Best podcasts for road trips: Your go-to playlist for travelling

Planning a road trip? The right podcast can turn long drives into unforgettable adventures. Whether you’re craving gripping stories, laugh-out-loud moments, or fascinating facts, this updated list has the best podcasts for road trips to keep you entertained all the way. Buckle up and hit play.

Last Podcast On The Left

Love creepy stories and wild humor? The Last Podcast On The Left has everything bizarre, terrifying, and downright hilarious. Marcus Parks, Henry Zebrowski, and Ed Larson take on topics that will keep you hooked—and maybe a little freaked out.

Want to dive into the minds of serial killers like Jeffrey Dahmer or John Wayne Gacy? They’ve got deep-dive ‘heavy hitter’ episodes for that. Curious about cults like Jonestown or Heaven’s Gate? Yep, those are here too. How about paranormal chills like iconic hauntings, demonology, or UFO encounters? It’s all in the mix. They even cover quirky stuff like chaos magic, Bigfoot hunters, and conspiracy theories (Henry’s favorite rabbit hole, and mine, too).

Each issue is packed with crazy details, rough digressions, and moments of ‘Did they really just say that?’ Whether it’s the bizarre history of war crimes or strange urban legends, each episode is a wild ride. If you like your horror with a side of comedy, this podcast is a must for your next travel list.

Maybe you shouldn’t play it during a family trip, though.

SmartLess

A trio of friends brings you laughs and top conversations with a mystery celebrity guest.

Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett make every episode of SmartLess feel like a lively get-together. Their chemistry is effortless, and the surprise guest format keeps each episode fresh and unpredictable. The vibe is casual and fun, making you feel like you’re part of the conversation. One minute you’re laughing, and the next, you’re caught in a thought-provoking moment—like during the episode with Robert Downey Jr.

This podcast isn’t just about entertainment; it’s a mix of humor, heartfelt moments, and celebrity stories that feel surprisingly personal. My personal favorites? Check out the episodes with Robert Downey Jr, the one with Jerry Seinfeld and the one Ricky Gervais. Really fun, deep stuff.

Ready for your SmartLess road trip adventure? We’ve curated the ultimate Smartless episode guide.

Armchair Expert

The messiness of being human with Dax Shepard and Monica Padman.

Dax Shepard and Monica Padman create a chill, honest vibe that gets their guests to open up in surprising ways. One episode might have you laughing at Dax’s jokes, and the next, you’re blown away by Monica Lewinsky’s honesty or Esther Perel’s wisdom. They balance humor and real talk so well, it feels like you’re part of the conversation. If you want something to make you laugh, think, and maybe even tear up a little, this podcast is a must. It’s the perfect buddy for your road trip, or whenever you need something to lift your mood. It’s a ride through the highs and lows of life, guaranteed to make every mile more entertaining.

Craving more Armchair Expert for your journey? Discover our curated list of Armchair Expert episodes that promise to be the best companions for your road trip adventures.

We’re Alive

This intense audio drama mixes survival stories and a zombie apocalypse to deliver a unique show about resilience.

We’re Alive is a gripping post-apocalyptic audio drama that pulls you into a world where survival is the only option. With zombies lurking everywhere, Kc Wayland delivers a story packed with desperation, fear, and rays of hope.
The sound effects and voice acting make you feel like you’re right there with the characters, and with nearly 200 half-hour episodes, there’s no shortage of drama to keep you hooked.
You’ll follow a group of survivors as they fight to stay alive and navigate what’s left of humanity. The story keeps the suspense high while diving deeper into the characters’ struggles and relationships.
Whether you’re revisiting earlier seasons or starting fresh, We’re Alive is perfect for binge-listening—especially on a long road trip.

WA is the best audio drama show to ever hit the airwaves. Everything from the writing all the way down to the sound of a squeaky chair is just perfection. Each of the series brings you characters you love and/or hate. I’ve listened to the show a couple times through and each time I learn something new. 

Listener review

Behind the Bastards 

A fun and fascinating look at the lives of history’s most infamous characters.

If you’re into the darker side of history, Behind the Bastards is a must-add to your road trip playlist.

Every episode (be prepared; they can be long!) explores the rise and fall of historical figures who left their mark for all the wrong reasons.

Host Robert Evans, a former war journalist and Cracked writer, teams up with guests to peel back the layers of infamous dictators, shady celebrities, and more.

They don’t just stick to the history books—expect wild, sometimes jaw-dropping personal details, with plenty of humor to keep things from getting too heavy. Producer Sophie and the guests often jump in with jokes and side comments, making even the darkest topics surprisingly entertaining.

Whether they’re unpacking the twisted world of Bikram yoga, Nazi doctors like Josef Mengele, or Coco Chanel’s questionable WWII connections, the storytelling will keep you hooked.

Episodes drop weekly, often split into two parts—perfect for those long stretches on the road.

