Best Road Snacks
A few of the recent comment threads have mentioned great road snacks--Mountain Dew and corn nuts among the favored snacks--but after today's mention of bologna sandwiches and ice-cold Coke in Cookie the Dog's Owner's Plymouth Belvedere post, I think it's time to discuss great road snacks. There are many reasons to love a long road trip--great roads, picturesque scenery, meeting great people, the chance to relax and listen to the music of your choice at high volume--but snacking ranks right up at the top for me.
I am an avid amateur in the fine art of road snacking but can't quite claim the professional stature of my cousins, aunts and uncles, who pile en masse into their Chevy Suburban with coolers full of food and begin eating when the trip odometer ticks off its first tenth of a mile.
These are my favorites, but I'm interested to hear what others prefer. Beware, just reading this will likely add five pounds and raise your cholesterol. I know that after writing it, I'm now wondering how I have managed to avoid morbid obesity and heart attack after eating all of this junk.
Home-made Snacks
I'm not terribly creative with home-made road snacks, preferring instead the processed variety. My favorite is a nice baggie full of molasses cookies cooked to my mother's recipe, which are sweet enough to satisfy but not so rich and sweet that they are cloying. On the natural side, orange slices are great, as are celery stalks. The celery doesn't really fill you up, but it's crisp and refreshing and the sheer effort to chew it helps pass the miles.
The worst? Whole apples. Most of the time I am ambivalent at worst towards, but biting into an apple in the car that hasn't already been sliced is a nightmare. You are obligated to hold it in your hand the whole time, and the juice gets everywhere. The more of the apple you eat, the fewer clean and dry handholds you have on the thing, and at the end of the process you still have a wet, sticky core to deal with. Even sliced, the slices turn brown way too quickly.
Processed Snacks
Yes, I know--processed snacks make you fat, wreak havoc on your blood sugar, have wasteful packaging, poke gaping holes in the ozone layer, and introduce trans-fats to endangered species. They are also fantastic on road trips.
The hands-down best road-trip food ever in my book is Smartfood popcorn--the cheddar-flavored fast food popcorn available in every gas station along every major Interstate. It's hard to avoid greasy, white powdered hands, but that and a rapidly expanding waistline are really the only downsides. Smartfood tastes much lighter and more subtle than other favorites like Doritos--which makes it much easier to keep eating over a period of hundreds of miles, a distance over which Doritos long since became overwhelming. I wouldn't be shocked if the white powder on Smartfood was actually some sort of controlled substance; it is ridiculously addictive. Like a lab rat testing cocaine, I simply can't stop eating Smartfood until the whole bag is gone or until I split in half, whichever comes first. It is this combination of sustained eatability and continued deliciousness that makes Smartfood nonpareil as a road snack.
Plain popcorn is, of course, much healthier, and there are much lighter health-oriented snack popcorns out there, making them potentially better road-trip foods, but they are not as readily available on a road trip as Smartfood.
Doritos are great, as are chocolate bars of all persuasion, but it's hard to eat either over a period of hours while driving. For one thing, Doritos have the potential to make your steering wheel smell of Cool Ranch, and the potential for getting Dorito sweats makes Doritos on a hot drive an unappetizing prospect. On the chocolate side, it's hard to sustain chocolate intake over a 600-mile drive--though I've tried valiantly to buck the odds with Reese's Pieces.
No, when it comes to sugary road snacks, I fall into the warm, gelatinous embrace of the gummy treat. Gummy bears are one of my favorites--they are sweet enough to be pleasing but aren't overwhelming, and an astonishing number of gummy bears can be consumed on a road trip with few ill effects. Peach gummy rings are such a ubiquitous favorite of mine on road trips that my friends have given me bags for birthdays; they're nasty and fantastic all at the same time, a quality required for many road snacks. Beware--I once left a bag inside the car on a hot day, and the rings melted together and separated into their component ingredients in various color strati. It wasn't appealing. Strawberry puffs are the cream of this particular sugary crop, but they're surprisingly hard to find.
Fast Food
Like processed food, everybody knocks fast food--but we all eat it on road trips. There is little more satisfying than getting off the freeway, dashing through a drive-through, and getting right back on the freeway less than five minutes later.
