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Cheez-It tops survey as America's favorite road trip snack

June 17, 2025

As summer travel ramps up, Cheez-It and Pringles are the go-to snacks for road trippers nationwide, according to a survey from Kellanova.

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Kellanova

As summer travel ramps up, Cheez-It and Pringles are the go-to snacks for road trippers nationwide, according to a survey from Kellanova.

According to the national survey, Cheez-It ranked as the No. 1 favorite across all generations, with Pringles close behind. While the survey focused on road trip snacks, it highlights clear flavor and brand preferences by generation.

Gen Z favored “adventurous” snack flavors, including sour, bitter, spicy, and savory options.
Millennials prefer salty, sweet and cheesy flavors, with a special appreciation for tangy flavors as well.
Gen Xers prefer sweet, salty and chocolatey flavors and are “up for anything,” from crackers and chips to protein snacks like beef jerky.
Boomers gravitated toward salty, sweet, and chocolate flavors as well as chips, nuts and seeds and salty snack mixes.

Region also played a role in flavor choices. Consumers in the South opted for a mix of salty and sweet snacks. Those in the Northeast were twice as likely to favor creamy flavors over their Midwestern counterparts, where cheese-flavored options are among the top three choices for more than a third of consumers. Meanwhile, West Coast shoppers prioritized convenience and versatility in salty, sweet and chocolatey flavors.

What they are saying

“With the summer road trip season kicking off, we wanted to find out what people love to munch on the most and discovered all generations crave Cheez-It and Pringles snacks, with Gen Z reaching for the boldest flavors,” said Julia Wilkinson, senior director of insights at Kellanova. “With nine out of 10 roadtrippers eating more than one snack during their travels, we also learned people’s ages and where they live heavily influence their road trip snacking decisions.”