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80 Best Songs About Traveling: The Ultimate Travel Playlist?

Music can put you in the mood for many things, and one of those is travel! This list of the best songs about traveling will inspire you to hit the road and take the path less traveled!

Travel Songs

There’s something about travel that just begs for a good song. Maybe it’s the excitement of new places and experiences, or the nostalgia for past trips. Whatever the reason, there are plenty of great songs out there about travel.

A fantastic song about travel can make you feel like you’re already on your way to your next adventure. It can also be the perfect way to reminisce about a past trip. And, of course, a good travel song is the perfect addition to any road trip playlist.

On our last road trip around the Mani Peninsula of Greece , we collected some of our favourite songs to play along the way! 

Related: Best Road Trip Food

Best Road Trips Songs

Why not put together the ultimate travel playlist to either inspire you to travel or to play while you're out on the road? Here's over 80 of our favorite songs about travel:

1. “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd

The song “Sweet Home Alabama” is about the band's hometown of Muscle Shoals, Alabama. The opening line “Big wheels keep on turnin'” definitely makes us think of long road trips!

2. “On the Road Again” by Willie Nelson

This song captures the essence of living life on the road, and is an ode to the open road and the nomadic life of a touring musician. It’s been covered by many artists over the years, but we love the original version by Willie Nelson.

3. “Life on the Road” by Mumford & Sons Song

This song, from Mumford & Sons' album “Wilder Mind”, is a beautiful and nostalgic look at life traveling on the road. It's definitely one of our all-time favorites for road trips!

4. “Take the Long Way Home” by Supertramp Song

The song talks about the scenic route and enjoying the journey. It's a great one for road trips!

5. “Drivin' My Life Away” by Eddie Rabbit

This song is a classic driving anthem about being on the road and longing for home.

6. “I've Been Everywhere” by Johnny Cash

This music is a country classic that lists all the places in the United States that Johnny Cash has been. It's a fun and adventurous tune that will have you dreaming of new destinations !

Related: Best Road trip captions

7. “On Top of the World” by Imagine Dragons Song

This upbeat, positive song is an ideal pick for your travel playlist. It's about dreaming big and going out into the world to get what you want.

8. “City of New Orleans” by Arlo Guthrie Song

This folk song by Arlo Guthrie is a nostalgic look back at train travel in America in the 1970s. It's an upbeat, heartwarming tune that will have you dreaming about your own train adventures.

9. “I'm Outta Here” by Shania Twain Song

This song is all about the excitement of hitting the road and heading out on an adventure. It's a great travel anthem no matter where you're going!

10. “Route 66” by Nat King Cole Song

This classic song by Nat King Cole is all about the iconic American road trip. It's a fun and easy-going tune that will put you in the mood for your own adventure.

11. “The Wanderer” by Dion Song

It tells the story of the nomadic life of a traveler. It's an energetic and upbeat tune that celebrates the freedom of just going where the road takes you.

13. “Fast Car” by Tracy Chapman

This powerful ballad is all about the struggle to break free from the circumstances that hold you down, and it perfectly encapsulates the spirit of travel. Whether you’re a first-time traveler or an experienced adventurer, this song will speak to your soul.

14. “The Times They Are A-Changin'” by Bob Dylan

The classic song by Bob Dylan is all about social change, but it also perfectly captures the feeling of wanderlust. It's a great pick for anyone who's looking to explore the world and see something new.

Related: Best movies about wanderlust

15. “Don't Stop Believin'” by Journey

This iconic song by the rock band Journey is all about following your dreams and never giving up. It's a great pick for those times when you need a little extra motivation to keep moving forward. Whether you're on a road trip or just trying to stick with your travel plans , this song will inspire you to keep going.

16. “I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)” by The Proclaimers

This catchy, upbeat song is all about the freedom and excitement of traveling on your own terms. It's a great pick for anyone who's embarking on a solo adventure or just looking for some inspiration to get out there and explore the world. No matter where you're going, this song will make you want to keep moving forward.

17. “Road to Nowhere” by Talking Heads Song

A song about the uncertainty of travel and how you never really know what's around the corner. It's a powerful, introspective ballad that will make you think deeply about your adventures. If you're looking for something that will challenge you and give you a new perspective on travel, this is a perfect choice.

Related: Reasons Why Long Term Travel Is Cheaper Than Regular Vacations

18. “The Weight” by The Band Song

This song is all about the burdens we carry with us on our travels. It's a reflective and introspective tune that will make you think about the things you're carrying with you, both physically and emotionally. If you're looking for a song that will help you process your own travel experiences, this is a great choice.

19. “Leaving on a Jet Plane” by John Denver

This classic song by John Denver is all about the heartbreak of leaving home and heading out into the world. It perfectly captures that bittersweet feeling of travel, when you know that things will never be quite the same once you leave.

20. “Midnight Train to Georgia” by Gladys Knight and the Pips Song

This iconic song by Gladys Knight and the Pips is all about traveling to a better, brighter future. It's a great anthem for anyone who's chasing their dreams or just looking for something new in life. Whether you're on your way to a new destination or just trying to make sense of your journey, this song will give you the inspiration and motivation you need to keep moving forward.

Related: Short Traveling Quotes

21. “Ramblin' Man” by The Allman Brothers Band

This song is all about the joys and challenges of the nomadic life. It's a great pick for anyone who's feeling restless and looking to hit the open road. If you're looking for a song that will make you want to jump in your car and start driving, this is the perfect choice.

22. “Viva Las Vegas” by Elvis Presley

This classic song by Elvis Presley is all about the excitement and energy of Sin City. It's a great pick for anyone who's looking to let loose and have a good time. Whether you're headed to Vegas for a weekend or just looking for a little bit of escapism, this song will give you the perfect soundtrack.

23. “One Night in Bangkok” by Murray Head

The song talks about the exotic appeal of Bangkok . It's a great pick for anyone who's looking to experience something new and exciting. If you're headed to Thailand or just dreaming of far-off destinations, this song will take you there.

24. “I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For” by U2

This classic song by U2 is all about the search for meaning and purpose in life. It's a great pick for anyone who's feeling lost or just looking for something more. Whether you're on a journey of self-discovery or just trying to find your place in the world, this song will resonate with you.

25. “Wherever I May Roam” by Metallica

This song is all about the freedom and flexibility of the nomadic lifestyle. It's a great pick for anyone who's feeling restless and looking to hit the open road. If you're looking for a song that will make you want to jump in your car and start driving, this is the perfect choice.

26. “Wherever You Will Go” by The Calling

This song is all about the feeling of being lost and alone while traveling. It's a beautiful and introspective ballad that will resonate with anyone who's ever felt lost while on the road. If you're looking for a song that will help you process your own travel experiences, this is a great choice.

27. “Road Trippin’ ” by Red Hot Chili Peppers

This upbeat, carefree tune is all about the joys of road tripping. It's a great pick for anyone who's hitting the road and looking for something that will put them in a good mood. No matter where your travels take you, this song will give you the energy and spirit to keep going.

Related: Travelling by Car: Advantages and Disadvantages

28. “Wagon Wheel” by Old Crow Medicine Show

This infectiously catchy folk-rock song is all about the thrill of adventure and seeing new places. It's a great pick for anyone who's looking to travel and explore, whether it's their first time or their hundredth. This song will pump you up and get you ready for anything that comes your way.

29. “The Wanderer” by Dion

This song is all about the feeling of being lost and alone while traveling. It's a reflective and introspective tune that will resonate with anyone who's ever felt lost while on the road. If you're looking for a song that will help you process your own travel experiences, this is a great choice.

30. “Don't Worry, Be Happy” by Bobby McFerrin

This upbeat, cheerful and fun song is all about being content and happy with where you are in life. It's a great pick for anyone who's on the road or just starting a new journey in life. No matter where your travels take you, this song will help you keep a positive attitude and just enjoy the ride.

31. “Easy” by Lionel Richie / Faith No More

This pop ballad is all about the feeling of being on the road and embracing all of the surprises that come along with it. It's a great pick for anyone who's looking to travel and explore, whether it's their first time or their hundredth. This song will help you keep a positive attitude and just enjoy the ride.

32. “Dreamers of the Shore” by Volcan Peaks

This hauntingly beautiful tune is all about the feeling of being on the road and facing your fears. It's a powerful ballad that will resonate with anyone who's ever set foot on a plane, train or automobile to look for something new. If you're looking for something that will help you process any travel-related fears, this song is a great choice.

33. “Somewhere Only We Know” by Keane

The song, Somewhere Only We Know, is a piece of nostalgia. The lyrics circle around about something, someone, and somewhere he used to love. It is about finding and travelling back to the feelings he used to feel, activities he used to do, and the people and places he used to see. At the same time, this song will unfold a new emotion of how past look like and how it can change drastically that will make you reflect the temporariness in this world.