My father used to constantly be driving long distances on the road, and he was a fast-food road eater par excellence. This was before cupholders, so he would cruise along with a burger in one hand, a soda in the other, a box of fries in his lap, and steering with one knee. This might sound unsafe, but I've witnessed the majesty of him in full operation and I've rarely felt more secure. I think the man could drive pretty competitively at Le Mans using only his left knee.
Personally, I think there can be only one winner in this category--Taco John's softshell tacos. Taco John's is a little known taco chain in the Midwest and Western plains states. Think South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming. Taco John's tacos are slightly more expensive than Taco Bell's, but the taste and quality are exponentially superior, with a delightful array of seasoning. I was reared on a steady diet of Taco John's, and I've craved their tacos for years. I used to drive a few hours out of my way to hit the only one near my house; now it's closed, and I've seriously considered paying people to freeze the tacos and ship them to me. They are that addictive.
The great thing about Taco John's as road food is that unlike most tacos, their tacos hold together reasonably well and are easy to eat with one hand. They're also satisfying but not massive, meaning you can eat a couple over 50-100 miles without gorging yourself.
Runners-up? Well, a good hot dog works well on the road, though I'd pass on big heaping servings of chili. McDonald's Chicken McNuggets are also a road-trip staple and help the miles pass by.
Full Meals
I've never really brought along full meals on road trips--they seem unwieldy and difficult to keep warm unless you wrap them in foil and place them in the engine compartment. But I'm sure some of you have some favorites, and I'm eager to learn.
Beverages
Given the sugary, fatty, and salty nature of most road food, bringing along the right beverages on a road trip is of paramount importance. Since most road beverages are also sugary and dehydrating, it is of course key to bring along some water. But road-tripping man and woman cannot live on water alone.
Most, like Cookie the Dog's Owner, prefer ice-cold Coca-Cola or Pepsi. I'm not among them; I simply can't stand dark cola and the taste that, as Bloom County so succinctly put it, reminds one of malted battery acid. A good root beer works well, and Mountain Dew is of course a perennial favorite for long road trips.
No, my premiere road-tripping beverage is Crystal Light, that sugary quasi-lemonade concoction that exists as slightly upper-crust version of Tang or Kool-Aid. Sweet but refreshing, Crystal Light can be mixed strongly or weakly without compromising the taste, meaning it tastes great mile after mile without wearying the taste buds. Gatorade works well too, but it tends to be pricey.
And no, you in the rusty pickup driving through West Texas--a case full of Old Milwaukee does not count as a good road beverage. You know who you are.
The top photo, with the Eat sign perched out in desolation comes from Flickr user jessiqua, the orange slice came from Sesselja Maria, the in-action Smartfood driving shot from solupine, the gummy bear army from Bethany L. King, the Taco John's excitement from just a spark, and the Crystal Light homage from Steeena.
--Chris H.
rob the SVX guy on August 04, 2008 at 05:26 PM
Nice!!! Taco John's is awesome. Six pack and a pound anyone? :D
Hrm. Road food. Good question. Does it have to be consumed ON the road? Because no food says "road trip" to me quite like Waffle House. Grits, pancakes, anything you desire is available with 500 extra calories cooked in, at no charge. If you have to eat it in the car... hrm.. I know Taco John's is in most cases superior to Taco Bell, however, there is one exception. The almight Crunchwrap Supreme. This hexagonal slice of mexico is basically a tostada with all the fixings sealed in with a grilled tortilla. It is absolutely fantastic for driving, as the juices cannot escape, your interior remains clean, and eating one is usually enough to make me feel full/gross. In my eyes, nothing else comes close from any other fast food company. Burgers squirt ketchup and oil, tacos can break down the spine ending in disaster.
However.... back when I was 16-18, and I still had my 68 Dodge Charger, nothing quite fulfilled the American dream like Burger King. I'd pop in the Creedence 8 track, pull through the drive through in my gigantic red musclecar with it's burbling big block, order a whopper, fries, and a coke and drive into the sunset. Man. What bliss.
