Road trips are adventurous to some people in therapy; driving on the highway, liking good music, visiting new places and making a wonderful opportunity of self-discovery. But long drives take more time behind the wheels and what is more useful in getting memories of delightful drive moments than some good road trip podcasts?
If you should ever find it hard to select the right podcasts for your long drives and worry over how to find the best podcasts for road trips, there’s no need to worry about long journeys and what to listen to. Out of thousands of podcasts, these 17 top best popular podcasts for road trips were much loved by people. These podcasts can keep you engaged during your trip, providing various information, motivational content, improved mental well-being, reduced stress and anxiety, and entertainment.
Choosing the Great podcasts for a Road trips
Road trips are the best time to listen to podcasts. There are thousands of podcasts you could choose from; however, that one right podcast to bring your traveling in a car experience to another level is a very important thing you must always consider when going on a road trip. So, select a podcast that matches your likes and dislikes and will make your journey more fun, interesting and informative at the same time.
17 Best Podcasts for Road Trips in 2024
There are lot of podcasts for a road trips, but here are the 28 best famous and listened-to best podcasts for road trips.
1. Desert Island Discs:
The ultimate best podcast for road trips is the Desert Island Discs. Hence, the name ‘podcast’ was not even coined when desert island discs appeared probably in the next half-century. This ongoing BBC program, which has been aired since 1942, features a guest discussing their life while picking eight songs that have special significance to them. The series owe their popularity through years of remarkable presenters, successful shows and high profile guests who range from top business executives to famous celebrities. Your road trip will be fun because she blends interesting characters with recent music and a huge library for you to enjoy.
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2. A Very Fatal Murder:
It’s one of the best podcasts for road trips because it’s a satire of real crime podcasts. David Pascal, a journalist from Onion Public Radio (OPR), based in New York City who is also on the A Very Fatal Crime review panel, is dispatched to Rock creek, a small Nebraskan town so as to examine an unexplained death of Hayley Price, who was 17 years old. He was a smart and popular omnivore with a bright future ahead. Unfortunately, every person in town that had taken her seriously were now both criminals. Investigate how David finds out why the first investigation into Hayley’s death failed and what role can be played by any smart and award-winning podcast host? Basically, The Onion does funny parodies of true crime podcasts that are funny. Although it lasted only one season, “A Very Fatal Murder” is a sly parody of shows like “Serial,” that if you’re fascinated by true crime will pick up even the dullest trip imaginable.
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3. The No Sleep Podcast:
This podcast is another great remedy for driving weariness as well as that fear rising from hearing scary tales on lonely highways in the middle of the night. Anyone who believes that listening to scary stories will solve their insomnia should go ahead and subscribe to The NoSleep Podcast. David Cummings, host of this program, makes one feel comfortable through his sweet voice even when the situation seems uncomfortable. These are taken from real-life experiences posted on Reddit’s popularly named subreddit page where both seasoned horror writers and enthusiastic amateurs alike submit their works directly. Ghosts, creatures, stalkers’ stories, monster-tales and other forms of paranormal life are mixed together within some bunches of creepiness that runs through all them. This program has been running since last season; hence one may wish he would have not driving at such hour.
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4. Serial
It is considered one of the best podcast for road trips, and people love to listen. Serial is credited with bringing podcasting into the mainstream. Each season focuses on a different true crime story, exploring it in-depth over several episodes. Whether a murder mystery or an unsolved case, Serial keeps you hooked with its investigative approach, compelling storytelling, and gripping narratives.
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5. Radiolab
This is also one of the best podcast for road trips. If you’re into scientific curiosity and exploration, then Radiolab will blow your mind away. The team behind this show tackles all sorts of subjects ranging from human behaviour down here on Earth up until those mysteries found within outer space itself. It brings together experts’ interviews; creative soundscapes combined with some very compelling storytelling techniques which help make complex topics become easier-to-understand whilst still being entertaining enough not to bore listeners who might not have much knowledge in science-related matters either.
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6. Science vs
Want to separate fact from fiction in popular science and health trends? Science vs. does just that, examining the scientific evidence behind controversial topics and myths. Wendy Zukerman takes a sceptical and entertaining approach to debunking or confirming popular beliefs. This can also be the best, worth listening to, and best podcast for road trips.
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7. My Brother, My brother and Me:
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8. The Joe Rogan Experience
Joe Rogan Experience is one of the best podcasts for your road trips. The show is hosted by Hosted by Joe Rogan. It features long-form conversations with individuals from various backgrounds; think as science, technology, comedy and philosophy. Individual episodes often extend up to several hours making it great for road trips where you would want to delve deep into a conversation.
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9. The Dollop
Imagine your history teacher was also a stand-up comedian. That’s the Dollop. Dave and Gareth pick crazy, real-life stories from history and make them hilarious. You’ll learn and laugh at the same time. This is also a good choice as a funny podcast for road trips.