34. “The Longest Road” by Morgan Page feat. Lissie

This upbeat music will boost your excitement while travelling. This song will talk about the journey of life, and how it can affect you life. It is about enjoying, trying new things, create bonds, build memories, and making mistakes. This will make you feel the urge of always chasing things in order to live and create a meaningful life out of it.

35. “I Travel” by Simple Minds

This song is all about the feeling of homesickness while traveling. It's a beautiful and introspective ballad that will resonate with anyone who's ever left their home behind to travel. Whether you're far from home or just missing your loved ones, this song is slightly melancholic but nice.

36. “Home” by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

In travelling, this song will comfort you as it will present the feeling of missing home while living in a different environment. It will likewise bring you motivation with the gratefulness of being in a new place. It will ignite different emotions, specifically the feeling of attachment, nearly love to someone, some place, or a moment that will keep you moving.

37. “Running to Stand Still” by U2

This song is all about the feeling of being on the road and facing your fears. It's a powerful ballad that will resonate with anyone who's ever set foot on a plane, train or automobile to look for something new. If you're looking for something that will help you process any travel-related fears, this song is a great choice.

38. “The Road to Reno” by Guy Clark

This sad country tune is all about the feeling of traveling on the road with no end in sight. It's a powerful ballad that will resonate with anyone who's ever left their home behind for an open-ended journey.

39. “Kokomo” by The Beach Boys

This fun and upbeat song is all about the feeling of being on a tropical island, far away from your troubles. It's a great pick for anyone who's looking to travel to a new and exotic location. Whether you're planning a trip or just dreaming of one, this song will help you relax and escape the everyday grind.

40. “California Dreaming” by The Mamas & The Papas

This song is all about the feeling of longing for home while you're on the road. It's a beautiful and introspective ballad that will resonate with anyone who's ever left their home behind to travel. Whether you're far from home or just missing your loved ones, this song will make you feel right at ease.

Related: California Instagram Captions

41. “Somewhere over the Rainbow” by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole

This beautiful and haunting song is all about the feeling of longing for home while you're on the road. It's a great pick for anyone who's ever left their home behind to travel, whether they're far from home or just missing their loved ones.

42. “Adventure of a Lifetime” by Coldplay

This fun and groovy dance song is about feeling the emotions of being alive, again. This disco inspired music will motivate you to always carry on in life because it is an adventure, there's trouble and joy in it. This song will awaken us to the energy of life while travelling and to not lose it, hence the adventure of a lifetime.

43. “Paris” by The Chainsmokers

This electronic dance music is about finding independence with the ones you love and to live with. Paris is what the couple's trying to go and live the life they wanted away from the obstructions of their family, environmental trauma, and anxiety. Even though this song is about searching for the fantasy they wanted to live, this song gives people to motivation to dream, work on that dream and to make it come true, whether it's travelling or not.

Related: 100+ Paris Captions For Instagram For Your Beautiful City Photos

44. “Sleep on the Floor” by The Lumineers

This feel good music with its country tune and calming arrangement is about travelling away to the big bustling cities and making the most out of that impulsive decision even you're feeling out from you comfort zone. It will give you courage that in the journey of life, there's always the presence of troubles and unavoidable circumstances that you can overcome as long as you have someone with you.

45. “Heading Home” by Gryffin feat. Josef Salvat

Heading Home, an electronic dance music is a feel good music talking about the feeling of always longing to feel the comfort of a home. It will make you feel the known feeling of a traveller, being a lost person, yet pushes you to always move forward and enjoy the things life has thrown at you.

46. “Havana” by Camila Cabello

Havana is a song paying tribute to the artist's home country, Cuba. This dance music gives you the vibes of their culture, warmth, and love to their place. This song is associated to a love of a country by praising its beauty, romanticizing the relationships you can build, and treasuring the moments of travelling.

47. “Autumn Dawn” by Volcan Peaks

This music will serenade your ears while travelling a long road as bring comfort and calmness with the lyrics and its tune. Even though this song will give you comfort, the lyrics much more emphasize the feeling during a separation. This will bring enough sadness to the listeners to realize the growth you will encounter separating from a place, person, and moment among others.

Related: Best Autumn Instagram Captions

48. “Take Me Back To London ” by Ed Sheeran

This upbeat music is a vibe starter when travelling. It's about reminiscing a place where they grow up and travelling back to those moments through sharing their different stories. It's about realizing that a person can move forward in life and still be the person dreaming of what they have become.

49. “Travel Song” by Teleman

Travel Song, a feel good music, is a comforting music to hear when driving towards a destination. This song is about affection and risk, drawing matches between a widespread fire and a destined relationship. The music reflects the tone of the verses, as well — an incredible, irresistible harmony among poppy and fun-loving sentimentalism and serious, sobering acknowledgements

50. “Beach Bonfire” by Sandro

This comforting song is good lullaby during downtime or hours for siesta. From the title itself, it's about igniting your travel with beach bonfire and find comfort with it while enjoying the sea breeze and the sound of the waves. This song freezes a moment as it's very calm, and can make you realize and internalize the events during a trip.

51. “Stargazing” by Kygo feat. Justin Jesso

This is a hopeful song to everyone who's thinking they cannot get through something. The song is best for travelling especially when you're burn out or unmotivated to do such, it will give you courage to look forward of what's gonna happen. This was intentionally about the artist's ex-girlfriend finding her way to fix their relationship, but at the same time knowing that it will be okay otherwise, since there's always hope when you look up to the sky and see stars keep blazing.

52. “I’m like a Bird” by Nelly Furtado

This fun beat music will bring your feet on the move. The song talks about the freedom of a human as a bird has, but at the same time recognizing the impermanence of the abilities a human can do with that freedom. It's a good music during a trip on a summer knowing you're free from hectic schedule and heavy responsibilities.

53. “Anywhere” by Passenger

Passenger never really disappoint, especially with this song, giving us the feel good vibe when hitting off the road. It's about devotion, love, and commitment to someone when travelling, believing that it will always be remarkable as long it's with that significant other. Anywhere talks about a destination that can fulfill the dream and goal of couples driven by the want to travel and escape.

54. “Fly Away ” by Lenny Kravitz

This rock music will bring to a different dimension when travelling. The song purposively gives out a different feeling, yet so relatable as it is about escaping and going to a different place that you wish different from what you are currently living. It's a feel good music for people travelling objectifying their want for escape and adventure.

55. “Africa” by Toto

This song age like fine wine, it's really a very well-created piece of music, with driving drum circles, layered harmonies, and an anthemic tune. The comforting voice of the singer really gives you a good film moment while travelling. Not only that it pays tribute to the beauty of Africa , it will definitely give you the feeling of warmth and ease when travelling.

56. “Good Life” by One Republic

This upbeat song is best when you're travelling for your self's improvement. It's tied in with discarding your burdens and stresses and having a decent life, since you can as it centers around being the individual you need to be and not what others believe you should be. This tune truly radiates a great deal of sentiments, yet it's elevating and brings a peculiar inclination to the listeners.

57. “Wanderlust ” by Frank Turner

This country feel music will make you feel the moment while travelling. The song portrays one of Frank's heartfelt limbo, it puts to differentiate the reasonable and satisfying relationship he has with this young lady with his ceaseless desire for tour and travelling. With this song, you will feel motivated on the decisions you will be encountering regarding travels and tours.

58. “Ocean” by Martin Garrix feat Khalid

This calming, downtempo dance track highlights instrumentation by Dutch DJ Martin Garrix and vocals by American artist Khalid. This electronic dance music mainly talks about the power of love, using the ocean as metaphor that can't break a relationship. This music sets the active mood while travelling, it pumps your heart, break the awkwardness, and develop a strong start on a trip.

59. “Catch & Release” by Matt Simons

This song has an incredibly calming tune in any trip, when it discusses survival strategies through the battles in our lives. This discusses going to where without help from anyone else, yet it isn't forlorn… where someone can act naturally and find solace in self-reflection even in obscurity. This song resonates with every last one of us, the melody having a profound importance with its care meaning.

60. “Traveling On” by Kongos

Traveling On is a calming music that's best when travelling in a non-touristy village. It's a breathtaking song that soothes you blood, bones, and soul. It helps you to remember the little moments while travelling, at the same time makes wanna seize the day.

61. “Dreaming” by Smallpools

The song gets going with a tranquil sound that crescendos into a beat to set the bass of the tune that fits when you listen clearly when travelling. The tune has an exceptionally electronic sound to it, yet the artist's voice is genuine. All through the melody there is a feeling of anxiety and urgency of attempting to make a spot for yourself. The melody for the most part catches the inclination that the world is against you.

62. “These Days” by Foo Fighters

This rock music is best when travelling long serene roads, with its developing style from calm to rock.  The song divulges on the idea that we must live life to the fullest, knowing and acknowledging that it's temporary and it may or will end these days. When going on a trip, we must not forget to always take risks, create memories, and be spontaneous.