Well researched, darkly humorous stories about terrible people past and present. Some are well known and some you may not have heard of, all will have you questioning how people can be so evil.

Listener review

American History Tellers

Learn everything about the key moments in American history and how they shaped the world we live in today.

American History Tellers is like a time machine in podcast form. Host Lindsay Graham dives deep into the key moments that shaped American history and culture, showing how the past still echoes in our world today.

With nearly 300 episodes, each about 40 minutes, there’s no shortage of fascinating stories. Seasons cover everything from the Cold War and Prohibition to quirky events like the Boston Molasses Disaster or Hawaii becoming a state.

It’s the perfect listen for history buffs or anyone curious about the stories behind the headlines of the past. Buckle up for an audio road trip through time.

What I love most about this podcast is Graham’s ability to add eyewitness perspectives to historical events. How did it feel to BE there in these moments, to live through these times? I also appreciate that he takes events that might have been just a sentence or two in my history textbook and expands on them. I was a history nerd before I started listening to Graham, and I’ve already discovered so much about America’s past that I didn’t know.

Listener review

The Dollop

Laugh and learn with this podcast, sharing bizarre American history stories in a fun, hilarious way.

The Dollop is the perfect mix of history and comedy for your next road trip binge.
In each episode, Dave—a comedian with a love for history—digs up a wild, often overlooked story from America’s past. He shares it with Gareth, his equally funny co-host, who hasn’t heard the story before. Gareth’s off-the-cuff reactions and witty remarks add to the absurd tales.
From the infamous Edison vs. Tesla rivalry to the tragic story of the Radium Girls, they cover a little bit of everything. You’ll laugh, you’ll cringe, and you might even learn something. The mix of improv comedy and history makes every episode a treat.
It’s like having a stand-up comedy show but with a side of quirky history. If you’re looking for a podcast that’s funny, smart, and never dull, this show is the right one for your road trip listening list.

This is a great show for that “hahahahaha oof” feeling. And a great place to learn a bunch of facts that you’ll have to pretend you read in a book when you argue with your family abt American history.

Listener review

Normal Gossip

A fun twist on everyday life—funny, relatable, and full of stories that turn the ordinary into something worth talking about.

Need a funny, chatty buddy for your next road trip? Check out Normal Gossip. Hosted by journalist and writer Kelsey McKinney—whose work has appeared in The New York Times, Vanity Fair, and Cosmopolitan—this podcast takes everyday gossip sent in by listeners and turns it into fascinating one-hour episodes.

What sets Normal Gossip apart is its ability to make the ordinary feel extraordinary. You’ll get a peek into the quirky, dramatic decisions of strangers you’ll never meet. It’s lighthearted, totally binge-worthy, and perfect for keeping you entertained on the road. If you’re looking for something fun and just the right amount of silly, this podcast will be your new obsession.

The hook of this show is juicy gossip, but what makes it work is Kelsey’s brilliant storytelling. The stories are rich in detail and funny turns and the podcast does an excellent job of not flattening the characters out into archetypes or reducing the stories to narrative cliches. It keeps everything hilariously unpredictable—and feels more true to the shining messiness of life. 

Listener review

Darknet Diaries

Hackers, privacy, and cybercrime in a podcast that makes digital security thrilling and easy to follow.

If you’re curious about the hidden side of the internet, Darknet Diaries is the podcast you need to check out. Host Jack Rhysider takes you on a wild ride through stories of cybercrime, digital privacy, internet culture, cryptocurrencies, and how people manipulate online platforms.
Since 2017, this podcast has been serving up fascinating cases in episodes that pull you in and keep you hooked with a fantastic combination of actual interviews and audio clips.
What makes Darknet Diaries stand out is how it mixes suspense, deep research, and eye-opening topics. It’s the perfect pick if you’re into tech, true crime, or just love a great story.

Jack hosts and guides the stories of this show with exquisite precision and candor. Good interviews are not all equal. Some people simply lack the curiosity and or skill needed to really get honest chronicles and open conversations. Not Jack. So I applaud the team that makes the show for creating an environment and a series that does it right. We get to share in the glory of having truths and prickly, dark, difficult questions and topics explored and laid out in the light. This kind of journalism, if one can call it that, is precisely what the world needs more of.

Listener review

Some episodes to get started:

• Episode 17 – “Finn”: Explore how a young loner turned schoolboy hacker.
• Episode 32 – “The Carder”: Join a high-stakes chase to catch infamous hacker Roman Seleznev.
• Episode 27 – “Chartbreakers”: Discover how some cheat their way to the top of podcast charts.

Whether you’re seeking thrilling tales, probing debates, or funny anecdotes, these podcasts promise to make your next road trip one of a kind. Pack your bags, prepare your playlist, and hit the road. Every trip tells a story, and these podcasts promise to make yours unforgettable. Safe travels and happy listening.

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