One of the most common questions we get when we’re traveling is: “How do you find vegan food on a road trip?” 

And honestly? We get it. Not every stop on a road trip is a big city with a dedicated vegan restaurant — but that doesn’t mean you’re stuck with just French fries and iceberg lettuce. Usually. 

After years of traveling and blogging about vegan dining in the Midwest and beyond, we’ve developed a reliable system for finding vegan food on a road trip, wherever we go. 

Planning a vegan road trip might seem intimidating, especially if you’re heading into small-town territory. But with the right tips and tools, you can stay plant-based and satisfied on the open road.

Essential Tips for a Successful Road Trip

We created a list of our essential tips for a successful vegan road trip.

From small towns to national parks, this guide offers our top tips for finding vegan-friendly restaurants using apps, social media, an open mind, and a bit of creativity.

Mostly, and due to our pre-trip research, we hit the jackpot; at other times, we remind ourselves that it wasn’t our last meal, and we’ll eat again. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, but that’s the case with any restaurant experience.

1. Start with HappyCow

Our first stop is to check HappyCow. It’s a global directory of vegan, vegetarian, and veg-friendly restaurants, and the app lets you filter by what you’re looking for — from fully vegan places to omnivore restaurants with vegan options.

This is a paid app, but at $5, it is worth its weight in gold. 

👉 Follow us on HappyCow!

Pro tips: 

Don’t skip the “veg-options” filter. Some of our favorite surprise finds have been omnivore spots with clearly marked vegan items or flexible kitchen staff.

• Use the “veg-options” filter. Some of our favorite hidden gems have been omnivore restaurants with clearly marked vegan options or staff who understand modifications.
  
• Check reviews carefully — users often note surprising vegan finds at diners or cafes that aren’t obvious from the menu.
  
• Cross-reference HappyCow results with Google (more on that next).
  
• We enjoy giving back by leaving reviews, updating listings, and adding new places we discover. The app is only as good as its users!
• Use the Trips feature icon to save restaurants for a particular location
• Sort by whichever view you prefer- most saved, most reviewed, etc. 

2. Google: Using both Wide and Targeted Searches

We’ve learned that it helps to use two types of Google searches:

• Wide search: Try “restaurants in [town name]” first to get the full lay of the land.
  
• Targeted search: Then try “vegan food in [town name]” or “vegan options near me.” This can bring up blog posts, news articles, or Reddit threads that don’t appear in a HappyCow listing.
• Search for ‘Vegan’ in Reviews: This can be useful when you spot a restaurant that isn’t actively promoting dishes marked as vegan.
  

Extra Google tip: If you find a place that looks promising, search their Google reviews for the word “vegan.” It’s a quick way to see what others have tried or if the staff was accommodating.

Also, many restaurants have menus online, or at least photos posted by customers. That’s great for pre-planning!

And don’t hesitate to ask for substitutions politely: “No cheese or butter, please,” or “Could I swap tofu for chicken?” goes a long way.

3. Instagram for Real-Time Inspiration

Instagram has become one of our secret weapons for finding vegan food options, especially in mid-sized cities or college towns. We search hashtags like:

• #vegan[cityname] ( #veganMinnesapolis #veganDesMoines or #veganKansasCity)
  
• #vegan[statename] (#veganWisconsin or #veganNebraska)
  
• #plantbased[city/state] can work too (#plantbasedFairfield #plantbasedWichita)
  

This is fun, as it takes us down a rabbit hole, where you’ll often find local foodies posting things that aren’t listed on any other platform — including pop-ups, food trucks, new menu items, and even local attractions. 

Bonus: You might also discover new people to follow this way!

4. Facebook Vegan Groups by State or Region

Don’t underestimate the power of Facebook groups. We’ve joined several state-specific vegan groups, such as ‘Vegan Minnesota ‘or ‘Iowa Vegans’, and they’ve been invaluable when planning road trips.

For Instance, the Des Moines Area Vegan Friends Facebook group is super helpful, and we continue to follow even though we’re 4 hours from Des Moines. Group members often seek recommendations in nearby towns. We love this group as it’s focused on finding great food.

If we’re headed somewhere new, we’ll often search within the group for the town name or post a question like: “Heading to [town] — if you could only choose two restaurants, which would they be?” The responses usually come fast and are full of local tips you won’t find anywhere else.

Bonus: These groups are also a great way to discover vegan-friendly events or farmers’ markets!

Heads up, you may have to join these groups. Do so in good faith- we’re honest about the reason why, if we have to answer questions to gain access to the group. We say we’re traveling to the area and want the inside scoop. 

You can drop out of the group later or stay in it; it’s for a region or town you frequently visit. 

5. Ethnic Restaurants Are Often a Lifesaver

Ethnic restaurants to the rescue! You’re almost guaranteed to run into an ethnic restaurant no matter the population. They often save the day for us. 

These cuisines often feature plant-based staples without explicitly labeling them as vegan and are more accustomed to accommodating diverse dietary needs.

Don’t be afraid to ask them to omit ingredients like fish sauce to make it vegan. 

Here are our go-tos:

Thai – Tofu dishes, curries with coconut milk, rice, or noodle bowls.

Indian – Lentils, chickpeas, veggie curries, and dosa.

Middle Eastern – Hummus, falafel, tabbouleh, lentil soup.

