolute must! Even if you bring a cooler, having non-perishable snacks on hand makes everything easier and less messy.
I’ve tried to include something on this list for every type of traveler. Whether you’re wanting a healthy snack, vegan snack, keto-friendly treats, or if you’re looking for road trip snacks for your kid or toddler – this list has you covered!
So, grab your snack bag and get ready to pack some road trip goodies!
Healthy Road Trip Snacks
Skip the fast food drive-thru window with these healthy, filling, & nutritious snacks! The snacks below have a good balance of fat, protein, and carbs with minimal sugars.
- Mixed nuts – opt for unsalted or lightly salted
- Dried fruit
- Roasted chickpeas
- Trail mix – pick ones without chocolate/candies, or make your own!
- Nut butter packets with whole grain crackers
- Whole grain granola bars – choose ones with reduced sugar
- Popcorn – pick the lightly salted variety; you can also make your own!
- Rice cakes with peanut butter
- Dark chocolate-covered almonds
- Protein bars
- Chia seed bars
- Pumpkin seeds
- Sunflower seeds
- Bagged pretzels
- Shelf-stable fruit like apples, oranges, bananas
Vegan Road Trip Snacks
These snacks are perfect for travelers on a vegan diet! These make great non-refrigerated road trip snacks and are very delicious.
- Hummus with pretzels or crackers
- Bamba puffs
- Roasted edamame
- Vegan granola bars
- Coconut chips
- Peanut butter-filled pretzels
- Chia seed pudding packets
- Apple chips
- Plantain chips
- Seaweed snacks
- Mejdool dates – store in air-tight container
- Fig bars
- Dried pineapple rings
- Lentil curls – from Trader Joe’s
- Vegan protein cookies
Keto Road Trip Snacks
These snacks are perfect for those looking for high-protein, low-carb road trip snacks that don’t need a fridge to stay fresh!
- Pork rinds
- Beef jerky – opt for those without added sugars
- Almonds or macadamia nuts
- Cheese crisps – these are so delicious!
- Natural nut butter packs – double check to get those without added sugars
- Dark chocolate – opt for 85% cocoa or higher; eat in small quantities
- Flaxseed crackers – consider making your own recipe!
- Olives in travel-friendly packs
- Keto protein bars
- Sunflower butter – great alternative to nut butters!
- Meat sticks
- Hard-boiled eggs – lasts a few hours unrefrigerated
- Cacao nibs – again, eat in small quantities for a keto diet
- Pepitas
- Avocado packets – opt for those that are shelf-stable
Kid-Friendly Road Trip Snacks
If you’re traveling with a picky kid, check out these non-refrigerated road trip snacks! Most of these are mess-free, which makes it even more convenient!
- String cheese – best for shorter trips only; OK for a few hours outside the fridge
- Applesauce pouches
- Graham crackers
- Fruit gummies – opt for low-sugar variety
- Mini peanut butter and jelly sandwiches – these are great for adults too!
- Cereal bars
- Cheese crackers
- Banana chips
- Pretzels or other crunchy snacks
- Yogurt-covered raisins
- Mini rice cakes
- Animal crackers
- Teddy Grahams
- Goldfish crackers
- Snack-sized dried cereal packs
Road Trip Snacks for Toddlers
Traveling with a tot? Try out some of these snacks, which are on the softer side and easy for your toddler to pick up and eat themselves!
- Puffs or rice rusks
- Teething biscuits
- Soft granola bars
- Bananas
- Oatmeal bars
- Mini whole wheat crackers
- Soft-baked cookies – pick those that have reduced sugar
- Squeeze pouch fruit blends
- Plain Cheerios or puffed cereal
- Mini raisin boxes
- Mini peanut butter crackers
- Whole grain fig cookies
- Mini muffins – store bought or homemade
- Baby yogurt melts
- Cinnamon apple straws
Sweet Treats for Road Trips
Because sometimes you just need a little sugar boost!
- Oreos
- Peanut M&Ms
- Caramel popcorn
- Gummy bears
- Licorice sticks
- Chocolate chip granola bars
- Fudge brownies – make sure they are individually wrapped
- Marshmallow cereal bars
- Cookie dough protein bites
- Trail mix with chocolate chunks
- Chocolate-covered cashews
- Toffee-covered peanuts
- Jelly beans
- Snack-sized packs of cookies
- Chocolate peanut butter cups
Other Not-So-Healthy Road Trip Snacks
Here are some of my other favorite non-refrigerated road trip snacks that don’t fall under any of the previously mentioned categories. These may not be the healthiest, but they make delicious treats in moderation!
- Pop Tarts
- Packaged snack cakes (Twinkies, Ding Dongs, or HoHos)
- Cheese balls
- Flavored potato chips
- Chocolate-covered pretzel rods
- Mini donuts
- Rice Krispie treats
- Fruit roll-ups
- Brownie brittle
- Puppy chow – homemade versions are the best!
- Gummy bears
Hope you enjoyed this round-up of the 101 best non-refrigerated road trip snacks! If you have a favorite road trip snack that’s not on the list, drop it in the comments—I’d love to hear your go-to travel treats!
Looking for ways to save money on food while traveling? Read this post for the best tips & tricks!
Planning a road trip? Make sure you don’t forget anything with this ultimate road trip packing checklist!
