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100+ Best Road Trip songs (to sing along with as you drive!)

Looking for good road trip songs? Honestly, the right driving songs in the right playlist can make or break a road trip! Here are 100+ best road trip songs to sing along with as you drive!

And don’t forget to download your FREE road trip planner below , to help you plan your road trip.

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Best Road Trip Songs

Planning a road trip or long drive is tough. There are a million things to think about. And one of the things often overlooked is a road trip playlist!

Whether you’re travelling by car, RV, camper or bike, this list of the 100 best road trip driving songs is guaranteed to make the miles fly past!

We’ve got a mix of great driving songs to sing along too: songs for girly summer road trips, classic rock, all-American, a bit of country and some modern 2020 tunes- all designed to create the PERFECT playlist for your journey. And with over 100 road trip songs to choose from, you’re guaranteed to find something for everyone to sing along with on the road.

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How to create a great road trip playlist with sing-along songs!

The window wound down, the stereo cranked up and some awesome tunes you can sing along to; perfection, right? But if you’re anything like us, your phone/iPod is a random mix of all sorts of music- including a Christmas album or 7.

That’s why a road trip playlist is so important- you don’t have to worry if the next tune will be great, you already know it will be! 

• Make sure the songs are downloaded onto your phone/ ipod. Otherwise, you’re going to use up a lot of data and/ or run the risk of being in an area with bad signal and no music!
• Like listening to things as you drive? Check out Audible – you can get podcasts, audiobooks and more- it’s a perfect way to pass the time on a long drive.

You might be able to get 3 MONTHS FREE music at Amazon. Click HERE to take advantage 

I’ll be honest- there was some…. let’s call it “discussion”… over the best travel songs to include on this list. My husband prefers classic rock for driving songs. I like songs you can sing along with in the car and songs to drive fast too (NEVER above the speed limit though… right?!)

We compromised on creating a road trip playlist with song choices from all of us, so we hope there’s something in here for you!

So, let’s get to the best road trip songs.

(Update: This post started off as 100 of the best road trip songs… it’s growing as we add more in, so no idea how many are here now!! )

20 Rock Classics- the BEST Road trip Rock songs

• Danger Zone – Kenny Loggins
• Nutbush City Limits – Ike & Tina Turner
• Dude Looks like a Lady – Aerosmith
• American Pie – Don Mclean
• Whole Lotta Rosie – AC/ DC
• Don’t Stop Believing – Journey
• Paradise City – Guns N’ Roses
• All Night Long – Rainbow
• Cats in the Cradle – Ugly Kid Joe
• Here I Go Again – Whitesnake
• Jump – Van Halen
• We Built This City – Starship
• Summer of ’69 – Bryan Adams
• Hell ain’t a Bad Place to Be – AC/DC
• The Boys are Back in Town – Thin Lizzy
• Rio – Duran Duran
• Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting – Elton John
• Who are You – The Who
• Go Your Own Way – Fleetwood Mac
• Love Walked In – Thunder

Best Driving Songs- All-American road trip songs

• Born in the USA – Bruce Springsteen
• Sweet Home Alabama – Lynyrd Skynyrd
• Walk This Way – Aerosmith & Run DMC
• My Life – Billy Joel
• Living on a Prayer – Bon Jovi
• Footloose – Kenny Loggins
• One of these Nights – The Eagles
• Born to be Wild – Steppenwolf
• Nothing but a Good Time-  Poison

Planning a road trip? You might find these posts useful:

• How to plan a road trip
• The BEST printable road trip planner (FREE!)
• Most useful road trip apps
• 100 inspiring road trip quotes

25 Modern road trip songs to sing along with (2020 update)

Our favourite modern (ish!) driving songs, all of which are perfect to sing along to in the car and belt it out- especially in a traffic jam with people staring at you!! Add any (or all!) of these to your perfect summer road trip playlist.

• Physical- Dua Lipa
• Stupid Love – Lady Gaga
• Dance Monkey – Tones & I (you know you love it…)
• Take Me Back to London – Ed Sheeran
• All the Good Girls go to Hell – Billie Eilish
• What a Man Gotta Do – Jonas Brothers
• Castle on the Hill – Ed Sheeran
• Uptown Funk – Mark Robson & Bruno Mars
• Rockstar – Nickelback
• Looking for a Good Time – Lady Antebellum
• It’s My Life – Bon Jovi
• Take me to Church – Hozier
• Hold Back the River – James Bay
• Shut Up & Dance – Walk the Moon
• Happy – Pharell Williams
• The Pretender – Foo Fighters
• Hall of Fame – The Script
• Centuries – Fall Out Boy
• Sex on Fire – Kings of Leon
• The Kill – 30 Seconds to Mars
• Mr Brightside – The Killers
• My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark – Fall Out Boy
• Don’t Threaten Me with a Good Time – Panic at the Disco
• Knights of Cydonia – Muse
• If I had you – Adam Lambert
• All the Small Things – Blink 182

The ultimate girl’s road trip playlist- perfect songs to sing along with in the car!

Ah- I LOVE girly road trips, especially in the summer. There’s nothing better than some sunshine, good friends and some GREAT songs on the stereo. Here are some of our favourite road trip songs for girls (although we don’t mind if you boys listen to them too! 😉 )

20 Modern road trip sing-along songs for girls

• Rolling in the Deep – Adele
• Waking Up in Vegas – Katy Perry
• Trouble – Pink
• Everytime We Touch – Cascada
• According to You – Orianthi
• Bang Bang – Jessie J, Ariana Grande & Nicki Menaj
• Black Magic – Little Mix
• Heartbeat Song – Kelly Clarkson
• Sax – Fleur East
• Can’t Be Tame d- Miley Cyrus
• Fight Song – Rachel Platten
• The Best Damn Thing – Avril Lavigne
• Call Me Maybe – Carly Rae Jepsen
• U and Ur Hand – Pink!
• Part of Me – Katy Perry
• Shake it Off – Taylor Swift
• This is Me – Greatest Showman Soundtrack
• Raise Your Glass – Pink
• Living la Vida Loca – Ricky Martin
• Baby one more time – Brittany Spears

20 Classic road trip songs for girls to sing along to in the car!

• Walking on Sunshine – Katrina & the Waves
• Bitch – Meredith Brooks
• Everything I do, I do it for you – Bryan Adams
• Holding Out for a Hero – Bonnie Tyler
• Wake Me up before you Go-Go – Wham
• It’s Raining Men – Weather Girls
• Love Shack – B52s
• I’m so Excited – Pointer Sisters
• Dancing in the Moonlight – Toploader
• 9 to 5 – Dolly Parton
• Uptown Girl – Billy Joel
• Heaven is a Place on Earth – Belinda Carlisle
• Man! I Feel like a woman – Shania Twain
• Girls Just Wanna Have Fun – Cyndi Lauper
• Poker Face – Lady Gaga
• Burning Love – Wynonna (I much prefer this version- sorry Elvis!!)
• Love My Life – Robbie Williams
• Torn – Natalie Imbruglia
• Proud Mary – Tina Turner
• Summer Nights- Grease

14 Driving Songs with ‘road in the title’- perfect for a road trip playlist!

• Hit the Road Jack – Ray Charles
• Every Day is a Winding Road – Sheryl Crow
• Take me Home, Country Roads – John Denver
• The Long and Winding Road – The Beatles
• Bright Side of the Road – Van Morrison
• Long Road To Ruin – Foo Fighters
• Road Trippin’ – Red Hot Chilli Peppers
• Back on the Road Again – REO Speedwagon
• Thunder Road – Bruce Springsteen
• Road to Hell – Chris Rea
• Road to Nowhere – Talking Heads
• Old Town Road – Lil Nas X
• Roadhouse Blues – The Doors
• Road Less Traveled – Lauren Alaina

15 best songs about driving and cars

Some of the best songs about driving (and cars!) – all perfect for a road trip playlist!

• Mustang Sally – The Commitments
• Bat out of Hell – Meatloaf
• I Drove all night – Roy Orbison
• Rhythm Made Me Do It – Shania Twain
• Drive By – Train
• Greased Lightnin’ – Grease Soundtrack
• Paradise by the Dashboard Light – Meatloaf
• Bad Habit – The Offspring
• Car Wash – Rose Royce
• 2,4,6,8 Motorway – Tom Robinson Band
• Little Red Corvette – Prince
• Pink Cadillac – Bruce Springsteen
• Route 66 – Chuck Berry
• Drive – The Cars
• Drive My Car – The Beatles

Planning a long drive? These post might help

• 15 Essential road trip tips you NEED to know
• Things to remember before you leave
• Healthy snacks for road trips

Best Driving songs to drive faster to (and sing along with!!)

Yes, we’ve already had some AMAZING road trip songs for the playlist, but here are some more to crank it up and sing along with (just watch that speed limit!!)

• Don’t Stop Me Now – Queen
• Monkey Wrench – Foo Fighters
• Eye of the Tiger – Survivor
• Beat It – Michael Jackson
• 50 Ways to say Goodbye – Train
• River Deep, Mountain High – Tina Turner
• Cherry Pie – Warrant
• I would do anything for love – Meatloaf
• Addicted to Love – Robert Palmer
• Pour Some Sugar on Me – Def Leppard (one of the best songs about sugar ever 😉 )
• Any Way you Want it – Journey (or the Rock of Ages version!)
• DOA – Foo Fighters
• Lowlife – Theory of a Deadman
• Making it Hard – Hinder
• Oblivion – Terrorvision
• Haven’t Had Enough – Marianas Trench
• Angel with a Shotgun – The Cab
• Silent Majority – Nickelback
• Run to You – Bryan Adams
• Thanks for the Mmrs – Fall Out Boy
• The Anthem – Good Charlotte
• Teenagers – My Chemical Romance
• High School Never Ends – Bowling for Soup
• Seven Nation Army – White Stripes
• Kung Fu Fighting – Carl Douglas
• Build Me up Buttercup – The Foundations
• Johnny B Goode – Chuck Berry
• Come As You Are – Nirvana
• Teenage Dirtbag – Wheatus

20 Quieter Road trip songs- for when the kids are sleeping!

These songs are perfect when you want to turn it down a little bit. Admittedly, we tend to turn them up, but then we don’t have young kids anymore!

(Top tip for parents- these children’s car games won’t drive you crazy. Promise!)

• Livin’ Thing – Electric Light Orchestra
• All I Need is a Miracle – Mike and the Mechanics
• Everybody wants to Rule the World – Tears for Fears
• Money for Nothing – Dire Straits
• In the Air Tonight – Phil Collins  (just remember to air drum quietly!!)
• I don’t want a lover – Texas
• The Chain – Fleetwood Mac
• The Gambler – Kenny Rogers
• Stay with Me – Rod Stewart
• All Night Long- Lionel Richie
• No Son of Mine – Genesis
• Easy Lover – Phil Collins & Philip Bailey
• Every Little Thing She Does – The Police
• It’s a Beautiful Day – Michael Buble
• Jesus, He knows me – Genesis
• The Day We Caught the Train – Ocean Colour Scene
• All Right Now – Free
• Another Brick in the Wall – Pink Floyd
• Mama Told Me not to Come – Tom Jones
• Boys of Summer – Don Henley

Classic road trip driving songs for EVERY trip

These are some of our favourite driving tunes- but they didn’t really fit anywhere else (or they did, but my OCD with the numbers wouldn’t allow it!) Still, don’t forget to put these onto your ultimate driving playlist!!

• Africa – Toto
• Waterloo – Abba
• Like I Roll – Black Stone Cherry
• Sharp Dressed Man – ZZ Top
• I Love Rock n Roll – Joan Jet
• Counting Stars – OneRepublic
• Song 2 – Blur
• Only The Good Die Young – Billy Joel
• Dreadlock Holiday – 10cc
• Englishman in New York – Sting
• Stacy’s Mom – Bowling for Soup or Fountains of Wayne
• The Power of Love – Huey Lewis and The News
• One of Us – Joan Osborne
• Won’t Get Fooled Again – The Who
• When the Going gets tough – Billy Ocean
• I Can’t Dance – Genesis
• Losing My Religion – R.E.M
• We Are Family – Sister Sledge
• Video Killed the Radiostar – The Buggles
• Hit Me with your Best Shot – Pat Benatar
• I Got You (I Feel Good) – James Brown
• Graceland – Paul Simon
• Since You Been Gone – Rainbow
• Total Eclipse of the Heart – Bonnie Tyler
• Are You Gonna Go My Way – Lenny Kravitz
• I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For – U2

Spotify Link for this road trip playlist

If you’d like to download this playlist on Spotify, you can do so here.

And if you found it helpful and like our playlist, feel free to buy us a coffee 😉

Best Road Trip Songs- how did you like our Playlist?

Every single one of these songs makes us turn the volume up and sing along like crazy people- much to the amusement of anyone around us!

These are driving songs to embarrass yourselves to and enjoy every second.  I hope it’s given you some great ideas for your own road trip playlist- let me know what you include on yours!!

How else can I help you today?

• Record your trip in one of these beautiful road trip logbooks
• How to plan an epic RV trip for beginners
• The BEST gifts for road trippers
• Essential road trip kit
• Best Children’s car Games

Kat never planned to buy a motorhome. She also never planned to quit her job as an air traffic controller, go touring around Europe in said motorhome, start one of the UK’s largest motorhome travel websites… or get a cocker spaniel.

Find out how she went from stuck in the rat race to being a digital nomad and inspiring thousands of people to have their own epic adventures here.

If you’d like to connect with Kat, send her an email or follow her adventures on social media.

Sharing is caring!

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16 comments.

Wow that is a great list. You have a few I had forgotten. Very complete list of all music genre. That is the only problem I have with things like Sirrus and XM you have to select only one type. I love Pandora but as you mentioned DATA, DATA, so Ipod it is for roadtrips.

Thank you! We had a lot of fun writing it and listening to old songs 🙂 Yeah, Data is definitely something worth considering- it can get expensive quickly otherwise!

You missed out poison alive Cooper got to be on

thanks for the information

You’re welcome!

What an awesome song list. Thanks for sharing this list. take care…

You are very welcome- glad you enjoyed it. Happy Road trip!

Great lists. I made playlists on Spotify that can be accessed by anybody. Makes it easy if you have Spotify.

How do I access the playlist that you made

Rockin’ down the highway by The Doobie Brothers

Is there a way to automatically click a link or something so my Apple Music will automatically take and start playing the 150 song list

Wow. Now I have something to do while waiting for lockdown to end. I’ve never heard of some of yours! You won’t have heard of some of mine! Each to his own. I will start with Stones, Clapton, John Mayalls Bluesbreakers, Sonny Boy Williams……….Can’t stop, I’ve got to get my iPod.?

This is a really lovely list. I would also recommend Dead American Presidents’ Peaches for trips through farm country.

I miss the golden Earring with Radar love.

Can’t believe you don’t have and Go-Go’s songs listed!! I can think of a few that are awesome road trip songs !!

What song list to drive faster would not include Deep Purple – Highway Star??? Definitely put your pedal to the metal on that song.

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50+ BEST Road Trip Songs for the Ultimate Road Trip Playlist

Heading on a road trip soon and looking for the top road trip songs to add to your road trip playlist?  I’ve got you covered with 50+ of the best road trip songs to listen (and sing along to) on long car drives.

Road Trip Songs For Your Road Trip Playlist

I hope you enjoy this list of great road trip songs. I have included a mix of road trip songs from different genres (including rock, pop and country) and different eras (from classic road trip songs to modern road trip songs). Most of these great songs are about road trips and travel or cars, highways and driving in general.

(And if you are planning on taking a road trip soon make sure to check out my essential road trip packing list  to make sure you have all your road trip essentials before you go!)

10 Best Road Trip Songs of All Time

I think these are the 10 best road trips songs of all time (in no particular order).

• “Born to Run” by Bruce Springsteen
• “On the Road Again” by Willie Nelson
• “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver
• “Life Is a Highway” by Tom Cochrane
• “Little Red Corvette” by Prince
• “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” by the Proclaimers
• “Take It Easy” by the Eagles
• “Born to Be Wild” by Steppenwolf
• “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd (This song is perfect for a classic American road trip in the South.)
• “I Can’t Drive 55” by Sammy Hagar

Best Classic Road Trip Songs

Below are the greatest classic road trip songs that need to be on your music playlist:

• “Long Lonely Highway” by Elvis Presley
• “Highway to Hell” by AC/DC
• “American Pie” by Don McLean
• “Hit the Road Jack” by Ray Charles
• “Route 66” by Chuck Berry
• “No Particular Place to Go” by Chuck Berry
• “Truckin’” by The Grateful Dead
• “Running on Empty” by Jackson Browne
• “Tiny Dancer” by Elton John
• “Mustang Sally” by Wilson Pickett
• “Radar Love” by Golden Earring
• “Hotel California” by Eagles
• “America” by Simon & Garfunkel
• “The Passenger” by Iggy Pop

80s Road Trip Songs

Below are best 80s road trip songs to add to your music playlist:

• “Holiday Road” by Lindsey Buckingham
• “Road to Nowhere” by Talking Heads
• “Danger Zone” by Kenny Loggins (from the movie Top Gun)
• “Don’t Stop Believin'” by Journey
• “Love Shack” by the B52s
• “Here I Go Again” by Whitesnake
• “Born in the U.S.A” by Bruce Springsteen
• “Free Fallin’” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
• “I Drove All Night” by Cyndi Lauper
• “Fast Car” by Tracy Chapman

90s Road Trip Songs

Below are best 90s road trip songs to add to your music playlist:

• “Road Trippin'” by Red Hot Chili Peppers
• “I’ve Been Everywhere” by Johnny Cash
• “The Distance” by Cake
• “Drive” by Incubus
• “The Way” by Fastball
• “Everyday is a Winding Road” by Sheryl Crow

Modern Road Trip Songs

Below are best modern road trip songs to add to your music playlist:

• “Shut Up and Drive” by Rihanna
• “California” by Phantom Planet – this is one of my favorite California road trip songs .)
• “Keep the Car Running” by Arcade Fire
• “A Thousand Miles” by Vanessa Carlton
• “Party in the U.S.A.” by Miley Cyrus
• “California Gurls” by Katy Perry (featuring Snoop Dogg)
• “Maps For The Getaway” by Andrew McMahon
• “Holocene” by Bon Iver
• “I Am The Highway” by Audioslave
• “Wild” by John Legend and Gary Clark Jr.
• “Thousand Miles” by Miley Cyrus (feat. Brandi Carlile)
• “Levitating” by Dua Lipa
• “Home” by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros – this is the perfect song to listen on the way back home after a long trip

Road Trip Playlist on Spotify

To make it easier for you to listen, I have created a spotify playlist of the best road trip songs of all time:

What are your favorite road trip songs?

Need some road trip inspiration?

• Best Road Trips in the USA
• Best Road Trips In Europe For Your Bucket List
• Best Road Trips in Australia
• Best Road Trip Quotes to Inspire You to Go!

Related Posts

savvyglobetrotter

These are all classics for sure when you’re talking about a road trip. My favorite would be Sammy Hagar “I Can’t Drive 55”. Something about that cool flow that makes it perfect for a summer road trip. But I would not follow the advice because I wish not to get pulled over crossing the country LOL.

Thank you so much for putting out this list of road trips and songs!!

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The Ultimate Road Trip Playlist According to Travelers, Editors, and Spotify

This year has been nothing short of a whirlwind. As we wrap up the year, international travel is still a no go, and flying in general seems like a bit of a risky proposition. As a result, the humble road trip has roared back on our collective radar as many of us have been taking to the road as a way to get out of the house and explore our surroundings near and far. 

When we began discussing road trips on zoom calls and in Slack channels, the one thing that everyone could agree on was that music was essential. A good soundtrack can mean the difference between the hours flying by as fast as the scenery out the window or turning around before you reach your destination.

So what makes a great road trip playlist? It starts with the songs, but with so many incredible choices out there, it’s hard to whittle down to something that stands up to the test of time. However, we had an idea.

To make the perfect road trip playlist, we used three components. First, we looked at Spotify data to identify the most popular songs for driving, according to the top 100 road trip playlists. Next, we surveyed our TripSavvy readers to get their take. After that, our editors weighed in on their favorite songs. In the end, we were left with 29 carefully curated high-vibe songs that create the ultimate travel music of 2020.

Here are the top road trip songs. For the best listening experience, try playing them in order. Enjoy!

"Wake Me Up" by Avicii

Released in 2013, “Wake Me Up” made history by becoming the first song on Spotify to accumulate 200 million streams. This song can instantly put you in a good mood and that's why it's up first on our list.

"Night Moves" by Bob Seger

"Night Moves" is an easy-listening, American Rock classic. "Rolling Stone" magazine named it Single of the Year in 1977. This song is sure to get you in the right headspace for hitting the highway.

"Fly Like an Eagle" by Steve Miller Band

As suggested by one of our readers, "Fly Like an Eagle" was a must-have for this playlist. Even though this psychedelic-rock tune was released in 1976, it still feels relevant today.

Feed the babies Who don't have enough to eat Shoe the children With no shoes on their feet House the people Livin' in the street Oh, oh, there's a solution

"I Feel It Coming" by The Weeknd featuring Daft Punk

As suggested by one of our readers, "I Feel It Coming" is a sensual disco-pop song by The Weeknd and Daft Punk. When you play it, this catchy song will make you instinctively bob along as you're on the road.

"Cruise" by Florida Georgia Line

A song that appears on the Spotify list and was submitted by a reader is "Cruise" by Florida Georgia Line. This upbeat country song will make you wanna roll the windows down and cruise.

"Take It Easy" by the Eagles

After hours of driving, "Don't let the sound of your own wheels drive you crazy," might be the best advice you'll get. Released in 1972, "Take It Easy" by the Eagles is still being played by road trippers, appearing 20 times across the top 100 playlists.

"Riptide" by Vance Joy

"Riptide," the 2013 single by Australian singer-songwriter Vance Joy, appears on 13 of the top 100 road trip Spotify playlists. This cheery folk song won the World Music Award for World’s Best Song.

"Old Town Road (Remix)" by Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus

In 2019 Lil Nas X released "Old Town Road," a country rap remix with Billy Ray Cyrus. It won lots of awards, so it's no wonder that this was a top contender.

"Malibu" by Miley Cyrus

"This song reminds me of a road trip down the west coast from San Francisco to San Diego," says Megan Hartig, Content Marketing Manager. We booked our hotels on the fly with the app Hotel Tonight which was great for spontaneous travel."

"Life in the Fast Lane" by Eagles

You can't listen to "Life in the Fast Lane" without feeling like a badass. This song was on 13 of the top road trip playlists on Spotify. But don't lose your cool as this lyric points out: Life in the fast lane, Surely makes you lose your mind.

Listening to this song can give you a lead foot. Don't get a speeding ticket!

"Hey, Soul Sister" by Train

If you've never sung "Hey, Soul Sister" at the top of your lungs, have you ever been on a road trip? Not according to Spotify listeners. This song appeared 16 times according to Spotify data.

"September" by Earth, Wind & Fire

"I grew up listening to a lot of Earth, Wind & Fire with my parents during road trips," says associate editor Sherri Gardner. "'September' was one of my family’s favorites because it’s fun to sing along to, especially with the windows down."

"Burn The House Down" by AJR

Another great suggestion by one of our readers, "Burn The House Down" written by the pop trio consisting of three brothers, began as a 2018 song about U.S. political climate and became the theme song for the March for Our Lives campaign.

"Carry On Wayward Son" by Kansas

If you're struggling to hang in during your long drive, turn up "Carry On Wayward Son" a little louder for some encouragement. This progressive rock song performed by Kansas in 1976 took the band to the next level.

"Dancing In The Moonlight" by Jubël featuring NEIMY

"Dancing In The Moonlight" was named nine times in the top 100 Spotify road trip playlists. This 2018 feel-good pop cover is sure to lift your spirits with its upbeat rhythm, especially if you are driving after the sun goes down.

"Road Trip (2020 Version)" by Convent Bonfires

This song was suggested by one of our readers, and given the title, we had to include it. This obscure, indie-rock track released this year gives us all the good vibes.

"Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey

With almost one billion streams on Spotify, it's no surprise "Don't Stop Believin'" cracks the top 3, with 24 appearances on Spotify's top road trip playlists. So next time you're in your car, turn up the volume and sing on and on and on and on.

"Circles" by Post Malone

Another song listed on the Spotify charts and our reader survey is "Circles" by Post Malone. This 2019 pop single won Song of the Year at the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards. It sat for a record 39 weeks in the Hot 100's top 10.

"Feel This Good" by Jackopierce

Another reader's choice, "Feel This Good" by musical duo Jackopierce is an easy listening song for the freeway.

Woke up this morning, rolled out of bed My favorite song's playing inside my head I go out on the freeway, windows down Don't know where I'm going, but it's good to move around and Days like this should never end

"Big Yellow Taxi" by Lennon & Maisy

Canadian sisters, Lennon and Maisy Stella, do a beautiful cover of the classic song "Big Yellow Taxi" originally sung by Joni Mitchell.

"Shotgun (The Wild Remix)" by George Ezra & The Wild

Whoever gets to ride shotgun is sure to enjoy this 2018 song by George Ezra featuring The Wild. "Shotgun" was listed on both the Spotify and readers' choice lists.

"Layla" by Eric Clapton

The acoustic rock song "Layla" was suggested by readers and found on six of the top Spotify road trip playlists. Hailed as one of the most iconic classic rock ballads of all time, there is no surprise it belongs here.

"Higher Love" by Kygo & Whitney Houston

This version of "Higher Love" produced by Norwegian DJ Kygo and the late Whitney Houston is a tropical, high-energy song that was number two on the Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart.

"Free Fallin'" by Tom Petty

"I grew up listening to Tom Petty (he was my first concert), and he's still one of my all-time favorite musicians," says senior editor Jamie Hergenrader. "Free Fallin' is worthy of a road trip playlist because it embodies the vibe of the trip—you're out on the open road, free to explore, and the lyrics even mention or hint at several classic L.A. routes, such as Ventura Boulevard, Highway 101, and Mulholland Drive."

"More Than a Feeling" by Boston

Is there a song that reminds you of your secret crush? Apparently someone in the band Boston had one, and that inspired their hit song "More Than a Feeling." Spotify users can relate. The song shows up on 22 road trip playlists, making it the fourth most popular on our Spotify list.

