best road trip music reddit

Join our Adventure: Get all my insider tips for motorhoming & road trips

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.

Make planning your next road trip EASY (& fun!)

When you’re planning a road trip, keeping track & organising all your ideas is often the hardest part. Fix that TODAY with our printable pdf road trip planner. Grab yours FREE now

This form subscribes you to our mailing list. We share tips, itineraries, stupid mistakes and guides like this for road trippers and motorhomers.

We never spam (yuck) and you can unsubscribe at any time.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

20 Rock Classics- the BEST Road trip Rock songs

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

Best Driving Songs- All-American road trip songs

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

20 Modern road trip sing-along songs for girls

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

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

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

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

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

15 best songs about driving and cars

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

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

Planning a long drive? These post might help

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Classic road trip driving songs for EVERY trip

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

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

Spotify Link for this road trip playlist

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

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

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

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

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

How else can I help you today?

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

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

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

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

Sharing is caring!

Similar Posts

Does YOUR Road Trip need these? The Best Travel & Road Trip Gadgets

REVIEWED: Best Travel Drones for Beginners & Pros

45 best Motorhome, Caravan & Vanlife mugs

Jackery Explorer 500 UK review- DON’T buy before you read this…

15 Easy ways to save money on your road trips

Best car interior accessories (for the perfect road trip)

16 comments.

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

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

You missed out poison alive Cooper got to be on

thanks for the information

You’re welcome!

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

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

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

How do I access the playlist that you made

Rockin’ down the highway by The Doobie Brothers

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

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

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

I miss the golden Earring with Radar love.

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

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

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• Camping tips

Best 30 road trip songs for your road trip playlist

The best sing-along road trip songs with our favourite country and pop songs for the ultimate road trip vibe, plus other listening tips for the road.

Jeremy Sudibyo

A great roadbound adventure with an RV Rental needs the best road trip songs. Quietude is nice when staring out the car window in a state of holiday-bliss, but will get awkward at the half-hour mark. Singing along to a nice tune together is much more fun, so music it is! 

But what makes great road trip music? In this post, find out what a good tune needs to have to be great road material. 

For your future travels, we’ve recommended 30 of the best songs for a road trip and shared them in a Spotify playlist. We’ve added a downloadable, one-hour broadcast of some of those songs too. Read on to find further listening tips for great audiobooks and podcasts that will keep you entertained while driving.

What are some good road trip songs?

Every great road trip comes with its own soundtrack, but what makes a good road trip song? Different co-travellers, landscapes, seasons, and even times of day, all demand other music genres. On top of that, what defines ‘good music’ is a matter of taste. 

30 road trip songs to drive to and sing along

Now that we’ve shared our two cents on what makes a good playlist for cruising, how about we share our playlist? There’s everything we recommended above: singalongs, upbeat tunes, and good vibes above all. 

We’ve created a playlist on Spotify for you to stream. It’s embedded right here:

Songs on the playlist

1 Willie Nelson – On the Road Again

2. The Beach Boys – Good Vibrations

3. Ms Lauryn Hill – Doo Wop

4. The Modern Lovers – Roadrunner

5. OutKast – Hey Ya!

6. Men At Work – Down Under

7. Red Hot Chilli Peppers – Road Trippin’

8. Queen – Another One Bites The Dust

9. Paul Simon – Graceland

10. Eagles – Take It Easy 

11. A Tribe Called Quest – Can I kick It 

12. Kanye West – Through The Wire

13. Dr. Dre, Snoop Dog – Nuthin’ But A “G” Thang 

14. Dj Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince – Summertime

15. Whitney Houston – I Wanna Dance with Somebody

16. A-ha – Take on Me

17. Madonna – Holiday

18. Katrina & The Waves – Walking on Sunshine

19. Tracy Chapman – Give Me One Reason

20. David Bowie – Sound and Vision

21. Van Morrison – Brown Eyed Girl

22. Iggy Pop – The Passenger

23. Carly Simon – You’re so Vain

24. Peter, Pail and Mary – Leaving on a Jet Plane

25. Otis Redding – (Sittin’ On) the Docks of the Bay

26. Don McLean – American Pie

27. Talking Heads – This Must Be the Place

28. Fleetwood Mac – Go Your Own Way

29. Lou Reed – Walk on the Wild Side

30. Toploader – Dancing in the Moonlight

We can’t tell you what the best road trip music is (but we’ll try to!), so how about we give you a few guidelines to create your own road trip music playlist? 

How to create a good music playlist for a road trip?

Sing along road trip songs

Singalong songs make a road trip. There’s no better bonding than singing together and no better way to raise spirits and build momentum. You’ve found a good road trip singalong song when you instantly reach for the volume knob to blast the tune for all to sing (and to mask missing some of those high notes). 

Beware when adding singalongs to your playlist: use them sparingly! Not just because these are your special sauce, your co-driver can handle only so much Backstreet Boys.

A tempo for driving

If you’re driving for hours on end you’ll want to have music to keep you going. Not in a hurried way, just the right upbeat tempo and rhythm to keep feeling good and energetic. Maybe you don’t want to constantly have the same bpm for fear of dozing off. 

