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Best Backpacking Meals & Food of 2024

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Backpacking Food

Meal planning is one of the most important considerations for any backpacking trip. The food you choose will depend on taste preference, nutritional value, caloric density of each meal, and how easy it is to cook.

Some hikers bring dehydrated meals because they’re quick and easy. Others prepare DIY dinner recipes and use a food dehydrator (check out our favorite DIY meals and dehydrator tips ) to make trail snacks.

Our approach is usually a mix of both methods, and in this post we’ll outline our general backpacking food strategy and suggest some of our favorite meals.

For backpacking, it’s important to keep food as lightweight and compact as possible

Ultralight Backpacking Food Video

As part of our Lightweight Backpacking Gear Basics video series , we put together the video below on ultralight backpacking food choices. Our specific food preferences have changed over the years, but the basic remain the same.

Backpacking Meal Tips

REPACKAGING FOOD – It’s always a good idea to repackage food in Ziploc bags to reduce bulk and have the ability to reseal containers. If you can’t close a food package securely, chances are it will explode in your pack and make a big mess.

SPICES & CONDIMENTS – Eating too much of the same thing over the course of a 5-day backpacking trip gets old quickly. Small packets of salt, pepper, olive oil, hot sauce, and fast food condiment packets (mayo, mustard, etc) can really elevate your backcountry grub. If you want to get real fancy, you can even get a GSI Spice Missile to carry up to six spices for less than 2 oz.

It’s good to bring along a variety of snacks, so you don’t get stuck eating the same thing every day.

FRESH FOODS – We love bringing a couple pieces of fresh fruit, like apples and oranges, on the trail. Fresh fruits have poor calorie per ounce ratios, but they’re a great treat in the backcountry and we like the added nutritional value. Carrots and snap peas are a nice healthy treat that will last a couple days if temperatures aren’t too hot.

AVOID CANNED FOODS – We always avoid canned foods because they’re way too heavy, don’t have enough calories, and create bulky trash to pack out.

Dehydrated meals are quick and convenient, but they cost more than DIY meals .

DIY DEHYDRATED MEALS – If you have the time and energy, it can be nice to make your own trail meals and dehydrate your own snacks. A quality food dehydrator will quickly zap the water out of fruits, veggies, and meats for some awesome DIY trail grub.

HOT DRINKS – Warm beverages and soups are a really nice treat in the backcountry, especially on chilly trips where it’s harder to stay hydrated. We like to sip on tea , cider , and hot cocoa around camp when the temperature dips.

If you’re a coffee drinker, make sure to check out our list of the Best Coffee Makers for Backpacking

ALCOHOL – Generally speaking, it’s not good to drink alcohol right before going to bed. Not only can it disrupt your sleep cycle, but you may also have to use the bathroom more during the night. That said, whiskey and wine tend to make our pack lists on most trips, especially on casual treks with friends. We carry them in trusty, lightweight containers like the Platypus Wine Bag and Flask2Go .

Cocktails Anyone?

Backpacking Meal Suggestions

We almost always start our trail mornings off with a warm cup of coffee . After testing many coffee powders, cubes, bags, and brew styles, our favorite option for taste and convenience is Starbucks Via . We usually have a quick, cold breakfast with our coffee and break camp to hit the trail early – mornings in the wilderness are so peaceful.

Pairing coffee with a calorically dense bar or two is a good way to get some quick energy in the morning. For additional calories, we may munch on some trail mix or mow a packet of almond butter. On casual, low-mileage trips, we like to enjoy warm breakfasts with friends. We’ll usually pair instant oatmeal with some dried fruits and trail mix. Here’s a list of our go-to breakfast choices with links to our favorites:

• Coffee ( Starbucks Via )
• Tea ( Celestial Seasonings – Bengal Spice )
• Bars ( Larabar , Clif Bar , ProBar , Ivan Bar , Luna , Kind , Bobo’s )
• Granola & Cereal ( Bear Naked )
• Powdered Milk ( Nido or Grace Coconut Milk Powder )
• Breakfast Drink Mix Packets ( Carnation )
• Nuts and Seeds ( Almonds , peanuts , etc.)
• Almond Butter Packets ( Justin’s )
• Peanut Butter Packets ( Justin’s )
• Instant Oatmeal ( Quaker )

We almost always have a cold lunch on the trail to avoid the time, effort, and fuel required for cooking. We commonly make tortilla or bagel sandwiches with hard meats and cheeses. Bagels and tortillas tend to hold up well on the trail and provide relatively dense calories. Hard meats and cheeses will easily last a few days, though they’re not great choices for hot weather trips.

Peanut butter, jelly, honey, and foil packets of tuna or chicken are also good sandwich fillers. With foil packets, we’ll mix up tuna or chicken with fast food condiment packs (mayo, mustard, etc.) and make tuna/chicken salad sandwiches.

If we’re still hungry after a sandwich, we munch on some snacks to round out lunch. Here’s a list of our go-to lunch choices with links to our favorites:

• Bagels or Tortillas ( Thomas Bagels , Mission Tortillas )
• Hard Meats – Salami, Summer Sausage, etc. ( Applegate )
• Hard Cheese – Parmesan, Romano, etc.
• Jelly or Honey ( Nature Nate’s )
• Tuna or Chicken in foil packets ( StarKist )
• Dried Pork Packets ( Meat Shredz )
• Small Condiment Packets – Mayo, Mustard, Relish, Hot Sauce, etc.
• Supplement with other snacks (more snack info below)

Freeze dried meal pouches ( Mountain House , MaryJanesFarm , Good To-Go , PackIt Gourmet , PEAK Refuel, etc.) are a convenient, lightweight, and tasty option for backpacking dinners. For some of our favorites, check out our Best Freeze Dried Backpacking Meals  list. When we’re on casual trips with friends, we like to pick a few of our favorites for dinner. Most freeze dried meals cost around $7-12 and feed two hikers, though your mileage may vary.

The main downside with freeze dried meals is they tend to be much more expensive than DIY options. If you’re on the trail a lot (thru-hiking, etc.), the cost of freeze dried meals will add up quickly. Any supermarket will have other “just add water” options (instant potatoes, ramen, etc.) that cook quickly and cost a fraction of the price . Here’s a list of our go-to dinner choices with links to our favorites:

• Freeze Dried Dinners (Some of our faves: Chicken and Dumplings , Biscuits and Gravy , Beef Stroganoff , Chili Mac , Thai Chicken Coconut Curry )
• Instant Mashed Potatoes ( Idahoan )
• Ramen ( Maruchan )
• Instant Soups
• Instant Mac & Cheese ( Annie’s )
• Pasta and Rice Sides ( Knorr )
• Chicken Packets ( StarKist )
• Tuna Packets ( StarKist )
• Dehydrated Vegetables ( Augason Farms )

Snacks are a critical part of any good trail diet. You’ll be burning a ton of calories on long hiking days, so eating a small snack every hour or two is a good way to keep your engine running. We always keep a few snacks in our hip belt pockets while we hike for easy access.

In hot weather, we try to avoid things that melt, like granola bars with an outer layer of chocolate. Trader Joe’s has some delicious and relatively affordable options for backpacking snacks. Here’s a list of our go-to trail snacks with links to our favorites:

• Dried Fruit ( Mango , Apple , etc.)
• Fruit Leather Strips ( Solely )
• Jerky ( Jack Link’s )
• Crackers ( Triscuits , Goldfish , Ritz , etc.)
• Candy ( Snickers , Peanut Butter M&Ms , Chocolate Almonds , etc.)
• Hydration mixes

Check out our list of the Best Energy Bars to take the guess work out of snack shopping for your next adventure

What’s in Our Camp Kitchen?

When we head out on backcountry trips, these are the items usually found in our packs. For more information on our favorite gear, check out the CleverHiker Backpacking Gear Guide and our Best Backpacking Stoves list.

• Stove System: JetBoil MiniMo
• Ultralight Stove: MSR Pocket Rocket 2 & BRS Stove
• 1-2 Person Cookpot: Snow Peak Mini Solo Cookset
• Group Cookpot: MSR Titan Kettle
• Spoon: Sea to Summit Alpha Light Long Spoon
• Cup: Snow Peak Titanium Single 450
• Food Storage: Ursack & BearVault BV500

These Dried Pulled Pork Packets ( Meat Shredz ) make excellent backcountry tacos, ramen, and more!

Critical Food Considerations

LEAVE NO TRACE – You love nature. That’s why you’re out there and that’s why you’re reading this post. So please, always pack out your trash and any food you don’t eat. Yes, truly following LNT rules includes packing out things like spent coffee grounds, orange rinds, and apple cores. Always scan your campsites and lunch spots before hiking on, and if you’re a true LNT rockstar, help pack out trash left behind by other backcountry travelers. Check out our LNT tutorial video for a quick refresher.

FOOD STORAGE – Proper food storage is incredibly important for protecting wildlife . For example, bears that learn to associate humans with food often need to be trapped and killed. So please, always store your food properly in the backcountry. We hesitate to even teach proper bear bagging techniques anymore, because most hikers don’t take the time to do it properly. And even if they do, really smart bears can still bring down a good bear hang. The safest bet for backcountry food storage is an Ursack or Bear Canister .

Bear Canisters are required in some areas, so make sure to check regulations well in advance of your trip

CALORIE INTAKE – Backpackers burn a lot of calories on the trail. On average, hikers usually burn between 3000-4000 calories per day, but thru-hikers hiking 20-30 mile days can easily burn 5000-6000 calories. It’s crucial to pack enough nutrients to give your body the energy it needs. This important calculation will also depend on your size, weight, age, and activity level.

WEIGHT – Bringing too much food is one of the most common beginner backpacking mistakes . And that’s understandable, who wants to risk going hungry in the woods? But carrying a bunch of unnecessary weight can quickly dampen spirits on backpacking trips, so a little experience and pre-trip calorie calculation will go a long way.

Freeze Dried Meals can be a great option when weight savings and convenience are your top priorities

CALORIC DENSITY – It’s important to consider how calorically dense your backpacking food choices are to keep your pack weight down. High-fat foods like olive oil, nuts , peanut butter , and chocolate tend to have high calorie-per-ounce ratios. On the other hand, fresh fruits and vegetables tend to have low calorie-per-ounce ratios. The ideal range is around 120-130 calories-per-ounce total.

FOOD VOLUME   – Certain foods will take up a lot more space in your pack than other foods containing the same amount of calories (think bagels vs almonds ). This isn’t a big deal on short trips, but on long journeys, and especially when bear canisters are required, you’ll want to pay close attention to how much space your food choices will take up.

NUTRITION – Good nutrition on the trail is just like eating right at home. You’ll want a balance of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates while getting as much fiber,  fruits , and vegetables into your diet as possible. It’s hard to eat really healthy on the trail because processed foods tend to be much more convenient, but finding a good balance is key. Also, we always load up on fresh, healthy foods the moment we’re back in town.

CONVENIENCE – After a long day of hiking, chances are you won’t want to prepare an elaborate meal. Nor will you want to clean up a bunch of dirty dishes when you’re done eating. So we recommend keeping it simple. For dinners, this means we almost always eat “just add water” meals, and for breakfast, we usually have hot coffee with bars and snacks.

Granola with toppings is a fast and easy trail breakfast – we like to eat it with powerdered coconut milk

WATER ACCESS – If your dinners require water for cooking, you’ll want to camp near a water source or make sure to pack plenty of water for a dry camp. If you’re backpacking in an area with scarce water, make sure to plan accordingly.

FUEL – Most backcountry meals require a small stove for cooking – check out our Best Backpacking Stoves list to see our favorites. Plan out how many times you’ll need to cook (including coffee and tea ) to calculate how much fuel to bring. Fuel usage rates vary depending on the stove model, pot size, elevation, and temperature, so knowing exactly how much fuel to bring will take some experience. On an average 5-day, two-person backpacking trip, we usually boil water about 10 times (once for morning coffee and once for dinner), and one small 100 g isobutane fuel canister is usually more than enough.

COST – You’ll usually pay for convenience with backpacking food. Freeze dried meals tend to cost around $7-12 each, but they’re also tasty, convenient, and don’t require any cleanup. We enjoy Mountain House , MaryJanesFarm , Packit Gourmet , Backpacker’s Pantry , PEAK Refuel , and Good To-Go when we’re not preparing our own meals.

VEGAN & VEGETARIAN MEALS – If you’re looking to spice up your animal-free backpacking food options, don’t miss our list of the Best Vegan and Vegetarian Backpacking Meals .

Need More Gear Advice?

If you liked this list, you’ll love the CleverHiker Gear Guide where we test and recommend tons of outdoor adventure gear from a variety of categories. here are some links to popular articles:

• 10 Best Hiking Shoes
• 10 Best Backpacking Tents
• 10 Best Sleeping Bags
• 10 Best Sleeping Pads
• 10 Best Backpacking Packs
• 10 Best Backpacking Stoves
• CleverHiker Top Gear Picks

 More Information

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If you found this guide helpful, please give it a share on social media! Also, be sure to check out our CleverHiker Gear Guide to see all of our top gear picks.

Thanks for reading and happy trails!

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Need More Backpacking Advice?

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Best Backpacking Freeze Dried & Dehydrated Meals of 2024

Best Vegan & Vegetarian Backpacking Meals of 2024

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Ultralight Backpacking Meals & Recipes

The convenience of freeze-dried backpacking meals is undeniable – they’re ultralight and just require boiling water to prepare. At the end of a long day hiking, I look forward to a hot meal at camp with minimal preparation and clean-up. Just-add-water to a boil bag, stir, wait, and eat.

The drawback to most pre-packaged camping food is that it’s full of salt, and options quickly become limited if avoiding common allergens like soy or gluten. After watching family members lug a few extra pounds of food into the backcountry in order to reduce their sodium intake or meet the needs of their restricted diet, I decided to create my own just-add-water backpacking meals using a combination of bulk ingredients easily available from the grocery store and online retailers. No food dehydrator or freeze-dryer required; no unnecessary weight in the backpack.

These recipes have all been tested where it counts: by famished hikers in campsites miles from anywhere! But I’ve also tested them in my home kitchen, without hiker hunger putting its thumb on the scale of taste.

UL Backpacking Foods from the Grocery Store

The following staple ingredients are readily available at most grocery stores and serve as easily rehydratable carbohydrate bases:

• Instant Rice: Minute Instant White Rice is my go-to, as it rehydrates well in around 10 minutes after adding boiling water and is practically available everywhere in the US. Even though it says “instant”, I’ve found the instant brown rice options to rehydrate poorly compared to white rice.
• Couscous : The perfect instant meal, as regular couscous never has to be boiled. I use bulk unflavored couscous in my recipes, but boxed couscous mixes can also make easy grab-and-go meals from the grocery store.
• Instant Potatoes: Cheap and quick. You’ll definitely want to spice these up to get that “complete meal” feel, but in a pinch nothing can beat a bag of mashed potatoes.

Other light weight backpacking ingredients from the grocery store include:

• Freeze Dried Onions : Typically found in the spice aisle, Litehouse freeze dried red and green onions add depth of flavor as well as (in the case of green onions) a nice pop of color to many of the recipes
• Coconut Milk Power : Once only available at speciality retailers, I’m finding this more and more frequently in the baking goods or coffee creamer aisle.
• Peanut Butter Powder: Add it oatmeals, create a peanut sauce of noodles or just snack on a spoonful of rehydratable peanut butter. Packed with protein and none of the weight.
• Freeze-Dried Fruits: Look for these alongside the dried fruits as well as with the baby foods (toddler yogurt drops also make a delicious freeze-dried backpacking snack!)

Most of my recipes incorporate additional ingredients that are available on Amazon, but a few – such as those that use my favorite instant penne pasta base – are only available from select suppliers. I recommend you source these ingredients at least two weeks before your trip to account for shipping (if ordering products online). Once you have everything in place, though, the actual meal prep process itself takes a matter of minutes.

Just Add Water Backpacking Recipes

These meals require the addition of boiling water (we use our trusty Jetboil but any backpacking stove will do) and are organized by carbohydrate.

Instant Rice Camping Recipes

• Thai Coconut Chicken & Rice
• Teriyaki Chicken & Rice ( coming soon! )
• Southwestern Burrito ( coming soon! )
• Sweet Potato Pecan Rice ( coming soon! )

Penne Pasta Camping Recipes

• Penne Pasta “Lasagna”
• Penne Alfredo w/Mushroom ( coming soon! )

Couscous Camping Recipes

• Persian Couscous

Cold-Soak Backpacking Meals

No stove, no problem! All of these dehydrated meals are designed to be cold-soaked, making them perfect for lunches on the trail. Just add cold water, hike a little more, and you’ll be ready to be eat by time you find a scenic stopping point.

• Cold Soak “Waldorf” Lentil Salad ( coming soon! )
• Instant Backpacker Chicken Salad ( coming soon! )
• Cold Soak Broccoli Salad ( coming soon! )

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14 best foods for hiking and backpacking.

Jess is a Content Editor at We Are Explorers. Her bucket list is long and her weekends are full. She’s an ultralight adventurer but will always sacrifice a few grams to bring a book. Endlessly curious, Jess loves nothing more than discovering new places (real & fictional!), and pushing her limits to the max.

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Amy Fairall

As the Editor, if you read WAE, you've more than likely read something Amy's written. Amy lives on Larrakia land in the NT and is frequently on the hunt for new bodies of freshwater to dunk herself into. She has a preference for adventures slightly off the beaten track, with a penchant for multi-day hikes and a new found love of paddling.

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Knowing what food is best to take on a hike isn’t always straightforward and hiking food isn’t necessarily the same food you’d take camping or eat in your daily life. We’ve curated a list of the hiking foods, so you can spend less time planning and more time in nature.

Hiking is one of the best ways to see Australia’s most beautiful landscapes, but it’s also a demanding activity that requires proper preparation – especially when it comes to food.

The food and drink you pack for each trip will not only influence you physically, it will also affect how you feel emotionally and mentally during your trip.

Read more: 5 Key Tips to Good Nutrition on a Big Adventure

The food you bring needs to be lightweight and easy to prepare, as you don’t want to be weighed down or worry about keeping it fresh.

While it might be tempting to choose from the many prepared packet meals on offer, we advise making your own food where possible. There are a number of immediate benefits, including being able to monitor sugar intake and cutting down on the amount of packaging you carry back out with you.

With this in mind, we’ve compiled a list of the top 14 foods for hiking, so you can fill your tummy and not over-fill your pack.

Jump to Section

 1. fresh fruit (apple).

@priscilladupreez on Unsplash

Approx nutrients per 170g serving:

• Calories: 95
• Vitamins: Good source of vitamin C
• Carbohydrates: 25 grams
• Protein: 1 gram
• Fat: 0 grams

Apples are among the most durable fresh fruits you can take on a hike. They don’t bruise easily and can withstand getting jostled around in a backpack. Plus, they’re lightweight and full of nutrients like fibre and Vitamin C. Neurologists recommend eating at least one before midday so that the body has time to digest it before you need the energy.

 2. Dried Fruit

@katealiice

Approx nutrients per 100g:

• Calories: 359
• Protein: 2.64 grams
• Carbohydrates: 83 grams
• Fat: 2.7 grams

Dried fruit makes for a great breakfast when hiking because it’s lightweight and easy to eat on the go. Plus, it’s packed with nutrients and fibre. As the water is removed from dried food, it concentrates sugar and calories in less quantities. However, dried food is still rich in sugar and calories. So, try choosing options that are lower in sugar for the healthiest option, like dried mulberries.

 3. Preserved Fish

@ignatkushanrev on Unsplash

• Calories : 100
• Vitamins: Good source of vitamin B12
• Carbohydrates : 0 grams
• Protein: 12 grams
• Fat: 5 grams

Preserved fish is an excellent option for a protein-rich snack. It makes for a quick and nutritious meal that doesn’t require refrigeration, and can be eaten cold or heated over a campfire. Plus, it’s a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are great for heart health. Having preserved fish as a meal on a break can be a great way to re-energize and refuel.

Opt for fish in a sachet over cans for a more compact, lightweight, and packable version.

 4. Mountain Bread

• Calories: 130
• Vitamins: Good source of vitamin A
• Carbohydrates: 52 grams
• Protein: 0 grams
• Fat: 1.5 grams

Having this bread in your backpack is perfect for a quick snack or sandwich on the go. Considered a healthier alternative to traditional bread, mountain bread is less doughy and is made with wholewheat flour. It doesn’t get spongy when wet like other breads and doesn’t spoil easily, which makes it ideal for hikes.

5. Granola Bars

@towfiqu999999 on Unsplash

Granola bars are a favourite among hikers because they’re easy to carry, quick to eat and full of energy-boosting ingredients like oats, nuts, and dried fruit. Plus, they come in various flavours, so you’re sure to find a flavour combo you like.

When making your hiking meal plan, don’t forget these must-have bars! They’ll help you quickly recover some of the energy you’ll be expending on your hike.

The nutritional value of a granola bar will differ drastically between brands and flavour combinations, so make sure to read the nutritional information on the back before purchasing to see if it fits with what you need!

More nuts = more protein!

 6. Instant Oatmeal

@vanilla88 on Unsplash

Approx nutrients per 28g serving:

• Calories: 100
• Vitamins: Good source of vitamin B6
• Carbohydrates: 19 grams
• Protein: 2.4 grams
• Fat : 2 grams

Oatmeal is perfect for helping you recover some of the energy you’ll be spending on your hike. Instant oatmeal is normally eaten for breakfast, but it can also make a great snack while hiking. Carry one or more small packs with you, and make a delicious and filling meal or snack by adding some hot water.

 7. Almond Butter

@christine_siracusa on Unsplash

Approx nutrients per 16g serving:

• Calories: 98
• Carbohydrates: 3 grams
• Protein: 3.4 grams
• Fat: 9 grams

Although peanut butter is more popular, almond butter is a healthier option with the same amount of protein. Almonds are a good source of fibre, magnesium, and healthy fats. Combined with the protein from the butter, this makes for a perfect hiking snack that’ll give you long-lasting energy.

Plus, almonds don’t need to be refrigerated, so just throw the jar of almond butter in your backpack and get going! To reduce the amount of weight you’re carrying, portion the amount of almond butter you want to bring into a smaller container or doubled zip-lock bag.

• Calories: 116
• Carbohydrates: 3.1 grams
• Protein: 9.4 grams
• Fat: 7.3 grams

Jerky is a high-protein, low-fat snack that’s perfect for taking on hiking trips. It’s hands down the best way to bring meat on your hike, and it doesn’t need to be refrigerated. While beef is the most popular jerky, create a mix for some variety.

 9. Parmesan Cheese

@tiefenscharf on Unsplash

• Calories: 431
• Vitamins: Good source of vitamin D
• Carbohydrates: 4.1 grams
• Proteins: 38 grams
• Fats: 29 grams

This hard Italian cheese will last for days in your backpack without refrigeration. It’s perfect for a pre-hike snack or to add to pasta dishes at camp. Parmesan is also a great source of protein and fat that’ll keep you feeling full and energetic on the trail. Pack parmesan in small wedges or slices for easy snacking.

10. Instant Noodles

@thecampstovechef

Approx nutrients per 43g serving:

• Calories: 385
• Vitamins: Good source of vitamin B
• Carbohydrates: 27 grams
• Protein: 5 grams
• Fat: 7 grams

Another quick meal you can prepare easily is instant noodles. These ready-made packaged meals are lightweight, easy to cook, and require little cleanup. Just place the dried noodles in your hiking bowl, add boiling water and flavour sachets, wait a few minutes, give it a stir, and enjoy.

Many instant noodle brands also offer varieties with meat or vegetables already included. Choose your favourite flavour and add it to your hiking food list.

Nearby Accommodation

@evadavisboermans

• Calories: 607
• Carbohydrates: 21 grams
• Protein: 20 grams
• Fat: 54 grams

Nuts always make for a good snack as they’re high in protein and calories and will help keep you feeling full for a long time after you eat them.

Pack a variety of nuts, like almonds, peanuts, and cashews, for a well-rounded snack. You can eat them as they are, or add them to your trail mix.

12. Vegetables

Nutrients per 100g:

• Calories: 65
• Vitamins: Good source of vitamin C and B6
• Carbohydrates: 13 grams
• Protein: 2.9 grams
• Fat: 0.2 grams

If you want to replace freeze-dried meals with fresh foods when hiking, veggies can make a great addition to your menu. However, not every vegetable is suitable for hiking. Any veggie that has a high water content, like cucumber and tomatoes, will only add water weight to what you’re carrying and can squish easily, making a mess in your backpack.

Instead, focus on packing vegetables that are more sturdy and high in calories and nutrients, like carrots and beetroot. These will help you stay energised on the trail.

13. Powdered Milk

@thetantrap

• Calories: 496
• Vitamins: Good source of vitamins C, B6, D
• Carbohydrates: 38g
• Protein: 26g

Powdered milk is a super-lightweight hiking food that can be used in multiple ways. You can use it to make oatmeal or pancakes more creamy or if you’re really brave (read: desperate) simply mix it with water.

For those that love hot drinks, powdered milk can also be used to make rich hot chocolates and creamy coffees on the go.

Powdered milk is high in calories and protein, and is an excellent choice for hikers who need an energy boost. It’s also an easy way to get your daily dose of calcium while on the trail.

14. Dark Chocolate

@charissek on Unsplash

• Calories: 546
• Vitamins: Good source of vitamins B and E
• Carbohydrates: 61g
• Protein: 4.9g

Hiking can be tough stuff, so you’ll need some sweet sweet motivation and a reward for when it’s all over. Chocolate provides a quick blast of energy to help you power through the last few kilometres and is a surefire way to boost morale. Store the chocolate in a Ziploc bag to keep it from staining your gear if it melts. Dark chocolate is the better alternative if you’re avoiding sugar. You can also break it up into small pieces to scatter through your trail mix.

Best Hiking Foods FAQs

What foods should you eat on a multi-day hike.

Multi-day hikes require more planning than shorter hikes, as you need to ensure you have enough food to last the entire trip but don’t weigh you down.

When choosing foods for a multi-day hike, aim for items that are high in calories and protein, and are easy to carry and store.

To help you choose, here’s a list of food ideas for your next multi-day hike.

Classic Pre-Hike Breakfast Menu

As most breakfast foods are nutritious and quick to prepare, your hiking breakfast may not significantly differ from the breakfast you usually have at home.

You’ll still need some protein-rich foods to help charge your batteries, as well as complex carbs for sustained energy. Don’t forget to pack some fruits and veggies for vitamins and minerals.

A typical pre-hike breakfast menu can include:

• Overnight oats
• Granola bars
• Instant oatmeal
• Peanut butter

Carbs for Hiking Dinners

For dinner, you’ll want to focus on foods rich in complex carbs, as these will help replenish your glycogen reserves and give you energy for the next day.If you’re on the trail for a while, plan on cooking warm food for yourself.

You can always settle for the no-cook option, packing cold foods like salads or sandwiches, but it’s not something we’d recommend for more than a night or two. Instead, it’s better to travel with a hiking stove and cook your own meals for a more delicious, nutritious, and satisfying meal.

Some complex carb options for your hiking dinner include:

Drinks for Chilly Hiking Evenings

Just as with dinner, we’d recommend a warm drink before going to bed, as this will help you stay hydrated and warm after a long day of hiking.

The best beverage after a long day on the trail is a cup of hot green tea to relax and rehydrate. That’s not your only option, of course: powdered milk can be used to make some hot milk to enjoy.

If you’re going to relax around the campfire, hot chocolate is also a great drink before bed. Plan your water supply for the whole trip to avoid running out.

Here are several options for drinks you can take with you on your next hike: 

What foods should you avoid on a hike?

Only Sugary Food

Eating only sugary snacks isn’t a good idea, as you’ll quickly become tired and hungry. Then you’ll start craving salty flavours to balance it out.

Create a balanced mix of sweet and savoury snacks when hiking. Pick some of your favourite nuts or seeds and add them to your menu for a delicious crunchy power boost.

Heavy Meals

Heavy meals are meals that take a long time to digest and include foods like burgers, pizza and any other food that’s rich in butter, oil, and eggs.

In the best-case scenario, you’ll feel good for the first hour after eating a heavy meal, but you’re soon likely to experience a big energy drop.

A beer or two in the evening around the campfire may seem like a nice idea, but drinking alcohol before or on a hike is a big no-no.

Not only will alcohol dehydrate you, it’ll also make you feel tired and dull your reflexes. If you’re hiking on dangerous trails where you need to be fully focused on every step, the last thing you want to be is intoxicated. Save the alcohol for a celebratory tipple once you reach camp.

How should you pack your meals for hiking?

The short answer is: sealed compactly . Here’s what it means in practice:

Use Lightweight Options Whenever Possible

Not every food can be replaced with a lighter version, but there are definitely some that can.

For example, opt for energy bars or gels instead of a heavy bag of trail food. You can also ditch canned food for food in compressible packets and sachets. Dried food can replace fresh fruits. These small changes will make a big difference in your backpack’s weight.

Remove Excess Packaging

Marketing makes food manufacturers use packaging that isn’t always conducive for a light backpack. Once you’ve prepared the food you want to take with you, transfer it to a more compact container, or remove any of the unnecessary packaging.

For example, just pack the muesli bars singularly, not the entire box. Divvy out portions of what you’ll need from larger containers, like powdered milk and nuts rather than taking the entire bag.

What’s best to drink while hiking?

Water, water and more water. This is the most important thing to remember when packing your drinks for hiking. You’ll sweat on the hike and will need to replenish fluids constantly. Make sure you have enough water and drink regularly.

What else can you drink when hiking?

Powerade or Gatorade

These drinks are designed to replenish the electrolytes you lose when sweating. They can be helpful, but aren’t vital if you’re hiking for a short time and/or aren’t sweating a lot.

Water Enhancers

Water enhancers can add flavour and nutrients to your water. They can be helpful, but make sure to read the label carefully. Some of them have a lot of sugar, which is not what you need when hiking.

Coconut/Lemon Water

If you like your water to be flavoured, try these options. Coconut water is a great way to stay hydrated on the hike as it has electrolytes and is low in sugar.

Lemon water is also a good option, as it can help you stay hydrated and give you a bit of an energy boost as well.

How much weight should you allow for food each day of the hike?

Your hiking food should weigh between 700g and a kilo  

Of course, this is just a general guideline. If you’re hiking for a longer period of time or in hot weather, you may need to carry more food with you. However, this estimation is for an optimal backpack weight that’ll prevent you from over-straining yourself.

Where can you find lightweight hiking food?

Specialised shops for hiking gear, or special sections in grocery stores

If you have a specialised store for hiking gear in your area, it’s likely to have some lightweight hiking food options or at least some lightweight packing ideas.

Also, many grocery stores now have a section with lightweight and healthy foods that are perfect for hiking. Use them to stock up on energy bars, nuts, dried fruit and other snacks.

What fruit is good for hiking?

Apple, oranges, and bananas are the most popular choices

These fruits are easy to carry and will give you a boost of energy when hiking. They’re also high in water content, which will help you stay hydrated.

What makes a good breakfast before hiking?

Oatmeal with dried fruit, yoghurt and granola

A light but filling breakfast is perfect before hitting the trail. Eat an hour or so before you start hiking to have time to digest.

Oatmeal with dried fruit and yoghurt is a great option, as it’ll give you complex carbs and protein to fuel your hike. If you’re short on time, you can also just grab a granola bar or an energy gel. Try to avoid processed foods of any kind.

Hiking Food Final Thoughts

If you’re carrying the food, you might as well take some kitchen utensils with you for basic cooking, cleaning and food preparation. There are practical ways to do this, explained in our guide about packing a clean-up kit .

When hiking you’re mostly focused on the fascinating scenery and don’t want to focus much on food or packing meals. We hope this guide makes your mealtime decisions simpler and your hike even more enjoyable!

Feature photo by @zac_desilva

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Tips and How-To's

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• How Many Calories Do I Burn Backpacking?
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76 Backpacking Food Ideas from the Appalachian Trail

Here is a list of the best backpacking food ideas out there, organized by suggested meal, and a few guidelines to keep in mind when meal planning for the backcountry.

Backpacking food doesn't only have to taste good, it needs to be lightweight, nutritious, and easy to prep.And the foods below meet these exact requirements. In fact, these are the foods thru-hikers like Greenbelly founder, Chris Cage, eat when doing a long-distance hike like, say, the Appalachian Trail (2,000+ miles).

Let's dive right in with some food ideas for breakfast.

Note: to download a spreadsheet with all the food ideas in this post, click here .To edit the file and add your own ideas, select File -> Save a Copy.

Here's what's coming. Click on any item to jump straight to it:

• Backpacking Food Requirements

Backpacking Food Tips

Types of backpacking food, cook vs non cook.

1. Instant Oatmeal Packets

Calories per 100g: 357.1

A backpacking food staple. The best thing about these packets is that they serve as a bowl. Just add hot water to heat the oats inside. Get the variety pack.

Buy Quaker Oat Packets at Amazon

2. Instant Grits

You don't have to be Southern to love grits. As easy as oatmeal and can be a nice savory addition to mix up your backpacking meals.

Buy Quaker Instant Grits at Amazon

3. Dried Berries

Calories per 100g: 375

Dried berries give a nice hit of sugar when you need a boost on the trail. They also contain vitamins, minerals and antioxidants your body needs. They are a much healthier alternative to candy. The best is if you can find (and correctly identify them) along the trail.

Buy Mariani Blueberries at Amazon

4. Dried Tropical Fruit

Dried tropical fruits contain high amounts of sugar along with important vitamins and minerals. Banana chips contain fiber. Mangos and pineapple contain vitamins A, C and potassium. Coconut is high in healthy oil.

Buy Mother Earth Products at Amazon

5.Other Dried Fruits

Calories per 100g:

Other dried fruits are beneficial as well. Raisins are loaded with iron, magnesium and folate. Apricots contain potassium and fiber. Dried fruits are an excellent way for a quick sugar fix along with the nutrition it needs.

Buy Sun Maid Raisins at Amazon

Calories per 100g: 714.3

Loaded with calories, protein and fat, nuts are a hiker's secret weapon. Snack on nuts throughout the day to keep feeding your body the fat and protein it needs to keep moving. Most nuts, like almonds, peanuts and cashews, contain 160 - 170 calories per ounce. Macadamia and pecans are even better around 200. Nuts also contain fiber and other minerals. Nut mixes are easy to find in stores and are widely available in bulk aisles if you prefer to create your own mixes.

Buy Macadamia Nuts at Safeway

Calories per 100g: 566.7

Like nuts, seeds are another great category of superfoods. Calorically dense and packed full of good oils and protein, add seeds into your meals and snacks wherever you can. They are also high in fiber. Each kind of seed contains a different balance of vitamins and minerals so vary it up. I often add sunflower and chia seeds in my breakfast, pumpkin seeds in my trail mix and hemp seeds to my dinners.

Buy ELAN Pumpkin Seeds at Amazon

8. Powder Meals

Calories per 100g: 500

There are many 'powder' options out there. From complete meal replacements to weightlifting supplements. Aim to keep it minimally processed, nutritious, and tasty. Our Mud Meal 2.0 is a drinkable meal specifically designed for hikers with 400 calories 21+ grams of protein and 20+ grams of fat.

Buy Mud Meal at Greenbelly

9. Protein Powder

Calories per 100g: 354.8

Protein powders are designed to provide lots of protein to your muscles after a workout. On the trail, they can be an easy way to get a quick boost of protein at the end of the day.

Buy Garden of Life Protein at Amazon

10. Powdered Eggs

Calories per 100g: 140

For flavor and texture reasons, I'm not a huge fan. Powdered eggs are extremely popular on the trail though. Easy, lightweight and cheap protein that can the closest thing to a Waffle House in the backcountry.

Buy OvaEasy Egg Crystals at REI

11. Powdered Milk

Calories per 100g: 347.8

Milk without the weight. Great protein, potassium, fat and calorie boost. Try mixing it up with some granola and dried fruit for breakfast. Or make your oatmeal a little creamier.

Buy Carnation Powdered Milk at Amazon

12. Mountain House Breakfast Skillet

Calories per 100g: 490.6

One of Mountain House’s most popular meals, this classic scramble of hash browns, sausage, veggies and eggs will fuel you for a big day of hiking.

13. Next Mile Meals Sausage Scramble

Calories per 100g: 623.5

High protein and fat, this meal packs a whopping 177 calories per oz and consists of just eggs, cheese and sausage. It’s also KETO friendly.

Buy atNext Mile Meals

14. PackitGourmet TexMex Breakfast Tacos

Calories per 100g: 623

At 177 calories per ounce, this is another great protein and fat boost to get your day started. BYO tortillas and hot sauce to make it the real deal.

Buy at Packit Gourmet

15. Beef Brisket

Calories per 100g: 285.6

High in protein and salt beef jerky is a great trail snack. It’s easy to slowly chew on as you hike. And it doesn't need refrigeration.

Buy Duke's Brisket Strips at Amazon

Calories per 100g: 321.4

Salami is another dry meat packed full of protein and salt. It’s fine to be stored at room temp and less processed than jerky. It can be sliced to put on wraps, crackers or eaten on its own.

Buy Columbus Salami at Amazon

17. Summer Sausage

As a semi-dry meat summer sausage has more moisture content making it heavier than other trail meats. It also can spoil if left out too long at hotter temps. Pack it on shorter trips or eat it in the first day or two of a longer trip before switching to drier meats.

Buy Hickory Farm Summer Sausage at Amazon

18. Pepperoni

A spicy meat product similar in moisture content and hardness to salami. Great on wraps. Doesn’t spoil at room temp.

Buy Hormel Pepperoni at Amazon

Calories per 100g: 202.7

Tuna is probably the most popular meat of choice for thru-hikers. Conveniently packaged, available everywhere and inexpensive. Get it packaged in olive oil for additional calories.

Buy StarKist Tuna at Amazon

Calories per 100g: 140.4

Containing healthy omega fatty acids and vitamins, salmon is another great packaged meat choice. The drawback is it can be harder to find and more expensive.

Buy Seabear Salmon at Amazon

21. Chicken (Packets)

Calories per 100g: 125

The great thing about chicken packets is their versatility. Eat it plain, on wraps or add to your evening meal to give you an easy protein boost.

Buy Valley Fresh Chicken at Amazon

22. Hard Cheese

Calories per 100g: 121

Cheese can be a heavy food for some ultralight backpackers. However, it can provide a lot of calories and fat. Not to mention, it can really enhance the meat flavor. Aim for 'harder' cheeses - they are more shelf stable.

Buy Hard Cheddar at Amazon

23.Cream Cheese

Calories per 100g: 263.2

Single serve packets of cream cheese provide protein and fat on the trail. They are supposed to be refrigerated for optimal shelf life so eat on the first couple days of your hike.

Buy Land O’lakes Cream Cheese at Amazon

24. Tortillas

Calories per 100g: 200

Bread can be too bulky and fluffy for backpacking. Tortillas are compact and can take a beating. Great for wraps - Peanut Butter and M&Ms, Meat and Cheese, Hummus and Peppers. Mmmmmm.

Buy Mission Tortillas at Amazon

25. Greenbelly Meals

Calories per 100g: 429

These backpacking meals are ready-to-eat, ultralight and loaded with a balanced 33% of your DV of Calories, Protein, Fats, Fiber, Carbs, and Sodium. All natural ingredients, and definitely one of our favorite hiking lunch ideas.

Buy Greenbelly Meals

Calories per 100g: 284.2

If tortillas are too flat, bagels can help provide that nice 'fluff' texture of bread. They are a more pack-able and less delicate option.

Buy Thomas’ Breads Bagels at Amazon

27. Crackers

High in carbohydrates and sodium. Hang them on the outside of your pack with a bandanna if you think they'll get smashed inside.

Buy Ritz Crackers at Amazon

28. Apple Sauce

Calories per 100g: 77.8

Squeeze pouches of applesauce are a tasty source of sugar and fiber. They are also easy to pack and eat as a quick snack on the trail.

Buy Gogo Squeez Apple Sauce at Amazon

29. Instant Noodles

Calories per 100g: 202

Get noodles instead of pasta. Seasoned noodles generally don't need a lot of cleanup compared to creamy pasta which can leave your bowl or cup a sticky mess. They also have a lot of carbohydrates.

Buy Nissin Instant Noodles at Amazon

30. Rice Noodles

Calories per 100g: 350

Thin rice noodles called vermicelli cook by just adding hot water. Add in some dehydrated veggies, peanut butter powder and spices to make a quick and easy pad thai.

Buy Three Ladies Brand Rice Sticks at Amazon

31. Instant Rice

A great base for a backpacking dinner meal. There are also countless rice varieties with different seasonings and veggie fixin's at the store.

Buy Knorr Instant Rice at Amazon

32. Couscous

Cooks in 5 minutes - much faster than rice or noodles. The light texture can be a nice dinner relief. High in fiber. A little less filling in my opinion though.

Buy Near East Couscous at Amazon

33. Olive Oil

Calories per 100g: 800

Super dense calories and fat. It can add some much-needed moisture to a dry noodle or rice dish... crackers and tuna as well. A little 5 oz bottle will do. Pack in an isolated bag in case it busts.

Buy Bragg Olive Oil at Amazon

34. Instant Potatoes

Calories per 100g: 392.9

Another backpacking staple and great meal base. Ultralight backpacking food with carbs and sodium. Add meat, oil or spices to liven it up.

Buy Idahoan Instant Potatoes at Amazon

35. Dried Corn, Peas, Carrots

It’s hard to eat healthy food on the trail. Dried vegetables like peas, corn and carrots are an exception. Lightweight and compact, they are easy to add with a carb and some spices to create and a nice backcountry meal.

36. Dried Broccoli

Calories per 100g: 285.7

Dried Broccoli is used the same way as other dried vegetables. We are separating from the other to highlight the key nutrients it offers your body for hiking. Broccoli is high in potassium, vitamin C, folate and iron. For a vegetable, it’s also relatively high in protein.

Buy Dried Broccoli at Amazon

37. Sun Dried Tomatoes

High in vitamins (especially vitamin C), fiber, and antioxidants, sun dried tomatoes are also bursting with flavor. You can eat them alone as a snack or use them to jazz up meals and wraps.

Buy Sun-Dried Tomatoes at Amazon

38. Lentils

I had not ever eaten this until the Appalachian Trail. In the legume family (with peanuts and peas), Lentils are an ancient superfood rich in calories, protein, fiber, and Iron. Takes a few extra minutes to cook.

Buy Lentils at Amazon

A great source of fiber and protein, beans are a great option for vegetarians and meat eaters alike. Dehydrated beans take longer to rehydrate and usually require cooking. Instant beans can rehydrate with cold water.

