good family road trip audiobooks

30 Best Audiobooks for Family Road Trips (For All Genres and Ages!)

Hit the road with the perfect entertainment! Our list of 30 Best Audiobooks for Family Road Trips offers magical, adventurous, and heartwarming stories for all ages. Keep everyone entertained!

Nothing drains more than sitting for hours on end, doing nothing but watching passing cars and trees! Thankfully, there's the exciting option of listening to a new audiobook with your family on a road trip! If you've been missing out on this, you'll be shocked to see how much fun an audiobook brings to your next trip!

Whether family means a team of hyperactive six-year-olds, uninterested teenagers, or mature adults, there's a book for you! From science fiction or magical tales to real-life experiences, the adventure in the world of books never ends! You'll find more than enough options on this list to keep your family entertained and enthralled even for a whole day's journey.

Audiobooks are an excellent innovation, especially if you get nauseated by reading in a moving vehicle. With most having top-notch narration, they're more like a non-visual movie. Think of seeing the whole Harry Potter series in one sitting. Ecstatic, right? Check out our list for more!

1. Charlotte's Web by E.B White (Narrated by Meryl Streep)

Listening length : 3 hours and 34 minutes | Price : $18.38

If you think a heart-warming story on friendship and unconditional love is what your family needs, you'd find Charlotte's web inspiring. The book, written by the same author of The Trumpet of the Swan and Stuart Little , is a kid's literature classic that cuts it for every young mind.

Charlotte's feeling for Wilbur, a little pig, is expressed in her spiderweb, which hangs up in Zuckerman's barn. The web also expresses the love of the girl, Fern, who rescued Wilbur as he was his family's runt when he was born. 

This story of love and friendship will continue to endear the minds of coming generations. It's been read in classrooms, homeschools, and independently; you'll surely enjoy it on your family's trip.

2. Peter and The Star Catchers by Dave Berry And Ridley Pearson (Narrated by Jim Dale)

Listening length : 8 hours and 40 minutes | Price : $14.99

This book is the best option if you've just completed the Harry Potter series and are unsure what's best to follow. Peter and the Star Catchers is a hilarious reimagination of the Peter Pan story, magical and adventurous, and also narrated by Jim Dale, the same guy that reads Harry Potter. 

It's a five-volume series, so it can suffice for whatever distance you may be traveling. Through the book, you enter into the fast-paced world of the orphan boy Peter and his somewhat mysterious buddy, Molly. 

The pals make efforts to keep a world-changing secret and win victory over a band of thieves and pirates. The magical substance that heals wounds and makes men fly from just one sprinkle mustn't reach the grasp of treacherous bandits. 

The characters in this story will remain vivid in your mind as you listen. Much more, it transports you to their magical world even while on a long road trip with your family. 

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3. Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud (Narrated by Simon Jones)

Listening length : 13 hours and 30 minutes | Price : $24.44

This story starts with eleven-year-old Nathaniel, a young apprentice to a magician still trying to learn the ropes of the ancient art of magic. Not until the day he meets Simon Lovelace, a ruthless and nonchalant magician that humiliates him publicly. 

The painful encounter sets him on the exciting track of a fast-forwarded education, learning spells far above his age and capacity, all in a bid to get his revenge. While on this, he stumbled on a powerful spell that summoned up the five-thousand-year-old djinni, Bartimaeus, to join him on his quest. 

Little did Nath know that summoning such a mighty creature of magic and controlling him was far from being the same thing. 

With settings of modern-day London, takes you through unanticipated twists and turns as the two unique characters explore together, held together by an almost unbreakable spell. The narration? Crazily good! With Amulet of Samarkand  being the first of The Bartimaeus Trilogy series, there's no dull moment on your trip with this book in place.

4. Princess Academy by Shannon Hale (Narrated by Laura Credidio)

Listening length : 7 hours and 24 minutes | Price : $9.95

New York Times bestseller Shannon Hale wrote this fantastic tale. It's about a girl named Miri that once enjoyed a simple life; one passed down to her by her ancestors that once lived on the mountain where she resides.

Not until she got the news that her simple home was divined to be the future princess's. And in one year, one of the village girls will stand by the prince as his bride and princess. But who could that be? 

In preparation for this, the rulership set up an academy to train young ladies to become princesses, which every teenage girl must undergo. In no time, Miri gets entangled with opposing situations —a grim academy mistress, the conflict in her wishes, and fierce competition among the young ladies. 

Even if she won and everything she ever wanted was brought to her feet, can it make up for her leaving her family and people behind? The Princess Academy series is one your family will fall in love with!

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5. Savvy by Ingrid Law by Lily Blau

Listening length : 6 hours and 16 minutes | Price : $21.99

Savvy is one of those superpower stories that doubles as an adventure book. We are introduced to the Beaumont family where everyone gets a magical talent called a savvy as they turn thirteen. 

Mibs Beaumont has one brother with hurricane power and another who brings up electricity; it's time to get hers. However, something terrible happened before D-day; Poppa got involved in a life-threatening accident. This occurrence affects Mibs' choice of savvy; all she wants now is the power to heal her dad. 

She snuck out of home and hit the road to the hospital on a rickety bus alongside her sibling and friends. After this exciting and unusual adventure, none of the kids will remain the same. Savvy is a sweet listen for any family with kids planning to set out on a road trip.

6. A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park (Narrated by Graeme Malcolm)

Listening length : 3 hours and 12 minutes | Price : $17.44

Here's an account that takes you back to twelfth-century Korea, when one celadon shard could determine people's fate. The village of Ch'ulp'o is famous for its pottery and celadon ware, and potter Min is the best potter the craft has seen. 

The master potter's work catches the eye of young Tree-ear, even if Min's short-fused nature should ideally put him off. He's blown away by the excellence of the potter's craft and had dreams of making his pot one day. 

This ambition rolls the stone of a cascade of unforeseen events, hazards, and unfathomable rewards. If you need a book about a young person's daunting journey towards fulfillment, this is it! No wonder the book won the 2002 Newbery Medal for most distinguished American children's book.

7. Dark Days: Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy (Narrated by Rupert Degas)

Listening length: 8 hours and 8 minutes | Price: £10.49

Skulduggery Pleasant is a sorcerer, fighter, and detective. But most importantly, He's dead! He's been carried into the dimension ruled by agents called the faceless ones. If you're lucky to find any remains of his bones, he probably shouldn't be in his right state of mind again from the horror of the ancient gods. 

No one has had the audacity or proven plan to save him from these depths of darkness. Except for Valkyrie, and even she doesn't have a solid plan. If she finally succeeds in bringing him back home, a gang of villains is already insistent on tearing down the sanctuary. 

Others want Valkyrie dead, and much more devastating is the sorcerer Darquesse that has plans to kill the world and everyone within it. 

The world's fate rests on Valkyrie's shoulders, and with the absence of Skulduggery, every hope lies on her. The inventiveness and fun entwined into the book's dark scenery make it a page-turner for you to laugh your face off.

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8. Matilda by Roald Dahl (Narrated by Kate Winslet)

Listening length: 4 hours and 18 minutes | Price: £15.75

Have you ever seen a sweet, book-loving girl of remarkable character misunderstood by her parents due to their undervaluing of education? Most likely not.

Matilda is one in those shoes. Although her life takes a new shape on meeting Miss Honey at her new school, matters still got worse with her having to deal with Miss Trunchbull, her kid-hating headmistress. 

All thanks to the attack of the terrorizing woman, Matilda discovers her superhuman power to defend herself and fight back. You'd think Roald Dahl writes his books to be listened to rather than read, as the book is filled with pranks, humor, mischief, and wit that keeps children laughing from start to finish.  

More seriously, you'll also learn how valuing family, education, and strong willpower can help you win against life's challenges. 

9. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S Lewis (Narrated by Michael York)

Listening length: 4 hours and 21 minutes | Price: $18.96

Everyone that's seen the movie adaptation of C.S Lewis's stunning story wouldn't hesitate an opportunity to listen to its audiobook on a family road trip. 

The land of Narnia lies beyond the border of a wardrobe door; a frozen country held captive under the white witch's enchantment. Lucy finds that the wardrobe in the professor's spooky apartment leads to Narnia and returns to tell her siblings, but it sounds somewhat incredulous. 

Soon enough, Susan and Peter follow suit and visit the magical country themselves. On meeting the great Lion Aslan, it dawned on them that they'd been called to join the great battle to set Narnia free from the witch's claws. 

The book is the second volume of the Chronicles of Narnia series but also does an excellent job as a standalone listen.   

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10. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K Rowling (Narrated by Jim Dale)

Listening length: 8 hours and 18 minutes | Price: $29.99

You've probably been searching for this! Of course, this list would be far from complete without Harry Potter's magical world. The story starts with little Harry, unaware of anywhere called Hogwarts. Not until his admission letter dropped on his family house's doormat at Privet Drive. The start of a long and exciting adventure! 

Although his gruesome aunt and uncle quickly hid the letter away, it happens that he couldn't be kept away from his destiny at Hogwarts. In no time, the beetle-eyed giant, Rubeus Hagrid, burst in with reemphasizing news of his magical talents and admission to Hogwarts School of Wizardry and Witchcraft.

The Harry Potter series has helped reveal many young people's hidden reading abilities. And every character of the magical story springs to life with Jim Dale's unmatched voice talent, even the unimportant ones! The audiobook is well worth the investment for any family considering spending some hours on the road.

11. The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall (Narrated by Susan Denaker)

Listening length : 6 hours and 43 minutes | Price : $23.99

The Penderwicks series has sold up to a million copies out of more readers' hunger to read it should have a spot on your consideration list for an audiobook. 

Written by National Book Award winner Jeanne Birdsall, there's no dulling moment as you join the Penderwick sisters on their three-week summer adventure—a vacation in the captivating estate of Arundel.

In no time, they're exploring the magic of tame rabbits, spreading gardens, and the taste of gingerbread from the kitchen of Massachusetts's best cook! What's more? They met Jeffrey Tifton, the son of Arundel's owner; and he's just precisely who they needed to have the time of their lives in Arundel. 

On the other hand, Mrs. Tifton isn't as welcoming as her son and warns them to stay away from trouble. Will they? Or will things get out of hand? Find that out as you dive into a sweetly nostalgic and witty story during your family's road trip.

12. The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo (Narrated by Graeme Malcolm)

Listening length : 3 hours and 30 minutes | Price : $18.38

The biggest and strongest doesn't always emerge as the hero. Kate DiCamillo brilliantly weaves the stories of Despereaux Tilling, a music-loving mouse, with that of Roscuro, a rat living in the dark and coveting a light-filled world. Miggery Sow, a serving girl, is another exciting protagonist. 

Three of them, alongside princess Pea, stepped into the uncertain adventure that led them through an appalling dungeon, a sparkling castle, and, more interestingly, into each other's lives. 

How does it all turn out? "Your destiny to find out," in Kate DiCamillo's voice. The Newberry Award-winning book is a sure bet to fill your journey with delightful memories. 

13. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien (Narrated by Rob Inglis)

Listening length : 11 hours and 5 minutes | Price : $23.95

You'll find The Hobbit a great listen, and your kids will enjoy it. It's the adventure of the easy-going Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, who prefers his home's comfort but reluctantly chooses to join a group of dwarves headed to take back plundered gold from the great dragon Smaug. 

The tale is one of daunting courage and bravery. It's also the prelude to the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Initially, Professor J.R.R. Tolkien wrote the book for the reading delight of his children, so it's a more easy-going story than the Lord of the Rings.

Therefore, children and adults can enjoy the adventures, landscapes, songs, and bravery featured in the book. 

14. Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan (Narrated by Jesse Bernstein)

Listening length : 10 hours and 2 minutes | Price : $27.94

This series compares to Harry Potter's in terms of interestingness; and although superpower is involved, it's more about Greek gods in a modern setting. Twelve-year-old Percy had problems with bullies in school, and the cycle continues as he gets kicked out of one school to another. 

One day he visited the beach with his mom; the day his life took a different shape forever. He learns of his friend's satyr identity and struggles with the Minotaur, which got Percy to the camp of demigods.

He was sent on the seemingly impossible adventure to retrieve Zeus' stolen master bolt. As you'd imagine, the encounters on his way to achieving this turned out to be more than his capacity.  Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief is a book that'll get you thanking the gods for a beautiful read!

15. When Stars are Scattered by Omar Mohamed and Victoria Jamieson

Listening length : 3 hours and 42 minutes | Price : $22.05

What do you want from a story? Heart warmth, adventure? You'll get it all in this all-time remarkable, graphic novel. The book talks about how a young Somalian boy Omar Mohamed struggled to find a good life in a Kenyan refugee camp; for himself and his brother, Hassan, who has seizure problems.

Their father died in Somalia's civil war, encouraging them to flee for their lives on foot. They had to separate from their mother as these all played out. But now they've been searching tirelessly for her and hoping she's doing the same for them.

This book gives readers insider information on how to survive the trauma and other adverse effects of living as a refugee. The book's writing and color design are top-notch; that means they'll leave the reader with long and exciting memories that'll stick to them years after reading the book . It's a perfect one for any distance of a family road trip.

16. Caraval by Stephanie Garber (Narrated by Rebecca Soler)

Listening length: 10 hours and 36 minutes | Price : $24.49

Scarlett has always dreamt of being a part of the legendary, once-a-year performance, but her dad's arranged marriage for her now seems to threaten her dream. Thankfully, she escapes with the help of Tella, her sister, and a mysterious sailor. 

Unfortunately, the team couldn't see Tella's kidnap coming. Legend, the mastermind behind the dangerous performance, kidnaps the young lady and makes her the center of this year's carnival. Whoever finds her first is crowned the winner.

In pursuit of her sister, Scarlett finds herself in a labyrinth of love, magic, and heartbreak with other Caraval participants. Will she recover her sister? Find out yourself as you enjoy this mind-boggling adventure with your family.

17. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (Narrated by Tatiana Maslany)

Listening length : 10 hours and 35 minutes | Price : $19.59

Emmy Award-winning actress, Maslany, takes the dystopian story to another level with her youthful and melodic narration. The race for survival keeps your mind constantly on a high as sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen combines intelligence, compassion, and grit to win the Hunger Games.

The Capitol city of Panem overrules 12 districts and keeps them in line by making them send one boy and girl between the ages of 12 and 18 to join in the life-threatening games. The kids are viewed on live TV as they fight it until death. 

Sixteen-year-old Katniss sacrifices her life by volunteering to take her sister's place in the games; as survival and proximity to death are second nature for her. With her bravery, nonetheless, she has to choose between survival and humanity, life and love. 

18. To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han (Narrated by Ali Ahn)

Listening length : 8 hours and 44 minutes | Price : $21.43

Got teen girls? They'll find this audiobook an interesting listen over and over again! The book goes over the romance misadventures most teenage girls are prone to experiencing. They'll also learn to appreciate the value of the written word.

Although now a major movie on Netflix, the audiobook is still worth the listen as the experience of sixteen-year-old Lara Jean Song doesn't get less interesting! You sure want to know what happens when a teenage girl's secret love letters to all five previous crushes, written for only her eyes, leaks out to all of them at once!

And Lara Jean is no shallow writer; she pours her mind and soul down, including what she wouldn't say in reality, because she never intended to show it to them. This event happens, and her once imaginary love life goes out of hand.

19. Born a Crime by Trevor Noah (Narrated by Trevor Noah)

Listening length : 8 hours and 44 minutes | Price : $21.83

Ever tried nonfiction audiobooks for trips? They deserve a place on your list. This book is a memoir Trevor Noah wrote about his coming-of-age days and South Africa's struggles with injustice and apartheid. 

The story starts with how his devoted mother threw him out of a moving van to save him from gangsters, followed by the young comedian's growth through humorous and poignant episodes of self-discovery. 

In Born a Crime , the celebrity flawlessly performed the different characters from his childhood days and effortlessly used the English, Zulu, and Xhosa dialects to win the heart of every listener. Little wonder his narration earned him the Audie award for the best male narrator in 2018. 

20. One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus (Narrated by Macleod Andrews, Robbie Daymond, Kim Mai Guest, and Shannon McManus)

Listening length: 10 hours and 43 minutes | Price : $33.69

This audiobook stands out in that each main character has a different narrator, adding an authentic flavor to the already enjoyable story. The TV series now streams on Peacock as everyone wants to know what happened when the school authority detained five students together, but only four came out alive. 

Investigation reveals that Simon's death wasn't accidental, as he'd planned to post juicy info about those other four classmates the next day, making them all suspects in the murder case. Can they be held responsible? Or are they the ideal patsies for the actual killer still roaming free? 

The twisted and addictive thriller keeps readers unraveling the mystery of "who really killed Simon" till the end.

21. Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A Milne (Narrated by Stephen Fry, Others)

Listening length : 2 hours and 4 minutes | Price : £13.12

Remember the time when you were able to make your toys come to life by giving them personalities? Winnie-the-Pooh takes you back to that time. This collection of stories about "Pooh bear" has delighted millions of children for decades. And with its brilliant narration, your kids would repeatedly beg to listen to this. 

The end of the story sends a strong message to everyone about growth and the reality of saying goodbye. Summarily, Winnie-the-Pooh offers hours of enjoyment for any family trip.

22. Ms. Rapscott's Girls by Elise Primavera (Narrated by Katherine Kellgren)

Listening length : 3 hours and 40 minutes | Price : $17.15

If you find boarding house stories irresistible, you'll be intrigued by this book. The book starts with a call for new intakes into the great Rapscott School. Only this unusual institution specifically admits daughters of the busiest parents in the world. 

Interestingly, these girls get shipped to the school from different locations in (of all things) postage boxes!

The coming weeks and months reveal a host of formative adventures the girls embark on. Especially as the extraordinary headmistress, Ms. Rapscott, tries to fulfill her promises to their parents by teaching everything these parents are too busy to teach.

The book teaches children to be resilient as they uncover their inner mettle. You'll surely enjoy listening to this book on a family road trip, especially as it's reminiscent of the famous Mary Poppins book.

23. The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell by Chris Colfer (Narrated by Chris Colfer)

Listening length : 8 hours and 59 minutes | Price : $14.99

If you're looking for a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout your journey, the Land of Stories is for you. This Young Adult Fantasy Novel gives you the experience of meeting all your special Disney characters in one place. From Cinderella to Goldilocks and even all the villains!

The book is about twin siblings—Alex and Conner. They find themselves in an enchanted world by the powers of a mysterious book they were gifted for their birthday. At first, the experience is exciting as they interact with their favorite fairy tale characters. 

But soon, they become plagued with the problem of how to get back to reality as they encounter witches and scary creatures. How they escape is what your don't want to miss out on!

24. Cinder by Marissa Meyer (Narrated by Rebecca Soler)

Listening length : 10 hours and 2 minutes | Price : $24.49

Ever imagined a cross between the famous Disney novel Cinderella and your favorite Sci-Fi book? Cinder is the genius outcome. The book has a common yet intriguing storyline guaranteed to captivate any listener with its similarities and deviations from the original story.

The protagonist, Cinder, is a second-class citizen by her profession, and living with her abusive stepmother and step sisters. Things go south when one of the stepsisters catches a deadly disease, and she is blamed for it. 

Cinder is then sent away as a case study for medical research. As secrets are unveiled, everyone soon realizes that Cinder is not as common as she seems. You should find out how the drama unfolds to the happy ending you expect

25. Far far Away by Tom McNeal (Narrated by W. Morgan Sheppard)

Listening length : 10 hours and 55 minutes | Price : $29.40

In a Land called Never Better, a young boy named Jeremy Johnson hears the voice of a ghost. This ghost is no other than Jacob Grimm, one of the Grimm brothers who compiled fairy tales in the nineteenth century. Jacob's ghost is tasked with protecting Jeremy, narrating the story from Jacob's point of view. 

However, it becomes clear that Jacob can't protect Jeremy from everything. Especially the beautiful Ginger Boultinghouse, who falls in love with him after eating an allegedly enchanted piece of cake.

While playing pranks on the townspeople, the duo soon find themselves in deep trouble. One that pales in comparison to every of Jeremy's previous problems. Did Jacob succeed in protecting Jeremy? How did it end with Ginger? You'll find that out when you listen to this story!

26. Hatchet by Gary Paulsen (Narrated by Peter Coyote)

Listening length : 3 hours and 42 minutes | Price : $18.61

Hatchet tells of the tenacity of a young boy stranded alone in the wilderness for 54 days after a plane crash. With tattered clothes and an injured body, he must learn to survive with just a hatchet and a strong will to survive. 

The story starts with Brains' family life. His parents were recently divorced, and he was to spend his first holiday with his dad after the divorce. On the way, he got stranded in the Canadian mountains and unconsciously recollects a family secret. 

The ensuing days reveal the tough decisions he has to make physically and mentally. Courage and, most importantly, the woes of self-pity and despair are lessons the reader discovers in this story. Hatchet is a fantastic book of adventures that you'll find a page-turner.

27. The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate (Narrated by Adam Grupper)

Listening length : hours and 46 minutes | Price : $18.96

The One and Only Ivan is a unique animal story centered around a silverback gorilla named Ivan. It is based on a true story and contains simple themes about friendships yet exposes the harsh truths about what it is like to live in captivity. 

It's also a book you would undoubtedly adore if you love animals and are interested in protecting their rights.

Having lived in a mall for over 27 years, Ivan had mostly forgotten about his life in the wild. Ivan is forced to see their profession in a new light as he seeks to get back to the wild. This emotional story portrays the transformative power of friendships, and it's heartwarming conclusion would make you shed a few tears.

28. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle (Narrated by Hope Davis)

Listening length : 6 hours and 27 minutes | Price : $22.05

A wrinkle in time is a fantastic blend of science fiction and fantasy. The story is about Meg, a teenager, and her brother Charles in their quest to find their missing father. One day, a stranger appears at their doorstep and tells them the truth about their father's whereabouts. 

She further reveals the existence of a 'wrinkle in time through which they can travel to recover Mr. Murry.

With Calvin, a fellow schoolmate, the children travel through time to outwit the dark forces and rescue Mr. Murray. But this would prove to be no mean feat as soon the task would be more about returning alive themselves. How does Meg discover every human's secret weapon to defeat evil forces? You'll have to read this book to find out!

29. Family, Friends, and Furry Creature by Liz Pichon (Narrated by Russell Tovey)

Listening length : 1 hour and 56 minutes | Price : $11.95

Family, friends, and furry creatures is a hilarious book to listen to and re-listen to. The story is about the adventures of Tom Gates with his friends and family. It's also the perfect audiobook for getting everyone in the mood on a vacation or camping trip, as you'll likely be in stitches most of the time.  

The Book reveals Tom's everyday life and how he goes about the school project he had to do for his family. This leads Tom to discover how his parents met with so many embarrassing and relatable scenarios to laugh over. It's a terrific read for any age; and learning about Tom is a guide to learning about yourself.

30. The Railway Children by E.Nesbit (Narrated by Virginia Leishman)

Listening length : 6 hours and 43 minutes | Price : $17.46

The charm of this book is its simplicity and natural themes. It tells the tale of three children forced into poverty after their dad disappears suddenly. Together with their mother, they move from London to the countryside and are excited to learn that their new home is close to a train station.

The story depicts the relatable experience of being whisked into unexpected situations as a child without understanding the reasons from an adult's point of view. The children learn to make the most of their new surroundings by helping with chores.

They are also able to thrive by making friends wherever they go. One of these friends, an old gentleman, coincidentally turns out to be the one who helps them out of their predicament. Listening to this audiobook on a family trip will awaken nostalgic feelings about your childhood you'd want to remember.

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25+ Best Audiobooks for Family Road Trips

By Author Tara Schatz

Posted on Published: November 27, 2023

Categories Travel Tips , Family Travel , Gear and Clothing , Technology

There is absolutely no question that audiobooks keep us sane in the car, whether we’re traveling across town or across the country. And if you’re looking for easy ways to survive your own family road trip , these great audiobooks are the answer!

I think the trick to finding the best audiobooks for family road trips is to look for stories with a good plotI and an outstanding narrator.

This is no easy feat. We’ve fallen in love with all kinds of stories that were turned into humdrum audiobooks by boring, monotone narrators. Definitely not a great scenario when you’re trying to keep your eyes open on a marathon of a road trip.

As our kids have gotten older, our audiobook selections have mingled with a nice collection of podcasts and music playlists, but there’s still nothing like a good story to make the hours go by more quickly!

The Best Audiobooks for Family Road Trips

The audiobooks listed below are some of our very favorites for long drives, but keep in mind that we have boys who lean heavily toward fantasy and other-worldly adventures.

The ages listed below the book titles are a bit arbitrary, as books that are right for some might be too difficult or scary for others. For example, we started listening to the Harry Potter series when the kids were five or so, but after the third book, we put them on hold until they were older. We know plenty of families that started their kids on these books as toddlers, and many others that introduced the books to their kids when they were in middle school. Use your best judgment.

We try out new audiobooks for the whole family on every road trip, so I will try to keep this list updated as we discover new favorites.

The audiobooks in our list are either read by a full cast of actors or incredible narrators — guaranteed to keep your kids off their devices and your driver from falling asleep! We have no patience for boring narrators!

A Note on Audible for Road Trips

We use our public library and Audible for our road trip listening pleasure. For a monthly fee, you can download your favorite audiobooks to listen to anywhere. What makes it so great for road trips is that you have a whole library with you and you can download your favorites before your trip.

If you’re willing to shell out a bit each month, the audiobooks you download are yours forever, even if you cancel your subscription. You can also keep your Audible books in your library without downloading them on your device so they take up less space. 

Road Trip Audiobooks for All Ages 

The following audiobooks for family road trips are perfect for everyone, and great when you’re traveling with a wide range of ages in your vehicle.

Rabbit Ears Entertainment Stories

One of our favorite is Rip Van Winkle , read by Anjelica Huston. The haunting fiddle music is a perfect fit — composed and played by Jay Ungar and Molly Mason.

Here are a few more beautiful fairy tales from Rabbit Ears  — classic children’s stories brought to life by the world’s most respected narrators and musicians:

• The Legend of Sleepy Hollow: Washington Irving’s classic tale (adapted) narrated by Glenn Close.
• How the Leopard Got His Spots : Actor Danny Glover narrates this inspired adaptation of the Rudyard Kipling classic.
• Koi and the Kola Nuts: A humorous African folktale, narrated by Whoopi Goldberg.

Classical Kids

Our adult kids love classical music, and we owe that, in part, to the Classical Kids series that played on repeat during long road trips. There are four stories in the series, each touching upon the life of a famous composer.

