Most people buy camping snacks at the last minute — a petrol station or a convenience store near the campsite, whatever is on the shelf. That's the most expensive way to do it, and the selection is usually thin.
Work out quantity before you shop
Camping snacks are easier to plan by days x people than by "grab enough." For a 3-day trip with 4 people, a workable rule is 2 handfuls of dates per person per day as a between-meal snack — roughly 24 handfuls for the whole trip. Buying that quantity from a dates wholesaler works out far cheaper per kilo than small retail packs, and whatever is left over keeps well enough to use on the next trip.
Why dates hold up better than most snacks
Dates don't need a cooler, don't melt like chocolate in a hot car, and don't crush like biscuits at the bottom of a backpack. They're also calorie-dense, which matters on days with more walking, setting up camp, or carrying gear than a normal day involves. Keep them in an airtight container so they don't clump together in humid weather.
Split by day, not one shared bag
A common mistake is packing one large bag of dates for the whole trip, then everyone dips into the same bag until it's gone by day two. Split the total into smaller containers by day before you leave — it's easier to keep track of what's left and avoids arguments over who finished the stock.
Buying as a group cuts the cost further
For group trips — a scout outing or several families camping together — splitting a bulk order of dates between families usually works out cheaper than each family buying its own small pack. It's also why most dates wholesalers price larger orders better than single retail purchases.