Best Travel Audiobooks to Inspire Your Next Adventure

In a riveting, stream-of-consciousness style, Jack Kerouac tells the timeless story of a thrill-seeking road trip across the country in this American classic. Listeners will find themselves along for a chaotic ride across the United States in all its 1950s gritty glory. Narrator Will Patton does an excellent job of giving life to this irresistible tale of reckless adventure, evoking nostalgia for the endless possibilities of youth. On the Road is undoubtedly one of the best travel audiobooks, bound to spark desire for a life-changing getaway.

In this captivating true story, adventurer and gifted storyteller Bill Bryson recounts his action-packed trek along the entirety of the Appalachian Trail. Bryson’s five-month journey on America’s longest footpath is full of entertaining tales about the beauty and hardships of the unpredictable wilderness. Perfectly delivered by narrator Rob McQuay, wildlife encounters and human interactions are vividly described with such keen attention to detail that listeners might feel like they’re standing in the forest themselves. It’s no wonder this New York Times best seller became an instant favorite among Audible listeners.

In Travels with Charley in Search of America, legendary storyteller John Steinbeck explores America with his dog, making some interesting observations along the way. Steinbeck’s unique approach to describing his adventures gives listeners a glimpse of what it would be like to take a road trip across America in the 60s. Through a series of interactions with strangers and friends alike, Steinbeck paints a striking picture of the United States during this turbulent period in its history. Narrated by award-winning film and television star Gary Sinise, this audiobook has a magnetic quality, inviting listeners to come along for an unforgettable ride with one of America’s most beloved authors.

Carsick, the true story of film director John Waters’s cross-country hitchhiking journey, will have listeners on the edge of their seats all the way from Baltimore to San Francisco. It’s hard to believe that a successful Hollywood veteran—whose directorial credits include cult classics like Hairspray and Cry-Baby would go "undercover" as an average guy hitching rides across the United States. Waters’s theatrical narration and enthusiasm is contagious, leaving listeners craving an equally spontaneous adventure. Carsick is one of the best audiobooks for fans of comedy who will love tagging along on this highly entertaining road trip.

With the help of her grand-nephew, Alex Prud’Homme, Julia Child tells the story of her formative years as an American chef in France. Expertly narrated by Kimberly Farr, this audiobook is a fascinating account of Child’s path to culinary fame. The legendary chef gives listeners an inside look at the birth of her passion for cooking and the many obstacles and rejections she faced before she became a household name. (Oh, and the vibrant descriptions of Paris in the 1950s might just tempt listeners to impulsively book a flight to France.)

Wild is the true story of one brave woman’s trek along the Pacific Crest Trail in search of a healing escape from loss and hardship. Cheryl Strayed expresses her grueling yet rewarding journey with a rawness that instantly grips the listener. Sure to inspire, Strayed vividly describes the physical and emotional challenges she faced along her transformative 1,000-mile journey. Narrated by six-time Golden Earphones Award winner Bernadette Dunne, the breathtaking descriptions of West Coast wilderness will make even the least outdoorsy person yearn for some time outside.

A House in the Sky is the memoir of global television journalist Amanda Lindhout’s experiences while kidnapped in Somalia as a young woman. Beautifully narrated by Lindhout herself, this cautionary tale of captivity in one of the most dangerous countries on Earth is heartbreaking. The evolution of Lindhout’s thought process while held hostage for 460 days will blow listeners’ minds; her ability to have compassion for her captors is simply unbelievable. A House in the Sky is the kind of audiobook you can’t stop listening to as you wait to hear of Lindhout’s triumphant escape.

Talented storyteller Michael Ondaatje shares his personal experiences returning to his native country of Sri Lanka in the late 1970s. This memoir is a series of poetic reflections on Ondaatje’s Sri Lankan homecoming and reunion with a side of his family that he missed dearly. The listening experience is enjoyable from start to finish thanks to Ondaatje’s deep voice, smooth narration, and evocative imagery; as one listener points out, "Ondaatje’s reading opens quite another dimension to the book."

We’ll let you know right now—this travelogue thankfully has nothing to do with what its title implies. Rather, it's about life on a remote island in the South Pacific. Author J. Maarten Troost tells the true story of his experiences living on the island of Tarawa with his girlfriend and the many challenges they faced that led to absolutely hilarious situations. Without having to deal with the toxic environment, distrusting locals, finicky electricity, and sweltering heat, listeners can accompany Troost on a life-changing adventure abroad. Simon Vance adds the perfect amount of theatrical flair to the narration to make it even more wildly comical.

West with the Night is the memoir of lifelong adventurer Beryl Markham and her experiences while living in East Africa. Markham’s accomplished career as a pilot is nothing short of remarkable. She published her memoir in the 1940s at a time when the world’s greatest adventure stories were almost exclusively told by men. A skilled and fearless pilot, Markham was the first person to ever fly nonstop from Europe to America. It’s no wonder that the likes of Ernest Hemingway praised her impressive storytelling abilities and achievements. Heralded as one of the most under-appreciated classics of the 20th century, West with the Night is one of the best travel audiobooks to spark a thirst for adventure.