Add some variety and change of tempo to your music playlist to keep engaged. 

Music has the magical quality of setting the mood. So what mood does your playlist need to set? We want that holiday-vibe to kick in when on the road. 

Let’s analyze that vibe: it’s a happy feeling, one of excitement and adventure or whatever you chase on the journey you’re on. You want your music to reflect that and send out good vibrations to set the mood for a quality vacation. 

Everyone has their preferred musical genres and it’s up to you to create a playlist that fits your journey—keeping your travel companions in mind, that is. To keep everyone including yourself satisfied and listening, add a fun mix of genres to your playlist, including a combination of rock, country, rap and pop songs. 

Consider choosing a genre to build a theme around. Like adding good ol’ rock and roll for a deserted highway or chansons for the countryside.

Ready to build your own playlist? Whatever type of music you like most, following the above principles will help you have a good time on the road

The best Audiobooks and Podcasts for a Road Trip

Where music can really set the stage for your trip, there’s other listening material that scores as good on the entertainment side. 

Some of the greatest novels and most interesting non-fiction are available as audiobooks. Listening to them is like taking a journey within your journey—if anything, it’s a great way to kill time. 

Podcasts are the modern pirate radio stations. The sheer range of content and the indie feel to them make them excellent sound bytes on the road.

Audiobooks worth listening to on your next trip

A well-narrated audiobook will easily keep you entertained for hours on end. Note that not all books work equally well in audio format. 

We recommend to skip anything with sentences that blot whole pages. They’re meant for reading and making your brain tingle. Memoirs and engaging biographies make for great audiobooks. And novels. Any well told story, really. 

Audiobooks are copyrighted like e-books and therefore available through specific outlets, like Audible and iTunes.  

Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life 

Written and narrated by William Finnegan

Planning a coastal trip? These are the memoirs of a top-notch journalist who spent a life covering weighty topics like apartheid. And also spent a life surfing. Finnegan will transport you to deserted atolls and onto dusty roads in the Outback for the sake of chasing waves. Whether or not you’re a surfer, you’ll appreciate the story of a life well lived. 

Endurance. Shackleton’s Amazing Journey

By Alfred Lansing, narrated by Simon Prebble

Heading to cold territories? Does your campervan expedition lack strong leadership? Enter Shackleton, one of the 20th century’s most celebrated leader of men. Not because he led his expedition to victory. But because, when things went horribly wrong on his 1914 polar expedition, it was Ernest Shackleton who got all of his men home. This (audio)book is the definite retelling of one of the greatest adventures of our times. 

Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly

Written and narrated by Anthony Bourdain

The late Bourdain shows you the shadowy side of gourmet during his time growing up in the culinary world. An honest story by a man who is sorely missed by those he left behind. This is a unique chance to hear Anthony tell his own story and to get ready for your own gourmet adventure, wherever you’re headed on your holidays.

Or go for the classic story The Odyssey by Ian McKellen!

The Jungle Book

By Rudyard Kipling, pick your favourite narrator

This is a great option on a family road trip, because The Jungle Book opens up a world that speaks to all ages. When travelling with younguns, go for the Just So series of Kipling’s kids stories. Our favourite? The Elephant’s Child, narrated by Jack Nicholson (yes, this happened) and with a capella music by Bobby McFerrin (yes, really). 

The Children of Húrin

By J.R.R. Tolkien, narrated by Christopher Lee

Lord of the Rings fans need no convincing here, especially when reading who narrated Tolkien’s posthumously published novel. The late and great Christoper Lee, Saruman himself! This epic tale (also retold briefly in The Silmarillion) is set in the First Age of Middle Earth and is filled with tragedy and glory. For anyone who has no idea what all of that was just now, 

By Homer, narrated by Ian McKellen 

The mother of all journeys, Odyssey needs no introduction. If you’ve always wanted to but never read the epic(est, can we do that?) poem yourself, fear not—many have failed to commit. Perhaps Odysseus’ heroic tale will grip you when it’s told by Ian McKellen (that is Gandalf for you). Fun fact: in ancient times and before the greek alphabet, the Odyssey was an oral tradition, so maybe listening to it as an audiobook is coming full circle.  

6 of the best podcasts for a road trip

Listening to podcasts while on the road works wonderfully, too. They’re often engaging, current, and presented in a shorter format than audiobooks. It’s like listening to news radio but with your favourite hosts and full of interesting information. 

These online broadcasts air per episode and cover the whole spectrum of topics, making them an appealing and non-committal option for travellers. Here are some of the best podcasts for a road trip.

Zero to Travel

A must for aspiring travel nomads, this podcast covers the wondrous ways of alternative travelling: budget travels, digital nomads, and the stories of people who made travelling their life’s work.  

Economist Radio

Host David Palmer throws a weekly light on current topic in the way you’ve come to expect from The Economist. This is opinionated news on a level you won’t likely find on the FM band. Get opinionated here .

Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

If to you a road trip adventure is about meeting new people, maybe you want to tune into this podcast. As an armchair expert, the host interviews people from all walks of life to hear stories, challenges, and life lessons. 

