Nothing screams freedom more than rolling down your windows, hitting the highway and cranking up your favorite road song. Songs that not only provide a pleasant atmosphere for you as you drive but are seemingly able to cause the countless miles of road travel to slip away. Below are the top 10 road trips songs that have become iconic for their ability to turn any road trip into an epic adventure.
1. Willie Nelson-”On The Road Again”
This classic country rock song was released on 1980 album Honeysuckle Rose and has become a road trip standard ever since. It’s especially powerful playing while driving down that lonely highway.
2. Steely Dan- “Reelin’ in the Years”
Reeling In The Years is a jazz rock song from the 1972 album Can’t Buy A Thrill and features simple lyrics powered by the solo guitar of Elliott Randall.
3. Johnny Cash-”I’ve Been Everywhere”
Although this country song was originally released in 1962 by Hank Snow, it’s Johnny Cash’s 1996 version from the album Unchained that really stick in most people’s mind and made this a great road trip song.
4. Thin Lizzy-“The Boys are Back in Town”
Thin Lizzy’s dual guitars really power this rock road trip song that can be found on the 1976 album Jailbreak.
5. Lynyrd Skynyrd-“Sweet Home Alabama”
Sweet Home Alabama is a song from the 1974 album Second Helping. It’s lyrics and soulful guitars might scream Southern rock to critics, but it screams road trip for thousands of drivers all over the world.
6. Doobie Brothers- “Rockin’ Down the Highway”
Released on their 1972 Toulouse Street album, Rocking Down The Highway has become a rock standard road trip song. Simple lyrics about hitting the highway, backed by driving guitars and a rhythmic beat, has earned this song a spot on any road trip play list.
7. Rush-”Red Barchetta”
Red Barchetta is a progressive rock song from the 1981 album Moving Pictures. Only Rush could write a song about driving an expensive sports car, set it in the future and earn a place on thousands of driver’s road trip play lists.
8. Allman Brothers-”Jessica”
This southern rock song first appeared on the 1973 album, Brothers and Sisters. Since then, it has not only become the theme song for Top Gear, but it’s haunting melody has also powered many road trips. Despite the fact that it is an instrumental and doesn’t have lyrics.
9. Bruce Springsteen-”Born To Run”
No road trip list would be complete without the lyrical poetry of Bruce Springsteen. This rock song made its debut on the 1975 album Born To Run and has inspired many people to jump in their car and hit the open road.
10. Golden Earring-”Radar Love”
Although this Dutch band probably didn’t know it at the time they released it on their 1973 album Moontan, this rock song’s driving rhythmic beat and lyrics about driving all night to see a beautiful woman has inspired countless drivers to put the pedal to the metal.
Sebastian Webb is currently working for a car dealership agency Proctor Subaru as content contributor. He loves photography, blogging and of course he is a car fan. Here Sebastian presented 10 best road trip songs, it’s not that they are classic, but they really gets you into road trip mood.
