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The best Classic Rock road trip and driving songs

24 May 2024, 11:11 | Updated: 24 May 2024, 12:15

By Jenny Mensah

As we approach another Bank Holiday, we compile some of the best Classic Rock songs for your long weekend road trip.

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As another Bank Holiday weekend approaches, we're taking a trip with some our favourite Classic Rock anthems for road trips.

Whether you’re hitting the open road... or you’re stuck in traffic – this is the perfect soundtrack for you. Get ready to rock out with everyone from Fleetwood Mac to Iggy Pop helping you get to your destination.

Get our rundown some of the best Classic Rock driving songs below.

• The 25 best Classic Rock albums of 1983
• The 25 best Classic Rock albums of 1987

Classic Rock driving and road trip songs:

Ac/dc - highway to hell.

AC/DC - Highway to Hell (Official Video)

The AC/DC banger, which features on the band's 1979 album of the same way, will be sure to get you to your destination.

ZZ Top - Gimme All Your Lovin

ZZ Top - Gimme All Your Lovin' (Official Music Video) [HD Remaster]

Taken from the band's 1983 album Eliminator, there's no way we could eliminate this from the list!

Golden Earring - Radar Love

Golden Earring - Radar Love (Official Music Video [HD])

The Dutch rock band's single, which reached Top 10 in several countries, is made for the open road.

Tom Petty - Runnin Down A Dream

Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers - Runnin' Down A Dream (Official Music Video)

Let's be fair, there could have been several Tom Petty tracks on this list, but nothing quite gets our motors running quite like Runnin' Down A Dream.

Iggy Pop - The Passenger

Iggy Pop - The Passenger (Official Video)

Nothing quite makes us call shotgun than Iggy Pop's classic, The Passenger, which features on his 1977 Lust For Life album.

Allman Brothers Band - Jessica

The instrumental piece from the American rockers was the second single from their 1973 album Brothers and Sisters.

America - Ventura Highway

Ventura Highway

With a name like Ventura Highway, is there any wonder the 1972 single from their Homecoming album makes the list?

Eagles - Hotel California

Eagles - Hotel California (Live 1977) (Official Video) [HD]

As Radio X's Sunta Templeton said herself during our Classic Rock Top 10, is there anywhere better to make a pitstop than the Hotel California? Just make sure you can leave....

Free - All Right Now

Free - All Right Now (Doing Their Thing, 1970) Official Live Video

Free's 1970 classic isn't just perfect for listening to while you chew on Wrigley's Spearmint gum, it also makes a pretty perfect road trip track too.

Fleetwood Mac - The Chain

Fleetwood Mac - The Chain (Official Audio)

No driving or road trip playlist is complete without the iconic Fleetwood Mac epic The Chain.

The only song which credits all five members of the band, The Chain is best known in the UK for its instrumental section, which has been the F1 theme tune for decades.

Skynyrd – Sweet Home Alabama

Lynyrd Skynyrd - Sweet Home Alabama (1974)

Eagles – Take It Easy 

Eagles - Take It Easy (Live on MTV 1994) (Official Video) [HD]

B52's – Roam 

The B-52's - Roam (Official Music Video)

The fourth single to be taken from the B-52's Cosmic Thing album sees epic vocalists Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson transport us all over the world in their ode to travelling.

Foghat – Slow Ride 

Foghat - Slow Ride (Official Audio)

After being lifted up we're taking it easy with Foghat, whose Slow Ride -from their Fool For The City album - is the perfect track for long drive.

Jackson Browne – Running On Empty 

Jackson Browne - Running On Empty - OFFICIAL VIDEO MONTAGE

We're anything but running on empty for the Jackson Browne ballad for the open road, which comes from his 1977 album of the same name.

Meatloaf – Paradise By The Dashboard Light 

Meat Loaf - Paradise By The Dashboard Light

Whitesnake – Here I Go Again 

Whitesnake - Here I Go Again '87 (Official Music Video)

Bruce Springsteen – Born To Run 

Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run (Official Video)

Steppenwolf – Born To Be Wild 

Steppenwolf - Born To Be Wild (Easy Rider) (1969)

• The 25 best Classic Rock albums of 1972
• The Top 10 best Classic Rock title tracks

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100 Oldies But Goodies Songs For Your Next Road Trip

You pack the snacks and we'll bring the tunes.

Mood Boosters

Nice-and-easy drive, rock songs that you can scream-sing, classic love songs, golden sing-alongs.

• Feeling Moody and Blue
• For the Country Music Lovers

Old cassette tapes and CDs are out, but you can still jam to those oldies but goodies with a well-curated playlist. Road trips can get rather boring when your eyes are glued to the endless pavement ahead. Why not ditch the "I Spy" game and spice up your drive with a tribute to the greatest old-school hits?

Legends like Bruce Springsteen, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Billy Joel are sure to entertain you on your long expedition. These loveable, sing-along classics will instantly put your whole car in a great mood. Roll your windows down, drum your fingers on the steering wheel, and queue up your playlist with the best oldies songs. Whether you're taking a long trip up the coast or just driving up the road, make sure to have these songs on hand for a memorable time.

Play any one of these songs for an instant mood boost on your road trip! From the "bum bum bum" of Sweet Caroline to the catchy melody of Come On Eileen , you can't go wrong with any one of these happy, finger-tapping tunes! Just press play and you're set for a delightful drive!

• "Sweet Caroline" - Neil Diamond
• "Jack & Diane" - John Mellencamp
• "Brown Eyed Girl" - Van Morrison
• "Sweet Home Alabama" - Lynyrd Skynyrd
• "Dancing in the Moonlight" - King Harvest
• "Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)" - Looking Glass
• "Come On Eileen" - Dexys Midnight Runners
• "Mr. Blue Sky" - Electric Light Orchestra
• "Rich Girl" - Daryl Hall & John Oates
• "Jessie's Girl" - Rick Springfield
• "Here Comes The Sun" - The Beatles
• "Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)" - Stevie Wonder
• "American Pie" - Don McLean
• "Jump" - Van Halen
• "I'm in a Hurry (And Don't Know Why)" - Alabama
• "Only the Good Die Young" - Billy Joel
• "Ramblin' Man" - The Allman Brothers Band
• "Send Me on My Way" - Rusted Root
• "Going Up The Country" - Canned Heat
• "Life in the Fast Lane" - Eagles
• "Born in the U.S.A." - Bruce Springsteen
• "Oogum Boogum Song" - Brenton Wood
• "Baba O'Riley" - The Who
• "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" - Tears For Fears
• "The Joker" - Steve Miller Band
• "Ooh La La" - Faces

Maybe you want something a little more chill while wheeling through the mountains at daybreak or joyriding past the coastline at sunset? These melodies are perfect for that laid-back, no rush, easy-going drive.

• "Into The Mystic" - Van Morrison
• "Never Going Back Again" - Fleetwood Mac
• "Have You Ever Seen The Rain?" - Creedence Clearwater Revival
• "Take It Easy" - Eagles
• "Sunrise" - Norah Jones
• "Fire and Rain" - James Taylor
• "Let It Be" - The Beatles
• "Helplessly Hoping" - Crosby, Stills & Nash
• "Blues Run The Game" - Simon & Garfunkel
• "For What It's Worth" - Buffalo Springfield
• "Sundown" - Gordon Lightfoot
• "Son Of A Preacher Man" - Dusty Springfield
• "Sister Golden Hair" - America
• "Angel From Montgomery" - Bonnie Raitt, John Prine
• "If I Ever Needed Someone" - Van Morrison, Mavis Staples
• "The Weight" - The Band
• "Midnight Train to Georgia" - Gladys Knight & The Pips
• "The Boxer" - Simon & Garfunkel
• "If You Want To Sing Out, Sing Out" - Yusuf / Cat Stevens

Are you ready to rock and roll down the windows? Let your hair down, and sing your guts out with these scream-along rock songs.

• "Edge of Seventeen" - Stevie Nicks
• "Carry on Wayward Son" - Kansas
• "Summer of '69" - Bryan Adams
• "Dream On" - Aerosmith
• "What I Like About You" - The Romantics
• "Breakdown" - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
• "Don't Stop Me Now" - Queen
• "Dancing in the Dark" - Bruce Springsteen

Going on a road trip with your sweetheart? These classics will add a little extra love in the air.

• "More Than a Feeling" - Boston
• "Your Song" - Elton John
• "You Make My Dreams" - Daryl Hall & John Oates
• "Make You Feel My Love" - Bob Dylan
• "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)" - Jr. Walker & The All Stars
• "My Girl" - The Temptations
• "Wouldn't It Be Nice" - The Beach Boys
• "Real Love Baby" - Father John Misty
• "Sugar, Sugar" - The Archies
• "You're My Best Friend" - Queen
• "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)" - Four Tops
• "Be My Baby" - The Ronettes
• "Harvest Moon" - Neil Young
• "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" - Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell

No matter if you're on the road with your family or friends, these songs will surely get the whole car singing along. Turn on one of these classic belt-worthy tunes, and get to harmonizing!

• "On the Road Again" - Willie Nelson
• "Take Me Home, Country Roads" - John Denver
• "Piano Man" - Billy Joel
• "Stand by Me" - Otis Redding
• "You're so Vain" - Carly Simon
• "Tiny Dancer" - Elton John
• "Stuck In The Middle With You" - Stealers Wheel
• "Stacy's Mom" - Fountains Of Wayne
• "Free Fallin'" - Tom Petty
• "Mrs. Robinson" - Simon & Garfunkel
• "Hey Jude" - The Beatles
• "Go Your Own Way" - Fleetwood Mac

Feeling Moody And Blue

Take your main character moment to the next level with any one of these melancholy melodies. Just look out the window, pretend you are in a music video, and voila—you're set for a drive that might just have you romanticizing your life.

• "Vienna" - Billy Joel
• "Fade Into You" - Mazzy Star
• "Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want" - The Smiths
• "Landslide" - Fleetwood Mac
• "Danny's Song" - Loggins & Messina
• "The Chain" - Fleetwood Mac
• "Simple Twist of Fate" - Bob Dylan
• "She's Always a Woman" - Billy Joel
• "Yesterday" - The Beatles
• "Girl from the North Country" - Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash
• "Down By The River" - Neil Young
• "Ruby" - Dave Rawlings Machine
• "Space Oddity" - David Bowie
• "Friends, Lovers, Ex-Lovers: or Whatever" - Susto
• "Simple Man" - Lynyrd Skynyrd
• "My My, Hey Hey (Out Of The Blue)" - Neil Young

For The Country Music Lovers

Because no road trip is complete without a little bit of Willie and Dolly, we made sure to add a few of our favorite country road trip songs to this playlist.

• "Jolene" - Dolly Parton
• "Georgia On My Mind" - Willie Nelson
• "9 to 5" - Dolly Parton
• "A Thing Called Love" - Johnny Cash
• "Mammas, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys" - Willie Nelson
• "Here You Come Again" - Dolly Parton

What songs are a must for your road trip playlist? What songs do you think we should add? Let us know!

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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.

*We work hard to make this the best motorhome travel blog and road trip website possible, full of helpful content for you. The website is supported by our readers, so if you buy through links on this site we may earn a commission- at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain our own .

If you find this post useful, you can also treat us to a coffee – we promise to enjoy it while creating more useful content like this- we might even indulge in a biscuit (or two!)

JUMP AHEAD TO...

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.

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15 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 !!

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The 25 greatest driving songs ever for the perfect road trip playlist

1 April 2020, 16:07 | Updated: 1 April 2020, 16:12

By Tom Eames

There's nothing quite like a long road trip with your perfect music blaring through the speakers while you sing at the top of your voice (being in tune is an optional bonus).

In case you're looking for the ideal songs for a road trip playlist, we've put together some classic songs we reckon are perfect for such an occasion.

Don Henley - 'Boys of Summer'

Don Henley - The Boys Of Summer (1984) HD

Whether it's summer or not, this song will always make you feel sunny and slick.

Bryan Adams - 'Run To You'

Bryan Adams - Run To You (Official Music Video)

OK, the lyrics might be about Bryan being naughty with another woman, but the whole vibe of the song shouts 'let's drive!'.

Fleetwood Mac - 'Go Your Own Way'

Fleetwood Mac - Go Your Own Way (Official Music Video)

The ultimate 'we've just broken up, but that's just the beginning of a new chapter' song.

Eagles - 'Take It Easy'

Take It Easy (2013 Remaster)

The Eagles always have a road trip mood about their music, but this one is all about feeling laid back and fancy free.

Whitesnake - 'Here I Go Again'

Whitesnake - Here I Go Again '87 (Official Music Video)

You might be going down the only road you've ever known, but you'll do it while rocking out.

Toto - 'Africa'

Toto - Africa (Official Music Video)

Read more: The Story... 'Africa'

It will be physically impossible to not scream the chorus as loud as you can. Congratulations if you manage the harmonies.

Lynyrd Skynyrd - 'Sweet Home Alabama'

Lynyrd Skynyrd - Sweet Home Alabama

This song will make you feel like you're from America's South while you tap along on the steering wheel.

Boston - 'More than a Feeling'

Boston - More Than a Feeling

A song that seems to present nothing but optimistic feelings about life and beyond, complete with the highest vocal you'll ever hear in a rock song.

Yes - 'Owner of a Lonely Heart'

YES - Owner of a Lonely Heart (Official Music Video)

Moody, but perfect for the road. A real wheel-tapper.

