vegan travel snacks ideas

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34+ Vegetarian (and Vegan) Snack Ideas for Travel and Road Trips

Written by Becca

Updated on April 26th, 2024

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Table of contents

• Whole fruits
• Cut-up fruits
• Whole veggies
• Cut-up veggies
• Dried Fruits
• Nuts (Vegan)
• Vegetarian & vegan alternative protein snacks
• Beyond Meat Plant-Based Jerky (Vegan)
• Wahoo Ono Fish Jerky (Vegetarian)

EPIC Smoked Salmon Strips, Wild Caught (Paleo-Friendly, Vegetarian)

• Primal Spirit Vegan Jerky (made from wheat gluten, Vegan)
• Kool Ranch Kale Chips (Vegan)
• The Only Bean Crunchy Dry Roasted Edamame Snacks, Sea Salt (Vegan)
• Dang Toasted Coconut Chips, Original (Vegan)
• The Daily Crave Veggie Chips (Vegan, Kosher)
• Crispy Cauli Sea Salted Bites (Keto Cauliflower Chips, Vegan)
• HIPPEAS Organic Chickpea Puffs + “Cheeze” Variety Pack (Vegan)
• Organic Hummus (Vegan)
• Tostitos Medium Chunky Salsa To Go, 3.8 Ounce (Travel Size, Vegan)
• Every Body Eat Snack Thins, Cheese-less Flavor (Vegan)
• Just the Cheese, Low Carb Snack (Vegetarian)

Plant Snacks VEGAN Cheddar Mix Cassava Root Chips (Allergen-free)

• HA! - The Healthier Alternative Snacks - Cheddar Cheese Crunchers (Vegan, Gluten-free)
• ParmCrisps Plant-Based Sea Salt Crisps (Vegan)
• Outstanding Foods Outstanding Cheese Balls “Chedda” (Vegan)
• Magic Spoon Cereal (Grain-free, Vegetarian, Kosher)
• Vegan Espresso Bites by Big Island Coffee Roasters
• Partake Foods Crunchy Chocolate Chip Mini Cookie Snack Packs
• Love + Chew, Banana Bread Minis
• Vegan Organic Gummy Bears
• Organic Chocolate by Hu
• OWYN Vegan Bottled Protein Shakes
• Pirq Vegan Protein Shakes
• EVOLVE Plant-Powered Protein Shakes
• No Cow Plant-Based Protein Bars

With our extensive experience traveling, and taking many different types of trips, we’ve picked up a few tricks for snacking.

Dan and I love snacks and between the two of us, with my allergy to gluten and intolerance to dairy, and Dan keeping a vegetarian diet, we find that the best travel snacks and road trip foods are vegan and/or plant-based.

We like keeping vegetarian and vegan because it simplifies things. With a health mindset, we seek out snacks and foods that are friendly for the environment, natural, organic and free of harmful chemicals.

We’ve organized this guide into categories that have made sense for us throughout our travels as we’ve perfected the art of vegan and vegetarian snacks for on the go. In the list that follows, you can expect to find ideas for healthy vegan snacks to take on your trip, along with vegan and vegetarian foods that travel well.

Fruits and Veggies for on the go

The downright healthiest way to get healthy vegetarian and vegan snacks on the go is to look no further than the produce section at your grocery store, corner market or farmer’s market.

Whether you are looking for vegetarian road trip food or vegan travel snacks, fruits and veggies can be filling, full of fiber, nutrient-rich and more. If you eat enough of them, they can even constitute a full meal if you need to pack in a quick and healthy lunch during a car trip.

Here are our best ideas for vegetarian and vegan road trip and travel snacks that you’ll be glad you packed!

Whole fruits

Whole fruits are an easy go-to and easy to pack snack. Plus, they don’t require any additional packaging. An apple or a banana go a long way in a variety of different vessels.

We’ve found the most luck with apples, bananas, oranges (or clementines and tangerines). And, don’t forget that some fruits come in handy snack-size dimensions already, like blueberries, raspberries, strawberries and blackberries! These make a great berry medley in a travel-sized sustainable container like EcoLunchBox travel containers .

Please keep in mind, though, if you are hiking or in nature somewhere, throw away your peels and various fruit droppings.

While peels biodegrade, they might not be good for the environment in which you leave them (for example, if the seeds are not native to the surroundings).

Cut-up fruits

We like the convenience of cut-up fruits. They are a nice treat on a hot day or staying balanced with a diet. Cut-up fruit like cantaloupe, honeydew, watermelon and strawberries make great snacks for on the go.

Put your cut-up fruits into sustainable plastic-free travel containers like ECOlunchbox Seal Cups , and you’ll have leak-free storage for food while you’re on a trip.

Whole veggies

Some vegetables can be eaten whole, which makes the convenient to take right from a grocery store or market, to your plane, train, trip or hike! Among these are grape tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, mini sweet peppers and small (or large!) Persian cucumbers.

During road trips in Portugal and Spain, we munched on grape and cherry tomatoes right from the carton, and it was a great way to add in healthy vegetables during the day.

Cut-up veggies

Cut-up veggies require a little big of prep, but the rewards are, of course, nice and yummy. Among the snack-able veggies you can buy either same-day or a few days in advance are celery stalks, zucchini (sliced), large carrots and bell peppers.

We tend to slice these to the size of the container we put them in, like the ECOlunchbox stainless steel travel cups .

Pickling your vegetables for snacks

If you haven’t left home yet, one thing you can do before you leave for a trip is to pickle your veggies. With a few days of pickling or kraut-ing, you can have travel-ready snacks that either do, or do not, require silverware to eat.

Among our favorite vegetables to pickle for snacks are Kirby cucumbers, string beans, red onion slices and baby carrots. These snacks pack quite a zesty punch (and just remember to maybe consume them outside instead of in a cramped environment like an airplane).

Dried Fruits

Dried fruits are great for vitamins, nutrients and fiber, and one of our favorite vegetarian and vegan hacks is having some figs, dates, prunes or Craisins on hand when we leave for a day trip or a longer-haul vacation.

Some tips for these handy and healthy travel snacks are to a) buy in bulk and pack them, and b) buy a whole package of these, rather than a single serving, which won’t be priced as competitively.

As for buying in bulk, the good news is that it takes months for them to go bad! Try getting these types of snack items at your Costco.

The last time we had flights to Mexico, we made homemade trail mix with dates, prunes and walnuts with sunflower seeds, getting in all those fiber elements before not being sure what our diet would look like in the next few days.

Vegan and Vegetarian Protein-Heavy Travel Snacks

As people who tend to avoid meat while traveling, sometimes, our protein sources can be a bit low!

We typically seek out protein sources like nuts (vegan), eggs (vegetarian), fish (vegetarian) and vegan “meat,” depending on where we are. If you sense you may have trouble at your destination, pack along some of these road trip and on-the-go plant-based protein snacks.

Nuts (Vegan)

• Brazil nuts
• Peanuts (not actually a nut because they’re legumes)
• Sunflower seeds (technically a seed)

What’s your favorite? I tend to love cashews and walnuts, mixing them with dried fruit for snacking on a trip.

Vegetarian & vegan alternative protein snacks

Getting enough protein is a challenge when you are vegetarian or vegan, but when you put your mind to diversifying your protein sources through a little additional snacking, you can be surprised!

Beyond Meat Plant-Based Jerky (Vegan)

Beyond Meat is one of our favorite plant-based meat alternative brands, and their new jerky is made of pea protein!

You can use their store locator or pick up some jerky on Amazon .

Wahoo Ono Fish Jerky (Vegetarian)

Forget that jerky was originally for meat: vegetarians can enjoy fish jerky with all the flavors.

I got introduced to EPIC products before leaning into a vegetarian/vegan lifestyle. Their new paleo-friendly fish-based snacks are convenient and healthy.

You can find EPIC products on Amazon and also use their store locator to find their products near you.

Primal Spirit Vegan Jerky (made from wheat gluten, Vegan)

This vegan jerky is for plant-based snackers and travels very well.

Chips & Crackers for Road Trips

If you know us, you know we can’t stop ourselves when it comes to chips and travel snacks that have a crunch to them. In fact, we try to avoid buying large bags of chips because we’ll eat the whole thing in one sitting. Yikes!

Chips don’t have to be potato chips, nor corn chips, and this is something I’ve found out in my gluten-free diet. Chips these days come in an array of amazing varieties, from black bean chips to sweet potato chips to cassava and coconut chips. Let’s look at some great on-the-go vegan and plant-based snack ideas that fall into the ‘chips and crackers’ category.

Kool Ranch Kale Chips (Vegan)

Remember cool ranch Doritos from elementary school? If you’re now a vegan, you can still enjoy the flavor with this plant-based chip snack.

Learn more about Rhythm Superfoods on their website (you can shop there too). Their products are typically shipped and sold by Amazon , which is nice!

The Only Bean Crunchy Dry Roasted Edamame Snacks , Sea Salt (Vegan)

Crunchy and salty, these edamame snacks really do the trick on a long car trip. How cute are they! When we took them out of the package, they looked delectably munch-able and satisfying.

With only 100 calories per travel-size mini bag of roasted edamame beans, they’re gluten-free, keto-friendly, vegan and high in protein. They check all our boxes for ideal snacks to bring on road trips.

Dang Toasted Coconut Chips, Original (Vegan)

I can’t get enough of Dang products. They’re delicious, crunch, and pretty guilt-free for vegan snacking.

Dang products aren’t sold on their website anymore. You can usually find them at Whole Foods and Amazon ).

The Daily Crave Veggie Chips (Vegan, Kosher)

Veggie chips are a simple snack that you can take on a hike, train or plane, and these are vegan and kosher.

Crispy Cauli Sea Salted Bites (Keto Cauliflower Chips, Vegan)

Cauliflower products are all the rage now! These keto chips are vegan and perfectly salted.

HIPPEAS Organic Chickpea Puffs + “Cheeze” Variety Pack (Vegan)

Hippeas have found a way to make yummy snacks from chickpeas. This vegan snack is cheese-flavored, and great for travelers who gave up dairy ages ago. Dan really enjoys these!

HIPPEAS are found at most grocery stores. We always see them at our local Whole Foods. Use their store locator to find them near you.

You can also find them on Amazon through a variety of different sellers.

Vegan and Vegetarian Dips

In this day and age of convenience, it’s easy to come by packable and travel-size vegan and vegetarian plant-based dips for chips and snacks. So many of these foods are the best things to take on road trips for everyone in the car!

Take for example, Sabra hummus cups: they’re so cute, and the perfect size for having in the car, or on a plane!

Organic Hummus (Vegan)

So convenient, and great for dipping veggies or chips. Hummus is one of Dan’s favorite snacks because it levels up fresh cut veggies.

You can find hummus at almost every grocery store. It’s sometimes harder to find snack-sized cups. Depending on your travel situation, you can pick up a few, portion some out into a container and go on your way! You should try to keep them chilled but look on the packaging to see if that is necessary.

Tostitos Medium Chunky Salsa To Go , 3.8 Ounce (Travel Size, Vegan)

Personally, I like salsa with mostly anything, from carrots (try it!) to tortilla chips. What will you dip in your travel-sized salsa?

Similar to hummus, it’s harder to find individual cups of salsa. You can find jars at pretty much every grocery store, small market and gas station. You almost never need to refrigerate (even after opening) so it’s great to have it around — even if you don’t find the smaller cups.

Dairy & Vegan Dairy Alternative Snacks

I personally don’t eat dairy products or cheese, so I’m open to cheesy alternative snacks that don’t contain lactose or animal products and are therefore vegan. Keep in mind that a lot of vegan cheeses may contain nutritional yeast, so if you have an intolerance to histamine, be sure to read the ingredients.

Check out these cheese-flavored plant-based snacks below for a surprise, the next time you’re on the go.

Every Body Eat Snack Thins, Cheese-less Flavor (Vegan)

Holy smokes, these are delicious and absolutely addictive. These brown rice crisps pack in the flavor, without the dairy products, and they are free of common allergens.

They’re crispy, crunchy and make great little dippers if you have some dip on hand. We can’t wait to take them on a trip.

Note that the cheese flavored varieties have nutritional yeast in the ingredients, in case you have an intolerance to histamines (good to mention, for those who do). Otherwise, the EBE facility is free of wheat/gluten, milk/dairy, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, corn, sesame, eggs, mustard, celery, lupins, sulfites, fish, shellfish, and mollusks (according to their website).

Check out this store locator to find out where to get them.

And, they turned out to be a pretty snazzy flight snack.

Just the Cheese, Low Carb Snack (Vegetarian)

These vegetarian cheesy snacks are mini and cute!

I like the taste of cassava, and these vegan cheese-themed snacks are free of common allergens.

HA! - The Healthier Alternative Snacks - Cheddar Cheese Crunchers (Vegan, Gluten-free)

Are you on a gluten-free diet and going vegan? Even if you’re not, try these cheddar-flavored crunchy snacks for a trip.

ParmCrisps Plant-Based Sea Salt Crisps (Vegan)

Could you believe that these cheese-ish oven-baked crispy snacks are gluten-free, dairy-free, keto and vegan? Incredible.

Outstanding Foods Outstanding Cheese Balls “Chedda” (Vegan)

Plant-based cheese balls? Count us in! These are nutritious and low-calorie, with no dairy.

“Guiltless” Snacking

Sticking to a vegetarian or vegan diet may make your friends think you’re a health nut, but we all know that everyone deserves a treat every now and then! Check out these delectable vegan and vegetarian snacks that are super close to the “real thing.”

Magic Spoon Cereal (Grain-free, Vegetarian, Kosher)

Magic Spoon was created to be a guilt-free cereal that fits a keto diet. It is gluten-free, with 13-14g of protein per serving, great for a veggie diet. Dan has had their cereal as a snack and thinks it’s a great way to keep your diet on track.

Because the cereal has a decent amount of protein, it truly is a guilt free snack that fits into most diets.

With flavors like Cinnamon Roll, Cocoa, Peanut Butter and Maple Waffle, we’re excited to try them all, and bring them on vacation for breakfast (or really, any time of day).

Try the Magic Spoon Variety Pack or their new bars combo pack , which make an even better vegetarian snack on the go.

You can also browser some of their products on Amazon .

Vegan Espresso Bites by Big Island Coffee Roasters

We love the flavor in these smooth and creamy espresso bites . They are totally vegan (as per these selections below), and made with 100% Hawaiian island coffee. As a bonus, you can also melt them in hot water for a coffee drink on the go when you’re traveling.

If you live in a hot climate or if the weather has been hot recently, keep in mind that these could melt a little while being shipped. We put ours directly into the freezer when we unpacked the package.

We also recommend the “edible espresso” sea salt espresso bites , which are also completely vegan and pack a flavorful punch, with a kick of caffeine. If we could, we would eat these all the time, especially with our morning coffee.

And, if you love coffee…

Big Island Coffee Roasters makes travel-friendly Hawaiian Coffee Singles, which are compostable steeped coffee sachets for making coffee on the go, like on a road trip. All you need is hot water, so there’s no need for a grinder, coffee maker, filter or anything like that.

We tried this at home, to practice for making coffee while traveling on our next trip. We thought this coffee tasted great, in only minutes of this quick brewing technique.

We put a bit too much water in the mug and the coffee was a bit light. Next time, we will use less water or let the coffee steep for longer.

Partake Foods Crunchy Chocolate Chip Mini Cookie Snack Packs

I discovered Partake Cookies at my local store a few years ago and I’ve made them my birthday treat year after year.

They’re vegan, gluten-free and free of common allergens, which makes them very easy to bring to gatherings and parties where someone might have a random allergy to eggs or soy, not to mention road trips, when you may be sharing snacks!

Love + Chew, Banana Bread Minis

These soft-baked paleo and vegan mini treats come individually wrapped and are great for taking on the go.

Vegan Organic Gummy Bears

Gummy bears are my true guilty pleasure, but the original kind is full of junk, sugar and gelatin. Good thing there are vegan and organic ones on the market now! Check out the Project 7 Low Sugar Variety Pack (8 pack) !

Organic Chocolate by Hu

I’m a HU ge fan of the Hu products, since my days trying the paleo diet. Hu Chocolate is a winner because it’s vegan, free of soy (and soy lecithin) and gluten and it tastes amazing .

Vegan & Plant-Based Smoothies & Shakes

There are plant-based smoothies that come pre-bottled, so you can take them on the go! Just keep in mind that for going through airport security, these will not be able to come with you.

However, they’re totally fine for going on road trips, train rides, bus trips or day trips from your home. You can also pick up these types of bottled protein drinks when you arrive in your destination and you head to a grocery store.

OWYN Vegan Bottled Protein Shakes

These bottled protein drinks have vegan protein sources from pea protein, pumpkin seed protein and flax, with added Omega-3s and a green blend. They’re gluten, dairy and soy-free, so they check all my boxes for vegan protein on the go.

Pirq Vegan Protein Shakes

Pirq makes vegan protein shakes that are gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, non-GMO, kosher and keto-friendly, featuring (in this flavor) strawberry golden milk with turmeric tumeric, maca, plus plant protein. They’re perfect for taking in your bag when you’re heading out for some travel.

EVOLVE Plant-Powered Protein Shakes

These vegan shakes are a source of calcium, iron, vitamin B12 and zinc, which are essential nutrients for anyone whose diet does not contain meat! The EVOLVE protein (20g per bottle) is sourced from pea protein, so it’s 100% vegan.

