Best Road Trips Snacks to Make at Home

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No matter where you're headed, the ultimate road trip snacks don't come from gas stations—instead, they are homemade. Avoid making too many pitstops by stocking up on the types of sweet treats, crunchy snack mixes, healthy bites (like the Vegan Granola Bars shown here), and portable meals you love to enjoy on the road before you get in the car. The general idea? Pack foods that don't just fill you up, but rather options that keep you satisfied for the long haul. Sure, they require a little advanced preparation, but it all pays off when you set off stocked with a pleasing snack arsenal in your car.

From a food perspective, road tripping starts with a good cooler and a designated snack bag—we suggest repurposing any tote or grocery bag, to keep everything contained and easy-to-find. Then, select smart snacks to make and stock up on before you go. When it comes to long car rides and keeping every passenger in the car feeling satisfied, variety is the key. Select a few recipes, each with different flavors and textures.

Beyond keeping you and your crew stocked with cold drinks, bringing a cooler opens up a world of eating as you can keep your goodies fresh for longer. Pack everything from incredible dips and sliced vegetables to deli meats and cheeses—they're sure to stay cold! Toss in a few yogurts for breakfast on the go. Just make sure to bring utensils and napkins.

Whether you're driving for four hours or 14, our easy to make snacks will fuel everyone in the car so you can make it to your destination on a full stomach.

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Maple Bran Muffins

Eager to get on the road? Take breakfast to go. We've made over the bran muffin and created a better-for-your breakfast option that's packed with plain yogurt, two forms of bran cereal, and maple syrup for sweetness.

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02 of 14

Crispy Chickpea Snack

If you're not super hungry but still want something healthy to snack on, reach for our crispy chickpeas. Flavored with garam masala, salt, and pepper, they're a protein-packed alternative to nuts.

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Peanut-Butter Granola Balls

This low-maintenance recipe is simple to make and requires just five ingredients: honey, peanut butter, rice cereal, rolled oats, and dried fruit (plus salt). The mixture is formed into tablespoon bites and served in paper cups, making them easy to eat on the road.

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04 of 14

Whole-Grain Breakfast Cookies

Cookies for breakfast? Yes, please! With quick-cooking oats as the base, and a mixture of buckwheat flour, millet, cashew butter, and fresh raspberries, these cinnamon-spiced treats will keep you fueled all morning long.

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Spanish Gazpacho

Thermoses aren't just for keeping beverages cool; they also work great for keeping soup. Pull over at a rest stop or site and enjoy chilled gazpacho with a spoon topped with hard boiled egg or slices of Spanish ham. You can also skip the toppings and sip while you go.

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Toffee-Nut Snack Mix

Turn up the music! This party-friendly snack mix is as fun to eat during a car dance party as one at home. The toffee bits melt right into the crunchy snack mix for an addictive sweet-and-savory snack.

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07 of 14

Chocolate-Cherry Granola Bars

There's no fighting over the last bar with these portable chewy chocolate chip and cherry studded granola bars. This recipe makes enough to get you there and back, no matter which way you're going.

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Crunchy Ramen Snack Mix

Long road trips can get mundane, so keep it interesting with an unexpected snack mix. This snack mix coated in golden curry powder, features everyone's favorite instant soup star in its crunchiest form, ramen noodles.

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Red Lentil Hummus

Take advantage of cooler space and add this fresh, healthy snack into the mix. Pack a container of homemade lentil hummus and bags of pre-cut vegetable dippers like celery and carrot sticks.

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Rosemary-Cayenne Snack Mix

Rest-stop snacks are a thing of the past thanks to this satisfying snack mix. Puff corn cereal is baked in a blend of butter, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, and a few dashes of rosemary and cayenne. It's sweet, spicy, and so satisfying.

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Hazelnut Puppy Chow

When it's time for a sweet treat, bring out our decadent take on Muddy Buddies. A finger friendly way to get your chocolate-hazelnut fix, Chex are coated in the spread and then dusted with cocoa powder.

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Elote-Style Popcorn

Not just a movie snack, popcorn is also perfect for snacking on the road. Bring out a bag of our Mexican street corn inspired popcorn—made with Pecorino Romano cheese, Tajín seasoning, and a pinch of cayenne pepper—and enjoy both the flavor and the view.

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Fig-and-Almond Crackers

Crackers are the perfect vehicle—no pun intended—for a variety of toppings, including pre-sliced meats and cheese and dip. Ours are made by pulsing almonds, flour, and salt until crumbly and forming the mixture into discs with finely chopped figs before baking to crispy, golden brown perfection.

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On-the-Go Trail Mix

Here is a snack that will please any passenger and was pretty much invented for journeys of all sorts: trail mix. Make one big bag with your choice of mixed dried fruit (think apricots, cherries, and raisins), pecans, and candy-coated chocolate.

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