Don't Eat A Sonic Slush Until You Read This

If you have never had a Slush from Sonic Drive-In, you don't know what you're missing. The Sonic Slush is made from flavored syrup combined with crushed ice, and the result is a sweet, refreshing, and (obviously) slushy concoction loved by people all across the country. The Slush comes in four sizes: small, medium, large, and the ginormous Route 44, which, as you probably guessed, is a 44-ouncer. As delicious as the Sonic Slush may be, they are served in a Styrofoam cup with a big, plastic spoon-straw, so if being eco-friendly is important to you, it might not be your first choice of beverage. 

When take your first glance at the Sonic menu, it's easy to become overwhelmed by the sheer number of options in front of you. Before you rush on over to your nearest Sonic Drive-In to order a Slush, there are a few things you'll want to know. From the flavor you should definitely avoid to how to score half price deals on your drinks, here's the lowdown on all things Slush.

If you're looking for a sugar-free Slush option, we've got bad news for you: All Sonic Slushes contain sugar because the base itself consists of sugar and ice. This means even without any add-ins or toppings, your Slush will pack a really sweet punch. In fact, a small, plain Slush contains 48 grams of sugar and 180 calories. Bump that all the way up to a Route 44 and it's 145 grams of sugar and 540 calories. 

Unfortunately, some people don't realize that the base itself has sugar in it, though that information is certainly printed on their menu. In some instances, Sonic staff don't even seem to know about the sugar-laden base, according to a Reddit thread on the topic. So if you're watching your sugar intake, don't think that ordering a Diet Coke Sonic Slush means you'll be avoiding sugar altogether. You aren't. And they are definitely not keto- or diabetic-friendly, either. Given the high amounts of sugar, Slushes should probably be an occasional indulgence rather than a daily treat. 

Sonic Slushes may have quite a bit of sugar in them, but fortunately all of the standard flavors on the Sonic menu are gluten-free. This is important information to those diagnosed with celiac disease or people dealing with gluten intolerance. Even though the basic Slushes don't contain gluten, you need to be careful if you start adding in unusual syrups and toppings, or if special edition Slushes containing different ingredients are released. 

Sonic has conveniently published a document where you can find out all about their gluten-free menu options, as well as other possible allergy considerations for everything on the menu. Note that the allergen information does clearly state: "Blended/mixed drinks and frozen desserts may come in contact with milk, egg, soy, wheat, gluten, peanuts, pecans, and tree nuts." So, if you do have a serious gluten allergy, you might still want to be careful about what you order.

Beginning in 2014, Sonic Slushes got even sweeter with the introduction of candy add-ins. Nerds are the standard candy available as of 2019, however, other candies have been available in recent years. We've seen everything from Jolly Ranchers to popping candy to rainbow candy in Sonic Slushes.

So what flavor Slush is best with Nerds? Some recommend getting a blue raspberry Slush with Nerds. According to Brand Eating, the Nerds add some crunch, along with some extra sweetness and a little bit of tartness to the already sweet fruity flavor. As expected, the flavor of the candy in the Slush gets stronger as it dissolves, amplifying that tangy sweetness even more. Others suggest trying Nerds in the green apple Slush for a refreshing flavor with an interesting, crunchy twist. 

If you're looking for an extra sugary addition to an already sweet Slush, then you can't go wrong with the Nerds add-ins. Hopefully they're on the Sonic menu for years to come.

Half-price happy hour is one of the best things about Sonic Drive-In. Every day between 2:00 and 4:00 p.m., Slushes and drinks are all half price — even the Route 44 size. However, if you download and order ahead from the Sonic app, you can get the half-price discount anytime. 

Half-price Slushes are a huge benefit for families. You can order a large or Route 44, and then split it up among the kids for a cheap, sweet treat. In addition to getting the happy hour prices anytime, the app also offers monthly rewards. Sometimes, it's a free drink or Slush. Other times, you might be able to get significant discounts on different menu items. In addition to their app, be sure to check out the deal section on the Sonic website. Here, you'll find information about other limited time offers such as family night specials or half-price ice cream during certain hours of the day.

You might only see a couple dozen or so Slush flavors on the Sonic menu at any given time, but the flavor combinations are almost endless. You can mix flavors, add soda, top it with candy, get a frozen iced tea, and so on. 

Sonic commercials in the past have touted its 168,894 drink possibilities, but there are different ways to compute those combination numbers, and at the end of the day you're looking at well over half a million drink or Slush combinations. Considering you can order any liquid from Sonic over their Slush base, you can call just about anything a Slush. Let's just say you have plenty of options. 

Sonic also advertises special, temporary Slush flavors at various times of the year. For the summer of 2019, they rolled out a Red Bull Slushes for a limited time only. In 2018, a Pickle Juice Slush was an option, though it was met with mixed reviews. Keep an eye on the menu and those famous Sonic commercials to see what's coming next.

If you can't decide what Slush flavor you want, mix a couple of them up. If you can't decide on a couple, then you do what YouTuber JagotiENT did back in 2016 and order every Slush flavor on the menu mixed into one Slush. We all know from art class as a kid that if you mix all the colors together you'll get disgusting brown hue or just plain black. And that's basically what happened to Jagoti. 

