I never, and I mean never, travel away from home without some dairy-free snack bars on hand. We pack them along when hiking, biking, or simply wandering. They come in handy when we haven’t found a safe breakfast, or when we need some energy between meals. In fact, I usually bring two per day, one for each of us, and most of the time, I return home with the supply devoured.
Sometimes, I do make our own bars (usually with one of these recipes), but I always keep store-bought dairy-free snack bars on hand. We haven’t tried every variety on the market, but have sample a few dozen brands. This post includes our favorites for various needs and cravings, ranging from easy morning energy, to high protein, to healthier treats. Our top picks are also value-priced, or go on sale often, to help stay on budget!
10 Tasty Dairy-Free Snack Bars to Buy for Road Trips
All of the flavors for the dairy-free snack bars listed below are made without any milk ingredients, unless otherwise noted. But always check the packaging since ingredients and processes can change at any time. And remember that all food products are at some degree of risk for cross-contamination with food allergens. It’s up to you to speak with the manufacturer to decide if the product is safe for your needs. This post is for informational purposes only, and should not replace your own due diligence.
These are listed in alphabetical order, because I simply couldn’t prioritize any favorites!
88 Acres Seed Bars
We don’t have any nut, soy, or gluten issues, but I still love these top allergen-free bars. They’re like old-school granola bars – packed with flavor and everyday ingredients. They’re more of a treat, in terms of price, but they go on sale online a lot or have coupons.
Bobo’s Oat Bars
These are more like an entire breakfast than a snack bar, but we find them perfect for splitting when out on the trail. They’re basically like a bowl of oatmeal in a bar, with various lightly sweetened and natural flavors to choose from. They are the most expensive bars on this list, but often go on sale, and are hefty. When discounted, they are a good overall value.
Cascadian Farm Organic Sweet & Salty Bars
This brand has just one, maybe two, bar flavors that contain milk, but the rest are dairy-free (including the Vanilla Chip!). I was lured in by the Sweet & Salty Bars (all three are made without dairy), and they are perfectly-sized, flavorful bars. Cascadian Farm bars go on sale often, and they usually have some coupons out too. I usually buy a box of them at Sprouts or Target for a deal.
Enjoy Life Breakfast Ovals
These are like baked oatmeal bars, in an oval shape, and aren’t as dense as Bobo’s. We’ve enjoyed them for breakfast-on-the-go, but also as snack bars. They have a nice, homemade taste, but also a homemade texture that can be very crumbly. Just a warning! Oh, and when I need a more filling breakfast, I top these ovals with peanut, nut, or seed butter. I bring packets of those when we travel too!
Kind Bars (classic nut bars)
Not all Kind Bars are dairy-free, but most of their classic nut bars are made without any milk-based ingredients and are kosher pareve. We love that these have a satisfying chew and crunch, and dessert-like flavor without all of the sugars.
Larabars
Yes, good old Larabars. They come in full-size and minis, are made with simple whole food ingredients (dates and nuts), and always do the trick. If you want to know which flavors to try next, see our Best Larabar Flavors post.
Nature’s Bakery Fig Bars
These are more of a healthy dessert than an energy bar, but that makes them even more valuable. We sometimes enjoy them as a snack, and sometimes when a sweet tooth strikes. Either way, they are scrumptious and have just enough nourishment from whole grains and fruit to keep us from running out of steam. They come in a variety of flavors, two to a package, and are a bit larger than Fig Newtons, but have a friendly price tag.
Nature Valley Crunchy Bars
Remember those crunchy, thin granola bars stacked in two packs? Yes, they are still around. I’d actually all but forgotten about them, until they started popping up in convenience stores. We grabbed them a few times on the road, since they were really the only dairy-free option, and now buy them when on sale. But be warned – they can be crumbly!
Paleo Bars (Universal Bakery)
We discovered these when we went with my dad to Costco and were immediately hooked. They’re not sold in regular stores (just Costco), but you can order them online. These dairy-free snack bars are made purely with nuts, seeds, and honey, and have a granola bar vibe.
RXBar
These are SUPER chewy. A bit too chewy for me sometimes, but my husband loves them. They’re a great clean protein bar option that isn’t too dense, and comes in better than average flavors. But they aren’t suitable for vegans or people with egg allergies. They contain egg white protein. If you confuse eggs with dairy, see this post: Are Eggs Dairy? Depending on where you go, RXBars can be pricey. But they go on sale often and are sold at bulk stores like Costco.
Bonus Dairy-Free Snack Bar Recommendations
Sarah said her budget-oriented family of six, with one milk allergic, likes to buy some of the above. But they also purchase a couple more that all of her kids enjoy.
Made Good Granola Bars
This is a great allergy-friendly brand! The only reason we don’t buy them regularly is they are a little small and a little sweet for our tastes. But they are definitely kid-friendly, and great for a small snack.
Enjoy Life Chewy Bars / Aldi liveGfree Bars
Sarah is pretty sure the Aldi bars are Enjoy Life with the Aldi label, so her family loves them both (particularly in the Cocoa Loco flavor). I’m partial to their Breakfast Ovals, but do like making Enjoy Life Chewy Bars into easy, healthier DIY Candy Bars.
For More Dairy-Free Guidance, Get Go Dairy Free!
