Do you drift into a car nap and then pop awake at that last turn on your commute? In this episode, we decode the everyday mystery with accessible neuroscience: how your inner clock estimates travel time, how noise drops (from avenue to side street) nudge you toward wakefulness, how braking and cornering feed the vestibular system, and how conditioning links a familiar route to a perfectly timed wake-up. We’ll walk through three mini experiments—change the route, stabilize cabin noise, block light—to map your personal wake-up cues, then share two playbooks: one to deepen an in-car car nap (steady noise, eye mask, neck support) and one to time a precise wake-up before your stop. Commute smarter, sleep better, and use your inner clock and conditioning on purpose—the “almost-home” effect, explained and usable.