What are the best podcasts to listen to on a road trip? Read on to find out!
There are many things to consider when planning a road trip, but perhaps one of the most important things – short of where you’ll stay when you get where you’re going – is what you’ll listen to along the way.
After all, even the most scenic drive can get monotonous after an hour or two if you don’t have something to listen to. And a great story or the perfect tunes can turn even a blah drive into a memorable adventure!
For this list, we compiled some of the most recommended podcasts from around the interest, across a spectrum of genres, to help you find the perfect podcast for your taste and trip plan.
The Top Podcasts For Road Trips
Gripping stories, hilarious jokes, fascinating science – if you want to know the best podcasts for road trips, check out this list of recommendations from a ton of different genres that’ll keep you engaged from mile 1 to your destination.
Note: The podcasts on this list are generally targeted toward adult listeners and may contain strong language. For kid-friendly recommendations, scroll down!
1. Serial
Serial made a huge splash when it first came out, paving the way for a slew of true crime podcasts and a resurgence in true crime documentaries. If you missed it early on, you’ll see right away what made the show so popular, with gripping stories and well-put together journalism.
Each season covers one nonfiction story. And if you were one of the early listeners, it might surprise you to know that the show has spun off into a whole group of podcasts under Serial Productions, including S-Town and The Coldest Case In Laramie, so if you’re not caught up, there’s plenty of audio content to fill a long drive.
2. Against The Rules
Hosted by Michael Lewis – a journalist perhaps based known for his books Moneyball and The Big Short – Against the Rules looks at fairness and rules in American life through a range of topics season to season.
Sports fans might be interested in his seasons focusing on referees, coaches, and sports gambling – all of which are well-researched and totally fascinating. Plus, since each season has roughly 8 episodes around a singular theme, a season can make for a perfect road trip binge.
3. Revolutions
History buffs who haven’t yet delved into the world of Mike Duncan’s Revolutions are in for a treat. Now up to season 12, Revolutions features – as the name might suggest – a different historical revolution each season (with the exception of the most recent season, which is a fictional account of a sci-fi revolution in the future set on Mars!).
The series starts with the English Civil Wars of the 1600s, then looks at the American, French, and Haitian revolutions, among others. Duncan has amassed a huge following for his riveting storytelling, and for road trips, it’s an especially great choice thanks to the bite-sized 30ish minute episodes, making it easy to break up over a long drive.
4. Sold A Story
Sold A Story is one of the most recommended podcasts on internet chat forums, especially in the education space. A mix of journalism, science, and news, Sold a Story reported in 2022 on the low literacy rate among American elementary school students, and ended up, in part, inspiring a change in how we teach reading nationwide. If you’re interested in the science of how we learn and the ways education can be changed for the better or worse, it’s a great listen.
5. Ologies
While the other podcasts so far focus on single stories over the course of a season, Ologies is made up of episodes that stand alone. Each episode of Ologies focuses on a different, highly specific scientific topic, ranging from cardiology to the sociology of reality TV to erethizonology – that’s the study of porcupines.
Each episode features an interview with an expert, conducted by host Alie Ward. And for road trippers, it’s an especially handy podcast because episodes range in length from around half an hour to over 2 hours, so you can decide how long you want to listen and find an episode that fits.
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6. Ghost Story
This 7-episode miniseries podcast combines family drama, the paranormal, and true crime as journalist Tristan Redman – who doesn’t believe in ghosts – investigates strange things that happened in his house when he was a teen. While supernatural elements come into play, Ghost Story is ultimately a story about a family facing their own ghosts. Warning that this podcast contains discussion of PTSD and domestic violence.
7. Dolly Parton’s America
On the other end of the emotional spectrum, Dolly Parton’s America is one the rare uplifting nonfiction narrative podcasts, and a complete delight. Fans of Dolly, the Dolly-curious, and the uninitiated will all find something to enjoy in this 9-episode “journey through the Dollyverse” from WNYC, hosted by Jad Abumrad.
Released in 2019, Dolly Parton’s America examines Parton’s life – with interviews with the woman herself – along with her impact, her work, and the people who love her.
8. The Happiness Lab
The Happiness Lab is inspired by the popular course taught at Yale by host and professor Dr. Laurie Santos. It looks at the science of what makes us happy and how to be happy and offers both insights into human behavior and actionable ideas that might just help you live happier.
With 7 seasons and roughly 200 episodes, ranging generally from 30 minutes to an hour, you’re not likely to finish it in one road trip (unless that’s one long road trip!, but since it’s episodic rather than narrative, there’s no need to. Few podcasts in the self-help realm or otherwise offer as much potential impact as this fascinating and well-put-together series, so if you’re looking for a self-help option for your road trip, The Happiness Lab is really the only choice.
9. 99% Invisible
If you want a podcast that changes the way you see the world around you, 99% Invisible can do just that. It’s a podcast all about architecture, design, and the thought that goes into names, products, buildings, systems, and so much more. Essentially, it’s about the things we see and interact with every day but might not spend much time thinking about how they came to be.
With roughly 700 episodes, the topics have ranged widely, from the invention of dynamite, to the history of Brutalist architecture, to how supply chains work (or don’t), to the naming of a Slovenian beetle. Suffice to say, if you’re interested in how the world is built, there’s something for everyone.
10. The Sporkful
Last but certainly not least, The Sporkful is a great podcast for cooks and food fans. It features a combination of stories on current events in the food world and interviews about food with chefs, food writers, and people interested in food, from celebrities to relative unknowns – like Weird Al, Chef Bobby Flay, or a Catholic priest who moonlights as a mixologist.
Generally lighthearted and always informative, The Sporkful is hosted amiably by Dan Pashman and has around 150 episodes ready for your next long drive – whether that’s a Guy Fieri-inspired road trip or a pilgrimage to a local farm. It’s a great listen for anyone curious about the wide world of eating.
Honorable Mentions
Listened to all the podcasts above already? Just not finding something that sings to you? Here are a few more high quality and well-reviewed podcasts to consider across a wide variety of genres.
I Am Not A Monster
Someone Knows Something
Personally: Toy Soldier
S-Town
The Moth
RadioLab
Revisionist History
Cautionary Tales
How Did This Get Made?
Who Shat At My Wedding?
My Dad Wrote A Porno
Smartless
The Screenwriting Life
Everything Cookbooks
This American Life
Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me
Stuff You Should Know
And as a bonus, if you just want a delightful half hour listen, check out Towel of Song from CBC’s The Doc Project.
Kid-Friendly Road Trip Podcast Recommendations
Looking for some of the best podcasts for children on a road trip? Here are a few popular and delightful options:
Story Pirates
Smash Boom Best
Greeking Out
Circle Round
Wow in the World
America’s Test Kitchen for Kids
Noodle Loaf
ABC Kids (Australia)
And Those Are Some of The Best Podcast Options for Your Next Long Drive
These podcasts are so good, they could inspire another road trip just to listen to them all! Whether you want to learn something or be transported by a great story, there’s something here for everyone. Unless of course you’d rather a good audiobook for a long drive.
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