Hit the open highway with the 30+ best road trip listens for your next journey

Unless you happen to be packed in a car with a bunch of unexpected passengers (including an ex you haven’t seen in two years), you just got into a fender bender, and everybody involved needs to get to Scotland for a wedding, you’re likely riding much more comfortably than this motley crew of five Brits. Was it a stroke of serendipity that put them all in that Mini Cooper heading north? Time will tell. A second-chance romance, The Road Trip is laced with humor, miscommunication, and a whole lot of charm.

It’s inarguable that J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings fantasy epic is one of the greatest stories ever told. And though you might be familiar with the tale, you’ve never heard it quite like this. Actor and motion-capture performance icon Andy Serkis, who brought Gollum/Sméagol to life in Peter Jackson’s acclaimed adaptations, does an outstanding job of voicing every single character and creature—proving yet again that he is a master of his craft.

Stephen King taught millions of fans that their coulrophobia was justified with the hair-raising tale of Pennywise, a killer clown who terrorizes a small town in Maine, and the group of outcasts who take him on as teens, and later, as adults. Thanks to the novel's uber-popular screen adaptations, the debate rages on over who makes the best Pennywise: Tim Curry or Bill Skarsgård? While it may be hard to choose, there's no debating that actor Steven Weber will hold your attention over all 44+ hours in audio—and scare the pants off you in the process.

Kristin Hannah has the unique ability to take a well-known historical event and intimately weave it with such a deeply human story that it turns everything you thought you knew on its head. In The Women, Hannah pays tribute to the nurses who served in the Vietnam War, using heroine Frankie McGrath as a vessel. As we’ve come to expect with Kristin Hannah, each time Frankie’s heart gets broken—whether in war, love, or homecoming—yours will as well. The incomparable Julia Whelan performs this sweeping and poignant novel that will settle in your chest and refuse to leave.

More than a decade in the making, The Covenant of Water is epic in every way. Originating in Kerala, South India, the story follows three generations that share a strange medical secret. It’s a journey through time and around the globe, with deep dives into history and medicine—all patiently and beautifully brought to life by author/narrator/physician Abraham Verghese. It’s the kind of story that leaves you fully satisfied—like a six-course meal kind of satisfied!

Containing escaped convicts, false passports, and the Bombay mafia, the plot of Shantaram sounds like it belongs in a feature film—after all, it did inspire a hit Apple+ TV series. However, the story loosely corresponds to the action-packed past of its author, convicted bank robber Gregory David Roberts, who ultimately turned his legacy to gold as he found the silver lining in a sticky situation with this wildly successful outlaw epic.

Some like it hot! It Burns, hosted by Marc Fennell, drags you headfirst into an international competition to produce the world’s hottest pepper. This James Beard Award-winning podcast tackles the contentious, scandal-filled race to produce a pepper worthy of a Guinness World Record entry, while the ever-inquisitive Fennell explores the world of “chilli-heads”—a subculture of folks who can’t get enough of the hot stuff. With a deadly blend of fierce competition and fascinating cultural exploration, this pod is sure to leave your ears steaming.

What is holding you back from achieving inner peace and happiness? The Toltecs, a pre-Colombian civilization that predates the Aztecs, believed they knew the answer to that question, as well as how to overcome the barriers standing between any person and their goals. Don Miguel Ruiz applies their philosophies to the modern world in The Four Agreements, a short but eye-opening listen.

The 25-time Grammy-winning artist Stevie Wonder forever changed music with his gift for songwriting, wield of multiple instruments, and trailblazing technological prowess. In this Audible Original from Pulitzer Prize-winning critic Wesley Morris, Wonder’s legacy is analyzed by illustrious guests from Barack and Michelle Obama to Questlove and Janelle Monáe. Underpinned by historical and cultural commentary, this eye- and ear-opening celebration of an icon is set against the sonic backdrop of more than 40 of Wonder’s hits.

Benefits with Friends stands out as one of 2024's best well-being podcasts, featuring the dynamic duo of comedians Mae Martin and Sabrina Jalees. This audio experience feels like sitting in on an intimate, judgment-free conversation between two hilarious best friends. With over 20 years of friendship, Mae and Sabrina tackle taboo topics that are often avoided in polite company but are crucial for deepening friendships. From sex and money to religion and shame, they explore these subjects with candor, humor, and insight. Their engaging discussions redefine what it means to truly connect with a best friend.

The convenience store where Keiko Furukara has worked for 18 years is her home and her happy place. She's good at her job and feels satisfied, if only the rest of the world would quit telling her she's supposed to want a different life. In her mid-30s, Keiko's being pressured to "get serious," get a bigger job, get married, etc., so she hatches a plan to get the world off her back for a minute. It's a short, funny, delightfully subversive story that provides a sharp-eyed look at contemporary work culture and the pressures to conform, as well as a charming, fresh portrait of an unforgettable heroine.