Condé Nast Traveler: Women who Travel

This isn’t the early 20th century and you’re not staying home just because you’re a woman. This Apple Podcast series is a celebration of travelling women pooled from the huge community Condé Nast mobilized around the topic. 

Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History

This podcast is for those with, one, a deep-rooted interest in history (often the gorey type) and , two, a lot of distance to cover on their road trip. Called the king of long-form podcasts, host Dan Carlin will research an event or topic for months to build a compelling historical storyline that can last for hours, nay days. Trans-Euro drive, anyone? 

Everything is Alive

A comical and informative podcast where objects from a lamppost to a soap bar are given a voice so that they discuss their life with the podcast host. An absurd premise that manages to reveal as much about ourselves as it does about the hidden life of your daily items.

About the Autor

Seasonal vanlifer on a permanent holiday. Does occasional creative work to sustain his diet of beachside margaritas and paperback thrills.

Related articles

• Destinations
• Uncategorized

EURO 2024 in a Campervan – A Winning Combination?

• Traveler stories

Exploring the Dolomites in October: A perfect off-season adventure

• How-to Guides
• RV Lifestyle

Freshen Up On-The-Go: Convenient Shower Alternatives for your Road Trip

International sites.

the future of music

Suggestions

50 best road trip songs (ultimate road trip playlist).

Finding the best road trip songs can elevate your journey from mundane to memorable.

We all crave that perfect soundtrack, one that mirrors the landscapes whizzing by and enhances the thrill of the open road.

Dive in, and discover the ultimate tunes to accompany every mile of your adventure.

1. “Road Trippin'” by Red Hot Chili Peppers

There’s something about the Red Hot Chili Peppers vibe that makes for excellent road trip music (that West Coast chilled vibe.)

There are many songs to pick from, but this one, which is named “Road Trippin,” is simply too good not to mention.

2. “L.A. Woman” by The Doors

One of the all-time great road trip songs by the Doors is “L.A. Woman.”

The organ solo, the bass line, the build-up, and the breakdown

It seems like it was designed to be driven in a laboratory.

It has repeated references to driving, including the closing phrase “driving down your freeway.”

3. “Waterfalls” by TLC

The song “ Waterfalls ” is recorded by the American hip-hop group TLC.

“Waterfalls,” which is frequently regarded as the group’s signature song, was a worldwide hit that topped the charts in numerous nations.

The song gave the trio their second US No. 1 after spending seven weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100.

This music demands to be sung along with its catchy chorus and funk backbeat.

It is one of the trio’s best songs and the ideal song for a road trip.

4. “She’s So High” by Tal Bachman

“She’s So High,” Tal Bachman ‘s breakthrough hit, continues to be a classic ballad.

We must all sing that enormous falsetto note with him throughout the chorus’s build-up.

Any road trip playlist should have this song.

5. “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Lynyrd Skynyrd is an American southern rock band .

Their second album, Second Helping , features the song “Sweet Home Alabama” (1974).

Since it has been in so many media, including TV commercials and movies, this has perhaps been overused.

Since it’s a very fantastic road trip song, it’s worth disregarding all that.

It is a must if you are driving through Alabama.

6. “Mr. Brightside” by The Killers

Even when you’re trapped in traffic, pomp, bombast, and amazing riffs and melodies can set you free.

The Killers ‘ Hot Fuss debut album contains a song called “Mr. Brightside,” a rare road trip song that can lift you out of the daily grind’s metaphorical “cage” and the traffic blues.

7. “Wagon Wheel” by Old Crow Medicine Show

Bob Dylan was contacted by the Old Crow Medicine Show and asked if they could finish writing a demo he had recorded decades earlier.

We should all be grateful that it gave us “Wagon Wheel,” one of the best party songs .

8. “Every Morning” by Sugar Ray

The main single from Sugar Ray ‘s third studio album, 14:59 , is “Every Morning,” a song that was written by the American rock group.

Sugar Ray’s Every Morning is a four-minute shot of dopamine with a calm guitar lick.

It’s the ideal song to put on while driving and sing along with friends.

9. “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey

Nobody, at least that I know of, doesn’t stop what they’re doing to belt out the lyrics of “ Don’t Stop Believin’ .

And you, my friend, are a liar if you shake your head and claim that you never do.

This song is ideal for any type of road trip. It’s ideal at any time.

10. “Born To Be Wild” by Steppenwolf

“Born to be Wild” by Steppenwolf must be included on any list of classic road trip songs.

The song, which was used in the 1960 cult movie Easy Rider, immediately went viral.

It is the ideal song since it glorifies the need for freedom and adventure and makes explicit references to engines and automobiles (“get your motor running”).

11. “Lose Yourself” by Eminem

The soundtrack to the 2002 film “8 Miles” includes the American rapper Eminem ‘s song “Lose Yourself.”

The song was written and produced by Eminem, Jeff Bass, a member of the Bass Brothers production team, and Luis Resto.

Eminem was the writer of the lyrics.

One of the best tracks to rap along to in hip hop is Eminem’s famous hit “Lose Yourself.”

