Are you looking for the best road trip snacks for kids? Yeah, we get it.
Road-tripping with kids can be one of the most memorable experiences you have as a family. But “memorable” isn’t always a good thing.
Because when you’re caught in mid-day traffic while your partner’s pulling up your hotel reservations (you just missed that turn-off, by the way), the last thing you need is screaming kids in the back seat.
We’ve been there. We’ve done that.
So, today, we’re making a list of great ideas for road trip snacks for kids. Some of these great snacks are healthy, and some of them aren’t so much. But you can take your pick to decide the best ones for your family.
After all, snacks are one of the essential items to pack for a road trip.
Before diving into our list, though, let’s quickly talk about why it’s so important to prepare road trip snacks for kids.
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Good road trip snacks for kids
And before we dive into our list, here are a few things that you should look for in a road trip snack:
Mess-Free Snack (or at least nothing too messy)
Try to pack non-messy snacks for road trips, or at least snacks that are not too messy. Things that break into pieces are fine. Those can be vacuumed out. But things like apple sauce, yogurt, or other “gooey” snacks can be tougher to clean. And a spill can make the car smell for days. So try to avoid those messy snacks.
Snacks That Kids Can Manage
Preparing kids’ road trip snacks is to give you and your partner a break. If you’re constantly turning around to open, cut, or prepare the snacks in the car, then you might as well wait for the next rest stop.
Always Have Water Bottles
No, this isn’t a “snack,” but that’s where the snacking will inevitably end up. Plus, if a kid starts choking a bit or gets some food down the wrong tube, you’ll feel a lot better getting them water fast.
Ok, with these small tips out of the way, let’s look at some of the best road trip snacks for kids.
The Easy and Mess-Free Road Trip Snacks for Kids
Below are our top snacks for long car rides. They are relatively non-messy snacks. Most of them are also good travel snacks for toddlers.
But here is a quick summary:
- Best road trip snacks for toddlers: apple sauce (in pouch)
- Best snacks for long car rides: wraps and sandwiches
- Best healthy travel snacks for kids: fruits and veggies
- Best mess-free snacks for travel: string cheese
Here is the list of our top road trip snacks for the family.
Crackers and Cheese
If you’re looking for a classic road trip snack, then crackers and cheese are the one to pack.. Crackers and cheese slices can be one of the best road trip snacks there. It’s easy to prepare, pack in reusable snack bags, and store in a glove compartment (you’ll probably want to put the cheese in a cooler, though).
Plus, it’s fun to sneak a few for yourself.
Tortilla Wraps
Tortilla wraps are the best car snacks for long road trips. You often prepare them when we plan on having lunch on the road.
If you prepare them in advance, they are relatively non-messy road trip snacks and can all be stored in reusable snack bags.
You can make different recipes with tortillas. Our family’s favorites are:
- high-protein turkey,
- chicken or tuna wrap
- hummus
- peanut butter
For the kids, we like to cut the wrap into little circles (like you’d cut a sushi roll). They are a big winner for our kids.
The only downside is that you don’t want the wrap sitting in the sun all day, especially if you use pesto or mayo.
But if you have a cooler or a small ice pack, these can be great family and little toddlers’ car snacks. Older kids will also love them.
Fruits and Veggies
Another solid option for any parents who need a quick snack. Fruits and veggies are healthy, and if you choose the right ones, they are great at distracting the kids. Fruits and veggies can easily be found at grocery stores and even sometimes at a convenience store along the way.
For fruits, we’ve always stuck with:
- Apple slices
- Oranges
- Bananas
- Grapes (cut in half for young kids)
- Blueberries
And for veggies, we’ve prepared:
- Carrot slices
- Cucumber wedges
- Mini-tomatoes (technically, that’s a fruit, but we all know it’s a veggie)
- Celery sticks
These have been our favorite snacks to throw into a reusable snack bag and pull out on long car rides. They’re also great because if the kids don’t eat them all, they can be re-used as sides for your next meal.
Trail Mix – Dried Fruits & Nuts
This one is a no-brainer. We’ve been buying these big $5 bags of dried fruits and nuts at the store. We keep them in the car or the pantry.
The kids love them (especially the ones with the M&Ms), and they’re ridiculously easy to travel with. Trail Mix is our go-to snack for long car rides (and also for family hikes).
You can keep a bag of trail mix in the car for extended periods so long as the bag seals. Then, you only need to grab a few plastic bowls and pass them back.
