Planning a family vacation? Here’s some of the best Road Trip Picnic Ideas to help you save money and eat conveniently.
If you’ve ever visited one of our National Parks, you know how difficult it can be to find food inside the park. It’s always a good idea to have a lunch packed.
Today I’m sharing some easy lunch ideas for when you are on-the-go. These are ideas are great for National Park picnics, a day at the beach, or to eat in the car when traveling.
We like to plan a trip to the grocery store before heading into the park. With a little planning and a shopping list of easy picnic food ideas, you can buy the supplies for a perfect picnic in minutes.
For your convenience, I am separating these ideas into sections to help you better plan out your meals.
Fruits
Here’s some of the best fresh fruit ideas that travel well.
- Grapes
- Apples
- Clementine Oranges
- Blueberries
- Pears
- Juicy Strawberries (make sure you dry them before packing to keep them fresh)
- Bananas – placed inside a container to avoid bruising.
- Fruit Salad
- Cubed watermelon, cantaloupe, or honeydew melon (chilled)
Vegetables
Fresh veggies are always a great idea for finger foods to enjoy in the great outdoors.
- Carrot sticks
- Celery sticks
- Snap Peas
- Cauliflower Florets
- Broccoli Florets
- Cherry Tomatoes (be sure to place juicy tomatoes inside an airtight container to keep them from bursting)
- Mini Sweet Peppers or sliced Green or Red Pepper
- Cucumber slices
Meat/Protein
Adding some meat or protein options is a great way to make the picnic lunch satisfying.
- Salami Slices
- Ham Deli Meat
- Turkey Deli Meat
- Roast Beef Deli Meat
- Pepperoni Slices
- Peanuts
- Pecans
- Almonds
- Pistachios ( we love the small individual packs of these!)
- Trail Mix
- Hard-Boiled Eggs
- Jar of Peanut Butter
- Summer sausage
- Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches
- Beef Jerky Sticks
Cheese
Everything is better with cheese!
- Cheese Slices for sandwiches (We like Provolone and Colby, but you can use Swiss, Cheddar, Pepper Jack, or your favorite cheese!)
- Cheese Sticks – so many favors are available!
- Cheese Cubes – Colby, Cheddar, Pepper Jack – perfect for snacking on with crackers.
Carbs
Carbs are key for keeps your energy high and being ready for a day of hiking.
- Crackers to go with cheese
- Bread or Rolls for Sandwiches
- Tortillas for Wraps
- Pita Bread
- Chips – we like the mini individually portioned bags
- Popcorn – Skinny Pop is my go-to!
- Muffins
- Cold Pasta Salads
- Protein Bars
- Sweet Potato crackers
- Banana Bread or Zucchini Bread
- Cereal
- Pretzels
Condiments
Be sure to pack some condiments for your sandwiches.
- Mayo
- Mustard
- Relish
- Pickles
- Olives
Dips
Adding some creamy dips can be a fun way to make those crisp veggies even more appealing to picky eaters. Many of these can be bought in individual size cups or portioned out into your own containers.
- Creamy avocado dip (so delicious with snap peas!)
- Ranch Dressing
- Salsa
- Your favorite creamy or tangy dressing
- Hummus
Drinks
It’s important to stay hydrated while you are traveling or hiking!
- Water
- Soda – for a bit of caffeine!
- A Cold Brew – to get your coffee situation sorted!
- Gatorade
Desserts
Portable is really the name of the game with desserts!
- Cookies
- Pudding cups
- Granola Bars
- Graham Crackers
- Cereal Bars
- Yogurt
- Dried Fruits like raisins, apricots, craisins, etc.
Other Items
More items you might want to add to your list:
- Paper plates
- Cutlery
- Napkins
- Sandwich bags
- Wet wipes
- Picnic Blanket
- Picnic Basket
- Paper Towels
- Trash Bag
I hope these fun ideas for road trip foods are helpful for your roadside picnics this year!
If you have other fun ideas for day trip picnic foods, drop your ideas in the comments.
More Road Trip Planning Tips
You can find more awesome tips for your road trip here on our blog.
Find the Best Ways to Relax on Vacation with Kids here. Our top tips for less stress.
You can grab a free printable Road Trip Packing List here. Perfect for making sure you have all the necessities!
Learn all about going to Grand Canyon National Park with Kids here. All our best tips for a memorable vacation!
Want to save these best picnic food ideas for later? Pin the image below to your Vacation ideas board on Pinterest.
