I’ve eaten enough stale prepackaged sandwiches on road trips to know we can do better. Gas stations are necessary for refueling and bathroom breaks, but the snack options tend to be the same no matter where you go: potato chips, cold sodas, and a wall of processed foods wrapped in crumpled wrappers. Often the only option is greasy fast food. It gets old quickly, especially on long drives.
I started packing snack bags for road trips a few years ago and have never looked back. Finally, a road trip snack we really look forward to! We’re talking about deli-style snacks, a dessert package containing sweets that’s perfect for a coffee break, all organized and ready to be whipped out at a rest stop or scenic spot. I love these snack packs so much I’ll even take a picnic to the park with a good book and an afternoon to spare. It costs less than going to a restaurant every few hours and feels more special. Road trip snacks are a great deal on a budget.
Scroll through our tips below to learn how to pack road trip snacks and stay cool on long drives.
Car Cuteness: Tasty Delicatessen on the Road
This is the heart of the road trip snack situation. Looks like you put in a lot of effort. (But I promise…you didn’t.) Pack it in a lunchbox or a clean egg carton the night before, then whip it out at the first nice rest stop you find. (PS…I love packing these on flights too!)
hint: one paper egg carton Tied with twine is the most underrated road trip snack. I buy these in bulk on Amazon or at my local craft store. They’re lightweight, keep everything separate, look charming on the picnic table, and you can throw them in the recycling bin when you’re done. You can also Reusable lunch box Just like that photo I took on Sistema.
A note on cheese and food safety
Quick tips so you can enjoy every bite without hesitation:
Hard cheeses (mini cheddar wheels, Babibel): Safe to store at room temperature for up to 4 hours. The wax seal on the Babybel further extends its lifespan, making it a great choice for long drives.
Soft cheese (mini brie): Keep safe for up to 2 hours after removing from cooler. Eat these first or refrigerate them until ready. Plan to finish your soft cheeses on the day of packaging.
Car tea break: Sweet Snack Pack
The sweet side of road trip snacks are designed for a proper break in the day, or when you’ve been driving for a while and need a pick-me-up. Find a shady spot, spread out a blanket, and place it next to a good cup of coffee. A sweet little picnic on the drive goes a long way in helping your mood! You can mix and match these to create your own dessert buns.
Now about the coffee…I always pack Outin portable espresso machine with few Full size Nespresso coffee pods (Less than a dollar a cup!) Take coffee breaks along the way. (This is a YETI 4oz ceramic lined coffee mug and it) brewed at a rest stop, poured over ice, and suddenly the highway exit felt like a proper café moment. That said, stopping for a break at a local coffee shop or Starbucks is one of the quiet joys of a road trip. But Outin just means you’re covered when the next 50 miles are nothing but open road.
breakfast bag
For early morning departures or the first leg of a drive, this little bag means you can get out the door quickly without having to go to the nearest fast food outlet hungry. Fresh, simple and truly satisfying. Don’t forget the coffee tips above!
Yogurt bag packaging tips: Freeze yogurt bags the night before. They act as mini ice packs in the cooler and defrost to the perfect consistency within an hour or two on the road. Once defrosted, enjoy within 2 hours. It’s a little thing that makes you feel organized, which is a nice feeling on a 7am road trip.
lunch bag
Simple, satisfying and zero stress. This works equally well for kids and adults, no need to make a decision when you’re hungry and an hour away from anywhere. If you want something a little fancy, mini cucumber sandwiches and mini ham sandwiches pair perfectly with the Uncrustables, making the whole thing feel like an unexpected picnic. wrap them up beautiful cloth napkin For an extra touch (it also doubles as a placemat on your lap when eating in the car).
- Frozen peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (like Uncrustables)
- Mini Cucumber Sandwiches
- mini ham sandwiches
- mini scones
- potato chips
- cookie
- Baby Carrots and Hummus Single-Serve Cups
- string cheese
- applesauce bags
- Mini rice cakes or pita bread
- Grape
- Individual pickle packets (Grillo’s makes single-serve pickle packets that are worth buying)
Uncrustables road trip tips: When stopping to refuel, remove Uncrustables from the cooler. They take about 15 to 20 minutes to thaw, which means they’re perfectly ready when you’re back on the road and ready for lunch.
What drinks to bring for a road trip?
This is the real advantage of road trip snacks over other eating situations. You can bring what you want, and with a little planning, it’s much cheaper than stopping for a drink every few hours. Personal preferences vary widely on road trips (Red Bull fans, we see you), but this list leans toward being a little healthier without sacrificing any fun.
Popular drinks this summer
Besides coffee, here are the things worth throwing in your fridge right now:
- Olipop or Poppi Prebiotic Sparkling Water: These have become a real summer staple. It’s low in sugar, delicious, and good for your gut. Olipop’s Blackberry Vanilla and Strawberry Vanilla are crowd favorites. Poppi’s Shirley Temple flavors are worth seeking out.
- Sparkling black tea: More fun than regular soda and pairs perfectly with a delicious board. I bought it at Trader Joe’s.
