So, you and your besties have decided to take a road trip. You’ve got your bags packed, a road map with no destination and a loaded tank of gas. However, you’re missing one very important part of the equation for the perfect road trip—the perfect playlist. Piecing together the best road trip jams is not easy, but luckily, I’ve suggested songs from all different kinds of genres to get you started!
When the “Road Trip! AAHHHHHH!” excitement has commenced and you’re waving goodbye to the University of Kentucky sign:
- “Road Trippin’” by Steve Wariner
- “Wild At Heart” by Gloriana
- “Break Me Out” by The Rescues
- “Best Day of My Life” by American Authors
- “Life in Color” by OneRepublic
- “The Days” by Avicii
- “We Come Running” by Youngblood Hawke
- “Life is a Highway” by Rascal Flatts
- “Beautiful Day” by U2
- “We Own The Sky” by M83
When you all feel like making the whole car shake with your dancing:
- “Ignition (Remix)” by R. Kelly
- “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)” by Backstreet Boys
- “Run the World (Girls)” by Beyoncé
- “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson, Bruno Mars
- “Love Shack” by The B-52’s
- “Girlfriend” by Icona Pop
- “Bang Bang” by Jessie J, Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj
- “Reflections” by MisterWives
- “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” by Cyndi Lauper
- “A Thousand Miles” by Vanessa Carlton
When it’s time to turn on the classics:
- “Stone In Love” by Journey
- “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen
- “Paradise City” by Guns N’ Roses
- “Free Bird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd
- “Born to Be Wild” by Steppenwolf
- “Slow Ride” by Foghat
- “Foreplay/Long Time” by Boston
- “Runnin’ Down a Dream” by Tom Petty
- “Highway To Hell” by AC/DC
- “Thunder Road” by Burce Springsteen
When you’re back on the road after making a pit stop and meeting a group of very cute guys:
- “Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen
- “Blank Space” by Taylor Swift
- “Sledgehammer” by Fifth Harmony
- “Who’s That Boy” by Demi Lovato, DEV
- “Drove Me Wild” by Tegan And Sara
- “Teenage Dream” by Katy Perry
- “All Of You” by Betty Who
- “Let’s Love” by Echosmith
- “Somebody To You” by The Vamps, Demi Lovato
- “Come & Get It” by Selena Gomez
When the map holder (who is also in charge of knowing where you are going) has one job, fails and you find yourselves very lost:
- “Back On The Map” by Kacey Musgraves
- “My Fault” by Imagine Dragons
- “Flashlight” by Hunter Hayes
- “Out of The Woods” by Taylor Swift
- “Hopeless Wanderer” by Mumford & Sons
- “Get Home” by Bastille
- “Livin’ On A Prayer” by Bon Jovi
- “Smile” by Mikky Ekko
- “I Will Be Back One Day” by Lord Huron
- “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey
When you end up cruising on a highway next to the coast—because if you didn’t pass by or go to a beach at some point, did you really go on a road trip?
- “Suntan City” by Luke Bryan
- “Starships” by Nicki Minaj
- “Cabin By The Sea” by Dirty Heads
- “Oceans” by Coasts
- “My Number” by Foals
- “Beachin’” by Jake Owen
- “International Smile” by Katy Perry
- “Surfer Girl” by Beach Boys
- “Harbour Lights” by A Silent Film
- “Lost At Sea” by OneRepublic
When everyone (except the driver, of course) feels like taking a nap:
- “Tenerife Sea” by Ed Sheeran
- “All the Wild Horses” by Ray LaMontagne
- “Cherry Wine” by Hozier
- “Tee Shirt” by Birdy
- “All I Want” by Kodaline
- “Let Her Go” by Passenger
- “Wait for Me” by Motopony
- “Poison & Wine” by The Civil Wars
- “Your Hand in Mine” by Explosions In The Sky
- “To Build A Home” by The Cinematic Orchestra
When the sun goes down and you’re on the highway at night:
- “Constellations” by Jack Johnson
- “Dreaming” by Smallpools
- “Chocolate” by The 1975
- “A Sky Full of Stars” by Coldplay
- “Midnight City” by M83
- “Stars (Hold On)” by Youngblood Hawke
- “Chasing Cars” by Snow Patrol
- “Ride” by Lana Del Rey
- “Night Changes” by One Direction
- “Leave The Night On” by Sam Hunt
When you’re on the way back to UK because the Bluegrass is beckoning you back where you belong:
- “Compass” by Lady Antebellum
- “Home” by Phillip Phillips
- “Lost In My Mind” by The Head And The Heart
- “Speed of Sound” by Coldplay
- “Bringing Back The Sunshine” by Blake Shelton
- “Legends Never Die” by Ferras, Katy Perry
- “Moth’s Wings” by Passion Pit
- “Coming Home” by Diddy-Dirty Money, Skylar Grey
- “I Bet My Life” by Imagine Dragons
- “Kentucky Dirty” by Laura Bell Bundy
Hopefully, creating the perfect road trip playlist just got a lot easier! Road trips are something that everyone needs to experience at least once, and with quality music, all your girlfriends, and a world that has amazing sights to offer, what more could you want?
Happy road tripping!
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