american road trip audio

SAN FRANCISCO

San Francisco from the Beginning

Kevin Costner

San Francisco, CA

Autio Productions

The history and people that have shaped the Bay Area, starting with the Miwok & Ohlone.

You’ve never taken a trip like this

Take your journey to the next level with 23,000+ location-based audio stories.

"Autio could be the biggest thing I’ve ever been a part of."

Thousands of incredible stories from some of your favorite voices

Northern Great Plains, Origins

Story No. 8019

Fort Sumter: Civil War is Sparked

Chris Brinkley

Story No. 6977

Hemingway House & Museum

Bill Werlin

Story No. 1009

The Battle of Los Angeles 1942

Andrew Carroll

Story No. 5783

Fried Chicken Capital of the World

Sarah Prather

Story No. 5229

Idaho Miners’ Uprising

Evan Denmark

Story No. 1779

John Day National Fossil Beds

Cooper Stites

Story No. 1228

Crater Lake National Park

Story No. 1473

No Cars on Mackinac Island

Story No. 8431

Footloose Filming Locations

John Lithgow

Story No. 3467

Madison Square Garden

Phil Jackson

Story No. 20

Underground Railroad Safe House

Story No. 8538

Wilson’s Creek Battlefield

James Edward Mills

Story No. 8035

The 1970 Iowa City Riots

Story No. 8399

Your personal travel companion - at home or on the road

Focus on the road.

Nearby stories play automatically, so you can keep your eyes on what matters

Offline Mode

Dowload stories from even the most remote, off grid travel

New stories weekly

No two trips are alike when there’s always more to discover

4.9 / 5 Stars

A traveling companion not to be missed

"My family and I travel often & the stories we hear are informative & interesting. Even listening near my home has introduced me to things I didn’t know."

Focus on your road trip

"This app really brings the trip home on a personal level."

"Great app! My husband and I are fulltime RV’rs (RV-N-Free) and this is the PERFECT app to use while traveling the US."

— RV-N-Free

It’s truly a unique innovation of the great American roadtrip.

— Dr. Mills

Here & There

Tales from the road, updates, and detours

The Autio Team

9 Lake-Inspired Destinations

We've partnered with our favorite travel hack, The Guestbook Extension, to highlight some beautiful lakefront getaways. Get inspired with Autio and now, for the first time ever, earn hotel points, credit card points, PLUS 5% cash back at almost all major chain hotels.

THIS JUST IN

OUR LATEST STORY

"The town of Woodstock is famous for more than the Woodstock Festival of 1969..."

- Bill Werlin

LISTEN NOW IN THE AUTIO APP

The Bearsville Theatre

No.8500 - 3 minute story

Join Discovery, the new community for book lovers

Trust book recommendations from real people, not robots 🤓

Blog – Posted on Friday, Jul 26

45+ best audiobooks for road trips in 2024.

So, you’re going on a road trip! What fun — that is, until it’s hour nine and you’re bored out of your mind at the wheel, unable to keep your eyes open to the pounding beat of tedium. 

If this sounds familiar to you, we have an eleventh-hour Good Samaritan for you: the audiobook. Criminally underrated, good audiobooks will captivate you on the edge of your seat, weave whole worlds in the confines of your car, and keep you so vitally engaged that you’ll be trying to find excuses to lengthen your road trip.  

However, as you might know, the road to hell is paved with good intentions and monotone narrators. So we’ve taken care to gather the absolute 45+ best audiobooks for road trips in this post to make your own road trip a little more fun. Since each audiobook adds a different flavor to your journey, we’ve organized them below by genre. Feel free to jump to the one that fuels your fancy!

Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain, narrated by Nick Offerman

One of the funniest American authors in history (Mark Twain) is narrated by one of the funniest American actors alive right now (Nick Offerman, of Parks and Recreation fame ). Need we say more to convince you that this audiobook will make your trip worthwhile? If so, we’ll let Doug, an Audible editor, have the final word:

“I am not exaggerating when I say that this is one of the best things I have ever listened to. Nor would it be dishonest to say that this recording made me fall in love with Twain's classic ode to adolescence all over again. But perhaps the strangest thing, as I keep telling all my friends, is that I completely forgot how truly laugh-out-loud funny this book is. I have the narration to thank for that. Parks and Recreation 's Nick Offerman is known for playing the quintessential gruff male, but he thoroughly astonishes here, bending his baritone effortlessly to give Twain's characters life.”

Perfect for your road trip if: you’ve always wanted Ron Swanson as a driving buddy. Time duration: 7 hours and 52 min.

Bleak House by Charles Dickens, narrated by Sean Barrett and Teresa Gallagher

Always wanted to read Dickens , but could never find the time or energy to do so? Then this audiobook may be the answer to all of your road trip prayers, for you can let Sean Barrett and Teresa Gallagher read Dickens to you. Far from distracting, their magnificent dual narration enhances the melodrama that Dickens deftly builds. It’s not easy to do justice to such a sprawling masterpiece, but this audiobook more than rises up to the task.

Perfect for your road trip if: you’re ready to get fired up over the ridiculous bureaucracy of the chancery court system. Time duration: 35 hours and 14 min. 

Beloved by Toni Morrison, narrated by Toni Morrison

If you haven’t read this remarkable 1988 Pulitzer winner, there’s no time like a road trip to dip your toe in! Admittedly, you’re more likely to be dunked headfirst into the deep end by Morrison, as this fantastically frightening tale of a slave woman haunted by her murdered daughter is going to keep you awake and alert at the wheel. 

Made all the more unforgettable by Morrison’s narration, Beloved conjures vivid images of slavery in America and compels the listener to ponder horrors both historical and imaginary. (Needless to say, if you’re going down a long, dark road at night, you might want to save this one for later.)

Perfect for your road trip if: you want to take a terrifying magical realist trip of the mind in addition to your vehicular journey. Time duration: 12 hours and 3 min. 

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, narrated by Jake Gyllenhaal

Whether you want to take a trip down memory lane or read The Great Gatsby for the first time, Jake Gyllenhaal’s (!) narration is sure to liven up your travels. From the sparkling descriptions of Gatsby’s famous parties to the incisive drama of the Tom-Daisy-Gatsby love triangle, you’ll feel the long stretches of road start to melt away in favor of a Jazz Age paradise. Just don’t pull a big yellow Rolls-Royce out there — if you know what we mean 😉

Perfect for your road trip if: you’re looking to bone up on one of the “Great American Novel” contenders. Time duration: 4 hours and 49 min. 

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, narrated by Elisabeth Moss

For fans of the phenomenal Hulu adaptation and dystopian stories in general, we have The Handmaid’s Tale , as told by the dramatically gifted Moss (who also stars in the TV show). Though it’s not exactly light and easy fare, this mesmerizing tale of a single-minded woman trapped in a mega-patriarchy will have you thinking very differently about the world we live in. Narrative-wise, you’ll also be holding your breath right up to the final word. And if you still have reservations, know that Moss's conviction and urgency turns this already excellent tale into a vital one.

Perfect for your road trip if: you’ve had your “Songs to Smash the Patriarchy To” Spotify playlist on repeat the whole time. Time duration: 12 hours and 6 min.

On the Road by Jack Kerouac, narrated by Will Patton

A classic take on a classic tale. Jack Kerouac’s On the Road , which centers around Sal Paradise and Dean Moriarty’s manic travels through the United States, may be the quintessential book of the wild Beat generation of the 1960s. Needless to say, Will Patton’s pitch-perfect interpretation gets its spirit down pat. His melodious voice is a flawless match for the free-flowing groove of Kerouac’s prose — and it will surely make a fine companion for your own road trip as you meet the same open road that beckoned Sal and Dean across the breadth of the country!

Perfect for your road trip if: you’re on the road (especially to New York or San Francisco). Time duration: 11 hours and 8 min. 

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, narrated by Thandie Newton

You can’t miss the audiobook of this Victorian-era classic, read by Thandie Newton of Westworld fame. (Fun fact: she also played the titular character in the film version of Beloved. ) Newton’s crisp yet impassioned narration will breathe life into Jane Eyre like you’ve never known before, carrying you swiftly and enjoyably through Jane’s difficult childhood and education at Lowood, her stint as a governess at Thornfield, and her iconic love affair with Mr. Rochester. Alas, our one criticism is that Newton stays faithful to the text and doesn’t quip, “Listener, I married him” — but wouldn’t it be great if she did?

Perfect for your road trip if: you’re always happy to be lost in a romantic (and Gothic) haze. Time duration: 19 hours and 10 min.

World War Z by Max Brooks, narrated by Alan Alda, Mark Hamill, etc.

The Zombie War is finally over, but what of the people remaining in its wake? This book is their story: the narrator traveled across America to interview the survivors, recording their testimonies in a documentary-style format.

Such a setup pretty much makes this story tailor-made for an audiobook, as the interviews translate seamlessly into the aural medium. If that’s not enough, it may boast one of the best multiple-cast members ever (think Alan Alda, Mark Hamill, Martin Scorsese, Simon Pegg, Brian Tee, Nathan Fillion, Kal Penn, René Auberjonois, and more). Spectacular stuff — not to mention the five additional hours of previously unrecorded content on this particular audiobook.

Perfect for your road trip if: you’re down for a serious undertaking (with zombies). Time duration: 12 hours and 9 min.  

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi, narrated by Dominic Hoffman

This is the perfect choice if you want to be transported into another country — specifically, within Africa. A gripping tale about two sisters who are born into different villages in Ghana in the 18th-century (and the wildly different trajectories that they and their descendants take over the next 300 years), Homegoing is a modern triumph. Experience it through its audiobook, which is read beautifully by Dominic Hoffman.

Perfect for your road trip if: you love getting swept up in rich historical fiction. Time duration: 13 hours and 11 min. 

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, narrated by Allan Corduner

Famously narrated by Death, The Book Thief isn’t exactly a cheery read. It’s a story about a girl in 1939 Nazi Germany who steals books and is by turn beautiful, tear-jerking, and enduring. 

Which is why this audiobook may be perfect for a lonesome trip out across the country. Not everyone can claim to give voice to Death itself, but Allan Corduner does it fabulously in this reading of The Book Thief , adding amazing dimension and poignancy to the written words. (Just a bit of friendly warning: bring tissues with you on this road trip, unless you want to be blinded by tears during the final thirty minutes of the audiobook!)

Perfect for your road trip if: you don’t mind a good cry on the highway. Time duration: 13 hours and 56 min. 

Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes, narrated by Jeff Woodman

Built upon the timeless short story of the same name, Flowers for Algernon is the moving tale of a mentally slow cleaner who engages in an experiment to become a genius — with unexpected results. The entire novel is presented through a series of journal entries, or “progress reports,” that are written by Charlie. ("I reely wantd to lern I wantid it more even then pepul who are smarter even then me. All my life I wantid to be smart and not dumb.”) Heartbreakingly rendered by narrator Jeff Woodman, who switches between regular Charlie and genius Charlie with magnificent ease, this audiobook is set to become just as much of a classic as its novel. 

Perfect for your road trip if: you want to hear a relatively short but very powerful story. Time duration: 8 hours and 58 min. 

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden, narrated by Kathleen Gati

Prepare to be swept off of your feet (or, off of the gas pedals) with this spectacular rendition of The Bear and the Nightingale . Katherine Arden’s lush retelling of Russian folklore was critically acclaimed when it was first published in 2017, introducing readers to a young Russian girl named Vasilisa who must step up to protect her loved ones from a threat that was supposed to have only existed in fairy tales. And Kathleen Gati’s velvety, hypnotic voice will turn your car into a cozy living room — complete with a crackling fire — as a nurse tells you stories from long ago.   

Perfect for your road trip if: you’re driving through snowy, Russia-like terrain and want to feel warm and comforted. Time duration: 11 hours and 48 min. 

The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay, narrated by Humphrey Bower

Though it sounds like a self-motivational handbook , The Power of One is actually a profoundly moving novel about a young boy named Peekay who’s raised in pre-apartheid South Africa. Peekay is bullied by his peers and constantly strives to escape their torment — a quest helped by his relationship with a medicine man, who reshapes his entire worldview. But as Peekay grows older, greater troubles than school bullies rear their ugly heads: the outbreak of World War II, the loss of his mentors, and worse. 

Humphrey Bower miraculously brings every single character, with all their accents and mannerisms, to life in the audiobook… which serves as an important window into a time and place that’s oft forgotten.

Perfect for your road trip if: you want a spiritual philosophy to guide you on your journey. Time duration: 21 hours and 33 min. 

MYSTERY AND THRILLER

The dead zone by stephen king, narrated by james franco.

This famous 1979 King novel concerns a man, Johnny Smith (not to be confused with the explorer), who acquires psychic abilities after an accident in his youth creates a “dead zone” in his brain. From then on, young Johnny can tell people things that they don’t even know about themselves — or, more eerily, things that haven’t even transpired yet. Yet, despite his abilities, all Johnny wants is a normal life. But when he’s approached by a sheriff hoping to solve a series of murders, he agrees to help... with no idea what clairvoyant floodgates he’s opening. 

As with all King stories , this one depends on the gradual build of atmospheric tension, which James Franco does with great aplomb in the audiobook. Consequently, it’s another one we wouldn’t recommend for a dark, lonely drive.

Perfect for your road trip if: you wish you could know exactly how long it’ll take to get through each long stretch of traffic. Time duration: 16 hours and 12 min. 

The Sherlock Holmes collection by Arthur Conan Doyle, narrated by Stephen Fry

It doesn’t get better than one British icon narrating another British icon’s adventures. Neither probably need an introduction, but just in case you don’t know them already: Sherlock Holmes is the world’s most famous fictional detective and Stephen Fry is an acclaimed actor, screenwriter, author, and comedian.

More than that, Fry is a profound devotee of Sherlock Holmes. He narrates with the skill of a celebrated performer and the enthusiasm of a fan, which alone makes this audiobook worth the money and time. Note that this isn’t the complete edition — it’s missing around 12 of Sherlock Holmes’ short stories. If you don’t mind that, this might just be the audiobook for you!

Perfect for your road trip if: you enjoy solving mysteries as you drive. Time duration: 62 hours and 52 min. 

Bird Box by Josh Malerman, narrated by Cassandra Campbell

Not a great pick for nervous drivers, to say the least — this post-apocalyptic thriller will have you gripping the steering wheel in anticipation of seeing “The Problem” on the side of the road. But don’t let that put you off, because Malerman’s masterful suspense-building combined with Campbell’s taut narration makes for an unforgettable audiobook experience. It’ll also inspire gratitude that your journey isn’t quite as harrowing as Mallorie’s with her two young children! 

And, of course, when you finally reach your destination, you’ll be perfectly primed to watch the Netflix film starring Sandra Bullock.

Perfect for your road trip if: you’re not easily unnerved (or prone to tunnel vision). Time duration: 9 hours and 8 min. 

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty, narrated by Caroline Lee

Another blockbusting bestseller that inspired not only an audiobook, but an HBO show, Big Little Lies is a juicy domestic thriller that follows three women and their children in suburban Sydney. Madeline is the seemingly flawless mother who’s still reeling from her divorce; Celeste is a busy caretaker to twins who conceals the marks left by her abusive husband; and Jane is a young mom to the eccentric Ziggy, hiding the darkest secret of all. All are united through their children’s kindergarten class, and a scandal that erupts when Ziggy starts bullying a fellow classmate… or does he? Big AND little lies are layered like pastry, and just as delectably exposed, in this audiobook narrated by Australian-born Caroline Lee.

Perfect for your road trip if: you like your stories as twisty as your backroad shortcuts . Time duration: 15 hours and 55 min.

Duma Key by Stephen King, narrated by John Slattery

When construction worker Edgar Freemantle relocates to Florida for some much-needed R&R, he never considers that what he finds there could be worse than the accident he’s just survived. But a combination of his brain injury, his rekindled obsession with artwork, and the strange supernatural properties of the land soon causes Freemantle to gain unimaginable powers… which he must use to stop a malevolent force arising in Duma Key. 

This recent Stephen King bestseller is narrated by John Slattery of Mad Men fame, who builds the lore of Freemantle’s psychic abilities and Duma Key’s disturbing history in an extremely tantalizing way.

Perfect for your road trip if: you’re headed anywhere but Florida. Time duration: 21 hours. 

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, narrated by Davina Porter

Let’s take a turn for the steamy. If you have a penchant for romance and you’re driving alone (or with friends around whom you feel very comfortable), this audiobook may be perfect for you. Read by Audie Award winner Davina Porter, this version of Outlander paints a particularly, shall we say, evocative picture of eighteenth-century Scotland… and the strapping young men who live there. After nurse Claire Randall is transported two centuries back in time, she finds herself falling for (and falling into bed with) one such man, Jamie Fraser. But their romance is tested by more than time, as violence befalls Jamie’s clan and threatens Claire’s survival.

Perfect for your road trip if: you’re driving through the rolling hills of Scotland (or perhaps have a paramour in the passenger seat). Time duration: 32 hours and 38 min. 

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, narrated by Kate Rudd

This 2011 smash hit, penned by YA superstar John Green, is sure to bring tears to your eyes and new sense of perspective. Presented by Kate Rudd, who does a commendable job of capturing the sardonic narrator Hazel Grace Lancaster, The Fault in Our Stars follows Hazel (who has thyroid cancer) as she falls in irrevocable love with fellow teen cancer sufferer Augustus Waters (who has osteosarcoma). 

You can probably see where this one is going. Even so, don’t let the prospect of tragedy keep you from Green’s unique and honest story of first love under unusual circumstances, which Rudd renders with great sensitivity and care.

Perfect for your road trip if: you’re in the mood to bawl at the unfairness of the world (and Green’s lovely prose). Time duration: 7 hours and 14 min. 

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz, narrated by Lin-Manuel Miranda

Continuing in a candid, coming-of-age vein, we have Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe , read by the inimitable Lin-Manuel Miranda. It traces the lives of two Mexican-American teenagers, Dante and Aristotle, whose easy alliance based on their names deepens into a bond that surprises both of them — transcending both geographical boundaries and society’s expectations. 

Miranda’s invested narration makes the eighties setting feel like present-day, and he switches seamlessly from infectious energy during light moments to weighty solemnity during serious ones, making the dramatic finale of Aristotle and Dante feel more than earned.

Perfect for your road trip if: you’re tired of the Hamilton soundtrack, but still want to listen to Lin-Manuel Miranda weave a beautiful story for you. Time duration: 7 hours and 29 min. 

Heartburn by Nora Ephron, narrated by Meryl Streep

And if you adore the nuanced observational style of Woody Allen, but not so much the man himself, this is the audiobook for you. Largely ignored by critics when it was first released, Heartburn — an autobiographical novel about the real-life affair Ephron’s husband had during her second pregnancy — has become a sleeper hit for its sharp depiction of upper-middle class life, coupled with the raw, genuine emotion of heartbreak. Deftly narrated by Meryl Streep (who played Ephron’s character in the 1986 adaptation), this audiobook is a classic in the making, and will have you yelling righteously at Ephron’s husband for a good portion of your drive.

Perfect for your road trip if: you want to bask in misandry AND the unquestionable brilliance of Ephron and Streep. Time duration: 5 hours and 30 min. 

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, narrated by Rebecca Lowman and Maxwell Caulfield

Another exceptional addition to the YA canon , Fangirl revolves around a Harry Potter -esque series called Simon Snow — and an obsessive devotee to the series called Cath. Our heroine has just started college and isn’t quite sure how to “adapt” from fangirl life to real life all on her own, especially in the wake of her mother’s death and the absence of her twin sister. Will she be able to escape the realm of the fictional and strike out on her own — while not forgetting who she truly is? This much-loved novel about the overpowering love of novels will resonate with fangirls and fanboys everywhere, and the sublimely balanced narration of Lowman and Maxwell elevates it to superfan-worthy status.

Perfect for your road trip if: you want a cute, fun story to carry you through to your destination. Time duration: 12 hours and 49 min.

SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY

The hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy by douglas adams, narrated by stephen fry.

Sure, your road trip probably isn’t going to take you outside of the galaxy (or, indeed, outside of the country), but wouldn’t it be nice to think so? Narrator extraordinaire Stephen Fry takes on Douglas Adams’ eclectic and eccentric cast of characters, from poor everyman Arthur Dent to depressed robot Marvin, with wicked glee in this adaptation. Just a quick warning: this audiobook might be too much fun for a mere road trip. 

Perfect for your road trip if: you’re always up for a totally unexpected futuristic adventure . Time duration: 5 hours and 51 min. 

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline, narrated by Wil Wheaton

In a select few cases, an audiobook can compete with the movie adaptation — and come out on top. This is the case with Ready Player One , which has an excellent premise (a boy named Wade Watts must venture through a virtual reality game in search for fortune in the year 2044) and brilliant execution. Wil Wheaton’s performance is also pretty extraordinary — not least because he’s a piece of eighties trivia in the novel himself. Don’t look elsewhere if you’re up for a dose of nostalgia mixed in with fun. 

Perfect for your road trip if: you already have an eighties playlist chock-full of Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, and Madonna ready to go. Time duration: 15 hours and 40 min. 

The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson, narrated by Jennifer Wiltsie

Neal Stephenson might be more known for Snow Crash , but The Diamond Age is the one that makes this cut thanks to Jennifer Wiltsie’s brilliant narration. With stellar dramatic timing and an ear for the characters’ voices, Wiltsie does a fantastic job rendering a challenging book that would trip up a lesser narrator. In The Diamond Age , a young poor girl named Nell comes across a dangerously influential document in the future: the Young Lady's Illustrated Primer , an interactive book that can teach a girl to think of herself. And thus begins Nell’s bildungsroman journey — one that will intertwine with the creator of the Primer himself.

Perfect for your road trip if: you’re a fan of steampunk or rebellious young women — we personally enjoy both. Time duration: 18 hours and 32 min. 

The Lord of the Rings series by J.R.R. Tolkien, narrated by Rob Inglis

Perfect for a short jaunt to the beach. Just kidding! The total audiobook series clocks in at a whopping 117 hours and 27 minutes , which is enough to occupy you if you were driving coast-to-coast across America — twice. 

Nevertheless, Rob Inglis’ narration is more than equal to the task of keeping you awake the entire time. He does justice to the sheer epic-ness of the main trilogy and plunges into The Hobbit with warmth. (Pro-tip: just remember to turn up all of your windows when Inglis vaults into the folksy songs of Lord of the Rings with gusto, or else you might find that you’ve got some explaining to do to your neighboring car-driver.)  

Perfect for your road trip if: you’ll be in the car for days on end (and said car is full of Tolkien fans — otherwise you’ll have a mutiny on your hands). Time duration: 117 hours and 27 min.  

The First Law trilogy by Joe Abercombie, narrated by Steven Pacey

If you’re impatient waiting for the next Game of Thrones book to come out (as are we), consider giving Joe Abercrombie’s First Law trilogy a shot. Bloody, uncompromising, and undeniably epic, this audiobook series promises you 70+ hours of relentless action. Stephen Pacey’s narration adds another dimension to the writing: his many voices and accents bring out Abercrombie’s colorful characterizations, enhancing each different culture, background, and personality. Best of all is that the trilogy is miraculously complete — so there’s no need to wait nine years for the next installment!

Perfect for your road trip if: you wish you could watch Game of Thrones while driving. Time duration: 71 hours and 58 min. 

His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman, narrated by Philip Pullman

Sometimes marketed as Harry Potter for adults , His Dark Materials can actually be read (or listened to) by people of all ages. The story centers around one orphaned girl named Lyra Belacqua, who becomes caught in the middle of a vast political conspiracy involving “dust,” disappearing children, and great armored bears. 

So rest assured that the audiobook — narrated by a full cast, including Philip Pullman himself — will tease and test the limits of your imagination! And if you find that it tickles your fancy (and if your road trip takes longer than expected), there are two more books in the series for you to devour. 

Perfect for your road trip if: you’ve got a boring drive ahead of you and want to lose yourself in a completely different world. Time duration: 10 hours and 45 min. 

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, narrated by Neil Gaiman

It’s quite a unique experience listening to a creator narrating his own story, exactly how he had imagined it — and nobody does it better than the ever-visionary Neil Gaiman. The Graveyard Book features a young boy named Bod Owens whose family is killed. Naturally, he’s raised by ghosts in a graveyard: a precarious situation that will eventually make living and dead collide as Bod must fight to preserve those that he loves when he grows up. Gaiman digs into the narration with delicious fun, making the experience a delight to listen to. 

Perfect for your road trip if: you’re on a family jaunt, as adults and children alike will be entranced by Gaiman’s magical narration. Time duration: 8 hours and 24 min.

The Harry Potter series, narrated by Jim Dale or Stephen Fry

No list is complete without the most universally beloved fantasy series of all time . J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter , which is about a boy wizard and his battles against evil as he grows up at an English wizarding school, has cemented itself in readers’ hearts for more than two decades now — and you can bet that it’ll be magical company for you on your road trip, whether you’re re-visiting Harry or dropping in on him for the first time.

As for the audiobook, there’s a great war brewing between which narration is the more definitive — Jim Dale’s or Stephen Fry’s. Some stake that Jim Dale perfectly compliments Rowling’s whimsy, while others declare that Stephen Fry is the Ron to Rowling’s Harry. Suffice to say that both are masterful and that we’ll let you decide for yourself which narrator you prefer.

