There’s nothing better when cruising along on a road trip than the perfect playlist to fuel your drive. I love a good mix of classics from pop to folk to R&B to rock to country, and it’s even better if the songs are about driving or cars. What can I say, I love a good theme and the cheesier, the better! The best road trip songs are the classics that everyone in the car can belt out together, these are some of my favorites.
Life is a Highway – Tom Cochrane
What road trip playlist is complete without this classic from Tom Cochrane?! Crank up the volume and ride it all night long!
Fun, Fun, Fun – The Beach Boys
On a road trip it’s all about the cars, and what band better represents the car culture of the 60s than The Beach Boys? I always include several of their songs on my road trip playlists as I grew up singing along with the Wilson brothers & company on every road trip with my parents. If you dig the Beach Boys classic car songs, I’d also recommend “Little Deuce Coupe,” “I Get Around,” and “409.”
Highway to Hell – AC/DC
I hope you’re sensing a theme of highways and roads on this list because that’s exactly what I want from road trip songs. Rock along with this AC/DC hit on your drive!
Ramblin’ Man – The Allman Brothers Band
You may not have been born on the road like the song’s ramblin’ man, but you can certainly enjoy this catchy song about living on the road.
Small Town – John Mellencamp
Road trips often involve driving through small towns, and a little John Mellencamp is the perfect selection for when you’re passing through. John Mellencamp is another artist with more songs you can add to your playlist with hits like “Jack and Diane” or “Hurts So Good” that are great even if they don’t have anything to do with a road trip theme.
Paradise by the Dashboard Light – Meat Loaf
So the folks in this song are doing different things in the car than you probably are on your road trip, but this song is so incredibly catchy who cares what they’re up to. This was always a favorite of my mom’s on road trips as a kid so I know every word and like to get dramatic when singing along. (My road trip companions love my antics, I can tell by all the eyerolls 😉)
Body Like A Back Road – Sam Hunt
The perfect song for rolling down the window and letting the breeze blow through your hair with one hand on the wheel.
Up Around the Bend – Creedence Clearwater Revival
I just couldn’t leave CCR off my list, and this one is perfect since road trips will inevitably have you going up around some bends before you reach your destination. It was tough to pick just one, so you can definitely add more classics like “Lookin’ Out My Back Door,” “Proud Mary,” and so many more.
No Particular Place To Go – Chuck Berry
More than likely your road trip has a destination in mind, but just like this classic from Chuck Berry, you’re riding along in your automobile. If you’re a fan of Chuck Berry or plan on driving the historic Route 66 (which is on my bucket list) across the western US, you should add his “Route 66” song to your playlist too.
Sweet Home Alabama – Lynyrd Skynyrd
You don’t have to be driving through Alabama to enjoy this classic on a road trip (although I’m sure it helps).
Fast Car – Tracy Chapman
Listening to Tracy singing about the dream of escaping this life for a better one somewhere else is perfect for some quieter, more introspective moments on the drive.
Open Road Song – Eve 6
Maybe don’t go 80 mph if it makes your car shake, but definitely give this pop alt rock song a listen when you hit the open road.
Wagon Wheel – Darius Rucker
A song everyone can sing along to and enjoy while you wheel along the roads yourself.
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
No matter what obstacles are between you and your destination, it’s not enough to stop you! This is another great song to sing along with your co-pilot.
Send Me On My Way – Rusted Root
This fun folk rock song will have everyone in the car bouncing along and at least one person will take over the deep bass ‘on my way’ line of the chorus.
Free Fallin’ – Tom Petty
This a great song for those open roads when you’re feeling free from day to day life and just want to cruise along with some great songs playing. (Honestly, add more Tom Petty to your road trip songs as you see fit, “Runnin’ Down a Dream” is another good choice.)
Livin’ on a Prayer – Bon Jovi
When you start getting the inevitable (and dreaded) road trip question of “Are we there yet?,” play this classic from Bon Jovi to let them know you’re halfway there…
I’ll see myself out.
I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) – The Proclaimers
Whatever distance you’re going, this is a great song to get goofy to with your fellow car-mates. This 80s pop hit is one everyone knows and is a great one to keep you awake on those long rides.
Go Your Own Way – Fleetwood Mac
You’re on the road and the master of your destiny, so you can certainly go your own way. This is a solid jam from Fleetwood Mac for a long road trip.
