A road trip wouldn’t be a road trip without a good old sing along. Whilst on the road, regardless of how you sound, singing at the top of your lungs is just de rigueur – in fact, it’s road trip law!
There are so many amazing songs to choose from that I’ve had a great time compiling our playlist of road trip songs. I’ve been transported back through time to my favourite memories and karaoke nightmares, and been introduced to some fantastic new songs.
Forget about the 100 best road trip songs, we’ve broken down the top 150+ of the best songs for road trips! Each category has its own amazing road trip playlist, and there is also a combined Spotify ultimate playlist for a road trip, with four hours of travelling songs. So, warm up those pipes and get ready to belt out some fantastic tunes on the open road!
Classic Road Trip Songs
No matter what year you were born, or your musical taste, most of you will have heard and know the lyrics to these classic rock songs, making them really good songs to drive to. From Hotel California to Space Oddity, these are some of the greatest songs, by the greatest artists of all time. They also include some of the best guitar solos ever recorded. A great addition to any road trip playlists.
The Eagles – Hotel California
Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody
Lynyrd Skynyrd – Sweet Home Alabama
Tom Petty – Free Fallin
AC/DC – Highway to Hell
The Beatles – Here Comes The Sun
Creedence Clearwater Revival – Bad Moon Rising
The Rolling Stones – Sympathy for the Devil
The Kinks – You Really Got Me Going
Fleetwood Mac – Go Your Own Way
David Bowie – Space Oddity
Don McLean – American Pie
Bob Segar – Old Time Rock & Roll
Abba – Waterloo
Elton John – Rocket Man
The Doors – Light My Fire
Bob Dylan – Like A Rolling Stone
Ray Charles – Hit The Road Jack
Allman Brothers Band – Midnight Rider
Willie Nelson – On The Road Again
Aretha Franklin – Respect
Billy Joel – Piano Man
Chuck Berry – Johnny B. Goode
The Beach Boys – Surfin U.S.A
Neil Diamond – Sweet Caroline
Van Morrison – Brown Eyed Girl
Bachman Turner Overdrive – Taking care of Business
Johnny Cash- Ring of Fire
Simon & Garfunkel – Mrs Robinson
Led Zepplin – Kashmir
Nina Simone – Sinnerman
Golden Earring – Radar Love
Jackson Browne – Stay
Get the classic road trip songs playlist here
DJ’s & Collaborations
Some of the best songs for driving are collaborations. Two or three amazing artists bringing together their unique sounds can result in pure magic, and these are a great addition to any chill road trip songs playlist.
David Guetta ft. Sia – Titanium
Calvin Harris ft. Rag’n’Bone Man – Giant
Dr. Dre, Eminem ft. Skylar Grey – I Need a Doctor
Dua Lipa and Elton John – Cold Heart
Rihanna and JAY Z – Umbrella
Robin Shultz and Lilly Wood- Prayer in C
David Guetta ft. Estelle – One Love
Calvin Harris ft. Dua Lipa – One Kiss
Beyonce and JAY Z – Crazy in Love
Diddy Dirty Money and Skyler Grey – Coming Home
Sigma ft. Paloma Faith – Changing
David Guetta ft. Becky Hill, Ella Henderson – Crazy What Love Can Do
Rihanna ft. Calvin Harris – We Found Love
Rudimental and John Newman, Alex Clare – Not Givin In
Sean Paul and Dua Lipa – No Lie
Ed Sheeran and Khalid – Beautiful People
JAY Z and Alicia Keys – Empire State of Mind
Blackstreet, Dr Dre and Queen Pen – No Diggity
Santana and Rob Thomas – Smooth
Kanye West, Rhianna and Paul McCartney – FourFiveSeconds
Nelly and Kelly Rowland – Dilemma
Eve and Gwen Stefani – Let Me Blow Ya Mind
Rudimental and John Newman – Feel The Love
The Chainsmokers and Coldplay – Something Just Like This
Amy Winehouse and Mark Rowland – Valerie
Eminem abd Dido – Stan
Run D.M.C and Aerosmith – Walk This Way
Get the alternative road trip songs playlist here
Road Trip Songs from the Twenties (2020 – 2022)
There is a bigger selection of all types of music than ever before, and a lot of the new artists are very exciting. However, Kate Bush and Running Up That Hill making a comeback after 30 years just goes to show that there’s room for everyone. Use these songs to help create your modern road trip playlist.
In 2011 Spotify really started to take off, gaining over 1 million subscribers. This new way of listening allowed you to play music your own way, whatever you wanted, whenever you wanted, and changed the way we buy and listen to music forever. Creating a songs playlist of your favourites led to people discovering new music, which they wouldn’t have heard otherwise. These are some of the best road trip songs of the 2000s.
