How to Keep Reading While Traveling (and Actually Enjoy It)
If you’ve ever packed big reading intentions for a trip only to come home realizing you barely cracked a spine… hi. Same. Traveling has a way of disrupting even the most solid reading routines. But it doesn’t have to.
As a full-blown bibliophile, I refuse to believe that trips are meant to be book-free zones. In fact, travel can be one of the best times to read if you set yourself up right.
Here’s how to keep reading while traveling (and maybe even thrive as a reader while you’re at it).
1. Prepare Like the Book-Loving Professional You Are
This is not the time for minimalism.
If you’re traveling, bring books. Plural. Different moods call for different reads, and travel moods are especially unpredictable. What you thought you wanted to read at home may suddenly feel all wrong once you arrive.
My rule of thumb:
- AT LEAST one main book I’m excited about
- AT LEAST one backup in a totally different genre
- AT LEAST one “easy” or comfort read
Fantasy not hitting? Grab the romance. Literary fiction suddenly too heavy? Enter the thriller. Your future self will thank you.
If physical books feel like too much weight, this is also a great time to load up your e‑reader or reading app. The key is options!
Being prepared is the secret sauce to reading consistently while traveling.
2. Pack Your Books in Your Personal Item (Not Your Suitcase)
This one matters more than people realize.
If you’re flying, your books go in your personal item — not your checked bag, not even your overhead carry-on. Your personal item is the VIP section of your travel setup.
Why?
- You can read while waiting to board
- You can read during the flight without digging around
- You can read during delays (aka surprise reading time)
Airports are chaotic, yes, but they’re also weirdly perfect reading environments once you mentally block everything else out.
Travel reading tip: treat every wait like a bonus chapter opportunity.
And if you happen to forget a book (it happens), don’t panic. Many larger airports have surprisingly great bookstores, and they’re always one of my favorite stops if I have time. I love browsing, discovering new titles, and adding way too many books to my TBR. The bookstore tunnel at Tulsa International Airport is especially dreamy and always makes me want to read everything in sight.
3. Create a Reading Bubble with Headphones or Earplugs
Foreign places are loud. Planes, hotel lobbies, cafés, airports… all noisy. And while some people can read through chaos, I personally need a vibe.
Enter:
- AirPods
- Noise‑canceling headphones
- Good old-fashioned earplugs
I love throwing on lo‑fi music or instrumental playlists to help me sink into the story. It’s like creating a portable reading cocoon no matter where you are.
This trick works everywhere:
- On the plane
- In the hotel lobby
- At a restaurant while waiting for food
- Poolside with a cocktail (elite combo)
If you want to stay immersed in books while traveling, sound control is non‑negotiable.
4. Let Go of Reading “Rules” While You’re Away
Travel reading doesn’t need to look like your at‑home reading routine.
Some days you’ll read for an hour. Some days you’ll read three pages. Some days you’ll just reread the same paragraph because you’re tired…and that still counts.
You don’t need:
- A reading goal
- A page quota
- A specific genre
You just need a book nearby and permission to enjoy it when the moment feels right.
And if finding time to read feels hard —even when you’re at home— you’ll love our How to Find Time to Read as a Busy Mom series—it’s full of realistic, no-pressure reading tips for real life.
We also share more about creating flexible, guilt-free routines in our post Reading Goals That Won’t Stress You Out (Even If Life Is Full)—because reading should fit your life, not overwhelm it.
5. Make Reading Part of the Experience, Not a Chore
One of my favorite things about reading while traveling is how strongly books attach themselves to memories.
Years later, you won’t just remember the trip, you’ll remember that book. The airport chapters. The beach chapters. The late‑night hotel chapters.
Reading on the road isn’t about keeping a streak alive. It’s about letting books travel with you, literally and emotionally.
Final Thoughts: Yes, You Can Keep Reading While Traveling
With a little preparation, the right setup, and a flexible mindset, traveling can actually enhance your reading life instead of interrupting it.
Bring the books. Bring the backups. Bring the headphones.
And most importantly, bring your love of reading with you.
Happy travels and happy reading 🤍
Want more support building a reading habit that actually sticks? Check out our How to Find Time to Read as a Busy Mom series and grab our free Busy Mom Reading Tracker to stay motivated—wherever life takes you.
