Best Road Trip Songs for Family Travel!
Here are some of the best road trip songs for family travel! There is something here for everyone to love!
Let me be very honest for a moment… when you have 5 people (and 2 dogs) packed into a car, surrounded by piles of snacks, drinks, road trip printables, electronics, suitcases, and travel games, your life can be a bit stressful. However, the radio can be a massive tension breaker.
With research, input from the family (ages 7 to 39), and my own personal tastes, I have compiled this awesome list of the best road trip songs for Family travel.
Not only the best songs but the best versions of those songs. Check out my other great Kid Friendly Travel Resources!
Best Road Trip Songs List of All Time!
As with my list of 50 best Christmas songs ever… my age, geographical location, and heritage really show. From Southern Rock, to country, to top 40s – my preferences run the gamut! So, you should be able to find a few that you simply have to add to your road trip playlist.
This list of songs is perfect for a family road trip! Press play, and watch the miles pass by!
1
![Hitchin' a Ride [Explicit]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51JHrRWAZ4L._SL500_.jpg)
Hitchin’ a Ride [Explicit]
Hitchin' A Ride– Greenday. Gotta have some Green Day Music!
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2
3
![Fancy [feat. Charli XCX]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61Dz4dQg2YL._SL500_.jpg)
Fancy [feat. Charli XCX]
Fancy [feat. Charli XCX] [Clean], Iggy Azalea – This ain't Reba, but it is pretty good. Plus, the kids love it. Bad news? This is the type of song that gets stuck in your head. LOL!
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4
Troubadour
Troubadour, George Straight – When I first heard the song he wrote for me (Baby Blue, LOL!) I fell in love with this Silver Fox and have been ever since. To me, he embodies everything a true Cowboy is! I swear, this man just gets better with age.
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5
I’ve Been Everywhere
I've Been Everywhere, Johnny Cash – In addition to being a great song, this is on one of those little dog commercials. So, the kids know and love it, too!
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6
On The Road Again
On The Road Again, Willie Nelson – My brother had one of those old Casio keyboards a million years ago. It had a few songs programmed in it and the keys would light up telling you which key to press and when. This song was one of those songs. So, in addition to being a GREAT song it also brings back fond memories of fighting with my brother because he just wasn't “doing it right”!
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7
Free Bird (Original Version)
Free Bird (Original Version), Lynyrd Skynyrd – Being from Alabama, I am very partial to Lynyrd – you know? Sweet Home Alabama and such 😉
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8
Travelin’ Band (American Idol Performance)
Travelin' Band – Yes, no one does music like CCR, but I really like this version by Caleb Johnson! Plus, it feels more “current” and my kids like current!
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9
Cruisin’ (Single Edit)
Baby Lets Cruise, Gwyneth Paltrow & Huey Lewis – From the movie Bounce. I just love the way she sings 🙂
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10
Life is a Highway
Life is a Highway, Rascal Flatts – Another Cars soundtrack song!
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11
Real Gone
Real Gone, Sheryl Crow – From the Cars Movie Soundtrack. Your kids know it and you love it from “back in the day” perfect!
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12
![Cruise (Remix) [feat. Nelly]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51Woy2xhCWL._SL500_.jpg)
Cruise (Remix) [feat. Nelly]
Cruise (Remix) [feat. Nelly], Florida Georgia Line – This is one my current favorite. The boys and I sing this song all the time. It is perfect for “cruisin' down the road!”
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13
Roll On (Eighteen Wheeler)
Roll On (Eighteen Wheeler), Alabama – I have always loved this song, obviously since it is the first on my list! Alabama just knows how to write a VERY good song. Period!
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14
Free And Easy (Down The Road I Go)
Free And Easy (Down The Road I Go), Dierks Bentley – Yep! A nice free and easy road trip. 🙂
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15
Riding With Private Malone
Riding With Private Malone, David Ball – This is a tear jerker, but it makes us think and I like that. 🙂
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16
Jesus, Take the Wheel
Jesus, Take the Wheel, Carrie Underwood – Her voice is just amazing!!
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17
18
Fast Cars And Freedom
Fast Cars And Freedom, Rascal Flatts – We love listening to their songs!
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19
Everywhere
Everywhere, Michele Branch – She has such a sweet and young sounding voice that if the kids don't know her yet, they will!
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20
Joyride
Joyride, Roxette – Your kids might even recognize this song since it has been on a few soundtracks!
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21
Margaritaville
Margaritaville, Jimmy Buffett & Alan Jackson – I just love the chatter in this Duet by two awesome-sauce singers.
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22
One Way or Another
One Way or Another, Blondie – Many have tried, but no one can pull it off quite like Blondie can!
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23
King Of The Road
King Of The Road, Randy Travis – I know he is not the original, but man he can croon! Randy Travis has one of those smooth milk chocolate voices and I love hearing him sing. Beautiful, oh so beautiful!
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24
Don’t Stop Me Now (…revisited)
Don't Stop Me Now, Queen – We're having a good time, right?
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25
Summertime
Summertime, Kenny Chesney – There are so many different songs with the same title and you could really put any of them on your road trip playlist without being disappointed. However, I especially like this one.
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26
American Pie
American Pie, Don McLean – Over 8 minutes of bliss – seriously! I remember riding in my Daddy's old, powder blue, 1982, Ford Ranger, pulling our 17 ft Wahoo, on the way to the docks, singing this at the top of my lungs. Well, this and pretty much any 3 Dog Night song. He blasted the Golden Oldies at deafening volume and I loved every second of my fun summer days with Daddy. He is still with me, but I still smile and reminisce about being Daddy's Girl when a song from the oldies plays.