Fleetwood Mac - 'The Chain'

Fleetwood Mac - The Chain (Official Music Video)

Even if this wasn't the Formula One theme tune for years, this would still be the ultimate driving song.

Roy Orbison - 'I Drove All Night'

Roy Orbison - I Drove All Night (Official Video)

The clue is in the title.

Rod Stewart - 'Young Turks'

Rod Stewart - Young Turks (Official Video)

"Young hearts, be free tonight". Absolutely, Rod!

The Doobie Brothers - 'Long Train Runnin''

Long Train Runnin'

We almost went for 'What a Fool Believes', but this summery track by the Doobies just about clinches a spot on the road trip list.

Van Halen - 'Jump'

Van Halen - Jump (Official Music Video)

"I get up, and nothin' gets me down..." Nothing but positive vibes, here.

America - 'Ventura Highway'

Ventura Highway

The ideal song to be driving with the roof down on a summer's day without a care in the world.

Golden Earring - 'Radar Love'

We're pretty sure the term 'driving song' was invented after this song was released.

Steppenwolf - 'Born to be Wild'

Steppenwolf - Born To Be Wild (Easy Rider) (1969)

Normally associated with motorbikes rather than cars, but it's all the same ballpark, right?

Prince - 'Little Red Corvette'

Prince - Little Red Corvette (Official Music Video)

A classic Prince driving anthem, and it's just a bonus that there's a car make in the title.

Bruce Springsteen - 'Born to Run'

Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run (Official Music Video)

Or drive, even. A freedom anthem perfect for the road.

The Proclaimers - 'I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)'

HIMYM - 500 Miles

Just don't have this as the only song in your tape deck (see above!).

Kenny Loggins - 'Danger Zone'

Kenny Loggins - Danger Zone (Video)

The song to make you feel like you're peak Tom Cruise in Top Gun on the way to a top secret mission.

ELO - 'Mr Blue Sky'

Electric Light Orchestra - Mr. Blue Sky (Official Video)

Read more: The Story of... 'Mr Blue Sky'

You won't fail to have a massive grin on your face as you head on down the highway to this pop/rock/opera anthem.

Christopher Cross - 'Ride Like the Wind'

Christopher Cross - Ride Like The Wind

Yacht rock at its absolute best.

Willie Nelson - 'On the Road Again'

Willie Nelson - On The Road Again (Official Audio)

If there's anyone who sums up 'life on the ol' dusty trail', it's Willie.

Bruce Hornsby - 'The Way It Is'

The Way It Is

The piano riff alone just makes us want to be out in our car as the sun sets for hours on end.

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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

Grab our road trip packing list, road trip checklist & road trip planner when you subscribe for our monthly newsletter, 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!

Looking for more road trip tips & resources? Check out these top posts…

Driving to Spain from UK: Best Routes & Driving Tips

Driving to France from UK: Absolutely Everything You Need to Know

Driving from UK to Germany: Best Routes, Costs & Tips

Tips for Stress-Free Holiday Road Trips with Your Family

Driving in Turkey – Absolutely Everything You Need to Know!

Driving in Georgia – Your Ultimate Guide

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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.

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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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60 Best Road Trip Songs to Rock the Drive

Written By: The Planet D

Updated On: March 16, 2023

Our list of the best road trip songs from the classics to today. We do a lot of road trips have rounded up the best driving songs to help you pass the time.

Nothing makes driving better than a good road trip playlist. And we’ve compiled the ultimate road trip playlist for your next overland adventure.

Table of Contents

The Best Road Trip Songs

1. sympathy for the devil by the rolling stones.

If you are looking for a song to drive to with a lot of groove, Sympathy for the Devil is just the ticket. We’ve been lucky enough to see the Rolling Stones in concert three times. Dave even met the band way back in 2003 when he shot a media blitz they did in Toronto.

This is by far our favorite Rolling Stones song for a road trip . Even if we have to get out of the car soon, we’ll leave the engine running until the final chord is played!

Get it on Amazon for just $1.29 / Buy the  Rolling Stones Greatest Hits  on Amazon

2. Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd

I didn’t know a lot about Lynyrd Skynyrd until I watched the documentary Muscle Shoals . It’s a music biography about one of the most innovative sound studios of the 60s featuring the Rolling Stones and Lynard Skynyrd.

But I have always known the song Sweet Home Alabama, and there is something about this song’s beat that make it the perfect driving song.

In Sweet Home Alabama, there’s a stanza saying: “ Now Muscle Shoals has got the Swampers And they’ve been known to pick a song or two “

Watching Muscle Shoals makes us want to get in the car and drive to Alabama to see the famous studio for ourselves!

Purchase Sweet Home Alabama for $1.29

3. Little Red Corvette By Prince

One of the best driving songs ever is Little Red Corvette by Prince. Who wouldn’t want to be driving a red corvette through the streets. The song is filled with metaphors, but when I sing it, I just think about driving.

It is sad to see another legend lost, but his music lives on. Buy Little Red Corvette $1.29

Pick up a copy of  Prince’s Greatest Hits , you won’t be disappointed. But there are some tributes happening on Spotify now.

4. Another One Bites the Dust by Queen

Queen is my ultimate favourite band. Metallica is Dave’s. I could have just said, “ buy Queen’s greatest hits and you’ll have the perfect Road Trip playlist”.

However, I can only choose one, and if you want a song that picks you up when you’re feeling a little groggy on the road, Another One Bites the Dust does the trick. Man, I love the bass in this song.

If you watch the Queen Documentary on the  BBC , you’ll learn that the Bass Player, John Deacon, actually wrote some of Queen’s biggest anthems, like this one, You’re my Best Friend and I Want to Break Free.

Get Another One Bites the Dust on Amazon just $1.29 / Watch Bohemian Rapsody

• Start Planning our own road trip with  National Geographic’s World Atlas  available on Amazon 

5. Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson Featuring Bruno Mars

While spending a summer in Spain and driving around  Costa Brava this Mark Ronson/Bruno Mars tune was was our go-to road trip song. We called it the song of summer and whenever it came on, we’d jive and jam in the car.

Dave and I love to sing during a road trip and this one makes you want to wail at the top of your lungs. “We’re gonna Uptown Funk you Up!”

Download Up Town Funk on Amazon 

6. Home for a Rest by Spirit of the West

This roadtrip song by Canada’s Spirit of the West always makes me want to go to London, England, and hang out in the pubs. I think about all the travels we have done, and when we do come home, we really do need a rest. 

Travel  is exhausting and when you add pub crawling to the mix, it is doubly exhausting. Spirit of the West captured the spirit of travel beautifully with this perfect driving song.

“ You’ll have to excuse me I’m not at my best, I’ve Been Gone for a Month, I’ve Been Drunk Since I left. These so called vacations will soon be my death, I’m so sick from the Drink, I need home for a rest …”

Download now on Amazon

7. Californication by Red Hot Chili Peppers

How does one choose a favourite Red Hot Chili Pepper’s song? They have so many great albums. But Californication is the perfect tune for a road trip. Heck, even the video is all about driving.

I used to say, “How can anyone not name Red Hot Chili Peppers as one of the greatest bands of all time?” I mean, everything is perfection. Anthony Kiedis is a poet, Flea is a master on the bass, and John Frusciante creates the most memorable and intricate guitar riffs out there today. Plus, how can you forget Chad Smith on drums. He’s quiet and unassuming in real life, just like his music: Subtle and creative. Plus, he looks exactly like Will Ferrel.

You’ve got to read  Scar Tissue  by Anthony Kiedis – this book will blow your mind about everything he and the band have gone through. Buy the album  Californication . The entire disc is perfection.

8. 500 Miles by The Proclaimers

There’s nothing really amazing musically about this song by the  Scottish  Band, the Proclaimers, but when it comes to road trip music, it has the perfect beat. When comes up on the playlist, everyone stops to sing along. This song was made to be a song to drive to!

It’s one of those songs that you can’t help but love. Even if you hate it! I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) must be included on your Road Trips Songs playlist, it would be criminal to leave it out. Check out our guide to the North Coast 500

Buy it on Amazon for $1.29 / Rent  Benny and Joon where the song was featured

9. Take it Easy by The Eagles

Remember when Elaine’s boyfriend refused to speak to anyone when Desperado came on the radio during a classic  Seinfeld episode ? When it comes to the Eagles,  Hotel California  is our song. But when it comes to road trip songs by The Eagles, Take it Easy is Number one. See a great California Road Trip at 17 Mile Drive in Monterey

“ Well I’m a runnin’ down the road trying to loosen my load I’ve got seven women on my mind”

This song was meant for driving. It’s seriously all a bout driving.

If you happen to be going on an Arizona Road Trip, be sure to stop on the corner of Winslow Arizona like in the lyrics “ Well, I’m a standin’ on a corner in Winslow, Arizona . Such a fine sight to see .”

Don’t speak to me, don’t even look at me when Hotel California comes on because I am going to sing along and play air guitar to that classic solo.

Get it now on Amazon / Get the  Hell Freezes Over Tour  where the Eagles come together live.

10. Running on Empty by Jackson Browne

I bet you didn’t know that Jackson Browne played a huge role in making the Eagles famous. He was roommates with Glen Frey and Don Henley at one point.

Heck, for the longest time when I was a kid, I thought Running on Empty was performed by the Eagles. They have similar sounds because Jackson Browne actually co-wrote a lot of the Eagles songs. How do we know all this? We watched the Eagles documentary.

Anyway, back to the song. Running on Empty is a road trip song, period. Come on, the album cover has a road on it!

Buy Running on Empty on Amazon / Rent the movie  The Eagles History  to see the role Jackson Brown played in their success.

11. Paradise by the Dashboard Light by Meatloaf

Who doesn’t love Meatloaf? Paradise by the Dashboard Light was the song of the 70s. There are so many layers to this song and right from that first guitar lick, you can’t help but get ready to start singing along in the car.

Dave and I love it when it breaks into a duet and we sing back and forth. We start screaming until our vocal chords nearly break. After that song, you almost have to pull over for a break. It’s that intense. For us, it’s one of the most fun songs to drive to on our playlist.

Get the album  Bat Out of Hell . Every song is great.

A great one day drive that we highly recommend is the  Hana Highway on Maui.  Make sure you have your road trip songs picked out because radio service in limited. 

12. Take the Money and Run by Steve Miller Band

“T his here’s the story ’bout Billy Joe and Bobby Sue “.

The Steve Miller Band’s Songs were made to sing along to. Dave and I love to harmonize to their music. It’s just so easy to hear the thirds and fifths. The reason we chose Take the Money and Run is that ” They’re headed down south and they’re still running today .”

We don’t plan on shooting anyone and taking their money, but we do plan on traveling forever. It’s in our blood and even if we do settle down a bit, something tells me we’ll always be on the move. Dave and I moved to  Vancouver  in 1992 and we’re still moving today. Maybe not running, but definitely at a steady pace.

Get Steve Miller’s Take the Money and Run

13. Born to be Wild by Steppenwolf

It’s probably the first and most cliché road trip song that anyone thinks of. Considering the lyrics start with:

“ Get your motor running Head out on the highway .”

So, really any road trip playlist would be remiss by not including it. It’s a good one to get the energy up when hitting the open road.

Add it to the list from Amazon

14. I’ve Been Everywhere by Johnny Cash

I love this song by the Man in Black. If you are looking for a song to drive to that is challenging to learn, this is it! It’s all about the places he has been crisscrossing through North America on his tour bus.

I originally only had this song in our travel songs playlist, but I realize that not everyone checks out both articles, so I had to bring it over here. You can’t ever leave out Johnny Cash man.

Get motivated on Amazon

15. On the Road Again by Willie Nelson

On The Road Again is the quintessential song about road tripping. But, his laid back style of singing will make for a relaxed road trip moment and be sure to keep you within the speed limit. It’s a fitting song for this list because after all “I just can’t wait to get on the road again.”

Buy it now $1.29

16. Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen

Everybody loves Bruce Springsteen and Baby we were born to run, is one of the great songs to drive to. This entire song is about driving and running. It’s about getting out of the small town trap and getting to the place you want to be.

The Boss is a great lyricist using car metaphors to tell his story. This driving beat will make you want to get behind your engine and run too.

Buy it on Amazon

17. Graceland by Paul Simon

When Paul Simon’s Graceland came out I went nuts for the rhythms inspired by his trip to Africa. When I went to Kenya for the first time , I was totally blown away that I stayed at the same lodge that he and Carrie Fisher stayed at during that exact trip. But that’s another story.

Graceland is an awesome song that fits with driving through America’s southern states. Who wouldn’t want to take a road trip to Elvis’s Graceland?

Get it now to see what I’m talking about

18. Life is a Highway by Tom Cochrane

We always love including Canadians. Tom Cochrane’s rock anthem “Life is a Highway” was playing across radio stations throughout the summer that Dave and I met.

We’d drive down the road belting out “ life is a highway, I wanna drive it all night long .” It has a great driving beat and the lyrics are easy to learn. It’s perfect for a road tripping son.

get it on Amazon

19. Love Shack by the B52s

You can’t have a party without The B52s. I’ll never forget seeing them in concert. I had no idea who they were a friend invited me and I’m glad he did.

We arrived at Massey Hall in Toronto where the crowd was filled with people sporting beehive hairdos and wardrobes straight out of Austin Powers.

