15 Best Audiobooks for a Couple’s Road Trip Adventure

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Heading out on a road trip with your partner? It is the perfect time to unplug, connect, and enjoy a story together.

The right audiobook can turn any drive into a shared experience to remember.

In this list of the best audiobooks for couples road trip, I have handpicked engaging listens that will keep you both hooked from start to finish.

Don’t forget to check out the other road trip audiobook recommendations I shared earlier.

• Funny Audiobooks for Road Trips
• Best Audiobooks for Family Road Trips
• Short Audiobooks for Road Trips
• Best nonfiction audiobooks for road trips

15 Best Road Trip Audiobooks for Couples

You can get any audiobook on this list for free by joining Audible’s 30-day free trial. Cancel the trial at any time and the audiobook is yours to keep forever.

1. Project Hail Mary

One of the most popular and my all-time favorite science fiction adventure. Andy Weir fans are in for a treat with this gripping tale of science, friendship, and sheer will to survive.

Project Hail Mary follows Ryland Grace, a lone astronaut who wakes up light-years from Earth with no memory of who he is or why he is there.

He soon realizes he’s humanity’s last hope in a desperate mission to save the planet.

This story checks all the boxes: nerdy, fascinating, and deeply human. You will be laughing one moment and holding back tears the next.

If you liked The Martian, Bobiverse, or Artemis, this one’s a must-listen.

2. All Systems Red

All Systems Red is a sci-fi story with a mix of AI and mystery. A team of scientists is conducting surface tests on a distant planet. The governor module is hacked by MuderBot, which controls and dictates its behavior.

MurderBot is awkwardly relatable, sarcastic, and surprisingly lovable, making it the driving force of the entire story.

Martha Wells has crafted an immersive universe in this short book, without any unnecessary filler.

The book is action packed and entertaining. You will find yourself emotionally invested as the main character develops throughout the story.

All Systems Red is the first instalment in the Murderbot Diaries, one of the best sci-fi series I have listened to.

3. The Martian

Nasa astronaut Mark Watney becomes one of the first humans to walk on Mars. A sudden dust storm forces his crew to evacuate, believing he is dead.

With no way to signal Earth that he is alive, Mark is completely alone with limited supplies to survive.

The story will keep you captivated from beginning to end. Mark is not ready to give up and takes on one impossible challenge after another in a fight to survive.

This Martian is one of the most intense sci-fi survival stories I have ever listened to. I love Andy Weir’s work.

4. Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is one of the funniest audiobooks you can get for your next road trip.

Arthur Dent is an ordinary British man whose life is turned upside down when he discovers his best friend is an alien.

To make things worse, Arthur hasn’t even had his morning cup of teas and the Earth is about to be demolished to make way for a new hyperspace bypass.

Stephen Fry’s narration has truly done justice to this hilarious story. If you love adventure, humor, or just need a good laugh, this audiobook is a must-listen.

5. The Alchemist

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho is a timeless classic, and the audiobook that first made me fall in love with the format.

Santiago, a young Andalusian shepherd, travels from his homeland in Spain to the Egyptian dessert in search of the hidden treasure in Pyramids.

This is a story about following your dreams and listening to your heart. Along his journey, Santiago meets a gyps, a mysterious king, and an alchemist, each pointing him to the direction of his quest.

This magical story is one of the best road trip audiobooks for couples. The narrator has given a unique personality to each character.

6. The Silent Patient

This is one of the audiobooks I did not want to end. If you are a fan of mystery, suspense, and psychological thrillers, this one’s a must.

Alicia Berenson, a celebrated painter, lives a seemingly perfect life in a grand London home with her husband, a renowned fashion photographer.

One evening, her husband comes back home late from a fashion shoot and Alicia shoots him in the face, then never speaks another word.

This mystery thriller walks you through psychology of lost love and the permanent damage it leaves.

The book keeps you on your toes from start to finish and you will love the crazy ending.

7. The Witness for the Prosecution

This is one of the best short audiobooks for your next road trip. Leonard Vole is accused of murdering Emily French, a wealthy older woman who recently left him her entire fortune.