Vegan & Vegetarian Protein Bars

No cow plant-based protein bars.

We became recently introduced to the No Cow products and personally, we’re glad that they’re all of the following, for both our dietary preferences: vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free low sugar, high protein AND Kosher.

There are a variety of flavors to choose from, like Birthday Cake, Key Lime Pie, Chocolate Mint Cookie and S’mores. Somehow, they’ve packed 20-21 grams of protein into these vegan snack bars.

Regarding the flavor, we felt there was slightly something to be desired, as these bars are a little dry. With the sweetness coming from a sweetener blend of stevia and monk fruit, you may find the flavor reminiscent of other nonperishable snack foods that use the same idea.

Nevertheless, these will satisfy a dessert craving if you’re on the road, a hike or in flight.

Check them out !

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25 Vegan Travel Snacks For Your Next Camping, Plane, or Road Trip

A funny question (well, to me, anyway) rolled into my inbox the other day: “What do vegans eat when they travel?” My gut response was, well, almost anything! Everything but animal products? 

Traveling as a vegan is something I do in my sleep; I don’t even think twice about it, but I know that’s not necessarily the case for everyone. Especially if you’re a newbie vegan or maybe you’re not vegan but someone you love is, and you’re trying to support their journey (super cool, by the way, if that is you). 

Wherever you are in your vegan journey, I am here to support you, including recommending the best vegan travel snacks no matter if you’re camping, taking a road trip, or traveling by plane! Years ago, when the vegan landscape was a little more barren, I used to pack a massive snack bag (seriously, it was so hefty that security had to scan it separately)! Today, I don’t pack my entire pantry, but I usually bring at least a few things, just in case!

Even if I know that the destination that I am visiting has excellent options, I always want to have a few snacks on hand in case my flight gets delayed, my special vegan plane meal is missed, or we’re driving and hit a massive back up — it’s always good to be prepared. 

So, if you’re looking for a few recommendations for tasty vegan treats and snacks to slip into your bag, you’ve come to the right place! Oh, and I’ve also included a lineup of items that I always pack to help avoid digestive upset — travel can really throw things off!

Oh, and if you’re curious, the chips and soda in the main image are from a fun weekend I spent in Madison, Wi!

This article contains affiliate links (paid links) and Veggies Abroad is a member of Amazon Services LLC Associated Program. A t no cost to you, I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase — this helps keep Veggies Abroad churning out free content! For an explanation of our advertising partnerships, please review our privacy policy.

Table of Contents

The Best Vegan Travel Snacks to Slip into Your Bag

Vegan protein & granola bars, #1 go macro bars.

Highlights: All of the bars are organic, vegan & gluten-free; there are also soy-free, nut-free, and FODMAP-friendly options.  These bars are a regular in our pantry and are terrific for travel because they are compact — no worries about them getting smashed and turning into a pile of crumbs. They come in many delicious flavors (the sunflower butter and oatmeal chocolate chip are my favorites) and types like protein bars, kid’s bars, and minibars. 

#2 Munk Pack

Highlights: All of the bars and protein cookies are vegan and gluten-free. I love grabbing a Munk Pack cookie for a long plane ride, they’re one of my favorite vegan travel snacks. They are a heartier treat packed with plant-based protein and fiber to help keep you fuller longer. Generally, plane breakfasts aren’t great (especially if you’re vegan and gluten-free, like me), so I always try and hold out eating my Munk Pack cookie until then. 

#3 Misfits Bars

Highlights: All of the bars are vegan and gluten-free For a little pick-me-up, check out these sweet-themed protein bars — Dark Chocolate Brownie, Chocolate Caramel, Chocolate Cookie Butter, and more!

#4 Balanced Tiger – Functional Mushroom Protein Bars

Highlights: All of the bars are organic, vegan, and gluten-free If you enjoy the superpowers of mushrooms, you’ve got to check out these adaptogenic bars! There are four flavors, each enhanced with a different shroom — Lion’s Mane (focus), Chaga (immunity), Reishi (balance), and Cordyceps (energy) — each enhancement can all be beneficial when traveling! 

#5 LUPii Bars

Highlights: All of the bars are vegan, gluten-free, and enhanced with Lupini beans. These little bars are packed with 3x the protein of eggs, 3x the fiber of oats, and all nine amino acids thanks to the Lupini bean! The bars are made with minimal ingredients; I promise they don’t taste like beans!

#6 88 Acres Bars

Highlights: All of the bars are nut-free, vegan, and gluten-free If you need to skip nuts, check out these seed-packed bars! They have a variety of seed and oat bars and protein bars in tasty flavors like oatmeal chocolate chip and dark chocolate sea salt. In addition to bars, they also have Seed’nola — a seedy granola that is great for road trips (but beware, it’s hard not to eat the whole bag in one sitting). 

#7 Sunwarrior

Highlights: Vegan, gluten-free, and soy-free protein powder.  If I am doing a lot of running or think breakfast in the morning might be tough, I will pack protein powder and a shaker bottle. In addition to Sunwarrior, I also really like the shroom enhanced protein blend from OM , and it’s not terrible with just water ( tasty tip: get cold coffee, either make it in your room and leave it in the fridge or go get one and mix it with the powder — It tastes so much better).

Vegan Travel Snacks & Treats

Now that you’re covered on the protein and granola bar front let’s talk about other snacks and TREATS! You can’t travel without a treat, can you? All of these treats are perfect no matter if you’re camping or taking a long flight.

#8 Karma Nuts

These sweet and salty cashews come in an array of addictive flavors — toasted coconut, cocoa dusted, lime twist, and more. All of the flavors are excellent but to determine your fave, buy a variety pack.

#9 Crunchy Chickpeas

You could make these yourself, but mine are never as crunchy or delicious as the ones from Saffron Road. They have a variety of flavors, but I think the Korean BBQ is pretty top-notch. 

#10 Bada Bean Bada Boom

While I like chickpeas, I love Fava Beans, especially crunchy ones! These beans are such a crowd-pleaser that I used to bring a box to share with co-workers (back in the day when I had a regular 9 to 5). I suggest trying all of the flavors — there wasn’t one that I didn’t like.  

#11 Superfood AshaPops

Have you ever had puffed water lily seeds before?! Here’s your chance! These superfood snacks are light and crunchy and recommended by ayurvedic practitioners. The puffs are gluten-free, soy-free, and corn-free too. If you need a little push to try them out, you can get 15% off your first order with the code WELCOME15.

#12 Lesser Evil Popcorn

Popcorn is always a solid snacking choice, and Lesser Evil makes one of my favorite kinds — Himalayan Gold. If you miss movie theatre-style buttered popcorn, you must try this! You can also create a snack box (for variety) or get them in snacking sizes!

#12 Louisville Vegan Jerky 

We used to be a part of their jerky of the month club, which made it handy to grab a bag for the road, but they discontinued it! Thankfully, you can still buy a variety pack online. Jerky makes a great snack that isn’t messy and travels well. My favorite flavor is the Smoky Carolina BBQ. 

#14 Rule Breaker Snacks

If you have a sweet tooth, these are for you! This lineup of cookies and brownies is vegan, gluten-free, nut-free, and free of the top 11 allergens (in addition to traveling, they’re also ideal for school lunches). You can get a treat variety pack or get a bunch of just one kind!

These oat-based bars are great for long travel days, hiking, or any high-energy activity. The original oat bars are tasty and filling, but I really love their newer stuff’d bars — specifically the chocolate chip peanut butter bar. 

#16 That’s It Fruit Bars or Fresh Fruit

If it’s not always easy to take whole fruit with you, That’s It Bars are a great replacement. The dehydrated fruit bars are made only with a mix of different fruit like mango, apples, blueberries, and more. Also, it’s a good hiking or running snack. 

#17 Off the Beaten Path Veggie Crisps 

These veggie chips are made with chickpeas, rice, peas, and black beans and are great out of the bag or dipped in hummus. They are a better road trip snack than a plane snack because they could get smashed into smithereens in your bag. 

Heartier Travel Vegan Snacks or Light Meals — Perfect for Camping

Snacks are great and all, but what if you need something a little more substantial? These three items travel very well and will keep you going!

#18 Oatmeal

There are a mountain of oatmeal options that are perfect in the morning or if you’re in a pinch (it’s been my lunch before too). I really like the Gluten Free Bar’s oatmeal line because they add seeds and Fava Bean protein powder to it, and it comes in an easy-to-use pop-up container. This is really handy when you’re on the run and can’t find a cup or bowl to mix it in. 

#19 Peanut Butter & Jelly 

It doesn’t matter if it’s for a school lunch or on an airplane; a peanut butter and jelly sandwich is tasty, healthy, and convenient! I’d recommend making these before you hit the road and wrapping them up or putting them in Tupperware (the Tupperware can prevent them from being smooshed). It’s also an ideal sandwich option because it doesn’t require refrigeration. 

#20 Walking Tamales 

The tamale lineup from Filo’s is a new addition to my travel arsenal! While they are best warmed up, the individually wrapped tamales are perfectly tasty right out of the container. They also don’t require refrigeration and aren’t messy. 

Important Beverages & Beverage Accessories

I really like coffee, and it’s always a bummer if my hotel room doesn’t have a coffee maker or a café isn’t within easy access. On top of that, there’s the bigger bummer of no oat milk! Well, not anymore! These are all especially great if you’re on a road trip or camping.

#21 Coffee Creamer

I stayed at an Airbnb in LA, and the host left me powdered vegan coffee creamer — I was blown away because I had never had a host provide a plant-based option, and I didn’t know powdered creamer options existed! A stellar oat-based option is JOI — they have a sweetened creamer and an oat milk powder !

While you’re adding things to your coffee, you might also be interested in the apoptogenic powers of Chagaccino! This blend of Chaga shrooms, cacao, cinnamon, vanilla, and monk fruit is your coffee’s BFF! All you do is add the packet to your hot or cold drink and go!

#22 Instant Coffee Powder 

Ok, now that we’ve got the creamer taken care of, we’ve got to talk about coffee! Instant coffee isn’t my favorite thing, but it works when you’re in a jam! Nescafe has a decent instant espresso that is pretty smooth; I’ve had it with oat milk and without and didn’t hate every minute of it. 

#23 Instant Coffee Mushroom Powder

For my shroomy friends, OM and Four Sigmatic have mushroom-enhanced instant coffee powders that are pretty good. They are nowhere near as strong as the Nescafe espresso but great for an all-around energy boost.   

#24 Electrolytes

I think this is one of those things that’s often overlooked when we’re packing — you don’t need to be going on an epic hike to need electrolytes! Staying hydrated can help fight jet lag and give you a boost if you’re feeling kinda meh. My favorite brand is Ultima — I’ve liked all of their flavors (especially grape) and they sell it in handy packets or a little tub.

#25 Portable Blender

I know this isn’t a food option, but it can make you something! Someone recently shared with me that they really wanted to travel with their blender, and I said absolutely not, but then I remembered someone I met at a conference had one of these handy, USB/battery-operated portable blenders!

This petite guy is perfect for your own personal smoothie and, when fully charged, can make between 15 – 20 cups. It can crush small ice cubes, but I would be careful to overload it with a ton of frozen fruit and ice; I think it’s best if you stick to fresh fruit and veggies. 

One note, I think this is an excellent option for a road trip but not a plane trip unless you’re checking baggage. Because of the blades, I don’t think security would be happy to find this in your carry-on. 

Bonus: Digestive Helpers

Let’s face it; travel can really mess up your digestion — time zone changes, richer food consumption, routine disruption — it can all spell disaster. Over the years, I’ve gotten better at finding balance while traveling, but there are still times when things go sideways (or I want to prevent them from going sideways). That’s why I always pack this lineup of digestive helpers (I should probably add the disclaimer that these things can help with normal digestion, and of course, I’m not a doctor — if you have serious digestive issues, please consult a doc).

Fennel Seeds

This one always gets people’s attention! Yes, I really do pack fennel seeds! These little seeds have been used for centuries worldwide and have been praised for a long list of benefits, one of them being digestive support. Fennel has anti-inflammatory properties, which can help soothe irritation in the intestines and even relieve gas, constipation, and acid reflux.

I like to chew the seeds, but some people really don’t love the flavor (it tastes like licorice); if that’s you, try fennel tea!

Digestive Enzyme

Digestive enzymes can help break down complex carbs, fats, proteins, and gluten. I am sensitive to gluten and a few other things, so sometimes when I eat out, I will take one of these before my meal just in case there is something in a dish that could cause irritation like gas or bloating.

Probiotics can help balance the good bacteria in your gut, which can help with digestion, immunity, and more. But it’s essential to take them regularly (if you’re at risk of a weakened immune system due or critical injury, talk to your doctor first), not just when you’re going to travel. For a great overview of the benefits of probiotics, check out this article from the Cleveland Clinic.

Ginger Chews

Ginger has long been hailed for its health benefits, especially with digestion and nausea support. According to John Hopkins Medicine , “Gingerol, a natural component of ginger root, benefits gastrointestinal motility ― the rate at which food exits the stomach and continues along the digestive process. Eating ginger encourages efficient digestion, so food doesn’t linger as long in the gut.” Also, I haven’t tried these but am interested in the lemon ginger lozenges from Traditional Medicinals.

There are a ton of herbal teas and tea blends that can help soothe an angry stomach, like peppermint, ginger, fennel, dandelion, and many more. I like the Stomach Ease blend from Yogi and the Traditional Medicinals Gas Relief blend . One note, if you have acid reflux symptoms stay away from peppermint; it can actually make the symptoms worse because it relaxes a muscle in the esophagus, according to the folks at Mount Sinai.

Vegan Snack Wrap Up: Other Travel Help

Now that you know what vegan travel snacks you’re going to pack for your next camping or plane adventure, you might need some some other help! Whether you’re looking for destination guides or trip tips, we’ve got it! Check out these other guides and articles for planning inspiration.

The Best Iceland Vegan Guide: Where to Stay & Eat The Best Vegan Pizza Spots in NYC A Vegan’s Guide to One Day in San Francisco The Ultimate Guide to Vegan-Friendly All Inclusive Resorts Paris Vegan Guide: Restaurants, Sights, Hotels, & More The Ultimate LA Vegan Guide: Where to Eat, Shop, & Explore How to Travel Only with a Carry-On TrustedHousesitters Review: The Pros and Cons from a Pet Sitter The Best Vegan Shampoo Bars to Use Is It Ethical to Swim with Dolphins? Where to Find Vegan Leather Travel Bags

Rebecca is the founder of the vegan travel company Veggies Abroad. In 2021, she bid her 15-year career goodbye and ventured into the world of ethical business with the launch of a vegan travel blog (the one you’re reading!). As the blog flourished, Rebecca expanded her vision to encompass personalized travel planning services and launched Veggies Abroad's inaugural vegan tour to Thailand, marking the beginning of many more eco-conscious, plant-powered adventures to come. Follow her adventures on Instagram or Facebook @veggiesabroad

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21 Vegan Road Trip Snacks You Need to Pack This Year

• January 25, 2023

This post may contain affiliate links (see full disclaimer ). This means if you make a purchase after clicking, I may get a small percentage of the sale, at absolutely no extra cost to you.

Vegan road trip snacks are essential for any road trips you’re taking this summer, whether that’s your summer vacation or a weekend trip to a family reunion.

It can be tricky to find vegan travel snacks on the go, especially if you’re driving through areas where the only food for miles is found at rest areas, and usually consists of greasy burgers.

Here are the best easy vegan snacks you should pack:

• Vegan snack box
• Vegan energy bars
• Chopped up fruits and veggies
• Almond butter in individual serving sizes
• Vegan cheesy popcorn
• Tortilla chips and salsa

Vegan cheese crackers

• Vegan dark chocolate peanut butter cups

Why You Should Pack Vegan Road Trip Snacks

Are you going on any road trips this summer? Then pack your car full of the best vegan snacks so even if you’re driving through the desert or the prairies, with no plant-based food in sight, you’ll have some healthy road trip snacks on hand!

Finding vegan snacks to go can be tricky, particularly if you’re driving through rural areas. Don’t waste your time trying to scrounge up vegan store bought snacks at a gas station. Instead, here’s how to stock your car with the best road trip snacks, vegan style. Just toss these store bought vegan snacks (most can be bought online) in your car, your well-packed suitcase plus some vegan sunscreen , and you’re ready to go on your road trip! Wondering where to go on your trip? Check out my guide to the best vegan hotels!

Vegan Snacks to Buy Before Your Trip

So, you’re ready for your vegan holidays…but what are you going to eat? Here are a few of the best vegan on the go snacks to stock your car with this summer.

Most of these also make great vegan plane snacks too! If you’re flying, don’t forget to pack vegan airplane snacks because in-flight meals can often leave something to be desired (not to mention sometimes airlines forget to pack your requested vegan meal). Wherever you’re going on your trip, and whether you’re driving or flying, I’ve put together this vegan snacks list to make sure you eat well on your travels.

If you’re bringing your dog on your road trip, don’t forget to bring some snacks for Fido too ! 

P.S. Mercy for Animals put together this vegan road trip playlist so you can play it and sing along in your car !

The best vegan road trips snack box: Vegan Cuts Snack Box

What are the best vegan snacks for traveling? I love the vegan boxes put together by the vegan company Vegan Cuts, because they always provide vegan friendly snacks I’ve never tried (or sometimes even seen) before! You can buy a snack box subscription or you can buy a single box , perfect for your vegan roadtrip snacks (if you can resist eating it all before the trip, that is).