"Hello Darlin'" by Conway Twitty

“In the car, there’s nothing better than classic country," says Astrid Taran, senior audience editor. "There’s something about driving in the middle of nowhere blasting old school country.”

"Fast Car" by Jonas Blue & Dakota

"Fast Car" by Tracy Chapman was listed 10 times on Spotify's list, but we included a remix by Jonas Blue & Dakota to keep things fresh and upbeat to keep things interesting along the ride.

"Sun Models" by ODESZA featuring Madelyn Grant

"This song feels like the perfect soundtrack for a road trip and makes everything feel a little more epic," says visual editor Taylor McIntyre.

"Jack & Diane" by John Mellencamp

Last but certainly not least, here we have a classic rock ballad by John Mellencamp. "Jack & Diane" was released in the summer of 1982 and has been a go-to by road trippers ever sense, appearing 10 times in the Spotify road trip lists.

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150+ Road Trip Songs: Your Ultimate Driving Playlist

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The Best Road Trip Music

A road trip wouldn’t be a road trip without a good old sing along. Whilst on the road, regardless of how you sound, singing at the top of your lungs is just de rigueur – in fact, it’s road trip law!

There are so many amazing songs to choose from that I’ve had a great time compiling our playlist of road trip songs. I’ve been transported back through time to my favourite memories and karaoke nightmares, and been introduced to some fantastic new songs.

Forget about the 100 best road trip songs, we’ve broken down the top 150+ of the best songs for road trips! Each category has its own amazing road trip playlist, and there is also a combined Spotify ultimate playlist for a road trip, with four hours of travelling songs. So, warm up those pipes and get ready to belt out some fantastic tunes on the open road!

Classic Road Trip Songs

No matter what year you were born, or your musical taste, most of you will have heard and know the lyrics to these classic rock songs, making them really good songs to drive to. From Hotel California to Space Oddity, these are some of the greatest songs, by the greatest artists of all time. They also include some of the best guitar solos ever recorded. A great addition to any road trip playlists.

• The Eagles – Hotel California
• Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody
• Lynyrd Skynyrd – Sweet Home Alabama
• Tom Petty – Free Fallin
• AC/DC – Highway to Hell
• The Beatles – Here Comes The Sun
• Creedence Clearwater Revival – Bad Moon Rising
• The Rolling Stones – Sympathy for the Devil
• The Kinks – You Really Got Me Going
• Fleetwood Mac – Go Your Own Way
• David Bowie – Space Oddity
• Don McLean – American Pie
• Bob Segar – Old Time Rock & Roll
• Abba – Waterloo
• Elton John – Rocket Man
• The Doors – Light My Fire
• Bob Dylan – Like A Rolling Stone
• Ray Charles – Hit The Road Jack
• Allman Brothers Band – Midnight Rider
• Willie Nelson – On The Road Again
• Aretha Franklin – Respect
• Billy Joel – Piano Man
• Chuck Berry – Johnny B. Goode
• The Beach Boys – Surfin U.S.A
• Neil Diamond – Sweet Caroline
• Van Morrison – Brown Eyed Girl
• Bachman Turner Overdrive – Taking care of Business
• Johnny Cash- Ring of Fire
• Simon & Garfunkel – Mrs Robinson
• Led Zepplin – Kashmir
• Nina Simone – Sinnerman
• Golden Earring – Radar Love
• Jackson Browne – Stay

Get the classic road trip songs playlist here

DJ’s & Collaborations

Some of the best songs for driving are collaborations. Two or three amazing artists bringing together their unique sounds can result in pure magic, and these are a great addition to any chill road trip songs playlist.

• David Guetta ft. Sia – Titanium
• Calvin Harris ft. Rag’n’Bone Man – Giant
• Dr. Dre, Eminem ft. Skylar Grey – I Need a Doctor
• Dua Lipa and Elton John – Cold Heart
• Rihanna and JAY Z – Umbrella
• Robin Shultz and Lilly Wood- Prayer in C
• David Guetta ft. Estelle – One Love
• Calvin Harris ft. Dua Lipa – One Kiss
• Beyonce and JAY Z – Crazy in Love
• Diddy Dirty Money and Skyler Grey – Coming Home
• Sigma ft. Paloma Faith – Changing
• David Guetta ft. Becky Hill, Ella Henderson – Crazy What Love Can Do
• Rihanna ft. Calvin Harris – We Found Love
• Rudimental and John Newman, Alex Clare – Not Givin In
• Sean Paul and Dua Lipa – No Lie
• Ed Sheeran and Khalid – Beautiful People
• JAY Z and Alicia Keys – Empire State of Mind
• Blackstreet, Dr Dre and Queen Pen – No Diggity
• Santana and Rob Thomas – Smooth
• Kanye West, Rhianna and Paul McCartney – FourFiveSeconds
• Nelly and Kelly Rowland – Dilemma
• Eve and Gwen Stefani – Let Me Blow Ya Mind
• Rudimental and John Newman – Feel The Love
• The Chainsmokers and Coldplay – Something Just Like This
• Amy Winehouse and Mark Rowland – Valerie
• Eminem abd Dido – Stan
• Run D.M.C and Aerosmith – Walk This Way

Get the alternative road trip songs playlist here

Road Trip Songs from the Twenties (2020 – 2022)

There is a bigger selection of all types of music than ever before, and a lot of the new artists are very exciting. However, Kate Bush and Running Up That Hill making a comeback after 30 years just goes to show that there’s room for everyone. Use these songs to help create your modern road trip playlist.

• Lizzo – About Damn Time
• Doja Cat – Say So
• Tones and I – Dance Monkey
• Kate Bush – Running Up That Hill
• Adele – Easy On Me
• Charli XCX – Yuck
• Gayle – abc
• Charlie Puth – Light Switch
• Florence + The Machine – King
• Harry Styles – As It Was
• Beyonce – Summer Renaissance
• The Weekend – Out Of Time
• Camilla Cabello – La Buena Vida
• Jessie Ware – Free Yourself
• Amber Mark – Bliss
• Ellie Goulding – Easy Lover
• Dua Lipa – Love Again

Get the twenties playlist here

Late Noughties (2011-2019) Road Trip Songs

In 2011 Spotify really started to take off, gaining over 1 million subscribers. This new way of listening allowed you to play music your own way, whatever you wanted, whenever you wanted, and changed the way we buy and listen to music forever. Creating a songs playlist of your favourites led to people discovering new music, which they wouldn’t have heard otherwise. These are some of the best road trip songs of the 2000s.

• Adele – Rolling in The Deep
• Paloma Faith – Crybaby
• Robin Thicke – Blurred Lines
• Mumford & Suns – I Will Wait
• Rag’n’Bone Man – Human
• The Weekend – Blinding Lights
• Mr. Probz – Waves
• Klangkarussell – Sonnentanz
• Parov Stelar – The Sun
• Arctic Monkeys – I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor
• Rihanna – Diamonds
• Lorde – Royals
• Jess Glynn – Hold My Hand
• The Chainsmokers – Don’t Let Me Down
• Bruno Mars – 24k Magic
• Pharrell Williams – Happy
• Twenty One Pilots – Stressed Out
• Coldplay – Viva La Viva
• Mylie Cyrus – We Can’t Stop
• Harry Styles – Adore You
• Sia – Chandelier
• Robyn – Dancing On My Own
• Ed Sheeran – Shape of You

Get the late noughties playlist here

The Early Noughties (2000-2010) Best Driving Songs

Anything goes as far as music from the early noughties, there wasn’t a particular genre that stood out and no new genres really emerged. Still, we had some fantastic music from really iconic bands. Include these great tunes on your road trips songs playlist.

• Coldplay – Yellow
• The Killers – Mr. Brightside
• Muse – Uprising
• Florence + The Machine – You’ve Got The Love
• Kings of Leon – Sex on Fire
• Alicia Keys – Fallin’
• Gnarls Barkley – Crazy
• Nelly Furtado – I’m Like A Bird
• India.Arie – Video
• Lady Gaga – Just Dance
• Eminem – The Real Slim Shady
• Keane – Somewhere Only We Know
• Black Eyed Peas – I Gotta Feeling
• Coldplay – Clocks
• Black Eyed Peas – Where is the Love
• Snow Patrol – Chasing Cars
• Stereophonics – Dakota
• Madonna – Hung Up
• Kaiser Chiefs – I Predict A Riot
• The Fratellis – Whistle For The Choir
• Kelly Rowland – Work
• The Strokes – Last Night
• Franz Ferdinand – Take Me Out
• Green Day – Boulevard of Broken Dreams

Get the early noughties playlist here

Cool road trip remixes.

If you fancy listening to something a bit different, check out these fantastic remixes on SoundCloud.

• Moby – Almost Home – Vijay & Sofia Zklatko Remix
• Tracey Chapman – Stand By Me – Fabien Lanciano Remix
• Calvin Harris & Disciples – How Deep is Your Love – Chris Lake Remix
• Chaka Khan – Ain’t Nobody – Laurent Wild & The Discoh Family Edit
• Hall and Oats – I Can’t Go For That – Pomo Remix
• Clean Bandit – Rather Be – JackLNDN Remix
• Chic ft. Sugarhill Gang – Good Times Vs Rappers Delight – Jet Boot Jack Remix
• Dusty Springfield – Son of a Preacher Man – Bergeque Edit
• Sia – Cheap Thrills ft. Sean Paul – Bruno Torres Remix
• The Chainsmokers & Halsey – Closer – R3hab Remix
• Wiz Khalifa Ft. Charlie Puth – See You Again Bauke Top Remix
• Dire Straits – Sultans of Swing – lg Oliver Remix
• Fleetwood Mac – Dreams – Gigamesh Edit
• Sade – Smooth Operator – Dj S Bootleg Dance Remix
• Naz – Old Town Road – B.R.T Official Remix
• Snow Patrol – Mysterious ways
• Parra For Cuva – Wicked Game

Get the cool remixes playlist here

Best 90’s Road Trip Songs

The nineties were one of the most inventive and creative periods for music. The decade saw grunge really take off in the USA and the battle of Brit pop in the UK. These different genres still influence music today. So if you’re going on an American road trip or to drive through Europe, add these songs to create your perfect road trip songs playlist.

• Nirvana – Smells like Teen Spirit
• Red Hot Chilli Peppers – Under the Bridge
• Pearl Jam – Even Flow
• Faithless – Why Go?
• Alanis Morissette – Ironic
• The Cranberries – Linger
• The Verve – Bitter Sweet Symphony
• R.E.M – Losing My Religion
• TLC – Waterfalls
• Blur – Park Life
• Oasis – Don’t Look Back In Anger
• Sheryl Crow – All I Wanna Do
• Natalie Imbruglia – Torn
• Fugees – Killing Me Softly With His Song
• 4 Non Blondes – What’s Up?
• Radiohead – Creep
• No Doubt – Don’t Speak
• The Goo Goo Dolls – Iris
• Sixpence None The Richer – Kiss Me
• Lenny Kravitz – Are you Gonna Go My Way
• Guns N’ Roses – Don’t Cry
• The Cure – Friday I’m in Love
• Weezer – Buddy Holly
• Ace of Base – All That She Wants
• 10,000 Maniacs – These Are Days
• The Commitments – Mustang Sally
• George Michael – Freedom! ’90
• Fatboy Slim – Praise You
• Tom Cochrane – Life is a Highway

Get the 90’s road trip songs playlist here

Best 80s Road Trip Songs

The eighties are one of my favourite eras for music, it was also when MTV started and launched the music video, I’ll never forget the first time I saw the video for Thriller, it was pretty epic! The likes of punk rock, new wave and out and out pop gave us some of the greatest tunes ever. Add these tunes to your song list.

• A-ha – Take on Me
• Culture Club – Karma Chameleon
• Bon Jovi – Livin’ On A Prayer
• Eurythmics – Sweet Dreams
• Madonna – Like A Virgin
• Bryan Adams – Summer Of ’69
• Cyndi Lauper – Girls Just Wanna Fun
• Michael Jackson – Thriller
• Tears for Fears – Shout
• Toto – Africa
• Katrina & The Waves – Walking on Sunshine
• U2 – With or Without You
• Guns N’ Roses – Paradise City
• Soft Cell – Tainted Love
• Tracy Chapman – Fast Car
• Simple Minds – Don’t You
• The Human League – Don’t You Want Me
• Bruce Springsteen – Born in the U.S.A
• Prince – Little Red Corvette
• The Clash – Rock the Casbah
• Men At Work – Down Under
• Frankie Goes To Hollywood – Relax
• Duran Duran – Girls on Film
• Spandau Ballet – Gold
• Chris Isaak – Wicked Game
• Pet Shop Boys – West End Girls
• New Order – True Faith
• Whitney Houston – I Wanna Dance with Somebody
• Pat Benatar – Heartbreaker
• The Boomtown Rats – I Don’t like Mondays
• The Police – Message in A Bottle
• The Bangles – Manic Monday
• The Proclaimers – I’m Gonna Be / 500 miles
• Wham – Club Tropicana
• Phil Collins – In The Air Tonight
• The Communards – Don’t Leave Me This Way
• The B-52’s – Love Shack

Get the 80s road trips songs playlist here

Best Driving Power Ballads

Everyone loves a power ballad! These emotionally charged love songs are just begging you to belt them out at the top of your lungs! Anytime you are going to travel, include these on your road trip songs playlist.

• Foreigner – I Want To Know What Love Is
• Bryan Adams – Everything I Do
• Journey – Don’t Stop Believin
• Cutting Crew – I Just Died In Your Arms Tonight
• Heart – Alone
• Guns N’ Roses – November Rain
• Boston – More Than a Feeling
• Bonnie Tyler – Total Eclipse of the Heart
• Richard Marx – Right Here Waiting
• REO Speedwagon – Can’t Fight This Feeling
• Meatloaf – Paradise By The Dashboard Light
• Foreigner – Waiting for a Girl Like You
• Berlin – Take My Breath Away
• Europe – The Final Countdown
• Crowded House – Don’t Dream It’s Over
• Poison – Every Rose Has Its Thorn
• Survivor – Eye of the Tiger
• Starship – Nothing’s Going to Stop Us Now
• Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes – The Time of My Life
• Alannah Myles – Black Velvet

Get the driving power ballads playlist here

Disco Road Trip Songs

Disco disco disco – if these tunes with their rhythmic beats don’t get you singing and moving to the music then nothing will. Keep an eye on that speed limit in case you get carried away! Perfect for those summer road trips.

• Abba – Dancing Queen
• Gloria Gaynor – I Will Survive
• Earth Wind and Fire – Boogie Wonderland
• Bee Gees – Stayin’Alive
• Diana Ross – Upside Down
• The Trammps – Disco Inferno
• Donna Summer – Hot Stuff
• The Pointer Sisters – I’m So Excited
• Earth Wind and Fire – Let’s Groove
• Chic – Le Freak
• Cool and The Gang – Celebration
• Lipps Inc – Funky Town
• Chaka Khan – I’m Every Woman
• Earth Wind and Fire – September
• The Emotions – Best of My Love
• Cheryl Lynn – Got to Be Real
• The Jacksons – Blame it On the Boogie
• Peaches and Herb – Shake Your Groove Thing
• Kylie Minogue – Can’t Get You Out of My Head
• Scissor Sisters – I Don’t Feel Like Dancing
• Barry Manilow – Copacabana

Get the disco road trip songs playlist here

Your Ultimate Driving Playlist

Get every single one of these amazing road trip songs bundled into an ultimate road trip songs playlist to keep you singing along for nearly four hours!

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The 50 Most Essential Songs for Your Perfect Road Trip Playlist

Ready to hit the open road? Load up your playlist with these songs first.

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Car-culture tunes cross musical genres as seamlessly as changing lanes, moving between classic country, heavy metal, folk, funk, and rap. Whether you're in the mood for Rihanna or the Ramones, we've put together an eclectic list of the 50 best road trip songs to keep you humming along your journey. (Pro-tip: Once your road trip playlist is all loaded up, don't forget to download some audiobooks and plan a few games too.)

"Holiday Road" by Lindsey Buckingham

Even if you’re stuck driving a Family Truckster, this song will take you right back to carefree days. (Who else thought this was Kenny Loggins?)

RELATED:  The Quintessential Best Summer Songs From the Last 60 Years

"Radar Love" by Golden Earring

You may not be able to name another song the Dutch band Golden Earring recorded, but this classic 1973 hit combines "midnight love" with the drive-all-night ballad for a road trip win.

"Ramblin' Man" by The Allman Brothers Band

A seventies version of the age-old musical trope of people who call the road their home and can't be burdened with staying in one place (see also: "Brandy," "Take It Easy" and "Me and Bobby McGee").

RELATED:   40 Song Lyrics That We've Been Messing up This Whole Time

"Little Red Corvette" by Prince

Songs about cars are a favorite subset of the road trip song genre, and Prince sets the bar high with this song about a "car" (ahem) that goes too fast.

"Hot Rod Lincoln" by Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen

This rockabilly tribute to racing cars was first recorded in 1955 but has been covered by lots of fast-picking twangy guitarists since, most famously in 1971 by Commander Cody.

"Shut Up And Drive" by Rihanna

Everything about this song is engineered to pop perfection: Her purring vocals, bouncy melody, and double entendres. Every girlfriends' weekend playlist needs some RiRi — and one that starts with a road trip needs this song.

"No Sleep Till Brooklyn" by Beastie Boys

This Beastie Boys hit from their first album,  Licensed to Ill , hits two well-traveled road trip sub-genres: the musician-singing-about-being-on-the-road genre and the paean to a specific destination. It's guaranteed to add a little energy to the playlist and revive the driver.

"Rocket 88" by Ike Turner (Jackie Brenston and His Delta Cats)

Recording as Jackie Brenston and His Delta Cats, Ike Turner was instrumental in turning the key and igniting rock and roll with this jumping twelve-bar blues composition. You can feel the purring power of the car, and the undeniable attraction of going too fast. (Rocket 88 was a nickname for the recently minted Oldsmobile 88.)

"Road to Nowhere" by Talking Heads

You can feel good about getting lost with this tribute to a long aimless drive. Embrace the opportunity to yip, yodel, and scat along with lead singer David Byrne.

"Fun, Fun, Fun" by The Beach Boys

America's romance with the car had been jumpstarted by the end of WWII, but it really hit cruising speed in the 1960s with groups like The Beach Boys and Jan and Dean singing about being teenagers, driving fast cars, and having fun. 

"On The Road Again" by Willie Nelson

Willie Nelson wrote his first song at nine years old and hasn't stopped yet, even at 87. This heartfelt love song for a life of touring with musician friends was reportedly written on the back of an airplane airsickness bag.

"Highway to Hell" by AC/DC

Here we have the perfect soundtrack to every miserable traffic jam along your road trip. Bon Scott's guttural vocals make singing along particularly satisfying when frustrated by a standstill.

"I've Been Everywhere" by Johnny Cash

This fast-paced litany of geographic destinations is the more entertaining musical version of sitting through someone else's travel slideshow. Johnny Cash takes a 1959 Australian song (in which all the destinations are Down Under) and makes it his own.

"Drive My Car" by The Beatles

Not only does this song benefit from Paul McCartney's perfect formula for delicious pop confection, its final verse, "Beep beep'm beep beep yeah" is irresistible.

"Semi-Crazy" by Junior Brown

No road trip playlist is complete without a trucker song. Austin musician Junior Brown recorded arguably the perfect one, complete with twanging solos on his unique double-neck guitar: half electric, half pedal steel.

"State Trooper" by Bruce Springsteen

Pretty much every song on Springsteen's 1982 album Nebraska  involves cars and driving, usually at night, but there's an urgency to "State Trooper" that is familiar to any driver who's flown past a speed trap and hoped not to get pulled over. 

"Old Town Road" by Lil Nas X

Not only does this 2019 blockbuster combine Lil Nas X's rap and trap music bona fides with some classic country elements (banjo! Billy Ray Cyrus!), it even samples a song by industrial rock group, Nine Inch Nails. Besides being catchy and fun, the song made history by simultaneously appearing on both country and hip-hop charts.

"Mercury Blues" by Alan Jackson

You may think that a love song to a brand of car was written by an advertising executive, but this song was first recorded in 1948 by a blues musician from Mississippi. Lots of bands have covered "Mercury Blues" but country boy Alan Jackson had a hit with it in 2010, the year that Mercurys were discontinued.

"Low Rider" by War

The revving engine, the insistent riff of the saxophone, singer Charles Miller's Mariana Trench – deep repetition of "Low. Ri. Der" — no wonder the Chicago Tribune called this song the "quintessential cruising song."

"Truckin'" by Grateful Dead

Every playlist meant for driving should probably include a song that repeats "what a long, strange trip it's been" a few times. This particular Dead song has been singled out for recognition not just by Rolling Stone and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but in 1997, the Library of Congress declared it a national treasure.

A writer and editor with 20+ years of experience in print and digital publishing, Ann  has worked for publications including AFAR and Travel + Leisure.

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Home » Roadside Attractions Blog » Road Trip Play List » The Best Road Trip Songs to Blast in the Car (+Playlists)

The Best Road Trip Songs to Blast in the Car (+Playlists)

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There’s nothing like taking an epic road trip. Driving by the seat of your pants, veering off the highway to explore the undiscovered roads, enjoying the surrounding scenery, rolling down all your windows, and, of course, blasting an epic playlist on your car’s radio. Every good road trip needs a good road trip soundtrack. So what are the best road trip songs to add to your playlist?

A good road trip song taps into how it feels to be traveling the open road: whether that is excitement, wistfulness, or nostalgia. We’ve compiled lists and playlists full of the perfect road trip songs, songs that mention driving or cars, music that is just plain fun to listen to while driving, and songs you can listen to in whichever US state you’re traveling in.

What is the number one road trip song? You’ll have to decide that for yourself! But we have plenty of options for you to choose from. Add any of these to your road trip playlist (or just play any of our pre-populated road trip Spotify playlists!) and get ready to pump up the volume!

What’s the best way to listen to music in your car? Sign up for Spotify or Amazon Prime Music to access thousands of songs and create your own playlists.

I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)

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Everyone has different music tastes, so what you listen to in the car is up to you. But still, there are a few road classic road trip songs that will have everyone singing along in the car. The best road trip music invokes the emotions of traveling the open road with references to driving, exploring, or adventuring. Stuck on what to add to your playlist? These are fifteen of the best road trip songs to add to your playlist mix.

by The Proclaimers

“I’m Gonna Be” is the ultimate song about traveling far distances. Plus, it is just plain fun to sing along to in the car! While the Proclaimers might prefer to walk, we prefer to drive. But you know this song will be blasting on our car radio. (And for a more wistful drive, check out the Sleeping at Last cover.)

by Tom Petty

There are lots of places to run to and this song makes a good soundtrack to any of them. For anyone dreaming of that next adventure, this road trip song is always fun to sing along to with the windows down and the wind in your hair.

by The Red Hot Chili Peppers

Road Trippin’ is an anthem of the band’s Pacific Coast Highway road trip. But it is a good song to accompany any of the Best USA Road Trip Ideas Routes .

by Johnny Cash

No matter where your road trip is taking you, chances are that this song mentions it. “I’ve Been Everywhere” is the quintessential road trip song about a man who has been…well…everywhere! (92 places are mentioned in the song, if you’re keeping track). Check out this interactive map to see everywhere the singer visits in the song.

by Tom Cochrane (or Rascal Flatts)

Though more of a metaphor for the ups and downs of life, there is no better song to score a long drive on the highway. Check out the Tom Cochrane version or Rascal Flatt’s version from the movie Cars .

by Simon & Garfunkel

America is a song about two young lovers hitchhiking their way across the United States, in search of “America.” Full of adventure and optimism this song reminds us that everyone is on their own journey.

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zero

Though not really about traveling, this feel-good song takes us on a journey about love. It reminds us that no matter how far or wide we drive, home is based on who you’re with. It also makes the perfect last song in a road trip playlist, to play as you’re coming home.

by Willie Nelson

While “On the Road Again” was originally written about being on tour, it has morphed into a road trip anthem. It’s a song about going new places and seeing new things, making it the perfect tune to blast while you’re on the road (again).

by Chuck Berry

Get your kicks to this classic road trip song that takes you on a journey on the Mother Road. While it might not be the essential song for every road trip, if you’re planning a Route 66 road trip , this song has to be at the top of your playlist.

by Lindsey Buckingham

“Holiday Road” cemented its place as the quintessential road trip song when it was used as the theme song to the quintessential road trip movie , National Lampoon’s Vacation , in 1983.

by Miley Cyrus

“Party in the USA” is more about moving across the country than driving across the country. But we all know that butterflies-in-our-stomach feeling that comes with experience something new for the first time. This song evokes both that adrenaline nervousness and wide-eyed wonder that can come with taking a chance, and how a good song can put you in the right mindset for anything. Plus it is just a fun song to sing in the car!

by Bruce Springsteen

We often travel to escape our normal routine and seek the adventure that is out of our bounds. Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run” has become an ultimate road trip anthem to the restlessness that keeps us on the road searching for something new.

by Sheryl Crow

Life has twists and turns, just as a road trip does. Using the metaphors of the road, this song evokes the ups and downs of a bumpy life and a bumpy highway. Plus the chorus is fun to sing along to in the car. It will surely get you a little bit closer to feeling fine.

For those times on the road when you just want to take it easy, this song is for you. This is the perfect driving song for any road trip, but especially if you plan to be standin’ on a corner in Winslow, Arizona (there’s even a Standin’ on a Corner roadside attraction on Route 6 based off of this famous road trip song!).

by Fleetwood Mac

“Go Your Own Way” was originally a break up song but it has morphed into a song that means so much more to those who love to go, or travel, their own way. Any Fleetwood Mac song rounds out a road trip playlist and belting out, “go your own way,” makes this song a must add.

Pump up the volume!

The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book features 100 activities to play in the car, at your hotel, or at stops along your route, including several fun music-themed challenges!

Music for road trips has to last for hours. You don’t want to end up listening to the same song over and over again (unless it’s your favorite song ever, in which case you might not mind!). Round out your music playlist with one of these songs about driving and cars. Each of these songs makes some mention to something you’ll find on the road!