With musclecars suffering from inflated prices, I feel kinda bad that no kid will again be able to experience the joy of growing up with a classic 60s musclecar, chow down on a whopper, and listen to the wonderfully distorted sounds coming out of an 8 track deck. Heh.
Theodore on August 04, 2008 at 07:21 PM
I have driven countless miles on a diet consisting only of beef jerky, pretzels, Nerds (the candy), and lemonade. I find myself doing that very rarely these days, though. Now I go to restaurants and actually get out of the car for more than ten minutes at a time. Used to be I never did that - I just drove straight through, eating only what I could buy at gas stations. Must be getting old.
As for the restaurants, I'll take IHOP over Waffle House any day of the week and twice on Sundays. But for those of us who grew up in the southeast, Bojangles is the only place to go. Two ham biscuits, picnic fry, and a Sprite - orange juice if it's early in the day, sweet tea if your tastes run that way. Oddly for a Southerner, I never have learned to drink tea. But that meal has been a road trip staple for as long as I can remember.
Sillypickle on August 04, 2008 at 08:57 PM
I second beef jerky as one of the best things you can eat on the road. My family has recently discovered that Costco now sells pepperoni beef sticks in large bags for a price that absolutely destroys Slim Jims, and they taste better and are better for you to boot! A notable advantage of beef jerky and anything else salty is that they tend to make any liquid you may have available seem pretty tasty and satisfying, and I imagine drying yourself up with salt is a good counter to drinking lots of liquids, allowing you to stay on the road that much longer between bathroom stops.
Also, I love that Chris mentioned gummy bears, because they are one of my favorite foods that is cheaply available at almost any gas station food mart. This is even the case in Europe; I remember being delighted to find a large bag of Haribo gummy bears in Hungary for about $1.50.
Mochi Mochi on August 04, 2008 at 09:02 PM
Ah - a subject near and dear to my heart - or was it heart-burn. Having enjoyed a very recent and rather intense drive through all of the southern most states in the union I know what's out there.
Best in car natural (or real) food: the navel orange (yum)
Best travel cracker (old skool): Ritz
Favorite "junk" food: A&W Root Beer and A&W Hot Dog... I will drive for hours in deep hunger just to enjoy this combo.
Best Real Road Food: StarBucks Sandwiches ( They are not available all over the country but if you can get one its good - their sandwich standards are good).
Best option for staying awake: cans of Starbucks Double Shot Espresso or Italian Ice coffee. This stuff is good hot or cold. It keeps. You can stash them under your seat. When fatigue starts to overtake you, pop one or two and you are good to go... no delays in schedule.
Best option for healthy snacks that you take with you: Baguette or Wasa Bread, good sharp cheese, hard salami. Also bags of celery or carrot sticks. I know the veggies aren't exciting, but when you are traveling great distances your health is actually important. And believe me the veggies will help. There's not a lot of real food that is easily accessed immediately from most interstates.
Best place to get really good provisions while crossing the southwest: Las Cruces NM: Toucan's Market, University Exit off the 25, Las Cruces, NM. This place is a gold mine. Fully stocked everything. Produce, Cheese, Meat, Canned Goods, Bakery, Bread you name it. Go there and delight in food paradise. Nice selection of wine too. If you appreciate good food and need a break from the typical Interstate Cuisine - this is the place.
Where and What to eat if you are in Tuscaloosa Alabama: Just of the 59, O'Charley's next to the Best Western has amazingly good pan seared Tilapia (delicious fish). I thought the place was going to be a just your average roadside mall food. I have no idea about the other options, but the Tilapia was excellent.
What to eat at Denny's if you want to not feel sick afterwards: Either the seared Tilapia (not as good as above - not nearly - but it is palatable and wont make you feel like you have lead in your stomach) or stick with eggs and toast.
Burgers? In California go for: In-n-Out Burger and keep it simple with the toppings.
I tend to avoid too much sugar cause it makes one's nerves funny when driving really long distances and can impair response. I apply the StarBucks double shots as needed - purely for medicinal purposes. I suggest that these be taken on a full stomach to allow the caffeine to absorb more slowly into your system and avoid a nasty blood sugar crash afterwards. If you are driving 1000miles a day solo - you will need one or two of these. 1100 or more miles will require an extra 1 or 2 cans.
