Road Trips Songs (playlist) can make or break a road trip. Music, to me, is the most important thing when I travel. With just a click of my iPod or iPhone, I feel like I’ve been transported into some kind of surreal place, reflecting on the travel experience in a new way. It’s just me, the music, and my senses. But even long after the trip, the songs keep the memories with them. Turning on a specific song, I’m immediately reminded of all places we have gone, and the experiences we have had. Music is an incredible thing and especially road trip songs.
So I wanted to share with our readers my current Travel Music Playlist, which brings me up and down on this long journey around the world. I hope that you can find inspiration the way that I have.
Here Are the Road Trip Songs on Our Playlist
Traveler Song
Get Outside – Josh Phillips Folk Festival
Josh Phillips is a great friend of ours from Asheville, NC. Josh has given us permission to use this song on our intro to our travel videos. This travel inspiration song is on of our favorite road trip songs.
Weighty Ghost
Welcome to the Night Sky – Wintersleep
This song is the first song I play on my daily walk to work. It brings a smile to my face daily, and lets me daydream a bit about where I am and where I will be going. One of my favs.
On Top of the World
Night Visions – Imagine Dragons
This is a great album in general. When listening to this song you can’t help but to move a little and start smiling. Other great songs are Demons and It’s Time. Great album!
Still is Still Moving with Me w/ Willie Nelson
True Love – Toots and the Maytals
This is a great collaboration song with Willie Nelson. This upbeat and uplifting song is a great inspirational song for everyone. Toots and the Maytals will get you moving and smiling with ease.
Hard Sun
Into The Wild – Eddie Vedder
Not only is this a great movie directed by Sean Penn, it also has one of the best soundtracks of any movie I have seen. Eddie Vedder did all of the music for this movie and he did it justice.
Let Her Go
Bundle of Tantrums – Jasmine Thompson
We have become huge fans of Jasmine Thompson. Her music reminds us of Norah Jones and when you listen to it, you automatically feel relaxed. Her unique take on popular songs will leave you amazed, and sometimes feeling that she did it better than the original. Great for train rides or when you need to visit your “zen” place while on the road.
Three Little Birds
Legend – Bob Marley
Everyone on this planet needs this album on their iPods. Bob’s music can easily take you away to your happy place. No matter who you are, what you do, where you live, or what troubles you, this album will whisk you away.
Hopeless Wanderer
Babel – Mumford & Sons
This is one of the greatest albums of all time. Also, I will have to add that the official music video to this song is one of the best I have seen. This is a great song that can get you pumped up for traveling.
Say Hey (I Love You)
All Rebel Rockers – Michael Franti & Spearhead
This is one of the more uplifting songs I like to play. It always gets me up and moving, even on days when I’m feeling a little down. You can not help but to smile and start moving when you hear this awesome song.
Luckiest Man
Ways Not to Lose – The Wood Brothers
At times when traveling or walking down the street in a foreign country, you can feel like you are the luckiest person in the world. I love The Wood Brothers vocals and musical abilities. Great song and great album from start to finish.
Forever Young
Planet Waves – Bob Dylan
This is one of my “get lost in the moment” songs. On long train rides or flights, this is one of my favorite songs that I can listen on repeat easily. We like to think that we are Forever Young.
Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World
Facing Future – IZ
A Travel Inspiration music list is not complete without this top favorite, Over the Rainbow, by IZ. Of course this was our anthem when we took a recent trip around Hawaii. This song will quickly take you to paradise, as well as many others by IZ. Liz is a fan of Hawaiian music in general, but IZ definitely takes you to a special place.
Love Vigilantes
Around the Well – Iron and White
This is another one of my favorite travel inspiration songs. I don’t know why it sticks out me, but I listen to it a lot on the road. I guess it makes me reflect on previous travel experiences and dream of future travels.
Best Day of My Life
Oh, What a Life – American Authors
I can honestly say that we have had more than one “best days of our lives.” This is a great travel inspiration song that brightens up your day, makes you feel grateful, and brings about dreams of future travels.
Lost in My Mind
The Head and the Heart – The Head and the Heart
This is another one of those relaxing songs that can ease you on a long day of traveling. This is a great album and it has many great travel inspiration songs like Down in the Valley and River & Roads.
All My Days
Time Without Consequence – Alexi Murdoch
This is my go to song to start relaxing, or if I feel like reflecting on my travel experience. This song was one of my favorite inspiration songs while at home.
Toes
The Foundation – Zac Brown Band
This song might be left off some travel inspiration music lists, but it is on ours. Being from Georgia, we get to hear a good bit of country music. And Zac Brown is front and center in his home state of Georgia. This is such a chill song, an we love listening to this album on our road trips around our home of Georgia and it still inspires us today.
Son of a Son of a Sailor
Son of a Son of a Sailor – Jimmy Buffett
Who doesn’t love some Buffett while sipping an adult beverages on the beach? Jimmy Buffett can take anyone away from their offices and directly to Margartiaville. Son of a Son of a Sailor is one of my favorites, but any song by Jimmy inspires me to relax and be swept away to a beach.
One Day
Light – Matisyahu
I LOVE this song. I have been listening to Matisyahu well before my travel days. This is one of my favorite songs to listen to on my Travel Inspiration playlist. It always boosts me on a rainy day, or lifts me up further on a happy, sunny day. It’s incredibly inspiring. Another great Matisyahu song to checkout is Time of Your Song.
Country Road
Great Hits Vol. 1 – James Taylor
Our favorite movie, The Way, reintroduced this great inspirational song to me. For years growing, up James Taylor was my chilling music. Country Road is an all time classic and should be on everyone’s Travel Playlist.
Touch of Grey
The Very Best of Grateful Dead – Grateful Dead
I wouldn’t be true to myself if I left this off my Travel Inspirational Music Playlist. The Grateful Dead is one of my favorite bands to listen to. Many, many times I would be sitting on my back porch daydreaming of travels while listening to the Grateful Dead.
Don’t Know Why
Come Away with Me – Norah Jones
No travel playlist will be complete without Norah Jones on there. This one of my favorite albums of all time and was our playlist for our RV Adventure across New Zealand. This is my go to relaxation while traveling or at home.
Ain’t No Reason
The Definitive Collection – Brett Dennen
This is one of my new favorites. It is actually number one on my playlist and is a great song to start your day. Listening to this song gets my day going and inspires me.
Keep On Moving
I Know a Place – Bob Marley & The Wailers
You got to keep on moving! We love thins song! We used this song for a class project while on Koh Samui, Thailand. Love this song and this song will get you up and moving with a smile on you face!
Don’t seen any of your favorite Road Trip Songs on the list? Share it with us in the comments below.
More Travel Inspiration
That one Bob Marley song that we used for our presentation with the candle lights….
Hi Mark,
You are correct Mark! I think Max is still sleeping. Hahaha. I will add this to the list ASAP!
– Josh
This is a very cool post!! I’ve only heard probably 1/3rd of the songs you’ve listed here – but I can’t wait to listen to some more. Always happy to find new music – esp if is fuels my wanderlust. 🙂
Thanks for checking it out. We hope this will help inspire many great adventures for you! 🙂
-Josh