The stories are riveting. There is a full cast of narrators, and it is all set to beautiful music. Our favorite is Vivaldi’s Ring of Mystery , but I recommend each and every one — Mr. Bach Comes to Call , Mozart’s Magic Fantasy , and Beethoven Lives Upstairs , which was made into a full-length movie.

The Roald Dahl Audio Collection Narrated by the Author

This delightful collection of audiobooks features Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James & the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr. Fox, and The Enormous Crocodile & The Magic Finger . Roald Dahl narrates these subversively hilarious stories himself and they are a delight for all ages. I should mention here that these are abridged versions of the stories, but our young kiddos loved them even more than the originals.

Audiobooks for Family Road Trips (Elementary School)

The Cricket in Times Square by George Seldon and narrated by Tony Shalhoub (ages 6-9): This is a classic story (1960) of an immigrant family and an immigrant cricket who meet in the subway station in Times Square.

A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket and narrated by Tim Curry (or Lemony Snicket) : There are 13 books in this series, so so if you’re embarking on a huge road trip, this might be the perfect series for you. This unique multi-voice recording brings the story to life in ways that are hard to describe, but our kids devoured these stories.

The series follows the dreadful misadventures of the three Baudelaire children after their parents mysteriously perish in a house fire. The kids are shuffled between relatives, ending up with evil Count Olaf who tThis lands them in the care of various distant relatives, the most notorious of which being the villainous Count Olaf, who tries desperately to get his hands on the family fortune.

The Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis : This well-loved children’s story of magic, wardrobes, and talking animals is a timeless classic for the whole family, made famous by the first book in the series, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe . We loved the unabridged, narrated editions and the full-cast productions by BBC Radio. The complete audio collection on audible includes all seven titles narrated by well-known actors.

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine and narrated by Eden Riegel  –  A botched spell leaves Ella in quite a predicament. Thanks to an incompetent fairy, she must follow every command that is given to her.

The Dark is Rising series by Susan Cooper and narrated by Alex Jennings  – Another series that includes modern children and ancient magic. I love how Susan Cooper entwines folktales, legends, and myths to create a compelling read. We were totally on the edge of our seats for this whole series, and all of them are available on Audible, including Over Sea Under Stone , The Dark is Rising , Greenwitch , The Grey King , and Silver on the Tree .

The Harry Potter books, books 1 – 3, by J. K. Rowling and narrated by Jim Dale : These are the books of my kids’ generation. I’m not exaggerating when I say that we have listened to these stories hundreds of times. They are entwined intricately with the lives of my children, who aren’t really children anymore.

The Boggar t by Susan Cooper and narrated by David Rintoul :  A delightful monster story? Seriously, this book is full of fun twists and turns about a ghost (boggart) who hitches a ride home with a family from his castle in Scotland. If you enjoy it, check out the sequel, The Boggart and the Monster.

Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo and narrated by Cherry Jones :  This is DiCamillo’s first novel, and it was a 2001 Newbery Honor Book. The story follows 10-year-old Opal and her relationship with a scraggly dog named Winn Dixie. It’s a heartfelt story about love and loss, but never cheesy, as these books can sometimes be. And come on, sometimes we all need a good dog story!

The Best Audiobooks for Family Road Trips: Tweens, Teens, and Young Adults (10+)

The Harry Potter Series, books 4-7, by J.K. Rowling and narrated by Jim Dale : I’ve included the second half of the Harry Potter Series here because they’ve got more mature themes than the first three books. They take on a more serious tone, and there is death, treachery, and a bit of cursing. We love them all the same, but recommend them for kids over the age of 10.

The Redwall Series by Brian Jacques and narrated by Brian Jacques and a full cast – Whoever thought we would fall in love with warrior rodents? There are a lot of books in this series, and all of them feature the beloved animals of Redwall Abbey. The dramatization is lively, with lots of singing and plenty of drama. It’s another good choice for late-night driving. The actors are skilled; the accents are decidedly British, and the characters are so much fun.

These are our favorite audiobooks for family road trips, and yes, most of them are available on Audible.   Do you have a favorite audiobook for road trips? I’d love to add some to our listening list for our next big adventure.

Follow us on social media for more road trip inspiration!

Tara is a freelance writer and travel blogger with a passion for outdoor adventures. She is the co-author of AMC’s Best Day Hikes in Vermont and currently blogs at Back Road Ramblers and Vermont Explored , where she shares travel tips, adventure destinations, and vacation ideas for the wanderer in everyone.

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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!)

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On the Road Again: 26 of the Best Audiobooks for Road Trips

Mikkaka Overstreet

Mikkaka Overstreet is from Louisville, Kentucky by way of Saginaw “Sagnasty”, Michigan. She has been an educator since 2006 and earned her PhD in Curriculum and Instruction in 2015. By day she is a mild-mannered literacy specialist. By night she sleeps. In between, she daydreams, writes fiction, and reads books. She currently lives in North Carolina with her husband and cats.

View All posts by Mikkaka Overstreet

Selecting the best audiobooks for road trips can be a challenge. There are lots of factors to consider — your mood, your company, the length of the trip; all can impact your audiobook enjoyment. Luckily, I am here to help take some of the guess work out of the process for you.

I adore audiobooks. As I’ve mentioned in some of my previous posts, I am always reading four books. Typically, I have one fiction and one nonfiction traditional paper book in my bag and/or on my nightstand. Additionally, I’ll have two audiobooks going simultaneously — one that I’m listening to independently and one I’m enjoying with my partner.

Just now, for example, I finished  King and the Dragonflies   by Kacen Callender on paper ( excellent book, BTW). In the slow and steady way that I read nonfiction, I am plodding through  Troublemakers  by Carla Shalaby. As for my latest audiobook selections, you’ll have to read the rest of this post, because they definitely make my recommendation list. I know that it might sound a bit strange, but it works for me. Having choice and variety allows me to feel like I always have something to read, no matter my mood. 

Consequently, I go through a lot of audiobooks and am thus equipped to recommend you the best audiobooks for a variety of road trip situations. Every book on this list is an award winner that I’ve actually listened to, so you can trust me. Whether you’re traveling solo or with your entire crew, you’re sure to find something you’ll love on this list.

The Best Audiobooks for Road Trips By Yourself

Are you riding solo? The books below will keep you awake, but might inspire reactions that you want no one else to see. (Try not to cry too hard, though. That’s unsafe for driving.)

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Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson, Read by Marin Ireland

This audiobook earned the 2020 Audie Award for best female narration, and for good reason! Ireland brilliantly captures Wilson’s prose, including bringing a believable southern charm to the Tennessean characters. The story is funny, provoking, touching, and outrageous. I just finished it and I cannot stop thinking about it, so please listen to it so I can have more people to talk about it with.

Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune, Read by Kirt Graves

Listening to this book gave me all of the feels. It is an absolutely beautiful exploration of death and love and life, with a great message and lovable characters. Graves gives each character a unique and fitting voice. This unique and beautiful story is perfect to keep you engaged on a long drive — plus you’ll want the solo time to reflect on the questions Klune’s tale poses throughout. As a bonus, if you haven’t read Klune’s The House in the Cerulean Sea , it is also great on audio.

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, Read by Carrie Mulligan

In this 2021 Audie finalist for fiction, protagonist Nora Seed takes us on a journey through her many possible lives. She is able to access these lives through books in a mysterious library that serves as the way station between life and death. I’m not sure if I’m really into books that deal with the complexity of life and death right now, but this one really stuck with me.

With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo, Read by the Author

Written and read by the phenomenal Elizabeth Acevedo, this book surprised me with all the feels. You can’t help but root for the protagonist Emoni, a teenaged mother fighting for her own dreams while navigating the responsibilities of parenthood. Of course, the book won a 2020 Audie Award for best narration by an author and also scored a YA nomination that same year.

The Deep by Rivers Solomon with Daveed Diggs, William Hutson, and Jonathan Snipes, Read by Daveed Diggs

I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking, “Mikkaka, we all know you would listen to Daveed Diggs read the phone book.” While you’re not wrong, you must be an old like me, because what even is a phone book? But I digress. This is an amazing and genre-bending story of the underwater descendants of enslaved Africans who were thrown overboard. It is beautiful and lyrical and moving. My future husband, Daveed Diggs, won a 2021 Audie Award in science fiction for his narration. And probably for being gorgeous and unbelievably talented also.

A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow, Read by Andrea Lang

Next, since we’re underwater, let’s talk about this gem. Black mermaids, sirens, and other magical beings live among us in this award-winning fantasy. Morrow seamlessly integrates these mythical beings into the modern world and pits them against racism and sexism in realistic ways. It’s an absolutely stunning read.

Darling by K. Ancrum, Read by Angel Pean

For some reason, this title doesn’t get as much love as Ancrum’s other books. It’s a different vibe, yes, but still an incredible story worthy of your time. When Wendy Darling moves into a new house, she’s soon visited by the mysterious and magnetic Peter. This twist on the classic tale is suspenseful and painfully, unexpectedly, real.

The Best Audiobooks for Long Road Trips

Whether you’re alone or with others, road trips over eight hours or so can be really tough. Check out these longer audiobooks that can keep you company the entire way.

The Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger by Stephen King, Read by George Guidall

Technically, book one is only seven hours, but this series is LONG. My husband and I have been working our way through this complex narrative for a few years now. It’s weird and otherworldly, connecting to several of King’s other works. The narrator is EXCELLENT. Unfortunately, he suffered a tragic accident and was unable to finish the entire series. Still, the second narrator is pretty good as well.

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

Twelve hours will fly by when you’re listening to this 2018 Audie Award winner for multi-voiced performance. Classic Hollywood comes to life in all its complexity as we follow actress Evelyn Hugo through her decades of fame. Even while confronting sexism, racism, and homophobia, Evelyn is a powerhouse. She might be morally questionable at times, but you’re going to love her.

Good Neighbors by Sarah Langan, Read by Nicole Lewis

I’m one of the few rare birds who didn’t enjoy Little Fires Everywhere , but this book was marketed as that story meeting Shirley Jackson’s suspenseful writing. It definitely delivered. A searing look at the nasty dark side of suburbia, this isn’t for the faint of heart. Trigger warnings for child abuse and sexual assault. (Also, I didn’t finish Little Fires Everywhere , so my opinion means nothing on that one.)

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

This beloved classic is read by its legendary author. For the uninitiated, The Color Purple is the story of a poor, Black girl, surviving poverty and abuse in the Jim Crow south. Additionally, it’s been made into a movie and a musical. The musical is currently being adapted into another movie, so listen to the original story in preparation!

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Read by Frankie Corzo

The creeping dread of this mystery is perfect for a long drive alone, especially if you’re like me and think it’s fun to be a little freaked out. Glamorous protagonist Noemí is a debutante in 1950s Mexico. However, she wants more. In exchange for permission to study her interests at university, Noemí agrees to discreetly attend to a family problem. When she visits her cousin after receiving a cryptic and concerning letter, she is not prepared for the challenges that lay ahead of her in the Mexican countryside. Her cousin’s husband and his family are sinister and secretive. Something dark hides in the walls and begins to permeate Noemí’s dreams. Soon she realizes she might not be able to save her cousin — or herself.

The Best Audiobooks for Road Trips With Your Partner(s)

Perhaps you and your significant other(s) share the same taste in books, or perhaps you need titles with a more universal appeal. The books below guarantee to offer something for everyone.

Red, White, & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston, Read by Ramón de Ocampo

I am unashamedly obsessed with the enemies-to-lovers trope, which McQuiston masterfully utilizes in this political romance. When the president’s son falls for the prince of England, things get tricky. Come for the romance and humor, stay for the surprisingly interesting political intrigue. You and your partner(s) will find something to love in this charming story.

Dread Nation by Justina Ireland, Read by Bahni Turpin

My husband and I are listening to this book right now, and it was perfect on a recent road trip. Sure, I’ve read it before, but it was still engaging. All you need to know about this one is that after the Civil War, the dead got back up. Our protagonists are badass Black girls who are trained to kill the undead. It’s an interesting take on historical events, but also just plain fun.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, Read by Jim Dale

Award-winning narrator Jim Dale shines in this imaginative journey into a magical circus. The circus appears without warning and is full of impossible acts. At the center are a pair of young magicians who are pawns in a long game concocted by their mentors. The fate of the entire circus and everyone in it hangs in the balance as these star-crossed lovers try to beat an unwinnable game.

The Sound of Stars by Alechia Dow, Read by Joy Sunday

This is another title I’ve gushed about previously, but I assure you that it’s worth the hype. There’s alien invasion, music, secret libraries, and a forbidden love that can save the world. The action and twists will keep everyone in the car hanging on every word. At 12 hours long, the story will carry you all the way to your destination — and stick with you long after.

The Institute by Stephen King, Read by Santino Fontana

I know, I know. It’s probably faux pas to put a second book by Stephen King on this list, but hear me out. This is one of his best books in a long time. When a boy wakes up in a room that looks like his own but isn’t, we accompany him on a perilous mission to figure out what’s going on at this so-called Institute. He meets other children like himself — children with gifts The Institute wants to use for its own sinister purposes. Can he save himself and his new friends?

The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon, Read by Bahni Turpin, Raymond Lee, and Dominic Hoffman

If you haven’t read the book (which has been adapted into a movie), then listen to it ASAP. The reading is absolutely beautiful, which is fitting for such a gorgeous and compelling story. Although most of the book takes place over the course of a single day, a LOT happens. Different walks of life collide as Jamaican American Natasha and Korean American Daniel meet and quickly fall in love. Unfortunately, Natasha and her family are scheduled to be deported the following day. You’ll lose yourself in this lush prose and heart-wrenching story.

The Best Audiobooks for Family Road Trips

If you’re looking in this category, let me first give you a virtual hug. While I enjoy an occasional journey with my husband, the thought of being a car with anyone else for more than an hour makes my skin crawl. Anyway, the picks below are family-friendly options that can appeal to a multigenerational minivan.

Shuri by Nic Stone, Read by Anika Noni Rose

After the global success of Marvel’s Black Panther movie, audiences were clamoring for more. Thus, acclaimed author Nic Stone gave us this fabulous middle grade romp through Wakanda. Genius scientist Princess Shuri, the Black Panther’s younger sister, is a superhero in her own right. With her martial arts skills, scientific advancements, and quick mind, she’s the only one who can save Wakanda when their vital Heart Shaped Herb stops growing.

Pet by Akwaeke Emezi, Read by Christopher Myers

I love this book. It’s very different and not for everyone, but the audiobook is absolutely the way to go. (Friends of mine who tried to read the physical book had difficulties that they tell me disappeared when they listened instead.) Myers captures the different accents and speech patterns of the characters beautifully. Emezi deals with tough topics like child abuse in a very age-appropriate way. It’ll spark important conversations with any kiddos in your car.

Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust, Read by Nikki Massoud

I probably don’t have to keep telling you how much I love each book, but I loved this book! This feminist fairytale centers on the princess trapped in the tower. However, that’s where similarities to familiar fairytales end. Our princess is hidden away because she is poisonous to the touch. As her brother prepares for his marriage and the castle is busy and bustling, the princess grows tired of captivity. She faces impossible choices and learns the truth about freedom, family, and her true self.

The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow, Read by January LaVoy

Undoubtedly, this 2020 fantasy Audie Award winner is already on you TBR list. However, let me encourage you to save it for a family road trip. Full of fanciful doors to different worlds and led by a feisty and sympathetic heroine, this story has something for everyone. With a runtime of over 12 action-packed hours, this is one of the best audiobooks for road trips with your family.

Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson, Read by Quincy Tyler Bernstine, Peter Francis James, Shayna Small, and Bahni Turpin

If you have teenage dependents, this would be a great story to listen to together. Woodson’s incomparable writing is vividly brought to life by the ensemble cast of readers. Ultimately, this coming-of-age tale is about family and community — perfect for a car trip with your relatives.

Best Audiobooks for Road Trips for Nonfiction Nerds

Okay, so this is not my wheelhouse. It’s not that I don’t like nonfiction, I just prefer to read such books on paper. This allows me to annotate and take notes to ensure my comprehension. That said, there are a few nonfiction audiobooks that I’ve enjoyed immensely. For more, check out 50 of the Best Nonfiction Audiobooks .

Becoming by Michelle Obama

Alright, I know you’ve probably heard plenty about this book, but it is definitely worth a listen. The audiobook is actually narrated by Michelle Obama herself, making it all the more engaging. Unsurprisingly, it won an Audie Award in 2020 and was nominated for several others.

The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl by Issa Rae

If you’re not familiar with the hilarious and multitalented Issa Rae, this autobiographical audiobook written and read by the author is a perfect introduction. With her self-deprecating humor and unique perspective, you’ll be laughing alone in your car for sure. Fellow blerds, get ready to feel seen.

Stamped (For Kids) by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi, Adapted by Sonja Cherry-Paul and Rachelle Baker, Read by Pe’Tehn Raighn-Kem Jackson

So, there are a lot of names associated with this book: let me explain. Kendi wrote the original Stamped from the Beginning for adults. Then the amazing Jason Reynolds remixed it for a middle grades/YA audience in Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You . This latest iteration is adapted for young children, making it a perfect for a car ride with your kiddos.

There you have it! Hopefully, you’ve discovered your next favorite read. Be sure to explore free audiobooks online . For more great audiobook recommendations, check out our audiobook archives .

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Beyond the Bookends

A Book Blog for Women and Moms who Love to Read

The Best Family Audiobooks For Road Trips and Home Listening

Ready to head out on a family vacation this summer? Don’t forget to download some of our favorite family audiobooks for road trips before you go!

If you have kids of all ages that you don’t want to sit on electronic devices the whole car ride, then we’ve got you covered.

Each of the books on this list has been road trip tested by our own families! We can personally vouch for the fact that these books will entertain adults as well as kids.

Before you download family audiobooks for your upcoming road trips, check out this list comparing Audible to Libro.Fm. You might be surprised with which service you want to use!

*Post contains affiliate links. Purchases made through links result in a small commission to us at no cost to you. Some books have been gifted. All opinions are our own.

Table of Contents

Family Audiobooks for Your Beginning and Early Reader (Ages 6-9)

Ramona Quimby Age 8 by Beverly Cleary

Ramona is another adorable character who is perfectly imperfect.  She is sweet and lovable and gets into her share of trouble.  Whether you are reading to boys or girls, every child can relate to Ramona.

Stuart Little by E.B. White

Adventure- Check. Animals- Check. Animals who can talk and wear clothes- Check check. This is a tale that everyone loves about a boy who also happens to be a mouse.  All my kids love this great story.

Mrs. Piggle-wiggle by Betty MacDonald

If your family loves Mary Poppins or Amelia Bedilia, then they will love Mrs. Piggle-wiggle too!

This cheery old lady has the craziest fixes to any childhood issues, but they work everytime! I love that each chapter is it’s own short story. It makes it easier to digest for younger kids.

The Mouse and The Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary

Ralph the mouse lives in a hotel where the main rule is simple… don’t get spotted by a guest! But Ralph lives for speed!

When a little boy leaves a toy motorcycle unattend in his room, it’s too much for Ralph to resist. Soon he’s zooming around the hotel and making friends with a human!

When my boys were deep into their car loving phase, this book had them hooked! I loved the wholesome story too and found myself entertained by Ralph and his adventures too.

We’ve got many more books for beginning readers here.

Family audiobook series for road trips.

The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser

This charming story is about a bi-racial family in Harlem with 5 kids who are about to lose their home because their reclusive landlord won’t renew their lease.⁣ ⁣ My entire family enjoyed this delightful tale of the siblings trying to win their landlord over so they don’t have to leave home. It was full of all the antics you would expect of a big family. ⁣

The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall

An imperfect family, the Penderwick family (consisting of the father, 4 daughters, and their dog) go spend their three-week summer vacation at a cottage they rented. Mrs. Tifton, a grumpy, snooty woman, and her son Jeffry own the cottage that is part of the Arundel estate.

The first in a 5 books series, this wonderful book is perfect to read aloud at night or listen to on audio for a family roadtrip.

Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger

Move over Harry Potter, there is a new Middle Grade Fantasy series poised to take your throne! After hearing all the kids in our area talking about this book series, I knew I had to listen to it with my kids.

We literally couldn’t stop reading this. I’m telling you, we were all stuck sitting around the speaker anxiously awaiting the next chapter. I’m so excited there are 8 books after this one!

Classic Family Friendly Audiobooks

Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

Peter Pan is one of Kirsten’s favorite childhood stories. The magical world of Neverland with it’s pirates, mermaids, and natives is so engrossing.

The story of Peter Pan and his adventures with the Darling children have inspired countless spin-off books, movies, and theatrical productions for a reason. It’s a must-read for everyone.

Charlotte’s Web by E.B White

This is such a wonderful story of unconditional love and friendship.  When Fern saves the life of Wilbur, the runt of the pig litter, she promises to take care of him. As Wilbur grows, he befriends Charlotte, a spider, who ultimately saves his life a second time.

Why We Love This Book:  This is such a heartwarming classic book for kids. We dare you to read it without crying. Appropriate for ages  5-8 Find this book in Best Classic Books for Kids / Read Aloud Children’s Books / The Best Family Audiobooks Animal Books for Kids

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg

This classic middle-grade story is one the whole family will enjoy. Claudia and Jamie decide they want to runaway to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

When a new statue arrives while they are hiding at the famed museum, they won’t rest until they solve the mystery of who created it! Will they solve the mystery before the museum staff?

This story sparked some pretty fun conversations about how to properly prepare to runaway and just where each member of my family would wish to escape to!

Family Friendly Audiobooks for your 10-13 year old

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

This is a middle grade book that all adults should read. It’s about a group of extremely gifted children who are sent to spy on an evil organization.

This is the first book in a series that is geared toward older middle grade kids. It was funny and interesting and extremely clever.

The Chocolate Touch by Patrick Skene Catling

I adore this story about a little boy who gets the magical power to turn everything he touches into chocolate. This twist on the Midas Touch is adorable and the thought of turning parents into chocolate had my kids rolling with laughter.

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein

Mr. Lemoncello’s library is one of a kind. It’s full of holograms, logic puzzles, and hidden games. To officially open the new library, a few lucky kids get to spend the night inside as they try to win Mr. Lemoncello’s game and be the first team to escape.

Why We Love This Book:  If you are looking for great bedtime stories for kids, this series will hit the mark. It will get your kids engaged with one-of-a-kid puzzles and delightful twists and turns. Appropriate for ages 9-11 Find this book in Audiobooks for Kids / Netflix Book Adaptations / Middle Grade Mysteries / Books for 11-year-olds / Read Aloud Books / Best Puzzle Books

The Candymakers by Wendy Maas

This story appears on our list of books about cand y! I decided to read this book with my boys prior to our visit to Candytopia.

It was a lovely take on life at a candy factory and felt almost like an updated version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. 4 kids are competing to win a candy-making contest to have their creation mass-produced. This is the first in a series of middle grade novels. It’s one of the must-read books for 11-year-olds.

Family Friendly Fantasy Audiobooks

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K Rowling

I was in university when this book was published and the first four were sitting on my younger brother’s bookshelf before I picked it up to see what the fuss was about. 

I read all four books in as many days and was married with a child before the final book was published. 

This book is so much more than just a book.  It is a vernacular that is used in our house.  It is the book that changed all books and our culture forever. 

I am so grateful for the world of Harry Potter because I think it opened up the world of books to people who may never have known they love to read.

Love Harry Potter? Head to our Harry Potter Hub for more book lists inspired by HP!

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

I am including this series because of how many times my son has read it.  I don’t think there is a boy (or girl) out there who has read this series and not loved it. It is the only series that can compare to Harry Potter in terms of how much my son LOVES it.  

It is not magic in the strictest sense of the word.  Rather, it’s about the Greek Gods set in a modern world, with their own special kinds of powers.

Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Berry

This Peter Pan retelling finds Peter aboard a ship of sailors. He and a bunch of other orphans aboard the ship have to protect a treasure locked in a chest hidden on the ship from pirate captain Black Stache.

Think of this as the origin story to Tinkerbell, her fairy dust, and how Peter gained his abilities to fly.

Mystery Family Audiobooks for Road Trips

Winterhouse by Ben Guterson

We like to listen to books as a family when we are in the car together or doing a puzzle. The standout book for me this month was Winterhouse.

This middle-grade mystery was as enthralling to me as it was to my boys. I loved the slight bits of magic in the story and the captivating setting of an expansive ski hotel on a snowy mountain at Christmas time. If you love a cozy mystery, pick this one up!

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin

The book that got me into mysteries as a child is great as an audiobook as well! When Mr. Westing dies, he leaves the residents of Sunset Towers are named in his will.

But they need to solve the mystery of his death in order to win control of his company and his vast fortune. Your family will love trying to work out what happened!

Greenglass House by Kate Milford

This middle grade mystery reminded me of Harry Potter in some ways. A child is trying to uncover the secrets of Greenglass House, a hotel for smugglers and spies before the adults do.

We read this as a family read-aloud and it was wonderful. It’s one of the books for an 11-year-old that younger readers might struggle with.

Find this book in Best Ghost Books / Best Winter Books / Terrific Hotel Novels / Best Mystery Books for Tweens / Best Family Audiobooks / Books With Colors in the Title

The Egypt Game by Zilpha Neatly Snyder

This story enchanted me as a young girl. The 6 “Egyptians” play in the back lot of an antique store, dressing up, performing rituals, and speaking with Oracles.

Then, a murder happens in the area and trouble comes to the lot. Don’t worry, there is a happy ending and also a sequel about gypsies!

Feel Good Family Audiobooks for Road Trips

The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart

Coyote Sunrise lives with her Dad, Rodeo on an old school bus, riding around the country but never returning to where her mother and sisters died.

Until Coyote gets a call from her grandma that the park where she hid a memory box is scheduled to be torn down. Soon Coyote needs to figure out a plan to get her dad back to Washington before she loses that box.

Why We Love This Book:   Filled with life lessons and charming strangers they meet and transport along the way, I adored Coyote and her unique life. My kids listened along to this coming-of-age novel with me too and they felt the same way. Appropriate for ages  9-12 Find this book in Realistic Fiction / Audiobooks for Kids / Audiobooks for a Road Trip

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

Based on the true story of Ivan, a gorilla trapped in a shopping mall, this feel-good story is one of the best family audiobooks for any road trip.

Stella, a young girl gets Ivan to start painting again and she realizes how lonely he is. Bob, a stray dog, works to help Ivan and Ruby, a baby elephant, garner the attention they need to be sent to a better home.

