Have a road trip planned this summer? There’s so much to love about the open road, but there’s no denying that spending hours in the car can get a little tedious. Finding ways to entertain yourself and your passengers is the key to a successful trip. Vistabule is here with some of our favorite audiobooks for road trips. So whether you’re on your own or with the whole family these top audiobook picks should make it just a little easier to pass the time.
1. READY PLAYER ONE, BY ERNEST CLINE, NARRATED BY WIL WHEATON
Length: 15 hrs and 40 min
Genre: Science Fiction
Audience: Adults and Young Adults
Many know this story from the now-popular movie, but the audiobook brings this futuristic world to life in a new way. Star Trek star Wil Wheaton turns this tale into an engaging treasure hunt where wonder and futuristic thrills await at every turn. It’s an ambitious and genre-busting story that will have you asking the bigger questions in the universe.
2. DAISY JONES & THE SIX, BY TAYLOR JENKINS REID, NARRATED BY A FULL CAST INCLUDING JENNIFER BEALS, BENJAMIN BRATT, JUDY GREER, PABLO SCHREIBER
Image from audible.com
Length: 9 hrs and 3 mins
Genre: Literary Fiction
Audience: Adults and New Adults
Follow the fictional musical and cultural sensation, Daisy Jones, as she teams up with The Six to create one of the most iconic bands of the time. This full cast, interview style audiobook is sure to keep your attention for your entire road trip and will even leave you wishing you could stream all of the music they reference throughout. Luckily for you, the novel was adapted for an Amazon Prime Original TV show that premieres in March 2023.
3. TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW, BY GABRIELLE ZEVIN, NARRATED BY JENNIFER KIM AND JULIAN CIHI
Image from audible.com
Length: 13 hrs and 52 mins
Genre: Fiction
Audience: Adults
Spanning 30 years and many locations Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is a unique exploration of technological advancements, love and human experience. Follow as two college students create a blockbuster video game and how it affects them and the world they live in. If you love video games, and love stories this is the book for you.
4. WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING, BY DELIA OWENS, NARRATED BY CASSANDRA CAMPBELL
Length: 12 hrs and 12 mins
Genre: Fiction
Audience: Adults and Young Adults
The small North Carolina town of Barkley Cove has been the rumored home of the infamous “Marsh Girl” for years now — and the rumors only heat up after a man is found dead. The so-called “Marsh Girl” is the main suspect, which leads her on a journey to re-invent her life and find a new path for herself. It’s a beautiful and heartbreaking coming-of-age story that reminds us of our past and the secrets we all hold.
5. ARISTOTLE AND DANTE DISCOVER THE SECRETS OF THE UNIVERSE, BY BENJAMIN ALIRE SÁENZ, NARRATED BY LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA
Image from audible.com
Length: 7 hrs and 29 mins
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
Audience: Adults and Young Adults
At the surface, Dante and Aristotle have nothing in common. Dante is an angry teenager with an incarcerated brother, and Aristotle is a bit of a know-it-all who looks at the world in a strange way. However, once they start to spend time together, a true bond is formed, and the two learn more about themselves than they ever thought they would.
Check out the Sequel: Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World
6. HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE, BY J.K. ROWLING, NARRATED BY JIM DALE
Length: 8 hrs and 18 mins
Genre: Children’s Fantasy
Audience: The Whole Family
You’ve likely read the book or seen the movie, but have you listened to the book? Narrator Jim Dale brings the wizarding world of Harry Potter to life in an exciting new way, making it a great listen for anyone, regardless of how familiar you are with the beloved series. And the best part? If you love it, you’ve got six other audiobooks you can listen to after that!
7. STAY TRUE, BY HUA HSU, NARRATED BY HUA HSU
Image from audible.com
Length: 5 hrs and 28 mins
Genre: Memoir
Audience: Adults and Young Adults
Follow Hua Hsu, staff writer of the New Yorker as they share their memoir of grief, friendship and the beauty of art. This coming of age story tells the tale of Hsu’s lost friendship and the solace art provided in the grief. This one is perfect for short trips and is sure to leave you feeling inspired to create.
8. THE HOBBIT, BY J. R. R. TOLKIEN, NARRATED BY ROB INGLIS
Length: 11 hrs 5 mins
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: The Whole Family
Follow Bilbo Baggins into the fictional world of Lord of the Rings in this gripping prelude. This adventurous story is perfect for all LOTR lovers or those that haven’t started the series yet. Hang on as this homebody hobbit takes the journey of a lifetime to win a piece of treasure that is heavily guarded. With many books set in this universe this one is sure to keep you busy for many trips to come.
9. CIRCE BY MADELINE MILLER, NARRATED BY PERDITA WEEKS
Length: 12 hrs 8 mins
Genre: Fantasy Fiction
Audience: Adults and Young Adults
This adaptation of various Greek myths, mostly the Odyssey, retells the story set in the Greek Heroic Age from the perspective of Circe the witch. This one is perfect for those that are looking for a spruced up version of their favorite classics.
