In its recent 2025 Summer Road Trip Snacking Survey, Kellanova asked consumers what their summer road trip snacking preferences looked like. The survey of 2,000 adults found that Americans rank Cheez-It and Pringles in their top favorite Kellanova snack brands for summer road trips.
Gen Z respondents were more likely than any other generation to want adventurous snack flavors, such as sour and bitter along with savory and spicy. Preferring to travel with a group of friends versus solo, they say shareability is essential.
Millennials are more likely to gravitate towards tangy flavors, but their top choices are salty, sweet and cheesy flavors. With the majority traveling with kids, their top priority is bringing snacks for the whole family to enjoy.
Gen X and Boomers prefer salty and sweet flavors. Boomers also choose chocolatey flavors and chips, nuts and seeds and salty snack mixes. Most travel solo or with a friend or partner, and they are more likely than other generation to buy snacks at stops along the way.
Regionally, the research found that the South stocks up along the journey and prefers salty, sweet and chocolatey snacks, Northeasterners are twice as likely to eat something creamy-flavored compared to Midwesterners, and those living in the Mountain West and Pacific Coast usually leave snack planning to others and are happy to eat whatever is available when they’re hungry.
Earlier this month, Kellanova announced Cheez-It is teaming up with Wendy's to serve up the first-ever Cheez-It x Wendy's Baconator crackers.
The snack is described as having the “signature crunch and taste of Cheez-It with the layers of flavor that make Wendy's Baconator a fan-favorite. Each bite delivers the 100% real cheese taste Cheez-It is known for, amplified with savory Applewood smoked bacon flavor,” Kellanova said.