Mochi Mochi on August 04, 2008 at 09:05 PM
Sillypickle: you have very refined tastes. Jerky and Harribos are delicious.
If you can find it Metro Mint water is very refreshing - the spearmint or peppermint feels cool and refreshing to drink even at room temperature.
Brian on August 04, 2008 at 10:21 PM
ROTFL I hope you're getting payola. Maybe just complementary samples?
SueL on August 04, 2008 at 10:36 PM
You neglect to mention that, despite all of its otherwise wonderful qualities, "Crystal Light" contains aspartame (aka Nutra-Sweet) as its sweetener, which turns to wood alcohol and formaldehyde as it is digested. Nice.
David Colborne on August 04, 2008 at 11:37 PM
Over the years, I've become increasingly selective when it comes to snacks. These days, I lean towards the following:
Snack food: Toffee nuts. I think I'm an addict - seriously. They don't really melt, they taste great, they're kind of sweet and a little salty... good stuff. Failing that, I just usually run off of fast food.
Taco John's: We have them in Reno, too. Good stuff. I avoid tacos for the reasons you alluded to - they're too messy. Instead, when I head there, I go with their Potato Ole burrito. It's much easier to clean up after. Of course, I have to ruin that by getting some of their Oles (NOTE: "Ole" in Taco John's-land roughly translates into "spiced up tater tot") with some of that delicious nacho cheese of theirs. I don't care if it costs extra anymore. I really don't.
Drinks: Depends on what I'm going for. For pure refreshment (i.e. I'm thirsty and awake), I'll just get a big can of Arizona Iced Tea (the $0.99 can). If I need a pick-me-up, I'll either get an Old Glory (DIRT cheap for its caffeine content) or, if I'm really out of it, I'll spring for the jumbo can of Rock Star.
Last summer, a friend of mine and I drove from Reno to Nebraska to see a football game. The idea was that we would trade off - I'd do a few hours while he sleeps, he'd do a few hours while I sleep, etc. We were driving in my truck since it was the most reliable vehicle between the two of us. Unfortunately, due to work and personal constraints, we didn't leave Reno until about 10 at night. Worse yet, my friend never slept, which led to me making the fateful decision that, if one of us was going to crash my truck into a ravine due to severe fatigue (didn't have time to pull over if we wanted to catch the game), it was going to be me. After 40 hours without sleep, including going to work, waiting to get everything ready, then driving to Wahoo (took 20 hours, though we took some detours along the way - apparently, there's a "National Grassland" in Colorado - who knew?) and about SIX 32 oz cans of Rock Star, we finally pulled into the parking lot for the motel we made reservations for.
Six hours later, we got up so we could make the game.
I have, nor had I ever, been so tired before in my entire life. I pray to (--Insert deity of choice here--) that I never have to do something that mind-blowingly stupid involving a motorized vehicle and my cardiovascular system ever again.
Kasey Kagawa on August 05, 2008 at 03:57 AM
The longest and most involved car trip I've ever driven was when I picked up my Acura Integra Type R from Seattle (2 months in my possession, then flat-bedded away from me to a chop shop in Long Beach Harbor, RIP). Four days of interstates, back-roads and byways, and it gave me a deep appreciation for Burger King's car-friendly packaging. Almost all the containers are designed to be place in a cupholder (didn't do me much good, since the cupholder blocks the most important item in a car on long solo trips, the radio), so it's easy to eat your food without having to stick your hand into the bag and fish around for every last french fry. However, if you want the absolute best in road-friendly fast food, you have to look at their "chicken fries". They're your basic compressed chicken shapes, but in long, thin strips and breaded with a spicier coating than normal, so they taste different and are easy to handle. Best of all, though, the container has a built-in spot for dipping sauce, finally freeing you from the treacherous balancing act of having to hold both the nuggets and the sauce in one hand. I lived off of those things on my way down from Seattle, not exactly the best food, but I had this trip so tightly scheduled that I had to stay on the move every step of the way. So if you have to just blast through a few states, I recommend BK for above-average national chain fast food and packaging that keeps you from accidentally sticking your hand in someone else's burger.