• Behind the Wheel by Depeche Mode
• Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol
• Drive by The Cars
• Drive My Car by The Beatles
• Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey
• Fast Car by Tracy Chapman
• Here I Go Again by Whitesnake
• Hit the Road Jack by Ray Charles
• I Drove All Night by Cyndi Lauper
• Interstate Love Song by Stone Temple Pilots
• Into the Great Wide Open by Tom Petty
• Jesus Take The Wheel by Carrie Underwood
• Keep the Car Running by Arcade Fire
• King of the Road by Roger Miller
• Little Red Corvette by Prince
• Movin’ Right Along by Alkaline Trio
• Mustang Sally by Wilson Pickett
• One Headlight by The Wallflowers
• Paradise by the Dashboard Light by Meatloaf
• Ramblin’ Man by The Allman Brothers
• Road to Nowhere by Talking Heads
• Shut Up and Drive by Rihanna
• Slow Ride by Foghat
• Society by Eddie Vedder
• Stickshifts and Safetybelts by Cake
• Take Me Home, Country Roads by John Denver
• Truckin’ by Grateful Dead
• The Way by Fastball

Road trip songs son’t have to be about driving, locations, or America to make them road trip songs. Sometimes the best songs are ones that fit the mood of whatever part of your journey you’re on: a karaoke-level banger for when you’re speeding down the highway with your windows down, a melancholy ballad that matches the scenery-for-miles national park, or an oldie-but-goodie that takes you on a nostalgic blast to the past. Any song you love can be a road trip song. But here are some of our favorites.

• 1979 by The Smashing Pumpkins
• Africa by TOTO
• All Star by Smash Mouth
• All the Small Things by Blink 182
• American Pie by Don McLean
• Animal by Neon Trees
• As It Was by Harry Styles
• Baba O’Riley by The Who
• …Baby One More Time by Britney Spears
• Back to You by Bryan Adams
• Basket Case by Green Day
• Bitch by Meredith Brooks
• Blinding Lights by The Weeknd
• Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
• Born To Be Wild by Steppenwolf
• The Boys of Summer by Don Henley
• Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison
• Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen
• Closer by The Chainsmokers
• Complicated by Avril Lavigne
• Come As You Are by Nirvana
• Counting Stars by OneRepublic
• Cut to the Feeling by Carly Rae Jepsen
• Crazy in Love by Beyonce
• Creep by Radiohead
• Dancing in the Dark by Bruce Springsteen
• Dancing in the Moonlight by Toploader
• Dog Days Are Over by Florence + The Machine
• Don’t Stop Me Now by Queen
• Down by the Water by The Decemberists
• Down on the Corner by Credence Clearwater Revival
• Dream On by Aerosmith
• Dreams by Fleetwood Mac
• Edge of Seventeen by Stevie Nicks
• Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears for Fears
• Fade Into You by Mazzy Star
• Fell in Love with a Girl by The White Stripes
• Follow You Into the Dark by Death Cab for Cutie
• Free Fallin’ by Tom Petty
• Good Vibrations by The Beach Boys
• Happy by Pharrell Williams
• Have You Ever Seen the Rain by Creedence Clearwater Revival
• Heartbeats by José González
• Hear Comes the Sun by The Beatles
• Hello by Adele
• Heroes by David Bowie
• Hey, Soul Sister by Train
• Hey Ya by Outkast
• Ho Hey by The Lumineers
• Hold On by Wilson Phillips
• I Bet My Life by Imagine Dragons
• I’m Still Standing by Elton John
• I Wanna Be Sedated by The Ramones
• I Will Wait by Mumford and Sons
• Jack & Diane by John Mellencamp
• Jolene by Dolly Parton
• Juice by Lizzo
• July, July by The Decemberists
• J ust What I Needed by The Cars
• Like a Prayer by Madonna
• Livin’ On A Prayer by Bon Jovi
• Love Shack by The B-52s
• Lust for Life by Iggy Pop
• Made You Look by Meghan Trainor
• More Than a Feeling by Boston
• Mr. Blue Sky by Electric Light Orchestra
• Mr. Brightside by The Killers
• Mr. Jones by Counting Crows
• My Sharona by The Knack
• No Diggity by Backstreet
• No Scrubs by TLC
• Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now by Starship
• Old Town Road by Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus
• One Week by The Barenaked Ladies
• Perfect by Ed Sheeran
• Rebel Yell by Billy Idol
• Redemption Song by Bob Marley
• Riptide by Vance Joy
• Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash
• Rolling In The Deep by Adele
• Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God) by Kate Bush
• Say It Ain’t So by Weezer
• Scar Tissue by Red Hot Chili Peppers
• Semi-Charmed Life by Third Eye Blind
• Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes
• Sex on Fire by Kings Of Leon
• Shape of You by Ed Sheeran
• Should I Stay or Should I Go by The Clash
• Shut Up and Dance by Walk the Moon
• Summer of ’69 by Bryan Adams
• Sweet Child O’ Mine by Guns N Roses
• Teenage Dream by Katy Perry
• The Golden Age by Beck
• This Is Me from The Greatest Showman
• Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler
• Toxic by Britney Spears
• Umbrella by Rhianna
• Under Pressure by Queen and David Bowie
• Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson Featuring Bruno Mars
• Valerie by Amy Winehouse
• Wake Me Up by Avicii
• Watermelon Sugar by Harry Styles
• Welcome Home, Son by Radical Face
• Where the Streets Have No Name by U2
• Wonderwall by Oasis
• We Are Young by fun. featuring Janelle Monáe
• What’s Up by 4 Non Blondes
• Wild World by Yusuf / Cat Stevens
• You Give Love a Bad Name by Bon Jovi
• You Oughta Know by Alannis Morisette
• You Shook Me All Night Long by AC/DC

Road Trip Songs Playlist

We’ve added all of the music above to some special Spotify playlists you can listen to on your vacation. Add these to your favorites so you always have access to the best music to listen to in the car. Put them on shuffle for a surprise at every turn!

This Spotify road trip playlist contains all the best road trip songs and songs about driving and cars to provide a fun soundtrack to your travels. With more than 40 songs, it will keep yu entertained for three hours of driving!

This Spotify playlist contains all the music on our driving music playlist, plus over 100 more fun songs to listen to in the car! With over 170 songs, this playlist will run for 11 hours so you’ll never get bored on the road.

Road Trip Songs for Every State

Sometimes you just want to get in the mood for where you’re traveling to. These themed road trip playlists have songs for any US state you’re traveling to. From Alabama to Wyoming, these songs mention the state names, reference the state, are all about the state, or have some deeper meaning that ties them to the location. Use these US state playlists as the soundtrack to your Great American road trip, wherever that journey is taking you!

