Title: 10 Must-Listen Podcasts to Make Your Next Road Trip Unforgettable (2025)

10 Must-Listen Podcasts to Make Your Next Road Trip Unforgettable (2025)

Family-Friendly Adventures: Road Tripping Europe the Rick Steves Way!

But with thousands of shows out there, which ones are actually worth your precious driving time?

We’ve curated the perfect list. Whether you want to laugh until you cry, unravel a gripping mystery, or learn something new, these are the 10 best podcasts that will make the miles fly by.

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For a Good Laugh

1. Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

• Best For: Hearty laughs and surprisingly deep conversations.
• Why It’s a Great Road Trip Listen: With episodes often pushing two hours, Armchair Expert is perfect for long stretches of highway. Dax Shepard’s interviews with celebrities, authors, and experts feel like you’re eavesdropping on a fascinating, funny, and refreshingly honest conversation. One minute you’re laughing at a hilarious anecdote, the next you’re pondering a deep insight about the human experience.

2. My Favorite Murder

• Best For: True crime fans who love a dose of dark humor.
• Why It’s a Great Road Trip Listen: Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark have created a cultural phenomenon by blending true crime with comedy. Their witty banter and genuine friendship make even the darkest topics feel approachable. It’s the perfect show to keep you and your travel buddies alert and entertained, shouting “SSDGM!” as you drive.

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For the Thrill-Seeker

3. Criminal

• Best For: Gripping, high-quality true crime storytelling.
• Why It’s a Great Road Trip Listen: If you want your true crime without the comedy, Criminal is the gold standard. Host Phoebe Judge’s calm, steady voice guides you through complex cases, bizarre heists, and historical wrongs. Each episode is a masterclass in storytelling that will have you glued to your seat, turning a boring highway into the scene of a mystery.
• Our Tip: Listen to the episode “The Manual” on a night drive. The suspense is unmatched.

4. Welcome to Night Vale

• Best For: Lovers of sci-fi, surreal humor, and quirky fiction.
• Why It’s a Great Road Trip Listen: This isn’t your typical story. Presented as a community radio show for a bizarre desert town where every conspiracy theory is true, Night Vale is wonderfully weird. Its eerie, deadpan humor is especially fun to listen to as the sun goes down, adding a layer of thrilling mystery to your drive.

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For the Curious Mind

5. Stuff You Should Know

• Best For: Learning fascinating things about literally everything.
• Why It’s a Great Road Trip Listen: How do black holes work? What’s the history of ketchup? Hosts Josh and Chuck have an answer for everything. Their friendly curiosity makes complex topics easy to understand and endlessly interesting. It’s the perfect podcast to spark conversation and have you looking at the world around you with fresh eyes at your next rest stop.

6. Science Vs

• Best For: Debunking myths with fun, factual science.
• Why It’s a Great Road Trip Listen: Is fasting actually good for you? Are aliens out there? Wendy Zukerman and her team dive into the science behind popular fads, opinions, and myths. The episodes are energetic, well-researched, and guaranteed to spark a lively debate with your passengers.

7. How I Built This with Guy Raz

• Best For: Motivation and inspiring entrepreneurial stories.
• Why It’s a Great Road Trip Listen: Feeling stuck? Let the stories of the world’s greatest entrepreneurs inspire you. Guy Raz interviews the founders behind iconic companies like Airbnb, Dyson, and Patagonia. Hearing their tales of struggle, failure, and ultimate triumph is the perfect fuel to get you thinking about your own big ideas while on the open road.

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For the Story Lover

8. The Moth

• Best For: Authentic, moving, and hilarious true stories from real people.
• Why It’s a Great Road Trip Listen: The Moth features people telling true stories live on stage, without notes. The tales range from epic adventures to small, intimate moments. The sheer variety of human experience on display will make you laugh, cry, and feel deeply connected to the storytellers, turning your car into a mobile theater.

9. You Must Remember This

• Best For: Film buffs and anyone who loves old Hollywood scandals.
• Why It’s a Great Road Trip Listen: Cruise down the highway while diving into the secret and forgotten histories of Hollywood’s first century. Host Karina Longworth’s incredible research and narrative style bring the golden age of cinema—and its darkest secrets—to life. It’s a nostalgic and fascinating escape.

10. No Such Thing As A Fish

• Best For: Quick bites of bizarre and hilarious trivia.
• Why It’s a Great Road Trip Listen: From the researchers behind the British TV show QI, this podcast presents the most bizarre, hilarious, and interesting facts discovered by the team each week. The short, punchy format is perfect for breaking up longer podcast episodes or for keeping your mind sharp during a quick pit stop.

Final Thoughts: Your Turn!

Before you go, remember to download your episodes in advance to avoid losing service in a dead zone. A good mix of genres is key to keeping everyone in the car happy.

Now, we want to hear from you.

What are your go-to road trip podcasts? Share your favorites in the comments below!