Once the music started, we rushed the stage and there I stood at the very front listening to the best party tunes I’ve ever heard. When choosing road trip music, be sure to include Love Shack!

Get Love Shack on Amazon

20. Good Vibrations by The Beach Boys

It was after watching  Love and Mercy  and  The Wrecking Crew  that we realised just what a genius Brian Wilson is. We even had the opportunity to see the Beach Boys live (sans Brian Wilson) at a private party in Orlando a few years ago.

They made a lot of good lighthearted songs like California Girls, Surfin’ USA and Kokomo, but it’s Good Vibrations that really shows the depth and musicality of the band’s genius. This song has the vibe that both Dave and I love for a road trip. I’m pickin’ up Good Vibrations.

Listen now on Amazon

21. Back in Black by ACDC

You may be thinking “No way, Highway to Hell is the ACDC song that fits in the road trip play list”. You may be correct, but doesn’t Back in Black have an awesome beat. That guitar at the beginning just rocks.

It’s no wonder Marvel’s Iron Man used it as the song for their opening scene as Robert Downey Jr. was driving with a band of army guys (and gal) from his arms dealing display in  Afghanistan .

Ever since then I’ve associated Back in Black with driving. Sure, he was in a Humvee and I’m usually in a mini compact economy car, but hey, I feel tough when that tune is playing.

Start making your own road tripping playlist for just $1.29 / Buy it on Amazon

22. The Way by Fastball

Don’t you ever want to just hit the road without ever knowing the way. That’s what this song is about. One of my favorite lyrics in the song is “an exit to eternal summer slacking, but where were they going without ever knowing the way.” So let’s. go wander the highway while listening to The Way.

23. Lose Yourself by Eminem

I once sang this song in  Belize  with the local crime lord. I didn’t know it at the time, but after I got off the karaoke stage, where I was joined by a random man who had a big grin on his face, I was told, he was that man. Woah.

The friends you make when you sing Eminem. But this song rocks. Dave and I saw 8 Mile in the theatre and were totally impressed with Mr. Marshall Mathers’ acting ability.

We promptly bought the soundtrack and learned the lyrics to this song.

It’s one of those songs where, once you learn the lyrics, you never forget them because they are so fast and furious, you fall over yourself trying to say them with him!

Listen to Lose Yourself now / Get the Movie  8 Mile on Amazon Prime

24. Go Your Own Way by Fleetwood Mac

A road trip song playlist wouldn’t be complete without Fleetwood Mac and this song has the groove for driving.

“Let’s all sing it together….You can go your own way, Go your own way You can call it another lonely day You can go your own way”

25. See You Again by Wiz Khalifa, Charlie Puth

Why this song wasn’t nominated for an Academy Award was beyond me. Everyone was shocked when actor Paul Walker was killed in a car crash. He died during the filming of Furious 7.

I never did see the film, but this song played during his final scene in the movie, which I read all about. It seemed to be a beautiful send off to him and whenever I hear it, it still brings a little tear to my eye.

This is a great song for a road trip and is fitting since it’s the title theme for a movie about fast cars.

Buy this song on Amazon $1.29 / Watch all the  Fast and the Furious Movies  in this Box Set.

26. Jack & Diane by John Mellencamp

John Cougar was the first musician I ever saw live. My brother and now sister in law brought me to a show at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton and I couldn’t get enough of his music after that.

I loved his rockabilly sound and to this day, the minute those first five chords ring out over the car stereo, I start rockin’. Jack and Diane is probably his best song and is all about two American kids living in the  heartland .

Check it out on Amazon $1.29

27. Drive My Car by The Beatles

Baby you can drive my car, yes I’m gonna be a star. Have you watch Carpool Karaoke with Paul McCartney and James Corden yet? It is awesome and yes, they do sing the quintessential Beatles road tripping song as they drive around Liverpool checking out Paul’s old haunts.

28. You Oughta Know by Alannis Morisette

The feminism anthem of the 1990s was written and performed by a Canadian. We owned the album Jagged Little Pill and there isn’t a bad song in the bunch.

But it’s You Oughta Know that is one of the best road trip songs on the album. The staccato speech at the beginning gets you hooked for the driving beats ahead making it one of the best driving songs out there.

“I – Want – you – to – know. That – I’m – happy for you. I – wish – nothing – but – the – best – for – you both.”

Was this sone about Joey from Full House? We’ll never know. But you oughta know

Buy the  album Jagged Little Pill,  it’s a good one!

29. Sweet Child O’Mine by Guns n’ Roses

Okay, Dave and I are huge Guns n’ Roses fans. When choosing road trip songs, GnR is right at the top.

We know every word, and both of us immediately stop talking and start singing and playing air guitar. (Or if Dave’s driving, air drumming on the steering wheel.) Guns n’ Roses’ music holds up after all these years and they have many songs made for passing the time on long drives.

Download Sweet Child O’ Mine on Amazon

30. Coming to America by Neil Diamond

During our cycling road trip through Africa . I had Neil Diamond’s Greatest Hits on my playlist. Whenever I was feeling exhausted or just overwhelmed with the scope of the day’s ride ahead, I’d put on Neil Diamond’s mix of mellow and fun tunes. It was “Coming to America” that picked me up the most. It’s just so motivating.

The driving beat makes you feel that you can do anything. It’s all about traveling far and coming to America. I’m not even American, and it inspires me. This song captures what America used to be to so many people. Let’s hope they get there again.

Buy on Amazon Now

Enjoy reading about our road trip through the Causeway Coast at  The Best Things to do in Northern Ireland

31. Carry on Wayward Son by Kansas

If you are a fan of  Supernatural , (the TV series) you’ll recognize this song from the recaps they do at the beginning of most seasons. This song by Kansas has stood the test of time, not only because of Supernatural, but it was huge during the Guitar Hero days.

When they belt out their harmonies at the beginning followed by the hard drums and guitar solo, you can’t help but bounce to the beat. It’s no wonder this song is featured on Supernatural, Sam and Dean are always driving from town to town in Dean’s 1967 Chevy Impala

32. Hello by Adele

Who doesn’t love Adele’s velvet voice? Sure, “Hello” isn’t a fast-paced tune, but it is an excellent road trip song. Why? Because you can howl, scream and holler along.

Turn the stereo up to 11 and belt out those notes along with Adele. Don’t worry, everyone in the car will be singing along, so nobody will hear you scream “ Hello from the outside “.

Buy Hello to Add to your Road Trip Songs playlist $1.29

33. The Nights by Avicii

The best road trip songs are upbeat and easy to sing to. If you agree with that definition, The Nights is definitely a perfect tune for your playlist.

It’s easy to learn the lyrics and a lot of fun to sing a long with. The song is by the Swedish DJ Avicii, but it feels more  Celtic  to me. It was an awesome tune on our playlist for our road trip through Ireland last year.

You can buy the single on Amazon

34. The Distance by Cake

Man, Cake has some great road trip songs. They have a super sense of humour and their music is just simply a lot of fun. I could choose a couple of their songs for our road trip playlist, like Short Skirt Long Jacket or the hilarious Sheep go to Heaven, but Going the Distance is the song that was made for a road trip.

Because that’s in essence what you are doing when driving, right? “You’re going the distance, and you’re going for speed.”

Add Going the Distance to your Road Trip Playlist

35. More Than a Feeling by Boston

Lead Singer Brad Delp had one of the best voices in Rock n’ Roll. Dave and I love great vocalists and Boston’s songs were meant to wail to. He could reach the high notes with such clarity and there’s nothing more satisfying when out for a long day on the road than reaching those notes in the car and pretending to be a rock star. This is the song to do that to.

Buy More than a Feeling on Amazon

36. American Pie by Don McLean

When on a long road trip, there’s nothing better than a really long anthem-like song to come on. The miles seem to just fall away on the road. American Pie is one of those songs. A song that cuts nearly 10 minutes out of your road trip, as you sing along with each verse.

There’s something about knowing all the lyrics of American Pie that makes you feel like you are smart or something. When you know every word, it’s impressive to others. Well, at least Dave and I impress ourselves and that’s all that matters since we’re usually the only two in the car!

Download the ultimate road trip song on Amazon

37. American Woman by The Guess Who

Let’s stay with the American theme and go with this American classic, written by Canadians! When Dave and I got free tickets to see The Guess Who from his friend who ran their lighting, we weren’t sure what to expect. Weren’t these some old guys that sang songs we’ve never heard of? Boy were we wrong.

Burton Cummings’ voice is outstanding and Randy Bachman can make his guitar sing. But you’d also be surprised how many songs you know by the Guess Who. They had hit after hit.

American Woman has been deemed an American Anthem, but what’s funny about it is that the entire song disses on America.

“ I don’t need your war machines, I don’t need your ghetto scenes”. Colored lights may hypnotize Sparkle someone else’s eyes”

Listen closely and you’ll see that they’re telling America to stay away from them!

Get American Woman on Amazon 1.29

38. All About the Bass by Meghan Trainor

When I first heard Meghan Trainor’s voice I was hooked. It’s so clear and fun. Have you seen her sing on Jimmy Fallon with the Roots playing kids school instruments as back up? It’s amazing. That’s how you know someone can sing: When they’ve got nothing backing them up but a kazoo and they sound awesome.

This tune is so much fun. We’re also fans of Your Lips Are Movin’ by her as well. Meghan Trainor’s tunes were made for road tripping.

Get this road trip song on Amazon

39. Africa by Toto

Let’s slow This Road Trip Songs Playlist down a little now. Africa by Toto didn’t mean a lot to me until I went to Africa. They capture it beautifully in the song and it’s so soothing to listen to.

Wild dogs really do cry out in the night and yes,  Kilimanjaro  does rise like Olympus above the Serengeti. When Africa comes on, it makes me want to book a flight to Tanzania or Kenya.

These countries are two of our favorite places in the world and we could go back again and again. But until we do, there’s always Toto there to remind us of how much we love it.

Download on Amazon

• One of our favorite road trips where we had the tunes cranked was definitely a drive along the  Cowboy Route in Southern Alberta. 

40. Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey

Journey may have had a resurgence thanks to Glee, but we have always loved them. Open Arms is actually my favourite by them, but it doesn’t exactly fit the bill as one of the best road trip songs of all time. It’s more of a love ballad. We were both huge fans of Separate Ways, but perhaps the synthesizer is a little dated.

Don’t Stop Belivin’ is definitely the Journey song that was made for driving. Heck it’s even about taking a journey. “Just a city boy, born and raised in South Detroit . He took the midnight train going anywhere”.

Buy the song on Amazon / Rent the movie  Don’t Stop Believin ‘, it’s so inspiring!

41. I Bet My Life by Imagine Dragons

Imagine Dragons are quickly becoming one of our favourite bands of the 2000s. They are so versatile, with so many hits you don’t even realise they are the same band. They are the same guys that sing Radioactive, Demons and It’s Time. All songs are so different.

But it’s I Bet My Life that makes us want to bop our heads to the beat. We drove a lot through  Europe  last year and this was one of the big road trip songs for us to listen to.

Buy I Bet My Life for just $1.29

42. Dream On by Aerosmith

This song starts off slow and builds to a screeching point with Steven Tyler wailing “ Dream On, Dream On, Dream On, Dream Until Your Dreams Come True! “

You don’t want to be in the car with Dave and I when this song is on. Both of us are yelling at the top of our lungs and banging our heads to the beat. When Dream on comes on the radio, there’s no talking to either of us until the song is over.

Buy  AeroSmith’s Greatest Hits

• You don’t have to be in a car to appreciate good music. We had our playlist going like made in our Bluetooth helmets during our  tour around Lake Superior  on motorcycles. 

43. Rock Star by Nickelback

Hey, don’t hate on Nickelback okay? Everyone loves to hate this band, and yet they still have tons of top hits and sold out shows. Yes, Chad Kroeger’s hair sucks with his long bleach blond locks and dark roots and his goatee does not fit his face, but Nickleback has some pretty memorable tunes.

I remember listening to them sing live from “The Edge Studios” in Toronto for the first time when they belted out How you Remind Me. That song was their breakout hit, but you gotta listen to Rock Star. The lyrics of this song are hilarious and it was made for singing along to in the car.

Give Rock Star a chance now

44. Hey Ya by Outkast

I love the positive beat of this song. Sure it may or may not be a break up song, I can’t be sure about the lyrics – is it about breaking up or staying together? Who cares, it’s gone a cool vibe.

The video is so much fun and when this tune comes on, you instantly feel good. Andre3000 was named one of the best rappers of all time, and yet it’s this little ditty that we love for a road trip. My Baby don’t mess around.

Hey Ya on Amazon

45. Edge of Seventeen by Stevie Nicks

The ultimate female rock voice is Stevie Nicks. This has been one of my favourite songs for years. I could only wish that I had a Rock n Roll voice. Mine was stuck in the pop world, but that didn’t mean that I didn’t daydream about rocking it like Stevie on the big stage one day.

This rock song is great for anyone.  Even Dave rocks out to it when I turn it on. It may have never made it to the top 10 when it was released in 1981, but this is the most memorable of all her songs and over time has gained more fame and glory than it had during its original release.

Give it a shot and listen to it!

46. I Wanna Be Sedated by The Ramones

This is the easiest song to sing along to. It repeats and repeats but the beat keeps on going. When we’re on a super long road trip, we agree, Twenty, Twenty, Twenty-Fours hours to go! I wanna be sedated. Get the Ramones on your road trip playlist now. They’ll have you Ba ba baba, baba ba baba along all night long!