Perfect for your road trip if: you’re due for a re-read, or want an utterly fantastical story to guide you on your journey (ideally to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park). Time duration: 118 hours and 57 min. 

Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, narrated by Martin Jarvis

If you’ve been wondering what’s all the fuss behind Amazon Prime television adaptation of Good Omens , but just can’t find the time to sit down and devote yourself to a good binge session, this audiobook might be the answer to your prayers. In Good Omens , a mild-mannered angel and a brassy demon must retrieve the Antichrist, who’s conveniently disappeared, before the end of the world might actually becomes reality. Martin Jarvis’ reading is inspired, giving full voice to the bewitching combination of Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. Trust us, Armageddon's never been this fun before. 

Perfect for your road trip if: you love Biblical fanfiction and/or hilariously odd couples. Time duration: 12 hours and 32 min. 

Becoming by Michelle Obama, narrated by Michelle Obama

For a turn into the supremely inspirational, we have Michelle Obama’s bestselling memoir, Becoming . The book is divided into three sections: Becoming Me, Becoming Us, and Becoming More, all of which detail different periods of the author’s life. The first encompasses her Chicago upbringing, Ivy League education, and career beginnings as a lawyer; the second relays her relationship with Barack; and the third reveals all about their family’s life in the White House. Beautifully crafted and breathtakingly intimate, Becoming becomes even more wonderful with Obama’s own voice narrating the audiobook. In other words: Becoming lives up to the hype.

Perfect for your road trip if: motivational podcasts are your typical fare, and you want to up the ante even more. Time duration: 19 hours and 3 min. 

Educated by Tara Westover, narrated by Julia Whelan

The ultimate tale of overcoming adversity, Tara Westover’s memoir Educated also begins with her childhood — which was unconventional, to say the least. Westover’s father was a paranoid survivalist who wouldn’t allow his family to visit doctors, receive federal assistance, or attend school… meaning that Westover (now a world-renowned author) only had access to a handful of books growing up. But she studied independently and managed to get into BYU, then Cambridge, finally securing a fellowship at Harvard and a doctorate from Trinity College. Her odds-defying journey is charted with remarkable fluency in this audiobook, narrated by Julia Whelan — a TV star and fellow across-the-pond academic (having been a student at Oxford around the same time Westover was at Cambridge).

Perfect for your road trip if: you’re embarking on an ambitious college tour. Time duration: 12 hours and 10 min. 

Carsick by John Waters, narrated by John Waters

So, you’re a trailblazing filmmaker who rose to prominence in the eighties with cult classics like Cry-Baby , Hairspray , and Pink Flamingos . What are you going to do next? Go hitchhiking across the United States, obviously — but before you do that, come up with the wildest possible scenarios, both extraordinarily fortuitous and treacherously bad, to include in the record of your travels. 

The result of this undertaking, John Waters’ Carsick , is a gloriously madcap collection that’s two parts fiction, one part unbelievable fact. With an audiobook narrated by the man, the myth, the legend himself, you’ll learn more about Waters and how his mind works than you will from watching any of his idiosyncratic films (and that’s saying something).

Perfect for your road trip if: you want to share the road with a famous screenwriter who understands your plight better than most. Time duration: 8 hours and 8 min.

Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris, narrated by David Sedaris

One of Sedaris’ funniest essay collections, Me Talk Pretty One Day covers Sedaris’ experiences from elementary school to an infamous move to France. You can read the most popular piece in the collection (“Me Talk Pretty One Day”) here , but do yourself a favor and get the audiobook, because — spoiler alert! — it’s even better. (As it turns out, David Sedaris the narrator is a fine match for David Sedaris the author.) His own narration picks up nuances in the text that you wouldn’t notice, doubling the laughter quotient and confirming once again Sedaris’ status as a master of comedy.

Perfect for your road trip if: you want to cringe-laugh all the way to your destination. Time duration: 5 hours and 51 min.  

Yes Please by Amy Poehler, narrated by Amy Poehler

On the female comic side of things, there’s Amy Poehler’s enthusiastically titled memoir — and as one might expect from its uproarious author, the contents of her book follow suit. Yes Please recounts everything in Poehler’s life up to 2014, from her days at SNL to her experimentation with drugs to the aftermath of her divorce with Will Arnett. (Yes, please, we’re still sad about that one.) Throughout it all, Poehler retains her signature upbeat wit, never dwelling on the past or wallowing in what went wrong — but perpetually projecting gratitude, happiness, and hope for what comes next.

Perfect for your road trip if: you ever need a Leslie Knope-flavored pick-me-up. Time duration: 7 hours and 31 min. 

Bossypants by Tina Fey, narrated by Tina Fey

Bringing up the other half of our favorite modern comedy duo, meet Tina Fey’s memoir Bossypants . Her writerly prowess, honed through years as SNL’s head writer and subsequently on 30 Rock , shines through clearly here: Fey is acerbic and unflinchingly honest about the not-so-glamorous aspects of her life. Highlights of Bossypants include chapters on her early improv experiences, the impossible standards for women in show business, and how horrible it is to lose weight — but all delivered with sharp, scintillating humor.

If that weren’t enough, her comedic timing in the audiobook is (obviously) second to none, netting her an Audie Award for Best Audiobook of the Year and a legit Grammy nomination. (Want to sample the magic? Here’s a clip of Fey narrating a bit about her childhood.)

Perfect for your road trip if: you’d like hours of LOLs at the hands (and voice) of one of the best writers and entertainers of the twenty-first century. Time duration: 5 hours and 30 min.

Born a Crime by Trevor Noah, narrated by Trevor Noah

Here’s another famous comedian who wants to spend time with you in your car. Host of The Daily Show , Trevor Noah published a memoir to universal acclaim in 2016. His story is extraordinary and primarily focuses on Noah’s formative years, growing up in apartheid and post-apartheid South Africa. And, lest we forget that Noah is today a world-famous comedian, this audiobook reminds us in spades! A born impersonator, Noah can mimic pretty much every single accent and voice in the world — making Born a Crime ’s reading that much more buoyant and enjoyable during a road trip. 

Perfect for your road trip if: you’re intrigued by Noah’s verbally chameleonic abilities and his personal history. Time duration: 8 hours and 44 min. 

NON-FICTION

A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson, narrated by Richard Matthews

Written by international treasure Bill Bryson, author of A Walk in the Woods and Notes from a Small Island , A Short History of Nearly Everything is the ultimate book for history buffs. A self-professed non-expert, Bryson consults with the world’s top authorities, from archaeologists to mathematicians, to put together a definitive manual on science for us laymen.

The audiobook is similarly engrossing, as you might expect. Richard Matthews takes on the conversational, friendly tone of the book, so that the audiobook’s feel is that of a friend wittily explaining the world to you. If you’re casting around for an audiobook that will turn your journey into A Short Road Trip With Not Nearly Enough Time To Finish This Nonfiction Book, this is it. 

Perfect for your road trip if: your goal is to become an interesting dinner companion by the end of the trip. Time duration: 18 hours and 13 min. 

"Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!": Adventures of a Curious Character by Richard P. Feynman, narrated by Raymond Todd

From the mind of Nobel Prize-winning physicist comes this collection of unexpectedly colorful anecdotes — not just about science, but about everything that intrigued the titular Mr. Feynman throughout his life. These topics include, but are not limited to: Feynman’s safe-cracking “hobby,” his love of samba music and Brazilian culture as a whole, and his slight case of nerves before presenting the Wheeler-Feynman absorber theory in front of, you know, Albert Einstein. The audiobook, thanks to Raymond Todd’s evocative narration, paints a picture of a man who was so much more than his career — and impacted countless lives in myriad ways.

Perfect for your road trip if: you’re tickled by the idea of a physicist making you laugh. Time duration: 11 hours and 31 min.

Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari, narrated by by Aziz Ansari

Nonfiction audiobooks comprise a tricky territory, as it’s easy for them to end up being dry events: straightforward recitals of the words on the page. Luckily, that’s far from the case Aziz Ansari’s Modern Romance , which is a deep dive into the state of (you guessed it) modern romance, from dating apps to emojis in Tokyo. What’s more, it contains Ansari’s reliable humor, so that you can laugh while you learn and listen. Unsurprisingly, Ansari is a gifted performer — keeping the text lively and adding just the right hint of self-awareness to his narration. 

Perfect for your road trip if: you’d like to reel off interesting facts about 21st-century romance on your next date.  Time duration: 6 hours and 14 min. 

What If? Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions by Randall Munroe, narrated by Wil Wheaton

Randall Munroe of xkcd fame and Wil Wheaton of, well, being-an-eighties-icon fame team up for this marvelously ponderous audiobook that answers all the questions you ever had (or never even thought of) re: science, the universe, and everything. For instance: what would happen to us in the event of a robot apocalypse? If cows could photosynthesize, how much food would they need? And the question on everyone’s mind: could you get drunk from drinking a drunk person’s blood? Equal parts silly and scientific, this audiobook is sure to be a hit with erstwhile fans of Bill Nye and Neil DeGrasse Tyson. 

Perfect for your road trip if: you want some random hypotheticals with which to entertain your Airbnb hosts. Time duration: 6 hours and 35 min.

Devil in the White City: a Saga of Magic and Murder at the Fair that Changed America by Erik Larsson, narrated by Scott Brick

Living up to the saying, “Truth is stranger than fiction,” Devil in the White City recounts the astounding true story of an architect and a murderer in Chicago in the 1890s. Our architect, Daniel H. Burnham, is the man who needed to construct a world-famous exposition in the space of 18 months. In every other chapter, we meet the murderer, Dr. Henry H. Holmes — America’s first serial killer who built an actual torture palace just miles away.

Suffice to say that the audiobook is just as gripping, as the ever-gifted Scott Brick walks you through this creepy but undeniably fascinating part of the past. Needless to say, it’ll keep you on the edge of your driver’s seat — especially if you’re road-tripping through the Windy City.  

Perfect for your road trip if: you loved Chicago , but wanted more murder. Time duration: 14 hours and 58 min. 

Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear, narrated by James Clear

Now we’re getting into the actual motivational stuff — and what excellent stuff it is! In this book and self-narrated audiobook, James Clear draws on various fields of science and psychology to determine exactly why old habits die hard, and what practical steps we can take to rewrite them. This is no cobbled-together collection of clickbaity tips, but thoroughly researched, scientifically sound, detailed information on how to change your life for the better. And with Clear’s confident yet not overtly self-promotional voice guiding you through it, you’ll feel like you really can build some of his suggested atomic habits… as soon as you get out of the car.

Perfect for your road trip if: you’ve just hit traffic and want to take back control of your life! Time duration: 5 hours and 35 min.

The 5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins, narrated by Mel Robbins

This fantastically inspiring audiobook from Mel Robbins (no relation to Tony) will have you itching to put her counsel to good use. Robbins will show you how, in just five seconds, you can push yourself to reach potential you never thought possible… and improve your mental health, personal relationships, professional standing, and more! Author and narrator uses her own experiences to bolster her advice, which comes in sharp snippets that are so easy to absorb, this guide really will go by in (what feels like) a mere five seconds.

Perfect for your road trip if: being able to accomplish something (like drive across multiple states) in five seconds or less sounds like a dream right about now. Time duration: 7 hours and 35 min.

Want even more audiobooks? Check out our posts on the best fantasy audiobooks and best sci-fi audiobooks . Or learn how to find free audiobooks in our guide the the 20 Best Places to Find Free Books online (check out the last three!)

Continue reading

More posts from across the blog.

30 Mythical Creatures (and Where to Find Them)

One of the beautiful things about genre fiction is how authors are able to bring mythical creatures to life on the page — whether that’s a demonic being in a horror novel or a winged sidekick in a

Guide to Southern Gothic: 10 Dark Must-Reads

Southern Gothic is a literary style that takes gothic themes and places them

How to Get Started on Bookstagram in 2024

If you love to read, love a gorgeous book cover, or just love giving your opinion on what you’ve read, there’s no better place to be on than Bookstagram!

Heard about Reedsy Discovery?

Trust real people, not robots, to give you book recommendations.

Or sign up with an

Or sign up with your social account

• Submit your book
• Reviewer directory

Mollie Reads

Book Lists, Book Reviews, and Editing Tips

July 19, 2024

40 Best Audiobooks for Road Trips to Snag ASAP

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links—at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure for more information.

If you’re planning a trip and want to stock up on some of the best audiobooks for road trips , these addictive audiobooks will liven up even the most boring or longest stretch of a road trip!

I’ve always loved listening to an audiobook in one sitting, but it feels like such a luxury these days. Road trips are one of the few times I’ve been able to enjoy uninterrupted hours of a really good audiobook. And it’s so fun to share it with someone else, especially if they’re just starting to listen to audiobooks .

Seriously, can we make the communal audiobook time a thing?! There’s nothing better than being on a roadtrip with friends and listening to a whodunit. The only thing you have to figure out is how to adjust the speed time to everyone’s preferences (and decide who did it!).

These are the best audiobooks for road trips, for different occasions and scenarios.

Contents 1. Best Audiobooks for Road Trips: Adults Edition 2. Best Audiobooks for Road Trips: Couples Edition 3. Best Audiobooks for Road Trips for Families 4. Audiobooks for Toddlers and Preschoolers 5. Audiobooks for Road Trips with Tweens 6. Favorite Books about Road Trips

Best Audiobooks for Road Trips: Adults Edition

Whether you’re driving solo or with a friend or partner, these are the best audiobooks of all time to listen to in the car. From thrillers to memoirs and literary fiction, you’ll have a variety of books to choose from to fit the vibe!

None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell

None of This Is True is a chilling psychological thriller. The audiobook is fantastic and includes all kinds of add-ons to make it immersive, including podcast episodes, news and documentary clips, etc.

Here’s the publisher’s synopsis .

None of This Is True was published on July 202, 2023, from Atria Books.

Such a Bad Influence by Olivia Muenter

Such a Bad Influence is definitely one of my favorite top thrillers of 2024 . It’s an influencer-gone-wrong story with low-key suspense and 10/10 family drama.

Such a Bad Influence was published on June 4, 2024, from Quirk Books.

Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

The audio production for this book is sooo good. It feels like you’re listening to a real Rolling Stones interview! This is a fun one to listen to with other people if you’re on a road trip with friends.

This one’s also on my list of the best books for music lovers .

Daisy Jones and the Six was published on March 5, 2019, from Ballantine Books.

One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle

I didn’t realize this book was narrated by Lauren Graham until I started it, and as a huge Gilmore Girls’ fan, I was so delighted.

This is one of the best audiobooks for women, so if you’re looking to dig in to a new romance audiobook with a little time travel thrown in for your road trip or summer vacation with your girl friends or your best friend, this is definitely the way to go.

One Italian Summer was published on March 1, 2022, from Atria Books.

Funny story by emily henry.

Oh Emily Henry. She’s just the best, isn’t she? You know I loved Happy Place (my review!) when it came out, and Funny Story (my review!) quickly became a favorite. If you’re looking for funny audiobooks or rom-coms, this is the way to go.

This is a great audiobook for adults, but I will say this: There are some spicy 🌶️ scenes, so if you don’t want to listen to that with other people 🙃 you may want to save it for a solo trip.

Funny Story was published on April 23, 2024, from Berkley.

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

Remarkably Bright Creatures is such a feel-good story with quirky characters, and the audio narration is the best. Marin Ireland is the top audiobook narrators for me! She’s my absolute favorite.

This is such a great road trip book, and it will likely make you and your passengers cry by the end of the story!

Remarkably Bright Creatures was published on May 3, 2022, from Ecco.

Sula by Toni Morrison

SUCH A GOOD BOOK. When you’re on the road, why not tackle your classics to-be-read list?! Sula is a fantastic audiobook because it’s narrated by Toni Morrison herself (slay), and it’s a shorter book, so you can finish it in a shorter road trip.

Sula was published on April 5, 2002, from Plume.

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

The Ocean at the End of the Lane is narrated by Neil himself, and my goodness, it is sheer perfection. Gripping, sufficiently creepy, nostalgic, dark. . . all the best vibes, and it’s relatively short, so it’ll work well with a shorter road trip. The Graveyard Book is excellent, too.

As a side note: I’ve found anything by Neil Gaiman could be listed among some of the best audiobooks for men. Men just love Neil Gaiman! That, and science fiction.

The Ocean at the End of the Lane was published on June 18, 2013, from William Morrow.

The heiress by rachel hawkins.

I clearly can’t stop talking about this book! The Heiress is such a fun read with your best friend! Also a great book club book , just FYI. The audiobook brings a new side to Ruby (one of the fabulous, morally grey characters). This gothic suspense mystery is twisty and perfect for a long drive.

The Heiress was published on January 9, 2024, from St. Martin’s Press.

Run Towards the Danger: Confrontations with a Body of Memory by Sarah Polley

This book is astounding . Truly such a remarkable experience. I didn’t know much about Oscar-nominated screenwriter, director, and actor Sarah Polley, but that doesn’t matter.

If you like hearing about life as a child actor, definitely check it out, especially if you have a long car ride to process.

Run Towards the Danger was published on March 1, 2022, from Penguin Press.

All My Knotted Up Life by Beth Moore

This audiobook is one of my all-time favorites. The memoir is narrated by Beth Moore, which is icing on the cake. It feels so intimate to hear her tell her story. I laughed and cried from the same sentence!

I don’t see a ton of people talking about this book. I know it’s not Amy Poehler celebrity-level memoir, but it is honestly just as funny, while also being incredibly vulnerable and heavy.

All My Knotted Up Life was published on February 21, 2023, from Tyndale House Publishers.

Best Audiobooks for Road Trips: Couples Edition

These are the best road trip audiobooks I’ve come across that would be ideal for couples, including some of the top audiobooks for men.

If you’re looking for something a little different than the standard (e.g., Douglas Adams, author of The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy ), I’ve got you with some great audiobooks!

Heartburn by Nora Ephron

Listen, this might not be one a man would pick straight away (lol), but it’s soo funny and would spark a lot of conversation about marriage.

Nora Ephron is a queen, and the audiobook is narrated by Meryl Streep, which is perfection. It also reads more like one big monologue or essay, which I’ve found can work well in one sitting.

Heartburn was published on January 1, 1983, from Random House.

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

We can’t talk about the best audiobooks without mentioning The Dutch House ! Narrated by the wonderful Tom Hanks, this book is completely perfect. My husband and I both loved it—it’s a great audiobook option for couples!

The Dutch House was published on September 24, 2019, from Harper.

• American Gods by Neil Gaiman

I said Neil Gaiman was one of the top authors to read for men, didn’t I?! American Gods is a road trip story through the United States, so it’s extra perfect to read with your spouse or partner on the open road!

American Gods was published on June 19, 2001, from William Morrow.

The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin

This book is such a touching literary fiction book, with a little romance without being too fluffy or overly saccharine. It’s a beautiful book that will only bring you both closer—especially if you’re both literary lovers! Perfect for long road trips!

The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry was published on April 1, 2014, from Algonquin Books.

Educated by Tara Westover

If you’re looking for some of the best nonfiction audiobooks to listen to together, this one should be on your list. This coming-of-age memoir is going to keep your attention for a long car ride and spark so much conversation.

Educated was published on February 20, 2018, from Random House.

Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know About the People We Don’t Know by Malcolm Gladwell

This audiobook, narrated by the author, is ideal for any couples who are podcast junkies. The host of Revisionist History offers the best social science, and even though it’s hard to listen to at times, it’s eye-opening and fascinating.

Talking to Strangers was published on September 10, 2019, from Little, Brown and Company.

This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger

This is a beautiful, epic coming-of-age story, and the narrator gives Grandpa-by-the-fireplace-reading-a-story vibes. You and your spouse will fall in love with the characters in this story.

This Tender Land was published on September 3, 2019, from Atria Books.

Good Material by Dolly Alderton

This book is a little polarizing, and it wasn’t a five-star for me, but I do think it would be such a good road trip audiobook for couples. Listen, the irony is not lost on me that this is a book about a breakup 😂 . But hear me out!

There’s so much to unpack in this book, and Dolly really provides a lot of commentary on emotional intelligence and vulnerability in male and female friendships, expectations of motherhood and family life, and so much more—if you’re into that. The audiobook narrator is wonderful.

Good Material was published on November 7, 2023, from Fig Free.

Best Audiobooks for Road Trips for Families

If you’re looking for super immersive audiobooks for family road trips, these are the best audiobooks for kids (that parents would enjoy, too!). Most of the top board and picture books are great on audio, but these are our favorite.

Top Audiobooks for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Zoey sassafras series by asia citro.

The Zoey Sassafras series, starting with Dragons and Marshmallows , is such a fun fantasy early chapter book to read aloud or listen to on audio! This series has kept my four-year-old entertained for road trips, and the narrator is awesome.

Dragons and Marshmallows was published on March 14, 2017, from The Innovation Press.

The WellieWishers series by Valerie Tripp

This American Girl series, the WellieWishers, has completely captivated my toddler and preschooler! Emerson and the Princess Peep is one of their favorite early chapter books.

The illustrations are great, so maybe get the physical copy as well, but the audio is so fun! If you’re just starting with early chapter books, this series really encourages a love of reading in little ones .

Emerson and the Princess Peep was published on June 18, 2018, from American Girl Publishing.

Rosie and the Pre-Loved Dress by Leanne Hatch

We stumbled upon this picture book by chance, and the audiobook is perfect! If you need a quick reset to capture your kids’ attention on a road trip, this one will do it! It’s sooo cute and unique, too.

If your little one struggles with outgrowing things and saying goodbye to items, you have a good reason to pick this book up.

Rosie and the Pre-Loved Dress was published on June 14, 2022, from G. P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers.

The Llama Llama books by Anna Dewdney

The best thing we did on a road trip with kids was get the Llama Llama series on audio. The author, Anna Dewdney, reads all the books back to back, so it’s a looooong story time.

And of course, she’s very animated and entertaining. We love Llama Llama Red Pajama the most! Go grab your library card and place a hold on her whole series!

Lllama Llama Red Pajama was published on May 5, 2005, by Viking.

Little Blue Truck books by Alice Schertle

The Little Blue Truck series is a favorite in our house, but have you ever tried them on audio? They’re so entertaining. There’s already a sing-songy nature to the book, so it’s really fun.

We love Little Blue Truck Leads the Way the most—I could definitely recite it in my sleep, haha! The series is seasonal, too, which is why it’s on my best children’s book read-alouds about fall list and my best winter books for toddlers list.

Little Blue Truck Leads the Way was published on October 19, 2009, from Clarion Books.

Winnie-the-Pooh series by A. A. Milne

We love to watch Winne-the-Pooh , so why not listen to it on audio for the next road trip? I will say, the language is much more mature, so this may not work for every preschooler. But it’s a classic children’s book, and it’s fun for the whole family.

Winnie-the-Pooh was republished on October 1, 2001, by Dutton Juvenile.

Frog and Toad series by Arnold Lobel

This is a beloved series for the whole family! It’s perfect for a road trip because you can listen to all the stories together. We love Frog and Toad Together , the second book. This is a classic, which won’t be for every kid, but we love it!

Frog and Toad Together was published on March 6, 1999, from HarperCollins.

Mercy Watson series by Kate DiCamillo

If Kate DiCamillo isn’t on your kids’ book list, what are you even doing? This is a fun early chapter book series, and it’s fun on audio, too. Funny, silly, and entertaining the whole way through. The first book is Mercy Watson to the Rescue .

Mercy Watson to the Rescue was published on August 23, 2005, from Candlewick Press.

Starla Jean series by Elana K. Arnold

We love this series so much!! The first book, Starla Jean: Which Came First: The Chicken or the Friendship? is silly and fun. Tilly, my four-year-old, wouldn’t let me read anything else for a solid week!

Starla Jean: Which Came First: The Chicken or the Friendship? was published on January 19, 2021, from Roaring Brook Press.

The Complete Tales of Peter Rabbit and Friends

If you’re looking for another classic kids’ book to listen to on your road trip, The Complete Tales of Peter Rabbit is the way to go. The narrator sounds like a grandmother reading to your kids in the back seat of the car! What’s better than that?!

The Complete Tales of Peter Rabbit was published on January 1, 1991, from Courage Books.

Unicorn Academy series by Stephen Groo

This one has a cult following , y’all! We haven’t gotten into the Netflix show yet, but the audiobooks are fantastic. Start with the first one, Sophia and Rainbow . What’s not to love about rainbows and unicorns?

Unicorn Academy: Sophia and Rainbow was published on January 7, 2021, and independently published.

Best Audiobooks for Road Trips with Tweens

Matilda by roald dahl.

Listen, I named my daughter Matilda , I’m going to have to include Roald Dahl on a list of the best audiobooks for kids!

Matilda is a wonderful listen (it’s narrated by Kate Winslet, people!!), and the audiobook reviews agree with me, but you could do any Roald Dahl book: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory , The BFG , the list goes on! We haven’t done Roald Dahl yet with my daughter since she’s too young, but I’ve listened on my own.

Matilda was published on June 1, 1998, by Puffin.

Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White

Charlotte’s Web is just one of those classics every kid remembers reading for the first time. Why not make your road trip extra special by listening to this gem of a book altogether? This one is full cast production, and one of the narrator’s is Meryl Streep. 😍

Charlotte’s Web was republished on October 1, 2001, by HarperCollins.

The Penderwicks series by Jeanne Birdsall

If ever a book was made for eight- to -twelve-year-olds but enjoyed but adults as well, it’s this one. I adore the Penderwick sisters and all the adventures they go on!