Why I Love This Book:   This book will touch your heart. Even though there are sad parts in this book, the ending will make it worthwhile. This is one of the best animal fiction books for middle grade and adults. Appropriate for ages  8-10 Find this book in Books for 9-year-olds , Zoo Books , Family Audiobooks , Animal Novels / Audiobooks for Kids

Wonder by R.J Palacio

A must-read realistic fiction story for kids in middle school, this is an amazing book about embracing differences, kindness, and being yourself.  However, this would also be a wonderful read-aloud book for a younger audience. CW: This is one of the books that will make you cry.

August Pullman is a boy with an extraordinary facial difference.  He has been homeschooled his entire life and is starting 5th grade at Beecher Prep.  This book for 11-year-olds is amazing and has a lesson about love and acceptance that everyone needs to read.

Song for a Whale by Lynne Kelly

This coming-of-age story is about a deaf girl who is struggling to connect with her community and a whale named Blue 52 who can’t find his ocean community either. She sets out to connect with Blue 52 and along the way she finds her inner strength beautifully.

Why We Love This Book:   This was one of the realistic fiction audiobooks for tweens I listened to with my kids and we all just adored it. I had tears streaming down my face at the end. Appropriate for ages  9-12 Find this book in Books for 10-year-olds / Audiobooks for Kids / Realistic Fiction / Coming-of-Age Novels / Animal Books for Kids

Ban This Book by Alan Gratz

This is technically a  middle-grade read. The heroine of this story is a girl whose favorite book was just banned from her school library. She starts her own locker library filled with more banned books from the school’s library.

As she stands up for her right to read, she challenges adults in her community and learns about the power of books to bring everyone together.

This story made our list of the best books set in school!

Echo by Pam Ryan Munoz

I listened to this with my kids and WOW. We were all completely blown away by this story. It’s three tales woven together in one with a magical harmonica at the center.

I can’t recommend the audiobook version enough. Music plays throughout the story and adds such depth to the tale. This is perfect for a family road trip.

Modern Classic Family Road Trip Audiobooks

Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

We Love Kate DiCamillo. She is a modern storyteller that appeals to children in an intelligent and thoughtful way. I feel like I could have chosen every single one of her books to put on this list so take your pick.  This Newberry Award-winning book is delightful.

The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S Lewis

The iconic book is actually the second book in the Chronicles of Narnia Series. However, since the first book is technically a prequel, I consider this the first and it can be read independently of the rest of the books in the series.

When four children discover a secret passage from a wardrobe into the Land of Narnia, they find a land enslaved by the white witch. They find friends, enemies, and magic in this book that has withstood the test of time. This classic children’s book series is one for the fantasy lovers!

Matilda by Roald Dahl

Matilda is a magical little girl who loves books. Stuck in a family that doesn’t value education, her life is changed when she meets Ms. Honey at her new school.

But the principal, Miss Trunchbull hates children. When she terrorizes the kids at her new school, Matilda finds the power to fight back.

Funny Family Audiobooks for Road Trips

Howliday Inn by James Howe

Technically the sequel to Bunnicula, this one can really be read as a stand-alone. Chester and Harold are being boarded while their family is on vacation, but they are convinced they are staying in a haunted hotel!

I remember laughing out loud as I read this book as a child. This one stands the test of time.

This story also made our list of books for Halloween !

The Wayside School Collection by Louis Sacher

Louis Sachar’s hysterical collection of stories about the students of Wayside School is a true must-read for students and a perfect read-aloud book.

The wacky tales and backward ways of the students and teachers at Wayside will have your child in a fit of giggles. Each chapter is about a different student in the school, so they can be read as individual short stories, making them perfect for bedtime reading.

This is the first in a collection of stories about Wayside School. While I recommend you start with this one, each book in the series is just as funny!

Why I Love It: Not all books from my childhood stand the test of time, but I enjoyed this story even more when I read it to my children. Hearing them giggle through the stories had me smiling. It certainly made for an entertaining bedtime tale.

Find this book in Short Stories / Bedtime Stories for Kids / Best Books for 10-Year-Olds / Family Audiobooks

Which of our favorite family audiobooks for road trips are you downloading for your next vacation?

Co-founder and Editorial Director

Jackie is the mother of three children and a Speech-Language Pathologist who uses her love of books to create language-based learning opportunities in her speech therapy practice and with her own children. Her 20+ years of experience in regular and special education classrooms ensures the website content is relevant and informative. She started this website with Kirsten to share their passion for literacy with other moms and kids.

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36 Best Audiobooks For Road Trips

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Are you searching for good books to listen to while driving? Explore the best audiobooks for road trips to have an inspiring and laughter-filled time.

We don’t know about you, but while we love traveling, we don’t necessarily enjoy endless hours in the car, even if the scenery is stunning. Plus, our middle fingers get exhausted…

We’ve road-tripped all over, including other countries like Italy, Switzerland, Latvia, Ireland, Lithuania, Aruba, Estonia, Scotland, and Iceland.

How do we pass hours upon hours in the car after we’ve counted all of the sheep and sung along to the radio in multiple languages? Podcasts and audiobooks!

Along with our team’s recommendations, we asked audiobook expert, Eline from Lovely Audiobooks, what she considers to be the absolute best audiobooks for a road trip.

Below, find great books to listen to in the car in all genres, including nonfiction, memoir, fiction, romance, LGBT+, historical fiction, YA, thrillers, and more.

Most of these road trip audiobooks won’t be all about road trips themselves either – we have another reading list for that.

However, they are sure to inspire your travel around the world – and maybe your life – diversify your reading, and make you think more deeply. Let’s get started!

P.S. These audiobook selections pair well with an Audible Plus membership .

If you love hitting the road, check out these fantastic books featuring road trips .

Table of Contents

For Fiction Lovers

Selections from Eline

Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman

Narrated by Martin Jarvis

Good Omens has made an incredible comeback.

Whether you’ve seen the Amazon show, read the book, or have yet to experience this awesome story about friendship and the apocalypse, this is one of the best audiobooks for road trips for Gaiman lovers.

Good Omens is produced with a full cast of voice actors including Peter Serafinowicz for a BBC radio play.  Plus, it’s a great choice for a long drive.

Find even more terrific movies and series based on bestselling books .

Listen To Good Omens : Amazon | Goodreads

Evidence Of The Affair by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Narrated By Julia Whelan, Greg Newborn & More

One of the best audiobooks for short road trips, Evidence Of The Affair is written in epistolary form.

Carrie sends a letter to the husband of the woman who she believes is having an affair with her own husband.

Each soulful letter Carrie and David continue to write to each other explores themes of love, fear, and forgiveness.

Discover even more of Eline’s top short audiobooks perfect for day trips.

Listen to Evidence Of The Affair : Amazon | Goodreads

American Gods by Neil Gaiman

Narrated by George Guidall

Neil Gaiman is everywhere these days, and American Gods is one of our favorite audiobooks for a road trip.

Shadow, this honestly good guy, finds himself utterly out of options after being released from prison.

He runs into a group of rather odd people. With them, he’s going on a road trip through America.

Find another Neil Gaiman book, Neverwhere , on our fantasy audiobook reading list .

Listen to American Gods : Amazon | Goodreads

Selections from Christine

The Celebrants by Steven Rowley

Narrated by Steven Rowley

If you are looking for the best audiobooks for road trips featuring middle-aged characters , Rowley’s The Celebrants is an absolute must. It’s one of the best books of 2023, too!

Inspired by the equally terrific friendship movie , The Big Chill , follow along as five college friends reunite throughout their lifetime whenever one of them requires a living funeral.

They formed this pack upon the death of one of their college roommates – possibly by suicide – and call upon it when they are in desperate need of their own type of saving.

Skydive, swim with the sharks, and rescue kittens as these best friends grow and age with humility and humor.

For queer road trip audiobooks, The Celebrants is intuitive, funny, and relatable. We loved Rowley’s The Guncle just as much.

Just know that the novel comes with a few trigger warnings, including suicide, addiction, and more.

Listen to The Celebrants : Amazon | Goodreads

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

Narrated by Lynn Chen

Crazy Rich Asians both as a book and movie did not disappoint. 

The first in the series, we enter the lives of the rich and not so famous except in their excessive wealth. 

Rachel Chu falls in love with one of the richest families’ offspring, Nick Young, causing a tizzy of gossip and instant jealousy. 

Is she good enough for this family?  In fact, who the heck is she? 

Sit back with some popcorn for family scandals, love affairs, and a story about proving love conquers all.

Crazy Rich Asians is definitely binge-worthy and one of the best books to listen to in the car on the way to see your family.

You may also enjoy Kwan’s Sex & Vanity , a story sure to transport listeners to Capri, Italy as well as NYC.

Listen to Crazy Rich Asians : Amazon | Goodreads

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

Narrated by Caroline Lee

Big Little Lies  remains one of our favorite books, and we equally enjoyed the TV series.

Someone is left dead, and the suspect list is endless.

Behind closed doors, all of the players – especially the women – have deep, dark secrets. No one is as Stepford Wives as they seem.

Watch the drama unfold as friendships are built and marriages crumble.

One of the best audiobooks for road trips, Big Little Lies  promises to take your mind off of the traffic and into a gripping mystery.

Discover even more great books set in Australia .

Listen to Big Little Lies : Amazon | Goodreads

Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Narrated by Cassandra Campbell

Where The Crawdads Sing  was one of the most popular books of 2019, an intriguing movie adaptation, and one of the best road trip audiobooks if you are headed to North Carolina .

Owens transports readers to the marshland around the Outer Banks.

Kya Clark, who has never fit in, is suspected of killing Chase Andrews.  Isolated as a youth from society because her family is poor and neglectful, Kya has always been a naive and easy target.

Learn about love, death, and coming of age in the most tragic of circumstances. Just listen with awareness as author Delia Owens faces her own personal allegations.

Discover even more of the best Southern books sure to transport you there . 

Listen to Where The Crawdads Sing : Amazon | Goodreads

Beloved by Toni Morrison

Narrated by Toni Morrison

We always love hearing Toni Morrison’s poetic and sage voice, and Beloved is truly one of the best audiobooks for a road trip that will tug at your heartstrings.

The story is heartbreaking, brutally powerful, and thought-provoking . Not to mention that it is one of the most well-known and best books from the ’80s .

Meet Sethe, a slave who escaped slavery. However, Sethe is still enslaved by her past and the haunting death of her nameless child.

One word sits on the baby’s grave, Beloved.  This is a ghost story like no other, based on a real-life person, that shows the effects of generational trauma.

Listen to Beloved : Amazon | Goodreads

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

Narrated by Paul Boehmer & More

Are you looking for good audiobooks for road trips for historical fiction lovers?  Try The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society , which also landed on the big screen.

We loved listening to this audiobook with its multitude of narrators, bringing each unique character vividly to life. 

With the end of WW2, Juliet needs inspiration for her next book. She heads to Guernsey where she learns about the secret The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. 

Completely endearing, fall in love with this gaggle of islanders and one of our favorite WWII historical fiction novels .

Listen to The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society : Amazon | Goodreads

More from Dagney

The Final Revival of Opal & Nev by Dawnie Walton

Narrated by Janina Edwards, Bahni Turpin, and many more

If you’re in need of great audiobooks for road trips for music lovers who want a break from the radio, The Final Revival of Opal & Nev is the perfect option.

The book follows a famous fictional interracial rock duo from the 1970s, detailing their rise to fame, their break up, and a precarious comeback tour decades later.

Opal Jewel is a Black Afro-punk musician who believes she’s destined to be a star. Neville Charles is a White Brit who has come to NYC to try to make it as a singer.

Nev meets Opal at an amateur open mic night and though he doesn’t think she’s the most beautiful woman or the best singer, she has star quality, so he asks her to join him.

In truth, they have little in common, but they work well together as a singing duo. Soon the two have signed with Rivington Records, and their careers are on an upward trajectory.

But the more famous they become, the more attention they attract, and not all of it is good – especially with racism still alive and well in the USA.

This full-cast audiobook is done in the style of an oral history documentary, with each character telling their own version of the story.

For a fun, immersive experience, this is one of the best audiobooks for road trips for anyone who loves a good book about music .

For similar road trip audiobooks, our readers also enjoyed Daisy Jones & The Six , which is told in a fun interview style about an imaginary band in the 70s.

Listen to The Final Revival of Opal & Nev : Amazon | Goodreads

Thrillers, Suspense, & Mystery

She Started It by Sian Gilbert

Narrated by Sarah Ovens, Anne-Marie Piazza, Ione Butler, Billie Fulford-Brown, Sarah Cullum, and Ella Lynch

For those who love island-set novels and explosive thrillers with satisfying endings, She Started It is one of the best audiobooks for road trips.

Annabel, Chloe, Esther, and Tanya have been best friends since they were kids. As adults, they’re not sure they even like each other, but now they’re tied together by too many secrets.

When they’re invited on the trip of a lifetime by Poppy, an old school acquaintance who is getting married, they can’t say no.

The thing is, they haven’t spoken to Poppy in years, and they weren’t exactly close in school. In fact, you could say they were a bit unkind to Poppy as kids.

But Poppy says she wants to put all of that behind them, so what’s the harm in accepting such a lavish, all-expenses-paid trip to a remote island?

She Started It is full of drama, secrets, and unlikeable characters and is the perfect popcorn revenge thriller and fictional wedding novel for the summer.

And if that sounds fun to you, then the full-cast narration definitely makes it one of the best books to listen to in the car if you’re on your way somewhere remote or beachy.

TWs: self-harm, bullying, and more

Discover more top book releases from 2023 .

Listen to She Started It : Amazon | Goodreads

I’m Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid

Narrated by Candace Thaxton

Looking for the best audiobooks for a road trip during the winter months? Or, perhaps just craving a book with winter vibes ? I’m Thinking of Ending Things is the audiobook for you.

Jake and his unnamed girlfriend – the book’s narrator – are on a road trip through the countryside to see Jake’s parents.

The intent is to spend Thanksgiving there, which Jake is clearly excited about. Our narrator, however, is thinking of ending things.

She can’t really say why, exactly. By all accounts, Jake is great. But something isn’t working in their relationship and she wants out.

But as the night progresses, things get weird and the weather takes a turn for the worse, trapping the couple in a snowstorm.

This is easily one of the best books to listen to while driving if you love a chilly, unsettling atmosphere and don’t mind something that makes you think a bit while you cruise.

Discover even more must-read Canadian books .

Listen to I’m Thinking of Ending Things : Amazon | Goodreads

Winter Counts by David Heska Wanbli Weiden

Narrated by Darrell Dennis

For those who believe that the best road trip audiobooks can also teach you something, Winter Counts is a great pick as it is imbued with Native American history and culture.

Everyone knows that when the police fail to do their jobs on their South Dakota reservation, you hire Virgil Wounded Horse to step in and mete out punishment.

But when Virgil finds out that the youth on the reservation are using heroin and his own nephew winds up in the hospital, he doesn’t need someone to hire him.

Now Virgil is determined to find out who is selling drugs on the rez and take them out of commission.

With the help of his ex-girlfriend, Marie, Virgil tracks down a lead that takes him from South Dakota to Denver.

If you’re someone who can appreciate a slow-burn mystery while you drive, Winter Counts is one of the best audiobooks for road trips.

Read more of the best Indigenous books .

Listen to Winter Counts : Amazon | Goodreads

Best Romance Audiobooks For A Road Trip

Lucky Suit by Lauren Blakely

Narrated by Zachary Webber and Andi Arndt

Lucky Suit is 2.5 hours long, which makes this one of the best audiobooks for a road trip to a nearby state. And, it’s safe to play on speakers for everyone.

Enjoy a light-hearted romantic comedy by romance queen, Lauren Blakely, which is perfectly narrated by two of romance’s most beloved narrators, Zachary Webber and Andi Arndt.

These two will draw you in and make you wonder how Kristen and Cameron actually end up together.

Are you driving across the states? Try our 50 State reading list .

Listen to Lucky Suit : Amazon | Goodreads

Ball Peen Hammer by Lauren Rowe

Narrated by Lauren Rowe and John Lane

Ball Peen Hammer is absolutely not a speaker-safe audiobook to listen to while driving unless you are going on a road trip alone. 

But, this contemporary romance isn’t only incredibly sexy, it’s also absolutely hilarious and heart-warming.

Keane and Maddy find themselves on the road trip version of a blind date. They talk, get to know each other, and, of course, have to keep their hands off of one another.

But that never quite works out, does it?!  Ball Peen Hammer is one of the great audiobooks for road trips if you devour romance.

Listen to Ball Peen Hammer : Amazon | Goodreads

The Voting Booth by Brandy Colbert

Narrated by Robin Eller & Cary Hite

For long stretches in the car, The Voting Booth is a happy, cute, and funny YA romance audiobook.

But, it’s also a profound critique of voter suppression, especially in urban areas and communities with people of color.

Marva is excited to finally vote in her first election. But, then she watches as Duke is turned away from their polling location, unable to vote.

These two strangers spend the day battling for democracy and their right to vote.

If you are looking for good audiobooks for road trips about politics and race – perfect for teen voters – The Voting Booth is extremely relevant, especially in the past decade.

Listen to The Voting Booth : Amazon | Goodreads

The A.I. Who Loved Me by Alyssa Cole

Narrated by Regina Hall, Mindy Kaling & More

Part science-fiction, part love story, Alyssa Cole comments on how current events could lead to a very bleak future and what happens if you accidentally fall in love with an artificial human.

Trinity Jordan leads a pretty normal life, working from home until her neighbor’s hot nephew moves in. She soon realizes that Li Wei’s actions are strange because he’s actually A.I.

With the goal of helping Li Wei become more human, you’d never expect love to be a part of the equation.

The A.I. Who Loved Me is one of the best books to listen to in the car because of its outstanding production with a full cast as well as Regina Hall reading the main character.

Plus, who doesn’t love Mindy Kaling?

Listen to The A.I. Who Loved Me : Amazon | Goodreads

From Christine

Get A Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

Narrated by Adjoa Andoh

One of the best audiobooks for a road trip with strong chronic illness representation, you’ll adore Get A Life, Chloe Brown .

Chloe has become a homebody battling Fibromyalgia – a debilitating and, at times, painful chronic illness. Her former friends and fiancée failed to support her, leaving her behind and scarred.

However, when faced with death, Chloe decides to reclaim her life with a fun bucket list. She enlists the help of her sexy apartment handyman, Red, and true to rom-coms, falls for him.

Red has his own baggage, though, including overcoming an abusive relationship. Can they make it work, and what will they learn along the way?

Get A Life, Chloe Brown is one of the best books to listen to while driving if you are craving a feel-good, sincere storyline with a brilliant protagonist and even more books in the series.

Listen to Get A Life, Chloe Brown : Amazon | Goodreads

Nonfiction Road Trip Audiobooks

Stay Sexy & Don’t Get Murdered: The Definitive How-To Guide by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstock

Narrated by Karen Kilgariff, Georgia Hardstock, and Paul Giamatti

Stay Sexy & Don’t Get Murdered is the story of the two women behind one of the most successful true-crime podcasts – and one of our favorites – My Favorite Murder .

You don’t have to listen to or know the podcast first to enjoy their book, either.

Karen and Georgia talk about anything from aging parents to careers and substance abuse. Some of the topics may be triggering, including eating disorders, addiction, and sexual assault.

Yet, their stories are also funny, relevant, and relatable. And of course, they dive into their passion for true crime, creating an entire generation of Murderinos.

Peruse all of our favorite podcasts here .

Listen to Stay Sexy & Don’t Get Murdered : Amazon | Goodreads

The Science Of Mindfulness by Ronald Siegel

Mindfulness is a popular term, but there’s actual science behind it, too.

The Science Of Mindfulness gives a great overview of why a mindfulness practice can improve your quality of life and even help significantly with depression and anxiety. 

If you are someone who tends to overthink things, you might find this audiobook helpful to understand how mindfulness changes the brain before actually starting to practice. 

Plus, learn how to feel more relaxed and sleep better. The Science Of Mindfulness is one of those road trip audiobooks sure to enhance your daily life.

Listen to The Science Of Mindfulness : Amazon | Goodreads

More From Christine

Quiet by Susan Cain

Narrated by Kathe Mazur

Many of the best books to listen to in the car are nonfiction titles, especially since they can sometimes feel like sloggers on the couch.

Susan Cain’s Quiet makes for one of the best audiobooks for road trips as it’s informative, interesting, and talks about introverts versus extroverts.

Susan Cain specifically describes the dynamic of an extroverted society and its effects on introverts. 

Cain is a champion of the quieter folk and discusses how in a world that cannot stop talking, introverts have merit too. 

Discover some secretly popular introverts and their societal contributions.  This road trip audiobook is all about introspection.

Listen to Quiet : Amazon | Goodreads

Biographies & Memoirs

Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson

Narrated by Jenny Lawson

We follow Jenny Lawson on Facebook as The Bloggess , and oftentimes, she speaks to the rawest part of our souls.

Lawson is honest, relatable, and hilarious. For road trip audiobooks sure to spark inspiration, grab Furiously Happy .

Lawson shares her battle with mental health, as she suffers from both anxiety and depression. She advocates for loving and accepting yourself no matter what.

Listen to Furiously Happy : Amazon | Goodreads

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling

Narrated by Mindy Kaling, Michael Schur, and B.J. Novak

Mindy Kaling will forever crack us up while also pulling our heartstrings. 

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? is one of the best audiobooks for a road trip if you need a good laugh.  All of your passengers will laugh along too. 

Follow Mindy as she hilariously and embarrassingly discusses growing up.  She talks about weight, fame, friendship, and romance in the most honest and open way. 

Listen to Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) : Amazon | Goodreads

Becoming by Michelle Obama

Narrated by Michelle Obama

We love Michelle Obama’s podcast , which pretty much guarantees that Becoming should also be at the top of your road trip audiobooks list.

Listen as the former First Lady shares her experiences about growing up in Chicago and attending college. 

Michelle Obama talks about dating Barack Obama, and the many challenges she faced and continues to face as a Black woman, career woman, and mother.

Always poignant and classy, she retains such humility and sincerity with stories that many will find themselves nodding their heads to.

Listen to Becoming : Amazon | Goodreads

Over The Top by Jonathan Van Ness

Narrated by Jonathan Van Ness

Named as one of NPR’s favorite books of the year, you know that Queer Eye star JVN is going to make one of the best audiobooks for road trips sure to entertain. We just love the show too!

Van Ness’s voice radiates off of the pages and into your car in this beautiful, raw, and at times, hilarious biography about overcoming addiction and childhood molestation – which may be triggering for some. 

A perfect LGBTQ+ road trip audiobook, Over The Top is for maturer audiences looking for inspiration to reaffirm their amazing self-identity.

Truly learn to live your most authentic and happy life just like the queen that you are.

Listen to Over The Top by Jonathan Van Ness : Amazon | Goodreads

You Can’t Touch My Hair by Phoebe Robinson

Narrated by Phoebe Robinson & John Hodgman

For good audiobooks for road trips that you’ll hear recommended over and over again, with good reason, pick up Phoebe Robinson’s You Can’t Touch My Hair . 

With discussions about pop culture, feminism, and race, Robinson shares her experiences working and living as a Black woman where, you guessed it, people ask if they can touch her hair. 

She’s tired of being “the black friend,” as well as everyone’s go-to for all things racial – along with having people think she’s uppity just for voicing her opinions.

You know, the sexist, racist words and actions that still exist today.

Listen To You Can’t Touch My Hair : Amazon | Goodreads

Wild by Cheryl Strayed

Narrated by Bernadette Dunne

If you are looking for the best books to listen to while driving – with Kleenex in the glove compartment – don’t pass up Wild by Cheryl Strayed. 

Sure, this might be a bit clichéd now – even the Gilmore Girls did their revival spoof on it – but it’s also quite raw and relatable.

For travel-related audiobooks for road trips, this one is sure to leave you shaken. You will feel every ounce of Strayed’s pain.

Overcoming the loss of her mother and failed marriage, Strayed is broken and lost.  Even though she is not a hiker, she makes an unhinged and wild decision to hike the Pacific Crest Trail. 

We follow Strayed’s journey as she learns to forgive, grow, and rebuild her life.  This is a great memoir for hikers ; just don’t throw your hiking boot over the cliff.

Find even more of the best books set in California .

Listen to Wild : Amazon | Goodreads

Born A Crime By Trevor Noah

Narrated by Trevor Noah

One of our favorite nonfiction books about South Africa , Born A Crime is one of the absolute best audiobooks for road trips.

You might know Trevor Noah from his previous work as host of  The Daily Show . 

In his memoir, Noah shares his journey growing up in Apartheid South Africa with a Black mother and white father, a crime during that time period. 

A coming-of-age story, learn more about the brilliant man and comedian. His childhood antics are pretty hilarious and not always legal.

Noah is guaranteed to make you laugh while discussing more serious issues including racism and racist policies.

Listen to Born A Crime : Amazon | Goodreads

Bossypants by Tina Fey

Narrated by Tina Fey

You most likely know Tina Fey from SNL and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt . She’s pretty much a legend here in the United States.

If you are looking for funny audiobooks for road trips, try Fey’s Bossypants where she shares her early life and dreams before becoming the famous actress that we all know and love.

You’ll laugh, find commonalities, and feel like you are listening to your best friend chat about life.

Listen to Bossypants : Amazon | Goodreads

A Walk In The Woods by Bill Bryson

Narrated by Rob McQuay

We wish that Bill Bryson would narrate his books. We picture his sarcasm and wit radiating out of our stereo. 

It’s also no secret that Bryson is one of our all-time favorite travel writers , too. 

If you are road-tripping around the United States and headed to the Appalachian Trail, don’t skip reading, watching, or listening to A Walk In The Woods . 

Bryson and his boozy buddy, Katz, have no business hiking the Appalachian Trail, but they do it anyway.  You’ll love them for it. Heck, maybe they will even inspire you.

Listen to A Walk In The Woods : Amazon | Goodreads

Yes Please by Amy Poehler

Narrated by Amy Poehler, Carol Burnett, Seth Meyers & More

If you love entertainers, you’ll equally love Yes Please by Amy Poehler. Think poems, stories, lists, mantras, inspiration, and advice.

This is one of the best audiobooks for a road trip for the cast alone: Seth Meyers, Carol Burnett, Patrick Steward, and even Poehler’s parents.

Expect to laugh and hear words to live by.

Listen to Yes Please : Amazon | Goodreads

Best Books To Listen To In The Car With Teens & Tweens

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

Narrated by Emily Klein

One of the best road trip audiobooks for mature tweens and teens, Sepetys’s Between Shades Of Gray is a hard but essential listen.