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10. Myths and Legends:
It became one of the best podcasts for long drives that was founded by Jason Weiser, an English student, host and writer in 2015. After serving as a director and producer for two years his wife Carissa Weiser joined the team. They made one of the most excellent mythological and storytelling podcasts ever. They have new stories coming out every two weeks which are sourced from all seven continents with different cultural backgrounds. Other stories are already well known but they always strive to find new angles or sources to make them more dimensional. Humorous “monster of the week” is how each episode ends mostly. Nonetheless, this podcast does not just serve as a good one for road trips because according to Weiser, some of the subject matter at the beginning of each story may not be appropriate for young children.
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11. Wild Thing:
Laura Krantz, who is a journalist, producer and editor hosts this popular Foxtopus podcast that delves into sciences and societies. The show’s premiere was about the Bigfoot phenomenon where believers were interviewed (including famous scientists) and investigated why people still believe in it up to now. This second season titled “Space Invaders” explores our fascination with aliens. Ever since the astrobiologists searching for bacteria out there till the UFO conspiracy theorists, humans have always been interested in the existence of life outside Earth. Wild Thing movie also allows viewers to see an often funny, sometimes touching but consistently thrilling presentation of reasons behind your beliefs.
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12. Call Her Daddy
Since 2018, Alex Cooper has been calling her Daddy on Spotify; a podcast that is most listened by women. Other guests join Cooper in discussing numerous issues that challenge norms while satisfying your thirst for answers to burning questions. You will experience many emotions such as happiness or sadness among others. Every Wednesday brings new episodes exclusively on Spotify from this show.
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13. The Dream:
This remarkable podcast is great for road trips, produced by a former This American Life reporter Jane Marie with her partner Dann Galluci and examined how the American Dream intertwines with popular culture and economic opportunity. The first season of The Dream focused on MLMs or multilevel marketing organizations (like Avon, LuLaRoe, etc.) that recruit private people as their agents. Well-being is the focus of its second season; it’s this nebulous idea of good health which nevertheless includes sixty dollar jewels. While another show would be cynical and harsh, Marie is often compassionate about how people are talked into participating in these businesses rather than condemning them for it. Music playing surprisingly tenderly.
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14. S-Town
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15. Normal Gossip
Normal Gossip is a podcast that provides its audience with various interesting, strange, funny and boring rumors about people they will probably never meet. Kelsey McKinney hosts the podcast which talks of funny rumors sent in by fans concerning unknown people. The truth from another person’s lips is sometimes more surprising than any made-up tale could ever be. Alex Sujong Laughlin helped create this podcast that features artwork by Tara Jacoby.
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16. This Is Love:
“This is love” is another best podcast that Radiotopia has made, which is hosted by Phoebe Judge, who you may still remember her sweet voice she used in one of her earlier podcasts called Criminal. This Is Love is so important at every stage of life. For a 72-year-old British man who posts pictures of his garden online just to be loved by people all over the world, and possible meet a companion later in life This Is Love tells stories about different kinds of love.
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17. Las Culturistas
In our society, Las Culturistas is highly regarded as the number one podcast for road trips. The show is hosted by Matt Rogers and Saturday Night Live’s Bowen Yang. Matt and Bowen have covered all aspects of pop culture in over three hundred episodes with their lively exchanges and criticisms. It attracts guests from different entertainment industries who talk about their favorite cultural moments, trends, icons through heated arguments and funny bits such as ‘I Don’t Think So Honey.’ This podcast is unique because it brings together various races, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and important social analysis concerning culture.
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Benefits of Listening to these Road Trip Podcasts
The best podcasts for road trips have several benefits, and listening to this podcast while traveling o planning to travel can be an excellent way to have insight into what you need. Here are some of the benefits of listening to travel podcasts.
Inspiration for new destinations
Podcasts for road trips can motivate you to explore places you are not aware of. Many travel podcasts include conversations with professionals or locals who share their knowledge and expertise about a particular world area. This can help you explore new destinations and learn about unique experiences you may not have known.
Learning about different cultures
Travel podcasts usually focus on distinct cultures. Listening to these podcasts lets you learn about people’s habits, traditions, and daily lives worldwide. This can help you understand and appreciate diverse cultures and prevent cultural faux pas when traveling.
The podcast often features experts and interviews them to learn more about the culture and history of the places they visit. You can get a greater awareness of the diversity of human experience and learn to manage cultural differences politely and meaningfully by listening to these podcasts. Road trip podcasts can be useful not only for travel but also in your personal and professional life.
Practical travel tips
Podcasts are not just limited to telling listeners about visiting new destinations and exploring the world. But it also helps listeners with a great source of information and provides practical advice and tips for travelers. These tips can be incredibly valuable, especially if planning a trip to a new destination, and will improve your overall travel experience.
Entertainment
Travel podcasts are a great source of entertainment that will not bore you. Listening to interesting and adventurous stories of people can be a great way to pass the time on a long flight or during a long drive. Long car rides can be made more enjoyable by listening to podcasts. Traveling for hours can soon become tedious. However, listening to interesting podcasts can help pass the time and keep your mind engaged. You will be intrigued by and engaged for hours on end, whether listening to a true crime podcast, comedy show, or a series about a fascinating topic.