It’s also a great book to gently introduce heavier themes like grief and loss in a safe way. A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy is the first book in the series.

The Penderwicks #1 was republished on March 1, 2007, by Yearling.

Chronicles of Narnia series by C. S. Lewis

I mean, it kind of goes without saying that this is one of the best audiobooks for tweens to listen on a road trip—or literally anywhere! The adventure, heart, humor, love . . . it’s just such a wonderful, gripping series.

You can listen to the Chronicles of Narnia in a number of ways, from audiobooks and audio dramas with sound effects to read-alouds on YouTube. So if you’re looking for audiobooks for kids for free, this is a great series to go with.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was republished on January 1, 2005, from HarperCollins.

Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne, Sal Murdocca

This is another obvious one, but if your tweens haven’t read the Magic Tree House series, you’re all missing out! The first book, Dinosaurs Before Dark , is jam-packed with adventure, intrigue, and fun dinosaur facts! Seriously, it’s like a short history book for dinosaurs, haha.

Dinosaurs Before Dark was published on July 28, 1992, from Random House.

Nevermoor series by Jessica Townsend

This is one of the best audiobooks for road trips, adults or children category! My kids aren’t even old enough for this one, and I’ve already read the first three books in the series. The audiobook narrator really brings the characters to life. Nevermoor is one of the most heartwarming middle grade books out there.

It’s a relatively new book series, so it will be fun to start them now and wait with anticipation for every other book! This is Harry Potty–vibes kind of magic. Quirky, fun, and atmospheric!

Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow was published on October 31, 2017, from Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.

The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill

Another magical, sweet middle grade book! Kelly Barnhill writes lots of books for kids, but they’re so enjoyable for adults as well. The Girl Who Drank the Moon has some of the most lovable characters, and the audiobook narrator is excellent.

The Girl Who Drank the Moon was published on August 9, 2016, from Algonquin Young Readers.

Furthermore by Tahereh Mafi

This fantasy middle grade story is so engaging! The magic system has to do with colors, which kids have a lot of fun with. It’s a very whimsical audiobook!

Furthermore was published on August 30, 2016, from Dutton Books for Young Readers.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan

This is the PERFECT listen for your family! Start with The Lightning Thief , book one in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, and you and your tween will have a blast on your road trip! It’s the ultimate childhood fantasy series.

The Lightning Thief was published on March 1, 2006, from Disney Hyperion Books.

• The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart

What a delightful realistic fiction middle grade book! Some heavier topics in this book, so just be aware, but this one is fun with some quirky characters you won’t soon forget. And it’s a road trip story, which is just perfect!

The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise was published on January 8, 2019, from Henry Holt & Company.

Favorite Books about Road Trips

These are some of the best audiobooks I’ve loved about road trips—some of which I’ve already mentioned in previous categories.

• The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise by Colleen Oakley
• Mrs. Nash’s Ashes by Sarah Adler

Audiobook Recommendations for an Adventure-Filled Road Trip

These are my book recommendations for the best audiobooks for road trips —nonfiction and fiction—even if you’re not typically an audiobook reader. Or honestly even for just a really long drive!

This audiobook list has everything you’ll want for your trip, no matter the vibe or age of the passengers. I hope you find some new favorites and the right audiobook in these road trip books!!

Get on the List

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Copyright © 2024 Mollie Reads · Theme by 17th Avenue

• Entertainment

The Best Audiobooks for Roadtrips of Any Length

A vacation is a great excuse to dive into a good book . This summer, consider listening to one instead. The 26 best audiobooks for road trips as selected by TIME include a deep dive into Dolly Parton ’s songwriting, a celebrated Ann Patchett novel, and a collection of Agatha Christie’s greatest mysteries . 

Those looking to upgrade their travel playlists can revisit a childhood classic narrated by Anne Hathaway or enter Sarah J. Maas ’s multiverse of romantasy. Catch up on recent notable releases from Silvia Moreno-Garcia , Hanya Yanagihara , and George Saunders . Let rockstar astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson expand your mind or spend nearly 50 hours learning about Barbra Streisand ’s life and career from the funny lady herself. (For reference, Google Maps says it takes 41 hours to drive from New York City to Los Angeles.)

So whether your destination is somewhere near or very, very far, here are the best audiobooks to listen to when you’re stuck in the car.  

For day trips (3-8 hours)

Astrophysics for People in a Hurry , Neil deGrasse Tyson

Let Neil deGrasse Tyson, the world famous astrophysicist, teach you about the cosmos with his 2017 book, Astrophysics for People in a Hurry . In just under four hours, Tyson, who narrates the audiobook edition, looks to simplify the most complicated space science concepts like black holes, dark matter, quarks, and everything else in between. By the time you make it to your not-so-far destination, you might have a new appreciation for the universe.

Length: 3 hours, 41 minutes

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz , L. Frank Baum

Whether you’re off to see the wizard or someone a little less magical, the 2012 audiobook of L. Frank Baum’s 1900 classic The Wonderful World of Oz , narrated byAnne Hathaway, will help guide you on your way. Hathaway offers a bit of dramatic flair with her narration, changing her voice to become each of the characters from the beloved classic, adding new life to a novel that has delighted kids and adults for more than a century.

Length: 3 hours, 49 minutes

Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics , Dolly Parton

Hit the road with Dolly Parton and her 2020 audiobook exclusive memoir, Songteller, in which she shares the stories behind 100 of her most popular tracks. (She’s written about 3,000 in her career so amazingly this five hour project is just a fraction of her discography.) Parton treats this audiobook like her diary, spilling the tea on the real-life inspiration for “Jolene” and how “I Will Always Love You” was almost a duet with Elvis, making this a must-listen for even the biggest Dolly disciples.

Length: 5 hours, 18 minutes

The Woman In Me , Britney Spears

Come for Britney Spears finally getting the chance to share her truth about her life , career, and conservatorship in her best-selling memoir The Woman In Me . Stay for the delivery by book narrator, Oscar-nominated actress Michelle Williams, of the incomparable phrase “fo-shizz, fo-shizz.” Seriously, give her all the awards for this.

Length: 5 hours, 31 minutes

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy , Douglas Adams 

British comedian Stephen Fry plays it hilariously straight for the 2005 audiobook edition of Douglas Adams’ 1979 sci-fi satire The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. The building of an Earth-destroying intergalactic highway leads Arthur Dent on a journey through space with his friend and writer of the titular interstellar travel guide. This cosmic comedy of traveling errors might just come in handy while on the road. 

Length: 5 hours and 51 minutes

Yearbook , Seth Rogen 

If you ever wanted to hang out with actor and comedian Seth Rogen, the audio edition of Yearbook, his 2021 memoir in essays, is your chance. Rogen narrates humorous stories about his life including his stand-up debut at 12-years old, the international controversy surrounding his 2014 movie, The Interview , and a rather uncomfortable meeting with George Lucas. Yearbook feels more like a radio drama with 82 of his friends—Nick Kroll, Jason Alexander, Snoop Dogg, Dan Aykroyd, and David Krumholtz , to name a few—using their unique voices to make the funniest stories of Rogen’s life even funnier.

Length: 6 hours, 13 minutes 

Lincoln in the Bardo , George Saunders 

George Saunders has a reputation as a master of short stories, so when his first full-length novel, Lincoln in the Bardo, came out in 2017, it was a big deal. (It won the Man Booker Prize that year, rather controversially .) So it’s only fitting that the best-selling novel, which tells the story of Abraham Lincoln mourning the death of his young son in an evocative meditation on grief, got a supersized audiobook edition that features 166 different narrators including Nick Offerman, David Sedaris , Ben Stiller, Julianne Moore, Rainn Wilson, and Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy. A unique listening experience deserving of being named the 2018 Audie Award for Audiobook of the Year .

Length: 7 hours, 25 minutes 

For longer excursions (8-11 hours)

Lafayette in the Somewhat United States , Sarah Vowell

For humorous history buffs and Hamilton fans alike, historian and voice actor Sarah Vowell’s Lafayette in the Somewhat United States is a thoroughly amusing biography of French nobleman and Revolutionary War hero Marquis de Lafayette. The audiobook is a fun history lesson narrated by some very funny people playing notable historical figures. Nick Offerman is George Washington, Patton Oswalt is Thomas Jefferson, John Hodgman is John Adams, and John Slattery is Lafayette, complete with a fairly good French accent.

Length : 8 hours, 7 minutes

Carsick: John Waters Hitchhikes Across America , John Waters 

Criss-cross the country with the Pope of Trash himself, John Waters. With 2014’s Carsick, the pencil thin, mustachioed cult-movie director offers his unique perspective on America as he bums rides from unsuspecting road warriors: an octogenarian farmer, a touring indie band, and a Corvette-driving Republican. It’s a wild, weird, and witty trip that may change the way you see the U.S.

Length : 8 hours, 8 minutes

The Dutch House , Ann Patchett 

The audiobook of Ann Patchett’s novel, The Dutch House, allows Tom Hanks, a.k.a. the nicest guy in Hollywood , to play against type. As the narrator of the best-seller—named one of TIME’s Must-Read Books of 2019 —Hanks plays Danny, the downtrodden son of Cyril Conroy, a wealthy real estate mogul whose family’s lives begins to unravel after he buys the titular luxurious home in the suburbs of Philadelphia. But this book, written from Danny’s point of view, is not about Cyril or Danny. It’s about Maeve, Danny’s over-protective sister who may be the only one who can put the family back together. Let this American nightmare become the dream listening experience for your next long car ride.

Length: 9 hours, 53 minutes

Mexican Gothic , Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s best-selling 2020 novel, Mexican Gothic , narrated by actor Frankie Corzo,is a spooky thriller set in 1950s Mexico. Socialite Noemí Taboada finds herself traveling to the Mexican countryside to check on her newlywed cousin, Catalina, who believes her aristocratic husband is slowly poisoning her. Catalina also believes there are ghosts living in the walls of her crumbling English manor. The truth might be even more frightening in this chiller that will have you gripping the steering wheel for dear life.

Length: 10 hours, 39 minutes

Blood in the Garden: The Flagrant History of the 1990s New York Knicks , Chris Herring

If you believe ball is life, you’ll love the audiobook version of sportswriter Chris Herring’s Blood in the Garden . The 2022 sports book, read by actor Brian Hutchison, looks back at the trials, tribulations, and all-too-brief triumphs of the intimidating and extremely physical ‘90s Knicks led by Patrick Ewing, John Starks, and coach Pat Riley. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll find yourself chanting “ go New York, go New York go ” with the windows rolled all the way down.

Length: 11 hours, 3 minutes 

Saving Time: Discovering a Life Beyond the Clock , Jenny Odell

For those who have trouble relaxing even when they’re on vacation, Jenny Odell ’s Saving Time is the audiobook for you. Four years after the release of her Barack Obama-approved book, How to Do Nothing , Odell returned with a thoughtful exploration of time and how we can learn to use ours more wisely. This isn’t a self-help book; she does not offer tips on how to be more efficient. Instead, Saving Time, narrated by theater actor Kristen Sieh, is a hopeful meditation on learning to live life to the fullest without being totally beholden to the clock. 

Length: 11 hours, 27 minutes 

The Monsters We Defy , Leslye Penelope

Leslye Penelope ’s 2022 novel, The Monsters We Defy, the winner of the 2023 Audie Award for Fantasy , is a magical romance set in Washington D.C. during the Jazz Age, read by award-winning audiobook narrator Shayna Small. Clara Johnson, the heroine of Penelope’s bewitching novel, can talk to spirits, an ability that she soon discovers is more a curse than a blessing. When one of those powerful entities offers her a chance to be free of the voices in exchange for stealing a mystical ring from the wealthiest woman in the nation’s capital, she takes it—and the consequences that come with it.

Length: 11 hours, 30 minutes

For a very long trek (12 - 23 hours)

Beastie Boys Book , Michael “Mike D” Diamond and Adam “Ad-Rock” Horovitz

2018’s Beastie Boys Book is a music memoir that is as unique as the band itself. For the audiobook, the two remaining members of the iconic rap trio , Michael “Mike D” Diamond and Adam “Ad-Rock” Horovitz, put together the ultimate mixtape with help from 40 of their closest friends—John C. Reilly, Chloë Sevigny , Bette Midler, Amy Poehler, and Rosie Perez, amongst others. This cast of delightful narrators help tell the stories behind the Beastie Boys’ early days, acclaimed career, and friendship, which allows them to lovingly reminisce about their late member and friend Adam “MCA” Yauch , who died in 2012 of cancer. The audiobook of Beastie Boys Book taps into the playfulness of the New York City group that wasn’t afraid to fight for your right to party.

Length: 12 hours, 41 minutes

The Sympathizer , Viet Thanh Nguyen

Viet Thanh Nguyen ’s Pulitzer Prize-winning 2015 debut novel, The Sympathizer , looks at a man acting as a Communist spy in Saigon and California during the Vietnam War. The dry, humorless (in a good way) narration by Lost actor Francois Chau only adds to the suspense of the novel that offers nuance to the divisive conflict , bringing the protagonist’s competing allegiances and the danger that brings him into full view. Whether you’ve already read the novel or watched the HBO series , listening to The Sympathizer can only deepen your appreciation of the source material. 

Length: 13 hours, 53 minutes

A Court of Thorns and Roses ,Sarah J. Maas

Are you looking to enter the literary world of Sarah J. Maas, but don’t know where to start? Give her 2015 racy fantasy novel, A Court of Thorns and Roses, a listen. Narrated by Jennifer Ikeda, the first book in the series of the same name is focused on teenage hunter Feyre Archeron’s journey into a faerie world where she is held captive for killing a mythological creature. It’s there she meets Prythian, an immortal faerie, who goes from being her captor to being something so much more. An escapist novel perfect for those looking to start their vacation the moment they start their engine.

Length: 16 hours, 7 minutes 

Project Hail Mary , Andy Weir

For those trapped in a tin can for just over 16 hours, channel your inner-Major Tom with Andy Weir’s space drama, Project Hail Mary. The Martian author’s best-selling 2021 novel, narrated by actor Ray Porter, follows Ryland Grace, a teacher-turned-astronaut who is the sole-survivor of a last chance mission to save Earth. The only problem is, he can’t remember who he is and why he’s floating through space. A suspenseful space odyssey that won the 2022 Audie Awards for Audiobook of the Year .

Length: 16 hours, 10 minutes

Dune , Frank Herbert

If Timotheé Chalamet and Zendaya have piqued your interest in Frank Herbert’s sci-fi epic , but you can’t bring yourself to open the book, it might be time to give the Dune audiobook a try. The 2008 edition of the 1965 novel, which won the Audie Award for Science Fiction, allows you to walk the desert planet of Arrakis with Paul Atreides without ever leaving the comfort of your car. 

Length: 21 hours, 2 minutes 

For multi-day drives (24+ hours)

Wolf Hall , Hilary Mantel

The Crown ’s Ben Miles brings an air of gravitas to the 2020 audiobook edition of Hilary Mantel’s much-celebrated best-selling 2009 novel, Wolf Hall , which reimagines life under Henry VIII’s rule through the eyes of political fixer Thomas Cromwell. Miles’ charming, yet dastardly narration makes Cromwell an anti-hero worth rooting for no matter how hard you try not to. And if you like what you hear, Miles also narrates audiobooks for the other novels in the Wolf Hall trilogy: Bring Up the Bodies and The Mirror and the Light .

Length: 25 hours, 12 minutes

A Brief History of Seven Killings , Marlon James

Marlon James ’ Man Booker Prize-winning 2014 novel, A Brief History of Seven Killings, is a fictional account of the violent 1976 break-in at Bob Marley ’s Jamaica home that nearly killed the singer, his wife, and his manager. The audiobook edition of the decades-spanning epic features multiple narrators playing assassins, journalists, drug dealers, and even a couple of ghosts that are so engaging you won’t even mind if you get stuck in traffic.

Length: 26 hours

A Little Life , Hanya Yanagihara

Hanya Yanagihara’s 2015 best-selling epic, A Little Life , which tackles the social, emotional, and sexual lives of four life-long friends as they make the transition from college to adulthood, isn’t the easiest read . But Oliver Wyman, the narrator of the 2022 audiobook, is a reassuring voice that makes some of the novel’s more trying topics like childhood sexual assault a bit easier to handle. Still, you’ll want to pack the tissues—like, all of them.

Length: 32 hours, 51 minutes

Middlemarch , George Eliot

George Eliot’s Middlemarch is considered by many to be one of the greatest novels ever written. (In 2015, the BBC went so far as to call the 1871 book “the greatest British novel.”) Whether you have read Middlemarch or not, the 2011 audiobook version narrated by acclaimed British actress Juliet Stevenson is bound to deepen your love for Eliot’s idealistic heroine Dorothea Brooke as she learns to live life to the fullest. 

Length: 35 hours, 38 minutes

The Agatha Christie Collection

Narrated by Stephen Scalon, The Agatha Christie Collection, releasedlast yearfeatures 28 of the author’s most famous stories that are sure to keep you and your traveling companions at the edge of their seats. 

Length: 35 hours, 57 minutes

1Q84 , Haruki Murakami

Parallel universes in Tokyo are the setting of Japanese author Haruki Murakami’s popular 1984-set dystopian thriller that rivals George Orwell’s classic named for that same year. First published in Japan in 2009 and released in the U.S. two years later, IQ84 follows Aomame, a young woman who begins to see discrepancies in the world around her, and Tengo, a ghostwriter whose life begins to unravel after he takes on a mysterious new project. In the span of one year, the pair form a bond that can’t be explained. The audiobook, narrated by Allison Hiroto, Marc Vietor, and Mark Boyett, only makes their unexplainable connection more palpable.

Length: 46 hours, 45 minutes

My Name is Barbra , Barbra Streisand 

At nearly a thousand pages, Barbra Steisand’s 2023 autobiography, My Name is Barbra , didn’t appear to spare a single detail of her illustrious life, career, and appetite . Somehow though, when Babs entered the booth to record the narration for her audiobook she unearthed a bit more material—new anecdotes, asides, and musical interludes. All of which is sure to keep you entertained on the absolute longest of road trips. 

Length: 48 hours, 17 minutes 

More Must-Reads from TIME

• Breaking Down the 2024 Election Calendar
• Heman Bekele Is TIME’s 2024 Kid of the Year
• The Reintroduction of Kamala Harris
• What a $129 Frying Pan Says About America’s Eating Habits
• A Battle Over Fertility Law in China
• The 1 Heart-Health Habit You Should Start When You’re Young
• Cuddling Might Help You Get Better Sleep
• The 50 Best Romance Novels to Read Right Now

Contact us at [email protected]

40 Of The Best Audiobooks For Your Road Trip And Beyond

Rachel Smalter Hall

Rachel Smalter Hall may be a professional Book Rioter, but she still hangs out in the public librarian clubhouse. Two of her top three loves include audiobooks and knitting, and her favorite song is Cold Hearted Snake as performed by Alyssa Edwards and Coco Montrese on season 5 of RuPaul’s Drag Race. She co-runs a boozy book club in Lawrence, Kansas, in her spare time. Twitter: @rach_smalls Website: Rachel Smalter Hall

View All posts by Rachel Smalter Hall

We at Book Riot *heart* audiobooks just as much as we heart adventure. Here are 40 of the best audiobooks of all time that we’ve been listening to lately on long drives — from brand-new to backlist, romance to history. Enjoy them on your next road trip or wherever you get your listening fix.

Great Fiction Audiobooks

Big little lies by liane moriarty, read by caroline lee.

What begins as a lighthearted satire about suburban Australian parenting gets very dark and very twisty, very fast. The pace is quick, the characters are compelling, and Caroline Lee gives a knockout performance. — Rachel Smalter Hall

The Good Lord Bird by James McBride, read by Michael Boatman

Historical fiction about the odd couple that is ten-year-old Little Onion — a cross-dressing freed slave from the Kansas Territory — and John Brown — the infamous abolitionist — just begs to be performed out loud. Michael Boatman brings this hysterical and heartbreaking winner of the National Book Award to life. — Rachel Smalter Hall

The Known World by Edward P. Jones, read by Kevin Free

This devastating book may not be ideal for a road trip situation. But still, I felt a palpable summer atmosphere in this story of a fictional Virginia district at the height of slavery, whose most remarkable slave-owner is a free black man. Listen to this when you’re by yourself on a summer night. — Kristel Autencio

Stone Mattress by Margaret Atwood, read by Rob Delaney et al.

Atwood’s recent short story collection flew a little under the radar. If you missed this in print, do yourself a favor and listen to the audiobook. Comedian Rob Delaney is just one of the many outstanding performers to take on these dark little stories. They’re hilarious, biting, and wonderfully strange. — Rachel Smalter Hall

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain, Read By Nick Offerman

There’s no question that Mark Twain’s stories have shaped the course of American literature, and Nick Offerman completely embodies that all-American feeling. Just like Tom Sawyer, Nick Offerman is a wholesome boy from a small midwestern town who has a wicked mischievous streak. (He also happened to grow up into a mustachioed carpenter and comedian, which feels relevant somehow. I don’t know, just go with it.) – Rachel Smalter Hall

Best Mystery Audiobooks

Bird box by josh malerman, read by cassandra campbell.

If you need an audiobook that will help you drive all night without falling asleep, go with this. Bird Box is terrifying. The audio only magnifies this experience by keeping the pace moving slowly even though you want it to move more quickly. — Jessica Woodbury

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng, read by Cassandra Campbell

A haunting, slow-build of a novel that I’ve been absolutely loving. The narration is also wonderfully done. It’s one of the best audiobooks for long, solo car rides. — Nikki VanRy

Pleasantville by Attica Locke, read by J.D. Jackson

Locke is a great writer for fans of Grisham and Lehane, who like their plots with extra twists and full of thrills. Set in the thick of black politics in Houston, it’s full of intrigue, betrayals, shady backroom deals, and courtroom showdowns. — Jessica Woodbury

The Whites by Richard Price writing as Harry Brandt, read by Ari Fliakos

Price is one of the best crime writers there is, and Ari Fliakos slips between the narration and the rhythms of blue collar cop talk seamlessly. The plot keeps moving, the character studies are riveting, and there’s not a single false step until the big climax. — Jessica Woodbury

Best Romance Audiobooks

Destiny’s captive by beverly jenkins, read by thomas penny.

This fun listen is easy to follow even without the previous books in the series. Noah Yates is an Afro-Spanish merchant and shipowner from California who has a bit of a run in with a lady pirate in the Caribbean, who is also just a touch of a Cuban Revolutionary. The two butt heads (and swords) and have a heck of a good time. — Jessica Pryde

Landline by Rainbow Rowell, read by Rebecca Lowman

Georgie McCool has a deal to produce her dream TV show, but she’ll have to miss Christmas with her husband to meet her deadline. Her marriage is looking rocky when she discovers a time-traveling telephone that can dial the past. Bring on the 90s pop-culture references and a strong female lead who kicks ass and takes names. — Rachel Smalter Hall

Suddenly One Summer by Julie James, read by Karen White

James is an auto-buy, and I know I can count on her audiobooks, which are performed flawlessly by Karen White. A divorce lawyer agrees to take on her neighbor’s sister case. He’s a cocky journalist and she’s skeptical about love. They share James’ trademark mutually denied attraction and irritation with each other. It’s terrific. — Jessica Tripler

A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray, read by Tavia Gilbert

YA Dimensional Science Fiction at its most interesting. In a relatively quick pace, a girl jumps dimensions to find her father’s murderer… any maybe find true love. The prose is fantastic, but for me the audiobook narrator really makes this novel. — Jessica Pryde

Science Fiction Audiobooks

The girl with all the gifts by m. r. carey, read by finty williams.

A zombie road adventure, a meditation on the meaning of personhood, a clash of scientific, military and humanistic worldviews brought to life by superbly drawn characters, especially a very unusual little girl trying to make sense of it all. Finty Williams has a lovely, smooth delivery that clearly distinguishes the characters. — Jessica Tripler

The Humans by Matt Haig, read by Mark Meadows

The narrator is an alien who has assumed human form. Listening to his observations about humanity would be enough, but then there’s a really good, funny, and heartwarming story in there, too. — Cassandra Neace

Lock In by John Scalzi, read by Wil Wheaton or by Amber Benson

It’s a smart, futuristic, techno thriller that does very interesting things with gender, like ignoring it almost completely. The publisher produced two versions, one read by Wil Wheaton and the other by Amber Benson. — Cassandra Neace

The Water Knife by Paolo Bacigalupi, read by Almarie Guerra

A near-future dystopia that takes place in the American Southwest where water is a scarce commodity. Doesn’t seem all that unreasonable, does it California? Against this too-close-for-comfort backdrop is a familiar detective / mystery novel with corruption and crime at the center. Almarie Guerra’s smooth delivery almost makes you forget this isn’t a real thing that’s happened…yet. — Rachel Manwill

Best Fantasy Audiobooks

The  harry potter   series by j.k. rowling, read by jim dale or stephen fry .