In less than six hours, Viktor E. Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning has so much to teach its listeners. From the beginning chapters where Frankl details his years inside Nazi death camps to the later chapters where the author explains logotherapy, his revolutionary approach to psychotherapy, this book gets to the core of what drives humanity. Frankl argues that mankind's primary driving force is our search for meaning. This audiobook is read by talented performer Theo Solomon.

Are you looking to build good habits and break bad ones? James Clear has the answers in Atomic Habits. It doesn't matter what your goals are—Clear's framework is effective for whatever you're striving to accomplish. The first thing to recognize, as he stresses, is that bad habits don't come from being a flawed person; they come from having a flawed system. So, to break bad habits and start developing good ones, you have to reconstruct your system. This easy-to-follow, author-narrated guide offers practical advice and simple steps you can apply right away, all in under six hours.

Brought to you by beloved author David Walliams, the 10 tales in The World’s Worst Pets will have your whole vehicle shaking with laughter. Narrated by a talented full cast, the laugh-out-loud stories include adventures with Houdini, a magician’s rabbit; Zoom, a supersonic tortoise; and Griselda, a grizzly bear with a big secret.

If you're looking for a longer story to listen to with older kids on the road, try this audiobook version of J. R. R. Tolkien's classic, The Hobbit. Bilbo Baggins loves quiet evenings in his snug hobbit hole and imagines he'll live out a peaceful life in Hobbiton. But when the wizard Gandalf arrives, bringing tales of the great wide world, Bilbo grows restless, and soon he finds himself on an unforgettable adventure with a band of dwarves searching for treasure. Along the way, Bilbo faces off against a treacherous dragon named Smaug.

Rivals! is an episodic Audible Original, separated out into 30-minute stories that dive into the rivalries that changed the world. Hall of Fame narrator Prentice Onayemi and Audie winner Khristine Hvam lead a cast of performers in this raucous history lesson. And if you like these, be sure to check out Rivals 2! and Pirates! Scoundrels Who Shook the World for more episodic tales. These hilarious histories are perfect for children ages 8 and up.

If your family loves the darkly funny twists and turns of A Series of Unfortunate Events, the subversive humor of Roald Dahl, or the eccentricities of the Addams Family, the Weirdie triplets—Barnacle, Garlic, and Melancholy—will feel like old friends. After being accidentally abandoned, the Weirdies must learn to fend for themselves in a big, scary world, but at least they have each other. Their story will capture you right from the start—it's hilarious, sometimes sad, and delightfully weird. Oh, and it's narrated by Kate Winslet, so the listening experience is extra amazing.

Impossible Creatures is, in a word, magical. Destined to become a classic, Katherine Rundell’s immersive fantasy, about two kids on a quest to save the world’s magical creatures and the islands they inhabit, will sweep you up and carry you away. Narrator Samuel West deftly embodies the characters, further deepening the connection to this rich world and our heroes, Mal and Christopher.

Middle-schooler Max is the class clown, the punchline, and he's even volunteered his bottom to be the butt of the joke. Max is the funny kid...and he's running for class president. If you've yet to be introduced to bestselling Australian author Matt Stanton's hilarious Funny Kid series, this laugh-out-loud first installment is a road-trip favorite (seasoned fans can make their way to the latest, Funny Kid Spookytime.).

This award-winning story by Katherine Applegate has become a modern classic for a reason—kids and adults have fallen in love with a gorilla named Ivan. Listening to Ivan's unforgettable first-person narration (performed by Adam Grupper) in a tale of friendship, art, and hope is simply the best form of entertainment with kids in the car. And after meeting Ivan, you’ll want to hear the story of the spunky little dog who became his best friend. Bob, performed by Danny DeVito, tells his own tale in The One and Only Bob.

Based on his award-winning stand-up show and the loss of his mother when he was 12, Matt Okine's Being Black 'n Chicken, & Chips is a funny, heartwarming coming-of-age novel that's perfect for a car ride with tweens and up. Audible listener Caroline says, "We listen to quite a few audiobooks as a family and this is one of the best we've ever done. The story is compelling, and Matt's narration is spot-on, he performs the pre-teen angst perfectly. Laugh-out-loud funny in parts (which may not be appropriate for the under 10s), a sprinkling of '90s nostalgia for the adults. Five stars across the board, I've started recommending it to all with upper primary kids."

Set in California between the late ‘50s and early ‘60s, Lessons in Chemistry finds master chemist turned single mother Elizabeth Zott at the end of a strange proposal—she's just been offered a job hosting a cooking show. While reluctant at first, Elizabeth decides to become the host of Supper at Six, since cooking is chemistry after all. What Elizabeth doesn't anticipate is daring women to change the status quo with her unusual approach to cooking. Narrator Miranda Raison was the icing on this already wonderful cake.