• Alabama by The Louvin Brothers 
• Alabama Getaway by Grateful Dead
• Alabama Pines by Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit
• Alabama Rain by Jim Croce
• Alabama Song by The Doors
• Alabama Waltz by Hank Williams
• Ala-Freakin-Bama by Trace Adkins
• All In Alabama by Hank Williams Jr.
• All Summer Long by Kid Rock
• Angel from Montgomery by John Prine
• Birmingham by Randy Newman
• Midnight In Montgomery by Alan Jackson
• My Home’s in Alabama by Alabama
• Old Alabama by Brad Paisley
• Paint Me a Birmingham by Trace Lawrence
• Stars Fell on Alabama by Frank Perkins and Mitchell Parish
• Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd
• Alaska by Dr. Dog
• Alaska by Little Hurt
• Alaska by Maggie Rogers 
• Alaska by Pinegrove
• Alaska and Me by John Denver
• Alaska Highway by Dan Bern
• The Alaska Song by Lacy J. Dalton
• American Child by John Denver
• Caroline Says II by Lou Reed
• Fairbanks, Alaska by The Front Bottoms
• Far Alaska by Jethro Tull
• From Alaska To L.A. by Wanda Jackson
• Home to Alaska by Lee Greenwood
• I’ll See Alaska by Black Irish Band
• North To Alaska by Johnny Horton
• Road to Alaska by the Bee Gees
• Talkin’ Goin’ to Alaska Blues by Shawn Mullins
• To the Wild Country by John Denver
• When It’s Springtime In Alaska (It’s Forty Below) by Johnny Horton
• Arizona by Josh Kerr
• Arizona By Kings Of Leon
• Arizona by Scorpions
• Arizona Skies by Los Lobos
• The Ballad Of Boot Hill by Johnny Cash
• Big Iron By Marty Robbins
• Bobby in Phoenix by Gorillaz (Featuring Bobby Womack)
• By The Time I Get To Phoenix By Glen Campbell
• Closer by the Chainsmokers
• Flagstaff by Morning by Joshua Kadison
• (Get Your Kicks on) Route 66 by Nat King Cole
• Grand Canyon by Drive-by Truckers
• I Love You, Arizona by Rex Allen Jr.
• Mesa Town by Authority Zero
• Ocean Front Property By George Strait
• Painted Desert by Pat Benatar
• Phoner To Arizona by Gorillaz
• Sedona Sunrise by Aerosmith
• Send Me Down to Tucson by Mel Tillis
• Summer Running by Billy Idol
• Take It Easy By Eagles
• There Is No Arizona by Jamie O’Neal
• Tucson Train by Bruce Springsteen
• Arkansas by Chris Stapleton
• Arkansas by Damien Jurado
• Arkansas by Jimmy McCracklin
• Arkansas Farmboy by Glen Campbell
• Arkansas Heat by Gossip
• Arkansas Lovin’ Man by Johnny Cash
• Five Feet High and Rising by Johnny Cash
• Going Back to Arkansas by Big Bill Broonzy
• Home by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
• Little Rock by Hayes Carll
• The Lord God Bird  by Sufjan Stevens
• Mary Queen of Arkansas by Bruce Springsteen
• Sweet Southern Comfort by Buddy Jewell
• They Caught the Devil and Put Him in Jail in Eudora, Arkansas by Tony Joe White
• Beverly Hills by Weezer
• California by Blink-182
• California by Childish Gambino
• California By Delta Spirit
• California by Joni Mitchell
• California by Phantom Planet
• California Dreamin’ by The Mamas & The Papas
• California Girls by The Beach Boys
• California Gurls by Katy Perry
• California Kids by Weezer
• California Love by Tupac Shakur featuring Dr. Dre
• California Nights by Sweet
• California Soul by Marlena Shaw
• California Stars by Billy Bragg & Wilco
• Californication By Red Hot Chili Peppers
• Coming Into Los Angeles by Arlo Guthrie
• Going Back to Cali by The Notorious B.I.G.
• Going to California by Led Zeppelin
• Hotel California by Eagles
• I Left My Heart In San Francisco by Tony Bennett
• I Love LA by Randy Newman
• It Never Rains in Southern California by Albert Hammond
• La La Land by Bryce Vine
• Lights by Journey
• Malibu by Miley Cyrus
• Queen of California by John Mayer
• San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair) by Scott McKenzie
• Santa Monica By Everclear
• Ventura Highway by America
• Altitude Adjustment by Midland
• Boulder To Birmingham by Emmylou Harris
• Colorado by Alex Guthrie
• Colorado by Chevy Chase
• Colorado by Chuck Pyle
• Colorado by Florida Georgia Line
• Colorado by Infamous Stringdusters
• Colorado by Linda Ronstadt
• Colorado by Lotus
• Colorado by Paper Bird
• Colorado Bluebird Sky by The String Cheese Incident
• Colorado Girl by Townes Van Zandt
• Colorado Sunrise by 3OH!3
• Closer by Chainsmokers featuring Halsey
• Denver by Willie Nelson
• Driving Back to Denver by The Railbenders
• Forty Miles From Denver by Yonder Mountain Spring Band
• Get Out Of Denver by Bob Seger
• Goodbye in Telluride by Dierks Bentley
• I-70 Westbound by The Railbenders 
• I Guess He’d Rather Be In Colorado by John Denver
• I’m Leavin’ Colorado by Hillbilly Hellcats
• Intentions by Justin Bieber
• Lucky Denver Mint by Jimmy Eat World
• Lucky Old Colorado by Merle Haggard 
• A Mile High In Denver by Jimmy Buffett
• My Proud Mountains by Townes Van Zandt
• Rocky Mountain High by John Denver
• Rocky Mountain Way by Joe Walsh
• You Wild Colorado by Johnny Cash
• Connecticut by Artie Shaw
• Connecticut by Judy Garland and Bing Crosby
• Connecticut by Superchunk
• Connecticut Fun by Punkestra
• Connecticut Oberek by Jimmy Sturr
• Connecticut Snow by David Stephens
• The Connecticut Song by Kristen Graves
• Kylie from Connecticut by Ben Folds
• The Wives Are In Connecticut by Carly Simon
• Delaware by Arbour Season
• Delaware by Perry Como
• Delaware Slide by George Thorogood And The Destroyers
• Dover by John Flynn
• Down Home by Jimmie Allen
• Hello, I’m in Delaware by City And Colour
• Hot Time In Delaware by Saves The Day
• I’m From Delaware by Todd Chappelle
• All Signs Point to Lauderdale by A Day to Remember
• Backflip by The Front Bottoms
• Celebration, Florida by Chumbawamba
• Don’t Let Me Die in Florida by Patty Griffin
• The Everglades by Waylon Jennings
• Florida by Modest Mouse
• FloriFda Blues by Ricky Skaggs
• FloriDada by Animal Collective
• Florida Kilos by Lana Del Rey
• Florida Man by Blue Oyster Cult
• The Florida Song by Ricky Sylvia
• Florida Time by Bob Seger
• Floridays by Jimmy Buffett
• Gainesville by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
• Goin’ Back to Daytona by Floyd Miles
• Heaven’s Gate (Sad & Sober) by The Wonder Years
• If I Could Do It Again by Corey Smith
• Jacksonville by Josh Turner
• Key Largo by Bertie Higgins
• Kokomo by The Beach Boys
• Mainline Florida by Eric Clapton
• Miami 2017 by Billy Joel
• Move to Miami by Enrique Iglesias (Featuring Pitbull)
• Ocean Avenue by Yellowcard
• Only the Ocean by Jack Johnson
• The State of Florida by Less Than Jake
• Summer Nights by Rascal Flatts
• Swimming in Miami by Owl City
• Talk Me Out Of Tampa by Joe Nichols
• Tallahassee Lassie by Freddy Cannon
• Trying to Reason With Hurricane Season by Jimmy Buffet
• Cedartown, Georgia by Waylon Jennings
• Chattahoochee by Alan Jackson
• The Devil Went Down to Georgia by The Charlie Daniels Band
• Georgia by Elton John
• Georgia on My Mind by Ray Charles
• Georgia Peaches by Lynyrd Skynyrd
• Georgia Rain by Trisha Yearwood
• Georgia Woods by Keith Urban
• Highway 20 Ride by Zac Brown Band
• I Been to Georgia on a Fast Train by Billy Joe Shaver
• Lonely Night In Georgia by Marc Broussard
• Love Shack by The B-52’s
• Me and You and a Dog Named Boo by Lobo
• Meet in the Middle by Diamond Rio
• Midnight Train to Georgia by Gladys Knight & The Pips
• The Moon Over Georgia by Shenandoah
• The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia by Reba McEntire
• Oh, Atlanta by Alison Krauss and Union Station
• Peaches by Justin Bieber
• Rainy Night in Georgia by Brook Benton
• Sweet Augusta Darlin’ by Vince Gill
• Sweet Georgia Brown by Ella Fitzgerald
• Walkin’ Back to Georgia by Jim Croce
• Watermelon Crawl by Tracy Byrd
• Why Georgia by John Mayer
• Aloha ‘Oe by Queen Liliuokalani
• Blue Hawaii by Elvis Presley
• Fish and Poi by Sean Na’auao
• Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride by Kamehameha Schools Children’s Chorus and Mark Kealiʻi Hoʻomalu
• Honolulu City Lights by Keola Beamer
• Island Style by John Cruz
• Kona Red by Ho`aikāne
• Pearly Shells (Pupu o Ewa) by Don Ho
• Pua `Ahihi by The Kahauanu Trio
• Rolling Down To Old Maui by Stan Rogers
• Somewhere Over the Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
• Tiny Bubbles by Don Ho
• To You Sweetheart, Aloha by Bing Crosby, Dick McIntire, and His Harmony Hawaiians
• White Sandy Beach by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
• Idaho by Bryan Lanning
• Idaho by BoDeans
• Idaho by Delta Spirit
• Idaho by Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
• Idaho by Gorillaz
• Idaho by Gregory Alan Isakov
• Idaho by Josh Ritter
• Idaho by Nerina Pallot
• Idaho by Reckless Kelly
• Idaho by Train
• Idaho by Yonder Mountain String Band
• Idaho Cowboy by Reckless Kelly
• Idaho State Fair by Johnny Granger
• Idaho (Where I’m From) by Equaleyes
• Nowhere in Idaho by Rednex
• Private Idaho by B-52s
• Twin Falls by Built to Spill
• 65th And Ingleside by Chance The Rapper
• 100 Chicagos by Lupe Fiasco
• 2120 South Michigan Avenue by The Rolling Stones
• Ballad of the Illinois Opry by REO Speedwagon
• Cairo, Illinois by Pokey LaFarge
• Chicago by Sufjan Stevens
• Chicago (That Toddlin’ Town) by Frank Sinatra
• Come on! Feel the Illinoise! by Sufjan Stevens
• Effington by Ben Folds
• The Giant of Illinois by The Handsome Family
• Illinois by Dan Fogelberg
• Illinois by Everly Brothers
• Illinois Blues by Skip James
• J ohnsburg, Illinois by Tom Waits
• Lake Shore Drive by Aliotta, Haynes, and Jeremiah
• Lookin’ Out My Back Door by Creedence Clearwater Revival
• Made in the USA by Lupe Fiasco
• Meet Me in Chicago by Buddy Guy
• Moline by Pearl Jam
• My Kind Of Town by Frank Sinatra
• Someday We’ll Go All The Way by Eddie Vedder
• Sweet Home Chicago by The Blues Brothers
• Tonight, Tonight by The Smashing Pumpkins
• Via Chicago by Wilco
• Back Home Again in Indiana by Jim Nabors
• Back To Indiana by The Elms
• Can’t Get Indiana Off My Mind by Crystal Gale
• Fly Over States by Jason Aldean
• Gary, Indiana by Meredith Willson
• Going Back To Indiana by The Jackson 5
• Henrietta, Indiana by Josh Ritter
• Indiana by Jon McLaughlin
• Indiana Sky by Josh Garrels
• Indiana by Melissa Ethridge
• Indiana by The Samples
• Indiana By Sean Kelly
• Indiana Wants Me by R. Dean Taylor
• Mary Jane’s Last Dance by Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers
• On The Banks Of The Wabash, Far Away by Paul Dresser
• Pizza King by Wussy
• Small Town by John Mellencamp
• Springtime Indiana by Sandra McCracken
• Birth of Serpents by The Mountain Goats
• The Drycleaner From Des Moines by Joni Mitchell
• Iowa by Dar Williams
• Iowa Corn Song by Percy Faith
• Iowa Gold by Jane Roman Pitt
• The Iowa Song by Josh Connor
• It Sure Can Get Cold In Des Moines by Tom T. Hall
• Stranded by Manfred Mann’s Earth Band
• Belexes by Kansas
• Home on the Range by Roy Rogers
• Kansas Rain by John Stewart
• One’s On The Way by Loretta Lynn
• On The Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe by Judy Garland
• On the Road to Kansas by W.G. Snuffy Walden
• Ringing in the Year by Turnpike Troubadours
• Sunflower by Russ Morgan
• We’re Not in Kansas by Big Country
• Wichita Lineman by Glen Campbell
• Wichita Skyline by Shawn Colvin
• You’re Not in Kansas Anymore by Jo Dee Messina
• Blue Kentucky Girl by Emmylou Harris
• Blue Moon Of Kentucky by Bill Monroe And The Bluegrass Boys
• Bourbon In Kentucky by Dierks Bentley
• Coal Miner’s Daughter by Loretta Lynn
• Dumas Walker by The Kentucky Headhunters
• Ghost of Floyd Collins by Black Stone Cherry
• It’s Got To Be Kentucky For Me by Tom T. Hall
• Kentucky Dirty by Laura Bundy
• Kentucky Gambler by Dolly Parton
• Kentucky In The Morning by Tom T. Hall
• Kentucky Means Paradise by Merle Travis
• Kentucky Moon by Jake Ousley
• Kentucky Rain by Elvis Presley
• Kentucky Skies by Leftover Salmon
• Kentucky Straight by Johnny Cash
• Kentucky Waltz by The Blue Grass Boys
• Kentucky Woman by Neil Diamond
• Long Hard Road by Tyler Childers
• Mountain Parkway by Sundy Best
• Old Kentucky Farmers by Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out
• Old King Coal by Sturgill Simpson
• Paradise by John Prine
• Run for the Roses by Dan Fogelberg
• Whitehouse Road by Tyler Childers
• You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive by Patty Loveless
• Adalida by George Strait
• Apache Rose Peacock by Red Hot Chili Peppers
• Born on the Bayou by Creedence Clearwater Revival
• Cajun Born by Johnny Cash
• Callin’ Baton Rouge by Garth Brooks
• Down at the Twist and Shout by Mary Chapin Carpenter
• Down Louisiana Way by George Strait
• House of the Rising Sun by The Animals
• Iko Iko by the Dixie Cups
• Jambalaya (On the Bayou) by Hank Williams
• Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight by Oak Ridge Boys
• Louisiana by Tim McGraw
• Louisiana Man by Lucinda Williams
• Louisiana Moon by Alabama
• Louisiana Rain by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
• Louisiana Saturday Night by Mel McDaniel
• Proud Mary by Creedence Clearwater Revival
• Queen of New Orleans by Jon Bon Jovi
• Royal Orleans by Led Zeppelin
• Tryin’ to Get New Orleans by The Tractors
• Walking to New Orleans by Fats Domino
• The King Of Maine by Spose
• King Of The Road by Roger Miller
• Long Time Sunshine by Weezer
• Maine Stein Song by Rudy Vallée
• Nothing But Time by Jackson Browne
• Portland, Maine by Donovan Woods
• Portland Town by Schooner Fare
• The Reach by Dan Fogelberg
• So You Think You Know Maine by Wicked Good Band
• That Jane from Maine by Doris Day
• A Tombstone Every Mile by Dick Curless
• Baltimore by Prince
• Baltimore by Randy Newman
• Going To Maryland by The Mountain Goats
• Maryland by Vonda Shepard
• Maryland Memories by Ronnie Dove
• Raining In Baltimore by Counting Crows
• Silver Springs by Fleetwood Mac
• Six Feet Under The Stars by All Time Low
• There’s A Girl In The Heart Of Maryland by Bing Crosby
• There She Goes by Good Charlotte
• Together In Maryland by Tony Cavallo
• What’s New In Baltimore? by Frank Zappa
• B ack to Boston by The Rosebuds
• Boston by Augustana
• Boston by The Byrds
• Boston by Kenny Chesney
• Dirty Water by The Standells
• Massachusetts by Aaron Lewis
• Massachusetts by Bee Gees
• Mass Pike by The Get Up Kids
• Midnight Rambler by The Rolling Stones
• M.T.A. by The Kingston Trio
• My Sister by The Juliana Hatfield Three
• Old Cape Cod by Patti Page
• Please Come to Boston by Dave Loggins
• Roadrunner by Jonathan Richman
• Rock and Roll Band by Boston
• Shipping Up To Boston by the Dropkick Murphys
• Sweet Baby James by James Taylor
• They Came to Boston by The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
• Walcott by Vampire Weekend
• Whoever’s in New England by Reba McEntire
• America by Simon & Garfunkel
• Back to Ypsilanti by Lee Osler
• The Big Three Killed My Baby by The White Stripes
• Dancing in the Street by Martha and the Vandellas
• Detroit ‘67 by Sam Roberts
• Detroit Rock City by Kiss
• Especially in Michigan by Red Hot Chili Peppers
• For The Widows In Paradise, For The Fatherless In Ypsilanti by Sufjan Stevens
• Going to Michigan by The Extra Glenns
• Half Acre by Hem
• Hello Detroit by Sammy Davis, Jr.
• I Want to go Back to Michigan by Irving Berlin
• Lake Michigan by Rogue Wave
• Michicant by Bon Iver
• Michigan by The Milk Carton Kids
• Michigan and Again by The Accidentals
• Michigan Left by Arkells
• Mona and Emmy by Frontier Ruckus
• Night Moves by Bob Seger
• One Piece at a Time by Johnny Cash
• Panic in Detroit by David Bowie
• Roll Me Away by Bob Seger
• The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald by Gordon Lightfoot
• The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota by Weird Al Yankovic
• Big River by Johnny Cash
• Drown Soda by Hole
• Duluth by Trampled By Turtles
• Escapade by Janet Jackson
• Girl From The North Country by Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash
• Good Old Days by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
• Lake of Fire by Nirvana
• Minnesota by Lil Yachty
• Minnesota Girl by Green Day
• On A Bus To St. Cloud by Trisha Yearwood
• Outshined by Soundgarden
• Rock ‘n’ Roll is Alive (And It Lives in Minneapolis) by Prince
• Say Shh by Atmosphere
• Skyway by The Replacements
• Truth Hurts by Lizzo
• Uptown by Prince
• Walls of Red Wing by Bob Dylan
• Biloxi by Jimmy Buffett
• Black Water by The Doobie Brothers
• Child of the Mississippi by Old Crow Medicine Show
• Down in Mississippi (Up to No Good) by Sugarland
• Ghosts of Mississippi by The Steeldrivers
• Here’s to the State of Mississippi by Phil Ochs
• In the Mississippi River by Mavis Staples
• Jackson, Mississippi by Kid Rock
• Living for the City by Stevie Wonder
• Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man by Conway Twitty, Loretta Lynn
• Mississippi by Afroman
• Mississippi by Bob Dylan
• Mississippi by Charlie Daniels
• Mississippi by Pussycat
• Mississippi by Train
• Mississippi by Rising Appalachia
• Mississippi Girl by Faith Hill
• Mississippi Kid by Lynyrd Skynyrd
• Mississippi Mud by Hank Williams III
• Mississippi Queen by Mountain
• Mississippi Sand by Johnny Cash
• Mister and Mississippi by Patti Page
• My Head’s in Mississippi by ZZ Top
• Sunrise on the Mississippi by Bruce Cockburn
• Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson (featuring Bruno Mars)
• California, Missouri by Kassi Ashton
• Cold Missouri Waters by James Keelaghan
• Missing Missouri by Sara Evans
• Missouri by David Nail
• Missouri Moon by Rhonda Vincent
• Missouri Waltz by Johnny Cash
• Shovelin’ Coal in Missouri by Jimmie Rodgers
• Songs About Missouri by Michael Tyler
• Southwest Missouri by The Mark Chapman Band
• Walkin’ To Missouri by Sammy Kaye
• 200 Miles From Montana by Greensky Bluegrass
• All Through Montana by John Craigie
• Big City by Merle Haggard
• Cut Bank, Montana by Hank Williams Jr.
• Goodnight Montana by David Walburn
• Hey Montana by Eve 6
• Home is Where Montana Is is Bruce Anfinson
• Livingston Saturday Night by Jimmy Buffett
• Montana by Justin Timberlake
• Look for Me in Butte by Utah Philips
• Meet Me in Montana by Dan Seals and Marie Osmond
• Midnight in Missoula by Nanci Griffith
• Montana by Daya
• Montana by Frank Zappa
• Montana by John Linnell
• Montana by Liz Carlisle
• Montana by Sons of the Pioneers
• Montana Lullaby by Ken Overcast
• Montana on My Mind by Shane Clouse
• Montana Rodeo by Chris LeDoux
• Montana Song by Hank Williams Jr
• Montana Sky by White Heart
• My Home’s in Montana by Wylie & The Wild West
• Wild Montana Skies by John Denver
• Calamity Song by The Decemberists
• Colder Weather by Zac Brown Band
• Egg & Daughter Nite, Lincoln, Nebraska, 1967 by John Prine
• Little Nebraska Town by Rachael Price
• My Guardian Angel by Pistoleros
• Nebraska by Bruce Springsteen
• Nebraska by Cash Brothers
• Nebraska by moe.
• Nebraska Sunrise by Buddy Knox
• North Platte, Nebras-katte by Harry Partch And The Kronos Quartet
• Omaha by Counting Crows
• Omaha by Damien Jurado
• Omaha, Nebraska by Groucho Marx
• Tarkio Road by Brewer & Shipley
• There Is No Place Like Nebraska by Harry Pecha
• You And I by Lady Gaga
• Plains Of Nebrasky-O by Eric Anderson
• All The Way To Reno (You’re Gonna Be A Star) by R.E.M.
• Friend of The Devil by Grateful Dead
• Hell Before Reno by Big in Japan
• Leaving Las Vegas by Sheryl Crow
• Nevada by Deer Tick
• Nevada by YoungBoy Never Broke Again
• Nighttime in Nevada by Adrian Brannan
• Old Nevada Moon by Patsy Montana
• Sam’s Town by The Killers
• Sands of Nevada by Mark Knopfler
• Stop in Nevada by Billy Joel
• Viva Las Vegas by Elvis Presley
• Waking Up In Vegas by Katy Perry
• Welcome to Nevada by Jerry Reed
• Emperor of New Hampshire by James Parkington
• Escape From New Hampshire by Boscoden
• Granite State of Mind by The Super Secret Project
• Leaving New Hampshire by Andy Leftwich
• Live Free or Die by Bill Morrissey
• New Hampshire by John Linnell
• New Hampshire by Sonic Youth
• New Hampshire You’re My Home by Beverly Rush
• Okayalright by moe.
• White Mountain Fever by Jimmy Lehoux
• 4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy) by Bruce Springsteen
• Atlantic City by The Band
• Atlantic City by Bruce Springsteen
• Fake Blues by Real Estate
• Hackensac k by Fountains of Wayne
• I Like Jersey Best by John Pizzarelli
• I’m From New Jersey by John Gorka
• Jersey Bounce by Ella Fitzgerald
• Jersey Boy by Eddie Rabbitt
• Jersey Girl by Tom Waits
• Night Falls On Hoboken by Yo La Tengo
• Open All Night by Bruce Springsteen
• Palisades Park by Freddy Cannon
• Raise Your Hands by Bon Jovi
• Who Says You Can’t Go Home by Bon Jovi
• Wildwood Days by Bobby Rydell
• You Can’t Catch Me by Chuck Berry
• You Vandal by Saves the Day
• Albuquerque by Neil Young
• Arriba Nuevo Mexico by Roberto Griego
• Corner Of The Heart by Colin Raye
• Feels Like Home (New Mexico True) by Richmond
• Hearts And Bones by Paul Simon
• Motorway To Roswell by The Pixies
• New Mexican Rose by The Four Seasons
• New Mexico by Johnny Cash
• New Mexico Rain by Bill And Bonnie Hearne
• New Mexico’s No Breeze by Iron And Wine
• Point Me In the Direction Of Albuquerque by The Partridge Family
• Taos, New Mexico by R. Dean Taylor
• Worst Comes To Worst by Billy Joel
• The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy) by Simon & Garfunkel
• Autumn In New York by Billie Holiday
• Big Apple Dreamin’ (Hippo) by Alice Cooper
• Chelsea Morning by Joni Mitchell
• Empire State Of Mind by JAY-Z Featuring Alicia Keys
• Englishman In New York by Sting
• Fairytale Of New York by The Pogues Featuring Kirsty MacColl
• First We Take Manhattan by Leonard Cohen
• Give My Regards To Broadway by James Cagney
• Harlem Blues by Nat King Cole
• Manhattan by Ella Fitzgerald
• New York by Ed Sheeran
• New York by St. Vincent
• New York At Night by Willie Nile
• New York City by The Chainsmokers
• New York City by They Might Be Giants
• New York City Boy by Pet Shop Boys
• New York City Rhythm by Barry Manilow
• New York, I Love You, But You’re Bringing Me Down by LCD Soundsystem
• New York, New York by Frank Sinatra
• New York Serenade by Bruce Springsteen
• New York’s Not My Home by Jim Croce
• New York State Of Mind by Billy Joel
• No Sleep Till Brooklyn by Beastie Boys
• N.Y. State of Mind by Nas
• The Only Living Boy In New York by Simon & Garfunkel
• Rockaway Beach by The Ramones
• Safe In New York City by AC/DC
• Seventeen by Sharon Van Etten
• Take The ‘A’ Train by Duke Ellington Orchestra
• Talkin’ New York by Bob Dylan
• Welcome To New York by Taylor Swift
• Carolina by Corey Smith
• Carolina by Eric Church
• Carolina Calling by Mipso
• Carolina Girls by Des Ark
• Carolina Drama by The Raconteurs
• Carolina in My Mind by James Taylor
• Carolina in the Morning by Dean Martin
• Chapel Hill by Sonic Youth
• Carolina Low by The Decemberists
• Carolina Moon by Scotty McCreery
• Charlotte’s in North Carolina by Keith Whitley
• Crop Comes In by Chatham County Line
• Crow Jane by Etta Baker
• Foggy Mountain Breakdown by Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs
• Freight Train by Elizabeth Cotten
• Gone to Carolina by Shooter Jennings
• Heads Carolina, Tails California by Jo Dee Messina
• If the River Was Whiskey by Charlie Poole
• Leaving Eden by Carolina Chocolate Drops
• North Carolina Way by Hogjaw
• Oh Carolina by Shaggy
• Oh, My Sweet Carolina by Ryan Adams
• Poor Ellen Smith by Neko Case
• Pretty Girl from Raleigh by The Avett Brothers
• Raise Up by Petey Pablo
• Southbound by Doc Watson
• Southern Sadness by American Aquarium
• Traveling From North Carolina by Paleface
• Wagon Wheel by Old Crow Medicine Show
• Highway Headin’ South by Dolly Parton
• I Gotta Gal I Love (In North And South Dakota) by Frank Sinatra
• My Home In North Dakota by Adam Taylor
• My North Dakota Home by Lawrence Welk
• Nellie Kane by Phish
• North Dakota by Chris Knight
• North Dakota by Lyle Lovett
• North Dakota by Mako
• North Dakota by Tigirlily Gold
• North Dakota Boy by Doc Walker
• Summer Hands by Chuck Suchy
• Winds of North Dakota by Mike Piper
• You’ve Never Been To North Dakota by Brennen Leigh
• Back Home by The Beach Boys
• Banks of the Ohio by Joan Baez
• Bloodbuzz Ohio by The National
• Boy in Ohio by Phil Ochs
• Carry Me Ohio by Sun Kil Moon
• Cleveland Rocks by Ian Hunter
• Cuyahoga by R.E.M.
• Dayton, Ohio – 1903 by Randy Newman
• Escape from Ohio by Electric Six
• Four Days by Counting Crows
• Girl From Ohio by The Outlaws
• Going to Cleveland by The Mountain Goats
• Hang On Sloopy by The McCoys
• In Ohio by Joseph Arthur
• In Ohio on Some Steps by Limbeck
• Look at Miss Ohio by Gillian Welch
• Look Out Cleveland by The Band
• My City Was Gone by The Pretenders
• Oh, Cincinnati by The Seedy Seeds
• O-H-I-O by Ohio Players
• Ohio by The Black Keys
• Ohio by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
• Ohio by Damien Jurado
• Ohio by Modest Mouse
• Ohio (Come Back To Texas) by Bowling For Soup
• Ohio is for Lovers by Hawthorne Heights
• Saturday Night in Toledo, Ohio by John Denver
• South of Cincinnati by Dwight Yoakam
• Youngstown by Bruce Springsteen
• Blown Away by Carrie Underwood
• Crazy About Oklahoma by Jimmy Reed
• Does The Wind Still Blow In Oklahoma by Reba McEntire and Ronnie Dunn
• Do Re Mi by Woody Guthrie
• Down In Oklahoma by Ginger Prince
• I Ain’t In Checotah Anymore by Carrie Underwood
• If You’re Ever in Oklahoma by JJ Cale
• My Oklahoma Home by Bruce Springsteen
• Nowhere Road by Steve Earle & The Dukes
• Okie From Muskogee by Merle Haggard
• Oklahoma Dust by The Notorious Cherry Bombs
• Oklahoma Hills by Jack Guthrie
• Oklahoma Morning by Charley Pride
• Oklahoma Sky by Miranda Lambert
• Oklahoma Sunday Morning by Glen Campbell
• Oklahoma Sunshine by Waylon Jennings
• Oklahoma USA by The Kinks
• Tell Me Something Bad About Tulsa by George Strait
• Tulsa Jesus Freak by Lana Del Rey
• You’re the Reason God Made Oklahoma by David Frizzell and Shelly West
• Alameda by Elliott Smith
• Back to Oregon by Broadway Calls
• City Of Roses by Esperanza Spalding
• Carry & Lowell by Sufjan Stevens
• Coming Home by Mat Kearney
• Don’t Take Me Alive by Steely Dan
• Eugene Oregon by Dolly Parton
• Better Company by Horse Feathers
• Light Rail Coyote by Sleater-Kinney
• Live Long In Oregon by Laura Gibson
• Lumberjack by Johnny Cash
• Mt. St. Helens by Mirah
• Night of the Living Rednecks by Dead Kennedys
• Oregon Girl by Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin
• Oregon Trail by Woody Guthrie
• Rose Parade by Elliott Smith
• Pastures of Plenty by Woody Guthrie
• Portland by The Replacements
• Portland, Oregon by Loretta Lynn
• Portland Town by Joan Baez
• Portland Water by Michael Hurley
• So Long, Astoria by the Ataris
• Twin Rocks, Oregon by Shawn Mullins
• 30,000 Pounds of Bananas by Harry Chapin
• Allentown by Billy Joel
• Fall in Philadelphia by Hall & Oates
• Harrisburg by Josh Ritter
• Motownphilly by Boyz II Men
• Pennsylvania by Bloodhound Gang
• Pennsylvania by Heart
• Pennsylvania Polka by Frank Yankovic
• Philadelphia Freedom by Elton John
• Philly, Philly by Eve
• Pittsburgh by the Lemonheads
• Pittsburgh by They Might Be Giants
• Pittsburgh Sound by Wiz Khalifa
• Pittsburgh Town by Pete Seeger
• South Street by the Orlons
• Streets of Philadelphia by Bruce Springsteen
• Summertime by Will Smith (DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince)
• You’ve Got A Friend In Pennsylvania by New Found Glory
• Holiday In Rhode Island by The Softies
• The Last Great American Dynasty by Taylor Swift
• The Last Resort by Eagles
• Psycho Killer by Talking Heads
• Poor Little Rhode Island by Guy Lombardo
• Rhode Island by The Front Bottoms
• Rhode Island by The Innocence Mission
• Rhode Island Is Famous For You by Jack Haley
• Summertime In Rhode Island by Someday Providence
• Sweet Rhode Island Red by Ike & Tina Turner
• Beers and Sunshine by Darius Rucker
• Carolina Can by Chase Rice
• Carolina Girls by General Johnson
• Carolina In The Morning by Judy Garland
• Charleston, South Carolina by Lovie Austin and Her Blue Serenaders
• Coast of Carolina by Jimmy Buffett
• Dancin’, Shaggin on The Boulevard by Alabama
• Just a Little Bit South of North Carolina by Dean Martin
• She’s Carolina by Cody Webb
• South Carolina by The Outlaws
• South Carolina Blues by Junior League Band
• South Carolina Low Country by Josh Turner
• Sumter County Friday Night by Lee Brice
• Waltz for a Girl From South Carolina by Brett Shady
• Badlands by Bruce Springsteen
• Big Foot by Johnny Cash
• Deadwood, South Dakota by Nanci Griffith
• Everything by Eve 6
• Fire by Autumn Hill
• Hills of South Dakota by Becky Schlegel
• Kadoka, South Dakota by The Living Sisters
• Misfits by Neil Young
• Rapid City, South Dakota by Dwight Yoakam
• South Dakota by Afroman
• South Dakota by Jakey
• South Dakota Morning by Bee Gees
• Back to Tennessee by Billy Ray Cyrus
• Back Where I Come From by Kenny Chesney
• Crazy Town by Jason Aldean
• Dixieland Delight by Alabama
• Girl Named Tennessee by NeedToBreathe
• Me and Tennessee by Tim McGraw and Gwyneth Paltrow
• Memphis, Tennessee by Elvis Presley
• My Tennessee Mountain Home by Dolly Parton
• Nashville by Noah Gundersen
• Nashville Blues by the Everly Brothers
• Nashville Without You by Tim McGraw
• Rocky Top by the Osborne Brothers
• Smoky Mountain Rain by Ronnie Milsap
• Tennessee by Arrested Development
• Tennessee by Johnny Cash
• Tennessee by Sugarland
• Tennessee by The Wreckers
• Tennessee Homesick Blues by Dolly Parton
• Tennessee River Run by Darryl Worley
• Tennessee Rose by Emmylou Harris
• Tennessee Stud by Johnny Cash
• Tennessee Waltz by Patti Page
• Tennessee Whiskey by Chris Stapleton
• This Ain’t Tennessee by Garth Brooks
• Walking in Memphis by Marc Cohn
• Wrong Side of Memphis by Trisha Yearwood
• All My Exes Live in Texas by George Strait
• Amarillo by Morning by George Strait
• Austin by Blake Shelton
• Beautiful Texas by Willie Nelson
• Blame It On Texas by Mark Chesnutt
• The Bluest Eyes In Texas by Restless Heart
• Dallas by The Flatlanders
• Deep in the Heart of Texas by Gene Autry
• Dime Store Cowgirl by Kacey Musgraves
• Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind? by George Strait
• Galveston by Glen Campbell
• Girls From Texas by Pat Green featuring Lyle Lovett
• God Blessed Texas by Little Texas
• Houston Is Hot Tonight by Iggy Pop
• If You’re Gonna Play in Texas (You Gotta Have a Fiddle in the Band) by Alabama
• La Grange by ZZ Top
• London Homesick Blues by Jerry Jeff Walker & Gary P. Nunn
• Lubbock or Leave It by The Chicks
• Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love) by Waylon Jennings
• Miles and Miles of Texas by Bob Wills
• My Texas by Josh Abbott Band featuring Pat Green
• Streets of Laredo by Johnny Cash
• Texas by Charlie Daniels Band
• Texas Flood by Stevie Ray Vaughan
• Texas Pride by Miranda Lambert
• Texas Sun by Khruangbin & Leon Bridges
• Texas (When I Die) by Tanya Tucker
• Too Far From Texas by Stevie Nicks
• Travis County by Gary Clark Jr.
• Waltz Across Texas Tonight by Emmylou Harris
• Ballad for a Friend by Bob Dylan
• The Ballad of Billy the Kid by Billy Joel
• Don’t Get So Down On Yourself by Chris Isaak
• Friend of the Devil by the Grateful Dead
• The Great Salt Lake by Band of Horses
• The History of Utah by Camper Van Beethoven
• I Lost My Sugar in Salt Lake City by Johnny Mercer
• Palace Of The Brine by Pixies
• The Promised Land by Bruce Springsteen
• The Red Hills of Utah by Marty Robbins
• Salt Lake City by the Beach Boys
• Salt Lake City by Bobby & the Midnites
• Salt Lake City by Bob Weir
• Salt Lake City by Dwarves
• Salt Lake City by Hank Williams Jr.
• Utah by The Osmonds
• Utah Carol by Marty Robbins
• Utah Tribute by Chris LeDoux
• Yin & Yang by Adam Ant
• Carolina by Ferdinand The Bull
• Green Mountain State by Trevor Hall
• J ust Give Me Moonlight In Vermont by Amy Allison
• Moonlight In Vermont by Frank Sinatra
• Parking Lots and Mountain Tops by James Kochalka Superstar
• Vermont by Dead Winter Carpenters
• Vermont Girl by Joan of Arc
• The Vermont Song by The Breakfast
• T he Vermont Waltz by Steve Gillette and Cindy Mangsen
• Clinch Mountain Backstep by Ralph Stanley
• East Virginia by Pete Seeger
• The Ghost Of Virginia by Justin Townes Earle
• I Went Down To Virginia by Frank Sinatra
• James River Blues by Old Crow Medicine Show
• Longing For Old Virginia by The Carter Family
• Meet Virginia by Train
• My Old Virginia Home by The Carter Family
• Night Train by James Brown
• Old Virginia by America
• Sweet Virginia by The Rolling Stones
• Sweet Virginia Breeze by The Robbin Thompson Band
• Virginia by Tori Amos
• Virginia by Whiskey Myers
• Virginia Is For Lovers By Jordin Sparks
• Virginia Moon by Foo Fighters
• Virginia Plain by Roxy Music
• Aurora by Foo Fighters
• Belltown Ramble by Robyn Hitchcock
• Black Ball Ferry Line by Bing Crosby
• Dark Moon by Bonnie Guitar
• Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge On Seattle by Nirvana
• Hello Seattle by Owl City
• I Love Seattle by Tacocat
• My Oh My by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
• Posse On Broadway by Sir-Mix-A-Lot
• Seattle by Perry Como
• The Shadow Of Seattle by Marcy Playground
• Sunny In Seattle by Blake Shelton
• Talkin’ Seattle Blues by Todd Snider
• This Place Is A Prison by The Postal Service
• Thrice All American by Neko Case
• Walk, Don’t Run by The Ventures
• Waitsburg by Bob Frank
• Working Titles by Damien Jurado
• Charleston Girl by Tyler Childers
• Come Home to West Virginia by Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr.
• Jamboree Jones by Johnny Mercer
• Last Public Hanging in West Virginia by Flatt & Scruggs
• Leaving West Virginia by Kathy Mattea
• Morning Morgantown by Joni Mitchell
• Remember by Mac Miller
• Sixteen Tons by Tennessee Ernie Ford
• Union, God, and Country by Steve Earle
• West Virginia My Home by Hazel Dickens
• You Remind Me of West Virginia by Wyatt Turner
• Alcohol by Brad Paisley
• Jump Around by House of Pain
• Man From Milwaukee by Hanson
• Milwaukee by The Both
• Milwaukee, Here I Come by George Jones and Brenda Carter
• My Cousin in Milwaukee by Ella Fitzgerald
• River in the Pines by The Deep, Dark Woods
• Turntable by Dead Horses
• Welcome to Janesville by Smoking Popes
• What’s Made Milwaukee Famous (Has Made a Fool Out of Me) by Jerry Lee Lewis
• Wisconsin by Bon Iver
• The Beaches of Cheyenne by Garth Brooks
• Happy Birthday (from Wyoming) by Mario Matteoli
• I Can Still Make Cheyenne by George Strait
• July in Cheyenne by Aaron Watson
• Leaving Wyoming by Northcote
• My Sweet Wyoming Home by Bill Staines
• Neon by Chris Young
• Paint Me Back Home in Wyoming by Chris LeDoux
• Song of Wyoming by John Denver
• What Happened in Wyoming by Envoi
• Why, Oh Why, Did I Ever Leave Wyoming by Roy Rogers
• Wyoming Wind by Chancey Williams & The Younger Brothers Band

Pin this list of the Best Road Trip Songs to Blast in the Car (and Spotify Playlists) to savefor your next road trip!

Photo by LOGAN WEAVER | @LGNWVR on Unsplash

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Valerie Bromann is a a website manager, content creator, and writer from Chicago, Illinois (currently living in Dallas, Texas). As an avid road tripper who has visited hundreds of roadside attractions, Val always pull over for a world’s largest thing. Founder of Silly America and author of The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book , she visits, photographs, and writes about all the weird tourist destinations she visits and offers road trip planning advice and inspiration based on her own travels so you can hit the road for yourself.

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101 Perfect Road Trip Songs for an Epic Road Trip Playlist!

Last Updated on: 17th March 2023, 02:59 pm

Looking for a great road trip playlist? Well, look no further! This list includes my personal favorite road trip songs, recommendations from road trip experts, catchy hits, and a few surprises.

This road trip playlist spans decades, genres, and countries, so there’s something here for everyone! Save this post so you can play these road trip songs on your next road trip!

Can’t read now? Pin for later!

The Top 50 Road Trip Songs

Here are fifty amazing road trip songs. See below for fifty more and a free Spotify road trip playlist that you can save and play on Spotify!

Road Trippin’ (The Red Hot Chili Peppers)

A true classic road trip song from the Chilli Peppers’ 1999 album ‘Californication’, which tells the story of the band’s road trip along the Pacific Coast Highway. Sung by lead vocalist Anthony Kiedis, with John Frusciante and Flea providing acoustic guitars and backing vocals, the song projects those chilled out, positive vibes and the freedom anticipated from life on the road. 

The single was only released in Europe, with two versions released in the UK, and later the third version in Australia. The video wasn’t released to a US audience until the ‘Greatest Hits’ album was released in 2003.  -Jenny from  Peak District Kids

American Girl (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers)

It’s hard to believe this classic American rock song never even charted when it was released on the band’s 1976 debut. It was also the last song the band ever performed together live, over forty years after they originally released it.

Super Bass (Nicki Minaj)

This song was on Minaj’s 2011 debut album. While she has become a staple featured artist on numerous songs over the past decade, this is the best of her songs for simply singing along.

Super Bass has been listed on numerous songs of the summer compilations, including this one by Rolling Stone.

Born to Run (Bruce Springsteen)

Born to Run was released in 1975 on the eponymous album by Bruce Springsteen. This was the song and album that made “the Boss” a mainstream hit, and it is considered to be one of the greatest albums ever recorded.

It’s a love song sung by a hot-rod riding tough guy to a woman named Wendy. The protagonist implores Wendy to leave their hometown and hit the road with him, saying “we gotta get out while we’re young, ’cause tramps like us, baby, we were born to run”. This sentiment will resonate with anyone who’s ever had the urge to get behind the wheel and head out of town for new adventures. -Wendy Werneth from  The Nomadic Vegan

I’m Gonna Be [500 Miles] (The Proclaimers)

Any fans of the tv show How I Met Your Mother know this is the ultimate road trip song, especially if your tape deck is broken and it’s the ONLY song your car will play.

Even if you aren’t a HIMYM acolyte, any song that literally lists the miles one needs to traverse automatically deserves a spot on your road trip playlist.

Come on Eileen (Dexy’s Midnight Runners)

Come on Eileen by Dexy’s Midnight Runners is hands-down the best road trip song that there is. This alternative song was originally released back in 1989 and was written by Billy Adams, Kevin Rowland, and Jim Paterson.

There is yet to be a cover as good as the original. From the amazing tune of the song to the gradual pacing throughout, Come on Eileen is one song that will have everybody in the car singing, no matter their age. -Krystianna from  Volumes and Voyages .

A Horse with No Name (America)

A Horse With No Name is a song from the band America and is probably one of the most famous songs of the 70s. When you listen to it, all you want to do is sing along. It’s a perfect song for an amazing road trip across the USA in an old hippie van. So next time you are traveling don’t forget to add it to your playlist! -Robin from  Everything Yoga Retreat

Love Shack (The B-52s)

This 1980s classic hit by the B-52s is so popular that it’s been featured in shows and movies as well as getting its own parody on The Simpsons, “Glove Slap.”

Of course, the eponymous Love Shack was an actual shack that only got destroyed in 2004. So you really could “get away” for decades.

This infinitely groovy song is easy to sing along with, and of course you have to shout out at the end, “Tin Roof Rusted.”

Toxic (Britney Spears)

This Grammy award-winning song is catchy AF. While it might not be Britney Spears’s most famous or most popular track, it’s the grown-up tune your road trip playlist.

The video was deemed too racy for MTV to play during the day. In fact, it was once voted the sexiest music video of all time.

America (Simon & Garfunkel)

This song about two hitchhikers mentions American highways by name (hello, New Jersey turnpike) so it’s almost like it was written to make this list. And even though the track is over fifty years old, it still describes an angsty beauty that resonates today.

Back to You (Bryan Adams)

A perfect song for a road trip is the toe-tapping ‘Back To You’ performed by Canadian artist Bryan Adams. The song – which was co-written by Eliot Kennedy – features several lyrics about travel but is mostly about the yearning desire and wish to be somewhere else.

The acoustic version of the song is particularly good! The strong pulse of the song and its catchy melody make ‘Back To You’ a great road trip song for playing loudly and singing along to.  -Sinead from  Map Made Memories

9 to 5 (Dolly Parton)

If you are on a road trip, you get a chance to escape your 9 to 5 job, at least for a few days. But that doesn’t mean that you won’t enjoy singing along with Dolly Parton complaining about how much corporate America sucks the life out of you. Even if you like your job, there’s always something to angry sing about!

Burning Down the House (Talking Heads)

While there are a few Talking Heads songs that would fit right in on a playlist for a road trip, but it’s this Parliament-Funkadelic inspired new wave hit that was the bands highest charting single.

