After 16,000 Miles, These Road Trip Snacks Ranked Best to Worst, Says Jalopnik
What makes a good driving snack
The writer says road-trip snacks can help maintain energy and attention during long drives. With many choices at gas stations and truck stops, the ranking focuses on how manageable each food is while driving.
The preferred snack can be unwrapped and eaten with one hand, leaving the other on the steering wheel. It should also be calorie-dense, not overly sweet, and reasonably healthy for a sedentary trip.
Gummy worms are the writer’s favorite for taste and low mess, but their sugar content keeps them from being a strong choice. They serve instead as a baseline for comparing the other options.
Messy choices to leave behind
Cheese-filled sandwich crackers can be ground into car upholstery, especially by children. Chips also come with grease and flavor dust, making them less appealing than tidier alternatives. Peanuts that need cracking and shelling take both hands, while pre-shelled peanuts are described as acceptable but boring. Yogurt and other dairy snacks are discouraged because spills can be difficult to clean.
Berries and grapes can fall beneath a seat or stain fingers, clothes, and seats. Apples, bananas, and orange slices separated in a plastic bag are presented as better fruit options.
Pizza may be eaten with one hand, but it needs a plate and careful attention. Greasy toppings can slide off over potholes or bridge joints, creating a mess and potentially causing burns if the pizza is hot.
Portable options for the drive
Bars are a regular item in the writer’s car before a road trip. The preferred choice is a Clif Bar in white chocolate and macadamia nut, with cookies and cream and trail mix also recommended.
Bars can replace a meal when there is no good place to stop or when the driver is behind schedule. Homemade empanadas or hand pies are another option, with fillings clearly marked when preparing more than one flavor.
The writer calls coffee essential for long days on the road and says tea is an alternative for those who dislike coffee. Drivers are advised to avoid spills and remember to drink water.
Key points
- The writer’s 16,000-mile trip over two months informed the snack ranking.
- One-handed, tidy foods are preferred for eating while driving.
- Bars and homemade hand pies can work when a meal stop is difficult.
- Yogurt, messy fruit, and pizza are among the options the writer advises against.