We love  Harry Potter  audiobooks obviously, but finding the best narrator for you is key when listening to this series. In an earlier post, we pitted the two leading Harry Potter narrators against each other to see which one is truly the best.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, read by the author

Gaiman reads many of his own audiobooks and The Graveyard Book is among my favorite audiobooks of his. This one is especially good if your road trip includes children. — Chris Arnone

His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman, read by the author

The entire His Dark Materials trilogy is read by a full voice cast. Pullman reads the narration while actors read the parts. The production value is quite high and these are great reads. — Chris Arnone

Throne of the Crescent Moon by Saladin Ahmed, read by Phil Gigante

This rollicking adventure is about a group of magic users in a kingdom called Dhamsawaat who are called to save the city from an evil ghul. There are some genuinely scary parts, but I was mostly listening to this with a big grin on my face. — Kristel Autencio

The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma, read by Georgia King and Sandy Rustin

Told from dueling perspectives, the audiobook utilizes two narrators to emphasize the two protagonists. One a ballerina with a dark secret, the other a delinquent locked in a juvenile facility. It works incredibly well. The two narrators keep the story grounded in what’s actually happening, as the story quickly moves into the surreal. — Rachel Manwill

Memoir & Biography Audiobooks

As you wish: inconceivable tales from the making of the princess bride by cary elwes, read by the author.

Not only is listening to Cary Elwes like having your insides rubbed down by a velvet glove; this also features cameos from Billy Crystal, Robin Wright, and more. Everyone who made this cult film is clearly still in love with it. Their anecdotes are full of infectious warmth. This makes it one of the best audiobooks for a family car ride. — Rachel Weber

Not My Father’s Son by Alan Cumming, read by the author

Actor Alan Cumming’s memoir about the strained relationship with his abusive father is the kind of story I’d be interested in, whether the author was famous or not. Rather than a “this is my whole life” memoir, Cumming takes a very specific moment in his adult life to examine his childhood. He does it so very powerfully. Plus, his spectacular Scottish accent is a delight to listen to, even as his experience is so excruciating. — Rachel Manwill

Paris Letters by Janice MacLeod, read by Tavia Gilbert

Janice MacLeod was on her way up the corporate ladder when she realized she wasn’t sure what she was climbing for. She saved up her money, quit her job, and moved to Europe. MacLeod shares just enough of the gritty details that you can imagine doing the same. — Jesse Doogan

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand, read by Edward Herrmann

Louis Zamperin goes from running track in the Olympics, to surviving on a raft as sharks and Japanese bombers surround him, to being a prisoner of war, and then back to life in the U.S. Plus the audio is narrated by Edward Herrmann (Richard from Gilmore Girls in my mind), who is wonderful. — Valerie Michael

Funny Audiobooks

Carsick by john waters, read by the author.

Because why not experience the most ridiculous road trip of all time while you’re on a road trip? John Waters splits his book into two: a fictional trip narrating the best possible outcome and the worst; and his actual trip, which is also fun but not nearly as insane. — Jessica Pryde

Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris, read by the author

The master of satire delivers short stories about his early life. — S. Zainab Williams

Self-Inflicted Wounds by Aisha Tyler, read by the author

HILARITY ensues. This woman is not afraid to bare all about her most embarrassing moments. — S. Zainab Williams

This book is so many different things along with being a celebrity memoir that I feel comfortable recommending it to just about anyone. It’s funny and heartfelt and just a joy. — Jessica Woodbury

Born A Crime: Stories From A South African Childhood   by Trevor Noah, Read By The Author 

Noah’s narrative voice is crisp, clear, and there is very little in the way of mumbling or whispering. You may yet turn out to be a menace to society what with the bursts of laughter and tears, but once you pick the volume, you never have to change it again. Plus, it’s a brilliant memoir. –  Yash Kesankurthy

Historical Audiobooks

Dead wake: the last crossing of the lusitania by erik larson, read by scott brick.

I knew absolutely nothing about the Lusitania other than that it was a passenger liner sunk by a German submarine in the early years of WWI. Erik Larson examines this fateful cruise with the precise research and engaging narrative that he brings to any of his subjects. The audio version is as good a choice for history buffs as it is for mystery lovers, because the tension builds like a good, old-fashioned thriller. — Rachel Manwill

Games Without Rules: The Often-Interrupted History of Afghanistan by Tamim Ansary, read by the author

A comprehensive (and depressing) presentation of Afghan history and how superpowers both near and far have interfered in it for profit or power. — Rachel Cordasco

The Last Gunfight: The Real Story of the Shootout at the O.K. Corral and How It Changed the American West by Jeff Guinn, read by Stephen Hoye

If you’re interested in Wyatt Earp and the history of the American frontier, this one’s for you. — Rachel Cordasco

Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy by Karen Abbott, read by Karen White

A profile of four white women on the different sides of the Civil War and how their gender colored their participation. The narration moves at a steady clip, and Karen White’s narration adds a lot of verve to the story. — Kristel Autencio

Best Nonfiction Audiobooks

The birth of the pill by jonathan eig, read by gayle hendrix.

A captivating look at how and why the birth control pill was created and the cultural context in which it was born. So many fascinating insights into the characters behind it. And, there’s just the right amount of science to give the story appropriate depth. — Rachel Manwill

The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer by Siddhartha Mukherjee, read by Stephen Hoye

This is one of my favorite nonfiction audiobooks of all time. It is meticulously researched, empathetic, fascinating, and just truly masterful. This audiobook is long but worthwhile. I have read it in print and listened to it and I am just constantly awed by its quality and depth. — Valerie Michael

Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari, read by the author

Comedian Aziz Ansari teams up with sociologist Eric Klinenberg to tackle love and romance in the digital age. I love the mix of serious statistical research and Flo Rida analogies. Ansari gives the audiobook a little extra flavor with ad libs and asides you won’t find in the print. — Rachel Smalter Hall

What If? Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions by Randall Munroe, read by Wil Wheaton

A fun romp with short, self-contained chapters to dip in and out of. Munroe answers such questions as “If a bullet with the density of a neutron star were fired from a handgun (ignoring the how) at the Earth’s surface, would the Earth be destroyed?” This is one of the best audiobooks for the science geeks in your life. — Nikki VanRy

The Daily Show : An Oral History by Chris Smith, Read By A Full Cast

Still sobbing about Jon Stewart’s departure? Want to peek behind the scenes of this political news show? Chris Smith’s all-encompassing history is one of the best audiobooks. It brings in interviews from the show’s correspondents, staff, and writers.

Want more of the best audiobooks?

Want to listen to even more of the best audiobooks? We got you . Learn how to listen to audiobooks on your phone here . Find  free audiobooks  or a list of our favorite full-cast audiobooks . Book Riot also covers new audiobook releases every week in our audiobooks newsletter . Curated lists of the best audiobooks from this month’s releases, straight to your inbox.

We also want to hear from you. Hit the comments to share the best audiobooks you’ve listened to recently!

Just for Book Riot readers: sign up for an Audible account , and get two  from our list of the best audiobooks for free!

You Might Also Like

• Skip to primary navigation
• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar
• Skip to footer

TravelAwaits

Our mission is to serve the 50+ traveler who's ready to cross a few items off their bucket list.

21 Best Audiobooks For Road Trips | Perfect Way to Make Your Long Drives Even More Enjoyable

Roman Farberov / Shutterstock

• Activities and Interests
• Types of Travel

Note: The Travel Awaits team regularly updates content to provide the latest, and most accurate information to our readers. The updated content in this article may not reflect the views or opinions of the original author.

As I cruised the long, lonely stretches of Nevada’s Highway 93, I was transported to the 18th- and 19th-century streets of New York City, Albany, and Washington, D.C., alongside United States Founding Father Alexander Hamilton.

And as I gazed at the marvels of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in southern Utah, a part of me was in the Highlands of Scotland, right in the midst of a crew of feisty wizards and witches.

Such is the beauty of audiobooks – those wonderful creations that allow you to listen as a narrator reads a book. For me, they offer an unbeatable opportunity to make the most out of road trips with good planning .

As an avid road tripper, I have long turned to audiobooks as a means of battling the boredom of long drives. When I recently looked back at my audiobook history for the past year, I found that I had listened to 40 audiobooks, mostly while I was driving along desert, coastal or mountain scenery .

I’ve listened to hundreds and through my many years of experience, I have compiled a list of the best audiobooks for multigenerational family road trips — some fairly new, others older — to lighten your future road trips. Here are 11 of them.

A word of caution: While listening to audiobooks in a busy urban traffic environment, people react more slowly to hazards while emersed in listening. Conversely, and in a simpler environment of country roads or long interstate drives, drivers react more quickly while listening to audiobooks.

The crucial balance is to engage in listening to a level that keeps your cognitive thinking alert but doesn’t present too much of a cognitive challenge to prevent quick reactions while you are driving.

A note to our readers: De gustibus non disputandum est . This is a remarkable Latin phrase meaning “Of taste, there is no disputing.” It goes for tastes in books, too. Even if you don’t find a book you like here, don’t worry; 70,000-80,000 audiobooks are published every year. You’re bound to find the right book for every road trip!

Best Audiobooks For Road Trips

1. best audiobooks for kids – knight owl.

Christopher Denise’s Knight Owl is an amazing book meant for preschoolers. The puns and references are witty, and the message is relevant, but above everything else, this is a beautiful story about dreaming big no matter what size you are and how everyone can change the world for the better and find friends and happiness. It would certainly make a lovely bedtime listening.

2. Best Audiobooks For Teens – The Hunger Games

Suzanne Collins’s Hunger Games series is a compelling choice for fantasy lovers. It takes place in a near-future dystopian state where the sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen struggles to support her mother and sister. It is a well-written story and the pacing is good, while Tatiana Maslany’s narration heightens the drama and dread and will certainly keep you captivated while on the road.

Despite any second thoughts you may have about the series, whether it’s the movies or the follow-up books, its first installment is an enjoyable read that fits in the young adult category.

3. Best Audiobooks For Women – The Woman in Me, by Britney Spears

Britney Spears’s Woman in Me is her account of her own life, from the days of early fame to her involuntary placing under a conservatorship, and all the highs and lows in between. Fans everywhere have been waiting for Britney to reveal her side of the story, and finally, it is here, told with remarkable honesty and humor. It is the bestselling memoir everyone is talking about.

Moreover, it’s the first time the public gets to hear how fame and generational trauma have impacted the famous woman’s life. At five hours and 31 minutes, The Woman in Me is a short book for such an eventful career, but it gives you something to think about.

4. Best Audiobooks For Men – King: A Life

Jonathan Eig’s King: A Life is a deeply satisfying biography depicting the civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr . Narrator Dion Graham does an excellent job with King’s voice and the book itself is well written.

It covers most key events and people during the civil rights era and it shines a light on how the FBI and other high-ranking officials hounded King. It’s accurate to a fantastic degree because, unlike biographers before Eig who were denied access, Eig was able to go through the recently released FBI files.

5. Best Audiobooks For Families – The One and Only Ivan

Inspired by a true story, The One and Only Ivan is a gorgeous tale of how a mighty gorilla wins his freedom. A perfect mixture of humor and poignancy, Katherine Applegate’s realistic writing is perfect if you want your kids to grow up to be decent and loving individuals and learn a few precious life lessons along the way.

Katherine Applegate blends humor and poignancy to create an unforgettable story of friendship, art, and hope in the rich vein of similar classic books such as Charlotte’s Web and Stuart Little. It simply has to be one of the best animal fiction books for tweens and adults.

6. The Great Alone

Alaska has been on my travel must-list for years, and I had toyed with taking a trip there in 2020. That didn’t happen, but I was able to “travel” there anyway through The Great Alone , Kristin Hannah’s wonderful 2017 novel that is part coming-of-age story, part fictional travelogue for the area near Homer, Alaska that makes this inspiring story one of the best audiobooks.

I see The Great Alone as a way to transport to the wilds of Alaska, even if you’re stuck driving to spots in your own backyard. Or, if you’re lucky enough to be road-tripping through Alaska, the book would be a great introduction or accompaniment.

7. The Boys In The Boat

I love a nonfiction book that makes me think, “Why didn’t I know this?” That was the case with Daniel James Brown’s 2013 true story The Boys in the Boat , which chronicles a team of young rowers from the University of Washington on a quest for a gold medal in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.

The rowing saga is compelling, but I also enjoyed the backstories — especially of team member Joe Rantz’s amazing odyssey as he moved around the states of Washington and Idaho while dealing with the trials of the Great Depression. It made me want to check out the backroads in the Northwestern U.S.

8. The Flight Attendant

With HBO’s series bringing attention to Chris Bohjalian’s suspenseful 2018 novel The Flight Attendant , I decided to listen to the book before watching the series.

Without giving any spoilers, I’ll say that the series departs quite a bit from the book. For one thing, the main setting is Dubai rather than Bangkok. I especially relished the book’s focus on flight travel, as well as its later locations such as Rome.

9. Kitchen Confidential

Although I had long been a fan of the late Anthony Bourdain’s TV series No Reservations , The Layover, and Parts Unknown , I had never read the book that started it all, Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly .

I finally got around to it in 2020. I found the audiobook highly entertaining, especially its descriptions of Bourdain’s early culinary adventures in Normandy, France, Cape Cod, and Massachusetts. A special treat with the audiobook is that Bourdain narrated it himself. The book is a perfect accompaniment to a foodie-focused journey.

10. The Dutch House

#3 on our list of the best audiobooks for road trips is Author Ann Patchett’s 2019 novel The Dutch House offers an enthralling story centering on family dynamics, wealth, and poverty, and how a magical house can make a life-long impression. I also loved the story’s settings in the suburban area around Philadelphia and the Columbia University area. It would make a great introduction to an East Coast road trip.

An added bonus: Movie star Tom Hanks narrates this powerful story.

11. Harry Potter

For some reason, I never read J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series when it became a worldwide sensation in the early 2000s and became synonymous with pop culture. I made up for the omission in 2020, listening to the entire series narrated by the incomparable Jim Dale who helps make it great for a family road trip. With 7 long books it’s perfect for a long trip for the entire family.

Along with offering a fun and exciting adventure story, the books wonderfully transport you to the sights and sounds of the Scottish Highlands. I’m late to this party, but I would love to take a road trip through places like Glencoe and Steall Falls, Scotland. The fourth book is hands down one of my favorite audiobooks.

12. Born A Crime: Stories From A South African Childhood

Trevor Noah, the host of Comedy Central’s The Daily Show , recounts his remarkable early childhood and young adulthood in his 2016 book Born A Crime: Stories From A South African Childhood .

For me, the insights into the waning years of South Africa’s apartheid and the first years of democratic rule were eye-opening in this young adult novel. Along with the serious topic, comedian Noah and his familiar voice offers a wild and engaging look at growing up in Johannesburg, South Africa. Noah narrates this wonderful road trip audiobook.

13. The Alice Network

I love a good spy story, and Kate Quinn’s 2017 novel The Alice Network serves that up brilliantly in a historical dual-timeline story during and after World War II.

I always know that a book is a hit with me if I do online searches for the story’s settings. That was the case with The Alice Network’s haunting descriptions of Nancy, Grasse, and Oradour-sur-Glane, France. This is one of the shorter options on this fantastic look making it a solid option for short road trips.

14. Alexander Hamilton

I’ll admit that I had tried to read Ron Chernow’s 2004 biography Alexander Hamilton a few years back but didn’t get through the 818-page tome.

After watching the hugely entertaining Hamilton production on Disney Plus in summer 2020, I decided to give the book another go as an audiobook. I found it a fascinating and enjoyable deep dive into early-American history, with great descriptions of locations throughout the US such as New Jersey, and the District of Columbia.

At almost 36 hours, however, this perfect audiobook is no joke and may be hard to hold the concentration of a whole family!

15. Becoming

Along with the extraordinary life story that takes Michelle Obama from her time as a young girl in her childhood in the South Side of Chicago to eight years of living in the White House, the former First Lady’s 2018 memoir Becoming also offers a captivating look at her extensive world travels — from Kenya to England to India.

In addition, the book offers insights into travels across the United States during the election campaigns of President Barack Obama. The audiobook is especially enjoyable because Michelle Obama narrates it herself.

16. Where The Crawdads Sing

Every now and then, the descriptions in a book are so captivating that you feel like you’re there, smelling the sea air, feeling the sand between your toes, and hearing the calls of the marsh birds. That was the case with Delia Owens’ 2018 novel Where the Crawdads Sing .

Along with being an edge-of-your-seat story, the audiobook also offers a lovely depiction of North Carolina’s marshlands — a great option for your next road trip.

17. The Lightning Thief: Percy Jackson and the Olympians

Rick Riordan’s The Lighting Thief inaugurated the series revolving around the life of a regular 12-year-old boy, Percy who finds out he is the son of a Greek god. The whole series is an excellent read for anyone, and a safe pick for parents who are looking for exciting, fun, books for both boys and girls to read. The author’s sense of humor appeals to older grade and middle school children, and there won’t be many who will not enjoy these light, fast-paced reads. 

18. The Downstairs Girl

Stacey Lee’s Downstairs Girl is a captivating, engaging, and heartfelt story for young adult readers, fans of historical fiction and diverse reads, and those who are looking for stories of determined and inspirational young women. Expect numerous twists and turns as Jo Kuan takes on fixed ideas about race and gender. Set in a time of great social upheaval, it depicts the lives of those on the margins. Historical fiction buffs will also be rewarded with an extraordinary plot twist and a gratifying ending.

19. Hello Beautiful: A Novel

Ann Napolitano’s follow-up to Dear Edward is a profoundly moving novel about the deepest connections of family and love, trauma, and healing. It follows the closely-knit Padavano sisters contending with life and loss, love, death, and forgiveness at their Chicago home. The story is both heart-wrenching and uplifting, and it successfully gives us a deeply moving idea of what is possible when we choose to love someone not despite who they are, but because of it.

20. Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage

Alfred Lansing’s Endurance is one of the greatest adventure stories of the modern age and will make you fall in love with audiobooks if you haven’t already. Nothing will prepare you for this harrowing account of British explorer Ernest Shackleton’s fateful trip to the South Pole.

Half a continent away from its intended base, the ship Endurance was trapped in the ice and finally crushed, leaving Sir Ernest Shackleton and his men to drift over a frozen, desolated landscape of one of the most inhospitable regions of the world. The story of the voyage that has defined heroism for the modern age should make anyone who thinks non-fiction audiobooks are dull change their mind.

21. The Penderwicks 

Jeanne Birdsall’s book is a modern classic series about the delightful Penderwick family. The Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy is the first novel in a series about the Penderwick girls and the story is as breezy and carefree as a summer day – the four Penderwick sisters are spending a three-week vacation with their father and dog Hound.

It is the best fit for kids aged 8 to 12 as it covers the themes of friendship, growing up, and family. Under the simple premise of the family vacation, we are told a wonderful story about following your dreams.

How To Access Audiobooks

There are many ways to access audiobooks, but I like to use my local library’s selection. With a library card, and through the Overdrive or Libby apps on smartphones or tablets, many public libraries provide free access to a huge selection of audiobooks.

I use Overdrive, and I have worked out a system of always having a handful of books on my “hold” list. That means that when the book becomes available for borrowing, I get an email notification that I can download it. Because libraries have only a limited number of each title available for checkout, you often cannot get your chosen book immediately but need to get in line. If you keep your hold list stocked with titles, though, chances are you will always have something to listen to when you hit the road.

But if getting your selection immediately is important, there are a number of options for payment services that will allow you to get what you want when you want it.

From science fiction to romance, to history novels, to light humor to fairy tale fantasy, Audible, an Amazon company , offers the world’s largest selection of digital audiobooks and spoken word content. With Audible, customers can listen anytime and anywhere to professionally-narrated audiobooks across a wide range of genres. Amazon Prime also offers subscriptions that will enable you to access a limited number of audiobooks per month. Both services offer free 30-day trials.

I like connecting my phone to my car-play option and listening through the car’s stereo system, although I have also listened on an iPad.

Just like the radio or a podcast, listening to audiobooks can be a bit distracting while driving. I recommend only listening while you are on long stretches of interstate highway or when you’re driving through stretches of rural highways. I routinely turn off my audiobooks in city traffic.

I often travel solo on my road trips, so I have only myself to please when it comes to book selections. Although I think all of my selections would be good for anyone, couples might especially like Noah’s Born a Crime or Brown’s The Boys in the Boat . Also, history-loving couples setting out on a long road trip might want to tackle Alexander Hamilton together. Obviously, for families, the Harry Potter series can’t be beaten. And there is always the option of using headphones.

Finally, here’s an alternative list of audiobooks for you to consider (no spoilers from me): A Game of Thrones: A Song of Ice and Fire – George R. R. Martin One by One – Ruth Ware American Gods – Neil Gaiman A Man Called Ove – Fredrik Backman The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo – Taylor Jenkins Reid Bossypants -Tina Fey His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass – Philip Pullman It – Stephen King Dread Nation – Justina Ireland The Night Circus – Erin Morgenstern The Fifth Season – N. K. Jemisin The Green Book – Jill Paton Walsh To Sleep in a Sea of Stars – Christopher Paulini

Related Reading:

• 27 Tips For Planning The Perfect Road Trip
• Our Most Popular Road Trips From 2020 To Fuel Your Next Journey
• California PCH Road Trip: 9 Amazing Must-Stop Spots
• British Columbia Road Trip: Vancouver To Victoria

What Can You Listen To In The Car Besides Music?

As this article has clearly stated, besides music, an audiobook is the best way to pass the time during a long drive. While it is ultimately your preference on what type of book you’d like to read, or hear, audiobooks are a great outlet for getting in a good read quickly.

What Is A Good Book To Listen To In The Car?

Are you a fan of shows and movies like Game of Thrones and Dune ? These two fantasy epics would be the perfect books to bang out during a long road trip. Use your audiobooks to kill time and fit in that read that you never had the chance to before.

What Is the Average Audiobook Price on Audible?

The average audiobook price on Amazon’s Audible ranges from $10 to $25. If you listen to audiobooks regularly, my advice is to sign up for Audible’s subscription monthly plan starting at $7.95.

What Are the 3 Best Audiobooks for a Family Road Trip?

Depending on the age of your kids, a variety of books could be best for you, including A Wrinkle in Time, Where’d You Go, Bernadette: A Novel, and The Hobbit. Of course, there are hundreds of thousands of audiobooks available for any age so you are bound to find the right ones for your family road trips.

Are There Family Audiobooks With Multiple Narrators?

Yes, there are family audiobooks with multiple narrators also called “full cast” audiobooks. They offer an immersive and engaging experience owing to the multiple voices which are especially appreciated by kids. Sometimes the production of these audiobooks includes sound effects for even more fun and excitement while listening.

Where Can I Find Free Audiobooks?

You can find free audiobooks at Digitalbook.io, LibriVox, OverDrive, Loyal Books, Storynory, Light Up Your Brain, Lit2Go, Loyal Books, Mind Webs, Open Culture, Libby by Overdrive, and Podiobooks. With a little search, you’ll find even more sources of free audiobooks on the internet.

Cindy Barks is an Arizona-based newspaper reporter, freelance travel writer, and travel blogger. Her blog, NearandFarAZ gives readers an insider's view of the wonders of the U.S. Southwest, and a traveler's take on far-off locales from Panama to Hong Kong to the Czech Republic. Regardless of the destination, her goal is to find the perfect scenic hike, city walk, beach stroll, or road-trip jaunt, and bring it to life in her blog. Cindy's articles about outdoor adventures have appeared in numerous regional and national publications.

The Best Audiobooks for a Perfect Road Trip

So you’ve chosen the destinations, packed the car and it’s time to hit the road. Only question is… what are you going to listen to? Pick one of these stellar audiobooks for the perfect road trip. 

As someone who has spent countless hours on the road, on jaunts ranging from an epic month-long sojourn along the West Coast of the US to meandering between stunning hilltop towns in Tuscany , let me tell you, there’s nothing that makes the hours fly by like a good old audiobook. 

It figures right? No sooner do you press play and you’re drawn into a different world – imagination running riot as the landscape rolls by and the miles clock up one by one. 

I’ve personally always been obsessed with books – after all I indulged my not-so-secret inner bookworm studying English Language & Literature at Oxford University. So when it came to choosing the best audiobooks for this road trip guide, not everything was going to cut it. 

I’ve split this guide into the best road trip audiobooks by type of journey, along with a couple of practical points to consider – what’s going to shine on a solo adventure isn’t going to keep the whole family entertained.

The Anatomy of a Perfect Road Trip Audiobook

Trust me, there’s nothing worse than leaving a book half-read, so judging your book to coincide with the length of your tour is ideal. Research how long your road trip will likely be and find a book that roughly lasts that long. 

In addition, you’ll want a narrator with an engaging style to keep your attention throughout the book. Accent, tone, diction, and the ability to include different voices for different characters are essential for stopping your mind from wandering. 

Listen to a preview before you buy – a particular narrator’s style might not gel with you for whatever reason. Trust me when I say you want to find that out before you’re stuck listening to them for fifteen hours. 

Think about who’s in your car with you. While there’s nothing wrong with listening to a motivational tome during a solo trip, it’s unlikely to go down so well with young kids in the car. 

Best Audiobooks for Road Trips By Type of Road Trip

Audiobooks for solo adventures, becoming by michelle obama – narrated by michelle obama.

Michelle Obama is one of the most iconic women of our era, and who better to tell her story than the woman herself? 

The first African American woman to serve as First Lady of the United States, this is a memoir that invites us into her world. 

From her childhood in Chicago, she tells her story as it is, with charm, wit, and emotion, while imparting no small amount of wisdom. Most of all, it’s impossible not to be struck by how human Michelle Obama is throughout her tale.

