Our family’s picks for the top family podcasts for road trips.
(Updated: Summer 2020) Family podcasts are something we hadn’t explored much before our road trip to Washington, the summer of 2017. I thought it may be a good way to mix things up between audiobooks and music so I researched some options before we left. The following are the ones we ended up enjoying.
Best Family Podcasts for Road Trips
The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel
This podcast was a favorite for the whole family. Their website describes it as “a fun, high-quality, serial mystery that can be described as Goonies meets Spy Kids meets Stranger Things for 8-12 year olds.” Our son who is 7 also enjoyed it, but there are some parts that could be a bit scary for younger kids. This podcast always ends with a cliffhanger which makes you want to listen to the next one right away. We are anxiously awaiting the next season.
Six Minutes
From the same creators as Mars Patel, this podcast is another favorite for the whole family. Their website description is as follows: “Who is Holiday? Where did she come from and how did she end up floating in the icy waters off the coast of Alaska with no memory? Are her mom and dad really who they say they are? Why is she developing those incredible abilities? And what’s the deal with that cool hoverboard? The mystery unfolds in six-minute episodes, twice a week all year long….” These episodes, like with Mars Patel, always end in a cliffhanger that keeps you listening.
Wow in the World
This podcast covers a variety of topics. We get a kick out of Mindy and Guy Raz, their corny jokes make this podcast more fun. From their website: “Wow in the World is a podcast and a new way for families to connect, look up and discover the wonders in the world around them. Every episode, hosts Mindy and Guy guide curious kids and their grown-ups away from their screens and on a journey. Through a combination of careful scientific research and fun, we’ll go inside our brains, out into space, and deep into the coolest new stories in science and technology.” The science topics can sometimes get into the theory of evolution, which they state as fact, but other than that our family enjoys listening to this podcast.
The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd
This podcast follows Dr. Floyd as he chases the evil Dr. Steve as he goes back in time and tries to steal important historical artifacts to sell them on Ebay. They are really short, but pretty entertaining. The only thing that irritates me about this podcast is that they speed up the narrator’s voice to an irritating speed. I find it somewhat agitating when I am really focusing on the story but it doesn’t seem to bother my kids. Their website describes it as “a weekly, 5 minute, family friendly show that combines the fast paced, episodic hilarity of Rocky & Bullwinkle and the imagination inducing power of ‘old time’ radio. It’s Stan Freberg, Jay Ward, Mystery Science Theater 3000, Prarie Home Companion, and Sesame Street all rolled into one!”
Escape this Podcast
This is a new one we have enjoyed lately. It is better for older kids-adults. Our 10 year old enjoys them, so may be good for 10 and up. The episodes are long, but if you enjoy a good mystery and puzzle solving, give this podcast a try! Their website describes the show as follows: “Escape This Podcast is a show that is a mix between escape rooms and table top roleplaying. We design escape rooms, complete with their own story, characters, setting, puzzles, and secrets. But these rooms are special: they only exist in the minds of the people playing them, and the listeners at home! Every episode, we invite guests to play through the escape rooms to see if they can find the clues, solve the puzzles, and escape. As a listener, you can join us and follow along, but that’s not all! Every room that we play is freely available with each episode. This means that with a game master and a few friends, you can play all of these escape rooms yourselves! The rooms play a little like a dungeons and dragons game, a little like a text-based adventure game, and a lot like a real escape room.” (Updated to add: We listened to more of these on our most recent trip and there is occasional swearing in some of the episodes, so be warned).
Brains On!
This one is hit or miss for our family. We’ve loved some episodes and have found others to be somewhat boring. This one, like Wow in the World, has some science topics which can sometimes get into the theory of evolution, which they state as fact, so it can create a discussion point between you and your kids. Their website describes the podcast like this: “Brains On! is a podcast featuring science and kids produced by American Public Media. We ask questions and go wherever the answers take us. Sometimes that means talking to a food scientist or a snake handler, other times that means putting on a play about sound waves or writing songs about sleep. A different kid co-hosts each episode. We talk to them about the interesting stuff they’re doing and the things they think about. It’s a science lesson for your ears – so join us and turn your brains on!”
The Radio Adventures of Eleanor Amplified
The kids did not enjoy this one as much, but Ross and I liked it. According to their website “Eleanor Amplified is a radio adventure series for the whole family. Listen together as world-famous radio reporter Eleanor foils devious plots, outwits crafty villains, and goes after The Big Story. Eleanor’s pursuit of truth takes her into orbit, out to sea, through a scary jungle and even to the halls of Congress!”
Pants on Fire
This one is kind of fun as well, not a favorite, but nice for some variety. It is kind of like a podcast gameshow where you try to determine which “expert” is lying. The creators describe it as follows: “Can you spot a liar, liar, pants on fire? In the era of fake news, kids must be able to tell what’s true from what’s false. And what better way than with a game show? Each week, a kid faces down two grown-ups, one an honest-to-goodness true expert, the other, well, a dirty, rotten liar! Featuring real kid contestants and a hilarious sound-effects-generating robot, Pants on Fire teaches kids to ask insightful questions, weigh the evidence in front of them, and trust their gut.”
Some of the other ones we have wanted to try but haven’t yet are Tumble Science Podcast for Kids, Story Pirates, and Saturday Morning Theater. We also tried But Why, but didn’t enjoy that one as much.
For more activities for family road trips, check out these posts: BEST AUDIOBOOKS FOR FAMILY ROAD TRIPS and 12 NON-TECHNOLOGY ROAD TRIP ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS.
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