He rolled up to Sonic and asked for a combination of all the Slush flavors on the menu at the time, which he later clarified included cherry, vanilla, cranberry, chocolate, watermelon, grape, orange, Powerade, blue coconut, green apple, blue raspberry, diet cherry, peach, raspberry, blackberry, and mango. He also got all the real fruit add-ins, too — lemon, strawberry, lime, lemonberry, and pineapple. The resulting green-black concoction didn't all fit in the cup (he was given the extra Slush on the side) and the price was just over six bucks. So how did it taste? His first reaction when he took a sip was, "Whoa!" He went on to call the mixture "pretty good." After swirling it around, Jagoti gave it a more enthusiastic "good!" comparing it to a Jolly Rancher or Mystery Airhead candy.

Everyone likes chocolate, right? In a Sonic Slush, maybe not so much. Yes, you can order a chocolate Slush, or add chocolate to another Slush flavor. But according to those in the know, this idea should not be high on your list of things to do. 

A Sonic worker who took part in a Reddit AMA was asked what menu items customers should avoid. He replied, "When someone orders either a chocolate Slush, or a jalapeño chocolate shake, I always look down on them a bit, not going to lie!" And a writer for Marshal Hunter's Variety Blog describes his experience with the chocolate Slush this way: "Words are utterly inadequate to express how much I disliked it. The vile aftertaste still lingers to this day." As further evidence, you'll find a bunch of favorite Sonic Slush flavor lists on the internet, and we challenge you to spot chocolate on any of them. If you want chocolate, have a shake.

Many Sonic Slushes are perfect for mixing with booze. The ever-popular Cherry Limeade Slush combined with vodka is a good choice. And by that same token, the cranberry Slush mixes well with vodka, too. Some people recommend the Ocean Water Slush (a tangy, blue coconut flavor) with rum, and still others tout a frozen lime fruit Slush mixed with tequila, which is basically equivalent to a frozen margarita. With the Red Bull Slush on the summer 2019 menu, you have even more slushy cocktail possibilities. Next time you see a soccer mom sipping a Slush from a Styrofoam Sonic cup during a long day of games, know something a little extra may be in that cup. 

As delicious as most Sonic Slushes are when mixed with booze, though, not all of them make tasty frozen cocktails. One writer at The Manual tried adding liquor to 2018's Pickle Juice Slush. First whiskey, then vodka, then spicy Ancho Reyes Verde liqueur. In the end, he decided none of the slushy pickle cocktails were really any good.

Sonic locations exist in 45 states, so if you are road tripping just about anywhere, you can drive in and get yourself a Slush. The first Sonic Drive-In was opened in Oklahoma in the 1950s, but that state doesn't have the most franchises (as of 2019). Texas reigns supreme with 972 Sonic locations and Oklahoma is in a distant second place with just 280. The only states in the U.S. where you cannot find Sonic and its icy Slush goodness are Alaska, Hawaii, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. 

Fortunately for Alaska, that won't always be the case. By the end of 2019, Sonic is opening a location in Wasilla, Alaska – home of Sarah Palin. Sonic is supposed to be coming to Hawaii, too. Reportedly, company officials have been saying that since 2016, but as of July 2019, no Hawaii locations have been opened as of yet. 

If you have never been been to a Sonic Drive-In, you might not realize that skating carhops still exist. Carhops at many Sonic locations bring your Slushes and other food and drinks to the car while on roller skates or rollerblades. You'll be amazed how much they can carry on a tray while on skates. When you are done eating, you can summon the carhop to come back and dispose of your trash, too. Another little known fact: Carhops can get you refills on drinks at many Sonic locations for 50 cents. However, some locations will even give you Slush refills at that price, if it's a slow time and you ask nicely. It's worth a shot!

Skating carhops must complete Sonic's skating training program before they start skating at work, and the carhops also have to buy their own skates, so that may be why you don't see them skating at every location. 

Some Sonic Drive-In locations have playgrounds adjacent to the premises, which are suitable for kids and adults as well. Other locations have sport courts and other cool amenities. So, you don't have to just drive in, get your Slush, and leave. You can bring some friends and hangout a while. 

At Sonic's Haltom City location in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, you'll find a large, fun playground and even a sand volleyball court. Meanwhile, this Little Rock, Arkansas, location has a beach volleyball court, playground, and very nice picnic area, too. And this Sonic location in Pearl, Mississippi, has a large playground and batting cages for the whole family. Parents can kick back in their cars and keep an eye on the kids, or join in on the fun. Because Sonic franchises have different owners all over the country, the type of playgrounds and other available activities vary drastically by location.

You may have heard that a number of Sonic locations in Florida were called Sonic Beach instead of Sonic Drive-In. The Sonic Beach locations sold the standard Sonic food including their delicious Slushes, as well as beer and wine. Though it seemed a good idea to have a place where people could relax on the sand at the manmade Sonic Beaches with a Sonic Slush or beer in hand, the whole project apparently didn't work out. 

Our research indicates that all of the Sonic Beach locations have been either shut down or converted back to Sonic Drive-Ins. Even the Sonic Beach website is not longer functional. It's sad they decided to throw in the towel, but maybe people were tired of getting sand in their Slushes. At this point, if you do want to sit on the sand with a Sonic Slush, you'll have to get it to go and head to a real beach.