Top 12 Travel Podcasts to Launch Your Next Road Trip (After Ant & Dec Enter the Game)

Need fresh audio to fuel your next long drive? Start here.

Road-trip audio that keeps you awake, inspired and socially sharable is rarer than a perfect blue-sky campsite. Commuters and long-haul drivers face stale playlists, low-quality info and noisy infotainment. Enter 2026: celebrity hosts like Ant & Dec have jumped into the podcast game and the mix of travel storytelling, guide-style shows and entertainment podcasts has never been better for your car, train or bike-commute. This roundup curates the 12 best shows—story-driven, practical and laugh-out-loud—plus how to program them into a road-ready playlist.

Why this list matters in 2026 (quick take)

• Late 2025–early 2026 trends: celebrity-hosted shows and short-form serialized travel episodes exploded, and in-car platforms (Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and integrated OEM systems) now prioritize narrative playlists and offline smart downloads.
• Podcasts are no longer background noise; creators now design episodes specifically for commutes with clear acts, chapter markers and local audio guides that pair with routes.
• Ant & Dec’s new podcast, Hanging Out with Ant & Dec, signals mainstream entertainment channels doubling as travel-entertainment companions—perfect if you want banter plus a bit of nostalgia on a long drive.

How to use this list (what to do next — 3-minute plan)

1. Scan the 12 picks and pick 3 that match your drive length and mood: story-driven for long nights, comedy for daytime highways, guide-style for scenic detours.
2. Create a playlist in your podcast app with a mix of episode lengths (20–90 minutes). Put a gripping story first to build momentum.
3. Download offline the night before to save data and ensure smooth playback in low-signal areas.

Top 12 travel and entertainment podcasts for road trips & commuters (2026 picks)

1. Hanging Out with Ant & Dec (2026 launch)

Why it works: Ant & Dec bring warm, unfiltered banter and listener Q&A—perfect for upbeat daytime drives and nostalgia-fueled commutes. Their episodes are short-to-medium length (30–50 min) and designed for broad appeal, mixing stories, pop-culture riffs and occasional guest cameos.

Road-trip use: Pop this on when you need easy laughs and light conversation—ideal for multi-driver rotations or family-friendly runs.

“We asked our audience if we did a podcast what would they like it be about, and they said 'we just want you guys to hang out.'”—Declan Donnelly, Belta Box launch (Jan 2026)

2. Travel with Rick Steves

Why it works: Guide-style, practical and packed with destination intel. Rick’s episodes are perfect for planning detours, learning cultural context or prepping for that must-see museum stop.

Road-trip use: Use as a navigational companion when approaching a city or region. His practical tips pair well with map apps and offline guides.

3. Zero To Travel with Jason Moore

Why it works: Adventure mindset, hacks for long-distance travel and interviews with offbeat creators. Episodes vary in length and are great for inspiration-heavy legs of a journey.

Road-trip use: Drop this on before a multi-day route to spark bold detours and budget-friendly stops.

4. The Travel Diaries (Holly Rubenstein)

Why it works: Celebrity interviews focused solely on travel memories and moments—great for commuting because the format is predictable, intimate and often emotionally resonant.

Road-trip use: Curate single-guest episodes to match the place you’re driving through—crew-friendly and shareable.

5. 99% Invisible

Why it works: Design, architecture and place-based storytelling. These beautifully produced episodes teach you to see towns and highways differently.

Road-trip use: Ideal for scenic routes—use episodes about bridges, roads or urban planning to add depth to the vista outside your window.

6. The Moth

Why it works: Raw, true stories told live—tense, funny and human. Great for night driving when you want storytelling that grips.

Road-trip use: Build a late-evening block of Moth episodes for long stretches of highway when you need narrative hooks to stay alert.

7. Armchair Expert (Dax Shepard)

Why it works: Celebrity interviews with unexpected vulnerability. Episodes can be long, so they’re perfect for multi-hour legs.

Road-trip use: Slot these in on open-road stretches or when you can’t stop—Dax’s wide-ranging conversations make time fly.

8. Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend

Why it works: Sharp humor and A-list guests—great for lightening the mood and keeping drivers smiling.

Road-trip use: Put on during scenic day drives or to reset energy after long, silent legs.

9. Stuff You Should Know

Why it works: Smart, snackable deep-dives into quirky topics. Perfect commuter content that informs while you travel.

Road-trip use: Use for short hops and refueling stops—each episode is a compact learning moment you can share later.

10. The Endless Adventure

Why it works: A couple’s travel memoir and practical advice rolled together—relatable and often very actionable for road trippers.

Road-trip use: Play on family trips to inject itinerary ideas and budget tips for the next leg.

11. Women Who Travel (Condé Nast Traveler)

Why it works: Curated conversations about identity, safety, and unusual itineraries. Short series and solo episodes make it easy to mix into a playlist.

Road-trip use: Ideal for planning culturally mindful detours and for listeners who want nuanced destination context.

12. SmartLess

Why it works: Three hosts, big laughs, and infectiously casual interviews. Keeps long drives lively and contains many shareable clips for social posts.

Road-trip use: Use as a palate cleanser between dense stories—great for switching drivers and re-energizing the group.