10. GREENLIGHTS, BY MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY, NARRATED BY MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY
Image from audible.com
Length: 6 hrs and 42 mins
Genre: Memoir
Audience: Adults and Young Adults
You would be hard-pressed to find a more interesting man alive today than actor Matthew McConaughey. In his memoir, he takes listeners through all the trials and tribulations of his life while he shares the lessons he’s learned along the way. His narration is dripping with his typical Texas charm, and you’ll find yourself laughing, cringing, and learning the whole time.
11. SADIE, BY COURTNEY SUMMERS, NARRATED BY A FULL CAST INCLUDING REBECCA SOLER, FRED BERMAN, DAN BITTNER, GABRA ZACKMAN
Image from audible.com
Length: 7 hrs and 57 mins
Genre: Suspense
Audience: Adults and Young Adults
This suspenseful tale of a young girl is interestingly told in podcast format! Following along as a radio personal, West McCray starts a podcast to search for the missing teen, Sadie as Sadie searches for the answers of her sister’s murder. This is a novel best enjoyed on audio because of its unique format and full cast of narrators.
12. 11.22.63, BY STEPHEN KING, NARRATED BY CRAIG WASSON
Image from audible.com
Length: 30 hours and 40 minutes
Genre: Suspense/Thriller
Audience: Adults
November 22nd, 1963 is a day that will live in infamy as the day where President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Author Stephen King is no stranger to the strange, so in this book, he poses the question “But what if he wasn’t?” This tale features a time traveler who goes back in time to prevent the assassination attempt. It’s one of King’s most popular works, and it’s one you won’t want to miss out on.
13. LONG WAY DOWN BY JASON REYNOLDS, NARRATED BY JASON REYNOLDS
Image from audible.com
Length: 1 hr and 43 mins
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
Audience: Young Adults, Adults
This gripping story of gun violence told from the perspective of a troubled teen is told in verse. It is award winning for a reason but be sure to be prepared for the heavy content and be ready to talk about it for the rest of the trip because this is one that will stick with you for years to come.
14. BIG MAGIC, BY ELIZABETH GILBERT, NARRATED BY ELIZABETH GILBERT
Image from audible.com
Length: 5 hrs 6 mins
Genre: Personal Development
Audience: Young Adult-Adult
Follow best seller author Elizabeth Gilbert (Eat, Pray, Love and City of Girls) as she narrates her personal journey with creativity and productivity. Learn to embrace curiosity, face fears and adapt habits that can help you reach your creative goals. If you are looking to embrace a more creative lifestyle but are stuck on the expectations set by societal norms, this might be just the book you need.
16. FINDING ME, BY VIOLA DAVIS, NARRATED BY VIOLA DAVIS
Image from audible.com
Length: 9 hrs and 15 mins
Genre: Memoir
Audience: Adults
This memoir written and narrated by award winning actress Viola Davis takes you on the journey of her life. From girlhood to her eventual success readers will see a glimpse of her struggles, setbacks and success in radically honest story telling.
HOW TO GET AUDIOBOOKS FOR YOUR NEXT ROAD TRIP
Now that you have your reading (or should we say listening?) list picked out, it’s time to download those reads! There are a few different ways that you can find audiobooks:
1. Your Local Library
Did you know that most local libraries have an online database filled with audiobooks that you can rent? Many libraries use apps like Overdrive, Libby, or cloudLibrary for all of their digital content, so check them out! If that doesn’t work for you, you can also venture into your local library and find CDs and cassettes that work as well.
2. From a Local Independent Bookstore, Using a Site Like Libro.fm
Seeing that Vistabule is a small, local business, we always lean towards supporting other local businesses, and with a site like Libro.fm, you can actually purchase and download digital audiobooks through your local bookstore. If there’s a local bookstore in your area that you want to support, this is the best way to do so.
3. SCRIBD
SCRIBD is an online resource and app that allows you to download a variety of books, magazines, audiobooks, podcasts, academic papers and more. For a monthly subscription of $11.99 you would have unlimited access to the SCRIBD library and be able to download unlimited titles to avoid using data.
4. Audible
Of all the different audiobook options, a subscription to Audible is one of the easiest, especially if you are already an Amazon Prime member. Audible provides access to nearly any audiobook imaginable — all you have to do is subscribe to their service. Plus, if you’re an Amazon Prime member, you’ll get any two titles for free with an Audible Premium Plus trial!
5. Apple’s iTunes Store
If you have an iPhone or any other Apple product, then you have access to thousands of audiobook titles on Apple’s iTunes store. This is a great way to download audiobooks straight to the devices that you use the most, which can be helpful to those who are looking to keep things simple.
6. YouTube
If you have access to WiFi or plenty of data, you can find some free audiobooks on YouTube! The downside of this is that unless you have YouTube Premium, you’ll have to keep your phone open and active while listening, which can be a bit tedious.
LISTEN TO YOUR NEXT AUDIOBOOK WITH A VISTABULE IN TOW
Now that you are ready to be a road trip warrior, it’s time to plan your next trip! If you’re looking to level up your tent camping while keeping things simplistic check out Vistabule’s luxury teardrop trailers!
These trailers are perfectly optimized to make your travels a breeze. With amenities like charging stations, so you can juice up your phone for the next leg of the trip, and chapter of your book! Learn more about Vistabule trailers today!
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