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    Road trip food: Vegan meal & snack ideas

    Published: Apr 16, 2021 · Modified: Apr 20, 2022 by Cadry Nelson
    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please see my Privacy Policy for more details.

    Text overlay: Vegan road trip food. Collage with sandwich and pasta salads.

    Fill your cooler with this hearty & delicious vegan road trip food. With sandwiches, wraps, and salads, you’ll be well fed from the first mile to the last.

    Car in rear view mirror on highway.

    What could be more fun than a good road trip?

    Whether it’s a camping trip to somewhere remote, a jaunt to a neighboring state, or a cross country excursion, setting off on the open road always fuels a spirit of adventure.

    As anyone who has checked Happy Cow in the Middle of Nowhere knows, some places are more vegan-friendly than others.

    So packing meals for a road trip is a good way to avoid those hangry feelings & save some cash.

    With that in mind, here’s some road trip food for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack time too.

    Breakfast

    If you have time to pull over & eat, cereal & single servings of non-dairy milk make a quick & easy breakfast.

    If not, get your day started early by choosing one of these grab & go breakfasts.

    Platter of crustless mini vegan quiche.

    Vegan quiche

    Mini vegan quiche can be eaten hot, cold, or room temperature. They’re packed with protein & vegetables.

    Plate of cinnamon donuts.

    Cinnamon donuts

    If you have a sweet tooth, cinnamon donuts go down easy with a steamy mug of coffee.

    Sandwiches & wraps

    Sandwiches and wraps are super convenient for road trips.

    They can either be made ahead of time. Or you can keep the fillings & bread separate in the cooler.

    Of course, the simplest option is to grab a package of vegan deli slices like Tofurky, and throw them into a cooler with mustard, chopped onions, and pickles.

    Here are some more ideas if you feel like branching out.

    Hands holding two spring roll wraps.

    Spring roll tortilla wrap

    Spring roll wraps have the flavors of a summer roll with the portability of a tortilla.

    They’re filled with crunchy vegetables and baked lime tofu.

    The wraps can either be dunked in spicy peanut sauce, or you can add a drizzle to the inside.

    Chicken salad sandwich on plate with potato chips.

    Vegan chicken salad sandwich

    Vegan chicken salad sandwiches are so satisfying, thanks to the filling nature of seitan.

    It comes together quickly by processing seitan with celery, onions, pickles, seasonings, and eggless mayo in a food processor.

    Serve it on a bun, wrap it in a tortilla, or pile it on crackers.

    Platter of romaine leaves with walnut meat, avocado, and vegetables.

    Raw tacos with walnut filling

    Crisp & flavorful raw tacos are made with walnut taco meat.

    Serve on romaine lettuce leaves instead of a corn tortilla. Or the walnut meat is great in a salad.

    Vegan tuna salad sandwich on plate with pink napkin.

    Vegan tuna salad sandwich

    Swap out tuna for chickpeas in this quick & filling vegan tuna salad sandwich. It’s made by pulsing chickpeas with celery, eggless mayo, and herbs.

    Enjoy it on a sandwich or pile it on a green salad.

    Close-up tofu salad sandwich on plate with pickle on top.

    Vegan egg salad sandwich

    Vegan egg salad sandwiches are so simple to make, and they don’t require any extra gadgetry.

    Just crumble firm tofu in a bowl with vegan mayo, pumpkin seeds, mustard, and kala namak. That’s what gives it that sulfurous flavor!

    Terrific in a sandwich or wrap!

    Buffalo Soy Curls sandwich on wood board.

    Buffalo Soy Curls sandwich

    While I usually eat buffalo Soy Curls sandwiches while they’re hot, they’re also delicious right out of the cooler.

    Toothsome Soy Curls are tossed in buffalo sauce and finished with vegan blue cheese dressing.

    Vegetable sandwich on plate with chips.

    Vegetable sandwiches

    Vegetable sandwiches are slathered with jalapeño cashew cheese. Then they’re filled with crunchy red bell pepper slices, onions, and spinach.

    So fresh & delicious!

    Vegan banh mi sandwich with seitan on white cutting board.

    Vegan bánh mì

    Vegan bánh mì are great hot or cold.

    Filled with hearty slices of Field Roast, they’re loaded with fresh herbs and quick pickled vegetables.

    Buffalo hummus roll-ups on serving platter.

    Tortilla pinwheels

    Tortilla pinwheels are dressed with buffalo hummus and fresh vegetables.

