100 BEST Travel Songs for the Ultimate Travel Playlist

We LOVE everything about travel. From travel quotes to road trips, wanderlust inspiration to epic experiences, and even virtual and armchair travel (because for most of 2020 that’s all we’ve been able to do!) and so it only makes sense that we wanted to put together the most incredible travel playlist with 100 of the Best Travel Songs on the planet. This way, whether we out exploring the world or holed up in our houses dreaming of past adventures (and not-so-secretly planning the next!), we’ve got the perfect travel inspired soundtrack.

We’re pretty sure we have collated a list of the BEST travel songs, so no matter if you prefer classics like Steppenwolf’s Born To Be Wild or something a little more mellow like Adele, we’ve got you covered with our countdown of the top 100 travel songs – (and we’ve even including a whole section on Australian travel & road trip songs, because Australia is home to some of the best adventures) to help you create the ultimate travel playlist.

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This post has been slightly modified from the original which appeared first on Great Ocean Road Guide

100 BEST Travel Songs to help you put together the Ultimate Travel Playlist!

RELATED: If you’re always the one leading everyone in song on your adventures – why not grab one of the best guitars for travel and make yourself the band too!

Classic Travel songs you won’t be able to help but sing along to

• I’m So Excited – The Pointer Sisters
  When you hit the road and put your foot on the gas we can’t think of a better song get to you in the travel spirit.
• Start Me Up – The Rolling Stones
  And I can’t Get No Satisfaction – two of the best rock anthems on the planet!
• Don’t Stop Me Now and/or Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen
  Who could stop you when you’ve got these epic rock songs pounding out your speakers?! (I’d vote for both too!)
• Go Your Own Way – Fleetwood Mac
  The perfect lyrics for your adventurous trip, especially when it’s time to throw caution to the wind and go your own way Stevie Nicks style!
  
• Jump In My Car – Ted Mulry Gang
  A song about cars – and ‘trustworthy men’, if you’ve ever gotten in a car with a stranger while on your travels (even it was just in the cab from the airport!), this one is for you. And it was recently covered by The Hof’, who enjoyed quite a bit of success!

• Paradise City – Guns N’ Roses
  You know it’s time for this hard rock classic when you’ve finally found your paradise city during your travels.
• Born to be Wild – Steppenwolf
  We mentioned this hit in our intro to this guide and we’ll mention it again because it’s a true classic, has a fantastic driving beat and your travel playlist wouldn’t be complete without it.
• Midnight Train to Georgia – Gladys Knight and the Pips
  This Motown classic is a perfect addition to every travel playlist and is an old-style sing what you see song about traveling.
• What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong 
  As a smooth sounding reminder that the world really is wonderful.
• Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond
  Altogether now.. Sweet Car-o-line Ba Ba Bah….

• Hotel California – The Eagles
  “On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair..” will you end up in your own Hotel California?! (this is also one of my favorite songs about adventure of all time – those guitar riffs!)
• I Love Rock n Roll – The Black Jets
  Not only is this a great sing-along but if you do love rock n roll it’s going to be your fave road trip hit
• I Drove all night – Roy Orbison
  We’re not suggesting you drive all night but for when there’s a long road ahead (or the long road to regular travel recovery!), this song is here for you.
• Waterloo – Abba
  How could we compile a classic travel playlist without a bit of Abba!?
• A Boy Name Sue – Johnny Cash
  This sing-a-long know-all-the-words song has been the soundtrack to many a travel adventure.
• Summer Loving – Grease
  When the sun is shining and you have a travel buddy to sing along with, Grease is our go-to soundtrack.
• We Didn’t Start The Fire – Billy Joel
  Or New York State of Mind – If you don’t know the words to these epic songs, now is the time to learn!
  
• When the Going gets tough – Billy Ocean
  You are likely to feel the pressure on any road trip, we feel you! So when the going gets tough, whack this song on the stereo.

• Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd
  This 1974 hit is an obvious choice for your all-American adventure.
• California Dreaming – Mamas and the Papas
  Another American classic deserving of top travel song status.
• Here I Go Again – Whitesnake
• Heaven Is A Place On Earth – Belinda Carlisle
  The no.1 song to put on when you finally come across your true heaven on earth
• I Get Around – Beach Boys
  Such a perfect road trip song & an epic addition to a summer playlist.
• Like a Rolling Stone – Bob Dylan
• River Deep, Mountain High – Tina Turner
  What adventure would be complete without a bit of Tina Turner, especially when you have some winding roads to tackle.
• ABC – Jackson 5
  It’s a feel-good classic we all love and one nobody can resist singing along to.
• Redemption Song – Bob Marley & The Wailers
• One Night in Bangkok – Murray Head
  One night in Bangkok and the world’s your oyster…

• Take me Home, Country Roads – John Denver
  Something a little nostalgic for when it’s time to head on home.
• Highway to Hell – ACDC
  We hope you don’t end up on the highway to hell, but rocking out to this would certainly make the journey more fun!
• Life is a Highway by Tom Cochrane
  Although I am partial to the Rascall Flatts version myself. (Both because it’s Disney & Country; and I’m a Disney geek who loves country music at heart.)
  