If you’re looking for easy vegan snacks on the go for your trip, grabbing one of these boxes (or any of the vegan boxes I reviewed here ) is the easiest. Just order online, and a box of vegan packaged snacks will be delivered to your door, which you can put in your car and eat on your trip. 

Click here for more information about the Vegan Cuts snack box.

Pack of dried fruit and nut bars

Energy bars or dried fruit and nut bars are convenient and healthy vegan snacks for traveling. My favourite vegan easy snacks are  these bars. Before your trip, you can purchase a pack of a variety of different flavours from Amazon and put that in your car! They’re also great vegan snacks to bring on the plane, since they’re compact and easy to put in your carry-on bag. I never leave home (whether a road trip, a flight or just a day trip) without a few fruit and nut bars in my bag; they’re one of the best vegan store bought snacks because they last so long, are so portable and convenient for travel and are easy to find.

Best healthy vegan snacks on the go: Fruits & Veggies

In terms of packing vegan food for travel, be sure to bring fruit and veggies that are easy to eat (e.g. carrot sticks, apples, grapes) — bonus points if you store them in reusable glass tupperware containers like these — and refill them with other vegan food on the go you buy at supermarkets on your trip.

Here are a few that are easy to transport:

• Carrot sticks
• Celery sticks
• Baby tomatoes

Reusable glass containers

These are the perfect BPA-free storage solution for your fruits and veggies and other vegan travel food. Click here to check the latest prices .

Dips for Your Veggies (or Bread)

Hummus, nut butters and vegan pate are all make good vegan road trip food. You can find hummus and nut butters at most supermarkets, so you can just pick up a tub of hummus or a jar of nut butter from any supermarket you find on the road. If you’re lucky, you might even find vegan gas station snacks in the form of hummus and nut butters. (Also, you might be able to get away with not refrigerating the nut butter …just don’t leave it in your hot car over night!)

Vegan pates are an even better option for your vegan trips since it doesn’t require refrigeration until opened. 

Almond Butter Packets

Ok, so you  might be able to get away without refrigerating your nut butters but if you’re worried, the best solution are these mini packets of Jason’s almond butter , which my mom always takes when she travels. Unfortunately they generate more waste than a bigger tub, but you don’t have to worry about finding a fridge once you’ve opened your jar of nut butter. And the maple almond butter flavour is  amazing . 

Click here to check the latest prices .

Dried Fruit and Nuts

Dried fruit and nuts are also easy-to-transport on the go vegan snacks. Plus, if you’re looking for vegan gas station food, you’re likely to find some kind of nuts in many (just double check the ingredients–some nuts include gelatin, believe it or not!). They’re the ultimate healthy vegan packaged snacks if they contain no extra ingredients, and perfect for the vegan on the road.

Avoid nuts in the shell like pistachios, which will make a huge mess in your car — unless you don’t mind vacuuming peanut shells out of your car for the next month!

You can make your own trail mix (one of the best vegan travel snacks) by mixing a few different kinds of nuts, seeds and dried fruits together! Or, you can buy a raw, GMO-free nut mix like this one for your vegan trip.

Sandwiches or Wraps

Eating vegan while traveling doesn’t need to be hard, especially if you take some vegan road trip meals pre-made with you. When I was a kid (I was brought up vegetarian), we did a lot of family road trips, and my mom always packed a few veggie burgers and sandwiches in the cooler so we had lunch and dinner for the first day of the trip! Read on for some vegan travel food ideas so you can prepare do some vegan road trip meal prep in advance so you’ll be assured of healthy road trip meals, too.

When it comes to sandwiches, you probably don’t need recipes! Vegan newbies, though, sometimes get stuck with thinking of sandwich ideas, so here are a few suggestions. Make yourself a sandwich or wrap with hummus, dairy-free pesto, veggies, falafel, tofu ( Taifun’s marinated tofu is my favourite for making sandwiches) and/or your favourite vegan meat… You can even bring leftover pasta, pre-made sushi or veggie burgers, as long as you have a cooler.

Collapsible Cooler

If you’re bringing sandwiches or other vegan food for travel, you’ll want to make sure you have a cooler. I like the look of this collapsible cooler  — perfect if you’re flying to a destination and then renting a car, and also great for the beach or a picnic. You can refill your cooler with ice from the hotel’s ice machine each night to keep your vegan grab and go snacks cool. That way, you may even be able to keep food fresh for several days (my family always managed to on road trips, thanks to ice machines)!

Tortilla Chips and Salsa

Chips as salsa are easy vegan snacks for road trips. As portable vegan snacks go, tortilla chips and salsa can be a little messy — I recommend pulling over and eating these at a rest stop! I love these blue corn chips . Pair with your favourite salsa (or if you’ve got time before your trip, make your own; this fresh salsa comes together really quickly). But if you’re like me and never leave yourself enough time to prepare and pack before your trip…just pick up a jar of your favourite salsa! You can find tortilla chips in most places if you need vegan convenience store snacks on the raod!

Crackers make a great portable vegan food eaten on their own, or you can dip them in hummus or pate. They make great vegan snacks for travel!

Click here to find the latest prices .

If you love cheesy crackers, then these vegan cheese crackers are perfect for you! Earth Balance makese vegan butter, mac & cheese…and cheese crackers! They’re also GMO free and Kosher.

Chocolate and Sweet Treats

If you like your vegan prepackaged snacks on the sweeter side, then this section’s for you. Vegan dark chocolate (or rice milk/oat milk chocolate, if you prefer) is great for when a sugar craving hits. Just make sure to put it in the cooler if your car is hot so it doesn’t melt!

If you like baking and have time before your trip, you could also make muffins (the recipe I’ve linked is for raspberry lemon muffins but you can substitute whatever you want and make blueberry or chocolate chip muffins!) and bring them along. Eat vegan on the road is easier than most people think, but one thing I often miss while travelling is vegan baked goods. So bringing your own muffins is the perfect solution!

Be sure to bring a water bottle with you so you stay hydrated. ( This one keeps water cold up to 24 hours and also keeps hot beverage hot too). You can also bring a few of your favourite drinks (whether that’s coconut water or kombucha) in your cooler.

Equipment you might need

Don’t forget to bring a cooler, storage containers and cutlery, so you can keep your vegan prepackaged snacks cool and eat with ease! Here’s some equipment that will make eating on your road trip easier:

Storage containers

Bring some tupperware (I really love my glass containers like these — so easy to clean!) so you can store chopped fruits, veggies, sandwiches and more. 

Don’t forget the cooler! You’ll need it to keep your drinks, hummus, sandwiches, salsa and other vegan car snacks fresh!  You can easily refill your cooler with ice from the motel’s ice machine every evening and morning to keep your food from spoiling (be sure to keep your cooler in the motel with you, rather than in the car overnight, where it will get hot). If you’re bringing raw vegan snacks on the go like chopped up fruits and veggies this will be essential.

This collapsible cooler is great for saving space — if you’re planning on going to the beach, you can pack it full of food and collapse it once you’re done eating. It’s also perfect for packing in your luggage if you’re flying somewhere and then renting a car.

Travel cutlery

Sometimes the best healthy road trip snacks require a little prep, such as chopping veggies. Be sure to bring some cutlery with you; you can either just grab some flatware from your house or get a set for road trips, picnics and camping like this travel cutlery, which is lightweight comes with a carrying case .

Storage box

You’ll need a box to store your non-refrigerated food items in. You can use a plastic storage box if you have one, or you can just use a cardboard box you’ve recently received a package in!

Finding healthy meals on the road

Apart from vegan snacks to go, here’s how to find vegan road trip restaurants on the go.

Happycow is my favourite site and app for travel. It lists vegan and vegan-friendly restaurants around the world; the app will show you what’s nearby.

If you want to eat only organic or local foods, Vanilla Bean (free on iOS) shows restaurants with vegan, local and organic options.

You can find out which chain restaurants have plant-based options; many do now! For a US list, see here .

For a UK list of chain restaurants offering plant-based fare, see a very comprehensive list of vegan restaurants options from Veganuary here.

More healthy road trip ideas

Looking for more tips on planning a healthy, meat-free road trip? Check out my book, The Essential Vegan Travel Guide ! Now in its third edition, I’ve got sections on finding plant-based fare, choosing where to stay, eco-friendly and vegan toiletries, plus retreats, cruises, camping and more. It’s available in paperback or Kindle format.

Buy a copy on Amazon here .

Pin this for later

Looking for more travel tips? Check out my guide to vegan luggage , and my vegan city guides such as my guides to Amsterdam , Barcelona and Athens.

Find more vegan travel tips and product guides here , and learn all about vegan travel here .

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Caitlin Galer-Unti

7 thoughts on “21 vegan road trip snacks you need to pack this year”.

This is such a great post! Thanks for all of the ideas! Would you mind if I share your post on my blog?

Thank you Laura! Sorry, I’ve only just seen this (wasn’t getting alerts for new comments) — of course I wouldn’t mind, please feel free to share a link!

Snacks are definitely the best part of road trips (I mean travelling is great, but come on, snacks!) I can’t go anywhere without a flask of tea and some biscuits or a slice of cake for the journey too!

Absolutely the best part! :D

Hi Caitlin, So I’m planning a 2 week road trip next year and will be flying to my starting point. Because of this reason I needed to think outside the box and what I did was purchase a few portable kitchen kits, one contains 2 plates and 2 sets of silverware in a nice zippered case, the other set contains a few knives, cutting board, peeler, can opener, large spoon, shears, and spatula in a zippered case. I am planning to pack these in my suitcase to use for my road trip. This way I can stop by any grocery store and get the supplies I need to prepare meals in my hotel room. I am learning some techniques with the microwave so I can use it to assist for things I need to heat. I plan to purchase a small storage bowl set and cooler once I start my drive. This way I can have prepared meals wherever I am and they will be healthy!

Hi Susan, This sounds like a very smart idea! A portable kitchen kit sounds really handy — I haven’t come across one like that but it sounds very useful. Hope your road trip goes well!

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Hi, I’m Caitlin and I’ve been vegan since 2008 and vegetarian my whole life. Since going vegan, I’ve lived in 4 countries and travelled to over 30! I’ve also published two bestselling vegan books (The Essential Vegan Travel Guide and The Barcelona Vegan Guide ) and had my work featured in The New York Times, Vegetarian Food & Living and Vegan Life magazine. I’ve veganised my life and I’m here to help you design your life around your vegan values. 

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21 Plant-Based Foods That Are Great For Traveling

Whenever I travel I always pack several snacks and a sandwich in my carryon bag.  It’s not just because I always need a supply of food with me wherever I go but to also ensure that I have access to nutritious food.  Not only is it cheaper to travel with my own food but I won’t be as tempted to eat junk food I find along the way if I already have my favorite foods with me.

Prior to switching to a plant-based diet, I would scout an airport’s website to see what fast food restaurants were there and plan where I was going to eat at when I got there.

Nowadays I still scout an airport’s restaurant directory before traveling but now I’m checking to see if there are any healthy plant-based options offered.  If there isn’t then I make a shopping list of plant-based foods I want to bring for the trip. Then the night before I travel, I'll go to the supermarket to buy any ingredients I may need and prep any meals if necessary. When I get to the airport all I need to get is some water after passing through security and I’m all set.

Below are 21 plant-based foods that are great for traveling:

Nut butter sandwich

Instant oatmeal packets

Granola bars

Vegan protein powders

Stevia or agave sweeteners

Hummus wrap

Seeds (flax, hemp, chia, sunflower, etc.)

Fresh fruit (if flying internationally buy them at the airport after passing through security and eat them before landing at your destination)

Cut up raw vegetables

Tea packets

Homemade trail mix

Whole grain crackers

Vegan protein bars

Unsweetened dried fruit

Veggie burger

Salads (dressing must be in a container no bigger than 3 ounces if flying)

Veggie sushi

Fruit and nut bars

Nut butter in to go packets

Pick and choose from this list and you won't go hungry on your next trip.

Have any comments or questions about these vegan travel foods?  Let us know in the comment section below!

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15 Best Vegan Travel Snacks To Fuel Your Adventures

Snacks are lifesavers for vegan travelers.

There's nothing more freeing than ditching your comfort zone for adventure. But as a vegan traveler, you want to maintain a level of preparation, especially in rural areas or in long-haul transit. That's where travel snacks come into play.

So, whether you're an international traveler, hiker or simply want to find more travel-friendly vegan snacks - here's our list of our favorite vegan snacks for traveling. Enjoy!

Vegan Snack Boxes

If you're looking to get bulk travel snacks in one go, we recommend a vegan snack box company like Vegancuts (Use coupon GOROAM to save $5) or DeliciousDoor (Use coupon ROAMINGVEGANS to save 50%). Both brands deliver 100% vegan snack boxes with a mixture of pre-packaged snacks ideal for travel.

Buying individual pre-packaged snacks can get pricy, which is why we recommend a Snack Box company, where you'll actually save money on your snacks.

15 Best Vegan Travel Snacks

1. fresh fruit.

Let's start with the fundamentals. Nothing beats fresh fruit when it comes to a healthy and tasty travel snack.

The country you're traveling through will ultimately determine what fresh fruits are available to you, but here are some of our favorites.

Best fruits for travel:

If possible, you can always blend up a smoothie before a hike for an on-the-go drink, too.

2. Powerballs

We're not talking about the overpriced kind of powerballs you find at fancy restaurants. If you have access to peanut butter, oats, agave/maple syrup, and a fridge, you can easily whip up some simple homemade protein balls.

You can also add dark chocolate chips, chia/flax seeds, and walnuts/almonds if you want to spice them up a little more. There are also no-bake pre-mix packets to easily make your own protein balls or bars.

3. Hummus & crackers

This is a classic.

If you can carry it, packing hummus, crackers and/or veggie sticks is a vegan snack game-changer.

Our favorite types of hummus:

• Roasted red pepper hummus
• Carrot hummus
• Black bean hummus
• Roasted garlic hummus

4. Trail Mix

You can't go wrong with a good ole trail mix!

Trail mix is available in most countries we've visited and it's the perfect nutritious - and delicious - vegan snack.

5. Dehydrated fruits

If you want fruit that will keep without spoiling, you're better off opting for dehydrated fruits.

Some tasty dry fruit is:

6. Vegan Jerky

While mushroom jerky might not sound great at first, once you give it a try you might change your mind.

This vegan snack isn't widely available, but you can find portabella jerky in some places. We're big fans of Noble Jerky .

7. Crispy Seaweed

This is an ideal snack for vegans traveling in Asia as crispy seaweed is everywhere. Just stop by any local convenience store (7-Eleven if you're in Thailand) and grab the typically whimsically packaged crispy seaweed.

Seaweed is simple, easy to carry, and tastes pretty good too - although it's not for everyone.

8. Roasted Chickpeas

I hadn't thought about chickpeas as a snack option until I visited Sri Lanka where street stalls sell little paper cups of spicy roasted chickpeas. Since then I've been hooked.

If you're not traveling to a country where chickpea stalls are an option, you'll need a little bit of prep time, but it's totally worth it for a nutritious on-the-go snack.

Chips might just be the most easily accessible vegan snack worldwide. You won't be anywhere in the world where you won't be grab a packet of plain chips on the go.

Chips for the road:

• Plain chips
• Veggie chips

10. Nuts & seeds

No matter where you are, you'll likely be able to get your hands on nuts and seeds.

Our favorites include:

• Cashew nuts
• Sunflower seeds
• Pistachio nuts
• Pumpkin seeds

11. Popcorn

Traveling is like living in a movie, so why not enjoy it with some popcorn?

Of course, not all popcorn is vegan, but plain salted popcorn is popular throughout the world and isn't hard to find.

12. Granola Bars

Perfect for a fast energy boost when you're traveling.

Granola bars are pretty accessible worldwide, and more often than not there will be natural vegan options.

13. Salsa & Tortilla Chips

Not ideal for adventurous travel, but if you have somewhere to stop for a small picnic-style lunch, what better than some spicy salsa and tortilla chips?

I'm actually not much of a fan of Oreos. However, they seem to be absolutely everywhere we visit.

For their sheer accessibility, they make a decent snack to grab on the go.

15. Homemade cookies

If you have the ability to cook, mix up a batch of vegan cookies for your trip.

Do you want to cook like a professional vegan chef?

We've teamed up with Veecoco , a professional online vegan cooking school, to give you 7 days FREE access to all their vegan courses right to your own devices.

To start cooking plant-based meals like a professional claim your free trial here .

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Best Vegan Road Trip Snacks: Delicious Travel Food & Nibbles

Disclaimer:  This post may contain affiliate links, which could result in us receiving a small commission if you make a purchase. This will not affect the price you pay, but it does help us maintain the site and keep the information you’re reading free  of charge ( learn more ).  Any quoted   prices, features, specifications etc. are correct at the time of writing, but please do check for yourself before buying .  Thank you so much for supporting Happy Happy Vegan!

What is a road trip without the wind playing with your hair, nostalgic music blaring from the stereo, and… snacks? Now, you could buy delicious vegan snacks on the go, but it can be hard to find good vegan road trip snacks. Trust me, you do not want to take that risk. 

So, with this in mind, we’ve put together a list of the best plant based road trip snacks for your next adventure. You can either stock up on them before you go, buy them at stores, or even cook them yourself! 

Don’t worry, this article will guide you through everything. 

Let’s dig in!