Fifteen-year-old Lithuanian, Lina, is thrown into a crowded train headed for a Siberian work camp.

Separated from her father, Lina sends her drawings through secret channels hoping to locate her father’s prison camp to let him know that she is alive.

Will Lina and her family survive?

If you enjoy YA WW2 historical fiction about more obscured histories, Ruta Sepeys is an engaging, transportive, and unique storyteller. 

Read more books with colors – like gray – in the title .

Listen to Between Shades of Gray : Amazon | Goodreads

The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

Narrated by Katt Rudd

Imagine pulling into your destination yet instead of smiling, you are sobbing hysterically in your car. Passerbys assume you hit a squirrel. 

Nope. You are just listening to the young adult novel,  The Fault In Our Stars . 

The Fault In Our Stars  is one of the best audiobooks for road trips – or work commutes – that we have listened to addressing terminal illness in youth.

Cancer is a hard battle, and Hazel and Augustus meet at a cancer support group. 

Their story focuses on healing, living your life to the fullest, and love.  Have the tissues ready.  

Listen to The Fault in our Stars : Amazon | Goodreads

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Narrated by Neil Gaiman

Clearly, we think that Gaiman has the best audiobooks for a family road trip, and The Graveyard Book is perfect if you devour stories about haunted houses .

A middle-grade and YA novel, meet Bod. 

Bod has the only beating heart in his graveyard family, and we watch as he comes of age in the ghoulish world of magic. 

He also faces the danger of leaving the cemetery and being hunted by the man who killed his parents.

Find even more seriously spooky books for adults and teens .

Listen to The Graveyard Book : Amazon | Goodreads

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Narrated by Bahni Turnpin

Whether you read the book, listen to the audiobook, or watch the movie, The Hate U Give is a powerful novel, especially released during the start of the Black Lives Matter Movement. 

However, it certainly makes for one of the best audiobooks for road trips for the entire family, especially today. 

Just be aware that there is violence, death, and tough discussions.

Dive deeper into racism as well as the murdering of innocent young Black men by the police as Starr Carter seeks justice for her best friend’s death.

Listen to The Hate U Give : Amazon | Goodreads

The Girls I’ve Been by Tess Sharpe

Narrated by Tess Sharpe

If you’re looking for the best books to listen to in the car with teens, look no further.

This was meant to be a simple drop-off at the bank; instead, teen Nora O’Malley finds herself having an awkward morning with her ex-boyfriend and current girlfriend.

…And then the bank they’re at gets robbed.

But Nora isn’t like most teenagers. The daughter of a con artist, Nora knows things about the world and criminals that she shouldn’t.

And as things escalate inside the bank, she’s determined to do whatever it takes to get them all out safely.

The Girls I’ve Been is a riveting YA thriller about a bank heist, but also about complicated mother-daughter relationships, young love, and so much more.

It’s also one of the best audiobooks for a road trip with the family (though not appropriate for younger kids), or anyone who loves a good heist story!

Listen to The Girls I’ve Been : Amazon | Goodreads

What are some of your favorite audiobooks for road trips?

What road trips have you taken that you loved? What are your favorite books to listen to while driving? And, do prefer audiobooks or podcasts? Let us know in the comments.

Before you go…

If you love all things hitting the open road, be sure to watch our favorite road trip movies sure to inspire your next vacation. Whether you are traveling with friends or reconnecting with family, you will find something great on this list.

Related Travel Reading Lists:

• Best Books Set On Trains
• Books Set At Hotels
• Books Set On Ships & Boats
• Books About Maps

By day, Eline is a social worker, and by night, she is an avid reader and owner of the online audiobook blog, Lovely Audiobooks . One of her favorite places to listen to books is in the passenger seat of her RV, enjoying new places and new stories.

Christine Frascarelli

Christine (she/her) is the owner, lead editor, and tipsy book sommelier of The Uncorked Librarian LLC, an online literary publication showcasing books and movies to inspire travel and home to the famed Uncorked Reading Challenge. With a BA in English & History from Smith College, an MLIS from USF-Tampa, and a U.S. Fulbright Fellowship in Christine's back pocket, there isn't a bookstore, library, or winery that can hide from her. Christine loves brewery yoga, adopting all of the kitties, and a glass of oaked Chardonnay. Charcuterie is her favorite food group.

Dagney McKinney

Dagney (pronouns: any) is a neurodivergent writer and book nerd who is drawn to all things weird and macabre. She also loves anything to do with fast cars, unhinged anti-heroes, and salt. When she isn’t working or reading, you’re likely to find her eating Indian food, playing board games, or hiding out somewhere dark and quiet, stuck down an internet rabbit hole. The easiest way to win her over is through cats and camels.

32 Comments

For families, highly recommend the Chet Gecko audiobooks narrated by Jon Cryer and the Lucy Rose series by Katy Kelly. They’re wonderful.

I loved A Walk in the Woods and When Breath Becomes Air. I’ve also enjoyed books by Dorothea Benton Frank on audio.

Thanks so much for sharing!

Truely awesome Audiobook Collection for Roadtrips. Though I don’t get much chance to travel, I do listen audiobooks during my way of office and coming back from it. Thanks for sharing this awesome list. I’m loving it and definitely bookmarking this.

Thanks so much! I appreciate it. I used to have such long commutes to work — audiobooks are perfect for traffic.

I actually really enjoy the driving part of a long road trip :’) I feel like I can switch it up with podcasts, audio dramas, and music! I’m not really an audiobook listener, but I absolutely love the idea of listening to one whilst driving. It’s so nice to see some familiar favs in this list as well!

That’s awesome. I am glad that I recently started finding (and getting into) great podcasts, too. Audiobooks are so fun, especially when there are multiple narrators.

I think “Small Great Things” is an important book that should be read by everyone. I also loved listening to “Circe”, “A Gentleman in Moscow”, and “The Good Lord Bird” (this last one, about slavery and John Brown, uses the “n-word” liberally, but it’s beautifully read by Michael Boatman).

Yes, I agree about Small Great Things . I want to read A Gentleman in Moscow . I’ve heard great things. Thank you for the recs!

I’ll definitely have to add Good Omens to my list! I’ve seen the show but have yet to read the book. And, being a major fan of audiobooks, I think that’s probably how I’ll be “reading” it 🙂 Thanks for sharing a fantastic list of goodies!

My husband is currently reading Good Omens as we speak. Gaiman is always amazing. I’m glad you enjoyed this list. Thank you!

Thank you for sharing amazing audiobooks for a road trip. I find some useful audiobooks in your books i which I prefer in my travel. Thank you so much for sharing this audiobooks for the road trip.

Thank you! I am so glad that you found a few new great audiobook titles to check out.

Definitely bookmarking some of these! We’re off on a big Scottish road trip next week and some of these will be perfect! Now I just have to persuade Dom to listen to the sexy smutty books?

I cannot wait to hear more about this road trip. As you know, I’ve never been to Scotland so I cannot wait to see castles and history. AND BOOZE!!! Have a great trip!

I think I definitely need the Science of Mindfulness audiobook! And I didn’t even know that “Big Little Lies” was in audiobook format. Love it!

Great list.

Have you seen the HBO series for Big Little Lies ? I only watched the first season, but I was SO excited when I heard the book was becoming a TV show. I thought that the producers did a great job and really stuck to the original storyline. Can’t imagine what Season 2 is like since there wasn’t a second book. Not that I am complaining. I will take it all.

Well, I’m sick and bedridden, so it seemed like a good time to FINALLY get around to reading this post and perhaps getting some inspiration for my next audiobook. There’s an excellent selection here, though sadly I’ve already heard (or read) most of the ones I’m interested in… does that mean I have a problem, or that I’m killing it?

However! Quiet has been on both our lists for ages, so might need to finally get to it. I kind of find it ironic to listen to a book about silence on audio… but sometimes weird things are brilliant! This SOUNDS (see what I did there?) like one of those times.

Love Mindy Kaling’s books! She’s hilarious. In general, I actually really enjoy listening to entertainer’s audiobooks (if read by them). They just tend to be, well… entertaining (me so good with words today). So much Neil Gaiman and no Neverwhere! By far my fave! If you haven’t read it, I thoroughly recommend!

Stay Sexy & Don’t Get Murdered of course sounds right up my alley, but I tried listening to their podcast once and just didn’t engage with their voices, so should probably pass on their audiobook, right?

I hope that you are feeling much better today!

I think that since you have read or listened to all of these audiobooks that you are killing it. But I have to say that as well because besides some of Eline’s suggestions, you know I’ve read, listened, watched, etc all of them too.

Quiet is definitely one that I think you will enjoy. I almost want to listen (or read it this time) again to see how I can apply Cain’s theories to the world of blogging. I feel like even in writing, introverted and extroverted blogging is totally a thing. Take for example those damn Facebook groups too. Cough, Cough. You are right: I never thought about listening to an audiobook about introverts (and quiet). GAHAHAHAHA. I love listening to nonfiction. It just sinks in better. I am too crazed to focus these days.

Mindy Kaling is hilarious. I just saw somewhere that she is doing a motivational speech for bloggers. I think it’s about content creation. Wish I remembered where I saw it…might have to google it. I always love with actors and actresses read audiobooks–they are great.

I haven’t read Neverwhere by Gaiman. I’ll check it out! Thanks.

Stay Sexy and Don’t Get Murdered is on my list and one of Eline’s choices that I am dying to listen to or read. I’ve heard so much about it. Voices is a hard one… I took this brilliant SEO course but the instructor’s voice just drove me insane. I guess that might be mean…but even her emphasis, pauses, and tone just UGHHH!! BUT HER CONTENT WAS SO GOOD. I feel you.

I had such a great time making this post with you, Christine! And I love your audiobook selection. I just bought Crazy Rich Asians. And I also really want to listen to a Neil Gaiman narrated audio. But I always end up getting the BBC plays for his books, they’re so epic.

Thanks so much for collaborating with me. I love this road trip audiobooks book list so much since it’s my first audiobook list on TUL. We might have to do one together every year. I just realized that I should link our Hoopla and Overdrive article to it, too! Maybe I will add in a sentence or two about that.

I loved Crazy Rich Asians before the series really took off or became a movie. I’m so glad it did gain interest, though, because the stories are SO well written and get even better and better as the trilogy progresses.

Gaiman and Levithan both usually narrate their work, which I LOVE.

I love this post! I recently downloaded Audible to listen to a 2nd self-help book from an author I love because the first book took me months to read and I am for sure going to be downloading the first book too to relisten.

In the past, I tried listening to fiction and I could not get on board. For me, reading is about escaping into another world and listening without any visuals was not helping me to do that. However, reading it with my eyes and not having to worry about anything else around me, I can enjoy a fiction book and escape and read the book within a few days if I love it so much. When it comes to nonfiction, it takes me longer to read and absorb if I’m reading. Recently, listening to many podcasts, I learned audiobooks may be the way to go for me and so far I’m really enjoying my first nonfiction audiobook.

While I may not download some of the fictional books on Audible, they sound great as a regular read and will add them to my kindle list. I’m a sucker for romantic comedies too. 100% will be listening to Quiet. As an introvert, it sounds like a great book for me to listen to on my long rides to and from work.

I had no idea you can search books by the length on Audible so that is a great tip.

P.S. I cried like a baby too after reading The Fault In Our Stars.

I completely agree with you on loving nonfiction audiobooks. Sometimes I can read a nonfiction title just fine. However, especially as a blogger and with my mind all over the place these days, I find it much easier to listen to than physically read nonfiction.

Same with why I like podcasts: I love inspirational and information-filled ideas that I can listen too. That’s probably all a part of how I learn and take in knowledge too. I find fiction much easier to read in a physical book and can get through fiction much faster. Of course, fiction tends to be a lot less dense too.

Susan Cain’s Quiet really blew me away. In my last job, I think people strongly thought that I was more extroverted than I was…but I was truly almost putting on a show so that I wouldn’t get eaten alive… In order to succeed there, you had to have a strong voice. As a YS librarian, they wanted you to be TV show-worthy. Basically, they wanted storytellers who would go all out and ham things up, screaming and yelling and exaggerating and UGH: not me, how I teach, or how I like to read stories to kids, at all.

I kind of hated that mentality because 1. it wasn’t who I was and 2. that loud, extroverted storytime is fun but not necessary. What about the quiet or shy kids or the kids with disabilities? Why couldn’t we have different types of storytellers? Why do we all have to be so loud and expressive?

Susan Cain really brings home the idea that introverted people make all of these amazing contributions, and how society condemns the quiet when they shouldn’t. We don’t all need to talk 24/7 or walk into a room and command its attention by being the one to talk the most.

Don’t get me wrong: I can be loud and friendly…and bubbly AF, but that’s not always in me. I was a dead silent child and all of my report cards note that I did well academically but never spoke. Cain would be like: She is fine…

You can also get free audiobooks for your road trips and crazy CA commutes from the library! Check out Hoopla and Overdrive. I actually wrote a piece for Eline @ Lovely Audiobooks about how to access them if you get stuck. LOVE THAT FREE FEATURE and it’s so easy. Plus, no late fees.

I didn’t know you could pick a book that lasts the length of your trip!! That’s such a cool feature. My go-to for long road trips is a mix of music, podcasts, audio dramas, and physically reading books. I don’t have any audiobooks myself, and I’m not sure if I’d get into them as much as other people do, but I’d like to try them out sometime.

Hey Macey! Yea, you just need to check the audiobook time listed in the description and kind of compare it to your road trip. You can find audiobooks for free from your library; if you use the free apps that pair with library audiobooks like Hoopla or Overdrive, you can actually bookmark where you left off–which is an extra nice feature. They sync across devices too.

Like you, I am definitely a music kinda girl, and the more upbeat, the better to keep me alert. Do you use Pandora or some other internet radio?

Oh, a nice mix of genres in this list. I haven’t listened to any of these, though I do have Quiet in my queue on Audible. I may not have any road trips planned, but these sound like they would be great for listening to while doing jobs around the house.

Hey Sarah! I love having guest contributors to mix up the genres. I knew Eline would have a few romance authors to sneak in there for me since I don’t read a lot of love stories (but should).

I definitely find, especially as a blogger now, that I love inspirational audiobooks and podcasts. Quiet is one of them. You are right: they are perfect to listen to while doing chores.

Have a great week, and thanks for checking out our list.

Amazing list!

This is a great list! Maybe my family and I should give some a try. We’ll be on the road together a lot in August. My brother usually plays nonstop podcasts and i don’t know, that gets a little old after awhile.

I like these book suggestions! If it were up to me I’d go for the romantic ones.? But I’ve also read Big Little Lies and Mindy’s book! Loved them both. Where the Crawdads sing is on my list. I already put that one on my kindle.

Thanks for another great post!

Thank you so much! It’s funny that you mention podcasts because I was thinking that I need to listen to more podcasts. What ones do you like and recommend? I think I need more inspirational ones, and I am eyeing Don’t Keep Your Day Job since I am reading the book.

We have 8 hours in the car with the howling cats so I am definitely hoping to get through an audiobook or two for that little road trip from heck.

Kaling cracks me up.

I’ll bet Mindy Kaling is wonderful to listen to on audio! I read her books, but I’m sure they’d be even better listening to her. I just finished Coraline by Neil Gaiman on audio so I’d love to get into his others at some point!

Mindy Kaling always cracks me up, and she has such a unique and relatable voice. I love her even more after A Wrinkle in Time . I enjoy listening to Gaiman and Levithan as audiobooks too.

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16 Best Audiobooks for Family Road Trips

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The best audiobooks for family road trips will keep every single member of the family happy on the drive. These children’s books are still fun for the adults to listen to and are perfect for connecting with kids on vacation.

We’ve been listening to audiobooks on our family road trips since my girls were still tiny enough to be strapped into car seats.

My husband and youngest daughter LOVE to listen to audiobooks all year round but my older daughter and I are more casual listeners.

Whenever we go on a family road trip, I always have a family-friendly audiobook loaded on my phone.

Sometimes we like to listen to music but we always have an audiobook to fall back on just in case!

Why Listening to an Audiobook is the Best Choice

My girls get car sick fairly easy so the classic parent fall back of plugging them into a tablet with headphones and a movie was never an option for us.

I’m actually not upset by this because:

• It means that I don’t have to hear them begging for tablet time for hours on end. They don’t even want it while we’re in the car.
• I feel that it is important to LOOK OUT THE WINDOW. That’s what travel is about–the journey! I think kids’ imaginations are activated from the boredom of staring out a window. I want them to see the changing countryside. I want them to see road side signs. I want them to get excited about seeing cows and horses in the pastures. I want them to look at where we are going.

Listening to an audiobook frees kids’ eyes up to enjoy the changing scenery out the window.

How to Pick the BEST Audiobook for a Family Road Trip

Dozens of vacations and family drives under our belt, I know what makes the best audiobooks for family road trips.

This list of road trip audiobooks is different than the best audiobooks for families that we listen to at home.

What makes them perfect for road trips comes down to these 3 things:

1. Must Be Good for ALL Ages

Consider the ages you’ll have in the car and pick your title appropriately. You’ll need a different book for little kids vs. tweens vs. teens.

However, if you only consider audiobooks for the kids, you’re forgetting one of the most important people in the car — the driver!

Be sure to pick a book that the driver will also find interesting because nothing is worse than being bored and risking falling asleep at the wheel!!

2. Action-Packed or Intriguing

You’ll be spending hours in the car and you’ll be able to listen to the audiobook for very long stretches at a time.

To help keep everyone from getting bored on the drive and to help make sure they all pay attention to the audiobook, try to pick a story that has one of these things:

• An entertaining narrator that captivates
• A suspenseful plotline
• An action-packed story
• A super funny book that gets everyone laughing
• A thought-provoking classic you’ve always been interested in

3. Proven Popularity

There are new children’s audiobooks coming out every day. If your family is used to listening to audiobooks, you’re likely want something fresh.

However, if you’re introducing your family to the experience of listening to audiobooks on a drive, you’ll want a proven winner that has lots of super-high 5-star reviews.

The books on this list are widely popular for good reason and are a safe bet for your family trip.

Best Audiobooks for Family Road Trips

Taking the kids on a family vacation? Be sure to pack one of the best audiobooks for family road trips to keep everyone in the car entertained on the drive. These family-friendly books are perfect for both kids and adults to hold attention as you listen.

The Bad Beginning: A Series of Unfortunate Events

Like a car alarm, bagpipe music, or a doorbell ringing in the middle of the night, hearing this all-new audio edition of The Bad Beginning will only upset you.

This unique multi-voice recording brings the first book in Lemony Snicket's alarming A Series of Unfortunate Events to such terrible life that no one should really have to experience it.

Unless you have an ear for such ghastly details as a tragic fire, a nefarious villain, itchy clothing, and cold porridge for breakfast, all narrated in chilly detail by the distinguished, and disturbed, Tim Curry with a team of talented readers, you would be better off listening to something else.

The Mysterious Benedict Society

"Are you a gifted child looking for special opportunities?" Dozens of children respond to this peculiar ad in the newspaper and are then put through a series of mind-bending tests, which readers take along with them. Only four children—two boys and two girls—succeed. Their challenge: to go on a secret mission that only the most intelligent and inventive children could complete.

To accomplish it they will have to go undercover at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened, where the only rule is that there are no rules. But what they'll find in the hidden underground tunnels of the school is more than your average school supplies. So, if you're gifted, creative, or happen to know Morse Code, they could probably use your help.

Stanley Yelnats isn't so surprised when a miscarriage of justice sends him to a juvenile detention center. After all, his family has been ridden with bad luck ever since a one-legged gypsy put a curse on his great-great grandfather. He is told that the hard labor he must perform, digging five-foot holes in the dried up soil where Green Lake once sat, is meant to build character.

But it soon becomes clear to Stanley that the warden is really using the boys to search for something very valuable. The story of the hidden treasure, along with the warden, Stanley's friend Zero, and the curse on the Yelnats family are all part of a compelling puzzle that has taken generations to unravel.

Music, magic, and a real-life miracle meld in this virtuosic, genre-defying tour de force from storytelling maestro Pam Muñoz Ryan.

Lost and alone in the forbidden Black Forest, Otto meets three mysterious sisters and suddenly finds himself entwined in a puzzling quest involving a prophecy, a promise, and a harmonica. Decades later Friedrich in Germany, Mike in Pennsylvania, and Ivy in California each becomes interwoven when the very same harmonica lands in their lives, binding them by an invisible thread of destiny. All the children face daunting challenges: rescuing a father, protecting a brother, holding a family together. How their suspenseful solo stories converge in an orchestral crescendo will resound in your heart long after the last note has been struck.

Matilda is a sweet, exceptional young girl, but her parents think she's just a nuisance. She expects school to be different but there she has to face Miss Trunchbull, a menacing, kid-hating headmistress. When Matilda is attacked by the Trunchbull she suddenly discovers she has a remarkable power with which to fight back. It'll take a superhuman genius to give Miss Trunchbull what she deserves and Matilda may be just the one to do it!

Here is Roald Dahl's original novel of a little girl with extraordinary powers. This much-loved story has recently been made into a wonderful new musical, adapted by Dennis Kelly with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin.

The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup and a Spool of Thread

This is the story of Despereaux Tilling, a mouse in love with music, stories, and a princess named Pea. It is also the story of a rat called Roscuro, who lives in darkness but covets a world filled with light. And it is the story of Miggery Sow, a slow-witted serving girl with a simple, impossible wish. These characters are about to embark on a journey that will lead them down into a horrible dungeon, up into a glittering castle, and ultimately, into each other's lives.

And what happens then?

Listener, it is your destiny to find out.

The Girl Who Drank the Moon

A young girl raised by a witch, a swamp monster, and a Perfectly Tiny Dragon must unlock the dangerous magic buried deep inside her in this epic coming-of-age fairy tale from the highly acclaimed author of The Witch's Boy.

Every year the people of the Protectorate leave a baby as an offering to the witch who lives in the forest. They hope this sacrifice will keep her from terrorizing their town. But the witch in the forest, Xan, is kind and gentle. She shares her home with a wise Swamp Monster named Glerk and a Perfectly Tiny Dragon, Fyrian. Xan rescues the abandoned children and delivers them to welcoming families on the other side of the forest, nourishing the babies with starlight on the journey.

Like every other hobbit, Bilbo Baggins likes nothing better than a quiet evening in his snug hole in the ground, dining on a sumptuous dinner in front of a fire. But when a wandering wizard captivates him with tales of the unknown, Bilbo becomes restless.

Soon he joins the wizard’s band of homeless dwarves in search of giant spiders, savage wolves, and other dangers. Bilbo quickly tires of the quest for adventure and longs for the security of his familiar home. But before he can return to his life of comfort, he must face the greatest threat of all - a treasure-troving dragon named Smaug.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe: The Chronicles of Narnia

Four adventurous siblings - Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie - step through a wardrobe door and into the land of Narnia, a land frozen in eternal winter and enslaved by the power of the White Witch. But when almost all hope is lost, the return of the Great Lion, Aslan, signals a great change...and a great sacrifice.

Anne of Green Gables

With all of the pluck and charm of its eponymous young hero, Rachel McAdams (The Notebook, Spotlight, Midnight in Paris) delivers a spectacular reading of Montgomery's beloved bildungsroman. In moments both funny and bittersweet, McAdams' voice is imbued with the spark that has made Anne a much-loved symbol of individualism and cheer for over a century. In this story of "kindred spirits", McAdams' touching and heartfelt narration proves she is just that - bonded on a deep level to this shimmering classic.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Turning the envelope over, his hand trembling, Harry saw a purple wax seal bearing a coat of arms; a lion, an eagle, a badger and a snake surrounding a large letter 'H'.

Harry Potter has never even heard of Hogwarts when the letters start dropping on the doormat at number four, Privet Drive. Addressed in green ink on yellowish parchment with a purple seal, they are swiftly confiscated by his grisly aunt and uncle. Then, on Harry's eleventh birthday, a great beetle-eyed giant of a man called Rubeus Hagrid bursts in with some astonishing news: Harry Potter is a wizard, and he has a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. An incredible adventure is about to begin!

Peter and the Starcatchers

In an evocative and fast-paced adventure on the high seas and on a faraway island, an orphan boy named Peter and his mysterious new friend, Molly, overcome bands of pirates and thieves in their quest to keep a fantastical secret safe and save the world from evil.

This riveting adventure takes listeners on a journey from a harsh orphanage in old England to a treacherous sea in a decrepit old tub. Aboard the Never Land is a trunk that holds a magical substance with the power to change the fate of the world - just a sprinkle and wounds heal; just a dusting and people can fly. Towering seas and a violent storm are the backdrop for battles at sea. Bone-crushing waves eventually land our characters on Mollusk Island - where the action really heats up.

For centuries, mystical creatures of all description were gathered to a hidden refuge called Fablehaven to prevent their extinction. The sanctuary survives today as one of the last strongholds of true magic in a cynical world. Enchanting? Absolutely. Exciting? You bet. Safe? Well, actually, quite the opposite...

Kendra and her brother Seth have no idea their grandfather is the current caretaker of Fablehaven. Inside the gated woods, ancient laws give relative order among greedy trolls, mischievous satyrs, plotting witches, spiteful imps, and jealous fairies. However, when the rules get broken, an arcane evil is unleashed, forcing Kendra and Seth to face the greatest challenge of their lives. To save her family, Fablehaven, and perhaps the world, Kendra must find the courage to do what she fears most.

Gregor the Overlander

Rich in suspense and brimming with adventure, the New York Times-bestselling Underland Chronicles unfold the fate of the Underland and the great warrior, Gregor. Suzanne Collins is also the author of the bestselling Hunger Games trilogy.

When Gregor falls through a grate in the laundry room of his apartment building, he hurtles into the dark Underland, where spiders, rats, and cockroaches coexist uneasily with humans. This world is on the brink of war, and Gregor's arrival is no accident. A prophecy foretells that Gregor has a role to play in the Underland's uncertain future. Gregor wants no part of it, until he realizes it's the only way to solve the mystery of his father's disappearance. Reluctantly, Gregor embarks on a dangerous adventure that will change both him and the Underland forever.

The Green Ember

Heather and Picket are extraordinary rabbits with ordinary lives until calamitous events overtake them, spilling them into a cauldron of misadventures. They discover that their own story is bound up in the tumult threatening to overwhelm the wider world.

Kings fall, and kingdoms totter. Tyrants ascend, and terrors threaten. Betrayal beckons, and loyalty is a broken road with peril around every bend.

Where will Heather and Picket land? How will they make their stand?

