Travel InspirationRoad Trips
By Aislyn Greene, Iona Brannon, Sara Button, Shannon Reed
  •  August 11, 2026

The 43 Best Podcasts for Your Next Road Trip or Long Flight

Behind the wheel or at the window, lose yourself in a great story.
Covers of six podcasts

What takes a road trip from good to great? Hours and hours of top-notch podcasts.

Design by Elizabeth See

In this Article

This story was originally published in 2018 and most recently updated on August 11, 2026, to include current information.

Travel and podcasts go hand in hand. You can listen while taking a scenic train ride, a road trip, or a long flight. Podcasts are especially appealing when you’re jet-lagged, allowing you to close your burning eyes and give yourself over to a good story.

There are a dizzying number of podcasts to wade through, so we’ve done the work for you. We chose these based on thousands of hours of listening to podcasts and making our own here at Afar. Whether you love a good murder mystery, need a family-friendly listen, or want to laugh for miles, these are our picks for 43 podcasts to listen to on your travels.

For going to unexpected places

Covers of two podcasts: "National Park After Dark (with illustration of skeleton backpacking in Yosemite) (L) and "Unpacked" (globe in open pink suitcase) (R)

Explore curiosities of the world, download an Afar podcast, and more.

Courtesy of National Park After Dark and Afar

Travel Tales by Afar

We know what makes a good podcast; Afar has three of our own, including Travel Tales by Afar, and in season six, we hit the road again. Hike 7,500 miles from Cairo to Cape Town, head into the Arctic with the Indigenous people of Nunavik, Canada, and learn the history of coleslaw in the U.S. Our podcast is your ticket to the world—no passport required.

Unpacked

In Unpacked, the Podcast, we dig deeper into pressing topics such as finding joy as an LGBTQ+ traveler and the rise of AI travel advisors. So far in season five, we’ve unpacked the stories of Motown, female safari guides, traveling without a phone, and much more. The world is complicated, and we’re here to help you unpack it.

Outside Podcast

Adventurers yearning to learn about epic rescues and endurance athletes should tune into this weekly podcast from the team at Outside magazine. Episodes in 2026 have covered making an outdoor adventure film at night, how Brenna Huckaby came to be a gold medal–winning Paralympian snowboarder, and what it’s really like to be on the survival reality show Naked and Afraid.

Jump with Traveling Jackie

Jackie is the vivacious host of this long-running podcast, on which she discusses her own travel and brings in guests for tips and conversation. Some of Jackie’s most powerful episodes feature unpolished narration from outside the studio in which she explores her own feelings and experiences on the road, whether she’s walking through Jordan or exploring the truck camper life. The episodes often last an hour or more, which allows for deep, expansive dives into the topics.

National Park After Dark

Each week, hosts (and best friends) Danielle and Cassie tell each other true tales from the wilds of U.S. national parks and forests, such as the 1967 Cog Railway disaster on Mount Washington, or a hiker’s mysterious disappearance in Mount Rainier National Park. More than 450 episodes in, the campfire is still burning.

Wander Your Way

On this classic weekly podcast, host Lynne Nieman—who seems to have been everywhere across the pond—shares excellent travel tips, but her specialty is pointing listeners to off-the-beaten-path destinations. With Lynne, you’ll visit the Scottish stone circle site Kilmartin Glen instead of Stonehenge, and Umbria instead of Tuscany in Italy. It’s a particularly great listen for those who’ve already been to the tourist traps.

For anyone who loves to read

Covers of two podcasts: "Welcome to Night Vale (black and purple art of water tower, telephone pole, and moon) (L) and "Totally Booked" (teal and white with photo of face of host Zibby (R)

Dive into the fictional world of a desert town where every conspiracy theory is true and listen to best-selling authors talk about their work.

Courtesy of Welcome to Night Vale and Totally Booked

Welcome to Night Vale

One of the best-known fiction podcasts, about a desert town where every conspiracy theory is true, Welcome to Night Vale has been described as “Lake Woebegone as told by Stephen King.” Fourteen years in, the series—which has spawned several books, world tours, and a fervent fan base—is still going strong, with new episodes arriving on the first and 15th of every month.

Selected Shorts

A New York institution since the 1980s, Symphony Space’s beloved series pairs great short fiction with stage and screen actors who read stories curated by host and novelist Meg Wolitzer. New hour-long episodes arrive every Thursday. They are ideal for disappearing into an entire world between rest stops.

Old Gods of Appalachia

This eerie horror anthology unfolds in an alternate Appalachia where ancient beings slumber beneath the coal seams. Creators Steve Shell and Cam Collins, both Virginia natives, trade tired hillbilly stereotypes for tales about a region rendered with love, dread, and gorgeous detail. Season six is wrapping its final story arc in 2026.