Purchase I Wanna Be Sedated

One of our latest road trip adventures took us to  Fraser Island in Australia . We spent 3 days driving through the sand dunes and scenery of this amazing destination. 

47. Redemption Song by Bob Marley

Bob Marley is another artist where we could just put on his greatest hits and make that a road trip playlist. But the self imposed rules of this article was to choose only one song per artist.

Yes, he has more up-tempo songs that could fit the genre better, but we feel that sometimes you gotta slow down when choosing a road trip song and let the mellow feeling takeover as you drive the open road.

Redemption Song is the perfect song for that occasion. It’s one of those songs where you can put your vocal skills to the test and sing with feeling.

Download Redemption Song for 1.29 on Amazon

48. Follow You Into the Dark by Death Cab for Cutie

Sticking with slow songs, Dave and I love this one by Death Cab for Cutie. It’s a love song and we love a good love song. Hey, we’re both romantics at heart. One of my favourite lines is:

“You and me have seen everything to see From Bangkok to Calgary The soles of your shoes are all worn down “ That’s how Dave and I feel, we’ve seen it all together and we love doing so.

Download this now  for your Road Trip Song Playlist on Amazon

49. Life’s Been Good by Joe Walsh

Another very long tune. Life’s Been Good is a great road trip sing-a-long song. It goes on for a whopping 8 minutes. Do you know how many km you can cover when driving at 100km (or if you’re like most people, 120km) per hour?

That’s right, 15km will fly right by! How does Life’s Been Good fit with a road trip? Well, he does sing, “ My  Maserati  does 185, I lost my license, now I don’t drive. ” Best lyrics ever!

50. Shelter from the Storm by Bob Dylan

Well, since we’re in the vein of 1960s music icons. We must include a little Bob Dylan. You see, you want your road trip playlist to be versatile. You can’t stick with one genre or one decade. It needs to span many years and cover all music types.

That way you never get bored. Shelter from the Storm is one of Bob’s greatest hits and he’s had many.

You may choose one of his more famous songs like Blowin’ in the Wind, Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door or Mr. Tambourine Man, But listen to Shelter from the Storm. This is a great song.

Purchase Shelter From the Storm Now

51. Piano Man by Billy Joel

I’ll never forget locking up Sherry Ott’s phone (of  Ottsworld’s ) during the  Mongol Rally.  She and Rick had to listen to our playlist the rest of the 10,000 km and she mentioned, if only we had some Billy Joel. I love Billy Joel, so I felt the same way!

We didn’t have Spotify then, so we couldn’t just magically download Billy Joel in the Gobi desert, but I do agree, he makes for some great road trip music. Yes, he has a lot of hits, but Dave and I both love Piano Man.

It’s another long anthem type song that lets you sing along forever. With verse after verse our voices grow stronger and more powerful in the car until we’re both belting out “Sing us a Song You’re the Piano Man!” no you’re the piano man!

Get it on Amazon

52. Old Man by Neil Young

From Piano Man to Old Man. Niel Young is another iconic Canadian in our list. I could do a Canadian version of Road Trip Songs, but I am afraid half of you wouldn’t know the songs I am talking about.

Anyone else out there know of The Tragically Hip’s  Fireworks ? Our Lady Peace’s  Starseed  or Blue Rodeo’s  Bad Timing ? Didn’t think so.

But we the world knows Neil Young. Even the younger generation knows him thanks to Jimmy Fallon. Old Man is our favourite. What’s yours?

Listen to Old Man Now

Watch Jimmy Fallon and Neil Young on YouTube

53. Lust for Life by Iggy Pop

In the 1990s, I didn’t know a lot about punk rock. Dave and I were into Grunge at the time. But when we went to go see Trainspotters at the theatre, we were introduced to Lust for Life by Iggy Pop.

If this doesn’t get you rocking in the car, nothing will. It is the perfect way to end our road trip songs playlist with an upbeat tune that was made for road tripping.

Lust for Life is on Amazon for just $1.29

54. Radar Love by Golden Earring

Whenever the popular rock and roll radio station in Toronto does a traffic update, they play this song. They also play “I’m a highway star” but Radar Love has the much better groove. I love adding grooving songs to drive to on my playlist.

55. Route 66 by Nat King Cole

It’s a classic and an oldie but goodie. All kinds of people have covered Route 66 but nothing compares to the velvet voice of Nat King Cole. So add this classic road song to your playlist and get your kicks on Route 66.

56. Mustang Sally in the Commitments

When I was younger I was in a band that had the feel of the movie The Commitments. I loved singing back up vocals to Mustang Sally, “Ride Sally Ride. This song has a cool groove that gets you in the mood to drive. (Among other things)

57. The Air Tonight by Phil Collins

Who doesn’t love that drum solo by Phil Collins in the Air Tonight. I’ll never forget hearing it for the first tim eon Miami Vice when Crocket and Tubs were driving down the strip of Miami. Man, this is the best grooving driving song out there.

58. Castle on the Hill by Ed Sheeran

Ed Sheeran is awesome. There isn’t a song of his I don’t like. But when it comes to songs about driving, this is it. I love the lyrics:

“I’m on my way Driving at ninety down those country lanes Singing to “Tiny Dancer” And I miss the way you make me feel, and it’s real We watched the sunset over the castle on the hill.”

Dave and I totally sing to Tiny Dancer when driving and we always think about driving those back roads in Ireland. How can the locals possibly go 90 on narrow winding roads, and yet they do. they really do! Get Castle on a Hill now

59. Boys of Summer by Don Henley

I admit, I bought a pair of RayBans just because of these lyrics… “Driving in your car with those Wayfarers on baby.”

When I listen to the Boys of Summer, I envision beautiful people driving up and down the sunset strip in Los Angeles. I always have and still do. Check out our guide to the Ultimate California Road Trip

60. Where the Streets have No Name by U2

And let’s end with a song that actually has a street in the name. Well, the Streets have no name here. U2s anthem is the perfect ending to our road tripping song. From the Joshua Tree, that takes us through the California desert, the Streets Have No Name, is a song that will hypnotize you as you get lost in Bono’s dreamy vocals. Just make sure to keep your eyes on the road!

So there you have it. This is our list of our favorite road trip songs. So are you ready to hit the road with the best playlist ever?

We have this on our playlist, what’s on yours? Have you ever taken a road trip going anywhere?

Do you have a song that needs to be included when you go traveling? We’d love to hear in the comments below.

• Best Travel Songs Playlist – It’s different from this!
• Best Travel Movies
• Best Travel Books to Inspire the Wanderer in you
• Best Travel Tips from 20 Years of Traveling

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81 thoughts on “60 Best Road Trip Songs to Rock the Drive”

Where Chris Rea? There should be at least one song if not 3

Interesting list you have here. I have some recommendations here if you don’t mind.

Raspberries – Go All the Way Jason Isbell – Super 8 Big Star – In the Street Crack the Sky, the best band to come out of Baltimore – Nuclear Apathy Wishbone Ash – (In All My Dreams) You Rescue Me The Bottle Rockets – Radar Gun Danny O’Keefe – Good Time Charlie’s Got the Blues Cross Canadian Ragweed – Fightin’ For

Thanks for the nice collection, will definitely try this!!

Thank you so much for sharing this playlist. I really loved it.

Very nice collection thanks for sharing!!

Blatantly missing: “Roll on Down the Highway” – Bachman-Turner Overdrive

Great selection. Along with ‘Go Your own Way’ and ‘Life is a Highway’, I’d add ‘Peaches’ by Justin Bieber

Nice One! Amazing Playlist! Really love This, thank you for sharing this lovely playlist.

Awesome Playlist !! Love It

Thanks for the song list now it will be very easy for me to go on a road trip.

thanks for the list of songs. I loved the ‘boys of summer’ song so much. Every time when I drive I always play this song.

Superb Collection..i definitely tryy all songs..i am planning to go out . i hope it helps for me. Thank you

Thank you very much for this playlist. I really loved it.

Superb Collection.. Thanks for the lovely post

fantastic article thanks for sharing, I appereciate your work

Thanks so much! Do you have a favourite song to add?

Most of these songs and genres that aren’t rock should be left off the list completely. The best road songs are real rock hands down. The best road song ever is Judas Priest’s “Heading Out To The Highway”. The live version of the Priest Live album from 1987.

You reminded me of songs that I love but forgot about. Thanks for making this playlist, I will definitely be listening to some old favorites as well as some ones you’ve recommended…Old is gold

Thanks for this article but there are many tracks apart from these to make the highway journey a perfect experience.

You reminded me some of the songs that I love but forgotten about it. Thanks for reminding me again, I will definitely be listening to some old favorites as well as someones you’ve recommended. 🙂

Great collections thank you so much for sharing this article.

Really a great collection of songs thanks for sharing hopefully it will help me next time i go out.

Thank you for this wonderful list. It really helped me a lot during my road trip.

Amazing article I really loved it. Thanks for sharing this amazing content.

Hey there Thanks for the Wonderful Playlist.

This is an excellent list. I have a trip to plan here shortly. Hopefully everyone can agree on this playlist.

Yes.. This is an excellent list of songs for road trip

Superb Collection. Thanks for sharing it.

Superb Collection..i definitely tryy all songs..i am planning to go out . i hope it helps for me.

You reminded me of songs that I love but forgot about. Thanks for making this playlist, I will definitely be listening to some old favorites as well as some ones you’ve recommended…Old is gold

Awesome and ‘d add Big Sugar’s “Please Let Me Sleep In Late or My Heart Refuses To Pound”.

The requirement for any good road trip is, as everyone knows, a killer soundtrack. And summer is the optimal time to hit the road and go on an adventure. Whether you’re embarking on a solo trip or gathering 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.

Hey, nice post loved it.

You reminded me of songs that I love but forgot about! Thanks for making this playlist, I will definitely be listening to some old favorites as well as some ones you’ve recommended!

Awesome playlist! Added some of these for my next road trip, thankyou so much sir ??

Awesome playlist! Added some of these for my next road trip 🙂 Thanks for the post!

really nyc playlist

awesome..amazing man..!!

Thank you so much!! You don’t know how you helped me. But you helped me a lot. Usually, I get bored while going for a long ride but now it is gonna Amazing. Thank you again.

Hi, You have put together a great collection of songs. It’s true music and travel if combined together can make any trip a great one. I have although written a similar article on my blog but being an Indian I love Bollywood songs. Lately, I have added some modern International songs too on my playlist and I am loving those. I have noticed that you have added many classic old songs, I have listened to a few of them on YouTube and I found them pretty great. Thanks for sharing your list of songs with us. You can check out mine too. It’s a bit different from yours.

Great collection. There is so much good music out there, old and new, the challenge always seems to be keeping the list to a manageable number. Quite a few caught me by surprise. I was a long haul truck driver for many years, and a big music fan, but you learn something new every day. A running joke in my house is that I have been more places with Melissa Etheridge than I have with my wife of 36 years. Submitted for your consideration: You can sleep while I drive-Melissa Etheridge. Radar Love-Golden Earring Roll Me Away- Bob Seger In The Air Tonight- Phil Collins Uneasy Rider-Charlie Daniels Here I go Again-Whitesnake Eastbound and Down-Jerry Reeves This Flight Tonight-Nazareth Fly At Night-Chilliwack The Load Out-Jackson Browne Several dozen more than you will have space for.

Superb Collection..i definitely try all songs..i am planning to go out . i hope it helps for me.

Thank You So Much For The Playlist. Now I Am Gonna Rock The Long Drive.

What an Amazing Wonderful Collection Realy I Love IT 🙂

Great collection man..Enjoy

Nice playlist. I’d include America’s Ventura Highway.

was going to put I’ve Been Everywhere Man on the list and then I decided against it because I have it on another music list on this site. I linked to it in this article and I thought, uh oh, I can’t repeat songs too muc

wonderful collection

Thank you so much for the playlist. I loved all of them. Now am ready to hit the long roads.

I can’t argue with most of the selections on the list, but there are a few blatant omissions:

Born To Be Wild Radar Love Twilight Zone

I don’t know how any music list (regardless of theme) can be complete without a single song by Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Rush, or the Boss, let alone missing all of them???

I love music so much.this is the best article ever about road trip songs playlists. Thank you for nice article.

Excellent collection of songs! I truly needed to recommend this to these amazing people who have done great road trips I’m in touch with and will do in future. One of their trips was 20,000 Kms. Will share it ahead!

Thank you for the great road trip list. It was great.

Thanks Dev & Deb !! You made my day…!! By reading your article I found so much happiness because in coming days I’ll go on long tour with my new car & these road trip songs will rock it all the way … !! 🙂

– Jenny Diana

Jessica by the Allman Brothers is one of the best for me. In the movie of my life, it’s the music that would playduring the scenewhen I take a long road trip or move cross-country. 😛

Great addition, I’ll have to add it to my Spotify.

Ooooooh, so many. Led Zep’s Dazed and Confused (26 minute version), Hendrix’ Voodoo Chile, a lot of Buddy Guy. Yesterday I heard B-52s “Planet Claire”–that is a serious jam.

I am so happy to spend my time here, i am always search exactly like this blog. Thanks for sharing us.

Great choices and I love that you included a Canadian. Life is a Highway. Woot!

Awesome and ‘d add Big Sugar’s “Please Let Me Sleep In Late or My Heart Refuses To Pound”.

