The One Snack You Should Always Buy at the Gas Station

Kitchn editors are hitting the road this summer. In order to make it to our destinations ready to relax, we’re fueling up on our go-to road-trip munchies. Luckily, the petrol stations peppering America’s highways offer a lot more than fuel pumps. (If you’ve passed by a Buc-ee’s, you know.)  

Gas stations offer personal-sized portions of chips, crackers, and candies, plus fridges full of refreshing beverages to wash it all down. So, whether you’re driving cross-country or just across town, gas stations have you covered with sweet, salty, and satiating snacks for the ride. These are The Kitchn editors’ picks for the 10 best gas station snacks and what we love about them. 

“This was one of the first candies I ate as a kid, so there’s a major nostalgia factor there,” says Shopping Director, Jada Wong. “It’s also usually at the counter or at the end of an aisle, so it’s wildly convenient to grab and go.”

Senior Food Editor, Krisina Razon’s, pick was also a childhood favorite. Cool Ranch Doritos were her go-to as a kid, but now she’s sure that “Nacho Cheese is far and away the best flavor. It hits those savory notes and is all crunch.” She loves the nacho cheese dust so much that she admits to triaging the bag for the triangles covered in the most dust. 

It wasn’t long before our Recipe Director, Lauren Miyashiro, piped up with her pick of the classic cheesy cracker, Cheez-Its. She likes that they’re not too salty and always seem to have the perfect amount of toastiness. Plus, they won’t leave her hands too greasy or covered in cheese dust. (Sorry, Kristina!)”

And because most road trips require more than one snack, Lauren also picks up a pack of peanut butter M&Ms. Melty chocolate may be a no-no for some summer travelers, but Lauren reminded us that “they’re not as melty as, say, a chocolate bar.” Plus, “because there’s peanut butter involved they’re a bit more satisfying.”

A road-trip impulse buy changed everything for Senior Lifestyle Editor, Mara Weinraub, because that’s when she tried Rips for the very first time. She loves the sweet and sour candy so much that she has a ritual for eating Rips on the road. Mara recommends letting it rest on your tongue for the first few seconds for peak puckering effect. Strawberry-green apple flavor is the one she finds most often, but rest assured, you can’t go wrong with any flavor. 

Swedish Fish reminds Charli Penn, our Executive Lifestyle Director, of the best summers of her life. The chewy, fruity fish have been her “go-to road trip and movie theater snack” since childhood. Simply put, they are “absolutely delicious from the first bite.”

If you always get thirsty on road trips, Kitchn’s Recipe Production Coordinator, Justine Lee’s, recommendation is for you. Grab a bottle of blue Gatorade (Glacier Freeze, to be more specific) to “chug on its own or in between munching on salty chips or peanut M&Ms.” It’s hard to describe the flavor of Glacier Freeze Gatorade other than “blue,” but Justine picks up “notes of tart berries with a hint of lemon-lime.” 

I make sure our first gas station stop is at a well-stocked station. Smaller gas stations haven’t caught on to what is, IMO, the ultimate road-trip snack: kettle corn. Kettle corn is popcorn that is slightly sweet and a smidge salty. Like all popcorn, it is light, crunchy, and perfect for munching over long stretches of highway. 

Bugles are the cone-shaped corn chips that are a classic road-trip snack. After all, this edible finger hat is as much a snack as it is a toy, and what better way to pass the time? The corn chips are satisfyingly salty with a crispy texture unlike the other chips and crackers you’ll find at the rest stop.

No roundup of gas-station snacks is complete without mentioning Combos. Senior Recipe Editor, Christine Gallary, said what we all were thinking: “There’s just something about those little nuggets filled with salty cheese (or pizza flavoring) that gets me every time, and reminds me of childhood road trips.” While you might not spot Combos in your local grocery store, rest assured that gas stations are always well-stocked.

Did your favorite gas-station snack make the list? Tell us about it in the comments below.