Playlist of Best Road Trip Songs

I will soon be making a trek from the east coast out to the west coast. With the interstate most of the way, this is going to make for lots of boring hours.

So, I decided to compile a list of the best songs for a road trip mixed CD or MP3 playlist. I came up with far more than I thought I would and yet, I feel like I am missing some great ones that are just beyond my memory.

I still haven't decided how to categorize these. Right now, it's a somewhat chaotic, disorganized playlist of great road trip songs. If you have suggestions for grouping them, please let me know in the comments.

See if you agree with these travel road trip songs and if you have any to add, let me know in the comments section. Help a girl out! I would sure appreciate it.

Born to Be Wild- Steppenwolf

I don't believe any road trip song playlist would be complete without this classic rock song.

Get your motor runnin'

Head out on the highway

Lookin' for adventure

And whatever comes our way

King of the Road- Roger Miller

Play this song in the car on a road trip and you can't help but sing along.

I Can't Drive 55- Sammy Haggar

If I don't want my road trip to last a month, I can't drive 55!

Running on Empty- Jackson Browne

Once I hit parts of the southwest, I'll have to make sure I stay filled up or I will be running on empty. This song just seems to go in rhythm with your motor.

Highway to Hell- AC/DC

AC/DC is my favorite band, so how can I not include this song? Great song to play when you start to feel tired and need to get energized and there's no Red Bull around.

Hit the Road, Jack- Percy Mayfield

Great theme song for a road trip and lots of fun to sing along

On the Road Again- Willie Nelson

Simply put, a classic traveling song for the road

DJ Funktual thinks I should change this to the version by Canned Heat. Does anyone agree?

Drive My Car- The Beatles

Classic song, classic band. By the time I get to Louisiana, I'll be wishing someone would drive my car.

Low Rider- War

Another classic song for a road trip that cranks up the energy

Mustang Sally- Wilson Pickett

Play Mustang Sally on a road trip and you just cruise down the road- no worries.

Mercedes Benz- Janis Joplin

Most people either love Janis Joplin songs, or they hate them. Me, I could sing this song all the way to California.

Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz

My friends all drive Porsches

And I must make amends

Worked hard all my lifetime

No help from my friends

So, oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz

Start Me Up- Rolling Stones

What road trip would be complete without the Stones? This is a great tune to start you up and keep you going on that monotonous highway.

I've Been Everywhere- Johnny Cash

I'm starting to feel like I've been everywhere. When I listen to this song, I've been to a lot of the places that Johnny Cash mentions.

Magic Carpet Ride- Steppenwolf

Yeah, I know. I've listed two songs from Steppenwolf. But come on, Magic Carpet Ride would be such a killer road trip song. I love the intro.

Already Gone- The Eagles

Gotta have The Eagles on a road trip!

And I'm already gone

And I'm feelin' strong

I will sing this victory song

Woo hoo hoo

The 'woo hoo hoos' are the best part

Cruisin'- Smokey Robinson

How can you not go on a road trip with Smokey? Smooth as silk Smokey crooning 'Cruise with me, baby' will get you through any traffic jam.

Runnin' With the Devil- Van Halen

First of all, this is probably my favorite Van Halen song, so don't knock it. ;-) And it's a perfect accompaniment to AC/DC's Highway to Hell.

Sister Golden Hair- America

One of my all-time favorite songs ever, and I don't know why I consider it a great road trip song. I just do. So there. My excuse is that it's a great sing along song.

Free Bird- Lynyrd Skynyrd

If I leave here tomorrow

Will you still remember me

For I must be traveling on now

'Cause there's too many places that I've got to see

(If Free Bird is not a road trip song, I don't know what is.)

Back in Black- AC/DC

You can't possibly fall asleep at the wheel with this classic rock song blaring. Another of my favorite all-time songs

Bat Out of Hell- Meatloaf

Like a bat out of hell

I'll be gone when the morning comes

When the night is over

Like a bat out of hell I'll be gone gone gone...

and

I'm gonna hit the highway like a battering ram

On a silver black phantom bike

When the metal is hot and the engine is hungry

And we're all about to see the light

Cool song

Paradise by the Dashboard Light- Meatloaf

Another awesome road trip song by Meatloaf

Fast Car- Tracy Chapman

You got a fast car

But is it fast enough so we can fly away

We gotta make a decision

We leave tonight or live and die this way...

I remember we were driving driving in your car

The speed so fast I felt like I was drunk

City lights lay out before us

And your arm felt nice wrapped 'round my shoulder

And I had a feeling that I belonged

And I had a feeling I could be someone, be someone, be someone

Perfect road trip song

Runnin' Down a Dream- Tom Petty

Actually, this is probably the most perfect road trip song of all time, if the songs were judged by the lyrics.

It was a beautiful day, the sun beat down

I had the radio on, i was drivin'

Trees flew by, me and del were singin' little runaway

I was flyin'

Yeah runnin' down a dream

That never would come to me

Workin' on a mystery, goin' wherever it leads

Runnin' down a dream

I felt so good like anything was possible

I hit cruise control and rubbed my eyes

The last three days the rain was un-stoppable

It was always cold, no sunshine...

