No one said long family road trips were fun all the time. But with audiobooks to listen to while driving, you can keep everyone amused.

Audiobooks to listen to while driving

Long road trips can be a lot of fun, but if you lack proper entertainment, the experience might become boring after a while. Bringing audiobooks along can help lift your mood, sharpen your focus, and teach you something new on the road.

Whether you’re into historical fiction, sci-fi, fairy tales, or LGBTQ literature, you can find audiobooks to keep you entertained while driving.

The best books for a long drive

Becoming by Michelle Obama

“Becoming” is former first lady Michelle Obama’s memoir. The book traces the author’s roots and follows the story of how she found her true voice. Michelle discusses her relationship with former President Barack Obama and the numerous challenges she faced as a woman of color, mother, and career woman.

If you’re interested in this trending book, you can find it on Audible and Amazon.

The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling

Going on a family road trip? If so, there’s no better source of entertainment than the legendary Harry Potter book series by J.K. Rowling. It makes little difference whether your kids have seen the movies or not - an audiobook version of this children’s classic is sure to be a hit.

Enjoy the world’s favorite wizard’s first experiences with magic and make your next road trip more interesting by playing Harry Potter audiobooks.

These books are the perfect choice for children who are elementary or middle-grade students.

The Institute by Stephen King

It’s the middle of the night. A house on a quiet street in Minneapolis is broken into. The intruders murder Luke Ellis’s parents and bundle him inside a black SUV. Luke wakes up in a room that looks like his own but with no windows. He’s in the Institute.

This chilling classic by Stephen King will keep you awake during your road trip, especially if the driving takes place at night. The American author is the king of suspense and fiction writing, and he’s sure to keep you on the edge of your seat with this audiobook.

The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien

If you’re up for a classic listening experience, “The Hobbit” is a great option. One of the best-known fantasy works, “The Hobbit,” follows the main character, Bilbo Baggins, during his transformation from a timid character into a hero.

The story is set in the imaginary Middle-earth and it chronicles Bilbo’s journey with Gandalf and a company of dwarves. Filled with memorable adventures, you can’t go wrong by picking “The Hobbit” as your long-drive audiobook choice.

Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman

“Good Omens” is a fantasy series by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. According to the “Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter,” the 1655-accurate prophecy book, the world ends on a Saturday, and it’s next Saturday.

The armies of Evil and Good start to amass, frogs fall from the sky, Atlantis rises, and tempers flare. It’s all going according to plan except for one fussy angel and one demon. They grew to like living on Earth and aren’t too happy about the upcoming armageddon.

This satirical, entertaining, and fun science fiction book will make your road trip all the more enjoyable. The audiobook is produced with a full cast for a complete listening experience.

Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

You may know Trevor Noah as the host of the hit TV show The Daily Show, but did you know he’s also an author? Trevor Noah’s “Born a Crime” is a New York Times bestseller nonfiction audiobook. This heartbreaking, hilarious, and tragic autobiographical story is about a boy growing up in South Africa during apartheid.

Noah is a mixed-race child who has trouble fitting in. He feels that it’s a crime to be born from a black mother and a white father. The novel also follows the story of Noah’s mother, Patricia Nombuyiselo, who was raised in a hut with 14 occupants.

The tragicomic elements make this work a must-read for everyone interested in the evils of apartheid. “Born a Crime” is a great audiobook that will make you laugh and cry.

Bossypants by Tina Fey

“Bossypants” is among the best nonfiction audiobooks for humor-loving travelers. In this book, Tina shares her young adult dreams before she became an actress in this coming-of-age story. She describes herself as a vicious nerd who was in pursuit of physical beauty and also tells the story of her one-sided college romance.

Tina reveals it all in this audiobook and proves how we’re no one until we get called “bossy.”

Speechify

Speechify is a free text to speech program that can transform any text document into a voice recording. Whether you want to listen to news articles, study materials, work documents, emails, social media posts, or emails while driving on the open road, Speechify is here to help make that happen.

Listening while driving can make even a short road trip more enjoyable. Plus, it is as safe as the listening to the radio while you are cruising.

You can try the software for free by visiting the official website starting today.

FAQ

What’s the best thing about road trips?

Road trips are great. You get to make memories with best friends and family, enjoy your music and audiobooks, take a break from social media, explore the countryside, reflect on life, and forget about work.

How can I entertain myself during long drives?

You can listen to favorite audiobook bestsellers or short stories, play music or driving games with your co-passengers, or explore podcasts.

What does it mean when an audiobook is played at 1.5?

The 1.5 playback speed means that the audio is one and a half times faster than the original recording. You can play an audiobook at this speed if you find the original pace too slow or want to speed up your listening experience.

Who are the best audiobook narrators?

Wil Wheaton, Stephen Fry, Julia Whelan, and Jim Dale are some of the best-known audiobook narrators.