Back to GuidesYou've got the time, the car, and the passengers all picked now, so now it's time to start planning your next road trip playlist. Don’t just depend on the radio, Spotify, or podcasts for your road trip.
What makes a long drive more fun is good music. The perfect song can change your mood, be motivating or inspirational. This list of the best road trip songs will help you start crafting the perfect soundtrack for your summer road trip.
1. Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen
Start your road trip playlist off on the right foot with this All-American track that’s the perfect song for a sing-along. The lyrics are full of romanticized Americana and are passionately delivered by Springsteen. It’s ideal for getting you in the mood for your cross-country road trip.
2. Take me Home, Country Roads – John Denver
If you’re driving through West Virginia, then this is the perfect soundtrack. Cruise the backcountry roads of this beautiful state with this classic from Denver. It may have been recorded on a whim, but it has lasted the test of time for its simplicity and honest expression.
3. On the Road Again - Willie Nelson
Nelson initially wrote this song for the Movie Honeysuckle Rose, but it has since become one of the go-to songs for movies with traveling in them. Some more notable appearances are Shrek, Family Guy, and Forrest Gump.
4. The Long and Winding Road – The Beatles
It may be one of The Beatles’ lesser-known songs, but don’t count it out. Its haunting melody accounts McCartney’s nostalgic look back at the history of The Beatles. This makes it perfect for the more emotional stops on your road trip that take you back to an important place in your personal history.
5. Life is a Highway - Tom Cochrane or Rascal Flatts
Most people don’t know the name of the artist behind this seize-the-day anthem. Many others are more familiar with the modern remake performed by Rascal Flatts. Either one will work for getting you up and motivated to conquer the open road.
6. Little Red Corvette – Prince
While the song’s subject matter is actually quite adult-themed, the catchy lyrics artfully hide it. Ironically, Prince was inspired to write the song after falling asleep in the back of his backup singer Lisa Coleman's 1964 Mercury Montclair Marauder. So rock out to this iconic song even if you aren’t in a little red corvette.
7. Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd
Drive through the southern states and appreciate everything that it has to offer, including this artistic piece. It was written from Lynyrd Skynyrd’s time spent recording in Alabama. It’s so engrained in the culture that the state of Alabama has “Sweet Home Alabama” printed on its license plates since 2009.
8. Born to be Wild - Steppenwolf
As soon as this song was first introduced in the iconic Easy Rider, it instantly became a road trip must-have. The movie features Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper on an epic motorcycle road trip from LA to New Orleans. The song is a bit rock and roll with some blues thrown in for a song that isn’t too heavy.
9. Mustang Sally – Wilson Pickett
You can’t go wrong with this song full of soulful groove. Its lyrics describe a carefree and a bit of a wild woman who’s enjoying life in her brand new Mustang. Embrace your wild side and feel the freedom of the road as you listen to Pickett croon about Sally and her Mustang.
10. Hell ain't a Bad Place to Be – AC/DC
The strong guitar riffs and unique voice of Brian Johson pair together perfectly in this song about personal corruption. You’ll find yourself hitting the gas pedal a little harder and making better time as you rock out this AC/DC classic.
11. Truckin - Grateful Dead
If your road trip is about more than a fun vacation, then you’ll appreciate this song from the Grateful Dead. Its lyrics weave a story of life on the road while looking for deeper meaning. It’s wrapped up in a catchy rhythm that will have your fingers tapping along on the wheel.
12. Here I Go Again - Whitesnake
Don’t we all have a secret love of 80s hair rock? This is one of the most loved and inspires you to face your challenges head-on. So let your hair down, turn the volume up to 11, and get in touch with your inner rock star.
13. Running on Empty - Jackson Browne
This classic road trip song quite literally talks about continuing to drive as you run out of fuel. However, it can also be seen to have a deeper meaning about feeling tired or exhausted. If you start feeling tired from the long hours on the road, the peppy beat is sure to perk you up as you sing along.
14. I’m Gonna Be - The Proclaimers
How long is your road trip? Will you drive 500 miles? Perhaps more? This love song declares that the singers will go however long it takes to be with the one they care about most.
15. Route 66 – Chuck Berry
Other songs talk about cars or the feelings you experience while on the road. This one is dedicated to a particularly famous road. Berry’s R&B take is a classic and quite arguably the best. The bluesy mix of piano and guitar will have you feeling it in your soul.
16. Hit the Road Jack – Ray Charles
This song may be the ultimate kiss-off, but it also works as an updated soundtrack to your road trip. Hit the road with this song’s blend of pop, rock, soul, jazz, and gospel.
17. Fast Car - Tracy Chapman
If you’re ready for a chilled-out break from the more upbeat tracks on this list, then Chapman’s fast car is the relief you’re looking for. Her richly toned voice and the honest grit of the lyrics combine for a timeless masterpiece.
18. Where the Streets Have No Name - U2
It’s one of the most complex songs produced with an incredibly complicated arrangement. It’s also one of the greatest songs to sing along to as Bono belts out the lyrics.
