- Groceries
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Stephanie Ganz
Stephanie Ganz
Once a professional chef (in the lifetime before kids), Stephanie Ganz has written for Bon Appetit, Eater, BUST, and Virginia Living and is a regular contributor to Richmond Magazine. She lives in Richmond, Virginia with her husband, two girls, and one excellent cat. Follow her online: @salganz (Instagram) and @onioncloute (Twitter).
published Jun 1, 2023
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Whether you’re embarking on a road trip or taking to the skies,we have ideas for making your vacation as stress-free as possible. This content is presented in partnership with Hampton by Hilton; it was created independently by our editorial team.
Snacks are essential for a road trip, but nothing puts the brakes on faster than a big, sticky, chaotic spill. Food specifically meant to be eaten on-the-go needs to check multiple boxes: fun, filling, nonperishable, and, most importantly for your car’s interior, mess-free.
Luckily, some of the best road trip snack options are right there on the shelves of your favorite grocery stores like Costco, Trader Joe’s, and Target. Even better, the mess-free road trip snacks on this list come from store-exclusive brands that are generally more affordable than name brands. With picks like Whole Foods 365 Birthday Cake Granola Bites and Trader Joe’s Fruit Leather Buttons, you won’t have to worry about getting hangry or wreaking havoc on your next road trip.
Costco
1
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3
Kirkland Signature Variety Snack Box (51-Count)
Costco
$
32.99
You can’t always predict what you’ll crave three hours into a long drive. With individually packaged granola bars, trail mix, dried blueberries, and nuts, there’s something for every appetite here.
2
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3
Costco
$
13.99
Pack your cooler with a pop of protein (8 grams per serving) from sharp or white cheddar cheese, and get a satisfying crunch from almonds or cashews. A touch of sweetness from the dried cranberries will keep you going when your energy dips.
3
/
3
Kirkland Signature Cashew Clusters (2 pounds)
Costco
$
10.99
Sweet and salty is the unofficial road trip flavor combination. Dig into a crunchy and chewy bite filled with cashews, almonds, and pumpkin seeds. The resealable bag will keep your new favorite treat fresh, mile after mile.
Trader Joe’s
1
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3
Inner Peas
Amazon
$
7.99
TJ’s crispy, crunchy green peas are a slightly healthier take on a puffed corn snack. They can be hard to put down once you open a bag, so these are a good choice for passing around the car.
2
/
3
Trader Joe's
$
3.99
Geared toward the toddler crowd, this treat crosses generational lines on a road trip. It proves that sticky snacks can still be mess-free when you use a peanut butter-filled crispy wafer as your raspberry jam dipper.
3
/
3
Organic Mango Fruit Leather Buttons (6-Pack)
Amazon
$
12.00
Satisfy a sweet tooth while on the road with this big, tropical flavor. They peel away easily from their packaging for quick access when the hunger is real.
Target
1
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3
Target
$
2.99
Kick boredom on a long drive with a snack that combines different flavors to make every bite interesting — the added protein is just a bonus. Cheese, nuts, and dried fruit come in easy-to-open packs. I’m partial to the sweet-savory white cheddar, cranberry, and sea salt roasted almond trio.
2
/
3
Target
Dessert on the go: The fruit filling tastes like real strawberries, and the outer bar texture is pleasantly soft, like a fresh-baked cookie.
3
/
3
Target
$
8.29
When you can’t decide what you want to eat on the road, the answer is trail mix. And specifically, try the variety of flavors in the Good & Gather line, like the Dark Chocolate Espresso or Mexican Street Corn. Plus, some flavors, like the Heart Healthy Trail Mix, are available in individual snack packs.
Whole Foods
1
/
3
365 Birthday Cake Granola Bites (5-Count)
Whole Foods Market
$
5.79
Granola as a snack is great in theory, but in practice, the crumbs end up all over the place. These small, spherical treats solve that problem and taste like birthday cake while doing it — that’s what you call a win-win.
2
/
3
365 Teriyaki Beef Jerky
Whole Foods Market
$
11.99
It feels almost wrong to hit the road without this staple. Whole Foods’ take on the savory bite is loaded with teriyaki flavor and all the protein a road-tripper could want.
3
/
3
365 Organic Mini Peanut Butter Crackers
Whole Foods Market
$
3.79
This bite-sized classic snack combo is tailor-made for snacking, whether you eat them straight out of the box or pre-portion them into containers before getting on the road.
Aldi
1
/
3
Savoritz Extra Cheddar Turtle Crackers
Instacart
$
4.35
You get so many turtles for your money. I like to fill a lidded cup with the crackers and then pop it in the cup holder for easy snacking.
2
/
3
Simms Jerky Snack Sticks
Aldi
$
3.85
You can’t deny the convenience of these individual meat bites. Available in beef or turkey sausage, they boast big umami flavor and a nice, snappy chew to help keep you satisfied on a long drive.
3
/
3
Clancy’s Peanut Butter Filled Pretzels
Aldi
$
5.19
Think of these as salty, crunchy flavor bombs that can break you out of a road trance.
Sam’s Club
1
/
3
Member’s Mark Fruity Snacks (100 Count)
Sam's Club
$
9.98
These individually packed squishy bites come in five flavors, each with your daily supply of Vitamin C.
2
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3
Member’s Mark Mixed Berry Oat Bites
Sam's Club
$
10.87
Have something on hand for everyone with these vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, whole-grain snacks. With 18 bars per box, the whole crew can enjoy a couple on the way to your destination.
3
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3
Member’s Mark Street Taco Flavored Cashews
Sam's Club
$
6.98
Spice stans, these are for you. Seasoned with jalapeño, sour cream, lime, garlic, and tomato, these nuts conjure the flavors of your favorite Mexican meal in convenient, snackable form.
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