Buy Dehydrated Beans at Amazon

40. Backpacker’s Pantry Pad Thai

Calories per 100g: 400

Both versions are gluten free and the veggie option is vegetarian and vegan. They pack a ton of protein and flavor to please just about any hiker. The crushed peanuts are packed separately to keep them crunchy.

Buy Backpacker's Pantry Meals at REI

41. Mountain House Beef Stroganoff

Calories per 100g: 459

A great comfort meal for the trail with beef, mushrooms, creamy sauce and pasta. The nutrition and caloric density are in the middle of the pack.

Buy Mountain House Meals at REI

42. Peak Refuel Chicken Alfredo Pasta

Calories per 100g: 485.7

Filled with carbs, protein and a rich creamy sauce this Alfredo makes our list for sporting an impressive caloric density of 174 calories/ounce.

Buy Peak Refuel Meals at REI

43. Good to-Go Herbed Mushroom Risotto

Calories per 100g: 431.6

For vegans and gluten free hikers this mushroom risotto provides all the creamy goodness normally reserved for beef stroganoffs and alfredo pasta while also being high in protein. It’s free of additives and preservatives too.

Buy Good to-Go Meals at REI

44. Ready-to-Eat Chili

Calories per 100g: 100

Ready to eat chilis have all the flavor of the chili you’d have at home. They just require heating. However, this means you’re carrying the water weight with you from the trailhead. If you’re on a short trip and don’t want to sacrifice taste they make great meals.

Buy Bean Vivo Chili at Amazon

45. Ready-to-Eat Rice Medley

Calories per 100g: 142.9

Ready to eat rice meals are easy to heat and serve after a long day of hiking. Being ready to eat means the ability to use simple natural ingredients high in nutrition, which brands like truRoots specialize in. They are not dehydrated and may be too heavy on longer trips.

Buy truRoots Rice at Amazon

46. Ready-to-Eat Curry

Ready to eat curries come in a wide range of flavors and are especially good options for vegan, vegetarian and gluten free hikers. Like other ready to eat meals they aren’t lightweight but for a weekend trip they are great options.

Buy Tasty Bite at Amazon

BACKPACKING SNACKS

47. Energy Chews

Calories per 100g: 296.3

Chews usually have a gummy bear-like consistency. Some are caffeinated, loaded with electrolytes, whatever you fancy.

Buy GU Chews at GU Energy

48. Energy Gels

Calories per 100g: 323.5

Similar to chews, the options for gels and goos are endless. Super convenient energy boost for quick calories.

Buy Honey Stinger Gels at REI

49. Fruit Leather

A good source of natural sugar and tastes like candy. Called "leather" because it can be thick and chewy like leather.

Buy Stretch Island Fruit Leather at Amazon

50. Pork Rinds

Calories per 100g: 446.4

The best thing about pork rinds is the texture. So much backpacking food is mealy and dense. Pork rinds are ultra crisp and crunchy. Their "puffy" volume can take up more space. But, they are loaded with protein.

Buy TJ’s Gourmet Pork Rinds at Amazon

51. Seaweed 

Ready-to-eat dark greens? Practically unheard of. I don't know of a lighter or easier green to eat while backpacking. Seaweed is the ultimate trail superfood. Try it out.

Buy gimMe Organic Seaweed at Amazon

52. Broccoli

As one of the hardier green vegetables, broccoli is a winning combination of tough and nutritious. Florets can be cooked or eaten raw. A head of broccoli will last about 3 days in your pack.

53. Nut Butter

Calories per 100g: 656.3

The king of backpacking food. Crammed with calories, fat, sodium and protein. Ready-to-eat and can easily be incorporated in most backpacking meal ideas.

Buy Justin's Peanut Butter at Amazon

Let peanut butter be the food of choice for the savory loving backpacking community. But, give the sweet award to honey. Sweeten up your tea or crackers or eat it straight.

Buy Portion Pack Honey at Amazon

55. Granola Bar

Calories per 100g: 452.4

Too many options to name. There are protein bars, energy bars, snack bars, nutrition bars, food bars - you name it. Ready-to-eat and usually high in nutrition. Keep it natural and minimally processed.

Buy Nature Valley Bars at Amazon

Calories per 100g: 134

A lesser-known backpacking superfood. Like peanut butter, it can be lathered on almost anything. On top of the yummy taste, hummus is dense calories, carbs, protein, and fiber.

Buy Wild Garden Hummus at Amazon

57. Trail Mix

Calories per 100g: 533.3

A high fat and calorie snack, trail mix comes in a cornucopia of options. The basic ingredients are nuts and seeds for fat and salt, dried fruit and chocolate for sugary carbohydrates. Easy to DIY or buy ready made.

Buy Trail Mix at Amazon

58. Potato Chips

Calories per 100g: 476.2

High in fat, salt and flavor, potato chips are an easy to find hiker favorite. Thicker chips, like Cape Cod Kettle Chips, hold up to crushing better. They are also made with more wholesome ingredients.

Buy Cape Cod Chips at Amazon

59. Energy Bars

Calories per 100g: 382.4

It doesn’t get easier than prepackaged energy bars. If you really wanted to, you could survive a whole backpacking trip on bars. Bars come served in various sizes, calories, and flavor assortments from chocolaty, fruity, salty and sweet.

Buy Clif Bar at Amazon

60. Electrolyte Tabs

Calories per 100g: 1.7

Great source for electrolytes and enhances hydration. Tastes great. Drop a tab in your water and watch it fizz away (like Alka-Seltzer).

Buy Nuun Tabs at REI

61. Powder Mixes

Calories per 100g:0

Similar benefits as the tabs - electrolytes and enhances hydration. Usually with a lot more flavor options and some have vitamin and mineral enhancements.

Buy Ultima Replenisher at Amazon

As much caffeine as coffee, but less mess. Chamomile tea before bed is a nice way to end the day after some strenuous hiking.

Buy Lipton Tea at Amazon

63. Coffee: Cubes or Powder or Pour Over (Alpine Start)

Calories per 100g: 400

Instant coffee has come a long way over the last few years. In fact, many local specialty roasters now offer an instant option. Jiva cubes are a unique lightweight option that provide a rich taste. There are also lightweight pour over devices if you want to pack real grounds.

Buy Alpine Start at Amazon

64. Beer (Backcountry Beverages)

Yup! Brew it on the trail. I actually toasted to my hiking partner at the end of the Appalachian Trail with some of this. Surprisingly tasty beverage.

65. Multivitamin

Get those vitamins and minerals without the bulky food. Particularly good to get your Vitamin C and Calcium which are less easy to come by in shelf-stable trail food.

66. Fruit Powders

Another hidden backpacking food gem. Pour fruit powder into an ounce of water and take a healthy fruit drink shot. Great way to get some fruit nutrition without the weight.

Buy MicroIngredients Fruit Powder at Amazon

67. Veggie Powders (Kuli Kuli)

Calories per 100g: 250

Like fruit powders, a great way to get harder to come by nutrition on the trail. Often veggie powders have stevia or other sweeteners mixed in to hide the grassy taste.

Buy Kuli Kuli at Amazon

Keep your carb dinners (noodle, rice, couscous, potatoes) plain and spice it up to your liking with a DIY seasoning kit (salt, pepper, garlic, chili). Portion it into smaller zip loc bags to save weight.

Buy Spices at Amazon

69. Cookies

Calories per 100g: 548.4

Quick burning carbs and lots of fats make cookies a winning trail snack. One of my favorites growing up (and on the trail today!) are the impressively calorically dense Keebler Sandies Cashew Shortbreads at 156 cal/oz.

Buy Keebler Cashew Shortbread at Amazon

70. Baked Goods (Honey Buns, Donuts, etc.)

Calories per 100g:392.6

Fluffy breads and baked goods prone to getting squished are generally a no-no on the trail. The exception are high in fat and carb loaded baked goods like donuts and honey buns. These won’t win any nutritional awards but they will give you a satisfyingly sweet hit of energy.

Buy Duchess Honey Buns at Amazon

71. Brownie or Cookie Mix

Calories per 100g: 423.1

A hiking food option for ultralight hikers pushing big miles. Brownie and cookie mixes are loaded with sugar, can be mixed in with cold water and are super lightweight.

Buy Betty Crocker Brownies at Amazon

Calories per 100g:477

If you’re starting to fade candy like jelly beans, m&ms and candy bars give you quick burning energy. They don’t provide the best nutrition, best not to lean on them too heavily.

Buy Snickers Bars at Amazon

73. Dark Chocolate

Dark chocolate has a high concentration of cocoa and is a powerful anti-oxidant. It can be extremely satisfying on the trail as a healthier option for those with a sweet tooth.

74. Backpacker’s Pantry Creme Brulee

Calories per 100g:484.4

This gluten free, just add water dessert is about as easy as it gets on the trail. Just add water and wait ten minutes. Great for after dinner or an afternoon snack.

Buy Backpacker's Pantry Desserts at REI

75. Alpine Aire Cinnamon Apple Crisp

Calories per 100g:368.4

Can be enjoyed as a treat or as a sweet breakfast meal. It rates high as one of the most satisfying package desserts but it is lower on nutrition and calories per ounce.

Buy Alpine Aire Desserts at REI

76. Mountain House Ice Cream Sandwich

Calories per 100g:437.5

Want ice cream on the trail? No worries. This ice cream sandwich is similar to the freeze dried versions astronauts take to space. Ready to eat right out of the package.

Buy Mountain House Ice Cream at REI

The 5 Backpacking Food Requirements

LIGHTWEIGHT:  Ideally containing little or no water (dehydrated). Water is the number one contributor to food weight, packaging being the second. Prioritize "dry" food and feel free to repackage it if the cardboard boxes and bagging is excessive. It all adds up to a heavy pack, which can lead to a miserable hiking trip.

READY-TO-EAT:  You will be hiking in the daytime and will not want to set up the stove to cook, let alone to have dishes to clean. Make sure your meals and snacks are extremely simple so you can keep moving. Even for dinner at camp, most backpackers only cook "one-pot-meals". See a few ideas: 17 Simple Backpacking Recipes .

NUTRITIOUS:  Hikers have been known to burn up to 6,000 calories a day. In short, you need to consume a lot of macronutrients to balance out the high burn-rate. High-levels of calories, carbohydrates, protein, fats, fiber, and electrolytes (mainly sodium, calcium, potassium, and magnesium) are a must.

Dried mango

PACKABLE:  Space is already tight in any hiker’s pack, so when it comes to packing food, it’s important to make sure the food counts. This means compact, nutrient-dense options that will keep you full without taking up unnecessary space. Snacks like nuts, trail mix, beef jerky, nut butter packs, and flatbreads are less bulky and much more bang-for-your-buck compared to “poofy” options like bread, popcorn, or packaged items preserved with nitrogen, like a bag of chips.

SHELF-STABLE:  Shelf life doesn’t just mean how long food stays edible for. It also refers to how long food remains nutritious and flavorful. Certain freeze-dried foods can last up to 30 years if stored in dry, cool areas, while beef jerky and other forms of dried meat can last well over a year, whether they’re in hot, cold, muggy, or you-name-it weather. This makes items like dried meats, fruits, veggies, and packaged tuna or chicken (not canned) good, long-lasting, and nutrient-dense options for backpacking meals. They can easily adjust from warm to cold climates without spoiling, and they can last months, or longer, with no worry of them going bad.

Want to take your food prep to the next level? Here are some pro tips that will help you keep your pack light while enjoying satisfying meals on the trail.

1. PAY ATTENTION TO NUTRITIONAL DENSITY: If you really want to nerd out, keep nutritional density in mind. In other words, if you are going to carry 2 pounds of food per day, you would rather it provide 3,000 calories versus 1,500 calories. This is where the term "calorie-to-ounce ratio" comes from. Try to prioritize hiking food that provides at least 100 calories per oz.

2. GET A VARIETY OF TEXTURES AND FLAVORS: I find crunchy things like crackers and pork rinds a nice refresher after eating dense and mealy textures for several days. Give yourself a "treat" at the end of every day. Just something to look forward to - a candy bar, a cup of tea, etc.

3. REPACKAGE EVERYTHING: Many packaged foods come with a lot of wasted space in their packaging. If you’re a backpacker, this also means there could be a lot of wasted space in your pack. By taking foods out of their packaging and re-packing them in resealable bags ahead of time, you’ll not only save yourself some space, but you can also ensure the food stays securely closed when put away. For the really organized hikers out there, you can also take this one step further and label the bags with what’s inside of them, if you want.

4.PACK FOOD WISELY: For easier accessibility and better weight distribution in your pack, try to store your foods in the upper/middle part of your backpack and close to your body. It’s also a good plan to make sure your foods nowhere near your stove fuel, as a precaution. “Crunchy” foods or other textures that easily get “smooshed” should go farther towards the top while the denser foods go more in the middle. It’s also convenient to throw a couple of snacks in your hip pockets or other easily accessible areas, that way when you need something to tie you over between meals, you won’t have to go looking very far, or even break stride if you don’t want to.

5. USE A STUFF STACK: If you’re an organized person, you’ll probably like this tip. There are all kinds of organization tricks you can do with food and stuff sacks. Keep all your snacks together in one bag, keep all your meals together in another, or keep one day of meals in one bag, another day in another, and so forth. It might not seem like a big deal, but sometimes a little organization and reliability on the trail is just what the heart needs. Even if it’s just with your food. But if you don’t care about organization, then you can keep all your food in one giant stuff sack, compressing it down so it all fits better in your pack. Either way, stuff sacks help keep food protected, along with stopping the rest of your gear from smelling like food.

6. PLAN YOUR SUPPLIES AHEAD OF TIME: Mailing boxes to resupply points requires some planning and prep-work ahead of time, but having pre-packed boxes of food you specifically picked out can be a great option for those with food allergies or special dietary needs (gluten-free, lactose, vegetarian, etc.). With a bounce box, you can send food or really any items you want but don’t necessarily need to carry on you all the time to post offices in towns ahead that you’ll be passing through. This is a great way to cut some weight in your pack. Besides food, razors, phone chargers, postcards, clean clothes, and duct tape are all common items in bounce boxes. Something to consider with resupply points and bounce boxes is that you are at the mercy of the post office, as they have limited hours and only hold packages for about 2 weeks. So, there’s not much room for flexibility in case you get held up somewhere longer than you planned.

JUST ADD HOT WATER: DEHYDRATEDMEALS

✅ Variety of flavors ✅ Tasty ✅ Minimal planning involved

❌ Can be pricey ❌ Need to cook

When food gets dehydrated or freeze-dried, the water in the food is removed. This not only makes the food lighter, but it also makes it smaller, shrinking it to about half its original size and weight. On top of that, the process also extends its shelf life immensely. All good things for backpackers. When you’re ready to eat, just add some water, and the food magically “poofs” back up to normal consistency. (Related: Best Freeze-Dried Meals )

JUST ADD HOT WATER: RICE, PASTA AND NOODLES

✅Available everywhere ✅ Cheap ✅ Goes with everything

❌ Messy ❌Need to cook

Found at grocery stores, corner stores, and sometimes even gas stations, these lightweight, convenient side dishes or meal starters come in a variety of flavors; Spanish rice, herb and butter, cheddar broccoli, etc. You can throw in a can of chicken or tuna for an easy, inexpensive meal.

RAW: NUTS, FRUITS, BUTTERS, TORTILLAS AND BAGELS

✅ No prep or cleanup ✅ Nutritious ✅ Cheap

❌ Can be bland ❌ Feels like a "snack"

Some hikers prefer to go the non-cook route, forgoing their stove and cooking and cleaning duties entirely. It’s more of a “bare minimum” approach, but raw foods can be a great option for quick, hassle-free breakfasts, lunches, and on those nights where you just really don’t want to cook.

PREPACKAGED BARS: ENERGY, MEAL REPLACEMENT, AND PROTEIN BARS

✅No prep or cleanup ✅ Nutritious ✅ Compact

❌Can be bland ❌ Can be heavily processed

Energy bars, snack bars, protein bars, meal replacement bars. If you really wanted to, you could survive your entire backpacking trip on prepackaged bars alone. The best thing about them is how they’re a snack or even a meal you can eat anywhere, anytime. Bars come served in various sizes, calories, and flavor assortments whether you prefer something more chocolaty, fruity, or salty/sweet. (Related: Best Meal Replacement Bars )

POWDERED: EGGS, MILK AND SHAKES

✅ Lightweight ✅ Long shelf life ✅ Nutritious

❌ Can be messy ❌"Liquid meals" not for everyone

For backcountry cooking, powdered milk and eggs are shelf-stable, versatile ingredients. Both options come sold in bulk sizes, so a single container can last awhile, being used for a number of meals.

Another multi-serving meal option is a meal replacement shake, which also comes sold in bulk and usually has anywhere between 15-30 servings in a bag. The best thing about meal shakes is that if you don’t feel like cooking or stopping to eat, you can drink your meal instead.

Protein shakes are another good thing to have on the trail. They don’t fill in as a fully balanced meal replacement option, but they are a good way to take in additional calories on the days you need a little something extra.

(Related: Best Meal Replacement Powders, Drinks, Mixes and Shakes )

NO-COOK BENEFITS

Your first thought when hearing “no cook” might be “heck no.” It’s hard to beat a hot meal at the end of a long day or a warm morning cup of coffee.

In fact, I was skeptical at first too, but after completing an entire thru-hike without cooking, I’m convinced. 

There are a few other practical reasons for going stoveless.

• Save Cash: You don't have to purchase a costly stove and cooking vessel. You can prepare a stoveless meal in an empty peanut butter jar if you want. Saving money on cooking supplies means you'll have additional funds to spend elsewhere.
• Save Weight: Generally, backpackers use their stoves twice a day. Once in the morning for breakfast and once at night for dinner. That’s a lot of extra weight to carry around for just two uses a day.
• Save Time: Since you don't have to cook or clean, you'll have more time to enjoy yourself when not hiking.
• Worry Less: You'll never run out of fuel or go hungry because your stove is broken or too cold to work. No cooking also means you'll have fewer food containers to clean and fewer odors to attract wildlife.

WHEN TO BRING A STOVE

If you’re on a more casual trip with more downtime at camp, cooking up a hot meal at camp might be a priority.

Or, if the weather is colder, a cup of hot coffee in the morning can be worth the extra ounces.

As with any gear decision, pack items that will make your trip enjoyable.

HOW TO GO STOVELESS

Breakfast is relatively easy to cut the stove out. Cold oats, seeds and dried fruit (aka muesli) is a common breakfast in Europe and Australia. Instant coffee dissolves in cold water. Think of it as cold brew and you’re good to go.

For dinner, you might have to alter your meals a bit (no one wants to eat cold spaghetti bolognese). But with the increasing popularity of no cook backpacking, there is a large range of meals designed to give you a good balance of nutrition and flavor.

Cold soaking is a great idea if you’re looking to save weight or want extra time to get miles in. Mix your food with cold water in a Talenti jar and let is soak for about half. Then eat up.

⏭ Read next:  5-Day No-Cook Backpacking Meal Plan  

📸 Some photos in this post were taken by Ross Enlow ( @rossaenlow ).

About Justin Sprecher

About greenbelly.

After thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail, Chris Cage created Greenbelly to provide fast, filling and balanced meals to backpackers. Chris also wrote How to Hike the Appalachian Trail .

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Backpacking , Camping , Camping Food , Hiking

Backpacking meals: guide to meal planning on the trail.

All serious hiking enthusiasts know the struggle of finding the best food to bring on the trail. That’s why we created this guide with tips and gear to help prep and pack the best backpacking meals for your next adventure. 

When planning a backpacking trip , it’s easy to get caught up in deciding where to go and which  backcountry permits to put in for, as well as what gear and clothing you’ll need. Food is often an afterthought because, let’s face it, backpacking meals aren’t usually the most exciting. 

Backpacking food should be an important consideration. It’s very literally what fuels your body as you push it to the limits on the trail. 

With that in mind, you can’t simply pack a couple of sandwiches, a jerky stick, and a Ziploc baggie of trail mix the way you might for a fairly straightforward day hike. Good backpacking meals require a bit more thought.

Ideally, you want to choose backpacking meals that are nutritionally balanced, nourishing (and tasty!), and physically lightweight . Luckily, doing exactly that has never been easier.

In this guide, we’re sharing delicious, easy backpacking meals you can make yourself, honest recommendations on some of the best store-bought dehydrated backpacking meals, plus tips on everything from proper food storage to what gear to buy for cooking. 

Article contents

Meal planning for a backpacking trip.

• Easy backpacking meal ideas

Best dehydrated backpacking meals

• DIY backpacking meals

Tips for dehydrating meals

Backpacking gear for meal prep, tips for backpacking food prep and packing.

Before we share some of our favorite go-to easy backpacking meals, it’s important to understand some of the basics.  

Difference between camping meals and backpacking meals

If you’re somewhat new to backpacking or camping, you may not realize that backpacking meals are very different from camping meals . 

When camping, you’re typically at one campground with a fire pit, or grill. Your vehicle is likely parked within reasonable walking distance. This is technically car camping, but it’s most often referred to as simply “camping.”

Camping generally means that you don’t have to worry about pack weight, so you can be as extravagant as you wish with meals. 

In contrast, backpacking meals are meant to provide nourishment and sufficient energy and calories for multiple days in the wilderness — but they also need to be lightweight . 

With that in mind, avoid foods known to cause blood sugar levels to spike, which are primarily those high in sugar and carbs. Because weight and bulk are major concerns, you also want to avoid any physically larger food items, like canned goods.

On that same note, keep in mind that Leave No Trace principles apply in the backcountry, and you’ll have to carry all your food waste (including packaging!) out with you. 

How much food should you take backpacking?

While there are many variables, the average adult needs approximately 200-300 calories per hour while doing a relatively strenuous activity like hiking. While backpacking, it’s better to consume more calories, not less. 

Assuming you’re hiking steadily for about eight hours, that works out to about 2,400 calories per person, per day. To be safe, bump that up to 2,500 calories minimum, or 1.5-2.5 pounds of food . 

You should take into account your body mass, eating habits, and the type of hiking you’ll be doing. 

Someone on a steep 14-mile hike needs significantly more calories than someone logging an easier eight miles. Along the same lines, someone with a larger build may require additional calories. 

For longer backpacking trips, you may want to consider using a more in-depth calorie calculator . 

What kinds of food should you bring on a backpacking trip?

The best backpacking meals and snacks are a combination of complex carbs, proteins, healthy fats, sodium, and natural (not refined!) sugars . It’s also important to bring foods you genuinely like, in order to stay satisfied and motivated on the trail. 

Most foods should be shelf-stable, items that won’t spoil after a few days. A few fresh foods such as cured meats, bread, fruit, or veggies, are also fine — and even encouraged,  for variety. 

These are some staples that should be on your backpacking meals shopping list:

• Instant oatmeal
• Powdered milk
• Nut butter – great with oatmeal, cookies, crackers, or even noodles!
• Tuna or salmon (in foil packets instead of cans)
• Powdered eggs
• Pasta and/or rice, dehydrated to save pack weight
• Pancake mix
• Cured meats like prosciutto or salami
• Hard cheese such as Parmesan or gouda (aim to eat it in the first few days!)
• Soup packets
• Seasoning packets for flavoring meals
• Stock cubes 
• Small container of oil for cooking (repurposed applesauce pouches and travel-size toiletry bottles are great containers!)
• Nutritional yeast – a vegan staple for adding flavor
• Tea bags 
• Hot chocolate (with marshmallows!) or chai packets for a treat
• Pre-packaged backpacking meals – we’ve rounded up the best ones below 

Easy backpacking meals

Despite a longstanding reputation, there’s no “rule” that says backpacking meals should be tasteless.

Making your own backpacking meals is easier than you probably thought. The only thing to be mindful of is that you’ll need access to water for cooking. 

Here are some ideas for easy backpacking meals you can DIY, and the best store-bought dehydrated backpacking meals.  

Energizing oatmeal

Mix instant oatmeal with boiling water and powdered milk over your stove. For taste and energy, add cinnamon, chia seeds, chocolate chips, banana chips, or dried berries . 

To keep things simple yet switch it up, make oatmeal on multiple days mixed with instant coffee or nut butter for a boost of caffeine and protein. 

Quesadillas

Tortillas are lightweight and last for days . They also cook quickly, conserving fuel. 

Stuff tortillas with hard cheese and dried veggies like bell peppers, corn, or mushrooms, then heat over your stove. Don’t forget condiments!

Bonus: use leftover tortillas to make quick breakfast burritos or lunchtime wraps with tuna or chicken packets!

Egg scramble

Mix egg crystals (we’re fans of OvaEasy) with water and cook to make a fuss-free, protein-rich meal that works well for breakfast or dinner. 

Add eggs to just about any meal to bump up the protein, and pair them with a tortilla for a simple, tasty burrito. 

If you have a dehydrator, you can add dried veggies for more flavor and fiber. 

Mac & cheese

For this easy backpacking meal, you’ll need a box of store-bought mac and cheese , plus some dehydrated vegetables. Bulk it up with powdered milk, jerky or salami, and a dash of your favorite condiments. 

Mix all ingredients into a pot with a splash of water and bring to a boil. Stir the mixture frequently while it simmers and devour it!

Veggie risotto

Although rice is somewhat tricky to clean up while backpacking, it’s fantastic for serving a crowd. Risotto, short-grain rice, is best for backpacking because it cooks up creamier and sticks together well .

Using dehydrated or instant risotto, heat the grains with a couple spoonfuls of powdered milk, a stock cube, water, and a little oil. Add dehydrated vegetables like mushrooms, zucchini, squash, and bell peppers. 

Once the risotto is cooked, serve with cheese or nutritional yeast, and seasoning. 

Even with these easy backpacking meals, it’s nice to have a few pre-packaged dehydrated meals — an even easier option for long trail days or when you want some variety. 

Not all ready-to-heat dehydrated backpacking meals are created equal! These brands consistently deliver great flavor and texture. 

• Alpineaire : uses a process similar to hydration to retain 98% of the nutrients in the foods.
• Peak Refuel : protein-heavy backpacking meals made using real meat. Alongside staples like beef stroganoff and chicken teriyaki, they offer scrumptious granola and breakfast skillets.
• Backpacker’s Pantry : a sustainably-minded brand catering to vegans and vegetarians, while meat options use USDA beef and chicken.
• Trailtopia : Trailtopia breakfasts are particularly good, especially the oatmeal or egg scramble. They’re also known for yummy desserts including cheesecake and rocky road.
• Heather’s Choice : healthy meals made with all-real ingredients free from artificial flavors and preservatives. High in calories and healthy fat, the best-selling salmon chowder uses real wild-caught Alaskan salmon. 

DIY dehydrated backpacking meals

We love making our own backpacking meals using our dehydrator to bring on backcountry trips. We’d highly recommend trying it out yourself! 

Why make your own backpacking meals?

It saves money

Since buying pre-made backpacking meals can be really expensive, making them ourselves saves a ton of money . 

If you plan to do at least 3 days/nights in the backcountry during a summer season, we think making them yourself is well worth the time.

Dehydrating meals is much simpler than you might think . We like to turn our favorite meals into backcountry meals. With a little practice, you’ll figure out what items dehydrate best!

They taste better!

Honestly, we find most pre-made backpacking meals to be a bit, well… blah. After choosing between beef stroganoff and chicken pot pie for the 50th time, we figured that we could make something better. And we were right! 

We can pack them with veggies (which are typically few and far between in the store-bought meals), and we can come up with exciting flavor combos .

Looking for a dehydrator? We have this one , which is budget-friendly and good for beginners!

7 DIY Backpacking Meal Ideas

We’ve experimented with lots of different recipes and have turned some of our favorite meals into DIY backpacking staples! 

1. Breakfast scramble

For a hearty morning meal (or hey, you could make it at night too!), nothing beats a breakfast scramble.

• powdered eggs (you can buy these at REI)
• freeze dried hashbrowns (you can buy these at most grocery stores)
• variety of dehydrated vegetables: I like green onions, bell peppers, jalapenos
• Dehydrated sriracha “dimes”: I squeeze a coin-sized amount of sriracha on a silicone liner sheet ( like these ) and dehydrate them. They take a while to fully dehydrate, but they work well for adding to any meals we want to “spice up”!
• salt, pepper, garlic powder
• Optional: pack a tiny bottle of sriracha or an individual packet of hot sauce for serving

2. Chicken Burrito Bowl

One of our all-time favorites, this recipe can be amended based on your personal preference!

• Minute rice
• You can omit the chicken to make this vegetarian
• dehydrated corn (I like dehydrating the fire roasted corn from Trader Joes)
• variety of dehydrated vegetables: I like green onions, bell peppers
• dried jalapenos
• Dried black beans
• Dried cilantro
• Dried pineapple (optional, but adds a nice flavor!)
• Seasonings: salt, pepper, cumin, garlic powder, cayenne (optional)
• pack a tiny bottle of sriracha or an individual packet of hot sauce for serving
• small bag of tortilla chips (they’ll get crushed in your pack, but it’s a nice topping!)

3. Camp Oatmeal

Super simple and healthy breakfast with endless flavor combinations!

• Minute oats
• Coconut sugar (or brown sugar)
• Coconut milk powder

Optional flavor combos

• Dried apples + cinnamon + walnuts
• Dried cherries or cranberries + cocoa powder + chocolate chunks
• Dried pineapple + coconut flakes

4. Adult Mac ‘n Cheese

After a long hike, there’s not much that tastes better than this “grown up” twist on a classic.

• Mac ‘n cheese box (I like Annie’s white cheddar): cook the pasta, dry it off, then dehydrate it. This means it will require less water and cooking time in the backcountry.
• Dried green onions
• Dried jalapenos (optional)
• Dried garlic
• Seasonings: packet of cheese powder that comes with the mac ‘n cheese + garlic, salt and pepper
• Crispy French fried onions (this is a topping, so store it in a separate baggie)

5. Spicy Peanut Noodles

Spicy and creamy, this will warm you up and reenergize you after a long hike!

• Rice noodles
• Dehydrated chicken (optional): I’ve found canned chicken works best
• Green onions
• Dried carrots
• Sesame seeds (optional)
• Peanut butter powder
• Seasonings: salt, pepper, ginger, garlic powder
• individual hot sauce packet 
• Individual packet of soy sauce

6. Kimchi Fried Rice

We lived in Korea, and love this meal! We decided to try to make it into a backcountry dish and were surprised by how well it turned out! It’s not authentic, but it’s a good replica.

• Dehydrated kimchi (this actually dehydrates very nicely)
• Bacon bits (optional)
• Seasonings: salt, pepper, ginger, sesame seeds, Korean seasoning (you can omit if you can’t find this) 
• Nori seaweed sheets 
• individual packet of hot sauce 
• individual packet of soy sauce 

7. Camp Brownie Batter

Just what it sounds like – ooey gooey, rich and chocolatey! This is a perfect backcountry dessert to satisfy your sweet tooth. Plus, it is super easy!

• Ghirardelli triple chocolate brownie mix (or your favorite brownie mix)

I usually put a ¼ cup per person into a silicone baggie (plus any other additional ingredients I want to add).

Choose a couple of additional ingredients to add if you’d like:

• Powdered peanut butter
• Individual pack of nut butter (I like these maple almond butter packs from Justin’s) 
• Individual pack of coconut oil (you can find these at some Trader Joe’s stores, or you can order them here )
• Shredded coconut
• Chocolate chunks (you can add these or buy brownie mix that already has them inside)
• Crushed pretzels 

At camp, simply add hot water to the portion of brownie mix until it is the consistency of brownie batter. Start with just a tiny bit of water, and stir. You likely need less than you think, and you don’t want it to be soupy. 

Then, stir in nut butter or coconut oil if you’d like.

These tips will help you as you start experimenting with making your own DIY backcountry meals.

Buy ingredients dehydrated

These items are easy to buy already dehydrated, and it can make the process easier:

• powdered eggs (find these at REI)
• powdered peanut butter
• powdered cheese
• dried hash browns
• freeze dried fruit
• freeze dried herbs 
• Crispy French fried onions (good for topping)

Store your meals in silicone baggies

These are reusable and create less waste. Plus, you can soak them with hot water in the baggie so you create fewer dishes.

• Stasher bags are super high quality and will last forever!
• These silicone baggies are really budget-friendly, and we’ve had a great experience with them.

Pack condiments

Whenever we’re at a restaurant that has hot sauce packets or soy sauce , we take a few. These are great for bringing into the backcountry to spice up your meals!

Before bringing a meal into the backcountry, practice cooking it at home to see how it works. You’ll learn if there’s anything you need to change or add. 

After practicing with a few different types of meals (ones with rice vs. pasta), you’ll get the hang of it.

Know the different dehydrating techniques 

• You can either dehydrate a bunch of ingredients separately, then use them to create meals. This is typically what we do. We have many jars of dehydrated veggies to choose from when putting together meals.
• Dehydrate a pre-cooked meal. Alternatively, you can cook a meal – like chili, for example. Then, you can spread the prepared meal on top of the dehydrator tray (be sure you have a silicone tray insert). This won’t look very pretty when it’s dehydrated, but you’ll have it seasoned just the way you like it!

Snacks are just as important as backpacking meals, keeping you going between meals.  

The best hiking snacks , like those listed below, give you sustained energy without spiking blood sugar. 

• Trail mix with nuts, seeds, and natural sugar from dried berries or dark chocolate – you can buy it pre-packaged, but it’s cheaper (and usually healthier!) to make your own
• Dried fruits like banana chips and apricots (look for varieties with no sugar added!)
• Protein bars
• Fresh fruit like apples and oranges – keep in mind fresh is heavier than dried, so bring just a few pieces
• Hard candies 
• Electrolytes in the form of powdered drink mixes or gummies 

In addition to the actual food and snacks, there are a few pieces of meal prep gear that make cooking easier.

No matter how light you pack, a backpacking stove is essential. There are a TON of options out there, but Jetboil offers the most reliable, fuss-free setup . 

These ultra-compact stove systems pack down super light and are a breeze to set up.

JetBoil’s products generally fall into two categories: ​​Fast Boil or Precision Cooking.

Fast Boil stoves achieve a rapid boil in mere minutes. They’re ideal if you want to keep your pack weight to a minimum.

Precision Cooking stoves have a regulator, which allows them to simmer and function in colder temperatures. The regulator adds a fractional amount of extra weight. 

If you’re torn between the two, the biggest thing to consider is that Fast Boil stoves have only one level: full blast . 

Cooking pot

Most Jetboil stoves (and other cooking systems) come with a cooking pot that doubles as a measuring cup and bowl, and everything nests nicely together.  

If you have a stove that doesn’t come with a pot or you prefer a different setup, you’ll need to purchase a cooking pot separately. Don’t forget a stirrer for cooking and serving!

Bowl and utensils

In addition to the cooking pot/bowl combo that comes with your stove, you need at least one additional bowl and utensil for eating with. 

Rather than carrying multiple utensils, invest in a “spork” that lets you eat anything from oatmeal to soup to noodle dishes with.

Better yet, look for a nesting “mess kit,” which will include a plate and/or bowl and utensil. 

Food dehydrator

If you plan to make your own dehydrated backpacking meals, you should strongly consider buying a food dehydrator. 

Dehydrators evaporate moisture from food. They work well on fruits, vegetables, legumes, grains, rice, pasta, and some meat and seafood. 

Once you dehydrate food, you can substantially diversify your backpacking meals. Plus, dehydrated backpacking meals are expensive! In the long run, investing in a dehydrator will save you money.

Investing in one is also recommended for those with specific dietary needs, such as vegans or those with food sensitivities. 

Now that you’re armed with some recipes, the best pre-made backpacking meals, and a gear list, here are some tips on how to prepare and pack. 

• Pre-prep oatmeal : Mix dry oatmeal with your favorite seeds, dried fruits, and spices in a Ziploc ahead of your trip (this also works for pancake mix!). 
• Keep it simple : Although it’s tempting, don’t over-complicate backpacking meals. Less really is more. 
• Meal plan : This spares you from having to make decisions when you reach camp for the night, plus ensures you eat any perishables at the start of the trip.
• Ration : Keep some of your favorite backpacking meals and snacks for the last days, when your energy will be depleted. 
• Do a test run : Practice new recipes at home before your adventure — the backcountry is not a good test kitchen!
• Eat dessert : Having a tasty dessert to look forward to lifts your spirits and acts as a great motivator. 
• Variety is key : Without overpacking, include a balance of textures and flavors. Think sweet/salty or soft/crunchy.
• Pack a trash bag : You need to carry EVERYTHING out, so choose lightweight, sealing plastic bags to eliminate mess and odors.
• Bring enough fuel : Spend time figuring out how much fuel you’ll realistically need, and bring extra (this is a great experiment for your test run!). 

You may also like…

• A Beginner’s Guide to Backpacking
• Hiking Lunch Ideas to Keep You Fed on the Trail
• Best Hiking Snacks to Hit the Trail With
• 7 Principles of Leave No Trace (+ why you should care!)

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We want to hear from you!

Have you ever made your own backpacking food before? Do you have any favorite backpacking meals you think we should add to this list? Comment below and let us know!

One thought on “ Backpacking Meals: Guide to Meal Planning on the Trail ”

I think this is a great guide for anyone looking to go backpacking and make sure they have the best and most nutritious food on their trip. It gives great recommendations for both store-bought meals and homemade meals, as well as tips on how to properly store and cook your food. I think this is essential information for all serious hiking enthusiasts, especially those who are new to the activity.

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by Cara O'Brien July 09, 2021

70+ of the Best Backpacking Meals, Recipes, and Trail Food Tips

Many beginner backpackers find meal-planning and backcountry cooking to be just about the most confusing and challenging element of the whole routine. After all, food is the powerhouse fuel you need to keep churning out those miles and getting to those knockout views or back-of-beyond untrammeled spaces you’re after. But knowing what kinds of trail food to bring, and how much, and how to transport and store it out in the wilds, and how to prepare it, and how much stove fuel and water you’ll need - well, needless to say, the backpacking kitchen is enough to bewilder, even intimidate, newbies. And, hey: More than a few more experienced backpackers haven’t quite lit upon the most efficient system for feeding themselves out in the great outdoors.

In this article, we’ll share a slew of good backpacking meals and ingredients, plus we round up all sorts of useful tips and tricks with regard to planning your wilderness diet and choosing between all the culinary options on the table.

We’re going to start things off with the real “meat” (if you will) of this guide by motoring through a bunch of top-notch options for backpacking breakfasts, lunches, dinners, snacks, sides, beverages, and more.

Breakfast Ideas for Backpackers

Breakfast is the most important feed of the day, so they say. Now, we’d argue dinner is also pretty darn crucial when it comes to backpacking meals, but no question you need a good morning jolt of energy to get those muscles moving. On days when you’re breaking camp and covering some miles, a quick breakfast - quite possibly uncooked - is often the way to go; if you’re base-camping it for a rest day or two, you can afford to whip up a more complicated, gourmet-style feed if you so choose (see our hack for eggs below!).

• Instant Oatmeal, Grits, or Hot Cereal
• Dried Milk & Granola
• Powdered Eggs
• Powdered Meals
• Oatmeal with Nuts & Raisins
• Eggs & Bacon
• Salmon Bagels
• Nutella Wrap With Bananas

For base-campers with a little more room to spare for extra ingredients, consider this  Breakfast Skillet hack!

Lunches for Backpacking

Depending on your itinerary and personal preference, you may or may not be settling in for a sitdown, trailside lunch; sometimes it makes more sense to just snack it up more or less continuously (see the next section), particularly if you’ve got a lot of miles to cover or some particularly hard-going to tackle. But in other situations, a nice midday rest to break out some provisions and enjoy an actual meal may be just what the doctor ordered.

• Bagels/Tortillas with Spreads:
• Almond Butter or Peanut Butter
• Jelly or Honey
• Cheese & Crackers with Meats:
• Hard Meats (salami, summer sausage)
• Hard Cheeses (Parmesan, Romano)
• Tuna or Chicken (foil packets)
• Pita Wrap with Veggies & Hummus

Dinner Backpacking Meals

The prospect of dinner can be the only thing keeping you going those last tough foot-miles of the day. Some backpackers are more predisposed to gourmet dinners than others, but no matter what the evening meal should be something to look forward to - tasty and nourishing, and low on hassle and fuss. Generally speaking, a mix of instant/quick backpacking meals for long, demanding days and somewhat more elaborate dinners for when you’ve got more downtime at camp is best.

• Freeze-dried Dinners
• Instant Soups
• Chili Mac & Cheese
• Jerky Noodles
• Mediterranean Couscous
• Chicken & Rice
• Lentil Curry
• Meat & Potatoes
• Cashew Noodles
• Black Bean Burritos

And if you love our Chili Mac & Beef you'll love this meal hack!

Desserts for Backpacking Trips

Some sweet treats and desserts are very much an important part of the backpacking meal plan: You want some straight-up gastronomic rewards after an exhausting stretch, after all, and furthermore, they can be good sources of energy and warmth. Given the physical exertion you’re engaged in on a backpacking trip, you can be a bit more indulgent in this department than back at home.

• Freeze-dried Desserts
• Stroopwafels

Snacks, Trail Mix, & Bars to Bring Backpacking

Sure, breakfast and dinner might be the most important meals of your backpacking trip, but well-chosen snacks may well be the single most essential of your on-the-go foodstuffs. A hearty intake of trail bites will often substitute for lunch and keep you going through the course of your day; if you don’t have the time or energy to cook or otherwise pull together a multipart meal, your snack stockpile can also take the place of breakfast or dinner. Here’s a rundown of some of the best trail food!

• Tuna, Chicken, or SPAM Packets
• Crackers & Sandwich Crackers
• Granola Bars
• Fig Newtons
• Fruit Leather
• Dried Fruit
• Nuts & Seeds
• Dark Chocolate
• Energy Bars, Chews, & Gels
• Trail Mix Butter

Drinks & Beverages Every Backpacker Needs

Savvily selected trail and camp beverages are the liquid linchpins of your adventure. Hydration is a numero-uno goal when backpacking, and gussying up plain old H2O is a smart way to ensure you’re throwing enough back. Drinks can also supply important energy in the forms of carbs, protein, and fats - they can even serve as their own meal if you’re strapped for time - and provide some much-appreciated warming and good cheer on a chilly morning or evening at camp.

• Instant Coffee, Tea, Chai, & Hot Cocoa
• Water Enhancers, Tabs, or Powder Mixes
• Dried/Powdered Milk
• Breakfast Drink Mix Packets
• BarCountry Cocktails
• Emergen-C or Airborne

Condiments & Extras Backpackers Love

It’s amazing how far a bit of spice or a tasty little side dish can go toward transforming a ho-hum backcountry meal into a knockout one. It’s true that the great outdoors themselves are the best seasoning, but including some condiments and other extras in your larder will help you (literally) spice things up at the cookstove.

