Best Audiobooks for Road Trips: 13 Titles That Make the Miles Fly By

Here's the thing about long road trips: music gets repetitive, podcasts can feel like background noise, and staring at a 40-hour audiobook on Audible might seem more daunting than the drive itself. But the best audiobooks for road trips hit differently. They turn a boring stretch of highway into an adventure, a comedy show, or a masterclass in something you've always wanted to learn.

This guide covers 13 audiobook recommendations that range from immersive sci-fi epics to laugh-out-loud memoirs. And for those shorter drives or rest stops? Headway works as the perfect co-pilot for productive intervals, offering quick summaries of bestselling nonfiction you can access through CarPlay integration. No fiddling with your phone required.

📘 Ready to turn your next long car ride into something you'll actually look forward to? Download Headway and keep learning between chapters.

Quick picks: Best road trip audiobooks, ranked by category

📘 Want to mix things up? Alternate between fiction audiobooks and Headway's book summaries. One hour you're on Mars with Andy Weir, the next you're picking up productivity hacks. Variety keeps the drive fresh, so give it a try today.

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The "binge-worthy" blockbusters: Fiction and sci-fi

Some audiobooks make 500 miles feel like 5. These immersive worlds are built for long road trips where you want to completely lose yourself in another universe.

Sci-fi masterpieces

1. 'Project Hail Mary' by Andy Weir

If 'The Martian' was Andy Weir proving that he could write survival sci-fi, 'Project Hail Mary' is him showing off. An astronaut wakes up millions of miles from Earth with no memory and two dead crewmates. What follows is part mystery, part buddy comedy in space. The relationship that develops between the protagonist and an unexpected companion creates one of the most heartwarming friendships you'll find in science fiction.

The audiobook version narrated by Ray Porter won the 2022 Audie Award for Audiobook of the Year, and for good reason. Porter's performance brings both the tension and humor to life. At around 16 hours, it's the perfect length for a long drive. It's easily one of the best audiobooks you'll find on Amazon or Audible for keeping you alert on a long car ride.

Approximate audiobook duration: ~16 hours

2. 'The Martian' by Andy Weir

Here's the book that launched a thousand "science the heck out of this" memes. Mark Watney gets stranded on Mars and has to survive with limited supplies and a lot of sarcasm. The survival aspect keeps you on edge, while the humor keeps it from feeling heavy. It's a great audiobook for anyone who loved the Matt Damon film but wants to go deeper into the science and problem-solving.

Approximate audiobook duration: ~11 hours

3. 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' by Douglas Adams

Don't panic. This absurdist classic follows Arthur Dent as Earth gets demolished to make way for a hyperspace bypass. Douglas Adams wrote comedy that still holds up decades later. The audiobook is pure fun, perfect for when you want something lighter that doesn't require intense concentration but still feels like a good book worth your time.

Approximate audiobook duration: ~6 hours

Fantasy epics

4. 'The Fellowship of the Ring' by J.R.R. Tolkien

There's nothing like this classic journey. Tolkien's world-building feels tailor-made for the audiobook format, and following Frodo's path while you're on your own journey creates a strange kind of magic. At around 19 hours, it's perfect for those truly long road trips where you want one story to carry you from start to finish.

Approximate audiobook duration: ~19 hours

5. 'The Sandman' by Neil Gaiman

A story like this isn't just a reading. 'The Sandman' is a full-cast audio drama with James McAvoy as Morpheus, Kat Dennings as Death, and Michael Sheen as Lucifer. And Neil Gaiman himself narrates. The production includes original music and sound design that turns your car into a movie theater. It's an Audible exclusive that broke records for pre-orders and became their bestselling Audible Original. If you've never experienced an audio drama, this one is where to start.

Approximate audiobook duration: ~11 hours

Narrators who steal the show

Sometimes the voice matters as much as the story. These audiobooks feature performances so good that you'll forget that you're driving.

The Harry Potter phenomenon

6. Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, narrated by Jim Dale

Jim Dale holds a Guinness World Record for creating 134 different character voices in 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.' From Dobby's squeaky devotion to Dumbledore's calm wisdom, Dale brings each character to life as distinct and memorable. His versatility is remarkable, shifting seamlessly between heroes and villains, children and adults.

If you're introducing the Harry Potter books to younger listeners on a family road trip, the audiobook version makes the experience feel like a shared adventure. Starting with 'Sorcerer's Stone' and working through the series can carry a family through multiple trips. Each book runs around 17 hours or more, making this a commitment, but one that pays off. Many listeners consider these their favorite book experiences, period.

The young adult appeal means that kids stay engaged, while adults who grew up with the series get to experience it fresh through Dale's interpretation. It's the rare audiobook that genuinely works for the whole family.

Celebrity narrations done right

7. 'The Dutch House' by Ann Patchett, narrated by Tom Hanks

Tom Hanks narrates Ann Patchett's novel about siblings and their complicated relationship with a house, their stepmother, and each other. Hanks brings his trademark warmth to Danny's first-person narrative, making this heartwarming story feel like you're hearing it from an old friend. His soothing voice is perfect for driving, keeping you engaged without the intensity that might distract you from the road.

Approximate audiobook duration: ~10 hours

Laugh until you miss your exit

Humor audiobooks work brilliantly for road trips because they keep the energy up without demanding your full attention. Miss a joke? You'll catch the next one. These are must-reads (or must-listens) for anyone who wants to arrive in a good mood.

8. 'A Walk in the Woods' by Bill Bryson

Bill Bryson decides to hike the Appalachian Trail and discovers that he's deeply unprepared. The travel theme makes this a perfect fit for your own journey, and Bryson's observational humor lands every time. He has a gift for making his own misery hilarious.

