Erin Elizabeth
Gas stations are a lifesaver when you need to make a quick pit stop to use the restroom, stretch your legs, or grab a snack.
Depending on the size of the gas station, you are met with an overwhelming number of food options. From chips to sandwiches to pickles, choosing the best gas station snack is a daunting task.
Knowing that this snack is what has to hold you over until you find a spot for dinner or make it to your destination makes the pressure even greater to choose the right snack.
If you’re worried about choosing the wrong snack, you’re in the right place. Here are 17 popular gas station food options that won’t disappoint.
Best Gas Station Food & Snacks
With spicy, sweet, salty, crunchy, and soft options to choose from, gas station snacks are an overlooked luxury. Whether you’re traveling across the country or commuting to work, here are some of the all-time favorite snacks for the road.
Taquitos
Whether you enjoy them for the flavorful filling or the crispy shell, Taquitos are a warm treat you can find at many gas stations and 7-Elevens.
Find your way to the rotating table of goodness where you can select whichever Taquitos speak to you.
The chicken taquitos are my preferred snack at gas stations as the chicken mixed with the melted cheese in the crispy tortilla creates a remarkable sensation for my tastebuds.
It’s also tough to go wrong with classic beef, bean, and cheese Taquito.
Flamin’ Hot Cheetos
Crunchy, spicy, and oh so good, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos will leave you licking your fingers and wanting more when the bag is empty.
Whether you prefer the compacted crunch of the crunchy Cheetos or the airy goodness of regular Cheetos, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos are a gas station snack staple.
The overall cheesiness of Cheetos creates a timeless classic. Add in some heat and you get one spicy and delicious snack.
The flamin’ hot seasoning pairs perfectly with the crispy crunch of the Cheeto ensuring you won’t be left disappointed.
S’mores Pop-Tarts
While Pop-Tarts are traditionally a breakfast food, they have quickly become a snack item perfect for on the go individuals.
The individually wrapped pastries are easy to grab on your way out and will hold you over for an hour or so.
While all Pop-Tart flavors have their benefits, S’mores Pop-Tarts are a favorite from the gas station.
Layered chocolate and marshmallow filling encompassed by a graham cracker crust and topped with chocolatey goodness will make you forget you’re in the car as you dream of your next camping adventure.
Let the deliciousness of the S’mores Pop-Tart take you to a new dimension as you enjoy it on your road trip.
Pickle in a Bag
Pickles. You either love them or you hate them. For those of us that love them, grabbing a Pickle in a Bag at the gas station is a life-changing experience.
The salty crunch of the pickle as the juice runs down your face is a dream you don’t often consider reality when on a road trip.
A see-through pouch allows you to witness the tastiness you’re about to devour before opening the package.
When you do open your pickle, you are hit with an overpowering, yet irresistible smell of a salty and sometimes spicy pickled cucumber.
The best part about a pickle in a bag from the gas station is that there are so many flavors to choose from.
Takis Fuego
The crunch, the heat, the cooling lime flavor, and the overall spice-filled crispy tortilla roll make Takis Fuego a favorite.
Not for the faint of heart, these flavorful bites pack a punch of heat as the spice can be overwhelming if you’re not up for the challenge.
The rolled tortilla chips have an intensified spicy flavor that will keep you coming back for more.
Zesty lime and chili flavors create the perfect spice for the fiery snack. If you’re up to take on the spicy red snack, we know you won’t be disappointed.
Beef Jerky
Beef Jerky is a flavorful and filling gas station snack that I purchase almost every road trip.
While it is a little more expensive, its ability to hold you over for several hours makes it a worthwhile road trip snack.
The variety of flavors and textures make it an easy option as you don’t get tired of having the same flavor time after time.
Whether you enjoy the subtle flavor of original beef jerky, the sweet flavor of teriyaki beef jerky, the spicy flavor of peppered beef jerky, or the combination of sweet & hot jerky, gas stations tend to keep all your favorites in stock.
Combos
Combos are one of the more underrated gas station snacks.
The protective pretzel or cracker layer around the soft cheesy center ensures you have a party in your mouth when you bite into the delicious snack.
Whether you prefer the pizza, cheddar cheese, or pepperoni flavor, we know combos won’t disappoint.
It’s tough to go wrong with the original Cheddar Cheese Baked Cracker combos that are stuffed with creamy cheese filling and the crispy outer cracker.
While I do enjoy the cheddar cheese, Pizzeria Pretzel combos are my go-to gas station Combo selection.
Honey Buns
The sweet honey flavor, the fluffy bun, and the sticky icing make Honey Buns a delicious gas station snack staple.
Make sure you have plenty of napkins in the glovebox when you decide to consume a Honey Bun with your morning coffee.
While the sticky goodness is delicious, it can cause quite the mess in the car – ask me how I know.
The Duchess brand’s number one selling item is the Honey Bun. If you’ve ever enjoyed the delicious treat, you know why.
The sugary icing atop a fluffy bun is simple, yet a treat that will maintain gas station treat supremacy for years to come.
Grandma’s Cookies
If you enjoy soft and delicious chocolate chip cookies, grab a bag of Grandma’s Cookies from the rack before you head to the checkout.
The exceptionally soft nature of the cookies will keep you coming back for more – so you may want to grab two bags.
Grandma’s delicious cookies come in multiple types like Chocolate Brownie, Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal Raisin, and Peanut Butter.