The guitar introduces the song, which is a famous hit from his movie 8 Mile and is about having the courage to reach your full potential.

12. “White Flag” by Dido

The anthem “White Flag” by Dido is a song for women worldwide.

Here, the emphasis is on remaining steadfast, remaining true to oneself, and never giving up on your convictions.

While driving along a highway after dusk, this song is ideal for belting out loud.

13. “The Passenger” by Iggy Pop

Iggy Pop recorded and released “The Passenger,” a song written by Ricky Gardiner and Iggy Pop, on the Lust for Life album in 1977.

This Iggy Pop hit makes people think of nighttime highways and road cruising (“down the city’s backsides”) in search of fun.

Pop and co-writer/producer David Bowie were living a crazy lifestyle that included drugs, alcohol, and late nights at the time this was being written.

14. “Hotel California” by Eagles

You’ll probably end up staying at one or more hotels if you’re taking a road trip.

You’d best hope that you don’t stumble onto “ Hotel California ,” where “you can check out but never leave.

It’s very difficult to dislike this song, which ranks among the most well-known American rock tunes ever.

15. “Don’t Speak” by No Doubt

This iconic breakup song is about No Doubt singer Gwen Stefani and the band’s guitarist.

For anybody with a broken heart, this is one of the best sing-along songs .

It’s also an excellent song to put on your next driving playlist, especially if you’re trying to get away from a failed relationship.

16. “Hey There Delilah” by Plain White T’s

The Plain White T’s “Hey There, Delilah” is the ideal song for you if you’re attempting to get into your feelings throughout your lengthy drive.

It is all about the difficulties of pursuing your goals while being in a committed relationship.

The lovely song is ideal for a rainy stretch of highway.

17. “Truckin'” by Grateful Dead

One of the best songs for road trips is “Truckin’.”

First off, the sound quality through a vehicle speaker system is incredible.

“You’ve got to play your hand; sometimes your cards aren’t worth a dime if you don’t lay ’em down,” the song’s lyrics state. (Pretty profound, right?)

Another phrase that can be relevant depends on how the road trip is going: “Lately, it occurs to me what a long, strange trip it’s been.”

18. “Graceland” by Paul Simon

The seventh studio album released by American singer -songwriter Paul Simon is titled “Graceland.

It was released in 1986 by Warner Bros. Records and was produced by Simon with engineering assistance from Roy Halee.

Paul Simon must be included if we’re talking about musicians that sound amazing on the road.

His slightly melancholy voice fits wonderfully when you cast your gaze across the landscape and consider what could have been.

19. “Jessie’s Girl” by Rick Springfield

This lustful pop song is all about the singer’s excessive obsession with the fiancée of one of his friends.

If there is someone you can’t have on your mind, the buildup to the chorus is the ideal song to sing along to on your next road trip.

20. “What’s Up” by 4 Non-Blondes

The second single from American rock band 4 Non-Blondes ‘ 1992 first album, Bigger, Better, Faster, More!, is the song “What’s Up?

Several European nations, including Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, and Switzerland, as well as the United States, have all seen an increase in popularity for the song.

It peaked at number one in those countries.

The classic song “What’s Up” by 4 Non-Blondes is the ideal soundtrack for solo drives through country places.

The song is ideal for yelling at the top of your lungs because it has an epic chorus.

21. “American Pie” by Don McLean

The epic song “ American Pie ” has several references to current events in pop culture.

The 1959 aircraft disaster that claimed the lives of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper is said to be the inspiration for the phrase “day the music died.”

It’s also believed that Bob Dylan is the “jester” who “sang for the king and queen, in a coat he borrowed from James Dean.”

22. “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver

Here’s another foot-tapper that is a great going-home song.

I realize that getting home isn’t the objective of road trips; the opposite is usually the case, but you have to return home eventually.

It’s also wonderful if you’re travelling on country roads, provided you aren’t stuck behind a tractor.

23. “I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz

In one of the most popular love songs of the 2000s, Jason Mraz provided us with a tongue-twister-filled song to sing along to.

Singing along to “I’m Yours” in the car for four minutes is the ideal way to pass the time.

24. “I Try” by Macy Gray

American artist Macy Gray co-wrote and sang the song “I Try.”

The song was released in 1999 as the second single from her debut album, How Life Is .

With her breakout hit, “I Try,” Macy Gray created a masterpiece with her smoky voice.

The song is a therapeutic track to play in the car and portrays how all of us uncomfortable people feel when we are around the person we have a crush on.

25. “Road to Nowhere” by Talking Heads

This song’s first line, “Well, we know where we’re going, but we don’t know where we’ve been,” makes it clear that the following three minutes are going to be entertaining.

This is one of the best songs for a road trip. 

Just ensure not to be travelling on a road that leads nowhere.

26. “Route 66” by Chuck Berry

Possibly the most well-known road in the country is Route 66.

It served as the main path for migrants moving west as well (especially during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s).

Along with several other covers, including a very fine one by the Rolling Stones, this Chuck Berry song helped put it on the musical map.

