Last updated on October 14th, 2024 at 08:47 pm
One nice perk about being an author is traveling for research! Recently I went on an 8-hour road trip to Gulf Shores, Alabama to scope out the scene for a book I’m writing! As any writer knows, the right soundtrack can make all the difference on a long drive.
Since I was alone in the Jeep, having a solid collection of driving tunes was essential, but radio stations fade in and out too often on the open road. I curated this playlist specifically for a summer road trip a few years ago, and it turned out to be the perfect companion for this ride!
Taking your own drive? I’m sharing my ultimate road trip playlist with you! Just click the Summer Road Trip Playlist image below to dive into the music that fueled my creative journey. With 127 songs spanning almost 8 hours, this carefully crafted list will serve you well on your own long car rides or writing sessions.
Whether you’re researching your next novel, heading to the beach, or just dreaming of the open road, let these songs transport you. From popular hits to American classics, country anthems to power ballads, this diverse playlist crosses genres to create the perfect backdrop for any adventure. Who knows, it might even inspire your next story! Happy listening, and happy writing!
CLICK HERE —> Apple Music Playlist
Summer Road Trip Playlist Songs Featured:
- Country Girl (Shake It For Me) by Luke Bryan
- Watermelon Sugar by Harry Styles
- Cake By The Ocean by DNCE
- Body Like A Back Road by Sam Hunt
- Born To Be Wild by Steppenwolf
- Life Is A Highway by Rascal Flatts
- Take It Easy by The Eagles
- I Love Rock ‘n Roll by Joan Jett
- Want To Want Me by Jason Derulo
- It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere by Alan Jackson
- My House by Flo Rida
- Hey Mama by David Guetta (featuring Nicki Minaj, Bebe Rexha & Afrojack)
- Rather Be by Clean Bandit (featuring Jess Glynne)
- Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson (featuring Bruno Mars)
- Worth It by Fifth Harmony (featuring Kid Ink)
- Shut Up And Dance by Walk The Moon
- Drive You Crazy by Pitbull (featuring Jason Derulo & Juicy J)
- See You Again by Wiz Khalifa (featuring Charlie Puth)
- Barefoot Blue Jean Night by Jake Owen
- Long Hot Summer by Keith Urban
- Time Of Our Lives by Pitbull & Ne-Yo
- When The Sun Goes Down by Kenny Chesney & Uncle Cracker
- Sugar by Maroon 5
- Toes by Zac Brown Band
- Wake Me Up by Avicii
- Let’s Go by Calvin Harris (featuring Ne-Yo)
- I Love It by Icona Pop (featuring Charli XCX)
- Chicken Fried by Zac Brown Band
- Hanginaround by Counting Crows
- All Summer Long by Kid Rock
- I Go Blind by Hootie And The Blowfish
- Only Wanna Be With You by Post Malone
- How’s It Gonna Be by Third Eye Blind
- Little Red Corvette by Prince
- Knee Deep by Zac Brown Band (featuring Jimmy Buffett)
- Hey Jealousy by Gin Blossoms
- Summer Nights by Rascal Flatts
- Dancing In The Moonlight by King Harvest
- Honey, I’m Good by Andy Grammer
- Am I Wrong by Anderson .Paak (featuring ScHoolboy Q)
- California Gurls by Katy Perry (featuring Snoop Dogg)
- One Dance by Drake (featuring Wizkid & Kyla)
- Feel So Close by Calvin Harris
- Waves by Mr. Probz
- House Party by Sam Hunt
- Brandy (You’re A Fine Girl) by Looking Glass
- Waterfalls by TLC
- Blinding Lights by The Weeknd
- Dance Monkey by Tones And I
- One Thing Right by Marshmello & Kane Brown
- Hey Look Ma, I Made It by Panic! At The Disco
- Youngblood by 5 Seconds Of Summer
- Semi-Charmed Life by Third Eye Blind
- Closer by The Chainsmokers (featuring Halsey)
- Bad Liar by Selena Gomez
- Beautiful People by Ed Sheeran (featuring Khalid)
- That’s What I Like by Bruno Mars
- Sucker by Jonas Brothers
- Señorita by Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello
- bad guy by Billie Eilish
- Toosie Slide by Drake
- Happier by Marshmello & Bastille
- Lips Are Movin by Meghan Trainor
- Tints by Anderson .Paak (featuring Kendrick Lamar)
- Cannibal by Kesha
- What A Man Gotta Do by Jonas Brothers
- Jumper by Third Eye Blind
- Animals by Maroon 5
- Cool by Jonas Brothers
- Me Too by Meghan Trainor
- Two Princes by Spin Doctors
- Fly by Sugar Ray
- She’s So High by Tal Bachman
- Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison
- Island In The Sun by Weezer
- Post Malone by Sam Feldt (featuring RANI)
- All Right by Cisco Adler (featuring gnash)
- Tongue Tied by Grouplove
- All Star by Smash Mouth
- Mr. Blue Sky by Weezer
- Escape (The Pina Colada Song) by Rupert Holmes
- Good As Hell by Lizzo
- Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd
- 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover by Paul Simon
- Candy by Robbie Williams
- Shotgun by George Ezra
- Teeth by 5 Seconds Of Summer