And if you DID get the ones with the M&Ms, you can enjoy the kids “hunt them out” from the rearview mirror. It makes it a fun road trip game for the kids.
Goldfish Crackers
This was one of my favorite snacks as a kid. Scratch that… it’s still one of my favorites.
But here’s what we’ve learned the hard way when it comes to traveling with Goldfish crackers:
Buy individual bags rather than big boxes.
Whenever we tried to divide the crackers into two separate bowls, one kid (usually always our oldest) would accuse his brother of having more. As you know, this is an injustice that no child will stand for, and they’ll be happy to vocalize their frustration.
The mini-bags are great for settling that dispute before it ever comes up.
It might not be the most environmentally friendly option, but it saves a few fights on car rides. So that’s a win.
String Cheese
Another kid-approved road trip snack is string cheese. Not only does it taste great, but it can take kids a bit of time to learn how to peel the cheese and find the “string.”
This can be just enough to buy you a few more minutes of peace.
Plus, they’re packaged individually, so you can grab a few to fit in the glove box and pack the rest in the cooler. That gives you a snack with zero prep work, that’s easy to store, and that your kids will love.
Granola Bars or Energy Balls
Granola bars are another great option. It’s filling, so it’s perfect for hiking as well.
As a substitute, we like making these little “energy balls.” The main ingredient (the thing that makes them chewy) is dates.
The other ingredients are oats, peanut butter (or any substitute), dried fruits, nuts or other things you’d usually find in trail mix.
One of these days, we’ll post the recipe. But, for now, you can Google “healthy energy ball recipe.” That will pull up over 19 million recipes in under a second (seriously).
Cheerios or Any Dry Cereal
No matter where we travel, we always have a bag of Cheerios on hand. It sounds so simple, but Cheerios are one of the best road trip snacks for kids that you can find.
There’s zero preparation needed; it’s cheap, and kids love it. I’m not sure why Cheerios doesn’t market “peace and quiet” more to adults, but that’s definitely what we buy them for.
(BONUS) 9. Lil’ Donut
Ok, this is going to sound like a sponsored advertisement, but our boys love the “lil’ Donuts” from McDonald’s. It’s not the healthiest thing on the planet, but so what? You can’t be good 24/7.
Emilie and I have found that we like to treat ourselves for a coffee on longer days in the car. We’ll stop at McDonald’s for a coffee and get 2 lil’ Donuts on the side.
We don’t make it a daily habit, which gets the kids even more excited when we tell them we’re stopping. We’ve also made this treatment conditional on their behavior before the stop.
If they can be quiet enough that Papa doesn’t “tuck and roll” to escape the car, they get a lil’ Donut. So it’s a great treat snack for long car rides.
If they can’t… well, goodbye McDonald’s (and goodbye papa).
More Ideas for Easy and Mess-Freee Road Trip Snacks for Kids
- String Cheese: Easy to handle and fun to eat, plus it’s a good source of calcium.
- Pretzel Sticks: Less messy than chips and enjoyable for kids to munch on.
- Apple Slices: Healthy and delicious, especially when paired with a small container of peanut butter.
- Grapes: They’re sweet, hydrating, and easy to eat. Make sure they are seedless!
- Baby Carrots: Crunchy and usually a hit with the kids. Great for dipping.
- Raisins: A sweet treat that’s also nutritious.
- Granola Bars: Opt for low-sugar varieties.
- Yogurt Tubes: They can be frozen beforehand to stay cool for longer.
- Cereal Mix: A mix of their favorite cereals in a zip-lock bag.
- Rice Cakes: Lightweight and less messy, they come in various flavors.
- Cheese Cubes: Paired with crackers, they’re a hit.
- Bananas: Easy to eat with no preparation needed.
- Popcorn: A fun, light snack that’s easy to handle.
- Fruit Leather: Sweet, chewy, and doesn’t create a mess.
- Mini Muffins: Consider varieties like banana, blueberry, or bran.
- Hard-Boiled Eggs: Packed with protein and very filling.
- Dry Roasted Edamame: Crunchy, salty, and packed with protein.
- Almonds or Mixed Nuts: For older kids to avoid choking hazards.
- Sliced Cucumbers: Refreshing and hydrating.
- Cherry Tomatoes: Tasty and bite-sized.
- Turkey or Ham Roll-Ups: Meat and cheese rolled up together.
- Pita Chips: Great for pairing with hummus.
- Snap Peas: Crunchy and sweet.
- Crackers: Opt for whole-grain varieties.
