19 Exciting Middle Grade Books About Road Trips

Pia heads out on a desert sightseeing road trip, on which one of the stops is a famous lake which many believe has magical properties. Pia has a secret: she’s hoping that the lake will bring back her younger brother, who died in a drowning accident several months ago. Along the way, she gets to know the odd group traveling together, including a candy-distributing grandma, a reluctant tween traveler, a couple with ever-bickering kids, and an elderly couple hoping for a health miracle. I liked the camaraderie of the travelers and the flashbacks in every chapter that show us Pia’s life before and just after the accident. I also really liked that the plot is sad but not too heavy. This is great for readers who enjoy sad books or stories featuring a road trip. Ages 9+

A girl named Coyote, a dad named Rodeo, a boy, a cat, and several other eclectic characters with stories deeper than the surface make up the cast of this heartwarming road trip story. This book is incredible. With one of the most remarkable (no pun intended) protagonists I’ve read in a while, TRJOCS handles dying, grief, and family excellently. It’s one of those books that brings your heart joy even while it’s breaking it. Ages 10+

William “Scoob” Lamar is hoping to make a clean getaway with his white G-ma. Especially because his dad is mad at him after an unpleasant school incident and subsequent suspension. At first he’s happy to be spending time with this G-ma, but soon, he realizes that this isn’t quite the trip he expected. As Scoob and G-ma travel through the US South, G-ma lets him into family history: his grandfather’s life, G-ma’s misdeeds and what life was like when Black people needed the Green Book to move through the US. This is a fast-paced, clever story full of twists and a sense of adventure. Ages 9+

When Orion Kwirk’s grandfather, Papa Kwirk, dies, his quirky family piles into their car to attend the funeral. But what a shocker when they discover that there’s no body in the casket and Papa Kwirk has left them clues to find his cremated remains. As they embark on the adventure, they learn a lot about each other, their family, and, of course, Papa Kwirk. This is a sweet, funny book with lots of insightful commentary about life, better appreciated by readers ages 11 and up.

The Vanderbeekers go on a road trip adventure in this installment of the series. If you’re not familiar with this series, you can still follow the plot if you start with this book. I recommend checking out the entire series, though, if you’re looking for a wholesome family read-aloud. If your kids love The Vanderbeekers, I have a list of readalikes they’ll enjoy, too. Ages 8+

Maybelle Lane lives with her single mother and is obsessed with collecting sounds. Her favorite sound, however, is one she didn’t record herself: the sound of her estranged father laughing on a voicemail. When Maybelle hears the same voice on the radio one day, she decides to hop on a bus with a neighbor and an unlikely stowaway to Nashville, where she’ll be reunited with her dad. This is a heartwarming story about community, family, courage, and unlikely friendships. Ages 9+

Fourth-grader Trixy’s grandma died in a car accident, and since then, things at home have not been the same. Trixy’s only solace is her gran’s stories. However, only Trixy seems to believe Gran’s stories about her childhood, and she promised Gran that she would keep some of the stories to herself. But when Trixy NEEDS to write stories to pass fourth grade, the only stories she can think of writing are Gran’s. When Trixy enters a non-fiction writing contest using Gran’s stories, some people begin to dispute the truth of those stories. Add some trouble at home to the mix, and Trixy is forced to run off with her neighbor, Raymond, when his dad goes on a tour that stops over at several landmarks in Gran’s stories. But are Gran’s stories about a sister and a difficult, but often magical life, true? This is a moving, adventurous, and heartwarming story about family, storytelling, and friendship. Ages 9+

Raina and her little sister Amara’s relationship is under the microscope. Despite having always prayed for a little sister, Raina realizes as soon as her sister comes home with her parents that things may not exactly have worked out as she planned. The sisters squabble over the years until a three-week family road trip from California to Colorado changes everything. Interestingly, this graphic novel alternates between past and present, following the girls’ relationship from childhood and also the road trip in the present. This is a sweet ode to sisterhood and how tumultuous sibling relationships can be, particularly when we’re young and still figuring each other out. Although the focus is always on both sisters, this book also centers on a road trip from California to Colorado, and Telgemeier does not skimp on road trip details. Ages 9+

Charlie’s family hasn’t been the same since his father suffered brain damage as a journalist in Afghanistan. Now he’s moving to Virginia for medical treatment, and Charlie, his unruly twin brothers, his boy-crazy sister, and an unusual family friend embark on a road trip together. Charlie convinces himself that if he spots all the birds that he and his father were hoping to see someday along the way, then everything might just turn out okay. But life isn’t that predictable. This book is funny, sad, mysterious, and adventurous — with an autistic protagonist at the helm. Ages 9+