Great selection. Along with ‘Go Your own Way’ and ‘Life is a Highway’, I’d add ‘Dance the Night Away’ by Van Halen

Superb!! Never gonna to forget this one!!

I Wanna Be Sedated BY The Ramones

Amazing this post, thanks for share it.

Amazing this one thanks for share it.

Fantastic list, thank you! One addition comes to mind right away: “Life is a Highway” by Tom Cochrane. I mean, it actually has the word highway in it. Classic.

That’s a great addition. I was actually thinking about that song. I love him because he’s also Canadian and I like adding Canadians to the list. But I then decided to leave him out because for me, he was oversaturated (in our neck of the woods anyway) and that song was totally overplayed and now I just can’t listen to it anymore. But most people love it!

I would add “Go Your Own Way” by Fleetwood Mac.

Great choice! How could I forget that one!

thank you! One addition comes to mind right away: “Life is a Highway” by Tom Cochrane.

LOVE THESE!! Couldn’t agree more about Paradise by the Dashboard Light. I love Meat Loaf, LOL. He was my first concert at age 8 😀 and we played “I Would Do Anything For Love” at our wedding hahaha. Great pics. I love any Bob Dylan or Johnny Cash as well—perfect for an All-American road trip. Also 80’s rock.

Road trips are the best!!

I loved that I would do Anything for Love. It was a great comeback song for him. So what wouldn’t you do? Haha, He says, I would do anything for love, but I won’t do that. HAha. I always think about what is that? 🙂 I was going to put I’ve Been Everywhere Man on the list and then I decided against it because I have it on another music list on this site. I linked to it in this article and I thought, uh oh, I can’t repeat songs too much.

Very good article…this is a very unique article for me. I have never seen this kinda article on any sites… REALLY VERY NICE..CHEERS

Thanks Jessica. We love music so much we decided that we had to put together a list of our playlists. So there you go!

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 50 Most Essential Songs for Your Perfect Road Trip Playlist

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

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.

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.)

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50 Best Road Trip Songs: From Beastie Boys to Bruce Springsteen and Beyond

Join SiriusXM as we take a look at 50 of the most iconic road trip songs to include in your playlist this summer!

Looking for the best road trip anthems to soundtrack your drive? There’s something special about cruising down the highway in the summer with your loved ones, windows down and volume up!

Whether you’re off on vacation or just taking a day trip, it’s hard not to smile when the sun’s shining and there’s nothing ahead but the open road. The only thing that could make it better is the perfect song playing at full blast. We’ve gathered the perfect summery tunes to accompany you on your travels. So, fasten your seatbelts and come along for the ride with SiriusXM as we look at 50 of the most iconic road trip songs!

Listen to nonstop hits on Road Trip Radio (ch. 301) now →

Sing-Along Anthems

A road trip usually means you’ve got time to kill on your way to your destination. Time flies when you’re having fun, and there’s no better way to get the good vibes going than by rolling down the windows and blasting out some sing-along anthems!

From Bruce Springsteen ’s lyrics about hitting the road to find success to Vanessa Carlton’s pop hit about going the distance for love, these iconic tracks are essential road trip listening. Whether you’re a natural performer or more of the humming type, you’ll be singing along in no time!

• “Paradise By the Dashboard Light” — Meat Loaf
• “A Thousand Miles” — Vanessa Carlton
• “Proud Mary” — Tina Turner
• “Psycho Killer” — Talking Heads
• “Born to Run” — Bruce Springsteen
• “Go Your Own Way” — Fleetwood Mac
• “American Pie” — Don McLean
• “Livin’ On a Prayer” — Bon Jovi

’80s Throwbacks

If you really love a blast from the past, these songs are for you. So many ’80s tracks are ideal for road trips, with nostalgic melodies and catchy beats which instantly transport you back in time. Get your neon leg-warmers out — it’s time for permed hair and iconic dance moves as you cruise down the open road (and take a trip down memory lane)!

• “Little Red Corvette” — Prince
• “I Drove All Night” — Cyndi Lauper
• “Walk This Way” — Aerosmith and Run DMC
• “Danger Zone” — Kenny Loggins
• “Runnin’ Down a Dream” — Tom Petty

’90s Bops

As you make your way through your journey, you might also want to make your way through music history. Jumping forward a decade, the ’90s is where you’ll find catchy rhythms and beautiful melodies that will make any journey enjoyable. From TLC to the Beastie Boys, here are some perfect songs to sing with your besties as you contemplate your lives on the open road.

• “Waterfalls” — TLC
• “All The Small Things” — Blink-182
• “No Sleep ‘til Brooklyn” — Beastie Boys
• “Man! I Feel Like a Woman” — Shania Twain
• “Everyday Is a Winding Road” — Sheryl Crow

2000s Bangers

Another decade on, the bops just won’t stop! From Corinne Bailey Rae’s smooth vocals to Miley Cyrus’ 2009 party pop, these early 2000s tracks are essential for a summer adventure. These catchy tunes will get even the grumpiest backseat drivers nodding along, so be sure to add them to your road trip playlist.

• “Long Road to Ruin” — Foo Fighters
• “California” — Phantom Planet
• “Chasing Pavements” — Adele
• “Put Your Records On” — Corinne Bailey Rae
• “Shut Up and Drive” — Rihanna
• “Party in the USA” — Miley Cyrus

Modern Pop Hits

A road trip doesn’t technically have to be by car. Maybe you’ve taken a page out of Lil Nas X’s book and you’re making your way on horseback. Either way, these modern pop hits are must-haves on your travels. Channel your inner Ed Sheeran as you drive down those country lanes!

• “Barbie World” — Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice (with Aqua)
• “Castle on the Hill” — Ed Sheeran
• “Levitating” — Dua Lipa
• “Vroom Vroom” — Charli XCX
• “Old Town Road” — Lil Nas X

Classic Rock

When the going gets tough, it’s time to headbang your way down the highway. Driving long distances can get tiring, so when you need an energy boost, these are the tracks to turn up to eleven. All you need is your headband and your air guitar — get ready to kick back and let the beat drive you onwards to Paradise City!

• “Paradise City” — Guns N’ Roses
• “Highway Star” — Deep Purple
• “Here I Go Again” — Whitesnake
• “Highway to Hell” — AC/DC
• “Who Are You” — The Who

Baby Driver (2017) Soundtrack

This Edgar Wright film combines two great things: music and driving. It also happens to have a fantastic soundtrack! Many movies through the years have captured the spirit of driving in many different ways, such as Easy Rider  (1969), Little Miss Sunshine  (2006), and Mad Max: Fury Road (2015). These songs will have you enjoying your journey, but you’ll also be planning your next movie night!

• “Radar Love” — Golden Earring
• “Baby Driver” — Simon & Garfunkel
• “Chase Me” — Danger Mouse feat. Run the Jewels & Big Boi
• “Brighton Rock” — Queen

From Luke Combs ’ heartfelt cover of Tracy Chapman’s 1998 hit to Willie Nelson ‘s love letter to the journey ahead, country music is perfect for reflective moments on the road. These songs encapsulate the often bittersweet joy of travel, which resonates with the freedom and adventure of road trips. Have your tissues at the ready — some of these tracks are real tear-jerkers!

• “Highway Vagabond” — Miranda Lambert
• “Sweet Home Alabama” — Lynyrd Skynyrd
• “Fast Car” — Luke Combs
• “On the Road Again” — Willie Nelson
• “Take It Easy” — Eagles
• “Life is a Highway” — Rascal Flatts
• “Take Me Home, Country Roads” — John Denver

While we certainly hope your road trip doesn’t feel like you’re going through the valley of the shadow of death, we do have a song for that. Whether it’s Coolio or Q-Tip providing the soundtrack to your road trip, there are plenty of hip-hop songs about driving to get you through even the longest of journeys. Check out these tracks to help you vibe while you drive.

• “Ridin’” — Chamillionaire feat. Krayzie Bone
• “A Boomin’ System” — LL Cool J
• “Gangsta’s Paradise” — Coolio
• “Let Me Ride” — Dr. Dre
• “Let’s Ride” — Q-Tip

Find more music to soundtrack your summer road trip on SiriusXM.

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Chris stapleton launches his own exclusive channel playing country, rock, soul, and more, 15 memorial day weekend music specials to jumpstart your summer, billie eilish curates her own exclusive channel to celebrate new album release, music, sports, news and more.

All in one place on the SiriusXM app

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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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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!

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101 Road Trip Songs to Play on Your Next Drive

• From top movie picks to celebrity scoops and travel advice, Brittany writes on a wide range of topics for The Knot.
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There's nothing quite like a thrilling adventure behind the wheel, and no journey is complete without the best road trip songs to accompany you on your ride. Whether you're planning a solo expedition, a road trip honeymoon or a fun-filled outing with the bach party crew, the right driving music playlist can transform your lengthy car rides into unforgettable experiences.

From powerful rock anthems that'll have you cranking up the volume to mellow acoustic tunes that set the mood for scenic drives, our editors have curated a list of 101 road trip songs that are so good, they might as well be considered road trip essentials . With the wind in your hair, the sun on the horizon and road trip music on the speakers, you're bound for a memorable adventure. Sit back, fasten your seatbelts, and feel the beat with these road trip songs.

In this article:

The Knot's Top 10 Road Trip Songs

Road trip songs about driving, classic road trip songs, singalong road trip songs, country road trip songs, summer road trip songs, groovy road trip songs, road trip playlist names.

From funky beats to cinematic electro-pop, here are the absolute best road trip songs curated by our editors.

"Road Trippin'" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers

Here's a mellow, acoustic track by the Red Hot Chili Peppers that captures the essence of wanderlust and the open road, making it an essential tune for any road trip playlist.

"Pull Up To The Bumper," Grace Jones

This sultry groove may not be talking about a car's bumper per se, but it's an iconic disco classic that is perfect for staying energized on late drives.

"California Dreamin'" by The Mamas & the Papas

This timeless anthem beautifully expresses the longing for warmth and sunshine, making it an evergreen song choice for dreamy road trip escapes.

"I Wish," Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder's "I Wish" is a funky masterpiece that's impossible not to groove along with while driving to an exciting destination.

"Mr. Brightside," The Killers

As a chart-topping indie-rock hit, "Mr. Brightside" by The Killers is the perfect blend of nostalgia and catchy energy, making it a must-play track for car sing-a-long sessions.

"You Go Down Smooth," Lake Street Dive

When it comes to songs for the road trip of your dreams, look no further than Lake Street Dive's "You Go Down Smooth." With Rachael Price's mesmerizing vocals, this soulful song was made for winding down on a moonlit journey.

"Nightcall," Lovefoxxx, Kavinsky

Fans of the 2011 film Drive will instantly recognize this cinematic electro-pop track. It's a must-play on late night drives through vibrant cityscapes.

"Could Heaven Ever Be Like This," Idris Muhammad

With its hypnotic groove and a unique blend of jazz and disco elements, this iconic track by Idris Muhammad belongs on every list of road trip songs.

"Son of a Preacher Man," Dusty Springfield

Jam-packed with soul and charm, this classic song is ideal for a breezy cruise down memory lane.

"Coming Home," Leon Bridges

This heartfelt tune is a great companion for the long drive home after an epic road trip adventure.

With lyrics and melodies that amplify the joy of hitting the open road, these road trip songs about driving also serve as powerful metaphors for life's journey. They're perfect driving songs, but many of them will resonate beyond the literal act of hitting the road, too.

"Fast Car," Tracy Chapman

"Fast Car" by Tracy Chapman is a heartstring-tugging ballad that paints the picture of chasing freedom down the open road — a relatable journey for anyone who loves getting the heck out of Dodge when push comes to shove.

"Keep Driving," Harry Styles

In this Harry Styles road trip song, the lyrics "should we just keep driving?" serve as a metaphorical invitation to persevere through life's chaos, no matter how absurd or challenging it may become.

"Life Is a Highway," Tom Cochrane

This electrifying anthem cranks up the volume on the joys of life as a never-ending highway, making it an absolute must-have for your road trip playlist.

"No Particular Place to Go," Chuck Berry

This rock 'n' roll hit by Chuck Berry is a total blast, capturing the thrill of cruising around with your sweetheart, with no particular place to go.

"I Can't Drive 55," Sammy Hagar

Here's a high-energy rock song that rebels against speed limits and embodies the need for speed — but please, don't take these lyrics literally!

"Drive My Car," The Beatles

Who can resist grooving to The Beatles' "Drive My Car"? It's a pop-rock classic that's practically woven into our musical DNA. With its clever lyrics, it turns the whole idea of driving into a wild ride of ambition and success

"Running on Empty," Jackson Browne

Hit play on "Running on Empty" by Jackson Browne when you're in a nostalgic and reflective mood.

"King of the Road," Roger Miller

"King of the Road" by Roger Miller is a foot-tapping country classic that embraces the carefree simplicity of life on the open road, where the journey is the real treasure.

"Highway to Hell," AC/DC

AC/DC's "Highway to Hell" is an electrifying rock anthem that'll have you revving up for your road trip and the wild ride of life.

"I Drove All Night," Cyndi Lauper

Buckle up for an 80s track that'll whisk you away on a nostalgia-fueled journey. This one's a love song that uses driving as a metaphor for the extraordinary lengths someone will go to be with their special someone.

