Pack and Go! Make-Ahead Road Trip Lunches For Your Next Family Adventure
These make-ahead road trip lunches will help make sure you get a good meal in during the day as you travel and sight see.
It can be tricky to find something to eat while you’re on the road and stopping to eat out can get expensive. It’s always a great idea to have some food with you on your journey. Things you can pop in a cooler if needed and something that doesn’t require any reheating.
These make-ahead road trip lunches are just that. Premade meals that you can make ahead of time and enjoy while you’re traveling. The most you will need is a cooler to keep them fresh and ready to go at meal time..
They’re even great for the kids. You can simply set up one of your favorite car seat trays for the little ones to make it easy for lunch or stop and make it a picnic.
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Make-Ahead Road Trip Lunches
Homemade Gluten-Free + Allergy-Free Uncrustables (Vegan)
Make your own version of uncrustables at home with just a few simple steps. These protein packed sandwiches can be made ahead of time and store away for the road.
Mexican Burrito Roll Ups
With a Mexican seasoning and a cream cheese mixture, these tortilla roll ups are a fun snack you can store in a cooler as you travel.
Chicken Club Sandwich
Filling and flavorful, this chicken club sandwich is an easy to make lunch that you can make ahead of time and enjoy while on the road.
Curried Chicken Salad
Chicken salad gets some extra flavor added to it thanks to the curry. You can pack the salad away in the cooler and make sandwiches when you're ready to enjoy lunch.
The Best Chopped Italian Sub Sandwiches [15 Minute Recipe]
Make chopped Italian sub filling ahead of time so that you can enjoy these sandwiches as you're traveling. The flavor packed sandwiches only take about 15 minutes to make.
Easy Chicken Peanut Wraps
Chicken, veggies, and a tasty peanut sauce come togetherto make these easy wraps. They're easily stored in a cooler for a filling road trip lunch.
Creamy Macaroni Shrimp Salad with Old Bay
Macaroni salad gets some extra flavor thanks to the shrimp and Old Bay that's added into it. It'll be a filling lunch you can enjoy while on the road.
Dill Pickle Pinwheels
With a mix of dill pickle pieces, creamy sauce, cheese, and bacon all wrapped in a soft tortilla shell, these pinwheels will be a lunch favorite.
Grinder Salad Sandwich (Viral TikTok Sandwich)
A sandwich that went viral on TikTok can easily be made at home with a few simple ingredients. This sandwich is healthy and packed with flavor.
Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
Put together a tasty chicken pasta salad for lunch on the go. You can make the salad ahead of time so that you can store it in the cooler and enjoy it while traveling.
Vegan Couscous Salad
Skip the traditional salad and serve up a vegan couscous salad for lunch. You can make this a few days ahead and store it in the fridge or cooler for when you travel.
BLT with Brown Sugar Bacon and Fresh Garden Herbs
An upgraded version of the BLT, this sandwich uses fresh herbs and adds a bit of extra sweetness to the mix.
Simple Tuna Salad
A simple tuna salad sandwich can be a filling lunch. You can serve the sandwich with veggies or bring a handful of chips to go with it.
Raw Brussels Sprouts Salad with Tahini Dressing
Mixed with a tahini dressing, this salad is a bowl packed with flavor. Make a large batch ahead of time so the whole family can enjoy it.
Olive, Bacon, and Watercress Sandwiches
Make the olive, bacon, and watercress filling ahead of time so that when you're ready to eat it can be sandwiched in between two pieces of bread for a filling lunch.
Preparing your lunches ahead of time is a game-changer for family road trips. These easy-to-pack, mess-free meals keep everyone satisfied while saving both time and money on the road. With proper planning and our storage tips, you’ll have delicious, fresh lunches ready whenever hunger strikes.
Need more meal ideas for your family adventure? Explore our other road trip food guides:
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Road Trip Food With No Refrigeration – Perfect backup meal and snack options that will keep fresh for days
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Keto Road Trip Snacks – Healthy between-meal solutions perfect for the car
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Healthy Road Trip Breakfast Ideas – Starting your days the right way with these energy boosters
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Easy Road Trip Meals for Hotel Rooms – Simple meal solutions for when you reach your destination
© Family Road Trip 2025