11-year-old June (Henry Junior) Ball’s mother sends him off on the road with his adult second cousins after his father disappears without a word. Cousins Thomas and Cornell are “Ford Men” traveling throughout the US to fix people’s old Ford trucks for free. The Ford owners only have to buy spare parts. As the road trip progresses, the men teach June about Ford trucks, fixing cars, and being kind. June also processes his father’s absence while expanding his heart by meeting just as many broken humans as Ford trucks. Hand this heartfelt story to fans of road trip stories, books with sensitive male protagonists, or books about mental health challenges. Ages 10+

Lucy, Freddie, and Herb have spent more time with each other than with their father since their mom died. But now one of their mom’s inventions has sold for a lot of money, and their dad has bought a food truck and wants them to spend the summer traveling through the country as a family. The family plans to also enter a food truck contest at the end of their trip to compete for $10,000. But along the way, they learn a lot about what really matters. The Peach kids will worm their way into readers’ hearts without any trouble. If you enjoy books about families, food books, or middle grade books about road trips, this is the perfect book for you! Ages 9+

Peter, or Petey, as he’s affectionately called by his sister Charlotte aka L.B is obsessed with dinosaurs. He wants to be a paleontologist when he’s older and is constantly digging in the sandpit at his grandparents’ (Haji and Hammy) house. In the summer, the family takes a trip to Drumheller for a dinosaur expedition, which ends up being a bust for Peter. To cap it off, his Hammy is forgetful and seems dazed from time to time. Then he discovers that his parents are planning to send Hammy to a care facility. This is a sweet, adventurous middle grade novel set in Canada. With a delightful genius little sister, heartwarming grandparent relationships, and a dash of Korean culture, this book is perfect for lovers of family-centered stories. Ages 8+

In his debut memoir, Mexikid, author Pedro Martin relates a pivotal experience of his childhood. Pedro Martin and his family of 11 (NINE kids!) decide to drive from the US to Mexico to pick up his aging Abuelo and bring him to the US with them. Along the way, they encounter corrupt border patrol officers, diarrhea-inducing milk, bad haircuts, stories of his Abuelo’s past, and plenty of family. Mexikid is a lively, funny, and transporting middle grade graphic novel about family, Mexican history, and a life-changing family road trip.

Thirteen-year-old Olivia is excited about going on a road trip back to California with her sister and their uncle and aunt. Their family moved to Tennessee from California three years ago, and the girls had buried a time capsule before their move. Olivia’s big sister Ruth is now 16 and clinically depressed. Olivia feels responsible for Ruth’s happiness and has a plan to recover their time capsule, while doing a photo project during their trip to remind Ruth of good times and make her just a little happier. But she soon finds out that with mental illness, it’s not always so simple. This is a beautifully written, moving middle grade novel about sisterhood, art, and loving a sibling with a mental illness. Ages 10+

Theo’s dad is bundling him and his sister, Laura, into the car for a road trip to Big Bend National Park. Although nature doesn’t fit into any of the kids’ interests, they follow along for a chance to have a nicer family vacation than visiting their grandma. It’s also a good chance to bond more since their mom died a few years ago. The kids notice, though, that their dad is suspiciously over-excited (and in turn) nervous about the trip and everything makes sense when mid-way through, he introduces them to his new girlfriend, Lucrecia. Starring a witty and artistic young protagonist, this story intertwines humor with serious issues such as teens’ social media usage, confronting difficult emotions, and adjusting to a parent’s new relationship. Ages 9+

Louisiana Elefante’s grandmother wakes her up in the middle of the night because “the day of reckoning has arrived.” Although Louisiana has always gone with her granny’s flow, this time, she resists. She doesn’t want to leave her friends and her cat, Archie behind. Still, her grandmother is adamant. What follows is an often-funny, occasionally-heartbreaking, and all-round heartwarming tale. If you’re a DiCamillo fan, you’ll enjoy my list of readalikes for Louisiana’s Way Home. Ages 9+

Leo is not a risk-taker; he prefers to adventure through the pages of his books. So when his parents leave him and his little sister with their grouchy grandfather, Leo is disturbed. It gets worse when Grandpa discovers that their late grandma’s bee hives have been stolen and takes both kids on a road trip to track down the thief. This was a fun story set in Canada, and I loved seeing Leo discover how brave he can be. Lots of funny moments and several tender moments. This is great for younger kids who love mysteries and gentle adventures. Ages 8+

The Sea in Winter is the story of 12-year-old ballet dancer Maisie Cannon who is recovering from a torn ACL. Maisie is struggling with how slowly she’s recovering and is a bit depressed in general because of how much she loves ballet and how tightly woven into her identity it was. Maisie’s family takes a trip during winter break to hike a bit and also learn more about her ethnic history. During the trip, things come to a head emotionally for her, and she’s forced to address many unpleasant emotions and reconnect with her family. Maisie is a deeply introspective character whose suffering will be deeply felt by all who read this book. Yet, this book manages to be uplifting with the help of Maisie’s brother Connor and her warm, loving family and friends. Ages 8+