When it comes to setting out on a lengthy road trip, there's nothing better than queuing up an excellent new listen to help the time pass while enjoying the scenery rushing by outside your car window. With that said, there's something particularly special about a good podcast capable of both entertaining and igniting discussions between passengers throughout the drive.
The podcasts we've chosen below represent the best podcasts for road trips, perfect for the ebbs and flows that you'll face during your trip. Maybe you want to listen to tales of true crime and try to unravel what happened; maybe you want to immerse yourself in the depths of history and philosophy; or maybe you just want to get a little support on tackling the day-to-day.
The picks below also feature the type of listens that will help you laugh and engage with others. From scripted podcasts that simply make you laugh out loud to chatty interview-style listens sure to provoke thought and conversation, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Traveling with kids? No problem—we’ve also curated a few of our favorite family-friendly podcasts for listening on those lengthy car rides.
So, buckle in and get ready to crank these podcasts up in your car, whether it be that you are traveling with a friend, your family, a colleague, or even solo. Let’s hit the road!
Best Road Trip Podcasts For Fans of True Crime
If you love true stories that keep you on your toes while forcing you to reflect on the real life horrors plaguing out day-to-day, this podcast is for you. From the mysterious stabbing of a 16-year-old in Arcadia, Florida to the tale of a couple with romantic plans on the island of Anguilla later found dead, these 45-to-50 minute stories will keep you guessing until the very end.
In some cases, the shortcomings and successes of the criminal justice system can be even more fascinating than the crime itself. Find out what happened when a doctor was accused of murder after a series of deaths in the hospital, and when a student was lured into a sex cult by a mysterious man. These episodes, each about an hour long, will have listeners engaged and analyzing the ups and downs of crime and punishment.
This fun, fresh, conversational podcast is led by fans of true crime stories Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. In each episode, they discuss instances of past murders, as well as engage with guests who also dig into a variety of hometown cases. Digging into the reasons why these killings could have occurred, as well as investigating and talking about the psychological elements of these murders, Kilgariff and Hardstark craft a great listen for lovers of true crime.
This podcast is not for the faint of heart—yet is perfect for those who love a little horror mixed in with your tales of true crime. From a TSA search that leads to a cooler full of human heads to an investigation of a supposed and mysterious body parts business in Phoenix, these stories will send shivers up your spine as you listen, wide-eyed and curious, to all of these unbelievable—but totally true!—occurrences.
This podcast tells the chilling story of eight-year-old Relisha Rudd, who disappeared from a homeless shelter in Washington, D.C. in 2014, only to be declared missing far too late. To this day, Relisha has never been found. Proving that there are a lot of gaps when it comes to these type of situations and investigations in our society, you will find yourself questioning what happened, as well as pondering upon why these type of disappearances are not covered as much as others that happen in our society, and why some cases fall through the cracks of our justice system.
Best Road Trip Podcasts For Those Who Love Self-Help
Gretchen Rubin, the author of the self-help title The Happiness Project, leads listeners to follow better life habits, as well as find the best ways to manifest daily happiness in her podcast Happier. From what we can glean from other people's enthusiasm to answering audience questions when it comes to their own habits, this is a cheery listen that will add a bit of pep to any length car ride.
Led by marriage and family therapist Kati Morgan, this podcast moves past the stigmas associated with mental health issues, diagnosis, and treatment. Morgan leads listeners through her tips on how to spot mental illness and when to decide to get help, as well as coping strategies that are useful for all listeners.
Have you ever felt like you did something totally unexpected—maybe you got into an argument and acted on impulse or even behaved in a way that you never have before? Derren Brown dives into how the brain works and what leads to these sudden reactions as human beings in our daily lives. For Brown, the brain is mostly to blame for a lot of our thoughts and actions, but in understanding our minds a bit better, we can cultivate and keep better relationships with others and our inner selves. If you’re extremely curious about human psychology and love science-driven listens, this one is for you.
Best Road Trip Podcasts For those Who Love to Laugh
The titular 2 Dope Queens, besties and comedians Phoebe Robinson and Jessica Williams, host a podcast filled with laughs. Featuring visiting comics as well as stories about exes, romantic partners, race, hair, and what it means to live in New York City, you'll find yourself giggling along as you relate to each and every one of their hilarious stories.
Featuring comedians and best friends Tom Segura and Bert Kreischer, this conversational podcast has the pair hiding away at the bear cave at YMH Studios as they discuss topics ranging from favorite bands to how they became so close to their funniest shared recollections from their time together, all sure to make you laugh out loud.
