One of the best parts of going on a road trip is the snacks! Obviously you want to have a variety of snacks that will help keep you full and gives you energy! I personally get very sleepy when we are in the car, so I need something to give me energy. Additionally, we don’t want things that require a lot of upkeep or make too much trash. Below is my go to list of healthy road trip snacks.

Healthy road trip snacks for the road

Healthy Road Trip Snacks

There are two types of healthy road trip snacks! The perishable kind that need a cooler and the ones that are non-perishable ones. I strongly believe that you need to have many options for snacks. As a passenger princess, I get tired and peckish on trips. Larry puts up with a lot when it comes to my need for snacks, but I think he secretly enjoys it.

Bringing a Cooler

Now I know I said we didn’t want to be high maintenance with snacks, but coolers are SO helpful especially on longer rides. When we drove from Boston to North Carolina (12 hours) we wanted more snack options and the ability to keep cold water in the car. Plus its nice to have fruits handy.

  • Cheese– Lots of different options here from baby bell wheels to cheese cubes or even cheese slices. They pair well with fruits or some of the other snacks like the Chomp Sticks.
  • Berries– pack small containers of already washed berries. You can make a little salad with blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries.
  • Yogurt– I personally like getting the Greek yogurt drinkable bottles. They are easy to eat and don’t require any utensils.
  • Mini Charcuterie Snack Packs– These snack packs are incredible! They have a mix of protein and carbs or protein and fats (cheese). You can make your own, or buy them premade. Plus they are easy to eat while driving.
  • Clementines, Apple Slices and other fruits.
  • Grape or Cherry Tomatoes– I can eat so many of these its not even funny. This is our go-to for every healthy road trip snack. Sometimes when we get hungry at the grocery store we will pick up extra tomatoes, then wash them with a bottled water then enjoy them as a snack.
  • Grapes– a fun trick would be to roll grapes in Re-Lyte powder and then freeze them. Frozen grapes are great!
  • Guacamole Cups– A great and filling snack that is easy to find in all stores

Non-Perishable Snacks

  • Chomps Sticks– We like a variety of meat sticks for that additional protein while on the road. Chomps, Epic Provisions, and PaleoValley.
  • Dried Seaweed– This is an easy snack that adds the crunch you crave.
  • Chips (for the guacamole cups)– Any good tortilla chips will do for your guac. We do like these in particular, but any chips will do!
  • Pretzel Sticks with Nutella. This is my favorite way to eat pretzel sticks. They do sell the nutella snack packs, but its cheaper and way more effective to buy them separately (would not recommend for kids).
  • Energy Bar– There’s so many good ones out there! Pick your favorites for your trip. We like ZEGO, Caveman Foods, and Verb. In stores we get the Lara Bars and Rx bars. I will say I get bored of energy bars so I tend not to get many of these. Larry does like energy bars and since he does most of the driving he gets the snacks he wants!
  • Protein Balls– There are many, many good recipes out there to make your own. There are also some you can buy pre-made as well as some mixes that can help you make them easier.
  • Rehydration Powder– There are many good brands out there like Re-Lyte and Just Ingredients. This is particularly important if you are camping or hiking throughout your roadtrip. It can be really easy to get dehydrated while on the road.
  • Seeds– There are so many seeds and nuts out there. They’re great because they really pack in the energy. I personally like the sprouted seeds.
  • Trail Mix– Really you can make your ow or buy some. I like trail mix because it keeps snacks interesting.
Texarkana sign on a road trip with healthy snacks

Best Healthy Road Trip Drinks

  • Water– Its important to stay hydrated during road trips. You can mix rehydration powder into water. We like to pack reusable water bottles.
  • Spindrift– would this be my list if I didn’t have my addiction drink on here?? I personally don’t like it cold, but I’ll have at least one can with me.
  • Cold Coffee– Cold Brew is Larry’s request for all road trips.
  • Smoothies– You can make a big batch of smoothie and put them in these squeezable molds. If you freeze them overnight they act as extra ice blocks in the cooler until you eat them.

Other Things to Pack

  • Cooler– This one is pretty obvious, you need the cooler and ice packs for all the cold stuff.
  • Reusable Straws– I like drinking water with straws so I like to keep my own handy.
  • Extra Napkins & Any Utensils- I definitely like to keep napkins in the car for any emergencies. Wet wipes works amazingly as well. If you’re not into eating fruits/veg with your fingers utensils are necessary as well.
  • Charging cords– This is super important for navigation purposes and for music playlists!
  • Car Games– This is a good one for kids. You want to keep them entertained for long hours.
  • Playlist or Audio books– We love having some playlists ready and some fun audio books to keep us entertained for the whole ride. We once got so into a book during a road trip we ended up driving longer just to finish it.

Now that you have road trip snacks time to hit the road! Check out this Coastal Maine trip or this trip through the Florida Keys.

Final Thoughts About The Healthy Road Trip Snacks

Road trips can be so fun, but not when people are hungry and upset. But sugary snacks don’t help us stay full and happy. That’s why its so important to get ahead of any hunger before it arrives. Planning out your snacks helps ensure a fun road trip for everyone.