19. American Pie - Don McLean
There’s no denying that the melody crafted in American Pie is hypnotic. You can’t help but want to sing along to the surprisingly complex yet relatable storyline that plays out over the course of the song.
20. My Life – Billy Joel
It’s your life, and you can do with it what you want. Billy Joel verbalizes this with ear-pleasing harmonies and his friendly, relatable demeanor.
21. Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting – Elton John
This is one of those songs that you just can’t help but get pumped when listening to. It’s full of energy and understandably so as it was Elton and his writing partner Bernie Taupin's attempt at capturing what a typical Saturday night was like for English teen boys out on the town.
22. Paradise City – Guns N' Roses
You can’t help but love the loud and rebellious nature of this song. The lyrics are simple and easy to sing along to while Slash’s guitar playing is just epic.
23. Shut up and Drive - Rihanna
Sometimes you just need to shut up and drive. Rhianna’s no-nonsense track may be talking about something more than driving, but that doesn’t matter. This upbeat song perfectly captures the spirit of summer and the desire to take action by getting behind the wheel and just driving.
24. I’ve Been Everywhere - Johnny Cash
What better song to listen to on a road trip than one that literally lists out notable cities and towns across North America? You could even plan your road trip around some of the places listed.
25. Waking Up In Vegas – Katy Perry
While many of the songs on this list are classic road trip songs, you need to shake things up with a few modern tracks. Perry’s Waking Up in Vegas is perfect for the road trip that’s headed through this iconic city. Turn it on and get excited for your stop in the city of sin.
26. I Get Around - The Beach Boys
There are some heavy and deep songs on this list; this isn’t one of them. It’s a simple and cheery teenage anthem that talks about cars, girls, and friends. Roll down the windows, turn up the volume, and sing along with your best friend.
27. Runnin’ Down A Dream - Tom Petty
With nothing but you and the wheel, nothing is standing in the way of your road trip adventure. This song is the perfect expression of that sentiment as Petty sings about the great wide open and the wonderful feeling of possibility for the future.
28. Road Trippin' - Red Hot Chili Peppers
If you’re hitting the road early in the morning, you probably aren’t ready for some loud rock or upbeat, fast-paced tunes. This lesser-known song is the perfect inspiration tune to help you get your day on the road started. It’s the perfect expression of the road trip sentiment and how it brings you closer to your fellow travelers.
29. Every Day is a Winding Road – Sheryl Crow
It starts out with that catchy beat and builds to a quirky little tune. The synthesizer takes over, and you’ll soon be inspired to be more spontaneous and veer off the planned itinerary.
30. Road to Nowhere – Talking Heads
This upbeat pop-rock tune will have you feeling joyful even when your road trip gets off track. You may feel like you’re on the road to nowhere, but that will pass, and you’ll be back on track in no time.
31. Midnight Rider - The Allman Brothers
Are you on the road late at night? Then be a midnight rider with the Allman Brothers. It’s a little country and a little blues, and full of talent. Its lyrics can be inspirational as they talk about having the strength to continue on when facing obstacles.
32. One of These Nights – The Eagles
The cool R&B feel of this song will add some soul to your road trip. The sultry bass lines will have you grooving the miles away as you cruise the open highway.
33. (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction - The Rolling Stones
As one of the world’s most popular songs, you can’t go wrong with the Rolling Stones’ Satisfaction. The catchy guitar riff and spirit of independence make it perfect for belting out at the top of your lungs.
34 Gasolina - Daddy Yankee
You don’t have to speak Spanish to appreciate the bold Reggaeton beat in this song. You’ll be dancing in the driver’s seat before you even realize your body’s moving to the rhythm.
35. A Thousand Miles - Vanessa Carlton
This is another one of those songs proclaiming that no amount of miles can keep you from the one that you love. Its light pop composition and peppy lyrics make it enticing to sing along to.
36. Cruisin' - Smokey Robinson
Go on a road trip with the one that you love and cruise together. Let the hypnotic melody and Smokey’s silky smooth voice relax you into the drive.
37. Good Life - Kanye West and T-Pain
Whatever your feelings are about Kanye, you can’t resist this summertime feel-good song. So throw this track on and take a moment to be thankful for all that you have.
38. Ridin' - Chamillionaire
Sure, the song is talking about avoiding the police, but who can resist singing along when he sings, "my music's so loud?" Combine that with the expertly crafted beat, and you have a song that will have anyone getting in touch with their inner gangster.
39. Walking in Memphis – Marc Cohn
The song may tell the story of Cohn’s visit to Graceland, but it’s so much more than that. It’s about experiencing a spiritual awakening and finding peace while out on the road.
40. Wagon Wheel - Bob Dylan and Old Crow Medicine Show or Darius Rucker
What’s more romantic than hitchhiking your way down the eastern coast to see the one you love? Darius Rucker remade Bob Dylan's song originally written and sang by Old Crow Medicine show and its catchy chorus and rhythmic melody make this a must-have for road trip sing-alongs.