When her best friend and neighbor, Margaret, comes to her with a problem, Clementine goes to many lengths to help her friend. This sets off a rollicking adventure-filled week that finds Clementine getting into and out of further trouble, while learning valuable life lessons.

More Audiobooks for Road Trips

Looking for more great audiobooks for your road trip? Here are a few lists the teens or grown-ups in the car might like:

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8 Best Audiobooks for Family Road Trips

A re you planning a family vacation to the vibrant streets of New York City and dreading the long hours on the road? Transform your journey from mundane to magical with the best audiobooks for family road trips. Imagine cruising down the highway, the entire family engrossed in a captivating story, where every mile brings a new adventure, whether you’re exploring the bustling city or enjoying the scenic routes. Audiobooks are not just a way to pass the time, they’re a portal to imaginative worlds that can engage and entertain kids of all ages, from little kids to teenagers, and yes, even the adults!

• How Pick an Audiobook for Your Family
• Top 8 Best Audiobooks for a Family Road Trip

Why Audiobooks are Great for Family Road Trips

Think of audiobooks as your secret weapon against the “are we there yet?” chorus, making your road trip a breeze. They’re a great way to bond as a family , with stories that spark conversations and laughter amidst the towering skyscrapers and busy streets. 

And the best part? They’re perfect for all members of the family, whether it’s a young girl dreaming of magic, a young boy craving adventure, or parents seeking a brief escape from the stress of navigation.

Transform Long Drives into Captivating Adventures

As you prepare for your upcoming road trip, think about what kind of stories your family loves. Do you revel in fairy tales highlighting historical events, get hooked on science fiction that mirrors the innovations of the future, or prefer the charm of a classic story that teaches a lesson? 

Our list of the best audiobooks for family road trips includes a diverse range of genres to suit every taste. Get ready to embark on a journey filled with great stories, where every chapter is a new destination, and where your best friends – the characters of your favorite audiobooks – join you on your otherwise boring road trip.

Engaging Young Minds and Older Listeners Alike

From a parents perspective, any activity that can get a kid off of mindlessly clicking on an iPad is a plus. Being the driver on a long road trip is boring as heck. Your passenger is trying to fill hours and hours of silence with radio stations that get fuzzy as you move away from populated areas. Being an entertaining conversationalist for the duration of a road trip is an exhausting endeavor.

But, audiobooks solve the problem for both kids and adults in the car. Everyone can have their mind stimulated and enjoy the car ride.

A Journey of Learning and Fun

These audiobooks are not just about entertainment, they offer a rich journey of learning and fun. They introduce new vocabulary to younger children, fueling their imagination and enhancing listening skills. For the older kids and teens, they provide a window into different cultures and historical events. The best audiobooks for family road trips are those that stitch together narratives sparking curiosity and discussions, making a simple drive both educational and fun.

Creating Shared Memories with the Best Friend of Travel – Audiobooks

One of the most wonderful aspects of a road trip is the creation of shared memories, and good audiobook and the best audio book are a significant part of this experience. Stories create a shared bond among listeners, uniting them through characters and plots. These moments turn into treasured memories, as the family reminisces about the great audiobooks that accompanied them on the road.

How to Choose the Best Audiobook for Your Road Trip

Selecting stories that spark everyone’s interest.

Selecting the best audiobooks for road trips can initially seem like a challenge, but it boils down to finding stories that captivate every family member.

From the front seat to the back seat, stories have the power to captivate listeners of all ages. Even tales with more serious undertones, like those set in a juvenile detention center, can offer engaging narratives if chosen carefully. The key is to ensure the story is universally appealing, keeping both the young and the old absorbed throughout the journey.

Consider Age-Appropriate Content

The key to the best audiobooks for road trips lies in their universal appeal, making them suitable for listeners of all ages. Nobody is going to want to sit together sobbing during extremely depressing stories or have their eyes popping out of their head in fear if something is too scary.

Look for Dynamic Narration and Sound Effects

An audiobook’s appeal often lies in its narration. The best audiobooks for family trips are those narrated by engaging voices that bring the story to life. Look for audiobooks with dynamic narrators, full cast performances, or captivating sound effects. This extra layer of audio experience can turn a long road trip into an enthralling adventure, keeping even the youngest listeners hooked.

Genre and Length Matter

When selecting the best audiobooks for family trips, it’s important to consider both the genre and length of the book. For long trips a book series is a good idea. 

A blend of adventure, fantasy, or light-hearted comedy often hits the right note for family listening. Younger kids won’t be interested in a historical biography and teenagers probably won’t be interested in anything that could be deemed babyish.

Embrace Diversity and New Experiences

Finally, use audiobooks as an opportunity to explore diverse stories and cultures. The best audiobooks for family trips are those that not only entertain but also educate and open up new worlds and perspectives. From the mythical tales of Greek gods to stories set in modern cities like New York, choose audiobooks that offer a variety of experiences and viewpoints.

When you click on an Amazon link from my site the price is the same as if you searched for it yourself, but I get compensated. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Top 8 Best Audiobooks for Family Road Trips

1. “harry potter and the sorcerer’s stone” by j.k. rowling, narrated by jim dale.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone  – Dive into the magical world of Hogwarts with this classic story. I know it’s hard to be a fan of J.K. Rowling right now since she’s a hot mess of hatred, but the Harry Potter books are so timeless. You follow an orphaned wizard to boarding school where he makes new friends, gains confidence, and takes on evil. Jim Dale’s enchanting narration makes it a perfect start for your family’s audiobook adventure.

2. “The Chronicles of Narnia” by C.S. Lewis, Narrated by Kenneth Branagh

The Chronicles of Narnia  – Embark on a journey to Narnia, where four siblings discover a hidden world. This is a great story where young kids battle mythical creatures and ultimately save themselves. Branagh’s narration adds a delightful charm, ideal for a long road trip.

3. “Charlotte’s Web” by E.B. White, Narrated by Meryl Streep

Charlotte’s Web  – A heartwarming tale of friendship, ideal for younger children and captivating for the entire family. This modern classic gives kids a glimpse of life back in the days before technology took over. The audio version with Streep’s narration brings the endearing characters to life.

4. “Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief” by Rick Riordan, Narrated by Jesse Bernstein

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief  – Perfect for young readers and mythology fans, this adventure-packed story is both educational and entertaining. The first book engages listeners by showing Percy as a good friend standing up to bully’s. Things take a wild turn as his life gets overrun by fighting Olympians.

5. “Matilda” by Roald Dahl, Narrated by Kate Winslet

Matilda  – This story of a little girl with extraordinary abilities. Matilda’s deadbeat parents don’t see her curiously and love for learning as a positive, so they send her to a school with an insanely strict principle. Luckily, a kind teacher takes Matilda under her wing as they oust the mean principal and take over the school. Narrated by the talented Kate Winslet, is sure to spark the imagination of every family member.

6. “The Tale of Despereaux” by Kate DiCamillo, Narrated by Graeme Malcolm

The Tale of Despereaux  – A charming tale about a brave mouse, a princess, and a bowl of soup – this audiobook is a delightful listen for kids of all ages. The story of Despereaux Tilling intertwines with the story of Miggery Sow as they go from dungeon to glittering castle.

7. “The Bad Beginning: A Series of Unfortunate Events” by Lemony Snicket, Narrated by Tim Curry

The Bad Beginning: A Series of Unfortunate Events  – A quirky and humorous series that will keep the whole family entertained with its unique storytelling style. When the Beaudelaire kids loose their parents in a fire, them along with their fortune get passed around from home to home by a dimwitted banker. You follow along while the trio of kids work together to save themselves from the nasty Count Olaf who is trying to steal their parents money.

8. “The Hobbit” by J.R.R. Tolkien, Narrated by Rob Inglis

The Hobbit  – Take a journey with Bilbo Baggins in this timeless fantasy, perfect for older children and adults alike. When a wandering wizard shows up at his door Bilbo goes from being a homebody to hunting down the greatest threat to middle Earth.

Where to Find These Audiobooks

Libraries: your local treasure trove.

Begin your search at the local library. Make sure you have a library card and ask the librarian which apps they have partnered with to access free audiobooks.

Online Platforms: Audiobooks at Your Fingertips

Platforms like Audible, Scribd, and Libby provide extensive collections of audiobooks. Look out for free trial or subscription offers that can give you access to a wide range of titles suitable for family trips.

Additional Tips to Enjoy the Best Audiobooks for Family Road Trips

Maximizing the audiobook experience.

While choosing the best audiobooks for family road trips is crucial, how you listen to them can make a big difference. Here are some tips to enhance your audiobook experience during long drives.

Create a Comfortable Listening Environment

Ensuring clear audio during your road trips is essential, especially for younger kids who might easily get distracted. If your car’s speakers aren’t up to par, consider using a portable speaker . This ensures everyone can enjoy the audiobook to the fullest, which is particularly important when listening to award-winning narratives, like those that have won the Audie Award. 

Such high-quality storytelling, often reflecting the complexities of the modern world or the excitement of a summer vacation, deserves to be heard clearly and without interruption. Not only does this make the journey more enjoyable, but it also provides a good reason to immerse yourselves in the world of audiobooks, enhancing the travel experience for the whole family.

Plan Breaks Around Your Story

Build anticipation by timing your breaks with suspenseful moments in the story. This strategy works wonderfully with action-packed plots, keeping the excitement alive throughout your journey. For instance, in a thrilling series, pause just as the characters embark on a search for giant spiders, leaving everyone eager for what comes next. 

Discuss the Story as a Family

During breaks, engage your family in discussions about the story, delving into characters, plot twists, and settings. This interaction can be particularly intriguing when the audiobook features mythical creatures or complex narratives suitable for middle school-aged children.

Use Audiobooks to Spark Imagination

This activity can be a fantastic way to keep younger children engaged and allow them to express their creativity. Bring along props or coloring pages to give tactile stimulation to the auditory experience.

Alternate Between Stories and Music

If you’re embarking on a particularly long road trip, it’s a good idea to alternate between audiobooks and music. This strategy can offer a refreshing change of pace, which is especially beneficial for little kids who might require more variety to remain engaged. 

Bring the Story to Life

Integrating sound effects or music that complements stories set in real locations, can significantly enhance the listening experience. This approach not only brings good books to life but also makes the journey more immersive and enjoyable for everyone.

Arriving at Your Destination

The power of stories on the road.

These audiobooks have shown that a long drive can be more than just a means to an end – it can be an opportunity for great adventures, learning, and bonding. Audiobooks, with their captivating narratives ranging from classic stories and tales of young boys and girls to journeys into fantasy worlds, have the remarkable ability to transform our travels into unforgettable experiences.

Share Your Audiobook Experiences

Now, it’s your turn to share! What are your best audiobooks for family road trips? Do you have a go-to story that everyone in the family loves? Share your experiences in the comments below. Let’s create a community where we can exchange recommendations and stories of our adventures on the road.

FAQ: Best Audiobooks for Family Road Trips

What makes an audiobook great for a family road trip.

 The best audiobooks for family road trips are engaging for all ages, have a captivating narrative, and are narrated in a dynamic and interesting manner. They should be suitable for both young children and adults, making the journey enjoyable for the entire family.

How long should an audiobook be for a road trip?

The length of the audiobook should match the duration of your trip. For longer trips, consider a series or a longer novel. For shorter journeys, a single, captivating story works well. The key is keeping the family engaged throughout the drive.

Are there any free options for accessing audiobooks?

Yes, many local libraries offer free audiobooks. Additionally, online platforms like Libby or OverDrive allow you to borrow audiobooks using your library membership. Some services also offer free trials where you can access audiobooks at no cost.

Can audiobooks be beneficial for kids during road trips?

Absolutely! Audiobooks can improve listening skills, vocabulary, and comprehension in kids. They also stimulate imagination and can be a great tool for learning, making them both fun and educational for road trips.

What genres work best for family road trips?

A mix of adventure, fantasy, and light-hearted comedy usually works best. These genres are engaging and have wide appeal, making them ideal for family listening. Classic stories, fairy tales, and popular series like “Harry Potter” or “Percy Jackson” are excellent choices.

How can I make listening to an audiobook more interactive for my family?

Encourage discussions about the story, characters, and plot. Plan breaks around exciting parts of the book, and consider activities like drawing scenes from the story or predicting future events, which can make the experience more engaging.

What should I consider when choosing an audiobook for different age groups?

Look for stories that are age-appropriate yet interesting enough for adults. Books with universal themes, relatable characters, and engaging narratives are ideal. The goal is to select an audiobook that captures the imagination of every family member.Meta Description: Discover the best audiobooks for family road trips that keep everyone entertained. Explore our top picks for a memorable journey!

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10 Best Audiobooks for Family Road Trips

Road Trips / December 17, 2018 by Jason / Leave a Comment This article may contain sponsored content or affiliate links.

Hey traveler,

It's Jason from Carltonaut's Travel Tips . Long road trips can be fun. They can also make you question why you thought confining your kids into a set spot for hours on end was a good idea. Our family has overcome that “Are we there yet? I'm bored” stigma with some amazing audiobooks. We've also listened to some audiobooks that were terrible.

A good audiobook about more than the story. The narrator makes a big difference. Some are very engaging. Others are not so much.

Here's a list of the best audiobooks (listed in no particular order) to help you manage a long road trip with kids in tow. If you've got a recommended audiobook for family road trips that you'd like to add to the list, share it in the comments below.

Click the link to get ideas for  10 screen-free road trip activities , too!

The Trials of Apollo

We listened to the first book in the Trials of Apollo series during a roadtrip to Yellowstone National Park . The book got rave reviews by the kids in the car. If we stopped the book to let them know the plan for the next stop, they would immediately tell us to turn it back on when we were done talking.

Here's a summary from the author's webpage:  How do you punish an immortal? By making him human. After angering his father Zeus, the god Apollo is cast down from Olympus. Weak and disoriented, he lands in New York City as a regular teenage boy. Now, without his godly powers, the four-thousand-year-old deity must learn to survive in the modern world until he can somehow find a way to regain Zeus’s favor. But Apollo has many enemies—gods, monsters, and mortals who would love to see the former Olympian permanently destroyed. Apollo needs help, and he can think of only one place to go . . . an enclave of modern demigods known as Camp Half-Blood.

Running Time: 10.5 hours

Click the red button to see all your options for this book on Amazon.com .

The Harry Potter Series

It doesn't matter if you've already read the books, or watched the movies. The narrator of the Harry Potter series audiobooks is one of the best! Jim Dale uses the perfect voice for each character as he tells the stories written by J.K. Rowling. We think he's one of the best narrators we've ever heard on an audiobook. Start with the Sorcerer's Stone, and reserve the series for long road trips. Before you know it, the kids will  be begging you to hit the road for some far-flung adventure.

Running Time (Sorcerer's Stone) : 8.2 hours

Eragon (for super long road trips)

My kids and I weren't sure what to expect when we checked this audiobook out from our local library. The only thing that made the 16-hour audiobook doable were two back-to-back vacations. We covered 1,200 miles on the road. So needless to say, we were in the car for many, many hours. Eragon kept us all intrigued at what was happening. When we arrived home, my son got the second book in the series and read it within several days.

Here's a short overview from the publisher's website (by Christopher Paolini):  When Eragon finds a polished blue stone in the forest, he thinks it is the lucky discovery of a poor farm boy; perhaps it will buy his family meat for the winter. But when the stone brings a dragon hatchling, Eragon realizes he has stumbled upon a legacy nearly as old as the Empire itself.

Running Time : 16.4 hours

I remember reading Deathwatch is eighth grade. It's probably the book title that's stuck with me the longest. I've read it several times since, and when our family hit the road for our annual vacation, we found a copy at the local library.

Here's a description of the book (by Robb White):  Because Ben will earn enough to pay next year's expenses for college, he guides a rich businessman, Madec, into the mountains to hunt for bighorn sheep. But Ben soon finds that Madec's wealth is matched only by his arrogance. He doesn't let anything, or anyone, keep him from getting what he wants. When Madec accidentally shoots an old prospector, mistaking him for an animal, he has no intention of reporting the death. Instead, he plans to eliminate the only witness-Ben. Now, miles from nowhere, Madec is carrying a .358 Magnum, and Ben is his prey. Naked and unarmed, the young man faces the greatest-and perhaps the last-challenge of his life. 

Running Time : 5.25 hours

This classic book may be hard to buy on audio! Click the red button to see all your options for this book on Amazon.com .

The Roald Dahl Audiobook Collection

Everyone enjoys reading a Roald Dahl book. From Matilda to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. There are several fantastic books to choose from, and lucky for your kids, many of them are available in audiobook. These books are quick reads, and thus quick listens. They work well for shorter road trips to grandma's house for Christmas, or a family friend in southern Utah.

The books may cater to a younger audience, but they can take anyone on an adventure. Here's a summary of the book:  After James Henry Trotter's parents are tragically eaten by a rhinoceros, he goes to live with his two horrible aunts, Spiker and Sponge. Life there is no fun, until James accidentally drops some magic crystals by the old peach tree and strange things start to happen. The peach at the top of the tree begins to grow, and before long it's as big as a house. Inside, James meets a bunch of oversized friends – Grasshopper, Centipede, Ladybug, and more. With a snip of the stem, the peach starts rolling away, and the great adventure begins!

Running Time (James and the Giant Peach) :  3.2 hours

The movie, Wonder, came out in late 2017. The book was released in 2012. It's a great story told in a rather unique way: From the viewpoint of multiple people. The story is captivating, and the life-lessons discussed in the books give your family something to discuss about kindness, hardships and life.

Here's a brief overview of Wonder (by R.J. Palacio):  August (Auggie) Pullman was born with a severe facial difference that, up until now, has prevented him from going to a mainstream school. Starting 5th grade at Beecher Prep, Auggie wants nothing more than to be treated as an ordinary kid—but his new classmates can’t get past his extraordinary face.

Running Time :  8 hours

When my son was 10, he read the entire Lord of the Rings series, including The Hobbit. I cheated and listened to the audiobook. I wasn't sure what to expect when I started listening to it, but I was drawn in to the hobbit's story. It's an adventure that keeps you on the edge of your seat, which is perfect for distracting kids from the countless road signs you pass on a road trip.

Here's a summary of The Hobbit (by J.R.R. Tolkein):  Like every other hobbit, Bilbo Baggins likes nothing better than a quiet evening in his snug hole in the ground, dining on a sumptuous dinner in front of a fire. But when a wandering wizard captivates him with tales of the unknown, Bilbo becomes restless. Soon he joins the wizard’s band of homeless dwarves in search of giant spiders, savage wolves, and other dangers. Bilbo quickly tires of the quest for adventure and longs for the security of his familiar home. But before he can return to his life of comfort, he must face the greatest threat of all – a treasure-troving dragon named Smaug.

Running Time :  11 hours

A Series of Unfortunate Events

If you're looking for a fun, upbeat book… this isn't the one for you. It's one miserable mishap after another for the Baudelaire orphans. But the way the story is written, you'll find yourself hoping the three orphans can come out victorious just once. But Count Olaf wants their fortune and tries every-which-way to become their legal guardian. What's better? The narrator is none other than Tim Curry!

There are 13 books in the series, but we recommend starting at the first book in the series: The Bad Beginning (by Lemony Snicket). If you like that one enough to continue, then work your way through all 13 unlucky books. They're each fairly short – perfect for those weekend road trip getaways!

Running Time (The Bad Beginning) :  2.5 hours

Charlotte's Web

I remember seeing the cartoon of Charlotte's Web as a kid. My young daughter and I later read the book together as a sort of bed time story. Charlotte's Web is a classic, and what better time to listen to it than in the car. While it's not full of action and adventure, it's a great story with lots of life lessons.

Here's a summary of Charlotte's Web (by E.B. White): Charlotte's Web is a timeless story of the pig named Wilbur and the wise spider named Charlotte who saved him from becoming dinner.

Running Time :  3.5 hours

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Even though there are a few movies from the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, that shouldn't stop you from picking up one of the books for your next long haul! The everyday humor and bad luck that plagues Greg Heffley will keep you laughing – because you can probably relate to that sort of bad luck. Or at least I can. Maybe that's because I was like the scrawny wimpy kid in my school when I was growing up. Haha!

There are multiple books in the series, but here's a summary of the first book (by Jeff Kinney):  Sixth grader Greg Heffley doesn’t understand his annoying younger brother, obnoxious older one, or well-meaning parents. But he knows enough to record his daily thoughts in a manly journal—not some girly diary. In a unique novel brimming with laugh-out-loud moments, Greg chronicles his first turbulent year of middle school.

Running Time :  2 hours

Resources Available for Finding Audiobooks

One of the best sources we've found for our audiobooks is our local library. They're free to check out, and some are even available for digital download.

You can purchase audiobooks from Amazon and other sellers. Download via subscription services like Audible that allow you to listen through your mobile device or buy Audio CDs. Find the one that's best for your family – and your technological capabilities.

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The Great Big List of the Best Audiobooks for Family Road Trips

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Published March 24, 2022 | Updated March 24, 2022 | By Katelyn Fagan | 6 Comments

Here you will find a great big list of the best audiobooks for family road trips ! Discover old classics, new fantasies, educational stories, humorous narrators, and overall great audiobooks for family road trips that are sure to delight the youngest to the oldest in your vehicle, no matter if you are listening via books on tape, books on CD or a digital app.

Audio books are a great way to help the long drive pass! When you can listen to the audio version of a book, even young children can enjoy a long family road trip by listening! Pack these on your next family vacation! This list of the best family audiobooks will make the miles pass by quickly.

My dad was a truck driver for 30 years. One of the benefits of him being an over-the-road owner-operator was that I got to, on occasion, go with him on some of his loads! It was awesome for multiple reasons, the primary one being spending so much one-on-one time with my dad who I didn’t see much of, and the second one being getting to travel and explore the United States from an early age!

I saw the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, swam in the Atlantic Ocean in Miami, crossed over the Mississippi river dozens of times, (almost) wrestled an alligator at Gatorland in Orlando, went through tunnels, and more.

And along the way, my father would play good books on CD or books on tape for us to listen to, usually picking them up from our local library.

I remember listening to Where the Red Fern Grows twice with him on one trip because I liked it so much, though I asked him to skip the part where the boy falls on the axe the second time through! I also remember listening to my favorite Ray Bradbury short stories (like The Ravine ), countless Western stories (like those from Louis L’Amour ), and others.

Now with a family of my own, and several long family road trips under our belts, we’re always on the hunt ourselves for the best audiobooks for family road trips. We’ve mostly stuck to our own personal favorites like Harry Potter and Star Wars, and a few others. But, not all audiobooks are made the same.

Not all audiobooks are great listening for the entire family, from the young toddler to the 3rd graders to the adults who have to listen to it to it for hours on end. You want audiobooks for family road trips that the whole family will enjoy!

So, I decided to ask others what their favorite good audiobooks for family road trips were. I mostly asked in some of the large Facebook homeschool groups I belong to, as I know many homeschool families take extended road trips, tend to have more mixed ages of children (and bigger families) but also look for quality audiobooks with good messages.

I framed the question in the following way: “Is the narrator great? Are there special sound effects? Is the story amazing? Is it easy enough for little kids to understand but complex enough for the adults? Is it not too heavy or deep if you have littles? Does it have enough action?”

There were several repeats and a good mix of books and radio theater type audio stories.

I hope you find a great one to listen to!

Where to Get to Audiobooks for Family Road Trip

As we now live in the digital age, audiobooks are not usually listened to via tapes or CD but through digital files, digital downloads, or apps. There are several places you can download and listen to audiobooks from. The most popular options are:

• Overdrive (Public Library)

Audiobooks.com

I am a frequent patron of the public library and many public libraries partner with Overdrive (or similar service) where they allow library members to listen to audiobooks and read ebooks digitally. You simply download the Overdrive app on your phone or tablet, connect and log-in with your library credentials, and start browsing for titles.

Not every title is available through the app, and not all of them are available for you to listen to at a given time as there is a limit to how many people can check out the digital files, meaning you might need to jump on a waiting list for popular books.

But, it’s free!

Simply download the book to your phone, and listen as you go. It’s pretty great! But, you likely only have 3 weeks to listen to it after getting the title.

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.

Each month you get 1 credit, good for any audiobook regardless of price. You keep these audiobooks forever, even if you cancel your subscription later. Plus there are exclusive member savings like getting 30% off any additional audiobooks you buy in a month. Plus, if you don’t love the book you buy you can swap it for a different book at anytime for easy exchanges!

You can listen to Audible books wherever with their free app.

Right now you can try Audible for FREE for 30-Days and Get 2 Free Audiobooks!

After your free trial, it is $14.95/month but you can cancel at any time.

Scribd is a subscription service that allows you to listen to as many audiobooks as you want in a month and read as many ebooks as you want. It’s unlimited ebooks and audiobooks for a low flat monthly fee of $8.99.

This is great should you decide after starting a new book that you really don’t like it, or that it won’t make for a great audiobook for your family’s road trip, because you won’t have buyer’s remorse!

You didn’t buy it and can jump right to another book without a second thought. It also means you can listen to multiple audiobooks at the same time, or multiple on your trip, or with different family members listening, and so on!

We’ve been using it a ton lately and thoroughly enjoying it. Not every book is available on the app, but many great audiobooks are! And, bonus! You can try them out for FREE for 60-days with my refer-a-friend link!

So you can sign up right before your road trip and enjoy all the great titles on the app during your family road trip without spending a dime.

Akin to Audible, Audibooks.com has over 150,000 bestsellers, new releases, and classic favorites plus 700,000+ podcasts to listen to, as well as 8,500+ free audiobooks for its members.

You can stream the books anywhere with your smartphone, tablet, or laptop, and download them to listen offline.

Audibooks.com offers a 30-day free trial where you can get 3 books free – any two books plus a bonus VIP book. You can cancel anytime during your free trial, no strings attached.

After the free trial, it is $14.95/month where each month you will be able to choose 2 audiobooks a month – one premium title, and one from their exclusive VIP section.

Try Audiobooks.com for FREE for 30 Days and enjoy 3 Free Books!

If you are LDS, there is also the Deseret BookShelf app that works similarly to Scribd in that you have unlimited access to books from Deseret Books for one low monthly fee.

How to Listen to Audiobooks on a Family Road Trip

However, before we begin with the list of best audiobooks for family road trips, I wanted to discuss HOW you can listen to stories in your car! Books on CD and books on tape are not really as common anymore. Most cars don’t have tape decks anymore and some don’t even have CD players or have them, but they don’t work!

Before our last road trip my husband installed a new radio system and speakers so we could not have to worry about getting devices that would plug-into our phones, but simply use bluetooth.

