10 Must-Have Snacks for Thanksgiving Road Tripping Across Minnesota

Over the river and through the woods to grandmother's house we go. Whether you're heading to the Twin Cities, up to Duluth, or to the family in Iowa for Turkey Day -- don't forget the snacks.

The difference between an 'OK' Thanksgiving getaway and an epic, memory-making trip comes down to your company, destination, road conditions...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 turkey dinner. 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.

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, Twizzlers, 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.