Adele – Rolling in The Deep
Paloma Faith – Crybaby
Robin Thicke – Blurred Lines
Mumford & Suns – I Will Wait
Rag’n’Bone Man – Human
The Weekend – Blinding Lights
Mr. Probz – Waves
Klangkarussell – Sonnentanz
Parov Stelar – The Sun
Arctic Monkeys – I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor
Rihanna – Diamonds
Lorde – Royals
Jess Glynn – Hold My Hand
The Chainsmokers – Don’t Let Me Down
Bruno Mars – 24k Magic
Pharrell Williams – Happy
Twenty One Pilots – Stressed Out
Coldplay – Viva La Viva
Mylie Cyrus – We Can’t Stop
Harry Styles – Adore You
Sia – Chandelier
Robyn – Dancing On My Own
Ed Sheeran – Shape of You
Get the late noughties playlist here
The Early Noughties (2000-2010) Best Driving Songs
Anything goes as far as music from the early noughties, there wasn’t a particular genre that stood out and no new genres really emerged. Still, we had some fantastic music from really iconic bands. Include these great tunes on your road trips songs playlist.
Coldplay – Yellow
The Killers – Mr. Brightside
Muse – Uprising
Florence + The Machine – You’ve Got The Love
Kings of Leon – Sex on Fire
Alicia Keys – Fallin’
Gnarls Barkley – Crazy
Nelly Furtado – I’m Like A Bird
India.Arie – Video
Lady Gaga – Just Dance
Eminem – The Real Slim Shady
Keane – Somewhere Only We Know
Black Eyed Peas – I Gotta Feeling
Coldplay – Clocks
Black Eyed Peas – Where is the Love
Snow Patrol – Chasing Cars
Stereophonics – Dakota
Madonna – Hung Up
Kaiser Chiefs – I Predict A Riot
The Fratellis – Whistle For The Choir
Kelly Rowland – Work
The Strokes – Last Night
Franz Ferdinand – Take Me Out
Green Day – Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Get the early noughties playlist here
Cool Road Trip Remixes
If you fancy listening to something a bit different, check out these fantastic remixes on SoundCloud.
Moby – Almost Home – Vijay & Sofia Zklatko Remix
Tracey Chapman – Stand By Me – Fabien Lanciano Remix
Calvin Harris & Disciples – How Deep is Your Love – Chris Lake Remix
Chaka Khan – Ain’t Nobody – Laurent Wild & The Discoh Family Edit
Hall and Oats – I Can’t Go For That – Pomo Remix
Clean Bandit – Rather Be – JackLNDN Remix
Chic ft. Sugarhill Gang – Good Times Vs Rappers Delight – Jet Boot Jack Remix
Dusty Springfield – Son of a Preacher Man – Bergeque Edit
Sia – Cheap Thrills ft. Sean Paul – Bruno Torres Remix
The Chainsmokers & Halsey – Closer – R3hab Remix
Wiz Khalifa Ft. Charlie Puth – See You Again Bauke Top Remix
Dire Straits – Sultans of Swing – lg Oliver Remix
Fleetwood Mac – Dreams – Gigamesh Edit
Sade – Smooth Operator – Dj S Bootleg Dance Remix
Naz – Old Town Road – B.R.T Official Remix
Snow Patrol – Mysterious ways
Parra For Cuva – Wicked Game
Get the cool remixes playlist here
Best 90’s Road Trip Songs
The nineties were one of the most inventive and creative periods for music. The decade saw grunge really take off in the USA and the battle of Brit pop in the UK. These different genres still influence music today. So if you’re going on an American road trip or to drive through Europe, add these songs to create your perfect road trip songs playlist.
Nirvana – Smells like Teen Spirit
Red Hot Chilli Peppers – Under the Bridge
Pearl Jam – Even Flow
Faithless – Why Go?
Alanis Morissette – Ironic
The Cranberries – Linger
The Verve – Bitter Sweet Symphony
R.E.M – Losing My Religion
TLC – Waterfalls
Blur – Park Life
Oasis – Don’t Look Back In Anger
Sheryl Crow – All I Wanna Do
Natalie Imbruglia – Torn
Fugees – Killing Me Softly With His Song
4 Non Blondes – What’s Up?
Radiohead – Creep
No Doubt – Don’t Speak
The Goo Goo Dolls – Iris
Sixpence None The Richer – Kiss Me
Lenny Kravitz – Are you Gonna Go My Way
Guns N’ Roses – Don’t Cry
The Cure – Friday I’m in Love
Weezer – Buddy Holly
Ace of Base – All That She Wants
10,000 Maniacs – These Are Days
The Commitments – Mustang Sally
George Michael – Freedom! ’90
Fatboy Slim – Praise You
Tom Cochrane – Life is a Highway
Get the 90’s road trip songs playlist here
Best 80s Road Trip Songs
The eighties are one of my favourite eras for music, it was also when MTV started and launched the music video, I’ll never forget the first time I saw the video for Thriller, it was pretty epic! The likes of punk rock, new wave and out and out pop gave us some of the greatest tunes ever. Add these tunes to your song list.