The Best Vegan Road Trip Snacks To Pack on Your Next Trip

Here is a selection of our absolute favorites. The best vegan travel snacks, if you will:

Trail Mix, Chips, Nuts, and Legumes

Vegan snacks that are healthy and yummy? Yes, please! These are some of the best road trip snacks for any journey, because they are light, easy to store, and packed with nutrition .

They contain proteins, vitamins, and minerals , and give you a much needed energy boost so you don’t miss a single second of your trip. Here are some of the best vegan snacks that I personally recommend:

Bada Bean Bada Boom

A crunchy and healthy plant based road trip snack with low sugar and low fat. High in protein and dietary fibers, and they come in 13 delicious flavors…BOOM!

Hippeas Organic Chickpea Puffs

Gluten-free vegan snacks that are good for your taste buds and the Earth! Light and crunchy, they are a great alternative to potato chips.

Wonderful Pistachios

Roasted and lightly salted, these pistachios are an easy snack to pack. They’re also nutritious and come in resealable airtight bags. Perfect vegan road trip food!

Power Up Trail Mix

This keto and paleo-friendly trail mix is packed with protein and made from the best dried fruits, whole nuts, and seeds.

Vegan Rob’s Brussel Sprout Puffs

Crunchy and delicious brussels sprouts. Healthy road trip snacks that you kids will love eating. No, really!

Navitas Organics’ Cacao Goji

This is a power snack that combines the antioxidant properties of goji berries with mineral-rich cacao. A great addition to your arsenal of vegan travel snacks.

Popcorners’ Kettle Corn

A crunchy and wholesome snack that lets you eat better and feel better. If you are someone who loves tortilla chips, you are going to love these salty snacks!

Granola, Fruit, and Protein Bars

I consider energy bars (whether they’re granola bars or protein bars ) to be vegan road trip essentials.

These healthy vegan snacks are filled with ingredients that, unsurprisingly, give you an instant energy boost. They’re also delicious and versatile, and can be eaten as an alternative to other vegan food that may not be quite as convenient to take with you on the road.

Sometimes, when on the go, vegan road trip restaurants may be few and far between. On journeys where this is the case, these energy bars will definitely come in handy! 

Below are some of my personal recommendations:

Papa Steve’s Protein Bars

Made with freshly ground raw peanut butter and fresh fruit, these bars are dairy free and do not contain artificial sugars. They do, however, contain dark chocolate…and peanut butter. 

I did mention peanut butter, didn’t I? Dig in!

Nature’s Bakery Whole Wheat Fig Bars

These soft-baked fig bars are delicious and come in 10 different flavors for you to tuck in to! I mean, who doesn’t like to eat simple whole foods as delicious snacks?

Nutruit Healthy Snack Variety Box

Available in 10 flavors, these gluten-free snacks are made using fresh ingredients from Mediterranean fields. They’ve got carrot sticks, dried fruit, and even their very own trail mix! These beauties make for very healthy snacks.

Snack Boxes

If you want some variety, another option is to buy yourself some pre packaged snack boxes. 

These uber convenient packages contain an assortment of healthy vegan snacks for you to munch on. We love ‘em so much, we even compiled a list of the best vegan snack boxes currently on the market. 

Go check it out!

Deluxe Vegan Snacks Care Package

This box of 30 great vegan snacks will take care of all your snacking needs on your road trips! It contains a mix of sweet as well as salty snacks, perfect for everyone’s palate.

Bunny James Vegan Snack Box

Treat your taste buds with these easy vegan snacks. All of them are gluten and dairy free, and are low in artificial sugar.

Nutruit Gourmet Snack Packs

This vegan road trip snack box contains 2 packets of each variety of high-fiber snacks, and there are 10 flavors for you to enjoy! You get healthy food such as dried fruit, mixed nuts, and healthy vegetables to snack on.

Vegan Gas Station Snacks

Maybe you are someone who doesn’t like the hassle of packing snacks before heading out for your road trip. Or maybe you did pack some healthy vegan snacks, but they… um… went missing (don’t worry, nobody here’s judging you for being a snack monster).

Now you are stuck in your car, snackless and hungry. You see a gas station in the distance, and you heave a sigh of relief. 

Or wait.. do you? 

Do gas stations even have vegan snacks? Yes, they do! 

Here are some you can find easily!

Sour Patch Kids

Surprised to find that this is actually vegan? Perfect candy to munch on while you drive. Or relax in the passenger seat. You can easily pick them up at almost any gas station or grocery store.

SkinnyPop Popcorn

Turn your road trip into a real-life movie with this popcorn. But keep in mind that only the Original and White Cheddar varieties are vegan.

Tasty, nutritious, vegan, and gives you an energy boost. What more could you ask for?

Ritz Crackers

That’s right. These gas station staples are vegan, too. Well, except for the Honey Wheat flavor. Enjoy!

Hot Vegan Food On The Go: Cooking On The Road

If your road trip is anything more than a couple of days long, then sustaining yourself on store-bought snacks and dinners alone simply isn’t going to cut it.

What if you want to create your own homemade trail mix? Or some healthy food with fresh fruits and fresh vegetables?

In such cases, not only is cooking on the road possible, it’s way better for you. You can even make your own veggie burgers! That being said, you will need to take some kit with you.

Check out the following list to see what you need to create healthy, tasty vegan road trip meals whilst away from your kitchen.

Portable Camping and Backpacking Gas Stove Burner by Gas One

Made of alloy steel and metal, this portable dual fuel stove gives you the choice to use either butane or propane fuel. However, you must note that fuel will not be included when you purchase this product, so make sure you sort out your fuel source before you leave home.

It comes with an automatic piezo electric ignition, which means you don’t need to carry around lighters or matches to ignite this stove, and its adjustable heat dial also makes it incredibly easy to use. 

It has a built-in cartridge ejection system , and will automatically eject the butane fuel cartridge if it detects any abnormalities in pressure. Its automatic safety shut off device also switches off the gas if the pressure is irregular. 

Finally, it comes with a carrying case , making it easy for you to take it on your trip! An essential device to make plant based food on road trips.

• Easy to carry
• Dual fuel compatible
• Doesn’t need a lighter or matches to ignite
• Safety mechanisms
• Space-saving
• You will need to bring your own fuel canisters 
• Butane doesn’t work very well when it’s cold

Portable Cookware by Stanley

This cooking set comes with 21 stainless steel utensils including pots, pans, plates, spatula, a cutting board, and even a dish drying rack! Everything you need to make a healthy meal for you and your road trip buddies. 

They are strong and scratch-proof , so you don’t have to worry too much about damaging them while you’re on the go. All the utensils in the kit nest together, too, so it’s great for space-saving ! 

The kit is also easy to clean , making it the perfect companion on your road trip. 

• Durable and scratch-proof
• Easy to use
• Doesn’t take up a lot of space
• Easy to clean
• Can be used over a wood fire
• Plates and bowls are a bit small
• Very noisy if you don’t pack everything up properly

Portable Cooking Utensil Set

This 11 piece kitchen utensil set contains all the cutlery you need. Made from high quality stainless steel , the cutlery set is durable and dishwasher safe. 

The set comes in a portable backpack with separate pouches for each utensil . This makes them easy to carry, and also makes sure that they won’t get damaged while travelling.

The backpack comes with a secure zip seal and is made using tough woven cotton, so your utensils will be protected if you happen to drop it. 

• Durable cutlery made from stainless steel
• Comes in a portable backpack, making it easy to carry
• Easy to clean, dishwasher safe
• Tongs are very short
• Some plastic items (such as the spatula) seem to be cheap

After cooking comes the serving! While some cooking kits like the Portable Cookware from Stanley come with plates, most do not.

And what if you wanted to enjoy some wine with your delicious vegan food? You’re going to need something to drink it out of, right? (Okay, maybe not you, Steve!)

I have a great recommendation below for all your serving needs. All you have to do is find a nice spot, sit back, and enjoy. Well, after you cook, of course.

Sunflora Picnic Backpack

Perfect for an entire family, this all-in-one backpack comes with everything you might need- a set of plates, stainless steel flatware, cutting board, a knife, and even wine glasses ! 

It also has napkins and a blanket that you can simply spread out to dine on. 

The backpack comes with an insulated food compartment and an insulated wine holder. Its best feature is a detachable waterproof cooler pouch which you can use to keep your white wine nice and chilled. 

• Easy to carry and use
• Dishwasher safe utensils
• Detachable wine cooler
• Insulated compartment for food and wine
• Lightweight
• The plates are made of melamine, which isn’t ideal

Cooking while on a road trip is all well and good, but where do you store your ingredients? And your food (if you prefer cooking once for the entire day and storing the rest)? 

These items come to your rescue!

Bentgo Prep Containers

These are a set of 1-compartment containers that allow you to store your food, ingredients, or even your road trip snacks. You get a set of 10 trays and 10 lids , and all of them nest together to make the entire set compact and easy to carry.

These meal prep sets are reusable, durable, and BPA-free . They are spacious enough to hold a decent portion of vegan food. 

Overall, this set could be considered one of your road trip essentials if you’re going to be away for long periods of time. 

• Reusable and durable
• Trays and lids nest together, so they are easy to carry
• Hold plenty of food
• The material could be thicker

Thermos Stainless Steel Food Jar

Made from matte steel , this is a whopping 47 ounce vacuum insulated food jar . 

It comes with two inserts, and will keep your food hot or cold, according to what you need. Perfect for when you want to prepare food beforehand and store it for later. 

Even after hours have passed, it’ll keep your food fresh.

The container is durable and holds a decent amount of food, and the wide mouth makes filling it up or taking it out easier. Built to be leak-proof , the container remains cool to the touch while storing hot food inside, and is sweat-free when storing cold foods. 

• Durable stainless steel construction
• Holds temperate very well
• The cups are made of plastic
• Despite being leak-proof, it’s still best kept vertical

Car Refrigerator by Autoommo

This portable fridge is large enough to store around 60 bottles of beer , so you can refrigerate pretty much all your food in one go. You can even prepare food beforehand and store it all in this fridge! 

It has a dedicated freezer container, so you can compartmentalize your food and drinks. It is fast-cooling and lets you control the temperature settings via an LCD screen. 

Thankfully, it makes minimal noise, so you won’t be disturbed by it on the road, and its anti-slip mat makes sure it can handle even rugged terrains. The adapter comes with a built-in ceramic fuse to prevent short-circuits.

• Large enough to take care of all your storage needs
• Has a fridge + freezer
• Anti-slip mat design
• Makes minimal noise
• Fast cooling
• Adapter has a built-in fuse
• Sturdy handle
• Lid latch is a bit loose

Tourit Cooler Bag

This large cooler bag has a capacity of nearly 8.4 gallons, which makes it an ideal travel companion. It’s insulated , and the inner lining is made of a waterproof, high-density material. However, despite being labelled as leak-proof , some have found it to be anything but.

The exterior is made from a thick cloth which is resistant to wear and tear . It has a long-term cooling capacity , which means your food and drinks will stay cold for up to 12 hours.

It comes with a shoulder strap as well as a padded handle, giving you multiple ways to carry it easily. When not in use, it can be collapsed into a tiny package. 

• Keeps food and drinks cool for a long time
• Collapsible
•  Not as leak-proof as advertized

With this, we reach the end of my recommendations for vegan roadtrip snacks and all the essentials you need to cook vegan meals on the go.

Remember, though, always choose the products best suited to your needs. 

If you enjoyed this article about vegan travel food ideas, don’t forget to share it with your road trip travel buddies! 

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About the author: rupali jeganathan.

Rupali Jeganathan, a passionate environmentalist, has over 5 years of writing experience under her belt. Being an enthusiastic and happy vegan herself, she is always looking for ways to share tips and information with others who share the same lifestyle.

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Vegan travel food ideas for self-catering.

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Guest article by Joey Bruno.

Table of Contents

Vegan Travel Food Ideas

So, you’ve just touched down at your destination and walked into your Airbnb.

As any savvy traveler in search of vegan food would, you’ll obviously want to check HappyCow to find the best vegan restaurant fare in the area.

There’s nothing like tasting the local cuisine after you’ve arrived at a new place.

But if you’re going to be staying for a long period of time, you might want to consider doing some actual grocery shopping and taking advantage of the kitchen and fridge space at the home you’re staying in.

Here are a few reasons why…

• Cost : Going out to eat for every meal can be the most expensive part of any trip, especially if you’re traveling in a developed country. It might not be reasonable for you to spend $20 or more on every meal if you can avoid it.
• Time : If you’re traveling for business or an event, you might not want to burden yourself with having to stop for breakfast before your day gets started. It might just be easier to prep some vegan travel food quickly in your apartment and head out.
• Well-Being : Not all vegan food is healthy. This is especially true when eating out in restaurants, where most dishes are full of excess oil, sugar and salt. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with splurging while traveling, but I’ve found that it gets to be a bit much when doing it at every single meal.

Now that you’ve seen the reasons, here’s a plant based diet grocery list of things that I like to pick up at the store when I’m staying in an Airbnb…

They’re quite simple, but I’ve found that if you're traveling while vegan it pays to have them on hand to avoid getting hangry and spending tons of money eating out.

Plant Based Diet Grocery List for Travelers

Uma publicação partilhada por LÄRABAR (@larabar) a 9 de Jun, 2018 às 8:34 PDT

If I had to pick one essential vegan food for travel, it’s going to have to be Larabars . And no, I’m not sponsored by them or anything.

The reason I like them so much is because they’re all vegan and around 95% whole foods. They’re also widely available and very affordable. Each bar has around 200 calories, so it’s right in between a snack and a small-sized meal.

When traveling to the Midwest United States for business, Larabars have gotten me through some tough times! With Walmart being the only store in the area, I used these bars as my main source of calories over some extended business trips.

So, when I go to the grocery store, I’ll usually buy around 12 of these vegan travel snacks to keep for the trip. If I don’t finish them, they’re easy to take onto a plane, so they never go to waste.

Small Oatmeal Packets or Cups

Oatmeal is a quick and easy vegan meal that you can take anywhere.

Oatmeal is extremely satisfying and can be made in the microwave. This makes it the perfect vegan travel food for an Airbnb.

Since many hosts will keep spices on hand, you’ll often find cinnamon and a pinch of sugar you can sprinkle on.

I’d stay away from buying a big cannister, because it’s going to be difficult to take back with you, and you probably won’t finish it.

Instead, I prefer to get the plain packets or travel cups which I can quickly add hot water to and be on my way.

There’s also plenty of vegan oatmeal cup brands like Modern Oats if you’re inclined to get something fancy!

Fresh or Frozen Fruit

Save money by making your own smoothies with fruit from the local market.

I’m a fruit lover and avid smoothie drinker.

Especially if I’ve had a late night, I really like having a morning blast of the vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals that come from fruits and veggies.

If there’s one thing that bugs me when I travel, it's having to pay $8 for a juice-bar smoothie.

On my recent trip to Amsterdam, I paid even more for a smoothie from Juice Brothers (a chain smoothie joint there) when you take the conversion rate into account.

Granted, it tasted pretty good, but a frugal guy like me just cannot justify that on a daily basis – even when I’m traveling!

Luckily, almost all Airbnbs I’ve stayed in have had a blender that can make smoothies , so I didn’t have to go to an overpriced juice bar.

And because I always pick up the packets of oatmeal, I can use that to make a smoothie bowl (like this one ) for a fraction of what I’d pay at a café or juice bar.

If you don’t want to make a smoothie, the fruit is also great for a refreshing snack . I love knowing that I have it in the fridge or freezer after coming home from a salty meal or indulging in a few alcoholic beverages.

Embrace the vegan stereotype. Be the one who brought hummus .

While I normally prefer to make my own hummus, that’s out of the question when I’m traveling.

I just need something that I can keep in the fridge for a snack or to hold me over if I’m skipping lunch one day.

Most countries that I’ve been to (I’ve mainly traveled in the US, Canada and Europe) have had at least one brand of hummus in the grocery store.

In the Netherlands, I’ve actually been pleasantly surprised at the different flavors I’ve found, since Sabra doesn’t dominate the shelves.

As you can see here , Albert Heijn (a popular Dutch supermarket) has a wide selection, including red beet and sweet pumpkin hummus!

Carrots, Celery Sticks or Bread

Freshly baked bread is one of the great joys of traveling in Europe.

Not much to explain here, but I need something that I can dip into the hummus or something to spread it onto!

Also, bakeries seem to be far more prevalent outside the US, so you can get fresh-baked bread on the daily.

Picking up a loaf of bread can sometimes be a great way to experience what it would be like to be a local in certain cities.

Sometimes I prefer the local bread to a full-course restaurant meal!

Final Thoughts

If you’re a new vegan traveler, please don’t take this article out of context.

There are an endless number of restaurants and local vegan foods that you can and should explore. For inspiration, check out the many vegan city and country guides on this site, such as this vegan guide to Chicago , or this list of vegan Indian dishes .

Having been vegan for over 4 years, these explorations of the local vegan food scene are half the fun of visiting a new destination for me.

But if you’re on a budget or just want some simpler and healthier food options for your trip, I hope these vegan travel food ideas come in handy!

Have any other vegan travel tips to share? Leave them in the comments below!

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About the Author

Joey Bruno is a vegan food enthusiast. He's the head blogger on ThriveCuisine.com  and also has a small and humble YouTube channel -  Kitchen Tips by Joe . When he's not doing something that involves plant-based cuisine or nerdy kitchen stuff, he enjoys practicing Jiu Jitsu and running with his dog.