Run Run Run (The Velvet Underground)

This song about the dark side of New York City is nonetheless fun to sing along with, perhaps because it isn’t structured like other more conventional songs. It also works as somewhat of a time capsule. At over fifty years old, it chronicles an NYC that in many ways no longer exists.

Society (Eddie Vedder)

As an avid traveler, I love to be on the road most of the time and one of my favorite road trip songs is “Society” which is sung and composed by Eddie Vedder. The song was selected for a soundtrack for the popular travel film Into The Wild . In fact, Eddie Vedder has written a few more songs for the same film which narrates an epic travel journey.

The song depicts a journey of a young curious man, who after graduating decides to quit the materialistic conventional world and leave for a lifelong road trip into the wild. As the song goes, the lyrics beautifully articulate his intent to chase his grand vision to live in the wild, which is much larger than usual life he had been living so far. 

In fact, the lyrics make one appreciate the beauty of road trips even more. -Debjani Lahiri from  THE VAGABONG .

Ramblin’ Man (The Allman Brothers)

The most traditionally successful of all the Allman Brothers’ songs, this 1970s hit was inspired by (though not a cover of) a 1950s Hank Williams song. Its country flavor and peripatetic main character make it the perfect road trip song, especially if you’re out on the road alone.

Fell in Love with a Girl (The White Stripes)

This fun alternative song is less than two minutes, but you can belt along to it the entire time since the lyrics come at a steady clip. Fun and unassuming, this song was actually proclaimed by Rolling Stone as one of forty songs that changed the world.

Hold On (Wilson Phillips)

Considered one of the greatest girl group songs of all time, this 1990s hit is beloved by fans of the movie Bridesmaids . It’s the ultimate sing-along song for your girls’ trip.

Life is a Highway (Rascal Flatts)

The song Life is a Highway was originally recorded in 1991 by Tom Cochrane. It is an uptempo country song about the journey of life. The song ultimately ended up not being a huge hit for the member of Red Rider. The song was then updated with a more modern sound in 2005 by Rascall Flatts for a Disney blockbuster movie.

The song premiered as the leading single for the well-known and popular movie, Cars . The updated version flew to the top of the charts with over 4 million downloads.

It is a fun road trip sound because you can’t help feeling happy and singing along. The lyrics are relatable, especially during a road trip. The song is all about riding out life and exploring different stops. Isn’t that what road trips are all about. It’s about taking everything that comes, exploring, uncertainty, and adventure. -Corritta from It’s a Family Thing .

Crazy in Love (Beyonce)

No road trip playlist is complete without some Beyonce, and what better than Beyonce’s first solo single (featuring Jay-Z, of course). And since it’s Queen B, the song of course hit number one.

See if you know all the lyrics, including Jay-Z’s verse.

Keep the Car Running (Arcade Fire)

This 2007 single was listed by Rolling Stone as one of the best of the year. If the road is starting to wear on you, this song will fit your mood. Seemingly upbeat, yet the lyrics are worn-down, perfect for a long trip with lots of stops.

I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Whitney Houston)

This 1987 Grammy-Award winning hit is a Whitney Houston classic, and no road trip play list should fail to have some Houston to belt while hitting the road. This synth-pop chart topper continues to make lists of the best dance songs. You’ll need this kind of energy after a long day on the road.

Rocky Road to Dublin (The Dropkick Murphys)

Rocky Road to Dublin needs to be on every list of epic road trips. Originally written by D. K. Gavan and popularised by Harry Clifton in the 19th century, this Irish song became an instant hit with street performers all over Ireland.

Not only is this slip jig (a particular style of Irish dance) particularly catchy because of its fast beat and crescendo, this song is also about traveling and the adventures, experience, insights, and hardship that it might bring. If you want to enjoy a traditional rendering of the song, check out the version of The Dubliners or The High Kings.

For all of those who like a bit more punk during their road trip, listen to the version of The Dropkick Murphys (which was used for a scene in Sherlock Holmes). -Emer and Nils from Let’s Go Ireland

Don’t Stop Believin’ (Journey)

While it’s possible that this Journey hit has been overplayed in the past decade thanks to major 80s nostalgia, I’m more of the belief that when it comes to “Don’t Stop Believin’,” the limit does not exist.

This 1980s rock song has also received a renaissance thanks to its appearance in a pivotal Sopranos scene. However, you don’t need an HBO subscription to appreciate just how great it feels to sing this song at the top of your lungs with the windows down.

Down by the Water (The Decemberists)

Named by NPR as one of the top 100 songs of 2011, this Grammy-nominated indie rock song is pure modern Americana. It’s also catchy and singable, borders on country music without crossing over into it, and features not just the Decemberists but also the work of indie darling Gillian Welch.

I Like It (Cardi B, Bad Bunny, J Balvin)

Every year there’s an acknowledged song of the summer, and every song of the summer has an honorary spot on the best road trip playlists. Not only do they harken back to great summer road trips of the past, but they also are designed to be the perfect accompaniment to hot days and long nights.

What makes I Like It a step above other songs of the summer is a few special elements. First, as a Latin trap song, it’s both familiar and yet different than what else was out at the time.

Writing for  Rolling Stone , Brittany Spanos proclaimed that it “sounds like it was chemically concocted in a mad scientist’s lab to be 2018’s reigning song of the summer…Everything about this song is perfect for summer: the trap-meets-salsa beat, features from two of reggaeton’s biggest stars, a sample of Pete Rodriguez’s half-century-old boogaloo hit “I Like It Like That.”

And of course, who doesn’t want their road trip to include getting to shout our that you’re “‘Bout my coins like Mario.”

Breeze (Xavier Rudd)

Xavier Rudd is an Australian artist, known for his interesting culturally mixed style. He is one of the rare musicians who brings together European and Aboriginal culture from Australia in his music and lyrics.

Any instrument you can think of, he plays it! Guitar, keys, drums, and didgeridoo. Listening to the song Breeze is a bit like having a wave of freedom and fresh air going through your body. The lyrics will transport you to the most beautiful and relaxing places. It’s a beautiful and inspiring song, perfect for any road trip.

If you want to discover more road trip songs by Xavier Rudd, you can listen to Follow the Sun and Spirit Bird. -Pauline from BeeLoved City

Old Town Road [Remix] (Lil Nas X, Billy Ray Cyrus)

What might appear corny at first is actually subversive and brilliant and was created by one of the most prominent Black country artists of the past few decades.

The 2019 song of the summer, it was the first hit of the Tik Tok era and one of the only country trap songs to gain international acclaim. And it didn’t just get everyone’s attention, it became the Longest-Running No. 1 in Hot 100 History.

And the fact that Lil Nas X did that while being a Gay, Black country music artist is astonishing enough, but he also did it by reaching listeners in new ways and on new platforms. Or maybe that’s just how much extra hard he had to work to get the recognition that his song deserved.

Fast Car (Tracy Chapman)

Another genre-crossing Black artist, Tracey Chapman’s rock anthem to cars lead to adulthood, freedom, and ultimately responsibility was included on Nelson Mandela’s 70th birthday tribute.

Rolling Stone listed the song in the top two hundred greatest songs of all time, and it received Grammy award nominations and MTV Music Video nominations the year it came out.

Of course, today we mostly think of it as just an amazing song, connecting the open road with the need to “be someone” and a hope for things to get better.

Mustang Sally (Wilson Pickett)

This 1960s rhythm and blues classic is an ode to buying a woman a car and then her not letting you ride in it. (Or maybe “ride in it?). I honestly had no idea until I starting writing this post just how crazy this scenario was, but I guess it was the sixties.

Setting aside the narrator’s belief that he deserves a ride (or “ride), I think I am going to love singing this song out loud even more. Just because you buy me a car don’t mean I got to let you ride in it. Call this an accidental women’s empowerment song?

Bohemian Rhapsody (Queen)

Nothing beats this Queen classic for a rockin’ road trip tune everyone can sing along to. Its catchy melodies and operatic high notes through to air guitar riffs will have you all chanting out loud and swaying along with an unmistakable head bop! One of the greatest rock songs of all time, this fun, quirky, and high-energy hit that will definitely help you pass the miles and put smiles on everyone’s faces. -Keri Hedrick from  Our Globetrotters

Umbrella (Rhianna)

Rhianna belongs on this list, as she belongs on every list. And when considering the Rhianna cannon, I find that my favorite to sing when I’m a little horse and want to shout into open windows on the highway is “Umbrella.” And since that’s an important component of the criteria for this list, well then this is the song that wins.

It’s strange to think this quintessential Rhianna track was actually written for Britney Spears. What would the world be without Rhianna’s performance in this video? I shudder.

Immigrant Song (Led Zepplin)

This 1970’s Led Zeppelin Viking metal song includes one of the most fun and ridiculous screams and ample opportunities to shake your fist into the air.

While the opening lyrics might seem inventive to say the least:

We come from the land of the ice and snow From the midnight sun, where the hot springs flow The hammer of the gods

Robert Plant once let people know, saying “We weren’t being pompous … We did come from the land of the ice and snow. We were guests of the Icelandic Government on a cultural mission. We were invited to play a concert in Reykjavik.”

This is the perfect song to sing on a road trip in an old van, a la School of Rock. Bonus points if your road trip is around Iceland.

…Baby One More Time (Britney Spears)

The song that introduced us to Britney Spears is perhaps one of the catchiest of all time. It’s almost impossible to believe the track was written for the Backstreet Boys and TLC. How could anyone else be the voice behind the classic lyrics?

So Good (B.o.B.)

“So Good” by B.O.B is an upbeat song perfect to raise your mood during a road trip. Not only will it make you want to dance, but it also serves as a great reminder of how good it is to be able to explore the world. It tells you not to rush, but take it slow and soak up the sun. So as the song says, “Pack your bags real good baby, cause we’ll be gone for a while.” -Dan Bagby from  CabinCritic.co

Raspberry Beret (Prince and the Revolution)

While I do enjoy the Yo La Tengo cover, nothing can ever even approach the majesty of a Prince tune, even one as unassuming as his rendition of “Raspberry Beret.”

Reaching number 2 on Billboard’s Hot 100, the song may tell the tale of a bike ride and boy’s first encounter with a girl, it’s the perfect song to take out on the open road.

Party in the USA (Miley Cyrus)

While the song may start out in an airport, any fan of the movie Pitch Perfect knows this song deserves to be sung a capella on your team bus on the way to a music competition.

Even if you have no idea what I’m talking about, this is a song about playing “my song.” It’s meta without taking itself seriously.

Vogue (Madonna)

When you’re in a car bopping along, you want to dance. Yet, you’re in a car, so your hands have to do the dancing. And while the eponymous dance is much more than hand movements, the Vogue is the perfect dance to imitate while in the passenger’s seat. If you’re the driver, keep them on ten and two.

Movin’ Right Along (Alkaline Trio)

A road trip song that’s perfect for driving with kids or being a kid at heart while you drive is Movin’ Right Along. The song was released as part of The Muppet Movie soundtrack in 1979.

It features Kermit the Frog and Fozzy Bear singing a fun and playful song while driving across the country. The lyrics are clever and the tune is catchy so it’s a perfect addition for the soundtrack of any road trip.

Movin’ Right Along was given an updated cover by Alkaline Trio, a band that clearly enjoyed the song in their own childhood because they nail the original zaniness of the track. -Derek and Mike from Robe Trotting

You Can’t Rollerskate in a Buffalo Herd (Roger Miller)

Roger Miller, a homegrown Oklahoma legend, created some of the best songs honky-tonk road trip songs of the 1960s. So much so that’s it’s hard to narrow down to just one or two for this list.

If you haven’t heard of Roger Miller, you’ve probably still heard his music since he recorded three of the songs on Disney’s animated Robin Hood, including the sad-but-lovely “Not in Nottingham.” His character, Allan-a-Dale narrates the movie, and Miller’s animated performance is unforgettable.

When selecting from Miller’s catalog for this list, I went with my personal fave. For me, “You Can’t Roller-skate in a Buffalo Herd” is one of the most fun, and since you’ll see lots of bison and buffalo on certain road trips from Oklahoma City, I think it’s fitting for this website that we have at least one buffalo-themed road trip song on this list.

Hit the Road Jack (Ray Charles)

This Grammy award-winning Rhythm and Blues song is not about how great it is to be on the road, but rather about telling a man to hit the road and “don’t you come back no more.”

So if you happen to be on a road trip because your girl has kicked you to the curb, then the song is the perfect one to narrate your journey. Otherwise just enjoy the irony while singing this American classic at the top of your lungs.

No Diggity (Backstreet)

This 1996 Grammy award-winning R&B hit ended the Macarena’s reign at the top of the charts, yet it still sounds relevant today. It’s hard to believe the two songs are even from the same era.

Between the fun of singing the lyrics to attempting both rap verses, there’s so much to keep you entertained during your long drive.

Khawabon Me Parinde (Mohit Chauhan)

Khwabon Ke Parindey (the birds of dreams) from Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (You Live Only Once ) is a beautiful road trip song written by Javed Akhtar and sung by Mohit Chauhan and Alyssa Mendonsa. The song plays while three main characters (Hrithik Roshan, Abhay Deol, Farhan Akhtar) are on a road trip to Seville, Spain.

This song with a perfect road trip vibe makes for the best road trip songs of all time. You can listen to it (on repeat) over and over and never get bored. Yes, it’s that soothing and meaningful. This one song perfectly epitomizes the theme of the movie ZNMD – Seize the day! -Anjali from  Travel Melodies

One Week (The Barenaked Ladies)

There’s a certain glee you feel when you master all the lyrics to this fun song. The Barenaked Ladies can sing ballads, but they also can go fast, as evidenced by their popular title track for the tv show The Big Bang Theory.

Packed with pop culture references, it’s not enough just to get the lyrics right, you also need to figure out what they’re referencing. It’s both a perfect nineties time capsule and a timeless classic.

I Will Survive (Gloria Gaynor)

Some songs are meant to be sung loud, and “I Will Survive” might be the most important of this subgenre. While there are some great covers, like the one by Cake, it’s the disco beats and perfection of Gaynor’s vocals that make this one of the most important songs in American music history.

Think I’m being hyperbolic? In 2016, the Library of Congress voted to have Gaynor’s original recording preserved in the National Recording Registry, citing its “culturally, historically, or artistically significant” importance.

Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go (Wham!)

Fans of the movie Zoolander will instantly think of the movie’s amazing-yet-tragic model gasoline fight set to this song. If you’re running out of energy, this purposefully energetic pop song can wake you right up, no gasoline fight required.

Doo Wop [That Thing] (Lauryn Hill)

Lauryn Hill’s first song from her debut album premiered at the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100, starting her solo career off with a bang. It went on to win Grammy and MTV Video Music awards, cementing Hill as a superstar.

This song is uplifting, beautiful, singable, and positive – all great traits in a road trip song. It also stylistically fits in with nearly every decade of American music, a truly timeless classic.

Into the Great Wide Open (Tom Petty)

Into the Great Wide Open is the perfect road trip song for your cross country adventure. The song was written and performed by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and appeared as the third track on their 1991 album of the same name. 

I nto the Great Wide Open is a song about endless possibilities and the excitement that comes with going after your dreams. It makes you feel anything is possible, which is exactly what you want when hitting the open road.  -Eden from Rock a Little Travel

July, July (The Decemberists)

Opening with the promising lyric, “there is a road that meets the road that goes to my house,” the song “July, July” is an ode to mysterious stories, ghosts, and strangeness. Yet, the heat of summer is think in this song, and its upbeat tune hides its darkness.

Of course, any song named after one of the most popular months for road tripping is going to get consideration for this list, but what puts it over the top for me is its forward-looking nostalgia. The narrator reminds the audience that “…we’ll remember this when we are old and ancient, though the specifics might be vague…” just like all important road trips.

Seven Nation Army (The White Stripes)

As someone who has driven to (okay, mostly past) Wichita many a time, I can’t express how much joy I get at singing the lyrics “I’m going to Wichita, far from this opera forevermore…”

This unexpected sports anthem is also wildly popular nearly twenty years after its release, due to its military imagery and near marching beat. I’m sure the White Stripes never imagined it would be chanted at stadiums when they recorded it. Perfect for any road trip heading to a sporting event, whether you’re going to Wichita or not.

Mr. Blue Sky (ELO)

This 1970s prog rock gem is fantastical and robotic, yet its actually an ode to an open sky – the perfect fodder for a road trip! Like “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Mr. Blue Sky” has multiple parts and approaches the operatic at times, making it even more appealing to sing along to as you travel.

De Donde Vengo Yo (Choc Quib Town)

One of the breakout songs from the Colombian hip-hop group Choc Quib Town, “De Donde Vengo Yo” is a song that is full of the raw, electric energy, that the group is famous for. 

The best thing about this song? During your road trip, whenever you are dizzy or a little low on energy, put it on and it will wake you up with its zazzy beats and Afro-Latin rhythms right away. Soon you will be singing along (or trying to do so if you don’t speak Spanish). -Deb from  The Visa Project

My Sharona (The Knack)

This 1979 ode to the songwriter’s girlfriend asks proclaims “Ooh, you make my motor run, my motor run,” and if that wasn’t sign enough that this song belongs on a road trip playlist, I don’t know what is.

This song bops along at a fast clip, perfect for dancing along in your seat.

Take Me Home, Country Roads (John Denver)

“Take me Home, Country Roads”, John Denver’s signature song is one of the most beloved country songs of all time. If you are driving through the scenic beauty, majestic mountains, or to the countrysides, playing this song will bring the feelings of home and belongings.

For a traveler, the world is home. But the place where the soul is raised is always special. This song is a tribute to every traveler’s almost heaven ‘Home’! This classic song was written by Bill Danoff and his wife Taffy Nivert.” -Nishu Barolia from Tannedtravelgirl

Behind the Wheel (Depeche Mode)

Behind The Wheel is a very popular song written by Martin Gore and sung by the deep voice of the stage wonder that is Dave Gahan. This is reason enough for this legendary 1987 single by Depeche Mode to be considered one of the best singles of all time. However, Behind The Wheel is also one of the most epic road trip songs ever.

Both the song’s lyrics and its official video evoke memories of unforgettable moments on the road while fueling the ever-burning lust for brand new road trip adventures to strange uncharted lands at the same time.    -Maria & Katerina from  It’s All Trip To Me

On the Road Again (Willie Nelson)

On the Road Again by Willie Nelson is a really great upbeat song to get you in the spirits of traveling. It’s the perfect fun, campy song to play on your road trips as you get to get on the road again!

Originally sung by Willie Nelson, you can find lots of different versions from rock to pop and even Alvin & The Chipmunks. Next time you’re on the road, check out your favorite cover of On The Road Again .  -Sara from Awesome Gift Guides

Route 66 (Chuck Berry)

Probably the epitome of the American road trip tune, Route 66’s lyrics are literally a catalog of the cities on the original American highway that ran from Chicago to Los Angeles.

Route 66 was written as a 12-bar blues in 1946 by the actor Bobby Troup while he and his wife were on their way to Los Angeles to try their hand as LA songwriters. The song was first recorded in a smooth pop version by Nat King Cole in 1946 and became a hit on both the pop and R&B charts.

Later versions turned it more into a rocker and it was covered by both Chuck Berry and the Rolling Stones. If you want jazzier versions try those from Diana Krall or Brian Setzer. -Tom Bartel of Travel Past 50

Home (Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zero)

With a catchy tune guaranteed to get stuck in your head, “Home” by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros is an upbeat love song perfect for the end of a road trip. 

The song feels like that perfect summer day you spent with someone you loved and will conjure up the best feelings from the adventure you just had. 

Blast this right when you cross your county line, grab your significant other’s hand, and sing along to tell them that “home is wherever I’m with you.” -Ale from  Sea Salt and Fog  

Don’t Stop Me Now (Queen)

One of Queen’s most popular songs, Don’t Stop Me Now, was released in 1978 as part of their album Jazz and as a single in 1979. It also forms part of the band’s Greatest Hits album which was released in 1981.

It has been covered by McFly, Foxes, and The Vandals. This is one of the ultimate feel-good songs and is perfect for long drives – especially if it happens to be a road with some bends.

For maximum effect, it should be played at volume with the windows rolled down and everyone singing at the tops of their voices! -Emma from Wanderlust and Wet Wipes

The Long Way Around (The Chicks)

The Dixie Chicks single, “The Long Way Around,” was released on January 8th, 2007. It was a critical and commercial success, on their first album released after their criticism of the president at the time and the backlash that occurred. 

“Take the Long Way Around” embraces non-conformity and doing things your own way. There are some anthemic qualities that make you want to blast the volume up to 11. If you put this song on your road trip playlist, it will stay there. -Theresa Ladner from Adventures in Middle-Aged Travel

Ghost Riders in the Sky (Johnny Cash)

The next song on your road trip playlist should definitely be “Ghost Riders in the Sky” by Johnny Cash. Roll the windows down, crank up the volume, and sing at the top of your lungs as the miles fly by.

Play it at night as your day winds down as the perfect wake-you-up song. Written in 1948 by Stan Jones, it has been performed by dozens of artists including Elvis Presley and The Chicks. Perhaps the most famous is Johnny Cash’s 1979 rendition, which remains popular today. -Heather from Oregon Outdoor Family

Sweet Child O’ Mine (Guns N Roses)

Sweet Child o’ Mine  is a song by American heavy metal band Guns N’ Roses.  It charted as a US hit single in August 1988.  The lyrics were written by the band’s lead singer, Axl Rose, and the song featured in Guns N’ Roses debut album,  Appetite for Destruction .   Sweet Child o’ Mine  has been covered many times, most notably by the likes of Sheryl Crow, Anastacia and Texas.  It makes a brilliant road trip song as it’s nostalgic with a cracking guitar solo and lyrics you can unselfconsciously belt out while driving along. -Nikki from  Gin and Cocktails .

Africa (Toto)

“Africa” by American band Toto is a timeless road-trip classic that has stayed popular since its release in 1981. Its sultry base ascending into a powerful crescendo makes it a feel-good tune.

Toto band members – David Paich and Bobby Kimball – wrote the song from the view of a boy telling a story about Africa from what he has seen on TV and what he has read.

It is meant as an analogy of the nostalgia you can feel for a place that you have never actually visited.

“Africa” peaked in the 1980s and was top of the charts around the world. Toto gained five platinum discs for the recording.

It was covered by American band Weezer in 2010.

Forty years on and “Africa” is still as popular today as when it was released and is regarded as a cult classic by all generations. -Angie of  Where Angie Wanders

Ei Path Jodi Na Shes Hoy 

“El Path Jodi Na Shes Hoy” is a Bengali song that means “If the road does not end.” The song is popular with Bengalis in West Bengal as well as worldwide.

The song is from a movie named Saptapadi (1961), directed by Ajoy Kar, Lyricist Gauriprasanna Mazumder. The song is sung by Hemanta Mukherjee and Sandhya Mukherjee. This song was shot while they are on a road trip with a bike. -Ruma from The Holiday Story  

Thinking of a Place (War on Drugs)

“Thinking Of A Place” is an 11-minute musical epic and embodies classic Americana at its best, featuring absolutely everything from guitar and harmonica solos to murmuring synthesizers.

The song takes you on a joy ride as it builds to a number of crescendos, before moving into a psychedelic odyssey and then almost fading out, all the while carrying the listener along on a wave of nostalgia for a trip that hasn’t even happened yet.

“Thinking Of A Place” is all about a journey, both literally and figuratively: as the lyrics say, “I’m thinking of a place and it seems so very real”. Utterly sublime. -Sasha from  Mog and Dog Travels

Free Road Trip Playlist on Spotify

Here is this playlist on Spotify. You can follow it in your Spotify app and play it on your trip, or you can bookmark this post and play from here.

More Great Road Trip Songs for Your Road Trip Playlist

Here are the rest of the songs that make my top 101 road trip songs on this playlist:

Apesh*t (The Carters)

Hurtin’ Me (Stefflon Don Ft. French Montana)

If She Wants Me (Belle & Sebastian)

Waterloo (ABBA)

Wagon Wheel (Old Crow Medicine Show)

Here I Go Again (Whitesnake)

Feel Good Inc. (The Gorillaz)

Boasty (Wiley Ft. Steflon Don and Idris Elba)

Roadrunner (The Modern Lovers)

Running on Empty (Jackson Brown)

Jolene (Dolly Parton)

American Idiot (Green Day)

Summertime Sadness (Lana Del Ray)

Island in the Sun (Weezer)

Proud Mary (Tina Turner)

Uptight (Stevie Wonder)

Where It’s At (Beck)

It’s the End of the World As We Know It (R.E.M.)

Homeward Bound (Simon & Garfunkel)

Walk It Talk It (Migos Ft. Drake)

Jack & Diane (John Cougar Mellencamp)

We Didn’t Start the Fire (Billy Joel)

Me Gusta (Shakira)

1979 (The Smashing Pumpkins)

The Way (Fastball)

Black Beatles (Rae Srummond)

Under Pressure (Queen and David Bowie)

Basket Case (Green Day)

Whatever You Like (T.I.)

If I Had a Million Dollars (Barenaked Ladies)

Little Red Corvette (Prince)

King of the Road (Roger Miller)

Linger (The Cranberries)

I’ve Been Everywhere (Johnny Cash)

Little Deuce Coup (The Beach Boys)

Down on the Corner (Credence Clearwater Revival)

Juice (Lizzo)

Bailando (Enrique Iglesias)

Truckin’ (The Grateful Dead)

Me and Bobby McGee (Janis Joplin)

Flashlight (Parliament-Funkadelic)

How We Do [Party] (Rita Ora)

Cracklin’ Rosie (Neil Diamond)

She’s a Lady (Tom Jones)

One Headlight (The Wallflowers)

Blinded by the Light (Mannfred Mann’s Earth Band)

Pin these Road Trips Songs for Your Next Trip!

In this Article:

2 thoughts on “101 Perfect Road Trip Songs for an Epic Road Trip Playlist!”

Lovely collection of all the beautiful road songs. Some of them are new findings. Will look forward to hearing!

Thank you! And thanks for your suggestion!

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100 Best Road Trip Songs: Epic Road Trip Playlist You Need to Download

What are the 100 best road trip songs? That’s a good question. Let the truth be told, no road trip is ever complete without epic tunes to sing along too. Some of my fondest road trip memories consist of singing at the top of my lungs with my best pals beside me. I distinctly remember cruising down the motorway, with my window down, and the sun beaming in, singing ‘Oops I did it again’ as we approach Ireland’s Giant’s Causeway . Or, on my US coast to coast road , jumping out of our van every moment we got to have a dance off in the middle of the street (all safety precautions taken into consideration of course). These are memories that will last a lifetime and it is all thanks to my epic road trip playlist!