27. “Stacy’s Mom” by Fountains Of Wayne

In this society, there are only two types of people: those who want to date Stacy’s mother and those who want to be Stacy’s mother.

Whichever group you belong to, you should play “Stacy’s Mom” by Fountains of Wayne loudly on your next road trip.

28. “How You Remind Me” by Nickelback

The song “How You Remind Me” is by Nickelback , a Canadian rock group.

The band’s third studio album, Silver Side Up, featured the song as the lead single, which was written by lead singer Chad Kroeger.

Before being the subject of a picture meme, Nickelback was a hitmaker.

How You Remind Me is among the best road trip music to play while driving since it captures the post-grunge energy of the 2000s.

29. “Going up the Country” by Canned Heat

It’s a great choice and makes this the ideal road trip playlist with its upbeat pace, the flute, and the lyrics about leaving the city (“I’m gonna leave the city, gotta go away”).

This song was notably performed by Canned Heat at Woodstock in 1969, but the band’s career was tragically terminated when lead singer Alan Wilson killed himself in 1970, followed shortly after by Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Jim Morrison. That’s too awful.

30. “On The Road Again” by Willie Nelson

One of the best road trip songs is “On the Road Again.”

While most songs are about returning home, this one is the exact opposite.

It’s all about seeking adventure, exploring the unknown, and travelling “like a band of gypsies.”

“The life I love is making music with my friends,” he confesses.

Your desire for your road trip to never end will be fueled by this.

31. “I Want It That Way” by Backstreet Boys

Backstreet Boys , an American boy band, does have a song called “I Want It That Way.”

Their third studio album, Millennium, featured it as the lead single, which was released in 1999.

“I Want It That Way” by the Backstreet Boys should be at the top of your road trip playlist if you’re ready for our favorite boy bands to make a comeback.

There aren’t many songs that are more enjoyable to sing along to.

32. “F*Ck You” by Cee Lo Green

The song by Cee Lo Green , “F*ck You,” is the ideal sing-along song for everyone who has been hurt, dumped, or dissed.

There aren’t many songs that are more therapeutic to sing, and given the vulgarity, the car is the ideal setting to let it blast.

33. “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac

You’ve probably already figured out that songs with a strong bassline work well as driving songs.

This song’s bass begins unexpectedly and grooves along brilliantly while Stevie Nicks bemoans her relationship with Lindsay Buckingham (usually Faire for Fleetwood Mac ).

33. “Livin’ On A Prayer” by Bon Jovi

“Livin’ On A Prayer” by Bon Jovi is the epitome of 80s rock ‘n’ roll.

The story of the unfortunate pair, Tommy and Gina, serves as a reminder that anything is possible when love and a dream are present.

The huge song is ideal for belting out when driving along a highway or city street.

34. “Drive My Car” by The Beatles

The Beatles should be on every self-respecting driving playlist.

You truly have a lot of options, but since we’re talking about cars, “Drive My Car” is as excellent as any.

With his bass playing in The Beatles, McCartney was always a cut above the rest, and this is a perfect illustration.

“The Long and Winding Road” and “Two of Us” are two more you can add.

35. “More Than A Feeling” by Boston

There aren’t many legendary rock bands that can match Boston ‘s massive sound.

With its epic guitar solos and powerful vocals that you can try your best to match, its hit song “More Than A Feeling” will have you rolling down the highway.

36. “Friday I’m In Love” by The Cure

“Friday I’m In Love” by The Cure perfectly captures the spirit and style of every John Hughes movie.

Put this song on and belt it out while you drive down the highway to get the feeling that you are the lead character in everyone’s new favorite coming-of-age movie.

37. “Put Your Records On” by Corinne Bailey Rae

One of the greatest jazz-pop songs to ever be played on the radio is Corinne Bailey Rae ‘s “Put Your Records On,”  which begins with that funk guitar.

When the chorus comes on, it’s best to turn up the radio, roll down the windows, let go of all your worries, and sing as loudly as you can.

38. “Your Song” by Elton John

English singer Elton John and American songwriter Bernie Taupin collaborated on the song “Your Song,” which John performed.

It was John’s debut Top 10 single internationally.

Elton John is the king of radio ballads, and every road trip requires a song.

His hit song, “Your Song,” which stands for the gift of his love, is maybe the most romantic or recognized.

39. “In The Air Tonight” by Phil Collins

Phil Collins , an English drummer and singer-songwriter, released his first solo single titled “In the Air Tonight.”

Phil Collins’ “In The Air Tonight” is one of the greatest radio singles of all time and is credited with popularizing air-drumming.

The song begs to be sung as it builds on a soft synth.

Just be sure to keep your hands on the wheel when the loud drum solo begins.

Following the 1980 divorce of his first wife, Andrea Bertorelli, Collins penned the song while grieving.

40. “Say It Ain’t So” by Weezer

Weezer , an American rock band, is the author of the song “Say It Ain’t So.”

Rivers Cuomo, the lead singer, wrote it.

Cuomo feared the marriage between his mother and stepfather would also break apart due to his father’s alcoholism since he thought his mother and father’s marriage failed because of this.