About Wendy Werneth

Joey, thanks very much for your thoughtful blog on vegan travel ideas, I appreciate it. I am sad to see that many of the vegan ideas contain oil – our diet is plant-based whole foods, and oil is out, it is not a whole food. I will need to make my own hummus since those yummy flavored ones all contain oil. Luckily I will be in a home-stay while in The Hague, so will have kitchen priveleges. This will be our first time traveling over 30 days out of country since converting to the new diet so I’m researching ways to make it successful. Cheers!

Yes, sticking to a no-oil, whole foods plant-based diet while traveling will almost certainly require a lot of self-catering. My husband and I also eat that way when we’re at home, but when we’re traveling we just make sure that everything we eat is vegan and try to keep it as healthy as we can. Booking accommodations with kitchen facilities (AirBnBs, hostels, etc.) is definitely a good idea if you’re going to stick to no oil.

I like to rent apartments in India while there but don’t want to buy all kinds of kitchen gadgets like a blender or percolator. That would be a bit much luggage while going to the next state or country. Any suggestions besides AirBnB or Hostels?

I agree that buying or carrying blenders and other kitchen gadgets is not very practical when travelling. There are plenty of easy vegan meals that can be made without these gadgets, but if it’s important for you to have them then I suggest asking the person you’re renting from which gadgets are provided. As mentioned in the article, AirBnB apartments do often come with blenders. You can also try VegVisits , which is an AirBnB alternative specifically for vegan and vegetarian travelers, and one of their selling points is that the listings specify amenities such as juicers, blenders and dehydrators.

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Who is the Nomadic Vegan?

Hi, I'm Wendy. I'm an intrepid traveler, vegan foodie and animal lover. I travel all over the world (117 countries and counting!) uncovering vegan treasures to show you how you can be vegan anywhere. Read more on my About page .

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10 Vegan Snacks To Pack For Your Next Flight

As a vegan traveller, I know how challenging it can be to find suitable snacks for your flight or travel; that’s why I want to share with you my top 10 vegan snacks that are perfect for taking on a flight, bus, cruise or road trip. These vegan snacks are not only easy to pack, but they’re also healthy and delicious.

By planning and packing ahead, you’ll have more choices, but most importantly, you’ll always have something to eat. Trust me, I’ve been on flights where I was hungry, and the shops and restaurants had no vegan snack options at all. So, to avoid being “hangry” on your next flight, be sure to pack some of these vegan snacks.

Also, for a limited time, you can download my top “30 Vegan Snacks to Pack” printable for free!  Scroll down, and type in your name and email address to get instant access.  I put a lot of care into creating it for you and made it really beautiful! Please enjoy!

Vegan Snacks

• Cut-up veggies (carrots, celery, bell peppers, cucumber, baby tomatoes etc.) with your favourite hummus
• Dark chocolate (at least 70% cocoa)
• Dried fruit (mango, pineapple, apple, etc.) – I usually opt for the 100% natural organic types, without any added sugar or extra ingredients
• Edamame (lightly salted)
• Energy balls or bars (such as Larabars, or you can make your own)
• Fresh fruit like apples, bananas, oranges, berries, etc. – depending on where you are flying, you will not be able to pack fresh fruit. Still, the good news is, you can almost always pick up an apple or banana in the terminals.
• Gluten-free pretzels
• Homemade vegan brownies
• Instant noodles – ok, I know these are not the healthiest option – but I pack them anyway as an emergency back-up type meal. You’d think that finding vegan salads in the airport is easy… it really isn’t all that easy.
• Oatmeal – you can pick up oatmeal cups from the grocery store and eat it for breakfast or a snack! Add your raw nuts and some banana slices, and you’ve got yourself a delicious little meal.

Grab My 30 Vegan Plane Snack Ideas: Your Ultimate Guide to Healthy and Delicious Travel Snacks

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Not only are these vegan plane snack ideas easy to pack, but they’re also much cheaper to buy beforehand compared to the overpriced snacks at the airport. Plus, by packing your snacks, you’ll have more control over what you’re eating, and you can make sure your snacks fit your dietary needs.

In addition to the snack ideas listed above, you can also bring light meals with you like fresh salad in a mason jar or make your own vegan sandwiches and wraps. My personal favourite is a buffalo chickpea wrap with coleslaw, and I’d be happy to share the recipe with you!

But before you start packing, remember these hot tips. First, make sure the snacks you choose are easy to pack and won’t get squished or damaged during transit. You also want to make sure they won’t leak or spill in your carry-on bag. Lastly, make sure you pack enough snacks to keep you satisfied throughout your flight, especially if you have a long journey ahead.

Grab my 30 Vegan Snacks To Pack On Your Next Flight printable , where you’ll get even more ideas for vegan snacks to take with you on your next flight. Just enter your name and email address and a copy will be sent to your inbox.

I’d love to hear what are your favourite vegan snacks to pack.  Sharing is caring, so share your top vegan snacks with us!  Scroll down to the comment section and let us know.

I'd Love To Hear From You!

I’d love to hear your comments! Do you have any suggestions on what else you think I need to add to this list? I’d love to hear them!  Scroll down to the bottom of this page to share your thoughts.

♡ Love, Nash

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Great tips and ideas for snacks Nash👍🏽 Thanks and looking forward to reading more✨

Thank you, Zeenat! I’m glad you enjoyed them ♡

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Best vegan road trip food ideas (with no fridge)

On our European road trip , we travelled 1700 miles across Europe in our Mazda Bongo. The longest drive was 10 hours! As a family of vegans (2 adults and 2 young kids), we had to come up with lots of vegan road trip snacks, main meal vegan food ideas and packed lunchboxes that didn’t need refrigeration. Our Bongo is not converted and we only had a cool box, which wouldn’t keep food cold for long when we set off from home in the UK. If you’re looking for vegan road trip food ideas that don’t need a fridge, read on as I share a huge list of road trip food ideas based on what we took with us!

Why we needed vegan road trip food ideas with no fridge

We did take a camping stove with us, but we were out on day trips most days when we weren’t on the road for hours travelling to destinations. So we needed plant-based road trip food ideas that needed no fridge, and no stove, for eating on long journeys and also to take on days out as a vegan packed lunch.

We didn’t have a fridge or any way of cooling food, so we needed vegan travel food that would last for a few days or several days for our eight-day trip. Some of the driving was up to 10 hours non-stop and we needed food for us and our two children, as well as vegan travel snacks and drinks that wouldn’t spoil.

I thought it was going to be really tricky to come up with enough snack ideas and vegan travel meals that don’t need refrigeration or cooking, especially healthy ideas. However, we actually surprised ourselves and came up with a pretty massive list of healthy, non-perishable foods to take with us which I’ll share with you in this blog post.

From the below list, we were able to have easy vegan meals while travelling on the road, snacks for when we were peckish, or create healthy packed lunches to take out with us for the day when exploring new cities.

We explored Amsterdam for a day , visited my husband Ben’s Gran in Germany, took an epic 10-hour drive to see many of the Delta Works in the Netherlands and we stopped in Bruges before heading back home.

For two nights we camped in the Bongo in Amsterdam, we stayed at Ben’s uncles for a couple of nights in Germany and then an AirBnB whilst in Belgium.

We don’t have a fridge in the camper as we haven’t converted it (instead, keeping the 8 seats and having a massive bed), so we had to come up with a whole list of vegan meals and snacks that we could eat on the go and not need to store in a fridge.

Of course, we had a fridge at the Airbnb and at Ben’s uncle’s, but we decided to take as much food from home as possible to keep eating costs low, so we had to take things that didn’t need a fridge as the first part of our trip was a lot of travelling and camping!

All of our plant-based meal ideas had to be made from as much dry food as possible.  None of it could be refrigerated. 

We’re also all vegan so they’re all suitable for anyone following a plant-based diet. These snacks are all easy to prepare, non-perishable, and perfect for your next road trip!

Between Ben’s uncle’s house and our Airbnb, we had a whopping 10-hour drive, so we needed meals and snacks for this.  We also had two nights camping in Amsterdam, so had to be inventive with vegan road trip food ideas here too.

If you’re wondering what on earth you can eat on a road trip as a vegan or what food to take camping without a fridge, then here’s a stack of ideas!

We came up with as many ideas as we could to create a shopping list before our trip and took loads of food from home.  That was a great benefit to driving across Europe in our own car, as we could really save money on food by visiting a UK supermarket before we left.

Huge list of the best vegan road trip food ideas without a fridge!

• Celery and peanut butter – take some cutlery with you and spread some cupboard-friendly peanut butter onto the celery for a great energy-boosting snack. Celery should last a couple of days at least in the car, so long as your car isn’t too hot!
• Rice crackers with peanut butter or marmite, or plain.  Rice crackers are perfect to munch on as a snack or to make peanut butter or marmite cracker sandwiches!  These are perfect for kids’ lunch boxes on the go.  Marmite doesn’t need to go in the fridge so it’s the perfect road trip food to create tasty no refrigeration lunches and snacks. Kallo rice cakes are our fave and we always have a pack or two at home!
• Crackerbread – great eaten on its own, dipped into hoummous or spread with marmite or peanut butter.
• Wraps with peanut butter or marmite.  Take an airtight container and you can store bread or wraps for a few days to make vegan sandwiches on the move.

• Wholemeal pittas stuffed or with hoummous – Like the wraps, you can also stuff pittas with some of the salad you take that will last a few days, and even take houmous in a cool box which will be good for a day or two and can be eaten with the pitta or salad. You can tear the pittas and dip them in houmous, guacamole, salsa or any other dip for the first day or two (if you buy chilled dips). You can even buy jars of dips from the tortilla crisp/nacho section of supermarkets which don’t need to be refrigerated until open! So buy the smallest jars or share the larger-sized jars with everyone so you use them up in one go.
• Nachos – A bit like crisps and dip, but you can have nachos and dip, or you can even make cold-topped nachos as unique vegan meals on-the-go idea. Vegan grated cheese will last a couple of days out of the fridge, or you can skip the cheese. Add cold sweetcorn, pickled shredded red cabbage, ready-to-eat refried beans out of a pack or tin, add some guacamole and you’ve got a delicious nacho meal box right there!

• Cereal to snack on dry, or with water or long-life plant-based milk.  Cereal is perfect if you take bowls and cutlery with you. It’s so easy to make a bowl of cereal with some long-life milk.  Try and get smaller cartons of the milk, or make sure you all eat cereal at the same time so you don’t waste any milk.  If you’ve milk leftover then the kids may want it as a drink as you venture on. Pack some reusable straws to make drinking on the go easier for kids.
• Fresh fruit – some fruit will last a few days and doesn’t need refrigerating so take grapes, oranges, pears, bananas and apples to snack on. We’ve always got organic fresh fruit and vegetable deliveries to our home from Riverford or Abel and Cole. Just remember to pause your delivery while you go on your road trip if you’ll be away when the next delivery comes!

• Salad – the same applies to some salads.  Tomatoes, lettuce, carrots and cucumber can often last a few days out of the fridge, so you can snack on this, or make your wraps and sandwiches more exciting for a couple of days at least.  You can always plan to visit supermarkets whilst travelling to keep fresh salad and fruit topped up.  Take a cool box to store it in, though the coldness will only last the first day unless you buy ice each time too. For no ice road trip food then your salad is really only going to be best for a day or two. If you’re travelling somewhere in heat, then you’ll want to use it on the first day ideally. A cool box with ice packs when you leave your home is best to start, then you could choose to buy ice packs as you travel to cool your food on the go. Most garages and food stores will sell these in their freezer sections.

• Dried fruit makes one of the best vegan road trip snacks as there are so many varieties and textures nowadays, and they won’t spoil.  We love apricots, prunes, chewy dried bananas, mango, strawberry and raisins. You can buy so many different varieties of fruit as a dried version and it can be crunchy or chewy. We love to take little pots of dried fruit out with us as part of our lunches too. We use stainless steel containers with silicone lids like these to store them in our backpacks.  Health stores sell big packs of dried fruit for good prices if you buy in bulk, or you can always stock up on some dried snacks from Graze before you head off.
• Bliss balls also known as energy balls are mostly made from dried fruit, nuts and seeds so they last ages too and don’t need refrigerating.  You can buy these from the shops, but it’s so easy to make your own too before you leave.

Here are some vegan no-bake energy ball recipes:

• Cacao nibs energy balls
• Coconut + green matcha energy balls recipe
• Peanut butter balls
• White mulberry, cocoa and chia energy balls recipe

• Bars, bars, bars !  We love dried fruit, nut and seed bars of all different kinds.  There are Trek bars, Pulsin bars and Nakd bars to name a few.  These are perfect to pack in bags when exploring to stop hunger in between meals and on long car journeys. For long-lasting energy and to feel satisfying full after a bar, give these superfood bars by Aduna a try! They’re delicious and full of goodness!
• Crisps – my favourite crisps are the Eat Real crisps and we also get the kids Organix crisps as they are organic and contain no sugar.
• Tortilla chips and dips – many dips like jars of salsa dips for tortilla chips don’t need to be refrigerated and can be kept in the cupboard, only needing refrigerating once opened. Take small jars, or larger jars to share that you know you’ll polish off in one sitting.

• Fruit pouches are great for kids and adults too!  ‘Baby’ fruit pouches aren’t just for babies, but kids and adults too.  The best thing is they don’t need refrigeration at all.  These were great for adding some more fruit snacks into our packed lunches each day.  The kids get really excited about a fruit pouch in their lunchbox. Me and Ben had one every day in ours too!
• Jelly in pouches exists too! This stuff isn’t solid like jelly, but the kids get excited when they hear the word jelly!
• Breadsticks – nice and easy snack to hand out in the car when the kids are complaining they’re hungry!
• Fruit crisps – it’s amazing how many things are made from fruit nowadays!  Dried fruit crisps satisfy that crisp crunch you might be craving, but they also provide a portion of fruit, so are much healthier than regular crisps.

• Popcorn is another great dried food snack that doesn’t need a fridge and the kids always love it!
• Nuts and seeds will keep you going when you get peckish. Make some trail mixes with mixed seeds, nuts and dried fruits like raisins or diced papaya for delicious snacks day and night.
• Sweetcorn is one of my favourite things to eat out of a tin!  It’s so refreshing and satisfies any sweet cravings.  Most tins have a ring pull so it’s really easy to eat on the go. You just need a spoon.  You can drink the remaining water too.
• Pineapple – another tinned item that is great vegan road trip food! I love pineapple in tins. So refreshing too, it’s like having a drink as well as a snack.  It’s another portion of fruit and you also get to have the juice!  We love the chunks in juice and the kids use reusable straws to get all the juice out of the tin.

• Tinned fruit – think peaches, mandarin and fruit cocktails. Opt for those in juice or water rather than syrup to keep it healthier. Sometimes these come in plastic pots too, but the lids can be tricky to pull off on the move and make a mess everywhere! That’s a good point actually – make sure you choose tinned things with ring pulls so you can easily open them on the road.
• Jelly – yep, you can now buy readymade vegan-friendly jelly in the store that doesn’t even need refrigeration!
• Noodles and rice pots are a great idea if you have a way of heating up some water.  We did take a camping stove with us so we could heat up some water for noodle/rice pots and hot drinks.  But of course, this was only good when we were parked up somewhere and could be next to the van itself and not on the move, such as stopping in car parks, to see sights or when we were camping.  We didn’t take the stove into the cities with us, so that had to be cold meals! We enjoyed eating some of these when visiting the Kinderdijk Windmills in the Netherlands before we arrived in Amsterdam.

• Vegan jerky – another great non-refrigerated vegan snack! You can buy readymade or learn to make your own before you go. Seasoned and dried, but still chewy, soy strips packed full of protein and tasty non-perishable food that can be kept in packets or Tupperware.
• Pickled onions – if you like pickled onions then these are a great savoury, tangy and sometimes sweet snack that doesn’t need a fridge. You can get large onions or mini ones already pickled in a jar from most supermarkets and convenience stores. The large ones certainly fill a hunger hole when you’re peckish in between meals!
• Green tea is packed full of antioxidants and great to sip on each day, in the car and when out if you take a thermal flask with you and can get some hot water.  Otherwise, it’s also a refreshing cold drink. You can get thermal flasks for hot or cold drinks with diffuser attachments so you can brew green tea or other herbal and fruit teas on the go.
• No-bake cookie bites are also something you can make easily, in advance, for a delicious sweet treat to enjoy after your plant-based road trip meals as a dessert. These are quick and easy to make and don’t require cooking. Simply take them in an air-tight tinned container to keep them fresh for a few days.

So many vegan road trip food ideas!

It’s actually really easy to come up with fridgeless vegan road trip food ideas once you start thinking about it…!

Hopefully, this list has got you started on thinking outside of the box when it comes to vegan food that doesn’t need refrigeration or no ice road trip meals!

When planning our road trip, we thought we’d really struggle to come up with non-perishable vegan food ideas on the road.  We actually managed to think up so many ideas that we had plenty of plant-based food options in the car for our exceptionally long drives, camping and whilst exploring Europe.

Also, depending on what your budget is and where you are travelling, there are so many more options for vegan food nowadays. Pretty much every major supermarket, service station and fuel station will have prepackaged vegan meals in their chillers so you can grab sandwiches, salads or other chilled meals on the journey.

You can also check out my healthy living blog for loads of vegan meal and snack ideas!

Love healthy living and saving money?

Check out these healthy living discount codes to make some great savings on vegan snacks and more!