- Applesauce Pouches: Easy to eat with no spoon required.
- Fruit Cups: Look for cups packed in water or light syrup.
- Cheese Crackers: Like Goldfish or Cheez-Its, it’s always a kid favorite.
- Oatmeal Cookies: A sweet treat that’s not overly messy.
- Bagels: Can be eaten plain or with cream cheese.
- Dried Fruit Mix: A mix of apricots, plums, pineapple, etc.
Remember to consider your child’s age and preferences when selecting snacks, and always opt for unsweetened or low-sugar options where possible to keep the energy crashes at bay. Also, having a small cooler or insulated bag can expand your options for perishable snacks.
How Snack Prepping Can Change Your Day
If you’ve been a parent for longer than a minute, you know how vocal children can be when hungry. But you don’t have a pantry to open up when you’re on a long road trip. You’ve got limited space, a sore neck from sitting all day, and kids in the backseat who won’t magically calm down.
This is why preparing some of the best travel snacks can be useful (don’t forget the mess-free travel snacks). In fact, it can change the tone of your entire long road trip.
Instead of telling your kids you’ll get snacks at the next bathroom break for the millionth time, you and your partner can buy 10…maybe even 15… minutes of “grown-up talk” while your kids snack away.
How to Pack Snacks for Road Trip
- Plan out your snacks ahead of time – Think about snacks you and your passengers would like on the road trip. Choose healthy road trip snacks for kids that are easy to eat while traveling, such as nuts, dried fruit, jerky, granola bars, crackers, cheese, or energy bars.
- Prepare individual snack bags for each person in the car. – This will help keep everyone organized while on the road. Put things like crackers and cheese in separate road trip snack bags or small Tupperware containers to make them easier to manage.
- Choose drinks wisely. – If you’re bringing a cooler for drinks, make sure it has lots of water and other beverages that won’t spill if the cooler gets bumped around while driving or making stops.
- Bring items that don’t require refrigeration or no need for heating for longer trips. – While peanut butter sandwiches, yogurt parfaits, and apple slices can all be great snacks on the go, they will only last for a while with refrigeration if you’re on a multi-day trip. Trail mix, granola bars, pretzels, and other shelf-stable packaged foods can last for days without refrigeration or heating up before eating them!
- Pack non-perishable items separately from perishables – This is more accessible and prevents both items from spoiling. And don’t forget to store the perishables away from direct sunlight and preferably in a cooler with ice packs.
- Store all your prepared snack bags in an easily accessible container or bag that fits within arm’s reach in the car –I recommend storing all your prepared snack bags in a cooler or insulated bag that is easily accessible and fits within arm’s reach in the car. Consider bringing along several reusable snack bags, cutlery, and any necessary condiments to make snack time more enjoyable.…
FAQs: Easy and Mess-Free Road Trip Snacks for Kids
What are some snacks that don’t make a mess for kids?
Some mess-free snacks for kids include String cheese, Hard-Boiled Egg, Pretzel Sticks, Baby Carrots, Apple Slices, Grapes, Granola Bars, Popcorn, Banana, Almonds or Mixed Nuts, Sliced cucumbers and many more.
What travel food is non-perishable for kids?
Non-perishable travel food for kids includes granola bars, dried fruits and nuts, breakfast bars, crackers, trail mix, nut butter packets, beef jerky, cereal bars, popcorn, pretzels, and fruit leather.
What should I feed my toddler while traveling?
I recommend bringing healthy, easy-to-eat snacks. Options may include yogurt tubes, nuts and seeds, chopped fruit and vegetables (like carrots or cucumbers), cheese sticks, crackers, whole grain cereal bars, dried fruit, or trail mix.
What food is best for traveling long distances?
Proteins, fruits, and vegetables are the best food for traveling long distances. Protein is an excellent source of energy that can help sustain you during a long journey. Fruits and vegetables contain essential vitamins and minerals that support your immune system and overall health during travel.
Final Thoughts: Road Trip Snacks for Kids
If you read most blog posts on road-tripping with kids, the #1 tip is usually: Pack some snacks! So I hope our list of road trip snacks for kids will help you plan your next family road trip.
These have been the best car snacks for road trips. Honestly, it’s usually our whole family that ends up enjoying them.
Make sure to bring a cooler, some reusable snack bags, and a picnic kit, and you’ll be ready to hit the road with the family.
Have a few kid-friendly snack ideas up your sleeve? Don’t hold out on us! Let us know your favorite snacks in the comment section below.
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