So, without further adieu—and with absolutely no judgment!—let’s dive into some of the best gas station snacks of all time. From Honey Buns to every flavor of Doritos, here are our 35 favorites—ranked from best to worst!
35 Best Gas Station Snacks
1. Flamin’ Hot Cheetos
No offense to regular Cheetos, but Flamin’ Hot Cheetos just simply pack a punch that the OGs do not. Whether it’s 2 AM or you’ve been driving for the past few hours (or both), a spicy kick from everybody’s favorite cheese puff is 100% what you need.
2. Little Debbie Cosmic Brownies
Remember these from your elementary school-packed lunch? They may be your past; but they can be your present, too. We rate them a 10/10 delicious!
3. Jerky
Whether it’s Slim Jim or Jack Links, jerky is classic gas station fare. High in protein and available in a few different meat options—beef, pork, turkey, or bison depending on where you’re shopping—jerky is always a good idea for the weary travel or night owl who’s in need of a pick-me-up.
4. Cool Ranch Doritos
There. We said it. Cool Ranch Doritos come before Nacho Cheese Doritos. Don’t @ us.
5. Nacho Cheese Doritos
Of course, we can still appreciate the cheesy goodness of Nacho Cheese Doritos. Along with Cool Ranch, Nacho Cheese Doritos will always make our late-night gas station shopping list.
6. Takis Fuego
Some like it hot and these are the people that spring for the Takis. Want something a little smaller?
7. Honey buns
Honeybuns just hit differently when they’re purchased at the gas station with crumpled-up dollars and exact change.
8. Hot Dogs
Is it the healthiest choice you can make? No. Is it a great one? Um… you decide!
9. Totino’s Pizza Rolls
Totino’s Pizza Rolls are always a good idea. They’re bite-sized and taste like pizza. What’s not to love?!
10. Häagen Dazs ice cream
Gas station ice cream in the summertime? Nothing’s better than that.
11. Cheez-Its
From original to Grooves, Cheez-Its are a lifesaver of a gas-station snack that staves off hunger and satisfies the tummy (and the brain!).
12. S’mores Pop-Tarts
Because we all know that Pop-Tarts’ S’mores flavor reigns supreme.
13. Taquitos
You’ll find these in the roller grill (probably) near the register. They’re usually stuffed with cheese and chicken or jalapeño—need we say more?
14. Grandma’s Cookies
As far as cookies-in-plastic packaging goes, Grandma’s Cookies are the only ones on the shelf. (At least in our eyes.)
15. Sour worms
Not feeling in the mood for a savory snack? It’s sour you want then! You can never go wrong with sour worms—no matter which brand you buy. The resulting sugar high isn’t too bad either.
16. Ho Hos
Ah, the Ho Ho. The Holy Grail of Gas Station Snacks—besides the Twinkie, of course. This brings us to…
17. Twinkies
The original “golden sponge cake with a creamy filling” is every bit as filling and mouthwatering as you remember them from your youth. And luckily, despite that whole weird rebrand thing in 2012 in which Wonder Bread threatened to take them off the shelves, Twinkies are totally still in production.
18. Hot Fries
Andy Capp’s Hot Fries also had a terrifying retirement scare—just their BBQ flavor though—back in the 2010s but have since reappeared at your favorite local gas station. And they’re still just as spicy as you remember them.
19. Glazed Donuts
Sure, it’s no Dunkin Donuts or Krispy Kreme but gas station pastries are a little slice of Heaven.
20. Smartfood White Cheddar Popcorn
No other popcorn matters (IMHO).
21. Funyuns
Who could forget about Funyuns?! Another classic middle school-aged snack, so many of us used to haul around the cafeteria looking for a quarter on the floor—just enough to scrape together change for a yellow-and-green bag of this onion-flavored delicacy.
22. Pickle-in-a-Bag
Ah, the pickle in a bag. It’s an iconic gas station snack option and though you have to be in a really specific mood in order to choose this snack, it certainly doesn’t disappoint.
23. Salt and vinegar chips
OK, we know this one’s pretty controversial but TBH, salt and vinegar chips totally slap. Not enough to be ranked in the top 10 of course, but there are plenty of gas station wayfarers who understand the poetic justice of a good salt-and-vinegar.
24. Combos
Another very distinct flavor is the Combo. Combos Stuffed Snacks are cylindrical crackers, pretzels, or tortillas—depending on the kind you buy—stuffed with flavors like cheddar cheese, pepperoni pizza, and buffalo blue cheese. Of course, some do-gooder genius figured out that the standard Combo filling can be achieved at home with pepperoni, Romano cheese, oregano, and canned diced tomato.
25. Rice Krispie Treats
Bonus points if you reach for the Oversized Rice Krispies Treat. All the sweet goodness of the original—plus a second serving.
26. Milk-Chocolate Peanuts
It’s America’s favorite nut… dipped in chocolate. With the protein from the peanut and the tastiness of the milk chocolate, this candy-slash-snack is a total win.
27. Snickers
Another one for all the peanut lovers out there, the Snickers is a classic late-night snack. It may be a candy bar but it has all the capacity to fill you up as a couple of Taquitos.
28. Skittles
Need something sweet and chewy? Skittles are the way to go if this is what you’re craving!
29. M&M’s
More of a chocolate person? No one has ever regretted buying a bag of M&M’s from the gas station… ever.
30. Honey-roasted peanuts
The perfect emergency road trip snack does not exi—oh wait, yes it does.
31. Snyders of Hanover Honey Mustard and Onion Pieces
Dripping with savory deliciousness, Snyders of Hanover Honey Mustard and Onion Pieces are mini pretzel chunks that taste better when on the open road.
32. Bugles
Bugles come in a few different flavors—Original, Nacho Cheese, Chocolate Peanut Butter, and Caramel—but no matter which flavor you get, they’re always reliably salty.
33. Fruit wrapped in plastic
Not our favorite, TBH, but the quintessential fruit-wrapped-in-plastic-by-the-register receives honorable mention in the form of slot #33. It’s likely the healthiest option on here but when faced with the choice of a bag of Doritos or an apple in cling wrap, we choose the chips every time.
34. Muffins
If you’re in need of a quick and greasy carb (it’s a saying; we don’t mean it literally), grab a brandless muffin from the gas station “bakery” section—if you can call it that. When faced with the need for an emergency pick-me-up, a gas-station muffin is just about as good as any other pastry.
35. Trail mix
Does anyone really like trail mix? Like, thoroughly enjoys it? If they do, we’ve never met that person, but it’s still a good, “healthy” gas station snack option because it’s high in protein. It’ll hold you over, keep you full, and we admit, it’s not delicious, but it is digestible. Next up, these are the best Gatorade flavors—ranked.