63. “Born to Be Wild” by Steppenwolf

Like any travel songs, this rock anthem is made for highways and unplanned trips. This song resonates the drive of motor riders travelling across countries by road, being wild and fun. The song, nonetheless represents to those who think they're born to be wild, being carefree, and worry less.

64. “Send Me On My Way” by Rusted Root

Send Me on My Way is a magical song that motivates you to keep moving forward when travelling with the warmth it expresses, and the soothing feeling it gives. This sets your happy mood when travelling, redefines your vision to the beauty of the traveled places, generates wonderful narratives when interacting with locals of you destinations, and releases your stress.

65. “Perfect Strangers” by Jonas Blue

This dance music will give you the vibe and mood when travelling in summer. It may originally be about two strangers found their charm with one another while travelling, it's nonetheless a summer anthem way back when it was released, with its catchy lyrics, and undeniably good electronic accompaniment.

66. “Let the Sun Shine” by Labrinth

Originally a country song, Let the Sun Shine was produced wonderfully to a hip-hop music, generating a new good travel music.  It's about the new beginnings in our life every day, giving us another time to renew, enjoy, and live. This upbeat music is best when travelling with friends, and strangers as it will connect your thoughts and mood during a trip.

67. “Beautiful Day” by U2

This iconic song is amazing when travelling alone, to be able to reflect that life may take away a lot from you, there will always be joy on what remained. This rock music gives you the vibes and good mood going abroad. This song will make you look for hope and beauty in this world even with its existing nightmares.

68. “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver

This timeless song really resonates with the ones always travelling and always on the hope to be home as soon as possible. This may be a song about home-sickness, the tune will always be remembered and used while travelling long roads. The undeniably good rhythm and its meaningful lyrics will always have a special place in all traveller's heart.

69. “Heart Of Gold” by Neil Young

This classic song expresses the longing for love and hope to never give up. This calming music is best when travelling with the car windows down while feeling the wind brushing your skin and listen as it whispers your wind. The soothing voices and mellow rhythm of the song is also good when you're taking a rest after a long day of a trip.

70. “The Sound of Silence” by Simon & Garfunkel

The Sound of Silence may be an empowering song to those oppressed and unprivileged, it likewise encourages people to not be afraid to talk to people especially when travelling alone. This song is the best company when having a down time during a trip, as it recognizes the importance of solo time when overwhelmed, especially during a travel.

71. “With or Without you” by U2

With or Without You, is a song about moving forward that's translated by travellers into a good solo travel song. This rock classic is a good jam of any ages, since it's relatable at some point in life. The sentimental foundation of the song makes it a great song when going for a trip, best played in a radio on a random setting.

72. “Have You Ever Seen The Rain?” by CCR

This timeless country music is about having a beautiful, sunny, and vibrant life and knowing that there will be rainy times as well. This music is a vibe when driving on a countryside moving across borders. It's best when travelling with friends and deciding on spontaneous stops for fun and adventure. It is an anthem for a road trip.

73. “Linger” by The Cranberries

The love song turned to a travel anthem is about the things you do when in love. This classic song has become the anthem of most travellers crossing borders and going out their comfort zone. With the soothing voice and beautifully arranged dynamics, makes this song a remarkable to any ages when going for a trip.

74. “Days of Silence” by Las Lunas

This calm music is great way to feed your ears with ease and help your mind find sanity when travelling. The beautifully written lyrics and its soothing tune will bring you peace of mind. When travelling, it's best to listen it at night, to wrap up the day with good music and deep reflection of the trip.

75. “I'm Thinking About You” by Windshield

I'm Thinking About You is a great song when unwinding, just sitting on your rented cabin, chilling with the sound of nature, and live on your thoughts. It's best when camping with friends or any of your love ones, as it will unleash your authenticity as your principle for love. This song will bring you to your thoughts that can help you generate reflections throughout.

Related: Best Nature Quotes

76. “Like Stone” by Daniel Gunnarson

This acoustic song will bring you a smile when travelling as it will set your positive mood when travelling. The calming arrangement of the song soothes your soul and washes all you stress and worries. This will ignite you drive on documenting the trip to freeze the moments and treasure it with all you heart.

77. “Feel your Blue Sky” by Bothnia

The song may start melancholic, the song delivers a powerful message of courage. This song is calming and comforting to the heart, and best when travelling to an isolated island or listened with radios on long quiet road. The song is best company for couple or solo travellers, as it will give you sanity and ease.

78. “Cornelia” by The Eastern Plain

This angelic song is best when you're travelling for peace and sanity. This song will bring you in a different beautiful dimension, and reframes your vision to the positive thoughts when travelling. The song is great when going to high altitudes and look down to the beautiful scenery of the city.

79. “A Thousand Miles” by Vanessa Carlton

Some of the riffs for this hit song were written when Vanessa Carlton was just 17 years old. First released in 2002, the music video sees Vanessa being driven on a cross country road trip in America playing a piano.

Related: Camp Quotes

80. “Roam” by The B-52's

I've added this thanks to a reader's comment! The unmistaken style of the B-53's hits you from the opening, and the up-beat catchy chorus and melody quickly puts you in a happy place – no matter where you are in the world!

Roam if you want to Roam around the world Roam if you want to Without anything but the love we feel

Did the B-52's ever get the lasting recognition they fully deserve? Probably not, which is a real shame. Check it out on YouTube here: Roam

What makes a good travel song?

We think a good travel song should either inspire wanderlust or evoke memories of past trips . It should also have a catchy melody that will stay in your head long after the journey is over!

Why do people love songs about travel so much?

Songs about travel have a way of capturing the excitement, adventure , and sense of possibility that comes with hitting the open road. They can also be incredibly nostalgic, reminding us of past trips and all the places we’ve been.

How to make a perfect traveling playlist ?

To make the perfect traveling playlist, start by thinking about what kinds of travel experiences you want to evoke. Do you want a playlist that will get you pumped up for your next big adventure? Or one that will soothe homesick feelings and help you relax while on the road?

You might also consider choosing songs with lyrics that reflect your own feelings about travel, whether it’s excitement at the unknown or a sense of longing for home.

Once you have your ideas in place, put together a playlist that incorporates a variety of different artists and genres to keep things interesting! And don’t forget to pack your headphones so you can enjoy your songs in style on your next trip .

Tips for using music to enhance your travel experience :

1. Take some time to think about the kind of experiences you want to have while traveling, and then create a playlist that will help you get in the right mindset.

2. Consider choosing music with lyrics that reflect your own feelings about travel, whether it’s excitement at the unknown or a sense of longing for home.

3. Prioritize listening to your playlist while on the road, whether you’re driving or flying. This can help you get in the right mindset for your trip and make it more enjoyable.

4. Don’t forget to pack a good set of earbuds so you can enjoy your music in style at any time during your travels.

5. Most importantly, have fun and enjoy the journey! Music can play a big role in making any trip more memorable and enjoyable.

Related: Songs about bicycles

Travel Songs Playlist Final thoughts

Travel and music go together like peanut butter and jelly. Whether you're hitting the open road on an epic road trip or jetting off to a new and exotic destination, music can help set the mood and enhance your travel experience.

If you're looking for some great songs about travel, we recommend checking out tracks by Guy Clark, The Beach Boys, and The Mamas & the Papas. And don't forget to pack your headphones so you can enjoy your music in style on your next trip!

What's are your best road trip songs? What do you consider to be the ultimate travel song? Let us know in the comments below!

5 thoughts on “80 Best Songs About Traveling: The Ultimate Travel Playlist?”

After a year on the road, these suggestions, and the songs they brought to mind, has expanded my traveling playlist from a few dozen to more than a hundred. Thanks a million, Dave!

Shocked not to see Roam by the B52’s?!

So am I! I’ll try to add it in over the next week or so!

Another great tune that I have never seen on any “Travel Song” list is “Born to Wander” by the Rare Earth on their 1970 album “Ecology”.

The members of Lynyrd Skynyrd did not grow up in muscle shoals Alabama. They grew up in Jacksonville, Florida.

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65 Songs About Travel & Adventure For The Ultimate Wanderlust Playlist

Add these songs to your travel playlist to fuel your wanderlust..

Last updated on Jun 28, 2023

There's nothing better than having music in your life that encompasses what you are doing or how you are feeling. And what better time to have music explain your feelings than on vacation?

Whether you're looking for the perfect songs to accompany your travel videos or are putting together a playlist for your vacation, these songs about traveling will fuel your wanderlust and set the tone for adventure.

65 Best Songs About Wanderlust, Travel & Adventure

1. "go your own way" by fleetwood mac.

If you haven't heard this song before, it will likely become your favorite travel song. It's one of those travel songs that's infused with the best travel tips: go your own way.

RELATED: 7 Reasons People Who Travel A Lot Are More Likely To Be Successful

2. "Leaving On A Jet Plane" by Peter, Paul, and Mary

You can listen to music while traveling by downloading songs to your phone. If you're traveling by plane, this song will definitely set the mood for you. John Denver also has a popular recording of it.