Today, I would like to make life a little bit easier for you. Instead of you having to spend hours on end adding songs to your own personal playlist. I have done all the hard work for you. Below is a list of some of the best songs for a road trip, I have even gone as far as providing you with a Spotify link so you can have access to all these killer songs with the touch of a button. I know, I know, you’re looking at a way to thank me, feel free to do so by sharing this post on pinterest 😉

100 Best Road Trip Songs

• American Pie – Don McLean
• A Thousand Miles -Vanessa Carlton
• Sweet Home Alabama – Lynyrd Skynyrd
• Don’t Stop – Believin’ – Journey
• Party in the U.S.A – Miley Cyrus
• All Star – Smash Mouth
• I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) – The Proclaimers
• Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison
• Stacey’s Mom – Fountains Of Wayne
• Eye of The Tiger – Survivor
• Ice Ice Baby – Vanilla Ice
• Drops of Jupiter – Train
• Take Me Home, Country Roads – John Denver
• All The Small Things – Blink-182
• Teenage Dirtbag – Wheatus
• I Love Rock ’n’ Roll – The Black Jets
• Hey Jude – The Beatles
• Don’t You Want Me – The Human League
• Cotton Eyed Joe – Circus DJ’s
• Hey There Delilah – Plain White T’s
• S8er Boi – Avril Lavigne
• Take On Me – a-ha
• Build Me Up Buttercup – The Foundations
• Walking On Sunshine – Katrina & The Waves
• Bye Bye Bye – NSYNC
• Before He Cheats – Carrie Underwood
• Since U Been Gone – Kelly Clarkson
• Bad Day – Daniel Potter
• Some Nights – Fun
• It’s A Beautiful Day – Michael Buble
• My Girl – My Temptations
• Shake It – Metro Station
• I’m Yours – Jason Mraz
• Roxanne – The Police
• Girls Just Wanna Have Fun – Cyndi Lauper
• Happy Together – The Turtles
• I’m a Believer – The Monkees
• Somewhere Only We Know – Keane
• Soul Man – Sam & James
• You Make My Dreams – Daryl Hall & John Oates
• Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go – Wham
• Come On Eileen – Dexys Mightnight Runners
• Mambo No.5 (a Little Bit of…) – Lou Bega
• Don’t Go Breaking My Hearth – Elton John and Kiki Dee
• I Want It That Way – Backstreet Boys
• Uptown Girl – Billy Joel
• Hey Ya! – Outcast
• You Make My Dreams Come True – The South Street Band
• Soul Man – Live Version
• Stayin’ Alive – Bee Gees
• Wannabe – Spice Girls
• Everytime We Touch – Cascada
• Sweet Child O’ Mine – Guns N’ Roses
• I Love Rock and Roll – John Foster
• Toxic – Britney Spears
• We Built This City – Starship
• Mamma Mia – ABBA
• I Wanna Dance With Somebody – Whitney Houston
• Twist and Shout – The Beatles
• Year 3000 – Jonas Brothers
• Fireflies – Owl City
• Tik Tok – Kesha
• Any Way You Want – Journey
• Don’t Stop Me Now – Queen
• Hotel California – Eagles
• What I Like About You – AC/DC
• Hit Me With Your Best Shot – Pat Benatar
• Don’ Worry Be Happy – Bobby McFerrin
• Sweet Dream (Are Made of This) – Eurythmics
• Respect – Aretha Franklin
• The Final Countdown – Europe
• Superstition – Stevie Wonder
• Stand By Me – Ben E. King
• Three Little Birds – Bob Marley and The Wailer
• You Sexy Thing – Hot Chocolate
• Billie Jean – Michael Jackson
• Born in the U.S.A – Bruce Springsteen
• Stuck In The Middle With You – Stealers Wheel
• Hound Dog – Elvis Presley
• Do You Believe in Magic? – The LOvin’ Spoonful
• It’s Tricky – Run – D.M.C
• All Summer Long – Kids Rock
• Life Is A Highway – Tom Cochrane
• Every Breath You Take – The Police
• I’ll Be There For You – The Rembrandts
• Down Under – Men At Work
• Walk This Way – Aerosmith
• Man! I Feel Like A Woman – Shania Twain
• Who Let The Dogs Out – Baha Men
• American Girl – Tom Petty and The Hearthbreakers
• U Can’t Touch This – MC Hammer
• American Idiot – Green Day
• The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air – AC/DC
• It Wasn’t Me – Shaggy
• Hips Don’t Lie – Shakira and Wyclef Jean
• Burnin’ Up – Jonas Brother
• Oops!..I Did It Again
• There She Goes – The La’s
• Call Me Maybe – Carly Rae Jepsen
• Yellow – Coldplay
• Mr. Brightside – The Killers

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The Best Road Trip Songs-Top 50 for 2022

Are you planning a road trip? What is a long road trip without an epic playlist? No need to search all over the internet, The Travel Virgin is here to give you ‘ The 50 Best Road Trip Songs for 2022 ‘. This list contain songs from different genres and sets the motion for a road trip that will be etched in your memory for a lifetime.

“This post may contain affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something we may earn a commission. Thanks.”

• Mr. Blue Sky – Electric Light Orchestra – Listen Now
• Walk on the Ocean – Toad The Wet Sprocket- Listen Now
• A Thousand Miles- Vanessa Carlton- Listen Now
• California – Phantom Planet- Listen Now
• Sweet Home Alabama-Lynyrd Skynyrd- Listen Now
• Somewhere over the Rainbow – Israel Kamakawiwo- Listen Now
• Little Red Corvette-Prince- Listen Now
• Two Of Us- The Beatles- Listen Now
• Highway to Hell – AC/DC- Listen Now
• Another One Bites Dust-Queen- Listen Now
• I Lived – One Republic- Listen Now
• Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson-Bruno Mars- Listen Now
• Send Me On My Way- Rusted Root- Listen Now
• American Pie – Don McLean- Listen Now
• Home for a Rest – Spirit of the West- Listen Now
• Gasolina- Daddy Yankee- Listen Now
• Wonderful World-Sam Cooke- Listen Now
• Californication- Red Hot Chili Peppers- Listen Now
• Let It Whip-Dazz Band- Listen Now
• Walking in Memphis-Marc Cohn- Listen Now
• 500 Miles -The Proclaimers- Listen Now
• 9 to 5- Dolly Parton- Listen Now
• It’s my Life – Bon Jovi- Listen Now
• Take it Easy-The Eagles- Listen Now
• Conga-Gloria Estefan- Listen Now
• Hitch a Ride – Boston- Listen Now

More Awesome Songs Below-The Best Road Trip Songs

• Running on Empty-Jackson Browne- Listen Now
• Every Little Step-Bobby Brown- Listen Now
• Island in the Sun-Weezer- Listen Now
• Paradise by the Dashboard Light-Meatloaf- Listen Now
• Cruisin- Smokey Robinson- Listen Now
• Life is a Highway – Cochrane- Listen Now
• Take the Money and Run-Steve Miller Band- Listen Now
• Here I Go Again-Whitesnake- Listen Now
• Born to be Wild-Steppenwolf- Listen Now
• Don’t Tell Me-Madonna- Listen Now
• Proud Mary -Creedance Clearwater Revival- Listen Now
• I’ve Been Everywhere-Johnny Cash- Listen Now
• Summertime-DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince- Listen Now
• Shut up and Drive – Rihanna- Listen Now
• On the Road Again-Willie Nelson- Listen Now
• 1979-Smashing Pumpkins- Listen Now
• Bohemian Rhapsody-Queen- Listen Now
• Born to Run-Bruce Springsteen- Listen Now
• Little Deuce Coupe-The Beach Boys- Listen Now
• Living on a Prayer-Bon Jovi- Listen Now
• Graceland-Paul Simon- Listen Now
• Mustang Sally-Wilson Pickett- Listen Now
• Good Life – One Republic- Listen Now
• Life is a Highway-Tom Cochrane- Listen Now

Best Gadgets To Play The 50 Best Road Trip Songs

What is a road trip without some cool gadgets to play the 50 best road trip songs. Check out these cool devices below.

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‘Treat You Better’: Shawn Mendes’ Powerful, Pining Pop Hit

The best birthday songs, ‘beast of burden’: the story behind the rolling stones song, the fashion of shania twain: the queen of country pop, still the one: the ten best below-the-radar songs by shania twain, ‘dear prudence’: the story behind the beatles’ song, mike oldfield scales new heights with ‘hergest ridge’, samara joy announces ‘portrait,’ shares ‘you stepped out of a dream’, maroon 5 celebrate 10 years of ‘v’ with vinyl release and new website, new johnnie taylor collection ‘one step from the blues’ coming soon, alan jackson receives poet’s award at acm honors, rod stewart’s ‘merry christmas, baby’ coming to vinyl for the first time, toby keith tribute special airing wednesday on nbc, jelly roll announces new album, ‘beautifully broken’, head out on the highway: the 25 best road trip songs.

From backseat singalongs to nomadic anthems, the best road trip songs capture the feeling of freedom that’s sometimes just a car ride away.

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The requirement for any good road trip is great songs. Whether you’re embarking on a solo trip down the highway or gathering for a vacation with friends and family, you’re going to need some tunes to keep you company along the way. We’ve collated classic driving songs from throughout the eras and assembled the best road trip songs to fire up as you head out on the open road.

Listen to some of the best road trip songs for your next vacation on Apple Music and Spotify .

25: Youngblood Hawke: We Come Running

With its driving beat and epic build up, this indie-pop song from LA pop-rockers Youngblood Hawke will get you revving down the highway. They spell it out directly, inviting the listener to head “for the open door, tell me what you’re waiting for”.

‘Summer (The First Time)’: Bobby Goldsboro Remembers A Hot Afternoon

The best songs about dogs: a tribute to our four-legged friends, 24: blink-182: what’s my age again.

In just under two and a half minutes, blink-182 ’s ‘What My Age Again’ is pop-punk perfection. This song cooks and there’s nary a second wasted, which is exactly what you want in the best road trip songs.

23: The Killers: Mr Brightside

Pomp, bombast, killer riffs and melodies is one way to set you free, even when stuck in traffic. “Mr. Brightside” from The Killers ’ debut album, Hot Fuss , is the rare road trip song that can get you through the traffic blues and out of the “cage” that is the daily grind.

22: Nirvana: Breed

Just like Appetite For Destruction , Nirvana’s Nevermind features an endless array of road trip songs, but there’s one standout track that sounds like burning rubber. With its blast of feedback and machine-gun intensity, “Breed” will get everybody headbanging in the backseat.

21: Sammy Hagar: I Can’t Drive 55

This is a classic highway vacation song. If the Red Rocker can’t you get to go past the speed limit (which we’re not officially condoning), nothing else will. Sammy Hagar’s breakout solo single has been blasting out of every car stereo since 1984, and has never stopped.

20: Katy Perry: Teenage Dream

When there’s a long stretch of road ahead, sometimes you want psychedelic acid rock where you can put cruise control on and zone out, but when you’re traveling on vacation with a crew, singalong pop anthems are the best road trip songs. Katy Perry ’s ode to the endless possibilities of adolescence will have you sticking your head out the sunroof like a drunk teen on prom night.

19: Warren G (featuring Nate Dogg): Regulate

Few songs encapsulate an entire era better than this 1994 G-funk classic. Between Warren G’s storytelling and Nate Dogg’s smooth vocals, this is the song you can blast whether you’re cruising in your drop top or mid-sized sedan.

18: John Mellencamp: Pink Houses

This slice of heartland rock isn’t all that it seems. John Mellencamp seems to paint the perfect picture of the American dream, but if you keep listening, it’s really the indictment of a broken system. On one hand it remains a misunderstood political song but on the other, it’s a great road trip song.

17: The Rolling Stones: (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction

Tapping into that feeling of wanderlust, The Rolling Stones ’ search for satisfaction landed them their first No.1 hit . From Charlie Watts’ propulsive drumming to Mick Jagger’s cracking vocals and Keith Richards’ fuzz-box riff, “Satisfaction” beckons you to the road and the dancefloor.

16: U2: Where The Streets Have No Name

Like the morning’s first light coming over the desert highway, this U2 anthem begins with the sound of heavenly organs that quickly build to a driving rhythm led by The Edge’s arpeggiated guitar lines. Political origins aside, the song conjures images of the American West and the open road. It’s hard not to feel nostalgia when you glide in and out of traffic.

15: Guns N’ Roses: Appetite For Destruction

Forget road trip songs, this is a road trip album. From the menacing “Welcome To The Jungle” to the soaring “Rocket Queen” that closes Guns N’ Roses ’ Appetite For Destruction , you won’t find an album of songs better suited to a road trip vacation than this.

14: Dr. Dre: Let Me Ride

Any G-funk track is made for driving, but this cut from The Chronic is the ultimate road trip song. Between the Parliament-sampling chorus and Dre ’s evocative verses, “Let Me Ride” was tailor-made for summer driving… and is even better if you’re cruising around in a drop top.

13: Bob Seger: Hollywood Nights

While Bob Seger sings about “looking down at the lights of LA” in this 1978 hit, the anticipation of a night on the town is universal. Seger’s frantic vocals and epic storytelling, combined with the uptempo music, is the perfect formula to speed towards the horizon.

12: Cyndi Lauper: I Drove All Night

Some people escape the “sticky and cruel” city by seeking solace in the great outdoors. Not Ms. Lauper. Her vocal calisthenics are just the motivation to drive all night to see your lover.

11: Snoop Dogg: Gin And Juice

Another slice of G-funk heaven. You don’t need hydraulics to roll with the melodic flow of “D-O-double-G.” Released during the heyday of gangsta rap, Snoop took the wild antics of his hometown, Long Beach, and turned them into an idyllic summer jam.

10: Jackson Browne: Running On Empty

Few artists embodied the late 70s Laurel Canyon sound quite like Jackson Browne. “Running On Empty” isn’t a hard road rocker, but Browne could turn the most mundane experiences (like running out of gas) into a metaphor for missing out on the connections in life.

9: The Beatles: Day Tripper

The Beatles have an endless catalogue of travel tunes, from “Ticket To Ride” to “Drive My Car,” but “Day Tripper” is the real road trip song. Featuring one of the best guitar riffs of all time , “Day Tripper” is not so much about a quick getaway but about trying on the hippie lifestyle for a day or two.

8: Stevie Wonder: Master Blaster (Jammin’)

This could be included among the best vacation road trip songs for the intro alone, but the whole thing swings with a swagger that won’t (hopefully) have you swerving from side-to-side. Stevie Wonder ’s tribute to Bob Marley saw Stevie moving away from his typical one-man show and inviting a whole crew to boogie down.

7: Willie Nelson: On The Road Again

Country music is littered with dirt-road anthems, but one of the true classics is Willie Nelson ’s ode to the nomadic life, “On The Road Again.” Nelson was tasked with creating an original song for the aging rocker character he played in the film Honeysuckle Rose . Willie delivered and nabbed an Oscar nomination in the process.

6: Tom Cochrane: Life Is A Highway

Canadian treasure Tom Cochrane is a household name up north, but in rest of the world he’s best known for this highway song anthem that’s become the perfect pep talk for hitting tarmac.

5: Prince: Little Red Corvette

Prince seemingly never suffered from either writer’s block or a shortage of sexual metaphors, as evidenced on his 1983 classic, “Little Red Corvette.” This tale of an ill-fated one-night stand was supposedly inspired by his bandmate Lisa Coleman’s pink Edsel, but “little red Edsel” just isn’t as catchy a refrain.

4: The Beach Boys: Fun, Fun, Fun, I Get Around

Both of these Beach Boys tunes helped define the 60s driving culture, particularly in the winding highways of Southern California. Tight harmonies and terrific rhythms, these songs will transport you to the windswept cliffs of the Pacific Coast Highway, driving along with the top down.

3: Tom Petty: Runnin’ Down A Dream

“Free Fallin’” is a great singalong, but when it comes to essential Tom Petty road trip tunes, “Runnin’ Down A Dream” takes the cake. Thanks to the highway imagery and scuzzy guitar riffs, this hard-charging song is best listened to with the windows down and your foot on the gas.

2: Bruce Springsteen: Born To Run

No survey of the best road trip songs would be complete without The Boss. Bruce Springsteen ’s entire body of work unpacks the experience of small-town living and the feeling that escape is just a car ride away.

1: Steppenwolf: Born To Be Wild

You don’t need a bike or road leather to blare this Steppenwolf classic. Most famously featured in the film Easy Rider , Jon Kay’s invitation to “head out on the highway” is a song that became an American anthem and a call for rebellion.

Honorable Mentions

Looking for more great road trip playlist songs for your next vacation? With compulsively sing-along lyrics, these tunes are perfect for lonely highways where you just want to shout out your open car window.

John Denver – Take Me Home, Country Roads The Proclaimers – I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) Tracy Chapman – Fast Car Lynyrd Skynyrd – Sweet Home Alabama The Eagles – Take It Easy Fleetwood Mac – Go Your Own Way Sheryl Crow – Everyday Is A Winding Road The Grateful Dead – Truckin’ Toto – Africa Arcade Fire – Keep The Car Running Ray Charles – Hit The Road Jack Bon Jovi – Living on a Prayer Ike & Tina Turner – Nutbush City Limits Don McLean – American Pie The Allman Brothers – Midnight Rider Outkast – Hey Ya Rascal Flatts – Life Is A Highway Van Morrison – Bright Side of the Road Sufjan Stevens – Chicago Rihanna – Shut Up And Drive The Eagles – Hotel California The Allman Brothers Band – Ramblin’ Man Elton John – Tiny Dancer Simon & Garfunkel – America Pointer Sisters – I’m So Excited ABBA – Waterloo Dolly Parton – 9 to 5 Billy Joel – Piano Man Paul Simon – Graceland

Looking for more options? Check out our list of the best songs about cars and driving .

11 Comments

June 26, 2019 at 7:37 pm

Golden Earring – Radar Love

June 27, 2019 at 5:16 pm

Mountain Jam, The Allman Brothers Band

August 2, 2019 at 8:34 am

Neil Young : White Line, DriveBy, Albuquerque, Trans Am

September 21, 2019 at 4:00 pm

Joanne Nagen

September 25, 2019 at 5:02 pm

John Hartford Steam Powered Aeroplane; Joe Bonamassa Drive; Govt Mule Travellin Tune; Greatful Dead Truckin;Jerry Reed’s Eastbound and Down …..as Roy Rogers said Happy Trails to you Thanks

September 25, 2019 at 6:29 pm

“It’s a Car!” by Sean Morin is a little-known but extremely fitting, perfect vibe, catchy little road trip song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3piktwUcP0

Mike Einhorn

May 28, 2020 at 5:24 am

Bruce Springfield?

September 18, 2021 at 7:27 am

Rolling Down the Highway – BTO Rockin’ Down the Highway – DOOBIE BROTHERS Highway Star – DEEP PURPLE

How’s these NOT make the list?

Belvin Sweatt

January 7, 2022 at 1:08 am

You left out the best one— Sniff and The Tears—Drivers Seat.

January 7, 2022 at 12:01 pm

Here is my Road Trip playlist: Windows are Rolled Down – Amos Lee Call Me The Breeze – Lynyrd Skynyrd Florabama – JJ Grey & Mofro Mustang Sally – Buddy Guy f. Jeff Beck Going to California – Led Zeppelin Hotel California – Eagles Road to Nowhere – Talking Heads Tangled Up in Blue – Bob Dylan Me and Bobby McGee – Janis Joplin Joy – Lucinda Williams Breakdown – Jack Johnson Comin’ Home – Lynyrd Skynyrd Take the Long Way Home – Supertramp Till the Sun Comes Up – Jack & Weatherman

June 3, 2023 at 5:42 am

The triffids – Wide Open Road

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70 Best Car Songs to Blast While You're Driving

Get ready to queue up "Vroom Vroom" by Charli XCX.

So, make sure your gas tank is full and that you have all your essential road snacks ready because we've got you covered with the best car songs to listen to, regardless of your destination.

Harry Styles - "Golden"

Harry said himself that this song is meant for driving down the coast. "It feels so Malibu to me," he said in an interview with Zane Lowe for Apple Music. Whether you're in Malibu or Montana, this is a banger perfect for driving down the highway.

Ice Spice - "In Ha Mood"

You're a baddie with your baddie friends in the car, so blast Ice Spice on full volume.

Taylor Swift - "Cruel Summer"

Although Taylor's Versions have since taken over the world, Taylor Swift's "Cruel Summer" is a whole vibe. This bridge was made to be sung at the top of your lungs.

Charli XCX - "Vroom Vroom"

Not only has this song become a staple in Charli XCX 's discography, but it is literally about driving. Once you hear that "Let's ride" in the intro, you know it's time to go hard.

Miley Cyrus - "Jaded"

This track off of Endless Summer Vacation is begging to be belted in the backseat.

NewJeans - "OMG"

This K-Pop tune will get stuck in your head immediately.

Britney Spears - "Toxic"

When it doubt, always Britney it out.

Chloe x Halle - "Do It"

The sisters never miss when it comes to feel-good bops. This one will definitely make you dance in the passenger seat.

Dua Lipa - "Levitating"

When I tell you that everyone loves this song... I mean it. Sing this with your sugar boos for an extra good time.

The Killers - "Mr. Brightside"

If you haven't belted out to this song in a car full of your BFFs, then this is the perfect time to finally cross it off your bucket list. Trust me, whoever stops next to you on the next red light will also join in and sing-along too.

The Aces - "Girls Make Me Wanna Die"

The indie-pop quartet switches gears toward pop-punk with this track inspired by frustrations they've faced with crushes throughout their lives, and we must say the vibes are immaculate.

BTS - "Dynamite"

If you don't dance whenever you hear this song, I don't think I can trust you. The award-winning banger by BTS has deserved a road trip scream-sing all this time.

Olivia Rodrigo - Deja Vu

Olivia is driving down the coast in this video, so *I* want to drive down the coast and sing about how I'm annoying when I watch reruns of Glee .

Tate McRae - "She's All I Wanna Be"

Why wouldn't you want to scream "Stupid boy" at the top of your lungs?

Aly & AJ - "Potential Breakup Song"

Everybody say "thank you" to Aly & AJ for this masterpiece of a pop song that's still going strong 15+ years later.

MUNA ft. Phoebe Bridgers - "Silk Chiffon"

Odds are this track hit your TikTok FYP and is already stuck in your head, so you might as well play it with the top down.

Katy Perry - "Teenage Dream"

Not only is this song one of the greatest pop anthems of all time, it's also just an all-around favorite to play especially in the summer time.

Doja Cat - "Get Into It (Yuh)"

Trust us: skip the Starbucks run and play this instead. That second verse will give you the same amount of energy as a Venti cold brew.

Taylor Swift - "All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor's Version) (From The Vault)"

This was a cultural reset, and the new lyrics are worth every moment.

Conan Gray - "Maniac"

Because how can you not yell "Tell all of your friends that I'm crazy and drive you mad"?

Sam is an assistant news editor at Cosmo, covering all things pop culture, entertainment, and celebrity news. She previously covered those same topics along with health, lifestyle, and beauty at Seventeen. When she isn't draping her cheeks in blush, you can probably find her live-tweeting awards shows or making SwiftToks.  

Tamara Fuentes is the current Entertainment Editor at Cosmopolitan , where she covers TV, movies, books, celebrities, and more. She can often be found in front of a screen fangirling about something new. Before joining Cosmopolitan , she was the entertainment editor over at Seventeen . She is also a member of the Television Critics Association and the Latino Entertainment Journalists Association. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram . 

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55 Best Road Trip Songs (Sing Along While Driving)

There’s almost no better feeling than hitting the open road and the wind whipping through your hair. Every great road trip needs a great soundtrack. Here we take a look at 55 of the greatest road trip songs to sing along to on your next interstate adventure.

1. Born to Run – Bruce Springsteen

No song captures the thrill of hitting the open road better than Bruce Springsteen’s classic hit, Born To Run . The epic love song captures all the passion of young lovers trying to find a place to call their own in this world. This is to be sung at full volume on the highway with the windows rolled down!

Next: Greatest rock genre albums of all time (our ultimate list)

2. Mr. Brightside – The Killers

An anthem for a generation, The Killers’ first hit, Mr. Brightside , turns the lead singer’s pain of being cheated on into one of the greatest sing-along songs of all time. With a driving tempo, the track taps into feelings of jealousy and heartbreak that many of us, unfortunately, know too well.

Next: Ultimate list of the best 2000s rock songs

3. All Star – Smash Mouth

It is basically impossible not to sing along to Smash Mouth’s biggest hit, All Star . Following the story of a, perhaps delusional, wannabe rock star, the song features top-notch wordplay and an addicting melody that demands to be sung, even when we’ve heard it far too many times.

Next: The best songs from movies (top film songs ever)

4. Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen

Queen’s epic masterpiece, Bohemian Rhapsody , is one of the greatest songs ever written . Clocking in at almost six minutes, their record company balked at the idea of such a long song. Lucky for all of us, Wayne and Garth included, the band persisted and gave us one of the greatest driving songs of all time.

5. Hotel California – The Eagles

The Eagles epic about a haunted hotel is an essential road trip track. With spooky imagery, a catchy melody, and a killer guitar solo, Hotel California is one of their very best tunes.

Next: The full meaning behind “Hotel California” song lyrics

6. A Thousand Miles – Vanessa Carlton

First heard in the 2001 film  Legally Blonde , Vanessa Carlton’s track, A Thousand Miles , is one of the greatest karaoke songs of all time . With its upbeat piano and themes of traveling, this is a perfect song for singing on the road.

Next: Ultimate travel & adventure songs playlist

7. I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) – The Proclaimers

I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) is one of the catchiest proclamations of love that has ever been sung. The Proclaimers’ most well-known hit is the perfect song for singing on the highway, especially if you find yourself on your way back home to the one you love.

8. TiK ToK – Kesha

Ke$ha’s party anthem, TiK ToK , is the ultimate car-ride sing-along. With fun verses, a catchy chorus, and a heavy dose of rebellious energy, this song will make sure your road trip party “don’t stop” anytime soon.

9. Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey

Everyone knows the words to the song about a small-town girl and a city boy. Journey’s greatest hit is the ultimate track for your road trip journey playlist—with that catchy piano, killer guitar solo , and a chorus that will push you to your vocal limits.

