Whether you hit the road in search of snowy mountain slopes or with your heart set on finding sunshine on Southern beaches, you need the essential fuel to keep you going: snacks and lots of them. Our team of foodies at the Local Palate treats snacking like a competitive sport. Road trips give us the opportunity to depart from the standard gas station chips and fast food sandwiches. Instead, we reach for portable treats from Southern gourmands, bakers, and chocolatiers that vary from crunchy munchies to indulgent sweets to spicy bites. With these premium snacks balanced on our center consoles, we stay alert and powered wherever the road leads us.

“My go-to road trip snack has quickly become the Bar-B-Q Smokehouse Crackers. They sell them by the bag, but I all too often go for the tub.” Jacob H., Assistant Editor $25/4-pack

“With a napkin nearby, Ella’s Buffalo Ranch Pop is my new favorite road trip snack. Plus, the orange and white colors are game-day perfect for a Clemson tailgate.” Amanda F., Director of Sales and Marketing From $10

Iconic Southern snacks come together in this duo for a pairing of sweet benne wafers and salty cheese straws, all made in Charleston.

"A few times a year, my little family hits the road and heads to the mountains. We take our road trip snacks very seriously—it’s all about finding the perfect balance of savory and sweet, with plenty of crunch.” Laurel G., Digital Marketing Manager  $17

“After a few hours behind the wheel, I’m ready for a sweet snack and these puffy, chocolate-covered marshmallows are an easy, but utterly addictive, treat.” Erin B. M., Editor in Chief  $18

“Researching for our fall Road Trips Issue took me back to one of my favorite cities, Austin. Griff’s Coffee Toffee kept me going on long stretches of highway.” Lia G.W., Associate Editor $36/12 pack

“Pimento cheese travels well, and its thick consistency prevents spillage when I round tight turns on the backroads. The assorted flavors of Suga’s Pimento Cheese keep snacking exciting, so I can drift from Jalapeno to Black Truffle without getting flavor fatigue.” Hannah Lee L., Digital Editor $10

“I spend a lot of time on the road to events around the South. I always grab a bag of jerky, the quintessential road trip snack, to keep me going.” Maggie W., Events and Marketing Manager $29/3-pack

“Every year my daughter Katherine and I take a road trip together. Our two essential must-haves are strawberry Twizzlers and coffee. My new favorite is Red Rooster’s Funky Chicken.” Angelique D., Art Director $14 

A Few Others We Crave...

Think next-level Chex Mix a la peanuts, pretzels, corn sticks, crackers, and chips, all mixed together and seasoned with Bourbon Barrel Food’s bourbon smoked spice mix. $12

These pretzels’ classic salt is amped up Cajun style with notes of garlic, dill, and a spicy kick. $10

 

Lambrecht’s award-winning toffee is made by hand in Arkansas starting with a thick bed of pecans covered by rich butter toffee and layered with imported chocolate. The one-pound in will make for a sweet ride there and all the way back. $29

This sugary sweet pecan brittle crafted by Chef Samotria Holmes in Greenville, South Carolina, tastes like a pecan sticky bun in candy form. Made with whole ingredients, all of Holmes Sweet Home brittles are vegan and gluten free. $12

Kick things up a notch with a sweet-and-spicy mix of Hubs’ Virginia-grown, extra-large peanuts flavored with natural spices and chili peppers. The 20-ounce tin is enough to share with the whole car. $25

Take it in the direction of tangy with lime margarita peanuts grown and roasted in South Carolina. Bonus points for on-theme snacking if your final destination is somewhere south-of-the-border. $8

Hostess Provisions created a seasoning for your best tomato sandwich yet—but it’s also great on drive-thru fries and popcorn. $11

Freshly roasted when you order, Charleston’s Oliver Pluff & Co. coffees offer a bold brew of roasted, ground Colombian Supremo beans with bourbon-vanilla notes. $14

This subtly sweet blackberry tea steeps easily in the included tea filter(!!!). Start a batch the night before departure for a delightful way to kick off the drive. $20

A top seller for Georgia-based Grassroots Coffee, this cleverly named blend is a medium roast with a smooth, nutty finish. $13

This Atlanta-based coffee blend is made from beans imported from Colombia and Ethiopia, resulting in a smooth roast with notes of cocoa and bright, refreshing berry. It’s excellent both hot and iced. $15