Foods to Supplement Meals

• Instant Mashed Potatoes
• Stovetop Stuffing
• Pasta, Rice, & Couscous Sides
• Dried Vegetables

Powders & Packets

• Butter Powder
• Cheese Powder
• Olive Oil Packets
• Coconut Oil Packets
• Almond Butter Packets
• Peanut Butter Packets
• Sriracha Packets
• Soy Sauce Packets
• Mayo Packets
• Chicken Broth Packets
• Honey Packets
• True Lemon & True Lime Flavor Packets

How to Choose the Best Backpacking Food

Backpackers out for just a night or two, or heading into a base camp close to the trailhead, have the luxury of toting in just about anything, food-wise, that they’re willing to lug a short distance. But for longer, more extended trips, you need to be quite a bit more discerning about food weight, energy value, and daily caloric needs - not to mention perishability. In this section, we’ll break down some of the basics of choosing the best trail food.

Shelf-stable

Food that won’t quickly spoil or wilt is obviously best-suited for extended backpacking trips. That’s not to say you can’t bring fresh and less-perishable food: It just means you should eat those items earlier on the trek. For your first night out, you could bring prepared food from home, even a frozen stew you let thaw in your pack, to have for dinner. Freeze-dried or dehydrated meals, vacuum-sealed foods, powders, pasta, rice, carrot or celery sticks, potatoes, apples, tortillas, bread rolls, hard cheeses, cured or dried meats, and raw seeds and nuts are all examples of more shelf-stable foods ideal for backpacking.

Lightweight & Low Volume

It goes without saying that you want all or most of your food items to be lightweight and packable. You need to not only be keeping your packweight down to save your body and allow you to actually cover the ground you want to cover, but you also need to be able to efficiently load your pack and have enough room for all your essential items. From choosing dehydrated, freeze-dried, or vacuum-sealed items to repackaging ingredients to maximize space, there’s a lot you can do to avoid a heavy, bulky larder without skimping on an adequate and interesting menu out there.

Calorie Dense

Your caloric intake is going to go up while backpacking and meeting your energy needs while slamming out switchbacks, fording rivers, hopping talus, clambering through jungle-gym deadfall, and simply covering all those hardscrabble miles is paramount. Just how many daily calories you need depends somewhat on the nature of your hiking (on-trail vs. cross-country, steep vs. gentle terrain), the mileage you’re aiming to cover per day, and your own physical size and metabolism. Roughly speaking, you’re probably going to be taking in anywhere between 2,500 and 6,000 calories per day, maybe even more. Thus you want to favor foods with a high calorie-by-weight ratio, on the order of 100-plus calories per ounce; more intensive backpacking may warrant aiming for something like 150 calories per ounce. Because fat’s so energy-rich, simply adding some extra to a dish - say, by having powdered butter or vegetable oil on hand to touch up oatmeal, pasta, or rice - is a quick and easy way to boost its caloric value.

Nutritional Value

You want to pull your daily calories from all three of the major components of fodder: carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Half or more of your daily intake should come from carbs: the easiest-to-process, primary food fuel, delivered via starches and sugars. The rest should be spread roughly equally between proteins - the daily demand for which is about the same for backpacking as everyday living - and fats, which as we’ve mentioned are significantly more calorie-packed than carbs or proteins and which release their energy in a slow-burn kind of way, which helps you feel satiated longer and provides a source of metabolic warmth. Back at home, you may be limiting how much fat you’re ingesting, but out on a multiday hike you generally want to be generous with intake. The same goes for sodium unless you’re on a special low-sodium diet; most prepackaged backpacking meals are high in sodium.

Convenience/Cooking Time

This is a biggie, too. All things considered, the backcountry’s not the ideal place for complicated, convoluted, time-consuming culinary preparations: More often than not, you’re trying to load up with energy in the morning, nab a quick rest-stop snack break on a trailside log, or tend to your bedraggled, worn-out self at day’s end with some palate-pleasing comfort food - maybe while dodging mosquitoes or rushing things ahead of the nighttime alpine chill. Of course, it’s not just that lengthy cooking times are often inconvenient in the context of backpacking: They also translate to high fuel demand, which in turn adds weight and bulk to your pack. Factor in altitude: Water boils at a lower temperature at higher elevations, and depending on the dish this can lengthen the cooking process.

Carefully consider cooking times for different meals - foods that require long simmers can be sneaky fuel-drainers - and make sure you’ve got some instant/just-add-water and raw foods for (a) days when you don’t feel like fussing and (b) emergency situations where you’ve run low on fuel. Also, think about cleanup: One-pot dishes save you a lot of scrubbing and washing.

Water Needs

Depending on where (and when) you’re exploring, water can be at a premium in the backcountry. You need to consider the water demands (if any) of the food you’re looking to prepare out there and plan accordingly in terms of where you camp and which particular days you might be cooking certain meals. 

Types of Backpacking Foods: Pros & Cons

In this section, we’ll consider several basic categories of backpacking food and discuss the pros and cons of each. Keep in mind that many backpackers tote a mix of foods from all of these categories to suit different needs, situations, and appetites. As in so many areas of life, variety’s the way to go: both from the standpoint of meeting your nutritional needs and keeping things fun and interesting for your taste buds.

Add Hot Water: Freeze-dried & Dehydrated Meals

Dehydrated and freeze-dried meals are hard to beat for their convenience. These foods have been subjected to processes that greatly reduce their weight, bulk, and perishability, allowing you to enjoy virtually any sort of preparation in the backcountry without an unreasonably loaded pack or fiddly cooking directions. 

• Lighter weight
• More space-efficient
• Long shelf-life
• Don’t require preservatives
• The sky’s (virtually) the limit when it comes to ingredients and dishes
• Dehydrated meals lose some nutrition and flavor in the drying process, as compared to freeze-drying that preserves those elements thanks to the freezing and moisture vaporization (via vacuum treatment) incorporated into its system. (To learn more about the advantages of freeze-dried meals over dehydrated ones, check out this Mountain House article .)

Add Hot Water: Rice, Pasta, Noodles

Rice, noodle, or pasta dishes are backpacker staples. These range from “traditionally” cooked grains to instant-style preparations that come packaged precooked. 

• Versatile - can be used as a base for a variety of meals
• Not always nutritious

Raw (Nuts, Fruit, Butter, Tortillas, Bagels, Breads, etc.)

Packing raw foods gives you ultra-convenient dining options: the ability to chow down on nutritious fare, whether for a quick bite midway through a hike or when you’re stumbling into a campsite completely bone-tired and in no mood to cook.

• Time-efficient (no cooking time)
• No fuel required to prepare
• Often bulky & heavy
• Can spoil quickly depending on the type

Bars (Protein, Energy, Meal Replacement)

For on-the-go sustenance, many backpackers reach for bars: super-portable, energy-packed, and (hopefully) tasty!

• Highly portable
• Energy-rich
• No cooking or fuel required
• Vary in nutritive quality
• Often wasteful in terms of packaging

Powdered (Eggs, Milk, Shakes)

Many backpackers bring along powdered food - not least for breakfast, when powdered milk goes hand-in-hand with cereal or oatmeal, powdered eggs let you whip up a quick and easy scramble, and powdered shakes give you a quick, no-fuss, get-going energy boost while you load up.

• Protein- and calorie-rich
• Lightweight
• Can be messy if packaging’s improperly sealed

Backpacking Meal Tips for the Trail

Now that we’ve covered some of the nuts and bolts of backpacking food, it’s high time to herd together some more general tips on cooking in the backcountry. We’ll start off with a biggie: Spare some time and attention to focused pre-trip meal planning. 

Some backpackers stick to exact prearranged daily menus, while others are less exacting - choosing meals that sound good the morning of. Either way, though, you should ensure you’ve got breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack options for each day of your trip. You don’t want to haul a bunch of extra food (though some emergency provisions are part of the Ten Essentials of the backcountry), and you certainly don’t want to find yourself running out of food partway through your trek. Both mistakes are easy to make if you don’t work up some kind of chart or spreadsheet spelling out what to bring to meet your daily caloric needs.

What to Bring

• Spice Things Up: Pack along some spices and seasonings: Properly packed, these take up hardly any room, yet give any dish a bit of much-needed va-va-voom. It could be as simple as salt and pepper, but everything from curry powder and hot sauce to dehydrated onion bits and garlic powder are ripe for the picking - and, often enough, just what you need to turn a bland bowl of mac-and-cheese or rice-and-veggies into something downright zesty.
• Repackage: You can shave off a whole lot of space and bulk by repackaging prepackaged food. Instant rice or noodles sold in a box or bag can almost always be much more efficiently stowed in smaller Ziploc bags with the air expelled. Some foods can also be kept fresher this way. This process easily folds into the more general strategy followed by many backpackers of packing ingredients for specific meals together to save time and fuss out on the trail and generally stay more organized.
• Take Some Fresh Fruit & Veggies: Fresh fruit and vegetables provide healthy snacks - celery sticks or apple slices with peanut butter, anybody? - as well as versatile add-ons for boosting the nutritive value and texture of a cooked dish. Well-chosen and well-packaged fruits and veggies can last several days without spoiling, and particularly if you eat them early on in your trip they don’t have to be a significant burden packweight-wise.
• Consider DIY Dehydrated Meals: Armed with a dehydrator, you can convert a whole host of different foods to more packable, less perishable, backcountry-friendly form. From pasta sauces to eggs to sliced fruit, it’s amazing how many ingredients from the home pantry you can dehydrate to vary your wilderness gastronomy.
• Don’t Forget Hot Drinks for Cold Nights: Nothing hits the spot on a chilly night like a warming mug of hot cocoa, tea, hot apple cider, or something similar. Besides the whole cozy, homey effect they create at camp, hot beverages can provide significant practical benefits to the backpacker. They help you meet your hydration goals, for one thing, and can also be great sources of nutrients and calories: Consider, for example, instant broths or a cup of miso soup, or using protein-rich milk powder rather than mere water with your hot chocolate. Slipping some butter into your evening sippable will keep you all the warmer overnight in cold weather.

What to Avoid

• Canned Foods: Canned foods are tempting on account of their shelf life, but they’ve got more than a few marks against them for backpacking - too heavy (especially those with high liquid content) and too bulky, for starters. They also generate trash that’s messy and takes up quite a bit of space (and might slice a finger, to boot).
• Too Much Alcohol: A touch of whiskey or wine at camp is great - not least for toasting a showstopper sunset or killer display of alpenglow on a wall of peaks, or for unwinding after a particularly grueling traverse. But keep in mind that alcohol’s dehydrating, so make sure you’re taking in plenty of other liquids along with it; furthermore, indulging right before bed might see you making more than one nocturnal trip out of the sleeping bag, wrecking a good night’s sleep. And it goes without saying that an honest-to-goodness hangover isn’t much fun to deal with on a day when you’re hoping to cover a bunch of miles.

Leave No Trace & Avoid Animal Encounters

Leave No Trace (LNT) is the principle of traveling lightly on the landscape when engaging in outdoor recreation. That’s something every backpacker should strive for: You not only want to minimize your impacts on the natural environments you’re exploring and enjoying for ecological reasons, but also make sure you aren’t spoiling the wilderness experience for fellow adventurers. Unfortunately, food and cooking in the backcountry offer ample opportunities to be a less-than-exemplary LNT practitioner. 

Packing out any and all trash and food waste you generate while backpacking is an LNT fundamental. Choosing ingredients that come in minimal packaging, repackaging and consolidating your foodstuffs ahead of your trip, and selecting packaging or containers you can convert to storing trash (Mountain House pouches, for example!) help out big-time in this regard. 

Another LNT consideration when it comes to cooking and eating in the backcountry? Favoring stoves over cookfires, especially in heavily used recreation areas or landscapes with naturally limited dead and downed wood.

Doing everything you can to avoid attracting animals with your backpacking food and cooking odors overlaps with an LNT philosophy. Proper food storage in the backcountry is essential: Wildlife accustomed to scavenging at campsites may become dangerously habituated, which can negatively impact their long-term survival and also promote more aggressive behavior toward people. Hoisting up a “bear bag” or using bearproof canisters (which are increasingly required in many national parks) doesn’t only help keep your viddles out of the reach of grizzly and/or black bears: You also need to worry about smaller scroungers such as raccoons, skunks, jays, and rodents. If you’re cooking with a campfire, avoid burning food waste: The resulting aromas and charred scraps may draw in wildlife, which may cause problems for those camping after you. ( Learn more about savvy food practices in bear country .)

Never Backpack Hungry! Take Mountain House on the Trail

Hopefully all of the above gives you a useful starting point for thinking about chowing down out there in the wilds. Remember, planning’s the most important step, as it’ll ensure you’ve got enough (but not too much) of the right kind of eats and drinks to keep your energy - and your spirits - up on an adventure.

Our Adventure Meals are designed to offer a balance of taste, nutrition, and convenience, essential for maintaining energy during outdoor activities. Adventure meals from Mountain House include a variety of options, from hearty breakfasts to satisfying dinners, all engineered for easy preparation and portability, ensuring adventurers can enjoy delicious and nutritious food even in remote locations.

The challenge of finding food that’s lightweight, packable, delicious, and nutritious enough for backpacking is made a whole lot easier by choosing Mountain House for some of your wilderness menu. Our just-add-hot-water freeze-dried dishes and sides boast the longest shelf life in the business, deliver well-rounded nutrition, and taste mighty good as well. Have a look at our broad selection of easy backpacking meals right here . Bon appetit! 

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100+ Backpacking Food Ideas

R esupply is an art. As a thru-hiker, you must to learn to identify foods that will keep well without refrigeration, survive the abuse of being rattled around in a backpack for days on end, and deliver sufficient calories and nutrition without weighing you down.

And not every backpack-friendly food is easy to find in small trailside towns, so you’ll also need to consider which foods you’ll likely find near the trail and decide whether you want to send yourself mail drops containing specialty items.

Even trickier: you have to figure out what foods you actually want to eat. Thru-hiker cravings can get pretty weird, so the answers here may surprise you.

With so much to consider, it can be tough to know where to start when loading your food bag. And thus, our Ultimate Backpacking Food List was born. When you’re out of inspiration and need food ideas to spice up your resupply, this list is where you come.

It’s exactly what it sounds like: just a big honkin’ list of every backpacking-appropriate food item we could think of for your reading pleasure. To give it some semblance of order, we’ve sorted the foods according to traditional meals: Breakfast, Lunch/Snacks, Dinner, and Dessert.

About the List

The list consists of individual items you might find in a hiker’s food bag. Some of these items are ingredients more so than standalone meals. We know a single tortilla or a packet of instant coffee don’t constitute full meals on their own. Look at it more like a grocery list than a meal plan. If you buy these ingredients, you can combine them in different ways to create unique thru-hiking meals.

Most of the foods on this list are calorically dense (120 calories per ounce or more), but some aren’t. Balanced nutrition and variety are important in a backpacker’s diet, so we included a few heavier (but less caloric) items that do well in a backpack for diversity’s sake.

Quick Navigation

Breakfast Drinks Lunch/Snacks Condiments and Mix-Ins Dinner Dessert

100+ Backpacking Food Ideas for Your Next Hike

1. Instant Oatmeal

The classic backpacking breakfast, instant oatmeal is easy to find in most trail towns (even gas stations often stock the individual packets). See also: instant grits and instant cream of wheat.

2. Cold Cereal

Whatever your favorite breakfast cereal is, eaten dry or with rehydrated milk powder. Anticipating that whatever’s in your food bag will get thoroughly pulverized by Day Three or so, sturdier cereals like Grape Nuts may work better than those that could easily be crushed like Honeycombs.

Granola deserves a mention to itself because it’s often cooked with some sort of fat, thus increasing its calorie density over regular cereal.

4. Chia Seeds

Cold soak ’em overnight and mix them with something sweet and possibly creamy the next morning for a lovely chia seed pudding breakfast. You’ll probably have to mail drop these if you want to eat them regularly on a thru-hike.

5. Pop Tarts

Also delicious as a midday snack or dessert, Pop Tarts are a popular breakfast among thru-hikers. You can almost always find these, even if your grocery options are limited to a tiny gas station.

6. Honey Buns

Honey buns are cheap, widely available, and loaded with calories. I never found them very filling, but many hikers swear by honey buns and similar prepackaged baked goods.

7. Muffins / Bakery Items

I used to do a giant grocery store bakery muffin for breakfast each day. I kept them all in a big Ziplock together, and by the last day, the remaining muffin material was so crumbled I just ate it out of the bag with a spoon. It was no less delicious in crumb form, though.

8. Freeze-Dried Breakfasts

We’ll get into more detail about the myriad freeze-dried backpacking food companies in the Dinner section, but nearly all of them have at least one or two breakfast offerings. If you want a sturdier breakfast, potentially including meat and/or vegetables, freeze-dried is a great way to spoil yourself from time to time.

9. Yogurt Melts

I had no idea these existed until my recent travels through the Interwebs enlightened me. Found in the baby food aisle, yogurt drops/melts are bite-sized nuggets of sweetened, dehydrated yogurt. They can be eaten straight or rehydrated.

10. Powdered Peanut Butter

Dehydrated peanut butter is increasingly common in grocery stores, although most brands are low-fat. It’s good as a mix-in for your breakfast smoothie or oatmeal, but the calorie count is actually lower than fresh since most of the oil has been removed.

11. Powdered Eggs

You may find powdered eggs in an outfitter that caters heavily to backpackers. Otherwise, you’ll probably find yourself ordering them online and mailing them to yourself. They make for a surprisingly good scramble; the only drawback is that they are every bit as hard as fresh eggs to scrape off the side of your pot after cooking them.

12. Pancake Mix

No one wants the mess or hassle of making actual pancakes in the backcountry, but you can still cook up a sort of pancake mash in a freezer bag or in your pot. Make sure you get the just-add-water kind.

13. Multivitamins and Supplements

I truly don’t know where to categorize vitamins and supplements, so I’m sticking them here. Most backpackers’ diets are sadly nutrient-deficient; a daily multivitamin can help to fill in some of the gaps.

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Image via Joal and Jenny .

14. Instant Coffee

Many brands sell finely powdered instant coffee so you can maintain your morning ritual/caffeine fix during your thru-hike. You can also get fancy with backcountry coffee presses or rough it with cowboy coffee, but Instant is the easiest option.

READ NEXT – Trail Coffee Six Ways: Which Method Makes the Best Brew?

I always keep a few tea bags in my pack. They weigh next to nothing, and a hot cup of tea is a great pick-me-up after a long day. A strong herbal tea (like mint) that can infuse somewhat in cold water is also a great way to mask the flavor of gross-tasting water.

16. Powdered Milk

Most grocery stores sell powdered skim milk. For extra calories, you can find powdered whole milk online or in the baby food aisle at Walmart (and some other large grocery stores, I assume). Rehydrate it to pour over your breakfast cereal or mix it into your breakfast smoothie concoction. I’m warning you now, powdered milk does NOT taste the same as fresh; most people don’t get much joy out of drinking it straight.

17. Powdered Coconut Milk

I’ve never seen powdered coconut milk in stores; it’s strictly a mail-drop item. The calorie density is very high, and when rehydrated, it has a delicous, sweet, coconut-y flavor and a creamy consistency. I find it superior to powdered dairy milk in all ways except that you can only get it online or in specialty stores.

18. Carnation Breakfast Essentials

A creamy, sweetened drink mix with a base of powdered milk. As the name implies, it’s fortified with essential vitamins and minerals. So healthy! Carnation is delicious hot or cold. Many hikers use it as a base for a smoothie concoction, often including instant coffee, oatmeal, and/or peanut butter. Carnation comes in three flavors: chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry.

19. Hot Chocolate

You can find Swiss Miss everywhere and other brands at large stores.

20. Hot Cider Mix

Nothing like actual apple cider, but tasty in its own way.

21. Protein Powder

Typically only found in large containers, so you’ll probably need to mail it to yourself in smaller quantities on the trail. Mix it up as a smoothie or mix it into your breakfast cereal for a protein boost.

22. Powdered Coffee Creamer

Good calories and easy to find in stores. Obviously more of a mix-in than a standalone drink.

23. Electrolyte Mixes

Hiking is sweaty work—an electrolyte drink mix can help replace what you’ve lost to keep you feeling strong.

24. Gatorade Powder

The holy grail of sugary drink mixes if you can find it in stores. Also contains some electrolytes. See also: Kool-aid, Tang, and lemonade mix.

25. Sugar-Free Mixes

Think Mio, Crystal Light, etc. They don’t have any nutritional value but can mask unpleasant flavors in water and encourage you to stay hydrated.

26. Box Wine

There is no ultralight way to have wine in the backcountry; you just have to commit to the weight.

27. Mini Liquor Bottles

Airplane-size bottles won’t add too much weight to your pack and are perfect for sprucing up your hot drinks. And with your chronic thru-hiking-induced fatigue and malnourishment, a little will probably go a long way.

READ NEXT – Appalachian Trail Resupply Points

Lunch / Snacks

28. Tortillas

The thru-hiker’s staple. They’re caloric, flavorful, and they can’t be smashed because they’re already flat to begin with! Use them as a base for a wild spread of ingredients. On the trail, all foods are fair game to be paired with a tortilla. All.

In bigger towns with proper groceries, you can find pita bread to make a nice change-up from tortillas. Pitas are breadier in texture and flavor, and they have that lovely pocket in the middle. But they’re still flatbread, making them a hardier option for a backpacker’s food bag.

Slightly more squishable than flatbreads, but still a popular option for hikers. Whatever you would put on a tortilla can also be put on a bagel.

31. Crusty Bread

Definitely a risk since leavened bread can easily be smashed. But a sturdy, thick-crusted loaf kept near the top of your pack has a chance of surviving at least a few days. Pair it with butter, cheese, or olive oil to feel like you’re eating “real” food again. The calorie-to-weight ratio isn’t ideal, but bread makes a nice treat.

32. Smucker’s Uncrustables

Those iconic UFO-shaped frozen PB&Js are perfect for thru-hiking. It’s an easy way to get a peanut butter sandwich, and they’ll keep their shape better while they’re still frozen.

33. Frozen Burritos

Frozen microwavable burritos make for a satisfying treat. Pack them deep in your pack and they’ll stay frozen for a surprisingly long time and keep the rest of your food cold at the same time. Put your daily burrito on top or on the outside of your pack so it can thaw by lunchtime. Choose vegetarian burritos to avoid the risk of meat spoilage.

34. Nut Butter

Peanut, almond, cashew, you name it. Nut butter is delicious and packed with good calories. Look for single-serving cups or packets, or choose a small plastic jar. If going the jar route, avoid “natural” nut butters since the oil can separate and leak in your pack.

Tahini is sesame seed butter. It’s very high in calories, but also very dry. You’ll be better off mixing it with other foods than trying to eat it straight.

36. Nutella

Need I say more? Nutella is delicious. See also: cookie butter .

37. Fresh Cheese

Hard cheeses like asiago and parmesan will fare best and won’t get greasy in warm weather. But I regularly carry blocks of pepper jack and other soft cheeses and have never had a problem with it lasting several days in my pack. Store it deep where the heat of the sun is less likely to penetrate.

38. Cream Cheese

Yes, even cream cheese will keep for a long time if you bury it deep enough in your pack.

39. Dehydrated Cheese

Found in the form of snackable cheese crisps or as powders that can be mixed into meals for more of a cheesy flavor. Dried cheese has better calorie density than fresh but is basically unrecognizable in flavor and texture once the water has been removed. It’s still a good backpacking food, but treat it as its own thing rather than a fresh cheese substitute.

40. Crackers

The perfect vehicle to deliver cheese into your belly!

41. Pretzels

A great salty snack, especially if you can get thicker pretzel bites that are less likely to get mashed in your pack. See also: Combos.

Chips are a crowd-pleaser: crunchy, fatty, and full of much-needed salt. You can get snack-size bags, but many thru-hikers strap a full or family-size bag on top of their pack and munch from it for days. Pringles are also popular: the can fits in your side water bottle pocket and keeps the chips intact within.

43. Energy Gels and Chews

Energy gels are mini packs of sweetened caffeine goo, while chews are the gummy candy version of the same. Both great for an afternoon pick-me-up.

44. Summer Sausage

A classic, bordering on stereotypical, hiker food that has stood the test of time.

Photo via Nolan and Michelle .

45. Beef Jerky

Ditto what I said above. You can find jerky in any grocery store or gas station. Just don’t overestimate how much of this stuff you’ll want to gnaw on every day. Chewing is hard work!

46. Pepperoni

A popular trailside tortilla topping.

47. Pork Rinds

Crunchier and less chewy than jerky and widely available in grocery stores and gas stations, especially in the south.

48. Trail Mix

We all love to pick out our favorite components of the trail mix and leave the rest, but try to pick a mix that only contains ingredients you want to eat. Why waste any weight on vestigial raisins you’ll never eat?

READ NEXT – AT Resupply FAQs: Shopping Strategies, Nutrition Tips, and More

Available basically everywhere food is sold, bars are one of the hikers four main food groups, along with Knorr Pasta Sides, tortillas, and Slim Jims. Between protein bars and traditional granola bars, there are dozens of different brands. I won’t belabor the point by listing every possibility, but here are a few popular brands:

• Nature Valley

50. Dehydrated Hummus

Put it on a tortilla or eat it off the spoon—either way, this stuff is so good. Outdoor Herbivore makes a nice mix .

51. Nuts and Seeds

Nuts provide excellent healthy protein and fat, plenty of calories, and (often) a dose of much-needed salt. You can usually find a good selection of nuts and seeds even during a gas station resupply.

• Macadamias (best calorie density but expensive/hard to find)
• Sunflower seeds
• Pumpkin seeds

52. Dried Fruit

With the water removed, dried fruit has a better calorie density than fresh, though obviously still not up to the standards of dried meats, cheeses, or grains. But sometimes you just need something sweet that hasn’t been processed all to hell.

• Cranberries
• Blueberries
• Strawberries
• Banana chips (great calorie density, especially when prepared with coconut oil)
• Raspberries (often freeze-dried rather than dehydrated)
• Coconut flakes (better as a mix-in than a standalone snack)

53. Fruit Leather

Another way to get some fruit in you, albeit in a more processed form. PSA: Fruit Roll-Ups are like fruit leather but don’t contain much actual fruit.

54. Toasted Seaweed

You can often find seaweed snacks in the Asian foods aisle of large supermarkets. They actually have a decent calorie density since they’re roasted with oil, but they’re featherlight so you have to eat a lot of them to get much of a calorie boost.

55. Croutons

Good as a crunchy bite-sized snack or a mix-in with other foods.

Olives are full of fatty calories. The brand Oloves sells convenient snack-size packets of olives that are ideal for hiking. They’re a bit pricy and not always available in stores, although I’ve found them in the snack section of some larger groceries and even a handful of gas stations. You can also buy less expensive olives in a can or from an olive bar and repackage them in ziplocks.

57. Roasted Chickpeas

Crunchy, shelf-stable, and available in the snack section of most larger grocery stores. Crunchy roasted edamame is also a great snack if you can find it.

Avocados are relatively calorie-dense for a vegatable.

58. Fresh Produce

Fresh produce is heavy and doesn’t provide many calories, but many hikers still choose to pack some out with each resupply. On-trail nutrition is pretty sorry, so it’s valuable to have a few foods that are more nourishing, even if it’s just a treat for the first day or two out of town.

Some fresh fruits and veggies that work well for backpcking:

• Bagged leafy greens (spinach, salad mix, etc.)
• Avocados (decent calories, make sure they don’t get squashed)
• Baby carrots
• Broccoli florets
• Cauliflower florets
• Oranges/clementines

59. Subway Sandwich

It’s a time-honored thru-hiker tradition to pack out a fresh sandwich for your first meal out of town. A sub isn’t exactly ultralight trail food, but it makes a wonderful break in the monotony of rehydrated mush, candy, and protein bars. Pizza also works here (but let it cool completely and wrap it carefully to avoid leaking grease on your gear).

Tuna salad made with a tuna packet, a mayo pack, sunflower seeds, and craisins.

60. Tuna and Salmon Packets

Available in most grocery stores. Look for flavors that are packed in oil for the biggest caloric impact. Remember that fish contains mercury, so don’t plan for tuna or salmon packets to be a daily treat.

61. Chicken Packets

Usually found right next to the tuna packets and can be used the same way.

62. Spam Singles

High-calorie and oddly satisfying, Spam Singles are a thru-hiking staple.

63. Slim Jims

You can find them in every gas station in America, probably.

64. Meal Replacement Bars

Greenbelly Meals makes heavier-than-average bars that are intended to be complete meal replacements.

65. Keto Food

Followers of the ketogenic, or “keto” diet eat foods high in fat and low in sugar. Many keto foods are very calorie-dense, making them perfect for backpackers. Bigger grocery stores often have small sections devoted to ketogenic snacks catering to the diet sensation that’s currently sweeping the nation, including bars, smoothies, nut butter concoctions, and cured meats. So basically the same stuff we’ve already talked about, but the keto section often has unique offerings that are worth checking out.

66. Hard-Boiled Eggs

Not the most calorie dense, but popular all the same. You can get them pre-peeled in many gas stations (and at the continental breakfast in some hotels), or you can make your own at the hostel (but chill them before leaving to maximize their lifespan). Leaving the shell on will make them less squish-prone, though then you have to pack out the messy shell trash. Pack ’em deep and they’ll last a few days.

Condiments and Mix-Ins

67. olive oil.

The healthiest fat also has the best calorie-to-weight ratio. Go with individual condiment packets or decant some into a small, leak-proof bottle like a mini Nalgene. Either way, keep it in a ziplock since olive oil is prone to leakage.

Butter will keep in your pack for days if you pack it deep away from the sun’s heat.

69. Powdered Butter

Yes, dehydrated butter is a thing—I’ve even found it in Walmart before. Powdered butter has about the same calorie ratio as fresh, somehow, and doesn’t much resemble its original form when reconstituted with water. It works well as a calorie boost stirred into your meals. Its one advantage over fresh butter is that there’s no risk of it melting.

70. Sauce Powders

Most grocery stores stock a selection of instant powdered sauce mixes, such as gravy, tomato sauce, vegetable dip, and alfredo. Note that many (not all) of these sauces call for added ingredients like tomato paste, milk, or butter during the cooking process, but they’re still good for a boost of flavor and calories in your dinner even if all you have to reconstitute them with is water.

71. Nutritional Yeast

Nutritional yeast adds a nutty, earthy, sort of cheesy flavor to foods. It’s also a perfect protein and a good source of iron, potassium, zinc, and B-complex vitamins. You can find it in most grocery stores in a plastic shaker jar.

Very few hikers carry any spices. But a small plastic shaker jar or ziplock bag containing one of your favorites can be a good way to add flavor at mealtimes without adding too much weight or complexity to your food plan. Pick something generic that will go with a wide variety of foods, like garlic powder or black pepper.

73. Spirulina

Spirulina powder is available in many large groceries and health-food stores, though you may have to mail it to yourself in small trail towns. This blue green algae is a so-called superfood loaded with protein and nutrients, making it a great mix-in for hikesr looking to maintain a somewhat balanced diet.

74. Single-Serving Condiment Packets

Save them from your take-out and keep a few in your food bag to improve your meal’s flavor, texture, or calorie count (or all of the above).

75. Mini Sriracha / Chili Sauce Bottles

Some outfitters sell mini squeeze bottles of sriracha sauce. They’re sort of a novelty item, but if you’re a chili sauce lover, one of these bad boys may be worth the weight.

Great for mixing into breakfast cereal, hot drinks, or even some dinner recipes. It is obviously also delicious when eaten straight. Look for single-serving tubs or packets of honey for your food bag.

Look for the single-serve tubs you sometimes get at diners.

78. Dehydrated Mixed Veggies

Various vegetable combinations can be found online (or sometimes in stores sold as “vegetable soup mix.” You can also buy dried vegetables individually. Harmony House is a good online source for dehydrated vegetables (and other ingredients).

79. Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Most dehydrated veggies have to be ordered online, but most grocery stores sell little bags of sundried tomatoes in the produce section.

80. Crispy Fried Onions

I think they’re delicious on their own as a snack, but they’re also great as a crisp, flavorful mix-in.

81. Bacon Bits

Shelf-stable bacon bits make a decent mix-in for many backpacking dinners, especially potatoes.

82. Textured Vegetable Protein

TVP is basically dried soy protein crumbles. It doesn’t have much flavor on its own but will readily absorb the flavors of anything it’s cooked with.

READ NEXT –

• Backcountry Recipes Ideal for a Thru-Hike
• 6 Easy Cold Soak Recipes for Your Next Thru-Hike (Basic Ingredients Only)
• Our Favorite 3-Ingredient Backpacking Meals

Photo via Taylor Bell.

Most of the dinners below assume you have a stove. If you don’t have one, most (with the exception of some freeze-dried offerings; check with each manufacturer) can be cold-soaked instead. Stoveless hikers can also eat any of the foods in the lunch section for dinner too. There are no rules, really.

83. Knorr Pasta and Rice Sides

Every grocery store has ’em, as do many gas stations. They cook up quickly, are way cheaper than freeze-dried, and may even have a few veggies to boot. A wide variety of flavors helps to keep things interesting night-to-night.

The classic, cheap backpacking food. Mix with instant mashed potatoes for a carb-loaded “ram-bomb.”

85. Instant Mashed Potatoes

Fast and easy, instant mashed potatoes reconstitute almost as soon as you add hot water. They work with cold water too, making them a great backup if you’re not sure you have enough fuel to last the whole time between resupplies. Heavenly when doctored up with cheese and butter.

86. Couscous

Takes a little longer to cook than some options here but has a lovely texture. Can be reconstituted with hot or cold water (just avoid the pearled variety if cold-soaking).

87. Macaroni and Cheese

Kraft, Annie’s, and Velveeta are the most common brands. Presoak the noodles for 30 minutes to an hour before turning on your stove to reduce the cooking time, or get the microwavable cups (which soften faster and repackage them.

88. Minute Rice

Minute Rice is a bit on the heavy side at 100 calories per ounce, but it’s quick and nutritious. Eat it alone or with toppings, or mix it into a mushy rehydrated dinner to give it more body.

89. Dehydrated Refried Beans

You can sometimes find these in stores in the west, though AT hikers will probably have to mail them to themselves. Dehydrated refried beans can be reconstituted with hot or cold water.

90. Instant Stuffing

It’s basically just spiced coarse breadcrumbs, but it makes a great Thanksgiving-esque meal if you add in Craisins, a chicken pack, and some gravy mix.

91. Homemade Dehydrated Dinners

Whatever you eat at home, you can eat on-trail with a dehydrator, a willingness to mail yourself resupply boxes, and a little know-how. Cheese and meat are tricky to dehydrate at home, but you can buy dried or freeze-dried versions of these ingredients separately and mix them in. You’ll have to add fats (oil, etc.) on-trail.

Even if you don’t have a dehydrator, you can buy dehydrated ingredients in bulk and mix and match them to create your own recipes.

Photo via Katie Kommer .

92. Freeze Dried (and Dehydrated) Dinners

Freeze-dried backpacking dinners are expensive, so most people don’t eat them every night of a thru-hike. But they have loads more variety than most grocery store offerings, so they’re nice for a treat every now and then if nothing else. Mountain House and Backpacker’s Pantry are the most common brands, found in almost all outfitters and Walmarts, and even grocery stores in some trail towns.

• Mountain House
• Backpacker’s Pantry
• Peak Refuel
• Patagonia Provisions
• Fernweh Foods
• Bushka’s Kitchen
• Outdoor Herbivore
• Heather’s Choice
• Next Mile Meals
• PackIt Gourmet
• Right On Trek
• Gastro Gnome
• Nomad Nutrition
• Pinnacle Foods
• Farm to Summit
• Alt Route Meals

93. Miso Soup

Many stores sell miso soup powder in the Asian food aisle. It’s a little low on calorie density (not too far off the mark), but it’s full of flavor. The broth makes a nice appetizer, if not a standalone meal.

94. Mung Bean Pasta

I’m probably the only one who packs this stuff, but hear me out: it’s packed with protein and fiber and softens very quickly. The flavor and texture are good, too—even though it’s gluten-free pasta. Loaded up with condiments and mix-ins, you won’t even notice the difference.

95. Vermicelli Noodles

These ultra-thin rice noodles soften quickly, even in cold water.

READ NEXT – Is Freezer Bag Cooking Actually Safe?

Photo via Chris Kummer .

96. Cookies, Cakes, and Donuts

Oreos and Hostess to the rescue!

• Chocolate candy
• Gummy candy

98. Frosting

Spread it on something or eat it off the spoon out of the can. It’s not very healthy, but it provides a decent calorie payload.

Jell-O needs refrigeration to set up properly; I read a hack online that suggested leaving the rehydrated Jell-O in a cold stream to cool it, but you can also drink it in its hot liquidy form.

100. Instant Pudding

Will set up within a few minutes of adding the water.

101. Instant Sweet Potatoes

Betty Crocker makes instant sweet potatoes that you can often find at larger grocery stores, especially Walmart. They’re full of sugar, so I’m putting them in the Dessert section.

102. Freeze Dried Desserts

If you’re in the mood for something fancier than a sleeve of gas station mini donuts, most freeze-dried backpacking food brands have a few dessert offerings. Cheesecake , anyone?

Also in the category of freeze-dried desserts is so-called astronaut ice cream.

103. Little Debbie Brownie Mix

Our contributor says it’s “kind of” possible to cold soak Little Debbie brownie mix into something resembling a delicious dessert.

What are your favorite backpacking foods? Let us know what we missed in the comments!

Featured image: Graphic design by Zack Goldmann .

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Oh hey there! I'm Ibex, managing editor of this site. I mostly spend my spare time scheming new adventures and inadvertently setting my hair on fire while cooking. Thru-hikes: Appalachian Trail 2018 | Wonderland Trail 2019 | Colorado Trail 2020 + 2021 | Wind River High Route 2022 | Pyrenean Haute Route 2023

Comments 15

This was awesome!! Food is one of my main concerns starting out on my thru hike, and this was super helpful. Can’t wait to put the article to use in a grocery store 🙂

Did anyone else scroll through the list a little too quickly and read Dehydrated Hummus as Dehydrated Humans? No? Just me? OK… Well, anyway, great list!

Soyent Green is PEOPLE!!! (1970s movie Soyent Green, Charleston Heston )

I don’t do long distance but here’s what I take (excluding what you have mentioned): Breakfast: envelopes of powdered cocoa and fig newtons for bulk Lunches: clif bars. Dinners. Spaghetti noodles (break them into small pieces so they don’t pierce the zip loc bag). Flavor the boiled noodles with parmesan cheese and powdered spaghetti sauce hydrated with the water left over from boiling the spaghetti. Hungry Jack hash brown potatoes to which I add 2 packages of chicken salad and 2 containers of Burger King bbq sauce. Boil-in-the-bag rice flavored with powdered gravy hydrated with water left over from boiling the rice and one package of Tyson’s chicken in a foil package. Desserts can be pudding, no-bake cheese cake and backpacker’s creamsicle which is a mixture of powdered milk, vanilla pudding and fruit crystals to which water is added. CAUTION. The cups that come with canister stoves are too small to boil the rice, spaghetti and hash browns

Food is as personal as anything, so a preferred diet for one person can be unimaginable gruel for someone else. This is a pretty good compilation, though for those of us who don’t eat many or most animal products, about half the items are ruled out from the get go.

As the article noted, the value of herbs, seasonings, and condiments can be under appreciated. Even pre-made or commercial dehydrated meals can benefit of some jazzing up, and simple noodle-and-broth affairs can be made meal worthy with some judicious add ins like a simple veggie mix.

My condiment bag usually has stuff like tamari, some kind of hot sauce, tomato paste or dehydrated tomato powder, curry powder, coconut milk powder, and some herbs like basil, oregano, etc. A bit of cinnamon, dehydrated molasses, and dried apple slices can transform hot oatmeal from something resembling wallpaper paste to a breakfast to look forward to.

Dried quinoa flakes are almost instant, and can be added to soups and other meals to thicken things up and provide some added nutrients, similar to instant potatoes.

For some reason, i don’t get tired of GoMacro bars nearly as quickly as most other “energy” bars. Bobo is pretty good, too.

I’m still looking, but have yet to find a dehydrated tofu product that doesn’t resemble a dish sponge when it’s supposedly been reconstituted.

Beef Biltong! Like jerky, but without the nasty preservatives, nitrates, or MSG. Just beef, vinegar, salt, raisin juice concentrate, and spices. Rehydrates well in a cold soak, and adds a lot of flavor. I get mine at Aldi.

i like a lot of the suggestions from everyone and 3 years ago would have tried many. however recent diet restrictions have made it increasingly challenging to prepare food that i can eat and enjoy. no longer can i eat tomatoes, anything medium high in sodium and i avoid lactose as well. (scoops are out) congratulations to everyone who has developed a menu that works for them. i am developing a new one after 40 years of camping and eating whatever i wanted… LOL if anyone has such recipes, i would be ever so grateful….. the important thing here is we are all enjoying the outdoors

Nice article. Thank you. My favorite backpacking food is a bacon cheeseburger.

This list is a gold mine! Thank you!

Soy curls are a favorite for me. Great in soups and ramen and will absorb whatever flavor you put them with and they cold soak nicely. Soy curl jerky recipes are all over the web.

I like that you mentioned jello being good unjelled. My grandmother used to take us backpacking when we were kids and made a jello drink she called “Witches’ brew”.

There are other varieties of dehydrated beans besides dehydrated refried beans. I especially like dehydrated black bean flakes.

I like the picture you have of the tortilla with M-n-Ms on it! That really brings out the concept of trail food!

All the best, Scott

I am a thru hiker and a professional chef. I like the list and would like to offer a few more items: -Orowheat Bread Thins, awesome for thru-hikers! Packs well, holds up well, and it Isa tortilla. -I always when I can find them, bring 1-2 Jalepenos. They keep well and add flavor to dinners if any sort. -Dittp for fresh garlic, 1 bulb will last a week. I add sliced cloves into all of my dinners.

PHILLY CHEESE STEAK RAMAN.. 1 package of Beef Raman 1 bulb of garlic Dried onion flakes 1″ of jalepeno, sliced Small handful of beef jerky Olive oil Parmesan cheese

Add all to two cups water while heating it up except the cheese. Add the raman, wait 15 minutes or so. Mix, add the cheese

Dig in and dip some bread or a tortilla to soak up some of the broth. You’ll swear your eating a Philly Cheese Steak!

