Long before fancy convenience stores started selling gourmet coffee and fresh meals, gas stations in the 1980s were all about junk food. A road trip wasn’t complete without loading up on snacks, and the gas station was like a treasure trove of sweet, salty, and sometimes downright bizarre treats. Whether it was a bag of chips that would coat your fingers in neon dust or a candy bar that tasted best when slightly melted from sitting in the car, these were the snacks we begged for at every pit stop. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and revisit 12 gas station snacks from the ’80s that we loved on road trips.
1. Corn Nuts
Nothing quite prepared your teeth for the crunch of Corn Nuts. These rock-hard, deep-fried kernels of corn were salty, addictive, and loud—both in flavor and in the way they nearly cracked your molars with every bite. They came in flavors like ranch and barbecue, but the classic salted version was a gas station staple.
They were the kind of snack you could mindlessly munch on for miles, but they also came with a serious downside: that lingering Corn Nuts breath. If you were trapped in a hot car with someone eating these, you knew it. Still, despite their potential for dental damage and their overpowering scent, they were an essential road trip snack for anyone who loved something crunchy and salty.
2. PB Max
Peanut butter lovers were all about PB Max, a candy bar loaded with thick peanut butter, crunchy bits, and a chocolate coating. It was like a Reese’s Cup on steroids, and its rich, crumbly texture made it the perfect road trip snack—especially if you didn’t mind getting chocolate and peanut butter all over your hands.
The downside? It was almost too much. The peanut butter filling was dense and dry, meaning you needed a soda to wash it down. But for those who loved peanut butter, it was worth the struggle. Unfortunately, PB Max disappeared in the early ’90s, but anyone who took road trips in the ’80s probably remembers unwrapping one of these in the backseat and hoping the sun didn’t turn it into a melted mess.
3. Now and Later
Now and Later candies were the ultimate test of jaw strength. They started out rock-hard, slowly softening as you chewed, and if you weren’t careful, they might just pull a filling out. But they came in a variety of intense fruit flavors, making them irresistible for kids looking for a long-lasting treat to make the miles go by.
These were the perfect gas station buy because they lasted forever—one pack could keep you entertained for an entire stretch of highway. The only problem was if you dropped one in the car, it was basically glued to the seat by the time you found it. Still, there was something satisfying about unwrapping a sticky square and working on it for what felt like hours.
4. Hostess Pudding Pies
Hostess had a knack for creating snacks that seemed engineered to be eaten on the go, and their pudding pies were a prime example. These hand-held, chocolate-covered pies were stuffed with vanilla or chocolate pudding, making them a dangerously messy but undeniably delicious road trip snack.
They had a way of melting into a gooey disaster if left in the car too long, but when eaten at the perfect moment, they were pure magic. The chocolate shell cracked just enough to reveal the soft, creamy filling inside. Unfortunately, they were discontinued, but those who remember them can still taste that unique combination of flaky crust, pudding, and sticky fingers.
5. Planters Cheez Balls
Gas station snacks needed to be both delicious and entertaining, and Planters Cheez Balls checked both boxes. These neon-orange, cheese-flavored spheres were addictive, coating your fingers in a layer of powder that refused to come off even after several napkins.
They were lightweight and easy to eat straight from the can, making them perfect for passing around the car. The only problem? If you hit a bump in the road while snacking, there was a good chance you’d send half the can flying onto the floor. But that was a risk worth taking, because no road trip felt complete without a mouthful of cheesy goodness.
6. Beef Jerky
Beef jerky was the king of road trip snacks, and in the ’80s, gas stations had plenty of it. Whether it was classic jerky sticks, thin-cut pieces, or the processed meat logs of Slim Jims, jerky was the perfect travel snack—packed with protein, easy to store, and guaranteed to make the car smell like smoked meat for hours.
There was something satisfying about gnawing on a tough, salty piece of jerky while watching the miles fly by. The only problem? Some brands were so tough that they felt like chewing on leather. But for those who loved a good, chewy snack, jerky was essential.
7. Big League Chew
For kids who wanted to feel like baseball players (or just liked stuffing their mouths with shredded gum), Big League Chew was the ultimate gas station pickup. The pouch-style packaging made it fun to pull out strings of gum, and the flavors—grape, original, and sour apple—were bold and long-lasting.
The only downside was that it lost its flavor pretty quickly, meaning you’d have to reload after just a few minutes. But that was part of the fun, and no road trip was complete without at least one kid in the backseat chewing way more gum than they should.
8. Zagnut Bar
The Zagnut Bar was one of the more underrated gas station finds, but it had its loyal fans. A combination of crispy peanut butter and toasted coconut, it had a satisfying crunch and a unique flavor that made it stand out from other candy bars.
The downside? It was dry—really dry. If you didn’t have a drink nearby, eating one could feel like a challenge. But if you loved peanut butter and coconut, it was a must-have snack for long road trips.
9. Bugles
Bugles were more than just a snack—they were a toy. These cone-shaped corn chips weren’t just for eating; they were for putting on your fingers and pretending to have long, crunchy nails.
They had a salty, slightly sweet flavor that made them addictive, and they were sturdy enough to survive being tossed around the car. The only issue? They left behind a weird film on your fingers, but that was just part of the gas station snack experience.
10. Twinkies
Twinkies were the snack that never seemed to expire, making them the perfect road trip food. These golden sponge cakes filled with cream were sugary, soft, and just the right size to eat in two bites.
The biggest challenge was keeping them from getting squished at the bottom of the snack bag. But even if they got a little smashed, they still tasted just as good.
11. Charleston Chew
The Charleston Chew was a gas station favorite for those who loved chewy, nougat-filled candy bars. But the real trick was putting them in the freezer before eating them so they could be snapped into pieces.
On a road trip, though, that wasn’t an option, so you had to deal with the full, jaw-exhausting experience. But for those who loved a challenge, Charleston Chew was worth it.
12. Slush Puppies
No road trip snack stop was complete without a giant Slush Puppie. These icy, syrupy drinks were pure sugar, coming in flavors like blue raspberry, cherry, and grape.
The only problem? They melted fast, and if you drank too quickly, you were guaranteed to get the worst brain freeze of your life. But that was just part of the fun, and a Slush Puppie made any gas station stop feel like an event.
Gas stations in the ’80s were filled with some of the best (and messiest) road trip snacks ever. Whether you were crunching on Corn Nuts, slurping a Slush Puppie, or covering yourself in cheese dust from a can of Cheez Balls, these snacks made every road trip more fun. What were your favorite gas station snacks back in the day? Let’s reminisce about the ultimate road trip fuel!