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27
Mustang Sally
Mustang Sally, Wilson Pickett – Roll down the windows and play this song as you're driving down the highway!
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28
G.T.O.
G.T.O., Ronny & the Daytonas – The 60's really brought us some awesome people from the Beatles to Elvis, to THe Beach Boys. Turn it up and embarrass your kids. LOL!
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29
Mercury Blues
Mercury Blues, Alan Jackson – From 1995, this is straight up my music! At the time this came out, I was dreaming of getting my driver's license and thinking I would be cruisin' in my Mercury. 🙂
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30
Shark Tale (Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Car Wash, Christina Aguilera feat. Missy Elliott – From the Shark Tale movie soundtrack. Perfect for kids! You can even get the movie and throw it into the DVD player to really change things up.
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31
I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)
I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles), Proclaimers – 2006 was a long time ago to the young ones in our families, but really this is still a fairly new song and perfect! How far is 500 miles?
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32
Every Mile A Memory
Every Mile A Memory, Dirks Bentley – We have been forsaking the country a bit, huh? Time to get back into the Country groove 😉
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33
Party In The U.S.A.
Party In The U.S.A., Miley Cirus (yes, I know! But, this was a good song and it was before she went nuts on us :-))
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34
Take A Back Road
Take A Back Road, Rodney Atkins – Things are just better on the back roads than they are on the interstate. Aren't they?
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35
On Top Of The World
On Top Of The World, Imagine Dragons – Heading to the Mountains? This is a good one. LOL! Seriously, my 14 year old is a HUGE Imagine Dragons fan. We have to include at least one of their songs in the list.
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36
Go Your Own Way
Go Your Own Way, Fleetwood Mac – If you haven't heard this one make sure to check it out!
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37
Fast Car
Fast Car, Tracy Chapman – I gotta plan to get us outta here. I know I keep saying it over and over, but I really love this song. LOL! I am kinda a music person, in case you couldn't tell. I have so many channels on Pandora. So many songs on my ipod and my cellphone and would listen to music way more than watch TV. It soothes me, it makes me smile, it makes me cry, it helps me let loose. I LOVE music!
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38
Hotel California (2013 Remaster)
Hotel California, Eagles – You can never leave certain places, you know… 😉
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39
Highway to Hell (From “Iron Man”)
Highway To Hell (Made Famous By AC/DC), Iron Man – OK, so this might not be the most appropriate of the songs, but that is up to you. My kids are older and past the “repeat everything you hear” stage. So, I have decided this is fine. You might not make that same decision. That is OK! Simply leave this one off the play list. You still have over 50 songs to choose from 🙂 Besides, it is from Iron Man!
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40
Red Dirt Road
Red Dirt Road, Brooks & Dunn – You don't hear a ton by them anymore – or at least not as many hits as they had in the 90s, but this is stick one VERY good group and this song proves it!
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41
Surfin’ U.S.A. (Remastered 2001)
Surfin' U.S.A., Beach Boys – If you are gonna do Beach Boys, you have to do the best of them! Period. 😉
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42
California Girls (Remix/Remastered 2001)
California Girls, The Beach Boys – Such a great tune!
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43
Fun, Fun, Fun (Remastered 2001)
Fun, Fun, Fun, The Beach Boys – Will have everyone singing from the backseat!
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44
Little Deuce Coupe (Remastered)
Little Deuce Coupe, The Beach Boys – Another great song!
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45
Route 66
Route 66, John Mayer – Personally, I like the Chuck Berry version best. However, Thomas (age 7) says it isn't the “real” one. He prefers the Cars Soundtrack version. aka, the John Mayer version. LOL!
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46
Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)
Good Riddance [Time Of Your Life], Green Day – There is just something about the sound of Green Day. It ain't Country, but I LOVE it. LOL!
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47
Road Trippin
Road Trippin, Josh Abbott Band – Never heard of them? Don't delay! If Country is your choice of music, you need to know the Josh Abbott Band!
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48
![Dirt Road Anthem (Remix) [feat. Ludacris]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51kdKD+ehxL._SL500_.jpg)
Dirt Road Anthem (Remix) [feat. Ludacris]
Dirt Road Anthem Remix (feat. Ludacris), Jason Aldean – Oh yeah! Every good country person blasts this one in their truck, car, hotrod, or just while chilling on the couch. 😉
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49
Paradise City
Paradise City, Guns and Roses – Take things back just a few years (or Decades) and blast this fun song!
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50
Take Me Home, Country Roads
Take Me Home, Country Roads, John Denver – What is it about this song that makes people just want to sing along?
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While many of the above songs are available via Prime, most (if not all) are available on Amazon Music Unlimited!
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My Favorite Road Trippin’ Products:
Don’t stress over your next road trip! The following Etsy (aff link) items will help you get organized (and have fun). ?
- Road Trip Planner Stickers
- Road Trip Planning Pages
- Road Trip Journal for Kids
- This is my Road Trip Shirt
Have fun setting up your playlist for your next road trip!
More Road Trip resources can be found here.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Here are helpful answers to common questions about Best Road Trip Songs for Family Travel!.
Great playlist! Just reading it made me smile.
Thanks for linking up with the Caffeinated Crafters! We look forward to seeing what you’ve got in store for next week!
Thanks, Jess! I just LOVE music – right now, I am listening to the 90s station on Pandora 🙂