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Best Hiking Food: Fresh Ideas For Day Hikes + Backpacking Trips

By Ellie Stanton

Updated: June 6, 2021

Whether you are on a local day hike or multi-day backcountry expedition, food is essential to replenish your energy. Here is an ultimate guide to the best hiking food to help you prepare for your next adventure. These hiking food ideas will keep you moving all day long.

P.S. Whatever hiking food you choose to take hiking, there are two important things to remember. First, make sure to pack out all trash and organic waste. Not only is it just basic leave no trace ethics, but frequently visited and alpine environments have a much harder time decomposing organic matter. Second, don’t feed wild animals! This disrupts their natural diet and makes them habituated to humans, affecting the safety of both the animals and other hikers.

Food to eat before, during, and after a hike

Before a hike, carbs are key. Light breakfasts that consist of whole grain oatmeal, fruits, veggies, and eggs will break down easily and help you power through. Here are some of my favorites:

• Throw some granola and fruit on top of your favorite protein rich greek yogurt. Granola is a light and healthy carbohydrate that helps to maintain your glycogen stores and keep you fueled while hiking.
• As you sweat on a hike, your body loses potassium. Top a peanut butter lathered bagel with a banana to compensate!

During your hike, replenish your body with light, portable snacks. The nuts and pretzels in trail mix are rich in carbs and sodium, which comes in handy on hot, sweaty hikes. Other nutrient dense day hike snacks include granola bars, dried fruit, peanut butter, and whole grain tortillas.

After your hike, opt for protein and complex sugars. Anything from a spare Clif bar to last night’s leftovers will help your body recover. No matter what, however, it is best to eat within one hour of your hike. 

Hiking recovery food

After a full day of switchbacks and scrambling, your muscles will need time to recover. On this day, stick to light movement, like yoga or a long walk, to loosen tight muscles and keep the blood pumping. To aid in a speedy recovery, opt for protein, nutrient rich, and anti-inflammatory foods. If you’re feeling fancy, salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids that reduce inflammation and protein to repair and grow tired muscles. If you want something quick and easy, throw in some chicken and your favorite veggies in a bowl to make a protein and carbohydrate rich loaded pasta.

Day hiking food ideas

On day hikes, you often don’t have to worry as much about food weight. Due to this luxury, feel free to splurge on your next summit snack. Here are some of my favorite food items for day trips:

Bagel PB & J

I never fail to bring a few PB & Js on every day hike. The peanut butter is high in sodium, the jelly gives a quick sugary boost, and the whole grain bagel is packed with carbohydrates to help me refuel.

Okay, this may seem obvious, but trail mix (especially when paired with dried fruit and seeds) is a hiking superfood. You will never regret bringing it.

Granola Bars

Granola bars are packable, lightweight, and not as bulky as other hiking foods. Before buying, check the ingredients – some cereal bars are ridden with processed sugars and won’t sustain your energy. You can never go wrong with a Clif bar or Rxbar .

Hiking food recipes for long backcountry hikes (overnight) and backpacking trips

When planning meals for a backpacking trip, keep in mind the difficulty, altitude, and length. This will dictate what nutrients and how many calories you will need. Nonetheless, here are some general ideas:

• Oatmeal – Instant oatmeal + dried fruit + nuts
• Egg scramble – Powdered eggs + dehydrated veggies + eggs
• Cereal – Granola + powdered milk + dried fruit
• Trail Mix Butter – Trail Mix + Peanut Butter + Honey
• Cheese and Crackers – Cheese + crackers + hard sausage?
• Nutella Wrap – Tortilla + Nutella + Banana chips
• Thanksgiving Dinner – Instant mashed potatoes + beans + instant stuffing
• Burrito – Tortillas + instant cook rice + taco mix + beans
• Loaded Chili Mac – Macaroni Noodle + Cheese + Beans + Chili Mix

Pro Tip: As part of the Hiking Essentials , always bring an extra day’s worth of food. You can also use an online meal planner like this to make sure you are prepared.

Best dehydrated (freeze dried) hiking food brands

With the growth in popularity of backpacking, outdoor retailers like REI have seemingly limitless varieties of food to take in the backcountry. Although freeze-dried/dehydrated foods tend to be pricey, they are lightweight, packable, and extremely convenient. There are countless brands on the market: Mountain House , Backpacker’s Pantry , Good-To-Go , and Patagonia Provisions to name a few. You will find at least one of these brands at any REI or local outdoor retailer. Choosing between them is up to personal preference! When purchasing freeze dried meals, you can mix up brands or buy a package from one. Check out The Weekender , one breakfast + two entrée, package from Good-To-Go .  

Pro Tip #1: Many of these brands, especially Good-To-Go have great vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free options.

DIY hiking food vs store-bought

No worries if dehydrated, packaged foods are not in your budget. If you are feeling crafty or just looking to save, there are plenty of DIY options. Here is a step by step on how to make your own dehydrated meals:

1. Buy dehydrated food in bulk

Harmony House is a small, sustainable brand that sells dehydrated veggies, fruits, soup, and sauce in bulk. Rather than spend $12 on one dehydrated meal, you can spend $40 on a bulk order with 72+ servings – like the soup & chili sampler . 

2. Pick a meal

Brands like Harmony House offers countless varieties of dried fruit, veggies, and sauces. All of these can be combined into a delicious summit breakfast or dinner at camp.

If you are unsure what to eat, check out our backpacking meal idea section or just look at packages from brands like Mountain House for inspiration!

What to include in the meal:

1. Carbohydrates

At your local supermarket, shop for quick cooking foods like couscous, instant rice/mashed potatoes, and thin pasta (like spaghetti).

 2. Protein

Choose dry proteins like hard sausage, jerky, beans, and/or lentils. Harmony House provides an extensive variety of dried beans that are high in fiber and great sources of protein.

Pro Tip: TVP (textured vegetable protein) is a great vegetarian and budget substitute for meat. It is commonly derived from soybeans, which makes it an inexpensive, yet strong source of protein. Check them out here .

3. Healthy Fat

Almost 50% of your calories come from fat, so make sure you bulk up! Healthy fats can be found in cheese, dark chocolate, avocados, and nuts. Freeze dried cheese can be easily bought in bulk and remains a great addition to backcountry meals.

Pro Tip: Olive oil is a great addition to every trail meal, as they are almost pure fat. Pour some in a squeeze bottle like these from humangear .  

Ever wonder why airplane food tastes so bad? The pressure change and dry air at high altitudes alters our sense of taste. As a result, on your trip in the backcountry, you will probably want more salt and flavoring than usual. Bring along a collection of your favorite salts and spices to fire things up.

Another option for DIY hiking meals is to invest in a dehydrator machine and learn how to freeze dry your own food. 

Best food for high altitude hiking

At high altitude, hiking is a whole other ballgame. You breathe more, fatigue easier, and are easily dehydrated. As you travel higher, your body needs more liquids and more carbs. Due to the cold, dry air, your body requires more fluids and is at higher risk of frostbite and fatigue. Make sure you consume at least 1 liter of water every three hours. As for food, replenish your body with energy bars, whole wheat pancakes, pasta, oatmeal, and rice. A high carbohydrate diet will keep you fueled and can help prevent altitude sickness. 

Pro Tip #1: At high altitude, high-fat and protein rich foods can worsen symptoms of altitude sickness. Although they are packed with energy, these foods, like eggs and avocados, require more oxygen to break down.

Pro Tip #2: As you venture higher in the mountains, your body needs far more calories. Avoid big meals, but make sure you are constantly replenishing with low-fat granola bars, nuts, and raisins throughout the day.

Thru-hiking food ideas

Backpacking foods have three requirements. They should be lightweight, ready-to-eat, and contain high levels of nutrition. The following sections provide ideas to help you push forward through the countless miles.

Best food for endurance hiking

Mountains are the land of cardio kings and queens. If you wish to catch up or are already one of them, eating foods with high carbs, moderate protein, and low fats will help stabilize your blood sugar and help you push forward. Pasta, jerky, oats, and dried foot are all energy boosting foods. Together, they will help maximize endurance. Here are some ideas:

• Whole grain pasta and hard sausage (or nuts!)
• Oatmeal and dried strawberries
• Cheese, jerky, and crackers

Best lightweight / ultralight hiking foods

Do you want to go light and fast? When ultralight backpacking, every ounce counts. The best lightweight hiking foods are non-perishable, lightweight, and high in calories. These foods equate at least 100 calories per ounce.

• Nuts & Trail Mix
• Pasta, Rice, Instant Mashed Potatoes
• Jerky, Pouch Tuna
• Powdered milk, Breakfast cereal, Oatmeal
• Energy/Granola Bars
• Dried Fruit
• Freeze Dried Backpacking Meals

No-cook hiking food ideas

If you seek more freedom and flexibility, it may be time to ditch the camping pot and stove. First and foremost, however, only use this approach if you plan to hike for a few days and the weather is warm. On a longer trip and/or in a colder climate, the extra weight of a camping pot and stove is worth it and will help prevent unpleasant consequences.

• Wraps and Burritos
• Jerky, Pouch Tuna, and Hard Sausage
• Breakfast cereal, Oatmeal, Granola
• Dried Fruit, Nuts, and Berries
• Bagel Sandwiches
• Vegetable Salad

If you are willing to invest the extra bucks, check out the ready-to-go, ultralight, nutrition packed greenbelly meals. They are faster and lighter than an add-hot-water meal, while still packing 33% of your Daily Nutrition of calories, carbs, protein, sodium, fats, and fiber. Even better, is each package weighs approximately 5.5 oz, making it a perfect solution for ultralight thru-hiking . You can buy them in packages of 4, 12, and 32 here .

Hiking Foods for Special Diets

Gluten-free backpacking food.

• DIY Trail mix
• Cheese sticks
• Rolled oats and dried fruit

Pro Tip: Almost every major backpacking meal company provides gluten free dehydrated meals. Check out Mountain House and/or Good To-Go .

Keto hiking food

• Salami or hard sausage
• Hard cheese
• Low Carb Protein Bars
• Mayo/Olive Oil/Coconut Oil Packets
• Nuts or Nut Butter
• Tuna Packets
• Whole Egg Powder

Paleo hiking food ideas

• Grass-fed Beef Jerky
• No-Bake Coconut Bars
• Dried fruit
• Nuts and Seeds
• Dehydrated yams
• Roasted Seaweed Packs

Hiking food storage containers

I have yet to remove every dollop of spilled jelly in my Osprey backpack. Unfortunately, this incident occurred before I knew the secrets of food storage for backpacking. Not only are these tips and tricks helpful to prevent the occasional spillage, but important to prevent critters and bears from gnawing into your beloved pack and stealing your snacks. 

If you plan to backpack in a national park or national forest, first check their regulations and recommendations for food storage. Many, especially in bear-inhabited areas like Rocky Mountain National Park , require bear-resistant containers and do not permit other methods of food storage. If you are found without one, prepare to pay a hefty fine. 

In general, food storage methods depend on your environment, the length of your hiking/backpacking trip, and the weight you are willing to carry. Here are some options:

Bear-Proof Storage:

Bear canisters.

A bear canister is made of a hard shell with a lid that may require a coin or screwdriver to come off. While they are designed to fit in a backpack, they can be bulky and heavy (most weigh between 2-3 pounds). If you are a solo backpacker or just going out for the weekend, try the 7.2 liter BearVault BV450 . For longer objectives or bigger parties, the BV500 maintains a low weight while providing 11.5 liters of storage.

Bear bags are made of a tough polyethylene material that a bear can not open. They are lighter and more compact than bear canisters, so in areas in which a canister is not required, these make for a more packable option. They can be used individually or together with a canister – designate the bear bag for trash and non-essential items. You can separately purchase odor-proof plastic bags to deter bears and an aluminum liner to protect your food from crushing. For extra protection from bears and rodents, tie the bag to a high tree limb.

Pro Tip: If you don’t plan to be in bear country, other bags like the Ursack Minor Critter Bag can keep your food protected from marmots and other mountain critters. 

Metal Food Lockers

At some campsites or parks, you may find a metal bear proof storage locker. Here, you can store your food, trash, and toiletries. These lockers are often communal and sometimes won’t have enough space for all your goodies. 

Pro Tip: Protect your precious snacks and ensure the latch is closed! If not, the bears will absolutely take advantage of your mistake.

Other methods:

These methods can be used for day hikes, adventures in non-bear country, or paired with bear-proof storage.

• Ziplock bags – Freezer bags, small zip lock bags
• Travel-size leak-proof bottles – Reuse your empty and old travel shampoo bottles
• Squeezable tubes

Pro Tip #1: Wash and reuse your zip lock bags. It will save you money and prevent needless waste. Additionally, many packaged foods already come in easily reusable plastic bags – some already have a zip lock.

Pro Tip #2: Put all your food in one food bag. This way it is easier to keep track of and you can hang it to protect it from being eaten by critters

Related content

How to Stay Hydrated While Hiking

How to Prevent Ticks When Hiking

Best Hiking Challenges for Hikers in 2023

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Best Backpacking Meals: KÜHL's Top Backpacking Food Ideas

• Backpacking
• Food + Drink

Table of Contents [Show]

• 1. Key Takeaways
• 2. Before You Go Backpacking
•    2.1. How Much Food Should I Bring?
•    2.2. What Type of Food Should I Pack?
•    2.3. What Essential Cooking Items Do I Need?
•    2.4. How Should I Wash My Dishes While Backpacking?
• 3. Backpacking Breakfast Ideas
•    3.1. Scrambled Powdered Eggs
•    3.2. Instant Oatmeal
•    3.3. Pre-made Overnight Oats
•    3.4. Pancakes
•    3.5. Granola or Cereal with Powdered Milk 
• 4. Backpacking Lunch Ideas
•    4.1. Pre-made Sandwiches, Wraps, or Bagels
•    4.2. Pre-made Salad
•    4.3. Beef Jerky
•    4.4. Cheese and Crackers
•    4.5. Hummus Dip
•    4.6. Nuts and Dried Fruit
• 5. Backpacking Dinner Ideas
•    5.1. Ramen Noodles
•    5.2. Instant Soup 
•    5.3. Pesto Pasta
•    5.4. Mac and Cheese
•    5.5. Veggie Couscous
• 6. Backpacking Snacks and Drinks
• 7. KÜHL’s Tips on Backpacking Meal Prep And Food Packing
• 8. Final Thoughts 
•    9.1. How to eat cheap when backpacking?
•    9.2. Are backpacking meals healthy?
•    9.3. How often should you eat while backpacking?
•    9.4. What foods should you avoid when backpacking?
•    9.5. How long do backpacking meals last?
•    9.6. What to do with food at night when backpacking?

Backpacking is exhausting and energy-intensive. That’s why hiking food requires special consideration in any backpacking checklist . 

Just because the food needs to fit in your backpack does not mean settling for boring and repetitive meals. Backpacking food can be nutritious, flavorful, and lightweight- you only need a little planning and a backpacking meal plan like this one. 

For today’s guide, we’re sharing cheap and easy backpacking meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We’ve also included our favorite backpacking snacks and drinks to help boost your energy and curb hiker hunger. 

Key Takeaways

• Quality backpacker meals are necessary to maintain energy levels and replenish calories.
• Experimenting with different backpacking food ideas is essential to acquiring the skills necessary for ultralight backpacking and hiking meal planning. 
• The average backpacker requires 1.5 lbs to 2 lbs or 2500-4500 calories of daily food. 
• Balancing proper nutrition and the weight of your backpacking lunches, dinners, breakfasts, and snacks takes skills. 

Before You Go Backpacking

How much food should i bring.

Short answer

Plan for between 1.5 lbs and 2.5 lbs worth of food (or about 2500 to 4500 calories) per person per day. 

Long answer 

The amount of food to bring during a backpacking trip will depend on many factors. These include:

• Your weight
• Personal preferences
• Fitness level
• Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)
• Backpack weight
• Hiking speed
• Targeted hiking distance per day
• Terrain difficulty
• The area’s climate

That said, there are two ways of figuring out how much hiking food you should carry: pounds of food per day and calories per pound of your body weight.  

Pounds of Food Per Day

The recommendation is to pack 1.5 to 2.5 lbs worth of food per hiker per day. This method is for 12-mile hiking trips and under.

You throw a bunch of meals while weighing the food bag to ensure that you have around two pounds of food per day. 

While it’s easier than tallying calories, this method does not consider the number of calories in every food item. Depending on the type of food you bring, you could be having fewer calories one day and more calories than necessary the next day. 

The worst-case scenario is the food won’t provide enough calories to match your hiking distance and pace. This may leave you feeling sluggish. It may also hamper recovery, which affects how you wake up the following day. 

Calories per Pound of Body Weight

Using this method, the average hiker should pack 25 to 30 calories worth of food per pound of body weight. This estimate is for strenuous hiking days with a backpack. For moderate hiking (60-120 minutes per day), 21-25 calories per pound of body weight is a good estimate. 

Going by this method, a 180-pound hiker getting ready for long days of hiking with a backpack should carry 4500-5400 calories worth of food per day. 

Counting calories when packing for a hiking adventure is painstaking. But it’s typically regarded as a more reliable method of calculating how much food to bring when backpacking.

Even so, this is just an estimate and may not match every hiker’s caloric needs in different hiking scenarios. But you’ll soon figure out what works best for you as you experiment and fine-tune your backpacking recipes. 

What Type of Food Should I Pack?

When selecting what foods to bring on a hike , it’s crucial to aim for food that is energizing, easy to prepare, non-perishable, and lightweight. 

The best backpacking foods are those that provide the energy to hit the trail without weighing you down. Ensure you bring a variety of the foods you like. 

Grocery-bought dehydrated and freeze-dried foods tend to be the best in terms of weight and convenience. Plus, they don’t require a lot of cleanup compared to cooking your food from scratch. Just ensure that they are calorie-dense. Select foods that provide at least 125 calories per ounce. 

The good news is that you can also dehydrate your backcountry meals at home before the camping trip. Although it takes time, dehydration allows you to bring your favorite meals into the woods. An additional bonus here is being in control of what goes into your food. 

In addition to water, bring other beverages to help you stay hydrated, alert, and energetic. Some excellent options include hot chocolate, chai, matcha, green tea, ginger-turmeric tea, and chicken or beef broth. 

Where to Buy

As a casual backpacker, freeze-dried and just-added-water meals add a lot of value and convenience to your hiking adventures. As more people embrace outdoor living, prepackaged food companies have diversified their offerings.

Now, it’s possible to get pretty much whatever trail food you want. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a meat-eater, vegetarian, or on a diet. There are backpacking breakfasts, lunches, and dinners of all flavors to suit your palate. 

Some of the best backpacking meals brands include:

• Mountain House
• Peak Refuel
• AlpineAire Foods
• Pinnacle foods
• Fernweh Food Company
• Backpacker’s Pantry
• Pack It Gourmet
• Switchback Foods
• RightOn Trek
• Gastro Gnome
• Patagonia Provisions
• Farm to Summit
• Nomad Nutrition

What Essential Cooking Items Do I Need?

The best stove for backpacking needs to be lightweight and dependable. An all-in-one stove system like the Jetboil Flash is an excellent pick, especially for new backpackers who value convenience. With the ability to boil a liter of water in around three minutes, this is a great companion for preparing dehydrated meals, coffee, soups, and broths on the trail. 

Backpacking pots and lids

Look for hard-anodized aluminum pots, as they are lightweight, durable, and scratch-resistant. One large pot enough to hold a pint of water per backpacker is fine for rehydrating hydrated backpacking meals. For melting snow and cooking for two backpackers, a 1200-1800 ml pot will be a good balance between size and volume. 

A frying pan will be a lovely addition if you’re the type of backpacker who prefers a nicely fried breakfast or dinner. The 8” Sea to Summit Alpha pan with a collapsible silicone grip handle and non-stick coating is great for a solo camper. 

Camping stove windshield makes cooking outdoors easy by protecting the stove’s flame from the wind. It maximizes your cooking efficiency by saving fuel, besides making it possible to adjust your cooking temperature. 

The extra weight of spices and condiments (oregano, mayo, pepper, salt, and garlic powder) is totally worth it when backpacking. A spice kit makes it easy to bring all the essential ingredients and keep everything organized. 

Food storage

Proper camping food storage ensures that the broth you prepared with your nana’s secret recipe doesn’t go to waste. It also prevents bears, raccoons, and other unwanted guests from snacking on your food. Consider airtight containers for highly aromatic meals.

How Should I Wash My Dishes While Backpacking?

What you’ll need.

• Two collapsible sinks or any bucket or plastic tub that can fit your dishes and hold enough water. 
• Pan scraper 
• Biodegradable soap
• Fine mesh strainer

Step-by-Step Process of Washing Dishes When Backpacking

• Set up your wash and rinse sinks. Add warm water and a few drops of biodegradable soap in the wash basin and cold water in the rinse basin. 
• Scrap all the food residue in your plates, pans, and pots into the trash using the pan scraper. 
• Now, immerse your silverware in the soapy water to rinse. Next, start washing your dishes one at a time. Start with the least dirtiest, followed by the most soiled pots with stuck-on food. 
• After washing, dunk the dishes in the second basin for rinsing. 
• After the rinse phase, set the dishes out to dry or use a clean cloth to hand dry them. 
• Next, consolidate your gray water by dumping the rinse water into the wash sink. 
• Use a strainer or sieve to strain out food scraps. Empty the filter into your trash. 
• Dispose of your gray water by tossing it at least 200 feet from the trail and any water source. 

Backpacking Breakfast Ideas

Scrambled Powdered Eggs

With their high calorie-to-weight ratio, scrambled powdered eggs are an excellent option for an energizing pre-hike breakfast. Scrambled powdered eggs are convenient to carry and add a nice protein punch to all your backpacking meal ideas. 

Ingredients

• A pack of scrambled powdered eggs (we love Ovaeasy Egg Crystals )

How to prepare

• For two eggs, mix four tablespoons of powdered eggs and six tablespoons of water.
• Stir to achieve a smooth consistency, then cook as you normally would. 

Instant Oatmeal

Oatmeal is a good backpacking meal because it’s satisfying, straightforward, and a breeze to clean up after. 

• Instant oats (like these organic sprouted rolled oats from One Degree)
• Milk powder or milk
• Maple syrup, coconut sugar, or honey
• Nuts and seeds like almonds and walnuts for that added crunch
• Put ½ cup of instant oats into a bowl and pour ¾ of boiling water or milk. 
• Stir and let it sit for 2-3 minutes. 
• Add a dash of your favorite sweetener, for instance, maple syrup or honey, and a few spoons of nuts and seeds to make it wholesome.
• Enjoy 

Pre-made Overnight Oats

This recipe is yours if you are a fan of completely no-cook backpacking breakfast ideas. It’s best when you need an energy-boosting breakfast but time is not on your side. This meal is made the previous night for breakfast the following morning. 

• ½ cup old-fashioned oats
• ½ cup water or milk
• A pinch of salt
• 2 tablespoons nuts or seeds
• Combine the oats and water/milk in a ziplock bag, jar, or other sealable container. Let the mix stay overnight. 
• In the morning, add a pinch of salt and your choice of seeds and nuts. 

Full of carbs, trail pancakes are just what you need when you have a day of intense hiking ahead. 

• Pre-made pancake mix like Coyote . You can also bring your homemade mix.
• Scrambled powdered eggs (optional)
• Cinnamon and walnuts
• Combine your pre-made pancake mix and scrambled powdered eggs in a bowl or backpacking pot.  
• Add enough water to the mix to achieve your desired thickness, then stir. 
• Allow the batter to sit for 10-15 minutes before cooking if you prefer fluffier pancakes. 
• After cooking, add any toppings of your liking, such as peanut butter, syrup, or even fruits. 

Granola or Cereal with Powdered Milk 

This is one of the best DIY backpacking meals for a quick breakfast on the trail. 

• 100g granola
• 30g powdered milk
• Combine everything in a bowl
• Stir until all the powdered milk has dissolved perfectly

Backpacking Lunch Ideas

Pre-made sandwiches, wraps, or bagels.

Pre-made sandwiches, wraps, or bagels are perfect backpacking lunch ideas. In addition to being lightweight, they are super versatile. Feel free to stuff them with whatever toppings that take your fancy. However, it’s advisable to hold the mayonnaise as it tastes odd when left in a warm bag for hours. 

Pre-made Salad

Pre-made salads can be good backpacking meals for lunches if you are a fan of shortcuts. You can go with anything from a meat-based salad like this Bumble Bee Chicken Salad or just a pasta salad loaded with all the vegetables you desire on the trail. 

The Bumble Bee Chicken Salad comes with six crackers, a can of chicken salad, and a spoon. When you’re ready for lunch, spread the salad on the crackers, and you’re done. 

Jerky is a go-to backpacking meal ideal for most hikers because it provides a boost of energy when you need it most. While it’s often eaten as a snack, beef jerky can be a whole meal, too, for instance, when combined with instant noodles. 

• Jeff’s Sweet Teriyaki Beef jerky
• Instant noodles
• Cut the beef into bite-sized pieces and combine with the noodles in a bowl
• Boil water in a camping pot
• Add the beef jerky and noodles mix to the water and stir
• Serve and enjoy

Cheese and Crackers

Cheese and crackers are a popular option in most picnic food ideas . It also makes for a simple and quick lunch or dinner on the trail. 

Ingredients 

• Crackers (any of your choice)
• Cheese- choose high-quality, harder cheeses. Cheddar and Parmesan cheese are our favorites. 
• Fruits, nuts, and fresh herbs (optional)

How to prepare  

• Lay your favorite crackers on a plate
• Place a slice of cheese on each cracker
• Top with a drizzle of honey or your choice of fruits or nuts

Another staple for serious thru-hikers, hummus is super lightweight, non-perishable, and high in natural protein- just what your muscles need on the trail. Hummus is super versatile, too, and will add a bit of flare to so many meals. 

• 1 cup powdered hummus
• 1.5 cups water
• 1 tablespoon olive oil 
• Toppings- spice blends, pine nuts, and sun-dried tomatoes 
• Dippers- sturdy crackers, pretzel sticks, or vegetable chips
• Add 1.5 cups of water and a tablespoonful of olive oil to the powdered hummus. 
• Stir to blend.
• Enjoy by the spoonful or with your preferred dippers. 

Nuts and Dried Fruit

Nuts and dried fruit mix make for a calorie-dense meal. Good quality trail mix, either homemade or bought from the grocery store, will keep you satiated on the trail and provide a quick energy boost. And because it’s hydrated, the mix is lightweight and easy to carry. 

To create a nutritious trail mix; 

• Include a variety of nuts, such as almonds, walnuts, and cashews. 
• Add dried fruits, such as goji berries, apricots, and raisins, to add a burst of flavor and sweetness. 
• You can also include seeds, such as chia seeds, flax seeds, or sunflower seeds. 
• Divide the trail mix into single-serve portions for added convenience on the trail. 

Backpacking Dinner Ideas

Ramen noodles.

Ramen noodles are lightweight, cheap, convenient, and easy to prepare at home and on backpacking trails. No wonder they are a fan favorite among most thru-backpackers. 

Ingredients  

• 1 packet ramen noodles (85g)
• ¼ tablespoon garlic powder
• ¼ tablespoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon dried parsley
• Salt (to taste)
• ¼ cup shelf-stable parmesan cheese
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• Add the noodles to boiling water and let rehydrate for around five minutes. 
• Add all other ingredients and stir to mix well. Let the meal stand for approximately three minutes before serving. 

Instant Soup 

Instant soup is another must-have on your list of backpacking dinners. This just-add-water meal is a sure-fire way to warm cold bodies on cold nights. You can buy instant soup packets online or from your local grocery store. 

Instant soups are also one of the best homemade backpacking meals if you have a dehydrator:

• cook a thick soup with ingredients of your choice
• Blend the whole batch or whip it smooth
• Spread the soup on dehydrator trays and dehydrate 
• Grind the brittle soup bark into soup powder and package in ziplock bags

On the trail

• Pour the dehydrated soup powder into a pot of boiling water
• Mix well and enjoy

Pesto Pasta

Good ol’ trusty Pesto Pasta is another hearty and yummy meal you shouldn’t lack in your backpacking cooking ideas. 

• 100 ml basil pesto sauce 
• Chopped chili (fresh or dried; optional)
• 100g snow peas (optional)
• ½ tablespoon salt
• Bring the water to a boil
• Add pasta and salt
• Let the pasta cook until tender
• Add chili and snow peas (if using) two minutes before the pasta is cooked
• Drain all the water
• Add olive oil and stir to mix well

Mac and Cheese

This is another satisfying meal you can whip up easily using a few grocery store items. 

• 1 box macaroni and cheese dinner  
• ½ cup mixed vegetables (dehydrated)
• 3oz can chicken
• Rehydrate the mixed vegetables with ½ cup of water for about 15 minutes
• Add 2.5 cups to your camping pot. Add the rehydrated vegetables and bring to a boil
• Add in the macaroni and cheese mix and let simmer for approximately seven minutes
• Turn off the stove and let sit for another five minutes, covered tightly
• Add the chicken sauce and stir well to mix

Veggie Couscous

Vegetable couscous is an excellent backpacking meal recipe, especially when feeding a large group. It’s easy to prepare, nutritious, and packed with flavor. 

• 200g couscous 
• 2 packets of parmesan cheese
• ½ dehydrated zucchini
• 1 dehydrated carrot
• 1 cup dehydrated spinach
• ¼ tablespoon garlic powder 
• ⅛ tablespoon salt
• ¼ tablespoon powdered red chili
• Bring water to a boil and add the couscous, vegetables (except chili), and seasoning to taste
• Let simmer for about five minutes while stirring frequently
• When the couscous and vegetables are cooked, add red chili and two packets of parmesan cheese. 

Backpacking Snacks and Drinks

• Water - the general recommendation is to carry at least one liter of water for every hour of hiking. 
• Fresh Fruits & Veggies - you can also include some fresh fruits and vegetables for the first 24-48 hours. If possible, bring some oranges, apples, carrots, bell peppers, onions, and broccoli. They will weigh a bit more, of course. But you’re adding quality food to your gas tank. Plus, the weight reduces fast after the first day or two. 
• Energy Bars - a mainstay for backpackers, energy bars are the perfect way to boost your energy level on the fly. 
• Candy - this can be your friend when backpacking because the sugar provides a quick boost. However, these should only be used to enhance lower-calorie meals, not as a substitute. 
• Coffee - instant coffee is a reasonable compromise for backpackers who rely on caffeine to power up in the morning and fight off the midday slump. 
• Tea - a hot cup of tea is an excellent way to hydrate and relax after a day of hiking. Like instant coffee, tea is lightweight and takes minimal room in your backpack. 
• Alcohol - although not a backpacking essential, a little whiskey around the campfire can be a great end-of-the-day celebration. 

KÜHL’s Tips on Backpacking Meal Prep And Food Packing

Here are essential tips and strategies to have in mind when backpacking meal planning:

• Although pricey, dehydrated and freeze-dried backpacking meals are convenient and lightweight and taste great with proper preparation. 
• Choose convenient backpacking food (those that require minimal preparation) so you can focus more on the trail. 
• When shopping for the best food for backpacking, always check the nutrition information panel to ensure the food contains enough calories. A good backpacking meal should contain at least 125 calories per ounce. 
• Removing excess packaging on backpacking food at home helps reduce the weight of your consumables. 
• While thru-hikers are recommended to pack up to 4500 calories (or more) per day, you don’t need this much when overnight or weekend backpacking. Shoot for about 3000 calories instead. You won’t starve for burning more calories than you consume for a day or two anyway. 
• Bring a variety of food. Nothing will kill your backpacking vibe more than repeating the same boring food on the trail. 
• Substitute low-caloric food items with high-caloric food items like nuts, ghee, and olive oil. It makes balancing calories and lightweight packing much easier. 

Final Thoughts 

Life’s too short to make do with bland food on the trail. When you’re in the woods, you want nutritious meals that provide sustained energy to keep you going. However, your backpacking meal ideas also need to factor in the total weight of your pack. 

Packing the best backpacking food while balancing weight and space requires skills and preparation. This is one aspect of backpacking that you only learn by actually doing it. 

So, get out there, experiment with, and fine-tune different backpacking meal recipes to figure out what works for you. Only then will you acquire the nutritional and decision-making skills necessary to stay comfortable and full of energy in your backpacking adventures. 

Superior mobility in Joyrydr™ and Burr™ Jacket to make your cooking easier.

How to eat cheap when backpacking?

Here are key tips for eating healthy while backpacking on a budget:

• Buy your food at local grocery stores.
• Don’t skip breakfast. Doing this denies your body vital calories, and you often eat more at lunch. 
• Dehydrate your food at home.

Keep it simple. Most seemingly run-of-the-mill foods like dehydrated mashed potatoes, oatmeal, and ramen are calorie-dense yet inexpensive.   

Are backpacking meals healthy?

Prepackaged dehydrated backpacking meals need to balance calorie count, convenience, and ease of preparation. Hence, some marks are lost healthwise.

How often should you eat while backpacking?

The general recommendation is to eat small and often (ideally, every one to two hours). 

What foods should you avoid when backpacking?

You’ll be wise to avoid foods that go bad easily, including cream-based soups, milk, and fruit juices. 

How long do backpacking meals last?

Most freeze-dried and dehydrated backpacking meals last anywhere between 5 and 30 years. However, you should discard any pouch with damp food inside. 

What to do with food at night when backpacking?

Leftover backpacking meals can be resealed and put in the trash. 

Tom Harrison is an intrepid explorer and fervent nature lover. Through his clean writing style, he invites readers to join him on an exhilarating journey into the wilderness.

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Best Hiking Lunches: 16 Easy, Delicious & Creative Hiking Food Ideas

When you’re on a difficult hike, having a delicious lunch break or a steady stream of hiking snacks can make all the difference. I’m not a fan of simply bringing a generic bag of trail mix and an assortment of protein bars. I like to have a variety of tasty and nutritious home-cooked food. Personal pizzas… taco bowls… charcuterie boards… dried fruits and homemade fruit leather – that’s just a sample of the best hiking lunches included below.

In this post, I’ll go over seven hiking lunch ideas – including a combination of cooking and no-cooking recipes. In addition, I’ve also included nine hiking snack ideas , which you can mix and match to fuel your hike. Don’t read this on an empty stomach! Let’s get started…

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Your support is much appreciated! You can learn more by reading my full disclosure .

Best Hiking Lunch Ideas

I’m going to start off this post by going over my favourite day hike lunch ideas that are a little more… elaborate than what you might be used to. They each require a little bit of preparation, and a few of them require a backpacking stove, but they are definitely worth the effort. If you’d prefer a lower maintenance hiking lunch, skip to the next section.

Here is a tasty and unconventional no-cook hiking lunch. You can combine most of the ingredients in a single container the night before your hike. I like to keep the salsa separate, so nothing gets soggy. Once you reach your lunch spot, it only takes a few minutes to add salsa, and maybe add in an avocado or lime juice if you’re fancy.

Ingredients : Tortilla chips, black beans, rice (optional) shredded cheese, lettuce, salsa, avocado (optional), lime, taco spice, sundried tomatoes (optional).

Instructions :

• Night before: Rinse black beans and combine with shredded cheese, shredded lettuce and tortilla chips in a container. You can also add the lime juice here if you’d like.
• At lunch, add in sundried tomatoes and chopped avocado (if using).
• Stir in the salsa and taco spice.

Tip : Sometimes take-out deliveries come in nice, lightweight plastic containers. We like to save them and use them on hiking trips.

Lox (Bagels with Cream Cheese + Smoked Salmon)

Here is a glamorous, yet surprisingly easy, day hiking food. While cream cheese and smoked salmon are both perishable, they’ll be fine in a backpack during the day.

Ingredients : Bagel (option to toast it), cream cheese, smoked salmon, chopped onion, capers (optional), sliced lemon.

• The night before your hike, finely chop red onion and thinly slice some a lemon. You can either store them in small plastic containers or small plastic bags. If you’re bringing capers, you can store them with the red onion.
• Transfer the smoked salmon from the package to a small plastic bag or container. Likewise, transfer some of the cream cheese from the container to a small plastic container.
• In the morning before your hike, you can toast the bagels if you’d like. I usually do this.
• When you stop for lunch, spread the cream cheese on the bagel, add the smoked salmon and sprinkle on the red onions and capers. Squeeze a little lemon juice on top and dig in!

Pita Pizzas

This is a recipe best made when you’ve summited a mountain or reached a viewpoint and want to take a longer lunch break. This is a hot lunch, so you’ll need a backpacking stove and a small frying pan.

Ingredients : Wraps, pizza / tomato sauce (remove from the can and put in a plastic bag to reduce weight), shredded cheese, pre-sliced veggies (green peppers, red onion, mushrooms), pepperoni slices and oil / butter.

• First, get out your wrap and smother it in pizza / tomato sauce.
• Sprinkle half of the shredded cheese on half of the wrap, and then add your other toppings (veggies + meat). Only putting toppings on one half of the wrap makes it easier to close.
• Next, sprinkle the rest of the shredded cheese on the toppings.
• Fold the wrap so the side without toppings is covering the toppings. Depending on the size of your frying pan, you may need to fold the whole thing in half once more.
• Light your stove and put some olive oil or butter on the frying pan.
• Once hot, put your folded wrap on the frying pan and cook each side until the wrap is brown and cripsy and the cheese is melted. Enjoy!

Tip : If you’re using gluten-free wraps, you may not be able to fold it in half since the wraps are so brittle. In this case, cook the pizza open-faced.

Pasta Salad

Here is one of the easiest non-sandwich hiking lunch ideas. Pasta salad is something you can prepare the night before and quickly enjoy on the trail. I’ve included a standard recipe I use, but feel free to experiment with other ingredients too.

Ingredients : Pasta noodles (I like spirals), olive oil, pesto, feta cheese, black olives, sundried tomatoes, pine nuts.

• Cook the pasta noodles according to the directions on the box.
• Strain the water and give the noodles a rinse (to remove the starchiness).
• Add in the amount of pesto you’d like (I usually add a little extra olive oil too).
• Add in sliced black olives, chopped feta cheese, sundried tomatoes and chopped pine nuts (each is optional, but taste great).
• Pack in a container to take on your hike!

Read More : Canoe Camping Meals: 10 Easy Canoe Trip Recipes

This is another recipe that is best made when you know you’ll be taking a longer break partway through the hike, as you’ll want to heat this one up (though it’s not necessary). If you want it hot and crispy, you’ll need a backpacking stove and a small frying pan.

Ingredients : Wraps, tuna (canned or bagged), shredded cheese, pre-sliced veggies (green peppers, red onion, black olives) and oil / butter. Optional: ranch dip.

• First, get out your wrap and cover it with shredded cheese.
• Open the tuna and spread over the cheese.
• Sprinkle the rest of the veggies on top.
• Next, fold the wrap. You can either fold it in half or quarters (like a quesidilla or pita pizza) or like a burrito. I prefer it folded like a burrito.
• Once hot, put your folded wrap on the frying pan and cook each side until the wrap is brown and cripsy and the cheese is melted.
• Optional: Dip each bite in a little ranch dressing! Even better would be the ranch dipping sauce from a pizza joint.

Note : Depending on your location, you may have access to a fire pit (as we did on the hike below). There was even a communal grate, so we didn’t have to dirty a pan!

Various Sandwiches for Hiking

It never hurts to return to the basics and pack a good old-fashioned sandwich. Here are a few types I enjoy bringing.

Ingredients :

• Peanut butter and jelly (classic)
• Nutella, banana and sliced strawberries
• Bacon, lettuce, tomato, mayonaise, cheese and mustard
• Tuna salad (canned tuna, mayonaise, chopped celery, chopped onion)
• Cucumber and cream cheese

Instructions : You know what to do!

Pre-Packaged Dehdyrated Meal

If you want a warm and delicious meal, but don’t want to go through the hassle of packing your own ingredients, you can always bring a pre-packaged dehydrated meal. These are really easy to make – most of them only require you to add boiling water, let sit and then stir / shake. Now, it does mean you have to bring a backcountry stove and a pot to boil the water with.

Ingredients : Depends on the meal you buy.

Instructions : These will be on the package. Usually, it involves boiling water, pouring a specific amount in, waiting and then stirring or shaking the package.

Hiking Snack Ideas

Some people don’t like to eat a simple big meal on a hike and prefer their hiking lunches to be a series of snacks throughout. There are a ton of easy-to-pack snacks that are filling and nutritious. Here are a few day hiking food ideas for thought.

Nuts // Seeds

Ah trail mix… this may not be the most novel hiking lunch idea, but it’s delicious, easy to pack and filling. Combine different types of nuts and seeds in a bag. You can also add some chocolate – like M&Ms or chocolate-covered almond – or some dried fruit – like craisins or banana chips.

Apples are another classic food for a day hike. You can bring them whole or slice them to cut down on space. You can also dehydrate them in the oven (slice them, sprinkle cinnamon and nutmeg on them and put them in the oven on the lowest temperature setting – more on that below). Dehydrating them means they will take up far less space and weight in your backpack, but they aren’t nearly as refreshing.

Cheese Slices

You can either slice and chop your own type of cheese (and maybe bring crackers to go with them) or buy some cheese strings. This is a tasty way to get a little fat and protein on your hike, plus they go great with crackers.

Sliced Salami // Pepperoni // Beef Jerky

This is a great way to get some protein on your hike without worrying about meat being out of the refrigerator. Most curred and smoked meats can be out of the fridge for days (or weeks) at a time. Just check the label before you buy it. Pepperettes and pepperoni sticks are two of my favourites.

A lot of the typical hiking snack ideas are high in carbohydrates. If you’re following the ketogenic diet, this can be frustrating. In addition to the meat and cheese options above, you can also pack a small container of olives. Olives are high in Omega-3 fatty acids, a staple nutrient in the keto diet.

Tip : Bring a few types of cheese, some salami and pepperoni, olives, grapes and a little dried fruit, and you can make your own charcuterie board!

Hummus + Crackers

I absolutely love crackers and hummus. I prefer to choose a cracker high in fibre and protein (like these seed crackers). For day hikes, I usually bring hummus in a plastic container. However, you can also dehydrate hummus in advance (spread it on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and bake at the lowest temperature your oven will go – more details here ). It’s pretty easy to rehydrate (just add water and stir), and this will make the hummus easier to pack, especially on longer trips.

Tuna + Crackers

You can actually by packaged tuna (comes in a wrapper, not in a can), which significantly cuts down on weight (and the need for a can opener). Usually, it’s flavoured and creamy tuna, which goes really nicely on crackers. This is a great way to get a little protein if you’re a pescatarian.

