Got snacks? These road trip goodies will keep you full on your journey

Spring break is here for Rutgers students, and many of us are preparing for some exciting plans. For some people, a road trip might be in our future — which means frequent gas station stops.

It’s a quintessential part of any good road trip: combing the aisles and debating with your traveling companions over what snacks to add to the cart. We all have our favorites, and these are my must-haves for any car ride.

Slushies

This is probably my favorite snack on the list. For me, slushies are synonymous with summer vacation, and each cup is filled with childhood nostalgia. But they’re a great snack in any season — even if you do get a brain freeze or your hands get cold.

Whether they’re Slurpees from 7-Eleven or Icees, slushies are the perfect gas station treat. They can be a drink or a snack on their own, and in my opinion, you can’t go wrong with the Coca-Cola or blue raspberry flavors. And while mixing flavors is blasphemy to me, mixed slushies are still a gas station staple for a lot of people.

Sour Patch Kids

Funnily enough, I was eating a bag of Sour Patch Kids as I wrote this article. For me, the biting sour makes me want to put them down, but the sweet aftertaste makes it impossible to do so.

They’re also an easily shareable snack, which makes them perfect for road trips. The car won’t fight over them — except when debating the best flavor, which is red or blue, in my humble opinion. Though be warned: When eating too much of this addicting candy, the damage to your tongue can last for hours. It’s still worth it, though.

Doritos

I may get some flack for this, but I much prefer Doritos over Cheetos. While my go-to is classic nacho cheese Doritos, they come in plenty of flavors like cool ranch and spicy sweet chili, which are all iconic in their own right. You might want to grab extra napkins or pack some wipes for the cheese dust, though, especially if you have a long drive ahead of you — you don’t want orange fingers the whole time.

Cheetos

While I do prefer Doritos, Cheetos are definitely my backup, and I always spring for them if they’re available, especially if they have Cheeto Puffs. Flamin' Hot Cheetos are rightfully famous and incredibly addicting, but the cheese dust with Cheetos is even worse than Doritos. Despite this, they’re probably the most popular item on this list — so they’re worth the hype and the cheese dust.

Oreos

Oreos just celebrated its 110th anniversary, and it’s crazy to think about how long this cookie has been one of America’s favorite snacks. They’re dangerously good, and you can eat a whole sleeve without even realizing it. Whether you grab Double Stuf, classic or thins, Oreos make for the perfect road trip snack, especially when they come in travel-size packs. Personally, I think Oreos Minis are best for a road trip, but they’re great in any form.

Whether you’re planning a road trip for spring break or just filling up your tank on your regular commute, snacks can make any trip better. They can pass the time, and keep other stops that you might have made to a restaurant or for fast food to a minimum as long as your car is properly stocked.

Full disclosure: I won't be going on any road trips this spring break, and plan on going into full hibernation once classes are on pause. But before I do, I’ll definitely be picking up a few of these iconic gas station snacks for the road.