21 Road Trip Podcasts That’ll Make You Want to Keep Driving

Road trips are almost as American as baseball and apple pie. Nostalgic, adventurous, and exciting, a road trip lets you both reach your destination, and make it part of your journey, with the bonus of seeing the sights along the way (not to mention, save on airfare).

For some of us, the road trip conjures feelings of childhood nostalgia and excitement, gas station snack runs, deep conversations shared with fellow passengers, or the heights of delirium reached in those last few joyful miles. Road trips can signify an annual trip with favorite must-stop locations, or the start of something new, like the transition to college or a big move.

While the road trip means something different for everyone, there comes a moment in every drive where the inevitable question is asked: “Are we there yet?”

Even if you have the best scenery, road trip essentials, and company in the world, all those hours on the road can add up, fast. No matter how much fun a road trip is, there’s always a point where it just feels long, and can be hard to stay awake when your only scenery is endless miles of open road. If you’re roadtripping solo, without someone to keep you awake, staying alert and engaged isn’t just for personal comfort, it’s a safety issue.

Music can take you far, and if that’s your jam, stick with it. But if you need a story to keep you engaged after miles and miles of freeway driving, we rounded up the best road trip podcasts to keep you awake, entertained, and — depending on the genre — either laughing, crying, learning, or all three.