As far as drinks go, I recommend Snapple White Tea, in tangerine flavor. It's mostly water and barely caffeinated, so you don't get the sugar/caffeine shakes, and it tastes pretty good. It's a pain in the ass to find, though. Arizona Sweet Tea's pretty good too. I try to avoid sodas, all that caffeine that most of them have is a diuretic, so you get dehydrated more easily and you have to stop more often to use restrooms of often questionable quality and cleanliness. Although, if it's late at night and you need to stay awake, Monster's coffee drinks are pretty good. They pack a lot of punch for the cost and don't taste like Robitussin, so you can actually drink them.
Speaking of water, I avoid things like nuts, jerkey, chips, anything really sugary or salty. Dehydration sneaks up on you, and I've known more than a few people to get a splitting headache on a car trip and not know why. Turns out that they've been pounding the chips and the candy, both of which suck water right out of your body, and not drinking enough water to rehydrate. Nothing ruins a beautiful driving day like feeling as if you've got people pounding railroad spikes into your temples because you didn't drink enough water.
Steaming Pile on August 05, 2008 at 05:37 AM
Two words: White Castle.
Cookie the Dog's Owner on August 05, 2008 at 05:58 AM
Milk Duds and Long John Silver's shrimp. Shrimp!
I'm actually more of a lemon-lime type of guy (Sprite/dew/Sierra Mist/7-Up), and I've never cared much for bologna, but the rest of my family preferred Coke and bologna sandwiches, so that's what was on-board the station wagon.
OldCarGuy on August 05, 2008 at 06:21 AM
White Castle? OH NOOOoooooo......
Coffee and donuts (not too many) in the early AM, switching to pretzels, Wheat Thins, or other snack foods later in the day. My wife, who will pack a cooler for a 50 mile trip, can be relied upon to have iced down waters, Diet Cokes and beer (for when we reach our destination). If we stop along the way, it's usually for Wendy's or Burger King, but out West it's definitely In-N-Out time.
Big Chris on August 05, 2008 at 09:28 AM
Chris,
Let me know, I can mail you some Taco John's. I eat there every Wednesday. Taco John's is so far superior to Taco Bell that using them in the same sentence is nearly sacrilege.
For road food, I enjoy Mt. Dew and Slim Jims. Sobe Energy and Rockstar Juice (Orange Can) when I need more caffeine than the Dew can provide. I also like Cherry Nibs as car food. Gummy Bears used to be a standby, but the Nibs replaced them. Corn Nuts are only allowable if you are traveling by yourself. There is no smell in the universe as potent as Corn Nuts breath. Especially if they are Nacho flavored.
Big Chris
Chris Hafner on August 05, 2008 at 10:08 AM
Rob, good call on Waffle House (dubbed by my friends as the "Awful House" when we lived in the South). Horribly unhealthy, moderately tasty, and completely ubiquitous, Waffle House is a staple for many a road trip.
A few people have mentioned Burger King, and I couldn't agree more. BK and Wendy's burgers taste better to me than McDonald's. I'm not normally a burger eater on road trips, but if I do I usually get a Burger King or Wendy's burger. The cheap-o Wendy burgers tend to be pretty good.
Sillypickle mentioned Haribo gummies - yes, Haribo makes the Cadillac of gummies. I love the German saying, Haribo Macht Kinder Froh! (Haribo makes children happy). Yes, you do, Haribo. Yes, you do.
Brian: "ROTFL I hope you're getting payola. Maybe just complementary samples?"
I wish, Brian. I would eagerly sell my soul for a lifetime supply of Taco John's and Smartfood popcorn. I'd be soulless, devoid of any respect, and about 580 pounds, but I'd be happy.
David Colborne, thanks for bringing up the Potato Oles. Those things are wickedly addictive as well. I try to avoid them while driving so I don't coat my steering wheel with oil, but they have just the right amount of spice. The relatively new Potato Ole "nachos" where they are smothered with cheese, sour cream, meat, and salsa are a horrifically bad road food but delicious when you're not behind the wheel.