Next: Story and meaning of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin'”

10. Here I Go Again – Whitesnake

One thing the 80s got right was hair metal power ballads. With big hair, bigger guitar, and even bigger vocals, this catchy tune will have you speeding down the highway. The real question is whether or not you can hit that high note !

Next: Our list of favorite power ballads ever

11. Mr. Blue Sky – Electric Light Orchestra

Electric Light Orchestra’s most iconic hit, the cheery tune Mr. Blue Sky , is impossible not to sing along to. While the actual meaning of the song is open for interpretation, the optimistic tone of the music and fun-to-sing lyrics make it a necessary addition to your road trip playlist.

12. Highway to Hell – AC/DC

AC/DC’s rock anthem is sure to have you rolling down the highway. Highway To Hell is an all-time classic rock ‘n’ roll anthem. Put this on the radio, and you’ll have everyone in the car doing their best Bon Scott impression.

13. Life is a Highway – Rascal Flatts

Originally by Tom Cochrane , Rascal Flatts hit track, Life Is A Highway , is perfect for cruising down the interstate. With that catchy guitar riff and infectious lyrics, this one is great for singing with the windows down and the wind in your hair.

14. Bat Out of Hell – Meat Loaf

Meat Loaf ‘s greatest song is his epic masterpiece, Bat Out Of Hell . The eight-minute track about a motorcycle out of control is a defining rock opera track and perfect for testing out your vocal chops.

15. What I Got – Sublime

Sublime’s 1997 hit What I Got is a perfect addition to any road trip playlist. Trying to figure out “why my money’s all gone,” the lyrics tell a story that is both relatable and fantastic. Bringing ska and rap together, this track just demands to be sung along to while you roll down the road. 

16. Valerie – Amy Winehouse

Originally by The Zutons, Amy Winehouse made the iconic track, Valerie , all her own. The song lets us all tap into our desire to love and to be loved. It’s a perfect track to put on in a car full of friends and to try and match the intensity of Winehouse’s vocal delivery.

17. Hey Ya! – Outkast

Atlanta-based rap duo Outkast is one of the greatest hip hop acts of all time, and fewer tracks are more iconic than Hey Ya! It’s impossible to hear this song and not be filled with joy. This will have you feeling “ice cold” while you roll down the highway.

Next: Greatest Atlanta rappers of all time

18. Free Fallin’ – Tom Petty

Everyone knows the words to Tom Petty’s defining ballad about a small-town girl who’s “crazy ’bout Elvis.” Even if you don’t know all the words to each verse, the chorus demands to be sung (or screamed, depending on your vocal range). This tune will have everyone singing along.

19. Drops of Jupiter – Train

Train’s iconic cosmic hit Drops Of Jupiter is a quintessential karaoke track. With epic lyrics, a catchy melody, and a chorus that just demands to be belted, this is a perfect song for testing your vocal chops while you coast down the highway.

20. Girls Just Want To Have Fun – Cyndi Lauper

There’s no better track for a girls’ road trip than Cyndi Lauper’s classic hit Girls Just Want To Have Fun . All about rejecting societal expectations for women, not only is this song an absolute banger, but it is dripping with 80s nostalgia that will lift everyone’s spirit in the car.

Next: Our playlist of ultimate women empowerment songs and anthems

21. Mr. Jones – Counting Crows

One of the Counting Crows’ most beloved tracks, Mr. Jones has an infectious melody and is full of relatable imagery. The song is all about the dream of being famous and believing how much better life will be when it does finally happen. While it leaves out some of the pitfalls of becoming a superstar, this is a perfect sing-along for long car drives with friends.

22. Chasing Pavements – Adele

Before Adele was the Queen of Pop, she put out her first big hit , Chasing Pavements . The ballad is about the difficult decision to leave a relationship leading nowhere, and its epic chorus is impossible to not belt along to, especially if you are struggling with a similar situation in your own life.

Next: The meaning behind Adele’s song “Easy On Me”

23. Landslide – Fleetwood Mac

Fleetwood Mac’s iconic track Landslide has everything the perfect sing-along song needs: a beautiful melody, great lyrics, and a powerful chorus. The right song for a road trip, especially if you are traveling alone on a rainy day.

Next: Full meaning of “Landslide” song lyrics explained

24. Psycho Killer – Talking Heads

With driving drums and bass, Psycho Killer is the perfect excuse to shout in faux-French as you roll down the highway. Whether you are out on a drive around town or you are trying to “run, run, run away,” this is a perfect tune to give your road trip a weird edge.

25. Love on Top – Beyo ncé

While Queen B has got plenty of great tunes for a road trip, Love On Top is perfect for anyone whose heart is full of love. With catchy music giving major 80s throwback vibes, this is perfect for channeling all the love in your heart. And it’s also perfect for testing your vocal chops, especially after that key change !

26. Africa – Toto

Few songs capture that 80s vibe like Toto’s big hit, Africa . The quirky track full of vibey synths is a love song to the entire continent or at least a love song to the idea of it. The chorus is perfect for belting as you roll down the highway.

27. Complicated – Avril Lavigne

Avril Lavigne’s pop-punk ballad, Complicated, is one of the genre’s best tracks, especially for everyone growing up in the early 2000s. The tune brings together country and punk aesthetics to create one of the best sing-along songs of all time.

28. Take Me Home, Country Roads – John Denver

No song romanticizes a scenic getaway like John Denver’s Take Me Home, Country Roads . All about the beautiful roads that lead back home, the chorus of this classic is perfect for singing while enjoying the scenic highways of America.

29. Since U Been Gone – Kelly Clarkson

One of Kelly Clarkson’s first big hits, Since U Been Gone is a powerful and cathartic song. We’ve all been in relationships where we weren’t treated like we should’ve been, and this track fully captures the feeling of getting free from a toxic relationship.

30. Livin’ On A Prayer – Bon Jovi

Nothing screams 80s rock ‘n’ roll like Bon Jovi’s Livin’ On A Prayer . The story of the down-on-their-luck couple, Tommy and Gina, reminds us that anything is possible when you’ve got love and a dream. The epic tune is perfect for singing while rolling down a city street or open highway.

31. Crazy – Patsy Cline

For anyone who has dreamed of being a country diva, Patsy Cline’s Crazy is one of the standards you’ve got to know. The country ballad showcases her signature soaring voice and is perfect for singing along in the car, especially if your love life is currently in shambles.

32. Stairway to Heaven – Led Zeppelin

One of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll songs of all time, Led Zeppelin’s Stairway To Heaven is one of the ultimate road trip tunes to blast on full volume. With an exciting story and a song that builds to an epic solo and chorus, heads will be banging in the car. 

33. Say It Ain’t So – Weezer

One of Weezer’s most iconic tracks, this entire song is a vibe. Capturing teenage angst and anger in a four-minute capsule, this takes you from chill to screaming and back again, a perfect song to belt with buddies on the road.

34. In the Air Tonight – Phil Collins

The song that made air-drumming cool , Phil Collins’ In The Air Tonight is one of the most epic radio hits of all time. Building up from a soft synth, the track demands to be sung. Just make sure you hold onto the steering wheel when the big drum solo hits.

Next: The most iconic drum solos of all time

35. Tainted Love – Soft Cell

Do you ever feel like you’ve got to run away? Soft Cell’s Tainted Love is the perfect song to blast while you make your way out of town and get away from all that is haunting you.

36. Your Song – Elton John

Every road trip needs a ballad, and Elton John is the king of radio ballads. Perhaps none more romantic or recognizable than his hit, Your Song , which represents the gift of his love.

37. Put Your Records On – Corinne Bailey Rae

Coming in with that funky guitar, Corinne Bailey Rae’s Put Your Records On is one of the best jazz-pop tunes to ever hit the airwaves. It’s best to turn the radio up and roll the windows down and let go of all your worries and sing as loud as you can when the chorus comes around.

38. Friday I’m In Love – The Cure

The Cure’s Friday I’m In Love captures the energy and aesthetic of every John Hughes movie. If you want to feel like the protagonist of everyone’s new favorite coming-of-age film, throw this one on and belt it out while you head down the highway.

39. More Than a Feeling – Boston

Few classic rock bands have captured a sound as epic as Boston’s. Their hit song, More Than A Feeling , will get you rolling down the highway with its epic guitar solos and huge vocals that you can try your best to match.

40. F*ck You – CeeLo Green

CeeLo Green’s tune F*ck You is the perfect sing-along song for all of us who have been dissed, dumped, or hurt. Few songs are more cathartic to sing and, given the vulgarity, the car is the perfect place to let it blast.

41. I Want It That Way – Backstreet Boys

If you are ready for them to bring our favorite boy bands back then Backstreet Boys’ I Want It That Way needs to be on top of your road trip playlist. Few songs have ever been more fun to sing along to.

42. How You Remind Me – Nickelback

Before Nickelback was a meme about a photograph , they were a hit machine. Embodying the post-grunge energy of the 2000s, How You Remind Me is a great song to blast while you’re on the road.

Next: Ultimate list of meme songs for you to enjoy

43. Stacy’s Mom – Fountains of Wayne

There are only two kinds of people in this world: those who want to get with Stacy’s mom, and those who want to be Stacy’s mom. Whichever camp you fall in, you’ve got to blast Fountains Of Wayne hit, Stacy’s Mom , on your next road trip.

44. I Try – Macy Gray

With that smokey voice, Macy Gray gave us a masterpiece with her hit, I Try . The song captures how all of us awkward folks feel when we are around the person that we have a crush on and is a cathartic tune to blast in the car.

45. I’m Yours – Jason Mraz

One of the most well-known love songs of the 2000s, Jason Mraz gave us a track full of wordplay and tongue twisters to sing along to. I’m Yours is a perfect way to pass four minutes in the car, singing the catchy tune.

46. What’s Up – 4 Non Blondes

4 Non Blondes iconic hit What’s Up is a perfect soundtrack for a solo ride down country backroads. With an epic chorus, the tune is perfect for screaming at the top of your lungs.

47. Jessie’s Girl – Rick Springfield

This lusty pop hit is all about the singer’s friend’s girlfriend and his unhealthy obsession with her. The build-up to the chorus is perfect singing material for your next road trip, especially if there is someone you can’t have on your mind.

48. Hey There Delilah – Plain White T’s

If you are trying to get into your feelings during your long drive, then the Plain White T’s Hey There Delilah is the perfect tune for you. All about the hardships of chasing your dreams while being in a long-term relationship. The beautiful song is perfect for a rainy stretch of highway.

49. Don’t Speak – No Doubt

This break-up song about No Doubt singer Gwen Stefani and the band’s guitar player is an absolute classic. This is one of the greatest sing-along tunes for anyone suffering from a broken heart and is a perfect tune to add to your next driving playlist, especially if you’re trying to get away from lost love.

50. White Flag – Dido

Dido’s anthem White Flag is a song for women all across the world. This is about standing strong, being true to yourself, and never giving up on what you believe in. This is the perfect track to sing at full volume while you roll down a sunset highway.

51. Lose Yourself – Eminem

Eminem’s classic hit Lose Yourself is one of hip hop’s most fun songs to rap along to. A big hit from his film  8 Mile , the guitar comes in and sets the mood for the track all about having the courage to live up to your potential. 

52. Every Morning – Sugar Ray

With a chill guitar lick, Sugar Ray’s Every Morning is a four-minute dose of dopamine. It is a perfect tune to throw on and sing along with friends as you roll down the highway.

53. Wagon Wheel – Old Crow Medicine Show

Old Crow Medicine Show reached out to Bob Dylan and asked if they could finish writing a demo he recorded decades earlier. Thank goodness for all of us, because it gave us one of the best party tunes, Wagon Wheel .

54. She’s So High – Tal Bachman

Tal Bachman’s big hit, She’s So High , remains an iconic ballad. The build-up to the chorus just demands that we all hit that big falsetto note with him. It’s a perfect track for any road trip playlist.

55. Waterfalls – TLC

It doesn’t get much better than TLC’s Waterfalls . With a funky backbeat and catchy chorus, this tune just asks to be sung along to. It is one of the trio’s best tracks and a perfect road trip tune.

As the Head Editor and Writer at Music Grotto, Liam helps write and edit content produced from professional music/media journalists and other contributing writers. He works closely with journalists and other staff to format and publish music content for the Music Grotto website. Liam is also the founding member of Music Grotto and is passionate in disseminating editorial content to its readers.

Liam’s lifelong love for music makes his role at Music Grotto such a rewarding one. He loves researching, writing and editing music content for Music Grotto.

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The best road trip songs of all time

These road trip songs will make your next excursion a memorable one, whether you’re driving for few hours or a few days

Don’t get us wrong—we really love city life. But sometimes day-tripping to a nearby summer music festival doesn’t quite satiate our need for escape, and that’s where these classic road trip songs come in. When the urge strikes, it’s time to hit the highway/motorway/ whatever for a good, old-fashioned road trip. Of course, you can’t drive in complete silence—well, you can, but the very thought is giving us a flat tyre—so we’ve compiled our list of the best road trip songs to get your motors running and propel your journey into fifth gear. Crank up classics from the Boss, the Dead and Prince, and even some Whitesnake, as you cruise along the open road, forgetting every care in the world.

RECOMMENDED: 🤝   The best songs about friendship 🎉  The best birthday songs of all time 🎶  The best ’80s songs 🎤  The best karaoke songs 🕺  The best pop songs of all time

Been there, done that? Think again, my friend.

Best road trip songs, ranked

1.  ‘born to run’ by bruce springsteen.

Like Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Born in the U.S.A.,’ ‘Born to Run’ is darker than it may seem. Embedded in the scuffed poetry of the lyrics is a potent combination of rebellion, sex, disgust and determination—brought to life by the throaty passion of Springsteen’s voice, the liberating wail of Clarence Clemons’s sax and the sheer propulsive force of the E Street Band’s backup. “Someday girl, I don’t know when/We’re gonna get to that place where we really wanna go,” Springsteen promises. ‘Born to Run’, for all its spikes, takes you there. It’s a love song, an urban-jungle cry and a perfect anthem of pedal-to-the-metal escape.

2.  ‘Little Red Corvette’ by Prince

It doesn’t take a B.A. in poetry to figure this ditty’s got nothing to do with cars. In the world of Prince, coupés are women, horsepower is a pack of Trojan condoms, and gas is stamina in the sheets. The beat takes its time, synthetic drums echoing into the distance, just as the Purple One implores his one-night stand to take it slow, to make it two, three or more nights. Dez Dickerson peels out in the guitar solo, but she’s the one driving here. Perfect choice of car model—elusive, American, curvy, risky. It wouldn’t work as a Ferrari or Rolls.

3.  ‘Here I Go Again’ by Whitesnake

Been dumped recently? You need to go for a drive (preferably in a Jaguar XJ). You’ve made up your mind. You ain’t wasting no more time. So tease your hair, don your pleather, and crank up the volume on this 1982 hit—just try not to get stuck in traffic. This power ballad works better on the open road (with no adjacent drivers to judge your Coverdale cover moves).

4.  ‘Where the Streets Have No Name’ by U2

This anthemic opening track from U2’s landmark 1987 LP, The Joshua Tree, is an ideal kick-starter for any road trip (particularly if you're wandering about the California desert where the titular yucca plant is commonly found). From a whisper, the sound of an organ builds up like a spiritual beacon being unveiled. It’s well over a minute before the Edge’s churning guitar and Adam Clayton’s propulsive bassline kick in, and another 40 seconds before Bono’s vocals touch down. By then, you’re ready to hit top gear and wail along: ‘I want to run/I want to hide/I want to tear down the walls that hold me inside.’ Though this road trip song is about Bono’s vision of an Ireland free from class boundaries, it has inspired countless highway warriors to venture out to those places that maybe aren’t on the map.

5.  ‘Love Shack’ by the B-52s

‘Hop in my Chrysler! It’s as big as a whale, and it’s about to set sail!’ booms Fred Schneider on this all-time great party song . Admittedly, it’s hard to dance like no one’s watching when you’re behind the wheel of a Chrysler (or a Fiat Punto, for that matter), but ‘Love Shack’ will liven up any road trip. If your bum’s getting numb, just whack it on and have yourself a little front or backseat disco. 

6.  ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ by Lynyrd Skynyrd

American football possibly killed off Southern boogie rock. Hear us out. Because of college pigskin rivalries, this song could not be made today. College football is a matter of life and death down there, literally. Iconic trees and people have been murdered over games. Skynyrd was born deep in SEC country: The boogie-rock brothers were from Jacksonville, not Alabama, and cut the track in Georgia. Could you imagine a bunch of Gators fans cutting a tune that could in any way be construed as ‘Roll Tide’? Yankees and rivals love to mock and loathe the Crimson Tide, but when this ditty plays, every human in the room, no matter the allegiance, becomes a temporary, gen-u-wine Mobile redneck.

7.  ‘I Drove All Night’ by Cyndi Lauper

The irreverent thrift-shop spunk that defined Cyndi Lauper’s persona in the 1980s sometimes overshadowed her killer range and sensitivity as a vocalist, but ‘I Drove All Night’—from her third album, 1989’s ‘A Time to Remember’—finds her in a different mode. Driven by a feverish desire, she takes the wheel and makes her own way to her lover’s bed. (She may coyly ask, ‘Is that all right?’ but by that time she’s already done it.) And Lauper’s impressively sustained last note is a perfect expression of the song’s sense of undeterrable yearning.

8.  ‘Fast Car’ by Tracy Chapman

Tracy Chapman’s beautifully direct 1988 hit, from her eponymous debut album, gives escapism an especially poignant twist. The speeding car and its romantic freedom (‘City lights stretched out before us/Your arm felt nice wrapped 'round my shoulder’) can’t be separated from what it’s speeding from: a life of urban poverty, trapped taking care of deadbeats—first a drunk father and then, at the end, the very driver that she had dreamed might carry her to rescue.

9.  ‘Keep the Car Running’ by Arcade Fire

If there’s one quality that characterizes Arcade Fire’s sound, it’s urgency—and nowhere is that more evident than on ‘Keep the Car Running’ from the band’s super noir, grandiose 2007 ‘Neon Bible’ album. Based on singer Win Butler’s childhood nightmares (‘Men are coming to take me away!’ he pines), ‘Keep the Car Running’ expands these fears into a sense of global anxiety, and the certainty that there must be something better down the road (‘Don’t know why, but I know I can’t stay’). On its release, the song was likened to prime-era Bruce Springsteen; imagine fans’ joy when Butler and Régine Chassagne made a surprise showing at the Boss’s stadium gig to bust out the song with him. Warning: You will need to be super-careful not to break the speed limit if you play this song while driving.

10.  ‘Truckin’’ by Grateful Dead

Let us pause, and acknowledge the fact that this road trip song has been recognised by the U.S. Library of Congress as a national treasure. Mmmm. Written and performed communally by Jerry Garcia, Phil Lesh, Bob Weir and lyricist Robert Hunter, the catchy, bluesy shuffle turns the band’s misfortunes on the road into a metaphor for getting through life’s constant changes. And really, what’s a good trip—or a good life—if you can’t exclaim at the end, ‘What a long, strange trip it’s been’?

11.  ‘Road to Nowhere’ by Talking Heads

The gospel-choir intro to this upbeat single, off 1985’s ‘Little Creatures’ LP , makes for a great start to any road-trip mix. The song celebrates the journey over the destination—as frontman David Byrne puts it, ‘I wanted to write a song that presented a resigned, even joyful look at doom.’ (Typical of him.) Not every end point is a good one, but we’ll be damned if this march doesn’t have us enjoying the ride.

12.  ‘Graceland’ by Paul Simon

Road trips are a time for contemplation, whether we expect it (or like it) or not. Paul Simon’s 1986 single is a perfect, toe-tapping example—we’re treated to what’s basically his stream of consciousness on a drive to Graceland with his son after the failure of his marriage to the late, great Carrie Fisher. At turns both nostalgic and hopeful, it runs the gamut of emotions we always seem to experience a little more profoundly on the road.

13.  ‘Take It Easy’ by the Eagles

The Eagles took flight in 1972 with their debut single: a quick but mellow paean to the romance of the road, where a world of troubles—romantic and otherwise—can be shucked at the mere sight of a girl (my lord!) in a flatbed Ford. Cowritten by frontman Glenn Frey and his friend Jackson Browne, the song’s rejection of worry and release into insouciant adventure are perfect for relieving tension on a drive. As the lyrics gently urge: ‘Don’t let the sound of your own wheels drive you crazy.’

14.  ‘America’ by Simon and Garfunkel

Add this one to your bucket list: Everyone should be required (at least once) to listen to their restless side, hitchhike, board a bus and go to another city/state/country to find something better—as described in Simon and Garfunkel’s 1968 classic, which follows two young lovers on a Greyhound in search for America. Take your sweetie along for the ride, smoke cigarettes on the side of the road, chat with the weirdos you meet on your journey, and by all means, indulge in a few slices of all-American pie.

15.  ‘Route 66’ by Chuck Berry

This R&B standard, written in 1946 by Bobby Troup, has been covered by everyone from the Rolling Stones to John Mayer and Depeche Mode. We’re partial to Chuck Berry’s 1961 rendition, which matches the 2,400-mile pilgrimage on the L.A.–Chicago-connecting titular highway to a T. Who better than the father of rock & roll to accompany a trip past greasy-spoon diners, tiny towns frozen in time and striking Americana landscapes?

16.  ‘Home’ by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

First and foremost a love song, the L.A. troupe’s jingly-jangly 2010 smash single is also, obviously, about coming home – making it the perfect road trip song. Naturally, the feel-good tune should be played at the end of your voyage, when you’re speeding a bit because you just can’t wait to get home to your significant other/parents/puppy/comfy bed.

17.  ‘Going Up the Country’ by Canned Heat

Released in 1968 and adapted from a 1920s blues song, Canned Heat’s highest-charting single was the unofficial anthem of Woodstock—and even after all this time, it’s the perfect track to kick off a road trip, a steering-wheel-tapping, grin-inducing song that makes you immediately pine for sun-drenched fields: “I’m going where the water tastes like wine, we can jump in the water, stay drunk all the time.” Those dudes had their priorities straight…just so long as they had a designated driver.

18.  ‘I’ve Been Everywhere’ by Johnny Cash

Music has always had the power to educate. Billy Joel’s ‘We Didn’t Start the Fire’ taught us more 20th-century American history than a year’s worth of school hisoty lessons. For a CliffsNotes anatomy lesson, we turned to Professor Sir Mix-a-Lot. And when it comes to geography, there is no better musical resource than this name-dropping country ditty, first released with North American locales in 1962 by Canadian crooner Hank Snow. In four verses, 91 places are rattled off in rapid-fire succession—destinations both big (Chicago and Nashville) and small (Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and Haverstraw, New York). This road trip song has been covered many times and adapted for different regions of the globe, but we’re partial to the Man in Black’s 1996 rendition, simply because his weathered, gravelly bass-baritone suggests a man who has indeed been everywhere.

19.  ‘Hit the Road Jack’ by Ray Charles

Fiendishly simple with its descending piano chords, ‘Hit the Road Jack’ is sung from the perspective of a philanderer being ejected by his lady. By all rights this 1961 R&B classic should win a prize for being impossible not to sing along to: ‘What you say?!’ screams soul hero Charles to his velvet-voiced Raelettes. Later he complains, ‘You can’t mean that,’ about as convincingly as a cat picking bird feathers from between its teeth. The track's most memorable use in a road trip appears in the 1989 comedy movie The Dream Team .

20.  ‘Holiday Road’ by Lindsey Buckingham

Hard to hear this seemingly happy little sock hop without thinking of the Griswold family station wagon zooming to Walley World. As its dark video helps to underline, the lyrics speak more of feeling trapped than free. The Fleetwood Mac man was an ace at hiding his boyish ache behind melodic smiles. Which is why this road trip song is such simple genius: It works the same whether you’re chained to a desk and longing for a vacation or finally on the highway, shooting to God knows where with no deadlines.

21.  ‘Mr. Blue Sky’ by Electric Light Orchestra

The sweet spot is 176 beats per minute. That’s a giddy run, the pace of your footsteps hitting the pavement as you jog home after a first kiss. Though we haven’t tested this, we theorise it is the precise cadence of fence posts whipping past your window as you motor down a highway just above the speed limit. ‘Mr. Blue Sky’ is 176 beats per minute, which is why, whenever it plays, you have the urge to run like a big dumb puppy dog to a boyfriend/girlfriend, or let the wind blow through your hair at 76mph, as you croon along to the vocoder like a robot. Warning: When ‘Mr. Blue Sky’ is used without such outlets, it can cause deep wanderlust.

22.  ‘I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)’ by the Proclaimers

If there’s one road trip song that can unite everyone in the car in the simple act of thumping whatever surface is near them in time with a ludicrously catchy tune, it’s this one—a hit in 1988 for Scottish twins the Proclaimers. Fun fact: The ‘havering’ referred to in the first verse (‘And if I haver, I know I’m gonna be the man who’s havering to you’) is Scots slang for babbling foolishly. So now you know.

23.  ‘Ride Like the Wind‘ by Christopher Cross

Take your EGOT and stuff it. Chris Cross has the transportation trifecta—mega-hits for the sea (‘Sailing’), sky (‘Arthur’s Theme’) and road (‘Ride Like the Wind’). People condescendingly pigeonhole the guy as yacht rock (the pink flamingo on his smash album doesn’t help), but he’s truly yacht-jet-and-rental-car rock. Despite its lily-white reputation, ‘Ride‘ is cool and dangerous. It’s possibly—no, probably—about drug smuggling. Racing away to Mexico with Michael McDonald as the devil on your shoulder. Hearing those percolating bongos, wind effects, electric piano and oily guitar licks, it could fit right on Daft Punk’s ‘Random Access Memories’ album . It remains DJ gold. Call it ‘Get Unlucky’.

24.  ‘Ramblin’ Man’ by the Allman Brothers Band

We may not have been born in the backseat of a Greyhound bus (thanks, mum!), but for whatever reason, the idea of being a ramblin’ man (or woman) is endlessly appealing. And when we play this 1973 hit—based on Hank Williams’s 1951 song of the same name—on the open road, that’s exactly who we are. At least until Monday.

