The Best Road Trip Playlists for Every Mood
There's nothing like a multi-hour drive to Delaware again for another tournament, so here are some playlists to help. Our favs in BOLD.
Feel-Good Hits for a Sunny Day:
When the sun is shining and the road stretches out before you, there’s no better time to blast some feel-good hits.
- “Here Comes the Sun” – The Beatles
- “Walking on Sunshine” – Katrina and the Waves
- “Shut Up and Dance” – Walk the Moon
- “Good Vibrations” – The Beach Boys
- “Happy” – Pharrell Williams
- “Mr. Blue Sky” – Electric Light Orchestra
- “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” – Justin Timberlake
- “I Gotta Feeling” – The Black Eyed Peas
- “Best Day of My Life” – American Authors
- “Lovely Day” – Bill Withers
Chill Vibes for Relaxed Driving:
For those stretches of road where you just want to unwind and enjoy the scenery, a playlist of chill, mellow tunes is ideal.
- “California Dreamin’” – The Mamas & The Papas
- “Banana Pancakes” – Jack Johnson
- “Pink + White” – Frank Ocean
- “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay” – Otis Redding
- “Holocene” – Bon Iver
- “Rivers and Roads” – The Head and the Heart
- “Breezeblocks” – alt-J
- “Skinny Love” – Bon Iver
- “Lost in My Mind” – The Head and the Heart
- “Ain’t No Sunshine” – Bill Withers
Sing-Along Anthems for Group Road Trips:
If you’re traveling with friends or family, nothing beats a playlist of sing-along anthems that everyone knows and loves.
- “Don’t Stop Believin’” – Journey
- “Sweet Caroline” – Neil Diamond
- “Livin’ on a Prayer” – Bon Jovi
- “Bohemian Rhapsody” – Queen
- “I Want It That Way” – Backstreet Boys
- “Dancing Queen” – ABBA
- “Wonderwall” – Oasis
- “Hotel California” – Eagles
- “Let It Be” – The Beatles
- “Take Me Home, Country Roads” – John Denver
Reflective Tunes for Solo Adventures:
Solo road trips are the perfect time for self-reflection, and the right music can enhance that introspective mood.
- “Fast Car” – Tracy Chapman
- “Landslide” – Fleetwood Mac
- “Let It Be” – The Beatles
- “Drive” – Incubus
- “The Night We Met” – Lord Huron
- “Hallelujah” – Jeff Buckley
- “The A Team” – Ed Sheeran
- “Breathe Me” – Sia
- “Fix You” – Coldplay
- “Gravity” – John Mayer
Rock Classics for the Ultimate Driving Experience:
For those who love the thrill of the open road, a playlist of rock classics is essential.
- “Born to Run” – Bruce Springsteen
- “Highway to Hell” – AC/DC
- “Free Bird” – Lynyrd Skynyrd
- “Sweet Child O’ Mine” – Guns N’ Roses
- “Smoke on the Water” – Deep Purple
- “Hotel California” – Eagles
- “Paradise City” – Guns N’ Roses
- “More Than a Feeling” – Boston
- “Carry On Wayward Son” – Kansas
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“Runnin’ Down a Dream” – Tom Petty
(couldn't pick a favorite here)
Nostalgic Hits for a Trip Down Memory Lane:
Sometimes, the best road trips are those that take you back in time.
- “Take on Me” – a-ha
- “Summer of ’69” – Bryan Adams
- “Dancing in the Dark” – Bruce Springsteen
- “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” – Wham!
- “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” – Cyndi Lauper
- “Africa” – Toto
- “Footloose” – Kenny Loggins
- “Eye of the Tiger” – Survivor
- “Jesse’s Girl” – Rick Springfield
- “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” – Simple Minds
Indie Gems for a Unique Journey:
For those who like to explore off the beaten path, an indie playlist offers a fresh, eclectic mix of tracks.
- “Home” – Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
- “Dog Days Are Over” – Florence + The Machine
- “Mountain Sound” – Of Monsters and Men
- “Young Lion” – Vampire Weekend
- “Sweater Weather” – The Neighbourhood
- “Mykonos” – Fleet Foxes
- “Take Me Out” – Franz Ferdinand
- “Little Talks” – Of Monsters and Men
- “Electric Feel” – MGMT
- “Do I Wanna Know?” – Arctic Monkeys
Upbeat Dance Tracks for a High-Energy Drive:
When you need to keep your energy up during a long drive, a playlist of upbeat dance tracks is just the ticket.
- “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” – Justin Timberlake
- “Uptown Funk” – Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
- “Wake Me Up” – Avicii
- “Blinding Lights” – The Weeknd
- “Titanium” – David Guetta ft. Sia
- “Get Lucky” – Daft Punk ft. Pharrell Williams
- “Levitating” – Dua Lipa
- “Party Rock Anthem” – LMFAO
- “Dynamite” – Taio Cruz
- “24K Magic” – Bruno Mars
And actually - sometimes it's easier to just give the aux to your kids.