If you’re more of an armchair adventurer than a real-world explorer, I’ve got you covered. These funny travel books take you on all kinds of journeys — from hiking the Appalachian Trail and moving to a new country, to crisscrossing the U.S. in search of the perfect hot dog (seriously), and even a kids’ picture book about animal friends heading to the big city. No matter your travel style, these books deliver plenty of laughs without ever leaving your couch. Bonus points if you read these books while traveling! (I will not actually be awarding any points. But you will have my respect.)
The Best Funny Books About Travel
| Title | Author | Year Published | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Walk in the Woods | Bill Bryson | 1998 | (Travel Memoir) — Bill Bryson hilariously recounts his attempt to hike the Appalachian Trail, blending travel, nature, and mishaps. |
| Walking with Sam | Andrew McCarthy | 2023 | (Travel Memoir) — Andrew McCarthy shares a heartfelt and funny journey hiking the Camino de Santiago trail in Spain with his son. |
| Raw Dog | Jamie Loftus | 2023 | (Travel/Food Memoir) — Jamie Loftus hilariously travels across the U.S. hunting down the nation’s best hot dog, mixing road trip antics with quirky humor. |
| A Frog in the Fjord | Lorelou Desjardins | 2021 | (Memoir) — Lorelou Desjardins chronicles her adventures moving from France to Norway and adjusting to a new life. |
| Into the Bewilderness | Gus Gordon | 2025 | (Children’s Book) — Gus Gordon tells a funny story about two animal friends venturing into the big city for adventure. |
Funny Travel and Adventure Books Summaries
A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering American on the Appalachian Trail
Description:
Classic humorous travel memoir. A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson is what happens when a man with minimal hiking experience decides to tackle the entire Appalachian Trail (all 2,000+ miles of it!) Armed with a backpack, a sense of humor, and a wildly unprepared buddy named Katz, Bryson heads into the American wilderness. He encounters bears (or at least one), annoying fellow hikers, and shelters that redefine the word “rustic.” It’s part travelogue, part comedy of errors, and part love letter to nature. Perfect for readers who love the idea of a grand outdoor adventure but have no intention of actually going on one.
- Author: Bill Bryson
- Year Published: 1998
- Type of Book: Travel Memoir
- Wholesomeness/Content Notes: Contains some mild language. But otherwise, pretty darn clean.
- Humor: Dry, witty, observational humor with self-deprecation and clever cultural commentary.
- Travel: Hiking the Appalachian Trail (US)
Walking with Sam: A Father, A Son, and Five Hundred Miles Across Spain
Description:
Walking with Sam by Andrew McCarthy is a father-son memoir wrapped in a travel narrative. McCarthy (yes, the former 80s heartthrob) and his teenage son set out to walk the 500-mile Camino de Santiago in Spain. Along the way, they battle blisters, teenage moods, and the occasional existential crisis (mostly the dad’s). McCarthy reflects on parenting, growing older, and his first journey on the Camino decades earlier. It’s heartfelt, honest, and sneakily funny in that “this is beautiful but also mildly miserable” kind of way. McCarthy’s writing is vivid, with poetic descriptions of the trail, the hike, and the ever-changing scenery.
- Author: Andrew McCarthy
- Year Published: 2023
- Type of Book: Travel Memoir
- Wholesomeness/Content Notes: Generally wholesome; some strong language and adult themes.
- Humor: Candid father-son banter and delightful sarcasm.
- Travel: Hiking the Camino de Santiago (Spain)
Raw Dog: The Naked Truth About Hot Dogs
Description:
Raw Dog by Jamie Loftus is a chaotic, hilarious road trip memoir disguised as a deep-dive into America’s most beloved meat tube: the hot dog. Traveling across the U.S. in search of the nation’s best hot dog, Loftus blends food journalism, bizarre history, and way-too-honest personal anecdotes. It’s part culinary quest, part social commentary, part unhinged vacation diary. Think Anthony Bourdain meets stand-up comedy, with more processed meat and fewer filters.
- Author: Jamie Loftus
- Year Published: 2023
- Type of Book: Nonfiction / Travelogue
- Wholesomeness/Content Notes: Features strong language and adult themes throughout. Recommended for mature readers.
- Humor: Bold, irreverent, and ridiculous. I mean it’s about a quest for hot dogs. Pretty darn funny.
- Travel: Driving across the US searching for hot dogs
A Frog in the Fjord: One Year in Norway
Description:
A Frog in the Fjord by Lorelou Desjardins is a memoir about a French woman who moves to Norway and tries to decode the mysterious world of Scandinavian life. From puzzling over local customs to enduring endless winters, Desjardins paints a charming, often funny portrait of cultural confusion. It’s not wall-to-wall punchlines, but the humor sneaks in through her bewildered attempts to adapt. Her struggle is the joke. A great pick for anyone who’s ever moved somewhere new and immediately regretted it… until they didn’t.
- Author: Lorelou Desjardins
- Year Published: 2021
- Type of Book: Memoir
- Wholesomeness/Content Notes: Some language and adult themes (references to casual sex, heavy drinking.)
- Humor: Light-hearted and charming humor focusing on cultural quirks and some personal awkward anecdotes.
- Travel: Moving to Norway (from France) and exploring the unfamiliar country.
Into the Bewilderness
Description:
And something for the kids, or at least kids at heart (me): Into the Bewilderness by Gus Gordon is a whimsically illustrated graphic novel about two unlikely adventurers — a gentle bear named Luis and his grumpy mole best friend, Pablo. They leave their cozy wilderness life for a journey to the big city. Along the way, they encounter strange creatures, ridiculous warnings from friends, and existential questions like, “Why is quicksand so slow if it’s called quicksand?” The book is a charming mix of silliness, warmth, and wonder, with just the right amount of musical interlude and mole-related grumbling. It’s a delightful reminder that sometimes the best part of travel is getting wildly, hilariously lost.
- Author: Gus Gordon
- Year Published: 2025
- Type of Book: Children’s Picture Book
- Wholesomeness/Content Notes: Appropriate for young children. A bit of name-calling, but nothing too harsh
- Humor: Playful and whimsical, with humor woven into both the illustrations and the text.
- Travel: Friends walking, then riding a bus from the familiar wilderness to the bewildering big city
Conclusion: Humorous Travel and Adventure Books Worth Reading
Travel doesn’t always have to be about Instagrammable sunsets and perfect plans. Sometimes it’s about the chaos, the weirdness, and the blisters. And hot dogs. These funny travel books deliver all that, with plenty of laughs along the way. So whether you’re stuck at home dreaming of an escape or actually hitting the road, these books are your perfect travel companions — no jet lag or TSA lines required. Happy reading and bon voyage!
Gimme some more funny travel books! (Leave a comment below.)