What makes this an excellent audiobook for road trips is how Bryson captures the American landscape. You might find yourself noticing things outside your window differently after listening. At around 9 hours, the length matches a solid day of driving.

Approximate audiobook duration: ~10 hours

9. 'Me Talk Pretty One Day' and 'Calypso' by David Sedaris

David Sedaris reads his own essays, and his delivery is half the experience. The essay format works perfectly for road trips because you can stop and start without losing the plot. 'Me Talk Pretty One Day' covers his attempts to learn French in Paris, while 'Calypso' gets into darker, funnier territory about family and aging. Both are all-time favorites in the audiobook world.

Sedaris has a way of finding humor in uncomfortable situations that resonates with anyone who's ever felt like an outsider. His timing in the audio performance adds layers that the printed page can't capture.

Approximate audiobook duration: ~6 hours for 'Me Talk Pretty One Day' and ~7 hours for 'Calypso'

Drive and learn: Nonfiction and memoirs

Want to arrive at your destination a little smarter? These nonfiction picks turn windshield time into learning time. Memoirs and true story audiobooks work especially well because they combine real information with narrative drive.

10. 'Kitchen Confidential' by Anthony Bourdain

Anthony Bourdain reads his own memoir about life in professional kitchens, and his voice makes the gritty, behind-the-scenes stories feel even more authentic. It's part true story, part industry exposé, and entirely entertaining. Bourdain's raw honesty about addiction, failure, and the chaos of restaurant life hits harder when he's the one telling it.

Warning: You will get hungry. This audiobook is not for those on a diet.

Approximate audiobook duration: ~8 hours

11. 'World Travel' by Anthony Bourdain

Compiled after his death, this book captures Bourdain's recommendations for traveling the world. The thematic fit for your own travel is obvious, and hearing his perspective on places from New York City to obscure corners of the globe makes the miles pass quickly. It's part travel guide, part meditation on what it means to really experience a place.

Approximate audiobook duration: ~12 hours

Family listening: Young adult and heartwarming

Traveling with the whole family? These picks work for multiple age groups and might even spark some good conversation. A well-chosen audiobook can transform a family road trip from "are we there yet" complaints into shared memories.

12. 'The Graveyard Book' by Neil Gaiman

Neil Gaiman reads his own Newbery Award-winning novel about a boy raised by ghosts in a graveyard. It's spooky but family-friendly, with enough depth for adults and enough adventure for younger listeners. Gaiman's narration adds layers to characters he clearly loves.

For the first-time listener discovering Neil Gaiman, this is an excellent starting point. The story balances darkness with warmth in a way that resonates across ages.

Approximate audiobook duration: ~8 hours

13. 'A Man Called Ove' by Fredrik Backman

A grumpy old man meets his overly friendly new neighbors, and his carefully constructed world starts to crack open. Fredrik Backman wrote a book that somehow makes you laugh and cry within pages of each other. The heartwarming story beneath Ove's prickly exterior reveals itself slowly, rewarding patient listeners.

The audiobook version works beautifully for families because it sparks real conversations about community, loss, and finding new life, and about why people become who they are. Kids might not catch every nuance, but the central themes of kindness and connection translate across ages.

Approximate audiobook duration: ~9 hours

What if you finished a heavy book and need a palate cleanser before starting another?

Here's a genre worth knowing about: oral history audiobooks. These are structured like documentaries for your ears, told through multiple interviews and perspectives. They feel less like someone reading to you and more like you're watching a film. This format keeps you awake and engaged because the voices and viewpoints constantly shift.

The oral history style works particularly well for historical events or behind-the-scenes looks at industries. Look for titles that compile real interviews on topics you care about. The variety of voices prevents the monotony that can set in during a long drive.

📘 If you just want to learn something new without committing to another 10-hour experience, Headway fits perfectly into your road trip.

Use Headway's CarPlay integration to listen to 15-minute summaries of bestsellers on topics like wealth, psychology, productivity, career, or relationships. Turn a quick grocery run during your trip into a lesson on negotiation from 'Never Split the Difference' or a crash course on habits from 'Atomic Habits.'

The app delivers bite-sized insights in audio format, so you can learn something useful even when you only have a few minutes. It's the perfect choice if you find it hard to choose from hundreds of options, or if you don't want to commit to long books, or if you just want a complement to longer audiobooks. Headway gives you variety without commitment. You might listen to a summary of 'Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike,' then switch to a 'Year of Yes: How to Dance it Out, Stand in the Sun, and Be Your Own Person' summary during a coffee break to give your brain something completely different.

For anyone who struggles to find time for long reading or listening to audiobooks and podcasts, Headway turns small pockets of time into real learning opportunities. 

Headway audiobooks turn millions of road trips into meaningful time

The best road trip audiobooks match the rhythm of driving. They're engaging enough to keep you alert and so well-paced that you don't feel lost if you zone out for a moment.

Whether you prefer a bestseller like 'Atomic Habits,' a classic like Jack London, or quick hits of wisdom, your next long drive doesn't have to feel like a chore. That's why 55 million users worldwide use Headway as a self-development tool that fits any situation.

Try mixing formats to keep things fresh. You can start with these books:

• 'Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind' by Yuval Noah Harari 

• 'Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup' by John Carreyrou

• 'Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood' by Trevor Noah

• 'Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking' by Susan Cain

• 'The Alchemist' by Paulo Coelho

📘 Download Headway to turn your next traffic jam into a growth opportunity. Your future self will thank you somewhere around mile 300.