Download on Audible

Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari – Narrated by Derek Perkins

Humanity has existed for 200,000 years, a mere blink of an eyelid in terms of the history of our planet, and has changed the face of the Earth more than any other species. 

Yuval Noah Harari traces the history of humankind from the Stone Age to today in a book you simply won’t want to pause.

Read by award-winning actor Derek Perkins; his rich delivery perfectly complements Harari’s words to create an audiobook that will change how you see the world.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid – Narrated by Alma Cuervo, Robin Miles and Julia Whelan

You’ll soon be able to watch this superb novel by the creator of Daisy Jones & The Six on a new Netflix drama. However, I think this audiobook is one of the best fiction reads currently available. Charting the reclusive Hollywood icon Evelyn Hugo as she tells about her life of glamour and scandal, it also explores the life of the unknown magazine reporter she chooses to tell the story to.

Exceptionally well told and acted by Alma Cuervo, Robin Miles and Julia Whelan, you will sink into this hugely addictive, heart-breaking tale of old Hollywood glamour.

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson – Narrated by Roger Wayne

We live in the TikTok age, where every microblogger worth their salt has a take on the world, where it and people are going wrong and how to correct the world’s ills. 

Mark Manson decides to eschew positivity with his raw, refreshing, honest truth that doesn’t tiptoe around the fact that the world around us is f*cked. 

Described as a refreshing slap for a generation plagued by self-doubt, Roger Wayne’s delivery perfectly lays down the way forward to help us all lead more contented, grounded lives.

Audiobooks for a Couple’s Getaway Adventure

Gone girl by gillian flynn – narrated by julia whelan and kirby heyborne.

Sure, it’s a little OTT but not going to lie, Gone Girl is one of my favourite books of recent years and had me wondering just how well I knew my own family. 

Nick Dunne wakes up on the morning of his fifth wedding anniversary to find his wife Amy has suddenly disappeared. What follows is a tale of mystery, intrigue and suspense superbly told by Julia Whelan and Kirby Heyborne.

Normal People by Sally Rooney – Narrated by Aoife McMahon

If, like me, you’re a fan of all things Paul Mescal, you’ll have seen the BBC Three adaptation of Normal People , Sally Rooney’s incredible tale of Connell and Marianne and their story that grows from a single conversation throughout the years. 

Funny, sexy and at times heart-wrenching, Aoife McMahon’s beautiful Irish tones perfectly bring this story to life.

Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie – Narrated by David Suchet

For many of us, David Suchet has been the voice embodying Agatha Christie’s famous Belgian detective creation Hercule Poirot through the long-running ITV series. 

He steps back into that role to narrate Death on the Nile – a wonderfully reassuring listening experience of one of Christie’s most famous murder mysteries uncovering who has shot Linnet Ridgeway through the head, upsetting an opulent wedding cruise down the River Nile.

The Course of Love by Alain de Botton – Narrated by Julian Rhind-Tutt

Alain de Botton is best known for his self-help School of Life books, but he has been known to venture into novel mode. Thankfully so, when it results in novels like The Course of Love . 

Read by the rich tones of Julian Rhind-Tutt, de Botton takes us through the life and relationship of Rabih and Kirsten, not just when they meet and fall in love, but through the story of modern marriage and their regularly occurring problems. 

This book isn’t just a great listen; it’s full of unique insights that will force you to think about and discuss your relationship with your partner.

Audiobooks for Family-Friendly Journeys

Harry potter series by j.k. rowling – narrated by stephen fry.

This classic series captured the hearts of readers of all ages when it was first released over 25 years ago and remains just as fresh and captivating today. 

National treasure Stephen Fry brings his considerable and unique vocal charms to this tale of a poor orphaned boy whose life is about to change forever when the doormat of his Aunt and Uncle’s suburban house is consumed by strange-looking envelopes addressed to him. 

This tale will enrapture people in your car of all ages, no matter how long you’re on the road (the books are certainly long enough to see you through even the longest road trip).

Wonder by R.J. Palacio – Narrated by Diana Steele, Nick Podehl and Kate Rudd

Simultaneously one of the most heart-rending and uplifting books I’ve read, Wonder tells the story of Auggie, a ten-year-old who wants nothing more than to be an ordinary kid. 

“My name is August. I won’t describe what I look like. Whatever you’re thinking, it’s probably worse.” 

What a heartbreaking first line! What follows is a beautiful tale that’s brilliantly acted (alert: it will leave you dabbing at your eyes with Kleenex).

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain – Narrated by Nick Offerman

The rich imagery of Mark Twain’s writing is brought to life by the many vocal talents of Nick Offerman, famously Ron Swanson in Parks & Recreation, as they combine to transport you back to Mississippi in the 19th century. 

Here, you meet Tom Sawyer, a mischievous schoolboy who falls in love and gets up to no good with another famous Twain creation, Huckleberry Finn.

Matilda by Roald Dahl – Narrated by Kate Winslet

Matilda has always been my favourite tale in the considerable canon of Roald Dahl, subsequently brought to life through the film and Tim Minchin musical, this beautifully told version is voiced by Kate Winslet. 

Matilda is the world’s biggest bookworm who hates her parents and is sent to the Trunchbull Academy, overseen by the forbidding headteacher of the same name. She finds pockets of relief throughout the gloom, showing her how wonderful life could be. 

It is a lovely tale of hope against the odds.

Audiobooks for Adventure Seekers’ Road Trip

Into the wild by jon krakauer – narrated by philip franklin.

Into the Wild is a tragic tale that tells the story of Christopher McCandless, a young man who gave $25,000 to charity, abandoned his possessions, and hitchhiked to Alaska before walking alone to the wildlands of Mount McKinley. 

Without giving away any spoilers, there’s no happy ending to this compelling story.

Born to Run by Christopher McDougall – Narrated by Fred Sanders

Christopher McDougall asked himself a simple question, “Why does my foot hurt?” and embarked on a remarkable journey to find a tribe of the world’s greatest and least well-known distance runners to learn the secrets. 

What he discovers will change the way you think about running and engage your mind to help you realise that finding happiness could be easier than you think.

No Barriers by Erik Weihenmayer and Buddy Levy – Narrated by Holter Graham and Bob Woodruff

Erik Weihenmayer is the first and only blind person to climb Mount Everest’s summit. Once he descended, his guide told him, “Don’t make Everest the greatest thing you ever do.” 

As if ascending to the summit of the world’s highest peak wasn’t enough, this incredible tale tells how Erik responded to that challenge.

This tale tells of how Erik led blind Tibetan teenagers on expeditions, helped injured shoulders find their way home after war, adopted a child from Nepal and solo kayaked the deadly whitewater of the Grand Canyon. In other words, it is the most inspirational story you’re likely to hear.

Endurance by Alfred Lansing – Narrated by Simon Prebble

In August 1914, as Europe set itself alight with one of history’s most destructive wars, the British ship Endurance set sail for the South Atlantic. 

More than a year later, it still hadn’t reached its destination and was crushed by ice. 

This new modern retelling of the survival of Sir Ernest Shackleton and his men across the world’s most forbidding and trek overland is an incredible account of indefatigable spirit.

Audiobooks for Self-Discovery Road Trips 

Eat, pray, love by elizabeth gilbert – narrated by elizabeth gilbert.

This raw, unabashed book by Elizabeth Gilbert tells the story of the breakup of her marriage, a turbulent love affair and how she emerges to find three things she realises she’s been missing. Pleasure, devotion and balance. 

Read by the author, this is a beautiful tale of self-discovery and her journey to finding inner peace and happiness.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho – Narrated by Jeremy Irons

This beautiful, simple story follows a Spanish shepherd boy named Santiago who journeys from his Andalusian home to Egypt in search of the riches buried in the Pyramids of Giza. 

The story takes in meetings with a rich cast of characters, each of whom helps him on his quest. I love this coming-of-age tale, story of travel and lesson about the importance of following our dreams.

Wild by Cheryl Strayed – Narrated by Laurel Lefkow

Aged just 22, Cheryl Strayed had lost the meaning of life. She was reeling from the grief of losing her mother, with her family stretched far and wide and her marriage ending. 

Four years later, she chose to hike the Pacific Crest Trail. 

This unbelievable memoir – and one of the best non-fiction audiobooks for a road trip you can treat yourself to – is a heartbreaking story of grief and loss to finding herself through her 1,100-mile solo trek. 

The Life of Pi by Yann Martel – Narrated by Sanjeev Bhaskar

Pi, a 16-year-old boy, is one of the only survivors from a sunken cargo ship bobbing around in the Pacific Ocean with only a hyena, a zebra with a broken leg, a female orangutan, and a 450 lb tiger for company. 

An astonishing tale of solitude, hopelessness, survival, and a surprising ending follows. And I love how Sanjeev Bhaskar lends his comedic talents to telling Pi’s story –  it certainly adds to the tale.

Tips for Listening to Audiobooks on Your Road Trip 

• I strongly recommend downloading audiobooks at home before hitting the road. You don’t want your compelling story interrupted by patchy phone reception or drain your data allowance by streaming the books using a cellular connection.
• Most modern cars have interactive entertainment systems that allow you to navigate your entertainment apps on the move easily. Use a car-friendly mobile app for easy navigation that your passenger can do for you or you can control with voice commands.
• Plan your comfort and rest breaks around the end of chapters or significant plot points when on the road. This will stop you from breaking the story’s flow and give you the chance to process or discuss what you’ve heard with your companions.

Want More Road Trip Inspo?

• The Best Summer Road Trip Ideas
• Road Trip Essentials: What to Bring and Top Tips for Your Time on the Road 
• The Ultimate West Coast Road Trip

I’m Julianna Barnaby - a professional travel writer and geek extraordinaire. I started The Discoveries Of to help you to discover the best of new destinations from around the world.

Discovering new places is a thrill - whether it’s close to home, a new country or continent, I write to help you explore more and explore differently.

Related Posts

15 Music Festival Hacks to Help You Festival Like a Total Pro

16 Luxury Destinations to Add to Your Travel Bucket List in 2024

Best Places to Travel in July: 18 Top July Holiday Destinations

Best Places to Visit in December | 25 Awesome Places to Travel

Follow me on Instagram for travel inspiration, tips, and guides.

21 of the Most Entertaining Audiobooks for Your Next Road Trip or Flight

Laugh-out-loud memoirs, poignant novels, and family-friendly tales are among the picks for our favorite audiobooks to listen to on your next long drive or flight..

• Copy Link copied

Long drives don’t feel so long when you’re listening to a good book.

Cover images courtesy of the publishers

Looking for a travel companion this summer and can’t stand the thought of another podcast? How about an adventurous mouse, a mystical witch, a glamorous midcentury socialite . . . or even Mary Shelley? All are characters from the best books who come to life on this list of seriously great audiobooks. Whether you’re flying to foreign lands or taking a road trip across the country with your kiddos, we’ve rounded up 21 books to keep you company while you travel.

And if you’re looking for free audiobooks for your next road trip or flight, there are plenty of free trials to be had. Our best piece of advice? Stop swiping through various apps and books-on-tape and dig into the offerings of Amazon and Audible.

If you’re traveling on a family road trip with elementary-age children

Entertain and educate little ones (and yourself!) on long drives.

1. The Ramona Quimby Audio Collection by Beverly Cleary (HarperAudio, 2011)

• Buy now: amazon.com

Introduce your young traveling companions to Cleary’s most famous protagonist in this collection about a young girl named Ramona and her family. The series begins with Beezus and Ramona and takes readers all the way through Ramona Quimby, Age 8 . She’s as precocious and delightful as you remember, and better yet, all eight books (that’s 19 hours!) are read by actress Stockard Channing . It’s a delightful convergence of a childhood classic, a beloved author, and an iconic narrator who seems to be having the time of her life.

2. Redwall by Brian Jacques (Listening Library, 2003)

The first in a 22-book series, Redwall centers on Matthias, a young mouse who must rescue his friends at Redwall Abbey from the villainous rat Cluny the Scourage. Read by the author, it’s a classic story full of adventure, humor, whimsy, and derring-do, with a supporting cast that includes a badger.

3. The Assassination of Bangwain Spurge by M. T. Anderson and Eugene Yelchin (Dreamscape Media, 2018)

An adventure story for slightly older kids, this novel is about Bangwain Spurge, an elven historian on a journey to unfamiliar lands. It’s spritely and hilarious, with elements of satire that will keep adults intrigued. Listeners follow Spurge on his mission to bring peace between his nation and the goblin kingdom he visits, an exploration that might spark deeper conversations about what it means to “win” a war—and who gets to write history.

4. Grimm’s Fairy Tales by The Brothers Grimm (Native Publishing House, 2020)

• Buy now: audible.com

No matter how old you are, a collection of fairy tales is always welcome. This audio collection of Grimm’s fairy tales can serve as a delightful trip down memory lane for the whole family. They’re perfect for both long car rides, as well as shorter jaunts, and a short enough for things like drives to the store but entertaining to binge on road trips.

If you’re traveling with tweens and teens

Keep the attention of older kiddos with Akata Witch or The Guncle .

Images courtesy of the publishers

Four books that will keep older kids off their phones (and actually listening) mile after mile.

5. Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor (Tantor Audio, 2018)

Akata Witch is the first in a popular trilogy about Sunny, a Black American girl with albinism who lives in Nigeria. She’s a misfit who discovers she has mystical powers, providing an opportunity for listeners who also feel out of step with the world to daydream about their own purpose. The narrator, Yetide Badaki, has read many YA fantasy novels and does great work here.

6. The Guncle by Stephen Rowley (Penguin Audio, 2021)

What’s a Guncle? A Gay Uncle, according to author Rowley, who also narrates his novel about a washed-up TV star who must take in his young niece and nephew after their mother, his best friend, dies. With elements of satire and insight about today’s social media–driven world, it’s a lot funnier than the premise suggests and great for older teens.

7. All those Explosions Were Someone Else’s Fault by James Alan Gardner (Audible Stories, 2017)

Actress Emily Woo Zeller reads this fun sci-fi novel set in a world where superheroes, called Sparks, are everywhere. The main character, Kim Lam, is a nonbinary, Asian American college student who’s transformed, along with their friends, into a Spark by a freak accident in a lab. Older teens who love comic book movies will be into this one.

8. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien (Harper Collins, 2020)

Reserve this one for super-long road trips and flights because you’ve got to either listen to or read the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy after you finish this iconic prequel. (And this one alone will take you more than 11 hours to get through!) Written in 1937, The Hobbit follows the adventures of Bilbo Baggins as he embarks on a quest with his wizard friend, Gandalf, to take back a hoard of gold from the dragon Smaug and return them the treasure to its rightful owners, the dwarves. It’s a top way to introduce a kid to the fantasy genre.

If you want diverting nonfiction audiobooks

Immerse yourself in the worlds of fascinating people like Anthony Bourdain and Molly Shannon.

When you want to get lost in hilarious memoirs, fascinating tell-alls, and deep historical dives.

9. Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly by Anthony Bourdain (Random House Audio, 2001)

The late Anthony Bourdain came to prominence with this, his first book, a staggeringly raw memoir about what exactly goes on in a restaurant kitchen: the good, the bad, and the spoiled seafood. He narrated the audiobook, and his voice remains compellingly knowledgeable and authentic.

10. The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story edited by Nikole Hannah-Jones (Random House Audio, 2021)

The Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones reads her best-selling book, an expansion of the eye-opening series she helmed for the New York Times. The series, like the book, recalibrates our understanding of American history by focusing on the Middle Passage, the infamous, horrific journey that carried enslaved people from their home countries in Africa to the Americas. An all-star cast of writers joins in the narration, including ZZ Packer, Rita Dove, and Kevin M. Kruse.

11. Romantic Outlaws: The Extraordinary Lives of Mary Wollstonecraft and Her Daughter, Mary Shelley by Charlotte Gordon (Recorded Books, 2015)

This 2015 work is an epic dual biography of the early feminist Mary Wollstonecraft and her daughter Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein . Both Shelley and Wollstonecraft lived scandalous lives: Each had a child out of wedlock, and each risked public condemnation to publish their feminist writing. There’s plenty of juicy coverage of Lord Byron, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and other scoundrels of the time too.

12. Capote’s Women: A True Story of Love, Betrayal, and a Swan Song for an Era by Laurence Leamer (Penguin Audio, 2021)

Carrington McDuffie reads this deep look at Truman Capote’s last years, when word of the too-clear-eyed roman à clef he was writing got him banished from high society by Babe Paley, Gloria Guinness, and the other rich ladies who were scandalized by their appearance in his writing. He died before publishing it. Ryan Murphy is currently adapting the book into the star-studded second season of his anthology series Feud , with a cast that includes Naomi Watts, Demi Moore, Diane Lane, and more.

13. Hello, Molly!: A Memoir by Molly Shannon (HarperAudio, 2022)

For those times when you’re driving solo and need a friend, you can’t do better than Saturday Night Live alum Molly Shannon, who reads her new memoir in her inimitable style. Her story begins with a childhood tragedy and movingly tells how that shaped who she has become.

14. Becoming by Michelle Obama (Random House Audio, 2018)

This award-winning memoir is timeless, tackling the First Lady’s childhood, relationship with President Barack Obama, and her role leading initiatives at the White House and beyond. Hearing about her journey will help hours of your journey slip right on by.

Fiction to get lost in

The hours will slip away as you listen to short stories, road tales, and even a literary ghost story.

Dive into other worlds and compelling characters with these page-turners.

15. On Earth, We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong (Penguin Audio, 2019)

This short work of literary fiction won approximately a million awards in 2019, and here the author reads his work beautifully. The novel is told in epistolary form, as 20-year-old poet and family historian Little Dog writes to his illiterate mother, processing their lives, which brought them from Vietnam to the United States after the war. A captivating listen for a long day trip.

16. Milk Blood Heat by Dantiel W. Moniz (HighBridge, 2021)

A short story collection can be a good accompaniment to a road trip, and this one, read by Machelle Williams, crackles. The Florida-set stories are about people who find themselves at crossroads in life, with themes of race, faith, family, and violence all in play. In one, two estranged siblings take a fraught road trip with their father’s ashes; in another, a young woman of color recognizes the differences between her life and that of her white best friend. Searingly good sentences build to tragic and thought-provoking finales.

17. We Are the Brennans by Tracey Lange (MacMillan Audio, 2021)

Popular audiobook narrator Barrie Kreinik expertly reads this best-seller about the many interconnections between a large Irish Catholic family in upstate New York and the small town they inhabit. It’s the perfect book for driving around the Mid-Atlantic or New England, the audio equivalent of un-put-down-able.

18. The Sentence by Louise Erdrich (HarperAudio, 2021)

The Pulitzer Prize–winning Native American writer Louise Erdrich reads her latest novel , which somehow manages to be a love story, a mystery, and a ghost story at once. It’s as “of the moment” as book publishing gets, set in the summer of 2020 in Minneapolis, and includes the pandemic and George Floyd’s murder as plot points.

19. Dune by Frank Herbert (Macmillan Audio, 2006)

The best thing about this science fiction adventure? You can watch it on the big screen (aka the TV in your living room) once you finish it. This science fiction epic follows the trials and tribulations of Paul Atreides (played by Timothée Chalamet in the film), who is forced to move to a dangerous planet populated with sand worms, a drug called “spice,” and the mysterious people who guard it. And, yes, there are plenty of fights with villains as well as a torrid romance.

20. The Shining by Stephen King (Random House Audio, 2012)

This award-winning novel became an instant hit when it was was first published in 1977. It’s ideal for a long road trip or a flight to any place, spooky or otherwise. In this classic, Stephen King tells the tale of a man slowly losing his grip on reality and becoming increasingly irritated with his family in a very haunted hotel.

21. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn (Random House Audio, 2012)

Mystery and thriller fans will love this deep dive into a small-town tragedy read by Julia Whelan. Nick Dunne, a writing teacher, comes home on their fifth anniversary to discover that his wife, Amy, is nowhere to be found. And as the plot thickens, it becomes clear that none of the narrators featured in the book are reliable or trustworthy. What’s the truth? You’ll have to keep listening to Julia Whelan’s riveting narration to find out.

This story was originally published in 2019, and most recently updated on August 25, 2023 with current information. Erika Owens contributed to the reporting of this story.

• svg]:fill-accent-900">

Best Audio Books for Road Trips

By Eric Goeres

Updated on Feb 10, 2017 11:11 AM EST

7 minute read

Road trips present about the best time available to cruise through an audio book. An audio book s just the kind of thing you need to pass the miles and fill your head with new ideas and literary adventures. Here we have selected some of what we consider to be the best audio books (some free, some paid) for road trips. Why these books? A few reasons. First, we felt that the audio book must be a page-turner. Exciting! The audio book’s plot must be easy to follow, and have a small cast of easily-understood characters. Humor was prized over intellectualism, mostly, as we felt miles pass the fastest with a laugh. And suspense. We certainly mixed in some thrillers and mystery audio books. Length was also a consideration. We picked books mostly on the long side, since we feel really long books best lend themselves to audio book in general, and on long road trips in particular. Ready to hit the road? Download these audio books first.

Best Free Audio Books

My Man Jeeves, The Count of Monte Cristo, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and The Thirty-Nine Steps

My Man Jeeves, by P.G. Wodehouse

The amusing tales of Bertie Wooster, a lost vision of the idle rich society gentleman, getting into trouble with aunts, uncles and friends. Troubles are solved by the iconic butler, valet and majordomo Jeeves. Wodehouse’s writing is detailed, imaginative, rich with detail, remarkable in dialog and all around great fun. There’s a reason there’s no real great Jeeves movies: With Wodehouse, the fun is in the writing. Chapter 3, for example, is entitled “Jeeves and the Hard Boiled Egg.”

Total runtime: 5:12

Family/adult: Great family fun, nice and clean

Price: Free Audio Book at Librivox

The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas

This free audio book is ideal for long, long road trips, since it’s total running time is nearly 50 hours. We’ve found that most road trips go at about 35 MPH including gas breaks and everything else. That makes this book good for the drive from Minneapolis to Miami (1,793 road miles). And what a book is it! The Count of Monte Cristo is a Dumas classic, full of adventure, vivid imagery, humor, drama, wrongful prosecution, adventure on the high seas, rags-to-riches, revenge, valor and at its heart, a love story. An amazing piece of work that once finished, you’ll thank yourself forever.

Total runtime: 49:43

Family/adult: Good for tweens upwards

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

This is a 12-story collection of mysteries and your favorite deducing detective, Sherlock Holmes. Each story is about an hour long, great for breaking up monotony on the road. As Drive contributor John Sciarrino points out, whodunnits are great for groups because everyone can play along guessing who did the deed. Also, this is a great Sherlock Holmes starting point, because Sherlock has been in the public domain forever, and there’s plenty more Sherlock free audio books out there to explore.

Total runtime: 10:17

Family/adult: Everyone

The Thirty-Nine Steps, by John Buchan.

This fast-paced thriller was the first of a kind and introduced the concept of “the wrong man” to fiction, a construct that’s been used everywhere from North by Northwest to The Big Lebowski. Set at the onset of World War I, an innocent engineer is caught up in a mess of murders, spies and secret codes whilst being pursued across the countryside.

Total runtime: 4:20

Family/Adult: Mostly adult fare.

Those are our favorite free audio books. Goodreads has a great list of the 100 most read free audio books right here .

Best Road Trip Audio Books

The Fountainhead, Ready Player One, The Arsenal of Democracy, 11/22/63

The Fountainhead, by Ayn Rand

Here’s why. It’s long as can be, and chock full of drama and concepts of individuality, the press, ideology, genius, vision, vanity, devastating beauty and despair. A fantastic read set in a sprawling metropolis populated by deep and well drawn characters. It’s Ayn Rand, which means it’s an intellectual powerhouse, and an enduring one. First published in 1943, it reads as contemporary as if it were published the day before yesterday, with concepts and constructs as modern as ever. You could go for “Atlas Shrugged,” another excellent audio book, but I think “The Fountainhead” is the better road trip audio book.

Total runtime: 32:01

Family/adult: Adults and forward-thinking teens

Price: $22 at Audible

Ready Player One, Ernest Cline

Sci-fi adventure in a virtual reality environment, jam-packed with ‘80s nostalgia for popular culture and a treasure hunt. “Ready Player One” has been on best-seller lists since its release in 2011 and enjoys enduring popularity and reader affinity. Once you’ve read it, you’ll be a member of a large club of people who just absolutely swear by and love this book. The audio book is a notably excellent read by Will Wheaton, a sci-fi superstar narrator in his own right.

Total runtime: 15:46

Family/adult: Teens and above

The Arsenal of Democracy, by A.J. Baime

We’re partial to this book about “FDR, Detroit and an epic quest to arm America at war” for a couple of reasons. First, it’s penned by Drive editor A.J. Baime. Second, it’s got tons of Detroit, Henry Ford, FDR, heavy metal, productions lines, bomber aircraft and illustrates how America won World War II with its capacity for production of war machinery. It’s fascinating historical non-fiction, well suited to miles on the road.

Runtime: 11:22

Family/adult: Best for Dads and Grads

Price: $18 at Audible

11/22/63, by Stephen King

You might have been thoroughly confused or amazed by James Franco in the Hulu adaption of this thriller, but we assure you: the book is longer, better, more jam packed with action, romance, sci-fi and thrills. As a way of making the time pass fast on the road, you don’t get much better than time traveling back to Dallas days before JFK’s assassination. The audio book is expensive, but just one credit if you’re an Audible member. And its defense, it’s a long and wild ride.