3. "On The Road Again" by Willie Nelson

This song is absolutely perfect for road trips . Pump up the music and sing along with your friends.

4. "Come Sail Away" by Styx

You don't have to be literally sailing away for this song to resonate. Sailing away, metaphorically speaking, can represent leaving home to jump into the unknown.

5. "Road To Nowhere" by Talking Heads

This is a great song to rock out to when you're traveling to a new destination for the foreseeable future. When moving, you might have to wrestle with a lot of bittersweet, complex emotions. This song is perfect for coping with those changes.

6. "Midnight Train To Georgia" by Gladys Knight & The Pips

This Grammy Award-winning song is about traveling from L.A. to Georgia on a train that departs at midnight.

7. "Travelin’ Man" by Ricky Nelson

Or a traveling woman, or traveling person, of course. This song is quite literally about traveling, so it will be perfect for any travel-themed playlist.

8. "Homeward Bound" by Simon & Garfunkel

Ever wanted to travel so you could avoid home? This song is about leaving home and constantly being reminded of it.

9. "Send Me On My Way" by Rusted Root

This is a song about moving forward in life — but being happy and hopeful about it.

10. "Life Is A Highway" by Rascal Flatts

"Life Is A Highway" is a metaphor for living life to the fullest and taking big risks.

RELATED: The Best Road Trip Songs To Sing (& Rock Out To) While Driving

11. "Space Oddity" by David Bowie

"Space Oddity" came out the same year that astronauts landed on the moon: 1969.

12. "Fast Car" by Tracy Chapman

If you're driving down the road in a fast car — or even a slow one — this song will be perfect for your travel playlist.

13. "Orinoco Flow" by Enya

In this song, the narrator fantasizes about sailing away and traveling the world.

14. "See The World" by the Kooks

Want to see the world? Turn this song up to the full blast.

15. "Road Trippin'" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers

This song is perfect for your road trip playlist, as it is all about going on a road trip.

16. "Hot Fun in the Summertime" by Sly & The Family Stone

Nothing screams summer vacation like hot fun summertime.

17. "Malibu" by Kim Petras

"Malibu" is such a good vacation song. It's perfect for relaxing and chilling by the beach.

18. "Island in the Sun" by Weezer

"Island in the Sun" is all about sailing away to a fantasy beach. If only escaping your problems could be so easy.

19. "Surfin’ USA" by The Beach Boys

The music was based on “Sweet Little Sixteen” by Chuck Berry. This song covers all of the best surfing locations in the United States.

20. "California Gurls" by Katy Perry ft. Snoop Dogg

California Girls — they're undeniable! If you've ever been — or lived — in California, it might not ring true. But it definitely covers all of the California stereotypes that potential tourists might assume are accurate.

21. "School’s Out" by Alice Cooper

Nothing better than the end of the school year! What's more fun than celebrating the beginning of summer with a little Alice Cooper?

22. "Don’t Worry, Be Happy" by Bob Marley

This carefree song will perfectly put your work-life woes on pause. Close your eyes, take a breath, listen to this song, and enjoy yourself.

RELATED: What Traveling The World For 450 Days Taught Me About Relationships

23. "Soak Up The Sun" by Sheryl Crow

Traveling to a sunny place? This song is perfect for listening to by the pool or beach.

24. "Vacation" by The Go-Go's

What better way to celebrate your vacation than with a song that's literally called "Vacation"?

25. "It's Nice To Go Trav'ling" by Frank Sinatra

It's nice to go traveling, don't you think? Rocking out to this song is the best way to enjoy your travels.

26. "Meet the Parents" by Kim Petras

In this song, Kim Petras sings about taking someone to the beach, Paris, Miami, and New York.

27. "Galway Girl" by Ed Sheeran

The song is about a narrator that falls in love with a girl from Galway, Ireland.

28. "New York, I Love You" by LCD Soundsystem

What better way to embrace the Big Apple than with this song? Though it's about contradictions and a love/hate relationship with New York City, it's a reminder for anyone traveling that this city has a lot of heart.

29. "Night in Bangkok" by Murray Head

Bangkok is the capital of Thailand, and this song is great for traveling, as it describes what a literal night in Bangkok looks like.

30. "Free Man In Paris" by Joni Mitchell

Ever been to Paris? Ever been to Paris listening to this song? It's perfect for the first or next time your plane lands there.

31. "Paris, Tokyo" by Lupe Fiasco

Lupe Fiasco said he wrote this song because he loves Paris and Tokyo!

32. "American Boy" by Estelle ft. Kanye West

In this song, one of the narrators asks the other to take her to New York and L.A. And if either of those locations is your destination, you can rock out to this jam on the way there.

33. "Destination Calabria" by Alex Gaudino ft. Crystal Waters

This song is about leaving home without a plan set in stone.

RELATED: 5 Liberating Reasons Why You Should Consider Traveling By Yourself

34. "Havana" by Camila Cabello

Camila Cabello is from Havana, so who better to sing a song about this beautiful city than a native?

35. "Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Whether you're visiting Alabama or just love the tune, it's a great song about never forgetting your roots.

36. "A Thousand Miles" by Vanessa Carlton

"A Thousand Miles" is a fun travel song, especially if you're traveling a thousand miles (or more!) away from home.

37. "I’ve Been Everywhere" by Johnny Cash

This song is great if you've been traveling all over the place and is known to inspire wanderlust in anyone who listens.

38. "Everywhere" by Fleetwood Mac

Though "Everywhere" may not be about travel specifically, it conveys the lovely feeling of being anywhere in the world with your love by your side.

39. "Roam" by the B52s

This song invites you to explore the world, wherever you want, whenever.

40. "My Traveling Star" by James Taylor

"My Traveling Star" explores the tension between home and the road.

41. "Come Away With Me" by Norah Jones

This song is all about asking someone to leave with you.

42. "Shut Up and Drive" by Rihanna

Definitely consider adding this to your road trip playlist, especially if the driver talks too much.

43. "The Long Way Around" by The Chicks

Any song by The Chicks will suffice for your road trip blues.

RELATED: 75 Happy Songs To Make You Smile & Feel Good

44. "Route 66" by Nat King Cole

Route 66 is one of the most famous routes in the United States. So if you're planning to drive the entire 2,000-mile stretch, consider adding this one to your wanderlust playlist.

45. "I Left My Heart In San Francisco" by Tony Bennett

This is the perfect song when moving feels more bittersweet than sweet.

46. "Montego Bay" by Amazulu

Montego Bay is Jamaica's third most populous city, and this song is all about relaxing.

47. "Proud Mary" by Tina Turner

Originally performed by Creedence Clearwater Revival, this song is about a steamboat traveling up and down the river. But its deeper meaning has an encouraging message to appreciate the simple things in life outside of bills and work.

48. "On Top of The World" by Imagine Dragons

This song is all about moving forward and letting go of the past . It's an anthem that radiates positivity, and its upbeat energy and empowering message of triumph make it a perfect choice for a road trip or adventure.

49. "I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)" by The Proclaimers

This song is perfect for road trips. It's one of those songs that everyone loves to sing along to in a car.

50. "Runaway" by Kanye West

This song is perfect for any trip, especially if you're traveling to get away from your problems.

51. Bruno Mars TikTok Song

This Bruno Mars remix is a staple for travel TikTokers.

52. TikTok Snapping Song

Transition your travel videos with a snap with this song in the background for a cool effect.

53. "Sunny Day" by Ted Fresco

This upbeat song adds a fun, lighthearted mood to your travel videos or wanderlust playlist.

54. "Vacation" by The Dirty Heads

This has quickly become the ultimate vacation video song thanks to TikTok.

55. "Paradise" by Bazzi

Show everyone a piece of your own paradise with this wanderlust song.

56. "Knee Deep" by The Zac Brown Band ft. Jimmy Buffet

An ultimate vacation goal is what this song represents. The Zac Brown Band and Jimmy Buffet paint a picture of a peaceful oceanfront property and not worrying about anything.

RELATED: Why I Travel To Cure My Broken Heart

57. "Empire State of Mind" by Jay-Z ft. Alicia Keys

Anyone going to New York City will be inspired by the glamorous and freeing descriptions of the concrete jungle.

58. "Traveling Alone" by Passenger

The song discusses wanting to travel all over, even if you're alone. So, if you have wanderlust this song is right up your alley.

59. "Down Under" by Men at Work

This classic 80s hit is all about how amazing Australia is. Once you hear it, you'll definitely want to visit the land down under.

60. "Guaranteed" by Eddie Vedder

This song was written for the film "Into The Wild" and won a Golden Globe. Why not add an award-winning hit to your playlist?

61. "Vienna" by Billy Joel

"Vienna" by Billy Joel discusses the importance of slowing down in life and enjoying the moment. It reminds us to take a break and smell the flowers.

62. "Born To Be Wild" by Steppenwolf

If you love riding along the open road, this song is for you. Originally recorded in 1968, it was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

63. "Graceland" by Paul Simon

This recording is a timeless masterpiece that has a vibrant and uplifting musical journey. Its introspective lyrics capture the essence of growth and exploration.

