I drive 3 hours to shop at Costco. Here are 21 things that make the 140-mile trip worth it.

Dana EngelbertJul 17, 2021, 23:54 IST

There are plenty of products that keep me coming back.Dana Engelbert for Insider

It takes me 3 hours to make the 140-hour roundtrip to my nearest Costco, but it's worth it.
I always stock up on sweet and savory snacks, like popcorn and applesauce, for my family.
Other household essentials, like sunscreen, batteries, and allergy medication, are also affordable.

Goldfish packs are great for lunches and afternoon snacks.

Costco sells big boxes of Goldfish crackers. Dana Engelbert for Insider

Variety packs of chips and juice pouches are ideal for group snacks.

We go through a lot of snacks. Dana Engelbert for Insider

Kirkland organic applesauce pouches are an easy way for my kids to get more fruit in their diets.

Kirkland applesauce pouches. Dana Engelbert for Insider

We love the big bag of SkinnyPop popcorn for family time.

Costco usually has SkinnyPop popcorn. Dana Engelbert for Insider

My husband reaches for BarkThins as a midafternoon snack.

BarkThins are a nice sweet snack. Dana Engelbert for Insider

Bananas are always on our shopping list.

I pick up a lot of produce at Costco. Dana Engelbert for Insider

We also use lots of lettuce at our house.

We use the greens in tacos and salads. Dana Engelbert for Insider

I love the Mucci Farms six-pack of red, orange, and yellow peppers.

I can freeze whatever I don't use right away. Dana Engelbert for Insider

One of my favorite Costco buys is the hand-pulled rotisserie chicken breast.

It's great for quick meals. Dana Engelbert for Insider

The Kirkland-brand flank steaks are great for freezing.

I usually use the meat for fajitas. Dana Engelbert for Insider

We also go through mountains of ground beef at our house.

I like to buy my ground beef in bulk. Dana Engelbert for Insider

Two of my favorite frozen buys for busy nights are french fries and chicken nuggets.

This is the perfect weeknight meal when we're in a rush. Dana Engelbert for Insider

Kirkland's five-cheese tortellini and basil pesto make a tasty meal in a flash.

This pairing goes so well together. Dana Engelbert for Insider

One of the best stock-up items at Costco is batteries.

I haven't found a better deal on batteries. Dana Engelbert for Insider

I use Dawn dishwashing liquid to clean all over my house.

Costco sells bulk bottles of Dawn. Dana Engelbert for Insider

Everyone in my family needs some form of allergy alleviation in the spring and fall.

We stock up on allergy pills and nasal sprays. Dana Engelbert for Insider

We always stock up on sunscreen and bug spray in the summer.

It's nice to have extra bottles in the warmer months. Dana Engelbert for Insider

I went to the Montecito restaurant where Meghan Markle and Prince Harry had a rare public date and ate a meal fit for a celebrity

Cookies on the Business Insider India website