Runtime: 30:44

Family/adult: Adult

Price: $37 at Audible

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams

Humor sci-fi of the highest order, The Hitchhiker’s Guide is a vivid journey through time and space, wracked full of sight-gags, lettuce-crisp dialog, popular philosophy and science. It’s like Johnny Dangerously meets 2001, A Space Odyssey . This book is short at just under six hours, but is only the first in a series of five books. So, maybe you read this audio book on the way to Grandmother’s house, and the second, “The Restaurant at the End of the Universe ,”  on the way back. All are excellent, and if you get through all of these you can go to another whole series of Douglas Adams books (again, excellent) starting with Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency. But start with “the guide.” One last thing, I prefer the whole text as narrated by Stephen Fry over the dramatized versions.

Total runtime: 5:51

Family/adult: Enjoyable for all

Price: $15 at Audible

That’s it for today, but we’re going to keep updating this story as the suggestions come in. Tell us what you’re favorites and suggestions are in the comments below.

• New Releases
• Bestsellers
• Audiophile Essentials
• Recommendations
• Listening Tips
• Free Sampler

View all Genres

• Ambient dub
• Dark ambient
• Easy Listening
• Electronic music
• Meditation Music
• Acoustic Blues
• Bluesy Rock
• Classic Blues
• Contemporary Blues
• Country Blues
• Delta Blues
• Electric Blues
• Avant-Garde
• Chamber Music
• Classical Crossover
• Early Music
• Impressionist
• Instrumental
• Modern Composition
• Renaissance
• Alternative Country
• Contemporary Bluegrass
• Contemporary Country
• Country Folk
• Country Pop
• Traditional Bluegrass
• Traditional Country
• Meditation Musik
• Soundscapes
• Electro-Pop
• Electronica
• Experimental
• Traditional Folk
• Classical Guitar
• Fingerstyle
• Alternative
• Alternative Rap
• Avantgarde Jazz
• Contemporary Jazz
• Crossover Jazz
• Mainstream Jazz
• Modern Jazz
• Smooth Jazz
• Alternativo & Rock Latino
• Contemporary Latin
• Adult Contemporary
• Classic Soul
• Contemporary
• Hip Hop Soul
• Adult Alternative
• American Trad Rock
• Classic Rock
• Moderner Rock
• Southern Rock
• Alternative Folk
• Contemporary Folk
• New Acoustic
• Original Score
• Spoken Word
• Traditional Pop
• Celtic Folk

American Road Trip

American Road Trip Augustin Hadelich & Orion Weiss

Album-Release: 2024

HRA-Release: 23.08.2024

Label: Warner Classics

Genre: Classical

Subgenre: Instrumental

Artist: Augustin Hadelich & Orion Weiss

Composer: Amy Beach (1867-1944), Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson (1932-2004), Charles Ives (1874-1954), William Kroll (1901-1980), Manuel Maria Ponce (1882-1948), Stephen Hartke (1952), Daniel Bernard Roumain (1971), Eddie South (1904-1962), John Adams (1947), Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990), Aaron Copland (1900-1990)

Album including Album cover Booklet (PDF)

Formats & Prices

• Discography
• Amy Beach (1867 - 1944): Romance for Violin and Piano, Op. 23:
• 1 Beach: Romance for Violin and Piano, Op. 23 06:26
• Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson (1932 - 2004): Louisiana Blues Strut "A Cakewalk":
• 2 Perkinson: Louisiana Blues Strut "A Cakewalk" 02:33
• Charles Ives (1874 - 1954): Violin Sonata No. 4 "Children's Day at the Camp Meeting":
• 3 Ives: Violin Sonata No. 4 "Children's Day at the Camp Meeting": I. Allegro 02:16
• 4 Ives: Violin Sonata No. 4 "Children's Day at the Camp Meeting": II. Largo - Allegro 06:08
• 5 Ives: Violin Sonata No. 4 "Children's Day at the Camp Meeting": III. Allegro 01:44
• William Kroll (1901 - 1980): Banjo and Fiddle:
• 6 Kroll: Banjo and Fiddle 02:59
• Manuel Ponce (1882 - 1948): Estrellita (Arr. Heifetz for Violin and Piano):
• 7 Ponce: Estrellita (Arr. Heifetz for Violin and Piano) 02:58
• Stephen Hartke (b. 1952): Netsuke "6 Movements for Violin and Piano":
• 8 Hartke: Netsuke "6 Movements for Violin and Piano": No. 1, Tengu, the Shapeshifter that Feeds on the Falsely Holy 01:42
• 9 Hartke: Netsuke "6 Movements for Violin and Piano": No. 2, Tadamori and the Oil-thief 03:24
• 10 Hartke: Netsuke "6 Movements for Violin and Piano": No. 3, Tanuki Playing the Samisen 02:36
• 11 Hartke: Netsuke "6 Movements for Violin and Piano": No. 4, Baku, the Monster that Devours Nightmares 02:52
• 12 Hartke: Netsuke "6 Movements for Violin and Piano": No. 5, Demons Carrying a Rich Man to Hell 03:45
• 13 Hartke: Netsuke "6 Movements for Violin and Piano": No. 6, Jewel of Widsom with Mountain Pavilions 06:31
• Daniel Bernard Roumain (b. 1971): Filter:
• 14 Roumain: Filter 04:24
• Howdy Forrester (1922 - 1987): Wild Fiddler's Rag (Arr. Hadelich for Solo Violin):
• 15 Forrester: Wild Fiddler's Rag (Arr. Hadelich for Solo Violin) 02:11
• Eddie South (1904 - 1962): Black Gypsy:
• 16 South: Black Gypsy 02:57
• John Adams (b. 1947): Road Movies:
• 17 Adams: Road Movies: I. Relaxed Groove 05:07
• 18 Adams: Road Movies: II. Meditative 05:28
• 19 Adams: Road Movies: III. 40% Swing 05:11
• Leonard Bernstein (1918 - 1990): West Side Story:
• 20 Bernstein: West Side Story: Somewhere (Arr. Penaforte for Violin and Piano) 02:53
• Aaron Copland (1900 - 1990): Rodeo:
• 21 Copland: Rodeo: Hoe-Down (Version for Violin and Piano) 02:56
• Total Runtime 01:17:01

Info for American Road Trip

Violinist Augustin Hadelich embarks on an American Road Trip, travelling the musical highways and byways of his adoptive homeland in the company of pianist Orion Weiss. The duo perform works by a melting pot of American composers, writing in the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries and drawing on a diversity of idioms, influences and inspirations … from European Romanticism to revivalist hymns; from blues and jazz to bluegrass; from the banjo and ukelele to Jimi Hendrix’s guitar, and from a little Mexican star to exquisite Japanese carvings. Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein, Charles Ives and John Adams take their place beside Amy Beach, Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, Eddie South, Howdy Forrester, Manuel M. Ponce and – flying the flag for today’s composers along with Adams – Daniel Bernard Roumain and Stephen Hartke. Augustin Hadelich, born in Italy to German parents, moved to the USA at the age of 19 to study at New York’s Juilliard School and became an American citizen in 2014. In the words of The Strad magazine, “Hadelich’s playing brings together the best qualities of both American and European playing: passion, polish and coherence, but also thoughtfulness, expressivity and nuance.” Augustin Hadelich, violin Orion Weiss, piano

Augustin Hadelich & Orion Weiss

Booklet for American Road Trip

HighRes-Studio Master files are lossless at various sample rates from 44.1 kHz up to 384 kHz or 1-bit (2.8224 MHz) for DSD.

Studio Master: FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec )

• Widely compatible with Network Streaming players and D/A Converter's (DAC).
• Supported by Windows with software player from Media Monkey, JRiver, JPLAY).
• Supported by Apple OS with software player from Amarra, Audirvana, PureMusic, Songbird.

Studio Master: ALAC (Apple Lossless Audio Coding)

• For users, using Apple/iTunes and a few Network Streaming players
• Supported by Apple OS with software player from Amarra, Audirvana, PureMusic).
• Note: ALAC only supports up to 96 kHz!

Studio Master: DSD (Direct-Stream Digital)

• High-End Network-Streaming players and few D/A Converter's (DAC).
• Supported by Windows with software player from JRiver, KORG MediaGate.
• Supported by Apple OS with software player from Audirvana, PureMusic, JRiver.

Studio Master: MQA (Master Quality Authenticated)

• An MQA file is backward compatible so will play on any device. If you play MQA on a certified product, with an MQA decoder, the file will playback the original studio-master file.
• MQA (Green light) indicates the sound is identical to that of the original source material.
• MQA Studio (Blue light) indicates the sound is identical to that of the original source material and has either been approved in the studio by the artist/producer or has been verified by the copyright owner.
• Introduction
• Quality Guarantee
• This is HRA (brochure)
• Bonus Points
• Buy Vouchers
• Gutscheine im Handel
• VoucherCard Top-Up
• Download Guide
• Download Manager
• Help - Download
• FAQ - Download
• Streaming App
• Help - Streaming
• FAQ - Streaming
• Audiosystems
• Retailer Login
• Privacy Policy
• Cookie Settings
• Terms of Service

Get Daily Travel Tips & Deals!

By proceeding, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use .

10 Engrossing Audiobooks for Travelers

Shannon McMahon

Editor Shannon McMahon is always planning her next trip and often writing in her travel journal. Follow her on Twitter @shanmcmahon_ and on Instagram @shanmcmahon .

Shannon joined SmarterTravel in 2015. A former news reporter, she's lived in the south of Spain, spotted elephants in Sri Lanka, gone spelunking in the Caribbean, hiked Jordan's Petra Basin, interviewed Sao Paulo's Michelin-Star chefs, and explored China via bullet train. Travel trends, news oddities, and her visits to up-and-coming destinations are some of her favorite things to write about.

Her stories have also appeared online on USA Today, The Sun, Huffington Post, Business Insider, blog.TripAdvisor.com, Boston.com, and more. Her educational background is in journalism, art history, gender studies, Spanish, and film. She's been quoted as an expert travel source by CNBC, People.com, MarketWatch, The Washington Post, USA Today, and more.

The Handy Item I Always Pack : "Plenty of extra thick hair elastics. They tame my frizzy curls and come in handy in a surprising number of packing and hotel dilemmas."

Ultimate Bucket List Experience : "Climbing (yes, climbing, it's steep!) the Great Wall of China before it's gone."

Travel Motto : "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness." - Mark Twain

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat : "Window, of course."

Email Shannon at [email protected] .

Travel Smarter! Sign up for our free newsletter.

Stuck at home, in a car, or on a long flight? There’s no better way to pass the time than by enjoying a book hands-free. Here are some of the best audiobooks for travelers.

True West , Sam Shepard

Heading west on a road trip? Kick off the adventure with True West , a dark comedy and American classic about a sibling rivalry that plays out in the California desert. A screenplay about a film script, True West might be a better listen than it is a read, and it doesn’t hurt that actors Kit Harrington and Johnny Flynn are the narrators.

Length: 87 minutes

What People Are Saying: “ Kit Harington ( Games of Thrones ) and Johnny Flynn ( Beast ) smolder and burn as sparring brothers in Sam Shepard’s darkly comic 1980 drama. The Cain and Abel conflict is a showdown of sibling rivalry, to be sure, but also bears witness to a legacy of booze-fueled family brawls.”–Amazon

Heads Will Roll , Kate McKinnon

SNL fans and comedy connoisseurs alike will love and laugh at Heads Will Roll by Kate McKinnon and Emily Lynne—which is not to be listened to within earshot of kids. The SNL star and her sister steer this 10-episode theatrical audiobook comedy with the help of big stars ranging from narrator Tim Gunn to Meryl Streep.

Length: 4 hours

What People Are Saying: “The series stars McKinnon as a malevolent monarch and her sister, Emily Lynne, as a scatterbrained minion. It appears to poke fun at tired tropes of the evil queen and the hero’s journey while also relishing in their theatrical value. In terms of plot, the story focuses on McKinnon’s character, Queen Mortuana of the Night Realm, who catches wind of a potential peasant uprising and realizes that in order to put down the rebellion, she and her assistant JoJo (played by Lynne) must go on a quest.”—PopDust

The Buried , Peter Hessler

The telling of the most recent Egyptian revolution through the lens of ancient archaeology, The Buried: An Archaeology of the Egyptian Revolution is authored by New Yorker writer Peter Hessler, who moved to Cairo with his family just before the Egyptian Arab Spring began in 2011. History, politics, and cultural norms converge through the lives of the locals Hessler meets, and link today’s Egypt with ancient times in a satisfying explainer of Egypt’s rich past and complex present.

Length: 16 hours, 44 minutes

What People Are Saying: “Seen from afar, tectonic political shifts often look as if they consume a society. But have you ever been someplace in the middle of momentous political events and found everyone around you getting on with daily life? Few reporters seem better placed to fathom the complexities of this dynamic—ripples of disquiet permeating routine existence—than Peter Hessler.”— The Wall Street Journal

The Pioneers , David McCullough

History buffs can revel in the years during which the first band of settlers set out from Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin to conquer the American Northwest, with David McCullough’s The Pioneers: The Heroic Story of the Settlers Who Brought the American Ideal West . The real-life accounts are drawn from rare diary entries by the subjects of the novel.

Length: 10 hours, 23 minutes

What People Are Saying: “ McCullough tells the story through five major characters: Cutler and Putnam; Cutler’s son Ephraim; and two other men, one a carpenter turned architect and the other a physician who became a prominent pioneer in American science. They and their families created a town in a primeval wilderness while coping with such frontier realities as floods, fires, wolves and bears, no roads or bridges, and no guarantees of any sort, all the while negotiating a contentious and sometimes hostile relationship with the native people. Like so many of McCullough’s subjects, they let no obstacle deter or defeat them.”—Amazon  

Life Will Be the Death of Me , Chelsea Handler

The latest memoir by talk-show comedian Chelsea Handler surprises audiences with its rawness that transcends comedy by addressing the state of American politics. Life Will Be the Death of Me … and You Too is Handler’s sixth book.

Length: 5 hours, 25 minutes

What People Are Saying: “You thought you knew Chelsea Handler—and she thought she knew herself—but in her new book, she discovers that true progress lies in the direction we haven’t been.”—Gloria Steinem

Game of Thrones , George R.R. Martin

HBO’s hit show might be over, but you can go back to the beginning with Game of Thrones: A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 1 . Or choose from the entire series , which are some of the best audiobooks for road trips even if you’re new to the saga—although you will need a lot of time to get through them all.

Length: 33 hours, 46 minutes (Book 1)

What People Are Saying: “There have been many fantasy sagas published in the last half century, but few can boast the scope, depth, and attention to detail of A Song of Fire and Ice.”—Common Sense Media

From Scratch , Tembi Locke

Travelers of all backgrounds will appreciate this romance about cross-cultural boundaries, love at first sight, family, food, and death. From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home also ends with a collection of recipes (included in text form).

Length: 10 hours, 17 minutes

What People Are Saying: “The writing in From Scratch is sublime. Locke allows her readers to revel in the sensory experiences of Sicily. She offers a peek into her deeply satisfying relationship with her daughter, her husband, and their family.”—The Associated Press

The Night Tiger , Yangsze Choo

A book-club favorite of late, The Night Tiger: A Novel follows a hardworking dressmaker whose small Malaysian village encounters a series of puzzling deaths and rumors of men who turn into tigers. It’s a dense but fantastical tale that makes it one of the best audiobooks for road trips spanning many hours.

Length: 14 hours, 8 minutes

What People Are Saying: “Choo narrates this richly complex novel herself, her gorgeous writing delivered in a voice that is deep and precise and lovely, both British and not quite. Her tone and words transport us.”— San Francisco Chronicle

Elizabeth II: Life of a Monarch , Ruth Cowen

Queen Elizabeth’s early private life and public reign still read like a blockbuster movie, whether or not you’re headed for the U.K. anytime soon. Elizabeth II: Life of a Monarch is written by British journalist Ruth Cowen and narrated by respected British royal correspondent Jennie Bond.

Length: 3 hours, 47 minutes

What People Are Saying: “Wife, mother and head of state, who is the real Elizabeth? What do the headlines hide? How close to reality are the television interpretations? … Admired by many, she has reigned through a period of unprecedented change, steering the monarchy through the end of an empire, public scandals and private losses.”—Goodreads

Before She Knew Him , Peter Swanson

A tale of paranoia and unsolved murder in a suburb of Boston,   Before She Knew Him: A Novel is a complex crime novel that will keep you guessing as to what’s reality and what’s not.

Length: 10 hours, 15 minutes

What People Are Saying: “ Before She Knew Him  is a wicked thriller that does not disappoint. Peter Swanson has written another gem that pulls the reader in and never lets go, even as the story comes to a close. This is a book that will keep you up at night and haunt your thoughts. A fun, chilling read.”—Manhattan Book Review

More from SmarterTravel:

• 8 Best Travel Books and Their Real-Life Destinations
• 11 Travel Movies and Shows to Inspire Your Next Trip
• 15 Great Summer Books to Read at the Beach

SmarterTravel Editor Shannon McMahon writes about all things travel. Follow her on Instagram at  @shanmcmahon .

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2019. It has been updated to reflect the most current information.

We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.

Top Fares From

Don't see a fare you like? View all flight deals from your city.

Today's top travel deals.

Brought to you by ShermansTravel

Germany: 8-Night Christmas Markets Tour w/Daily...

TripCompanion Tours

Poconos: 2-Nt, All-Incl. Stay at Upscale...

ResortsAndLodges.com

10-Night Mediterranean Cruise From Barcelona to...

Norwegian Cruise Line

Trending on SmarterTravel

• CDs & Vinyl

Enjoy fast, free delivery, exclusive deals, and award-winning movies & TV shows with Prime Try Prime and start saving today with fast, free delivery

Amazon Prime includes:

Fast, FREE Delivery is available to Prime members. To join, select "Try Amazon Prime and start saving today with Fast, FREE Delivery" below the Add to Cart button.

• Cardmembers earn 5% Back at Amazon.com with a Prime Credit Card.
• Unlimited Free Two-Day Delivery
• Streaming of thousands of movies and TV shows with limited ads on Prime Video.
• A Kindle book to borrow for free each month - with no due dates
• Listen to over 2 million songs and hundreds of playlists
• Unlimited photo storage with anywhere access

Important:  Your credit card will NOT be charged when you start your free trial or if you cancel during the trial period. If you're happy with Amazon Prime, do nothing. At the end of the free trial, your membership will automatically upgrade to a monthly membership.

Buy new: #buybox .a-accordion .a-accordion-active .a-price[data-a-size=l].reinventPriceAccordionT2 .a-price-whole { font-size: 28px !important; } #buybox .a-accordion .a-accordion-active .a-price[data-a-size=l].reinventPriceAccordionT2 .a-price-fraction, #buybox .a-accordion .a-accordion-active .a-price[data-a-size=l].reinventPriceAccordionT2 .a-price-symbol { top: -0.75em; font-size: 13px; } $15.99 $ 15 . 99 FREE delivery Saturday, August 31 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35 Ships from: Amazon Sold by: QualityCD&DVD

Return this item for free.

We offer easy, convenient returns with at least one free return option: no shipping charges. All returns must comply with our returns policy.

• Go to your orders and start the return
• Select your preferred free shipping option
• Drop off and leave!

Save with Used - Good #buybox .a-accordion .a-accordion-active .a-price[data-a-size=l].reinventPriceAccordionT2 .a-price-whole { font-size: 28px !important; } #buybox .a-accordion .a-accordion-active .a-price[data-a-size=l].reinventPriceAccordionT2 .a-price-fraction, #buybox .a-accordion .a-accordion-active .a-price[data-a-size=l].reinventPriceAccordionT2 .a-price-symbol { top: -0.75em; font-size: 13px; } $8.00 $ 8 . 00 $3.99 delivery September 5 - 17 Ships from: WeBuyBooks-UK Sold by: WeBuyBooks-UK

Image unavailable.

• Sorry, this item is not available in
• Image not available
• To view this video download Flash Player

American Road Trip / Various

• Audio CD $15.99 2 Used from $8.00 10 New from $9.98

Frequently bought together

Similar items that may ship from close to you

Track Listings

Editorial reviews.

American Road Trip is a 60 track journey through the heart of America – think Bon Jovi, Fleetwood Mac, Tina Turner and Journey and you’re on the right track... American Road Trip harks back to the golden era of big rock anthems, when the only thing bigger than these tracks was the artists’ hair... Disc: 1 1. 1 Bon Jovi - Livin on a Prayer 2. 2 Fleetwood Mac - Go Your Own Way 3. 3 Boston - More Than A Feeling 4. 4 Journey - Don't Stop Beliven 5. 5 Whitesnake - Is This Love 6. 6 Mr. Mister - Broken Wings 7. 7 The Cars - Drive 8. 8 Heart - Alone 9. 9 Foreigner - I Want To Know What Love Is 10. 10 Huey Lewis & The News - The Power Of Love 11. 11 The Doobie Brothers - Long Train Runnin 12. 12 Darryl Hall and John Oates - Maneater 13. 13 The Knack - My Sharona 14. 14 Survivor - Eye of The Tiger 15. 15 Rainbow - Since You Been Gone 16. 16 Christopher Cross - Ride Like The Wind 17. 17 Toto - Africa 18. 18 Lynyrd Skynyrd - Sweet Home Alabama 19. 19 Don Mclean - American Pie Disc: 2 1. 1 Tina Turner - The Best 2. 2 Belinda Carlisle - Heaven Is A Place On Earth 3. 3 Cher - If I Could Turn Back Time 4. 4 Irene Cara - Flashdance...What A Feeling 5. 5 Berlin - Take My Breath Away 6. 6 Peter Cetera - Glory Of Love 7. 7 Kiss - I Was Made For Lovin' You 8. 8 Starship - We Built This City 9. 9 Manfred Mann's Earth Band - Do Anything You Wanna Do 10. 10 Kim Carnes - Bette Davis Eyes 11. 11 Blondie - Call Me 12. 12 Suzi Quatro - Devil Gate Drive 13. 13 Wilson Phillips - Hold On 14. 14 Richard Marx - Right Here Waiting 15. 15 The J. Geils Band - Centrefold 16. 16 Marc Cohn - Walking In Memphis 17. 17 Deep Blue Something - Breakfast at Tiffany's 18. 18 Great White - Once Bitten Twice Shy 19. 19 ZZ Top - Sharp Dressed Man 20. 20 Chuck Berry - Johnny B. Goode Plus many more on CD 3

Product details

• Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
• Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.51 x 5.04 x 0.67 inches; 4.66 ounces
• Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ Universal
• Original Release Date ‏ : ‎ 2017
• Date First Available ‏ : ‎ July 19, 2017
• Label ‏ : ‎ Universal
• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B073SR1YJ7
• Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 3
• #6,120 in Rock (CDs & Vinyl)

Customer reviews

• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 5 star 73% 18% 5% 2% 2% 73%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 4 star 73% 18% 5% 2% 2% 18%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 3 star 73% 18% 5% 2% 2% 5%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 2 star 73% 18% 5% 2% 2% 2%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 1 star 73% 18% 5% 2% 2% 2%

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

• Sort reviews by Top reviews Most recent Top reviews

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. please try again later..

Top reviews from other countries

• Amazon Newsletter
• About Amazon
• Accessibility
• Sustainability
• Press Center
• Investor Relations
• Amazon Devices
• Amazon Science
• Sell on Amazon
• Sell apps on Amazon
• Supply to Amazon
• Protect & Build Your Brand
• Become an Affiliate
• Become a Delivery Driver
• Start a Package Delivery Business
• Advertise Your Products
• Self-Publish with Us
• Become an Amazon Hub Partner
• › See More Ways to Make Money
• Amazon Visa
• Amazon Store Card
• Amazon Secured Card
• Amazon Business Card
• Shop with Points
• Credit Card Marketplace
• Reload Your Balance
• Amazon Currency Converter
• Your Account
• Your Orders
• Shipping Rates & Policies
• Amazon Prime
• Returns & Replacements
• Manage Your Content and Devices
• Recalls and Product Safety Alerts
• Registry & Gift List
• Conditions of Use
• Privacy Notice
• Consumer Health Data Privacy Disclosure
• Your Ads Privacy Choices

Want the FREE Summer Reading Guide? CLICK HERE!

25+ Best Audiobooks for Family Road Trips

The season of family road trips must be upon us because I’m getting LOTS of emails and messages asking for recommendations for the best audiobooks for family road trips.

Fortunately, I’ve been preparing for this post for years without even knowing it. If you’re headed out on a long trip, want to keep your kids from going nuts while you’re running errands around town, or need something to entertain them during quiet time , all of these are books you can’t miss with.

I hope you’ll love them too!

And if you’re new to Audible , you can grab a free month here and download one of these books for free (and you’ll own it forever, even if you cancel your subscription after the free month).

If you want your kids to be better at listening to audiobooks, try keeping their hands busy! Pop in your email and I’ll send you a list of 20+ ideas your kids can do while listening to an audiobook!

I hope your family will love these audiobooks as much as we have – if you have other recommendations or questions about using audiobooks with your children, leave a note in the comments!

If you liked this post about the best audiobooks for family road trips, you might also like these posts:

• How my children listen to audiobooks
• Audiobooks for little listeners (ages 2-4)
• How to use Audible

Photos by Heather Mildenstein

Similar Posts

Make the Bread, Buy the Butter by Jennifer Reese

The Lake House by Kate Morton

Everything You Should Know About Audible Plus

Click – ten authors.