25.  ‘On the Road Again’ by Willie Nelson

Nothing beats hitting the open road, where you can escape the stress of work, family, bills, city life and just be free, man. Just ask tireless road dog Willie Nelson. The Red Headed Stranger penned this 1980 country hit—the ultimate get-the-hell-out-of-town anthem—not in the back of a tour bus but rather, of all places, on a barf bag midflight.

26.  ‘Runnin’ Down a Dream’ by Tom Petty

Some would argue that we could have built this entire list solely out of Petty tunes—but we had to make a choice, and we picked this 1989 single from the song man’s first solo record, ‘Full Moon Fever’. Not only does it take place in a car, but the tune’s reference to Del Shannon’s ‘Runaway’ and killer guitar solo make it a perfect fit for blasting out of your speakers while cruising down the interstate in pursuit of the American dream, your future destination or simply that next roadside burger.

27.  ‘Let Me Ride’ by Dr. Dre

Dr. Dre’s ‘The Chronic’ album arrived on the heels of the 1992 South Central riots. Folks in Compton were looking to escape and could not—and not just because of the traffic on the 110 and 405. This was a cry for cruising with the bucket seats dropped back, slow rolling on a resting-heart-rate rhythm and those G-funk dog-whistle keyboards. ‘Swing down, sweet chariot, stop, let me ride,’ goes the chorus lifted from Parliament’s ‘Mothership Connection,’ itself based on a slave spiritual. But just because the song hides a deeper political meaning the way lowriders hide a subwoofer in the trunk, there’s no reason Dre can’t roll in style. Specifically, in a 1964 Chevy Impala shoed with Dayton rims (a.k.a. ‘Ds,’ as in ‘Throw some Ds on that bitch’).

28.  ‘Born to Be Wild’ by Steppenwolf

The riff, like the rev of a motorcycle throttle, has become so terribly commonplace, it’s hard to imagine what it must have been like to hear its ‘heavy-metal thunder’ with virgin ears during the opening credits of Easy Rider . Today, Steppenwolf’s monster hit is a movie-trailer cliché on par with ‘Bad to the Bone’ and ‘I Got You (I Feel Good).’ What was once-tough biker rock is now Viagra-ad fodder. Still, if you can wash out the soundtrack memories of Problem Child, Dr. Dolittle 2, Rugrats Go Wild, et al., the dirty little number still rips, along with a deep huff of exhaust fumes and jazz cigarettes.

29.  ‘Don’t Stop Believin’’ by Journey

A thousand terrible karaoke performances have somewhat dulled the lustre of this once-gleaming classic ’80s song , but once it comes on in the car, you’ll be in love with it all over again within seconds. Just don’t use it as a road map—there is no such place as South Detroit. Okay, there is, but it’s in Ontario, Canada, so you might need your passport. 

30.  ‘Interstate Love Song’ by Stone Temple Pilots

The underrated STP (hey, that’s a fuel additive) was never truly a grunge band. The ‘Core’ album was a trend-surfing foot in the door, the American equivalent to Blur’s baggy-riding ‘Leisure’. Really, the bands have more melodic ambitions. Scott Weiland, as his solo albums and pink fur coat proved, had far more Bowie in him than his peers. ‘Interstate Love Song’  was the lifting of the veil, when the Pilots announced, Hey, we actually listen to the Beatles , not the Melvins. It chugs along with drop-top bliss, even if the chorus is oddly about trains, not driving.

31.  ‘Radar Love’ by Golden Earring

Appropriately for a song about driving, this 1973 cut from Dutch rockers Golden Earring is one of the best road trip songs ever written. ‘The road has got me hypnotised, I’m speeding into a new sunrise!’ wails singer Barry Hay, as that bassline gets your head nodding and your foot instinctively pressing down on the gas. ‘Radar Love’ also has the best breakdown of any rock song ever. This is an indisputable scientific fact.

32.  ‘Life Is a Highway’ by Tom Cochrane

Okay. We know how heavy-handed these metaphors are. And how forced the rhymes are. We never said every song on this list was a masterpiece. But we dare you not to sing along with the chorus of this 1991 cheesefest— especially on a highway. Maybe no one ever listens to the song in its entirety (sorry Tom), but one or two ‘life is a highway’s are pretty much mandatory. Give in.

33.  ‘The Way’ by Fastball

Alt-rock band Fastball had a breakout 1998 hit with this fast-driving tale of a married pair that ditches its conventional home and family, in favour of a dream life on the highway with no destination. The feel-good, sing-along optimism of the chorus—‘They’ll never get hungry, they’ll never get old and grey’—has a dark undercurrent: Weeks after their disappearance, the bodies of the real-life Texas couple who inspired the song were discovered in an Arkansas ravine. But all of life’s roads hit a dead-end eventually: Better, maybe, at least to leave the driveway.

34.  ‘California’ by Phantom Planet

Contrary to popular belief, the hair-metal power ballad did not die by grunge’s bullet. The hair just got shorter and the trousers got looser. Case in point: this 2002 theme from The O.C. It is emo made only from the emotion of uncut nostalgia. It is basically Motley Crüe’s ‘Home Sweet Home’ for mollycoddled millennials, right down to the video compiled from sentimental tour footage. And it is oddly reminiscent of Al Jolson’s ‘California, Here I Come.’ That’s some feat, finding the common ground between Jolson and the Crüe. Man, remember when Ryan became a cage fighter after Marissa died?

35.  ‘Shut Up and Drive’ by Rihanna

This electro bop from 2007 isn’t a top-tier Rihanna tune, but it still kinda rips. Driven – pun definitely intended – by a crafty sample from New Order’s club classic ‘Blue Monday’, it’s an unashamedly fluffy new wave pastiche that’s as much about sex as hitting the open highway. Don’t even pretend you can resist it – especially when the chance of RiRi releasing new music any time soon seems to get slimmer with each passing year. 

36.  ‘Running on Empty’ by Jackson Browne

There’s a reason this song soundtracks the Forrest Gump  protagonist’s famous transcontinental jog: Few pop tunes capture the rush of earthbound travel—by foot, by car or, in Jackson Browne’s case, by tour bus—better than this autobiographical FM-radio staple. But what makes it a classic is the ambiguity in Browne’s message. ‘I don’t know where I’m running now; I’m just running on,’ he sings, perfectly summing up how the desire for escape can be its own kind of trap.

37.  ‘Two of Us’ by the Beatles

The Fab Four’s back catalogue is replete with songs about travelling around: ‘Drive My Car,’ ‘Day Tripper,’ ‘Ticket to Ride,’ ‘Yellow Submarine’—the list goes on and on like a long and winding road. No Beatles track, though, captures the feeling of setting off into uncharted territory with someone special better than ‘Two of Us,’ penned by Paul McCartney in 1969. There is debate as to whether McCartney’s partner in crime in this song is future wife Linda Eastman, as he claims, or John Lennon, which some of the nostalgia-infused lyrics would suggest. No matter—an impromptu road trip is a good time whether your passenger-seat companion is your new flame or your counterpart in the greatest songwriting tandem of all time.

38.  ‘Chicago’ by Sufjan Stevens

Some songs make your heart beat faster from the get-go, and 2005 road-trip song ‘Chicago’ is just such a gem, announcing its entrance in a whirlwind of strings and a rush of percussion. The backing cuts suddenly to Stevens’s voice, whispering that most universal human sentiment: ‘I fell in love again—all things go, all things go,’ and then later, another familiar feeling: ‘I made a lot of mistakes, I made a lot of mistakes.’ It’s this acknowledgement of our frailty, coupled with our irrepressible capacity for hope and excitement that gives  ‘Chicago’ its electrifying, driving charge. That and the fact it features in the ridiculously touching road movie Little Miss Sunshine .

39.  ‘Fade Into You’ by Mazzy Star

Night driving found a shimmering musical complement in this ethereal 1994 track from dream popsters Mazzy Star. In a rare bit of sonic magic, it seems that no matter how fast you’re driving, the low beats per minute on ‘Fade Into You’ always manage to sync up perfectly with the passing dividing lines visible from your car’s two headlights. And a night drive, preferably undertaken as you’re pining for an unrequited love, wouldn’t be complete without Hope Sandoval’s dusk, haunting vocals echoing throughout your ride. Two-lane highway bliss, by moonlight.

40.  ‘The Golden Age’ by Beck

This 2002 road trip song, off Beck’s desolate, heartbreaking ‘Sea Change’ , is one of the most perfect and profound illustrations of driving as a means of escape. It’s best played at night, in the desert if you’ve got one handy, when you feel like crap but have pretty much come to terms with it. And when, as Beck says, ‘You've gotta drive all night just to feel like you’re okay.’ Go forth, drive and wallow. Maybe you’ll feel better in the morning.

41.  ‘Scar Tissue’ by Red Hot Chili Peppers

The L.A.-bred Peppers clearly know a thing or two about hitting the highways, as evidenced by a song catalogue riddled with Cali-inspired, crank-up-the-dial tunes. For a journey out on the open road, we like this lead track off the band’s 1999 album, ‘Californication’, due to its lilting desert-by-twilight vibe. The song’s main attraction is John Frusciante’s wailing guitar solos, which achingly embody Anthony Kiedis’s lyrics about isolation and the twisted, drug-fuelled paths he’s traversed (‘With the birds I’ll share this lonely view’). Enter tumbleweed, stage right.

42.  ‘Every Day Is a Winding Road’ by Sheryl Crow

The little sister to Tom Cochrane’s ‘Life Is a Highway,’ Sheryl Crow’s 1996 hit unabashedly co-opts the use of automotive byways as metaphors for life’s ups and downs. (Billy ‘the world is a vampire’ Corgan apparently misread the memo.) The ‘wacky’ characters in Crow’s songs are often a bit too precious for our liking—in this case, a vending-machine repairman with a daughter he calls ‘Easter’ (what?)—but the chorus always gets us fired up for some hairpin turns, even when we’re cruising down a seemingly endless straightaway. This road trip song works perfectly when your destination is San Francisco’s iconic Lombard Street, whose residents probably have this tune swirling in their heads 24/7.

43.  ‘Jack & Diane’ by John Cougar Mellencamp

Inevitably, your road trip is going to hit some lulls: You’re fighting off the yawns, your passengers have passed out, and it's 57 miles to the next pit stop. When this happens, there’s one sure-fire way to get your journey back on course: Unleash the Cougar. Indiana’s favourite son specialiaes in songs about the heartland, and his crowning jewel is this 1982 chart topper about two high-school sweethearts and the twists and turns of their American Dream. Despite the jaunty beat and an epic drum breakdown rivaling the one in Phil Collins’s ‘In the Air Tonight,’ the tale is cautionary, urging us to savour those thrilling, carefree teenage years. Oh, to be young, in love and suckin’ on chilli dogs outside the Tastee Freez.…

44.  ‘King of the Road’ by Roger Miller

Did our dads play this 1964 ditty on long car rides when we were little? You betcha. Do we think they contemplated the potential consequences of making penniless vagabonds sound super cool? Doubtful. Regardless, it’s a timeless everyman’s anthem, and darn if it isn’t catchy. We really like listening to it in our van down by the river.

45.  ‘Green Onions’ by Booker T. & the M.G.’s

This R&B instrumental, recorded in 1962, is the perfect soundtrack for an unhurried drive, when you’re sick of singing along and ready to just cruise. It’s repetitive, much like the open road, but with a steady beat and some soulful Hammond organ to keep things interesting. Widely considered to be one of the greatest songs of all time, it’s received accolades from Rolling Stone , Acclaimed Music, the Grammy Hall of Fame and the Library of Congress. If AAA had a greatest songs list, we’re sure ‘Green Onions’ would be on that, too.

46.  ‘Mustang Sally’ by Wilson Pickett

You can probably blame censorship for our automobile sex fetishes. Early rock & rollers couldn’t sing about sex, so they sang about their cars…with not-so-subtle undertones. ‘Mustang Sally,’ the grandmother of ‘Little Red Corvette’ only wants to ‘ride around,’ and Pickett howls with his thumb out, looking to hitch. Don’t let this song’s karaoke staple status let you forget what it’s really about. 

47.  ‘Going Back to Cali’ by LL Cool J

From Al Jolson to Led Zeppelin and Phantom Planet, dozens of artists have tapped into the westward dream of the Golden State. Heck, the tradition stretches back to Gold Rush ditties of the mid 19th century, Smithsonian Folkways fodder like ‘Life in California.’ But only one man made the trip wrapped in precious metals, not seeking them. Cool J cruises to the coast, as he proclaims in verse, in a Corvette with a Laurents chrome chain steering wheel, Dayton wire rims and a gold-leaf convertible top. Rick Rubin’s stark 808 beats thunder under the extremely relaxed rhymes of Mr. Ladies Love. ‘I’m going back to Cali,’ he nearly whispers before shrugging it off. ‘Hmm, I don't think so’ He might go, he might not. With his riches, he is a walking California. That’s cool. Cool enough to pull off one of the few sax solos in hip-hop history.

48.  ‘The Distance’ by Cake

With the band’s signature horns and a self-serious melody that practically requires head-bobbing and Speed Racer–esque intensity (you may even want to invest in racing gloves), this single off of 1996’s ‘Fashion Nugget’ album is irresistible. The album is filled with more on-the-nose driving songs than this one (‘Race Car Ya-Yas,’ ‘Stickshifts and Safetybelts’), but this is the money single—and got the album platinum status. Throw it on repeat and hit the open road. Just take an occasional break for track No. 7, the band’s excellent cover of Gloria Gaynor’s ‘I Will Survive.’

49.  ‘Roadrunner’ by the Modern Lovers

Talk about a brilliant juxtaposition: Jonathan Richman’s 1972 cut, written when he was 19, beautifully contrasts the Velvet Underground’s bare-bones, dirty-as-hell chugalug sound with a subject matter so suburban that Richman’s heroes Lou Reed & Co. wouldn’t dare touch it: The thrill of being young, driving in a car and blasting the radio. The song’s repetitive two-chord propulsion is a perfect late-night road-trip pick-me-up. And there’s a bangin’ cover by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts to check out, too.

50.  ‘Have Love, Will Travel’ by the Sonics

At some stage in your life—at any point between getting your driver’s licence and getting married, really—you’ll drive from ‘Maine to Mexico’ for a piece of ass, as Gerry Roslie does in this proto-punk classic. The high-tension twang of the guitar sounds like the strings are about to snap, the perfect sonic emulation of sexual frustration. A recent ad for Mexican beer claims you need an ‘encyclopedic knowledge of garage rock’ to pull up this song, as if from some lost, dusty volume. Nah, this is Rock & Roll 101.

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The Best 200 Songs for a Road Trip

Here’s our first selection of music to travel and enjoy on your road trips. 200 songs perfect for travel by car.

I don’t know if you’ll be the same way of thinking like me, but music is a key factor for me while I’m traveling.

There are indeed times when what I need is a little silence, and in those moments, I enjoy while I am driving, and I only hear the very noise of the car and the asphalt.

But most of the time, what I like is listening to music to travel, my music.

Music for your Road Trips

I love music, but all good music. So for the first time, I’ve decided to share the 200 tracks that I don’t think should be missing from a music play-list to travel, and I leave a lot of songs, really, many.

The list I currently have designed for my travels has more than 1200 songs (so I don’t miss anything), and when I put it on, there’s still no song that’s sounded that makes me say, “Wow, don’t forget me when I get home to remove it from the list.”

From this list that I find difficult to cut, I have set the goal of taking the top 200 and selecting them for you.

And I couldn’t, I had to leave her in 210 because I’m not able to remove any more. And I feel like there’s a lot of… so many that I’m sure I’ll have to expand this list shortly.

Please, if you want to add more, please let them in the comments.

How have we selected this music to travel?

What have been my criteria for selecting these music songs for your road trips? Well, first of all, it’s music I love, and second, anyone can listen to it and like it, let’s be good universally speaking.

And finally, if they are related to travel or a road trip, then perfect, do not forget that it is a selection of music to travel.

There are songs that some friends have told me are awesome, and I can’t listen to them for more than 15 seconds. So I’ve set out to find those 210 songs that almost anyone might like.

But well, as they say in my village, “for taste the colors.” Although you’ll realize the kind of music I like, hehe quickly.

• Songs that sounded on our Podcast about Route 66
• Enjoy The most famous Irish songs

Tell you that I have not ordered the songs from best to worst, but by artist, I say it because the same thing in 199 someone sees it’s fantastic and wonders where I have the sense of style and good taste…

What has become clear to me after making this list is that I have to do more because, with one, I think it’s not enough… Well, there go my 210 songs for your road trip.

And you know, would you add any, tell me and we’ll include it in the next one!!!

Music for road trips

Plan your road trip.

• Music to road trip the U.S Route 66, from the Touristear podcasts.
• How to prepare a road trip
• Rent a car well priced
• How to organize a step-by-step trip
• Tips for traveling by van or RV, motor-home

Last Updated on 17 April, 2024 by Veronica

Disclosure: Some of the links on this post are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Que decirte, nací con la democracia en España, me encanta viajar, conocer culturas y gente diferente, ampliar horizontes y darme cuenta de que el mundo es mucho mas rico de lo que nos creemos. No viajo para entretenerme, viajo para enriquecerme y volver algo diferente de como llegué a mi destino.

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The Best Road Trip Songs to add to your Playlist

As we're currently under foliage season, it's time to make that fall trip before the weather gets too cold in December! One of the best things about traveling is not just the companions you take along with you but it's the playlist that has you jamming your heart out! So here are seven of the best road trip songs to add to your playlist!

1. 'Eight' (IU ft. SUGA of BTS): Something about this song screams out for a road trip. Maybe it's the melodic tune and beat, where it's not too heavy or too fast but just perfect. I mean, imagine being on the wide open road with the windows down, enjoying the passing breeze!

2. 'LALALA' (SG Wannabe): Maybe it's just the tune of the harmonica, but this is probably one of the most fitting songs to put onto your road trip playlist. Just listening to it makes you think of grassy fields and the perfect sunset, bringing such relaxation!

3. 'I' (Taeyeon): If the song itself wasn't enough to put you into a road trip mood, for sure, the music video will! I think everyone can agree this is probably one of the top songs to add to your playlist; the guitar rift sets the tone for a perfect road trip!

4. 'Beautiful Life' (V.O.S.): A very upbeat song, guaranteed to get you into the mood of being excited as you travel to your next destination, even the title of the song is befitting for someone going on vacation!

5. 'Leave For Vacation' (SM Town): While this is a rendition of veteran singer Cho Yong Pil's song, it's just the perfect tune you need while on vacation! So upbeat, and the mix of so many different vocals makes this song a must-add to your road trip playlist!

6. 'Tomorrow, Today' (JJ Project) : Getting tired on your drive and needing a pick me up? Well, this song is sure to put you back on vacation mode!

7. 'Forever Young' (BLACKPINK): People say to travel wherever and whenever while you're young. Take advantage of your youth and take road trips while you can! But make sure to add this super upbeat and playful tune to your playlist the next you're going to be on the roads!

What are your go-to tunes while on the road? Let us know your recommendations!

• Cho Yong Pil

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My friends and I would always play Big Bang songs when we go for long drives. Lately, it's been a jumble of Kpop songs, from BTS, Hyukoh, IU, KARD Mamamoo, NCT, New Jeans, Psy, Seventeen, TFN, Vixx, Wei, to Zico. I think my friends and I have just about every Kpop groups in our playlists.

Bolbbalgan4's "Travel" was the first song I thought of when I read the title of this article. Big Bang's "Sunset Glow" and "We Like 2 Party" are also good choices.

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Top Five: Road Trip Songs for 2022

Top Five Road Trip Songs for 2022, as chosen by Canadian Beats Media Editor, Jenna Melanson

Top Five is back and ready to recommend some music to you! This week, I’m sharing my top 5 choices of Road Trip Songs for 2022!

When going on a Road Trip, you want upbeat, fun music that you can groove along with on the road! I think these five tracks will do just that!

Eadsé – Stay

Eadsé shares,

“Stay is about a simple and beautiful love. A light and sweet love. To me, that’s how a love story should be. It’s my happy ending, which for me, is really about a new beginning.” 

Connect with Eadsé: Bandcamp Facebook Instagram

Burn The Louvre – Lost With You

The duo shares,

““Lost With You” recaptures a fun day I had with my ex-girlfriend. It resulted in this upbeat indie pop/rock song about love at the height of its arc, that period of time during a relationship where everything is perfect. “Lost With You” celebrates love at its most carefree, where getting lost in the woods doesn’t sound so bad as long as you’re lost together.”

Connect with Burn The Louvre: Website Facebook Twitter Instagram

Strongman Blues Remedy – I Like To Ride

Conceived by producer, songwriter, and artist Steve Strongman, the “collective”  features a veritable who’s who of the blues, including  Dawn Tyler Watson ,  Crystal Shawanda ,  Steve Marriner , Jesse O’Brien, Alec Fraser, and Harrison Kennedy – who can be heard on “I Like To Ride.”

Connect with Strongman Blues Remedy: Website Facebook Twitter Instagram

Brittany Brodie – Man on the Run

Brittany shares,

“Man On The Run” is a bad-ass truckin’ song. Everything we have in our lives is because a truck brought it. I think it’s time they have a new song! I was inspired by stories my Daddy tells me, as he is a lifelong trucker.”

Connect with Brittany Brodie: Website Facebook Twitter Instagram

Bree Taylor – Sha La La

“Sha La La” tosses back a shooter of summer fun and laughter, presenting a picture complete with not only memories of days gone by, but chances. Chances to create new ones, chances to sing along, and chances to fall in love with a brand-new track from a country powerhouse in the making.

Connect with Bree Taylor: Website Facebook Twitter Instagram TikTok

If you enjoyed this Top Five feature, check back weekly as we continue our venture into the exciting world that is LIST posts!

Click “ features ” on the main page to see all of our features.

The essential country music road trip playlist

Song of the Summer 2024: Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, Charli XCX turn season into a femininomenon

• Updated: Aug. 28, 2024, 10:34 a.m.
• | Published: Aug. 28, 2024, 10:18 a.m.

Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan and Charli XCX had big summers with multiple hit songs each. Getty Images

• Joey Morona, cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Nine years into this exercise, I’ve realized that selecting a Song of the Summer is like those trick questions at the end of the cyber awareness training videos your company makes you watch every month.

Multiple things can be true at the same time.

So, what began as the Summer of Sab in May turned into a Brat Summer in June. By August, we were in the throes of a full-blown Femininomenon. Indeed, Sabrina Carpenter, Charli XCX and Chappell Roan were everywhere on our playlists and “For You” pages. But that’s not to say Shaboozey, Post Malone and that darn “cold iced tea and warm weather” song weren’t stuck in our heads, too.

The Song of the Summer is dead. Long live the Songs of the Summer. Turns out, there’s one for every occasion.

Instagram Reels Sound of the Summer

“Birds of a Feather” by Billie Eilish

Pics or it didn’t happen, right? Summer is about making memories with friends and then posting about it. We did, but every time we hit that “add sound” button, there was Billie with this super chill jam, begging you to use it again.

TikTok Dance Trend of the Summer

“Million Dollar Baby” by Tommy Richman

With its unique ‘90s sound and memorable hook, “Million Dollar Baby” was everywhere, inspiring a viral dance trend and more than 300 million videos on TikTok.

Throwback Song of the Summer

“Good Luck, Babe!” by Chappell Roan

Summer has a way of sparking nostalgia and thinking about the one who got away. Chappell Roan’s breakthrough hit does both with wistful lyrics wrapped in a haunting 1980s sound reminiscent of Kate Bush and Bonnie Tyler.

Beach Song of the Summer

“Espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter (video contains mature lyrics)

Surf, sun and hot bodies. It wouldn’t be summer without going to the beach. The new reigning Pop Princess gave the season’s favorite activity a soundtrack with this fun, flirty and confident bop. But Sabby was no one-hit wonder, with “Please Please Please” winning the coveted “Getting Ready for a Night Out on the Town Song of the Summer” award.

Karaoke Song of the Summer

“I Had Some Help” by Post Malone ft. Morgan Wallen (video contains mature lyrics)

Every summer needs a catchy singalong song for when you stumble into a random karaoke bar at 1 a.m. Bonus: Postie’s first country single doubles as a Morgan Wallen reclamation project.

Sexiest Song of the Summer

“Guess” by Charli XCX ft. Billie Eilish (video contains mature lyrics)

Charli’s “Brat” summer produced a trio of smash singles. “360″ had one of the best lines of the season (”I’m so Julia. Ah-ah, ah”), while “Apple” became a TikTok dance challenge. But just like George Michael did with “I Want Your Sex” in 1987, Charli and Billie left us hot and bothered with the risque “Guess.” Just be sure the earbuds are in at work.

Road Trip Song of the Summer

“Miles On It” by Marshmello & Kane Brown

Nothing says summer like hitting the open road with the top down, the wind in your face and the radio on full blast. Marshmello and Kane Brown’s addictive EDM-country mashup was made for that.

Breakup Song of the Summer

“Austin” by Dasha (video contains mature lyrics)

Every summer has an f--- you song: think Leah Kate’s “10 Things I Hate About You” in 2022 and Olivia Rodrigo’s “Good4U” in 2021. Dasha adds her name to the list, bringing an unmistakable early Taylor Swift energy to this defiant ditty.

Line Dance Song of the Summer

“A Bar Song (Tipsy)” by Shaboozey (video contains mature lyrics)

If you didn’t dance to this song at a bar or a wedding at least once during the past three months, then did summer really happen? Shaboozey dominated radio with this boot-scootin’ boogie, becoming the first Black male artist to ever hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the Hot Country Songs chart at the same time.

The Song of the Summer

“Hot To Go!” by Chappell Roan

I lied. The Song of the Summer lives! Chappell Roan had such a remarkable run this summer that not giving her this title would have been a tragic mistake-nomenon. The Midwest Princess currently has seven songs on the Billboard Hot 100. Among them, “Hot to Go,” with its cheeky lyrics, infectious beat, and cheerleader vibes, has left the biggest mark on pop culture.

Previous Songs of the Summer

2023: Cruel Summer by Taylor Swift

2022: “About Damn Time,” Lizzo

2021: “Good 4 U,” Olivia Rodrigo

2020: “Watermelon Sugar,” Harry Styles

2019: “Truth Hurts,” Lizzo

2018: “In My Feelings,” Drake

2017: “Despacito” by Luis Fonsi ft. Daddy Yankee and Justin Bieber

2016: “Can’t Stop the Feeling!”, Justin Timberlake

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