A road trip isn’t just a drive from point A to point B. It’s an experience — a memory in the making. And half the fun is rolling down the windows (or better yet, dropping the top) and belting out the lyrics to your favorite tunes. So pack your bag, load up your playlist and hit the road!
15 epic road-trip songs
“Life in the Fast Lane”
Eagles
www.youtube.com/embed/4tcXblWojdM
Really, just about every Eagles tune is road-trip worthy, but if we had to pick just one, this would be it.
“Windows Are Rolled Down”
Amos Lee
www.youtube.com/embed/F4xY__FoDzY
If you like Brett Dennen or Ben Harper, you’ll love Amos Lee.
“Southern Cross”
Crosby, Stills & Nash
www.youtube.com/embed/FPK_IV-J3Co
The harmony and lyrics of this classic Crosby, Stills & Nash tune will have you hitting repeat.
“Thunder Road”
Bruce Springsteen
www.youtube.com/embed/RMB3M43AEpc
Hit the road with a little “Thunder Road” from The Boss, one of our favorite musical traveling companions.
“Roll with the Changes”
REO Speedwagon
www.youtube.com/embed/eGgLPriZUSA
Try not to crank up the volume on this one. We dare you.
“Free Fallin'”
Tom Petty
www.youtube.com/embed/1lWJXDG2i0A
After seeing Tom Cruise hit the road with this song in Jerry Maguire, “Free Fallin'” earns a permanent spot on our road-trip playlist. (Watch the clip from the film here.)
“Closer to Fine”
Indigo Girls
www.youtube.com/embed/HUgwM1Ky228
You know those songs that immediately lift your spirits? This is one of them. The guitars and harmony give us a lift without fail.
“The Weight”
The Band
www.youtube.com/embed/sjCw3-YTffo
There’s a reason Rolling Stone ranked this among the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. A little trivia: This song was included in the soundtrack of the 1969 road-trip flick Easy Rider.
“Kingdom of Rust”
Doves
www.youtube.com/embed/dFM0pUn4dcA
“Kingdom of Rust” from the Zombieland soundtrack has a unique sound that just might be best enjoyed with the horizon ahead of you and the sunset in your rearview mirror.
“Life is a Highway”
Tom Cochrane
www.youtube.com/embed/U3sMjm9Eloo
We love Rascal Flatts, but when it comes to “Life is a Highway,” we’ll always prefer the original version by Tom Cochrane.
“Everyday Is a Winding Road”
Sheryl Crow
www.youtube.com/embed/khrx-zrG460
This easy-breezy tune is a fun one for a road trip with the girls.
“On the Road Again”
Willie Nelson
www.youtube.com/embed/Gdlyi5mckg0
Oh, Willie, you will always be our favorite road-trip crooner.
“Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere”
Neil Young
www.youtube.com/embed/pesIGuV9DDk
You can’t go wrong with a whole Neil Young playlist, but if forced to pick a single song, this song (included in the Almost Famous soundtrack) would be the one.
“Sweet Home Alabama”
Lynyrd Skynyrd
www.youtube.com/embed/ye5BuYf8q4o
This classic tune just might make you plug “Alabama” into your GPS and head down South.
“No Sleep till Brooklyn”
Beastie Boys
www.youtube.com/embed/07Y0cy-nvAg
Want to turn your road trip into a party on wheels? This is the song to do it.
Traveling with kids? Learn how to make your own road-trip bingo game! >>
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