115 Healthy Road Trip Snack Ideas & Packing Guide

There’s something special about a good ‘ole road trip — for a change of pace, family bonding, and a little freedom. But, even if you love an open road journey, finding healthy road trip snacks while en route can be overwhelming.

That’s why I’m excited to bring you this article! I can’t wait to share our tried and true techniques, simple tips, and a plethora of suggestions for maintaining healthy eating habits on the road! 

Our family takes a lot of road trips to see the country and explore new places. We love belting out our favorite tunes, nestling into a good audiobook, and reflecting on our latest family goals. Besides, my husband is nearly 7’ tall and doesn’t fit well on airplanes. 

So, we’ve had to put in our time establishing a road food method that’s both easy and healthy.

Travel days are no excuse for undoing all your hard work and feeling less than your best.

Eating healthy on the road

It is certainly possible to eat healthy with a little planning, and it doesn’t have to take hours in the kitchen before you depart. Let’s first consider the WHY and the WHAT when it comes to nourishing your family en route to your next destination.

Why eat healthy while traveling

You always want to feel good, and road trips are no exception. Being alert on the road, avoiding GI distress, and having plenty of energy for exploration when you arrive are all reasons for choosing healthy foods while traveling.

I know one thing… the car is no place for a processed, sugar-laden rollercoaster ride, especially with kids!  In fact, the car is a great place to teach kids about nutrition, while you have time to talk about the healthy snacks you’re sharing.

What to consider when it comes to healthy snacks

Healthy snacks come down to real food – those foods that are whole, as nature intended, and come from recognizable single ingredients. 

Healthy snacks are made up of a balance of protein, fat, and carbohydrate. Ideally, we want to  avoid the carb-loaded munchies, which can leave us hungry and craving more shortly after eating.

Healthy snacks on the road should be really similar to healthy snacks and meals ANYTIME! The main difference is in the simplicity, planning, and preparation.

Tips for packing healthy road trip snacks

Planning and food prep for the road will set you up for satisfied bellies, ease, and self-sufficiency. Having the right gear, a general plan, and packing in an organized way are key.

The gear

Having the right gear can make all the difference for seamless healthy eating when the rubber hits the road. 

Here is a list of recommended items to keep food easy, fresh, and simple to clean up.

1. A cooler 

Having a way to keep food cold means that you can enjoy fresh ingredients for longer. Of course, you’ll need to pick a cooler that makes the most sense for the space you have and the types of road trips you plan to take.

2. Water cooler

One of my favorite pieces of equipment for road trips is a cooler with a spigot that can be filled with ice water for refilling water bottles, dog bowls, and quickly rinsing hands.

3. Ice packs 

Ice cubes work, but I also like to keep ice packs, or blocks, in the cooler to prevent soggy food.

4. Water bottles 

Reusable water bottles are a must. Stainless steel or silicone covered glass are my favorite types. (Let’s all do our part to reduce plastic!)

5. Paper towels

A roll of paper towels, or washable cloths, is essential for taking care of spills and messy hands in the car.

6. Wipes 

Wet wipes make sticky fingers, faces, and reusable plates simple to clean when access to running water is unavailable.

7. Reusable plates and utensils

We’ve been using the same set of recycled plastic reusable plates for YEARS. They are lightweight, versatile, and have served us well for road trips, camping, and picnics. We also love our bamboo travel utensil sets. Each family member has their own colored case with a fork, spoon, knife, and chopsticks. 

8. Utility knife, paring knife, or small chef’s knife

Having an all-purpose knife is incredibly helpful for slicing fruit, veggies, salami, cheese, and all sorts of other things.

9. Spreading knife

A butter knife or cheese spreader is also handy for dips, spreads, and nut butters.

10. Cutting board

A simple cutting board provides a solid surface for both cutting and serving. 

11. Garbage bags

Although it’s best to keep it minimal, trash is inevitable on a road trip, and having a bag to put it in keeps your vehicle organized and less stinky. 

12. Reusable baggies

Reusable baggies can be used for both packing any food you prep before leaving the house, AND for partially eaten or prepared food once on the road. We like Stasher Bags and ZipTops.

