Songs That Put You In The Mood For A Road Trip – Top Ten

Some music feels like it was just made for traveling. This list is my top ten list of songs that put you in the mood for a road trip. Some may be here because they reference traveling and trips. Others may be here because they have a pumping groove that is great for driving. As with all of my lists, these are all based on my personal preferences. Please feel free to leave your own suggestions in the comments.

10. “We Built This City” by Starship

Yes, it is one of the most contrived songs ever, and it often tops the lists of worst pop songs ever. But this song was made for driving. Imagine, you’ve been on the road for hours on end. You’re within sight of a sprawling metropolis, and this song comes on. And you’re feeling it. Even though lyrically, the song may not have any value to you, the beat and the harmonies are what drive this song. And of course, in there’s that interlude, making reference to “the city by the bay, the city that rocks, the city that never sleeps” all but name checking three geographically disparate cities (San Francisco, Cleveland, and New York City, respectively.)

9. “Life Is A Highway” by Tom Cochrane

If “We Built This City” is about arriving in the city, “Life Is A Highway” is the perfect song for those long highway drives between cities. It’s a song that can get you in the mood as you make your way to your destination.

8. “I Get Around” by The Beach Boys

The oldest song on this list, and one that encapsulated the Southern California car culture of the 50s and 60s. It makes me think of movies like American Graffiti with it’s classic cars and the night time cruisin’ the strip vibe.

7. “Interstate Love Song” by Stone Temple Pilots

Verbally, the only thing this song really has to do with driving is the title itself. “Interstate Love Song” makes the cut here representing the best that hard rock has to offer. The driving beat and the power chords are perfect for the wide open highway.

6. “Danger Zone” by Kenny Loggins

As a big part of the Top Gun soundtrack, “Danger Zone” tends to get associated with any high octane action. Everyone wants to recreate the feeling of being Maverick, whether pretending their car is an F-14 or riding a motorcycle along side a fighter jet taking off on a runway.

5. “Running On Empty” by Jackson Brown

A song about driving and reminiscing, “Running On Empty” is an allegory about life itself thinly veiled as a driving song. Sometimes, only by getting behind the wheel do we feel like we are getting somewhere in life.

4. “Ramblin’ Man” by The Allman Brothers Band

The titular “Ramblin’ Man” finds himself driving across the south as he’s trying to make his way in the world and escape from his troubles. He feels the road life is his lot in life, that he was born into it. And in this song, he takes us along on his journey.

3. “I Can’t Drive 55” by Sammy Hagar

For those too young to remember, which would just about be anyone younger than me, this is actually a bit of a protest song. Of course, since it was the 1980s, the protest was over the nationwide speed limit of 55 miles per hour that was in effect from the late 70s until the early 90s. And if there’s one thing this song does, it makes you want to drive anything over 55.

2. “Route 66” (Beatmasters Mix) by Depeche Mode

This classic has been covered so many times that it was hard for me to choose which version to go with. Ironically, my choice is the version of the classic about the pre-Interstate Highway system cross-country road trip by a British band. Depeche Mode brings a certain edge to the song that no other artists could. The Beatmasters Mix provides a prelude with audio excerpts from Name That Tune and the interlude with Selective Service PSA by Wolfman Jack that give this dark cover a bit of a throwback feel to a simpler time.

1. “Two Tickets To Paradise” by Eddie Money

The perfect road trip song for just getting out of here. “Two Tickets To Paradise” is a song of escape, to get out and hit the road right now. I don’t know if those two tickets are plane tickets, bus tickets, or even train tickets. but this song should be the theme of the start of anyone’s road trip, especially for anyone traveling to a tropical destination for vacation.

Make A Road Trip Of It

Take these songs along with any other songs that get you pumped to drive, and hit the road. Then come back here to check out my other top ten lists of Songs That Put You In The Mood.