Your next group outing is coming up, and you’re planning on renting a bus—great! But that also means you’re going to be on the road for a while, which may not be as great. Whether you’re traveling from Boston to Washington DC for a family reunion or from San Francisco to Yosemite with your school group, eight hours on a bus can make even the most patient person feel restless. Sure, Partybus.com provides modern charter buses with amenities like reclining seats, WiFi, and onboard TVs with DVD players, but if you’ve already seen every episode of The Office three times (who hasn’t?) you’re probably looking for a more traditional way to pass the time.
To beat the road trip fatigue and have some literary fun before you arrive at your destination, we’ve put together this list of the 10 best books to read on a long charter bus ride. Settle in with a good book and let these stories transport you across the world without leaving your seat!
1. Into the Wild
By Jon Krakauer
Based on the true story of Christopher McCandless—a young man who left his life, his family, and even his legal name behind to trek across the United States—Into the Wild takes readers on a philosophical journey of self-reliance, human connection, and nature’s beauty.
After graduating with honors from Emory University in 1990, McCandless (who later adopted the name “Alexander Supertramp”) donated his savings to charity and set off with little to nothing in tow. After drifting between South Dakota, Arizona, and California, he traveled north to Alaska to live alone in the wilderness. His body was later found in an abandoned bus along the Stampede Trail, four months after he had ventured into the Alaskan wild.
This book doesn’t shy away from detailing the harsh realities of McCandless’s decisions, as well as his sometimes-questionable choices in terms of safety and preparation. But even with a tragic ending, the journey detailed in this nonfiction story will stay with you. It’s a great book to read on a charter bus—not just for its travel elements—but for the lessons it offers about planning ahead, relying on others, and the harshness of nature.
2. Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail
By Cheryl Strayed
Another nonfiction story about a trek across the Western United States, Wild recounts Cheryl Strayed’s 1,100-mile journey along the Pacific Crest Trail from Mojave Desert to Washington. While Into the Wild explores themes of nature’s relationship to self-discovery, Wild focuses on Strayed’s journey of grief, self-care, and the freedom of choosing to start over.
In 1995, only four years after the death of her mother, Strayed embarked on her hike with very little experience or preparation. Throughout the book, Strayed details her many hardships along the trail—including encounters with bears, losing toenails, and facing blistering heat. It’s a story that takes readers to both the highest and lowest points of her emotional and physical journey, showing readers how to rebuild themselves piece by piece.
It’s also a great book to read on a bus if you’re prone to overpacking. Strayed constantly struggles with the weight of her backpack and the many unnecessary items she brings along. The book offers the same lessons we stress at Partbus.com when traveling by charter bus: pack light and bring the essentials. You can store your heavier items in the luggage bays and keep a small backpack of in-cabin necessities overhead. That way, you can have what you need when you need it without weighing yourself down!
3. The Alchemist
By Paulo Coelho
Sometimes, the best journey isn’t the one on the page, but the one within ourselves.
If you’re looking for an inspiring and introspective read for your next trip, consider picking up a copy of The Alchemist. This story follows the journey of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy, in search of worldly treasures. In the novel, Santiago travels from Spain all the way to the Egyptian desert following omens and finding people who guide him along the way to the treasure he seeks. Throughout his journey, Santiago comes to understand how to read the omens, discovers the beauty of love, and conquers his greatest fears.
This is a great book to read while on a charter bus with a group—especially if you’re traveling for a school event. After you’ve had time to soak up the story’s messages of self-discovery, talk with your fellow bus passengers about Santiago’s journey, his struggles, his successes, and what the treasure actually is. The beauty of this book is that there isn’t a clear, direct answer, so everyone in your group may have a different idea.
4. Eat Pray Love
By Elizabeth Gilbert
Eat Pray Love has become the epitome of travel novels for a reason. It’s a must-read for those who want to get a taste of other cultures, discover different facets of themselves, and embark on a journey of finding inner peace.
In this memoir, Elizabeth Gilbert chronicles her year-long venture to Italy, India, and Indonesia to escape the heartache of a bad divorce and a tumultuous affair. She spends four months in Italy reveling in delicious Italian food and drink, three months in India meditating, praying, and seeking spiritual guidance, and the remaining months in Bali seeking inner balance.
Your bus passengers who love to plan their meals will enjoy Gilbert’s attention to detail about Italian cuisine and her in-depth exploration of its history and traditions. If you’re a member of a book club, consider choosing Eat Pray Love for your next trip. It’s a great way to introduce some of the concepts behind planning a themed group vacation. If your book club would rather eat than pray, plan a private bus trip to tour New England’s vineyards and breweries, and take inspiration from the “eat” portion of Gilbert’s journey!
5. Life of Pi
By Yann Martel
If your reading taste leans toward the fantastical and surreal, Life of Pi will be a thrilling adventure. While many may find the book’s themes of faith, resilience, and religion intriguing, the book will keep you on the edge of your seat with the unbelievable survival journey of the main character.