Please pin me to your Pinterest boards and share with your friends:

Our 8-day Europe road trip travel diary

If you want to see what we got up to for the whole eight days and all the photos then check out all my Europe 2019 road trip travel diary blog posts here:

• Europe family road trip day 1 – England to Netherlands / UNESCO World Heritage Kinderdijk / Camping Vliegenbos
• Europe family road trip day 2 – exploring Amsterdam
• Europe family road trip day 3 – driving from Amsterdam, Netherlands to Munster, Germany
• Europe family road trip day 4 – Soltau, Germany
• Europe family road trip day 5 – Munster, Germany
• Europe family road trip day 6 – coastal scenic drive from Germany to Belgium
• Europe family road trip day 7 – a few hours in Bruges
• Europe family road trip day 8 – back to the UK

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2 thoughts on “ Best vegan road trip food ideas (with no fridge) ”

What a great list! I find that generally, plant-based options keep really well, which helps a lot.

Lots of great ideas!

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The Best Foods to Pack When Traveling as a Vegan

With veganism on the rise globally, food vendors everywhere are starting to find that they have to adapt their businesses to support the different demands that veganism brings. However, the pace of veganism's growth varies considerably from country to country, and it is still far from a mainstream lifestyle. As a result, there are many destinations where it can still be challenging to find places that will easily cater to a vegan diet.

Often, traveling as a vegan can take more planning than you may have initially anticipated. Depending on where you are traveling to, and with which airline, you may be lucky enough to receive a good in-flight meal, but what are some key items that you could pack in your case to ensure that you enjoy healthy, balanced and tasty vegan food experiences throughout your trip?

Before you start packing, you'll need to make sure that you have checked the customs regulations for the country you will be visiting, as some places, such as Australia, have very strict rules about what food items can be brought into the country. Typically, these rules most commonly apply to animal products such as eggs, dairy and meat, so they may not impact your packing as a vegan. But, the regulations can extend to seeds, nuts and fresh fruit and vegetables. No one wants to have taken the time and effort to plan and buy food for your trip, only to arrive at customs and have to throw most of it away.

Also, it is worth researching the local cuisine where you will be visiting. Some places, such as Bali or Los Angeles, are great for vegans whereas others can be a little more complicated, particularly when it comes to 'hidden' ingredients in food such as tofu in East Asia often being cooked in fish broth, or ghee being used in most vegetable dishes in India. Knowing what to expect where you are visiting will help you know how much (and what) food to bring with you in your case.

Wherever you go, you are pretty much guaranteed to be able to find carbohydrate sources. Frequently, the only options available to vegans are chips or salad. So, when it comes to deciding what to pack in your luggage, focusing on protein sources is very important. The easiest way to cover this is by packing protein powder (as well as a shaker cup, too). Some good options that taste great with only water added are the Bulk Powders vegan powder, which has the added bonus of being in a compostable package, or, alternatively, a more high-end protein like Form Nutrition . These shakes make great snacks throughout the day.

Some more great options to help you cover your protein requirements whilst you are away are precooked lentils, tofu, tempeh or protein bars. It is always worth checking if your room will have a fridge.

Nutritional yeast can also be a great option. Not only is it very light weight, but it's also packed with vitamin B12, which is important for vegans. The nutritional yeast adds a cheesy, nutty taste to any meal — from soups to salads. If you want to go all out with flavorings, you can even pack your own spices or favorite sauces to bring with you to accompany any meals you may be eating during your trip.

Even if it might not sound like it, baby food is a good choice for vegan travelers. You can buy pouches of baby food, which make a great healthy snack. If you are not keen to try it but still want to ensure that you get in your daily dose of greens, there are plenty of drinkable veggie powders that can be mixed with water in a shaker. Other great snacks that keep well in a suitcase are dried fruits, nuts, granola, trail mix, rice cakes and your favorite vegan chocolate.

The best way to approach traveling as a vegan is to go with an open mind, realizing that things may not be as easy as they are at home. But, preparing for your travels in advance can make it a better experience.

38 Vegan Camping Food Ideas for Plant-Based Adventurers

This post may contain affiliate links.

Put the soydog down! With this list of delicious vegan camping meals, you’ll be able to whip up tasty, plant-based meals that you and your campmates will love.

Camping is about being one with nature. So what better place to embrace a plant-based diet, right? While being out in the wild should be a perfect fit for vegans, unfortunately, traditional camping meals tend to rely heavily on animal products. But, it doesn’t need to be that way! There are a lot of delicious vegan meals you can try on your next camping trip.

We’ve put together a list of our favorite vegan camping recipes that are perfect for enjoying around the campfire. Whether you are cooking for fellow-vegans or for a mixed group, these quick and easy meals are guaranteed to impress.

So the next time you head out camping, give one of these recipes a try and bring a little more plant-based adventure into the world.

Coconut French Toast

Loaded with tropical flavor, this vegan coconut French toast is WAY better than the traditional milk & egg version. Get the recipe here.

Scrambled Tofu Breakfast Burrito

The perfect grab-and-go breakfast when you’re trying to get a jump on the day. Get the recipe here.

Johnny Apple Seed Oatmeal

Take your morning oats to the next level with this apple powered super seed oatmeal. Get the recipe here.

Chickpea Flour Breakfast Scramble

Need a break from tofu? Give this chickpea flour breakfast scramble a try! Get the recipe here.

Coconut Chia Oatmeal

Give your oatmeal a makeover by infusing it with the sweet tropical flavor of coconut! Get the recipe here.

Apple Pie Quinoa Porridge

Feeling burnt out on oatmeal? This apple pie quinoa porridge is a great way to start your morning. Get the recipe here.

Peanut Butter & Jelly Granola Bars

Transforming a school lunch classic into a portable hiking snack , these peanut butter and jelly granola bars are the perfect way to refuel out on the trail. Get the recipe here.

DIY Fruit Leathers

Once you know how to make your own fruit leathers, the flavor combinations are endless! Learn how here.

Vegan S’mores Granola Bar

If you’re looking for the perfect portable camping snack this summer, look no further than these vegan S’mores Bars! Get the recipe here.

Smoky Spiced Campfire Popcorn

A perfect pre-dinner snack, this smoky spiced campfire popcorn is a great campfire appetizer. Get the recipe here.

Trail Mix Bliss Balls

These bliss balls are a great whole-foods and vegan alternative to pre-made trail snacks. Get the recipe here.

Chewy Chocolate Goji Granola Bars

Chocolatey and chewy, these goji chocolate granola bars are the perfect trail food to bring on your next hike. Get the recipe here.

One Pot Red Lentil Sloppy Joes

A plant-based twist on a summer classic, these red lentil sloppy joes pack in just as much flavor (and protein) as the original – but without all the funky extras. Get the recipe here.

Grilled Sweet Potato Fajitas

Grilled sweet potato “steaks”, roasted peppers and onions, and a New Mexican chile marinade, these vegan campfire fajitas are a new take on an old classic. Get the recipe here.

Mexican Tortilla Soup

Quick, easy, and super versatile, this Mexican tortilla soup is a great low fuss dinner idea. Get the recipe here.

Foil Wrapped Sweet Potatoes with Chili

Combining a campfire baked sweet potato with a simple vegan chili, this hearty recipe is a quick and easy meal to warm yourself up. Get the recipe here.

Udon Noodle Salad

This flavorful udon noodle dish is loaded with pan-seared vegetables, marinated tofu, and topped with a spicy sesame dressing. Get the recipe here.

One Pot Lemon Broccoli Pasta

Light and bright, this one-pot lemon broccoli pasta is super simple and super delicious. Get the recipe here.

Quinoa Chili

Lightweight and protein-packed, this homemade vegan dehydrated chili is perfect for your next camping or backpacking trip. Get the recipe here.

Grilled Ratatouille Kebabs

A vegan kebab with a French twist, this campfire grilled Ratatouille is a great way to incorporate some vegetables into your camping diet. Get the recipe here.

5 Ingredient Vegan Tacos

Quick, easy, and totally delicious, these vegan tacos were a mainstay on our year long road trip . Get the recipe here.

Southwest Sweet Potato + Bean Burger

Combining healthy sweet potato and bean patties with smokey southwestern spices, these burgers are the perfect excuse to fire up the grill! Get the recipe here.

Drunken Cauliflower Tacos with Quick Pickled Onions

Beer-simmered vegan cauliflower tacos topped with zingy quick pickled red onions are the perfect camping food for hanging out with friends! Get the recipe here.

Sweet Potato and Peanut Stew

If you’re looking for something hearty, comforting, AND healthy the next time you’re out camping, you need to try this vegan sweet potato peanut stew. Get the recipe here.

Sweet Potato, Black Bean, and Poblano Tacos

Toothsome sweet potatoes, assertive poblano peppers, and flavorful black beans wrapped up in a crispy corn tortilla. These tacos deliver a smoky southwestern sensation with each and every bite. Get the recipe here.

Maple Soy Grilled Tempeh

This sweet & savory maple soy tempeh is a wonderful vegan grilling option for your next BBQ or camping trip! Get the recipe here.

Vegan Dan Dan Noodles

This super saucy, spicy peanut noodle dish is one of our all-time favorites. Get the recipe here.

Coconut Red Lentil Stew with Kale

Just because it’s healthy doesn’t mean it can’t be delicious too. This red lentil stew is loaded with all the right kind of nutrition and flavor. Get the recipe here.

5 Can Chili

There’s nothing like gathering around a fire at night with a heaping bowl of chili in hand. Get the recipe here

Summer Rolls with Almond Butter Satay

No matter what the weather is doing outside, these summer rolls can bring you back to the carefree days of summer. Get the recipe here.

Campfire Paella with Artichokes and Poblanos

This campfire paella is packed with tasty vegetables and spices, and can be made vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free – a camping meal that everyone can enjoy! Get the recipe here.

Spiked Pumpkin Chai

Our 21+ and over twist on the Pumpkin Spiced Latte craze. Bottoms up! Get the recipe here.

Plum Prosecco Spritz

Bright and refreshing, this plum and rosemary prosecco spritz is a wonderful way to relax at the end of the day. If Audrey Hepburn went camping, this is what she would be drinking. Get the recipe here.

Campfire Mulled Wine

The wintery version of sangria, a camping mug full of mulled red wine is all we need to keep warm. Get the recipe here.

Ginger Apple Cider

When it’s cold outside and you’re in need of some relief, this hot ginger apple cider is a wonderful companion to spend some time with. Get the recipe here.

Blackberry Citrus Old Fashioned

Looking for the perfect summer camping cocktail? This Blackberry Citrus Old Fashioned is the warm weather whiskey drink you’ve been waiting for. Get the recipe here.

No Bake Apple Crisp

A quick and easy fall-inspired camping dessert, this vegan campfire apple crisp is guaranteed to leave you feeling warm and cozy at the end of the night. Get the recipe here.

Vegan S’mores

S’mores! The one and only campfire classic, now sourced with vegan ingredients. Get the recipe here.

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Megan & Michael are the creators of Fresh Off The Grid, a blog dedicated to helping you fuel your adventures by sharing camp cooking recipes, backpacking meals, and outdoor travel guides. Their recipes and outdoor cooking expertise have been featured in Backpacker Magazine, Outside, REI Co-Op Journal, Food & Wine, and New York Times Cooking.

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11 Comments

I love love love these ideas! My best friend is vegan and sometimes it can be very difficult to find not just easy but also quick meals to carry on the rode! But these dishes were not only easy but also delicious! Thank you for sharing xx

I loved ur first post about vegan campingfood this one is even better. So happy to try this stuff out!

These ideas are wonderful! Thank you!

Can’t wait to try at least 87% of these recipes!!

These recipes all look delicious. I am wondering if you know how much canned coconut milk would be substituted for the coconut powder in the Coconut and red lentil stew with kale? I want to try it out at home with the ingredients that I have on hand.

To be honest, I’m not sure since we haven’t tried it. We’ve gotten that question a few times so we might need to go back and test it with the canned coconut milk. My best guess would be ~1/2 can.

We are family of vegan and none vegans. I’m very excited to try some of these recipes on our up coming camping trip!

These are great!! I’m on the search for plant based meals that my husband might actually like- added quite a few of these recipes to the list we’ll be trying over the next couple of weeks!

Excited to try these !!

Thank you so much ! We have been camping for ever and also cooking whilst camping. But this year we don’t eat meat or dairy anymore. Your one pot options are great ideas. Instead of feeling dread I’m now confident we will be fine. Thank you very much for your sharing !

You have some fantastic ideas here, thank you so much for posting

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Minimalist Baker

30 Easy Vegan Protein-Packed Snacks

Snack lovers, where are you at!? If you’re trying to reach your protein goals and enjoy what you’re eating, you’re in the right place! We’ve gathered DELICIOUS, protein-packed snack ideas (all with 4+ grams protein per serving & most with 5-10 grams!). Find wholesome cookies , nut & seed-filled granola bars , bean-packed dips , & more !

(Note: Dietary symbols listed throughout for easy navigation!)

Crunchy Snacks

Bars & Bites

Cookies & Muffins

& More!

If you try any of these easy vegan protein-packed snacks, let us know! Leave a comment or take a picture and tag it  @minimalistbaker  on Instagram. Cheers, friends!

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Stephanie Silverstein says

January 4, 2024 at 6:22 pm

Thank you so, so much for this post! I’m going crazy trying to get my 11 year old vegan athlete enough calories – she has gotten so picky! These snacks look amazing, I’m going to try each one!!

January 5, 2024 at 9:14 am

We hope she enjoys them! Thanks for the support!

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35 Lightweight Vegan Backpacking Food Ideas

Easy, delicious, lightweight, and filling backpacking food ideas that you wouldn’t even know are vegan.

There’s a funny thing about food and the psyche when you are out in the backcountry. You spend a lot of time thinking about whatever your first meal back will be, typically consisting of all of the indulgent things that you can’t have. You also spend a lot of time dramatically complaining about the dehydrated food sitting in your pack. “If I have to eat another freeze-dried meal, I might just be sick!” It can be hard to come up with creative backpacking food ideas.

But then you carefully pour the boiling water into that package of Backpacker’s Pantry Pad Thai and spend the next 10 minutes drooling, counting down the seconds till those morsels are rehydrated and ready to be wolfed down. The second it hits your tongue, it’s like you’ve died and gone to heaven. That savory, salty, thick, hearty goodness. It’s like there’s nothing more satisfying in the entire world!

Here at Bearfoot Theory, we love good backpacking food and we also thrive on a plant-based diet . All of the recommendations in this post are vegan-friendly and packed with healthy nutrients that will keep you powered on the trail. For all you meat eaters out there, don’t worry – these options are all delicious, healthy, and filling, plus who wants to eat those weird spongey dehydrated meat nuggets anyway?

Tips for Choosing Backpacking Meals & Snacks

During my 22-day John Muir Trail adventure , there were plenty of times when I dreamt about real food. But overall, I would say that I made some pretty darn good choices when planning our menu and comping up with backpacking food ideas.

That’s not to say that I wasn’t happy when we sat down for our first real meal after the trip, but when I was out on the trail, I always felt pretty content after eating. Here are a few tips to follow when planning your backpacking menu:

Pack a variety of food options

Variety is key. You do not want to be eating the same thing every day over and over again. Having a mix of different breakfasts, lunches, and dinners gives you something new to look forward to and keeps your palette from getting bored.

Choose meals that are easy to prepare and clean up

The second critical element, at least for me, is to choose foods that are easy to prepare and clean up – ideally, dinners that can be “cooked” right in their own pouches. For these kinds of meals, you can pour the boiling water into the pouch and eat straight out of the bag, resulting in minimal dirty dishes.

Opt for calorie dense foods

Protein will help keep you feeling full on the trail while carbohydrates will provide you with energy. When coming up with backpacking food ideas, it’s best to choose foods that are calorie-dense and high in protein and carbs for maximum energy.

Vegan Backpacking Breakfast Ideas

Below are a few of my favorite vegan backpacking meal ideas for filling and calorie-packed breakfasts on the trail.

1) Energy Bars

Bars make for quick and easy breakfasts because you can eat them on your own schedule as you pack up for the day. One of our favorite vegan bars is the dense  PROBAR Meal Bars  that are packed with nuts, seeds, and dried fruit and taste like real food because that’s what they’re made of.

We also love Bobo’s Oat Bars , which are slightly sweet, calorie-packed, and delicious (my favorite flavors are the coconut and peanut butter), as well as Patagonia Provisions Bars , Larabars , and GoMacro bars .

2) Nature’s Path Instant Oatmeal

While a lot of people like to complain about oatmeal, it’s one of the most classic backpacking food ideas that’s become a staple on our trips. As long as you don’t have to eat it every day, it can be tasty, easy, and filling, sustaining you on those tough climbs.

All you have to do is boil a little extra water with your morning coffee, stir it into the oatmeal, and dig in! If you don’t have time or enough fuel to boil water, these cereals can also be eaten cold (although we definitely recommend a hot breakfast especially on chilly mornings).

While on my John Muir Trail hike, I enjoyed the texture and flavors of Nature’s Path Organic Instant Oatmeal Variety Pack . This box comes with four different flavors including Apple Cinnamon, Multigrain Raisin, Flax Plus, and Maple Nut for a nice variety each morning.