Read More : 10 Best Camping Cookbooks: Resources for Excellent Backcountry Meals

Dried Fruit // Fruit Leather

I can’t believe I’m putting dried fruit last on this list! It’s my absolute favourite day hike food. I love dried fruit – namely, mango, peaches, pineapple and kiwi. But banana chips, craisins and apple slices are great too. I find it easiest to dehydrate my own dried fruit in large batches and then store them in plastic bags until the hike (much cheaper too). You can read about dehydrating fruit here .

If you don’t want to dehydrate your own fruit, you can also purchase it in stores. Just check the ingredients level, as some brands add a lot of extra sugar and random chemicals. I often buy dried mango from this brand , as they don’t use any ingredients other than mango.

Fun fact: Dates have one of the highest glycemic indexes of any natural food. That means it’ll spike your blood sugar very quickly . When it’s really hot in the afternoon and you’ve been hiking for a while, you may feel a sudden drop in energy (and sometimes this is the result of dropping blood sugar). Keeping a bag of dates in your backpack is a great way to pick up your energy in a tasty way.

Note : The picture below was lunch for 8 people – you don’t need to bring nearly as many items on your hike!

Best Hiking Lunch Ideas – Final Thoughts

I hope you’ve found this post helpful and have a little inspiration for your next hiking lunch. If you’re looking for other resources around backcountry cooking, check out the posts below or consider downloading The Voyageur’s Backcountry Cookbook where I’ve laid out all of my favourite recipes.

Related Resources

Canoe Camping Meals: 10 Easy Canoe Trip Recipes

21 Best Hiking Snacks That Will Fuel Even the Toughest Trails

Campfire Bannock Recipe: The Easiest Way to Make Backcountry Bread

Mikaela | Voyageur Tripper

Mikaela has been canoeing, hiking and camping for over ten years. She previously worked as a canoeing guide in Canada, and spent a season guiding hiking and kayaking tours in the high Arctic. Mikaela is a Wilderness First Responder and Whitewater Rescue Technician.

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Great article! I’d like to pin your posts! But there is something wrong with the pin button. it keeps telling me it can’t upload the photo.

I love this list of hiking food ideas! I’m always looking for new and creative ways to eat on my hikes, and these recipes sound perfect!

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105+ Easy Road Trip Meals & Snacks: Best Road Trip Food

Packed for Life contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using one of these links, we may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. See my Disclosure policy for more info.

Road trips are exciting adventures to take with your friends, family or solo. However coming up with a list of the best road trip food & easy road trip meals and snacks can be hard.

Which is where our ultimate list of the best food for road trips comes in handy. To help you avoid hangry companions, outrageous food costs, and unhealthy gas station food stops.

We’ve taken our share of cross country & multi-day road trips over the years, both as adults, and with kids from months old to teenagers. So we know quite a few tricks when it comes to road trip meal planning.

Our list includes easy ideas for healthy snacks, breakfasts, lunches & dinners, for all ages we love. As well as gluten-free, and vegetarian options too.

Plus we provide essential packing tips and a list of non-food items to bring along, at the end of this post. Hop in the car, & let’s go!

Table of Contents

ULTIMATE HEALTHY ROAD TRIP MEALS LIST

If you plan ahead and pre-make some yummy snacks and meals, your family will be well fed on the road. Whether you are heading on a Southwest USA road trip or a coastal road trip from Boston to Acadia National Park or elsewhere.

Healthy road trip food & easy meals the whole family will love.

Why Bring Make Ahead Meals For Road Trips?

Before I get into our epic food list, I’ll quickly go over a few reasons why we bring our own make-ahead road trip meals and snacks. And why you should too:

• Road trip meal planning is a great way to reduce fast food temptation, junk food and save money for your family road trip .
• Bringing good food for road trips frees up some of your hard earned cash to splurge on meals you will actually look forward to . 
• We find our own make-ahead meals & road trip food tends to be healthier.
• If you have dietary restrictions or allergies, creating a road trip meal plan will allow you to have safe meal options on the road.
• Have fun picnics at rest stops, parks, or in your hotel room along your long drive.
• Avoid hungry kidlets with healthy road trip snacks , so they can focus on road trip activities , not driving you crazy with whining. I know you feel me on this one!

Bringing your own food is well worth the time and money you can save on your adventure. Use our road trip planner to help organize your trip.

I love how make ahead easy travel meals are great for cutting down on the mess, stress and time it takes to prepare and clean up on the road. Because as a parent anything I can do to make my life easier is golden.

Road Trip Breakfast Ideas

We’ve found it’s easy to take these road trip breakfast ideas to go, or quickly eat hot in the morning.

As long as we’ve made them ahead of time, and brought them in our cooler. Or if we have access to hot water or basic kitchen facilities or a microwave.

Grab tasty breakfast recipes .

Cold, Non-Perishable Road Trip Breakfast Ideas

• Granola 
• Cereal Bars & Granola Bars
• Breakfast Bars
• Fruit & Veggie Pouches 

⭐️ PRO TIP : Bring a reusable coffee mug and water bottles for each family member. They’re a great option for filling up with hot water, tea, coffee and water on the go. We’ve found they’re less likely to spill in the car if you use a spill-proof refillable cup and snack cup for the littles.

Cold Breakfast Ideas for Road Trips

• Yogurt – Tubes, Drinks
• Fresh Fruit
• Rye Crisp Breads & Goat Cheese
• Chia Pudding – Make the night before
• Granola & Overnight Oats – Make the night before
• Muffins & Peanut Butter (or other nut or seed butters)
• Egg Muffins or Mini Quiches (To heat or not to heat. That is the question)
• Hard-Boiled Eggs
• Breakfast Cookies 
• Vegan Blueberry Muffins
• Bagels and Cream Cheese
• Peanut Butter and Banana Wrap
• No Bake Oat Bites 
• Apple Pie Oat Bliss Balls
• Croissant, ham, cheese
• Croissant, jam & cream cheese
• Pancake Sandwiches – nut butter / jam between two mini pancakes (make ahead)

Hot & Quick Breakfast Ideas

• Instant Oatmeal 
• Cup of Soup or canned soup
• Pre-made Mini Quiche (just heat up)
• Egg, Cheese, & avocado tortilla wrap
• Haloumi Cheese and Bacon Breakfast Sandwich
• One Pan Chickpea Hash (fried chickpeas, veggies, herbs) & Fried eggs

More kid friendly breakfast ideas here .

Road Trip Lunch Ideas

Road trip lunch ideas are probably the easiest for most people to come up with, when it comes to thinking of meal planning for road trips . We like to think of them as picnic lunches.

What is the first thing that comes to mind, but sandwiches. Sandwiches are such a staple we’ve given them their own section below. 

To be honest, I often just prepare and pack foods I would usually take for lunch at work, for the first day or two.

Then I add easy road trip lunches to grab and prep along the way, like sandwich fixings. Or cheese, meat  and cracker plates for a longer trip.

Easy Non-Refrigerated Road Trip Lunch Ideas

• Canned Tuna & crackers – The mini pull tab tins come in many flavours
• Protein Bars , Energy Bars
• Sardines or Mackerel canned with avocado, crackers or bread
• Snacks for lunch: Beef Jerky, Trail Mix, Smoothie Pouches, Nut Butter Pouches
• Peanut Butter (or other nut & seed butter) & Jam Wraps
• Canned grape leaf rolls

Cold Road Trip Lunches

• Sushi / nori rolls – sweet potato, cucumber and avocado,  smoked salmon, cucumber and avocado, smoked salmon & cream cheese
• Sandwiches (see Road Trip Sandwiches below for ideas) 
• Tortilla Pinwheels
• Meat Kabobs
• Pasta Salad
• Corn & Zucchini Fritters
• Fruit (apple slices, cantaloupe, grapes), cheese and bread or crackers
• Charcuterie plate – cheese, deli meats, olives, dried fruit
• Chickpea or Bean Salads
• Quinoa Salad
• Mason Jar Salad – keep the dressing separate
• Pre-made Quesadillas – Refried beans and cheese. Keep salsa & sour cream separate in small leak-proof containers

Sides to Add to Lunch Ideas

• Cut up veggie sticks and hummus
• Fruit – apple, berries, melon, grapes
• Homemade cookies or energy balls
• Cucumber, cherry tomatos & peppers salad

Road Trip Sandwiches

What’s a road trip, without a sandwich or two. In fact sandwiches are so iconic, portable, easy to make and ideal for lunch and family vacation dinners they deserve a section, all on its own.

For easy,  awesome sandwiches we’ve found you will only need a few things to mix and match:

• Bread: First you’ll need some kind of hearty bread (kaiser bun, wraps, pita, baguette, ciabatta)
• Protein: Pair with protein such as deli meat, sliced chicken or beef, bacon, eggs, tofu, nut butters
• Extras: Add on the extras such as cheese, lettuce, pickles, fruit 
• Condiments: mayo, mustard, olive tapenade, other sauces

Tasty Sandwich Ideas for Traveling:

• Cheddar and Jam
• Egg Salad 
• Cream cheese and cucumber
• Spicy Tuna and Cucumber – leave out the spice if it’s not your thing
• Pesto Egg Salad Baguette
• Ham & Cheese Baguette or Wrap
• Turkey and Cheese Baguette or Wrap
• Turkey Club Sandwich
• Turkey, Pear, Feta Wrap
• Apple, Cheddar and Mustard Sandwich
• Roasted Red Pepper & Hummus Sandwich
• Curry Chicken or Curried Chickpea Salad Sandwich

Tips for Packing Sandwiches on Road Trips

• Start with heartier bread or toast it first . Put a layer of mayo, or mustard on each side. It actually helps prevent soggy sandwiches.
• I often toast the bread, and then wait until it’s completely cooled before making and storing the sandwiches.
• Keep wet sandwich ingredients separate like tomatoes. We add them right before eating.
• Pack each ingredient separately . Then everyone can assemble their sandwich how they like, on-the-go. We’ve found this helpful with our pickiest eater.
• Pack sandwiches in a hard sided container . Either use reusable individual sandwich containers or larger leak-proof containers for multiple sandwiches. We also love silicone sandwich bags to cut down on plastic.
• Keep the sandwiches on top of the cooler for easy to grab meals on the road.

You may also like 50+ Easy to make, healthy road trip snack recipes

Easy Road Trip Meals Dinner Ideas

Dinner is the one meal we often splurge on, and choose to eat out at a local restaurant, instead of on the road when possible. 

I like to do a bit of research and see what the area is known for, or if there are special meals we can’t get at home. Also after a few days of packed road trip meals, it’s nice to sit down at a restaurant and have someone else clean up and organize.

However, there are times I find when you need a few dinner in the car ideas on hand. You can always re-use the lunch or even the travel breakfast ideas , because they are all tasty anytime of day. 

Check out our favourite easy vacation dinner recipes .

Cold Road Trip Dinner Ideas

• Pasta Salad & Greek Salad
• Cobb Salad 
• Other Cold salads – Potato, bean, egg, chickpea, salmon, tofu, quinoa, rice and bean
• Sandwiches – check out ideas in sandwich section
• Chicken salad / caesar wrap
• Falafel Wrap
• Rice Paper Rolls & Peanut Sauce
• Chicken wings & pre roasted veggies
• Grilled or roast chicken, rice and veggies
• Tortilla Chips, Bean Dip and Salsa
• Egg roll pinwheels with spinach, and cheese 
• Mason Jar grain + protein + roast veggies (pre-made)

Salad Tips – Keep the ingredients & dressing separate. That way each person can assemble to their liking, and the lettuce doesn’t get soggy from swimming in the dressing all day.  

KOA has 10 fun on-the go recipes to try.

Mason Jar Meal tips

Mason Jars are a fun and easy way to store pre-made meals.

They are fairly sturdy (I’ve dropped them many times without breaking them) and come in different sizes. The 500ml and 250 ml are perfect for individual meals.

Choose a grain + a protein + roasted, steamed or stir fried veggies and you have a delicious meal to go.

• Pre-cook a grain: brown rice, basmati rice, white rice, quinoa,
• Choose a protein : roast chicken or beef, curried chickpeas, tofu
• Cooked veggies: stir fries, steamed broccoli, curries, stew,

Hot Road Trip Dinner Ideas

One pan or pot dinner ideas are perfect for travel, camping and road trips. Especially if you ‘ve been entertaining the kids with road trip conversations all day.

As long as you remember the hot plate, or cook stove. I’ve been there, done that, forgetting the stove. Another option is to choose motels, or places to stay that have basic kitchen facilities. 

I’ve also gone the route of meal prepping ahead of time and putting individual meals in separate containers that are easy to reheat and clean up. 

If you are a camping family, what you plan for pre-made camping meals is similar.

Think easy camping type meals:

• Baked Beans
• Cup of Soup or Canned Soup
• Frozen Homemade Soup (use the first day or two after it defrosts. Bonus it helps keep the cooler cold)
• Bacon or Sausages and Eggs
• Quesadillas
• Rice and beans or ground beef for tacos or wraps
• Chickpea Curry and Rice (pre-make and heat up)
• Spaghetti 

ROAD TRIP SNACK & DRINKS LIST

We have a full article on our favorite road trip snacks to bring that both adults and kids will love. Good food for long journeys.

Here are a few snack ideas to get you started:

• Energy Balls
• Baby Carrots, Cherry Tomatoes, Snap Peas, Celery Sticks & Dip 
• Cheese and Crackers
• Apple Pear Muffins
• Jerky, Beef Sticks
• Potato Chips
• Plantain Chips
• Moon Cheese
• Cheese Crisps
• Seaweed Snacks
• String cheese
• Sunflower seeds
• Gluten-Free Bars –  We like these mini Gluten-Free Bars  

Who doesn’t drink too much on the road because they are avoiding using restrooms at pull-outs or gas stations?  

I’m guilty of this too, but this often leads me to crankiness and wicked headaches, sooo…… Do as I say, not as I do (said Parents everywhere).

Staying hydrated is super important. While water should be the number one choice, sometimes you need a little something different like:

• Coconut water
• Water with crushed berries, or cucumber slices, or lemon
• No sugar added fruit juices 
• Flavoured Sparkling water 
• Almond / Oat / Soy Milk

🚙 More road trip ideas 7 day Zion, Bryce and Grand Canyon itinerary

Road Trip Food & Meal Planning Tips

Meal Planning Tips

When meal planning healthy road trip foods, I think it’s important to consider a few key important things:

• What road trip meals you want to bring, and which one’s you’d like to buy.
• If travelling with kids, which foods do they already like. They aren’t going to magically start liking raw broccoli and raisins on your long trip. Adapt your food for road trips with kids.
• Road trip meal ideas – Make a list of food ideas for breakfast , lunch, dinner, snacks and drinks. Make sure they’re easy food to travel with.
• Creating a road trip grocery list is a good idea, so important items don’t get forgotten. But don’t stress, as usually you’ll be able to pick up ingredients along the way if needed.
• How to pack food for your road trip, so it doesn’t get squished, and stays cool longer.

With so much to do when planning a road trip, it’s sometimes hard to be prepared when it comes to traveling food.

Road Trip Food Tips

Beyond throwing a bunch of items into the cooler and food bag and hoping for the best. Let’s give you a few of my top tips to make packing a bit easier:

• Bread: Bring wraps, pitas and flatbreads – we find they take up less room, and won’t get squished like bread loaves
• Perishables: Eat your perishables and more fragile fruits first (bananas, raspberries, pre-cut fruit like melons, pineapple, mango etc.)
• Freeze Water bottles: When hot out, freeze a couple of the water bottles the night before. They’ll keep your cooler cold, and we love that they give us cold water to drink as they melt.
• Pre-Make Meals & Portion Out: Pre-make meals, and portion them out in mason jars or reusable plastic or glass containers.
• Place your cooler somewhere cool the night before, or pre-chill the cooler for up to 12 hours with ice / ice packs you won’t be using on your trip. 
• Lay solid blocks of ice or reusable ice packs on the bottom, plus put a layer of ice on the top
• Pack the cooler full – too much space helps the inside heat up faster
• Freeze food you won’t need for a couple of days, and use frozen water bottles to help keep the inside colder, longer
• Try to limit the number of times you open the cooler in the day.
• Pack your food in order of when you want to eat it, leaving the next day or two’s meals on top. 
• Garbage Bag for the car: We always have a designated garbage bag for the car. It helps to keep the garbage contained, and the car organized.
• Clean-Up Kit :  Bring a clean up kit. Kids, adults, toddlers all on occasion make messes. Having a clean-up kit handy just in case is good practice. Include wipes, paper towel, extra water, and an easily accessible change of clothes.
• Storage: To keep things organized, we usually use small stackable Rubbermaid containers to pack our non-perishables.

🚙 More Road Trip Ideas: 4 Day family friendly itinerary in Acadia National Park

Road Trip Essentials

Now that we’ve got the meals all planned out, and the best road trip SNACKS organized  let’s move on to the non-food items you’ll need to add to your road trip packing list. 

Reusable Items

Our goal is to reduce our impact on the earth whatever mode of travel. Bringing reusable items on our trips to cut down on waste is one simple way to do this. If you make it part of your routine, you will be pleasantly surprised how easy it becomes.

Here are some other reusable items to pack for your road trip:

• Plastic, glass or stainless steel containers – Can be used for leftovers, as dishes, hold snack packs, or even small toys, art supplies
• Cutlery – knives, forks, spoons, 
• Dishes – Cups, plates, bowls
• Coffee Mugs – Our favs are Yeti Mugs or the Klean Kanteen  
• Reusable Straws
• Water bottles for the kids
• Water bottles for the adults
• Cloth fruit bags 
• Bento Boxes
• Garbage bags – reuse grocery bags

Storage & Cleaning Supplies

• Reusable Ice Packs 
• Hand sanitizer
• Paper Towels & Wet Wipes 
• Biodegradable Soap

Travel Backpacks

You will definitely want to make sure you and your kids have their own travel backpack for the trip.

A good travel backpack can be multipurpose, for hiking, storing road trip activities and entertainment, plus give easy access to a couple of snacks, and a handy change of clothes.

There’s been numerous times my “safety first” approach & extra clothes has saved us on long trips. From puking children, to epic diaper blow outs, and unexpected spills, with kids it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Best Road Trip Coolers

Coolers provide more flexibility with the types of meals and snacks  you can bring on your trips. We think they are a road trip essential, without a doubt. Before choosing one, there are a few things to consider:

• How long is your trip?
• Which meals will you be packing from home?
• How often will you have access to a grocery store?
• How much space do you have in your vehicle? Where do you want to put the cooler?

Answers to these questions will give you an idea of the size and cooling ability needed from your cooler. We’ve put together a list of the best coolers to try, that are easily available on Amazon.

Best Overall Cooler – Yeti Roadi 24 Cooler

The Yeti Roadi 24 Cooler is narrow, so it easily fits behind the seat, is well insulated, which holds the cold, and is lighter than previous versions.

It can also be transformed into a stool if you buy the cushion. It’s a bit of an invesment, so a good buy if you are planning on using it a lot.

Best Afforable Family Cooler – Coleman 316

The Coleman 316 Cooler is a top pick for size, flexibility and price. It can hold a lot of food and ice, which can be kept cool at higher temps for 2-3 days.

Perfect for shorter trips, or if you plan on replenishing your food / ice every few days.

Best Soft Sided Cooler – TOURIT Leak-Proof Backpack

The Tourit Leak Proof soft-sided backpack is an excellent option for shorter road trips or if you are planning a picnic or day at the beach. This leak-proof high-density insulated backpack can keep food cold for up to 3 days. It also has side pockets for extra storage.

Tips to Prepare For Your Next Road Trip

Anything you can do the day or two beforehand to prep your food, and pack your non-perishables, do it. This will save rushing around at the last minute, and forgetting important things like your water bottles.

We recommend doing the following ahead of time:

• Make a Shopping list and meal plan.
• Check off the items as you pack them. 
• Wash and cut veggies and fruit
• Prepare sandwiches, meat slices, cheese slices
• Freeze meals and water bottles the night or two before
• Prepare the snack bags or snack tote 
• Prepare your Clean up kit
• Pack non-perishable foods in small totes or bags
• Pack your perishable foods in the cooler, & an airtight container, right before you leave.

PRO TIP: Pack your car the night before you leave, to make sure everything fits. Make sure your cooler and essential road trip snacks are easily accessible. 

Conclusion: Ultimate Easy Road Trip Meals & Snacks List

With over 100 delicious and easy road trip meal ideas, you will find a party in your cooler for all taste buds or your next long journey.

 Plus don’t forget that a little pre-trip planning can go a long way towards a stress free vacation.

Grab a great road trip snack or two and head on out on the open road. I hope this helps you have an epic road trip.

Related travel tips and destination articles:

• Easy ways to take a frugal road trip
• Epic RV Gift Ideas: Gifts RV Owners will love and use
• Epic Gifts for Beach Lovers – prep for your beach vacation
• Best Walkie Talkies For Road Trips
• Complete Road Trip Packing List For Families

Donna Garrison is the founder of Packed for Life, an ever curious traveler with a passion for making memories with her family. With a unique perspective on travelling on a budget gathered over 30 years, 20 countries and 5 continents she gives families the tools & resources they need to experience the joys of travelling more for less through practical solutions. She helps over 20,000 families a month plan & take the family travel, camping and road trip adventures of their dreams in Canada, the USA and around the world. Contact her at: Donna [at] packedforlife.com

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49 Non-Perishable Road Trip Food Options For Your Next Adventure

When you’re planning a road trip , one of the biggest expenses is food. And one way to help alleviate the expense is to pack your own non-perishable road trip food. You don’t always want to lug a cooler around or have to rely on accommodations with a refrigerator.

Planning your trip? Use our favorite resources!

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But what are the best choices? And can you even get healthy road trip snacks? Or choose things the kids will eat?

Well, I’ve compiled a list of 49 non-perishable food choices to pack for your next road trip . I’ve broken them down into categories for you so you can find options that are healthy, kid-friendly, have plenty of protein, or work great as a quick snack on the go.

And if you want a list you can print out and take to the store with you, check out the download near the end of this post!

Non-perishable road trip food ideas

Quick & easy non-perishable road trip snacks.

When you’re driving, sometimes it’s easiest to just grab something that’s individually packaged to curb your hunger instead of having to pull over and make a snack or get something from the gas station.

These options can come in single-serving bags that you can throw in the car and have ready to go, or you can also buy the larger boxes and divide up the servings into your own bags for the road. These are great road trip snack ideas for adults and for kids and teens.

1. Crackers

3. Pretzels

4. Snack bars – these are some of my all-time favorite foods to pack for road trips. They are quick and easy and there are so many out there that are healthy.

My ultimate favorite snack bars are Larabar . They are made with simple, healthy ingredients and taste SO good! My favorites are Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough , Cashew Cookie , and Mint Chip Brownie .

Made Good is another brand that is healthy and looks delicious that I’d like to try out soon!

5. Quaker rice cakes

6. Popcorn – there are so many great popcorn options out there! I’m a sucker for Smartfood White Cheddar Popcorn but you could go for any flavor that you like!

Non-Perishable Kid-Friendly Options

We all know kids can be picky eaters, but that’s one of the great things about packing your own snacks – you can make sure you have something you know the kids will eat!

These non-refrigerated road trip food options are going to be crowd-pleasers for most children.

7. Goldfish – the classic kid snack! You can get the individual bags or divide a larger bag into single servings.

8. Fruit snacks – what kid doesn’t like fruit snacks? If you are looking for a great healthy choice, YumEarth fits the bill.

9. Cereal – another great option is to divide up some of their favorite cereal and put it into smaller bags for them to munch on.

10. Cookies – again, it’s probably best to have these separated out so they don’t eat an entire box of cookies (yup, it’s me, I’m still that person).

11. Poptarts – these could also be a great option for a quick breakfast on the road.

12. Candy – sometimes a nice treat of their favorite candy can cheer up kids and keep them happy on a rougher day…I mean, it still works for me too!

Non-perishable food choices High In Protein

We’ve all been there – you have a few more hours until you reach your destination and your stomach is grumbling. Choosing a high-protein road trip snack will curb hunger and keep you fuller longer. These are some great non-perishable road trip food choices for in-between meals that will fill you up.

13. Tuna/chicken/salmon cans or packets – These are one of my top road trip food choices. They are the perfect non-perishable protein option for when you are on the go, but they also work well for making sandwiches or putting on salads. They are incredibly versatile!

The Starkist Tuna Creations packets are easier for eating on the road, but the cans are a good option for camping and when you are sitting down to eat. Just don’t forget to get the ones with the pull tabs so you don’t need a can opener (or make sure to bring a can opener with you) and also have some utensils easily available.

14. Jerky – while a more expensive option than some of the others, there are so many flavors available, and jerky is always an easy and filling choice. You can try different unique kinds too, like Buffalo Bob’s assortment . 

15. Meat sticks – lots of options for these too, such as Wenzel’s Farm Variety Pack Sticks .

16. Pepperoni

17. Protein bars (like Clif, Kind, or Power Crunch)

18. Trail mix – you can make your own or find some good premade kinds. I absolutely love Power Up Trail Mix .

19. Pumpkin seeds – try to find a brand that doesn’t use a ton of salt, like Terrasoul Superfoods Organic Pumpkin Seeds .

20. Nut butter – a good choice to eat with crackers for a more filling snack (almond, peanut, pistachio).

21. Protein powder – mix up some protein powder with water in a shaker cup and you’ve got a filling, healthy drink for the road!

Non-perishable meals + Sides

Let’s be real, one of the best parts of road trips is getting to try new foods and eating out at local establishments. But if you’re on a tight budget, you probably will need to watch how much you spend on food, so sometimes you’ll need to make road trip meals for yourself.

After a long day of traveling or exploring, you might just want to come back to your campsite or hotel and make something quick and simple. And if you have some easy road trip meals already on hand, you don’t even need to go to the grocery store!

When we travel, my husband and I always bring some staples along for late nights and when we are too lazy to make anything fancy. Here are some of the best foods for a road trip that you can bring along to help cut costs and that also don’t need a refrigerator.

22. Quaker Instant Oatmeal – you can add dried fruit, nuts, seeds, cinnamon, and other items to make this a great hearty breakfast. I like to buy the version in disposable cups so it’s easy to just add hot water or milk.

23. Peanut butter + jelly on a tortilla – tortillas last much longer than regular bread and are a great choice for road trips.

24. Ramen/cup of noodles – always an easy choice!

25. Spaghetti + pasta sauce – we’ve made spaghetti on our camp stoves and it works really well!

26. Canned soup – there are so many canned soup choices, and they are very filling and easy…just warm it up and eat!

27. Kodiak Cakes Flapjack Mix – this is one of our camping staples…just add water to the mix and cook over a fire or a camp stove. We also like to add peanut butter to our pancakes and it’s SO GOOD!

28. Pizza dough mix + pizza sauce + toppings – we almost always make pizza when we camp because it’s easy and most of the ingredients are non-perishable so we can buy them ahead of time.

29. Rice packets – a great easy option for a side.

30. Canned veggies and beans – more simple side options…just warm up and eat!

31. Instant mashed potatoes – you can get these in different flavors as well.

32. Condiment packets & spices – you can pack along a few of these to help flavor your meals and also not have to worry about bringing along a whole bottle of something that you then will need to refrigerate or toss.

33. Olives/pickles – another option for pizza or burger toppings or just to snack on (is that weird? Maybe…but I still like them for snacks).

34. Soy/almond milk cans/boxes – can be used with cereal or to mix with sides that call for milk (these don’t need to be refrigerated until opened).

35. Powdered milk – can also be used as a milk substitute for recipes.

Healthy Non-Perishable road trip food

Road trip food is pretty much known for being processed, unhealthy junk which is one of the reasons most of us gain weight on vacation (I’m definitely one of those people).

But there are plenty of healthy snacks and food choices out there that are better than just going through the drive-thru for the fifth time.

If you are looking for some options for non-perishable food for a road trip that is healthy, here are some ideas for you.

36. KIND Granola – mix with a little powdered milk and water for a healthier cereal option. KIND has very little added sugar which makes it a solid choice.

37. Dried fruit (raisins, cranberries, apricots, etc.) – try to find some with very little or no added sugar, such as Mavuno Harvest .

38. Nuts (cashews, walnuts, pistachios, etc.)

39. Seeds (pumpkin, sunflower)

40. Dried chickpeas and beans – if you are ambitious you can make these yourself, or you can buy premade ones like these from The Good Bean .

41. Wildmade Fruit Leather

42. Kiwa Veggie Chips – these can be a good alternative to potato chips or crackers.

43. Simple Truth Applesauce – this is a great brand with no added sugar.

44. Salsa – a better chip dip choice than queso or other processed dips.

45. Bare Baked Coconut Chips – oh man, we just discovered these and they are SO GOOD! They are much healthier for you than regular potato chips and they taste like a dessert.

Non-Perishable Drinks

Drinks can get expensive on road trips, so it’s a good idea to bring a few options along with you so you don’t need to constantly grab something at the gas station.

While I always bring along a water bottle and fill that up as I go, sometimes you want something with flavor, so here are a few suggestions.

46. Coffee – the instant stuff might not be any good, but you can make your own favorite coffee over a fire with a camping coffee pot, or anywhere you go with this Aeropress . I lot of hotel rooms and Airbnbs will also have coffee pots you can use.

related: Ways to save money on a road trip

47. Tea – my husband’s the coffee person, but I love my tea. I like to bring some along for the mornings I need a little pick-me-up or to chase away the chill.

48. Water flavors – there are plenty of water flavorings out there, so you are sure to find one you like. Just squeeze a few drops in your water bottle and have something delicious to drink without the added calories.

49. Iced tea/lemonade packets – this is another good option you can add to your water for some flavor and without needing to constantly purchase bottles in the store.

Non-perishable road trip food list

If you’d like a road trip packing list of food you can download and take with you to the store, fill out the form below to download it for free!

Benefits to packing your own road trip food

So why should you pack food along on your next road trip? That’s just more work and one more thing you have to do to prepare for your vacation!

Yes, it might take a little planning and be a little more work, but there are lots of reasons why bringing some of your own food with you when you travel is a great idea.

It saves you money

One of the biggest reasons to pack along food is because it will save you money.

Your vacation money is precious, and if you can use less of it on food so you can spend more of it on activities and other things that matter, you’ll be able to stretch your budget even further.

By taking a little time to plan for some good travel food ideas and grocery shop before you go, you’ll be able to plan your budget better and not blow all your food money by grabbing whatever you can find to eat at every gas station and vending machine to keep the family fed.

It saves you time

We all know that on vacation, time flies and it feels like we never have enough of it.

And while some of the experience of a trip is sitting down and eating a good meal, there are other days when you’d rather be hiking or exploring a museum or zoo and you’d rather not spend several hours finding a place to eat when all you want to do is go and see ALL. THE. THINGS.

On days like that, packing your own food is a life (and time) saver. Just whip up a couple of make-ahead meals from your food stash and throw in some snacks, and you can take the day to explore and then have nourishment on hand when the stomach growls.

You can eat healthier

Obviously, not all road trip food is healthy. But packing your own allows you to make healthier choices instead of being at the mercy of fast-food restaurants and gas station hot dogs.

Sure, you can definitely find salads and wraps and veggie trays at stores, but it’s not always guaranteed, so knowing you have some healthier items with you allows you to not feel guilty or forced to eat bad food when there isn’t much else to choose.

You have things you know you will eat

If you have picky eaters, there’s no guarantee you are going to find food choices they will like. If you pack along meals you know they will eat, it will save your sanity.

You can Have a picnic

Who doesn’t love a picnic? I know I sure do! It’s a great addition to the ultimate road trip experience! When you have all your food with you already, you can have a picnic anytime it strikes your fancy!

Keeps you from getting hangry

My husband will attest that I can get hangry pretty easily, and my son seems to have inherited that trait from me as well. We need to eat something every few hours, and if we don’t we get crabby. And then that makes all of us crabby which can ruin the day if we aren’t careful.

So by having something to eat with us wherever we go, we don’t have to worry about a lack of food ruining an otherwise amazing day.

Non-food items to pack for a road trip

If you’re going to eat on the road while traveling or if you’re camping, you’ll need some additional items to prep and store your food as well as clean up afterward. Here’s a list of things to bring with you.

• Plastic plates, cups, and cutlery (plastic is nice because you can wash them and reuse them a few times)
• Paper towels
• Bamboo/reusable straws (better than paper since you can reuse them)
• Hand sanitizer
• Ziplock/storage bags
• Plastic tote for storing food (a much easier choice than bags)
• Reusable water bottles
• Coffee mugs/thermos
• Cutting board & knife
• Sponge, bucket, dish soap

How to keep your food organized on a road trip

So you’ve got your food, you’ve got your non-food items, and now you’re ready to hit the road. But how do you keep everything organized so you can find what you’re looking for? Here are a few road trip tips to keep your car from getting cluttered.

Use plastic containers/totes to organize

I’ll admit I’m guilty of just shoving all my food into Aldi bags, throwing them in the back seat, and calling it good, but every time I’m looking for something, it takes me way longer than it should (not to mention everything ends up spilling everywhere).

So buy a couple of clear plastic containers to put your food in and make it easier on yourself.

The nice thing with these is that you can see what’s in them, you can write on them with dry-erase markers so you know exactly what’s in them, and they stack nicely in the car. So much better than grocery bags.

Everyone has their own reusable water bottle

Rather than having a bunch of half-drunk plastic water bottles piled up everywhere and nobody knows whose is whose, get everyone their own bottle or mug so there’s no confusion and less trash.

Use small storage bags for individual servings

It’s usually cheaper to buy a larger bag of something than a bunch of smaller bags of the same thing, so to save money, buy that large box of Cheez-Its or popcorn or potato chips or whatever you’d like and divide them up into separate smaller bags.

Not only will you save money, but it makes it easier to divvy up the snacks among the group without passing around the larger bag, and you can also control portions better (because I know it’s not just me that will mindlessly eat that whole sleeve of cookies because it’s just sitting there).

You can even buy reusable silicone ones so you can wash them and use them again instead of throwing away the plastic ones constantly.

Have clean-up items close by and easily available

It’s bound to happen. You’re reaching back for something and you knock over a cup, or one of your kids drops their bag of Goldfish, and then you’ve got a mess to clean up.

Have a separate small box or bag with clean-up supplies (paper towels, wet wipes, sponge, upholstery cleaner, etc.) so when the accidents happen, you can take care of it quickly and move on.

Keep a garbage can/bag in the car

It’s something so simple that will keep your car much cleaner and organized. Designate a plastic bag or get a garbage can for the car and discard your items in there instead of hoarding a pile on the floor of the car until the next stop.

Conclusion: Non-Perishable Food Options For Your Next Road Trip

Purchasing food ahead of time for your next road trip will help save you money and time, and non-perishable items are perfect so you aren’t restricted by having to have a cooler or fridge. And if you’re looking for road trip food on a budget, most of these food items fit the bill!

I hope this list gives you some great choices for your next vacation!

Want to save this for later? Pin it!

Stefanie Henne is an experienced road trip travel blogger who specializes in helping others plan their dream vacation, no matter their budget or time restraints. Go here to read more about Stef's story. If you want to send Stef a message, visit her contact page here.

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101 Road Trip Food Ideas: Best Fun and Healthy Snacks You’ll Love

Posted on Published: November 18, 2020  - Last updated: June 21, 2023

Who doesn’t love a good road trip? Better question: who doesn’t love a good road trip snack? Well here’s a mega list of road trip food ideas that you’ll want to pack along.

One of the worst things that can happen on a road trip is running out of food and dealing with a hangry family member. Don’t let that happen! Keep your ride peaceful with these road trip snack ideas!

This list of road trip snacks goes beyond gas station junk food and difficult-to-eat-on-the-go meals. The best road trip foods are convenient, satisfying and healthy (but also sometimes not!)

This post may contain affiliate links. For more info, see my  disclosures .

On this mega list of 101 road trip food ideas, you’ll find:

Healthy road trip snacks, homemade road trip snacks.

• High energy foods on the go

Road trip snacks for kids

Vegan road trip snacks, ideas for your sweet tooth, meals for road trips, packing tips and food containers.

• Essential supplies you’ll need

Best road trip food

As someone who checks off bucket list locations and takes many road trips every year, I know my road trip food. 🙂 It’s important for food to be portable, easy to eat in the car and it needs to be able to travel well.

Some of the food ideas below you’ll want to prepare and package up at home before you hit the road. Be sure to pack a cooler to keep foods fresh as needed.

Note: stick around to the end of the list for the best packaging solutions and containers . Because it matters when packing food for a road trip!

You want something convenient and healthy, right? Well it’s just as easy to grab an apple for a long car ride as a bag of Doritos!

Now, before you head to the store to buy a bunch of fruit, make sure to think through them all. Like bananas…

Bananas are not a good option for road trips, as they get mushy. On my road trip to Moab, Utah, the bananas I packed split open and made a mess of my reusable grocery bag. So skip the bananas, okay?

Here’s the list of healthy road trip snacks

• Sugar snap peas and ranch
• Healthy granola (think savory seasoning, not sweet ingredients)
• Popcorn (my favorite budget-friendly snack using this air popper )
• Homemade trail mix
• Carrots and ranch
• Strawberries
• Sugar-free, gluten free muffins
• Veggie chips (store bought or homemade)
• Blueberries
• Basil, tomato and mozzarella salad
• Rice cakes with nut butter
• Cottage cheese and almonds
• Pita chips and hummus
• Healthy zucchini muffins
• Yogurt with mix-ins (just watch the sugar content)

Next let’s dive into the things you can make – or bake – from home. My kiddos always ask for a few of these on every road trip. Their favorite on our way to Glacier National Park was # 20 below!

• Rice crispy bars
• Or their yummy cousin, fruity pebble bars
• Other cereal bars – think Cheerios, Lucky Charms…the possibilities are endless!
• Paleo, keto and Whole 30-friendly nut bars
• Cheese quesadilla
• Pretzel hugs (just don’t pack a bunch – they’re addicting!)
• Ditch the flour with these black bean brownies
• Sweet trail mix (DIY – just throw pantry staples together!)
• ‘Cookie’ protein balls
• Almond bark with mix-ins
• Spicy roasted cashews
• Peach oatmeal muffins

High energy foods on-the-go

Sitting in the car can be B-O-R-I-N-G and an energetic snack can help to pick you up. Or if you’re driving an all-nighter like I did from Omaha, NE to Gulf Shores, AL , you’ll need some energy to get you through the long drive.

Here are some of my favorite high-energy snacks for the car:

• Greek yogurt
• Ham, chive and cream cheese pinwheels
• String cheese
• Cinnamon apple energy bites  
• Hard boiled eggs
• Energy bars ( RX bars are my favorite for road trips and hiking snacks)
• Salmon in a pouch
• Favorite energy drink (as needed) for driving over night

Let’s focus for a minute on food for little ones. While most road trip food on this list can be given to kids, there’s just some foods that are naturally designed for kids.

Pro tip: make sure to give the kids healthy road trip snacks first. It’s way harder to get them to eat an orange after having a bunch of chocolate. Don’t ask me how I know. 😉

Just a quick note: many of these food are pre-packaged which isn’t the most eco-friendly way of traveling. However if you balance it with homemade and reusable packaging when possible , it lessens the environmental impact.

Kid-friendly road trip snacks:

• On-the-go yogurt
• Homemade double chocolate zucchini muffins (my kids go crazy over these!)
• Kid-friendly trail mix
• Suckers (or any long-lasting sucking candy)
• Applesauce pouches
• Pirate’s Booty
• Fruit snacks (save money by buying them at a bulk bin grocery store)
• Pepperoni slices and cheese cubes
• Baby carrots
• Juice boxes or pouches
• Kid-friendly pinwheels
• Fun cheeses, like Baby Bell or Laughing Cow
• Raisins or cranberries
• Healthy toddler mini muffins

Also make sure out check out the 15 Things to Pack on a Road Trip with Kids

If you’re more comfortable with the vegetarian or vegan diet, here are some great options for your next road trip. Many of these will need to be prepared or portioned out ahead of time. (See recommended containers below.)

• Veggie chips (sweet potatoes, beets, parsnips, etc.)
• Bell pepper slices and hummus
• Celery and nut butter
• Pumpkin cake pops
• Cherry tomatoes with vegan ranch
• Cinnamon apple chips
• Cajun roasted chickpeas
• Roasted pumpkin seeds
• Vegan lemon blueberry muffins (homemade)
• Chocolate-drizzled caramel popcorn

Okay there comes a point in the road trip where cravings take over. Some of my favorite food to take on a road trip are the special sweet treats. I just try not to pack too many!

• Yogurt dipped pretzels
• Puppy chow / muddy buddies
• Chocolate covered almonds
• Medjool dates
• Scotcharoos
• ‘Crack’ popcorn (candy covered popcorn with sprinkles)
• Homemade cookies
• Candied almonds (make them in the crock pot before you leave to save money)
• Gummy bears, or chocolate covered gummy bears
• Your favorite candy bar (mini size bags are perfect for sharing)

It’s sometimes nice to plan stops for gas or stretching around mealtime. And eating out is nice and convenient when on the road!

But it can also really add up! If you’re on a budget trip , then eating out every meal isn’t always a great option.

Pro tip: make sure to pack items that you won’t mind eating cold or room temperature. I sometimes freeze snacks and to keep them longer and prolong ice in the cooler from melting.

One strategy my family uses for road trips is to pack food for the first meal in a cooler. We’ll stick other road trip snacks in there too, and if it’s a long road trip we’ll pack multiple meals.

Anyways, back to best meals for road trips:

• Egg salad sandwich
• Cranberry almond chicken salad wrap
• Pre-portioned salads (homemade or store bought)
• Peanut butter and jelly sandwich
• Packaged tuna (not canned) and crackers
• Fruit salad (misc. fruit with a splash of honey and lime)
• Deli meat and cheese sandwiches
• Chips and guacamole (buy the small portion guac so it doesn’t go bad)
• Banana bread muffins for breakfast
• Gluten free strawberry oatmeal bars
• Milk, orange juice or iced coffee

More snacks to pack on-the-go

We’re almost there! Here are a few more ideas to add to your road trip food list:

• Water (of course this needs to go with!)
• Peanut butter filled pretzels
• Store-bought breakfast bars
• Mints or tic-tac’s (helps to pass the time)
• Traditional chips
• Sweet Tarts
• Hot Tamales (my husband’s favorite!)
• Yogurt covered raisins
• Dried fruit
• Jelly on rice crackers (use jelly packets for this)
• Mini cheese and cracker sandwiches
• Almond butter packets
• Sunflower seeds (what gets me through overnight driving)

So now that you have a ton of ideas, let’s move onto packaging. Breaking foods up into convenient portion sizes ahead of time saves a lot of headache – not to mention mess – in a moving vehicle.

Here are my favorite packaging solutions that are convenient, eco-friendly and ultimately will save you money.