Leonard assures investigators that his wife can provide an alibi. When questioned, she claims he came home late night, covered in blood.

This short story is packed with unexpected twists and suspense. Agatha Christie shows you don’t need hours to tell a compelling story with an ending you won’t see coming.

8. Ready Player One

It is 2045, and the world is full of bad climate, poverty, widespread disease, and famine. Wade Watts only feels alive when he is jacked into OASIS, a virtual world where most of humanity spend their time.

If you were born in 70s or early 80s, you will love 80s pop culture references that you experienced growing up.

Will Wheaton’s superb narration makes the story simply amazing. The story takes you on a journey of self-discovery, friendship, and bravery through an epic game quest.

9. Born a Crime

Trevor Noah, host of The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, was born to a white Swiss father and a black Xhosa mother at a time when such a union was literally a crime, punishable by five years in prison.

This is a collection of 18 personal, emotional, and inspiring stories of Trevor growing up and struggling to find his place in the world.

It’s a mixture of hilarious moments, motivating contexts, and glaring realities. I love it when authors narrate their own story as you can feel the emotions and authenticity.

The bittersweet ending stays with you long after it’s over.

10. 11/22/63

The world changed on November 22, 1963, when President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas. But what if you could go back and stop it?

Stephen King transports listeners to the early 1960s, a critical period in American history, before the assassination of JFK.

You will have a look back at the politics, daily life, and other aspects of the 1960s.

The story is a mix of historical fiction, action, and adventure. You will develop a genuine fondness for some of the characters.

Even if you are not a typical Stephen King fan, this novel stands out for its storytelling. Great pick for long road trips.

11. Bossypants

Tina Fey was a pioneer for women in comedy and one of the most influential voices in the media industry.

The book is filled with real-life experiences and random stories from her childhood in Pennsylvania to launching her comedy career in Chicago, and eventually becoming a global success.

She doesn’t stick to the usual style of an autobiography in this book which makes it hilarious and refreshingly honest.

The title “bossypants” is the perfect reflection of her witty, bold, and unapologetically unique life.

12. A Short History of Nearly Everything

A Short History of Nearly Everything is one of the best audiobooks for couples road trips, especially if you are interested in science, evolution, and the mysteries of the universe.

Bill Bryson takes you on a fascinating journey, providing a clear and accessible overview of science, from the Big Bang to the rise of civilization.

He makes complex topics easy to understand, offering insights into everything from dinosaurs to human origins and extinct animals.

This book makes complex subjects simple and understandable for everyone. You will be amazed at how little we know about the world around us.

13. Dad is Fat

Jim Gaffigan’s Dad is Fat is a hilarious take on parenting, tackling the question: What’s it like having five kids?

It is like 5 hours of standup routine that perfectly captures the chaos, joy, stress and love of raising a big family.

The book is in short essay formats with observed description of parenting from a dad who has realized he and his wife are outnumbered in their own home.

Whether you are a parent or appreciate clever humor, this book will keep you entertained on your next road trip.

14. A Walk in the Woods

Any audiobook by Bill Bryson will make your next road trip memorable, but A Walk in the Woods is truly one of his best.

Bryson takes us on the challenging journey along the Appalachian Trail, covering 14 states and 2000 miles, with some of the most spectacular landscapes in America.

Author’s storytelling and William Roberts’s narration makes you want to join him on the trail or head out for your own adventure.

I am a big fan of Bryson’s work, his signature wit and charm. His storytelling is always a delight.

15. Educated

Educated by Tara Westover is a powerful memoir that has earned its place on countless “Book of the Year” lists, from The New York Times to Vogue.

The multi-million copy bestseller was declared “The Book of the Decade” by The Independent.

This memoir is an incredible story of Tara Westover who had an extremely unusual upbringing.

Her family grew up preparing for the End of Days. She had no birth certificate, no formal education, and no medical records.

At 16, she left her home and discovered the power of education and the price she had to pay for it.

What follows is an unforgettable journey of self-discovery, resilience, and her love/ hate relationship with her family particularly her father and her brother Shawn.