    Grab one or two as a snack, or blaze through several for lunch.

    Bagel sandwich on table with potato chips.

    Bagel sandwich

    Bagel sandwiches are ideal for road-trips.

    Sturdy bagels stand up well to sandwich fillings.

    Slather toasted bagels with hummus. Then pack them full with cucumbers, onions, and bell peppers.

    So much crunch in every bite!

    Salads

    These salads can either be a side dish for your sandwiches. Or some of them can be a full meal on their own.

    Creamy cashew dressing being poured onto kale salad.

    Kale salad

    Kale salad is hearty enough that it can really last in the cooler.

    It’s filled out with air fryer chickpeas for crunch & satiety.

    Overhead bowl of potato salad, paprika, green onions, and dill pickle pieces.

    Potato salad

    Who doesn’t love vegan potato salad?

    It’s made with big chunks of Russet potatoes, tossed in eggless mayo, and prepared with plenty of crunchy dill pickles.

    Close up of tofu, carrots, cilantro, radishes, and pasta drenched in peanut sauce.

    Cold peanut noodle salad

    Cold peanut noodle salad can be a full meal in a bowl, especially if you add baked tofu to the mix.

    It’s packed with radishes, carrots, and cilantro.

    Overhead vegan pasta salad with sliced cucumbers, carrots, and radishes.

    Vegan pasta salad

    Vegan pasta salad is a fresh & flavorful side dish.

    It’s loaded with thinly sliced carrots, cucumbers, radishes, and chopped bell pepper. Then it’s tossed in a creamy mayo dressing.

    To push it into meal territory, stir in chopped vegan deli slices like Tofurky and diced non-dairy cheddar.

    Bowl of tofu salad on table by celery stalk.

    Curried tofu salad

    Curried tofu salad can be enjoyed on its own, or added to a wrap.

    It’s made with super firm tofu, eggless mayo, curry powder, shredded carrots, raisins, and nuts.

    A tasty mix of sweet & savory!

    Overhead bowl of Israeli couscous salad on table.

    Israeli couscous salad

    Israeli couscous salad can be enjoyed as a side dish or eaten as a full meal with roasted chickpeas.

    It’s filled with pearl couscous, tomatoes, cucumbers, and olives.

    Vegan feta cheese would be a nice addition too!

    Lentils in bowl with kale salad and figs.

    Marinated lentil salad

    This tangy lentil salad is a protein-packed side dish or addition to a green salad.

    The flavors meld beautifully while it waits to be eaten.

    It’s finished with red wine vinegar & Dijon mustard.

    Steamed kale with sesame seeds on flowered napkin.

    Sesame kale

    Here’s a great way to eat a lot of kale in one go!

    Sesame kale is made by steaming greens and tossing them with sesame oil, sesame seeds, rice vinegar, and garlic.

    Bowl of vegan coleslaw with yellow napkin on white table.

    Coleslaw

    Vegan coleslaw is a tasty sandwich topper as well as a crunchy side dish.

    It’s so convenient to make, thanks to bagged shredded cabbage mix.

    Snacks

    If you get a little peckish on your drive, it’s nice to have some snacks on hand between mealtimes.

    Road trip food like bananas, apples, oranges, and berries go down easy in the summer.

    For salty snacks, pretzels, potato chips, and candied pecans or other nuts are nice to have on hand.

    Make a batch of pineapple salsa or peach salsa to snack on with tortilla chips.

    Enjoy olive tapenade with crackers or pita chips.

    Sliced vegetables like bell peppers, celery, and carrot sticks pair well with baba ganoush or hummus. Go plain or have sun-dried tomato, kalamata olive, or buffalo hummus.

    Dessert

    If you like to finish your meal with a sugary treat (or if your snacking skews sweet over savory), here are some vegan dessert options.

    Close-up banana bread cookie by milk bottle.

    Banana bread cookies

    Banana bread cookies have all of the flavor of banana bread with the convenience of cookies.

    They’re also a great way to use up any bananas that are starting to brown.

    Overhead pile of cookies on platter.

    Peanut butter oatmeal cookies

    Peanut butter oatmeal cookies combine the chewiness of oatmeal with the nuttiness of PB.

    Plus, they can be made gluten-free.

    Peanut butter chocolate popcorn in a bowl.

    Chocolate & peanut butter popcorn

    Grab a handful of peanut butter & chocolate popcorn for a delightful mix of salty & sweet.