Hit the Road Jack – Ray Charles
I love a good girl-power, kickin’ that no-good-man to the curb, kind of song! Even better if you can get your co-pilot to take the opposite part and sing it with you.
Turn the Page – Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band
Not every song needs to be upbeat or a rock anthem. This bluesy rock song from Bob Seger is exactly what those late night, lonely highways sound like as a song. (Less fitting for my road trip theme, but another great song from Bob Seger to add is “Old Time Rock & Roll” to rock out your ride.)
Shut Up and Drive – Rihanna
A more modern song than most of my picks, this is one that makes you want to lean back take the curves a little harder than you were before.
Love Shack – The B-52’s
Everyone in the car will be dancing in their seats to this fun song and who can resist belting out that chorus?
American Pie – Don McLean
A true American classic perfect for a classic American road trip. Somehow it manages to be both somber and joyful at the same time, I blast this one at top volume to get the full effect of singing every word at the top of my lungs.
A Thousand Miles – Vanessa Carlton
This pop rock song may be about traveling 1,000 miles to see the one you love, but I 100% associate this song with Terry Crews when his character over enthusiastically sings along with it in the movie White Chicks.
The Wanderer – Dion
The perfect song for the road-tripping Romeo, driving around to visit all their loves. I just love some good oldies and wandering (I am the Poky Little Wanderer, after all)! Another of Dion’s hits happens to be a favorite of both my mom and I: “Runaround Sue.” I like to pretend that’s how Dion became the Wanderer, maybe he got burned by that Sue…
Should I Stay or Should I Go – The Clash
This upbeat song is great when trying to decide how long to stay in one spot. The Clash has another song that might be appropriate were to find yourself pulled over for a fast driving award: “I Fought the Law.” Hopefully you don’t need that one though!
Going Up the Country – Canned Heat
The quintessential road trip song, you can pretend you’re cruising along in a VW van on your way to Woodstock if that strikes your fancy.
Born to be Wild – Steppenwolf
No matter what you’re driving, this song puts you on a motorcycle staring down the open road like the badass you so obviously are. (If you feel especially tough, add George Thorogood’s “Bad to the Bone” to your road trip songs playlist too)
Take Me Home, Country Roads – John Denver
This song happened to come on the radio as I was cruising along a scenic byway in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and as I belted out the chorus it instantly became one of those iconic road trip moments I’ll remember forever.
I had so much fun doing my “research” for this post, which mostly consisted of looking up and singing along to all the songs I could think of that I like to listen to in the car. There are so many other songs I love to listen to while driving, but these are classic ones that a road trip almost feels incomplete without.
If you want to play the whole playlist on YouTube, I’ve published it on my channel for you. You can find both my Road Trip Favorites Playlist as well as an extended version that includes some of the extra road trip songs I recommend throughout the post.
If Spotify is your preferred streaming service, I have both my Road Trip Favorites Playlist and the extended playlist is available there as well!
What are your favorite road trip songs to listen to when cruising down a highway or winding back road?
This is so much fun! Great selection! I’d like to submit for consideration, “Life in the Fast Lane” by the Eagles!
Thanks so much, I love jamming out to some great tunes in the car! Ooh that’s also a great choice, can’t go wrong with the Eagles 😍
Amazing! I know nothing about traveling all over the country, what a wonderful looking place to explore.
This is a really awesome list Kelly. I don’t know what I listen to while driving, I’m usually just listening to something new if alone, gives me the time to appreciate the music.
You should create a Spotify playlist for these! They’re great!!
Great selection Kelly! Love the Bon Jovi, Meatloaf, Tom Petty, Fleetwood Mac and Proclaimers choices in particular. Your road trips must be awesome 👍
Great List! When I think road trip songs my mind goes back to the 8 track tape player in our truck/camper in the 70s and my parent’s 8 track tapes that included John Denver from your list, plus Marty Robbins, The Carpenters, and Cher 🙂 We were not cool kids….
Thanks! I’m glad you grew up listening to some cool classics too. My mom still has an 8 track player somewhere believe it or not…
Sing Along with Mitch, your hubby loves it lol
As long as I don’t suggest playing Abba, he goes along with most anything I put on the radio 😂