50 Great Songs for Your American Road Trip Playlist

Last updated on November 12th, 2021 at 04:48 pm

“Get your motor runnin’, head out on the highway. Lookin’ for adventure, and whatever comes our way.” (Steppenwolf)

Imagine the scene. It’s you and your best buddies. The open road in front of you. Maybe you got the top down. The wind is in your hair. There are amazing views all around. A million possibilities await. You’re on a real American road trip. Life is good. Actually, life is amazing!

But the roads are long, and there’s only one thing that could make this trip ANY better! And that’s an epic soundtrack!

Music has been a big part of my life for as long as I can remember. From my mum’s cassette tapes on long family road trips to the many rock bands I’ve been in over the last twenty years, so I like to think my taste in music is pretty ok… (my friends might disagree).

Think of this as the soundtrack to your adventure. Every great road trip movie has one! And believe me, every time those tunes come on the radio, you’ll be taken straight back to that amazing trip you had!

There are some American classics and a few others I thought appropriate. There were so many more I could have added, but I limited it to 50! Enjoy!

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50 Great Songs for Your American Road Trip Playlist

1. Go Your Own Way – Fleetwood Mac
2. Running on Empty – Jackson Browne
3. Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey
4. Born in the USA – Bruce Springsteen
5. Fortunate Son – Creedence Clearwater Revival
6. Bright Side of the Road – Van Morrison
7. Hotel California – The Eagles
8. Free Fallin’ – Tom Petty
9. Holiday Road – Lindsay Buckingham (the song from the National Lampoon’s Vacation movies)
10. Road to Nowhere – Talking Heads
11. I Drove All Night – Roy Orbison
12. (I Just) Died in Your Arms Tonight – Cutting Crew
13. Drive – The Cars
14. I Wanna Know What Love Is – Foreigner
15. Sweet Home Alabama – Lynyrd Skynrd
16. California Girls – The Beach Boys
17. Viva Las Vegas – Elvis Presley
18. Highway to Hell – AC/DC
19. The Gambler – Kenny Rogers
20. California Dreamin’ – The Mamas and the Papas
21. Danger Zone – Kenny Loggins
22. Great Balls of Fire – Jerry Lee Lewis
23. On the Road Again – Willie Nelson
24. Maybe Tomorrow – Terry Bush (the theme song to The Littlest Hobo – remember that?)
25. San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair) – Scott McKenzie
26. Holding Out For A Hero – Bonnie Tyler
27. Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen (a totally British song, but who can forget the opening scene in Wayne’s World?)
28. American Woman – Guess Who
29. Livin’ On a Prayer – Bon Jovi
30. We Didn’t Start the Fire – Billy Joel
31. Dude Looks Like a Lady – Aerosmith
32. Sweet Child O’ Mine – Guns N’ Roses
33. Country Road – John Denver
34. (Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay  – Otis Redding
35. Layla – Eric Clapton
36. American Pie – Don McLean
37. Break on Through – The Doors
38. Don’t You (Forget About Me) – Simple Minds
39. Born To Be Wild – Steppenwolf
40. Alright Now – Free
41. Paradise By The Dashboard Light – Meatloaf
42. Black Velvet – Alannah Myles
43. We Built This City – Starship
44. Rockstar – Nickelback
45. Black Betty – Ram Jam
46. Crazy- Aerosmith
47. Power of Love – Huey Lewis and the News
48. Take It Easy – The Eagles
49. Dancing in the Moonlight – Toploader
50. Proud Mary – Tina Turner

And if you want to freak yourself out, watch Deliverance and add on the Duelling Banjos!

Play at full volume and enjoy! Have a missed any good ones?

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