3) Trailtopia Instant Oatmeals

Trailtopia makes several delicious and lightly sweetened instant oatmeal varieties that can be cooked right in their pouches, which also makes for easy clean-up. Each pouch contains real dried fruit and a touch of sugar to brighten up your morning. Flavors include:

• Trailtopia Mango Oatmeal
• Trailtopia Blueberry Oatmeal
• Trailtopia Strawberry Oatmeal
• Trailtopia Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
• Trailtopia Brown Sugar Raisin Oatmeal

4) Food for the Sole Energy Oats

Another popular instant oatmeal option is by Food for the Sole, a company that produces ultra-light, tasty, and health-conscious backpacking meals. Food for the Sole has three varieties of vegan-friendly Energy Oats, all of which are delicious:

• Food for the Sole Blueberry Banana Crunch Energy Oats
• Food for the Sole Coconut Mango Macadamia Energy Oats
• Food for the Sole Pumpkin Apple Pecan Energy Oats

5) Backpacker’s Pantry Oatmeals

Backpacker’s Pantry is a very well-known and popular brand with lots of backpacking food ideas. They have several breakfast options including a delicious vegan-friendly instant Hot Blueberry, Walnut, Oats & Quinoa Cereal , which can be made and eaten right from the pouch.

6) Outdoor Herbivore Cereals

Outdoor Herbivore makes whole-food vegetarian and vegan backpacking meals including tasty breakfasts. Their ingredients are locally sourced as much as possible and their meals are packaged in compact rehydration pouches that use minimal plastic to help reduce waste.

For a breakfast, try their Toasted Sunburst Muesli or High Elevation Rice Cereal or pick up their cold breakfast sampler to maximize variety on the trail.

7) Peak Refuel Mountain Berry Granola

I’ve written an in-depth review of Peak Refuel backpacking meals , but since then, I’ve transitioned to a plant-based diet so many of their products are a no-go for me. However, Peak Refuel does have a vegan breakfast option, their Mountain Berry Granola . Made with rice milk, freeze-dried berries, and whole grain oats, it provides a tasty and filling start to the day. Just pour a cup of cold water into the packet and enjoy!

8) Tofu Scramble

There are a lot of backpacking egg breakfast options out there, but have you ever tried a morning tofu scramble? If not, give the Outdoor Herbivore Sunrise Tofu Scramble a try. It’s packed with plant-based protein to give you energy on the trail plus plenty of dehydrated veggies. Try it rolled up in a tortilla for a filling, and delicious, breakfast burrito.

9) Instant Coffee

Maxim Mocha Gold is the best instant coffee I’ve ever had. I probably shouldn’t admit that I’m still drinking it now that I’m home, but it’s that good! It comes in little single-serve packets, but it already has the non-dairy cream and a small amount of sugar mixed in. You can get 100 instant servings for under $20 on Amazon. A steal!

Vegan Backpacking Lunch & Snack Ideas

A lot of backpackers choose to snack throughout the day rather than stop to make a lunch. Either way, here are a few of my tasty backpacking lunch and snack ideas.

10) Powdered hummus

Powdered hummus is a perfect backpacking meal idea because it’s lightweight, packed with protein and carbs, and high in fiber. The Hummus Co. makes several flavors of powered hummus including my favorite – Mughla Curry . Just pour in water, mix until you reach your desired consistency, and enjoy with a tortilla, crackers, or baby carrots.

11) Vegan Jerky

Vegan jerky is another delicious protein to throw in a tortilla or eat on the go. My favorite is Primal Vegan Jerky in Hot and Spicy (made from mushrooms) or the Texas BBQ (made from soy protein). You can also get the sampler pack with 6 different flavors to choose from. Even meat-eaters love these jerkys!

Before I turned to a plant-based diet, I had a thing with Nutella. It’s SO good and it was a real treat on the JMT. Nutella does contain dairy, but if you’re vegan, don’t despair! The vegan-alternative is Nutiva and it’s just as good if not better (it’s quite a bit less sweet). This chocolatey hazelnut goodness slathered on a tortilla with some dried banana chips is heaven. Pro tip: pack more than you think you’ll need.

13) Justin’s Nut Butter Packets

Nut butter packets are super convenient and a great source of protein on the trail. They’re one of our favorite newer backpacking food ideas. We really like Justin’s Nut Butters because they’re non-GMO responsibly sourced, and they taste amazing. The Maple Almond Butter is heaven in a packet.

14) Food for the Sole Dehydrated Meals

I mentioned Food for the Sole Energy Oats in the breakfast section above, but they also make tasty dehydrated meals and all of them are vegan! Each pouch contains a single serving and is best eaten as a lunch or snack since they’re not as calorie-dense as other dehydrated meals that you would eat for dinner.

Choose from:

• Ratatouille with Nutty Quinoa Pilaf
• Garlic Green Bean and Cashew Stir-Fry
• Coconut Rice and Cuban Black Beans
• Lentil Walnut Pilaf with Kale
• Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Kale and Quinoa

You can buy them individually or get a Full Meal 6-Pack Deal .

15) Outdoor Herbivore Lunches

Outdoor Herbivore has a ton of vegan and vegetarian backpacking food ideas, including delicious lunches that are packed with protein and nutrients and have way less salt than other brands (which I prefer). I tested out many of their products on my Boundary Waters trip and I thought they were really awesome. They had good texture, satisfied a fresh salad craving, and were super easy to make because you just mix in cold water, no need to get the stove out.

My favorite Outdoor Herbivore lunches are:

• Lazy Lentil Salad
• Open Sky Yasai
• Lemony Herb Quinoa Salad

17) Navitas Organics Power Snacks

These little cubes of dates, nuts, seeds, and superfoods are an energy bomb. They’re great for a quick snack on the trail when you’re feeling tired and sluggish or they’re the perfect post-lunch sweet treat. Navitas Organics sources ethically grown ingredients and are committed to creating a “healthier world through regenerative organic farming and plant-forward lifestyles”.

18) Honey Stinger Organic Energy Chews

These are pure gummy goodness with energy that is naturally derived from white tea. After sampling all the flavors, I would recommend pomegranate passionfruit, but really they’re all delicious.

19) Trail mix

Trail mix is a given on nearly any backpacking trip. My recommendation is Trader Joes Omega Trek Mix . It’s packed with all of the best nuts including almonds, pistachios, walnuts, and pecans. Alternatively, load up on your favorite ingredients in the bulk section and make your own trail mix concoction.

20) Dried Fruit

Dried fruit is an essential on the trail and is one of our favorite backpacking food ideas. You can eat it by the handful as a snack, sneak some cranberries into your hummus wrap, or flavor oatmeal with dried mangos or apples, My favorite dried fruits are tart Montgomery cherries – they’re slightly sweet and have a nice tang.

Vegan Backpacking Dinner Ideas

Whether you’re looking for DIY backpacking dinner ideas or dehydrated pouches of savory, salty goodness, these meals will help refuel your body for another day on the trail.

21) Soy curls

Soy curls are a delicious alternative to meat and are a lightweight ingredient to throw into DIY backpacking dinners.. They’re quick and easy to rehydrate and can be added to any backpacking meal likes soups or stews, stir-fry’s, pasta, or any other dish you’re whipping up at camp. Butler Soy Curls are minimally processed, non-GMO, and pesticide-free.

22) Harmony House

Harmony House is the perfect place to look for DIY backpacking meal ideas. They have a huge selection of dehydrated foods, freeze-dried fruits and veggies, soup blends, and TVP (which stands for Textured Vegetable Protein and is an excellent alternative to meat).

To get started, head to their Trail Food page or pick up one of their Backpacking kits (also available on Amazon ).

23) Outdoor Herbivore Dinners

Not only does Outdoor Herbivore make a delicious breakfast tofu scramble and filling and nutritious lunches, they also make a huge variety of amazing dinners as well, which I sampled during our Boundary Waters trip. All of their dinners are vegan or vegetarians and are made with whole-food ingredients. No chemicals or artificial flavors here!

My favorite Outdoor Herbivore dehydrated vegan dinners are:

• Chickpea Sesame Zetti
• Pea-Nutty Matchsticks
• Cheddar Instant Mac
• Basil Walnut Penne
• Lemongrass Thai Curry

I also recommend checking out their 7-day sampler which has 7 breakfasts, 7 lunches, and 7 dinners.

24) Peak Refuel Backpacking Meals

Up until recently, the number of major backpacking food brands has been pretty limited, but over the last few years, we’ve seen some new players in the game that are focused on creating healthier, more natural backpacking food with fewer chemicals. One of these new companies, based out of Utah, is Peak Refuel. 

Their meals are non-GMO, calorie-dense, and packed with protein…but even more important, they are delicious and they have a tasty vegan-friendly option – the Three Bean Chili Mac .

25) Good To-Go Backpacking Meals

Good To-Go ‘s lightweight dehydrated backpacking meals are meat-free, gluten-free, and have less sodium than the competition, filling a huge gap in the food aisle at REI. I’ve tried every meal in their lineup and wrote up a post listing out my top Good-To-Go picks .

All of their meals are vegetarian, but if you’re vegan, here is their vegan line-up:

• Kale and White Bean Stew – This hearty stew is perfect for cold nights on the trail. It’s nutrient-dense, calorie-dense, and delicious.
• Herbed Mushroom Risotto – A creamy mix of caramelized onions, basil pesto, and sauteed mushrooms. All without dairy!
• Mexican Quinoa Bowl – A friend and I sampled this on our Coyote Gulch backpacking trip and agreed that it was one of the best backpacker meals either of us had ever tasted.
• Classic Marinara with Pasta – A super comforting bowl of pasta sauce over noodles. What could be better?
• Smoked Three Bean Chili – When I tried this one, the beans cooked perfectly and the smoky tomato sauce was filled with carrots, garlic, corn, and onion, resulting in a nice, complex flavor. 
• Bibimbap – Good To-Go nailed this one. The rice rehydrated perfectly, the carrots and zucchini gave it a nice crunch, and the mushrooms added a little meatiness.

26) Nomad Nutrition Dinners

Nomad Nutrition is relatively new on the backpacking food scene and they offer delicious plant-based meals that are easy to prepare and no-fuss to clean up. Simply add about a cup of hot water to each pack and dinner is served! There are six different flavors to choose from and two different size pouches – 2oz and 4oz.

• Irish Shepherds Pie
• Kathmandu Curry
• Indian Red Lentil Stew
• Caribbean Curry
• Hungarian Goulash
• Ukrainian Borscht

27) Backpacker’s Pantry Dinners

Backpacker’s Pantry is one of the biggest and most well-known backpacking food options out there. They have a handful of vegetarian and vegan-friendly meals that are nutritious, filling, and tasty, especially after a long day on the trail. The Pad Thai gets great reviews as does the Three Sister’s Stew . Here is Backpacker Pantry’s full line-up of vegan-friendly meals:

• Three Sister’s Stew
• Cuban Coconut Rice & Black Beans
• Louisiana Red Beans & Rice
• Chana Masala
• Three Amigos Veggie Stew

28) Couscous

Couscous is awesome for backpacking. All you have to do is boil water, add the couscous and seasoning, turn off the heat, cover, and it’s ready in 5 minutes. My favorite is the Near East Roasted Garlic Couscous . It’s great on its own, but if you want to make it a more hearty meal, add in some vegan jerky and a handful of cranberries. You can also buy couscous package free in the bulk section and add your own seasonings.

On the John Muir trail, I loved ramen so much that I joked that I might just start eating it on the regular at home. Grab your favorite flavor – the Soy Sauce flavor is vegan – and mix in some soy curls and freeze-dried veggies for a more filling and “nutritious” meal.

Backpacking Drink Ideas

Drinks are an essential backpacking menu item, both to keep you hydrated and to keep you warm on chilly days and nights. Here are a few of my favorite backpacking drink options:

30) Powdered Hot drinks

Lesson #21 from the John Muir Trail : Plentiful hot drinks are crucial. The more, the better, so stock up.

• Hot apple cider
• Hot chocolate
• Herbal Teas
• Natural Vitality Calm is a great evening hot drink option since it contains magnesium and can help prevent cramping as well as help you get to sleep.

31) Powdered Cold drinks

While we didn’t bring any cold drinks other than water on our JMT hike, we saw plenty of people carrying Tang and Gatorade powder . I can’t help but think that some orangey Tang would have been nice with lunch every once in a while. If you’re looking for a more ‘natural’ powdered cold drink with rehydrating electrolytes, Skratch is awesome. We also like Nuun hydration tablets and Liquid IV .

Backpacking Treats

For a little pick-me-up or post-meal treat, try a few of these tasty backpacking snack ideas

32) Heather’s Choice Packaroons

Heather’s Choice Packaroons are calorie-dense whole-food treats packed with coconut, maple syrup, nuts, and other goodies. If you like coconut, you’ll love these! They come in four flavors: Amaretto, Blueberry Almond, Lemon Lavender, and Sweet Coconut.

33) Kind bars

The Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate  flavor is the bomb. It provided a nice crunch that you don’t often get out in the field. The Almond Coconut variety came in at a close second.

34) Loucks Sesame Snaps

Crunchy, sweet, cheap, and packed with fat, calories, and protein these sesame snaps  only weigh 1.4 ounces so you get a lot of bang (and flavor) for the weight.

Do it. Load up on those Snickers Bars and Sour Patch Kids. In my recent post 22 Lessons from 22 Days on the John Muir Trail , I explain that backpacking is not the time to go on a diet. You don’t want junk food to be the only thing you consume, but treating yourself here and there is totally acceptable.

For vegan candy options, try UNREAL – their dark chocolate caramel peanut nougat bar is amazing.

What are your favorite easy vegan backpacking food ideas? What would you leave behind? Leave a comment below to share your tips! 

With two decades of hiking and seven years of van life under her belt, Kristen has dedicated her life to helping people experience the positive effects of nature. As a pioneer in the outdoor blogging space, she founded Bearfoot Theory in 2014 and has since authored more than 350 blog posts about outdoor travel, hiking, camping, and van life. Her work has been featured in National Geographic, Outside Magazine, and Backpacker, and when she’s not on the road, she lives in Park City, Utah with her partner Ryan, their son, and two adventure pups.

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86 Comments

Aron and I read this before backpacking the Kern River last weekend- we have to try the Ova Easy! Instant oats, dried fruit, nuts, jerky, tuna, salami, hard cheese, and ramen are our regulars too. We used to buy Mary Jane’s backpacking meals at REI- they are organic, low sodium, have lots of veggie options, and require no cleanup but they are a little pricey ($10-12 a pop!). Nowadays we also like taking hard boiled eggs, tortillas or flat breads for wraps (they don’t get squished like regular bread), instant/dehydrated soups, lara bars, and powdered hummus (this is a hard one to find so cherish it when you do). A recent discovery is Tasty Bite Indian food- a variety of Indian dishes like madras lentils, channa masala, and rice packaged in bags that you boil in hot water for five minutes. Delish on a cold night after hiking all day 🙂

Kristen you have a very Informative site. Glad I chanced upon this via the ig. While you gave dwelled a lot on nonveg food, you could think of including veg/egg vegetarian food also for people who are off nonveg. One lady named Linda has given few nice alternatives in the comments which include hard boiled eggs,preprepared Indian food packs, flat breads etc. Thanks

Regarding powdered cold drinks – another reason to bring them along is for energy in case you get sick. I was on the last day of a 4 day trip and woke up with a wonky stomach — let’s just say solid food wasn’t doing me much good. I tried hiking out 8 miles without eating breakfast and darn near passed out. I then ate something :)…

Someone pointed out to me later that a sugary drink like Tang or Koolaid would have at least given me some calories to hike on…

Man, that sounds really tough! Glad you were able to make it out. That must have been scary. And that’s a really good point that I hadn’t thought of regarding the drink powder. I’m definitely going to remember to pack some next time.

I just discovered your website – you have some great stuff here! I love this article. It’s always difficult to plan meals for long treks, so this is super helpful. I’ll definitely be bookmarking it for future use!

Also, I love that you included Maxim coffee in there!! We are currently living in South Korea and that stuff is ADDICTIVE! It’s good to know we’ll be able to order it online even after we leave Korea 🙂

Katie – I’m glad this was helpful! And that’s so awesome that you drink the Maxim. Totally addictive. I’m drinking it right now in fact…leftovers from my trip. And it’s dirt cheap. Thanks again! -Kristen

I love this article! My sister (who blogs with me) and I grew up on a Girl Scout Camp — our parents ran it — and it reminds me so much of the camp food we would eat over fires. Haven’t done a big trek yet, but it’s on my list! Definitely will be back here for tips!!

Awesome Holly! Let me know what you think once you get to try some of this stuff.

Love your site! Great tips on backpacking foods! A few of my own: love to have powdered country time lemonade!! Cuts through those salty meals and goes great with a snickers! For added taste and a little extra protein I put some powdered milk into the oatmeal- makes it richer and creamier. Looking forward to reading through all of your website!!

Thanks for those awesome tips Julie! I really like the idea of the milk in the oatmeal. And the lemonade sounds great too. Always nice to have a little sweet treat. Thanks! Kristen

As far as Mountain House I liked the spaghetti and stroganoff too. The only candy I brought were PayDay candy bars. They didn’t melt and that salty sweetness was awesome.

I just came back from an epic mountain bike where I set a record for riding to Everest Base Camp at 18,000 plus feet in elevation. The eight weeks prior I ate 80% fat, 15% protein and 5% carbohydrates (about 50g per day of carbs) and my body started producing ketones to burn fat constantly as fuel. Getting “fat adapted” is an amazing strategy for mountaineers and endurance athletes. read more by @ProfTimeNoakes.