Coolers – my family usually travels with a small, collapsible cooler in an easy-to-reach spot in the car that’s filled with drinks and snacks. Then we put meals and back-up drinks in the large cooler in the back.

Collapsible containers – great for making meals ahead of time and takes up less space in your car.

Mini containers – perfect for dips, trail mix, salad dressings and kid portions. I love these mini containers for road trips! I’ll even use them for snacks that I buy while on the road.

Reusable water bottles – my whole family has reusable bottles that we use for water on road trips. We usually put filtered water in old milk jugs (that have been cleaned) to refill water bottles throughout the trip. These water bottles are perfect for hiking or beaches, too!

Portable silverware set – perfect for meals, yogurt and to eliminate the need for plastic utensils during drive-through’s.

More supplies for your car

Alright now that you have your food list and packaging solutions, it’s time for the extra supplies that may help on the road . These are items I pack that help with snacks and meal times.

• Paper towels/napkins
• Gallons of filtered water for refills
• Wet wipes for sticky fingers
• Anti-bacterial gel
• Sharp knife for food prep (as needed)
• Plastic bag for trash

Road trip food – that’s a wrap!

Well there you have it! 101 ideas for road trip food! With a huge variety of options, you’re bound to find some you can buy or make ahead for your upcoming trip.

Hope you have a great trip, stay safe and satisfied!

Check out these fun road trip destinations you’ll love: Perfect Colorado Itinerary: 22 Road Trip Stops You Need to See 16 Midwest Road Trips: Scenic Routes You Can’t Miss Miami to Key West Road Trip: 22 Awesome Activities You Need to Do Denver to Moab: 16 Gorgeous Stops Along the Way

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Wednesday 12th of May 2021

These are great ideas, thanks! We are just doing a big road trip in a few weeks, so this is perfect timing! Thanks!

Welcome, Erin! Have a great time on your road trip!!

Tuesday 11th of May 2021

Wow great ideas! Love this list and so many options!

Thanks... it was a fun one to create!

Awesome list! I definitely saved on Pinterest for later 😊

Glad you got some inspiration from this list! :)

Sunday 22nd of November 2020

Wow! This is one epic list of the best road trip snacks! Love it!

Monday 23rd of November 2020

Thanks - glad you found it helpful!

These are such wonderful and creative suggestions! :) Need to bring some peach oatmeal muffins for my next road trip :)

Oh yes Jiayi! They're so good!!

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Road Trip Food List: Easy to Pack Meals & Snacks

This post may contain affiliate links, view our disclosure policy .

Are you looking for a road trip food list that includes the best road trip snacks and other food to bring on a road trip?

Road trips can range from being budget-friendly to out-of-this-world expensive if you do not plan ahead, especially when it comes to eating food.

The temptation to grab a snack at every gas station, as well as to eat out at restaurants or gorge on fast food, can really start to add up in terms of money and wasted time.

One way to save money and time while road tripping, however, is to bring your own food!

By making a road trip food list and packing fun road trip snacks, you’ll avoid having to stop and spend as much.

Our road trip food list includes easy road trip snacks, as well as portable breakfast, lunch, and dinner options – plus, a FREE Road Trip Food List printable to take with you to the grocery store.

The links on this page are Amazon affiliate links. If you click on the links and make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Table of Contents

Road Trip Food List: Breakfast

One of our absolute best family road trip tips is to leave bright and early in the morning when starting a long road trip.

As the most important meal of the day, luckily, having breakfast on the road is the easiest meal to eat cold and on the go.

If you decide to hit the road early, or if your hotel en route doesn’t offer a free breakfast, plan ahead by bringing along these simple road trip breakfast foods.

Our tried-and-true road trip food list awaits!

Road Trip Breakfast Ideas

• Yogurt tubes and granola bars
• Muffins, donuts, and scones
• Bagels and cream cheese
• Squeezable applesauce
• Hard-boiled eggs
• Peanut butter, banana, and granola wrapped up in a tortilla
• Make-Ahead Fruit & Yogurt Breakfast Parfaits

Additional planning tip: For added morning fun, use the category “breakfast foods”, “brands or cereal”, or “types of fruit” while you play a road trip word game .

Road Trip Food List: Lunch

When it comes to planning for lunch and beyond, your road trip packing list should always include a reliable portable cooler .

Whether you chill made-ahead sandwiches, salami & cheese, fruits, or veggies, there are so many awesome road trip food ideas when it comes to having lunch on the go.

What we love about these road tip lunch ideas is that they keep us out of congested cities and fast-food drive-thrus during the busy noon hour.

Road Trip Lunch Ideas

• Premade sandwiches with deli meat and cheese (make them extra fun by using shaped sandwich cutters !)
• Peanut butter sandwiches (skip the jelly to avoid sogginess)
• Pita pocket with mozzarella, tomato, basil, turkey, cheese, hummus, cucumber, and/or tuna salad
• Home-ade Lunchables with summer sausage, cheese, and crackers
• Tortilla with cream cheese, sliced olives, and pepperoni
• Veggies and single-serve packs of ranch dressing, hummus, or guacamole
• Pre-assembled Salad In A Jar

Road Trip Food List: Dinner

If there is one meal that you choose to splurge on, I recommend stopping to have dinner at a roadside restaurant or cafe.

Though this may not be your final destination, experiencing another city in this way will help you check more places off of your family travel bucket list !

If you’re not keen on stopping, however, here are the road trip foods we enjoy that are tasty and hearty enough to serve as dinner.

Road Trip Dinner Ideas

• Cold rotisserie chicken, chunked and served with a garden salad (package in a disposable salad container )
• Pre-made pasta salad, such as Pizza Pasta Salad
• StarKist ready-to-eat tuna salad in an avocado half or on a bun
• Chicken and pickled veggies in pitas
• Hummus veggie wrap

Additional planning tip: If you’re road tripping in the winter when driving conditions are much more unpredictable, packing extra road trip food is an essential component of your winter road trip packing list .

Road Trip Food List: Snacks

In my opinion, snacks   are the No. 1 way to keep everyone (including you!) happy on a family road trip.

Homemade snack mixes and individual pre-purchased snacks are also a great way to help cut costs associated with buying food on the road.

For this reason, I suggest assembling an entire tub filled with fun and appetizing snacks and surprises that you know your kids will love.

We use these  16-quart storage tubs from Sterilite  that are the perfect size, price, and durability!

Road Trip Snacks Ideas

• Chips and pretzels
• Animal crackers (Suprise them with Barnum’s Originals !)
• Filled crackers (peanut butter, cheese)
• Nuts (cashews, almonds, peanuts)
• String cheese, Babybel, Laughing Cow cheese wedges
• Fresh or dried fruit
• Healthy no-bake cookies
• Candy and gummy candy

Be extra organized for your family road trip by clicking the following image to get your FREE family vacation packing list that is both customizable and printable!

Travel Snacks for Toddlers

Road tripping with toddlers presents its own set of challenges and requires additional thought when it comes to toddler-friendly road trip activities and food.

(It’s much harder to keep a close eye on them when they’re in the backseat, and you’re in the front.)

When considering toddler road trip foods, the most important thing is to avoid giving them anything to eat that could be deemed a choking hazard.

In addition, opt for healthy versus overly sweet options that may give them a tummy ache.

Our favorite healthy toddler car snacks and road trip foods include:

• Graham crackers
• Snap pea crisps
• Applesauce and/or yogurt pouches
• Cheese sticks
• Soft mini muffins
• Whole-grain crackers
• Bananas and/or this apple slices

9 Essential Tips For Traveling With Food

As seasoned travelers, we’ve assembled a list of tips for traveling with road trip foods and make-ahead hotel room meals.

• Use up your most delicate fruit first when on long-haul road trips.

In other words, start by eating bananas and berries, then move on to more sturdy produce such as apples and oranges that don’t spoil as easily.

2. Every family needs an organized packing strategy !

When it comes to road trip food, tortillas, pitas, or other sturdy flatbreads work better to bring along than do loaves of bread. They take up a lot less room and do not risk getting smashed.

3. When packing a cooler with items that need to stay chilled, be sure to lay the ice on the top, versus the bottom of the cooler.

This is because cold air sinks and will, therefore, disperse itself more evenly if laid on top of the food.

4. Aim to open the cooler only 1 or 2 times a day in order to maintain its refrigeration and keep the ice from thawing.

5. Also, make all food, including snacks, easily accessible throughout the duration of your family road trip.

This prevents someone (likely mom or dad!) from having to constantly bend over the back seat or stop to open the trunk every time hunger or boredom hits.

6. Avoid bringing anything made of glass on your road trip, including glass food containers. Glass is heavy, bulky, and very dangerous when broken within the confines of your family vehicle.

7. Assemble and bring along a road trip kit with the following road trip essentials for spills, clean-ups, and car sickness:

• Anti-bacterial wipes
• Hand sanitizer
• Garbage bags
• Ziplock bags
• Napkins/paper towels
• Saltine crackers and motion sickness medicine

8. Each time you stop while on a road trip, don’t forget to pitch any garbage that has accumulated.

This prevents build-up and smelliness.

9. Head to the grocery store with our FREE printable checklist and purchase all of your road trip food in one shopping trip!

If you enjoyed reading our best Road Trip Food List , click here to check out our Related Posts:

• Top 10 Tips for Planning a Family Road Trip (And Enjoying it Too!)
• 7 Road Trip Word Games to Play in the Car With Kids
• 18 Amazing “Are We There Yet” Road Trip Activity Bags
• Top 16 Tips for Flying With Kids & Ways to Keep them Calm
• The Ultimate Guide for International Travel with Kids
• 8 (Unexpected) Benefits of Traveling With Kids

*Before leaving, be sure to check our  Travel Resources Page  to find our exclusive travel discounts and to book hotels, rental cars, and guided tours.*

Jen Brommer is a family travel expert. She has been featured as an authority on several notable travel websites and is a member of the Family Travel Association (FTA), Midwest Travel Network, and TravMedia global media network.

A prominent content creator and influencer on Instagram, Jen has over 150K unique monthly blog readers from countries all over the world. She has spent the last 16 years planning fun, and hassle-free family vacations for her family of 5.

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Thank you for the road trip food list and travel tips.

You’re welcome! Was there something you saw that you hadn’t thought of before? Happy travels!!

This is a great list as we also big in road trip. Snacks is so important especially to keep them from asking are we there yet. Haha… I myself like peanuts to keep me awake when it’s my turn to drive.

Thanks for reading and for sharing your favorite road trip snack!!

This is such a comprehensive list and it is so helpful as I predict a lot of us will be going on more road trips once we can. Prepping these meals will definitely save some money and help the kids feel less bored. I know that my kids are usually pleased munching stuffs during road trips. I also like that it is more likely for the road trip snack to be more healthier than what you’ll buy elsewhere.

Thank you! Yes, the health factor of pre-packing is a big one, as is the enormous cost savings 🙂

I like to have a good mix of healthy (kids like apples, those are easy to eat) and snacky/salty. I am also very particular. about road trip drinks. Big coffees, la croix, iced tea!

I like your ideas! We’d be good road trip buddies!

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A Quick Trip to Beautiful Big Sur: What to See, Do, Eat, and Enjoy

last Updated: May 15, 2023 big sur california central coast pacific coast highway

FYI: Affiliate links may be sprinkled throughout the awesome, free content you see below. I’ll receive a small commission when you purchase from my links (at no extra cost to you), which I’ll totally blow on adult things like boba tea and avocado toast. As always, thanks for the support.

Heading to California and can’t wait to check off all the stops on this Big Sur road trip itinerary? Read on for my favorite Big Sur activities, where to stay, what to do in Big Sur, and (most importantly), what and where to eat! This Big Sur road trip will have you booking flights to California ASAP, promise!

Seaside cliffs. Winding turns. Miles of misty coastline. Purple sand (yup!). Just a few of the things Big Sur is well-known for. And just one reason it’s on every list of the most beautiful places in California .

Big Sur is one of my favorite places IN THE WORLD (hands down) and one of my favorite road trips from San Francisco . I mean, it’s absolutely GORGEOUS. I feel oh so lucky to only live a few hours north, which means we typically make it to Big Sur at least once a year! 

Whether you’re driving down the entirety of the California coast or just making the short drive from SF, you’re in luck. And I’m jealous of you already.  With more ocean views than you ever thought possible, eco-friendly and luxurious hotel stays, wooded hiking trails and nature for days, I can never get enough of this stretch of the coastline.

This rugged and mountainous section of the Central Coast of California is just begging to be explored. And trust me, there’s enough things to do in Big Sur to fill an entire weekend and then some. Read on for the most perfect Big Sur road trip itinerary!

If you’re looking to take a much longer trip down the PCH, check out all my favorite stops on the Pacific Coast Highway – yes, all 75 of them!

BUT FIRST, THE BASICS

• Nearest City: Carmel (to the north, ~45 min drive) and San Simeon (to the south ~1.5 hour drive)
• Closest International Airport: San Francisco (SFO), ~2.5 hour drive
• Most Well-Known for: McWay Falls and the Bixby Bridge
• When to Visit: April through October, although my favorite time of year is early Fall
• How to Get Around: You’ll need (and want) your own car, 110%

Since the road to Big Sur is finally open again (after months of closure due to horrific mudslides), now’s the time to visit! Definitely don’t miss one of the most unforgettable stretches of majestic coastline in the world. It makes an excellent weekend trip from San Francisco , that’s for sure!

READ NEXT: 25+ Best Road Trips from San Francisco

How to Get to Big Sur:

Thankfully, getting to Big Sur is pretty easy, as long as you have a car. If you’re from outta town, and by that not within driving distance, you’ll need to get yourself to SFO (San Francisco) first. From SF, Big Sur is about 2.5 hours south. You’ll most definitely wanna make a few stops along the way ( Half Moon Bay , Pescadero , Santa Cruz , and Carmel/Monterey are my favorites), so plan accordingly!

Renting a Car : Note that you’ll undoubtedly need a car for this Big Sur road trip (it is a mini road trip after all!) So if you’re visiting the area (or live in the city and don’t have access to a car), a car rental will be a necessity! I like to search  via this site  in order to compare rental companies to see who has the best price. They check out all the major websites, and you can customize what you need as well! You’ll most likely be coming from the airport if you’re visiting, so aim to pick up your car rental from SFO.

Search for the  cheapest car rentals over here !

When to Visit Big Sur:

Big Sur is most popular between April and October , when the weather is at it’s nicest. You’ll find plenty of sunny days over here! Of courseeee this is when it’s most crowded, so if you hoping to have McWay Falls all to yourself, think again. Not happening.

However, if you wait until the summer rush is over and visit during either September or October, you’ll experience less crowds and actually better weather! Not many out-of-towners know this, but coastal fog is another downside of a Big sur road trip during summertime ; it can hang around as late as midday! The fog is usually gone by early Fall, and you can even witness whales and butterflies this time of year (yes, really, if you know where to look!)

Visiting between the months of November to March? It’s important to note that many businesses have shorter opening hours during the off-peak season.

Read Next: 25+ Long Weekend Trips from San Francisco

Temps are mild year round, ranging from a cool 60 degrees to a balmy 75 degrees F. It’s always wise to bring along a jacket no matter what month you’ll be frolicking around Big Sur, as it never gets particularly hot hot hot, and temperatures are always cooler on the coast than in the mountains nearby.

Where is Big Sur Exactly?

Many people don’t actually realize this, but Big Sur is not an actual city/town for that matter. It’s more of a state of mind rather than a specific point on a map, encompassing about 90 sunny Californian miles down the Pacific Coast Highway .

This mesmerizing stretch of coastline is located between Carmel (about ~45 min drive north) and San Simeon (roughly 1.5 hours drive south). 

Most people are surprised at how little “civilization” is around here – no traffic lights, strip malls, or banks. It’s so nice to just be surrounded by nature and kinda forget about the rest of the world for a little while!

How Long to Stay in Big Sur:

With that being said, you can easily see oh so much in even as little as one day. If this is your first time to the area —  don’t rush it! I recommend anywhere from 1-3 days in Big Sur, kinda depending if you wanna go on a few hikes or just see the typical tourist Big Sur road trip stops.

EXTRA BIG SUR ROAD TRIP TIPS

• Plan ahead. As you saw above, there’s lots to do within the 90 mile drive encompassing Big Sur. Sure, you can be spontaneous, but you’ll probably miss some of the best spots. I highly suggest to map out your Big Sur road trip in advance to ensure you’re seeing the best of the best of the area.
• A full day drive through can be enough time, but I don’t recommend it. You can definitely see a great deal of what the area has to offer, but to truly understand it’s captivating magic, you’ll want to stay the night. The area too expensive for ya? Try camping or make the short drive back to Carmel for less expensive accommodation options.
• Note that mudslides happen quite frequently in Big Sur and nearby. Check this site for current highway conditions before your drive.
• Bring binoculars to see the wildlife, especially in Point Lobos!
• Things book up fast, especially in the summer and fall. It’s best to make hotel and restaurant recommendations in advance.
• There is absolutely no cell phone service in Big Sur. At all. Don’t expect to be connected and/or be able to use Google Maps to get you from place to place. Download the map to your phone beforehand when you still have wifi/service, and may be able to use it for GPS purposes. You’ll find wifi at most popular restaurants, bars, and hotels — but, don’t keep your nose in your phone all day!
• Grab a free map of the area. With that being said, Big Sur’s free tourist newspaper has a fantastic detailed map. Pick up a copy of the newspaper at almost any establishment in the area.
• Keep a sweater or two in the car. One minute it’ll be warm and sunny, the next the fog will roll in dropping the temperature 15 degrees. Always better to be prepared!  It’s also a good idea to keep some hiking and/or beach clothing accessible in the car as well. It may not be beach weather when you set out for the day, but later in day who knows!

A FEW COMMON QUESTIONS

Is driving to Big Sur dangerous? Yes and No. There are twists and turns along the cliff, with most parts of the highway being only one lane in either direction. The road is narrow, so be extra careful when pulling over for the views (my advice – only pull off in designated spots, there’s plenty of them). Just take the drive slow, stay alert, and you’ll be ok.

How long does it take to drive the Big Sur coastline? It could take as little as 2 hours (if you don’t stop at all), or 2 days if you make all the stops for the views, foods, and hikes. Pace yourself – it’s all beautiful. There’s typically some traffic, so if you’re just driving through, expect it to take at least 3 hours.

Where does the Big Sur drive start? There’s no real “starting point”. Since Big Sur is located between Carmel-by-the-Sea and San Simeon, it’s best to start from either of these (and finish in the other) if you wanna experience the entire coastline of Big Sur.

Why is Big Sur famous? Have you seen the photos?! It’s known for it’s pristine scenery, full of turquoise water, beautifully-designed bridges, rustic hiking trails, and more. 

Can you swim in Big Sur? Yes and No. Despite all ocean views and beaches, there’s not many safe spots for swimming. The waves are unpredictable and pretty rough. And plus, the water is chilly over here! Head to Carmel, Monterey, or further south (Cambria, Cayucos, Morro Bay) if you wanna swim.

What to See and Do on Your Big Sur Road Trip:

Woooo – it’s finally time to get this Big Sur road trip itinerary under way!

You can drive all of these Big Sur road trip stops from either north to south (starting in Carmel) or south to north (starting in San Simeon) of course, but I prefer driving from NORTH to SOUTH. The scenic pull-offs are along the coast, and driving north to south provides the easiest access to these. And plus, I’m from San Francisco so I’m typically driving down the coast, not up. 🙂

With that being said, I’m planning out this Big Sur road trip itinerary from north to south. You can easily follow along the road trip stops, doing every single one (my recommendation) or picking and choosing a few if you only have part of a day. 

From North to South:

First things first, if you’ve never been to Carmel or Monterey, I highly recommend spending at least a day discovering both. My favorites in that area include: Carmel Beach, Lover’s Point Park, Pavel’s Bakerei, the 17 mile drive, and whale watching! The Monterey Bay Aquarium is a popular favorite as well!

1. Point Lobos State Natural Reserve

As you start your Big Sur road trip down from San Francisco (after exploring Monterey and Carmel-by-the-Sea prior), you’re first official stop should be Point Lobos! There are a ton of walks and trails to choose from, with all difficulty levels. And thankfully, everything is laid out quite well with proper signage, so there’s no risk of getting lost.

While the entire reserve is beautiful, don’t miss China Cove and Bird Island Lookout (on the southern part of the park). They’re my two favorite spots in Point Lobos, and you won’t find clearer waters.

If you’re visiting in winter, don’t miss the chance to go whale-watching, as this area is a haven for them! You’ll also be able to witness sea lions and harbor seals frolicking around on nearby rocks any time of year — listen and you’ll hear them no problem!

Go hiking, walking, bird watching (pelicans frequent the area), scuba diving (yes, really!), all while taking in the magnificent views! Bring your binoculars for wildlife viewing! You may even see an orca and/or dolphin off the coast!

Note that parking costs $10 to enter the park , but you can easily park on the side of the road (if you don’t mind walking a far distance to get in).

2. Garrapata State Park Bluff Trail

Okay, so we just discovered this spot off the side of the highway on our last visit to Big Sur, and I cannot believe I never noticed it before! It’s pretty secluded and kinda secret (aka not on all the typical “things to do in Big Sur” posts), so I hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

 A short 15 minute walk along the cliffs with beautiful views of the coast and even a waterfall! I wanna go for sunset next time!

Psst: If you’re visiting in early spring, don’t miss Calla Lily Valley right near Garrapata Beach (different location than the Bluff Trail).

BONUS STOP! CALLA LILY VALLEY!

If you happen to be visiting Big Sur between February and early April, you NEED to make a short pit stop at Calla Lily Valley ! It’s such a unique spot on the coastline, and it’s only a .25 mile hike to get there!

Read Next: Everything You Need to Know About Visiting Calla Lily Valley in Big Sur!

3. Rocky Creek Bridge

THIS is the bridge that everyone thinks is the iconic Bixby, but it’s not! Although I can definitely see why – it’s just as beautiful and even the same style! If you’re not in a rush on your Big Sur road trip, why not make the extra stop? The water was soooo extra beautiful when we were there – we actually felt like we were in Hawaii for a hot second!

4. Bixby Bridge

Any Big Sur road trip ain’t complete without a stop at iconic Bixby Bridge, one of the most photographed spots in Big Sur (which I’m sure you’ve seen alllll over instagram and pinterest).

You won’t miss it, promise, as it’s just a short 15 miles south of Carmel-by-the-Sea. Bixby Bridge is the epitome of Big Sur and it’s everything you’d expect and more (but really, it’s the surrounding scenery that really steals the show).

Top tip: pull off at a turnout from the bridge’s south end at sunset. Absolutely spectacular and downright mesmerizing. The view from the entrance to Old Coast Road isn’t half bad either. 🙂

Be warned, traffic can slow along this stretch (especially south bound) during the summer, so it’s best to visit Bixby in the early AM!

5. Old Coast Road

This 11 mile road is what those back in the day had to use before the famed Highway One was complete! — and not many tourists know about it just yet! You’ll be driving on private land, so you can’t stop to take tooo many photos, but since it’s usually not crowded, feel free to stop in the middle of the road if you must for some shots. Just be careful to watch out for other vehicles coming and livestock roaming around! The entire road is comprised of redwood groves, babbling brooks, rolling hills, and lot’s of no trespassing signs. Basically, nature at it’s finest. 🙂

Tip: Driving it can be challenging, but well worth it. You’ll want an all-wheel drive for best mobility, but if all you’ve got is a regular sedan, go slow and you should be a-okay! The road is not paved. Don’t go during the rain or after it’s just rained as the road is all dirt and can get quite muddy at times.

6. Hurricane and Sea Otter Refuge Viewpoints

All the views all gorgeous on the coast, but these two have ample parking and suuuuuch great views of the coast all around!

7. Point Sur State Park and Lighthouse

Next up on this Big Sur road trip itinerary – the Point Sur Lighthouse! While the tours are quite long at three hours, the history and information is so interesting you won’t even notice the hours passing by. Be sure to check the website as tours are not offered every day. And get there early — the tours only accommodate 40 people! Take along some warmer clothes as it gets quite chilly up at the top of the lighthouse! Thankfully there’s hot chocolate, tea, and/or coffee waiting for you. Tours cost $15 per person.

There’s also some hiking in the state park, with sea lions and starfish in the tide pools nearby.

8. Big Sur River Inn

Hungry? This place is absolutely perfect for lunch! The menu’s pretty large, and you can even eat while dipping your toes in the river! They’ve got a manicured grassy lawn which is perfect for picnics, and a whole set-up on their outdoor patio with tables and umbrellas. 

Sure, the food is on the pricey side (like the rest of Big Sur), but it’s such a great place to stop and relax for a bit.

There’s a retro school bus selling ice cream right off the parking lot, which is perfect on a hot day. And plus, what’s cooler than a cone from a bus? :p

9. Pfeiffer Beach

Have you ever seen a beach with purple sand?! Yea, neither had I until I visited Preiffer Beach in Big Sur. After you finally find it (the road to get to Pfeiffer Beach is a bit hidden and narrow with no signs), you’ll be pleasantly surprised that the sand is actually truly purple in some spots on the beach. Note that the color of the sand realllly comes alive right after it rains.

You could easily spend a few hours admiring the keyhole and rock formations on the beach. You don’t really need your bathing suit here as the water is waaaay too cold. You can always put your feet in if you’d like!

How to get here: When you’re heading southbound (recommended), take the 2nd right after you see the Big Sur Station. You’ll see a big yellow sign that says “NARROW ROAD: NO RV’s OR TRAILERS.” Go down that road! It costs $10 once you make your way a bit, but it’s well worth it once you get to the beach. Use caution while driving as the road is rather windy and narrow!

10. Big Sur Bakery

Small and cozy and rustic and delicious. Big Sur Bakery is typically pretty crowded, but it’s worth the wait.

Our favorite thing to get: almond croissant. I repeat, the almond croissant is orgasmic. Sure, it’s the most expensive pastry I’ve ever bought (at a whopping $8.50), but my husband and I both felt it was worth the hefty price tag. And it’s large enough to split, for sure.

The banana bread is great too, but now that we’ve had the almond croissant, I don’t think we’ll ever be getting anything else. 

They’ve also got some wood-fired pizzas, burgers, and avocado toast if you’re still hungry after Big Sur River Inn. As well as (chive and cheddar) scones and strudels and coffees and cream-filled donuts.

Oh, and the bakery has public restrooms available, which is always good to know on a road trip without much service!

11. Nepenthe

Cocktails with a view? Yes please! We love to break up our Big Sur road trip with some cocktails and appetizers from Nepenthe.

I feel the need to say this since you’ll be getting back in the car to continue on the 1: if you’re the driver, please be responsible and limit yourself to one drink at most. 

• If the weather’s lousy (as in thick fog drastically impeding the views), I honestly wouldn’t bother with Nepenthe. While the food and drinks are good, you’re paying for the view.  

12. Henry Miller Memorial Library

Book lover? Head to Henry Miller Memorial Library, and you’ll be nothing less than impressed. From free coffee available and interesting and unusual titles for purchase, it’s worth spending a while here to soak up the Big Sur atmosphere.

Tranquil. Cozy. Quiet. Don’t miss it – it’s even surrounded by giant redwoods! They sometimes even host concerts, cultural events, and film nights as well.

13. Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park – McWay Falls

After Bixby Bridge, this is on everyone’s must see list during any Big Sur road trip. And there’s a reason for it — the 80-foot waterfall is absolutely stunning. In every way, shape, and form.

A short 10 minute walk from the parking lot will get you to a beautiful waterfall crashing directly into the Pacific Ocean’s emerald water. Psst: When people say they’re “hiking” to McWay Falls, they’re really just casually strolling down a paved path.

And if there’s still orchids and wildflowers out, you’ll think you’re in Hawaii. Absolute paradise, albeit rather crowded at times.

• LOCAL TIP: Visit Julia Pfeiffer Burns in the afternoon when the sun is shining directly on the waterfall – it will be cast in shadows and difficult to see at other times of the day.

There is a $10 honor system daily charge, so bring some cash. You can easily park on the side of the road and forgo the paid parking, which is what most people do (I’m not saying it’s a-okay… just letting you know that’s an option if the parking lot is full). And thankfully, the parking lot has bathrooms! Yes!

Be aware that the trail is sometimes blocked off due to erosion, and you may not be able to get that picture perfect view. In addition, since California is still somewhat in a drought, the falls may be quite dry during the summer months.

Do note there is no beach or ocean access, and it’s actually forbidden to go down there. There are plenty of other beaches to hang around, so do your part and just stay where you’re supposed to be.

14. Limekiln State Park

Haven’t had enough of the great outdoors on your Big Sur road trip just yet? Limekiln State Park may be juuust what you’re looking for. The park offers a few short hikes, each offering their own thing, to waterfalls in redwood forests and access to the beach.

And thankfully, neither are too strenuous or long (perfect if you don’t have all day). Be sure to take along a sweater as the trails are shaded and can be very cool the entire time, which makes for a spectacular break on a super hot day!

Note that parking is rather limited and costs $10, with restrooms available.

15. Sand Dollar Beach

Being Big Sur’s largest beach, as long as the tide is low, you’ll find plenty of space to lay your towel down and relax. Do take note of the tide schedule though – high tide can essentially make the sandy beach disappear, making it difficult to find a place to sit.

Looking for sand dollars might result in a disappointment, but you’ll easily find muscles, crabs, sea anemone, and kelp beds while exploring the nearby rocks during low tide. Stay for sunset as the rock formations on the beach make for some epic scenery!

Note that you’ll have to walk/hike about 100 steps or so to access the beach. Which means you’ll ultimately need to climb back up! Just letting you know so there are no surprises! The parking lot is large and yes, you’ll need to pay $10 (a common theme to use the beaches/parks in/near Big Sur). Again, there’s a toilet here!

Animal Observations in Big Sur

DIY Whale Watching

No matter what time of year you’re visiting Big Sur, you’ll always want to be on the lookout for whales off the California coast. Patience is the only requirement, but binoculars are nice to have as well. Three types of whales frequent the Big Sur coastline:

• Gray Whales: December to February (migrating south to Mexico), and February to April (returning north; easier to spot as they are closer to the shore)
• Blue Whales: June to October
• Humpback Whales: late April to early December

Monarch Butterflies

If you’re visiting Big Sur in the winter months between October and December, you’re in for a real treat – tons of monarch butterflies! These little beauties return to Big Sur in October, and migrate north in January. Look out for them clustered in trees in the early morning, and flying around during the day. While you’ll see monarchs all around Big Sur, Andrew Molera State Park is the place to be to spot the most!

Where to Eat (and Drink!) on your Big Sur Road Trip

There are numerous places to eat and drink in Big Sur, although some are definitely better than others. I’ve already put my favorites up above throughout the Big Sur road trip itinerary, but here are some more! A girl’s gotta eat, am I right?

Here are my picks and notes, either personally tested by me, or recommended by fellow travelers:

• Nepenthe : drinks/appetizers right before sunset, stay for golden hour to get the best photos! An absolute must with the best ocean views!
• Big Sur Lodge Ice Cream : the perfect spot when it’s even a tad warm out!
• Big Sur Bakery: get an almond croissant and some banana walnut bread to share – it’s huge and heavenly. Pizza is great too if you want some “real” food!
• Cafe Kevah : serving brunch & light lunch in an outdoor setting. Located on a terrace just below Nepenthe with absolutely fantastic views
• Deetjens : cozy breakfast; delicious, homely food and great local wines. Be sure to make a reservation — the cozy dining room gets busy.
• Big Sur Roadhouse : stop here for a coffee and donut
• Sierra Mar Restaurant : Located in Post Ranch Inn serving a fine dining experience of inquisitive food creations. Pricey, but sounds worth it (I’ve never been).
• The Restaurant at Ventana : inventive coastal cuisine inspired by the sustainable ingredients of California’s Central Coast. The most beautiful views as well.

Be prepared to spend some big money for dining out in Big Sur. The entire area is pricey, so expect to pay big city prices (~$15ish for a cocktail, ~$20-30ish for an entree). Pick up snacks beforehand to have in the car during the drive so you don’t need to shell out an astronomical amount of cash at the Big Sur convenience stores every time you feel like noshing.

Where to Stay in Big Sur:

Accommodation in Big Sur is pricey. There’s really no way around it. If you can settle for not actually staying in Big Sur itself, consider heading up north to Carmel or Monterey for less-than-astronomical prices.

Recommended accommodation options in Monterey and Carmel that won’t break the bank:

• Briarwood Inn : Quaint B&B with bright rooms & suites, plus continental breakfast & free port/sherry receptions)
• Carmel Lodge : Cozy, casual rooms in a relaxed hotel offering free Wi-Fi & breakfast, plus parking)
• Hofsas House : Traditionally decorated rooms in a Bavarian-style hotel with ocean views, sundecks & a heated pool)

With that being said, the hotels in Big Sur really are quite special, and if you can splurge for one night on your California Coast road trip , these are the best places to do it:

Post Ranch Inn : Offering 3 pools, one being an infinity hot tub, you can spend the bulk of your time here overlooking the stunning California coastline. You betcha your night will be an unforgettable escape. Each room also boasts a private deck with those magicnicant coastline views, a wood-burning fireplace to get cozy during the chilly nights, and an indoor spa tub.

Ventana Inn & Spa : You’ll swoon the second you see this adults-only, rustically luxurious resort. Yes, it’s that impressive. And if the two resort pools with panoramic coastal views didn’t do it for you, I bet the spa treatments in outdoor cabanas overlooking the redwood forest will. 🙂 You can also opt to stay in a luxury glamping site with safari-style canvas tents under the redwoods if you feel so inclined.

Treebones Resort : Looking for something a bit different? Treebones Resort features seven ocean view tent campsites, along with 16 yurts with great views of the Pacific at Cape San Martin! Not as expensive as the other two, so check out Treebones if you’d like to give your wallet a bit of a break!

AirBnB : Due to the higher-than-normal cost of accommodation in Big Sur, you may want to check out AirBnB for a less expensive option, many even with those ocean views we’re all swooning over (without the super hefty price tag). Sign up for AirBnB with my link and get up to $40 off your first stay!

Are you planning a Big Sur road trip anytime soon? What are you most excited about?!

Loo king for more California content? Explore my other California guides here!

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September 22, 2018 at 6:39 am

Thanks for sharing. Big Sur looks truly incredible. I have only ever been to San Francisco but would love to see these amazing views and spend the night.

June 16, 2020 at 10:37 pm

Most the attractions mentioned in this article are closed due to covid19. Call before you go so you aren't driving hours for nothing. Don't be me.

June 16, 2020 at 10:58 pm

That just means you'll have to go back! Where did you drive from? I heard a few state parks in Big Sur are open now! And so is Nepenthe!

July 6, 2020 at 3:31 pm

Thanks for the info .

April 23, 2021 at 10:04 pm

Looks like such an awesome road trip. That waterfall on Julia Pfeiffer Burns is incredible!!! Makes me miss San Francisco!

May 25, 2023 at 10:09 am

Thank you! Planning a trip in July with our three boys and this was super helpful.

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Finding the Universe

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A Two Week California Road Trip Itinerary

Last updated: April 19, 2024 . Written by Laurence Norah - 114 Comments

The United States is pretty much the perfect country to road trip in, with great roads, cheap gas and hundreds of gorgeous destinations to choose from. It’s no wonder that a California road trip is on many visitors to-do lists!

We’ve taken a number of fantastic US road trips , including Route 66 , the Pacific Coast Highway , the Oregon Trail and a route through the Deep South , and have never failed to have an amazing time.

One of our favourite states to explore though has to be California. With a mix of an excellent climate, some of the best National Parks in the country, and world-famous cities to explore, you’re never going to run short of things to do in California.

With this in mind, I wanted to put together a classic two week California road trip itinerary, taking in some of the best that the sunshine state has to offer. I did a trip almost exactly the same as this a few years back, so I know that it’s a good one.

Two weeks is also a good amount of time for a trip like this, although you could of course extend it by a few days if you wanted to see a bit more, or wanted to go a bit slower.

California Road Trip Itinerary

This California road trip itinerary has you starting and finishing in San Francisco. As it’s a loop, you could also start and finish at any other point. If you would prefer another starting location, LA would be the most logical.

The route runs anti-clockwise, but you are welcome to drive it in whichever direction you prefer!

San Francisco – 3 Days

We’re going to start our California road trip with three days in San Francisco. San Francisco is home to the second largest airport in California, so there are plenty of opportunities for getting here for both domestic and international travellers.

San Francisco, and the surrounding San Francisco Bay Area is also an excellent city to base yourself for your first three days.

If you’re arriving internationally, you’re going to want a few days to adjust to the time zone difference before hopping into a car. For this reason, I’m going to recommend spending three nights in San Francisco, and picking up your hire car as you leave. You won’t want (or need!) a car while you’re in the city – parking is expensive and there are plenty of other options to get around.

You won’t be short on things to do in San Francisco, and in fact, might feel a little overwhelmed by all the choices!

Our suggestions would be to take in the Golden Gate bridge (hire a bike to get here easily), explore Chinatown, pop across to Alcatraz , revel in the tourist trap that is Fisherman’s Wharf, don’t miss golden gate park , head to the top of Nob Hill for cocktails at The Mark, hop on a cable car and, if you still have time, take a stroll at Lands End.

To get yourself oriented, we can also recommend taking a walking tour with the excellent SFNative folks, they know the city backwards. Finally, if you’re looking for some great photo opportunities, check out our guide to the best photography locations in San Francisco .

Accommodation wise, there are plenty of options in San Francisco. Here are some of our favourite picks for your stay, across a range of budgets.

• HI San Francisco Fisherman’s Wharf Hotel – found right on Fisherman’s Wharf, this budget hostel offers both dormitory and private accommodation options. There’s free breakfast and free parking, making this an excellent option for the location.
• Marines’ Memorial Club & Hotel – found in the popular Union Square district, this great value 3-star hotel has a rooftop restaurant, library, and on-site theatre. Rooms have private bathrooms and coffee makers, and breakfast is included. A paid parking garage is available nearby.
• Parker Guest House – found in the old Mission district just behind the San Francisco mission building, this is a well reviewed and good value guesthouse offering private rooms. Free breakfast is available, and parking is available on site for a reasonable (by San Francisco standards) fee.
• Columbus Inn – Just a few hundred yards from Lombardy Street and Fisherman’s Wharf in the North Beach district,  this 3* inn offers great value for the location. Private rooms offer en-suite and tea/coffee making facilities. There’s also free parking on site.
• Golden Gate Hotel – a very well reviewed 3* hotel just minutes from Union Square. Continental breakfast and afternoon tea are included. Rooms are definitely on the cosy side, and some have shared bathrooms, but the price is great for the location. Paid parking available nearby.
• Staypineapple Union Square – we stayed at this restored historic 4* 1913 hotel on a recent trip to San Francisco, and loved the mix of the old and the new. We loved the rooms, the colorful pineapple theme, and the free pineapple flavoured cupcakes certainly helped! Parking is available nearby for a fee.
• Four Seasons Hotel – if you are after five star luxury, then consider the Four Seasons hotel. Also found in Union Square, rooms are huge, there’s an on-site restaurant, fitness centre, and many rooms have city views.

See more options for hotels in San Francisco here, as well vacation rentals on Plum Guide here and Vrbo here .

Pacific Coast Highway – 2 Days

The drive down the section of the Pacific Coast Highway from San Francisco to Los Angeles is definitely one of the best road trips in the world. So it’s really a no-brainer that this would be your first destination after you pick up your hire car and head out of the city.

There are numerous highlights along the way, from cute seaside towns to gorgeous wilderness areas. Don’t miss Santa Cruz , Monterey , Big Sur and the Julia Pfeffer Burns State Park (camp here if you can!).

The latter is particularly famous for the waterfall that cascades onto the beach, a gorgeous photo opportunity.

From Big Sur head further south and take in highlights like the seals at Cambria , tasty food at San Luis Obispo, the gorgeous Pismo beach, Hearst Castle and more.

For loads more information on this stretch of highway and to help you plan the perfect coastal road trip, check out our super detailed guide to planning a  Pacific Coast Highway road trip .

For the 2 days you’ll spend on this part of your California road trip, we recommend stopping overnight around Monterey or Carmel on your first night, and San Luis Obispo, Morro Bay or Cambria on your second night.

There are plenty of accommodation options all the way down this stretch of highway, from campsites and B&B’s to luxury hotels – it all depends on your budget and what you’re aiming for. Here are a few options to consider in our recommended towns along the way.

For your first night, we recommend one of the following:

• If you like to camp, then there are camping options in the national parks along the route here, including the Pfeiffer Big Sur Campground . I’ve camped here and it’s lovely to be surrounded by the massive redwoods. Just be aware that it is popular, and booking in advance is a must.
• Sandpiper Inn , Carmel – we stayed here when we visited Carmel. We enjoyed the comfortable rooms, inclusive breakfast, and proximity to the beach. Free parking is available.
• Coachman’s Inn , Carmel – we’ve stayed at a number of the boutique hotels which are in the Four Sisters Inn collection, and they’ve all been excellent. This inn, found in the heart of Carmel Village, gets good reviews. Rooms include coffee makers and free popcorn, wine with hors d’oeuvres is served in the evenings, and breakfast is included.
• The Inn at 1252 , Monterey – a good value inn on the way into Monterey. Rooms feature coffee makers, and a heated pool is available year round. There’s also a fitness room, free parking and free coffee.
• The Jabberwock B&B , Monterey – just a few blocks from Cannery Row, this very well reviewed B&B offers seven lovely guest rooms, some of which have fireplaces and hot tubs. Free parking, and breakfast is included.

For your second night, we recommend one of the following:

• Apple Farm Inn , San Luis Obispo – we really enjoyed our stay here on one of our Pacific Coast Highway road trips. The rooms are spacious and comfortable, the breakfast was fantastic, and the on-site bakery has some delicious food. There are also two pools on site, and free parking.
• Madonna Inn , San Luis Obispo – this four star family-owned motel just to the south of SLO is a truly quirky destination, and a landmark of the central coast. Each of the 110 rooms is uniquely decorated, with pink being a key theme throughout. We didn’t stay here, but we did have dinner at the Gold Rush steak house on-site, which was fantastic.
• Seaside Inn , Morro Bay – this 2* budget inn is one block from the waterfront. Rooms have a microwave and refrigerator, and there’s free on site parking and coffee.
• Beach Bungalow Inn and Suites , Morro Bay – five minutes walk from the aquarium, this three star inn is very well reviewed. Comfortable rooms have fireplaces, refrigerators and coffee machines, and a hot breakfast is included as is parking.
• Cambria Palms Motel , Cambria – this 2* motel is a couple of blocks from downtown, and offers comfortable rooms at a good price. Rooms have refrigerator and coffee machine, and free parking is available on site.
• El Colibri Hotel & Spa , Cambria – on one of our visits to Cambria we stayed here for a couple of nights and really enjoyed it. The rooms are lovely, with fireplaces, and some have spa tubs. There’s an on-site spa, outdoor hot tub, and breakfast is available. Free parking on-site.
• J Patrick House B&B , Cambria – this five star Irish themed inn was Cambria’s first B&B. There’s a a free wine hour, evening cookies and a full breakfast included with your stay. Each room is individually designed, and there’s free parking on site. A great pick in Cambria.