64. "Come Fly With Me" by Frank Sinatra

"Come Fly With Me" was written specifically for Frank Sinatra, and is a romantic song where Sinatra invites listeners to visit exotic places with him, like Peru and Bombay.

65. "Travelin Band" by Creedence Clearwater Revival

This is a high-energy rock and roll classic that captivates listeners with its infectious rhythm and spirited guitar riffs. You have to tap your feet when you hear it!

RELATED: 35 Best Songs About Life To Keep You Motivated On Your Journey

Izzy Casey is a freelance writer, former YourTango writer and associate editor, and copy editor who received her MFA in Poetry from the Iowa Writers' Workshop. Her work has been published in Corriere della Sera, The Iowa Review, Bennington Review, Gulf Coast, Black Warrior Review, BOATT, NY Tyrant, and elsewhere.

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67 Songs About Travelling: A Playlist for 2024

Are you looking for some of the best songs about travelling to inspire you or to accompany you on your next trip? Then you have come to the right place!

I’ve collected some of the best travel songs from the 1930s until today in this list. Musical genres range from pop and dance to rock, punk, and many others. So no matter what type of music you like, there should be something in it for you. The songs in the list below either talk about a place or the experience of travelling.

Some of my favourite songs on this list are #1, #17, and #39. Make sure to check them out and feel free to leave a comment if you think a travel song is missing. I’m updating this post frequently.

The Best Travel Songs of All Time

Songs About Travelling From 2000 Until Now

1. eddie vedder – guaranteed (2007).

This is one of my favourite songs of all time! Eddie Vedder wrote it for the film Into the Wild , and the lyrics are so powerful.

“On bended knee is no way to be free Lifting up an empty cup I ask silently That all my destinations will accept the one that’s me So I can breathe”

2. Nelly Furtado – I’m Like a Bird (2000)

“And baby all I need for you to know is I’m like a bird I’ll only fly away I don’t know where my soul is (soul is) I don’t know where my home is”

3. Tom Walker – Fly Away With Me (2019)

“So come on fly away with me To a place where we could be anyone we wanna be And we can bottle up our fears Brew a taste so sweet Knock us off our feet or more”

4. Weezer – Island in the Sun (2001)

“When you’re on a holiday You can’t find the words to say All the things that come to you And I wanna feel it too”

5. Manu Chao – Me Gustas Tu (2001)

“Me gusta el viento, me gustas tú Me gusta soñar, me gustas tú Me gusta la mar, me gustas tú”

6. Lost Frequencies – Are You With Me (2014)

I wanna dance by water ‘neath the Mexican sky Drink some Margaritas by a string of blue lights Listen to the Mariachi play at midnight Are you with me, are you with me?

7. Luca Aprile – Traveler (2018)

“You’re taking off to Mexico To Paris and I know you long for more I’m waiting for you all night long I wanna see the pictures on your phone”

8. Murray Head – One Night in Bangkok (2001)

“One night in Bangkok and the world’s your oyster The bars are temples but the pearls ain’t free You’ll find a god in every golden cloister And if you’re lucky then the god’s a she I can feel an angel sliding up to me”

9. KONGOS – Traveling On (2012)

“Maybe I’ll go it all alone See the world and make my way back home Or maybe I’ll keep traveling on”

10. Anna Kendrick – Cups (2012)

“I got my ticket for the long way ’round The one with the prettiest of views It’s got mountains, it’s got rivers It’s got sights give you shivers But it sure would be prettier with you”

11. Dirty Heads – Vacation (2017)

“ A-a-aye, I’m on vacation Every single day ’cause I love my occupation A-a-aye, I’m on vacation Every single day, every, every single day “

12. The Kooks – See the World (2006)

“I remember how we used to sing Writing poems in your bed sit Finding time to be the passenger But there you are you never saw me leave”

13. Estelle Swara ft. Kanye West – American Boy (2008)

“Take me on a trip, I’d like to go someday Take me to New York, I’d love to see L.A. I really want to come kick it with you You’ll be my American boy Tell ’em kno wagwan blud “

14. Alex Gaudino ft. Crystal Waters – Destination Calabria (2007)

“ Follow me And let’s go To the place where we belong And leave our troubles at home Come with me We can go To a paradise of love and joy “ A destination unknown

Travel Songs From the 80s and 90s

15. johnny cash – i’ve been everywhere (1996).

“I’ve been everywhere, man. Crossed the desert’s bare, man. I’ve breathed the mountain air, man. Of travel, I’ve had my share, man. I’ve been everywhere.”

16. Willie Nelson – On the Road Again (1980)

“And I can’t wait to get on the road again On the road again Goin’ places that I’ve never been Seein’ things that I may never see again And I can’t wait to get on the road again”

17. Toto – Africa (1982)

“The wild dogs cry out in the night As they grow restless, longing for some solitary company I know that I must do what’s right As sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti I seek to cure what’s deep inside, frightened of this thing that I’ve become”

18. The Proclaimers – I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) (1988)

“And I would walk 500 miles And I would roll 500 more Just to be the man who rolled a thousand miles To fall down at your door”

19. Desireless – Voyage Voyage (1987)

“ Voyage, voyage Plus loin que la nuit et le jour (voyage, voyage) Voyage (voyage) Dans l’espace inouï de l’amour Voyage, voyage Sur l’eau sacrée d’un fleuve indien, (voyage, voyage) Voyage (voyage) Et jamais ne revient “

20. Paul Simon – Graceland (1986)

“I’m going to Graceland, Graceland Memphis, Tennessee I’m going to Graceland Poor boys and pilgrims with families And we are going to Graceland”

21. Vengaboys – We’re Going to Ibiza (1999)

“Whoah! We’re going to Ibiza Whoah! Back to the island Whoah! We’re gonna have a party Whoah! In the Mediterranean Sea”

22. Sting – Englishman in New York (1987)

“See me walking down Fifth Avenue A walking cane here at my side I take it everywhere I walk I’m an Englishman in New York “

23. Daft Punk – Around the World (1997)

“ Around the world, around the world Around the world, around the world Around the world, around the world Around the world, around the world”

24. Madonna – Holiday (1983)

“If we took a holiday Took some time to celebrate Just one day out of life It would be, it would be so nice”

25. Nina Hagen – New York (1983)

“New York City is the hottest place For a honeymoon in a hotel room, uh-huh New York City is a place so nice Everybody says it so they had to name it twice”

26. Tracy Chapman – Fast Car (1988)

“You got a fast car I got a plan to get us outta here I been working at the convenience store Managed to save just a little bit of money Won’t have to drive too far Just ‘cross the border and into the city You and I can both get jobs And finally see what it means to be living”

27. Deftones – Be Quiet and Drive (1997)

“It feels good to know you’re mine Now drive me far away, away, away Far away I don’t care where Just far away I don’t care where Just far away I don’t care where, just far away And I don’t care”

28. Red Hot Chilli Peppers – Road Trippin’ (1999)

“Road trippin’ with my two favorite allies Fully loaded we got snacks and supplies It’s time to leave this town, it’s time to steal away Let’s go get lost anywhere in the USA Let’s go get lost, let’s go get lost”

29. Men at Work – Down Under (1980)

“ Traveling in a fried-out Kombi On a hippie trail, head full of zombie I met a strange lady, she made me nervous She took me in and gave me breakfast “

30. Crowded House – Weather With You (1991)

“Everywhere you go, always take the weather with you Everywhere you go, always take the weather Everywhere you go, always take the weather with you Everywhere you go, always take the weather, the weather with you”

31. The Beach Boys – Kokomo (1988)

“Aruba, Jamaica, oh I want to take you to Bermuda, Bahama, come on pretty mama Key Largo, Montego, baby why don’t we go Oh I want to take you down to Kokomo, we’ll get there fast and then we’ll take it slow That’s where we want to go, way down in Kokomo”

32. Will Smith – Miami (1997)

“Party in the city where the heat is on All night, on the beach till the break of dawn “Welcome to Miami” “ Bienvenidos a Miami” Bouncin’ in the club where the heat is on All night, on the beach till the break of dawn I’m goin to Miami “Welcome to Miami”

33. The B-52’s – Roam (1989)

“Roam if you want to Roam around the world Roam if you want to Without wings, without wheels Roam if you want to Roam around the world Roam if you want to Without anything but the love we feel”

34. Status Quo – The Wanderer (1983)

“ Well I’m the type of guy that likes to roam around I’m never in one place I roam from town to town And when I find myself falling for some girl Well I hop right into that car of mine and drive around the world ‘Cause I’m a Wanderer, yeah the Wanderer I roam around and round and round and round and round and round and round “

35. Tom Cochrane – Life is a Highway (1991)

“There’s a world outside every darkened door Where blues won’t haunt you anymore Where the brave are free and lovers soar Come ride with me to the distant shore”

Travel Songs From the 60s and 70s

36. john denver – leaving on a jetplane (1966).