"Six Days on the Road," Dave Dudley

In "Six Days on the Road" by Dave Dudley, you can practically smell the diesel fumes and taste the trucker's coffee as he sings about life on the asphalt, making you want to hit the road for a cross-country road trip.

"Brand New Cadillac," The Clash

This musical joyride by The Clash features roaring guitars and frenetic beats that'll make you feel like you're speeding down the highway in a vintage muscle car.

"Cruisin'" by Smokey Robinson

Smokey Robinson's "Cruisin'" is the ultimate serenade to the special someone sitting in your passenger seat, inviting you to take a musical journey where love and the open road merge in perfect harmony.

"Truckin'" by the Grateful Dead

"Truckin'" by the Grateful Dead is the ultimate road trip anthem, a groovy tune that'll have you nodding along to its rhythm while dreaming of endless adventures on the highway.

"Riding in My Car," Elizabeth Mitchell

If you're going on a road trip with kids, this delightful song about driving will make all of you want to roll down the windows and sing along with a carefree heart.

Get your party started

"mustang sally," wilson pickett.

This is the kind of song that'll make you want to hit the gas pedal and let your inner wild child take the wheel, with a chorus so catchy you'll be humming it long after the ride's over.

"Boyfriend's Car," Colour Me Wednesday

With its upbeat melody and cheeky lyrics, "Boyfriend's Car" by Colour Me Wednesday will make you want to grab the car keys and hit the road with your best pals.

"Get in My Car," BRONCHO

With lyrics like "I like to go fast, I like to go far, won't you open that door? Get in my car," this catchy song by BRONCHO is a fab pick for adventure seekers and dreamers alike. You'll love its catchy beat and unique vocals.

"Road to Nowhere," Talking Heads

Lyrically, "Road to Nowhere" reflects a sense of journey and searching for meaning in life. It uses driving and the open road as a metaphor for life's uncertain and often directionless path.

From Willie Nelson's "On the Road Again" to "Lovely Day" by Bill Withers, these timeless classics are quintessential driving songs for any road trip adventure.

"On the Road Again," Willie Nelson

With its catchy melody and heartfelt lyrics, this country hit has become an anthem for travelers and adventurers, resonating with anyone who's ever felt the call of the highway and the excitement of a new journey.

"Life in the Fast Lane," Eagles

"Life in the Fast Lane" by the Eagles is a rock masterpiece known for its driving rhythm and vivid lyrics that capture the allure and perils of a fast-paced, high-octane lifestyle.

"Take Me Home, Country Roads," John Denver

Here's a beloved folk classic that evokes a sense of nostalgia and the longing for the familiar, making it an essential song for those returning to their roots.

"You're So Vain," Carly Simon

Everyone will be singing along to this sassy, upbeat song by Carly Simon. It'll help to turn those lengthy hours behind the wheel into a fun and memorable road trip experience.

"Wild World," Cat Stevens

This ballad speaks to the bittersweet farewells and reflections often encountered during a road trip, offering a great soundtrack for those moments of contemplation.

"Rich Girl," Daryl Hall & John Oates

Daryl Hall & John Oates' "Rich Girl" is a groovy, feel-good tune that infuses a sense of carefree luxury and adventure into your journey, making it perfect for the road.

"Highwayman," The Highwaymen, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash

This epic country ballad that weaves together tales of life, death, and reincarnation along the roadways, creating an emotionally resonant narrative for your travels.

"Wild Horses," The Rolling Stones

"Wild Horses" is the kind of song that'll add depth and emotion to your journey, inviting reflection and a deeper connection with the landscape, the people you're with and the places you're heading.

"The Long and Winding Road," The Beatles

Here's a classic ballad by The Beatles that'll take you through the scenic landscapes of life, reminding you that even the most twisty-turny journeys can lead to beautiful destinations.

"Riders on the Storm," The Doors

With haunting melodies and Jim Morrison's evocative vocals, this is one of the best road trip songs for cruising along rain-soaked highways, conjuring a cinematic journey into the unknown.

"Easy," Commodores

The Commodores' "Easy" is a smooth and soulful road trip anthem, providing a laid-back groove that matches the leisurely pace of a scenic drive.

"Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey

This iconic road trip song is pretty much synonymous with the enduring spirit of adventure. Its memorable chorus and anthemic sound make it an uplifting and powerful addition to any road trip playlist.

"Rearviewmirror," Pearl Jam

This driving song by Pearl Jam is a great song for shaking off the past and hitting the gas on life's highway, leaving regrets in the dust. With Eddie Vedder's emotive vocals, it's the ultimate anthem for forward momentum.

"Lovely Day," Bill Withers

"Lovely Day" by Bill Withers is a classic song known for its uplifting and feel-good vibe, making it a go-to track for brightening any lengthy drive.

Characterized by catchy melodies, easy-to-remember lyrics and an irresistible urge to belt out the words, these singalong road trip songs belong on your driving music playlist.

"Dancing in the Moonlight," King Harvest

With its infectious and carefree melody, "Dancing in the Moonlight" by King Harvest is perfect for late-night drives, where passengers can't help but sing along to the feel-good lyrics.

"Like a Rolling Stone," Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone" offers a timeless anthem for soul-searching road trips, with its poetic lyrics and memorable melody that invites passionate singing from all passengers.

"Hey Jude," The Beatles

A singalong standard, "Hey Jude" by The Beatles is tailor-made for group road trips, with its unforgettable "na-na-na-na" chorus that's impossible not to join in on.

"September," Earth, Wind & Fire

This high-energy, funk-infused hit that will have everyone in the car grooving and harmonizing to its infectious melodies.

"My Girl," The Temptations

A soulful gem, "My Girl" by The Temptations is an absolute must-sing during any road trip, with its heartwarming lyrics and soothing harmonies.

"You Make My Dreams Come True," Daryl Hall & John Oates

This upbeat pop classic is an instant mood-lifter, making it an ideal choice for a car full of enthusiastic passengers, ready to sing along to the fun, uplifting chorus.

"Stand by Me," Ben E. King

"Stand by Me" is a timeless ballad that brings people together with its comforting lyrics, making it a natural addition to your list of road trip songs.

"Jolene," Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton's "Jolene" offers a fabulous opportunity for passengers to show off their vocal skills while engaging with this iconic country hit.

"All Star," Smash Mouth

"All Star" is an upbeat and spirited tune that encourages animated singalongs, particularly for those who grew up watching Shrek.

"Bennie and the Jets," Elton John

Elton John's "Bennie and the Jets" combines a memorable melody with quirky lyrics, creating playful moments that are perfect for singing along on the road.

"Brown Eyed Girl," Van Morrison

With its feel-good lyrics and folk-rock melody, "Brown Eyed Girl" is an enduring singalong that'll bring warmth to any car ride.

"Eye of the Tiger," Survivor

This high-energy anthem is a favorite for group singalongs, especially when you need a motivational boost on the road.

"Tambourine Man," Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan's "Tambourine Man" combines poetic storytelling with a memorable melody, providing ample opportunities for passengers to harmonize and get lost in the music.

These country road trip songs are perfect companions for scenic drives, offering a soundtrack that resonates with the sights and sounds of driving out in the countryside and making your road trip one to remember.

"Wide Open Spaces," The Chicks

"Wide Open Spaces" is a country classic by The Chicks (formerly known as the Dixie Chicks), with lyrics that capture the feeling of setting out on the open road, making it an anthem for wanderers.

"Fast Cars and Freedom," Rascal Flatts

Rascal Flatts' "Fast Cars and Freedom" is an up-tempo country song that embodies the spirit of a carefree road trip, complete with a driving beat and lyrics about adventure.

"Wagon Wheel," Old Crow Medicine Show

Originally penned by Bob Dylan and later reimagined by Old Crow Medicine Show, "Wagon Wheel" is a beloved folk-country song that conjures images of a scenic journey on a dusty trail.

"I've Been Everywhere," Johnny Cash

This high-energy, tongue-twisting song lists an array of places, creating a sense of vicarious travel for the listener.

"Take a Back Road," Rodney Atkins

Rodney Atkins' "Take a Back Road" is a feel-good, country-rock tune that encourages taking the scenic route and embracing life's little detours.

"Drivin' My Life Away," Eddie Rabbitt

Here's an upbeat country track that captures the nomadic spirit of road tripping, with a chorus that's hard not to sing along with.

"Amarillo by Morning," George Strait

George Strait's "Amarillo by Morning" is a classic country ballad that paints a vivid picture of the open plains and the longing for home, making it an ideal song for a cross-country journey.

"I Walk the Line," Johnny Cash

A Johnny Cash classic, "I Walk the Line" conveys devotion and steadfastness, making it a song that resonates with travelers as they embark on their journey.

"Daytona Sand," Orville Peck

"Daytona Sand" by Orville Peck is a modern country song with a nostalgic sound that evokes a sense of wanderlust and the feeling of freedom on the road.

"Here You Come Again," Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton's "Here You Come Again" is a timeless country hit that conveys a sense of longing and anticipation, with Dolly singing about the return of a past love.

Whether it's a drive to the beach, a cross-country journey or simply cruising with the windows down, these summer road trip songs will set the soundtrack for sun-soaked moments on the road.

"Riptide," Vance Joy

Vance Joy's "Riptide" is a folk-pop song with an infectious melody and a carefree spirit, making it a perfect accompaniment for a summer drive along the coast.

"As It Was," Harry Styles

"As It Was" by Harry Styles is a sunny and laid-back track that embodies the nostalgia of summer, ideal for a leisurely road trip.

"I Follow Rivers," Lykke Li

Here's an upbeat indie-pop song with an adventurous spirit, evoking a sense of wanderlust and exploration.

"Alaska," Maggie Rogers

Maggie Rogers' "Alaska" is a fusion of folk and electronic elements, creating a unique sound fit for capturing the essence of a summer adventure.

"Summertime Sadness," Lana Del Rey

This melancholic yet captivating song captures the bittersweet feelings of summer's end, making it perfect for late August or September road trips.

"Cruisin' to the Parque," Durand Jones & The Indications, Y La Bamba

"Cruisin' to the Parque" is a soulful track with a groovy, retro vibe that sets the mood for a relaxed summer road trip.

"Texas Sun," Leon Bridges, Khruangbin

"Texas Sun" is a collaboration between Leon Bridges and Khruangbin, offering a fusion of soul and funk that pays homage to the Texan landscape, making it a fantastic choice for a Lone Star State adventure.

"Old Pine," Ben Howard

Evoking nostalgia and longing for the outdoors, this song by Ben Howard is the perfect driving music — especially if you're driving into the woods for an epic camping trip with your pals.

"Postcards From Italy," Beirut

Beirut's "Postcards From Italy" is a folk-infused song with a continental flair, evoking images of sun-drenched European road trips and Mediterranean coastlines.

"Home," Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

This joyful, folk-rock anthem radiates a sense of togetherness and nostalgia, making it ideal for shared road trip memories.

"Summer of '69," Bryan Adams

Bryan Adams' "Summer of '69" is a classic rock hit that brims with nostalgia, celebrating the memories of youthful summer adventures.

"Walking on Sunshine," Katrina and the Waves

An enduring pop song, "Walking on Sunshine" exudes a carefree, upbeat energy that makes sense for a summertime joyride.

"Eternal Summer," Strokes

This indie rock track might be one of the best road trip songs ever, capturing the hazy and timeless feeling of driving in the summertime.

"All Summer Long," Kid Rock

This song is the ultimate summer soundtrack, sampling two iconic rock songs: Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama" and Warren Zevon's "Werewolves of London."

"Good Vibrations," The Beach Boys

The Beach Boys' "Good Vibrations" is a legendary surf-rock track that radiates sunny and beachy vibes, making it synonymous with the spirit of summer.

"Island in the Sun," Weezer

This feel-good, alt rock song that embodies the dream of finding an idyllic paradise, which is totally fitting for a dreamy summer road trip.

"How Long Do I Have to Wait for You?," Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings

With vintage vibes and a groovy, horn-laden melody, this soulful track by Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings will undoubtedly enhance your summer road trip playlist.

"Franklin's Tower," Grateful Dead

The Grateful Dead's "Franklin's Tower" is a jammy and bluesy track that embodies the free-spirited atmosphere of summer music festivals and road trips.

"Sugar Man," Rodriguez

Rodriguez's "Sugar Man" is a folk-rock song with an aura of mystery and adventure, a perfect fit for a road trip seeking the unknown.

"You And Me," Penny & The Quarters

This soul ballad by Penny & The Quarters sets a romantic and nostalgic tone for a summer road trip, filled with love and longing.

"Heavy California," Jungle

Jungle's "Heavy California" is an electrifying funk and soul-infused track that exudes energy and excitement, making it a top-notch summer road trip song choice.

"Cecilia," Simon & Garfunkel

Simon & Garfunkel's "Cecilia" is a beloved folk-rock song that captures the carefree essence of youth and summertime fun.

"Me and Julio Down by the School," Paul Simon

This Paul Simon song is an upbeat tune that celebrates youthful adventures, making it a great addition to your summer road trip music list.

With funky basslines, rhythmic guitar riffs and infectious melodies, these groovy road trip songs are perfect for making those long journeys more fun.

"Back Pocket," Vulfpeck

"Back Pocket" by Vulfpeck is a funk-infused track with a catchy, danceable groove and an infectious bassline, making it a great choice for a lively road trip playlist.