- Brew ginger beer: A crisp and refreshing cold drink, especially when paired with brie cheese and crackers.
- Sparkling Watermelon Lemonade: Make a batch and bottle before leaving. Summer road trip energy peaks.
- Iced matcha latte (pre-made): To brew at home, pour over ice in a travel bottle and you can enjoy it within the first few hours.
- Kombucha: A little fizzy, a little tangy and lovely paired with a delicious plank.
- Cold brew coffee: Either make your own or buy a large bottle of cold brew coffee at your local grocery store. To save space, you can consolidate large bottles into smaller travel bottles for easier transportation. Pour over ice as you need it.
- Soda: We love flavored sodas. Lemon lime, berry, raspberry peach. Even if it’s just Perrier or San Pellegrino. Bubbles make everything better!
Road Trip Snack Refrigeration Tips
Now, how to stay cool. A well-packaged cooler can be the difference between a delicious meal and a disappointment. Whether you have a small lunchbox-style cooler or a full-size cooler for the whole crew, here’s how to keep everything fresh.
Suitable for small lunchbox coolers
These are great for short day trips or when you want everything you need within easy reach in the front seat.
- I tend to use my Trader Joe’s lunch box, which has soft sides perfect for road trips of three hours or less (I also use it to pack snacks for flights). But if your trip is longer, use a well-sealed hard-sided lunch cooler instead of a soft bag as it will retain the temperature longer
- Lay a small ice pack completely flat so it can fit under the food without taking up space. I’ve also used frozen popsicles in a pinch.
- Pack frozen foods such as Uncrustables and yogurt bags in the bottom – they act as their own ice packs when defrosted
- Keep the cooler away from direct sunlight. Shade under the seat or in the back seat works well
For large coolers
If you’re preparing for a long trip, family trip, or picnic, a larger cooler can give you more flexibility. The Ninja FrostVault Cooler even features a dry storage area, making it easy to keep ice and drinks separate from road trip snacks and sandwiches.
- Pre-cool the cooler with ice or freezer bags for a few hours the night before, then dump and repack in the morning
- Place a layer of ice packs on the bottom, then the food, then another layer of ice packs on top. Cold sinks so top loading ice keeps everything colder longer
- Place egg cartons with savory plates on top for easy access without digging (more on how to make these below!)
- If possible, pack drinks in a separate, smaller cooler. Every time you open the main cooler for a drink, you’re letting hot air in
- For longer trips, use cube ice instead of nugget ice. It melts slower and keeps things colder
- Bring a small tray or lightweight cutting board as a resting station surface
- Tuck a damp cloth or small towel inside for easier cleaning
Ready to pack the perfect road trip snacks or picnic food? Here’s a shopping list to make your shopping easy:
savory plate
- Mini Brie Bites
- Mini Cheddar Cheese Wheels
- Ham or salami
- Cherry tomatoes (Sunset Sprinkles brand)
- cornichons
- marinated olives
- honey bag
- Seed Cookies
- Fig and Olive Crisps
- Dried apricots
- rosemary marcona almonds
sweet plate
- Macarons
- mini shortbread
- Shortbread Cookies
- Madeleines
- Chocolate Mini Pretzels
- Peanuts and M+M Fruit Mix
- dried fruit mix
- Yogurt freeze-dried strawberry slices or yogurt raisins
- jelly
- Individually wrapped chocolates
- Candied Pecans
- glazed walnut
breakfast bag
- boiled eggs
- Mini bagels with cream cheese buns
- Grape
- strawberry
- blueberry
- Mini Squeeze Packs of Peanut Butter
- Mini Squeeze Packs of Almond Butter
- mini waffles
- yogurt bag
- Banana or clementine
- Granola Skewers or Granola Bars
- honey bag
- Dried cranberries
set lunch
- Frozen Peanut Butter and Jelly Crust
- potato chips
- cookie
- Baby Carrots and Hummus Single-Serve Cups
- string cheese
- applesauce bags
- Mini rice cakes or pita bread
- Grape
- Individual Pickle Buns (Grillo’s)
- Mini Cucumber Sandwiches
- mini ham sandwiches
- mini scones
- Dried mango
- gummy bears
- Popcorn
drinks
- Olipop or Poppi Prebiotic Sparkling Water
- Sparkling black tea
- brewing ginger beer
- Kombucha
- cold brew coffee
- soda
- Iced matcha (premade)
- Sparkling Watermelon Lemonade (Homemade)
- Orange juice
- Apple juice or lemonade
- Original Nespresso capsules (Illy or Lavazza)
supplies
- Paper egg carton or lunch box
- twine
- paper napkin
- Outin portable espresso machine
- Nespresso tea capsules (full size)
- Nespresso coffee capsules (original size)
- Mini paper muffin cups
- Soft Sided Cooler or Lunch Box Cooler
- Small tray or cutting board for rest stops
The gas station will always be there when you need it. But with a little preparation the night before, your road trip snacks can become something you actually look forward to on your long drive. Bring a cooler, find a good overlook, and make the stop as great as the destination.