Santa Monica, LA – 2 Days

Los Angeles can be a big, confusing place, particularly after your trip down the Pacific Coast Highway. That’s why I suggest you head to Santa Monica and make that your LA base.

On the coast, and technically a separate city (it’s kind of hard to tell as LA and its surrounds are part of a fairly vast urban sprawl), you’ll have access to the wonderful beach and pier, as well as nearby Venice, most famous for its beach and people watching opportunities.

Again, there’s no shortage of things to do in LA. If you’re interested in film, you can visit the Hollywood sign, walk the Hollywood walk of fame or go on a tour of the backlot at Universal Studios .

Art lovers will find their thrills at the Getty Center , which also offers gorgeous panoramic views of the surrounding city. Other highlights include Sunset Boulevard, and of course, you can hop on one of those tours of the stars homes if you’re so inclined.

LA also has plentiful accommodation options to suit all budget. Here are some of our recommended options:

• Santa Monica Motel – we enjoyed our stay at this basic 2* motel, which is around a 10 minute walk from Santa Monica Pier. There’s free morning coffee and free parking, and rooms come with coffee makers and in-room refrigerators. It’s definitely a value option.
• Banana Bungalow – this hostel offers shared and private accommodation, around a mile from the downtown Hollywood area. There’s free parking on-site, and reviews are positive.
• Magic Castle Hotel – this 3* hotel is a short walk from the Hollywood walk of fame, and you get a pool, unlimited free snacks, free continental breakfast and reasonably priced parking. It’s also a short walk to the Hollywood Bowl, and only three miles from Universal Studios. We really enjoyed staying here.
• Villa Delle Stelle – this boutique hotel in central Hollywood gets excellent reviews and will make you feel like a celebrity. Each suite is designed after a specific old Hollywood Celebrity, and guests can avail of celebrity style services such as in-room massages, private chefs and a personal trainer. Free parking is also included.
• The Georgian Hotel – this beautiful 1933 4* Art Deco hotel is a short walk from Santa Monica pier, and offers ocean views and on-site dining. Breakfast is available, and parking is available on-site for a fee.

See more LA listings here for inspiration , as well as LA listings on Vrbo here . For a more curated apartment rental option, check out Plum Guide. You can see their LA listings here .

If you’re not excited about Los Angeles, you could also choose to skip it and head down the coast to San Diego County and the city of San Diego itself. This is a more laid back (and easily navigable!) experience compared to LA, and there’s a great deal to do here as well.

For more reading on San Diego, check out this guide to things to do in San Diego we put together.

Joshua Tree National Park – 1 Day

Time to head out of the city, and the remainder of this itinerary is going to focus on exploring some of California’s unbelievable wilderness areas and National Parks. We’re going to start this off with a trip to the Joshua Tree National Park , home to those iconic shaped trees that the park is named for.

It’s a wonderful place, the meeting point of two deserts, and offers good opportunities for camping, hiking and star-gazing.

The best way to experience the park is to camp overnight in one of its many campgrounds (you should definitely reserve a spot well in advance if this is your plan), otherwise, there are various lodging opportunities outside the park if you’re not big into camping. You should also be aware that there is very limited water availability in the park (and no hookups for RV’s), so make sure you bring plenty of water and food – this is a remote desert environment after all!

Here are some suggested accommodation options in nearby Twentynine Palms.

• 9 Palms Inn – this budget 2* property gets good reviews, and rooms come with a coffee machine, microwave and refrigerator. There’s also free parking on site.
• El Rancho Dolores – this is a great value 3* property with a seasonal pool. Rooms have microwaves and refrigerator, and free parking is included.
• Sunnyvale Garden Suites – a very well rated 2* hotel offering a range of suites, each of which comes with a BBQ as well as a full kitchen. There’s a hot tub and gym on site, and free parking is available.
• Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites – this 3* chain hotel offers comfortable and well reviewed accommodation, with an outdoor heated pool and fitness centre. Rooms have coffee making facilities, microwave and small fridge, and there are BBQ facilities available for guest use.
• Flying Point Homestead – if you want something a little bit different, check out this property. It’s actually a holiday home rather than a hotel, but one of the options is a beautiful silver streak trailer!

See more listings for Twentynine Palms and this general region on  Plum Guide here .

Note, if you want to include a detour to Las Vegas, this would be the moment to do just that. We’d suggest adding a couple of days to your trip if you want to experience the city and its surrounds as there’s a lot to see and do here. Then you can rejoin the trip at the next stop.

For more on that sort of trip, check out our two week USA road trip itinerary , which include Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon.

Death Valley National Park – 1 Day

Moving on from one desert environment to another desert environment – and the largest national park in the contiguous United States. Death Valley (the name was given by gold rush travellers who nearly perished here) is the hottest and driest place in North America, and has recorded the hottest ambient air temperature in the world.

So, overall, a hot place.

Other than making you want to crank up the AC then, what does Death Valley offer? Well, there’s that sense of remoteness. The vast, unforgiving wilderness. The knowledge that you’d probably die fairly quickly if you happen to wander off and get lost (don’t wander off and get lost folks).

Truth be told, there’s plenty to do here. You can visit Badwater Basin, the lowest point in the entire North America, which actually sits 86 metres below sea level. Then there are sand dunes, salt flats, craters, colourful canyons and hiking opportunities galore.

Just be aware that this is a seriously inhospitable, and, in the summer months, unbearably hot, destination, so plan and pack accordingly . If you’re looking for more ideas on spending a day in Death Valley, check out this excellent post .

Mammoth Lakes – 1 Day

From Death Valley we’re going to head further north, up to Mammoth Lakes . This drive is quite incredible, along the Sierra Nevada mountains, and the scenery (and temperatures) will change dramatically as you ascend into this gorgeous part of the world.

Mammoth Lakes are an adventure lovers playground. You can go hiking, camping, cycling, rock climbing, horseback riding, fishing – the list goes on! There’s also a ghost town , craft beer companies, shopping opportunities – basically, pretty much everything you could imagine.

Whilst you’re here, you should also take the opportunity to visit Lake Mono . Now a state nature reserve, Lake Mono is a million year old lake notable for the “tufa” towers, calcium carbonate structures that stand above the lake like strange modern art installations. Definitely worth a visit, and particularly photogenic at sunrise and sunset.

Yosemite National Park – 3 Days

Finally on our awesome California road trip, I’m going to suggest you spend three days exploring Yosemite National Park before heading back to San Francisco to return your hire vehicle and head home.

Yosemite is without doubt one of my favourite places in the entire United States. It’s a wonder of nature, a photographer’s paradise, and somewhere I dare anyone to visit without falling instantly in love.

There’s a lot to see and do here, which is why I’m going to suggest taking three days to get the most out of your visit. This will let you see all the highlights, as well as go for some longer hikes (or drives), and not feel too rushed.

I’ve got a full guide to the best photography locations in Yosemite , but in brief, don’t miss Yosemite Falls, the hike up to Nevada and Vernal Falls, the drive (or hike) to Glacier Point, Tunnel View, Valley View and Bridalveil Falls.

If you love longer, more challenging day hikes, then Half Dome is a seriously challenging walk (permit required), as is the walk up to the top of Yosemite Falls .

There are a range of accommodation options in Yosemite National Park, ranging from campsites to canvas-sided tent cabins, through to luxury hotels.

There are 13 campsites available in the park , with a number of these available for reservation, and the rest operated on a first come first serve basis. If you want to camp, we highly recommend booking well in advance, which you can do here .

There are also nine lodging options operated by Yosemite Hospitality inside the park, which are the only other accommodation options available in the park itself. These can be reserved up to a year in advance, and range from simple canvas cabins through to a high-end luxury hotel. These can all be reserved online in advance here .

Important –  As of 2022, Yosemite has introduced a reservation system for park entry. If you are visiting between late May and the end of September and planning on driving into or through the park between 6am and 4pm you will need to have a reservation. You can find out more and make your reservations online here .

California Road Trip Map

We’ve put together a map of our suggested California road trip itinerary, which you can see below, and also on Google Maps here . Note that depending on the time of year, access to Yosemite can be restricted due to snow, so you have to take the longer way round.

In addition, parts of the Pacific Coast Highway are often closed due to damage caused by landslides. As such, the map should be seen as an overview rather than a definitive route. You’ll want to plan your own California road trip route that matches any current road conditions and closures.

You can check the status of the coast route (state highway 1), as well as all the other roads in the state, on the Caltrans website here .

California Road Trip Itinerary Overview

• Days 1 – 3: San Francisco
• Days 4 – 5: Pacific Coast Highway
• Days 6 & 7: Los Angeles
• Day 8: Joshua Tree
• Day 9: Death Valley
• Day 10: Mammoth Lakes
• Days 11 – 13: Yosemite National Park
• Day 14: Return to San Francisco

When to Take a California Road Trip

California is a fairly good year round destination, but there are a few things to be aware of when planning your trip. In the Winter months, places like Yosemite can become accessible particularly from the east side, due to snow, as you can see in the map above.

The main road in to Yosemite is the Tioga Road, and this is usually closed from November through to May or even June. In addition, parts of the park, including Glacier Point road, are often closed for a similar timeframe.

If this happens to you, you’ll have to take a serious detour to get in based on this itinerary. A better option might be to embrace the snow, and head up to Lake Tahoe for some fantastic skiing opportunities. Or, you can head east, out to Nevada and the pleasure city of Las Vegas.

In summertime, the heat can be quite intense, in particular in places like Death Valley, where in the summer months temperatures can exceed 100F, and it’s not recommended to spend much time outside.

Where to Stay in California

California has a serious range of accommodation options to meet pretty much every budget, although larger cities and busier months do tend to increase the prices. We’d always recommend booking in advance for your trip if possible – in particular for national park campsites and hotels, and to get the best deals on city centre hotels.

For two people travelling together, you’re looking at a budget range of $60 – $150 per night for comfortable private en-suite accommodation, although you can obviously spend far more than that!

Our preferred option for hotel booking is booking.com, as they usually have the best prices, regularly run deals, and many properties offer good last minute cancellation policies. See their listings for California , San Francisco and Los Angeles to get you started.

We also use and recommend Plum Guide and Vrbo for vacation rentals.

For more ideas, take a look at our travel resources page for helpful hints and tips on getting the best deal on accommodation when you travel.

How to Get Around California

This is a road trip, so obviously you’re going to want a hire a car! We recommend searching for your car rental on Discover Cars here . They compare a range of providers so you can find the best deal for your trip.

Drivers with foreign licenses are allowed to drive, if your license is in a language other than English then you would be best with either an international drivers license, or a certified translation.

Another option of course is to hire a camper van or RV, which will let you stay in campgrounds and other, more out of the way areas. This can be a fun way to travel in a more self sufficient style. If this sounds like you, we recommend comparing RV rental prices at Motorhome Republic . They list all RVs from many of the major suppliers to help you find the right one for you. See their USA listings here .

We can also recommend checking out  RVShare , who offer peer to peer campervan rental – a bit like the AirBnB of RV rental! Similar options include Outdoorsy and RVEzy .

If this is your first time in the USA, or you just want a reminder of what it’s like to drive in the USA, check out our guide to driving in the USA for lots of tips!

Practicalities for a California Road trip

Travelling in the USA is relatively easy, but we wanted to share a few things to help make planning your California road trip a little easier.

Electricity

The USA uses a 110v electrical system, with plugs that are either two pin or three pin. The holes are flat, and sometimes the two pin plug holes will be different sizes, so the plug will only go in one way.

If you’re coming from much of the rest of the world, including Europe, the UK or Asia, you will definitely need a travel adaptor like this . You will also need to check that your equipment supports the 110v supply, as much of the rest of the world uses a 220v supply.

In our experience, most electronics like laptops and phone chargers accept a universal voltage, whilst higher power devices like hairdryers do not. Always check the device itself, the voltage rating should be on your plug or adaptor somewhere.

Internet Access

Internet access is widely available across the USA in the form of WiFi, which can be found for free at most hotels, cafes, bars and restaurants. There are also a number of free WiFi hotspots in some of the cities on our list.

If your phone is unlocked you can pick up a pay as you go SIM in the USA. One of the better options is from Straight Talk , which you can buy in Walmart stores.

For more options on getting online when travelling, check out our guide to getting online when travelling to help you figure out the best options.

The USA uses the US dollar, and there are ATM’s available throughout. In our experience though, you can pay for nearly everything with a credit card, so you will rarely need cash. Whilst it is worth having a few bills on you, for the most part you won’t need them.

Instead, just make sure you have a credit or debit card that doesn’t charge you any foreign transaction fees and uses a fair price for currency conversions, and you should be good to go.

Water across the USA is safe to drink, unless otherwise indicated. There are drinking fountains in the majority of public locations, and we recommend you travel with a re-usable water bottle so you can just fill it up as you go.

One thing we always love about travelling in the USA is how drinking water is always brought to your table at a restaurant – something we wish was standard around the world!

For the most part, the USA is a safe destination to travel in, and we have never had any problems. Of course, every country has crime, and areas where you would be wiser to avoid, however if you practice basic safety precautions, keep your valuables out of sight and behave as you would at home, you should be fine!

Further Reading and Resources for a California Road Trip

California is a very popular destination, so there’s no shortage of research material to help you plan your trip! Here are some of my favourite resources:

• We have a guide to things to do in San Diego
• I’ve written a guide featuring some of my top tips for driving in the USA to help get you going on the road!
• Wondering how much a California road trip will cost? Check out our  guide to how much it costs to travel in the USA to help you plan your trip budget.
• Jess has a guide to driving the Pacific Coast Highway , which will give you lots of ideas for that section of the road
• If you’re interested in California’s wine country, see our guide to visiting Napa Valley
• Route 66 ends in California, so take a look at our guide to planning a route 66 trip , as well as our detailed 2 week Route 66 itinerary and 1 week Route 66 itinerary
• Fodor’s Guide to California , which also includes details on a number of fantastic road trips
• The Lonely Planet California Guide , which is great for finding things to do, places to eat and places to stay
• A US road atlas , because sometimes you don’t want to rely on GPS!
• If you’re planning on hiring an RV or camping, this guide to free and super cheap campgrounds will quickly pay for itself
• The official Visit California page, which will give you more advice on what to see and when to visit
• For more in California, see this awesome guide to places to visit in California , from fellow bloggers at yTravelBlog
• My guide to things to do in Redding California , if you decide to head to northern California
• Getting online when travelling in a foreign country can be daunting – check out our guide to getting online when travelling to help you figure out the best options for your trip
• And if you’re looking for inspiration for the rest of the USA, check out our USA section , which includes a Deep south itinerary , tips for New Orleans during Mardi Gras – and lots more!

And that sums up my perfect two week California road trip itinerary! If you’ve got any comments, suggestions or additions, do pop them in the comments below. Plus, if you liked this post, do check out the rest of my itinerary series , which will help you plan the perfect trips all around the world!

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robert feinberg says

16th December 2023 at 4:48 pm

Hello, we are planning a road trip to California in July, and using your template, but adding a few different options. we are traveling with 2 15 year olds, and they want to surf. any recommendations you can make on that, as well as stops that will be good for them? much appreciated.

Laurence Norah says

16th December 2023 at 8:26 pm

So there are a lot of surfing options all along the coast from San Francisco to San Diego. A lot will depend on the experience of your children and whether or not they are experienced surfers or are looking to learn. Also, some locations will have surfboard rentals wheras others are more remote. So it will depend what you need in that regard. However, there are good options all along the California coast, including Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz, Pismo, Morro Bay, Ricon Point and Surfrider beach (Malibu). I’d just recommend doing some research to ensure you match the breaks to the skill level required 🙂

Have an awesome trip!

Kim Dawtrey says

7th October 2023 at 9:39 pm

Hi Lawrence We are just home after nearly three weeks in the US on a route based on your California Road Trip, although we also went to the a Grand Canyon and Las Vegas. The information within your blog was a great help in planning our trip. Unfortunately we were unable to drive down the whole Pacific Highway due to landslide near Big Sur, but we loved the 17 mile drive and would recommend staying in Pacific Grove (we stayed in Bide-A-Wee hotel which was great). We were also unable to drive across Death Valley as the NP was closed due to the damage to the roads, we did however visit Death Valley Junction and throughly recommend a visit to Amargosa Opera House. The board outside says tours at 9.00am and 6.00pm, but the young lady in the hotel reception was more than happy to give us a tour for a donation, fascinating place and history. If you haven’t visited I can send you some photos. Another side trip we did was to Bristlecone Ancient Pine Forest, amazing place, great drive up to 10,000 feet, with fresh snow at the top! The Grand Canyon and Yosemite were certainly the highlights for us. We thoroughly enjoyed our trip, thank you for all your valuable information, if we were 40 years younger, we would love to be doing what you and Jess are doing!

8th October 2023 at 12:33 pm

Thank you so much, I’m happy to hear you had a great trip in California and beyond! Unfortunately the Pacific Coast Highway does get blocked quite regularly due to landslides, and it also sounds like unfortunate timing with Death Valley. However I am glad to hear you still had a good time overall! We haven’t visited the Amargosa Opera House, we will definitely have to add that to the list!

Thanks for taking the time to share your experiences, and safe onward travels 🙂 Jess and I love to hear from fellow adventurers who have been out exploring!

All the best,

erika liaci says

3rd July 2023 at 2:54 pm

Hi we are finalising our US Road trip to/from LAX in mid August. Would you recommend still going to the Death valley? I am a bit scared of the temperature which might be 50C? Thanks erika

4th July 2023 at 9:26 am

So I would personally probably skip Death Valley in August. It’s going to be too hot to do very much, and you would likely be able to better spend your time elsewhere. An extra day in Yosemite for example!

Have a great trip!

17th April 2023 at 11:43 am

Hi – this 2 week California road trip looks amazing. Your blog is really helpful for planning our own trip. Would it be possible to know the driving distances between each of the places please. Thanks Sam

18th April 2023 at 8:09 am

Hi Sam, thanks very much! So I didn’t put distances because in my experience they tend to change with side trips etc. Also, the Pacific Coast Highway is regularly affected by landslips so stretches of the route can be closed.

That said, as a rough guide:

From San Francisco to Santa Monica is around 500 miles From Santa Monica to Joshua Tree is around 150 miles From Joshua Tree to Death Valley is around 260 miles From Death Valley to Mammoth Lakes is around 200 miles From Mammoth Lakes to Yosemite is normally around 75 miles but this depends on the pass being open From Yosemite back to San Francisco is around 170 miles.

I hope this helps! Have a great time in California 🙂

28th January 2023 at 2:46 pm

Hi. Would you recommend Zion National Park or Bryce Canyon? We will be driving back from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon to Las Vegas and are thinking of an extended detour north rather than going back via Kingman. Thanks

29th January 2023 at 9:07 am

It is with some dismay that I’m not able to accurately answer your question as both parks are still on my to-do list and I haven’t visited either. So rather than inaccurately answer your question I would have to say I don’t know. I definitely want to visit them both, and from the photos I have seen I don’t think you would be disappointed with either, but that’s about as much as I can say for now until I have visited both!

Sorry not to be of more help but I hope you have an amazing trip nonetheless!

Maxine says

4th August 2022 at 8:16 am

This post has been super helpful and given us great ideas for a trip we are planning with our two teenagers next summer. We want to include vegas, therefore, would you recommend that we head there after San Diego before heading back to Yosemite? Thank you

4th August 2022 at 6:06 pm

Thanks very much, glad you found the post useful! So yes, heading from San Diego or Death Valley to Las Vegas would make the most sense. I’ve actually written a trip out that is similar to this one but include Vegas (and the Grand Canyon if you wanted to also include that). That’s here:

https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/2-week-usa-road-trip-itinerary/

You can save time of course by skipping the Grand Canyon 🙂 Let me know if you have any more questions, I’m happy to help. Otherwise, have a great trip!

William D Villont says

6th January 2022 at 9:03 pm

My wife and I took a California trip similar to this one except we went south to San Diego as our final destination. I really enjoyed the trip and can fully understand why you highlight this trip as one someone should surely take. We agree. My only disappointment of the trip is that, at the time, I was doing videography and that is all I took on the trip, my video camera. Now that I have gotten back into photography I wish I had taken my camera as well. We rarely get out the old video (VHS tape) and watch and I have not taken the time to transfer the VHS to DVD yet. I just gave it away, that this trip was sometime ago because I was shooting VHS. Anyway I would love to take this trip again and if this Covid thing ever goes away, maybe I will. Thanks for sharing this trip.

7th January 2022 at 11:29 am

Hi William,

I’m glad to bring back positive memories of your California trip! Interesting to hear you mostly took video. I have a similar reverse quandry when I travel, I usually only find myself able to concentrate on one medium of story telling as we go, so I focus on photos. But I often think it might be nice to have more videos. I hope you get to watch your video soon and also to take the trip again one day!

Have a lovely and safe 2022,

Delaney Blute says

1st July 2021 at 3:18 am

Hi! Thank you so much for the wonderful travel recommendations. I’m planning on taking this trip with my mother and sister, possibly leaving next late summer. Do you have a ball park recommendation for price for the entire trip for 3 people? We plan on budgeting it, but just wanted to know if you had any estimate of what this trip would cost for 3 people. Thanks so much!

1st July 2021 at 12:47 pm

Hi Delaney,

This is a great question. So it’s really hard to give a price estimate because everyone has a different travel style, and it will depend on what type of accommodation you are thinking of booking, whether you are happy to share a room for the three of you vs have individual rooms, whether you are ok with budget dining vs more expensive options and so on. I’m also not sure if you’re from the US or not, so car rental if you need to rent a car would also be a cost to consider.

I do have a guide which has a ballpark idea of costs for travel in the UK, which you can see here: https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/how-much-does-it-cost-to-travel-in-usa/

That should give you an idea of how much each element of the trip should cost you, to help you come up with a rough figure. The main costs are going to be your accommodation, gas / car rental / car parking in cities, food, and any attraction entry.

I hope this helps! Let me know if I can provide any further input, and have a great trip 🙂

Chantelle says

7th March 2020 at 2:06 pm

We have a trip booked for just short of a month in September! Your blog was really helpful, thank you!

I was wondering if you had some advice on Car vrs Camper. Is it easy to find places to stay in a camper or would you recommend a car and motels. We are happy either way just want our trip to be as stress free as possible!

7th March 2020 at 5:07 pm

Hi Chantelle!

So we have done both, and honestly, we prefer motels / B&Bs to campsites.

In the USA, campsites are a bit different to the UK in my experience. They tend to have more formal “sites” for each visitor, which means they can’t just squeeze another person in. When they are full they’re full. For National Parks especially, this means that they can book out and then you can be stuck trying to find somewhere to stay. You can of course book them in advance, so that’s an option. The other good news is that if you have a campervan all is not lost as there are places you can camp for free. However these tend not to be totally exciting, Walmart carparks for example let folks stay overnight, but this might not be the dream option.

The other thing is that if you do the math, you will find that the cost of renting a campervan + the cost of paying campsite fees will probably be a lot more than the cost of a cheap car and economy lodging. Plus if you plan on visiting a few of the cities in this itinerary a camper will be more effort than it’s worth. You didn’t mention budget so this might not be a huge factor, but I just wanted to highlight it.

I think you can see where my preference lies for this itinerary. Obviously if you love camping and want to spend more time out in the backcountry and national parks, it’s a great option. But you might find that buying a cheap tent and a couple of sleeping bags for a few nights is a better option than renting a camper 🙂

Have a great trip – let me know how it goes and what you decide to do! We have a facebook group you’re welcome to share your experiences in here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/travelloversandphotography/

chantelle sims says

14th March 2020 at 2:44 pm

This has been so incredibly helpful thankyou!!

My pleasure Chantelle – have a great trip!

Sharon says

16th February 2020 at 7:40 pm

Great inspiration and ideas, thanks

16th February 2020 at 9:34 pm

Our pleasure Sharon, thanks for stopping by and commenting!

Thiago says

12th February 2020 at 7:45 pm

Just want to thank you for these super detailed guides, guys;

13th February 2020 at 10:48 am

Our pleasure Thiago, if you have any questions we’re happy to help 🙂 Safe travels!

Kathy Reed says

26th January 2020 at 5:51 pm

Hi – this was an amazing find! Loved all of your recommendations. Do you have any recommendations for anything just a little further north into the Redwoods. Perhaps starting in Santa Monica and going north? Though i do love the loop feature of this itinerary. Makes it so hard to decide. Thanks!

28th January 2020 at 9:19 am

We have travelled north of this itinerary as well, with our highlights including Napa Valley, Point Reyes National Park and Redding, however we’ve not put together a detailed itinerary for this sort of trip as we’ve not covered the area in enough detail. If redwoods are what you are after particularly, then on this itinerary you can see them near Santa Cruz, if you did want to follow it.

Let me know if I can offer any more advice for your trip!

4th January 2020 at 4:39 pm

Hi Great site for info ? Just would like to know what time of year would you recommend doing this road trip ive just read on here ,we’re coming from the UK so any info will help us plan Many thanks Barry

5th January 2020 at 11:25 am

It can definitely be done at any time of year, but I might avoid the depths of winter as snow can make the roads into Yosemite a challenge, plus it will be quite cold. So if you are looking for more of a summery California road trip, I might suggest May through September. We just toured California in August, and it was definitely very hot inland, as well as being busy so perhaps May/June or September would be the best time for a good combination of weather and fewer people 🙂

Debbie says

4th January 2020 at 3:03 pm

Hi We are planning this trip in April 2020! We will skip LA (Not interested) & Yosemite (We’ve already been) & we will only spend 1 day in San Francisco (we’ve already been) my question is do you think we can do the rest in 7 days?? We definitely want to do the scenic drive from San Francisco to San Diego & back to San Fran an thank you for all the wonderful information!!

5th January 2020 at 11:32 am

Hey Debbie!

Awesome 😀 So you can do the Pacific Coast Highway from SF to San Diego in a couple of days if you don’t mind going at a bit of a pace. I’d probably slow it down to 3 days though. I’m not sure if you still plan on seeing Joshua Tree and Death Valley – if you plan on going up and down the Pacific Coast Highway both ways, then you’re actually going to end up driving much more than this itinerary if you do visit Death Valley, as you’ll do about 2/3rds of the route and then turn around.

I’m not sure if you wanted to go to Las Vegas instead, but what you could do instead of going all the way back is finish in Vegas. I have noticed that many car hire firms don’t charge one way fees for trips between SF and Las Vegas, and flights out of Las Vegas are also very inexpensive. Even if you don’t want to do the whole Las Vegas thing, there are some lovely outdoor attractions in the area including the Hoover Dam and the spectacular valley of fire state park.

Anyway, just a thought. To answer your question – yes, you could do the rest in 7 days but I fear it might be a bit rushed,

30th December 2019 at 1:24 am

How many miles is this trip in total?

30th December 2019 at 3:28 pm

Around 1400 miles, but you’ll want to add on detours, side trips etc. So I’d say 1500 – 2000 to be on the safe side 🙂

Mallikarjun says

19th December 2019 at 8:51 pm

Can you please let me know the “Public Transport” options, it may be Bus, Metro or any other services in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego. I am planning for a trip in end of Jan 2020 for about 6 to 7 days to cover these cities. Or is there any travel packages you suggest for these cities. Please let me know.

Thanks, Malli

22nd December 2019 at 5:29 pm

My pleasure, and apologies for the slow response, I’ve had some site issues I’ve been working on.

For your question, are you looking for public transport between the cities, or in the cities? If the former, then I’d generally recommend the long distance bus as the best way to get between the cities in California, although you will struggle to get to more remote locations this way.

For each city you mention, there are different options. San Francisco is the easiest to get around, as there’s a great bus system as well as bikes, e-bikes and scooters. LA is a bit trickier – there are both buses and a metro, but just be aware that the distances can be quite far as the city is very spread out. So the best option is to figure out what you want to see and make sure the accommodation you pick is as close to the sights as possible.

San Diego is also easy to get around for the most part, with buses, trolleys and trains.

I hope this helps 🙂

Samantha says

28th October 2019 at 1:20 pm

Hi! this sounds amazing and I am literally looking at booking this for June next year! From looking about the only area that I am a bit unsure of is Death Valley – where is best to stay around there and if only doing a day – what would be the best suggestion of something to do? I am also thinking that we will add 1 day on to do a Vegas stay since its so close!

29th October 2019 at 8:31 am

Hi Samantha,

So when we visited we stayed just outside the valley at Panamint Springs – specifically we stayed here .

A day is enough to see the highlights of Death Valley. You’ll want to visit Badwater Basin of course, the lowest point in North America. Other highlights including the Mesquite Sand dunes, Zabriskie Point, the Devil’s Golf Course, the Artists Drive and Palette and Mosaic Canyon.

We can definitely recommend tacking on a trip to Vegas as well. We’re actually thinking of publishing a new itinerary in the coming months which includes Vegas, as it’s a popular addition 🙂

Gisele leduc says

13th October 2019 at 3:38 pm

Would like to know w ymt is there a bus trip to 14 days in calif. Where does the bus leave from in the US. And approx how much is the cost

14th October 2019 at 8:36 pm

Sorry, could you clarify? Are you looking for a tour of California?

15th October 2019 at 3:32 pm

Looking for next year we live in Ottawa Canada and would like to take a 14 day bus tour especially san Francesco and pacific route. Are there bus tours leaving let’s say from Buffalo, New York we can easily drive to these destinations. I meant leaving from New York City and Buffalo. What would be the cost and does it include meals. Thank u

Gisele Leduv says

15th October 2019 at 7:37 pm

Hi I would like to know if there are Any bus tours leaving from New York City or buffalo 14 day road trip to California especially the pacific coastland. What would be the cost for such a trip.

16th October 2019 at 8:08 pm

Hey Gisele,

I have looked but most tours that depart from New York and go to California are much longer, because the distance is so great from the east coast to the west coast. If you want a tour that focuses more on California, it would definitely be easier to get one that departs from San Francisco or Las Vegas rather than New York – is that a possibility?

vivianchoo says

5th October 2019 at 4:44 am

Good articles and good photos, Helps a lot. Thank you!

5th October 2019 at 10:16 am

My pleasure – have a great trip!

Jason Parsons says

19th August 2019 at 3:23 pm

This is a super inspiring blog. Which area did you stay in Yosemite? We are planning to complete our road trip with 3 nights in Yosemite. We will have a car and plan on day trip walks within the park.using a hotel or lodge as our base.

19th August 2019 at 4:09 pm

Thanks very much! In Yosemite we’ve stayed in a few places. On the trip with the photos in this post, we stayed in Curry Village, which were canvas tents ( https://www.nationalparkreservations.com/lodge/yosemite-curry-village/ ).

Jess has also stayed at the Wawona hotel, and the other lodge options are The Ahwahnee Hotel and the Yosemite Valley Lodge. I would definitely recommend staying with the park if you can as it makes it a lot easier to see everything within a short distance. The various options are at different price points though, so you’ll have to figure out which is best for you 🙂

Have an amazing trip!

julie morton says

15th June 2019 at 4:36 pm

Great article, thank you. I will be doing a similar route with my husband in September. Do you have any further guides on the Mammoth Lakes area or could you suggest somewhere to base ourselves there for a couple of nights please? We will be coming from Death Valley and then heading on to Yosemite.

15th June 2019 at 8:31 pm

Hi Julie! We don’t have anything else about Mammoth Lakes unfortunately on our blogs. We have guides to other parts of California, including Yosemite, but Mammoth Lakes is still on the to do list.

Have a great trip, sorry we couldn’t help this time!

Tara West says

2nd June 2019 at 6:30 pm

Hi there, Just found your blog. Really helpful. Thank you. We are thinking of doing a Californian road trip with our 5 month old baby in Sept. How long are the drives between the places you mention? I wouldnt want to do LA so would probably do San Diego instead. Is there anywhere you advise missing out with a baby? Thanks so much. Tara

3rd June 2019 at 6:26 pm

Our pleasure, we’re delighted to be able to help 🙂

So the drives will obviously vary depending on what you stop and see, but none of the days on the itinerary should have more than four hours driving. We’ve also not got any personal experience with traveling with a baby, however, just bear in mind that even in September Death Valley is going to be very hot. Other than that I don’t see a reason not to go to any of the locations on the list, and Death Valley will be manageable, just take care with the heat 🙂

Priya Singh says

30th April 2019 at 6:40 am

I really appreciate the work you have done, you explained everything in such an amazing and simple way.Good post. I was searched for this topic. Finally, I got the information on this blog. Thanks for the effective information.

30th April 2019 at 5:38 pm

Thanks Priya – pleased we were able to help! Have a great trip 🙂

Rafael says

5th March 2019 at 1:45 pm

Hi guys, great post. I found it really handy now as i’m planning a 3 week road trip through California (and Nevada) in a month (apr 6 to 27). We are starting in LA, just a few days and then planning to go to Joshua Tree (Mojave, is it worth it?), Las vegas, Grand Canyon, Death Valley, Yosemite, San Francisco, and Route 1 back to LA. It’s quite a lot of days, and i find hard to plan where to sleep every night, as i’m not sure how long would it take me to visit every national park, and even cities. So my question is, should i book in advance all different accomodation? In that case how many days should we give to the different national parks and places. As the trip gets so long, we are being really careful with our budget, and that takes me to the second question, what are the best places to stay on a budget in the different stops?

By the way, we are a group of four, planning to rent a car.

Thanks again for your post. Looking forward to read your answer!

Rafael from Uruguay

5th March 2019 at 2:50 pm

Thanks very much 🙂

So to answer your questions. I think Mojave is worth it if you like deserts and wide open spaces.

In terms of accommodation, you are not travelling at a very busy time of year, although it is easter towards the end of April. However there are no Federal holiday, so it should not be too busy. So this means you should be able to book quite last minute. The only places I would advise maybe booking in advance would be any national parks you want to stay in, which can be busy year round. So Yosemite, Grand Canyon and Death Valley, if you plan on staying inside the park, you will want to plan your accommodation in advance.

In terms of budget accommodation, the parks all have campsites, so that would likely be the cheapest option if you don’t mind camping. Some have existing tents you can hire if you don’t want to bring your own tent – Yosemite for example has some nice fixed tents which are not too expensive. For other cities, I’d advise looking at the budget motel chains like Motel 6, Red Roof Inn and so on. These can be very cheap, but do be aware they are not always very central. So you might find something like AirBnB to be more cost effective.

As you are visiting a number of parks you will probably want to buy a national parks pass, which will save you money on parks entry.

I’d also advise taking a look at my guide to how much it costs to travel in the USA, which should give you some more budgeting ideas 🙂

https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/how-much-does-it-cost-to-travel-in-usa/

Let me know if you have any more questions!

c. m. crawford says

17th February 2019 at 3:22 pm

I would take extra care with possessions in the big cities in California. I left my purse in the back of my rental car, parked in a highly visible location on a beach in San Francisco, and even though there were people walking up and down the beach, the window was smashed and the purse stolen. Luckily wallet & phone were on me and the purse was even found and turned in to the police, but I had to exchange the rental car. Other than that California is awesome.

17th February 2019 at 4:34 pm

Sorry to hear that Cris! This is definitely an issue around the world, we always recommend not leaving any valuables in sight in a car as it makes for a tempting option for a thief 🙁 Glad to hear you got your purse back though!

Matthias says

9th February 2019 at 6:57 pm

Hey you guys! You have a great blog and this post inspired the route for my first trip to California with a buddy (we’re planning on doing pretty much the same route). But our plan is doing it the other way around: Also starting end ending in SF but heading to Yosemite from there and doing the trip clockwise. Would love to hear your thoughts on that idea 🙂

10th February 2019 at 6:06 pm

Hi Matthias!

The route would work either way. The only thing is that many people prefer to drive the PCH from north to south as you are on the right hand side of the road, so you get clearer views. But it’s stunning either way to be honest 🙂

Catherine Smithfield says

18th January 2019 at 4:12 pm

Hi Laurence,

Fabulous site guys… I would love some tips please my husband and I are planning a once in a lifetime trip to the USA, we fly into and out of Los Angeles , arriving 16th October and leaving 5th December. We will be spending thanksgiving with friends in Washington state . We would like to drive the Pacific highway, see some of LA, San Fran , Yosemite,Death Valley Las Vegas,- just very quick as we feel we should see it and the Grand Canyon . We love nature, beautiful landscapes, we are also foodies . Any suggestions would be very welcome , hire car v Rv , obviously due to the length of our trip I would like to be sensible on accommodation costs…is there a reliable decent hotel/motel chain you would recommend, or Airbnb. I have also been looking a5 the trusted Housesitters website but have recently come across a few very negative reviews . Many thanks catherine(UK)

18th January 2019 at 6:33 pm

Hi Catherine!

Thanks so much! We’ll do our best to help out.

So first of all, if you haven’t already, we can definitely recommend checking out the USA sections of both our websites:

https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/category/destinations/north-america/usa/ https://independenttravelcats.com/category/travel-destinations/united-states/

Where we have loads of posts that you will find useful. Most particularly, I’d advise reading our driving in the USA , and our guide to how much it costs to travel in the USA . That latter one in particular will help you in terms of costing out the trip.

For a hire car, a normal car rental is going to be a lot cheaper than an RV, especially as you will most likely still have to rent campsite space to stay at. A standard hire car in the US will usually start at around $200 a week. Our US travel budget post has a lot more on how to find the best deal and things to watch out for.

In terms of accommodation, the US has a wide range of options. The cheaper chains include: Red Roof Inn, Motel 6, Super 8, America’s Best Value Inn, Travelodge. The next step up would be Comfort Inn and Holiday Inn.

Note that the cheaper hotels are often found a little way outside of towns, often at interstate exit ramps. It’s also worth being aware that they are nearly all franchises, and so as a result the quality can vary dramatically, so it’s always worth reading reviews before visiting.

For booking and reviews, we highly recommend Booking.com . We have nearly always found this to be the cheapest option, even compared to turning up at the property, and the reviews can be a helpful guide. However, just bear in mind that cheaper hotels tend to rate worse, as folks can have high expectations!

Hopefully all this helps, let us know if you have any more specific questions we can help with!

Natasha says

9th January 2019 at 10:22 am

PS We are also planning to visit family in LA and have possible access to accommodation in Pacific Grove so should we be considering finding snow at Big Sur instead of north of San Fran? PPS Budget is going to be very tight!

9th January 2019 at 10:38 am

Hey Natasha!

So I’ll answer the Big Sur question first 🙂 Snow isn’t very common at Big Sur as it’s right by the sea, and it doesn’t usually get much except at higher elevations. The most reliable option is to head east to Tahoe or Yosemite, although that is going to be quite a drive and won’t fall into the definition of a short drive I’m afraid 🙁 The other option is to head up towards Auburn, as you get closer to the Sierra Nevada Mountains you will definitely find snow, but again, this isn’t going to be a short drive.

Whilst there is always a possibility of snow elsewhere, I wouldn’t want to guarantee it!

In terms of house swaps, the closest option we have for you is TrustedHousesitters , but that’s more of a house sitting opportunity than a home swap. I know there are home swapping platforms, but we’re not familiar with them, so I wouldn’t want to give a recommendation!

I hope you have a wonderful trip!

9th January 2019 at 2:44 pm

Thanks for the super-prompt response! Very helpful to know Big Sur is unlikely to tick the box and we hadn’t considered Auburn so I’ll find out more about that instead. Otherwise we’ll stick to Yosemite or Tahoe, which we’ve heard lots about.

9th January 2019 at 2:50 pm

My pleasure! Those two will definitely be fantastic, Yosemite in winter in particular is stunning. We have a guide to visiting Yosemite here 🙂

Also, I know real snow is ideally preferable, but there are a number of locations that generate snow that are going to be closer to San Francisco. If you google “snow in san francisco” or something similar, you should find some options!

9th January 2019 at 10:17 am

Thrilled to find your fascinating and helpful site! We live in Cape Town, and are planning a month in California between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year, focussed around spending time with family in San Fran.

But my 14- and 16-year-olds have never experienced snow so we’re looking for guaranteed on-the-ground snow in early/mid December, as short a drive from SF as possible. Skiing not required, but snowman-building and perhaps some sledging would be great.

Also, can you recommend a site we might arrange a house swap through?

20th November 2018 at 8:30 pm

Hi, I’d like to know if February os a good time to make this travel. And what do you think about Sequoia National park?

27th November 2018 at 11:22 am

February would be good, just be aware that there might still be snow in Yosemite and so you’ll need to keep an eye on road closures around that area. We haven’t visited Sequoia National Park, but we have heard it is a great park, well worth visiting 🙂

12th November 2018 at 10:53 am

Hi there! This post has been really helpful as my partner and I are planning our honeymoon for April 2019 and we would love to roadtrip in the US. We have about 12 nights and would love to spend good chunks of time in San Francisco, LA or Santa Monica and some national parks. We would also love to do the Pacific Coast. We were originally thinking of flying into San Francisco and out of LA, but your post has me wondering if a roundtrip is better. Would you suggest we amend your suggested route? Which of the the national parks would be the best to visit?

12th November 2018 at 4:15 pm

Hey Neely! There are so many great National Parks, but Yosemite is definitely up there as one of my favourites. I would say a round trip is better – the route I have outlined makes a nice loop, and car hire is nearly always better value if you return the car where you picked it up 🙂

Chiara says

2nd October 2018 at 5:21 pm

Hi! I love your blog guys! We are thinking about a road trip in California next summer, and this post is a perfect inspiration! We will travel with our kids, they will be 3 and 6 and we have 3 weeks instead of 2. Do you have suggestions on how/where to use the extra days? Considering we can’t plan super long tiring car journeys and have to incorporate some activities they would enjoy too like some beach life, aquariums… Any suggestion is very welcomed! Thank you very much in advance!

4th October 2018 at 4:20 am

Hey Chiara!

So my suggestion would be to follow this itinerary, but just to go a bit slower and spend a bit more time in each place. I’d definitely suggest the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the San Diego Zoo as two great options along the way, and Universal Studios in LA is also sure to be a hit 🙂 Along the PCH you’ll also find loads of lovely beaches, so I think you’ll easily be able to stretch this two week road trip into a three week California itinerary! Have an awesome time!

4th October 2018 at 2:09 pm

Thank you very much!

