Hit the Road! The Best Summer Road Trip Snacks for Traveling

The official start of summer is here, and for many Americans, that means it’s the perfect time to get in your car and cruise the land of the brave and free! There’s just something about that open road, watching the picturesque landscapes of these great United States pass by your car’s windows – from rolling green hills to neon-lit truck stops that makes us appreciate life a little more. With a good playlist of some of your favorite tunes, good friends, and a plethora of sweet and salty road trip snacks you’ve got a recipe for a truly memorable experience!

A great American road trip is a truly quintessential rite of passage. Whether you’re heading out on your vacation to a sunny beach getaway, seeking thrills at the nearest amusement park, or just visiting your grandma’s house a few states over, you’ll need something to cure those munchies we all get from long days of travel. Enter the gas station snack haul. It’s a sacred ritual all its own!

A truly great road trip snack is one that won’t make too much of a mess, no sticky steering wheels, or cheese dusted crumbs turning your seat cushions into a cheesy orange wasteland. You want to indulge, but not to the point of inducing a food coma. This can be a difficult proposition when you enter a convenience store for some sustenance after a long day on the road, but it’s not impossible! With the right combination of road-worthy snacks you’ll be saying: I’m in the mood to move!

Healthy snacks are good too, however. There’s a lot of options for low carb, high protein snacks out there – but you’re also going to want something sweet to keep you awake, something that will make the road trip experience even sweeter. Think beef jerky, granola bars, and trail mix for long-lasting fuel, alongside dark chocolate, sour gummies, or something chocolate chip if your sweet tooth demands it.

And of course, you’re going to want an ice-cold refreshing drink to ‘wet your whistle’, as my grandpa used to say, which is funny, because he was notoriously bad at whistling – a trait I think I’ve inherited from him, (because I’m not very good at whistling either).

Road trip snacks are almost as essential as the gasoline in your car’s tank. If you’re traveling with a group of people, you don’t want to be hangry, especially if it’s going to be a long night before your next pit stop.

So, what do we like to take on the road with us when we explore the great American frontier? Sweets are a must, but you’ll also want something savory to balance out your sugar rush. Whether you’re in a car, truck, or full-on RV, these are the ultimate store-bought travel snacks to load up on before your next getaway.

Whether you plan ahead and stock up at the grocery store before your journey, or you’re more impulsive – grabbing what sounds good at each travel stop along the way, here’s some great snacks and sweet treats to compliment your next voyage!

First, let’s start things off with some sweet & salty MVPs of the road. These snacks will take your taste buds away to some other land, offering the best of both worlds!

Reese’s Peanut Butter Filled Pretzels

When salty meets sweet, something magical happens. These crunchy pretzel bites are loaded with Reese’s peanut butter, making them the ultimate snack for indecisive taste buds. No napkins? No problem. Just toss ’em in the cupholder and keep on cruising!

Atkinson’s Chick-O-Stick Nuggets

These flaky, peg-bagged peanut butter and coconut-flavored bites are the ultimate "no-mess, all-yes" snack! No melty chocolate fingers, no crumb avalanches – just pure, savory-sweet satisfaction that’ll have you reaching for another, and another before you’ve even hit the next state line.

Next, we’re going to cover some fruity, fun and totally pop-able sweets that’ll sweeten up your journey. If it’s gonna be a long night of driving, these fruity wonders will keep your eyes open, and your mouths smiling!

Runts

These tiny fruit candies are always big on flavor. Runts are a candy aisle classic, bringing banana, grape, strawberry, orange, and green apple joy to your taste buds, and they’re basically made for cupholder sharing. My favorite is banana, and I always had one friend who loathed the banana ones, which was a huge win for me! Warning: Once you start munching, they’ll be gone faster than a rest area bathroom break!

Trolli Sour Brite Crawlers

These chewy sour worms are an absolute road trip staple for a reason. This sour gummy is tangy, fruity, and comes in classic flavor duos like cherry-lemon and strawberry-grape, which makes it way too easy to just keep eating them nonstop. It’s not uncommon to go through an entire family size bag of these sour gummy worms before you hit the next rest area!

Wiley Wallaby Blueberry Pomegranate Licorice Twists

Soft, chewy, and packed with juicy berry flavor, these gourmet twists are like a fruit smoothie in licorice form. They’re a little fancy, a little fun, and 100% road trip approved. Take your taste buds on the scenic route with these delicious licorice twists!

