Picture road trips: You and a friend, singing at the top of your lungs, driving along the endless blacktop highway, windows rolled down and total bliss.
The music will fade in and out, but one thing doesn’t change, road trip music is crucial to the experience. Instead of reiterating the classics that we know you have, we’ve compiled a list of new songs that will inspire you to fill up the tank, stock up the snacks, and get going!
– She & Him: Ridin’ In My Car
– Glee: Don’t Stop Believin’ (Glee Cast Version)
You all know it. You hear it belted out at least once a month, but this new twist is sure to bring another decade of believers (even if you’re not a Gleek). “Just a small town girl, livin’ in a lonely world/She took the midnight train goin’ anywhere.”
– Lady Antebellum: American Honey
As you head through the country, sun-drenched fields enveloping the road, you won’t be able resist playing some country tunes. “Get caught in the race/Of this crazy life/Tryin’ to be everything can make you lose your mind.”
– K’naan: Wavin’ Flag (Coca-Cola® Celebration Mix)
While this may not be about the open road, his lyrics about will make you feel unstoppable as you soar past never-ending landscapes. “They’ll call me freedom just like a wavin’ flag…Try to control us/They couldn’t hold us/Cause we just move forward like Buffalo Soldiers.”
– Sia: Bring Night
Foot starts tapping. Head starts nodding. This upbeat anthem has you out of your seat before the first minute is over. After a long day of driving, just listen to this song and you’ll be pumped for a night on the town. “Bring night/Bring the night on/I’m not sure I can wait and this day has felt so long…Bring me the moon and stars and send away the sun.”
– Jason Aldean: Crazy Town
On the road, sometimes you end up in the middle of nowhere with not much to do, and other times, well, you end up in some crazy town. “Roll into town – step off the bus/Shake off that where you came from dust…Signs say Nashville, Tennessee…It’s a crazy town – full of neon dreams.”
– Young Forever [Jay-Z + Mr Hudson] (Explicit)
You’re on the road, therefore taking time off from one thing or another. A remix to “Forever Young,” this song by one of hip-hop’s masters will remind you to appreciate this time away and make it about you! “Fear not when, fear not why/Fear not much while we’re alive/Life is for living not living up tight…Forever young, I wanna be forever young.”
– Ash Koley: Don’t Let Your Feet Touch Ground (Tom Lord-Alge Mix)
“Another beautiful day embracing me/Don’t let your feet touch ground/And don’t look down.” Miles on the road, your feet won’t be touching the ground anytime soon, but you won’t mind as you dance in your seat to this song.
– Zac Brown Band: Free
Nothing feels more liberating than a road trip! This song captures that feeling perfectly sang with a bit of country soul. “So we live out in our old van/Travel all across this land/Me and you…Just as free/Free as we’ll ever be.”
– Sara Bareilles: Many the Miles
These lyrics that perfectly encompass everything we love about road trips. Whether you’re on the road to meet a friend or on the road to meet a new city, this song will have you singing loudly, “How far do I have to go to get to you?/Many the miles/Many the miles.”
Now, how to deal with pesky road mishaps? We have the answer with these great road trip tools!