Books to Read If You Liked Diary of a Wimpy Kid

30 MORE Audiobook Deals under $2

42 comments.

I’m not really an audiobook listener, but a couple of books that make good read alouds are Half Magic by Edward Eager and The Bill Peet stories, especially How Droofus the Dragon Lost His Head . Also, has Ella read Sideways Arithmetic ?

My kids and I love the Vanderbeeker audiobooks!

Sarah Mylnowski’s Upside Down Magic series is also fantastic to listen to. My son and I have loved it, and are anxiously awaiting the next release which isn’t until next fall.

thanks for these suggestions, we are always looking for more books to listen to together in the car.

I haven’t read or listened to all of these so I’m happy to add a few more to my Audible library. I don’t like to think about how much money we’ve spent there over the years. My oldest boys burn through credits so fast. I figure it’s not the worst addiction to have.

Ha! Many worse problems to have for sure.

Another great series by Jonathan Stroud is the Lockwood & Co books. Not for little kids that scare easily though, because some parts were so tense and creepy that even I was anxious! But so, so good. A series we just started on CD is the Sea of Trolls by Nancy Farmer. My boys ages 6-10 (the 3yo just goes along with it) love it. There’s enough Viking burp and fart jokes sprinkled throughout to make them laugh uproariously. It’s a fun intro into Norse mythology, Druidic magic and even some early Christianity. We haven’t gotten through all three books yet (book one was better than book two in my opinion) but The Sea of Trolls gets enthusiastic thumbs up from my boys. It’s also wonderfully narratated by an Irishman.

So many good ones on this list! Another really fun series on audio (lovely British accents!) Is the Chrestomanci series by Diana Wynn Jones. Great for young Harry Potter fans – lot’s of fun magic, but none of the scary stuff.

Oooh, thanks!

Absolutely the best audiobook all six of us in the family loved was How To Train Your Dragon read by David Tennant. I had absolutely no interest in the book based on the movie or book blurb, but the writing is actually very clever and Tennant’s cast of Vikings is incredible.

I was going to suggest How to Train your Dragon as well! The movie is really roughly based on the book- they are pretty different from one another, but we love both! And the reader for the audiobook is really good. they are so clever and hilarious!

I was going to say the same thing! The movie bears only a slight relation to the books. And there are 12 of them to keep you going. Tennant is brilliant, and the stories are funny, thoughtful, and wonderful for the whole family.

We grew up listening to Cheaper by the Dozen on long road trips. So many good memories.

I loved Mixed up files and Walk Two Moons. We just finished princess academy and the kids loved it (except for the music!) The Whatever After series has been fun but I prefer them to read those on their own. 😉 thanks for all the suggestions!

Just listen to Chitty Chitty Bang Bang per your recommendation and the kids loved it and had the same reaction when they saw the movie. My favorite is Peter in the Starcatchers, I just love Jim Dale. Thanks for this list, it gives me a lot that I have never heard of. We just love audiobooks.

In reference to your Katherine Kellgren comment I too could listen to anything she reads! So I have to respond and say don’t forget about her reading of Maryrose Wood’s delightful series The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place. My daughter had already read the entire series twice but LOVES to listen to the audiobook. She will often mimic Ms. Kellgren’s Lady Constance. Please tell me you’ve heard of this series?!!

I’ve heard of it but hadn’t read it! Now that I know she reads it, I’m all in!

We are huge fans of Maryrose Wood! Genius writer we adore the Incorribible Children of Ashton Place. Great series for road-trip!

Oh I must add the whole Beverly Cleary series Ramona and Judy Blume’s series of Fudge books. We laughed and laughed at both. My kids clapped at the end of Penderwicks because the loved it so much!

My kids love the 13-story Treehouse audio books. They’re really fun and feature great Australian accents. We’ve also been fans of Allie Finkle’s Rules for Girls. Pretty much anything by Meg Cabot is great, but this is particularly great on audio.

• Pingback: Scribd: My New Favorite Audiobook App - Everyday Reading
• Pingback: The Best Podcasts for Kids: The New Circle Round Podcast with Stories from Around the World
• Pingback: Savvy by Ingrid Law - Everyday Reading
• Pingback: Ella Enjoyed: 5 Books She's Loved - Everyday Reading
• Pingback: 75 Audiobooks to Listen to This Year - Everyday Reading
• Pingback: 100 MORE Picture Books to Read This Summer - Everyday Reading
• Pingback: Family-Friendly Audiobooks for the Drive – Russell Honda Blog

We are big audiobook lovers at our house so we will for sure be checking out the ones on this list that we haven’t read yet. One series we discovered on accident last summer and loved was the Gooney Bird Greene collection by Lois Lowry.

The Redwall series is very good too. 🙂

so glad I found all these great audiobook ideas before our road trip. When I saw Peter and the Star Catchers I knew I would like your suggestions. We happened upon Mister Max: the book of secrets by Cynthia Voigt and really enjoyed it and the sequels. My boys love Hatchet and other Gary Paulsen stories and my daughter is a big fan of the Green Ember series on audio.

Yes! I was going to suggest the Redwall books! They are read by a whole cast, all doing these wonderful voices for the many animal characters. The stories are intriguing and fascinating and my husband and I found they were as interesting to us as they were to my daughter, and there are quite a few to choose from!

Everyone in our family age 10 and up loved Skulduggery Pleasant. However, our 6 year old was a little lost and a lot scared a few chapters in. The music between chapters was scary to her and the break in during of the middle of the night put her over the edge. So I’d say it’s a good book for ages 9+. And for those ages, it’s fantastic!

We listened to all of the Little House on the Prairie books and loved them. I’m not sure if our five year old boy or my wife and I liked them more. Cherry Jones was the reader and did an amazing job. There are also multiple times a fiddle is played and there is singing which brings an extra element to the audio book.

Thanks for putting this list together. We just listened to Skullduggery and loved it! Look forward to exploring more.

Thank you for these! We do a lot of road trips and camping, plus traveling for activities. Can’t wait to check a few out. Our boys (ages 9 & 6) also love some podcasts. Steve Rinella’s Meat Eater has a lot of interesting and educational ones!

Amari and the Night Brothers

I love your oucks. I havecread most if them with my boys. When they were young we always had z story playing in the car. Here’s a great series you might like, it’s from R.L. LaFevers, the first book of the series is Theodosia and the Serpent of Choas. It’s a fun and fast paced book.

Do you a nice list of these audio books? I seem to be overlooking it. Thanks!

“Beethoven Lives Upstairs”. We listened to it on CD, over and over in the car. Amazing recording. It’s a series that includes several other composers but Beethoven Lives Upstairs was our favorite!

“Beethoven Lives Upstairs”. We listened to this over and over on road trips. Fantastic recording!

Sorry for the duplicate comment! It looked as if it didn’t process the first time and I can’t figure out how to delete it. Love your content!

Our family’s very favorite audiobook series is the Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson! My husband and I may have loved them even more than our kiddos. There are four books in the series – each of which gets better than the previous one. Andrew Peterson reads the audiobooks and does an amazing job with all the voices! The four books are: On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness; North! Or be Eaten; A Monster in the Hollows; The Warden and the Wolf King. There are many made up lands in this series and it’s very helpful to hear the author pronounce them. I absolutely cannot recommend this series enough! We listened on long road trips with a 2-year-old, 4-year-old, 7-year-old, and 10-year-old.

My family listened to all the Harry Potter books and loved them. Amari and the night brothers was a good follow up

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• How to Tie a Tie
• Best Coffee Beans
• How to Shape a Beard
• Best Sweaters for Men
• Most Expensive Cognac
• Monos vs Away Luggage
• Best Luxury Hotel Chains
• Fastest Cars in the World
• Ernest Hemingway Books
• What Does CBD Feel Like?
• Canada Goose Alternatives
• Fastest Motorcycles in the World

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

The Best Audiobooks for Road Trips

So, you’re hitting the open road. Good call. These days, a good long road trip can feel like the safest way to travel, and it’s such a huge relief to be able to leave your house with your pod and just simply see something new. Still, long car trips can be hard for some people who want constant entertainment. 

On the Road

• But What If We’re Wrong?

What If? Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions

The martian, my brilliant friend, to the lighthouse, the white boy shuffle, where the crawdads sing, my sister, the serial killer.

And if you want entertainment, you’re in luck! Even if it’s not how you spend 100% of your time in the car, probably the best way to kill a few hours of the drive is with a great audiobook . Here are some of our favorites to pass the time as you hit the open road. 

A natural choice for when you yourself are on the road, Jack Kerouac’s classic American novel follows the story of a man in the 1950s hitchhiking his way across the country and the grand and extraordinary cast of characters he meets along the way. At just under 12 hours, the audiobook is a completely manageable length. On a weeklong trip with just a couple hours of listening every day, it’s a great choice for life on the highway. 

Andrew Sean Greer’s satirical novel won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2018, which is reason enough to read it. Less is the story of a writer traveling all over the world, dealing with aging, writing, fatigue, success, and lost love. 

But What If We’re Wrong?

If your speed is more nonfiction, Chuck Klosterman’s books are a great place to start, and my personal favorite would be But What If We’re Wrong? Klosterman doesn’t just seek to examine why certain things rise to popularity, but he tries to identify what aspects of our current popular culture will stick in hundreds of years. 

What If? is almost made for long car rides. In his book, Randall Munroe takes you step by step through intense and often silly problem-solving. The kinds of questions where you have to skip over the immediate response of “that doesn’t make sense.” For example, when asked “What if you hit a baseball that was pitched at 90% of the speed of light?” Munroe, through some “back of the envelope” calculation, concludes that you would probably cause a large explosion (and the umpire would call that a hit by pitch — take your base). 

Meanwhile, if you enjoy the intense step-by-step problem-solving, Andy Weir’s novel The Martian gives you that and more. While Matt Damon’s movie was an extremely fun watch, the book is even better because it gives you every single thought — good or bad, triumphant or failing — the lost astronaut has on his journey to survive and escape the red planet.

If you liked On The Road , here’s an even more nonfictional version from one of America’s strangest and most beloved artists. John Waters is fully and famously John Waters in the early 2010s when he sets off to travel the U.S. by hitchhiking only. From Baltimore to San Francisco, Waters makes his way across America with all that he needs, namely his cardboard sign that reads “I’M NOT CRAZY.” 

On your next road trip, you should take in the first novel in the most notable contemporary epic series. Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan Novels follow Lenu and Lila over the course of nearly their whole lives. Ferrante’s books are deeply compelling and tender, and My Brilliant Friend is only the beginning. 

Another classic novel for you to revisit or take in for the first time, Virginia Woolf’s To the Lighthouse is completely entrancing from start to finish. In elegant, sprawling prose, Woolf’s novel of winding descriptions may not make for the most uplifting road trip fare, but it’s certainly one you won’t soon forget. 

If you’re looking for something that’s a little lighter and funnier but still sharp and cutting, you need to start looking into Paul Beatty’s work. A great place to start would be The White Boy Shuffle , Beatty’s debut novel about a young Black outcast turned basketball star turned savior of the downtrodden. Beatty’s work is often thought-provoking and always hilarious. 

Another recent bestseller stunner was Delia Owens’ Where the Crawdads Sing. Owens’ novel bends a few different genres together. It’s all the drama of a doomed romance and all the drama of a thrilling mystery, and everywhere in between is tremendous and deeply felt prose. If you haven’t gotten to this one yet, get on it now for your next road trip.

In Lagos, Nigeria, Ayoola keeps stabbing her boyfriends to death. For the third time in a row, Ayoola has had to kill her boyfriend “in self-defense.” Her sister, Korede, is certainly suspicious though. Oyinkan Braithwaite’s 2018 debut is dark, funny, and well worth your time. It’s a great story to make your road trip fly by. 

Editors’ Recommendations

• These are the best podcasts for long road trips
• From Alaska to Maine, these are 12 best road trip routes in the U.S. for embarking on an adventure of a lifetime
• Road trip tips: Travel with one of the best ultralight travel trailers
• From efficient to exotic, these are the best road trip cars for exploring the country
• The 10 best states for road trips: Where to go on your epic summer getaway
• Books & Music

Most people will, at some point in their lives, need to book a flight. Whether for business or pleasure, booking a flight can be straightforward or a little more complicated depending on certain factors.

If a flight is urgent, then the luxury of booking in advance and saving money is often lost, whereas booking a holiday flight months in advance gives you ample room to shop around for the best deals available at that particular point in time. Other factors that affect pricing include the destination, the time of year of travel, and how far in advance you are allowed to book certain flight tickets. If it is limited to a couple of weeks, then you can expect to pay more, but if you are allowed to book months in advance, then this is where the most significant savings can be found.

Thanks to post-holiday wallet-tightening, kids heading back to school, and frigid weather in most parts of the United States, January is typically a quiet month for travel. However, it’s a great time to get away thanks to thinner crowds, dirt-cheap airfares, beautiful weather, or all three in destinations around the world. With the holidays squarely in the rear-view, why not plan your first great getaway of the new year.

If you're looking to embrace the winter weather, there are plenty of snowy destinations perfect for skiing, snowboarding, cold-weather hiking, and more. If you'd rather escape the latest "bomb cyclone," there are plenty more destinations where it feels like summer year round. Whatever you're into, we've rounded up seven of the best places to travel in January 2023. Quebec City, Quebec

Travel can be super-stressful. Between packing, getting the tickets, making sure you're checking in on time, going to the right gate, and also hopefully taking off when you're supposed to, it's a hassle. One of the biggest things we tend to worry about is our luggage, and how it's going to fare with the rough travel and handling of airport personnel, and while we have a list of some of the best carry-on luggage, they can be expensive. To that end, we've collected some of the best cheap suitcase deals out on the market, ones that still offer a ton of protection and peace of mind, but that don't necessarily break the bank. Best Cheap Suitcase Deals

American Tourister Zoom Turbo 20-inch expandable spinner suitcase - $119, was $120

This article contains affiliate links. We may receive compensation if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you.

12 Iconic American Foods – A Culinary Road Trip

Join us on a culinary road trip across America! We’re sharing a dozen must-eat iconic American foods to eat on any journey from sea to shining sea plus a bonus food that requires a plane ride.

See if your favorite American food icon made the list!

1. Philly Cheesesteak in Philadelphia

There’s no argument that the Philly cheesesteak was invented in the City of Brotherly Love – the city’s name is in the sandwich name after all. There’s also no argument that the most appropriate toppings for the long chopped steak sandwich are cheese (either Cheez Wiz or provolone) and fried onions. Instead, the argument focuses on who makes the best Philly cheesesteak in the gloriously greasy sandwich’s home city.

Explore More: Philadelphia Food Favorites

2. Hot Dogs Everywhere

When most people think of American hot dogs, they typically think of grilled all-beef wieners topped with spicy mustard and sweet relish in New York City or loaded Chi-Dogs in Chicago . But these preparations merely represent the tip of the hot dog hierarchy. Other wiener winners include charbroiled hot dogs in Buffalo , Elk jalapeño cheddar dogs in Denver, Sonoran hot dogs in Tucson half smokes in Washington, DC, poi dogs in Hawaii, coneys in Detroit, corn dogs in Dallas and Tijuana dogs in California.

Explore More: Awesome Hot Dogs Around the World

3. Italian Beef Sandwich in Chicago

Despite its name, the Italian Beef Sandwich is an all-American sandwich with deep Chicago roots. It’s basically a long roll that’s filled with thinly sliced roast beef. Chicago cooks follow local tradition by cooking seasoned roast beef in water and keeping it warm in its own juices on a steam table. The meat’s jus becomes part of the sandwich, adding a juiciness that’s not so different from the jus in a French Dip. That jus makes ketchup and mustard obsolete. Locals skip those condiments and instead pile on sweet peppers and/or spicy, pickled giardiniera , both of which provide additional color and flavor. You should do the same.

Explore More: Awesome Sandwiches in America

4. Buffalo Wings in Buffalo

Celebrated at an annual festival and served in pubs around the city, Buffalo Wings are more prolific in its home city today than when Teressa Bellissimo first served them at The Anchor Bar in 1964. Sides of carrots, celery and blue cheese dipping sauce offset the calories – at least that’s our story and we’re sticking to it.

Explore More: Baked Buffalo Wings Recipe

5. Clam Chowder in Boston and NYC

Though associated with New England, great clam soup or “chower” is a hearty soup served throughout America’s eastern seaboard with one unifying factor – the clams themselves. New England clam chowder is a white, milky, creamy soup while Portuguese immigrants inspired the replacement of milk with tomatoes in the Manhattan version.

Explore More: Awesome Soups Around the World

6. Crab Cakes in Maryland

Cooks in the country’s Mid-Atlantic region claimed the crab cake as their own more than a century ago with many calling them Maryland crab cakes instead of just crab cakes. Around the Chesapeake Bay, cooks whip up two versions. Fried ‘Boardwalk’ crab cakes are easy to eat inside a hamburger bun while ‘Restaurant’ crab cakes are made without fillers and served on a plate. The best ones are filled with lumps of local blue crab and flavored with Old Bay Seasoning.

7. Gumbo in New Orleans

Roux-thickened, brown bowl of Louisiana gumbo, filled with thick slices of Andouille sausage, chicken or seafood, is a New Orleans food favorite with French, Creole and Native American influences. Some gumbos are thickened with okra while, others, in a nod to Choctaw influence, are thickened with file (a thickening powder from the American sassafras tree).

Explore More: Where to Eat Gumbo and More Iconic Dishes in New Orleans

8. Pizza in Chicago, Detroit, New Haven and NYC

America’s history with pizza dates back to 1905 when Naples native Gennaro Lombardi started making coal-fired pies in New York’s Little Italy. Since then, the entire country has fallen in love with the cheap eats favorite that combines dough, tomatoes, cheese and various toppings to create a food that’s as simple as it is complex. Beyond NYC, the cities of Chicago, Detroit and New Haven are particularly noteworthy for creating unique American pizza styles.

Explore More: Pizza in Chicago , New Haven and NYC

9. BBQ in Kansas, Memphis, Texas & the Carolinas

Americans love cooking their meat over fire, whether it’s over a hot grill or low and slow in a smoker. It’s so popular that the country has four distinct BBQ styles: Carolina Style, Kansas City Style, Memphis Style and Texas Style. While you can find barbecue all over the country, eating it at the source is the best way to go.

Explore More: Texas BBQ in Lockhart

10. Cobb Salad in California

Bob Cobb (yes, that’s his real name) introduced his signature salad at The Brown Derby in Los Angeles almost a century ago. Filled with avocado, bacon, chicken breast, hard boiled egg slices and blue cheese, the Cobb isn’t an average salad – it’s a protein powerhouse.

Explore More: Awesome Salads Around the World

11. Cincinnati Chili in Cincinnati

Cincinnati Chili lives up to its name since it’s from Cincinnati and its main ingredient is chili. Sort of . The chili in this dish is nothing like chili eaten in Texas or sold in cans across America. Instead, it’s more like a Greek meat sauce with flavors of cinnamon, clove and bay leaf. We recommend ordering Cincinnati Five Way Chili with chopped onions, kidney beans and lots of grated cheddar cheese when you’re in Ohio’s Queen City. How you eat it at home is up to you.

Explore More: Cincinnati Chili Recipe

12. Bagel and Lox in NYC

You can eat a bagel and lox for breakfast across the coutnry but there’s nothing like eating the savory salmon sandwich in New York City . New York Jews started making bagel and lox sandwiches a century ago using bagels inspired by Poland, brined smoked salmon from Norway and cream cheese produced in the US. Still popular today, this melting pot of a meal is what we want to eat for breakfast at American delis unless when we’re in the mood for bagels topped with white fish salad.

Explore More: Best NYC Bagel Shops

Bonus – Loco Moco in Hawaii

Loco Moco is essentially a burger dish but’s not like any other burger dishes on the planet. In this unique dish, a burger is served on a pile of white rice, bathed in gravy and topped with a fried egg. In Hawaii, where the dish originated, Loco Moco is often served at lunch with macaroni salad on the side. The dish is also popular in Las Vegas which is sometimes called Hawaii’s ninth island due to the large number of Hawaiian tourists and transplants.

Explore More: Loco Moco Recipe

Read Next: The Best American Food Cities

While every American city has great food, some are more food-focused than others. Don’t miss these foodie cities during your culinary road trip through the country.

Explore More: 22 American Food Cities Not to Miss

American Road Food

Long distance driving creates a hunger that must be satisfied. That’s when it’s key to have snacks on hand. It’s also key to have a fast food plan so that quick meals aren’t bad meals.

Best American Fast Food Chains Best American Snacks

Hungry for More in America?

Disclosures

Article Updates We update our articles regularly. Some updates are major while others are minor link changes and spelling corrections. Let us know if you see anything that needs to be updated in this article. Funding We purchased and ate the food featured in this article.

Saveur Magazine’s BEST TRAVEL BLOG award winners Daryl and Mindi Hirsch share their culinary travel experiences and recipes on their website 2foodtrippers. Since launching the site in 2012, they've traveled to over 40 countries in their quest to bring readers a unique taste of the world.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Eat Like a Local When you Travel

Subscribe and get our FREE GUIDE to eating like a local around the world.

• Newsletters
• Instapundit
• News & Politics

The Great American Road Trip: Can a Full Self Driving Tesla Make it 850 Miles Without Killing Everyone?

Just a decade earlier, the trip itself would’ve been the stuff of science fiction, but nowadays, the line between scientific reality and scientific fantasy has never been murkier. One man’s fiction is another man’s Tesla. Plus, as a kid who worshipped at the altar of David Hasselhoff and that super-cool, self-driving Trans Am of his, it was impossible to resist: How good has Tesla’s self-driving technology REALLY gotten, and has it reached the point where it can safely and reliably take a family of four on a long road trip? 

The short answer: Yes… mostly. For 99+ percent of the trip, the car took excellent care of us.

But that final 1 percent was a real doozy.

My 17-year-old graduated from Army Cavalry basic training on Friday, so we rented a Tesla Model 3 Long Range with full self-driving and acceleration upgrade. I had been in a Tesla a few times, but never driven one. And the car is impressive; it’s basically a robot that you sit inside of; it doesn’t feel like a traditional car.

Have you ever visited your old college town after 20 years? Or returned to a city you used to know well, but decades had elapsed? So, you still kind of know where everything is — or where it used to be — but all the changes are disorienting. Your old dive bar isn’t there anymore; it’s now a big chain restaurant. The landscape is all different. It’s a weird combination of things you’ve never seen before, intermingled with buildings and streets you know like the back of your hand.

That sums up the Tesla: It’s an oddball combo of the radical new and the traditional old. If you can drive a gas-powered car, you can certainly rent one and use one, but there’s a bit of a learning curve — and your mileage may vary.

There are almost no buttons or switches. Its heartbeat is its big iPad-looking screen that you must take your eyes off the road to check. But almost everything, from the seats to the tightness of the wheel to the brakes, is customizable. This is probably the kind of car that the longer you have, the more features you’d enjoy. (My 15-year-old greatly enjoyed queuing the turn signal to make farting noises when activated.)

It makes other cars feel dumb. The Tesla maps out your trip for you, letting you know where to charge along the way, how long you must charge, and how much juice you’ll have when you reach your next stop. And I gotta say, the voice Elon Musk chose for these cars is super-sexy. Very pleasant to listen to.

It’s a fun ride. A little bouncy and noisy, but its stop-and-go prowess is unmatched by any non-Italian gas-powered car. It’s faster than a hiccup. Zero to 60 in just 3.9 seconds. But the full self-driving is what we cared the most about. After all, if it lived up to its promise, it would be a total game-changer. With a rapidly aging population (Boomers, I’m lookin’ at you), older Americans would still be able to live on their own, travel by car to restaurants and doctor appointments, and enjoy a much higher quality of life.

And then there’s the economic consideration. For years now, Musk has promised that full self-driving wasn’t just right around the corner, but would totally revolutionize the economics of car ownership. If your car can reliably drive itself, it could make money without you. Imagine: while you’re sleeping, your Tesla could be working for DoorDash or Uber. How cool would that be?! Theoretically, it’s entirely possible: Tesla sends software updates to your car, so its Artificial Intelligence improves year-to-year. So, in theory, this could happen at any moment.

Theory is fine, but what about reality?

Here’s where we ran — quite literally — into trouble.

For the overwhelming majority of our trip, the Tesla drove perfectly. Good weather, bad weather — didn’t matter. The car hugged the road, made smart, safe decisions, and the 850-mile roundtrip journey was a piece of cake. In fact, I’d even go further, and say that for 99+ percent of the time, the car drives safer than a human. (According to Musk, with aerial footage, you can tell who’s using the full self-driving feature, because the cars stay centered in lanes more than human-driven cars.)

Our biggest complaint was that the full self-driving was nerfed by regulators. There’ve been issues with Tesla owners napping while being driven, so the car requires you to shake the wheel every minute or so. Very annoying! And potentially unsafe, because shaking your wheel when you’re surrounded by large trucks on the highway while navigating a curve isn’t ideal. (If you fail to shake your wheel in time, the car “punishes” you by disabling the full self-driving until you stop and start it again. Which… I get the logic behind, but I don’t wanna pay money for a car that puts me in timeout! That’s ridiculous.)

However, a tiny percentage of the time, its full self-driving makes horrendous decisions. If you’re not paying close attention — and ready to immediately grab the wheel — you could be killed.

