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111+ Healthy Road Trip Food Ideas (Non Refrigerated Snacks)

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Bringing healthy foods that don’t need refrigeration is a great option to save money and time while on the road. Since I travel most weeks for work, I’ve gotten to truly test out the best nonperishable foods to bring on a road trip for kids and adults.

All these road trip food ideas don’t need refrigeration for at least a day, and most of them will last indefinitely. Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or a cross-country adventure, any of these nonperishable snacks will keep you satisfied without having to constantly stop at restaurants or grocery stores.

This article covers well over a hundred road trip food ideas that don’t need refrigeration, including pre-packaged foods, meals for each time of day, and some simple recipes you can make ahead of time. Simply use the table of contents below to navigate to what type of road food you seek.

Pre-Packaged Foods For Road Trip

Healthy pre-made snacks are among the best foods to bring on a road trip, because not only do they save you time, but they’re easy to find and can please kiddos as well as adults.

  1. Snacking Ramen
  2. Protein Bars
  3. Snack Bars
  4. Homemade Pop-Tarts
  5. Mini Muffins
  6. Seaweed Sheets
  7. Garlic Peas
  8. Tahini-Based Fruit Dip (for crackers, chips, or other fruits)
  9. Fresh Walnuts
  10. Thai Chili & Lime Cashews (from Trader Joe’s)
  11. Shell-On Pistachios (Wonderful Pistachios are reliably delicious)
  12. Salted Sunflower Seeds
  13. Toasted Pumpkin Seeds
  14. Whole Peanuts
  15. Raw Macadamia Nuts
  16. Spiced Pecans (homemade are easy & less expensive!)
  17. Chocolate-Covered Almonds

Kids Road Trip Snack Ideas

  1. Popcorn
  2. Animal Crackers
  3. Freeze-Dried Snap Peas (they’ll be so obsessed with the crunch they won’t even realize it’s vegetables!)
  4. Pretzels (filled or plain; whichever your kiddos prefer)
  5. Cheese Sticks (mozzarella sticks are easiest to find)
  6. Freeze Dried Cheese Bites (like Moon Cheese)
  7. Apple Juice Packs
  8. Fruity Chia Squeeze Packs
  9. Healthy Fudge (Nut Butter or Seed Butter Base)
  10. Graham Crackers
  11. Annie’s Fruit Snacks
  12. Single-Serve Dry Cereal
  13. Nut or Seed Milk (this shelf-stable option comes in single-serves, as well, and can make getting your kid to eat breakfast just as easy as at home, especially with the addition of the crunchy freeze-fried fruit!)
  14. Cherry Tomatoes

Fruits To Bring on a Road Trip

  1. Dried Fruit (i.e. mango, pineapple, apple, etc.)
  2. Freeze-Dried Fruits (for kiddos with missing teeth or anyone who doesn’t like the tough texture of the dried versions; I recommend trying strawberries or mangoes)
  3. Applesauce Cups
  4. Mixed Fruit Cups
  5. Canned Fruit
  6. Fruit Leather
  7. Squeezable Fruit Pouches
  8. Toasted Coconut Chips
  9. Raisins or Dried Cranberries
  10. Watermelon Squares
  11. Dates
  12. Cherries on the Stem
  13. Grapes
  14. Apples or Apple Slices (great with peanut butter or tahini)
  15. Asian Pears
  16. Strawberries
  17. Bananas
  18. Dragon Fruit
  19. Mango
  20. Oranges
  21. Kiwis
  22. Blueberries

Gluten-Free Road Trip Foods

Finding gluten-free snacks for road trips is easier than ever these days, and for my fellow grain-free friends, most of these options are also free from grains.

  1. Veggie Straws
  2. Flaxseed Pudding in Mason Jars
  3. Baby Carrots
  4. Celery Sticks With Dip
  5. Pre-Cut Bell Peppers
  6. Kale Chips
  7. Rice Cakes
  8. Cassava Chips (the Siete brand one comes in several shapes & sizes and we love it with hummus or salsa)
  9. Lentil Crackers (these can be homemade or sometimes found in stores)
  10. Tortilla Chips
  11. Potato Chips
  12. Plantain Chips
  13. Simple Mills Grain-Free Crackers
  14. Corn Nuts
  15. Popped Sorghum
  16. Clusterbucks (Chocolate Buckwheat Treats)
  17. Roasted Chickpeas
  18. Coconut Cookies or Macaroons
  19. French Macarons (fillings vary)
  20. Halva (Sesame Seed-Based Sweet Treat)

Road Trip Breakfast Ideas

  1. Bagels
  2. English Muffins
  3. Cereal
  4. Blueberry or Chocolate Chip Muffins
  5. Protein Bars
  6. Cereal Bars
  7. Granola (here’s my favorite recipe)
  8. Waffles (making studier versions ahead of time makes them easy to be stored in bags & squirted with jam, nut butter, or chocolate spread for a sweet treat)
  9. Banana Bread
  10. Biscuits

Road Trip Lunch Ideas

  1. Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches
  2. Pita Bread (with deli meats, nut butters, pomegranate seeds, a sprinkle of granola, or any combination of flavors you take along)
  3. Hard-Boiled Eggs
  4. Trail Mix (Homemade or Store-Bought)
  5. Crackers and Hard Cheeses (like parmesan or gouda)
  6. Chips and Salsa
  7. Packets of Nut Butter (Justin’s brand is reliable)
  8. Pita Chips and Hummus
  9. Sweet Potato Chips
  10. Avocadoes

Road Trip Dinner Ideas

  1. Canned Chili (Annie’s brand is great)
  2. Canned Soups
  3. Canned Beans
  4. Beef Jerky
  5. Salmon Jerky
  6. Canned Tuna or Chicken
  7. Packet Rice or Quinoa
  8. Packets of Lentil Stew or Chickpea Stew
  9. Salami Sticks (can easily be sliced, or you can buy small ones for easy snacking)
  10. Premade Falafel Balls
  11. Baked Sweet Potatoes

Sweet Road Trip Snacks

  1. Peanut Butter Cookies
  2. Almond Flour Brownies
  3. Dark Chocolate Chips
  4. Homemade Chocolate Chip Rice Crispy Treats
  5. Rice Pudding Cups
  6. Nut Butter Cups
  7. Sugar-Free Candy Bars
  8. Chocolate Tahini Spread
  9. Candied Ginger
  10. Merengues
  11. Energy Bites
  12. Chocolate-Covered Espresso Beans
  13. No-Bake Cookie Dough
  14. Pepero Sticks (or Pocky)
  15. Peanut Brittle
  16. Dark Chocolate Bars

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