• Midnight Rider – Allman Brothers Band
• In the Air Tonight – Phil Collins
  A song to pop on when you need something a little more soothing to leave you feeling chilled out when the traffic is getting to you or the night is winding down this beautiful love song is just what you need.
• Little Red Corvette – Prince
  You can’t have a travel playlist without including a song about a little red corvette – I mean, what an epic car for a road trip!
• Goodbye Yellow Brick Road – Elton John
  Or literally any other Elton John song! Three of my faves are Don’t Go Breaking My Heart, Crocodile Rock & Sacrifice, oh and the Way You Look Tonight (there’s more, I could easily get carried away here)

• Born To Run – Bruce Springsteen
  No matter how far you are going, this Bruce Springsteen classic is one of the great driving songs for any length of journey. Baby you were born to run!!
• Ticket To Ride – The Beatles
  Any Beatles song is great travel fodder, so I’d also go ahead and include Hey Jude, Yellow Submarine or She Loves You too!
• Tush – ZZ Top
• In the Summertime – Thirsty Merc 
  Summer rays and laid back days, this summer sing-a-long song has to be included on your travel playlist.
• You’ve got a Friend – James Taylor 
  An epic travel song that often rounds out a night of drinking at the end of a group trip.
• Small Town – John Mellencamp
• I’m Gonna Be (I would walk 500 Miles) – The Proclaimers
  If you’re going to walk 500 miles, that’s dedication to any trip!
• You Shook Me All Night Long – AC/DC 
  A band whos providence is disputed – the brothers are Scottish born, but the band was formed in Sydney – either way, this sing-a-long rock anthem is a welcome addition to your travel playlist.I
• You’re the Voice – John Farnham 
  If you only take one iconic Australian song from this list. Make it this one.

• Working Class Man – Jimmy Barnes 
  No Australian Adventure would be complete without some Jimmy Barnes.
• On The Road Again – Willie Nelson
  For car and road puns, this Willie Nelson song is pretty self-explanatory!
• American Pie – Don Mclean
  “A long long time ago, I can still remember, how that music used to make me smile…” and I know you know the rest of the words!
• Run To Paradise – The Choirboys
  OK, so this song may be about people on the northern beaches of Sydney getting drunk, smoking dope, surfing and not working – but it’s got a cracking title line you’ll just love singing along to!
• Livin’ on a Prayer or It’s my Life – Bon Jovi
  (or Always, or I’ll Be There for You, or You Give Love a Bad Name – so many Bon Jovi anthems make for amazing travel songs!)
• The Horses – Daryl Braithwaite 
  It’s practically unaustralian to not know the words (or at least the chorus!) to this song. That goes for non-Aussies too.
• Africa – Toto
  Because everyone knows to bless the rains down in Africa…
• Down Under – Men at Work 
  Continuing n the Australia theme – this feel good track asks if YOU come from a land down under?!

• Fast Car – Tracy Chapman
  Smooth and sultry, Tracy’s voice can help pass the time in the car or dream of travel  if you’re only in the parking lot!
• Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey
  Perfect for any occasion, this ultimate travel song should be included on any playlist on the planet!
• Always On My Mind – Elvis Presley 
  Ok, so this may not be a true travel song, but it reminds me of Practical Magic, which in turn reminds me of America – where I have traveled a lot.
• Leaving on a Jet Plane – John Denver 
  Could this be the ultimate song about traveling? All my bags are packed, I’m ready to go…
• Hit the Road Jack – Ray Charles
  A classic, this is the perfect song to play on a roadtrip.
• Running on Empty – Jackson Browne
  Although I hope your vehicle doesn’t end up running on empty!
• Free Fallin’ or Running Down a Dream – Tom Petty
  No travel playlist would be complete without these two Tom Petty classics.
• American Woman – Lenny Kravitz
  Even if its just for the riff at the beginning.
• Walking in Memphis – Marc Cohn 
  What I wouldn’t give to touch down in the land of the delta blues in the middle of the pouring rain!