"Young Hearts Run Free," Candi Staton

Candi Staton's "Young Hearts Run Free" is a classic disco song with an upbeat tempo and lyrics that'll inspire a little car seat dancing.

"Long Way Home," Durand Jones & The Indications

This soulful, groovy track will set a mellow, yet rhythmic mood for your journey.

"Oh, Loretta," Sex on Toast

"Oh, Loretta" is a fun and funky tune by Sex on Toast, with a mix of soul and pop elements, with lyrics that'll add a hint of humor to your road trip music selection.

"You're Mine," The Funk Brothers

The Funk Brothers' "You're Mine" is a smooth and soulful track that embodies the classic Motown sound and infuses a groovy atmosphere into your adventure.

"Pusherman," Curtis Mayfield

This funk and soul masterpiece, known for its gritty rhythm and lyrics, is perfect for adding a touch of grit to your selection of road trip songs.

"Give Up The Funk," Parliament

"Give Up The Funk" by Parliament is a funky anthem with an irresistible beat and memorable hooks, igniting a lively vibe during your long journey.

"Le Freak," Chic

"Le Freak" is a disco classic by Chic, known for its catchy melody and danceable groove, making it an ideal choice to keep the good vibes flowing during your road trip.

"Last Dance," Donna Summer

Donna Summer's "Last Dance" is an energetic disco hit that encourages passengers to bob their heads and sing along, setting the stage for a memorable time on the road.

"You Haven't Done Nothin'," Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder's "You Haven't Done Nothin'" is a groovy track with a social message, mixing soul and funk elements to keep the journey's energy flowing.

"1612," Vulfpeck

This funky track has a playful rhythm with killer vocals that's sure to bring a smile to the faces of your fellow road trippers.

"Down in Mexico," The Coasters

The Coasters' "Down in Mexico" is a famous rhythm and blues track with a sultry and captivating groove you'll want to play more than once on your next road trip.

Whether you're cruising through scenic landscapes, embarking on an epic adventure or seeking the perfect soundtrack name for your journey, here are a few road trip playlist names to consider before putting together your next road trip music list.

• Highway Harmonies
• Cruisin' Classics
• Sun-Kissed Highway Jams
• Road Trippin'
• For the Open Road
• Driving Fast
• Golden Hour on the Road
• Summer Road Trip
• Coastal Cruisin'
• Backroad Beats
• Open Road Remixes
• Country Roads Collection
• Sizzlin' Summer Sounds
• Road Trip Mixtape
• Sunny Drives

Your Official Road Trip Playlist: 150+ Songs Everyone Knows

With multiple ways to learn, find something that suits your time, your level, and your budget

There’s nothing quite like a good road trip — it’s one of the best ways to spend time with friends and explore new scenery. To have a successful journey, you’ll need three things: a functioning vehicle, a full tank of gas, and (most importantly) an amazing road trip playlist! No more having to question “who sings this song?” 

After all, your playlist will be the soundtrack to your adventures. And is there anything better than belting out your favorite road trip songs with the open road ahead of you? We think not! 

Sharing music on the road is a great way to discover new artists and dive into styles that you normally wouldn’t listen to. Maybe you want to sing a song to keep you energized during your travels, or perhaps you prefer tunes that are calmer and more low-key.

Everyone has their own unique song picks that they like to put on the stereo, but having a playlist of songs everyone loves lets you all sing along and enjoy the experience together. Playing music and singing at the top of your lungs  is a great way to pass the time on any road trip. 

Whether you’re looking for a list of classic old songs everyone knows or the best sing-along songs of the 2000s and beyond, you’ve arrived at the right place. Crank up these tunes to prevent drowsiness on the road and make your journey more fun! With more than 150 sing-along songs to add to your playlist, you’ll have plenty of songs to get you from Point A to Point B. 

What Are Some Songs Everyone Likes? 

Even with a playlist full of songs, everyone knows it can be difficult to please everyone in the car, but on long road trips, do your best to find tunes that all of your passengers enjoy. Here are some of the best songs that are sure to get them singing along:

• “Life is A Highway (cover)” – Rascal Flatts
• “Back in the Saddle” – Aerosmith
• “Blue (Da Ba Dee)” – Eiffel 65
• “Doctor Jones” – Aqua
• “Quit Playin’ Games With My Heart” – Backstreet Boys
• “You’re Still the One” – Shania Twain
• “What I Got” – Sublime
• “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer” – George Thorogood

Do your fellow passengers a favor, though, and don’t start belting out these tunes off-key! Before you hit the open road, fine tune those pipes by taking some singing lessons. Sign up here and check out this video for more inspiration to do so ASAP:

150+ Best Sing-along Songs for your Road Trip Playlist

Ready to hit the road? Not so fast! Check out this list of the best sing along songs for road trips first. 

Best Road Trip Songs

Need to stay awake during a long trip? Turn up the volume on eight of the best sing-along roadtrip songs , which include country tunes, rock ballads, and everything in between. Here are some of the most popular road trip songs to add to your roads trip playlist that everyone knows the words to. Just don’t be surprised if your passengers want to hear them on repeat! 

• “Life in the Fast Lane” – the Eagles
• “Roam” – B-52s
• “Sweet Home Alabama” – Lynyrd Skynyrd
• “Livin’ on A Prayer” – Bon Jovi
• “Here I Go Again” – Whitesnake
• “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” – the Proclaimers

Road Trip Songs that Make You Dance

Roll down the windows, crank up the sound, and get ready to let loose with these danceable road trip songs . (Just keep your hands on the steering wheel!) With 90s favorites like Eiffel 65 and Aqua, along with more recent hits from   singers like Katy Perry and Kanye West, these popular road trips songs are guaranteed to get you wiggling in your seat.

• “Raise Your Glass” – P!nk
• “Dancing Queen” – ABBA
• “Dark Horse” – Katy Perry
• “Crazy in Love” – Beyonce and Jay-Z
• “Gold Digger” – Kanye West featuring Jamie Foxx
• “Around the World” – Daft Punk
• “Uptown Funk” – Mark Ronson
• “Hey Ya” – Outkast

’90s Nostalgia Road Trip Songs

Get ready to take a walk down memory lane. These sing-along songs will bring you back to some of your favorite times from grade school to college. And the best part? You’re sure to know every single word! Tunes from the ’90s and beyond , including the best sing-along song s of the 2000s offer the perfect soundtrack to any road trip adventure. 

• “Tearin’ up My Heart” – *NSync
• “Free Fallin’” – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
• “Roll to Me” – Del Amitri
• “Ocean Avenue” – Yellowcard
• “I Miss You” – Blink-182
• “Jane Says” – Jane’s Addiction
• “Welcome to Paradise” – Green Day
• “Only Wanna Be with You” – Hootie & the Blowfish
• “Champagne Supernova” – Oasis
• “Just A Girl” – No Doubt
• “Absolutely (Story of A Girl)” – Nine Days
• “Man in the Box” – Alice in Chains
• “Drops of Jupiter” – Train
• “Gives You Hell” – All-American Rejects
• “1985” – Bowling for Soup
• “Stacy’s Mom” – Fountains of Wayne
• “Here It Goes Again” – OK Go
• “Save Tonight” – Eagle-Eye Cherry

Beats with a Bounce

Keep the mood upbeat and positive with these fun road trip songs . Grab a cup of coffee, press play on these songs, and you’re sure to cruise to your destination wide-eyed and bushy-tailed. Check out these spunky yet chill, rock , and alternative tunes to add to your road trip playlist. Your passengers will thank you later!

• “The Guitar Man” – Cake
• “Scar Tissue” – Red Hot Chili Peppers
• “Girls Don’t Like Boys” – Good Charlotte
• “(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)” – The Beastie Boys
• “The Joker” – Steve Miller Band
• “Zombies Ate My Neighbors” – Single File
• “Mr. Jones” – Counting Crows
• “Sugar, We’re Going Down” – Fall Out Boy
• “Feel Good, Inc.” – the Gorillaz
• “Sex and Candy” – Marcy Playground
• “Are You Gonna Be My Girl?” – Jet
• “It’s the End of the World As We Know It” – R.E.M.
• “The Impression That I Get” – the Mighty Mighty Bosstones
• “Float On” – Modest Mouse
• “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked” – Cage the Elephant
• “Hey There Delilah” – Plain White T’s
• “99 Red Balloons” – Nena
• “White & Nerdy” – “Weird Al” Yankovic
• “I’m on A Boat” – the Lonely Island featuring T-Pain
• “Party Like A Rockstar” – Shop Boyz
• “Ice Ice Baby” – Vanilla Ice
• “Someday” – Sugar Ray
• “Seven Nation Army” – the White Stripes

Blastin’ Backbeats

For when you want to turn it up to eleven, you can’t go wrong with these ragers. With rock anthems from iconic artists like Nirvana and The Ramones, these road trip songs will bring your playlist to the next level. 

• “Sorrow” – Bad Religion
• “Should I Stay or Should I Go” – the Clash
• “I Wanna Be Sedated” – the Ramones
• “The Four Horsemen” – Metallica
• “Fear of the Dark” – Iron Maiden
• “Peace Sells” – Megadeth
• “Ten Thousand Fists” – Disturbed
• “Shout at the Devil” – Mötley Crüe
• “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’” – Judas Priest
• “Fat Lip” – Sum 41
• “Come Out and Play (Keep ‘Em Separated)” – the Offspring
• “Smells Like Teen Spirit” – Nirvana
• “Beverly Hills” – Weezer
• “Too Many Puppies” – Primus
• “This Is Not A Song, It’s A Sandwich” – Psychostick

Retro Road Trip Music

Throw it back to these classic songs. These good o ld songs that everyone knows, featuring classic tracks from back in the day, are always crowd-pleasers . Whether you’re road tripping with your grandfather or younger sister, there’s a good chance all your passengers will know the lyrics regardless of their age. Turn up the volume and get ready to belt out these lyrics!

• “My Girl” – The Temptations
• “Wipeout” – The Surfaris
• “Have You Ever Seen the Rain?” – Creedence Clearwater Revival
• “Bang the Drum All Day” – Todd Rundgren
• “California Dreamin’” – The Mamas and the Papas
• “Welcome to the Jungle” – Guns N’ Roses
• “Panama” – Van Halen
• “Fun, Fun, Fun” – the Beach Boys
• “American Pie” – Don McLean
• “Rock Around the Clock” – Bill Haley and His Comets
• “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” – Cyndi Lauper
• “Mother” – Danzig
• “Purple Haze” – Jimi Hendrix
• “One Love (People Get Ready)” – Bob Marley
• “Take On Me” – A-Ha
• “No More Mr. Nice Guy” – Alice Cooper
• “I Know It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll (But I Like It)” – the Rolling Stones
• “Once in A Lifetime” – Talking Heads
• “Stuck in the Middle with You” – Stealers Wheel
• “Cheeseburger in Paradise” – Jimmy Buffett
• “Ring of Fire” – Johnny Cash
• “It’s Raining Men” – the Weather Girls
• “Hound Dog” – Elvis Presley

Best Road Trip Songs for Singers

If you really want to wow your passengers with your pipes, then slip in a few of these road trip songs that will show off your talent. From high-hitting notes to impressive range, these artists and their songs really pull out all the stops. Add these addictive melodies to your playlist to show off your vocal skills , and everyone will be in awe of your singing voice!

• “Piano Man” – Billy Joel
• “All These Things That I’ve Done” – the Killers
• “Send the Pain Below” – Chevelle
• “Closer to Fine” – Indigo Girls
• “I Write Sins Not Tragedies” – Panic! At the Disco
• “Knights of Cydonia” – Muse
• “No One Knows” – Queens of the Stone Age
• “Stairway to Heaven” – Led Zeppelin
• “Piece of My Heart” – Janis Joplin
• “All Along the Watchtower” – Bob Dylan
• “Interstate Love Song” – Stone Temple Pilots
• “Pardon Me” – Incubus
• “Rocket Man” – Elton John
• “Black Hole Sun” – Soundgarden
• “Birdhouse in Your Soul” – They Might Be Giants
• “Ziggy Stardust” – David Bowie
• “Dog Days Are Over” – Florence and the Machine
• “Layla” – Eric Clapton
• “Imagine” – John Lennon
• “Someone to Watch Over Me” – Ella Fitzgerald (music by George and Ira Gerschwin)
• “I Ain’t Superstitious” – Willie Dixon
• “Rolling in the Deep” – Adele

SEE ALSO: 100+ Best Karaoke Songs

Awesome Anthems

Were you born to be wild or do you want to soak up the sun? These are some classic sing-along anthems  that everyone knows and can agree on. Sing these loud and proud to show you mean business! Every good road trip song list needs these hits. 

• “In the Street” – Cheap Trick
• “I Will Survive” – Gloria Gaynor
• “Don’t Stop Believin’” – Journey
• “Bohemian Rhapsody” – Queen
• “Jack & Diane” – John Mellencamp
• “Born to Be Wild” – Steppenwolf
• “Rock and Roll All Night” – KISS
• “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” – the Supremes
• “We’re Not Gonna Take It” – Twisted Sister
• “Crazy Train” – Ozzy Osbourne
• “Dancin’ in the Street” – Martha and the Vandellas
• “Ballroom Blitz” – The Sweet
• “Rock You Like A Hurricane” – the Scorpion
• “Eye of the Tiger” – Survivor
• “Cum on Feel the Noize” – Quiet Riot
• “Carry On, Wayward Son” – Kansas
• “Thriller” – Michael Jackson
• “You Shook Me All Night Long” – AC/DC
• “Soak Up The Sun” – Sheryl Crow
• “Pinball Wizard” – the Who
• “Juke Box Hero” – Foreigner
• “Summer of ’69” – Bryan Adams
• “The Time Warp” – Rocky Horror Picture Show
• “Another Brick in the Wall (pt. 2)” – Pink Floyd
• “The Twist” – Chubby Checker
• “Do You Love Me” – the Contours
• “Old Time Rock and Roll” – Bob Seger

Songs Everyone Knows

If you’re looking for more recent hits, here is popular road trip music from the last decade. Keep your playlist current with these chart-topping hits from today. You just can’t go wrong with good music from 2016 and good music from 2015. 