13. Containers

We prefer to use glass food storage containers whenever possible, but we also like stainless steel. Reusable plastic also makes sense on the road. A few different sizes are helpful to have. Using containers with built-in dividers makes packing individual meals or snacks a breeze.

Mason jars are also a great method for snack transport (half-pint, pint, and quart size are my favorite).

14. Small crate, basket, or open box

Storing non-perishable snacks in a small crate, basket, or an open box allows you to easily see what snacks you have without rummaging through everything. 

The plan

Road trips can quickly turn into a junk-food snack-fest. That is why I love approaching healthy road trip snacks with a plan in mind. 

When we’re home, I make a kid friendly meal plan to make sure we have healthy meals and snacks for the week. It always helps our family to have a meal plan for road trips too, so we’re all on the same page. 

As a side note, the time spent sitting in your car, truck, or van can be filled with all sorts of activities other than taking “boredom bites.” Playing car games, telling stories, and stopping to see the sites should be the focus.

Ask yourself these questions to begin the planning stage:

• How long is the trip? How many meals and snacks are actually necessary? 

• Where are you going to eat your meals and snacks? Picnic style at a rest stop or within the car while driving may require different packing methods. And remember, it’s always nice to keep snacks within the car less messy with the less in-motion prep required.

• What snacks can be prepared or made ahead of time? 

All of this info will help you write out a simple meal plan before hitting the road. 

The organization

Part of the plan is organizing the food itself. Once you have a general vision, you can pack the cooler, and your crate (or basket) accordingly.

Which items need to be eaten first to be enjoyed fresh? Have these easily accessible so you can eat them early in the trip.

Which items need to be kept the coldest and placed at the bottom of the cooler? 

Pack the cooler with these tips in mind:

• Use block ice in the very bottom.
• Cover the ice with a plastic barrier.
• Add food in this order: meat, dairy, fruits and veggies.
• Pack tightly to reduce air space.
• Use plastic baskets within your cooler for easy dividers.

Healthy road trip snack ideas

This is my favorite part – sharing all the best road trip snacks — real food options for a tasty and healthy adventure!  

Mix and match the basics

Road trip snacks can be kept ultra-simple with a few basics to mix and match – making sure that you have a source of fat and/or protein to pair with any carbs (including fruits and veggies).

Fruits

Some fruits are best kept whole until eaten (like apples and bananas), and others are more convenient to peel, trim, and chop in advance. But either way, rinse and dry them ahead of time. 

These fruits are refreshing and a nutrient-rich sweet treat while sitting in the car: 

1. Apples
2. Bananas
3. Strawberries
4. Blueberries
5. Blackberries
6. Raspberries
7. Cherries
8. Grapes
9. Oranges
10. Kiwi
11. Melon
12. Dried, unsweetened fruit

Veggies

Washing, drying, and chopping these raw veggies ahead is the way to go if they’ll be kept cold and enjoyed within a few days:

13. Carrot sticks
14. Sliced peppers
15. Jicama
16. Cherry tomatoes
17. Snap peas
18. Raw green beans
19. Broccoli
20. Cauliflower florets
21. Radish
22. Asparagus (yes, raw!)
23. Celery
24. Cucumber

Healthy fats

Fruits and veggies are great, but pairing them with these healthy fats is ideal for long-term sustenance:

25. Avocado (carefully halved just before eating)
26. Cheese (sliced, cubed)
27. Toasted coconut flakes (unsweetened)
28. Yogurt – full-fat, unsweetened (add your own) — makes an easy dip, too
29. Whole pitted olives 
30. All-natural salami (free of nitrates/nitrites, antibiotics, and hormones) 

Quality meats and proteins

These quality protein options are easy to transport, help control blood sugar, and are satiating:

31. All-natural pepperoni (nitrate/nitrite-, antibiotic-, hormone-free)
32. Summer sausage
33. Deli meat (free of nitrates/nitrites, antibiotics, and hormones) 
34. Canned wild salmon
35. Canned sardines or herring
36. Canned tuna
37. Canned organic chicken
38. Beef jerky (all-natural)
39. Turkey jerky
40. Salmon jerky (EPIC)
41. Smoked salmon
42. Hard boiled eggs