Mexican – Veggie burritos, bean tacos, guacamole, salsa.

You can read more about that experience here: Things to Do on the Way to Yellowstone in Southeast Montana, where we also discuss being prepared for limited options and how we adjusted our expectations— and snacks!

6. Ask the Locals- But Be Targeted

What is the best time to ask for recommendations? 

When you’re already eating somewhere with vegan food!

Our preferred option using this method is to ask the locals specifically when you’re already at a spot with great vegan food. Ask the server where they like to go for their favorite vegan meal, which isn’t where you’re currently eating. 

The local staff usually has their finger on the pulse of great vegan restaurant options. 

Another option is to ask at your hotel, a visitor center, or whatever local attraction you might be at if they know of restaurants that cater to dietary restrictions. You will either get a blank stare or they’ll say, “Oh, my friend is vegan and she loves (insert her favorite vegan spot).

This is also a fun way to discover local growers or brands that are local to the area. For instance, when staying at the Mahlstedt Ranch, they had a brochure for a local farmer, 41 Grains, who grows garbanzo beans and lentils right nearby in Circle, Montana! Indeed, we saw their products at the local grocery store. 

7. Look Beyond Restaurants

Sometimes the best vegan finds come from unexpected places:

• Coffee shops with plant-based milk and avocado toast. If they serve food, they’ll often have the token veggie wrap or sandwich with hummus that you could eat for lunch.
  
• Breweries that partner with food trucks or allow outside food (we’ve brought our picnic more than once)
  
• Local Food Co-Ops that have deli counters or grab-and-go meals
  
• Farmers’ markets sometimes offer baked goods or breads that can be paired with hummus from a grocery store.

These might not appear in a restaurant search, but they can save the day.

8. Search for Local Veg Festivals or Vegan Chef Challenges

These events can be gold mines for discovering food trucks, pop-ups, and restaurants that might not typically advertise vegan options. If they participate in a vegan challenge at some point during the year, chances are they’re open to offering plant-based meals year-round.

This can help you find areas with a strong vegan presence in town! For instance, the Midwest Vegan Challenge, held in Fairfield, IA, is fantastic and opened our eyes to the numerous great ethnic and vegan options available in a small Iowa town. Read our Fairfield Vegan Guide- you’ll want to head there immediately to eat at Mira’s Cafe, an entirely plant-based, globally inspired restaurant. 

👉 Read our full guide: Fairfield Vegan Food Guide

👉 Related: How We Ate 7 Vegan Chef Challenge Dishes in ONE Day

9. Build a Go-To List for Frequent Routes

If you often road trip in the same region, start a running Google Map or Notes list of your favorite vegan-friendly stops — even the small ones. Over time, you’ll build a route with trusted spots that you can share or reference later.

We keep a colorful Google Docs spreadsheet that we can access anywhere with the following:

Town name

Restaurant name

Notes – loved it, never again, etc.

Color coded by BLD (breakfast, lunch, dinner)

We’ll be linking to this post in our road trip guides and food-focused travel posts — so if you’re planning a Midwest road trip or looking for vegan eats in unexpected places, bookmark this page and come back to it often!

10. When all else fails, stop at a Local Grocery Store

Part of the fun of traveling is trying new restaurants. Sometimes everything’s closed when it’s time to eat, or there are zero vegan-friendly restaurants in sight. That’s when we hit the grocery store. We love a Trader Joe’s or Aldi, but really, any local chain will do

Our go-to travel salad kit:

• Boxed salad greens
  
• Pre-chopped veggies
  
• Hummus or canned beans
  
• Favorite dressing – we love Follow Your Heart’s Blue Cheese or Ranch.

The bonus is that it’s usually healthier and cheaper than eating out. 

Being in desolate areas is one of the reasons we have a dedicated “road trip bag” with reusable cutlery, some paper plates, and napkins. We even travel with a sharp steak knife, a small cutting board, and a dedicated strainer so we can do some food prep if necessary. 

We also keep a dedicated “road trip bag” stocked with:

• Reusable utensils
• Paper plates + napkins
• Small cutting board
• Gallon Size Baggies for ice and smacks
• Sharp paring knife
• A strainer for washing produce
• Baking soda for washing fruit and veggies in the strainer

We once had a DIY salad picnic in Yellowstone National Park, and it was perfect. Simple, satisfying, and plant-powered.

BONUS TIP: Bring Your Snacks and a Few Meals

We try to pack a few snacks to take the edge off while driving, avoiding the pitfalls of gas stations. It takes a bit of preparation, but we’re always glad we packed vegan food for long drives

Plant-based snacks for travel: We love to roast baby potatoes to dip in store-bought or homemade hummus, and cut-up fruit is a great snack. We also enjoy bringing homemade chocolate chip bars.

For meals, our peanut noodle recipe or ‘not tuna’ chickpea salad both travel well and hit the spot.

Have a Tip to Share?

Wherever your next vegan road trip takes you, remember- it’s possible to eat well, support local businesses, and stay true to your plant-based lifestyle.

We’re always on the lookout for new ways to find plant-based food on the road. Drop us a comment or DM on Instagram if you’ve found a hidden gem, clever search trick, or helpful app — we’d love to share it (with credit, of course)!

Save These Ideas for a Successful Vegan Road Trip