Totally Booked with Zibby

Zibby Owens is a publishing powerhouse who has interviewed more than 2,000 authors. For her five episodes a week, she casts a wide net, showcasing beach reads, historical fiction, general interest nonfiction, and health. Each episode introduces listeners to an author and their process, making that next trip to the library or bookstore even more fun. Past guests include Jean Kwok, author of the hit Girl in Translation; Canadian writer Eliza Reid, who became the first lady of Iceland; and Daniel Gumnit, CEO of the Little Free Library movement.

For lots of laughs

Handsome

Listen Now: Website | Apple Podcasts | Spotify

Miss Don’t Ask Tig Tig Notaro is back, now flanked by comedians Fortune Feimster and Mae Martin. Each week, the trio fields one question from a celebrity friend—recently, Will Ferrell, on the World Cup—then wanders gloriously off topic. Warm, absurd, and reliably hilarious.

Las Culturistas

For a decade, comedians Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang have hosted hundreds of episodes, mixing deep dives into pop culture, fun bickering, celebrity guests, and plenty of criticism (such as the recurring minute-long game “I Don’t Think So, Honey!” about frustrating social and cultural phenomena).

Go Fact Yourself

This hilarious podcast is also a game show that’s recorded live twice a month. Hosts J. Keith van Straaten and Helen Hong quiz a visiting celebrity (such as Drew Carey) on their self-proclaimed area of expertise (in Carey’s case, the conversation drills down on game shows). In about an hour, you’ll be charmed by the quick wit and erudition. There are about 200 episodes to keep you entertained.

For cultural takedowns

Pop Culture Happy Hour

When you need a quick hit of cultural insight, whether it’s an overview of a new album or TV show, the best summer snacks, or a read on the sweatiest movies of all time, NPR’s weekday review show will help. A rotating array of hosts with unexpected opinions keeps it fresh, and the hosts shake up the round-table format often enough to keep it an engaging daily listen. Episodes never top 30 minutes.

You Are Good

Host Alex Steed looks at popular movies of the past 50 years from a fan’s perspective, leading to thoughtful (and funny) discussions of topics that are cultural, personal, and metaphysical. Steed is joined by a writer or fellow podcaster who chooses a favorite film to discuss; topics have included Everything Everywhere All at Once, Magic Mike, and The Prince of Egypt.

How Did This Get Made?

Three popular comedians (Paul Scheer, June Diane Raphael, and Jason Mantzoukas) ask the titular question about recent films. Famous, funny friends such as Nicole Byer, Cameron Esposito, and Joel Kim Booster stop by to help analyze “classics” like Road House and Fifty Shades of Grey. Let’s just say that these folks don’t talk like they want to keep working in Hollywood.

Talk Art

British actor Russell Tovey and gallerist Robert Diament talk to artists, art fans, and other folks connected to visual art, including big names such as Ryan Murphy and Judy Chicago, in hour-long episodes. The unique combination of Tovey’s appreciation for artists of another genre and Diament’s art-world experience creates a winning and educational show.

If Books Could Kill

Ever wonder if those airport pop-psychology bestsellers are worth your time? Hosts Michael Hobbes (Maintenance Phase) and Peter Shamshiri (5-4 Pod) are here to tell you that those books are most definitely not. Each episode is a witheringly smart and funny read of such tomes as Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers and Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In. While their obvious hatred for these books drives the show, Hobbes and Shamshiri’s hilarious, discursive, and digressive banter is what makes the trip fun.

For interviews and juicy gossip

Front cover of "ologies" with nature specimens (bug, shell, leaf, skull, etc.) (L); drawing of three colorful women on cover of "Normal Gossip"(R)

Listen to banal yet very relatable gossip and researchers who specialize in the most random topics.

Courtesy of Normal Gossip and Ologies

Normal Gossip

Host Rachelle Hampton welcomes a guest to share, discuss, and laugh at utterly banal (yet deeply juicy) morsels of reader-submitted gossip, such as a years-long family feud over who stuck a hot dog down the toilet at Thanksgiving in the ’90s. Each episode is equal parts hilarious and confounding and truly leaves no aspect of these tidbits unexamined. Afar contributor Sophie Friedman says she often listens to Normal Gossip while enjoying long walks around Paris.

Ologies

Tune in to science journalist Alie Ward’s fascinating conversations with researchers who specialize in the “-ology” of each episode. Lately, they’ve delved into chili peppers, Antarctica, and owls. Episodes run between 50 minutes and two hours, and time really flies when you’re hearing from a fromologist (cheese), lutrinologist (otters), or astrobromatologist (space food). Shorter, kid-safe “Smologies” editions are a good way for new listeners—say, the ones sitting in the back of family cars—to dig in.