I hear you on the bad breath issues, Chris; though I'd put Slim Jims and pepperoni sticks in the same zip code as Nacho Corn Nuts from that standpoint. Flavored pepperoni sticks can create a breath Superfund site.
Chris Hafner on August 05, 2008 at 10:11 AM
By the way, I might just have to take you up on the Taco John's offer, Big Chris.
Man. I have carrots and a cheese sandwich for lunch today, but after talking about all of this, I'm not sure that's going to do the job.
Scott on August 05, 2008 at 12:24 PM
The first summer after we were married, my wife and I took a road trip from Atlanta to New York to Ohio and back. My sister made a mixed tape (!) and packed a box of snacks, which included a can of toffee-covered peanuts.
The car is long gone, we have four kids, the mixed tape disintegrated long ago. But we still get toffee-covered peanuts for every road trip. I wouldn't think of interstate driving without them.
Elwood on August 05, 2008 at 12:26 PM
I always like to bake a big possum just before a road trip. Nothing like that for snackin', though the fat will mess your steering wheel up some. And a boiled carp to go along with it is great for dessert.
John Surratt on August 05, 2008 at 12:33 PM
My semi annual drive from Michigan to Florida, down in December back in May to transport my mother and father in-law have reintroduced trip food to my palate. my mom-i-l introduced Snyders mustard and vinegar pretzel chunks which are excellent. I can't do the trip without a bag.
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater on August 05, 2008 at 12:47 PM
Nacho Cheese Combos. Big fan, until they get in-between the seat and the floor, and start to smell :p
JorgXMcKie on August 05, 2008 at 12:53 PM
No Taco Johns where I live anymore, but there were where I used to live. What I liked best was asking them for a couple of extra cups of the green hot sauce. They'd always look at me and say, "Are you sure? Have you tried it before?" They were serious, but so was I. That was some good hot sauce. They still have it? It would singe the ends of your moustache if you weren't careful.
Carl H on August 05, 2008 at 01:01 PM
A thermos of coffee or hot green/mint tea, a jug of ice-water. A ziplock with a couple three peanut-butter-and-honey sammitches. A banana or two. Some almonds or cashews and some black liquorice. When I quit smoking I found that black liquorice was good at keeping me from wanting a smoke, so I got in the habit of bringing Mike and Ikes or Allsorts on road trips (where the urge to fight boredom with a smoke was overwhelming). A few do the trick, it doesn't take much to get the 'urge' down to near zero again.
Real road food? BBQ. If an area can't support a good BBQ joint it's not worth visiting in the first place.
Hucbald on August 05, 2008 at 01:05 PM
I'm primarily a gummy snack road warrior, but I live in a town of circa 5K peeps, so we don't have much fast food here. As a result, I look for my personal favorite while traveling, which is KFC. I always get a five piece with biscuit, Original Recipe. Now, the ART of the process is to be able to eat the chicken while driving without getting the steering wheel covered in grease. Step one is to have some shop towels under the rear seat, step two is to be patient enough to wait until back on the interstate with the CC set. Then, set the chicken on the fold-down center console, steer with the left hand and eat with the right. Snag a shop towel as required. A Dodge RAM Quad Cab helps in this endeavor, though other vehicles might make acceptable substitutes.
Xiaoding on August 05, 2008 at 01:06 PM
I stay away from sweets in the second half of the day ona long drive, it makes me tired. Beef Jerky rules for on the road, stay away from soda pop. Heading out, I juice some oranges or a grapefruit, good breakfast at 4 am!
One thing I discovered last trip (and HUGE thanks to the guy on the radio!) Coenzyme Q10! Take one every two hours...NEVER GET TIRED!! And I'm 50! Damn, it took me three hours to wind down last trip!
Bruce on August 05, 2008 at 01:16 PM
I'm particularly struck by the recommendations for Mountain Dew, which has always had an immediate and POWERFUL laxative effect on me, making it less than ideal for travel, particularly if you find gasoline station men's rooms as horrifying as I do.
Bruce on August 05, 2008 at 01:16 PM
I'm particularly struck by the recommendations for Mountain Dew, which has always had an immediate and POWERFUL laxative effect on me, making it less than ideal for travel, particularly if you find gasoline station men's rooms as horrifying as I do.