This song, which is one of Weezer’s most famous, has a vibe throughout.

This four-minute song, which perfectly captures the anxiety and rage of adolescence, will have you switching between being calm and yelling.

It is ideal for singing along when driving with friends.

41. “Stairway To Heaven” by Led Zeppelin

One of Led Zeppelin’s best-known songs, “ Stairway to Heaven ,” is regarded by many as the greatest rock song of all time.

It is regarded as one of the best road trip songs to blast at full volume.

It portrays the tale of a greedy lady who is overly optimistic about her gloomy future.

The song’s charm and mystery are enhanced by its vague lyrics, which also let listeners interpret it in their own way.

Heads will be thumping in the car thanks to an engaging plot and a tune that builds to an enormous solo and chorus.

42. “Crazy” by Patsy Cline

Crazy by Patsy Cline is one of the songs you need to know if you’ve ever wanted to be a country diva.

The country song , which has her distinctive high voice, is ideal for singing along in the car, especially if your love life is currently in ruins.

43 “Since U Been Gone” by Kelly Clarkson

“Since U Been Gone” is a powerful and emotional song, and it was one of Kelly Clarkson ‘s first major hits.

The experience of leaving a toxic relationship is well encapsulated in this song.

We’ve all been in relationships where we weren’t treated as we should have been.

44. “Complicated” by Avril Lavigne

“Complicated” is the first song on Avril ‘s first album, Let Go , and thus her entire musical career.

It’s about the issues that arise when you try to be someone you’re not when all you need to do is chill out, relax, and enjoy life.

One of the finest songs in the pop-punk ballad genre, particularly for anybody who grew up in the early 2000s, is Avril Lavigne’s “Complicated.”

The song is one of the greatest sing-along songs ever since it combines country and punk aesthetics.

45. “Love On Top” by Beyoncé

For her fourth studio album, 4 , American singer Beyoncé recorded the song “Love on Top.”

Even though Queen B has many fantastic songs for a road trip, “Love on Top” is perfect for everyone with a heart full of love.

This song is ideal for expressing all the love in your heart since it is catchy and has a lot of 80s nostalgia vibes.

46. “All Star” by Smash Mouth

Not singing along to “All-Star,” Smash Mouth ‘s biggest song, is nearly impossible.

The song, which tells the tale of a potentially deluded wannabe rock star, has awesome wordplay and a catchy melody that demands to be sung even after we’ve heard it way too many times.

47. “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen

One of the best songs ever recorded is “ Bohemian Rhapsody ,” a monumental work of art by Queen.

Their record label objected to the notion of a song that was almost six minutes long.

Fortunately for all of us, including Wayne and Garth, the band persisted and gave us one of the best driving songs ever.

48. “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” by The Proclaimers

One of the greatest declarations of love ever to be recorded is “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)”.

The biggest hit by The Proclaimers is ideal for singing along to while driving, especially if you’re returning home to a special person.

49. “Mr. Blue Sky” by Electric Light Orchestra

It’s tough to resist singing along to Mr. Blue Sky, the upbeat song that became Electric Light Orchestra ‘s most recognized hit.

Even though the song’s true meaning is debatable, your road trip playlist should include it because of the upbeat melody and entertaining lyrics.

50. “Hit The Road Jack” by Ray Charles

Ray Charles released a song in 1961 that would go on to be used as the theme music for countless TV shows, motion pictures, and commercials for decades to come.

Every woman’s “I’m fed up with my man” anthem is “Hit the Road Jack,” and its appealing simplicity makes it the perfect road trip song.

Just be careful not to put it at the end of your playlist, or it might become stuck in your head forever.

Wrapping Up Our List of the Best Road Trip Songs

So, that wraps up our post on the best road trip songs.

We’ve included a mix of old and new, as well as fast and slow songs with each one having a special meaning.

Regardless of how long your journey is, these songs will make the trip infinitely more enjoyable. 

So turn up the volume and enjoy the ride.

Similar Playlists:

Songs About Traveling

Songs About Vacation

Best Campfire Songs

Will Fenton

55 Best Jazz Musicians of All Time (Famous Artists)

45 Best R&B Love Songs of All Time

Latest from entertainment & playlists.

15 Best Anthony Hamilton Songs Of All Time (Greatest Hits)

14 Best Ajr Songs Of All Time (Greatest Hits)

14 Best Sugar Ray Songs Of All Time (Greatest Hits)

15 Best Sara Bareilles Songs Of All Time (Greatest Hits)

15 Best Twenty One Pilots Songs Of All Time (Greatest Hits)

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!!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Currently you have JavaScript disabled. In order to post comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, and reload the page. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

NEW! YOUR LOCAL RUNNING DROP

Get after it with nearby recommendations just for you.

BEST WEEK EVER

Try out unlimited access with 7 days of Outside+ for free.

Start Your Free Trial

What Are the 10 Best Road-Trip Albums?

I’m planning a cross-country road trip this fall. Any suggestions for good driving music?

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Reddit

Don't miss a moment of the 2024 Tour de France! Get recaps, insights, and exclusive takes with Velo's daily newsletter. >","name":"in-content-cta","type":"link"}}'>Sign up today! .