“So kiss me and smile for me Tell me that you’ll wait for me Hold me like you’ll never let me go ‘Cause I’m leavin’ on a jet plane Don’t know when I’ll be back again”

37. Iggy Pop – The Passenger (1977)

“I am a passenger And I ride, and I ride I ride through the city’s backsides I see the stars come out of the sky Yeah, they’re bright in a hollow sky You know it looks so good tonight”

38. Scott McKenzie – San Francisco (1967)

“If you’re going to San Francisco Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair If you’re going to San Francisco You’re gonna meet some gentle people there”

39. Lynyrd Skynyrd – Sweet Home Alabama (1974)

“Sweet home Alabama Where the skies are so blue Sweet home Alabama Lord I’m comin’ home to you”

40. The Mamas and the Papas – California Dreamin’ (1966)

“ All the leaves are brown (all the leaves are brown) And the sky is gray (and the sky is gray) I’ve been for a walk (I’ve been for a walk) On a winter’s day (on a winter’s day) I’d be safe and warm (I’d be safe and warm) If I was in L.A. (if I was in L.A.)”

41. Bob Dylan – A Hard Rain’s a-gonna Fall (1973)

“ Oh, where have you been, my blue-eyed son? And where have you been, my darling young one? I’ve stumbled on the side of twelve misty mountains, I’ve walked and I crawled on six crooked highways, I’ve stepped in the middle of seven sad forests, I’ve been out in front of a dozen dead oceans, I’ve been ten thousand miles in the mouth of a graveyard, And it’s a hard, it’s a hard, it’s a hard, it’s a hard, It’s a hard rain’s a-gonna fall. “

42. Frank Sinatra – Love’s Been Good to Me (1969)

This song was covered by Johnny Cash in 2006 (which is how I got to know it), and his version is beautiful as well.

“I have been a rover I have walked alone Hiked a hundred highways Never found a home Still in all I’m happy The reason is, you see Once in a while along the way Love’s been good to me”

43. Louis Armstrong – What a Wonderful World (1967)

“I see skies of blue and clouds of white The bright blessed day, the dark sacred nights And I think to myself what a wonderful world.”

44. Ricky Nelson – Travelin’ Man (1961)

“I’m a travelin’ man and I’ve made a lot of stops All over the world And in every part I own the heart Of at least one lovely girl”

45. The Animals – We Gotta Get Out of This Place (1965)

“We gotta get out of this place If it’s the last thing we ever do We gotta get out of this place ‘Cause girl, there’s a better life for me and you “

46. Steppenwolf – Born to Be Wild (1969)

“ Get your motor runnin’ Head out on the highway Looking for adventure In whatever comes our way “

47. Rupert Holmes – Escape (The Piña Colada Song) (1979)

“If you like piña coladas And gettin’ caught in the rain If you’re not into yoga If you have half a brain If you like makin’ love at midnight In the dunes on the cape Then I’m the love that you’ve looked for Write to me and escape”

48. Crosly Stills & Nash – Marrakesh Express (1969)

“ Looking at the world through the sunset in your eyes Travelling the train through clear Moroccan skies Ducks, and pigs, and chickens call Animal carpet wall-to-wall American ladies five-foot tall in blue “

49. Audrey Hepburn – Moon River (1962)

This song was written for the movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s , in which Audrey Hepburn sings it. The song won multiple awards and was covered by many other artists.

“Two drifters, off to see the world There’s such a lot of world to see We’re after the same rainbow’s end Waitin’ ’round the bend My huckleberry friend Moon river and me”

50. The Sonics – Have Love, Will Travel (1965)

“Well, I might take a boat or I’ll take a plane I might hitch hike or jump a railroad train You’re kind of love drives a man insane So look for me walking just a any old way”

51. Led Zeppelin – Immigrant Song (1970)

“We come from the land of the ice and snow From the midnight sun where the hot springs flow The hammer of the gods Will drive our ships to new lands To fight the horde, sing and cry Valhalla, I am coming”

52. Canned Heat – Going Up the Country (1968)

“I’m going up the country Baby, don’t you wanna go? I’m going up the country Baby, don’t you wanna go? We gonna go somewhere Where I’ve never been before”

53. Elvis Presley – Viva Las Vegas (1964)

“Viva Las Vegas with your neon flashin’ And your one arm bandits crashin’ All those hopes down the drain Viva Las Vegas turnin’ day into nighttime Turnin’ night into daytime If you see it once You’ll never be the same again”

54. Joe Dassin – Aux Champs Elysees (1969)

“Aux Champs-Elysées, aux Champs-Elysées Au soleil, sous la pluie, à midi ou à minuit Il y a tout ce que vous voulez aux Champs-Elysées”

55. Crosby, Stills & Nash – Marrakesh Express (1969)

56. gladys knight & the pips – midnight train to georgia (1973).

“He’s leaving (leaving) On that midnight train to Georgia (leaving on a midnight train) Hmm, yeah Said he’s going back (going back to find) To a simpler place and time (and when he takes that ride) Oh yes, he is (guess who’s gonna sit right by his side)”

57. Eddie Money – Two Tickets to Paradise (1977)

“ I’m gonna take you on a trip so far from here I’ve got two tickets in my pocket, now baby, we’re gonna disappear We’ve waited so long, waited so long We’ve waited so long, waited so long “

58. Chuck Berry – Promised Land (1964)

“ Workin’ on a T-bone steak a la carte, Flying over to the Golden State; When the pilot told us in thirteen minutes We’d be headin’ in the terminal gate. “

59. The Grateful Dead – Truckin’ (1970)

“Dallas, got a soft machine Houston, too close to New Orleans New York got the ways and means But just won’t let you be”

60. Roger Miller – King of the Road (1964)

“Third boxcar, midnight train Destination Bangor, Maine Old, worn out suit and shoes I don’t pay no union dues”

61. Steve Miller Band – Jet Airliner (1977)

“Leavin’ home, out on the road I’ve been down before Ridin’ along in this big ol’ jet plane I’ve been thinkin’ about my home But my love light seems so far away And I feel like it’s all been done Somebody’s tryin’ to make me stay You know I’ve got to be movin’ on”

62. Creedence Clearwater Revival – Travelin’ Band (1970)

“Take me to the hotel baggage gone, oh well Come on, come on won’t you get me to my room I want to move Playin’ in a travelin’ band Yeah Well I’m flyin’ ‘cross the land, tryin’ to get a hand Playin’ in a travelin’ band”

63. Led Zeppelin – Ramble On (1969)

“Ramble on And now’s the time, the time is now To sing my song I’m goin’ ’round the world, I got to find my girl On my way I’ve been this way ten years to the day Ramble on Gotta find the queen of all my dreams”

Older Songs About Travelling

64. edith piaf – sous le ciel de paris (1951).

You can find the translation of this beautiful song here .

“Sous le ciel de Paris Coule un fleuve joyeux Hum, hum Il endort dans la nuit Les clochards et les gueux Sous le ciel de Paris Les oiseaux du Bon Dieu Hum, hum Viennent du monde entier Pour bavarder entre eux”

65. The Wizard of Oz – Somewhere Over the Rainbow (1939)

“Somewhere over the rainbow Bluebirds fly And the dreams that you dream of Dreams really do come true-ooh-ooh Someday I’ll wish upon a star Wake up where the clouds are far behind me Where trouble melts like lemon drops High above the chimney tops that’s where You’ll find me, oh”

66. Frank Sinatra – Come Fly With Me (1959)

“Come fly with me, let’s float down to Peru In llama-land there’s a one-man band And he’ll toot his flute for you Come fly with me, let’s take off in the blue”

67. Hank Williams – Ramblin’ Man (1951)

“Some folks might say That I’m no good That I wouldn’t settle Down if I could But when that open road Starts to callin’ me There’s somethin’ o’er the hill That I gotta see”

Songs about travelling – Final thoughts

I hope that you enjoyed this post featuring the best travel songs from the 1930s until today. This list is a work in progress, and I’m always on the lookout for other beautiful travel music to add to this list.

Can you think of other beautiful songs about travelling that are missing from this list? Let me know in the comments below!

Enjoyed this post? You may also like:

• Poetry About Travel: The 16 Most Inspiring Travel Poems
• Songs About Paris That Will Bring You There Instantly
• Short Travel Captions to Inspire Your Wanderlust
• Movies About Nomads That Will Inspire You

Pin it for later: Did you find this post helpful? Save it on Pinterest and follow me on Instagram and Facebook for more travel tips and inspiration.

Laura Meyers

Laura Meyers is the founder of Laure Wanders. She was born in Belgium and has travelled to over 40 countries, many of them solo. She currently spends most of her time between Belgium and South Asia and loves helping other travellers plan their adventures abroad.

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75 Travel Songs to add to your Playlist in 2024 – Mixtape #2

We curated the second mixtape of the best travel songs.

