Back in the day, before Audible or even the compact disc, we listened to our audiobooks on things called cassettes. These Books on Tape came in a thick, plastic folder that opened up to pages of cassette tapes nestled in cassette-shaped beds or a shoebox-like container with a cardboard sleeve. 

If you were sitting shotgun, you were in charge of ejecting each tape when prompted (“end of side A”), turning it over, and exchanging it for the next. You had to keep the tapes in order and check to ensure they were fully rewound. If you were alone in the car on a long drive… well, good luck to you. 

Much to my parents’ delight, we could exchange Books on Tape at Cracker Barrels across the country. And despite the rare tragedy of missing or ruined cassettes, we utilized this feature on most of our family road trips. I’m certain we heard every John Grisham novel from the early 90s. 

CDs took over. They were superior because you no longer had to fix loose tape with a turn of your finger or worry that it would tear or melt. But you had to tolerate scratches and skips and never knowing quite where you left off. 

Audiobooks are a game-changer.

If you’re a fan of listening to books, downloading audiobooks onto your phone has been a total game-changer. Perfect for doing chores at home, going for a walk, or on a long road trip. You can use a subscription service like Audible or download free audiobooks through your library card. Either way, it’s a great way to consume a good book. 

To be a great audiobook, it can’t just be a good story. It can’t even be the best book ever. It also has to be an enjoyable listening experience… it is a performance, after all. Similar to reading a terrific novel and losing your sense of space and time, a good audiobook narrator will pull you in and nearly make you forget yourself. 

On the other hand, a lousy narrator will force you to think about how lousy of a narrator they are. You might wonder if there’s a shortage of narrators for audiobooks. And while you’re thinking this, you’re not listening to what they’re saying. Just how badly they’re saying it. 

What to consider when choosing great audiobooks for a road trip:

Who’s Listening

If you’re listening in the car with the whole family, your choices will probably be quite different than if you’re selecting something for yourself. Make sure that the audiobooks you’ve chosen are age-appropriate, especially with younger kids.

Interests

If you’re traveling with a group, whether family or friends, you’ll want to take everyone’s interests into account. Choosing a book that inspires conversation, deeper thought, and debates can be a fun cure for boredom.

Length of Time

The duration of your trip will help dictate what length audiobooks are best. If you’re planning a long journey, you might want to consider a lengthy, unabridged novel. Conversely, for shorter day trips, you could choose a more compact option or a collection of short stories. 

Here is my list of the best audiobooks for your next road trip.

Family Friendly Audiobooks

For a book to be family-friendly, it can’t just be a book that the kids will love… all family members need to enjoy it and that means parents too! Choose a novel with interesting main characters, a solid plot, and a little adventure thrown in. Building new and different worlds that engage the imagination is certainly a bonus. 

The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling: I was teaching elementary school when the Harry Potter books came out, and I bought them all within the first few days of their release. All are excellent, and the audio version of each is perfection. Jim Dale brings the audiobooks to life with hundreds of character voices.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl: When I read this book to my daughters when they were small and reached the part where Charlie finds the Golden Ticket, they ran around the room, cheering his good fortune. This classic novel is so fun for a road trip, and the audiobook is beautifully done.

Matilda by Roald Dahl: I could probably list every Roald Dahl book ever written in this post and feel good about it. I love the stories he tells in his novels and this one is no exception. Kate Winslet won an Audie Award (an award given for audio performances) for this, and it was well earned. She does a spectacular job. 

Coraline by Neil Gaiman: This is a favorite of my daughters. The audiobook is read by the author, Neil Gaiman, and his voice is perfect. Deep, creamy, and British, he’s the ideal person to narrate his book about an upside-down world behind the 14th door in Coraline’s new apartment. 

The Ramona Quimby Collection by Beverly Cleary: Books 1-8 come together in one set, are read by Stockard Channing, and are the perfect audio companion for your next road trip. Funny, sweet, and full of adventure, there’s something for everyone. This is a great option for kids of all ages. 

The best suggestion that I’ve never listened to: 

The Lightning Thief: Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan: The awesomely popular Percy Jackson series comes highly recommended. The first book in the series opens up a magical world full of adventure and Greek Mythology. I think this would be an excellent option for a family vacation.  

Memoir

One of my favorite genres to listen to is memoir. It works better for me on audio when it’s lighthearted and funny. I love a deep, dark retelling of someone’s life, such as The Glass Castle or Educated, but prefer to read those in book or Kindle form.

Most of these audiobooks are good options for a variety of ages and interests, although not all kid-friendly. One of the reasons I love memoirs for a road trip is that they’re usually broken up into easily digestible chapters. They also make for good conversation and don’t typically have a complicated narrative to follow.

Bossypants by Tina Fey: This was the first memoir that I listened to and I’ve been hooked ever since. Fey narrates the book herself and tells her life story in funny, vulnerable bits that have you laughing and tearing up in equal measure. We feel as if we know Fey so well, but really, we don’t. This was a lovely invitation to go a little deeper.  

I Am, I Am, I Am: Seventeen Brushes With Death by Maggie O’Farrell: The narrator of this memoir Daisy Donovan, has the most lovely Irish accent. I so wanted to open my mouth and have her words come tumbling out. It’s beautiful to listen to, but it’s the story itself that’s so incredible. O’Farrell is a season pass author for me… I’ll read anything and everything she writes. This was such a tremendous insight into her real life and so creatively and uniquely told. 

