While road trips allow you to take in some beautiful scenery, there can be long stretches of nothingness between stops. Planning a major road trip? Audiobooks are your best bet for combating road boredom. So don’t forget to pack one (or more) of these audiobook titles for the drive!
Becoming by Michelle Obama
Listening length: 19 hours and 3 minutes
Written and narrated by former First Lady Michelle Obama, Becoming is an immersive, behind-the-scenes look at life in the White House during her husband’s presidency. This audio biography chronicles her life growing up on the South Side of Chicago and culminates with her multi-faceted role as wife, mother, and role model at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Whether you are a U.S. history buff or simply want to listen to inspirational anecdotes from a popular modern figure, Becoming is one of the best audiobooks for your next road trip. Becoming has a listening length of 19 hours and 3 minutes.
Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
Listening length: 8 hours and 44 minutes
As Africa’s most successful comedian, Trevor Noah currently serves as host of Comedy Central’s highly acclaimed series The Daily Show. Trevor Noah lends his amazing storytelling skills in narrating his memoir Born a Crime and recounting post-apartheid life in South Africa.
This audiobook is full of sharp wit and insightful humor that its 8-hour, 44-minute length seems short.
With Trevor Noah’s wit and charm interwoven throughout, Born a Crime will have you laughing out loud on your road trip – just be sure to keep your eyes on the road because this is one of the funniest audiobooks around.
Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
Listening length: 60 hours
It has been over 20 years since the first installment of the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone was published. But the mystical exploits of Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley have never been more popular.
With 7 audiobooks and roughly 60 hours of listening, the Harry Potter audiobook series is the perfect companion for your road trip, particularly if it is going to be a long one. If you’re traveling with kids, this is one of the best audio books for family road trips! The entire series will immerse the entire family filled with wizards and supernatural wonders.
All 7 titles are narrated by Jim Dale.
Roughing It by Mark Twain
Listening length: 15 hours and 46 minutes
While Roughing It may not be among Mark Twain’s better-known works, it may be one of his most insightful, offering a unique glimpse into his complex personal life. If you’re a fan of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer or Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, you will gain a deeper understanding of the wit, humor, and character of the man who wrote these classics.
This audiobook is narrated by Grover Gardner. It chronicles Mark Twain’s adventures (and misadventures) across America’s western frontier, including stops in Nevada, California, and Hawaii. Take part in his journey while embarking on one of your own. The total listening time of this audiobook is 15 hours and 46 minutes.
Calypso by David Sedaris
Listening length: 6 hours and 39 minutes
If you’re looking for something off the beaten path to listen to on your next road trip, look no further than Calypso. Written by acclaimed author David Sedaris, this audiobook follows Sedaris’s personal account of settling down on the Carolina coast. He also offers his perspective on aging and takes you along for the ride.
And perhaps most fittingly, David Sedaris himself narrates Calypso. The audiobook version of Calypso runs for 6 hours and 39 minutes.
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Listening length: 12 hours and 12 minutes
If a riveting plot with surprising twists and turns is your thing, then Where the Crawdads Sing is the perfect audiobook to listen to on your next road trip. Narrated by Cassandra Campbell, this audio version of the New York Times bestseller is a riveting coming-of-age tale set against the backdrop of the North Carolina coast in 1969.
Where the Crawdads Sing‘s length is 12 hours and 12 minutes, which is more than enough to keep you entertained and right on the edge of your seat.
Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Listening length: 9 hours and 3 minutes
This compelling tale is set in the rock and roll scene of Los Angeles in the 60s and 70s. It chronicles the meteoric rise of fictional rock stars Daisy Jones and Billy Dunne.
An ensemble cast of narrators such as Jennifer Beals, Pablo Schreiber, Benjamin Bratt, and Judy Greer reads Daisy Jones and The Six.
This audiobook has a listening length of 9 hours and 3 minutes. It provides a closer look at the rock music industry during the “sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll” era. Buckle your seat belts because you’re in for a wild ride.
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
Listening length: 4 hours and 21 minutes
For fans of the fantasy genre, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis is one of the best audiobook options to listen to while on a road trip. As the most popular installment of the Chronicles of Narnia series, this classic tale follows the adventures of four British children as they travel to a mystical land with talking animals and supernatural villains.
Narrator Michael York reads C.S. Lewis’ timeless novel for 4 hours and 21 minutes.
Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Listening length: 70 hours and 48 minutes
When it comes to whodunits and mysteries, the name Sherlock Holmes is synonymous with suspenseful tales and surprise endings. Narrated by Charlton Griffin, the audio version of Sherlock Holmes consists of 60 titles encompassing 56 short stories and 4 novels including classics like A Study in Scarlett and The Hound of the Baskervilles.
The Sherlock Holmes audiobook will take you and your travel companions to another time and place while you drive to your own destination. With a total listening time of 70 hours and 48 minutes, this audiobook is perfect for long road trips. You might even say that the choice is elementary.
Matilda by Roald Dahl
Listening length: 4 hours and 18 minutes
If you’re planning a road trip with the kids then the whole family will enjoy listening to the audio version of Matilda. This audiobook is narrated by Kate Winslet. It follows the life of young Matilda who uses her newfound powers to battle an evil headmistress. With action, humor, and good-natured fun, Matilda is the perfect choice for entertainment on the road.
This audiobook runs 4 hours and 18 minutes.
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
Listening length: 6 hours and 27 minutes
A Wrinkle in Time was originally published in 1962 but it remains a favorite among readers of all ages to this day. With its imaginative blend of fantasy and science, this title is a popular audiobook and was recently made into a big-budget movie with a star-studded cast. With thematic elements like time travel and the fight between good and evil woven into its plot, A Wrinkle in Time is an adventure unto itself.
This audiobook is narrated by a cast of readers including Hope Davis, Ava DuVernay, and Madeleine L’Engle herself. This audiobook has a listening length of 6 hours and 27 minutes.
Before You Pack Your Bags and Hit the Road
Road trips are among the most popular ways to travel but they can be monotonous at times. To fill the time between stops, the best audiobooks can provide hours of quality entertainment. Whether you love family road trips or driving alone, listening to the best road trip audiobooks can make it more exciting.
Prices last updated on 2023-09-24