Curating the perfect road-trip playlist (actionable blueprint)

Mix genres, lengths and intensity. Below is a simple blueprint you can copy:

1. 0–30 minutes (Kickoff): Light, high-energy comedy (Ant & Dec or Conan).
2. 30–90 minutes (Drive Deep): Long-form interviews or narrative (Armchair Expert / The Travel Diaries / The Moth).
3. 90–120 minutes (Scenic Block): Place-focused storytelling (99% Invisible / Rick Steves).
4. 120–150 minutes (Reset): Quick bites (Stuff You Should Know / Zero To Travel).
5. 150+ (Late Night): Emotionally gripping stories (The Moth / 99% Invisible).

Smart downloads, offline mode and data tips

• Auto-download. Enable auto-downloads for shows you’ll use on a trip—most major apps allow episode pre-fetching when connected to Wi‑Fi.
• Bandwidth hacks. Use 64–96 kbps AAC where possible to balance battery and audio quality for long trips.
• Car integration. Pair ahead via CarPlay/Android Auto and use an offline player or local files if your route has known dead zones.
• Chapter markers. Favor episodes with chapters to skip ads or tune into segments that match your mood or scenery.

Case studies — real commutes, real fixes (experience-driven)

Case: 10-hour commuter test across the Scottish Highlands (Oct 2025)

We tested a playlist that combined Ant & Dec (launch episodes), 99% Invisible’s “bridge” episode and three Moth stories. The result: lower perceived travel fatigue (measured by self-report) and higher photo-sharing rates on social platforms during rest stops. Key takeaway: alternate emotional density—fun then thoughtful—to maintain energy and engagement.

Case: Urban commuter block in London (Dec 2025)

For shorter commutes, episodes under 25 minutes from Stuff You Should Know and Women Who Travel increased conversational sharing among co-workers. Micro-episodes are the commuter’s secret weapon for sustained daily listening.

Make your road-trip audio shareable and social

• Clip the moment. Use in-app clipping or tools like Headliner to create 30–60 second highlights to share on Reels/TikTok, or capture higher-quality clips with compact capture kits.
• Tag the host. Many creators reshare listener clips—great for social validation and making your trip go viral.
• Use timestamps. When recommending episodes, give exact timestamps for the best moment to share (e.g., Ant & Dec, S1E2, 22:14–23:03).

Future features to watch (2026–2027)

• AI-generated localized audio guides: expect apps to auto-assemble short, route-specific audio segments (food stops, viewpoints) by late 2026.
• In-car synchronized chapter playlists: automakers and podcast platforms are piloting playlists that adapt chapter order to traffic and daylight.
• Verified short-form clips: platforms will roll out creator verification for shareable clips, making it easier to surface bite-sized moments from shows like SmartLess or Ant & Dec’s new series.

Trust signals — how to pick reliable shows

• Production quality: Look for shows with clear audio, editing and chapter markers—these were the most comfortable for long‑drive listening in 2025 tests.
• Host credentials: Travel experts (Rick Steves), veteran producers (99% Invisible) or proven interviewers (Dax Shepard) mean consistent episodes.
• Recent activity: Prefer shows with new episodes in 2025–2026; regular publication shows ongoing relevance.

Bonus: Quick car-playlist checklist

• Download at least 6 hours of content for full-day drives.
• Create a “driver rotation” order to balance heavy and light episodes.
• Turn on battery saver and pair with a charger.
• Test one episode in your car before the trip to confirm chapters and clip tools work.

Parting tips from creators (and how to connect)

Most podcasters encourage listener submissions—Ant & Dec’s show is explicitly built around audience questions. If you want to be part of the show, send a short voice note with your best travel tale or driving question. For local audio guides, pitch your route highlight to producer teams on X (formerly Twitter) or Instagram DMs—many local creators are hungry for fresh, on-the-ground tips in 2026.

Final takeaway

2026’s podcast landscape blends celebrity banter, classic travel guides and cinematic storytelling, giving commuters and road-trippers a richer audio toolkit than ever. Whether you want practical detour advice from Rick Steves, intimate escapes on The Travel Diaries, or laugh-out-loud company from Ant & Dec, this curated list will help you plan, stay alert and capture moments worth sharing.

Ready to build your ultimate road-trip audio kit?

Start with these three steps: subscribe to Ant & Dec’s Hanging Out, download one long-form interview and one story-driven episode, and create a 6-hour offline playlist tonight. Share your favorite clip with the hashtag #RoadTripAudio and tag us—our next feature will spotlight reader-curated playlists and the best listener-submitted driving stories.

Related Reading

• Launch a Local Podcast: Hosting, YouTube Partnerships, and Reaching Expat Listeners
• Micro Speaker Shootouts: When a Tiny Bluetooth Speaker Is All You Need
• Best Budget Electric Bikes for Commuters: Under $500 Options & Deal Alerts
• Field Test 2026: Budget Portable Lighting & Phone Kits for Viral Shoots — What Works and Why
• Field Review: PocketCam Pro & Poolside Kits — Practical Picks for Swim Coaches and Clinics (2026)
• How to Spot a High-Value Seafood Product — Lessons from the Art Auction World
• Could a Santa Monica-Style Festival Work in Mumbai? What Promoters Look For
• Local Hotspots: Where Fans Are Holding Watch Parties for New Movies & Drops
• Which Social App Should New Dads Use? A Practical Guide to Bluesky, Digg, YouTube and More