Bikepacking food ideas: how to plan and choose meals for multi-day trips

Step 1: figure out your food strategy

Your food plan will really depend on the kind of trip you’re doing. If you’re riding through remote backcountry with no resupply for days, you’ll need to carefully think about your meals and nutrition. But if you’re passing through towns regularly, you can be a little more relaxed and just grab food along the way. I’ve done both, and there’s definitely a balance between being prepared and overpacking.

🏪 Trips with frequent resupplies

If I’m doing a short overnighter or riding somewhere with towns, gas stations, or grocery stores every day or two, I don’t worry too much about food. I’ll usually just bring a few staples to start me off like tortillas, peanut butter, some bars, snacks, and maybe an emergency dehydrated meal. Then I restock as I go. It keeps the load lighter and lets me be a bit more spontaneous.

🏔️ Trips into the backcountry

For remote routes with little to no access to food, I take a much more thoughtful approach to my bikepacking food strategy. I usually plan out each day’s meals and snacks so I know I have enough energy for long days in the saddle. I also think about how much water I’ll need for cooking (if I’m bringing a stove), how to pack everything efficiently, and how to keep weight down without sacrificing calories. It takes more prep, but it’s worth it, especially when you know you packed some treats for those extra hard miles.

What kind of food to pack

Over the years, I’ve found that packing the right kind of food can make or break a trip. You want stuff that’s lightweight, calorie-dense, easy to eat on the go, and—ideally—something you actually enjoy eating after a long day in the saddle.

I try to bring a mix of snacks, quick meals, and a few comfort items that boost morale when I’m tired or hangry. Here’s how I usually break it down:

Bikepacking meal ideas

Now let’s get into the fun part of deciding what you want to eat on your trip!

🍳 Bikepacking breakfasts

I like to keep breakfasts simple, especially if I’m trying to pack up and hit the trail/road early. Most days, I just want something that gives me enough energy without taking too much time or effort. Here are a few of my go-to’s:

🥪 Bikepacking lunches & snacks

I rarely stop for a full lunch when I’m riding. I usually just graze throughout the day. So snacks are a big part of how I stay fueled and avoid bonking. I try to pack a mix of salty, sweet, and protein-rich snacks to keep things interesting.

Here are a few of my favorite snack/lunch items for my bikepacking trips:

Favorite snacks

Quick lunch ideas

🍜 Bikepacking dinners

Dinner is when I usually want something hot and satisfying especially after a long day of climbing or riding in the cold. If I bring a stove, I’ll go for quick-cooking, one-pot meals. If I’m going stoveless, I keep it super simple but still aim for decent calories.

Stoveless ideas:

Hot meal ideas:

If you want to get even more creative and dehydrate your own meals, check out this post from Fresh Off The Grid.