Proper snacking is one of the fundamental rights to any trip. After all, as one Ozarkland billboard once advised me, “road trip calories don’t count.” Joking aside, snacks can help turn any trip into a far more enjoyable experience for many reasons.

Saving Money

For me, the biggest bonus of having snacks available is that it saves me what I’d spend in a gas station or truck stop. If you haven’t paid attention lately to the prices in there, the markup is ridiculous. That being said, there are some exceptions to this rule (Petrol Truck Stops, situated on major routes, often have fresh fruit or veggies packaged locally for cheap), but I’ve been known to kill my budget on snacks alone. Why buy something for $2.50 when a four pack was just on sale at your local grocer for only $5.00?

Avoiding the Drive-Thru Diet

Another big way you’ll be saving money will be reflected when you don’t stop for a cheeseburger at the drive-thru. You’re less likely to need to stop for a bite to eat if you’ve been munching intelligently throughout the day and I find it helpful in avoiding the mass of chain restaurants you find along the highway. Then again, if you plan ahead and know about someplace local you’re dying to try, the snacking can help avoid you feeling too peckish when you get there and prevent overeating as well. There’s nothing worse than an overfull stomach when you’ve got another four hours to go.

Saving Time

I’m not exactly a point A to point B traveller, but I do have times in which I only have x amount of time to reach my destination. Having snacks within reach will prevent the unnecessary stomach-demanded stops and can also save you time when you have to stop for other reasons. You won’t waste your time perusing the shelves of snacks (though you may do some wasting elsewhere) or waiting on an order at one of those in-stop restaurants.

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At this point, I’ve probably at least kind of convinced you of the benefits of keeping yourself well stocked with munchies. The trick, other than just keeping food in the car, is knowing what kind of food you’ll want to have on hand.

Don’t Forget Your Drink

This is something I know a lot of people simply forget. Due to my travel buddy often being my dog, I’m always ready with a gallon of water in my car (which is especially handy in the winter as part of an emergency kit). I’ve personally cut out a lot of caffeine from my diet, but I know most people still need their soda in the afternoon, so consider that when you’re getting ready. Or, alternately, if you’re a coffee drinker, you’ve got the options of all of the prepackaged sugary things or you could make yourself some cold brew and put it in a travel container.

 

 

Look at Clearance and Sales

Honestly, I adore getting Star Wars fruit snacks and I love it even more when they’re on sale. Target had Star Wars themed everything on sale before the most recent release and so I was able to pick up everything from cereal to graham crackers at a deep discount because they were themed. I also managed four boxes of family-sized Boo Berry (my go-to cereal) for $2.00 plus tax following Halloween. Recently, a grocery store in my town had their bulk on sale for 20% so I was able to grab up some trail mix for the trip I’m on right now. These sales will help you not only save money, but they’ll also give you good ideas for snacks for the road.

Know Yourself

For me, the snack formula is simple. I pack one salty, two sweet (one must be chocolate), one protein, and a drink. My mom is a big proponent of always having peanut butter M&Ms and Diet Coke. Everyone is bound to be a little different, so plan for that. If you’ve got other people travelling with you, ask them about their preferences. Or, alternately, you can have everyone pitch in with their favorite snack and nobody will be too disappointed.

Consider the Weather

Right now, it’s 41 degrees outside. That being said, I’m not going to be a big fan of super cold things, but my chocolate is more than alright sitting out in the car in the garage. However, caramel right now would be entirely unchewable. When it’s summer, I tend to take the chocolate out of the mix, or I look for more hearty items like hard-shelled candies. It’s just smart. I don’t want to end up with a huge mess from snacking when I’m trying to get to my destination. Stopping and washing your hands every few miles won’t be very good for your gas mileage. So, just adjust for the season, and remember that weird weather can happen.

 

Oh, and if you were wondering, you actually can purchase Scooby Snacks commercially. They’re graham cracker goodness and totally worth reliving your childhood.