Best Audiobooks for Family Road Trips

These were the top picks! If someone in a group gave a personal testimonial for the book, I included that first in parentheses. A short synopsis of the book is also included to help you determine if your whole family would likely enjoy listening to these great audiobooks for a family road trip!

I have also categorized them by:

• Classic Audiobooks
• Fantasy Audiobooks
• Fun/Funny Audiobooks
• Children’s Audiobooks
• Christian Audiobooks
• Educational/Historial Audiobooks

Have fun browsing all of the 77 titles and let me know what sounds great to you and what your favorite audiobooks to listening to in the car are!

Classic Audiobooks for Family Road Trips

There are some stories that are just classics, audiobooks that have been around forever and people love in droves. These are books that are popular children, young adult, and adult stories, that everyone has pretty much heard of and/or have won numerous awards.

Chronicles of Narnia . “We found it almost ruined our boys for other audiobooks, as it’s truly reader’s theater. The music is amazing, characters captivating…best money you’ll spend!” A simple game of hide-and-seek turns into a thrilling and dangerous adventure for Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy. Through the wardrobe they enter the mystical land of Narnia, where only the Great Lion, Aslan, can conquer the dark magic of the White witch and restore beauty and peace to the land. Each of the books is narrated by a different famous actor: Patrick Stewart, Derek Jacoby, Lynn Redgrave, Kenneth Branagh. There is also the version done by Focus on the Family.

A Wrinkle in Time  “audiobook is read by a great narrator who can do the dialogue of 7 people at a time, and you don’t confuse them!” Meg Murry, her little brother Charles Wallace, and their mother are having a midnight snack on a dark and stormy night when an unearthly stranger appears at their door. He claims to have been blown off course and goes on to tell them that there is such a thing as a “tesseract”, which, if you didn’t know, is a wrinkle in time. Meg’s father had been experimenting with time travel when he suddenly disappeared. Will Meg, Charles Wallace, and their friend Calvin outwit the forces of evil as they search through space for their father?

Harry Potter . Harry Potter has never even heard of Hogwarts when the letters start dropping on the doormat at number four, Privet Drive. Addressed in green ink on yellowish parchment with a purple seal, they are swiftly confiscated by his grisly aunt and uncle. Then, on Harry’s eleventh birthday, a great beetle-eyed giant of a man called Rubeus Hagrid bursts in with some astonishing news: Harry Potter is a wizard, and he has a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. An incredible adventure is about to begin!

The Hobbit  “is a great listen and my kids enjoyed it.” Bilbo Baggins, a gentle hobbit who loves the comforts of home, reluctantly joins a company of dwarves on a journey to recover plundered gold from a fierce dragon. It’s a tale of high adventure and astonishing courage, and a magical prelude to the  Lord of the Rings  trilogy.

The Giver . “My kids LOVED  The Giver!” one of the most influential novels of our time. The haunting story centers on twelve-year-old Jonas, who lives in a seemingly ideal, if colorless, world of conformity and contentment. Not until he is given his life assignment as the Receiver of Memory does he begin to understand the dark, complex secrets behind his fragile community.

Where the Red Fern Grows . Billy has long dreamt of owning not one, but two, dogs. So when he’s finally able to save up enough money for two pups to call his own—Old Dan and Little Ann—he’s ecstatic. It doesn’t matter that times are tough; together they’ll roam the hills of the Ozarks. Soon Billy and his hounds become the finest hunting team in the valley. Stories of their great achievements spread throughout the region.

Stuart Little . The magic of this beloved classic comes to life in a delightful and completely unabridged recording, read by Julie Harris. Stuart Little is a shy, philosophical little mouse with a big heart and a taste for adventure. In spite of his diminutive stature, barely two inches tall, Stuart sets forth into the world with some mighty big plans: to ride a Fifth Avenue bus, to win a sailboat race in Central Park, and to teach school for a day. But Stuart’s greatest adventure begins when he decides to find his best friend, Margalo, a pretty little bird who once lived in a Boston fern in the Littles’ house in New York City.

The BFG . The BFG is no ordinary bone-crunching giant. He is far too nice and jumbly. It’s lucky for Sophie that he is. Had she been carried off in the middle of the night by the Bloodbottler, or any of the other giants – rather than the BFG – she would have soon become breakfast. When Sophie hears that the giants are flush-bunking off to England to swollomp a few nice little chiddlers, she decides she must stop them once and for all. And the BFG is going to help her!

Redwall  “is unabridged and full cast with musical effects, so it may be a bit intense for some young kids and does include a few instances of mild language.” This enthralling tale is jam-packed with the things we long for in a great adventure:  danger, laughter, hairbreath escapes, tragedy, mystery, a touch of wonder, a truly despicable villain, and a hero we can take to heart. That hero is Matthias, a young mouse who must rise above his fears and failures to save his friends at Redwall Abbey.

Hatchet . Thirteen-year-old Brian Robeson, haunted by his secret knowledge of his mother’s infidelity, is traveling by single-engine plane to visit his father for the first time since the divorce. When the plane crashes, killing the pilot, the sole survivor is Brian. He is alone in the Canadian wilderness with nothing but his clothing, a tattered windbreaker, and the hatchet his mother had given him as a present.

Louis L’Amour .  “My husband loved it of course, but so did my 10-year-old. My five-year-old had a harder time tracking with the story, but she wanted to, so we would pause to answer questions. I started with a short story–he has several–to see how it would go before moving into a novel. Very interesting and appropriate as we drove through Colorado and Texas.” Willie Nelson reads six and one is fully dramatized by Nelson, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, and the late Waylon Jennings, who together were known as The Highwaymen.

Little House in the Big Woods .  The first book in Laura Ingalls Wilder’s treasured Little House series, which is based on her life growing up as an American pioneer. Told from four-year-old Laura’s point of view, this story begins in 1871 in a little log cabin on the edge of the Big Woods of Wisconsin. Laura lives in the little house with her pa, her ma, her sisters Mary and Carrie, and their trusty dog, Jack. Pioneer life is sometimes hard for the family, since they must grow or catch all their own food as they get ready for the cold winter.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory . Willy Wonka’s famous chocolate factory is opening at last! But only five lucky children will be allowed inside. And the winners are: Augustus Gloop, an enormously fat boy whose hobby is eating; Veruca Salt, a spoiled-rotten brat whose parents are wrapped around her little finger; Violet Beauregarde, a dim-witted gum chewer with the fastest jaws around; Mike Teavee, a toy-pistol-toting gangster-in-training who is obsessed with television; and Charlie Bucket, Our Hero, a boy who is honest and kind, brave and true, and good and ready for the wildest time of his life!

Winnie the Pooh and House at Pooh Corner dramatized audio (starring Judi Dench). “Both engage the little ones because they’re easy to understand. They engage the adults because the narration is simply delightful.”  In these stories, Pooh goes visiting and gets into a tight place, Eeyore loses a tail, Piglet meets a Heffalump, Eeyore has a birthday and gets two presents, and an expedition is mounted to the North Pole! As usual, they are accompanied by Kanga, Roo, Rabbit and Owl – to say nothing of Pooh’s very clever young human friend, Christopher Robin. Now with a musical introduction, Alan Bennett gives A. A. Milne’s characters the voices you felt they were always meant to have.

The Wizard of Oz . Follow the adventures of young Dorothy Gale and her dog Toto as they get swept away into the magical land of Oz , where they encounter characters and places you may remember from the movie – and several more that never made it to the big screen – on an unforgettable journey to the Emerald City. The Anne Hathway version is great and only available on Audible .

Funny and Fun Audiobooks for Family Road Trips

Adventures in Odyssey from Focus on the Family (a tad juvenille but rather entertaining). Created for children ages 8-12 (but loved by listeners of all ages),  Adventures in Odyssey  is a 30-minute drama that combines the faith lessons parents appreciate with characters and stories that kids love.

Samatha Spinner and the Super Secret Plans . “If you want s good laugh and all around family fun listen to this one. Our entire family, from my youngest to my dad, were rolling through the entire book! Yes, it’s a bit cheesy at times and some characters are caricatures, but we LOVED this book!!”  Get ready for round-the-world adventure with Sam Spinner and her brother, Nipper, in the first book in a new hilarious, puzzle-packed series filled with super-secret messages! Perfect for fans of  Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library  and classics like  Holes .

Frindle . Nicholas Allen is not a troublemaker — he’s just creative.  When he decides to liven things up in Mrs. Granger’s fifth-grade language arts class, he comes up with the greatest plan yet.  He invents a new word for a pen —  frindle.   It doesn’t take long for frindle to take root and soon the excitement spreads beyond the school and town and unleashes a series of events that rapidly spins out of control.

Mr. Men and Little Miss collection narrated by Jim Dale. Rediscover the zaniest characters you’ve ever met in this best-selling series which has sold millions worldwide. Bright and charming, with easily recognizable characters, Mr. Men audiobooks are easy enough for young listeners, witty enough for humor-prone adults, and highly collectible for one and all.

Diary of a Mad Brownie .  “We all thought it was hysterical. Good voices…the main one British. We loved it.” Told in diary entries and other “documents”, this magical, modern-day new comedy series by the master of funny fantasy, Bruce Coville, is filled with laugh-out-loud humor and heart.

In the first hilarious Enchanted Files, Angus is a brownie. No, not the kind you eat! He’s a tiny magical creature that loves to do chores. Angus has just “inherited” a new human girl, Alex. To say that Alex is messy would be an understatement. She’s a total hurricane-like disaster – and she likes it that way, thank you very much! Living with each other isn’t easy, but Angus and Alex soon learn there is a curse that binds them.

Hank the Cowdog . “It was funny, clean, and had a little sense of adventure.” The popular Hank the Cowdog series is based on the humorous antics of the canine Head of Ranch Security. In this first book, Hank and his little buddy, Drover, set out to solve a series of baffling murders on the ranch. Is Hank a suspect? An Outlaw? Can he clear his good name? USA Today calls the hilarious Hank the Cowdog series “…the best family entertainment in years.”

The Brixton Brothers  “series is great. Everyone in our family thoroughly enjoyed it including the adults. It’s a detective adventure with young boys. It has enough humor, suspense and action to make it the perfect audiobook. We also love the narrator.”

Seventh-grader Steve Brixton is an avid reader of the Bailey Brothers series, and he’s about to get a chance to put the detective tactics he’s read so much about into practice. He’s out to solve a mystery being investigated by America’s most secret crime solving agency: the United States Department of Library Sciences. It will take all of Steve’s skills to navigate this story of intrigue and crime as he tracks down the missing quilt (yes, quilt) containing all of America’s secrets.

Garrison Keillor  books . “He has a fantastically calm voice and his stories are hysterical! We all just laughed and laughed together wherever we went. He tells stories and says “that’s the news from lake Woolbegon” after each story.” News from Lake Wobegon monologues from the entire history of “the little town on the edge of the prairie” are presented in one collection. Cheaper by the Dozen . What do you get when you put twelve lively kids together with a father — a famous efficiency expert — who believes families can run like factories, and a mother who is his partner in everything except discipline? You get a hilarious tale of growing up that has made generations of kids and adults alike laugh along with the Gilbreths in  Cheaper by the Dozen .

The Mysterious Benedict Society.  “Hands down!!!! So fun and entertaining for adults and kids. Wonderful morals and witty to boot! We love this series so much we bought them! My absolute fav series, esp book 1 and Nicholas’ book! And we all loved the read aloud- 6 years through teen through adult!”    Four very special children have a challenge: to go on a secret mission that only the most intelligent and resourceful children could complete. To accomplish it they will have to go undercover at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened, where the only rule is that there are no rules. As our heroes face physical and mental trials beyond their wildest imaginations, they have no choice but to turn to each other for support. But with their newfound friendship at stake, will they be able to pass the most important test of all?

The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place . “The narrator is fabulous. Great vocabulary, super funny and narrated by a fantastically British lady.” Of especially naughty children, it is sometimes said: “They must have been raised by wolves.” The Incorrigible Children actually were. Discovered in the forest of Ashton Place, the Incorrigibles are no ordinary children. Luckily, Miss Penelope Lumley is no ordinary governess. A recent graduate of the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females, Penelope embraces the challenge of her new position. Though she is eager to instruct the children in Latin verbs and the proper use of globes, first she must eliminate their canine tendencies.

Chicken in the Headlights . “If you can find a copy of it, it is our favorite, all time audiobook for a car trip. Everyone in the car loved it. It is a funny, lighthearted story about a family’s eventful summer. They don’t homeschool in the book, but they have the spirit of a homeschool family. (If that makes sense)”

Fantasy Audiobooks for Road Trips

Artemis Fowl series . “Great narrator, lots of voices, funny, exciting books.” From a strikingly original voice in fiction comes the story of Artemis Fowl, a very unusual hero. Artemis combines the astuteness of Sherlock Holmes with the sangfroid of James Bond and the attitude of Attila the Hun. But even Artemis doesn’t know what he’s taken on when he kidnaps a fairy, Captain Holly Short of LEPrecon Unit. These aren’t the fairies of bedtime stories. These fairies are armed and they’re dangerous. Artemis thinks he’s got them just where he wants them, but then they stop playing by the rules . . .Full of unexpected twists and turns, ARTEMIS FOWL opens up a riveting world of magic, mystery, and humor.

Discworld books  “are good for all ages and well acted.”  The Color of Magic  is where we meet tourist Twoflower and wizard guide Ricewind, and follow them on their always-bizarre journeys.

A writer who has been compared to Mark Twain, Kurt Vonnegut, and Douglas Adams, Sir Terry Pratchett has created a complex, yet zany world filled with a host of unforgettable characters who navigate around a profound fantasy universe, complete with its own set of cultures and rules.

Lamplighter audiobooks . “Great dramatizations and stories.” L amplighter  follows Rossamand Bookchild, now one of the Emperor’s lamplighters, who is sworn to protect travelers from the ferocious bogles that live in the wild. Small and meek, he does not fit in. Then a haughty young female monster hunter is forced upon the lamplighters for training. As Rossam?nd begins to make new friends in the dangerous world of the Half-Continent, he also seems to make more enemies, finding himself pushed toward a destiny that he could never have imagined. . . .

The Green Ember.  “Rabbits with swords! Captivating plot – and we ALL loved it from parents, 13-year-old, 9-year-old and 5-year-old. Great truths and character are woven into a super adventurous tale!”

Heather and Picket are extraordinary rabbits with ordinary lives until calamitous events overtake them, spilling them into a cauldron of misadventures. They discover that their own story is bound up in the tumult threatening to overwhelm the wider world. Kings fall, and kingdoms totter. Tyrants ascend, and terrors threaten. Betrayal beckons, and loyalty is a broken road with peril around every bend. Where will Heather and Picket land? How will they make their stand?

Ender’s skills make him a leader in school and respected in the Battle Room, where children play at mock battles in zero gravity. Yet growing up in an artificial community of young soldiers Ender suffers greatly from isolation, rivalry from his peers, pressure from the adult teachers, and an unsettling fear of the alien invaders.

The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom.  “Great storyline, awesome voice acting for the different parts. An adventure story that appealed to my boys, but with enough strong female characters that would work for girls too.”

Prince Liam. Prince Frederic. Prince Duncan. Prince Gustav. You’ve never heard of them, have you? These are the princes who saved Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Snow White, and Rapunzel, respectively, and yet, thanks to those lousy bards who wrote the tales, you likely know them only as Prince Charming. But all of this is about to change. Rejected by their princesses and cast out of their castles, Liam, Frederic, Duncan, and Gustav stumble upon an evil plot that could endanger each of their kingdoms. Now it’s up to them to triumph over their various shortcomings, take on trolls, bandits, dragons, witches, and other assorted terrors, and become the heroes no one ever thought they could be.

Fablehaven series . For centuries, mystical creatures of all description were gathered to a hidden refuge called Fablehaven to prevent their extinction. The sanctuary survives today as one of the last strongholds of true magic in a cynical world. Kendra and her brother Seth have no idea their grandfather is the current caretaker of Fablehaven. Inside the gated woods, ancient laws give relative order among greedy trolls, mischievous satyrs, plotting witches, spiteful imps, and jealous fairies. However, when the rules get broken, an arcane evil is unleashed, forcing Kendra and Seth to face the greatest challenge of their lives. To save her family, Fablehaven, and perhaps the world, Kendra must find the courage to do what she fears most.

Adventurers Wanted!  “All around win!” The sign is small, tucked into the corner of Mr. Clutter’s bookshop window: “Adventurers Wanted. Apply Within.” No one but fifteen-year-old Alex Taylor even seems to notice it is there. And for Alex, who has wished for a change in his life, it is an irresistible invitation. Upon entering Mr. Clutter’s shop, Alex is swept away on an incredible adventure to a faraway land filled with heroic warriors, mysterious elves, and hard-working dwarves. Alex becomes the eighth man in a band of adventurers seeking the lair of Slathbog the Red – an evil dragon with a legendary treasure.

Susan Cooper series The Dark is Rising Series . On holiday in Cornwall, the three Drew children discover an ancient map in the attic of the house that they are staying in. They know immediately that it is special. It is even more than that — the key to finding a grail, a source of power to fight the forces of evil known as the Dark. And in searching for it themselves, the Drews put their very lives in peril.

Trouble Twisters . Jaide and Jack Shield’s lives are changing in a very, very strange way. The weather is turning against them. Magical disasters occur when they’re around. And a mysterious explosion has just destroyed their house… from the inside. Without knowing why, the twins are stolen away to live with Grandma X – a relative they’ve never, ever met.

At Grandma X’s house, things are even stranger. Weathervanes point in the opposite direction of the wind. Doors appear and disappear. Cats talk. Jaide and Jack Shield don’t know the reason behind all this strangeness. They don’t know that they’re troubletwisters, and that they must defend the world against a dark, evil force. The time has come for them to discover the truth – and the powers that come with the truth. Are they ready?

How To Train Your Dragon . “We absolutely LOVE this one. The narrator is fantastic! Such a fun audiobook.” Chronicles the adventures and misadventures of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III as he tries to pass the important initiation test of his Viking clan, the Tribe of the Hairy Hooligans, by catching and training a dragon.

Kenny and the dragon . “This was hilarious. It’s read by Alan Cumming and he does fantastic voices. It’s a cute story about a rabbit befriending a dragon and then has to figure out how to convince everyone that he is not a scourge on the town.”When the simple folks in the sleepy little village of Roundbrook catch wind that there’s a dragon running loose in the countryside, they get the wrong idea and the stage is set for a fight to the death. So it’s up to Kenny to give his neighbors front-row seats to one of the best-known battles in history — the legendary showdown between St. George and the dragon — without losing a friend in the fray.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang narrated by David Tennant! “We just listened to this and adored it! It’s on Overdrive if your library uses that!”

Crackpot is what everybody calls the Pott family. So when they go to buy a new car and come back with a wreck, nobody is surprised. Except for the Potts themselves. First, the car has a name. And she tells them what it is. Then they find that she can fly… and swim… Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is a car on a mission to stop a criminal gang in its tracks and she is taking the Potts with her! Jump into the world s most loved magical car, for her first adventure ever!

Land of Stories series . “The author narrates the stories and he does voices for all the characters. The story line has been super fun with all of us busting out laughing in the car at times. We listened to the first one on our last trip and my oldest who did not want to listen to a book at all, was totally hooked and asking if we could turn the story back on. Now that we are home, we have been listening to the remainder of the series. I will say, that in book 3, the main characters are 14-year-old twins and they have been talking about “crushes”…so something to keep in mind, depending on what ages are listening.”

 Zacktastic . Upon the occasion of his 10th birthday, Zack learns from his uncle that Zack is descended from a line of genies. Before his uncle has time to fully explain the genie world, Zack is whisked through a bottle portal and sent on his first genie assignment. But he doesn’t have a clue as to what he is supposed to do or what his powers might entail.

The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates  “is a win for everyone – Kathryn Kellgren narrates and she’s great.” Hilary Westfield has always dreamed of being a pirate. She can tread water for 37 minutes. She can tie a knot faster than a fleet of sailors. She particularly enjoys defying authority, and she already owns a rather pointy sword. There’s only one problem: The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates refuses to let any girl join their ranks of scourges and scallywags. To escape from a life of petticoats and politeness, Hilary answers a curious advertisement for a pirate crew and suddenly finds herself swept up in a seafaring adventure that may or may not involve a map without an X, a magical treasure that likely doesn’t exist, a rogue governess who insists on propriety, a crew of misfit scallywags, and the most treacherous – and unexpected – villain on the High Seas.

The Phantom Toll Booth . When Milo finds an enormous package in his bedroom, he’s delighted to have something to relieve his boredom with school. And when he opens it to find — as the label states — One Genuine Turnpike Tollbooth, he gets right into his pedal car and sets off through the Tollbooth and away on a magical journey!

Will Hilary find the treasure in time? Will she become a true pirate after all? And what will become of the gargoyle?

Children’s Audiobooks for Road Trips

Dr. Doolittle!  Polynesia the parrot, Jip the dog, Too-Too the owl, Dab-Dab the duck, Gub-Gub the pig, Chee-Chee the monkey and many other animals accompany Dr. Doolittle on his adventures in England, Africa and on the High Seas. Please note – due to certain unfortunate racial epithets and insensitivities contained in the narrative of this book, parental guidance is suggested.

Matilda read by Kate Winslet ! Matilda is a sweet, exceptional young girl, but her parents think she’s just a nuisance. She expects school to be different but there she has to face Miss Trunchbull, a kid-hating terror of a headmistress. When Matilda is attacked by the Trunchbull she suddenly discovers she has a remarkable power with which to fight back. It’ll take a superhuman genius to give Miss Trunchbull what she deserves and Matilda may be just the one to do it!

The Tale of Despereaux  “is excellent.” Welcome to the story of Despereaux Tilling, a mouse who is in love with music, stories, and a princess named Pea. It is also the story of a rat called Roscuro, who lives in the darkness and covets a world filled with light. And it is the story of Miggery Sow, a slow-witted serving girl who harbors a simple, impossible wish. These three characters are about to embark on a journey that will lead them down into a horrible dungeon, up into a glittering castle, and, ultimately, into each other’s lives. What happens then?

The Trumpet of the Swan  Like the rest of his family, Louis is a trumpeter swan. But unlike his four brothers and sisters, Louis can’t trumpet joyfully. In fact, he can’t even make a sound. And since he can’t trumpet his love, the beautiful swan Serena pays absolutely no attention to him.

Louis tries everything he can think of to win Serena’s affection—he even goes to school to learn to read and write. But nothing seems to work. Then his father steals him a real brass trumpet. Is a musical instrument the key to winning Louis his love?

Benjamin Pratt and the Keepers of the School . Benjamin Pratt’s school is about to become the site of a new amusement park. It’s going to change everything. And, Ben is not so big on all the new changes in his life, like how his dad has moved out and started living in the marina on what used to be the “family” sailboat. After a chance—and final—run-in with the school janitor, Ben starts to discover that these MILLION DOLLAR views have a lot to do with the deal to sell the school property. Don’t think Ben, his friend Jill (and the tag-along Robert) can ruin a multimillion dollar real estate deal? Then you don’t know the history and the power of the Keepers of the School.

Mrs piggle wiggle series. “It’s entertaining and funny even for adults.” Meet Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle! She lives in an upside-down house with a kitchen that is always full of freshly baked cookies. She was even married to a pirate once! Best of all, she knows everything there is to know about children.

When Mary turns into an Answer-Backer or Dick becomes Selfish or Allen decides to be a Slow-Eater-Tiny-Bite-Taker, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle has the perfect cure. And her solutions always work, with plenty of laughs along the way. Perfect for fans of Mary Poppins and Nanny McPhee, this classic series is all about learning and problem-solving. Young readers will love this book.

The Penderwick ” series is fantastic!!! Great voices, funny, so endearing. My kiddos and I totally loved it.” This summer the Penderwick sisters have a wonderful surprise: a holiday on the grounds of a beautiful estate called Arundel. Soon they are busy discovering the summertime magic of Arundel’s sprawling gardens, treasure-filled attic, tame rabbits, and the cook who makes the best gingerbread in Massachusetts. But the best discovery of all is Jeffrey Tifton, son of Arundel’s owner, who quickly proves to be the perfect companion for their adventures.

A Series of Unfortunate Events !  “ My family listened to these on road trips growing up and everyone loved them. They are simple enough for kids but clever enough for adults. Also, some of them are read by Tim Curry which is a major plus.”

There is nothing to be found in the pages of A Series of Unfortunate Events but misery and despair. In The Bad Beginning the three youngsters encounter a greedy and repulsive villain, itchy clothing, a disastrous fire, a plot to steal their fortune and cold porridge for breakfast. Then again, why trouble yourself with the unfortunate resolutions?

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane . Once, in a house on Egypt Street, there lived a Chinese rabbit named Edward Tulane. The rabbit was very pleased with himself, and for good reason: he was owned by a girl named Abilene, who treated him with the utmost care and adored him completely. And then, one day, he was lost.

Flora & Ulysses . It begins, as the best superhero stories do, with a tragic accident that has unexpected consequences. The squirrel never saw the vacuum cleaner coming, but self-described cynic Flora Belle Buckman, who has read every issue of the comic book  Terrible Things Can Happen to You!,  is just the right person to step in and save him. What neither can predict is that Ulysses (the squirrel) has been born anew, with powers of strength, flight, and misspelled poetry – and that Flora will be changed too, as she discovers the possibility of hope and the promise of a capacious heart.

Henry Huggins , read by Neil Patrick Harris. “Great voices, enjoyed by littles and adults because it’s funny and relatable.” Join Henry on Kilckitat Street as he gets into hijinks – usually with the help of Ribsy and none other than Ramona Quimby.

Peter and The Star Catchers . Don’teven  think  of starting this bookunless you’re sitting in a comfortable chair and have lots of time. Afast-paced, impossible-to-put-down adventure awaits as the young orphan Peterand his mates are dispatched to an island ruled by the evil King Zarboff. Theyset sail aboard the  Never   Land , a ship carrying a precious and mysterious trunk inits cargo hold, and the journey quickly becomes fraught with excitement anddanger.

Discoverrichly developed characters in the sweet but sophisticated Molly, the scary butfamiliar Black Stache, and the fearless Peter. Treacherous battles withpirates, foreboding thunderstorms at sea, and evocative writing immerses thereader in a story that slowly and finally reveals the secrets and mysteries ofthe beloved  Peter Pan .

