The best fantasy audiobooks for long drives & road trips
A long drive needs a fantasy audiobook that grips — propulsive plot, a narrator who carries hours of runtime, a story you stay in the driveway to finish. Every title below won the Audie Award in the fantasy category, the audiobook industry's own pick for the best fantasy production of its year, which makes them the safest road-trip credits. The most recent winner is Anima Rising by Christopher Moore (2026).
The City We BecameThe Ten Thousand Doors of JanuaryAlix E. HarrowThe Ten Thousand Doors of JanuarySpinning SilverNaomi NovikSpinning SilverThe Strange Case of the Alchemist's DaughterTheodora GossThe Strange Case of the Alchemist's DaughterThe HikeDrew MagaryThe HikeNice Dragons Finish LastRachel AaronNice Dragons Finish LastWords of RadianceBrandon SandersonWords of Radiance| Audiobook | Author | Narrator(s) | Award |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anima Rising | Christopher Moore | Mary Jane Wells | Audie Fantasy (2026) |
| Bookshops & Bonedust | Travis Baldree | Travis Baldree | Audie Fantasy (2025) |
| The Dragon Reborn | Robert Jordan | Rosamund Pike | Audie Fantasy (2024) |
| The Monsters We Defy | Leslye Penelope | Shayna Small | Audie Fantasy (2023) |
| Rhythm of War | Brandon Sanderson | Michael Kramer, Kate Reading | Audie Fantasy (2022) |
| The City We Became | N. K. Jemisin | Robin Miles | Audie Fantasy (2021) |
| The Ten Thousand Doors of January | Alix E. Harrow | January LaVoy | Audie Fantasy (2020) |
| Spinning Silver | Naomi Novik | Lisa Flanagan | Audie Fantasy (2019) |
| The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter | Theodora Goss | Kate Reading | Audie Fantasy (2018) |
| The Hike | Drew Magary | Christopher Lane | Audie Fantasy (2017) |
| Nice Dragons Finish Last | Rachel Aaron | Vikas Adam | Audie Fantasy (2016) |
| Words of Radiance | Brandon Sanderson | Kate Reading, Michael Kramer | Audie Fantasy (2015) |
| Wisp of a Thing | Alex Bledsoe | Stefan Rudnicki | Audie Fantasy (2014) |
| Anita | Keith Roberts | Nicola Barber | Audie Fantasy (2013) |
| Daughter of Smoke and Bone | Laini Taylor | Khristine Hvam | Audie Fantasy (2012) |
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best fantasy audiobook for a road trip?
Among award winners, the most recent Audie Fantasy winner is "Anima Rising" by Christopher Moore (2026) — a strong road-trip pick. Every audiobook on this page won the Audie Award in the Fantasy category, so any of them is a safe choice for a long drive.
How long are award-winning fantasy audiobooks?
Most run roughly 8 to 16 hours — long enough to cover a full day of driving on a single audiobook. Exact runtimes are listed on each title's Audible page.
Where can I listen to these audiobooks?
All are available on Audible. A free 30-day Audible Premium Plus trial includes one credit — enough to download and keep one of these fantasy audiobooks even if you cancel before the trial ends.
More fantasy guides: every Audie-winning fantasy audiobook · fantasy audiobooks for beginners · all listening guides · best audiobooks by award.