The story takes readers on a journey with Pi Patel, who was raised in India, and his family as they choose to immigrate to Canada amidst political turmoil. The Patel family’s travel is on a freighter ship packed with animals from the Pondicherry Zoo they own and operate. During their journey, tragedy strikes when the ship sinks, and Pi is the only survivor—alongside a tiger, zebra, hyena, and orangutan. Through the cycle of life, the other animals are eventually killed, leaving Pi with Richard Parker, the tiger, for company.
Readers are transported to Pi’s unbelievable experience at sea on a lifeboat with a tiger as his only companion. The novel details the harsh realities of survival, his connection to Richard Parker, and the beauty of the natural world during his 227 days at sea.
6. On the Road
By Jack Kerouac
Considered one of the most influential travel novels of all time, this book will inspire your inner wanderer. This semi-autobiographical novel by famous Beat Movement writer Jack Kerouac is a road trip of the United States during the late 1940s. Sal Paradise, the main character, sets off to explore the Western states on a whim after feeling disillusioned with his life in New York City.
Throughout Paradise’s travels, he hitchhikes to San Francisco and makes new friends, enjoys parties, delves into spontaneous rendezvous, and so much more. As Paradise travels, he learns about himself, love, friendship, and the many things that life has to offer.
If you are traveling with a large group on a long-distance trip, this book will speak to your experiences of camaraderie and friendship. With your Partybus.com charter bus rental, your group won’t have to worry about hitchhiking to each destination. Everyone can hop aboard and enjoy comfortable amenities like plush seats and WiFi in your motorcoach rental. Although you may not be hitching rides or attending spontaneous parties, enjoy the scenery outside your bus’s windows and explore a different kind of adventure.
7. Travels with Charley: In Search of America
By John Steinbeck
Who doesn’t enjoy a good adventure story between a man and his best friend? This novel is a combination of Steinbeck’s true experience and his own personal imagination. Written in the 1960s, John Steinbeck recounts his road trip across the nation with his wife’s standard French Poodle, Charley, in tow.
During his travels, Steinbeck discovers the true essence of the United States while experiencing the local culture, food, and history of each place. The novel also speaks to the hardships of traveling on the road in a small vehicle with limited space and provisions.
If you’re planning a cross-country trip with your family or friends, Travels with Charley is a great read to share. Not only will the novel speak to your experiences of traveling in a group, but your charter bus will also ensure that you’re traveling with comfortable amenities and a driver who will navigate for you. Your travel worries can be put to rest. So enjoy a delicious snack, relax in your plush, reclining seat and take in the beauty outside your window, just like John Steinbeck and his furry friend Charley did!
8. Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel
By Rolf Potts
Vagabonding is a fantastic guidebook for those planning long trips or considering quitting their jobs to travel long-term. This book is a combination of practical travel advice, stories from Rolf Potts’s own experiences, and philosophical ideas about the role of travel in personal growth.
Potts’s journey lasted ten years, and throughout the book, he includes insightful lessons and stories about his travels. The novel explores themes like getting rid of the clutter in your life, budgeting wisely for trips, making sacrifices to achieve travel goals, and staying adaptable to different experiences around the world.
The honest voice and approachable tone that Rolf Potts uses in Vagabonding will appeal to many long-distance travelers. You’ll find helpful advice to make your next big vacation as relaxing as possible.
9. My Spiritual Journey
By The Dalai Lama
This insightful book, My Spiritual Journey, is a memoir written by the 14th Dalai Lama, one of the most influential leaders of our time. The memoir not only details his life experiences and explores the importance of spirituality but also provides useful insight into Tibetan Buddhism.
From childhood to present day, the Dalai Lama guides readers through pivotal moments, philosophical ideas, and concepts such as meditation and the deeper, spiritual meaning of life. Your group will want to discuss his encounters with influential people, his compassionate approach to personal hardship, and his perspective on the purpose of humanity.
10. A Long Petal of the Sea
By Isabel Allende
Written by the famed Chilean author Isabel Allende, A Long Petal of the Sea explores themes of love, immigration, hardship, and exile—while taking readers on a sweeping journey across the world to discover hope and unity.
The novel follows Victor Dalmau, a doctor, and Roser Bruguera, a pianist, who begin their relationship in the 1930s Spanish Civil War. In order to escape the dangers of war in Spain, they flee to Chile aboard a ship that serves as a refugee vessel. Readers are transported from the dangers of wartime Spain to the quiet, bustling streets of Chile and Venezuela. When political unrest again threatens their family, Victor and Roser seek exile once more in Spain and begin to rebuild their lives.
Your group will want to discuss the novel’s historical background, the beauty and struggles of immigration, and the importance of family and unity. This novel is an enjoyable way to learn about a portion of Chile and Venezuela’s history, and it’s a great read to share with a book club.
Relax, Unwind, & Read On Your Partybus.com Bus Rental
The next time you’re on a long charter bus ride, use the time to get lost in a good book. It’s a fantastic way to explore different places and cultures in your imagination. Whether you decide to try one of the books on this list or choose another favorite, reading can help pass the time and make your charter bus trip even better!
Looking to get your next group trip on the road? When you need professional and efficient group transportation, look no further than Partybus.com. We offer bus rentals in cities across the United States—give us a call at 877-563-2133 when you’re ready to discuss your group’s travel needs. We’ll find a bus that works for you, no matter where you’re going.