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A road trip isn’t a road trip without good music.

In my opinion, a road trip playlist must consist of at least one of the following:

1. Be upbeat to get you through those long stretches of highway
2. Highly singable
3. Educational – lessons about the 1980’s music is considered educational, right?
4. Songs about road trips – duh?

First, let me tell you about how I created my playlist

If you don’t use Spotify, I highly recommend it. It’s a music streaming app that allows you to create your own playlists. Need inspiration, you can also listen to one of their many playlists based on mood, genre, or decade. And of course, they have their own version of songs to sing in the car. Spotify is free with ads, or you can upgrade to a premium subscription for $9.99 a month.

Ultimate Road Trip Playlist

You can listen directly to my Ultimate Road Trip Playlist on Spotify. As of writing today I have over 70 songs, enough for 4 1/2 hours on the road. But, don’t take just my list alone! I reached out to several other travel bloggers to get their favorites as well. Here’s a list by the above categories of our must-have Road Trip Songs!

Upbeat Songs

1. Honey, I’m Good – Andy Grammer
2. Happy – Pharrell
3. I Really Like You – Carly Rae Jepsen
4. Roar – Katy Perry
5. Life’s a Beach – Heymous Molly
6. Immortals – Fall Out Boy
7. Renegades – X Ambassadors
8. Geronimo – Sheppard
9. Perfect Day – Hoku (You know the song from Legally Blonde)
10. Should I Stay or Should I Go – The Clash
11. King of the World – First Aid Kit
12. Counting Stars – One Republic
13. Best Day of My Life – American Authors
14. Every Chance We Get We Run – David Guetta
15. ABC – Jackson 5
16. When Will I See You Again – Owl City (Jennifer plays this song to remind her boys that even though they may be sad to leave again, a new adventure awaits)

Singable Songs

1. The Lion Sleeps Tonight – The Tokens
2. Super Trouper – Abba
3. A Horse with No Name
4. American Pie – Don McLean
5. End of the World – REM
6. Ex’s & Oh’s – Elle King
7. Candy – Paolo Nutini
8. Runnin Down a Dream – Tom Petty
9. Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard – Paul Simon
10. Chain of Fools – Aretha Franklin
11. Riptide – Vance Joy
12. Happy Together – The Turtles
13. Mary Jane’s Last Dance – Tom Petty
14. Uma Thurman – Fall Out Boy
15. Glory Days – Bruce Springsteen
16. The Future’s So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades – Timbuk 3
17. I’m a Believer – The Monkees
18. You Can’t Hurry Love – The Supremes
19. Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey
20. Summertime – DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince (aka Will Smith)
21. Africa – Toto
22. Ice Ice Baby – Vanilla Ice (A1A – Beach Front Avenue)

Educational Songs

Remember – I did say 80’s songs are educational!

1. You Spin Me ‘Round – Dead or Alive (sadly we had to explain what a record and spinning was)
2. Unhappy Birthday – The Smiths
3. Friday I’m In Love – The Cure
4. Rapture – Blondie (the best part is when they try to rhyme cars/guitars etc like the old-school rap in the song)
5. 8-6-7-5-3-0-9 Jenny by Tommy Tutone
6. Turning Japanese by the Vapors
7. Rebel Yell –  Billy Idol
8. Sweet Child O’ Mine – Guns N Roses
9. Love Shack – The B52s
10. Rock the Casbah – The  Clash
11. You Gotta Fight For Your Right To Party – The Beastie Boys
12. Livin’ On A Prayer – Bon Jovi
13. I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor
14. We are Family – The Pointer Sisters
15. She’s A Maniac – Michael Sembello
16. I Hate Myself for Loving You – Joan Jett
17. Cruel Summer – Bananarama
18. Your Love – The Outfield
19. Come On Eileen – Dexys Midnight Runners

I grew up in the ’80s (obviously, but most of those songs were suggested by Shobha!) but I loved the 60’s. The next part of this list is educational – let’s call it music history – from the ’60s to ’70s.

1. My Generation – The Who
2. Jolene – Dolly Parton
3. All Along The Watchtower – Jimi Hendrix
4. Me and Bobby McGee – Janis Joplin
5. Build Me Up Buttercup – The Foundations
6. Tiny dancer – Elton John
7. Danke Schoen – Wayne Newton (Because, you know, Ferris)
8. Another Brick in the Wall – Pink Floyd
9. It’s Not Unusual – Tom Jones (Try not to do the Carlton if you’re the driver)
10. Anything by the Beach Boys
11. Anything by the Beatles

Road Trip Songs

These include some classics as well as new ones to discover

1. Holiday Road – Lindsey Buckingham (The Original National Lampoon’s Vacation Version)
2. Holiday Road – The Frank & Todd Show (Acoustic cover that’s a lot of fun)
3. Life is a Highway – Rascal Flatts
4. I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) – The Proclaimers
5. Take Me Home, Country Roads – John Denver
6. Small Town – John Mellencamp
7. Into the Great Wide Open – Tom Petty
8. Sweet Home Alabama – Lynyrd Skynyrd
9. Route 66 – Chuck Berry
10. ‘Til We Run Out of Road – Jewel
11. Road Trippin’ – Red Hot Chili Peppers
12. Shanghai Cigarettes – Caitlin Rose
13. Southern Sun – Boy & Bear
14. Same in Any Language – i Nine
15. Home – Phillip Phillips
16. American Girl – Tom Petty

Please check out the following bloggers who contributed to the Road Trip Playlist

Shobha George of Just Go Places – She’s doing the dream Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip this summer!

Marta Correal of Learning Escapes – She introduced me to Paolo Nutini, a new favorite!

Maggie Abernathy of Dakota Gypsy – She’s got some fantastic pieces on the National Parks.

Jennifer St. Louis of Our Family Travel Adventures – Her family is on a worldschooling adventure and they are living my dream!

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I want to hear from you! Keep the conversation going and comment below with your must-have Road Trip Playlist song!