This 60-Cent Drink From Sonic Is the Drink Of Summer

Hydration comes in many flavors.

Move over WaterTok, TikTok creators are moving their quests for hydration out of their kitchens and into the fast food drive-thru. While millions of TikTokers have been sharing flavored water combinations made at home using sugar-free drink mixes and syrups, some have been visiting their local Sonic instead, posting their “Sonic water” orders made with sugar-free flavors and fresh fruit.

Audrey Martin has started a series of videos on her TikTok account where she tries different varieties of Sonic water. “I have always loved Sonic since I was a young girl,” she tells Allrecipes. “My mother and I would always go after school and pick up our favorite Sonic drinks.”

Martin’s videos have been viewed hundreds of thousands of times, and she says making them has truly helped her remain hydrated. “I would say getting flavored water definitely helps me to reach my water goals,” she says. “I feel as if regular water can be boring at times and doesn’t feel rewarding taste-wise. Adding low-calorie flavoring helps to spice things up in a fun way.”

TikToker Leah Foster also shares her adventures in ordering Sonic water. “Sonic water brings me so much joy,” she says. “The flavored water is a fun trick to get more water in. I found myself on WaterTok and had to give it a try myself.”

“I love the sugar-free flavors,” Foster adds. “My current favorite is a Rt. 44 (Sonic’s largest drink size), light ice, with sugar-free peach and mango."

The Best Way to Order a Sonic Water

Using Sonic’s mobile app, drinks are half off at any time of day. When I decided to try a few Sonic water flavors for myself, I was sure to download the app, order my drink, and pay for it in the interface. A Route 44-sized water costs just $2 using this technique, with some sizes running as low as 40 cents.

In the app, scroll to the “drinks” category and click. You’ll need to scroll down to “other,” and then click on “water.” Once you’ve opened the water menu, you’ll have some choices to make: Would you like light or extra ice? Which flavor add-ins do you prefer? Would you like to add real fruit? Make those selections along with which size you’d like—mini, small, medium, large, or Route 44—and check out through the app to get your discount.

To pick up your order, simply pull into a stall at Sonic, enter the stall number in the app, and hang tight. A Sonic employee will bring your water to your vehicle.

The Best Sonic Water Flavors

After trying several varieties of Sonic water, I found myself with two favorites. First, there’s nothing like a Route 44 water with sugar-free raspberry flavoring and fresh limes. My second runner-up is also a Route 44, flavored with sugar-free blackberry and fresh lemons.

Overall, it’s fun to play around with the options available in the app. I’ve yet to try Foster’s peach-mango suggestion, so that may be next on my list.

“My favorite Sonic water combination I have tried is a large water with raspberry, blackberry, and real strawberry fruit,” Martin shares. “Easy ice is always key for me in order to get more water.”

After a few days of ordering Sonic waters, I was a convert. I love how cold Sonic’s styrofoam cups keep its drinks and of all the fast food chains, it really does have some of the best ice. My water consumption skyrocketed, as I’d sip my Route 44 Sonic water while running errands, then continue to power away at my own WaterTok station at home.

As the warm days of summer arrive, the Sonic water trend is one I’ll be keeping up with, and I’ll be better hydrated for it.