    Overhead platter of crispy rice treats.

    Rice crispy treats

    Rice crispy treats are an old school classic that really satisfy!

    Crispy & light rice cereal is coated in melted marshmallows.

    A guaranteed crowd pleaser with adult & kids alike.

    Other road trip food necessities:

    For easy road trip dining, it’s handy to have these other items on hand:

    • Stainless steel or glass water bottle for refilling
    • Swiss army knife for slicing avocados, opening wine & packages, and random emergencies
    • Stainless steel food containers, bowls, and plates for salads, cereal, and sandwiches
    • Bamboo forks & spoons
    • Chip clips to seal bags of nuts, spinach, crackers, etcetera

    Gas station snack options

    Even the best-laid plans bring surprises. If you find yourself on the road longer than planned & your rations have run empty, you may need to pick up food at a gas station or convenience store.

    Consider these easy options:

    • Cereal & non-dairy milk
    • Nuts & seeds
    • Tortilla chips & jarred salsa
    • Bananas, oranges, and apples

    More vegan travel tips

    While you’re on the road, here are some more vegan travel tips that may come in handy:

    • Vegan fast food options
    • Vegan hotel tips
    • Vegan tips for taking food on a plane
    • How to get vegan meals at non-vegan restaurants
    • Vegan options at the Denver Airport

    Content and photos updated April 16, 2021. Originally posted September 9, 2010.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sarah

      September 09, 2010 at 6:58 pm

      Cadry,
      This looks great. I know it is hard to do a road trip without eating a lot of fries and pasta (if one does not pack goodies to eat). We are probably all tired of pasta with red sauce being the only choice on many restaurants’ menus. I just made the potato salad from VT and it was super delish. I kept the skins on my potatoes. Can’t wait to try out the recipe for the Thai Slaw.
      Sarah

      Reply
      • cadryskitchen

        September 20, 2010 at 5:21 pm

        I was just chatting with some friends about how pasta with marinara always seems to be the default vegan option. Luckily, it does seem like things are improving and restaurants are becoming more aware of a growing vegan audience.

        I always prefer to leave the skin on my potatoes too. I think they’re the best part! It sounds like you’re really blazing through VT. What would you say have been your favorites so far?

        Reply
    2. David Busch

      September 10, 2010 at 5:04 am

      Peanut butter sandwiches, hummus with carrots/celery, and Vanilla Jo-Jo’s cookies are my favorites!

      Reply
    3. Becca

      September 26, 2010 at 11:21 am

      All the road-tripping foods you mentioned are great, and gave me some fresh ideas for our next road trip.

      My husband and I love GORP!! To me, nothing hits-the-spot better on the road, especially when hiking, than GORP. Wasa crackers and peanut butter are always a must for us as well.

      Reply
      • cadryskitchen

        September 26, 2010 at 8:42 pm

        I didn’t think of it, but you’re absolutely right that GORP is great on the road. It’s a delicious and satiating snack!

        Reply
    4. Janie Wilson

      October 09, 2021 at 11:21 am

      Do you have a Vegan RV camping cookbook? If so, I’m interested in getting one.

      Reply
      • Cadry Nelson

        October 11, 2021 at 10:38 am

        Thank you for your interest! I don’t have a vegan RV camping cookbook, but you can always print the recipes I linked to here to bring along on your camping excursions. Happy travels!

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Cadry!

    I’m a longtime vegan. (14 years!) But I grew up eating a Standard American Diet. I know that all of us crave foods that are familiar, comforting, and delicious.

    That’s why it’s my passion to share mouthwatering plant-based recipes that taste like home.

    More about me →

    Spring recipes

    • Green salad with blood oranges & peanut dressing
    • Tangy peanut salad dressing (vegan)
    • Vegan eggs Benedict (for an amazing brunch!)
    • Vegan hollandaise sauce (dairy free & egg free)

    Salads

    • Easy tahini dressing for salads, bowls, or falafel (vegan)
    • Balsamic vinaigrette dressing (Just 5 ingredients!)
    • Vegan chef salad with seitan & avocado
    • Israeli couscous salad with olives & artichokes

    Easy weeknight meals

    • Air fryer baked potato in about 35 minutes
    • Buffalo chickpea sandwich with vegan blue cheese
    • Three bean chili: Warm up with a bowl
    • Vegan taco pizza with black beans: A taste of nostalgia
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