Modern-day Travel songs that will make you turn up the volume

• It’s a Beautiful Day – Michael Buble
  Because what day isn’t a beautiful day when you’re on a travel adventure of a lifetime!
• Road Trippin’ or Californication – Red Hot Chili Peppers
  An obvious choice for your travel and road trip playlist but it’s a soothing hit that is one for when you just need to chill out and reflect
• Happy – Pharell Williams
  It was the biggest song of the year and still doesn’t fail to make us feel anything but happy!
• On Top Of The World – Imagine Dragons
  This song will have you singing out to the steering wheel as you cruise down the road on a summer day. It’s perfect, happy, feel good, road trip music.
• Can’t Hold Us – Macklemore
  For when you are getting pumped for a night on the town after a long day adventuring
• Save The World Tonight – Swedish House Mafia
  For all the dancing in the car/mini-bus vibes, this is one of those travel songs to sing your heart out to!
• Freedom – Kygo, Zak Able
  Because it’s available on Instagram and travel bloggers use it in stories and reels, it achieved practically instant travel song status.
  

• Rolling In The Deep – Adele
  Sing your heart out with Adele by your side as you hit the highway. This is one of my best road trip songs!
• Galway Girl or Castle on the Hill – Ed Sheeran
  Oh Ed how we love you, especially when we are driving down those country lanes, or going strong in the bar at last orders!
• All the Small Things – Blink 182
  Depending on how old you are, this hit may already be a classic… but who cares, it’s a top song to sing your heart out to.
• The Dog Days Are Over – Florence + The Machine
  When you need a release and need that little bit of inspiration during your road trip, Florence is there for you.
• Monster – The Automatic
  We hope you won’t come across a monster on your travels but you know what song to play if you do!
• Truckin – Grateful Dead
• Stole the Show – Kygo ft. Parson James 
  To be honest any Kygo song is an ideal chillout option for your road trip playlist but we love this one as a feel-good number.

• Single Ladies – Beyoncé
  For when you’re on a road trip with the girls, it’s the one and only Queen Bey all the way!
• California Gurls – Katy Perry ft. Snoop Dogg 
  “You could travel the world but nothing comes close to the golden coast”
• Where The Streets Have No Name by U2
• Scar – Missy Higgins 
  This may seem a little bit of an obscure suggetion, but I guarantee you know the words.
• Gold Digger – Kanye West 
  Or for another of Kanye Wests hits, you could substitute this for Jesus Walks
• Shotgun – George Ezra
  When it’s time to ride shotgun, put on some George Ezra – it’s the perfect sing-a-long song for a girls road trip playlist.
• I Will Wait – Mumford and Sons
  Embrace your inner folk when you sing along with Marcus Mumford & Co.
• Oops!…I Did It Again – Britney Spears
  We certainly won’t be apologizing for including Britney in our playlist because a road trip isn’t worth going on without her.

• Havana – Camila Cabello
  Havana-oo-na-na – tell me you didn’t sing that?!
• Shut up and Drive – Rhianna
  You tell them RiRi!
• Let Me Ride – Dr Dre
  It’s a road trip anthem, and what travel playlist would be complete without a bit of 90s rap?!
• Girls Just Wanna Have Fun – Cyndi Lauper
  Heading out on an adventure with your girls? This is the song for you.
• Keep the Car Running – Arcade Fires
• Cruel World – Lana Del Rey
  I dare you not to sing-a-long!
• A Thousand Miles – Vanessa Carlton
  Because you could indeed be traveling a thousand miles, and who wouldn’t want to sing about that?!
• Everyday is a Winding Road – Sheryl Crow
  Because songs about the open road to nowhere make perfect sense on any travel playlist!

So how did we do? Aren’t these just the best travel songs for the perfect travel playlist!? Whether we’ve reminded you of some amazing driving songs and road trip classics or introduced you to some brand new travel songs, we hope they are just the start of your next amazing adventure!

We hope you enjoyed our guide to the Best Travel Songs. Do you already have a travel playlists in mind that we have added to? Are you journeying around your home-country or exploring pastures new? Tell us in the comments below, along with your all-time favorite travel song and if it’s not already on our list, we can’t wait to hear it!

And if you liked the travel songs featured on our travel playlist page, take a look at the other recent posts, packing tips, travel accessories, travel quotes, travel resources, travel guides, ultimate guides and packing lists in this series:

• Group Tours: See more in less time – the Best Group Tours on Every Continent
• Europe: Rome Travel Guide for First-Timers, Guide to Barcelona for First Time Visitors & The Best Places to Visit in Spain
• Amazing Africa: Check out the Best Places To Visit in Africa and start exploring this incredible continent – or just watch the Best Movies About Africa and get your armchair travel on!
• Festivals: Festival Fan? You’ll love these Incredible Festivals From Around the World
• Be Prepared: The Best Carry On For Travel (tested on most airlines!) PLUS the best passport wallets & 40 Insanely Useful Backpacking Essentials to make sure you have everything you need once you’ve been inspired by our inspiration quote series!

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