Unlocking Intimacy is an empowering and candid podcast that takes you under the covers and into the world of sex therapy. During these intimate sessions, we meet real people with real sexual concerns. We listen as award-winning sexologist Chantelle Otten uncovers their truth and works with them to find sexual peace. This revealing series seeks to enlighten audiences about the complex world of sex, covering topics from intimacy and kink to pleasure and communication, while normalising judgement-free therapy.

After a botched attempt at holding up a cashless bank, a desperate parent accidentally creates a hostage situation by running headfirst into a crowded apartment viewing. From our bumbling would-be robber to the collection of regular folks locked in together to the father/son cop team leading the investigation, each character in Anxious People has a story to be told. What’s revealed is pure Fredrik Backman truth-telling. His uncanny ability to get to the heart of things with humor, tenderness, and wisdom is brought to life by narrator Marin Ireland, who gives every quirky character a voice that resonates.

Sometimes the best kind of road trip listens are the fun ones—stories so entertaining and fascinating that you keep listening even after you've arrived at your destination. And science writer Ed Yong's latest certainly fits the bill. With his characteristic wit, compassion, and clarity, Yong dives into the world of animal senses, explaining how creatures from beetles to whales experience the world—not just via scent, sight, and taste but through vibrations, electromagnetic waves, and more. A captivating book about the hidden wonders of our planet, An Immense World is the perfect listen to take in with your partner on a peaceful drive.

Gabrielle Zevin’s exhilarating novel riffs on Shakespeare, Emily Dickinson, Homer, and video games to explore the idea that "every day we are alive is a chance to try again.” At the center of the story are two childhood friends and gamers, Sam Masur and Sadie Green, who reconnect in college and, against the odds, end up bootstrapping a video game that becomes a blockbuster. Told from shifting perspectives (wonderfully portrayed by narrators Jennifer Kim and Julian Cihi) and spanning 30 years, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is about this life-changing success and everything that comes after, including heartbreak, disappointment, and the occasional tragedy.

In Coupledom, Idris and Sabrina Elba sit down with some of the world’s most interesting duos—from Mary and Sharon Bishop-Baldwin, the lead plaintiffs in the Oklahoma marriage equality lawsuit, to iconic ice cream entrepreneurs Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield—for honest, unguarded conversations about all the complexities of living a shared life. Along the way, they unlock wisdom for those of us navigating our own coupledoms, and for those still seeking their perfect match, whether in romance or business.

If you’re alone in the car, whether on your daily commute or heading out on a long-haul adventure, who would you pick as your imaginary copilot? From the evidence of nearly every bestseller list out there, Academy Award winner Matthew McConaughey is many people’s first choice. The star’s unconventional memoir, Greenlights is filled with raucous stories, outlaw wisdom, and lessons learned the hard way about living with greater satisfaction. After a few hours alone with Mr. McConaughey, you just may find your own answers to the meaning of life.

Winner of the 2024 National Book Award and one of Audible's Best of 2024, Percival Everett's James takes you on a journey down the Mississippi River that just as swiftly subverts racist stereotypes in storytelling. A reimagining of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn told from Jim’s perspective, the novel puts a radical spin on what is not only one of the most challenged classics in public libraries but one of the most frequently debated American satires of all time. Narrator Dominic Hoffman expands Jim’s narrative with dignity and grace while preserving the character’s signature dialect.

Reality television meets video games meets the apocalypse in this thrilling LitRPG set in the wake of a global catastrophe. Humans suddenly find civilization destroyed, and in its place, a massive labyrinth encircling the planet. The only way to survive its deadly traps and alien monsters is to build up a following and put on a show for the wealthy spectators, who view events safely from the other side of the galaxy and bestow life-saving favors on those they find the most entertaining. Fans of darker games will appreciate the intensity, pacing, and sense of humor woven throughout Dungeon Crawler Carl.

Part underdog story, part enemies-to-lovers, Rebecca Yarros’s Fourth Wing combines the best of both fantasy and romance. Violet’s world has just been turned upside down. Forced by her mother to join hundreds of cadets striving to become dragon riders, Violet must not only overcome dangerous obstacles to become a dragon rider, she must also navigate a complex romantic relationship with Xaden, a rival rider. Its rebellious romance plot, ushered along by Rebecca Soler’s narration, makes it a truly unpausable listen.

A modern classic of comedy memoirs, this Audie Award-winning production charts Trevor Noah's childhood in apartheid South Africa. Noah tells his family's story with no shortage of humor and heart, using a range of accents and voices to embody the vivid cast of characters that populate his life. The result is an unforgettable listening experience.