ANGELINE MONTIJO says

19th August 2018 at 3:48 pm

Hi Im planning a road trip with my family to California from Orlando,Fl on June 2019. I want some advice where should we start.

19th August 2018 at 5:41 pm

Hi Angeline! Do you mean where to start in terms of planning? If you could let me know how long you are travelling for and what your interests are, then we can try to help. In the meantime, we can help out with some tips on driving in the USA:

https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/tips-for-driving-in-usa/

And some tips on budgeting for your trip:

The overall route you take will also take you through part of our Deep South USA itinerary:

https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/usa-deep-south-road-trip-itinerary/

As well as parts of our Route 66 itinerary:

https://independenttravelcats.com/2-week-route-66-itinerary-ultimate-american-road-trip/

Which should both serve to help inform your planning on your route 🙂

Lisa Stark says

16th August 2018 at 1:20 pm

Hi, my partner and me are planning to do a road trip next September 2019, starting from San Fran and heading south, eventually arriving in San Diego over a 2 week period. Can you recommend a good car hire company, how long before we should book and some nice places to stop with boutique hotels, This will be out first time in America and I’m completely at a loss where to start planning. Many thanks. Lisa

16th August 2018 at 7:05 pm

Hey Lisa! Well, that’s a great question. There are a number of hire car companies that we recommend, you can see our list here: https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/travel-resources/#Car-Rental

It looks like you are doing a one-way trip, so just bear in mind that sometimes the “meta-search” tools that search a variety of providers don’t always account for that. So it might be easier to go direct. We’ve found that it really varies, but we’ve often had success with Enterprise and Hertz. It’s also worth bearing in mind that pick up from an airport location is nearly always more expensive than a city location, so if you can be flexible in that regard you will likely save a bit of money. Especially somewhere like San Francisco, as you don’t really need the car for the city and it will just end up costing you in car parking fees and wasted rental fees for a car you aren’t using.

For hotel and car bookings, I’d usually say the further in advance the better so you have everything sorted and don’t have to worry about it. In terms of stops, your route pretty much follows the Pacific Coast Highway, and we have a super comprehensive guide to all the towns along the route which you can see here:

https://independenttravelcats.com/planning-a-california-pacific-coast-highway-road-trip-from-san-francisco-to-los-angeles/

That also has planning tips and suggestions. I’d also advise reading our tips for driving in the USA: https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/tips-for-driving-in-usa/

And our guide to how much it costs to travel in the USA: https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/how-much-does-it-cost-to-travel-in-usa/

In terms of other things to think about, I’m not sure which country you are coming from, but definitely consider getting a travel credit card that won’t charge you for foreign transaction fees, and maybe a SIM card that offers roaming in the USA. Three in the UK has a pretty good deal for SIM cards that offer free data in the USA.

Hopefully this helps a bit, let me know if you have other questions. It gives me an idea to put together a first timers guide to travelling in the USA 🙂

6th August 2018 at 12:24 pm

This is a great read, thank you for sharing. My partner and I are looking to do a similar trip in October this year. However, we are slightly confused on the route (and in what order) to do it all in. We want to do 14 nights and start in San Francisco and either end in San Diego or Vegas. (Everyone says Vegas is a must see at least once and although not on the top of our list, we thought we could add it on the end).

Our initial thoughts are 3 nights in San Fran, 2 in Yosemite, 1 in Monterey, 1 in Santa Barbara. 3 in la, 2 in San Diego and 2 in Vegas. Does this sound too ambitious? And any thoughts on in what order we would do this? I would appreciate anyones input on this. Thank you in advance!

6th August 2018 at 12:58 pm

My pleasure. So the only slight niggle in your itinerary is that Yosemite is the opposite direction to the Pacific Coast Highway, so that will add a bit of driving time to your route (it’s about 3 – 4 hours each way from San Francisco). I definitely recommend Yosemite, it’s just going to take a bit of time to do it on this trip. Overall your route is certainly do-able, as long as you don’t mind a fair bit of driving. I like that you are scheduling multiple nights in the various locations, that will give you more time to enjoy without rushing. I’d say that your order is pretty good, I can’t think of a better way to do it.

6th August 2018 at 1:27 pm

Thank you for taking the time reply! I am glad it sounds doable. I think the multiple stops should help to break up the drive (I won’t be doing it my other half has that pleasurable job =) ). Yes Yosemite is the one we are are a bit confused about as when to add it. Before or after San Fran and at what point as you say it is out of the way, but is a must for us, and we don’t want to miss anything on the drive down from San Fran to La, so a tricky one. Thank you for your input, much appreciated!

Tim Shakespeare says

24th July 2018 at 9:42 am

Hi there, my wife and I are coming mid October to California for a road trip celebrating my 50th. We start in SF, only for 2 days, then have 3 days before we get to Yosemite. Have you any recommendations of where to visit in that time, we don’t mind going in any direction before heading towards Yosemite? We then head to Las Vegas for my actual birthday for 3 days then onto LA for a further 4 days, any suggestions of where to spend time between the cities?

24th July 2018 at 9:42 pm

Hey Tim! Well, it really depends on what you are interested in! Obviously you’re not too far from Napa Valley if it’s wine you’re after, or you could head north to Redding, where there’s some beautiful scenery. A sojourn along the Pacific Coast Highway, or at least part of it, is also an option – there are so many cute towns along that route to check out (see our guide here: https://independenttravelcats.com/planning-a-california-pacific-coast-highway-road-trip-from-san-francisco-to-los-angeles/

Between Vegas and LA, the obvious choices are Joshua Tree National Park, and the whole Mojave Desert is pretty impressive. I’m assuming you’ll stop at Death Valley from Yosemite, but if not, you could head up that way. Another option is to head south from Vegas and find Route 66, and follow then into LA, which is a fun option. You can see more on Route 66 here: https://independenttravelcats.com/2-week-route-66-itinerary-ultimate-american-road-trip/

Hope this helps a bit! Have a great trip and happy birthday!

tim shakespeare says

27th July 2018 at 2:56 pm

Thanks Laurance, that info is really useful

28th July 2018 at 4:08 pm

My pleasure 🙂

Paula Lambie says

20th July 2018 at 2:35 pm

Hi Laurence, Absolutely loved your article. We are a group of 6 friends that are coming from Trinidad and want to stay about 7-8 days on a road trip starting in LA and possibly leaving from San Fran. We are coming around the end of Feb 2019 and leaving around March 6 or 7th. Still in the planning stages and would appreciate any advice or recommendations. I want to include Yosemite and Sequoia but don”t know if it is feasible with the time period we are looking at. Any advice would greatly be appreciated. Take care.

22nd July 2018 at 9:09 pm

Thanks very much. So Yosemite would be feasible, but you have to bear in mind that in February and March it can still be quite snowy in the park, and it’s also a four hour drive each way from San Francisco, so that’s going to eat up a lot of your time. My suggestion would be to definitely do the Pacific Coast Highway over two or three days, and then depending on your interests, either some time in places like the Joshua Tree, or the cities like LA, San Francisco or San Diego. Another option is to go further north of San Francisco, although Yosemite is a really incredible place and well worth the effort to get out there!

Hope this helps, have a great trip!

Louisa says

12th June 2018 at 6:03 pm

Hi Laurence, We are a family of 5 holidaying in California in August and staying San Francisco (3 nights) -Yosemite (3 nights)-Monterey (2 nights)-Santa Barbara (1 night) and at the moment San Diego (2 nights) and LA (3 nights). I am wondering if we are being over ambitious at the end of the holiday and should just stay in LA rather than driving down to San Diego and back to LA for our flight back? Is San Diego a must see? I am torn between wanting to see it all while we are in California but not overdoing it and rushing too much. What are the travel times likely to be realistically between Santa Barbara, LA and San Diego at that time of year? Thank you for any advice.

13th June 2018 at 11:07 am

Hey Louisa!

I think San Diego is worth visiting, and as you have 3 nights already in LA I don’t think you’ll have too much rush. I will be honest and say that I don’t know exactly what the travel times at that time of year will be, but I find that Google usually estimates travel times pretty well – just avoid the peak rush hours and you should generally be fine 🙂

Shelley says

14th May 2018 at 9:00 am

Hi Laurence, Great website! We are booking a 3 week trip over Christmas. LA to San Francisco, via Vegas/Death Valley etc. Weather wise, what should we expect, particularly with Yosemite? Is there anywhere along the coast which is worth stopping off between LA and San Francisco for a night? Many thanks Shelley from Sydney

14th May 2018 at 2:53 pm

Hi Shelley!

Thanks for your comment – sounds like you have a wonderful trip planned. So, Yosemite in particular can be tricky in winter. It can be accessed, but you need to be aware that it will obviously be quite snowy, and access isn’t possible from all sides – the route I have laid out for example you would have to alter a bit in order to access Yosemite in winter, as the Tioga Road is closed. You also usually can’t get up to Glacier point in winter. But the major attractions in the valley are accessible. For more on visiting Yosemite in Winter, you can check out this guide to Yosemite in a day that Jess wrote: https://independenttravelcats.com/planning-day-yosemite-national-park-introduction-yosemite-valley/

There is a lot to see and do on the Pacific Coast Highway, certainly enough to fill a day or two. There are lots of towns to stop at, and which you choose really depends what you are into. Cambria is a favourite of ours, but there’s a lot to see and do. This post breaks down all the highlights, so you can make an informed decision 🙂

Have a fabulous trip!

Lis Brown says

1st May 2018 at 11:15 pm

Hi Laurence, great post and photos! My husband and I are planing to do 2 weeks driving trip in California, i love all your suggested destinations, I may do the same trip as yours. However, I will be 4 months pregnant (planning to go in May) during the trip, may I know if the in-land route/parks and lake visits are suitable for me and accessible by car or light walking/ light hiking? your trip is start from san francisco and end there too, am i right? thanks in advance!

2nd May 2018 at 8:24 pm

Hi Lis! Thanks very much 😀 The trip does start and end in San Francisco yep.

For your question – I have to admit to not being an expert as we’ve not had any kids, however there is definitely light hiking in the majority of places. Just be aware it can get very hot in some parts of California, so do take plenty of water along. My advice would be to check the websites for the national parks you want to visit and see what hiking routes they have – I think you should be fine, but it’s always best to check as one persons “light hike” is another persons marathon 😉

Theresa says

10th April 2018 at 1:59 am

This looks like a great route, but I was really hoping to see Sequoia National Park. Any advice?

13th April 2018 at 6:16 pm

Hi Theresa! Thanks very much! As that’s in the north, you’d want to add it on near San Francisco. So you could either spend less time in the city, or lose a day somewhere else on the route. It’s hard to give specific advice without knowing your exact interests, but as you sound like you prefer nature to cities, perhaps spending less time in the cities might work better for you? Have a great trip!

15th April 2018 at 5:51 pm

Thanks for your reply. Sequoia National Park is south of Yosemite on the map (Redwood National Park is north of San Francisco). It doesn’t appear that there is road access to Sequoia NP on your route which heads north on 395. I did more research and verified that is the case.

18th April 2018 at 6:22 am

Hi! My apologies, I was thinking of the redwoods to the north of San Francisco and got a bit confused – but that is another option if you can’t make it to Sequoia. Road access can be a challenge due the mountains, and also in winter some of the roads into Yosemite are closed due to snow. So you might have to alter the route a fair bit to make it to Sequoia if that’s a priority 🙂

Jacques says

5th April 2018 at 10:41 pm

Hi Lawrence , we are also considering tyis roadtrip this month. Were from Canada. Assuming we are on the road a giving day with no reservations for a room the same night , by what time do we need to confirm a room or is there plenty of options once arriving early evening. Thank for everything.

6th April 2018 at 5:09 pm

Hi Jacques! At this time of year for the most part you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding a room at the last minute. It does depend a little on what level of accommodation you are after, but for quick and easy motels we found they had lots of availability in general. We do definitely advise always checking prices online somewhere like booking.com though, as we nearly always got better deals that way compared to turning up – often the person at the desk didn’t have the power to actually match a price. So do keep that in mind 🙂 Have a great trip, and let me know how it goes!

Jacques Gauthier says

20th May 2018 at 1:13 am

Hi Lawrence ! We decided to take two weeks to travel from San Francisco to LA (Manhattan Beach) . We travel along the coast for these 14 days and enjoyed it tremendously. Next trip will be the National Parks .

Thank you .

20th May 2018 at 2:36 pm

13th March 2018 at 1:27 pm

We are hoping to do everything in your itinerary plus San Diego, we will only have 15 nights and would like to spend at least 2 full days in San Diego and 2 full days in SF, do you think this is reasonable without spending too long out of the 15 days in the car?

13th March 2018 at 8:34 pm

I think that should be do-able yes, if you are focused and don’t get too distracted 😉 Have an awesome trip!

Jacqueline says

19th February 2018 at 4:25 pm

Hi! I am planning a trip with my 10 year old son and love the looks of your itinerary. What would you suggest budget wise for this trip (minus flights) for the two of us?

Thanks, Jacqueline

19th February 2018 at 6:03 pm

Hi Jacqueline! It’s quite tricky to put a budget together on a case by case basis because everyone has different styles and standards of travelling. I’d suggest taking a look at my guide to how much it costs to travel in the USA, which covers pretty much all the areas you need to consider, and should give you some ballpark figures 🙂

Let me know if you still have questions after checking that out 😀

Gai Pendlebury says

12th October 2017 at 11:04 pm

Thank you — what a great and helpful site you have made.We are flying into San francisco from Australia in April.We only have 10 nights.Your suggestions are great — we will miss the LA part.Happy for anyone hear to put in their opinions for an itinerary!We will spent 4 or 5 nights in San fran and 3 in yosemite but the 3 nights are up for grabs –we have done Big Sir before so probs wont go south on the coast.I am thinking maybe Lake tahoe,gold rush towns …love to walk,history, beautiful scenery and quaint American towns.Happy to drive long distances– thank you –your photos are wonderful!

Laurence says

13th October 2017 at 10:33 am

Our pleasure – thanks for commenting to let us know, it’s always appreciated. Sounds like you have some good plans already – one idea might be to head north for Shasta Cascade region and see the caves / redwoods. I have a post about that region on the site too 🙂 Have a fabulous trip!

14th October 2017 at 5:09 am

Thank for that .I will look into it a bit more — I am really impressed with your links for such like 12 best spots for photographing San Fran or Yosemite. So helpful to know where to go to get those great shots!

Jules Selby says

28th August 2017 at 10:24 pm

We are planning two weeks but thinking of hiring an RV instead of hotels, what do you think?

28th August 2017 at 10:43 pm

An RV is definitely a good idea, but do be aware that they can be pricey, and you often have to pay for camping on top of that as well – although there are a lot of places you can camp for free in the US! So really it’s up to you – we’ve done both, and RV’ing is definitely a lot of fun!

Bob Steiner, Jr says

25th June 2017 at 4:07 am

You can’t drive a highway 1 through Big Sur. The highest us closed and detours long and winding over dirt roads

25th June 2017 at 1:32 pm

Thanks for pointing this out. Do you know how long the road will be closed? I’ll put a note in the post.

Erica Landry Napolitano says

16th April 2017 at 7:52 pm

This is some great advice for our upcoming trip. We have almost three weeks out in CA and these will be some great spots! Traveling with an 8 and 10 year old this still seems doable! Thanks.

16th April 2017 at 7:54 pm

My pleasure, have an awesome trip!

Jenna Francisco says

17th September 2016 at 5:18 am

So many good ideas here, and I agree that visitors should plan at least 3 days in San Francisco and Yosemite. One suggestion I’d make related to the “when to visit CA” section–SF and much of the coast are cold and foggy in the summer, so it’s a good idea for visitors to dress in layers and expect lots of fog in summer, that way they won’t be disappointed!

Sarah @ Endless Distances says

14th August 2016 at 1:16 pm

Wow this is so exhaustive!! I’ve don’t the pch before and it’s a dream. I would also definitely recommend staying in Santa Barbara – and the Mexican street food!!!

20th August 2016 at 8:28 pm

Thanks Sarah! It’s a fun place to road trip for sure – thanks for the recommendation!

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Great foods to bring on your national park trip

Stay with easy to pack and simplistic meals or snacks to stay full and energized throughout the day.

By Alyssa Bradford

Planning on bringing some snacks to your next national park trip?

Food is permitted within national parks; however, it’s important to remember that every individual contributes significantly to the preservation of the parks. When bringing food, consider how it might impact the ecosystem.

Follow the Leave No Trace guidelines, specifically in relation to disposing of waste properly, provided by the National Park Service :

• Clean up areas after eating.
• Clean food preparation areas.
• Bring leftover food back home with you.
• Dispose of trash properly.

Snacks and meals for day trips to national parks

During a national park trip, you, your family or friends might have to bring a lunch and snacks to eat during the various activities throughout the day. Here are some easy suggestions of foods to bring:

• Sandwiches: Peanut butter, bagels and cream cheese, wraps, egg or deli are all great options.
• Trail mix: Buy a pack from the store or make your own. I enjoy add pretzels, mixed nuts, Cheerios, and lots of peanut or peanut butter M&Ms.
• Fresh, canned or dried fruit: Apple slices and nut butter, applesauce pouches, canned pears, dried mangoes or anything you would enjoy.
• Beef jerky.
• Crackers and cheese.
• Protein bars.

Snacks and meals for staying overnight in national parks

Depending on how many nights you’re staying, bringing foods that need to be refrigerated is not a great idea unless you will use them by the first night. Many individuals also prefer meals that that are quick and easy to make so more time can be spent enjoying the park.

Usually done for breakfast, oatmeal is an quick meal that can be made by warming up some water over a camping stove or fire. Feel free to bring a small bag of oats or an instant oatmeal packet.

While visiting a national park, you might be heading out for hikes or other activities which may cause more calorie loss than normal. Consider picking packets or bringing add-ins that contain protein and fats so that you are energized throughout the day. My favorite instant oatmeal is is Kodiak Nuts and Seeds protein oatmeal packet. It adds almonds, walnuts, chia seeds, pumpkins seeds and more.

Canned meat

While canned meat doesn’t always sound good by itself, it mixes well in larger dishes and does not need to be refrigerated.

Here are some great camping recipes that could use canned meat instead of fresh:

• Chicken salad sandwiches — Prepare a chicken salad beforehand or bring the ingredients to a campsite with some bread. If you want to follow a recipe, look at Once Upon a Chef .
• Quinoa salad — There are so many ingredients that could be added to a quinoa salad to help as you’re active throughout the day. Outside Magazine has a great recipe where items could go without being refrigerated for some time. You can choose to cook the quinoa, or any type of pasta, beforehand or at the campsite. Try this recipe from Outside Magazine and add your preferred canned meat.
• Tacos — Grab some tortillas, canned meat, chosen veggies, cheese and any toppings — like salsa — and warm them up to create a quick and delicious meal. Bringing and adding seasoning will help enrich the flavor.

Foil dinners

A camping foil dinner consists of seasoned meat and vegetables wrapped in aluminum foil and cooked over an open flame or on coals. After you’re done cooking, just unwrap and enjoy the contents straight from the foil packet or with bread.

Wanting a recipe? Look at the selections below from High Heels and Grills .

• Beef, carrots and potatoes .
• Philly cheesesteaks .
• Santa Fe Chicken .

Roasted hot dogs on a stick

Roasted hot dogs on a stick make for the perfect camping meal. They’re incredibly easy to prepare and clean up. Simply skewer a hot dog on a stick and roast it over the fire until it’s perfectly cooked and slightly charred. Furthermore, hot dogs appeal to both kids and adults alike.

Feel free to bring buns or any toppings as needed.

When it comes to camping desserts, you can’t go wrong with classics like s’mores, Rice Krispies Treats and Starbursts roasted over the fire. If you’re looking for more options, bringing along chips and drinks adds variety and ensures everyone finds something they enjoy while gathering around the campfire.

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Retired couple enjoys life, cooks food in makeshift kitchen during road trip

A retired punjabi couple's inspiring 52-day road trip from delhi to kanyakumari captured the attention of social media users, including celebrities with 31 million views..

Listen to Story

• Retired Punjabi couple embarked on 52-day road trip from Delhi to Kanyakumari
• They cooked their meals along the way in a makeshift kitchen
• Their journey, documented through videos, has drawn people's attention

In an inspiring display of adventure, a retired Punjabi couple is enjoying the moments of their lives on a unique road trip from Delhi to Kanyakumari. Their journey, which started in January, was not just about travel but also about the food they cooked along their way in a makeshift kitchen they set up in their campervan.

A video shared earlier this month, garnered significant attention online, which featured the couple making a pit stop on the Aurangabad highway during their 52-day road trip. The couple documented their experience through a series of videos showcasing the delicious meals they prepared during their journey.

The short-clip, posted by the couple, who go by the name 'Retired Punjabi' on Instagram, featured the man saying, " Hum hain retired couple aur humne shuru ki hain apne life ki second inning . (We are a retired couple, and we have started the second inning of our life)."

He added, " Aur hum nikle huye hain 52 din ke road trip par Delhi se Kanyakumari " (And we have embarked on a 52-day road trip from Delhi to Kanyakumari).

Under the shade of a tamarind tree, the woman cooked aloo-vadi curry with rice. The man also helped his wife as he was seen peeling a cucumber. Later, they were seen relishing their food on a foldable dining table and chairs.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Retired Punjabi (@retiredpunjabi)

The couple has set a compelling example of how life can be lived fully, even in later years. As one said, "You guys are setting a great example. Lots of love to you both."

Their story of 'Retired Couple' is not just about travel or food, but also about redefining retirement as a time for new beginnings and joyous explorations. Their Instagram bio states they live in a scenic cottage in Uttarakhand's Mukteshwar. Published By: Ashmita Saha Published On: Apr 26, 2024 READ | 60 years of love: Elderly couple's story is the sweetest thing you will see today

Are you ready for a Road Trip? Explore these eleven incredible cross-country road trip routes across the U.S.!

Pacific Coast

Border to Border

The Road to Nowhere

The Great River Road

Appalachian Trail

Atlantic Coast

The Great Northern

The Oregon Trail

The Loneliest Road

Southern Pacific

Home / Pacific Coast

The Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip

For some reason, when people elsewhere in the country refer to the Pacific Coast, particularly California, it’s apparent that they think it’s a land of kooks, an overbuilt suburban desert supporting only shopping malls, freeways, and body-obsessed airheads. All this may be true in small pockets, but the amazing thing about the Pacific Coast—from the dense green forests of western Washington to the gorgeous beaches of Southern California—is that it is still mostly wild, open, and astoundingly beautiful country, where you can drive for miles and miles and have the scenery all to yourself.

Planning a West Coast Road Trip

Road Trip USA’s Pacific Coast route begins at the northwest tip of the United States at Port Townsend near Olympic National Park, and remains within sight of the ocean almost all the way south to the Mexican border. This 1,650-mile (2,655 km), mostly two-lane route takes in everything from temperate rainforest to near-desert. Most of the Pacific Coast is in the public domain, accessible, and protected from development within national, state, and local parks, which provide habitat for such rare creatures as mountain lions, condors, and gray whales.

Heading south, after the rough-and-tumble logging and fishing communities of Washington State, you cross the mouth of the Columbia River and follow the comparatively peaceful and quiet Oregon coastline, where recreation has by and large replaced industry, and where dozens of quaint and not-so-quaint communities line the ever-changing shoreline. At the midway point, you pass through the great redwood forests of Northern California, where the tallest and most majestic living things on earth line the Avenue of the Giants, home also to some of the best (meaning gloriously kitsch) remnants of the golden age of car-borne tourism: drive-through trees, drive-on trees, houses carved out of trees, and much more. The phenomenally beautiful coast-line of Northern California is rivaled only by the incredible coast of Big Sur farther south, beyond which stretches the beachfronts of Southern California. The land of palm trees, beach boys, and surfer girls of popular lore really does exist, though only in the southernmost quarter of the state.

Along with the overwhelming scale of its natural beauty, the West Coast is remarkable for the abundance of well-preserved historic sites—most of which haven’t been torn down, built on, or even built around—that stand as vivid evocations of life on what was once the most distant frontier of a new nation. While rarely as old as places on the East Coast, or as impressive as those in Europe, these diverse sites include the Spanish colonial missions of California, Russian and English fur-trading outposts, and the place where Lewis and Clark first sighted the Pacific after their long slog across the continent.

Last but certainly not least are the energizing cities— Seattle and Portland in the north, San Francisco in the middle, and Los Angeles and San Diego to the south—that serve as gateways to (or civilized respites from) the landscapes between them. Add to these the dozens of small and not-so-small towns along the coast, with alternating blue-collar ports and up-scale vacation retreats, and you have a great range of food, drink, and accommodations options. Local cafés, seafood grills, and bijou restaurants abound, as do places to stay—from youth hostels in old lighthouses to roadside motels (including the world’s first, which still stands in lovely San Luis Obispo, California) to homespun B&Bs in old farmhouses.

10 Best Pacific Coast Highway Stops

For more insight into each stop along a West Coast road trip, our content is arranged by state, with California’s coastline broken into its northern, central, and southern sections. Here are ten major sights along the Pacific Coast Highway where travelers aiming to follow only a section of the full cross-country route may wish to use to plan their drive:

• Olympic National Park, Washington – Combines the features of Maine’s rocky coast, the snowy peaks of the Rocky Mountains, and the unique rainforests of the Pacific Northwest
• Astoria & Fort Clatsop, Oregon – Part of the extensive Lewis and Clark National Historic Park, Fort Clatsop is just outside the oldest American city west of the Rockies
• “Dune Country,” Oregon – Hop out of the car and into a dune buggy to travel through some of the tallest sand dunes in the world
• Redwood National Park, California – Stretch your legs with a walk through Lady Bird Johnson Grove
• Mendocino, California – One of the prettiest towns on the California coast, and extra fun for fans of the TV show Murder, She Wrote
• San Francisco, California – Easily one of the most enjoyable cities in the US and a great place to start, end, or spend a weekend along the Pacific Coast Highway
• Monterey, California – Home to the excellent Monterey Bay Aquarium and the internationally famous Monterey Jazz Festival
• San Simeon, California (Hearst Castle) – One of the truly unique attractions to see on a classic Highway 1 road trip
• San Luis Obispo, California – A lively college town with a beautiful 18th-century Spanish mission to tour, and the Madonna Inn, one of the quirkiest places to spend a night
• Los Angeles, California – Hollywood, Sunset Boulevard, and an intersection with another storied road trip: Route 66
• San Diego, California – Beautiful beaches, grand buildings, and home to the San Diego Zoo, one of the largest and most popular zoos in the world

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In April 2020 — only a month or so into the COVID-19 pandemic — my wife and I were running out of things to do. The novelty of Zoom calls with friends was wearing off. We’d watched lots of movies and TV. We were itching to get out of our apartment, but with the virus still raging, we couldn’t risk being around other people. Then we had an idea: Why not go for a drive?

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For our first trip, we drove the length of Little Tujunga Canyon Road in the Angeles National Forest. After that, we were hooked. In the ensuing months, we crisscrossed the Santa Monica Mountains and made trips into Los Padres National Forest and beyond.

My wife bought me a California road atlas, and it became part of our scenic drive ritual: We’d consult its pages for inspiration, looking for two-lane roads and state highways that squiggled through mountain ranges or meandered through deserts. After returning home, I’d highlight our route. Four years after our first drive, the atlas is full of highlights documenting our travels — and there’s still a lifetime’s worth of backroads we haven’t covered yet.

No matter where we go, each drive gives me a deeper appreciation for the incredible range of landscapes in Southern California. And these journeys have led to many rewarding discoveries, from out-of-the-way diners to new trailheads for hiking and biking.

If you’re tired of visiting the same places, it’s time to hit the road. These two trips — all within a three-hour drive of the city — will get you started.

Los Padres National Forest and Carrizo Plain National Monument This route traverses winding mountain roads through Los Padres and spits you out near the southern entrance to Carrizo Plain — a vast preserve of native grassland and a hotspot for wildflowers (at least on some years ) and birdwatching . From Interstate 5, take Exit 205 and head west on Frazier Mountain Park Road. This two-lane road changes names several times as it ascends into the San Emigdio Mountains, passing forested slopes and epic canyon views along the way.

After about 42 miles, you’ll meet California 166. Take a right here and then a left on Soda Lake Road to enter Carrizo Plain National Monument. Drive northwest for 35 miles to the parking lot for the Soda Lake Trail, a short boardwalk that gets you up close to the park’s salt-crusted lake. If you plan ahead, you can also book a guided tour of Painted Rock, a sandstone outcrop with Native American rock art.

Hungry? Head back the way you came, take a right on California 166, and drive west 15 miles to the Cuyama Buckhorn , a renovated ’50s motel, restaurant and bar. The eatery’s Santa Maria-style tri-tip is superb, and if you grab a room, you can turn this scenic drive into a full weekend escape .

Volcan Mountain and Julian This route will take you to Julian , a mountain town famous for its apple orchards and delicious pies. From Interstate 15, take Exit 58 for California 79. Take a right on Pechanga Parkway and head south. The road becomes Pala Temecula Road and emerges into a wide canyon with mountains towering on either side. Take a left at Pala Mission Road and continue east on California 76, which hugs the San Luis Rey River before ascending more than 1,000 feet up a chaparral-covered ridgeline.

After some hairpin turns, the road levels off and skirts Lake Henshaw, a picturesque reservoir. Take a right on California 79, and after 10 miles, take a left on Wynola Road. Follow that road for about 3.5 miles, then take a left on Farmer Road to arrive at Volcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve. Stretch your legs on the Five Oaks Trail , a 1.2-mile path that ascends the western flank of Volcan Mountain and offers sweeping views of the orchards below.

With your appetite revved up, head south on Farmer Road into Julian and make a stop at the Julian Pie Co . Grab a well-deserved slice of apple pie and some apple cider and rest your feet at a picnic table while you chow down.

3 things to do

1. Race plankton in Manhattan Beach In celebration of Earth Day, the Roundhouse Aquarium will hold a day full of educational activities inside and outside its facilities. Highlights include dolphin spotting, a fish feeding, crafts, games, a “shark shack” and, yes, plankton racing. The festivities kick off at 10:30 a.m. Saturday and go until 4 p.m. The event is free, but be sure to register ahead of time at roundhouseaquarium.org .

2. Go gardening in San Pedro Give back to the land by planting native species, removing weeds, mulching and watering the White Point Nature Preserve’s garden with the folks at Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy. You’ll also have the chance to enter a raffle and take a guided nature walk. As a bonus, refreshments will be provided by Starbucks to keep you cool and hydrated. The three-hour event begins at 9 a.m. Saturday. All volunteers under age 16 should be accompanied by an adult, and all volunteers under age 18 must have a parent or guardian sign a waiver at the event. Register at pvplc.com .

3. Stretch your legs on Venice Boulevard CicLAvia is back. And this time it’s shutting down a 5.75-mile stretch of Venice Boulevard that connects Palms, Mar Vista and Venice Beach for walkers, joggers, bikers, roller skaters, unicyclers, penny-farthings, pogo sticks — anything as long as it’s completely powered by humans. There will be three local hubs along the route where you’ll be able to partake in family-friendly activities, pump air into your bike’s tires, refill your water bottle and use the restroom. Be sure to reference CicLAvia’s digital map so you can scope out the local businesses you’d like to visit along the way. It all takes place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. For more information about the event and the area it covers, visit ciclavia.org .

The must-read

The Klamath River in Northern California has turned brown and muddy, but that’s a good thing. As Times writer Ian James reports , it’s a side effect of the largest dam removal project in history, which aims to restore the river to its natural state. Four dams are being removed along the Klamath, and the river is passing freely through tunnels in three of them, draining reservoirs and churning up an estimated 2.3 million tons of sediment that had settled along the bottom of those man-made lakes. Although the turbid water might look ugly, restoration advocates and tribal leaders see it as a sign of healing. The muck is passing out of the Klamath, and new life — everything from salmon heading upstream to native plant seedlings along the riverbanks — will soon take its place.

Happy adventuring,

Want to try birding but don’t have binoculars? Head to the Audubon Center in Ernest E. Debs Regional Park. The center is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, and you can borrow a free pair of binoculars (as well as a birding guide, backpack and other gear) to help you spot the 140 species of birds that call the park home.

For more insider tips on Southern California’s beaches, trails and parks, check out past editions of The Wild . And to view this newsletter in your browser, click here .

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Michael Charboneau is a freelance writer covering gear and the outdoors, and he’s writing The Wild newsletter for a few months. He has written for a variety of publications, including Men’s Journal, Runner’s World and InsideHook, and he lives in West L.A. When he’s not writing, he can be found running, hiking and biking around Los Angeles and its mountains.

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The Ultimate Road Trip to Fayetteville, West Virginia Guide

A re you planning any road trips? Consider adding this road trip to Fayetteville, West Virginia, to your itinerary. This charming town offers a plethora of outdoor adventures, shopping, dining, and historic landmarks that will make your trip unforgettable.

Nestled in the heart of the New River Gorge National Park, Fayetteville offers many exciting opportunities for adventure seekers. Whether you enjoy hiking, rock climbing, or zip lining, Fayetteville has something for everyone.

In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the most popular things to do and see in Fayetteville, West Virginia .

New River Gorge National Park

Your road trip to Fayetteville should begin at West Virginia’s newest National Park and Preserve, the New  River Gorge . Learn about the region at Canyon Rim Visitors Center before hiking the boardwalk to the observation decks for unobstructed views and terrific photo ops. 

You’ll be in awe as you admire the New River Gorge Bridge, one of the world’s longest steel-arch bridges at 876 feet and 3,030 feet long. The path is wheelchair friendly.

Fun Fact: There are only 63 true National Parks, but the US National Park Service manages 423 territories covering over 85 million acres around the country. You can learn more about this breakdown on this informative list from the NPS .

Another way to see the New River Gorge Bridge is with a “panoramic three-hour adventure” with Bridge Walk , a guided bridge walking tour on the catwalk 25 feet below. The ultimate time to visit the New River Gorge is on the third Saturday in October for Bridge Day, one of West Virginia’s most exciting festivals.

If fishing or a fun float trip down the New River is on your agenda, Pro River Outfitters can organize a trip that includes food, drinks, and equipment. 

For more adventures in the Mountain State, check out this post, with 95 choices .

Hiking Long Point Trail

The  Long Point Trail  hike is a moderate 2.6-mile loop that is perfect for hikers of all skill levels. The trek offers scenic views of the New River Gorge from a privately owned property opened to the public. The sandy beach at the trailhead is a popular swimming hole, making it a great place to cool off after your hike.

More Fun and Adrenaline Rushes

Fayetteville is known for its adrenaline-rush adventures—mainly white water rafting. Book a guided rafting trip on the Upper and Lower New River (one of the oldest rivers in the world) and the nearby Gauley River (the most challenging rapids) from  Ace Adventure Resort  or Adventures on the Gorge (premier whitewater rafting resort in the country) from May to November. 

A second popular offering in the area is aerial adventures, designed to show you the thrills from the treetops looking down. Rappelling is yet another impressive outdoor activity in Fayetteville.

The city’s terrain makes mountain biking another thrilling adventure. If you don’t have your own bike, you can rent one from Arrowhead Bike Farm . You can take part in a bike clinic and have lunch while you are there. And, if rock climbing interests you, head to Beauty Mountain.

Adventures on the Gorge

Searching for a thrilling adventure? Adventures on the Gorge is a must-visit destination for thrill-seekers. Offering whitewater rafting, zip lining, and rock climbing, Adventures on the Gorge will push you out of your comfort zone and give you the ultimate adrenaline rush. You can even walk underneath the New River Gorge bridge in one of the latest adventures.

With experienced guides and state-of-the-art equipment, Adventures on the Gorge is deemed safe, fun, and accessible for all skill levels. The property has a multitude of spaces for eating, shopping, hearing live music and hanging out. I was a big fan of the well-appointed gift shops, which included S’mores-making kits and souvenir tees.

As with any gorgeous property like this, I prefer to hang in the pool area, and the one at Adventures on the Gorge (Canyon Falls Pool) is spectacular! You even have views of the New River Gorge Bridge from the pool, surrounded by a rhododendron forest.

Adventures on the Gorge is also your one-stop shop for lodging. Choose from cabins (hotel-style, loft, and rustic-many handicapped accessible), glamping, campsites, vacation homes, and RV sites. I stayed in a hotel-style cabin at Sunnysides.

The cabin was spacious with two comfortable queen beds, a deck with wooded views, a mini-fridge, microwave, coffee maker, huge bathroom, and roll-in shower.

Did you notice the heated towel bar on the wall? That would be a great perk in the cooler months.

I might add that there was no lip on the door in the shower or to get outside on the deck, which my friends in wheelchairs are always curious about.

My accommodations at Adventures on the Gorge were hosted as part of a familiarization trip. As always, opinions and reviews are 100% mine and unbiased.

Shopping in Downtown Fayetteville

Downtown Fayetteville offers a unique shopping experience that you won’t find anywhere else. The beautiful architecture and stunning courthouse property will make this an exciting walking tour. From artisanal pottery to trendy clothing boutiques, the shops in Fayetteville are diverse and welcoming. Here are a few of my faves.

Lost Appalachia Trading Co.

I love the looks and great products in this Fayetteville shop. Things to watch for at Lost Appalachia are cute stickers, books, candles, apparel, and other unique finds from local artisans.

Thread is an eclectic clothing boutique on the corner of Maple Avenue. Inside are racks full of retro and vintage-looking clothing, sunglasses, jewelry, interesting items, and beautiful displays.

No stranger to the downtown Fayetteville shopping scene is Water Stone Outdoors . You’ll find quality outdoor apparel and products, as well as specializing in rock climbing gear and the best shoe selection possible.

Inside the Hobbit Hole is a gallery of mystery and intrigue. Vintage items squirreled away in nooks and crannies will pique your interest and test your window-shopping willpower. It’s insanely good!

A newer name to Fayetteville is Out of the Ashes , a cutesy shop on Maple Avenue. I loved the arsenal of West Virginia products (candles, purses, notecards), throws, handbags, clothing, and jewelry.

While you’re downtown, make sure to stop by the New River Antique Mall for a selection of vintage and antique finds.

Drinking Around Fayetteville

You’ll find a darling coffee shop in downtown Fayetteville:  Range Finder Coffee . This craft coffee shop serves specialty and ethically sourced coffee and espresso. They also have a small variety of locally-made baked goods. I found the shop to be so darned cute; it made me want to linger longer. 

Bridge Brew Works  is a local microbrewery that offers a wide range of craft beers. The brewery is located in a renovated school building. It features an outdoor patio where you can enjoy a cold beer while taking in the views of the New River Gorge. The brewery is open for tastings, and growler fills, making it the perfect spot to unwind after a day of adventure.

Dining in Fayetteville, WV

Fayetteville offers many delicious dining options, from casual to upscale. You can find everything from farm-to-table cuisine to classic burgers and fries. Some of the most popular dining options in Fayetteville are Tudor’s, Cathedral Cafe, Secret Sandwich Society, and Pies & Pints.

Tudor’s Biscuit World

Breakfast is the most important meal. Luckily, Fayetteville has a Tudor’s Biscuit World , a West Virginia icon, with homemade biscuit sandwiches that melt in your mouth. The gang’s all here: Ron, Dottie, Duke, Mickey, Mary B—popular biscuit combinations, but the Peppi, with pepperoni and melted cheese, is my standing order.

Pies and Pints

Downtown Fayetteville is home to the original Pies and Pints , a pizza joint franchised around the country with plentiful tap beer options. The Steak and Mushroom pizza is scrumptious, but get this…you can split the pizza between two gourmet creations.

Pizza Skins and Pork & Pepper Nachos with a chipotle crema are two pleasing appetizers to start your dining experience off right.

Secret Sandwich Society

Tempting culinary bites await you in Fayetteville. Currently rebuilding from a fire, Secret Sandwich Society is known for top-notch gourmet sandwiches and salads. We sure hope they will rebuild in the eclectic fashion that delighted their devoted customers.

SSS’s Truman is my favorite sandwich (turkey, peach jam, blue cheese spread, and crispy onions), but the pimento cheese smothered fries will make your eyes roll back in your head. 

Cathedral Cafe

Cathedral Cafe  has been a hippie mainstay in Fayetteville for years and an exceptional eatery for paninis, quesadillas, and coffee drinks. However, the quiche and chicken salad with bacon has been my favorite for years. If you just need a snack, try the artichoke and spinach dip. Nom!

Save room for the mixed berry cobbler and bread pudding—both are absolutely delicious. 

Smokey’s on the Gorge

Smokey’s on the Gorge is a place for a special meal with one-of-a-kind scenery. Try the Smoked Gumbo Dip with crostini or the filet mignon tournedos for your main course. Yummy! West Virginia farm-raised trout is another recommended dinner selection at Smokey’s.

Historic Fayette Theater

The circa 1938  Historic Fayette Theater  is a restored movie theater and performing arts venue that offers live theater productions from local groups and often traveling shows throughout the year. It’s a great place to experience the arts and history of the town all in one place. Check the website for currently running shows. 

Additional Lodging Choices

You can find options as rugged or upscale as you want to be in this town. 

At Ace Adventure Resort, cabins, chalets, cottages, and log homes around the spring-fed mountain lake are trendy.

Hawks Nest State Park is only a few miles away, a picturesque destination with a sweeping vista of the New River, an onsite restaurant, a 31-room lodge, and a nerve-racking aerial tram ride that takes you to the ground level for jet boat rides.

Hawks Nest has undergone a major renovation, and I can’t wait to see it.

The Historic Morris Harvey Bed and Breakfast would be a romantic option for staying in Fayetteville, offering a gourmet breakfast, charming details, clawfoot tubs, free WiFi, and a fabulous home-cooked breakfast.

Lafayette Flats, boutique lodging in the heart of historic downtown Fayetteville, has me intrigued. The artwork and stylish decor are really exceptional.

A Bonus Find!

Just a hop, skip, and jump from Adventures on the Gorge is Swiftwater General Store (physical address is Lansing). This provision station features firewood bundles, fire starters, produce, groceries, prepared gourmet foods, beer, wine, ice, and souvenirs.

They also have a cute little eatery serving breakfast and lunch, including vegetarian items, breakfast burritos, WV hot dogs, and homemade soups. Grab & Go items are popular, too.

Fayetteville: Fun and Funky, Guaranteed to Satisfy

Fayetteville, West Virginia, has so much to offer visitors. From the adventures on the New River to the historic charm of downtown, Fayetteville is the perfect destination for those seeking outdoor activities, shopping, dining, and history.

We hope this guide inspired you for your next road trip to West Virginia. Don’t forget to add Fayetteville to your itinerary for an unforgettable experience.