When you’re on the road, there are times when Pandora or satellite radio just doesn’t quite capture the mood or scenery of the moment. That’s when it’s time to turn to one of these classic records. Besides just being great music, these really work as albums: each sets a distinct tone from beginning to end, perfectly suited for long trips behind the wheel.

• Lucinda Williams, Car Wheels on a Gravel Road With her songs of heartache, pain, loss, departure, longing, and anger Lucinda Williams could make Roy Orbison seem upbeat. The singer’s appropriately gravelly voice makes you feel like you’re riding shotgun with her on empty dirt roads as she tells her stories. Best Listening Location: Any county road in the South, especially Louisiana or Texas.
• Green Day, American Idiot Profane and profound, the pop-punk torch-holders paint a depressing portrait of modern, sterile America through the eyes of Jesus of Suburbia in their rock opera American Idiot. Best Listening Location: New Jersey Turnpike.
• R.E.M., Automatic For the People There isn’t a weak point on the haunting, downbeat Automatic for the People. Starting with the first track, “Drive,” Michael Stipe expresses some (usually) depressing but compelling feeling in every song. Best played at night or in the rain. Best Listening Location: A dramatic, winding road, like the Pacific Coast Highway.
• Bruce Springsteen, Nebraska Leaning heavily on the folk masters who influenced him, the Boss tells a short story in almost every song on Nebraska, paying tribute to small town life, cars, and the highway. Best Listening Location: I-80 on the long, drab stretch of cornfields between Lincoln and North Platte.
• Johnny Cash, At Folsom Prison This album captures Johnny Cash near his prime, singing stories of loss, crime, and punishment, including the classic “Folsom Prison Blues,” in front of the inmates of Folsom State Prison in California. No album makes you feel better about being free and on the open road than this one. Best Listening Location: Following the old Route 66 through the dusty byways of Arizona and New Mexico.
• The Beatles, The Beatles The White Album, recorded as the Beatles were beginning to drift apart, is like a soap opera playing out for you through the course of a double album. Lennon and McCartney (and, to a lesser degree, Harrison) collaborated less than they did for previous works, and recorded many of the songs individually. You can feel the band bouncing in haphazard directions with each track. Best Listening Location: The traffic-filled freeways of Southern California, or any other place where you’re craving variety.
• The Clash, London Calling You won’t want to skip a single song on this two-disc album. The Clash folds hard rock, jazz, reggae, ska and other styles into a punk core that plays like a sampler platter of 20th-century popular music. Start listening—even along the most boring stretch of pavement—and the next thing you know, an hour and a half will have passed. Best Listening Location: The Pennsylvania Turnpike.
• Eric Clapton, Unplugged Clapton returns to his bluesy roots in Unplugged, definitely one of the great guitar albums of all time. If screaming electric guitars make for windows-down city listening, this acoustic collection plays especially well when surrounded by nature. Best Listening Location: Driving through Independence Pass between Leadville and Aspen, Colorado.
• Zac Brown Band, The Foundation This album keeps finding its way onto my playlist. Zac Brown combines reggae, Jimmy Buffett, rock, and bluegrass with the sounds of traditional country music to create an immensely fun song collection. Best Listening Location: The Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina.
• Stevie Wonder, Songs in the Key of Life What’s a road trip collection without some Motown? Songs in the Key of Life is sort of like Stevie Wonder’s autobiography in music, as rich, deep and varied as the songwriter’s life itself. Best Listening Location: Anywhere there’s pavement.
• Adventure Adviser

Popular on Outside Online

Enjoy coverage of racing, history, food, culture, travel, and tech with access to unlimited digital content from Outside Network's iconic brands.

© 2024 Outside Interactive, Inc

Genius tips, tricks & beautiful things, straight to your inbox every day.

© 2010-2021 Wow Media Products, Inc doing business as PureWow. All rights reserved.

The 13 Best Road Trip Albums for Every Leg of the Journey

There’s nothing like being on the open road…but let’s be real, extended periods behind the wheel only feel like a vacation, not a headache (or backache or buttache), when you have really great music to groove to. Here, a roundup of the very best road trip albums for your listening pleasure, whether you need a soundtrack for solo car travel or are simply trying to tune out a backseat driver in the most enjoyable way possible.

15 Road Trips from Houston That Show Off the Best Part of Texas

1. Rumours by Fleetwood Mac (1977)

• Best for Stormy Weather

There's never a bad time to put on Fleetwood Mac’s best-selling album, but we’re particularly partial to it when stormy weather strikes. Slow your roll (for safety’s sake, of course) and turn up the volume on moody, high drama hits, like “The Chain,” “Gold Dust Woman” and “Oh Daddy.” Then, transition to the peppier tracks and put the pedal to the metal when the sun comes out—because, yes, this album kind of has it all.

2. Exile on Main Street by The Rolling Stones (1972)

• Best Rock and Roll

This masterpiece from the Stones is arguably the best rock n’ roll album of all time, so it should come as no surprise that it has too-cool-for-school summer vibes to spare. In fact, the album—a clever compilation of blues, country and straight rock songs—captures nearly every aspect of the all-American road trip experience with bonus points for technical brilliance.