Nuts and seeds 

Nuts and seeds are the ultimate road trip snack by themselves or in a mixture with dried fruits. These snack options conveniently offer both healthy fats and proteins:

43. Raw walnuts
44. Raw almonds
45. Raw cashews
46. Raw Brazil nuts
47. Raw pecans
48. Macadamia nuts
49. Pistachios
50. Pumpkin seeds
51. Sunflower seeds
52. Pine nuts

Easy snacks to make ahead

A little time preparing healthy snacks in advance means easy eating on the road. These are some of our favorite make-ahead road trip foods: 

53. Nora’s Nut Ball Snackers
54. Cookie Dough Bites 
55. Chocolate Gingerbread Cookie Bites
56. Cranberry Coconut Macadamia Bites
57. Tropical Turmeric Snack Bites
58. Apple Crisp Balls
59. Savory Low Carb Trail mix
60. Roasted Nuts
61. Monkey Mix
62. Low Carb Granola with Nuts & Seeds
63. Homemade popcorn (popped with coconut oil)
64. Guacamole for a Crowd
65. Crisp Citrus Guacamole
66. Pesto Dip
67. Kale Chips
68. Snack Time Skewers
69. Almond Butter Banana Muffins
70. Lemon Blueberry Muffins (GF)
71. Banana Almond Pancakes
72. Citrus Tarragon Chicken Salad (mayo free)
73. Charcuterie Board To Go
74. Egg muffins

Mason Jar Snacks and Meals

In my opinion, mason jars are undervalued. Jar salads, overnight oats, and parfaits are perfect for travel because the storage container also becomes the serving container, they are easy to pack, and they stay fresh for a few days when properly prepared and packed. 

75. Curious Cobb Jar Salad
76. BBQ Pork Jar Salad
77. Greek Chicken Jar Salad
78. Nutty Banana Overnight Oats
79. Raspberry Almond Chia Pudding
80. Fruity Cocoa Yogurt Parfait
81. Fruit salad

Healthy packaged snacks to buy

Full disclosure, even with the best of intentions, sometimes we all run out of time or energy to prepare all our own food in advance. Here’s a list of healthy snacks to buy — they can be found in most grocery stores and even convenience stores. Try:

82. Raw nuts
83. Dry roasted nuts
84. Trail mix (avoid added sugars, unhealthy oils — like canola, soybean, and corn — and food coloring)
85. Plantain chips (Inka, Barnana)
86. Siete chips
87. Jerky and meat bars (Epic, Wild Zora)
88. Nut and seed crackers (Mary’s, Hu)
89. Yogurt drinks (Siggi’s)
90. Hard boiled eggs (Vital Farms)
91. Salami, cheese, olive packs
92. Olive packs
93. Dark chocolate
94. Whole fruit
95. Veggie packs
96. Hummus
97. Applesauce pouches
98. Chia seed pouches (MamaChia)
99. Smoothie pouches (Noka)
100. Whole food energy bars (Rx, Kion, Thunder)
101. Primal Kitchen dressing
102. Nut or seed butter packets (Rx, Justin’s)
103. SeaSnax (seaweed) 

Drinks

Not only do you need to eat on the road, but you need to stay hydrated. 95% of the time, our family drinks water, but occasionally, an alternative is nice. 

Avoid soda, juice, and energy drinks. Instead, opt for these beverages on the road: 

104. Homemade green smoothies
105. Pique tea and herbal tea
106. Coffee
107. Coconut water
108. Sparkling Lavender Citrus-ade
109. Mineral water
110. Lemon water with a sprinkle of sea salt

Remember your leftovers!

Before we jump on the road, we take a look in our fridge for any leftovers that can be easily eaten on the trip. Consider:

111. Leftover sliced or chopped chicken, or turkey
112. Leftover sliced steak
113. Leftover sliced pork tenderloin (or chops)
114. Leftover Roasted Root Vegetables
115. Leftover baked potatoes

Hit the road with health in mind

You are now armed with the knowledge to make your next road trip a healthy snacking adventure. We’ve covered the why, the how, and the what to help you establish a simple plan that you and your family can easily carry out. 

Now the fun begins — looking at your specific journey and planning delicious road-trip-friendly eats along the way!