This list features classic songs about traveling to brand new tracks.

You can find more travel songs here:

• Summer Mixtape #1 for the perfect travelers playlist
• 17 best Backpacker Songs you’ve to know
• 10 songs for exploring the world

This list features a lot of cool songs you’ve to put on your phone. However, and always remember this, go out there and create your own travel songs.

What do we mean by that?

During your travels you will end up in a lot of fun situations.

You will collect memories, and a few songs will take part in it. Then, when you are back home or wherever, you will hear this special song in the radio – and it takes you right back to those fun situations you will cherish forever.

For us, this is for instance “We don’t talk anymore” – we traveled Vietnam for 3 months and some local in every single village, town and city played it at least once. We turned crazy, yet it’s today a part of the experience. Then in Labuan Bajo, while taking the boat cruise around the Komodo National Park, the boat crew only had only one song to play, HIOKO TOBELO 2 – Yopie Latul .

Read : +180 short travel stories

75 Travel Songs to Wanderlust

Okay, enough of the mambo jambo. Turn on your audio and hit the play button. This list of the best 75 travel songs is waiting for you.

I included my personal favorite travel song as #75.

Update : We had to break the songs in several pages, otherwise the page takes too long to load.

Please be patient and wait for the YouTube video to load.

1. Ricky Nelson – Travelin’ Man

I’m a travelin’ man I’ve made a lot of stops all over the world And in every part I own the heart Of at least one lovely girl

I’ve a pretty Señorita waiting for me Down in old Mexico If you’re ever in Alaska stop and see My cute little Eskimo

Oh, my sweet Fraulein down in Berlin town Makes my heart start to yearn And my China doll down in old Hong Kong Waits for my return

Pretty Polynesian baby over the sea I remember the night When we walked in the sands of the Waikiki And I held you, oh so tight

2. The Melodic – “On My Way”

I found an open door (I’m on my way) I think of love once more (I’m on my way)

Precious time on your own Seeing more than you care to say And the mist falls away (I’m on my way)

At times I’ve tried to feel (I’m on my way) With the thoughts I tried to steal (I’m on my way)

Left forgotten like young love All the choices I am made of When the push comes to shove

3. Passenger – Traveling Alone

Australian man, Scandinavian tan, Kicking stones round a square. Sat for a while and carved out a smile, As if someone would care.

Said I’m a long way from the Gold Coast. Furthest I’ve ever known, Oh and this just ain’t my home. It was my wife’s idea, but she’s no longer here. She left me travelling alone.

I never heard silence ring out like a bell. I never heard silence like last night in my expensive hotel. Well, I’m loving a shadow, I’m trying to catch the rain. But I never heard silence ’til I heard it today.

She walked out of the hotel, I could still smell the smoke of the burning heart left inside. She said men are all assholes And life’s a bad joke. She laughed and started to cry.

See, ten years with this man, And a life time of plans, Oh, and I loved him to his bones. Now I’ve lines on my skin And he’s traded me in. He left me travelling alone.

Well, I never felt silence hit me like a train. I never felt silence like blood coursed through my veins. Well, I’m loving a shadow, and I’m trying to catch the rain. I never heard silence ’til I heard it today. I never felt silence ’til I felt it today.

4. Band of Horses – The Funeral

I’m coming up only to hold you under I’m coming up only to show you wrong And to know you is hard, we wonder To know you, all wrong we were

Ooh-ooh Ooh-ooh

Really too late to call, so We wait for Morning to wake you, that’s all we got To know me as hardly golden Is to know me all wrong, they were

At every occasion, I’ll be ready for the funeral Every occasion, once more, it’s called the funeral Every occasion, know I’m ready for the funeral Every occasion, oh, one billion-day funeral

5. X Ambassadors – Renegades

Run away with me Lost souls and reverie Running wild and running free Two kids, you and me

6. Noah And The Whale – Blue Skies

This is a song for anyone with a broken heart This is a song for anyone who can’t get out of bed

I’ll do anything to be happy

Oh, ’cause blue skies are coming

But I know that it’s hard

This is the last song that I write while still in love with you This is the last song that I write while you’re even on my mind

’cause it’s time to leave those feelings behind Oh, ’cause blue skies are coming But I know that it’s hard

7. Coldplay – Adventure Of A Lifetime

Turn your magic on, to me she’d say Everything you want’s a dream away We are legends, every day That’s what she told him

I feel my heart beating I feel my heart beneath my skin I feel my heart beating Oh, you make me feel

Like I’m alive again Alive again Oh, you make me feel Like I’m alive again

8. Red Hot Chili Peppers – Californication

Psychic spies from China try to steal your mind’s elation And little girls from Sweden dream of silver screen quotation And if you want these kind of dreams it’s Californication It’s the edge of the world and all of western civilization

The sun may rise in the East at least it’s settled in a final location It’s understood that Hollywood sells Californication Pay your surgeon very well to break the spell of aging Celebrity skin is this your chin or is that war you’re waging?

9. Of Monsters and Men – Dirty Paws

Jumping up and down the floor My head is an animal And once there was an animal It had a son that mowed the lawn The son was an OK guy They had a pet dragonfly The dragonfly it ran away But it came back with a story to say

Her dirty paws and furry coat She ran down the forest slope The forest of talking trees They used to sing about the birds and the bees The bees had declared a war The sky wasn’t big enough for them all The birds, they got help from below From dirty paws and the creatures of snow

10. Foo Fighters – These Days

One of these days, the ground will drop out from beneath your feet One of these days, your heart will stop and play it’s final beat

One of these days, the clocks will stop and time won’t mean a thing One of these days, their bombs will drop and silence everything

But it’s alright, yeah it’s alright, said it’s alright Easy for you to say Your heart has never been broken Your pride has never been stolen Not yet, not yet, one of these days I bet your heart ‘ll be broken I bet your pride ‘ll be stolen I’ll bet, I’ll bet, I’ll bet, I’ll bet One of these days, one of these days

11. David Bowie – Heroes

I, I wish you could swim Like the dolphins Like dolphins can swim Though nothing, nothing will keep us together

We can beat them, forever and ever

Oh, we can be heroes just for one day

I, I will be King And you, you will be Queen Though nothing will drive them away We can be heroes just for one day We can be us just for one day

12. Ben Howard – Old Pine

Hot sand on toes, cold sand in sleeping bags I’ve come to know that memories Were the best things you ever had The summer shone beat down on bony backs

So far from home where the ocean stood Down dust and pine cone tracks We slept like dogs down by the fire side Awoke to the fog all around us

The boom of summer time We stood Steady as the stars in the woods So happy-hearted

And the warmth rang true inside these bones As the old pine fell we sang Just to bless the morning

13. The Byrds – I Wasn’t Born To Follow

Recommended by the Hostelgeeks community member Alexandra.

No I’d rather go and journey Where the diamond crescent’s glowing And run across the valley Beneath the sacred mountain And wander through the forest

Where the trees have leaves of prisms And break the light in colors That no one know the names of

And when it’s time I’ll go and lay Beside the legendary fountain ‘Till I see her form reflected

In its clear and jewelled waters And if you think I’m ready You may lead me to the chasm Where the rivers of our visions Flow into one another

14. Imagine Dragons – Not Today

There she goes in front of me Take my life and set me free again We’ll make a memory out of it Holy road is at my back Don’t look on, take me back again

We’ll make a memory out of it We finally fall apart and we break each other’s hearts

If we wanna live young, love, we better start today It’s gotta get easier, oh easier somehow

‘Cause I’m falling, I’m falling Oh easier and easier somehow

Oh I’m calling, I’m calling And it isn’t over, unless it is over I don’t wanna wait for that It’s gotta get easier and easier somehow But not today Not today

15. Mumford & Sons – Hopeless Wanderer

You heard my voice, I came out of the woods by choice Shelter also gave their shade But in the dark I have no name So leave that click in my head And I will remember the words that you said Left a clouded mind and a heavy heart But I am sure we could see a new start So when your hopes on fire But you know your desire Don’t hold a glass over the flame Don’t let your heart grow cold I will call you by name I will share your road

But hold me fast, hold me fast ‘Cause I’m a hopeless wanderer And hold me fast, hold me fast ‘Cause I’m a hopeless wanderer

16. Paper Lions – Travelling

Travelling the road, last known is where I want to be My compass directing, electing, an open road with golden trees But there’s an old man in need on the ground, I try not to make a sound He holds out his hand as I walk away, I hear him say

Please don’t be a stranger in my place Travelling come to a tavern for a momentary rest

I see the old man that I passed on the road in his distress As I turned to go I can hear him say, “Son, stay. Have a drink, I’ll pay.” Let bygones be gone, it’s all in the past, we raise a glass Please don’t be a stranger in my place

What if I could be what you wanted me to be What if I could see what you wanted me to see Come on and show me Please don’t be a stranger in my place

17. Ramon Mirabet – Home Is Where The Heart is

Shining sun means new start.

it’s time for me to face my fate

and follow my heart.