- Band On The Run by Paul McCartney
- Stupid Love by Lady Gaga
- Electric Love by BORNS
- Walking On Sunshine by Katrina And The Waves
- Midnight Sky by Mikey Cyrus
- That’s My Kind Of Night by Luke Bryan
- Dancing Queen by ABBA
- Mr. Brightside by The Killers
- Shake It by Metro Station
- No Diggity by Blackstreet (featuring Dr. Dre)
- Left Hand Free by alt-J
- My Type by Saint Motel
- Summer On You by PRETTYMUCH
- Summer by Calvin Harris
- Lil Bit by Nelly & Florida Georgia Line
- Bad Habits by Ed Sheeran
- Leave The Door Open by Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak & Silk Sonic
- Peaches by Justin Bieber (featuring Daniel Caesar & GIVĒON)
- Denim Jacket by Maroon 5
- On The Road Again by Willie Nelson
- Magic In The Hamptons by Social House (featuring Lil Yachty)
- Loving You Easy by Zac Brown Band
- (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction by The Rolling Stones
- It’s Still Rock And Roll To Me by Billy Joel
- Road Trippin by Red Hot Chili Peppers
- Love Shack by The B-52’s
- Ring Of Fire by Johnny Cash
- Glory Days by Bruce Springsteen
- Good Vibrations by The Beach Boys
- Soak Up The Sun by Sheryl Crow
- Radar Love by Golden Earring
- Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
- I Can’t Drive 55 by Sammy Hagar
- Come Together by The Beatles (from the Abbey Road album)
- Holiday Road by Lindsey Buckingham
- Roll Over Beethoven by Chuck Berry
- Doctor My Eyes by Jackson Browne
- Another Day In Paradise by Phil Collins
- Fast Car by Tracy Chapman
- Where The Streets Have No Name by U2 (from The Joshua Tree album)
- American Pie by Don McLean
Now that you’ve got your perfect road trip playlist, where are you heading this summer? A California desert? A beach in Florida? Getting lost on a country road? Leave a comment below!
What is the #1 road trip song?
There is no definitive #1 road trip song, as musical tastes are highly subjective. However, here are some songs that are commonly associated with road trips:
“Born to Be Wild” by Steppenwolf – This 1969 rock anthem glorifies the freedom of the open road and is a road trip classic.
“Life Is a Highway” by Rascal Flatts – An upbeat country song released in 2006 that celebrates the journey rather than the destination.
“Take It Easy” by The Eagles – A mellow 1970s rock song advising people to take life at their own pace. Often played during long hauls.
“I Love Rock ‘n Roll” by Joan Jett – A feel good rock jam from 1981 that never fails to get people singing along.
“Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen – Though not specifically about road trips, this song is guaranteed to be passionately sung by all occupants of the car.
“Radar Love” by Golden Earring – A driving rock song from 1973 about rushing home to a lover that captures the exhilaration of the open road.
“American Pie” by Don McLean – At over 8 minutes long, this folk rock classic keeps the music flowing for miles.
“Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd – A Southern rock staple ideal for cross country road trips through the American South.
So while there’s no definitive #1, these songs are certainly strong contenders based on their enduring popularity and ability to capture the spirit of the great American road trip!
How long should a road trip playlist be?
Generally, a road trip playlist should be at least 3 hours long, but can range upwards of 6 hours or more. The length of the ideal playlist really depends on the length of the trip and personal preferences.
Here are some general guidelines:
For short trips under 3 hours, a playlist of 30-50 songs is usually sufficient. You want enough variety to last the whole drive but not so much that you’re constantly skipping around.
For medium length trips of 3-6 hours, aim for a playlist in the range of 50-100 songs. This provides more variety and reduces repetition over an extended drive time.
For very long road trips of 6+ hours, a playlist of 100-200+ songs is recommended. The longer the trip, the more music you’ll need to cover all those miles without getting bored.
Consider the vibe you want for the trip too. An energetic, uptempo playlist can help keep drivers alert on long hauls. For more mellow trips, create a laidback playlist.
Mix up the genres and eras to appeal to multiple travelers. Classic road trip songs sprinkled among current hits keeps the playlist fresh.
Organize thematic playlists for different legs of the trip – driving music, sunset songs, sing-along favorites. This adds variety.
The key is striking the right balance of variety and continuity in an order that flows well. Don’t just throw every song you like into one massive playlist. Curate it thoughtfully for the specific trip and travelers. Bon voyage!