A-ha – Take on Me
Culture Club – Karma Chameleon
Bon Jovi – Livin’ On A Prayer
Eurythmics – Sweet Dreams
Madonna – Like A Virgin
Bryan Adams – Summer Of ’69
Cyndi Lauper – Girls Just Wanna Fun
Michael Jackson – Thriller
Tears for Fears – Shout
Toto – Africa
Katrina & The Waves – Walking on Sunshine
U2 – With or Without You
Guns N’ Roses – Paradise City
Soft Cell – Tainted Love
Tracy Chapman – Fast Car
Simple Minds – Don’t You
The Human League – Don’t You Want Me
Bruce Springsteen – Born in the U.S.A
Prince – Little Red Corvette
The Clash – Rock the Casbah
Men At Work – Down Under
Frankie Goes To Hollywood – Relax
Duran Duran – Girls on Film
Spandau Ballet – Gold
Chris Isaak – Wicked Game
Pet Shop Boys – West End Girls
New Order – True Faith
Whitney Houston – I Wanna Dance with Somebody
Pat Benatar – Heartbreaker
The Boomtown Rats – I Don’t like Mondays
The Police – Message in A Bottle
The Bangles – Manic Monday
The Proclaimers – I’m Gonna Be / 500 miles
Wham – Club Tropicana
Phil Collins – In The Air Tonight
The Communards – Don’t Leave Me This Way
The B-52’s – Love Shack
Get the 80s road trips songs playlist here
Best Driving Power Ballads
Everyone loves a power ballad! These emotionally charged love songs are just begging you to belt them out at the top of your lungs! Anytime you are going to travel, include these on your road trip songs playlist.
Foreigner – I Want To Know What Love Is
Bryan Adams – Everything I Do
Journey – Don’t Stop Believin
Cutting Crew – I Just Died In Your Arms Tonight
Heart – Alone
Guns N’ Roses – November Rain
Boston – More Than a Feeling
Bonnie Tyler – Total Eclipse of the Heart
Richard Marx – Right Here Waiting
REO Speedwagon – Can’t Fight This Feeling
Meatloaf – Paradise By The Dashboard Light
Foreigner – Waiting for a Girl Like You
Berlin – Take My Breath Away
Europe – The Final Countdown
Crowded House – Don’t Dream It’s Over
Poison – Every Rose Has Its Thorn
Survivor – Eye of the Tiger
Starship – Nothing’s Going to Stop Us Now
Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes – The Time of My Life
Alannah Myles – Black Velvet
Get the driving power ballads playlist here
Disco Road Trip Songs
Disco disco disco – if these tunes with their rhythmic beats don’t get you singing and moving to the music then nothing will. Keep an eye on that speed limit in case you get carried away! Perfect for those summer road trips.
Abba – Dancing Queen
Gloria Gaynor – I Will Survive
Earth Wind and Fire – Boogie Wonderland
Bee Gees – Stayin’Alive
Diana Ross – Upside Down
The Trammps – Disco Inferno
Donna Summer – Hot Stuff
The Pointer Sisters – I’m So Excited
Earth Wind and Fire – Let’s Groove
Chic – Le Freak
Cool and The Gang – Celebration
Lipps Inc – Funky Town
Chaka Khan – I’m Every Woman
Earth Wind and Fire – September
The Emotions – Best of My Love
Cheryl Lynn – Got to Be Real
The Jacksons – Blame it On the Boogie
Peaches and Herb – Shake Your Groove Thing
Kylie Minogue – Can’t Get You Out of My Head
Scissor Sisters – I Don’t Feel Like Dancing
Barry Manilow – Copacabana
Get the disco road trip songs playlist here
Your Ultimate Driving Playlist
Get every single one of these amazing road trip songs bundled into an ultimate road trip songs playlist to keep you singing along for nearly four hours!
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Expertise: road trips, full-time travel, motorhoming, Europe, itineraries
Likes: living in a box, wine and croissants! Bio: Izzy has been a travel writer since 2019 covering everything from gap years to travelling in Morocco and Turkey in a motorhome. Izzy is the author of "Selling Up to Live in a Motorhome" and enjoys helping others to live their dreams.
