111+ Healthy Road Trip Food Ideas (Non Refrigerated Snacks) (2024)

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 healthy road trip foods 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 healthy non perishable 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 nonperishable snacks, meals for each time of day, delicious chocolate snacks, and some recipes you can make ahead of time. Simply use the table of contents below to navigate to what type of road food you seek.

Healthy Non Perishable Snacks

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

Healthy Road Trip Snacks for Kids

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. Raisins or Dried Cranberries
8. Toasted Coconut Chips
9. Watermelon Squares
10. Dates
11. Cherries on the Stem
12. Grapes
13. Apples or Apple Slices (great with peanut butter or tahini)
14. Asian Pears
15. Strawberries
16. Bananas
17. Dragon Fruit
18. Mango
19. Oranges
20. Kiwis
21. Blueberries
22. Squeezable Fruit Pouches

See Also

41 Healthy Lunch Ideas - Love and Lemons

Gluten-Free Road Trip Snacks (Non Refrigerated)

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. Lentil Crackers (these can be homemade or sometimes found in stores)
9. Tortilla Chips
10. Cassava Chips (the Siete brand one comes in several shapes & sizes and we love it with hummus or salsa at my house)
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. French Macarons (fillings vary)
19. Coconut Cookies or Macaroons
20. Halva (Sesame Seed-Based Sweet Treat)

Healthy Road Trip Meals for Breakfast

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 & drizzled with jam, nut butter, or chocolate spread for a sweet breakfast treat)
9. Banana Bread
10. Biscuits

Healthy Road Trip Meals for Lunch

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

Healthy Road Trip Meals for Dinner

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 But Healthy Road Trip Snacks (Non Refrigerated)

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 Pieces
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

More Vegan Recipes and Chocolates