As summer road trips kick into high gear, a new survey from snack-maker Kellanova reveals that Cheez-It and Pringles are the most popular snack brands among American travelers. The online poll of 2,000 U.S. adults who recently took or plan to take a road trip shows a clear cross-generational love for both brands, with nearly 90 percent of respondents reporting they eat more than one snack type while on the road.
Gen Z, known for craving bold, adventurous flavors, leads the way in choosing sour and spicy snacks, often traveling in groups and valuing shareable options. Millennials, many of whom travel with children, skew toward tangy, cheesy and sweet treats, prioritizing snacks the whole family will enjoy. Generation X respondents remain open to all snack categories—from chips and crackers to protein-packed jerky—while Boomers tend to purchase chips, nuts and sweet mixes, frequently stopping along the way to restock.
Regional differences also emerged. Travelers in the South are the most spontaneous snack buyers, stocking up on salty, sweet and chocolatey options as they go. In the Northeast, creamy flavors rank twice as high as in the Midwest, though cheese lovers there still make up one in three snackers. Out West, road trippers from the Mountain and Pacific regions often leave snack decisions to whoever packed first, but still list salty and sweet choices among their top three.
“Every generation brings its own twist to road trip snacking,” said Julia Wilkinson, senior director of insights at Kellanova. “Whether you prefer Cheez-It, Pringles or a mix of spicy and sweet, the data shows a clear hunger for variety and shareability on America’s highways.”