While all these flavors are exceptions, the Chocolate Chip is my favorite. If you like a crunch with your cookies, try the Mini Chocolate Chip cookies.
These cookies are crisp and delicious for the all-around perfect cookie.
Smartfood White Cheddar Popcorn
It’s no secret that gas station snacks carry a lot of calories and aren’t necessarily diet-friendly.
A lighter snack option is Smartfood White Cheddar Popcorn. The light calories and flavorful white cheddar coating make them an excellent option for those that need a light snack or are trying to watch calorie intake.
Smartfood White Cheddar Popcorn is air-popped, so you don’t have the added calories from the oil.
A bag of white cheddar goodness is gluten-free, has no artificial colors or flavors, no artificial preservatives, and 14 grams of whole grains per serving. Talk about delicious and nutritious food!
Funyuns
I don’t know what it is about Funyuns, but I always seem to end up grabbing a bag before leaving the gas station – even when the only reason I stopped at the gas station was for a bathroom break.
The airy rings sprinkled with onion flavor are a classic you can’t go wrong with as a snack.
With the option to choose Flamin Hot or Original, Funyuns are a favorite onion-flavored snack for road trips.
The zesty and salty flavor of the rings mixed with the unmatchable crunch is irresistible.
Hot Dogs
If your pit-stop gas station has hot dogs, you will know as soon as you walk through the doors.
The distinctive aroma when you open the door to the gas station will lead you to a rotating display of the camping staple.
Grab the tongs and find the toppings, it’s time to indulge in a gas station food classic.
Whether you enjoy a classic hot dog or an all-beef hot dog, gas station hot dogs are sure to give you the pick-me-up you need to quench that rumbling tummy and get you back on the road.
Little Debbie Cosmic Brownies
When you see the name Little Debbie, you know you’re in for a treat.
Little Debbie Cosmic Brownies are a gas station delicacy that will bring back memories you didn’t know you had.
Whether you enjoy them for the rich, moist chocolate brownie or the colorful chocolate pieces on top, Cosmic Brownies are a must.
The brownies are perfectly proportioned and offer just the right amount of chocolaty goodness.
Top the brownie with chocolate fudge icing and crunchy chocolate pieces, and you get an irresistible sweet snack.
Hot Fries
Are they French fries or are they chips? We may never know what category the potato lengths should fall in, all we do know is that Hot Fries are a crunchy and sometimes spicy snack that millions of travelers love to consume.
Get your pinchers ready, once you start eating Hot Fries, you won’t want to put them down!
The bold spices and cheesy deliciousness of Hot Fries make them a staple gas station snack option. Add the irresistible crunch to the mix, and you won’t be able to say no.
Doritos
Doritos are a well-known and loved snack food that you can find just about anywhere.
Luckily, gas stations are one of the places that carry the delicious corn chips, making them readily available for your consumption.
Choose your favorite flavor and the size of bag you need to hold you over on your road trip.
The endless Doritos flavors make them a popular snack for all different types of taste buds.
Whether you enjoy the Spicy Sweet Chili, Cool Ranch, or classic Nacho Cheese Doritos, you can count on your gas station pit stop to have the exact flavor you need.
Sour Worms
They are fun to play with, easy to eat, and taste delicious. Sour Worms is another one of our favorite gas station snacks.
For those that like to save a buck or two, most gas stations offer a generic brand of gummy worms and a name brand, giving you options to best fit your needs.
The sour-coated gummy worms give you the right amount of sweet and sour when you bite into them.
Whether you prefer the extremely sour worms or a more mild sour, they make for an excellent and easy-to-devour road trip treat.
Snickers
“You’re not you when you’re hungry,” is the classic Snickers ad we all know from the popular Super Bowl commercial.
Snickers isn’t far off with this statement as attitudes ensue when a car full of vacationers reach the ‘hangry’ stage.
Luckily, grabbing a chocolate-covered candy bar at the gas station checkout will help the hangry stage pass.
Whether you deliberately go into the gas station for a Snickers or it catches your eye on your way out, we promise that purchasing a Snickers to crave your hunger is the right decision.
The perfect mixture of peanuts, nougat, caramel, and milk chocolate makes the candy bar a favorite.
Best Gas Station Foods
With spicy, sweet, salty, crunchy, and soft options to choose from, gas station snacks are an overlooked luxury. Whether you’re traveling across the country or commuting to work, here are some of the all-time favorite snacks for the road.
- Taquitos
- Flamin’ Hot Cheetos
- S’mores Pop-Tarts
- Pickle in a Bag
- Takis Fuego
- Beef Jerky
- Combos
- Honey Buns
- Grandma’s Cookies
- Smartfood White Cheddar Popcorn
- Funyuns
- Hot Dogs
- Little Debbie Cosmic Brownies
- Hot Fries
- Doritos
- Sour Worms
- Snickers
Final Thoughts
Spicy Takis Fuego, sweet Honey Buns, salty Funyuns, and sour gummy worms are exceptional gas station food selections. No matter the craving you have, gas stations all over the United States are full of delicious treats waiting to crave your hunger.
Whether you’re making a cross-country road trip with your family or headed into town with your friends, gas station pit stops are a necessity.
Make sure you know what snacks are available to sustain your hunger so you can reach your destination without becoming hangry.
If you’re in certain regions of the US, you might have even better gas station options like the best Wawa food or our favorite picks from Sheetz to enjoy!