Becoming by Michelle Obama: Narrated by the former first lady, she tells her story from growing up with her close-knit family in the South Side of Chicago to raising two teenage girls in the White House with president and husband, Barack Obama. Funny, insightful, and richly personal, Obama shares so much of herself, her remarkable life, and her own becoming. 

How to Stay Married: The Most Insane Love Story Ever Told by Harrison Scott Key: This was my first introduction to Key, although he’s a well-known and established author. This book describes a tumultuous time in his marriage, and certainly not for younger listeners. His raw honesty and openness are the magic of this story. It’s riveting and tender, and their story will have you equal parts horrified, laughing, and crying. 

A Very Punchable Face by Colin Jost: Ugh… another SNL memoir? Is what I thought in the years between when this book came out and when I listened to it late last year. This was such a fun surprise. It’s not that I was expecting it to suck, but I wasn’t expecting it to be as funny, interesting, and listenable as it was. 

Any book by David Sedaris: Sedaris has written many books and they’re all fantastic. Collections of short stories that are hilarious, poignant, devastating, and all so beautifully written. They’re all read by Sedaris and are some of my favorite audiobooks. 

Runner Up: 

Yes Please by Amy Poehler: I’d file this under good (but not great). It’s a good listen… entertaining and funny. But it ultimately felt a little forced (like… everyone is doing this so I probably should too). The book is primarily narrated by Poehler, who has some help from famous friends, including Seth Meyers and Carol Burnett. 

Thriller & Suspense

What’s better for a long, boring car trip on the open road than a story that you just can’t turn off? This genre of audiobooks might be best suited for a trip when not all family members are along for the ride, as most contain adult content. 

The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley: This is one of the best books I’ve listened to recently. The full cast of incredible narrators makes it feel as though you’re watching a movie in your mind, they bring the story so fully to life. When Jess goes to visit her brother in his Paris apartment, she finds him missing. She also finds a deep and twisty mystery that will keep you guessing until the last moments. 

The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz: Ryan and I listened to this on a road trip with just the two of us, and every time we stopped to get gas or food, we just sat in the car, unable to turn it off. You’re better off not knowing anything going into this book, so just trust me that it’s really good.  

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir: This science fiction novel could be a great equalizer for your family, everyone is going to be pulled in. Ryland Grace wakes up after being asleep for a long time, with no memory, and the sole survivor of a last-chance mission in space. It’s a little mind-bendy in the best way, and so hard to turn off. It’s the winner of the 2022 Audie Award and New York Times Audible Best Seller. 

The Institute by Stephen King: I love Stephen King. He’s a master storyteller and pulls you in with that ideal combination of propulsive plot and deep character development. If you’re afraid to try King because of the fear factor or the gore, this is a great place to start and definitely one of my favorite books that he’s written. It follows a group of kids with exceptional talents inside The Institute… a place where “you check in, but you don’t check out.” 

Fiction

Listening to a solid work of fiction can be the best way to pass the time on a long car trip.

One Two Three by Laurie Frankel: Aside from the brilliant writing and storytelling, the most magical part of this audiobook is the cast. The three voices that inhabit the three main characters are flawless. They came alive for me even more than reading it would have, they had faces and bodies, and they were living people in my imagination. This beautiful story is unique and a little funny and so easy to fly through. 

The Latecomer by Jean Hanff Korelitz: I’ll listen to almost anything narrated by Julia Whelan, a “Golden Voice” and award-winning narrator. She is the Audiobook Queen. Korelitz is also a favorite… clearly, since this is her second book on this list. I was instantly and wholly pulled into this family drama about an unhappy family living in New York City. 

Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent: Sally is one of those characters that you just want to wrap up in a hug and have over for dinner. She reminds me a little of Ove (from A Man Called Ove) and Eleanor Oliphant (from Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine)… a little bit complicated but so deeply loveable. Her story is tender, sweet, and even a little funny at times. The narrator is perfectly cast and I loved how she moves in and out of accents perfectly. 

The Last Days of Night by Graham Moore: This historical fiction novel set in 1888 New York follows the lawyer Paul Cravath. Cravath is defending George Westinghouse, who’s being sued by Thomas Edison. It’s a fascinating look into a slice of history during the dawn of electric light, that I knew next to nothing about. I had lots of lightbulb moments while listening and it offers plenty of things to discuss, making it the perfect audiobook for a long trip. 

Midnight Library by Matt Haig: This is such an enchanting, and captivating book. And another novel ripe for discussion. This story takes on the idea of what our lives might have been if something different had happened. Those “sliding door” moments that can change the trajectory of our lives. The Midnight Library holds an infinite number of books and each one tells the story of a different reality of your life. And it asks the question, what if you had a chance to see this library for yourself? Would you pull a book off the shelf and open it? 

Finally, I didn’t listen to it, but I did read Tom Lake by Ann Patchett and loved it. Meryl Streep narrated the audio version and I’ve heard it’s spectacular, so perhaps I chose poorly. I read somewhere that if you weren’t a theater kid or you didn’t grow up in summer stock, you might not appreciate this book as deeply. Having no experience with either, I think I agree with this. I liked this book so much and I’m such a devoted Patchett fan, but I think if you were into theater as a young person, you’d probably love this even more than I did. 

Take a look at my favorite books from 2023 for more excellent suggestions!