Solely Fruit Jerky – Pineapple with Chili Salt (Vegan)

Dried fruits are a hallmark of some great road trip food. This plant-based powerhouse brings the tropical tang of real pineapple with a chili salt kick that makes your tongue go whoa! It’s sweet, a little spicy, and surprisingly refreshing for hot, sunny days on the highway.

De La Rosa Pulparindo Extra Spicy Tamarind Candy

This one’s for the snack daredevils. With a mix of sweet, sour, salty, and extra spicy, Pulparindo is the candy equivalent of a thrill ride! As an added bonus: spicy snacks can help you stay cool when the sun’s blazing. Next time you’re out in the hot summer sun, give this spicy tamarind treat a try!

Airheads Xtremes Rainbow Berry Bites

These bite-sized bursts of sweet, tangy, and sour berry flavor are like little rainbow-colored fireworks in your mouth! Each chewy piece is a colorful thrill ride that’ll keep your taste buds awake and your playlist bumpin’. So, don’t be afraid to let your colors shine!

Toxic Waste Slime Licker 2.0 – Green Apple & Black Cherry

Taste the waste and get ready to roll with this cult-favorite sour liquid candy! The rollerball bottle keeps your fingers (and your car) clean while delivering face-twistingly sour flavors like Green Apple and Black Cherry.

Now, let’s throw our tastebuds back in time with some retro-throwback sweets! Honestly, we don’t need Doc Brown to time travel with these treats by our side. But seriously, how rad would it be to road trip in a Delorean?!

Moon Pie – Vanilla

Nothing says nostalgia quite like a Vanilla Moon Pie. Since 1917, Chattanooga Bakery has been crafting these marshmallow-filled graham cracker sandwiches, and as a kid of the ’80s and ’90s, I always snagged one from the gas station whenever I saw it. Double decker, vanilla coated, and still totally iconic.

Sixlets

We are so excited that Sixlets are back! After too long a hiatus, these candy-coated chocolate balls have returned to reclaim their rightful spot in our road trip snack stash. Pop a few at a time for a chocolatey fix without the melted mess or throw them in your favorite trail mix and you’ll be thanking us later!

Big League Chew – Outta Here Original Bubblegum Flavor

The flavor that started it all! Outta Here Original is the shredded bubble gum that’s been stuffed into back pockets and glove compartments for over 40 years. With a nod to America’s favorite pastime, chewing this gum will surely help you pass the time on those long stretches of highway!

Now, for the grownups in the car, let’s explore some grown-up road fuel that will help you get through your kid’s never-ending chants of “are we there yet?” These protein-packed and savory snacks will help keep you going for the long haul ahead!

Tillamook Country Smoker Old Fashioned Beef Jerky

Finally, we get to the beef jerky! This is possibly the most essential road trip snack for travelers of all time. Tillamook’s Old Fashioned Beef Jerky is hand-crafted with 100% premium beef and slow cooked to chewy, savory perfection. Packed with protein and flavor, it’s the kind of road fuel that really keeps you going.

Slim Jim Monster

More meat snacks is just what the driver ordered! Packed with bold, meaty flavor and loaded with protein, this beastly snack satisfies even the hungriest road warrior. It’s the perfect antidote for a monster craving. It’s the biggest thing you ever did done see: Slim Jim!

Planters Duos – Peppercorn Pistachio & Parmesan Cashews

Planters Duos are here to turn your average nut mix into a full-on flavor co-pilot! Parmesan-dusted cashews meet peppercorn pistachios in a boldly seasoned snack that hits salty, savory, and satisfying notes all at once!

J&M Original Cheese Straws

No one will be asking “where’d the cheese go?” with these ultra-cheesy, crispy, crave-worthy straws. J&M’s Original Cheese Straws are a sophisticated spin on a Southern snack classic, blending sharp aged cheddar with just the right kick of cayenne. They come in a perfectly portable box, but be warned. Sharing might not be part of the plan!

Ready to hit the road? Browse our ever-expanding candy, snack and soda collection now and stock up on the products that will wow your customers! Sign up for an account with Redstone Foods today or give us a call. You’ll soon see why we’ve earned the reputation as America’s favorite candy distributor!

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