10 Must-Have Snacks for Fall Color Road Tripping Across Minnesota

Minnesota is the Land of 10,000 Lakes and all kinds of other autumn road-trip destinations. Whether you're heading up to Duluth, or southeast for some camping along the Mississippi River bluffs -- don't forget the snacks.

The difference between an 'OK' weekend getaway and an epic, memory-making trip comes down to your company, destination, weather...and munchies.

Sweet or savory? Homemade or store-bought? Carrot sticks or M&Ms? Eat in the car or stop for a roadside break? The answer: YES.

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The easy part is deciding to jump in the car and drive to a point of interest. What makes it unique is 'how' you do that. Try to click down a few notches and really take a step off the daily treadmill we all spend most of our time on. Pull off the road. Find a picnic table. Put your toes in a stream. Eat a PB&J in the woods.

The Best Minnesota Road Trip Snacks for 2024

• Beef Jerky
  • Teriyaki, Jalapeño, Barbecue, Smoked, Steakhouse -- doesn't' matter. Hell, grab some Slim Jims if you have to.
• Chips
  • This seems obvious, but so many choices. Grab a few cans of Pringles. You need some Doritos. A bag or two of kettle chips. And they'r not actually chips, but throw some Dots pretzels into your cart.
• Trail Mix
  • This is your first chance to buy-in the store or do-it-yourself (assuming you're not making your own jerky or chips). At a minimum you need peanuts, raisins, and M&Ms. After that, the sky's the limit.

• Blue Diamond Almonds
  • Yes, that specific. There are almonds, and there are Blue Diamond Almonds. They come in various flavors and they're not cheap. I recommend the Wasabi and Sweet Thai Chili.
• Kirkland Mixed Nuts
  1. There are some things that Costco does better than anyone else, and mixed nuts are one of them. They're not cheap, but worth every penny. 2½ pounds will run you $16. You'll thank me later.
• Raw Veggies
  1. I'm no health nut, but it's hard to beat a bucket of fresh, crisp, raw veggies on a road trip. Carrots, celery, pea pods, radishes, cauliflower, broccoli, and whatever else you want. Of course it all requires a nice veggie dip.
• Candy
  1. There aren't really many rules here, other than bring a lot of it. In my car you'll find Peanut M&Ms, Twizzers, Starburst, and Jolly Ranchers. It's all about the personal preference of you and your passengers.

• Sunflower Seeds
  • These beauties taste great in many flavors (like BBQ, dill, cracked peeper, and more) and will keep you awake on a solo journey, or make you a favorite by sharing with your fellow road trippers. Don't forget your spit cup!
• Smartfood Popcorn
  • If I could only have one food on the road, Smartfood would be it. Air-popped popcorn tossed in delicious white cheddar cheese. If you hug this bag, I won't judge.
• Corn Nuts
  1. Sure, your loud crunching will annoy the hell out of your fellow passengers, but the satisfaction you'll get out of it will make their passive-aggressiveness worth it.