If you’re looking for a way to keep yourself entertained on your next drive, look no further! I’ve got a great selection for you of free audiobooks for road trips that will keep you hooked for the entire journey. Whether you’re looking for funny fiction or an engaging drama, you’ll find something for every mood (and even the smallest wallet) here!
Now, just to get this out of the way, audiobooks are expensive! So, what you will find in the list of audiobooks below is a mix of titles that really are entirely free, as well as some that you can pick up through public libraries with Hoopla or other digital library platforms, or as a free audiobook during a trial month in various audiobook services.
I’ll discuss different options for audiobook subscriptions below so that you have alternatives if you, e.g., aren’t eligible for a free trial with Audible anymore.
Don’t worry, either way, I’ve got my fellow book lovers covered, so the next drive won’t get boring!
**The marked links and book covers on this page are affiliate links. If you use them to purchase something, I earn a fee at no additional cost for you. Disclosure**
Why Audiobooks are Amazing for Road Trips
Audiobooks are the perfect way to keep yourself entertained on long road trips. A good audiobook is a fantastic form of entertainment, and you can choose from a wide variety of genres and styles to suit your mood.
Plus, with audiobooks, there’s no need to worry about cell phone service or finding a good radio station – you can just listen, relax, and enjoy the ride.
On family road trips, on the other hand, things can get a bit too exciting (aka stressful) at times, and you might wish for a quiet, boring ride by yourself. But with the right audiobook, you can avoid the dreaded “Are we there yet?” syndrome and make the trip more enjoyable for everyone.
Of course, you have to choose a story that is fitting for the youngest listener!
Where can you get Free Audio Books?
As I said earlier, there are two main sources for free audio books online. The first one is your local library. A library card is a great way to get audiobooks for free!
Just head to your library’s website and see which digital content service they offer. Hoopla is the most popular one, but there are others like Overdrive or Axis360.
If your local library doesn’t have digital audiobooks or you aren’t eligible for a library card from a public library in your state that offers digital content, don’t worry – there are still plenty of ways to get your hands on free audiobooks.
The second main source for free audio books is LibriVox. LibriVox is a project by volunteers that record public domain books and releases them for free in MP3 format. They have a huge selection of classics, some more obscure, but also many well-known ones that are still fun today.
Now, the third option for free audio books is a bit more… hit and miss than the other two. Signing up for free trials!
Considering the large number of online audiobook services, free trials can really get you quite far. But it’s also more involved since you have to sign up with all your info, then cancel again, install an app, and so on. Nevertheless, it’s the best way to get recent bestsellers for free!
If you sign up for a free trial with Audible, Audiobooks.com, Downpour, or Kobo, you can choose one audiobook from their entire catalog, and you get to keep that after canceling your free trial.
During a free trial with Kindle Unlimited, Audible Plus (which is also included in a normal Audible trial), or Scribd, you can listen to as many audiobooks as you like during your test month but only while your subscription is active. So, if you cancel your trial right away, you can only listen to the audiobooks for 30 days. Then you can’t access them anymore.
But if you’re planning a road trip with lots of driving, these trial subscriptions are awesome because you can listen to so many great audiobooks there!
8 Great Audiobooks for a Family Road Trip
The Wee Free Men
Terry Pratchett (Author), Stephen Briggs (Narrator)
The Tiffany Aching series by the amazing Terry Pratchett is extremely entertaining, funny, and my middle-grade favorite. It has fantastic role models for kids!
And thanks to the wonderful wit of Sir Terry, this is a smart story with depth that adults will love as much as young children. I have actually read it as an adult for the first time and can’t wait to read it with my kids.
The Wee Free Men is only the first book in the series. The young witch Tiffany and the Nac Mac Feegle can keep you entertained on many a long drive!
You can find this on Hoopla or listen to the entire Tiffany Aching series in a Scribd free trial**
Related article: New Terry Pratchett Audiobooks!
Legendborn
Tracy Deonn (Author), Joniece Abbott-Pratt (Narrator)
If you are looking for magic students and a suspenseful magical tournament, forget about J.K. Rowling and get Legendborn by Tracy Deonn instead!
The audiobook version is narrated by Joniece Abbott-Pratt, and it is out of this world.
The story is about the descendants of Arthur and the knights of the Round Table, and the magic will pull you and your family members right in. This is one of the best modern Fantasy books and great to listen to on a long drive!
You can listen to Legendborn on Scribd**
Or get it here for your free 30-day trial credit:
Audiobooks.com**
Amazon Audible**
Downpour**
Kobo**
The Hunger Games Trilogy
Suzanne Collins (Author), Tatiana Maslany (Narrator)
If you’re traveling with older children, your family road trip might be a great opportunity to listen to the unabridged audiobooks of the Hunger Games trilogy.