Hosted by Keegan-Michael Key of the legendary comedy duo Key & Peele, this podcast takes listeners on a fascinating, informative, and hilarious journey through the history of sketch comedy. From the most popular jokes of the Ancient World to the rise of modern standup in cities like Chicago and Detroit, Key explores the many people, places, ideas, and characters that define comedy as we know it today.
Actors Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett make for a truly hilarious trio in this weekly podcast that blends humor with thoughtful, in-depth conversation. The team hosts a different guest each week, with a twist: only one host knows the identity of that week's guest and reveals his mystery pick to the other two at the beginning of the show. What follows are off-the-cuff and often surprising conversations. It's a unique hybrid of improv comedy and genuinely honest interviews with people from a wide range of life experiences.
Best Road Trip Podcasts For Those Who Love Interviews
This nine-episode podcast series, hosted by journalist Soledad O'Brien, digs deeply into topics that relate to people of color, getting to the heart of how their lives and upbringings were affected and impacted by their backgrounds, identities, and cultures. Filled with insightful interviews and heartfelt commentary, this podcast will surely entertain anyone who is drawn to human-centered, open conversations.
In this funny but heartfelt podcast, queer comedian Cameron Esposito sits down with a different member of the LGBTQIA+ community each week. Their conversations encompass personal stories, LGBTQIA+ history, queer culture, civil rights, and much more. It’s a great podcast to queue up in the car if you’re looking for something sure to keep yourself—and your passengers—totally engaged.
This interview series is perfect for those seeking empowerment and a much-needed perspective on the world, as it delves into topics including finding career success, questions of politics and social sciences, history, power, motherhood, divorce, and mental health, all through the lens of what it means to be a woman of color today.
This powerful NPR station podcast features interviews with people on topics as wide ranging as how are guns showcased in movies, the making of a queer, Asian American-led Pride and Prejudice adaptation, and the art of photographing popular Black musicians back in the 1970s. Blending historical and topical elements, this podcast is apt for anyone obsessed with news, arts, and culture.
Covering the popular YouTube series Hot Ones, where celebrities eat increasingly spicy wings while answering even hotter questions from host Sean Evans, this podcast features extended cuts of some of our favorite interviews led by Evans, with celebrities such as Tyra Banks and Ricky Gervais. Filled with moments both funny and insightful, as well as vulnerable turns from notable stars, this podcast makes for quite the listen.
In this podcast, radio broadcaster Joey Mitchell, with 51 years in the business, showcases some of the most interesting interviews with a variety of superstars such as megastar Oprah Winfrey, astronaut Charlie Duke, and music icon Johnny Cash. With behind-the-scenes tidbits added before and after each interview, you’ll gather new insights from unforgettable voices.
Best Road Trip Podcasts For Those Traveling with Kids
This family-oriented podcast doesn't just entertain—it also adds a sense of nostalgia for older listeners joining their kids for the long ride. Featuring comic strip characters that were originally introduced in the Highlights for Children magazine back in the 1940s, this moral-driven delight is meant to entertain and educate kiddos and adults of all ages.
Who knows kids better than their parents? Led and created by parents of young children, WBUR's Circle Round podcast showcases folktales and fun music for kids ages four to 10, as well as conversations and lessons for kids on core topics such as the importance of being kind, persistence when it comes to reaching your dreams, and the wonders of generosity.
This podcast is the perfect science-fiction pick for curious children. The episodes tell the tale of Finn Caspian, an eight-year-old boy aboard The Famous Marlowe 280 Interplanetary Exploratory Space Station, and his adventures throughout space with friends. Told in short, bite-sized episodes, this is a great one to use to engage the kids and keep them entertained until they drift off in their car seats.
This competitive and fun podcast will have kids (okay, and parents, too) shouting answers out loud. Featuring trivia from topics including history, technology, science, and pop culture, this fun listen will keep your family entertained—and engaged in some friendly competition—the whole drive through.
This podcast is for kids, by kids. Filled with vocabulary lessons, as well as zany topics including the history of chewing gum and worldly unique animals, this family-friendly listen will leave your kids more curious than ever, sparking the kind of conversations that make for lasting memories.
Featuring YouTube family stars the Holderness family, known for their silly sing-a-longs as well as their hilarious skits, this listen tackles different topics that affect children and parents alike. From the mysteries of Crypto to what ADHD is and how it can affect our mental health to the importance of calling our senators and staying politically engaged, this podcast is full of lessons for the whole family.