• “Work” – Rihanna ft. Drake
• “No Broken Hearts” – Bebe Rexha ft. Nicki Minaj
• “Cheap Thrills” – Sia
• “Wild Things” – Alessia Cara
• “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” – Justin Timberlake
• “Ride” – Twenty One Pilots
• “Cake by the Ocean” – DNCE
• “Kill Em With Kindness” – Selena Gomez

Fun Disney Sing Along Songs

These are the best sing along songs for Disney fans young and old. 

• “The Bear Necessities” – The Jungle Book 
• “Be Our Guest” – Beauty and the Beast 
• “A Whole New World” – Aladdin
• “How Far I’ll Go” – Moana
• “Colors of the Wind” – Pocahontas
• “Un Poco Loco” – COco
• “Reflection” – Mulan
• “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King” – The Lion King

Kids Sing Along Songs

Here are some of the best sing along songs if you have young kids along for the ride!

• “This Old Man”
• “The ABC Song” 
• “Here Comes the Sun” – the Beatles
• “She’ll Be Coming Round the Mountain” 
• “Baby Beluga”
• “Wheels on the Bus” 
• “This Land is Your Land”

Tips for the Best Road Trip Ever

Everybody knows to pack lots of snacks, plan out the route, and fill up on gas before you leave for a long road trip in the car.

But what a lot of people don’t realize is that choosing the right sing along songs is just as important – after all, you need to have something to do, and singing is a fun, healthy way to pass the time. 

Use this list of the best sing along songs as a starting point to develop your own perfect road trip playlist.  And when it comes to listening to playlists like these in the car, there are two schools of thought: either the driver has full authority to skip a track or you go by majority vote. Whatever your listening style is, crank it up and sing along to make the most of your trip!

Being in the car also happens to be a great opportunity to work on your singing skills. Cruising alone with good songs to listen to? That means you can sing as loud as your heart desires! 

But if you want to impress your friends on your next road trip together, consider taking free online singing classes to improve your vocal abilities. With a private instructor, you can focus on vocal training to reach your highest potential. Sign up today for singing lessons , and you’ll be all set to blow your passengers away with your singing voice on your next road trip. 

Let us know below what your top road trip tracks are . C heck out even more songs to add to your playlist!

Photo  by photosteve101

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The 30 Best Country Road Trip Songs, Ranked

Choosing the right playlist is essential to a successful road trip, but fortunately, you can't really go wrong with country music.

This genre offers tons of options, whether you're driving through the West Virginia mountains or down Texas back roads. Whether it's a carefree adventure or you've got something on your mind, country music has the perfect song for you.

In this list, Taste of Country has compiled the perfect soundtrack for any trip. Here, you'll find windows-down, uptempo tracks by the likes of Keith Urban , who's perfect the art of the carefree road anthem. You'll also find ballads from Tim McGraw and Julie Roberts, who know that going on a long trip often means leaving something — or someone — behind.

If mainstream country's your jam, you can't do better than these hit submissions from Florida Georgia Line and Sam Hunt . But sometimes, the open road calls for something a little rootsier — so don't forget to add these janglers from Dierks Bentley , Robert Earl Keen , Eddie Rabbitt and Roger Miller, too.

As for the No. 1 country road trip song of all time? Well, as far as we're considered, there's only one right answer. Scroll down this list to see if you agree with our top pick.

30 Best Country Road Trip Songs, Ranked

More from taste of country.

Eric's Heroes: 'Un-coolest' road trip to meet Mister Rogers leads to life-long friendships

by Eric Johnson, KOMO News Anchor

SEATTLE — He walks to work in a suit and tie. He enters the glass doors of the King County Courthouse.

Casey McNerthney is the director of communications for the King County Prosecutor's Office. He tells us about the cruel things that human beings do to one another in a sometimes cruel world.

That's what Casey does, but it's not who he is.

To understand that, you should know a story.

"I remember just being so excited with my parents," he said. "It was just a fun time."

In 1985, his parents took him to see Mister Rogers, live and in-person at the Paramount Theater. Casey was just 4 years old.

When I asked him about Mister Rogers' message, Casey answered this way: "When you're not that cool kid in grade school, or middle school, or even pre-school, having somebody to say, 'Hey, you're all right. You're OK just the way you are,' that resonates."

It brings to mind one of the songs Mister Rogers used to sing on his show. "There's only one in the whole wide world. You are special."

And maybe this helps explain why Casey always felt a connection to Fred Rogers over the years. As a child, and even sometimes now, Casey has battled a tendency to stutter.

"I think it was the worst in probably kindergarten, first grade to about freshman year of high school," he explained. "It was really tough, you know, and kids are pretty rough."

But Casey has another tendency. There is a certain true-blue purity to the man that others are somehow drawn to. Everyone who has spent any time around him has felt it.

He went on with the business of becoming a young man. As a freshman in college at Western Washington, Casey and his best buddy, Morgan Marshall, decided to take a road trip.

From his home in the Bay Area, Morgan remembers that first conversation.

"Casey came up with the idea and as soon as I heard it, I'm like, 'I'm in,'" Morgan said.

"It seemed like a wild idea, and we were like, 'Alright, let's try it out,'" Casey said.

They decided to drive to Pittsburgh to visit Fred Rogers.

Do you remember the character, "Mr. McFeely" in Mister Rogers' Neighborhood? He was the postman. His real name is David Newell. Casey found out that he also did some P.R. for the show, so he sent him an e-mail.

David Newell remembers getting that initial request.

"They wanted to drive across country, they were in college at the time, and meet Fred Rogers," he said.

And so they climbed into Morgan's '87 Ford Aerostar van and took off to see America.

Casey has dozens of photos from the trip. There are pictures of the wide open road, as they drove through Montana, and the Dakotas and Wisconsin. They stopped at roadside attractions. They took pictures in front of a giant Viking and a giant cow. They visited Notre Dame University.

I asked this question of Casey as he told me about the trip, 24 years ago: "Why weren't you too cool for Fred Rogers?"

Casey smiled at the idea.

"Almost every one of our friends were like, 'What? That's weird.' Maybe it's just that I've never been THAT cool, know what I mean? Maybe that's part of it!" he said.

They arrived at TV station WQED in Pittsburgh on June 23, 2000.

Morgan remembers waiting in the lobby.

"And then his personal secretary came out and peeked around the corner and was like, 'You Morgan and Casey? Fred's waiting for you! He wants to see you!" Morgan recalled.

"And then we walked in his office," Casey said, "and there's no fanfare, it's just him. And it was great. He was exactly what you see on television. 'You must be Morgan and Casey, come on in! Great to meet you.'"

Morgan agreed.

"He was who you thought he was, to an exponential degree," he said.

David Newell remembers that day, too, and how Fred Rogers reacted to the boys.

"He said, 'You drove across country?' Newell said. "At first he couldn't believe it. He could see both of the boys were really good kids."

At one point, Casey asked Mister Rogers if he could record their conversation on a cassette recorder he'd brought.

The recording is muffled, but you can hear Fred say, in that voice that can only be his, "I'm just so touched by the two of you. You know, it gives me such great hope to think the future is in the hands of people like you."

Fred invited Casey and Morgan to explore his "neighborhood," the one they'd watched as children. They saw the trolley, and the traffic light, and the castle where King Friday and Lady Elaine lived.

And they talked some more.

Casey noticed that on the occasion that he stammered or stuttered, Fred Rogers didn't finish his sentences the way most people did, or use hand gestures to speed him up.

He didn't rush Casey at all. He just waited.

"I didn't speak as well then," Casey said. "And even now I get caught sometimes, but he understood that, even without me saying it, and was just patient. Fred was better than anybody I've ever met at reading people."

If you need proof of that, consider this: before the boys left, Mister Rogers said he had a friend in Seattle that he wanted them to meet. Casey remembers his words.

"He said, 'Here's her contact information,' and he said, 'Will you give her a call? Will you give Nicole a call when you get back?' We said, 'Yeah, we will.'"

"Nicole" was Nicole Brodeur, a columnist for the Seattle Times. She'd met Fred Rogers a decade before on an assignment. They'd struck up a correspondence, which turned into a friendship. They'd remained friends.

She understands better than most the effect Fred has on people.

"We all become children again when you're with him," she said. "You're a kid. You're vulnerable. You're not a cynic. You're your best self in a way because he brings that out of you."

The boys left Pittsburgh happy, with their hearts full.

"He also said, 'Be sure to call when you get home safely,' which is so cool," Casey said.

And when they got back to Seattle, Morgan made a call.

"I looked up Nicole in the Seattle Times, and you know, 'This is going to be strange but Fred Rogers wants us to say hello to you.' She was, 'We need to talk.'"

The three of them met at Tully's in Wallingford. And they became friends. Great friends.

Nicole wrote a beautiful column about the boys' trip.

She started it like this: "Sometimes the best way to enter true adulthood is to make one last visit to the time you were a child."

And, from Pittsburgh, Fred Rogers kept track of the new friendships. He was like that.

Nicole reads from a handwritten letter she received from Fred. "What a joy to hear from you yesterday, thank you for being so generous to Casey and Morgan."

Around that time Casey sent Fred two pictures in a frame: the one from the Paramount in 1985, and one of the three of them at the TV station in Pittsburgh.

Fred sent a note.

"Dear Casey," he wrote,. "The framed photo of you as a child and you and me years later is a real treasure.'"

It was a real friendship. As it turns out, Fred Rogers was only interested in real friendships.

Not long ago Casey was looking at old things he has saved. And he saves everything.

He came across a bunch of recorded phone messages. Most were college friends, but one of them was that unmistakable, soft voice.

"Hello Casey, this is Fred Rogers in Pittsburgh. I'm sitting here looking at a picture of you when you were very young, and when you came to visit us. Just know that we think of you often and I wish you the very best. Bye bye, Casey."

Fred Rogers retired in 2001. He kept the two framed pictures from Casey on an end-table in his office until his very last day.

And two years later, in 2003, he died, having touched and taught millions of us about simple, decent kindness.

Not least amongst his accomplishments was a friendship in Seattle that he orchestrated from Pennsylvania.

When Casey was married, he and Laird, his wife, tasked Nicole to officiate.

During the ceremony, Nicole said to the bride and groom and the people attending, "Casey and I are story people. We actually met over the course of me doing a story about he and Morgan traveling to meet Mister Rogers."

When they get together they talk about Fred Rogers, and how he loved to arrange for the people he cared about to find one another.

"He, I think, knew before any of us that the three of us were going to be life-long buddies," Casey said.

Nicole calls it a gift.

"He's my brother," she said of Casey. "And Fred knew. I mean, it's all because of Fred. And so, to this day, Fred's long gone, but we're still here."

After he's done with his work at the King County Courthouse, still in his blue suit, Casey exits through the glass doors and heads for home.

He's the kind of guy who does the un-coolest thing EVER, travels across the country as a freshman in college to meet Mister Rogers, and somehow turns it into a triumph of the human experience.

So now you know exactly who Casey McNerthney is: quite possibly the coolest guy in town.

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Ready for summer vacation here are some road ready travel tips.

Consumer Reports

Are you already dreaming of summer? If your plans include a road trip, Consumer Reports has tips to help you stay safe, save some money, and manage those unexpected bumps on the road.

Before you hit the road for a family getaway, Consumer Reports recommends a few things before packing your bags and leaving home.

Inspect your tires for signs of damage, such as cuts, cracks, and sidewall blisters that might result from potholes. Also, check the tire pressure and adjust it to the number listed on the driver’s door jamb. Properly inflated tires are safer, last longer, and make your car more fuel-efficient.

You can make your car more fuel-efficient by reducing aerodynamic drag. If you’re not using it, take off anything like a roof rack and or bike rack. And sticking to the speed limit can also save fuel. Consumer Reports’ tests show you lose about six miles per gallon at 75 instead of 65 miles per hour.

And when it’s time to fill up the tank, many gas stations will offer a lower price if you pay with cash. A credit card with cash-back rewards on gas could actually be a better deal, especially if you’ll be spending more on gas than you typically would in a month.

And if you run into mechanical trouble or a flat tire, paying out of pocket for long-haul towing can run in the hundreds of dollars. It pays to look into a roadside assistance plan like AAA or Good Sam before you hit the road. Or you might already be covered by your auto insurance or credit card at no cost to you.

Apps and websites like GasBuddy and Waze can help with real-time prices at nearby gas stations when you’re filling up in an unfamiliar area – and while many gas stations will offer a lower price if you pay with cash, a credit card with cash-back rewards on gas could actually be a better deal.

Find more Consumer Reports content on KSAT.com here

Copyright 2024 by Consumer Reports - All rights reserved.

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