3. Ramblin' Man by Hank Williams (1955)

• Best for Night Driving

Hank Williams’ voice is one of a kind: beautiful, haunting and, above all, never boring. If you’re looking for a deeply emotional nighttime listen that’s more badass than weepy and will keep you wide awake without killing the chill vibe, this album—a perfect expression of the influential country singer’s ramblin’ blues—has got you covered.

4. United by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell (1967)

• Best for Couples

Listen to soul artists Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell’s first duet album and you’d never believe the pair were actually just BFFs. “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” is obvious fodder for a passionate sing-along, but the loving feeling and wholesome upbeat vibes of all the other tracks—including “You Got What It Takes,” “Your Precious Love” and a quirky cover of “Somethin’ Stupid,” to name a few—combine to create a perfect soundtrack for road trip romance.

5. Little Creatures by Talking Heads (1985)

• Best for Kicking Off Your Journey

The poppiest and most approachable of Talking Heads albums, Little Creatures might as well be David Byrne’s answer to the question at hand. Neither too weird, nor too grating, this album is full of positive energy and even features opening and closing tracks (“And She Was” and “Road to Nowhere”) that perfectly illustrate the trajectory of road trip enthusiasm without ever killing the mood.

6. Take Me to Your Leader by King Geedorah (2003)

• Best for Traffic

Got slowdown up ahead? Just queue up this work of genius from King Geedorah AKA MF Doom. You can expect masterfully sampled tracks, lo-fi beats and the lyrical stylings of a true wordsmith, plus an epic storyline that’s infinitely better than any audiobook you can find. In other words, it’s an immersive listening experience that will make you feel so damn cool, you won’t even mind that you’re going nowhere fast.

7. The Writing's on the Wall by Destiny's Child (1999)

• Best Throwback

Take a trip back in time to when Beyoncé was fronting a girl group and frosted tips were still cool with this nostalgic favorite, which features modern classics like “Say My Name” and “Bugaboo.” Trust us, your soul has been asking you for a Destiny’s Child sing-along with friends for at least a decade.

8. The Band by The Band (1969)

• Best for Country Driving

So you made it out of the big city and are ready for some music that matches the country scenery? Try The Band’s self-titled album, an easy-listening (in the best sense of the word) folk-rock gem that features impressive musical talent and plays out like American history come to life—so much so that you’d never guess all but one of the guys responsible is Canadian.

9. Greatest Hits by Tom Petty (1976)

• Best Compilation

We couldn’t pick just one Tom Petty album for the list since every damn one was destined to be the soundtrack for a carefree summer road trip. Fortunately, we didn’t have to since this compilation really does cover all the red-blooded rock and roll hits the legendary artist produced.

10. Lost in the Dream by The War on Drugs (2014)

• Best Indie Jam

Understated chord changes and a melancholic tone characterize The War on Drugs’ refreshing reinterpretation of classic rock on Lost in the Dream , which happens to be an ode to restless wandering and is also arguably the most polished album the indie band has put out. Intricate, poignant and just right for a (relatively) low key music moment, this fine-tuned gem is well worth listening to from start to finish.

11. The Journey - Pt. 1 by The Kinks (2023)

• Best to Listen to on Repeat

If you had to listen to only one album for an entire road trip, this might be the one—namely because The Kinks are such an exceptional example of a truly diverse band. Their repertoire includes whiffs of British Invasion pop with “You Really Got Me,” angst-ridden numbers like “Dead End Street” and “I’m Not Like Everybody Else,” whimsical ditties like “Lola,” dreamy, romantic songs like “Nothin’ in the World Can Stop Me Worrying ‘Bout That Girl” and even tracks that were tailor made for driving off into the (Waterloo) sunset. And yep, this compilation has ‘em all, so you’re likely to never get bored.

12. Whitney Houston by Whitney Houston

• Best for Road Trip Karaoke

Prepare your pipes, but don’t feel bad if you can’t match Whitney’s vocal range. (They call her The Voice for a reason.) Still, long notes are well-suited to long drives and there’s no better place to rehearse your next knockout karaoke performance than in the privacy of a car with belt-it-out tunes like “Saving All My Love For You” and “How Will I Know.”

13. Sour by Olivia Rodrigo

• Best for a Breakup Trip

A little bit pop, a little bit alternative and a little bit punk make this punchy debut album by the Gen Z singer the perfect accompaniment to a girls’ weekend away with your newly single pal. Sing (or shout) along to breakup anthems like “Drivers License” and “Good 4 U” then chill out to the softer melodies of “Happier” and “Favorite Crime.” Music is the greatest medicine, no?

The 45 Best Movie Soundtracks of All Time

Freelance PureWow Editor

• Has 5+ years of experience writing family, travel and wellness content for PureWow
• Previously worked as a copy editor, proofreader and research assistant for two prominent authors
• Studied Sociology, Political Science and Philosophy in the CUNY Baccalaureate independent study program.