Caddie Woodlawn .  No one would accuse 11-year-old Caddie Woodlawn of being dainty and ladylike. In spite of her mother’s best efforts, Caddie is as wild as the wind, playing freely and rambunctiously with her two brothers in the Wisconsin backwoods. There are rafts to build and trees to climb and pranks to play. Caddie especially likes to watch her friend Indian John build birchbark canoes at the river.Every day seems wide with possibility – as wide as the frontier. But living on the edge of civilization has its risks, too. And when Indians threaten to attack the settlers, it is Caddie’s resourcefulness and bravery that save the day.

The One and Only Ivan . Ivan is an easygoing gorilla. Living at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade, he has grown accustomed to humans watching him through the glass walls of his domain. He rarely misses his life in the jungle. In fact, he hardly ever thinks about it at all. Instead, Ivan mostly thinks about art and how to capture the taste of a mango or the sound of leaves with color and a well-placed line. Then he meets Ruby, a baby elephant taken from her family, and she makes Ivan see their home – and his own art – through new eyes.

Christian Family Audiobooks for Road Trip

Brinkman Adventures – both of these are Christian Audio Dramas, and explicitly share the gospel.  What happens when you take the wacky adventures of a big family and mix them with exciting, true stories of modern-day Christian heroes? You get a brand new audio drama series called The Brinkman Adventures! Powerful stories from the lives of real missionaries come to life through the humorous escapades of the Brinkman family. These adventures will strengthen your faith and family and inspire young and old to follow Jesus wherever He may lead. The Brinkman Adventures are a treat for the ears, mind, and heart. Sold as books on CD for family road trips.

Jonathan Park . Christian Audio Dramas, and explicitly share the gospel.   Santa Fe is hit by a catastrophic storm! To survive, two families are driven to seek safety in an underground cavern with a secret that will change their lives. Later, the Eagle s Nest Gang witnesses a robbery at the Museum of Ancient Art It s up to them to catch the thief, as the Park family travels to find artifacts that tell us about our past Will either of them succeed? JP is good for creationist science as well. Sold as books on CD for family road trips.

The Bark of the Bog Owl! First book in the Wilderking Series by Jonathan Rogers. He did the audiobooks himself and he did a fantastic job. It’s a retelling of the King David story from the Bible in a kind of late Medieval-ish/Southern US-ish setting (sounds weird but is awesome). Lots of action. Zany characters. Religious depth but not too much for little kids. Lessons in leadership and humility. Laugh-out-loud funny. Our whole family, parents to preschoolers, loves this series. There are three books in the series. Each audiobook is about five hours.

The Bronze Bow . “Family friendly, great story and narration. A favorite of ours!” This gripping, action-packed novel tells the story of eighteen-year-old Daniel bar Jamin—a fierce, hotheaded young man bent on revenging his father’s death by forcing the Romans from his land of Israel. Daniel’s palpable hatred for Romans wanes only when he starts to hear the gentle lessons of the traveling carpenter, Jesus of Nazareth. A fast-paced, suspenseful, vividly wrought tale of friendship, loyalty, the idea of home, community . . . A powerful, relevant read in turbulent times.

The Door in the Wall . Ever since he can remember, Robin, child of Sir John de Bureford, has been told what is expected of him as the son of a nobleman. He must learn the ways of knighthood. But Robin’s destiny is changed suddenly when he falls ill and loses the use of his legs. Fearing a plague, his servants abandon him, and Robin is left alone.

A monk named Brother Luke rescues Robin and takes him to the hospice of St. Mark’s, where he is taught woodcarving and patience and strength. Says Brother Luke, “Thou hast only to follow the wall far enough and there will be a door in it.”

Educational Audiobooks for Family Road Trips

Because I asked a lot of homeschooling families for recommendations, unsurprisingly, there are several educational or historical audiobooks that were recommended! I’ve tried to put them all together here for you to peruse! Because, hey, when you have your kids trapped together in a small space, why not multitask and teach them a little something while you’re at it (yet still enjoy the story)!

Rush Revere series . Nationally syndicated radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh has long wanted to make history come to life for the children of his listeners. In this book, he travels back in time with fearless history teacher Rush Revere. With the help of his faithful talking horse, Liberty, Rush experiences American history as it happens, having adventure after adventure with exceptional Americans such as Paul Revere and George Washington. Rush is transported back to the deck of the Mayflower as it makes its momentous voyage across the oceans to land at Plymouth Rock.

Greathall Productions . “We love any by them – folk tales, history, simplified stories. This company helped my daughter (7) fall in love with Shakespeare!” It’s one of the best books on CD for road trips and it’s told by Jim Weiss.

Jean Fritz  “has a collection of well-told/engaging histories, but our favorite of hers is called “What’s the Big Idea Ben Franklin?”

James Harriot books about animal stories . When you enter the world of  James Herriot’s Animal Stories , you’ll share his wonder and humor, his adventures and misadventures as he contends with pet owners and landowners; rough-spoken farmers and soft-spoken gentry; orphaned lambs, litters of piglets and puppies, cattle and draught horses; and a miscellany of cats and dogs including, of course, Mrs. Pumphrey’s inimitable Pekinese, Tricki Woo.

Mr. Lemincellos Library. Everyone’s favorite game maker, Mr. Lemoncello, is testing out his new Fabulous Fact-Finding Frenzy game! If Kyle can make it through the first round, he and the other lucky finalists will go on a great race – by bicycle, bookmobile, and even Mr. Lemoncello’s corporate banana jet – to find fascinating facts about famous Americans. The first to bring their facts back to the library will win spectacular prizes! But when a few surprising “facts” surface about Mr. Lemoncello, it might be go to jail and lose a turn all at once!

Whew! You made it through my list of great audiobooks for your next family road trip!! Which ones are you going to give a listen to?

Related Posts:

Jenny @ Unremarkable Files says

July 25, 2018 at 8:31 PM

We love anything Roald Dahl to listen to in the car. We loved listening to Fantastic Mr. Fox last time we took a trip!

Katelyn Fagan says

July 25, 2018 at 9:50 PM

Yes! Roald Dahl is a fun one! And I know my husband love Fantastic Mr. Fox. We’re on the last Harry Potter book now, so I hope we can branch out to some other books soon!

Jodi Durr says

July 20, 2019 at 1:32 PM

Fun to come across your list as I was searching for ideas for our last road trip. I felt like Elf – “I know her! I know her!” when I clicked on the link without looking at the source. Thanks for a great resource.

July 22, 2019 at 8:24 AM

Oh yeah!! I love when I stumble across my friend’s stuff too when doing searches!

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17 of the Best Audiobooks for Family Road Trips

If you love listening to books while you’re on the road, then we’ve got you covered. Our collection of audiobooks for family road trips includes great titles for kids, teens and adults.

Road trips are an amazing way to spend quality time together as a family. They also provide a great opportunity to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and relax.

But sometimes, even the most relaxing road trip can turn into a stressful situation if you don’t plan ahead properly.

We recently took our longest family road trip ever (5 full days down the Pacific Coast Highway) and decided that no electronics would be allowed while in the car.

We thought this would be a difficult task to accomplish, and it actually wasn’t really with the help of audiobooks…and of course, a ton of road trip snacks for kids .

Our 7-year-old son paid close attention to each story and even shushed us if my husband and I tried to have a conversation over it. 

So, before you hit the road, make sure you have the perfect audiobook for your next road trip.

Our picks for best family audiobooks

If you’re headed out on a family road trip this summer, be sure to be prepared with lots of entertainment for the whole family.

Instead of letting them plug into video games and movies, why not try bonding together some of these best audiobooks for family road trips that everyone will enjoy?

Here is a list of the 17 of the best audiobooks for family road trips to help keep everyone happy and avoid the dreaded question, “Are we there, yet?”.

Be sure to check out our post on the must-haves for surviving any long family road trip as well!

My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish by Mo O’Hara

When Tom’s big brother decides to become an Evil Scientist, his first experiment involves dunking Frankie the goldfish into toxic green gunk. Tom knows that there is only one thing to do: Zap the fish with a battery and bring him back to life!

But there’s something weird about the new Frankie. He’s now a Big Fat Zombie Goldfish with hypnotic powers… and he’s out for revenge!

Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White

Charlotte’s Web is a classic story of a young girl named Fern Arable who lives with her parents on a farm. She has two brothers and one sister. One day Fern’s father finds out that there is a piglet left over from a litter of pigs born at the farm. He wants to kill it because he thinks it is too small. But Fern convinces him to let her keep the pig and names him Wilbur.

Wilbur grows up and becomes a good friend to Fern. The father know’s that Wilbur will eventually be slaughtered one day so to make it less painful to Fern, he decides to sell him to Mr. Zuckerman. Although fern visits Wilbur often, he is lonely and looking to make new friends.

He finds a great friend in Charlotte the Spider who tells Wilbur about the meaning of life, and how it’s important to live every day as if it was your last. Charlotte also comes up with a great plan to hopefully keep Wilbur from being slaughtered in the winter.

The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling

Narrated by a very entertaining Jim Dale, the Harry Potter audiobook series captured the interest of our 7-year-old for our entire 5-day Summer road trip from Seattle to Los Angeles. I’ll be honest, it had us parents hooked as well.

Even if you’ve already seen the movies, you will thoroughly enjoy the audiobooks. We are *still* listening to them daily during times like folding laundry or just snuggling on the couch!

Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis

The story of Bud, Not Buddy is set in 1936 Flint, Michigan. Ten-year-old Bud may be a motherless boy on the run, but he’s on a mission. His momma never told him who his father was, but she left a clue: posters of Herman E. Calloway and his band. Bud’s got an idea that those posters will lead to his father.

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

When James Henry Trotter accidentally drops some magic crystals by the old peach tree, strange things start to happen. The peach at the top of the tree begins to grow, and before long it’s as big as a house. Then James discovers a secret entranceway into the fruit.

When he crawls inside, he meets a bunch of marvelous oversized friends—Old-Green-Grasshopper, Centipede, Ladybug, Miss Spider, and more. After years of feeling like an outsider in the house of his despicable Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker, James has finally found a place where he belongs. With a snip of the stem, the peach starts rolling away, and the exciting adventure of James and the Giant Peach begins!

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein

Kyle Keeley is a huge fan of every kind of kids game. When the world’s most creative game maker, Luigi Lemoncello, becomes the designer for his town’s new library, Kyle is thrilled when he wins the chance to spend the night in the new building.

However, in the morning Kyle and the other contest winners cannot get out of the building, and they must solve every clue to this ultimate game to Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library .

Stuart Little by E.B. White

A daring mouse known as Stuart sets out on an adventure into the world. He is trying to find his best friend, a bird that briefly stayed with Stuart and his family. Even if you’ve seen the movie, the Stuart Little audiobook is still worth a listen.

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

Jim Hawkins finds a map that is supposed to lead to buried treasure, and he decides to follow it. He embarks on an incredible journey where he meets plenty of colorful characters that lead him down a road of mysteries and clues that keep him guessing until the very end. Is there a Treasure Island ? Listen and find out!

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger

A journalist and fiction author, Tom Angleberger has a knack for capturing the lives of today’s youth. In  The Strange Case of Origami Yoda , socially awkward Dwight shows up to school one morning waving a green finger puppet.

Strange enough, but then Dwight starts talking in a funny voice and doling out advice. Is it the puppet, or is it Dwight? And will paper Yoda be able to help Dwight convince the girl of his dreams to go to the big dance with him?

Frindle by Andrew Clements

Is Nick Allen a troublemaker? He really just likes to liven things up at school — and he’s always had plenty of great ideas. When Nick learns some interesting information about how words are created, suddenly he’s got the inspiration for his best plan ever…the frindle. Who says a pen has to be called a pen? Why not call it a Frindle ?

Things begin innocently enough as Nick gets his friends to use the new word. Then other people in town start saying frindle. Soon the school is in an uproar, and Nick has become a local hero. His teacher wants Nick to put an end to all this nonsense, but the funny thing is frindle doesn’t belong to Nick anymore. The new word is spreading across the country, and there’s nothing Nick can do to stop it.

Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell

In the Pacific, there is an island that looks like a big fish sunning itself in the sea. Around it, blue dolphins swim, otters play, and sea elephants and sea birds abound. Once, Indians also lived on the island. And when they left and sailed to the east, one young girl was left behind. This is the story of Karana, the Indian girl who lived alone for years on the Island of the Blue Dolphins .

Year after year, she watched one season pass into another and waited for a ship to take her away. But while she waited, she kept herself alive by building a shelter, making weapons, finding food, and fighting her enemies, the wild dogs. It is not only an unusual adventure of survival but also a tale of natural beauty and personal discovery.

Savvy by Ingrid Law

A vibrant new voice . . . a modern classic. For generations, the Beaumont family has harbored a magical secret. They each possess a “ Savvy ”—a special supernatural power that strikes when they turn thirteen. Grandpa Bomba moves mountains, her older brothers create hurricanes and spark electricity . . . and now it’s the eve of Mibs’s big day. As if waiting weren’t hard enough, the family gets scary news two days before Mibs’s birthday: Poppa has been in a terrible accident .

Mibs develops the singular mission to get to the hospital and prove that her new power can save her dad. So she sneaks onto a salesman’s bus . . . only to find the bus heading in the opposite direction. Suddenly Mibs finds herself on an unforgettable odyssey that will force her to make sense of growing up—and of other people, who might also have a few secrets hidden just beneath the skin.

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Like every other hobbit, Bilbo Baggins likes nothing better than a quiet evening in his snug hole in the ground, dining on a sumptuous dinner in front of a fire. But when a wandering wizard captivates him with tales of the unknown, Bilbo becomes restless.

Soon, he joins the wizard’s band of homeless dwarves in search of giant spiders, savage wolves, and other dangers. Bilbo quickly tires of the quest for adventure and longs for the security of his familiar home. But before he can return to his life of comfort, he must face the greatest threat of all – a treasure-troving dragon named Smaug. The Hobbit is an epic adventure that will capture the attention of the adults as much as the kids.

Flora and Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo

Flora and Ulysses begins, as the best superhero stories do, with a tragic accident that has unexpected consequences. The squirrel never saw the vacuum cleaner coming, but self-described cynic Flora Belle Buckman, who has read every issue of the comic book  Terrible Things Can Happen to You!,  is just the right person to step in and save him.

What neither can predict is that Ulysses (the squirrel) has been born anew, with powers of strength, flight, and misspelled poetry. Flora will be changed too, as she discovers the possibility of hope and the promise of a big heart.

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

August (Auggie) Pullman was born with a facial deformity that prevented him from going to a mainstream school – until now. He’s about to enter fifth grade at Beecher Prep, and if you’ve ever been the new kid, then you know how hard that can be.

The thing is Auggie’s just an ordinary kid, with an extraordinary face. But can he convince his new classmates that he’s just like them, despite appearances? In Wonder , R. J. Palacio has crafted an uplifting novel full of wonderfully realistic family interactions, lively school scenes, and writing that shines with spare emotional power.

Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George

When Miyax walks out onto the frozen Alaskan tundra, she hopes she is leaving problems at home far behind. Raised in the ancient Eskimo ways, Miyax knows how to take care of herself. But as bitter Arctic winds efface the surface of food, she begins to fear for her life, and turns to a pack of wild wolves for help.

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Amaroq, the leader of the pack, eventually accepts Miyax as one of his own defenseless cubs, protecting her from danger and saving portions of the daily kill for her. But as Miyax makes her way nearer to civilization in Julie of the Wolves , her life with the wolves, as well as all that she has come to learn about herself, are challenged as never before.

The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann Wyss

A horrible tempest hurls an abandoned ship against the shoal rocks with the force of a hurricane. Once the tremendous storm passes, a family appears from within the crushed vessel. Now a father, a mother, and their four sons must carve out a new life for themselves on an uncharted tropical island.

Come and join The Swiss Family Robinson , as they learn how to survive while battling the savage forces of nature and discover the wonders of their own paradise.

What are some of your favorite audiobooks for family road trips ?

Road Trip Activity Kit

Road trips are fun, but they also require a lot of planning. If you’re looking for ways to keep your children entertained while traveling, here’s a simple printable road trip activity pack full of games, puzzles, DIY comic pages, a journal and more.

It even includes a fun map to that will help them navigate and record the journey ahead! This is a great way to make sure your child has something constructive to do in the car on their next long drive with you or when you take them camping.

Our 50 page jumbo road trip or travel activity kit for kids has 11 different fun activities and games to keep the family entertained on a long road trip. While kids can work on many of these on their own, some can be played with multiple people so siblings and parents can join in on the fun too.

Pages include:

• 2 Page Destination Journal to keep memories of favorite parts of the trip and all the fun that was had!
• Travel Word Search Puzzle + Answer Sheet
• US Map to trace your route and color in any states visited
• Alphabet challenge game (can be played as a challenge against others)
• Learn to draw a silly child step-by-step
• Comic book page blanks – make a comic about your road trip adventures
• Road Trip Scavenger hunt (print out multiples so everyone can play!)
• Dots and Boxes game sheets
• Would you rather questions
• Connect Four game sheets
• Tic Tac Toe game sheets

Don’t want to print all the pages or want to print more of just one or two activities? Just use your computer’s print dialog to choose exactly which pages you want to print and choose multiple copies of the pages you want more of.

17 thoughts on “17 of the Best Audiobooks for Family Road Trips”

As someone who’s a bit apprehensive about traveling, your blog gives me the confidence and motivation to step out and explore. Thanks for that.

My kids’ favorite thing to do on road trips is read books. These featured here are some really great suggestions! I’ll have to get these for them for our next road trip!

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Best Audiobooks For Family Road Trips in 2024 – Toddlers to Teens

If you’re planning a family road trip with children of any age, you know that it’s best to have a variety of activities on hand. Digital versions of books are an excellent alternative to lugging a bagful for each child.

However, it’s not always possible to sit and read with your child, especially if you’re in the front driving and they’re in the back. There’s also the dreaded possibility of your child getting carsick due to reading, and that’s a mess that everyone wants to avoid!

The perfect solution we have found is audiobooks for our family road trips. The best thing about having the audio versions of our favorite books on our family vacation is that we can listen to them as a family or on our individual devices.

If you’re looking for listening recommendations for your next cross-country journey – or even the next town over -read on to discover our list of Best Audiobooks for Family Road Trips. 

Family Audiobooks vs. Kids Audiobooks

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Best Audiobooks for Road Trips – Tips and Suggestions

Finding and listening to audiobooks for road trips is fairly straightforward, but we do have some advice on how to have the best experience possible.

Your child or children’s ages will ultimately determine what road trip audiobooks you choose, as it’s challenging for a toddler or early grade school to navigate a listening app and select something appropriate. You’ll likely need to plan on playing books for this age group aloud.

If your kids are in the higher elementary through high school ages, they may want to listen to books individually. However, we’ve found many great audiobooks for our whole family to listen to, and it’s fun to discuss what’s happening in each book and what we think will happen next.

The most common way that many people listen to audiobooks is with their smartphone or tablet. One of the most popular and versatile tablets on the market is the Kindle Paperwhite , and several other Kindle variations are great for combining reading and audiobooks.

If your child is too young for a smartphone and doesn’t have a tablet, an MP3 player is an inexpensive alternative. You can download your favorite audiobooks for kids from your computer, and no internet connection is necessary.

When it comes to the best headphones for audiobooks, almost any kind will do. We suggest choosing a comfortable wired pair for young children, as it may be a headache when Bluetooth is involved. If you’re in the market for new ones, here are a few solid options:

For Toddlers and Preschoolers:

Noot kids wired foldable stereo on-ear headphones.

For Grade Schoolers:

Jlab neon bluetooth folding on-ear headphones.

For Tweens and Teens:

Purelysound e7 active noise cancelling headphones.

For Adults:

Samsung galaxy buds plus true wireless earbuds.

There are several audiobook listening platforms to choose from, but our family has had the best luck with Audible . The Audible Books app is very user-friendly, and you gain access to millions of titles with only a small monthly fee. Audible even offers a generous 30-day trial period, which we’ve outlined below:

Audible Premium Plus Membership

• One credit a month for a premium title that’s yours to keep (2 credits for Amazon Prime members)
• Full access to the Unlimited Plus Catalog (audiobooks, podcasts, guided wellness, Audible Originals)
• Email reminder before trial ends
• A monthly fee of $14.95 is payable after 30 days
• Simple online cancellation if you don’t want to continue after your free trial

We started our trial three summers ago and thought we’d later cancel it, but it’s the gift that keeps on giving!

Best Audiobooks for Family Road Trips

We’ve split our guide up to the best audio books into different age groups, plus those we think a family of mixed ages can also enjoy playing together.

One of the best things about Audible’s narrated children’s books is that many of them come with actual illustrations, which your little kids can enjoy on their Kindle device while listening. This list of audiobooks is ideal for toddlers .

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown (Narrated by Buffy Allen)

Length: 4 minutes

Margaret Wise Brown’s timeless classic about a little rabbit saying goodnight to all of his most-loved possessions is an excellent way to let your toddler know that it’s time for rest. Buffy Allen’s smooth narration is very calming and soothing, making it a good fit for a bedtime story. 

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak (Narrated by Peter Schickele)

Length: 5 minutes

Parents of all toddlers can relate to Sendak’s endearing story of a tantrum-throwing Max and his journey to an island full of Wild Things. Your child will love the background music and Schickele’s different voices as they listen.

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle (Narrated by Gwyneth Paltrow)

Length: 11 minutes

Bill Martin’s lyrical and repetitive text perfectly pairs with Gwyneth Paltrow’s voice in this book about Brown Bear and all of the different animals he sees. The Audible book also comes with a “turn the page” version, so your child can follow along with a digital copy of the book.

Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson (Narrated by Owen Jordan)

Length: 6 minutes

The power of one’s imagination is brought to life in the story of young Harold’s nighttime adventures with his purple crayon. The background music can become a distraction with this one, but Owen Jordan’s narration is a treat.

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats (Narration by Jane Harvey)

This touching story about a little boy’s excitement over a snowy day can be enjoyed year-round. This should certainly go on your list of best kids audiobooks to listen to over and over again.

Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss (Narrated by Jason Alexander)

If you’re searching for fun audiobooks for road trips, look no further than Seuss’s classic about Sam I Am’s attempt to persuade a picky eater that green eggs and ham are indeed delicious. The sound effects and background music are perfect, and Jason Alexander does a masterful job with the characters’ voices.

Llama Llama Red Pajama and 19 Other Stories by Anna Dewdney (Narrated by Anna Dewdney and Cassandra Campbell)

Length: 47 minutes

We love it when we can find audiobook bundles like this one, and it includes 20 of Dewdney’s best-loved books about dramatic Baby Llama and his many adventures. These books are just begging to be read aloud, making them ideal for long road trips.

The Book With No Pictures by B.J. Novak (Narrated by B.J. Novak and Busy Phillips)

Length: 9 minutes

What book is better suited for an audiobook than one without any pictures to begin with? This book is filled with laugh-out-loud stories and sounds, and Novak and Phillips bring the words to life.

Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin (Narrated by Adam Rubin)

If your children love dragons, they enjoy this silly book about taco-obsessed dragons and the unfortunate consequences of spicy salsa. Rubin infuses humor and fun into his narration, and the music and sound effects greatly enhance the story.

Pete the Cat’s Super Cool Reading Collection by James Dean (Narrated by Teddy Walsh and Lewis Grosso)

The cool adventures of Pete the Cat are a fun option for slightly older children, especially when they get to follow along with their own copies of the books. These stories work well as conversation starters about what Pete is doing and feeling, and you’ll arrive at your destination before you know it!

The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams (Narrated by Richard Armitage)

Length: 24 minutes

Your child may just have a renewed interest in their forgotten toys after listening to Williams’s timeless classic about the journey of a snuggly velveteen bunny from beloved toy to the magical world of Rabbitland. Richard Armitage does an outstanding job with the narration and brings each character to life with his different reading voices.

The Adventures of Captain Underpants by Dave Pilkey (Narrated by Len Forgione, Dazjon Freeman, and Ben D’Amico)

Length: 1 hr

Children of all ages will laugh out loud at the antics of fourth-graders George Beard and Harold Hutchins, two silly class clowns. Together, they create the superhero Captain Underpants. Freeman and D’Amico bring the books to life with their energetic narration of Captain Underpants’ adventures.

Dinosaurs Before Dark by Mary Pope Osborne (Narrated by Mary Pope Osborne)

Length: 41 minutes

Immerse your children in the world of The Magic Treehouse, a mysterious place where anything can happen – even travelling back in time to the age of dinosaurs. Join Jack and Annie as they embark on the journey of a lifetime and attempt to make it back to their own time before dark.

Mercy Watson to the Rescue by Kate DiCamillo (Narrated by Ron McLarty)

Length: 19 minutes

This early chapter book introduces the reader to Mercy Watson, a one-of-a-kind pig who loves buttered toast and snuggling in bed with her owners. McLarty provides entertaining narration that meshes well with the music and storyline.

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate and Patricia Castelao (Narrated by Adam Grupper)

Length: 3 hrs and 46 minutes

Themes of friendship, art, and hope are brought to life through the eyes of Ivan, a gorilla who has spent 27 years of his life in a glass enclosure at a shopping mall. Grupper’s narration tugs at the listener’s heartstrings and is a great conversation starter.

Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson (Narrated by Bailey Carr)

Length: 6 hrs and 12 minutes

Mattie Cook’s struggle to survive the historical impact of yellow fever in Philadelphia is eerily resonant given the current pandemic.  Carr highlights the strengths of Mattie’s character while also echoing the diverse accents in 1793 Philadelphia.

The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo (Narrated by Graeme Malcolm)

Length: 3 hrs and 30 minutes

Sometimes the most unlikely characters become the biggest heroes, as is the case with Despereaux Tilling, an extraordinary mouse. Despereaux, along with several other unique individuals, embarks on unforgettable adventures.

Caraval by Stephanie Garber (Narrated by Rebecca Soler)

Length: 10 hrs and 36 minutes

The line between reality and illusion is blurred in the story of two sisters who get more than they bargained for when they attend the legendary Caraval performance. Your tween will be on the edge of their seat the entire time, making this one of the best audiobooks for road trips.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (Narrated by Tatiana Maslany)

Length: 10 hrs and 35 minutes

Katniss Everdeen’s race for survival will keep your tween listening as she uses her wits, compassion, and determination to win the Hunger Games. Maslany breathes new life into Katniss’s character with her youthful and often lyrical reader of this dystopian hit.

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

Length: 8 hrs and 6 minutes

August Pullman’s humorous yet heartwrenching initiation into the world of middle school highlights the necessity of kindness and empathy in everyone’s lives. Auggie’s narrator fully immerses herself into his character and gives the novel absolute authenticity.