Latina to Latina

Journalist and host Alicia Menendez welcomes Latinas like activist Paula Ávila-Guillén, actor Gina Rodriguez, and former U.N. General Assembly President María Fernanda Espinosa Garces to talk about the challenges they’ve faced and successes they’ve accomplished while navigating the world as women of color. Latina to Latina’s weekly 20- to 30-minute episodes have been running since April 2018, so there are more than 420 episodes to choose from.

Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Julia Louis-Dreyfus calls up iconic older women for frank, funny conversations about what they know now. This season, she talks to Jean Smart, Pam Grier, Joan Baez, and Cyndi Lauper. A winner of Webby Podcast of the Year and Apple Show of the Year awards, this podcast brings wit and wisdom to your road trip.

Queery

Host Cameron Esposito is a comedian and queer activist. In each episode of this podcast, which concluded in early 2024, they sit down with a fascinating guest to discuss LGBTQ+ issues. From Olympic figure skater Adam Rippon to actor/comedian Mae Martin, the guest list is wide-ranging and touches on most aspects of queer identity. Stand-out episodes include a visit from astrologer Chani Nicholas (who discusses Esposito’s birth chart) and drag queen Trixie Mattel (who talks about Provincetown and peeing while dressed in drag). Because the show has finished its run, it feels like a completed body of work.

For kids

Cover of "Rebel Girls" (blue square with white text) (L): cover of "Brains On!" (white square with teal text) (R) on a green background

Among the top podcasts for kids is one that place girls firmly at the center, Rebel Girls; the whole family will enjoy Brains On!

Courtesy of Rebel Girls and Brains On!

Wow in the World

From Tinkercast, this NPR-supported, educational kids show is cohosted by Guy Raz and author Mindy Thomas. Learn about black holes, supergerms, AI, and more, as the pod hits the Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How of each day’s theme in a tone suited for elementary grades.

Who, When, Wow!

An engaging look at obscure historical stories hosted by “aspiring time travel detective” Carly Q. Recent episodes dug deep into what it was really like to be a Viking, what actually happened to dinosaurs, and how jazz swept the USA in the 1920s. Episodes run about a half hour and are perfect for kids ages eight and up. The podcast website provides additional activities, too.

A Way with Words

Slang, new words, dialects, grammar, and word games are a few of the topics that journalist Martha Barnette and lexicographer Grant Barrett discuss on their long-running podcast. They answer callers’ questions about words, discuss vocabulary that has appeared in the news, and ponder linguistic curiosities from around the world. While it’s not specifically designed for children, the pair have created a fun, educational, family-friendly show.

The Rebel Girls Podcast

These 6- to 20-minute episodes about the lives of inspiring women are a good listen for kids ages six and up—and for grown-ups, too. Some episodes have special guests like Jameela Jamil and Alison Mosshart, and all cover famous figures like Frida Kahlo, Harriet Tubman, and Audre Lorde.

Brains On!

This 400-episode-strong science podcast is for curious kids and adults. Each episode poses an intriguing question—Do plants sleep? How do walkie-talkies work? Why do mosquitoes bite?—and spends a half-hour or so answering it.

Related: Should You Travel With Kids When They’re Too Young to Remember Anything?

For true crime aficionados

Last Seen

After spending their first season exploring the famous Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum heist in Boston, the hosts of Last Seen (all WBUR journalists) have turned their attention to other mysterious local cases. The most recent season, “Postmortem,” does a deep dive into the disappearing bodies that were donated to Harvard Medical School. No prior knowledge of Boston required.

Morbid

As concepts for podcasts go, a show in which a hairstylist and an autopsy technician poke around crime and its many related topics is a winner from the get-go. Hosts Alaina Urquhart and Ash Kelley are an aunt-niece team, and both are obsessed with, well, the morbid. Each episode is a spellbinding mix of goofy humor, genuine creepiness, and assertive knowledge. The duo have covered everything from serial killers to the kidnapping of John Paul Getty III.

Stuff the British Stole

This popular Australian podcast has the tagline: “Throughout its reign, the British Empire stole a lot of stuff.” From that winning premise, the completed series explains why so many treasures from so many other countries ended up in the British Museum and other sites throughout the United Kingdom. In a cheeky tone, journalist Marc Fennell digs into stories as varied as the real life of Pocahontas, who was, in a sense, stolen by the British from the then-American colonies, and that of an Ethiopian prince who was buried on the grounds of Windsor Castle after being kidnapped from his home country. The podcast is now also a TV show broadcast by Australian Broadcasting Company.

Criminal

Phoebe Judge’s velvet-voiced show has spent more than a decade proving true crime can be humane. Weekly episodes profile people who’ve done wrong, been wronged, or gotten caught somewhere in between. For instance, Judge recently dug into the stunning reversal of Alex Murdaugh’s murder conviction.

