Hitting the road in the ’80s meant one thing—stopping at a gas station to load up on snacks. Whether it was a family road trip or a late-night cruise with friends, gas station treats were an essential part of the journey. From chocolate bars to crunchy chips, these snacks turned boring stretches of highway into an adventure. Let’s take a look at 12 gas station snacks from the ’80s that made road trips worth it.
1. Hostess HoHos
Hostess HoHos were the perfect road trip treat—chocolatey, creamy, and individually wrapped for easy snacking. These spiral-shaped chocolate snack cakes, filled with vanilla crème and covered in a smooth chocolate coating, were a staple of gas station convenience stores. Their rich flavor and soft texture made them an irresistible choice, even if they were slightly messy to eat in the car. While Hostess has had its ups and downs over the years, HoHos are still around today, bringing back plenty of nostalgia.
2. Planters Cheese Balls
Before they disappeared in the 2000s and later made a comeback, Planters Cheese Balls were one of the most addictive road trip snacks of the ’80s. These bright orange, crunchy cheese puffs came in a canister, making them perfect for passing around the car. The cheesy dust might have left your fingers coated, but that was just part of the experience. With their intense flavor and satisfying crunch, they were one of the best gas station grab-and-go treats of the decade.
3. Big League Chew
Nothing made kids feel cooler on a road trip than chewing on a pouch of Big League Chew. This shredded bubble gum, originally designed to mimic chewing tobacco for baseball players, came in flavors like grape and original bubblegum. The novelty of pulling out a handful of gum from the pouch made it way more fun than a regular stick of gum. Even today, Big League Chew remains a gas station staple, keeping its retro charm intact.
4. Pringles
Pringles were a road trip essential, thanks to their sturdy can that kept the chips from getting crushed. Unlike regular potato chips that came in flimsy bags full of air, Pringles delivered a perfectly stacked snack that you could eat one by one or in satisfying handfuls. Their distinct shape and salty crunch made them the ultimate travel-friendly chip. Whether it was Original, Sour Cream & Onion, or BBQ, every gas station snack aisle had these iconic cans.
5. Munchos
Munchos were one of the most underrated gas station snacks of the ’80s, offering an ultra-light, crispy alternative to regular potato chips. Their thin, airy texture made them incredibly easy to eat by the handful, and their salty flavor kept you reaching for more. The metallic red bag made them stand out in the chip aisle, even if they weren’t as famous as some of their competitors. Those who loved them knew that no road trip was complete without a bag in the backseat.
6. Peanut Butter Twix
Twix was already a popular candy bar in the ’80s, but when the Peanut Butter Twix hit the shelves, it became an instant gas station favorite. Unlike the original caramel version, Peanut Butter Twix swapped out the caramel for a rich, creamy peanut butter filling, making it even more indulgent. The crispy cookie base and chocolate coating made it a perfect mix of crunch and smoothness. It was a top-tier snack for road trips, and its eventual disappearance in the ’90s left many fans heartbroken—though it has made a return in recent years.
7. Corn Nuts
Corn Nuts were the ultimate crunchy road trip snack, offering a salty, roasted corn flavor that was perfect for long drives. Available in flavors like BBQ and Ranch, they packed a satisfying crunch that kept your mouth busy during endless stretches of highway. The downside? Their loud crunch could wake up a sleeping passenger in the car. Despite that, Corn Nuts were an essential gas station grab, and they remain a nostalgic favorite today.
8. Charleston Chew
Charleston Chew was a gas station classic, known for its long, chewy nougat center covered in chocolate. The real trick was either eating it as-is or freezing it for a road trip so you could snap it into bite-sized pieces. Either way, its stretchy, taffy-like texture made it last longer than your average candy bar. While it may not be as popular today, ’80s kids remember how it could keep them entertained for miles.
9. 3D Doritos
While traditional Doritos were already a road trip staple, the arrival of 3D Doritos in the late ’80s and early ’90s made snacking even more fun. These puffed, hollow versions of the classic tortilla chip added an extra crunch that set them apart. Flavors like Nacho Cheese and Jalapeño made them just as addicting as their flat counterparts. Though they disappeared for a while, their nostalgic appeal eventually led to a revival in recent years.
10. Skor Bar
The Skor Bar was one of the most luxurious candy bars you could find in a gas station in the ’80s. Its combination of crisp, buttery toffee and rich milk chocolate made it a satisfying treat that felt just a little bit fancy. Unlike other chocolate bars, the Skor had a delicate crunch that made each bite extra rewarding. It wasn’t as mainstream as some other candy bars, but those who loved it knew it was a road trip essential.
11. Funyuns
Funyuns were the go-to road trip snack for anyone who wanted a crunchy, onion-flavored kick. These crispy, ring-shaped snacks weren’t exactly a chip, but they had an addictive texture that made them impossible to put down. Their strong flavor meant you could smell them from across the car, which could be a good or bad thing depending on who was eating them. Even though they left your breath a little questionable, Funyuns were a road trip necessity.
12. Runts
Runts were one of the best gas station candies for long trips, thanks to their rock-hard texture that made them last. Shaped like tiny bananas, oranges, apples, grapes, and strawberries, they had an irresistible fruity flavor with a crunchy shell. The banana pieces were famously the most divisive, with some people hoarding them and others trading them away. Runts made road trips sweeter, even if they did put your teeth to the test.
Gas station snacks in the ’80s weren’t just about filling your stomach—they were part of the road trip experience. Whether it was a candy that lasted the whole ride, a crunchy chip that left your fingers covered in seasoning, or a chocolate bar that made every stop worthwhile, these snacks defined long drives. While some of them have stuck around, others are just distant but delicious memories. No matter where you were headed, stopping at a gas station to grab a few of these was half the fun.