In this list of the best audiobooks for teens we’ll look at some nonfiction books as well as modern classics to get your teens thinking and engaged on something fun for your road trip.

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo (Narrated by Lauren Fortgang)

Length: 9 hrs and 21 minutes

Good audiobooks for road trips draw the reader into different worlds, and there are few worlds more interesting than the Grishaverse. Alina Starkov discovers an unknown power within herself and suddenly becomes her society’s savior, but nothing is as it seems. Fortgang does well with the voices of different characters, especially the villainous ones.

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han (Narrated by Ali Ahn)

Length: 8 hrs and 44 minutes

Your romance-loving teen will enjoy Jean Song’s misadventures in romance and the importance of the written word, making this an entertaining road trip audiobook. The narrator struggles a bit with distinguishing male voices, but not enough to detract from the audiobook’s overall value, overall a great listen for teen girls especially.

Born a Crime by Trevor Noah (Narrated by Trevor Noah)

We believe that nonfiction should always have a place on your list of good audiobooks for road trips, and Trevor Noah’s memoir is an eye-opening account of the injustices of apartheid in South Africa. Noah’s performance earned him the Audie Award for Best Male Narrator in 2018, and after a short listen, you’ll understand why.

One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus (Narrated by Kim Mai Guest, MacLeod Andrews, Shannon McManus, and Robbie Daymond)

Length: 10 hrs and 43 minutes

We love that this audiobook for teens has different narrators for all of the major characters, giving it an added layer of authenticity and entertainment value. When five strangers come together, and only four make it out alive, you’ll want to keep listening until the mystery is solved.

Perfect for listening to altogether, these are the best family audiobooks to keep the whole family engaged on the road:

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen (Narrated by Peter Coyote)

Length: 3 hrs and 42 minutes

Brian Robeson’s unforgettable story of resilience will captivate your whole family as he must use every bit of knowledge he possesses to survive in the Canadian mountains. Peter Coyote’s narration is both brilliant and poignant.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling (Narrated by Jim Dale)

Length: 8 hrs and 18 minutes

Our list of best audiobooks for families wouldn’t be complete without the magical world of Harry Potter. Jim Dale’s unparalleled voice talent brings every single character to life, no matter how minor. This is an outstanding audiobook choice that every family should invest in; really long drive? Why not download the entire Harry Potter series?

The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis (Narrated by Michael York)

Length: 4 hrs and 21 minutes

It’s no wonder that C.S. Lewis’s beloved tale of four siblings and their adventures in Narnia is an essential audiobook for family road trips as well. Even though this book is the second installment in the series, it works well as a stand-alone listen.

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke (Narrated by Lynn Redgrave)

Length: 15 hrs and 34 minutes

Your family will love this novel where the characters in books actually do jump right off the page! Redgrave’s narration immediately draws the listener into the story, which only works to enhance the novel’s overall message.

More Road Trip Tips and Inspiration

Now you’ve got your family road trip audio entertainment sorted, you may also be interested in:

• Best Healthy Road Trip Snacks – over 40 ideas for ideal snacks to pack on a family road trip
• Road Trip Trivia Games – a great way to stimulate some family conversation and put minds to the test
• The best road trip toys perfect for taking on long journeys for every age group
• First Aid Kit for Road Trips – we highly recommend you keep these important items at hand when undertaking a road trip – plus why road trip insurance is important
• Road Trip Essentials – never miss an important item again, work your way through our list of pre-trip checks to make on your vehicle through to comfort items for the whole family with our FREE printable checklist

Disclosures: We are participants in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. You can read our full disclosure policy here.

© Family Road Trip 2024

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28 Best Audiobooks for Road Trips with the family 2024

It’s no secret, I spend hours in the car. When you take as many road trips as me, it can be a little tiresome to constantly be changing out the radio stations or finding yourself listening to the same songs over and over again.

Podcasts can be fun, but you never know what’s going to come over the airwaves. That is why I love audiobooks to listen to in the car.

When you are traveling with the family, it can be a little challenging to find the correct book, that won’t corrupt your little one’s ears. At the same time, it has to be entertaining to listen to while driving.

And as much as I love a Stephen King book on a summer road trip, I’d like everyone to sleep at night.

That’s why I’ve put together a list of the Best Audiobooks for Family Road Trips.

These books are perfect for young children and older ones too. The next long road trip you take, make sure you bring a great audiobook to keep the trip fun!

Best Audiobooks for Road Trips with the family

The chronicles narnia series by c.s. lewis.

Listening Length: 33 hours and 45 minutes

With the reboot of the Chronicles of Narnia, more people are getting familiar with the stories. Did you know the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe is actually the second story?

I found the first book, the Magicians Nephew to be more entertaining. For those looking to get lost in another world, I recommend starting up the series.

Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling

Listening Lenght : 8 hours 15 minutes

You can’t have an Audiobooks of Families list without including the Harry Potter series. These are great audiobooks.

The series has some of the best storytelling and performances you’ll come across. Make sure to start with the Sorcerer’s Stone for your first family vacation.

You’ll love all the voices in the book. The narrator Jim Dale won awards for his voice acting work and held the record for creating 146-character voices in a single book.

The first time I listen to the books, I was blown away. It’s when I learned that sometimes you need to read the books because the movies left so much out.

The Giver Series by Lois Lowry

Longest Listening Length: 8 hours and 11 minutes

Most of you have read the Giver in school. For many, it was the first look at a dystopian world. But did you know this was a series? This blew me away too. There are four books in total, each intertwining.

The Story starts with a young boy learning that he holds all the world’s memories. By the time you get to the last book, you’ll find out what’s beyond the world of the Giver before it comes full circle.

These four stories are short, making them a great series of books to listen to on shorter car rides. This is one of my favorite audiobooks. I highly recommend reading through them all.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

Listening Length: 3 hours and 18 minutes

Roald Dahl is an excellent children’s writer. It is hard to go wrong with his work. This is one ofhte best audioboks to lisent to if you have younger kids. 

The book is similar to the recent Tim Burton adaptation of the movie with Johnny Dep.

The book is a little over 3hrs. 

The BFG by Roald Dahl

Listening Lenght: 4 hours and 25 minutes

The BFG is one of my favorites as both a kid and an adult. The story comes to life in the audiobook of a Big Friendly Giant that is just a little misunderstood and he tries to make children’s dreams a little better.

This Roald Dahl is only 4hr 30 minutes.

Holes by Louis Sachar

Listening Length: 4 hours and 30 minutes

Quick read and an excellent book. Ever feel like the world is out to get you? Unfortunately for Stanley Yelnats, that is exactly the case.

He gets sent to a juvenile detention center that is forcing young boys to dig holes in hopes to find a buried treasure.

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

Listening Length: 6 hours and 27 minutes

This is a fun tale for the whole family. It all starts off when a stranger appears at their door claiming to have blown off course. He traveled through time.

They come to find out that their father has been meddling in time travel too and disappeared. The kids goes on a quest to find him. It involves a bit of time travel, science fantasy and so much more.

Pipi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren

Listening Length: 2 hours and 39 minutes

Every little kid’s dream is to be living alone in a house and go on adventures. And somehow Pipi Longstocking seems to do it all.

Pipi Longstocking is a young girl with a whimsical look at the world. And with the two kids that live next door turn everything into an adventure. This was one of my favorites growing up.

The Penderwicks Series by Jeanne Birdsall

Listening Length: 6 hours and 43 minutes

This series of books follows the Penderwick Sisters. One summer they find out that they are going to stay at the beautiful Arundel estate.

They meet up with the son of the owner, Jeffry Tifton, and become perfect companions for their adventures exploring gardens, treasure-filled attics and everything summer has to offer. The story doesn’t end there as there are 4 additional books in the series.

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

Listening Length: 10 hours and 39 minutes

The Golden Compass is another great series to make the list. It takes its listeners into a world where humans have animal familiars and a parallel universe are in reach.

He builds a whole new world filled with Gobblers and armored bears’ rule.

The Princess Bride by William Goldman

Listening Length: 2 hours and 32 minutes

Everyone’s favorite 80s movie that once predicted that ‘in the future, everyone will be wearing masks’. I recently learned that this was a book first, and instantly fell in love. At just two hours long, it’s great for short road trips.

It is a fun tale of love, adventure, sword fighting, revenge, and rodents of unusual size. You gotta read this one!

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

Listening Length: 6 hours and 26 minutes

This coming-of-age story is what defined what we currently think of a pirate, peg-legged in all. The story tells the adventures of Jim Hawkins on his search for the buried treasure of the evil pirate, Captain Flint.

Percy Jackson

Listening Length: 10 hours and 2 minutes

The Percy Jackson stories are filled with fun and adventure that everyone can get into. The first book stars a 12 year old Percy Jackson as he’s about to be kicked out of boarding school. He can’t seem to stay out of trouble.

To make matters worse, mythical creatures start coming to life all around him. To make matters worse, Zeus’s Lightning bolt has gone missing and Percy is the prime suspect.

This is a fun book, especially with the greek gods and mythical fun antics. Make sure to download the second book to for your next long road trips.

The Wizard of Oz Series by L. Frank Baum

Listening Lenght: 3 hours and 49 minutes

Follow the adventures of young Dorothy Gale and her dog Toto as they get swept away into the magical land of Oz.

So much happens after Dorothy comes back to Kansas, it’s hard to think why the movie stopped there. You gotta listen to the audiobook version of this modern classic.

The classic tale is a great listen to as Dorothy’s adventures go beyond what is a scene in the movie. Trust me when I say you gotta get started on this one.

Peter and the Star Catchers by Dave Barry

Listening Length: 8 hours and 40 minutes

Did you ever wonder what happened before Peter Pan met Wendy? The Peter and the Star Catchers series is a faced paced story of adventure on the high seas, in the magical world of Neverland.

Peter meets Molly and has to overcome a band of pirates and their thieves to keep their fantasy land safe.

The Bartimeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud

Listening Length: 13 hours and 30 minutes

A 12 year old magician’s apprentice, learning the art. Until he gets publicly humiliated by his teacher and starts teaching himself spells way beyond his years.

He summons a five-thousand-year-old djinni to help him learn more and get revenge. He ends up getting caught up in magical espionage, murder, and rebellion.

Inkling by Kenneth Oppel

Listening Length: 6 hours and 7 minutes

When a sketchbook inkblot comes to life, things are bound to get complicated. First, it starts absorbing a couple of chapters out of your math book, but then it starts to draw stories for you.

As a middle school student, Ethan finds out as he tries to navigate life at a very interesting time.

Ms. Rapscotts Girls by Elise Primavera

Listening Length: 3 hours and 40 minutes

The Whimsical tale about Great Rapscott School for the Daughters of Busy Parents. The headmistress takes her motto from Amelia Earhart: Adventure is worthwhile in itself.

This book is reminiscing of the adventures Mary Poppins takes kids on as they soar through the sky and start getting lost on purpose, just for the adventure.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang by Ian Fleming

Listening Length: 2 hours and 22 minutes

Everyone thinks the Pott family is crazy for buying a clunker of an old car. But then the car tells them what her name is, and that she can fly and swim. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is a car on a mission to stop a criminal gang in its tracks and she is taking the Potts with her!

This is a fun classic story. And if you get the audible version, its narrated by everyone’s favorite Doctor, David Tennant. English actors are so much more fun to listen too!

Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar

Listening Length: 2 hours and 26 minutes

Is your school a little too normal? Then maybe you need to spend some time at Wayside School. You’ll meet Bebe, the fastest draw in art class; John, who only reads upside down; and Sammy, the new kid—he’s a real rat.

This story was one of my favorites as a kid and your kids will love listening as well.

Dr. Doolittle by Hugh Lofting

Listening Length: 15 hours and 20 minutes (All three)

This classic story has been reimagined multiple times on the big screen, but do you know the real story? Journey into the world of Doctor Doolittle, an eccentric naturalist that can speak with animals.

Each story brings a new adventure as Doctor Doolittle travels the world in search of new people and fabled creatures. The whole family will love listening to these audiobooks on the next road trip.

A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket

Listening Length: 2 hours and 29 minutes

Do you ever think it can’t get worse than this? Unfortunately, for the Baudelaire orphans, these resourceful kids can’t catch a break as each new thing comes up! This book, while meant to be dark and gloomy has a lot of funny elements to it.

It’s also not scary. Tim Curry and a team of talented voice actors bring this audiobook to life.

The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

Listening Length: 5 hours and 51 minutes

Seconds before the Earth is demolished to make way for a galactic freeway, Arthur Dent is plucked off the planet by his friend Ford Prefect, a researcher for the revised edition of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy who, for the last 15 years, has been posing as an out-of-work actor.

Together these dynamic pair begin a journey through space. This fun tale has been made into a few movies over the years as it captures the imagination of fans for decades now.

The Spiderwick Chronicles by Tony DiTerlizzi

Listening Length: 2 hours and 7 minutes

13-year-old Mallory and 9-year-old twins Jared and Simon–who with their mother move into the dilapidated Spiderwick Estate only to quickly find themselves sucked into a dark and fascinating world of faeries.

The first book is where it all began as these kids go on adventure after adventure within the new world they found. This one is easy to fall into. It’s also one of the only books I can’t find on Audible, but you can buy the CD set or get them from libraries.

How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell

Listening Length: 3 hours and 30 minutes

Made popular by the full length movie, How to Train your Dragon is chronicle the adventures and misadventures as Hiccup tried to pass the Viking initiation test by capturing a Dragon.

He comes to find out that dragons aren’t all bad but has to change the village’s mind about them. The story is prefect and has many to follow after it but is a classic story your kids will love. This book is also narrated by David Tennant!

Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne

Listening Length : 8 hours and 20 minutes

As one of the earliest science fiction novels, Jules Verne depicts and the amazing subterranean world as, led by the crazy Otto Lidenbrock.

As they journey down to the planet’s core and they find it holds various bizarre obstacles: giant mushrooms and insects, a herd of mastodons, prehistoric humans, a treacherous pit of magma, and more.

This classic is one that everyone needs to read. Bonus, the Audible version is narrated by Tim Curry. This great book is just what you need for the open road.

Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss

Listening Length : 2 hours and 7 minutes

Imagine being shipwrecked on an island with only your family. For some that might be a nightmare, but the Robinson family has not only survived but thrived making one of the most elaborate tree houses you’ll ever see.

This adventure story is a family road trip classic.

Escape from Mr Lemoncellos’ Library by Chris Grabenstein

Listening Length : 6 hours and 19 minutes

A huge fan of games and puzzles, Kyle Keeley is excited to find out that his hero, Luigi Lemoncello, the most creative game maker in the world is building the towns library.

Kyle is lucky enough to be one of the first 12 kids to win an overnight trip to the library. But when morning comes, the doors are still locked.

The kids must solve every clue and secret puzzle to find the escape route. This book is a cross between Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and A Night in the Museum. The entire family will fall in love with it.

Are the kids listening to audiobooks?

Audiobooks are great on a long drive or a road trip. On a single road trip, we managed to listen to two Harry Potter Books and the Giver. The whole time we thought weren’t even sure if our kids would listen!

They were so engrossed in their activities, but when the Giver ended, my daughter pipes up and asks if we can watch the movie afterward.

Just because your kids may not be as interested in the book as you think, doesn’t mean they aren’t listening.

Depending on your kid’s age, consider choosing shorter story to listen too. Sometimes having a smaller one will keep both their and your attention spans.

Where to find the best Audiobooks?

Library streaming.

Before going out and buying a bunch of audiobooks for the family, get to know your local library. Most libraries offer free audiobooks you can stream from apps like RB Digital, Libby, or CloudLibrary. Select your local library and put in your card number.

Whatever is available is yours to stream for about 3 weeks. The selection can be hit and miss. My biggest recommendation is to download a few books before your trip starts so you don’t eat through your data.

Also, consider expanding your number of libraries to search from. My local library partners with neighboring counties. Once you get signed up with their card, you can double or triple the number of books.

Borrow Physical Audiobooks for the Library

I’m not sure what my library was thinking when I walked out the door with a dozen audiobooks one day. I ended up loading them all onto my iPod . I know old school right?

But this way I could have a great reader loaded with digital audiobooks.

If you don’t have an iPod or smartphone, you can also put the files onto a USB drive .

Most cars have the option to play audio files that way. I preferred my iPod because it has an audiobook setting and bookmarks everything.

Audible has a great deal, giving you your first two books free during the free trial. After that books are purchased based on the credit package you purchase. It ends up costing about $15 a book on average.

You can purchase books based on a monthly or yearly subscription. With Audible, the books you purchase are yours to keep. You’ll never have to return them.

Bring a few of the best audiobooks for the family on road trips

Classics like Harry Potter that show the magic of true friendship are always fan favorites, but sometimes you need to break yourself out of the world. Or you might get bored. That’s why you should always bring a few audiobooks for family road trips.

On my last winter cross-country road trip to  Galveston TX , I gathered up about 10 different books to take along with me. It was nice to have a little variety. And if you get a chance, take a few you haven’t read before at home. This way there is a reason to get to the end of the book. Sorry Harry, but I already know how your story ends.

Audiobooks have the power to turn ordinary travel time into cherished family memories. With captivating narrations and captivating stories, these audiobooks will keep everyone entertained and engaged throughout the journey. So, gather your loved ones, hit the road, and let the magic of audiobooks accompany you on your next family road trip!

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Minnesota native and Midwest travel expert Jennifer provides insider tips and budget-friendly trip ideas for families looking to explore the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Through her travel blog DayTripper28, she draws on first-hand experience to recommend the best hidden gems, outdoor adventures, road trips, and weekend getaways around Minnesota and the Midwest. With her passion for uncovering local flavors and culture along the backroads, Jennifer shares affordable itineraries for creating memorable experiences across the region.

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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

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41 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.

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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.

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The Best SUVs for Family Road Trips

Updated on Jun 14, 2024

It’s road trip season! 

That time of year when we take a little R&R to enjoy one of those classic American traditions with our families. Whether headed to the coast with your boat for a week on the water or trekking up to the mountains for a stay at your favorite camping spot, the family road trip is all about enjoying the journey and the destination. 

While the old-fashioned family station wagon (complete with rear-facing seats) is no more, today’s vehicle market is full of incredible family road trip machines. To road trip the right way, your chosen road trip machine must have the right combination of capability, interior space, and technology to keep the driver and passengers happy on those long road warrior days.

Family SUVs Come In All Shapes and Sizes

Determining the best SUV for your family really depends on your family's size and what you need your SUV to do. 

Two-row SUVs are ideal for families of four or less, allowing ample space for seating and a large cargo hold to carry all your stuff. If you have a family of five or more, it’s time to start looking at three-row options that give everyone plenty of space and provide enough room to carry all the gear your family needs. Also, if you travel with pets, you should consider bumping up the size to avoid having Fido planted in your passenger's lap for the entire drive. 

Other considerations include towing capacity or the ability to travel far off the beaten path with a proper all-wheel or four-wheel drive system. These days, you also have to consider whether you want an electric, hybrid, or purely gasoline-powered family machine as well because the options are plentiful. 

We’ll provide various options across a wide range of budgets so you can determine which family SUV is best for your troop. 

Ready to hit the road? Let’s do this. 

Best SUV For Large Families: Jeep Wagoneer

Luxurious and Spacious Interior : The Jeep features a seriously luxurious interior with an impressive fit and finish, offering huge space across all three rows with seating for eight as standard.

Exceptional Performance : This vehicle can tow up to 10,000 pounds and excels off-road, staying true to its Jeep heritage.

Advanced Technology and Comfort : Enjoy a serene ride with incredible technology, including three separate screens for passengers, making road trips a breeze.

If you’re looking for the ultimate family SUV that does it all, look no further than the Jeep Wagoneer. 

Inside, the Jeep Wagoneer offers one of the nicest interiors on any vehicle and at any price point. In addition to supreme materials, the Wagoneer boasts a staggering amount of passenger space and standard seating for seven. More minivan than SUV, every seat in this rig is comfortable and sized right for adults and children alike. For big families, Jeep offers an extended wheelbase L model with a staggering 42.1 cubic feet of cargo space with all three rows in action and an even more staggering 130.9 cubic feet with the seats folded. 

The Jeep Wagoneer is a tech-lover's dream on wheels. A massive 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system, loaded with Uconnect 5, greets you and offers seamless smartphone integration, navigation, and voice command. Passengers can enjoy their own entertainment on rear-seat screens, perfect for keeping the kids occupied on long trips. With a premium McIntosh audio system, you'll feel like you're in the front row at a concert, and the advanced driver-assist features like adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist make the journey safer and more enjoyable.

Under the hood, an all-new “Hurricane” 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline-6 engine offers 420 horsepower and 468 lb-ft. of torque on standard models and a stonking 510 horsepower and 500 lb-ft. of torque on L models. Different versions of Jeep’s Quadra-Trac four-wheel drive system are available, depending on the trim level, offering active families the chance to really get off the beaten track. Have a boat or large travel trailer? The Wagoneer can handle up to 10,000 pounds. 

While the Jeep Wagoneer isn’t the budget option, it is, by far, the biggest bang for the buck for larger families.

Honorable Mention: Kia Telluride

Family-Friendly Interior : The Kia Telluride's spacious and practical interior comfortably accommodates up to eight passengers across three rows.

Powerful and Smooth Performance : Delivering 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, the Telluride provides smooth and responsive performance with a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds.

Advanced Technology and Affordability : The Telluride offers an intuitive infotainment system with a large touchscreen, making it a budget-friendly option with a good range of technology.

If the Jeep Wagoneer is out of the budget or a bit too much of a vehicle, the Kia Telluride is a large-ish midsize SUV that offers a fantastic blend of family friendliness. 

The interior of the Kia Telluride is designed with both comfort and practicality in mind. Spacious and thoughtfully laid out, it comfortably accommodates up to eight passengers across three rows. High-quality materials and a clean, modern design give the cabin a premium feel. The infotainment system is intuitive and features a large touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. The Telluride also offers ample cargo space and convenient storage solutions, making it well-suited for family trips and daily commutes.

Every Kia Telluride comes equipped with a strong 3.8-liter V6 engine, delivering 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. Paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, the powertrain provides smooth and responsive performance, whether you're navigating city streets or cruising on the highway with a full family in tow. The Telluride's towing capacity is impressive for its class, capable of hauling up to 5,000 pounds.

Overall, the Telluride is an awesome option that blends a more budget-friendly price point with a good range of capabilities. 

Best Family SUV for Smaller Families: Subaru Outback 

Unique and Practical Design : The Subaru Outback's wagon-like profile provides a superior center of gravity for better handling and up to 9.5 inches of ground clearance for excellent off-road capability.

Spacious and High-Quality Interior : The spacious interior features two rows of seats, a 32.6 cubic-foot cargo area, an 11.6-inch infotainment system, and a suite of EyeSight safety features, making it perfect for family trips.

Smooth Ride and Versatile Powertrains : The Outback offers a smooth ride with efficient powertrain options, including a Boxer four-cylinder engine achieving over 30 MPG and a turbocharged engine with 260 horsepower. 

I know we’re flirting with the traditional definition of an SUV here, but there’s no doubt that the Subaru Outback is one of the best vehicles for family duty that money can buy. 

Instead of a traditional SUV profile, the Outback sticks with roots by rocking a tall, wagonlike profile. In addition to standing out, this lower height provides a superior center of gravity for carving up the canyon on the way to your favorite camping or fishing destination. Up to 9.5” inches of ground clearance on Wilderness models (8.5” on standard models) means that even when the road ends, the Outback can keep going better than most family SUVs. 

What really makes the Outback great for a road trip is the spacious, high-quality interior that offers two spacious rows of seats and a large 32.6 cubic foot cargo area. Whether you’re transporting adults or kids in child seats, there is plenty of room in nearly every direction to stretch out. A massive 11.6” infotainment system, optional Harman Kardon stereo, and a full suite of EyeSight safety features add to the appeal. 

Out on the road, the Outback continues to shine with a remarkably smooth and quiet ride. Bumps, expansion joints, and potholes hardly transmit to the interior. Powertrain options include an efficient Boxer four-cylinder with 182 horsepower that achieves over 30 MPG on the highway or a punchy turbocharged Boxer with 260 horsepower. Each engine is hooked to Subaru’s CVT, which is nearly seamless in this application. 

Add it all up, and you have one of the safest, most off-road-capable SUVs on the market. Plus, it is priced at or below competitors, making it a great value as well.

Honorable Mention: Mazda CX-50 

Stylish and Comfortable : The Mazda CX-50 features a sleek design and a high-quality interior with ample room for passengers and cargo.

Balanced Performance : It offers a Skyactiv-G 2.5-liter engine, with an available turbocharged variant for additional power.

Smooth Handling : The CX-50 boasts precise steering, a well-tuned suspension, and Mazda’s i-Activ AWD system for enhanced traction and stability.

A blend of style, on-road driving manners, and high-quality interior make the Mazda CX-50 a compelling alternative for a smaller family SUV. 

This relatively new model features sleek, aerodynamic design characteristics, a well-appointed cabin with high-quality materials, and a layout prioritizing driver and passenger comfort. The interior space is thoughtfully designed, providing ample room for passengers and cargo, making it versatile for various needs, from daily commutes to that long road trip to grandmas.

Performance-wise, the CX-50 is equipped with a Skyactiv-G 2.5-liter engine that effectively balances power and efficiency. A turbocharged variant with 320 lb-ft of torque is available for those looking for additional performance, providing more power without sacrificing the vehicle's overall fuel efficiency. 

Handling the CX-50 is another highlight, with precise steering and a well-tuned suspension system that offers a smooth and controlled driving experience. Dare we say, the CX-50 is even a bit sporty. Mazda’s i-Activ AWD system enhances traction and stability across different driving conditions, making the CX-50 capable on city streets or more challenging terrains. 

This combination of design, comfort, and performance makes the Mazda CX-50 a strong contender for a solid family SUV that’s ready for your next road trip. 

It’s a Good Day To Be an SUV Fan 

These vehicles represent a small smattering of what’s out there on the market, which is simply awesome. 

This means buyers have more choices than ever before and more opportunities to find the right vehicle for their families' needs. Once you get your hands on a family SUV, be sure to customize the exterior and interior with things like durable floor mats to make sure that your interior stays pristine, even after your kids spill their fast food soda on the floor. Other must-have accessories include cargo carriers , awnings for hot summer days, or a roof-top tent . 

However you decide to outfit your family SUV, have fun, and make the most of the remarkable experience that is the great American road trip. 

RealTruck is your home for the best products to outfit your build for unforgettable adventures.

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