PS – Kristen if you like to MTB you’ll like this video from my YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wITw3UHZi6c

Thanks for the tips Patrick. And I just checked out your video. Very cool! I’ve been trying to figure out the best places to go mountain biking in Vegas. I’ll have to check out some of the trails you recommend. Thanks again! Kristen

Cottonwood Canyon in Vegas is the best place to mountain bike

Try drinking Tang hot; it’s delicious! Also, hot jello (the gelatin has protein) totally hits the spot.

Oooh hot Tang? Sounds interesting. Will have to give that one a try. Thanks for sharing your tips!

Thanks for this list! We live in AK now and my 13 yr old and husband have been doing longer and longer hikes every year! (2nd summer here)This yr they are up to 4 days, and I always have trouble thinking about thier food! We recently got a JetBoil, so this is perfect!

Awesome Andy! I’m glad this post was helpful. Let me know how you like the jetboil! Thanks! Kristen

So, I saw that you mentioned tortillas. Could I send tortillas in my resupply? I’m going in July and was just wondering if they will get moldy, or if they will be ok? Also, the Babybels cheeses, could those go in resupplies too? Thank you!

Chris – I sent both Mission brand tortillas and babybel cheese in my resupply boxes and they were all fine…no mold and perfectly good to eat. Hope thats helpful! -Kristen

My husband and I are planning a few backpacking trips this fall and love this site. . I purchased bobo boars, Maxim coffee, and powdered humus to try (on amazon prime) for our next trip. Thanks for the ideas!

Amy – That’s great to hear! I’m glad you like my site and have found it helpful. I hope you like everything you bought! Definitely come back and let me know what you think. Cheers, Kristen

I’m not even a backpacker but loved this article. My son’s are getting into backpacking and your article caught my eye. Great information!

Thanks so much Elaine! Maybe you should venture out with your sons on a quick weekend excursion sometime! Thanks for stopping by. -Kristen

Hey Kirsten, Great tips! Can you tell me what the start weight of just your food was without the bear container? I am planning a JMT hike the last week in Aug 2016 and I am trying to determine the ever important pack weight.

Hello! Congrats on making the decision to hike the JMT. You’re going to have an amazing time. You know, I’m not sure what the starting weight of my food was. My guess 7 days worth probably weighed about 15 pounds. But I never weighed it so I’m not sure. With 7 days of food and 3 liters of water I was at about 43 pounds total. If you have any other questions, just let me know! -Kristen

Oh my goodness! I am so thankful to have found your blog! Just started planning my 2016 JMT hike and feeling very overwhelmed. So much to think about and to prepare. Thank you for this detailed site. I will be referring to it lots!. 🙂

Hey Laura – Good to connect and excited for your JMT adventure. Have a look around and if you have any questions, feel free to get in touch! Kristen

Thanks for the great ideas! I am getting ready to hike the Ozark Trail in MO next year and need a few starter ideas on food instead of packing the heavy military MREs. Just skimming through the article I saw Tapatio so I knew that I had to read the whole article. Thank you.

Glad you liked it Ryan. If you have any other questions, feel free to get in touch and have fun on your trip! Would love to see some pictures when you finish! -Kristen

My suggestion is do NOT take MREs! My husband & I made that mistake on our 1st backpacking trip. They are heavy & create a lot of trash.

Hello Kirsten,

Love this article and love your blog! If you’re looking for another nutritious and lightweight backpacking food option you have to checkout http://www.heatherschoice.com . We’re a startup based out of Birdsong, Alaska dedicated to changing the way backpackers eat! We’re creating gluten-free, dairy-free dehydrated backpacking meals with organic and sustainably sourced ingredients. Our founder, Heather Kelly, uses her nutrition background to craft every meal for nutrient density and flavor. You can’t imagine how yummy a bowl of Alaskan Salmon Chowder tastes after a full day on the trail! Please check us out and grab some Heather’s Choice for your next adventure!

Hey Kayleen – Sounds tasty! Would love to give it a try. Feel free to shoot me an email at [email protected] if you want to chat more. -Kristen

I just want to say THANK YOU.

So many great ideas, I’m planing my JMT this summer and this is right place to be on it.

No problem Sam! Stoked for ya

Great article!! Thank You

Thanks Leona!

Great article! I just found your site as we are prepping for our southern Utah trip. Thanks to your essential hiking guides we decided to swap backpacking the narrows and hit Paria instead, your Paria canyon post looked so awesome! As we are gearing up I am always looking for awesome backpacking food tips. As a vegetarian though I was hoping for a bit more variation in your post! I wanted to add a few of my favorites in the comments for those other veggies out there! 🙂 1. Nut butters and Jelly sandwiches/tortillas 2. Sundried tomatoes, cheese, dehydrated hummus on tortilla 3. Thai pnut cous cous or rice noodles 4. Dehydrated beans and rice burritos 5. Dehydrated soups 6. Pesto pasta with veggies While bringing fresh veggies can add a lot of extra weight, I feel they add so much flavor at the end of a long day! Onions, beets, carrots, and cauliflower can hold up well for a few days.

Thanks Molly! I totally appreciate these suggestions. You’re right….I should definitely do a post on vegetarian backpacking food…I bet a ton of people would be interested. Thanks for following along on my site!

Great ideas here, the fact that you found a way to use cheese makes me very happy, I’ve gone without up until now. Another thing to mention is the Mountain House meals seem to go a little too soupy for me- there’s always extra water. Sometimes I just use 2-4 oz less water than prescribed, or you can use the instant mashed potatoes to thicken it up. This especially works well with the chili mac or spaghetti.

The Chicken and Rice is my jam.

Great tips! And totally agree about the water. Slightly less is usually what I do to.

Great Tips!

All my friends were bringing Mountain House meals on our last camping trip and I was quite skeptical. I had a taste of the Beef Stroganoff and was pleasantly surprised. I ended up going the cheap easy route with a package of ramen, added dehydrated veggies and chunks of ham. Loving the couscous idea and all your other suggestions. Thanks for the ideas!

Katie @ Katie Wanders

yea, i mean it’s no homemade, but they aren’t bad. Some good, easy ideas for your first backpacking trip!

I’m planning on a JMT solo though hike this summer and being from England, I am getting to grips with the brands and (in some cases) translating some of these foods into our terminology! Obviously, I don’t want to bring loads of food from home, so your guide will help choose locally. Many thanks.

I thru-hiked the JMT in 2000, and made many similar meal choices, though, heading NOBO and without any stove, all the meals were cold for the first 100 miles as I was above tree line and out of the region where one can gather firewood. My first hot meal, after descending the golden staircase, linguine and diced salami, was heaven-sent! So, here it is 16 years later and I’m in my mid-sixties, planning to repeat the trek. This time I’m taking my MSR Whisper lite stove and planning to have a couple more warm meals. And further, it’s meal planning time again. Given the time in between trips, my memory seems to have faded a bit on the particulars of what I did last time. Your suggestions are excellent! To further reduce any post meal clean-up I’m thinking I’ll bring some boiling bags, which I can then pack out in the bear cannister. Mostly, I don’t want to have any food scent on the camping cooking utensils attracting unwanted visitors. Great site and thanks for the good suggestions. Bob (NurseBob)

Hey Bob – That’s amazing you are going back. And yea, I rehydrate the food right in a freezer ziplock to avoid any mess. Have fun and come back and tell me how it goes!

>I rehydrate the food right in a freezer ziplock to avoid any mess. Seems like a great plan, since I plan to package my meals in ziplocks – No Muss; No Fuss! 🙂

>come back and tell me how it goes! If all goes well, I’ll have a detailed video diary of both the planning and the trek. Right now I’m capturing the prep, maps & mapping (I carry both 7.5 minute topos and compass as well as my old Garmin 12 GPS), and organization in anticipation of the trek. For this trip I’m taking a Canon HF 200 video camera, my Canon 60D (for both stills and secondary video), and a Tascam DR-100 MK II audio recorder. Not wanting to repeat my ’99 debacle when I added some 40 pounds of camera gear at the last minute – leading to an unplanned exit over Whitney after realizing I’d never be able to complete the trip with my 75-80 pound pack. This time I’m training with the equipment I’ll be using (which including batteries & lightweight tripod, is under 10 pounds), and am also using the training hikes to test out some of my video and still image concepts.

I guess I’m hoping I’ll be able to produce something both useful and inspirational. FWIW – Mile, Mile and a Half reawakened my long-held desire to repeat the trek with quality, light, equipment.

Hi Kristen, Thanks a lot for this wonderful post. Quick question related to the Mountain House dry-freezer food. I’m also a big fan of Mountain House because of its taste and convenience but they take up so much space and leave lots of trash. Did you have any ways around to bring all those food in a more compact way and minimize the trash? Thanks again!

Yes, I repackaged all of my mountain house meals in freezer ziplock bags. Then I push all the air out and pack away. Then you can rehydrate with boiling water right in the ziplock, and I usually stick that in a beanie or a jacket so it stays more insulated.

Wondering if you packed corn tortillas or flour?

Flour all the way!

Great list. I used this as a basis to start my own list for future use.

Just wanted to check one more time on the torillas. Did you ship these ahead of time to the last drop point? How long did you have them (from ship date to when you finished eating them)? Sorry, one last question, what time of year was it? I’m just amazed they stayed good.

I did ship these ahead of time and it was probably a month that they were in the bin before we eat them. This was in late August/early September

My tortillas lasted well over a month by the time we got to our last resupply box.

If you’re only going out for a night or two, I recommend cucumber. You can put on pitas, tortillas, or just eat plain. After so much relatively dry food, it tastes great. It doesn’t hold too long, but it’s not nearly as delicate as other options.

Another are the ‘Tasty Bite’ packs. Decent Indian food, veggie options, and you can cram some naan in your pack and (the best part) you don’t need to dirty any dishes. Just toss the pouch in boiling water for a bit and eat straight out of the pouch. Only downside is that Indian food while backpacking doesn’t always make for the best smelling tent later at night.

Nice list Kristen! I would never have thought of packing Nutella 😀

Hi Kristen, I haven’t visited your blog in over a year and boy has it blossomed. I’m looking for a recipes that I’m pretty sure you posted once for homemade granola. Any chance of a re-post or is it here and I just can’t find it.

hey Laurel – Thinking that maybe that was someone else’s blog. But maybe I’ll share something like that here soon. Thanks for stopping by!

Getting into backpacking after 10+ years. So many great suggestions here! Powdered hummus?? I’m all over that… It’s essential for me to have variety, I get palette numb very quickly so this is wonder info.

My go-to cold drink is Emergen-C. It gives me a healthy, refreshing boost, and like another commenter said, it’s nice to have if youre not feeling too well. But lemonade sounds pretty darn awesome too.

Doing the JMT is on my bucket list. Through hiking hasn’t really called to me yet but that trail…for some reason it’s like a siren song.

Totally a hiking/backpacking guru! Love love love your posts 🙂

What a treasure trove of information! Thanks for all your blogs. We are doing havasupai next month and hopefully some of your other destinations in the near future as we are retiring this year.

Thanks Mike! Enjoy the adventures and hopefully some great food as well!

I haven’t seen pouched chicken in forever. What’s your source??

You can usually find it in the grocery store near the tuna. Or you can buy in bulk on Amazon: http://amzn.to/2mZftoj

Thanks for a great blog. I keep coming back to this and other posts, and finding new helpful stuff. My problem is that I hate tuna, so the Sunkist stuff gives me the creep. Any alternatives you can suggest with similar nutritional values? Appreciate the help.

Great to hear the blog is helpful for you Herb. I don’t like tuna either. Have you thought about trying beef or turkey jerky instead? There is also Spam or canned chicken–have you tried those yet?

Thanks, Kim. Jerky is definitely a go for me. Haven’t even thought of it as similar nutritional values. I’m new to this calorie stuff. Thanks again.

This is epic. I’m about to go on my first backpacking trip and this is literally exactly what I was looking for. Thanks so much!

RAMEN is a favorite base of mine for meals. Add 8 oz container of chicken bone stock (or veggie if you swing that way) and let the RAMEN cook in that rather than pure water. I burn the cardboard in the fire if we can have one, or pack it out. As for what I add. well, tomato paste, garlic and onion powder make Italian Ramen; and cheese, powdered milk, couple envelopes of chicken give RAMEN and cheese; Dehydrated tortellini can be used in place of RAMEN, and makes for new meals; At home make meat sauce and freeze 2 cups of it in the container you plan to cook it in, then add it to the RAMEN cooking in the stock, add a couple tablespoons of frozen ricotta cheese and you get a CAMP ZITI kinda meal. Wonderful on cold nights.

Chris, this is really interesting! Thanks so much for the unique idea to use frozen ricotta cheese.

Hi Kristen,

Always, planning a menu for backpacking is a must. Of course, you are right at the point, no one wants to eat the same food daily. It is a great idea to have a lot of mix of variety food. Your John Muir Trail food list is awesome. Your collection is outstanding.

Hey great article, this food will help a lot of persons who do tracking or hiking. Thank you for the article,

Great for people like me that go hiking a lot. Will use the next time I go, thanks!

Thanks for all this info!! Gave me some fresh ideas to add to my list backpacking meals.

Dry soup + powered mash potatoes are an old time, change of pace. You can use onion soup, split pea, lentil, vege, whatever. More cals, more hot liquids.

This is so great! I’ve been wanting to hear reviews of lots of the Mountain House meals and other freeze dried packs. The few I’ve tried have been great, but I’ve stuck to what I know. Looking forward to trying a few new flavors in the coming months. Thanks so much for the recommendations!

My family of 3 are getting ready to do the Bubbs Creek thru trip from the west side to the east side of Sierras this weekend. Exchanging keys with a group coming the opposite way. We’ve been doing some meal cooking and sampling to see what works for us and our so-picky-teen eater. Can I share some of what worked for us in cooking and tasting as I didn’t see these items in this particular blog article? What worked: Easy Mac and Cheese packets (the kind for microwave) 5 minutes rehydrate in freezer ziplock bag for 5 minutes (10 minutes made mush, yuck). Mary Janes Farm Organic Garlic Pesto Fry Bread-easy to knead in bag and cut off corner to squeeze on cooking surface (recommend dab of butter or oil on pan). Tasted pretty good like a flatbread, but I found them to be oddly sweet with an overly strong rosemary flavor. The package contains 12gm of sugar?! Mountain House Freeze Dried Granola w/ milk and blueberries. Hands down fabulous cold or hot! I think one person can eat a whole bag on their own. A little on sweet side. Patagonia Organic Creamy Banana Breakfast Grains- Cooking is slightly more involved than an instant oatmeal and rehydrates slower, but good flavor and not overly sweet. I added cinnamon and brown sugar after tasting. Good nutty flavor and texture. Not a fan though of those rehydrated bananas. They taste sour to me.

What didn’t work: Barilla Ready Pasta Gemelli shapes. Tried cooking in a freezer bag and they stayed chewy till I transferred them to a pan and cooked with a dab of oil. Didn’t work, too time consuming. Simply Organics Alfredo Sauce Mix- although I was able to make this sauce with powdered milk and some oil it contains 4 gms of sugar and it tastes weird with sweetness in it.

Can I also recommend: Skratch Exercise Hydration Mix in lemon/lime flavor. Single serving packet is for 16oz of water. Does not have that weird artificial sweetener flavor. Found at Lassens Health Food Stores: Barney Butter- Almond butter w/ honey+ flax. Artisana Organics raw pecan butter w/ cashews. RXBAR- RX Butters . All in single serving packets. Lastly, the Ozery Bakery Morning Rounds (come in 4″ and 2″ rounds). Good for the 1st couple days out. Pack in parchment and then in plastic bag to control moisture. Good to combine with nut butters, hummus, salami, etc.

Happy trails to you all and thank you Kristen for this great blog (with photos!) It’s given me some MORE great ideas! Wendy

Thanks so much for your awesome suggestions! We mentioned Mountain House Granola in our Pacific Crest Trail Thru-Hiker Resupply Guide, it is definitely a favorite breakfast on my list. I’ll have to try the Patagonia Breakfast Grains & Mary Janes Farm Fry Bread! Those both sound interesting! I enjoy Skratch as well and RXBars–have you tried ProBars? You might like them as well & we are big fans of Nuun (similar to Skratch).

This post is like a grocery store for Backpacking food. Thanks alot for sharing

Thanks so much for sharing all of these great ideas! We love eating healthy while we’re on the go 🙂

Thank you SO much for sharing the specific products that you enjoy on the trail. Takes a lot of guesswork out of the meal planning process for us vegetarians!

ooof I do struggle when I see all the small sachets.. so much waste… Would love to see more food options that can be prepared at home, like the quick cooking oats? Easily to just put any oats you want in a blender, pulse a few times and you got quick oats for your trip.. bring some seeds, dried fruits, etc. mix it, pack into reusable bags and your good to go with breakfast. 🙂

It would also be a good idea to know the types of peppers that you are looking for before you start shopping. There are many types of chilies out there, and they all have different flavors, depending on where they were grown and what season they are, so it is a good idea to do your research before you start cooking.

Wow, you eat a lot of packaged/processed foods! Not a cook? There are a lot of easy vegan recipes you can make in camp that are a lot healthier and a lot more satisfying when you are the chef! If you go the pre-packaged route, make sure to check the sodium content – it’s often very high!

We actually cook a lot when we’re home, but find that for backpacking, dehydrated meals work best for us.