10 Best Travel Songs for Your Next Road Trip
Rolling the windows down, feeling the cool breeze against your face, and hitting the road have become one of American’s favorite traditions.
But it is never complete without great tunes to keep it fun on the open road or in the air.
No matter how many audiobooks and podcasts you have downloaded to your phone, spending a lot of time in a car or bike with loved ones typically results in singing.
Start with finding travel songs such as Promised Land, Life is a Highway, Country Road, On the Road Again, Born to Be Wild, Hotel California, Shut Up and Drive, Highway to Hell, Fast Car, and Go Your Own Way to zest up your traveling mood.
You will need epic tunes to accompany your travels and upswing your mood. Therefore, read on to learn about the best travel songs before hitting the road.
Best Travel Songs for Your Next Road Trip
Music while traveling is as crucial as your other travel essentials.
Research shows that music reduces anxiety and triggers a wave of calm. It can affect your mood, bring back memories and help you connect with and relate to others near and far.
Check out the compilation of best travel songs to make your next road trip memorable.
1. Promised Land
Chuck Berry wrote this song in 1964 when he served time in jail for transporting a 14-year girl across state lines for immoral purposes.
He has to borrow an atlas of the US from the prison library to plot his hero’s journey from Virginia to California.
In this song, Berry portrays the story of a struggling young man who leaves his Norfolk, Virginia, home and travels to California by bus, train, and airplane through much of the United States.
He calls his family back home as he arrives to let them know he made it.
With a marvelous travelogue of an African American’s journey through the Deep South to the land of fame and fortune in California, the song is performed lively with Berry’s riffing guitar, tinkling piano, and rhythmic drums.
It is always a great listen for getting you excited when you feel exhausted during your trip.
2. Life is a Highway
One of the most inspiring travel songs is Life is a Highway, initially written and recorded by Canadian songwriter Tom Cochrane.
The song’s lyrics tell how the road can help mend broken relationships.
Later, Rascal Flatts covered this tune for the Cars movie soundtrack, which kids and grownups loved.
Its timeless guitar riff will perk up anyone’s ears and bring a smooth, cheerful tone to the song.
By its very name, it has to be on the list. The lyrics carry a deep meaning indicating that life is a long journey with no directions and no stops.
It is the perfect soundtrack for a long drive, especially if you encounter challenges.
3. Country Road
No road trip playlist would be complete without the fun, easy-going lyrics of Bill Danoff’s, Taffy Danoff’s, and John Denver’s 70’s hit.
Did you know John Denver never traveled to West Virginia before creating the song, and neither had his cowriters, Bill and Danoff?
Although this classic hit directly mentions a journey through the great states of Virginia and West Virginia, its homecoming oriented lyrics can apply to any significant journey nearing its end.
This road trip song is bittersweet and best describes scenic country roads, especially for trips to mountains or the surrounding area.
The song is always about wanting to escape a small town, only to find yourself on the road home again.
4. On the Road Again
On the Road Again is one of American country musician Willie Nelson’s most popular songs. In 1980, when it was released won him a Grammy Award for Best Country Song.
His twangy voice sets the mood for anyone looking for a good country sound.
This song will remind you why you enjoy traveling and that there is nothing more wonderful than hitting the road with your closest friends.
As you listen to this music, your heart will flutter and spin around. Relaxing and fun, this song is one of the most popular songs played for traveling out there.
Anywhere it is played, the traveler will sing along. It describes the thrills and fun that accompany every aspect of life on tour.
5. Born to Be Wild
Born to Be Wild is a song recorded by Steppenwolf. It was scripted by Mars Bonfire and recorded in 1968, which is described as the first heavy metal song.
The song is dedicated to the bikers, and the biker lifestyle, probably because it was featured in the 60s cult classic movie Easy Rider and gained popularity immediately.
Especially the song is about traveling freely on the open road, looking for adventure, and appreciating nature.
You can enjoy the song while taking a car or motorcycle on an adventurous trip. It celebrates the search for freedom and adventure.
For that reason, this tune should be on your list when you hit the open road.
6. Hotel California
Hotel California is one of the most famous American rock songs ever made, and it is humanly impossible not to like it. If you are on a road trip, you will no doubt stay at a hotel.
The title track of the hit, the 1977 album Hotel California was written by Don Felder, Glenn Frey, and Don Henley.
The magical combination of metaphors, allegory, and some bad-ass guitar work took this song to the top of the charts in May 1977. The song also brought the Eagles a Grammy Award.
There is not a single person on this planet who is not well versed with the lyrics of this song. Maybe it is one of the reasons why travelers often indulge in the popular track “Hotel California” by the Eagles.
It is fun to simply hum the song in your head and try to tick off destinations you have visited.
7. Shut up and Drive
What else can be a better song if you are on a road trip with all your loved ones?
The song Shut up and Drive by Rihanna really pumps up the mood and makes you want to hit the accelerator and drive.
Undoubtedly, the best tune for a girl’s escape when traveling, you will get to shout, cheer, and sing to this tune within seconds.
Its catchy music and lyrics are sure to blow your mind. This one is for all the bold and confident girls driving with a bunch of friends on those abandoned roads.
On the mundane road and loathsome days, this energetic song lifts the mood and puts you back on track.
Get your swagger on, hit the accelerator, and just play shut up and drive.
8. Highway to Hell
Be it head-spinning Himalayan roads or the vast plains, the Australian rock band AC/DC song “Highway to Hell” will pump up your adrenaline.
The song was released on 1979, and this song referred to the horrific tour schedule that the band had to keep.
The lyrics of this song will astonish you, and the songwriters are Bon Scott, Angus Young, and Malcolm Young.
This song is all about being on the road, having a perfect journey, and adventure.
Listen to the song along with the chorus and feel proud of yourself for having the audacity to undertake to drive through days and nights for a trip.
You are on your highway to hell in a good way.
9. Go Your Own Way
Go Your Own Way is a song recorded by British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac.
Written by the lead male vocalist Lindsey Buckingham describing the pair’s breakup in fairly unambiguous terms.
Fleetwood Mac’s surprisingly upbeat anthem about packing up/ shacking up is also one of the most fantastic driving tunes of all time.
The song has the perfect lyrics for your adventurous road trip, especially when it is time to throw caution to the wind and go your own way.
While you are setting off on a trip, this 70s classic is the perfect soundtrack to your wanderlust.
10. Fast Car
Fast Car by Tracy Chapman has a collection of lyrics that will motivate you to leave everything behind and travel, even though it was not initially made as a travel song.
The song, released in 1988, tells a wistful story of escaping everyday life in a fast car.
The tenderness of Chapman’s vocals sound combined with the signature guitar tune makes the song incredibly striking and a legendary piece of music.
The rhythmic beat of Fast Car ties perfectly, fitting for a romantic long road trip.
Upon its release, the song was instantly successful and is still in high demand even three decades later.
Conclusion
Nothing can keep you energized and alert in a car or bike even better than playing the perfect road trip song.
From great classics to modern beats, these are the diverse list of songs you can sing along to while celebrating the freedom of being on the open road.
Each of these songs is bound to kill the boredom, and even the long travel time to your next destination will pass without realizing it.
So what are you waiting for?
Grab your keys, get in your car with your traveling buddies, crank up the music, and go!
For more info, get in touch with Rick Perdian, the music travel consultant in the USA.