I rolled on as the sky grew dark

I put the pedal down to make some time

There's something good waitin' down this road

I'm pickin' up whatever's mine

Life Is a Highway- Rascal Flatts

Upbeat, fun song for the open road

Life is a highway

I want to ride it all night long

If you're going my way

I want to drive it all night long

DJ Funktual thinks the Tom Cochrane version is better. I can't decide. What do you think?

Who Wouldn't Wanna Be Me?- Keith Urban

I don't think that anyone will want to be me when I go on my road trip, but this Keith Urban song will be fun to sing in the car while I'm on the road.

And the sun is shinin'

And this road keeps windin'

Through the prettiest country

From Georgia to Tennessee

And I got the one I love beside me

My troubles behind me

I'm alive and I'm free

Who wouldn't wanna be me?

Sweet Hitchhiker- Creedence Clearwater Revival

One of my least favorite CCR songs, but this one fits the travel theme the best. Any CCR song is great on a road trip.

I Get Around- The Beach Boys

Not that kind- get your mind outta the gutter! Another classic song by a classic band. Fun to sing, goes with the whole road trip mood.

Ramblin' Man- The Allman Brothers

Another classic road trip song that no road trip list would be complete without.

Shakin'- Eddie Money

Probably my favorite Eddie Money and it's a bit naughty. And hey, a car IS involved. Remember this great song?

We started drinkin', wasn't thinkin' too straight

She was doin' 80 then she slammed on the brakes

We got so high we had to pull to the side

We did some shakin' til the middle of the night

Okay, I know that some of you have already mentioned a few of these road trip songs. BUT I had already thought of them and haven't had time to add them yet. I've been so embarrassed by the road trip songs I've missed that I've got to claim credit for these songs, okay? No hard feelings?

Anyway, here are some more road trip songs that I've remembered.

PANAMA by Van Halen Oh my gosh, how did I miss it? Like DJ Funktual said, the lyrics are perfect for a road trip.

California by Phantom Planet

If you don't recognize the song, you know it if you ever watched the television show, The OC. California was the theme song. The song is very repetitive, but I love it. Perfect song for a trip out to the west coast.

Little Red Corvette by Prince

Considering the fact that Corvettes are my favorite car and this is one of my favorite 80s songs, don't ask how I forgot this song for a road trip. I don't have the slightest idea.

Me and Bobby McGee by Janis Joplin

Have I been in a coma or what? Check out these perfect road trip lyrics:

Only one of the best songs ever, road trip or not

The Road Goes on Forever - Robert Earl Keen

Fast as You - Dwight Yoakum

Roam - B52s

Bidibodi Bidibu - Bubbles (from Super Troopers movie)

Lake Shore Drive - Alliota, Haynes, and Jeramiah

Holiday Road - Lindsay Buckingham

Motorcycle Diaries soundtrack

Roadhouse Blues - The Doors

Interstate Love Song - Stone Temple Pilots

Ramble On - Led Zeppelin (There were quite a few requests for Zep in general)

Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen (Gotta have The Boss- What was I thinking?)

Turn the Page - Bob Seger (Also a few suggestions for ultra cool Bob)

November Rain - Guns 'N Roses

Kiss in General - May I suggest I Wanna Rock n Roll All Night?

Here I Go Again - Whitesnake (Of course!)

Slow Ride - Foghat (Another classic road trip song that I can't believe I forgot)

Riding With the King - B.B. King & Eric Clapton

Theme Song from Route 66

Little Deuce Coupe by The Beach Boys

Road Trippin' - Red Hot Chili Peppers (At least a couple of suggestions for Red Hot Chili Peppers for road trip songs) Thanks, jsullivan!

I'm not done updating. I'll get them all added soon. Here are more of the best road trips songs contributed by you: Fantastic work, you guys!

Drive Like Lightning by Brian Setzer Orchestra

Under My Wheels by Alice Cooper

Hot Rod Lincoln- Thanks, Dawn, and wajay_47

Little Old Lady From Pasadena- Jan and Dean

Dead Man's Curve by Jan and Dean

Maybelline by Chuck Berry

No Particular Place to Go by Chuck Berry

Radar Love by Golden Earring (Thanks, wajay_47, for so many great road trip songs.)

Out on the Highway by Judas Priest

Freewheel Burning by Judas Priest (How did I miss Judas Priest?)

Come On and Take a Free Ride by Edgar Winter Group (HOW did I forget about this fantastic classic song? It's a perfect road trip song. Thanks, DJ Funktual- excellent choice.)

Cars by Gary Numan (DJ Funktual changed his mind about this one, but I'm including it anyway. It fits into the whole road trip songs theme, even if not perfectly.

Nationwide by ZZ Top Again, how did I overlook this road song? Thanks, Peter. This song should be somewhere near the top of a list of road songs.

Truckin' by The Grateful Dead Wow, Millertime. You got me. I can't believe I'm missing so many obvious songs for a road trip. I love this song.

If You're Going Through Hell by Rodney Atkins (Thanks for the suggestion, About-The-Home. This song is ringing a bell, but I can't place it.)

Oh my gosh. I had no idea that I had gathered so many song ideas for a road trip. I'll keep adding them and feel free to add suggestions for me.