When planning a road trip, planning to eat is a big part of the budget and cargo! If you are starting from scratch, use this guide to make the planning easy and the food delicious.
Plan to pack snacks and meals that are shelf stable and pack a small cooler filled with ice or frozen ice packs to keep perishable foods and drinks cold. Plan meals ahead of time to save money, but also budget to eat at restaurants along the way. You may want to invest in a slow cooker or trucker lunchbox to cook while on the road as well.
I like to create a meal plan, just like at home, to make sure that I am ready for each day and each meal.
Then I pack things into a small, clear container with a locking lid, like this one on Amazon. They slide under the seats and act as our pantry.
I keep two, one for snacks we will eat in the car and one for food we will bring in when we arrive at the hotel or campground. I love being organized and having fewer things to take out of the car.
What to Eat on a Road Trip
Once you have selected your destination, and you have your lodging planned, look at your budget and plan food.
Remember that you should include your normal grocery budget in this category, because you would need to eat even if you were at home!
On a road trip, pack your favorite shelf stable snacks and plenty of water. You may encounter a long stretch of road where there are no stores or gas stations, and you will want to be prepared. On driving days try to eat the same foods you eat while at home to avoid any upset stomach or bathroom emergencies.
Plan meals for each day of the trip even if you are not sure what your exact plan is, you will need to eat, so better to overpack here.
Pack your favorite shelf stable foods like:
Crackers
Cookies
Chips
Candy
Gum
Pop Tarts
Pretzels
Chocolate
Dried Fruit and Nuts
Once you have plenty of snacks, do not forget to aslo plan meals. This is what is going to keep you comfortable on the trip.
Be sure that you and your family stay hydrated, it is easy to become dehydrated quickly while traveling and you will just not feel your best, it can also result in constipation in adults and kids.
Here is a list of ideas for road trip meal
Ideas for Breakfast
Granola Bars
Yogurt Cups
Baked Oatmeal
Breakfast Cookies
Muffins
Cold Bagels
Lunch Meat Sandwich
Fruit
Boiled Eggs
Cereal and Milk
Danish
Breakfast Burrito*
Oatmeal*
Pancakes*
French Toast Sticks*
Ideas for Lunch or Dinner
Sandwiches
Cheese and Crackers
Lunch Meat Wraps
Tuna Salad
Bagged Salad Kit
Chips and Salsa
Quesadillas*
Tacos or Nachos*
Hot Dogs* with cucumbers
Veggies with Hummus
Cold Noodle Salad
Rotisserie Chicken and Chips
Baked Potatoes*
Chili Dog*
Franks and Beans*
The ideas marked with a * require heating. I love our Hot Logic Mini, we have two and have used them for over 2 years. They work like a mini slow cooker and they plug directly into the car.
I think these are a great investment for families, I use mine on long days at the park as well as 2 week road trips. You can find them here on Amazon for a great price (affiliate link).
If you have a Hot Logic, you could use any of the ideas in this list on my blog, and plan a few hearty hot meals on your trip. It will save you money over fast food, and can save you time over stopping to eat.
You can see me pack up a few meals for my husband in under 10 minutes in our Hot Logic!
How much should I eat on a road trip?
Plan to eat on your normal schedule, and pack extra snacks for long boring stretches of the trip.
Eat when you are hungry and be careful not to overeat on a road trip. Driving days can be very dehydrating and you will have fewer opportunities to use the bathroom, so eating enough to feel full, but not uncomfortable is the best strategy. Staying hydrated is also very important on a road trip.
It is normal to not feel like eating much on a road trip. The constant moving can upset your stomach and being out of your routine might make you less hungry. You may even experience an upset stomach or constipation.
It is also normal to feel very snacky on a road trip. You packed all your favorite snacks and treats and they are all in arm’s reach! If you feel like eating, go ahead, it’s vacation!
Just be sure to also hydrate and stop when you need to go to the bathroom.
Be sure to pack some favorite foods that are easy on your stomach and be sure to stay hydrated. Consider fiber rich snacks to help with regularity on your trip.
How to Warm Food on a Road Trip
Warm food on a road trip with a 12 volt slow cooker or trucker lunch box that is designed to be used in a vehicle. You could also stop at truck stops and use a microwave if one is available. There are also options for hot pots that work in the car.
My family uses a Hot Logic Mini. My husband worked for quite a few years as a full time truck driver and he used his Hot Logic Mini for breakfast and lunch, every day for years. It is reliable and useful.
You can purchase one on Amazon (affiliate) for a very reasonable price.
How to Travel with Food in the Car
Healthy Eating on a road trip is a bit different than healthy eating at home because you need to rely more heavily on shelf stable food.
By packing lots of shelf stable food and a large cooler, you can travel with most of the foods you enjoy at home. Plan to pack cold food in a hard sided cooler with ice packs. If you will be without refrigeration for a long time, consider dry ice, which can keep your food cool for up to 48 hours. For longer trips choose an electric cooler.
Electric coolers plug into your car outlets and act as a small refrigerator. These are popular with truckers who carry their food with them at all times.
They vary in effectiveness, so be sure to read lots of reviews. They are also called iceless coolers.
You could also choose a high quality cooler like a YETI (affiliate), they have some cooler packing tips here.
How to Eat Out on a Road Trip
When you decide to stop and enjoy a local restaurant, be sure to secure your car and take the opportunity to get rid of the trash that has accumulated in the car. When possible eat inside the restaurant, to get a break from the car. If you choose to drive thru, tailgate in the parking lot, open the doors and eat in the fresh air.
If you are going to a nicer restaurant, consider stopping before arriving to change clothes or freshen up.
If you decide to tailgate, you can open the doors and sit on foot rests. A change of positon will be a welcome change.
You could also picnic, if there is an appropriate place. You can find great rest stops if you use my tricks in Google Maps.
My Favorite Road Trip Meal Plan
So, with all that said, here is what my family packed for the first few days of our two week cross country trip.
Snacks: Cheez Its, Animal Crackers, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Brown Sugar Cinnamon Pop Tarts.
Meals:
Breakfasts: Frozen Jimmy Dean Breakfast Sandwiches (Heated in the Hot Logic Mini), oatmeal packets
Lunch: Lunch meat sandwiches with chips, pb and J
Dinner: Boxed Mac and Cheese in the Hotel with Hot Dogs and Ice Cream from the Hotel Store, Quesadillas cooked in the Hot Logic
Growing up, we drove 600 miles to Maine, twice a year, every year. We ALWAYS had:
Raw Carrots
Pitas and Provolone Cheese
Pretzel Rods
Ginger Ale
Potato Rolls
So, if you are just interested in what kind of crazy things people pack for road trips, there ya go!
Get out there, it is going to be great.
