How To Road Trip Gluten Free
I really enjoy a great road trip - from an extended weekend vacation to a planned multi-day trip or multi-week adventure, road trip vacations can be as relaxed or fun-filled as you'd like! You can make many detours with the freedom of a road trip that you cannot do with other types of travel. I love to stop and check out the little out-of-the-way places such as a small local museum or eat at family-owned places I've never heard of or been to.
What’s not to like about a road trip? New sights, none of the hassle of airplane travel - just you and the open road and some tunes or a podcast. If only you could listen to a podcast about traveling gluten free . . . oh, wait!
The Benefits of Traveling Via Road Trip for the Gluten Free Traveler
Road trips are a great way to travel as you can carry a more extensive variety of gluten-free goodies. I also love road trips as you can discover new markets and pick up new food that you've never tried along the way to add to your gluten-free stash.
Another reason road trips are super awesome is you don't have to worry about where you will eat. Instead, find a nearby park, pull over at a view area or rest stop, and have your gluten-free takeout spot to eat! You can find some stunning overlooks to stop and eat without the cost of expensive restaurant service.
During my years of eating gluten-free, I've found a few ways to lessen the hardship of gluten-free on the road. This is one of the easiest ways to travel, giving you the most dietary flexibility and safety of eating because you're eating food that you've chosen and prepared, which significantly reduces the chances of cross-contamination.
Carry Gluten Free Food With You on Your Gluten Free Road Trip
Carry gluten-free food with you at all times on your road trip. Taking gluten-free food with you can be easy when you understand which foods you like to eat on road trips. Keep your favorite foods on hand with you throughout your road trip, so you have big and little snacks and meals available on your vacation.
Always bring yummy snack foods with you for the ride. Unfortunately, gas Stations do not have many gluten-free offerings, except for gas stations in Oregon and California. These are the only states where I have found more than two or three safe snacks to eat at convenient stores.
For ultimate safety, only bring Certified Gluten-Free (look for the GF with the circle) or snacks endorsed by the Gluten Intolerance Group that you have eaten at home and have found safe. Taking a chance with a new snack on the road, unless it's certified gluten-free, can be risky and create digestive havoc on your vacation!
Remember to not carry chocolate with you on your road trip; chocolate melts and makes a mess. Instead, purchase chocolate on the go, so when you get a craving for the world's most perfect food, you can eat it, throw away the wrapper and not have to worry about the mess. Toss leftover chocolate because it's not worth the melted mess you must clean up afterward.
Storing Gluten Free Food in Your Car
The interior of your car can easily reach 140 degrees during the summer! Remember to think about melting food and food spoilage in your vehicle. This can get super messy and a hassle to clean up. You can also end up throwing out the food you can't eat because it's melted, bruised, or otherwise inedible because of heat or being packed incorrectly. Also, consider taking items packaged in cardboard or plastic food containers - do NOT bring along glass items as they can easily break. Several companies make great travel food: 88 Acres, Deliciousness, KaPop!, Jai Mix, Vivian's Live Again, and OWYN. You can order online directly from most companies on their website.
Overstocking Food On Your Gluten Free Road Trip
It's easy to buy a boatload of food and stash it in your car! Remember to keep only two to three days of food with you unless you have a cooler. Collapsible coolers are better for saving space. Suppose you want food to stay cold for an extended time. In that case, Yeti brand coolers are a great choice and a bit more pricey, but the best option is if you will not have an opportunity to stop for ice. Grab dry ice (not regular ice) as it lasts much longer. Be careful if you have small kiddos; you don't want to touch dry ice as it can burn you.
Discover tips on how to safely travel gluten-free with my complimentary ebook, Ten Tips for Traveling Gluten Free! You can also find out more details about how to travel via cruise, road trip, or camping and learn the freedom you can have when you know how to travel with Celiac disease when you grab my Guide to Traveling Gluten Free.