This is a favorite for older kids and young adults alike and is a fantastic story! The trilogy has recently been re-recorded with Tatiana Maslany as narrator.
You can find this on Hoopla or listen to the entire Hunger Games trilogy in a Scribd free trial**
One For All
Lillie Lainoff (Author), Mara Wilson (Narrator)
One For All is a wonderful Young Adult Historical Fiction novel that is as amazing for adults as for teens!
It’s about the daughter of a Musketeer, and there is lots of fencing, lots of spying, and amazing young women.
A very fast-paced, fun audiobook that is wonderfully narrated by Mara Wilson!
You can listen to One For All on Scribd**
Or get it here for your free trial credit:
Audiobooks.com**
Amazon Audible**
Downpour**
Kobo**
Free Childrens Audiobooks
If you have an Audible subscription or can sign up for a free trial, you can listen to all of the following audiobooks with your children for free! They are included in the Audible Plus catalog, and you can borrow them while your subscription is active.
These are all great options to listen to with younger children and the entire family as they are very popular with Audible listeners:
The Flying Flamingo Sisters** by Carrie Seim, narrated by a full cast
The Mystwick School of Musicraft series** by Jessica Khoury, narrated by Suzy Jackson
The Viva Durant series** by Ashli St. Armant, narrated by Bahni Turpin
Interview with the Robot** by Lee Bacon, narrated by a full cast
My Top 10 of the Best Road Trip Audiobooks
Good Omens
Neil Gaiman (Author), Terry Pratchett (Author), Rebecca Front (Narrator), Michael Sheen (Narrator), David Tennant (Narrator), and a full cast
Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman is an all-time favorite that is good for a listen and relisten!
The latest recording of this beloved bestseller has many of the voices from the Amazon Prime show, including David Tennant and Michael Sheen.
You can find this on Hoopla or get it in a free 30-day trial with one of these audiobook stores:
Good Omens on Audible**
Good Omens on Kobo**
American Gods
Neil Gaiman (Author), Ron McLarty (Narrator), Daniel Oreskes (Narrator), and a full cast
American Gods is one of the best road trip audiobooks, not only because it is about a road trip!
This Urban Fantasy classic will most certainly keep you entertained on your long drive.
Neil Gaiman is one of my favorite authors, and I can highly recommend the 10th-anniversary edition of this book which is narrated by a full cast and absolutely captivating. Accompany Shadow on his tour through the United States!
You can find this on Hoopla or listen to American Gods 10th Anniversary edition on Scribd**
Related article: The Best Urban Fantasy Audiobooks
Seatmate
Cara Bastone (Author), Amanda Ronconi (Narrator), Zachary Webber (Narrator), and a full cast
We continue with the road trip theme! In this sweet Romantic Comedy, two people meet on a bus and get to know each other on their long drive. I
Seatmate is very romantic but not explicit, and definitely suitable to be listened to in company.
This excellent audiobook is included in Audible Plus, so you can borrow it for free if you are already an Audible subscriber.
Or you grab a free trial month to get access to the Audible Plus catalog (as I said earlier, this is not just one book you get for an Audible credit, you can borrow all Audible Plus books for free, like with Netflix or Kindle Unlimited).
Seatmate in Audible Plus**
The Hobbit
J.R.R. Tolkien (Author)
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien probably won’t need much of an introduction. It’s a timeless Classic!
And whether or not you have seen the movies, the unabridged version narrated by Andy Serkis is a wonderful choice when you’re looking for audiobooks for the whole family.
Andy Serkis is an experienced audiobook narrator and was Gollum in the Lord of the Rings movies! You will likely recognize many of his character voices.
You can find The Hobbit, narrated by Andy Serkis, on Scribd** and on Hoopla.
Dial A for Aunties
Jesse Q. Sutanto (Author), Risa Mei (Narrator)
If you love fast-paced and unique stories that don’t quite fit any specific genre, you will have a wonderful time with Dial A for Aunties!
This can best be described as a Mystery, but it’s not dark. It’s a suspenseful, chaotic, hilarious Comedy with some romantic elements, but either way, it’s a whole bag of fun!
So far, there are two books in this series, and you can listen to both Auntie books on Scribd**
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
Douglas Adams (Author), Stephen Fry (Narrator)
Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is one of the most beloved Science Fiction books!
The audiobooks are narrated by Stephen Fry, who always does such a great job, and The Hitchhiker’s Guide is perfect when you want an entertaining book that can give you a good laugh.
You can listen to the entire Hitchhiker’s series on Scribd**
Related article: The Best Science Fiction Audiobooks
The Dispatcher
John Scalzi (Author), Zachary Quinto (Narrator)
If you like absurd and funny audiobooks for road trips with a side of suspense, you will love The Dispatcher!