Our first incident was a highway exit that was being repainted: The car tried to steer us into the guardrail. Fortunately, we intervened in time.

It was scary, but understandable. There are so many strange, unusual things that can happen when you drive — construction, animals in the road, disabled vehicles, toppled trees — that you can almost forgive the car for getting confused on a repainted exit. (But then again, if there were no humans in the car, it definitely would’ve crashed, which would’ve put a pretty big dent in your Tesla’s DoorDash profits.)

More problematic was when the car made decisions that surprised not only us, but the other cars on the road. There were three incidents when the car stopped short, having detected some kind of hold-up, and the cars behind us came within a whisker of smashing into our rear. On the one hand, you can’t really fault a car for exercising caution; I’d rather the Tesla was too cautious than too aggressive. But on the other hand, most other cars are steered by human drivers, and when a car consistently makes decisions that blindside the other drivers, it will eventually lead to a collision. It’s just a matter of time.

So, that’s the verdict: Full Self Driving is impressive, fun, and very enjoyable, but it’s nowhere near ready for autonomous, human-free driving. If you’re an older American and can be trusted to keep a keen eye on the wheel AND the road, then a Tesla could help you live independently and enjoy a very nice quality of life. Just prepare yourself for a bit of a learning curve, because it’s a different kind of vehicle.

By the way, the Army ceremony was amazing. My mom, dad and brother — both of whom are retired military — came to cheer for my boy, Danny. Very emotional, of course. But the funniest moment: my dad gave his military ID to the guy at the visitors center, and the guy immediately complements him: “Great to have you here, Colonel!” My mom responds, “Pssh. You mean LIEUTENANT Colonel.” 

(Nobody can bust your balls like family.)

Scott Pinsker is a Public Relations, Branding and Crisis Communications Expert in Tampa Bay, Florida.  His novel, "The Second Coming: A Love Story," is available for purchase on Amazon.

Recommended

Trending on PJ Media Videos

Join the conversation as a vip member.

• Donald Trump Sensed a Trap by the Left and Didn’t Fall for It
• Gen Z Men Are Turning to Trump From Harris
• TRANSCRIPT: Every Word of RFK Jr's Epic Anti-Establishment Speech

5 iconic American road trips every motorcycle lover should take at least once

By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy . We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

The Best Summer Vacation Movies: ‘Parent Trap,’ ‘Aftersun,’ ‘Two for the Road,’ and More

• Share on Facebook
• Share on LinkedIn
• Show more sharing options
• Submit to Reddit
• Post to Tumblr
• Print This Page
• Share on WhatsApp

Editor’s note: this list was originally published in July 2023. It has since been updated with new entries.

To quote Alice Cooper (and poorly paraphrase “High School Musical 2”), school’s out for summer. With Boppenheimer hitting air-conditioned theaters midway through July — just as countless actors and screenwriters head into the heat to join picket-lines in New York and Los Angeles — summer 2023 will no doubt prove a memorable one for Hollywood. What better time then to consider how the movies themselves represent the reason for the season?

The best summer vacation movies range in subject matter and can appeal to all sorts of different audiences. Kid-centric flicks, like “The Parent Trap,” and adult slashers, like the “Friday the 13th” films, explore the traditions and perils of sleep-away camp from spectacularly different view points. Meanwhile, road trip flicks, like the Audrey Hepburn-starring “Two for the Road” and Hindi film “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara,” consider the ins-and-outs of traveling across the country with a similar romanticism but using tones separated by decades and cultures. Destination films, including “The Lizzie McGuire Movie” and “ Forgetting Sarah Marshall ” (which see their characters head to Italy and Hawaii respectively), celebrate the innate entertainment in stepping off a plane and emerging into somewhere new.

When curating the top films in this surprisingly robust category, we did our best to restrict ourselves to movies that explicitly take place during the summer months — or, at least very least, exist in weather nondescriptly pleasant enough that we could sufficiently lie to ourselves about when they occur. A break from school or work can be part of a title’s plot points, but doesn’t strictly have. To wit, summer vacation plays a critical narrative plot in “Grease” but wasn’t a fit with the rest of our list. (“Grease” is to summer vacation movies what “Reservoir Dogs” is to heist movies, you know?)

Listed in chronological order, the following represent the best summer vacation movies, including “National Lampoon’s Vacation,” “Under the Sand,” “Adventureland,” “Summertime,” “Aftersun,” and more.

With editorial contributions by Wilson Chapman, Kate Erbland, Marcos Franco, Proma Khosla, and Mark Peikert.

‘Summertime’ (1955)

What it is: Single schoolteacher Jane Hudson (Katharine Hepburn, radiant and Oscar-nominated) travels alone to Venice, where she morphs from awkward caterpillar to butterfly, blossoming under the Italian sun and the Italian arms of Rossano Brazzi. But don’t think this is another ’50s movie about how a woman needs a man. David Lean’s sly film is much more rueful than that. There’s a special ruefulness to recognizing ‘too-lateness’ (to quote film historian James Harvey), and Jane leaves Venice with sweet and bittersweet memories. The final scene will wreck anyone with a heart, just like the end of every good summer vacation.

Perfect for: Romantics who love looking at Venice but hate crowds. —MP

‘Man’s Favorite Sport’ (1964)

What it is: Howard Hawks’ late career addition to his screwball oeuvre is, simply put, the best fishing-centric rom-com ever made. Rock Hudson stars as a world famous fishing gear salesman (the ’60s were a different time!) whose job at Abercrombie and Fitch has turned him into an icon in the outdoor sports community. There’s only one catch: he’s never actually fished. While he has meticulously studied the sport, his fear of touching slimy, wiggly things has prevented him from testing his knowledge on the open water. But when a scheming heiress (Paula Prentiss) devises a plan to enter him in a tournament at her father’s resort, he is forced to learn fishing in a week or risk humiliating himself in front of his biggest clients. Suffice it to say, hilarity and misunderstandings ensue.

‘Man’s Favorite Sport?’ can’t hold a candle to Hawks’ earlier masterpieces like ‘Bringing Up Baby’ and ‘His Girl Friday,’ but there’s still enough of his comedic genius to get the job done. The Technicolor cinematography is gorgeous, and the absurd ethical norms that govern the fishing community in the film are still hilarious. Plus, there’s a bear that rides a bike! If you’re a screwball comedy completionist, consider throwing this one on next time you’re tempted to rewatch ‘It Happened One Night’ for the 200th time.

Perfect for: Anyone who has forgotten the aphrodisiac qualities of live bait. —CZ

‘Two for the Road’ (1967)

What it is:  A decade of marriage is a languid milestone that challenges the vitality of any relationship. When a road trip forces the struggling, starring couple of ‘Two for the Road’ to reflect on the highs and lows of their connection over the years, the memories serve as an illuminating reminder of the many emotional challenges they’ve overcome and reignites the couple’s passion. The non-linear plot of the movie switches between past and present, using insightful vignettes to give the audience a better understanding of the couple who has always bonded through their travels. The romantic comedy stars Audrey Hepburn in her penultimate performance before her early retirement shortly after.

Perfect for: Tenured couples at each other’s throats needing a getaway to remind them why they got into their relationship in the first place. —MF

‘La Piscine’ (1969)

What it is: A typically Gallic thriller made even more languid under the Côte d’Azur sun, in which couple Romy Schneider and Alain Delon lounge decoratively (it’s a dead tie as to who succeeds best) until the intrusion of Maurice Ronet and his daughter, Jane Birkin. The swimsuits are tiny, the sun is hot, and the pool becomes the epicenter of a quadrangle from which no one escapes unscathed.

Perfect for: Lovers of beauty — both physical and natural — with a penchant for sun-drenched dread. —MP

‘Grease’ (1978)

What it is:  Okay, so 90 percent of 1978’s blockbuster musical takes place during the school year, as John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John’s summer lovers struggle to make their vacation fling into a permanent reality. But who could ever forget how the film starts, with Sandy and Danny falling in love on the beach where Australian Sandy is vacationing, as Danny tells his new beau that their love is ‘Only the beginning.’ Plus, there’s the iconic song ‘Summer Nights,’ where both lovers coo about their relationship to their high school friends, which has practically become an anthem for summer romances everywhere.  

Perfect for: Musical theater nerds, greasers, and anyone nostalgic for teen romance. —WC

‘Friday the 13th’ (1980)

What it is:  In 2024, after decades of tragedies including a failed SWAT team intervention that proved the existence of Hell, every rational person knows that summer trips to Crystal Lake should be avoided at all costs. But in 1980, it was fair to assume that the shuttered summer camp deserved a second chance. After all, it had been 22 years since the infamous drowning incident. Nobody could possibly hold a grudge for that long!

‘Friday the 13th’ is the film that launched one of the most unlikely, incoherent, and delightful franchises in horror history. Sean S. Cunningham’s hastily-made slasher flick doesn’t feature the masked Jason Voorhees that we all know and love, but the whodunnit storyline about the camp’s mysterious teen-killer fills the void left by his absence. While nobody could have possibly predicted ‘Jason X’ after watching ‘Friday the 13th”'(frankly, nothing in this franchise seems like it was planned out more than 15 minutes in advance), it’s not hard to see why horror fans became hooked on the soon-to-be-iconic formula. 

Perfect for:  Anyone who is ready to fast forward through summer and get to Halloween. —CZ

‘National Lampoon’s Vacation’ (1983)

What it is: The Griswold family has been entangled in enough bad trips over the past four decades (yes, four) that it’s easy to forget that all this mayhem kicked off with a relatively simple first feature, which follows a relatively simple premise: average, everyday American family tries to go on a vacation, and absolute chaos ensues. The Griswolds — including Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo as Clark and Ellen, eventual mainstays of this series, plus kiddos Rusty and Audrey, this time played by Anthony Michael Hall and Dana Barron — have simple dreams for their cross-country road trip to the dazzling Wally World (imagine Disneyland, but wholly dedicated to Mickey Mouse mythos), but from the start, nothing goes right. Their new car — the Family Truckster — is a lemon, the kids are bored, the food is bad, and that’s before they land at Cousin Eddie’s (an iconic Randy Quaid) and people actually start dying. What happens to the Griswolds (and the many ill-fated people in their path) might feel outsized, but it’s rooted in relatability. Vacation is hell, families are insane, and this is all still so funny, because it’s so damn true.

Perfect for: Any person who has ever been on a family vacation. Hell, any person who has ever been in a family . —KE

‘Stand By Me’ (1986)

What it is: Led by a stellar ensemble of future stars including River Phoenix and Wil Wheaton, ‘Stand By Me’ remains the gold standard for modern coming-of-age dramas. Rob Reiner’s adaptation of Stephen King’s short story ‘The Body’ takes place in the fictional town of Castle Rock, following four adolescent boys who band together to find the dead body of a missing classmate. What begins as a Tom Sawyer-esque boyhood adventure quickly turns into a moving drama as the boys reckon with the roles that grief have played in their own upbringings. The film jumps back and forth in time between the actual trip and one of the men writing a memoir about the experience later in life, and the bittersweet ending makes one of the most moving statements about the passage of time in modern cinema. Along with ‘The Shawshank Redemption,’ the film is often cited as proof that the best King movies are adapted from his non-horror output.

Perfect for:  Anyone who never had any friends later on like the ones they had when they were 12. —CZ

‘Dirty Dancing’ (1987)

What it is: One of the definitive films about summer romance, ‘Dirty Dancing’ stars Jennifer Grey as Baby: the good-girl daughter of a doctor who vacations in a Catskills resort with her family. There, she catches the eye of Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze, in his most dashing role): a dance instructor at the resort. She winds up filling in as his dance partner, sneaking around the back of her conservative and snobbish parents in the process. Swayze and Grey’s scintillating chemistry lifts up the sometimes cheesy but endearingly sincere movie, which holds up decades later as a story about a young woman gaining independence and discovering what she wants in the process. There’s a reason why ‘(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life’ remains the definitive song for a summer slow-dance to this day.

Perfect for: Anybody who’s ever been a rebellious teenager. —WC

‘Before Sunrise’ (1995)

Richard Linklater’s beloved ‘Before’ Trilogy kicks off with its leads Jesse and Céline (Ethan Hawke and Julie Deply) on a train passing from Budapest to Vienna. It’s the thick of June, and the two are hours away from ending their respective trips. But when the American and the Frenchwoman unexpectedly connect and impulsively decide to spend the next 24 hours before they leave the city with each other, their summer vacations get extended for one magical night. The ‘Before’ trilogy would only grow deeper and richer throughout its 18-year run, but the first installment still captures the indelible feeling of a swift but unforgettable summer fling.  

Perfect for: Philosophical types, lovers of Vienna, and anyone who’s ever wanted a short but intense one day romance. —WC

‘How Stella Got Her Groove Back’ (1998)

A classic story of opening yourself up to love in an unexpected place, ‘How Stella Got Her Groove Back’ is a consistent delight thanks to the dazzling central performance from Angela Bassett as the titular groove get-backer. Her Stella is a successful 40-year-old stockbroker who hasn’t had time for romance after divorcing her son’s father. When she sends her kid on a trip to stay with his dad, she makes an impulsive choice for the first time in forever and books a first-class Jamaican vacation for some alone time. There, she flirts with a charming and much younger local, Taye Diggs’ wildly named Winston Shakespeare, a passing interest that blossoms into something more. For anyone who feels too wound up by the pressures of day-to-day life, ‘How Stella Got Her Groove Back’ offers a potent reminder about the importance of letting your hair down. 

Perfect for:  Angela Bassett fans, beach boys (and girls), and anyone who needs a summer balm. —WC

‘The Talented Mr. Ripley’ (1999)

What it is: Set in Italy during the summer of 1958, this nail-biter psychological thriller stars Matt Damon as the titlular Tom Ripley: a slippery wannabe-aristocrat whose American Psycho in Rome routine rapidly unravels as he attempts to steal a man’s identity and girlfriend. Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow play the targets of Ripley’s obsession, alongside Cate Blanchett and the late Philip Seymour Hoffman as well-to-do socialities. 

Perfect for: Anyone on an international trip with an acquaintance they just can’t seem to trust. —AF

‘The Parent Trap’ (1998)

What it is: Lindsay Lohan’s unforgettable doubling performance as Annie James and Hallie Parker: redheaded twins spearated at birth, who later meet at summer camp and set about getting their divorced parents back together. Dennis Quaid and Natasha Richardson — aboard the QE2 or separated by countries — brew intoxicating chemistry as the girls’ parents, and supporting actresses Lisa Ann Walter and Elaine Hendrix dazzle as housekeeper Chessy and feisty foil Meredith Blake. A slew of perfectly executed ’90s slapstick hijinkx (lizard! air mattress! fencing!) make this remake a delightfully sincere upgrade on writer/director David Swift’s 1961 original.

Perfect for: ’90s nostalgics and ‘Three Identicial Strangers’ obsessives . —AF

‘Under the Sand’ (2000)

What it is: An empty beach on the coastline of France is a dream getaway for any couple, but when a wealth of privacy results in an unsolved case of ‘What happened to my husband?’ there’s reason to think someplace more public may have prevented the grievous mystery. A French film originally entitled ‘Sous le Sable,’ the storyline of ‘Under the Sand’ leaves Marie Drillon with a mountain of unanswered questions after she wakes up from a nap and her husband of 25 years, Jean, is nowhere to be found. It’s assumed that the man went out for a swim and was swallowed by the tide or perhaps he committed suicide by drowning but Jean’s family is skeptical of all explanations. The dark summer vacation presents the confusing coping mechanisms and the doubtful acceptance of losing a loved one.

Perfect for: Anyone who was already skeptical about getting in the ocean. —MF

‘Wet Hot American Summer’ (2001)

What it is:  David Wain and Michael Showalter caught lightning in a bottle with their absurdist, joke-a-minute parody of summer camp movies. A legendary cast of then-unknown actors including Paul Rudd, Amy Poehler, Bradley Cooper, and Elizabeth Banks star as a horny coterie of camp counselors trying to entertain themselves on their last day of work at Camp Firewood. Filled with intentional continuity errors and rapid shifts in genre, ‘Wet Hot American Summer’ simultaneously feels like an LSD-fueled riff on ‘Meatballs’ and a feature-length ‘I Think You Should Leave’ sketch. It might be the only summer camp movie that’s more fun to watch than going to summer camp.

Perfect for:  Comedy geeks and all varieties of sentient canned food. —CZ

‘Swimming Pool’ (2003)

What it is: Hoo boy, François Ozon’s thriller—starring Charlotte Rampling and Ludivine Sagnier—pissed people off with its ambiguous ending. But the whole film is like a half-dreamed moment under the sun, as novelist Sarah (Rampling) finds her work getaway interrupted by the sexually voracious daughter (Sagnier) of her publisher, whose villa she is using. As they engage in increasingly sexualized mind games, the men in their orbit become both playthings and victims. Summer vacation never felt this sexy or scary, and Rampling is at the peak of her inscrutable powers.

Perfect for: Anyone who likes to end vacation with a ‘WTF just happened?!’ —MP

‘The Lizzie McGuire Movie’ (2003)

What it is: Hilary Duff takes her beloved Disney Channel character to Rome in this nostalgia-inducing aughts tale of mistaken identity. When Lizzie is confused for a famous Italian popstar named Isabella during a field trip to Rome, Gordo (Adam Lamberg) and Kate (Ashlie Brillault) cover for the American Cinderella with school chaperone Miss Ungermeyer (a deeply, deeply  funny Alex Borstein) as she fell for a hunk celeb. Will Lizzie finally realize her crush for Gordo, or ride off into the sunset with Yani Gellman’s dashing Paolo? 

Perfect for: Fans of ‘Roman Holiday’ and/or ‘A Cinderella Story.’ —AF

‘High School Musical 2’ (2007)

What it is: Ah, yes, High School Musical: the Disney Channel Original Movie empire that just keeps on growing. For its first sequel in 2007, the TV movie phenomenon about theater kids warring with teen jocks changed its setting from high school hallways to poolside putting greens for an adventure all about the possibilties of summer. Bringing back Zack Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, and the rest of the singy cast, ‘High School Musical 2’ kicks off with an all-tiem great number about getting out of classes (‘What Time Is it’).

Perfect for: Millennials missing simpler times and any kid working a shitty job. —AF

‘Forgetting Sarah Marshall’ (2008)

What it is:  It’s hard to upgrade after getting dumped by a famous actress who’s new relationship is publicized on every TV channel. Needing to escape the cluttered confines of his now companionless apartment, Peter Bretter heads for the North Shore of Oahu where he hopes to recenter his emotions in a luxurious edge-of-the-water resort. To the audience’s amusement, things take an interesting turn at check in as Bretter notices his ex-girlfriend walking towards the front desk where she is shortly joined by her new rock n roll boyfriend, Aldous Snow. Despite the unpleasant surprise, Bretter eventually enjoys his vacation after becoming acquainted with a hotel employee.

Perfect for:  The criers in need of relatable humor who struggle to set their identity apart from their romantic encounters. —MF

‘Adventureland’ (2009)

What it is:  College graduate James Brennan has big plans to study abroad over the summer but his daydreams of spending grad school in the warm European sun is held up by his shortage of funds which leads him to take a less than desirable job. After his parents break the news that they can no longer bankroll the trip, Brennan, lacking any real working experience, takes the only job he can land, a game attendant at Adventureland, a worn-down amusement park in western Pennsylvania. On the bright side (or so it initially seems) he meets Emily, a nice girl with a dark side who brings out his more daring side. 

Perfect for:  Anyone who had to work a shitty summer job or who falls into the foolhardy trap of dating co-workers. —MF

‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’ (2011)

What it is: Though not explicitly about a summer vacation, Zoya Akhtar’s 2011 comedy-drama shares critical emotional tissue with the best films about road trips, friendship, self discovery — and a little European holiday to kick it all into gear. Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar (who wrote the dialogues), and Abhay Deol star as Arjun, Imraan, and Kabir, three childhood best friends on a two-week trip through Spain. Though the trip is ostensibly Kabir’s bachelor party, it’s an excuse for him to flee from his fiancee (Kalki Koechlin), to repair the fractured friendship between Arjun and Imraan, for Imraan and Kabir to curb Arjun’s workaholic tendencies, and for Imraan to pursue his own hidden agenda in between salsa dancing, snorkeling, and running with the bulls. The Akhtar siblings flawlessly execute a rare feat in Hindi cinema; a gorgeous, introspective film with both style and substance, as well as a commercial blockbuster that’s as beloved now as the day it premiered. ‘Zindagi’ grounds Roshan from his hunky hero pedestal, elevates Deol into a relatable leading man, and finds the perfect balance for Akhtar’s specific brand of comedic charm (often via designer handbag) — it even builds a believable character for Katrina Kaif as Laila, giving one of her strongest performnaces to date. It’s the kind of movie that will change how you vacation in your own life, hoping that every trip leads to emotional catharsis, seaside epiphanies (set to Javed Akhtar’s poetry), and at least one round of ‘Señorita.’

Perfect for: Travelers on their way to Europe, but not for a bachelor party. —PK

‘Moonrise Kingdom’ (2012)

What it is:  Wes Anderson’s masterful portrayal of summer camp love is structured just like the idyllic romances it depicts: a series of profoundly cinematic highs and lows followed by an inevitable return to normalcy when school starts again. First-time actors Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward give remarkable performances as Sam and Suzy, a Khaki Scout and New Penzance resident who act considerably more mature than the clueless adults surrounding them as they explore the New England coast together. The Boy Scout-adjacent Camp Ivanhoe represents some of the best world building of Anderson’s career, as the 1950s summer camp is the perfect canvas for his offbeat sense of humor. ‘Moonrise Kingdom’ features both the razor-sharp wit of Anderson’s early works and the visual lushness of his more recent output — and might be the best film he’s made to date.

Perfect for: Armchair Khaki Scouts and anyone who’s just dying to know how an orchestra is assembled. —CZ

‘Us’ (2019)

What it is:  Most of the films on the list can be summed up with adjectives like ‘soothing,’ ‘comforting,’ ‘fun,’ ‘sunny,’ and their respective synonyms. That’s certainly  not  the case for ‘Us,’ Jordan Peele’s second feature, which plunges its vacationing family into a total nightmare when a mysterious group of doppelgängers intrude upon their beach getaway. Like all of Peele’s work, ‘Us’ can often be very funny, but it’s the most straight-forwardly terrifying of any of his films, a nonstop parade of unsettling terror. What most resonates from the film, beyond Lupita Nyong’o nimble dual performance as a desperate mother and the leader of the doubles, is Peele’s pointed look at how class in America operates. The Wilsons might not be able to afford the most lavish of vacations, but many Americans can barely afford a vacation as is, and ‘Us’ uses its twisted horror story as a metaphor for the institutions that allow those disparities to build and grow.  

Perfect for:  People who are afraid of house of mirrors, anyone who had a scary nightmare during a family trip, and anyone who just has fears in general. —WC 

‘Aftersun’ (2022)

What it is:  Charlotte Welles’ acclaimed debut feature stars Paul Mescal, in the role that got him an Oscar nomination, as Calum, a single father taking his 11 year-old daughter Sophie (an incredible Frankie Corio) on a summer vacation to Turkey. There, they laze around the sun, sing karaoke, go scuba diving, and dance, as the young and perceptive Sophie explores romance for the first time and the cheerful Calum hides glimmers of sadness from his daughter. But that’s only one layer of the movie, which is filtered through the eyes of an older Sophie (Celia Rowlson-Hall) piecing together what her dad was going through via the old camera footage she’s kept from that trip.The movie’s meta narrative — and the perfectly calibrated performances of Corio and Mescal — make the film one of the few to capture what it’s like to look back on summer vacation memories, with small moments and happy times registering in a different, more melancholy pitch.

Perfect for: People with daddy issues, people who fell in love with Paul Mescal’s character in ‘Normal People,’ or people with daddy issues who fell in love with Paul Mescal’s character in ‘Normal People.’ —WC

‘Theater Camp’ (2023)

If you’ve ever experienced the magic and the cringe of a theater sleepaway camp, ‘Theater Camp’ will blast you back to the past. The mockumentary comedy from directors Molly Gordon and Nick Lieberman (who co-wrote it with stars Ben Platt and Noah Galvin) is a passionate and sweet tribute to these types of safe havens for the dorky and the artistic and the (mostly) gay youth among us. All four writers based the film — a chronicle of a few weeks in the life of the staff at an Adirondacks-based camp going through a crisis after its director falls into a coma — on their own experiences as theater kids, and that obvious affection and expertise shines through in how painfully and hilariously accurate the film’s sweetly rendered world is. By the time ‘Theater Camp’ stages a ridiculous yet somehow moving original play based on the life of the comatose founder, its charm is liable to infect even the most theater-hating among us.

Perfect for:  Theater nerds who will shriek at the references to ‘Damn Yankees,’ fans of Patti Harrison’s ‘I Think You Should Leave’ appearances, and anyone who shared memes about the ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ movie. —WC

Most Popular

You may also like.

Spotify is currently not available in your country.

Follow us online to find out when we launch., spotify gives you instant access to millions of songs – from old favorites to the latest hits. just hit play to stream anything you like..

Listen everywhere

Spotify works on your computer, mobile, tablet and TV.

Unlimited, ad-free music

No ads. No interruptions. Just music.

Download music & listen offline

Keep playing, even when you don't have a connection.

Premium sounds better

Get ready for incredible sound quality.