Staff Favorites: Road Trip Snacks

Road trips are certainly an adventure—maps pulled up, playlists queued, bags packed tight. But every summer, there’s one road trip almost all of us make: the journey to camp! Whether Pine Cove is right down the road or a 14-hour trek across state lines, we all know that having something special to snack on makes the car ride all the more fun. From the first mile to the final turn, snacks have a way of keeping spirits high and energy up as the journey unfolds.

We asked our staff what their favorite road trip snacks are, and let’s just say—they delivered. Whether it’s something sweet or salty, candy or drinks, gas station classics, or homemade favorites, they gave us a solid list of their tried-and-true go-tos. Who doesn’t get excited for a pit stop at Buc-ee’s, or when mom pulls out delicious homemade cookies she prepared beforehand? Keep reading for a taste of what our staff reaches for on the road—and maybe grab a little inspiration for the snacks you’ll pack on your next trip!

“Ever since I was a wee lad, if I see a Dr Pepper Icee and a Crunch Bar in a gas station, you better believe that’s what I’m grabbing.” — Ethan “Runny” Hebert, IT Operations Support Technician

“I never know what to get for a snack! In my mind, it’s an easy choice: a Coke (obviously in a can because it’s better in a can) and some candy. But candy and a Coke is a lot of sugar. So if I’m feeling more thirsty, I’ll get water and some candy (usually SweetTart Minis or SweetTart Ropes). But if I’m more hungry, I’ll get a Coke and then chips (Salsa Verde Doritos are my go-to, but I also love Salt and Vinegar Pringles). BUT sometimes, I just don’t care, and I get candy and a Coke anyway.” — Marc “Captain Frog Hook” Wood, Silverado Men’s Director

“I would have to say that my favorite road trip snacks are Cheez-Its, Mini Oreos, and Nerd Clusters! Nothing like salty/sweet snacks and gummy candy to get you through a trip! And you have to get them from the gas stations—you know those ‘snack packs’? Yeah, those! My folks are in the Austin area, so I drive back every now and again—perfect four hours to munch away!” — Kat “Chief” McDaniel, Executive Assistant to the ETX Leadership

“Oh man, part of the reason I love road trips is because of the snacks! My tastes have evolved over time, but right now my go-to is BodyArmor and sunflower seeds—primarily because most of my wife’s and my road trips right now are to go hike somewhere, so we need a recovery drink. Sunflower seeds have been a go-to as far back as I can remember, especially as a baseball player. It’s also very helpful in keeping you awake on those long trips! Others that make their way into the rotation are pretzels, boiled eggs (I know, weird!), Airhead Bites, Mike and Ikes, and plantain chips if I find them. Drinks are pretty much always water, BodyArmor, Electrolit, or Monster.” — Rob “Change Up” Harris, CPA

“My favorite road trip snack has always been an Almond Joy! While the snack is enjoyable, I look forward to the drink more! On any good road trip, I need a fountain Dr Pepper in a large styrofoam cup with LOTS of crushed ice—like, full of ice! And it can’t be a bottle of DP; it has to be a fountain drink. Not a good road trip without this, I’m telling you! The best places to get it are Buc-ee’s (duh) and QT!” — Addi “Flush” Parker, Ranch Women’s Director

“My go-to snack is Jolly Rancher Ropes—harder to find, but when I see them, I’m pulling the trigger every time. Any occasion I’m in the car for more than 30 minutes, I’m looking to grab some. This, in tandem with the Red Bull Iced Edition: Vanilla Berry, makes me ascend on road trips. Last year in Turkey, some of the Forge guys (AJ, Noah, Jake) and I found this Red Bull flavor in the foothills of Turkey at a random gas station, and it was heavenly. It’s finally made its way to the States, so I’m really enjoying snack life right now.” — Tyler “Baja Smash” Arnold, Forge Men’s Director

“My favorite road trip snacks—usually grabbed from a Pilot station (like the one from College Station to Tyler) or, of course, a Buc-ee’s:

1. Flamin’ Hot Munchies chips—I am a sucker for a Flamin’ Hot chip, and this bag somehow has Flamin’ Hot SunChips. Not sure you can find these anywhere else, BUT MAN, THEY HIT. These have been my staple for years—so much so that now I need to get a bigger bag to share with my wife!
2. Another non-negotiable for me is gummy candy, particularly anything SweetTarts is putting out these days. If you haven’t tried the SweetTarts Gummy Halos—HIGHLY recommend.
3.  I also love a good cold brew on the road. If it’s canned from a gas station, I highly recommend anything from La Colombe. But I’m also not afraid to go out of my way a bit for a Starbucks or Dutch Bros drive-through. It is NEVER too far of a detour for some sweet cold brew!” — Connor “Flow” Barry, Ridge Camp Director

No matter what ends up in the cup holder or snack bag, one thing’s for sure—road trips are about more than just getting from point A to point B. Whether you’re team sweet, team salty, or team “grab it all,” we’ll see you at camp when you roll in excited and ready to see what God has in store!