Ridiculous Crime

For those who prefer true crime without all that murder business, we have a podcast for you. Hosts Zaron Burnett and Elizabeth Dutton share hour-long episodes of, yes, ridiculous crimes, with con artists, jewelry thieves, and bank robbers all getting their hilarious due. Recent episodes have focused on a bootlegger in the Pacific Northwest during Prohibition and LEGO thieves.

For the celebrity-obsessed

Comments by Celebs

Specializing in people who are famous (and famous for being famous), this podcast thrives on of-the-moment celebrity gossip, with a heavy emphasis on the Kardashians and any breaking news in the world of Taylor Swift. After 13 seasons, hosts Emma Diamond and Julie Kramer are experts and provide context and even nuance around the doings of the Vanderpumps, the Biebers, Jay-Z, and many other people whose names you know—even if you don’t quite know why.

Super Soul

The incomparable Oprah comes to you in audio form, helping listeners connect with their inner lives and the world around them. She personally selects episodes from her collection of interviews with celebrities, authors, wellness experts, and world leaders—everyone from Deepak Chopra to Gloria Steinem—to help you access your best self.

Office Ladies

Angela Kinsey and Jenna Fischer (who played Angela and Pam, respectively, on the American version of The Office) are also real-life BFFs. Having rewatched the entire series episode by episode, the pair are now in their “Office Ladies 6.0” era: answering fan questions, revisiting classic moments, and welcoming cast, crew, and surprise celebrity guests. Their banter is warm and delightful, making this a fun choice even for folks who never got into the show, and the occasional guest star from the series dials up the fun.

SmartLess

Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett open every episode with a mystery: One host brings an unannounced guest. Recent reveals include Emma Thompson, Tom Hanks, and Jennifer Lopez. The bits are silly, the interviews unexpectedly deep, and the chemistry is perfect long-haul fuel for your next road trip.

Table Manners with Jessie and Lennie Ware

Singer Jessie Ware and her mom, Lennie, cook dinner for famous guests—in July 2026, Gracie Abrams dropped by for a smoked-salmon Dutch baby—while the table talk roams from childhood meals to life on tour. This podcast is guaranteed to make you hungry, so prepare some snacks before pressing play.

For history buffs

Cover of "Crash Course" (mostly teal) (L); cover of "Sidedoor" (black and yellow) (R) on yellow background

Dive into the archives of the Smithsonian and go deep into Black history in the United States.

Courtesy of Crash Course Black American History and Sidedoor

You’re Wrong About

Hindsight is 20/20—and it’s particularly interesting to revisit the events and public figures of the past with a modern perspective. That’s how host Sarah Marshall approaches her podcast, which reconsiders topics like the Terri Schiavo case, Yoko Ono and the Beatles, the O.J. Simpson trial, and the assassination of J.F.K. Adventurer Blair Braverman serves as “survival correspondent,” and in a recent episode, they looked at how, in 1961, an 11-year-old girl came through 82 hours adrift on a dinghy after her family was murdered on their boat. It’s spellbinding listening.

Sidedoor

The Smithsonian has some 157 million artifacts in its collection, and its Sidedoor podcast offers the best possible insider access. Host Lizzie Peabody invites listeners in, speaking with scientists, artists, historians, and others to explore topics like the world’s oldest winery, the life of hip-hop artist J Dilla, how low-rider cars are popular in Japan, and Katharine Wright, the untalked-about sister of the Wright brothers. Another plus? It’s family friendly; put it on as you head toward Washington, D.C. to get your kids hyped about the museums to come.

Slow Burn

Slate’s astoundingly well-researched, long-form narrative series has looked at the Clinton impeachment, the Biggie-Tupac beef, and Australia’s national dance (the Nutbush). Each season, a different host builds a fascinating, multilayered look at the topic, bringing in key voices through interviews. No matter what you think you already know about the subject, you’re sure to learn more.

Crash Course Black American History

Writer Clint Smith hosts this 51-episode podcast, which wrapped at the end of 2022. It provides a nuanced and comprehensive history class on Black America in 15-minute episodes. Smith starts with the arrival of the first enslaved people to what would become the United States, covers momentous historical figures like Martin Luther King, Jr. and Shirley Chisholm, and concludes with the Black Lives Matter movement.

Empire

Historians Anita Anand and William Dalrymple unpack how empires rise, fall, and shape everything from borders to biryani, always centering on the people who lived under them. Episodes in July 2026 examine the Algerian Revolution; hundreds of back episodes cover the Ottomans, the British Raj, and beyond.
Aislyn Greene
Aislyn Greene is the director of podcasts at Afar, where she produces the Unpacked by Afar podcast and hosts Afar’s Travel Tales podcast. She lives on a houseboat in Sausalito.
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