This is one of the most popular, best books in Audible Plus and absolutely worth a listen. Zachary Quinto did such a fantastic job with the narration, too!
You can listen to both currently available books in The Dispatcher series in Audible Plus**
Related article: The Best Audible Originals
The Murderbot Diaries
Martha Wells (Author), Kevin R. Free (Narrator)
I can see how, if you haven’t heard of Murderbot before, you’d now be like, “What? Murderbot? No thanks.” But this is one of the most wholesome Science Fiction book series out there!
Murderbot (which is the name it has given itself) has this incredibly dry humor. And the narration by Kevin R. Free is simply delightful.
These audiobooks are all around extremely entertaining. I recently gave the print version to my mom because I completely believe in the universal appeal of the Murderbot!
You can enjoy this on Hoopla or binge the entire Murderbot series on Scribd**
The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl
Issa Rae (Author, Narrator)
If you tend more towards Nonfiction than Fiction, I recommend The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl audiobook for your next road trip!
I found this collection of short stories and essays extremely entertaining, captivating, and enlightening. Narrated by the author herself, this is such a great listen!
You can listen to The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl on Scribd**
Or get it here for your free trial credit:
Audiobooks.com**
Amazon Audible**
Downpour**
Kobo**
Broken (in the Best Possible Way)
Jenny Lawson (Author, Narrator)
Broken( in the Best Possible Way) was one of my favorite audiobooks of 2021 because it is a warm hug in book form!
Jenny Lawson reads the audiobook version herself, and it is wonderful to listen to her giving back her own words. This is a funny, comforting, relatable Nonfiction book about mental health and simply being human.
You can borrow this through Hoopla or listen to Broken on Scribd**
15 Completely Free Audio Books for Road Trips
Now we’ve looked at some of the best road trip audiobooks that you can listen to for free under certain conditions. But I promised you free audiobooks for road trips in the title, and I will make sure to deliver on this with 15 extremely good audiobooks that are truly free for everyone at any time!
LibriVox
There are a few pages that offer free audiobooks. Let’s start with LibriVox!
LibriVox is a great place when you are looking for truly free audio books for road trips and any other time really. It’s a project of volunteers recording books in the public domain, and you can download everything as MP3s.
While the standard for LibriVox audio books is that every chapter is narrated by a different volunteer, the popular timeless Classics often have more professional productions either with a single narrator or as a dramatization with a full cast, with each contributor reading the same characters in each chapter.
Here are some of the best audiobooks for road trips on LibriVox:
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, read by a full cast
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, read by a full cast
Loyal Books
You can also find LibriVox publid domain audiobook productions on Loyal Books where you can either download them as MP3s or stream directly on the page.
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
PodBean
Podcast service PodBean offers a small catalog of professionally produced Classics that you should check out! Simply install the PodBean podcast app to play these free Classic audiobooks over your car speakers.
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
StoryNory
Storynory has a great selection of fairytales and stories for children, including 1001 Arabian Nights. You can stream these free audiobooks in a browser window or download them as MP3s to play in your car.
Ali Baba and the Thirty Thieves
Audible
Audible always offers a small selection of completely free audiobooks. You don’t need a subscription for this, you only need to install the free app and create a free account (or simply log in with your Amazon email and password). There’s no payment necessary to listen to these books! Simply click “Play”.
Here are the books that are currently available for free on Audible:
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, narrated by Emily Bauer, Laura Dern, Lauren Fortgang, Allison Hiroto, Carly Robins, Suzanne Toren
Impact Winter by Travis Beacham, narrated by a full cast
Brackish Waters by Matt Boren, narrated by Christina Applegate
H.G. Wells: The Science Fiction Collection by H. G. Wells, narrated by Hugh Bonneville, Jason Isaacs, Sophie Okonedo, David Tennant, Alexander Vlahos, Eli Roth (introduction)
AudiobooksNow.com
This Audible competitor also offers a few entirely free audiobooks. As with Audible, you need to create a free account (you can skip the part where they ask for your payment information), and you need to install the app to listen to the Audiobooks Now free audio books.
Emergency Landing by Seanan McGuire, narrated by Natalie Naudus
Resisting by Chelle Bliss, narrated by Lance Greenfield, Kirsten Leigh
Countdown to a Kiss by Piper Rayne, narrated by Joe Arden, Maxine Mitchell
I hope you found something great on my list of free audiobooks for road trips. Drive safe and happy listening! 😉
Eline Blackman (pronouns: she/they) fell in love with books as a child – with being read to and reading herself. 10 years ago, she bought her first Audible book. It was love at first listen! An average of 250 audiobooks per year has become the new normal and you will rarely see Eline without a wireless earbud. Romance and Fantasy are the go-to genres for this audiobook fan.