I’m coming home,

I’m coming home.

home is where the heart is.

it’s never late to find the answer up in the stars.

18. Dream Land (Road Trip)

19. Our adventure – The Long Valley

20. The Weeknd – Wanderlust

Is it so hard to say the same thing? And you’re so weak to say the same thing And burn a hole into your apprehensiveness And let the wildfire shine And repeat after me

Good girls go to heaven, And bad girls go everywhere And tonight I will love you And tomorrow you won’t care

You’re in love with something bigger than love You believe in something stronger than trust

Wanderlust Wanderlust

21. Creed – With Arms Wide Open

Well I just heard the news today It seems my life is going to change I close my eyes, begin to pray Then tears of joy stream down my face

With arms wide open Under the sunlight Welcome to this place I’ll show you everything With arms wide open With arms wide open

22. The Lumineers – Ho Hey

I been trying to do it right (Hey) I been living a lonely life (Ho) I been sleepin’ here instead (Hey) I been sleepin’ in my bed (Ho) I been sleepin’ in my bed (hey ho)

so show me family (Hey) all the blood that I will bleed (Ho) I don’t know where I belong (Hey) I don’t know where I went wrong (Ho) but I can write a song (hey)

23. Bastille – Pompeii

I was left to my own devices Many days fell away with nothing to show

And the walls kept tumbling down In the city that we love Grey clouds roll over the hills Bringing darkness from above

But if you close your eyes Does it almost feel like Nothing changed at all? And if you close your eyes Does it almost feel like You’ve been here before?

24. Green day – Time of your life

Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go

So make the best of this test, and don’t ask why It’s not a question, but a lesson learned in time It’s something unpredictable, but in the end it’s right I hope you had the time of your life

So take the photographs, and still-frames in your mind Hang them on a shelf in good health and good time Tattoo’s of memories and dead skin on trial For what it’s worth, it was worth all the while

It’s something unpredictable, but in the end it’s right I hope you had the time of your life

25. The Script – Hall of Fame

Yeah, you could be the greatest You can be the best

You can be the King Kong banging on your chest You could beat the world You could beat the war

You could talk to God, go banging on his door You can throw your hands up You can beat the clock You can move a mountain You can break rocks You can be a master Don’t wait for luck Dedicate yourself and you can find yourself

26. Red Hot Chili Peppers – Road Trippin’

Road trippin’ with my two favorite allies Fully loaded we got snacks and supplies It’s time to leave this town it’s time to steal away Let’s go get lost anywhere in the U.S.A.

Let’s go get lost, let’s go get lost

Blue you sit so pretty West of the one Sparkles light with yellow icing, just a mirror for the sun Just a mirror for the sun Just a mirror for the sun

These smiling eyes are just a mirror for So much as come before those battles lost and won This life is shining more forever in the sun Now let us check our heads and let us check the surf Staying high and dry’s More trouble than it’s worth in the sun

27. Moby – Porcelain

In my dreams I’m dying all the time Then I wake it’s kaleidoscopic mind I never meant to hurt you I never meant to lie

So this is goodbye? This is goodbye

Tell the truth, you’ve never wanted me Tell me

28. Imagine Dragons – On Top of the World

If you love somebody Better tell them why they’re here ’cause They just may run away from you

You’ll never know what went well Then again it just depends on How long of time is left for you

I’ve had the highest mountains I’ve had the deepest rivers You can have it all but not til you move it

29. Part-Time Friends – Here We Are

Silence Ici nos âmes tutoient le ciel Et nos hymnes éternels

Here we are L’aube de nos dernières transes Laisse un vide immense

Here we are Je t’emmène une dernière fois suivre cette lumière qui ne s’éteint pas

Here we are Something rise and fall We thought we never lost control

Here we are

30. Crystal Fighters – Love Natural

Everyone, anyone who want to hear Move in a little closer, let me tell you about A love natural, oh that love actual Love that you just can’t help feeling

When feelings with meanings keep on appearing And it’s almost midnight, the time is coming up The time is getting closer, the time is almost here Life is upon us and the time for love is here and now

When I look at you, oh I feel my heart Oh, I feel your love deep inside

Oh, love natural, I can’t believe how you do it to me You make me feel, oh how you say, feel so special Oh, love natural, I can’t believe how you do it to me You make me feel, oh how you say, feel so special

31. Luis Fonsi – Despacito ft. Daddy Yankee

Sí, sabes que ya llevo un rato mirándote Tengo que bailar contigo hoy (DY) Vi que tu mirada ya estaba llamándome Muéstrame el camino que yo voy (Oh)

Tú, tú eres el imán y yo soy el metal Me voy acercando y voy armando el plan Solo con pensarlo se acelera el pulso (Oh yeah)

32. U2 – Song For Someone

You got a face not spoiled by beauty I have some scars from where I’ve been You’ve got eyes that can see right through me You’re not afraid of anything they’ve seen I was told that I would feel nothing the first time I don’t know how these cuts heal But in you I found a rhyme

33. José González – Stay Alive

There’s a rhythm in rush these days Where the lights don’t move and the colors don’t fade Leaves you empty with nothing but dreams

In a world gone shallow In a world gone lean

Sometimes there’s things a man cannot know Gears won’t turn and the leaves won’t grow There’s no place to run and no gasoline

Engine won’t turn And the train won’t leave

Engines won’t turn and the train won’t leave I will stay with you tonight

Hold you close ‘til the morning light In the morning watch a new day rise We’ll do whatever just to stay alive We’ll do whatever just to stay alive

34. Don’t fight it, Feel it – AronChupa

Oh baby when the band is playing

Oh and that solid beat

Oh make you wanna move,

make you wanna groove

Make you wanna pat your feet

When we dance close together

With your cheek close to mine

And you begin to feel a funny little thrill

Moving up your spine

35. The Chainsmokers – Paris

We were staying in Paris To get away from your parents And I thought, “Wow If I could take this in a shot right now I don’t think that we could work this out” Out on the terrace I don’t know if it’s fair but I thought “How Could I let you fall by yourself While I’m wasted with someone else”

If we go down then we go down together They’ll say you could do anything They’ll say that I was clever If we go down then we go down together We’ll get away with everything Let’s show them we are better

36. Alvaro Soler – Sofia

Sueño cuando era pequeño Sin preocupación en el corazón

Sigo viendo aquel momento Se desvaneció, desapareció

Ya no te creo, ya no te deseo, eh oh Solo te dejo, solo te deseo, eh oh

37. A R I Z O N A – Oceans Away

I never let My guard go down But you messed me up When you came around When the high wore off

Know you needed space But I don’t wanna wait I don’t wanna mistake Few thousand miles and an ocean away But I see the sunrise, oh, just like the other day Picture your eyes as I fall asleep Tell myself it’s alright, oh oh, as the tears roll by

38. Angus and Julia Stone – Big Jet Plane

She said “hello mister, pleased to meet ya” I wanna hold her, I wanna kiss her She smelled of daisies, she smelled of daisies She drive me crazy, she drive me crazy

Gonna take her for a ride on a big jet plane Gonna take her for a ride on a big jet plane Hey hey Hey hey

39. OK Go – Here It Goes Again

It could be ten, but then again I can’t remember half an hour since a quarter to four Throw on your clothes, the second side of Surfer Rosa And you leave me with my jaw on the floor

Just when you think (think) you’re in control Just when you think (think) you’ve got a hold Just when you get on a roll Here it goes, here it goes, here it goes again Oh, here it goes again I should have known, should have known, should have known again But here it goes again Oh, here it goes again

40. Traveling Wilburys – End Of The Line

Well it’s all right, riding around in the breeze Well it’s all right, if you live the life you please Well it’s all right, doing the best you can Well it’s all right, as long as you lend a hand

You can sit around and wait for the phone to ring (end of the line) Waiting for someone to tell you everything (end of the line) Sit around and wonder what tomorrow will bring (end of the line) Maybe a diamond ring

Well it’s all right, even if they say you’re wrong Well it’s all right, sometimes you gotta be strong Well it’s all right, as long as you got somewhere to lay Well it’s all right, everyday is judgment day

41. Bright Eyes – “First Day Of My Life”

This is the first day of my life Swear I was born right in the doorway I went out in the rain, suddenly everything changed They’re spreading blankets on the beach

Yours was the first face that I saw I think I was blind before I met you I don’t know where I am, I don’t know where I’ve been But I know where I want to go

And so I’d thought I’d let you know That these things take forever, I especially am slow But I realized that need you And I wondered if I could come home

I remember the time you drove all night Just to meet me in the morning And I thought it was strange, you said everything changed You felt as if you just woke up

42. Sons Of The East – Come Away

She sits and she waits by the tree And she thinks no one comes to me Heard it before She stand there all alone Staring blank at her telephone But she’s sure, so sure

Come away with me, baby Join me in my car We can go real far away Away from here

She wants to know his name Wants his wealth, but not his fame Watch your pride

43. Depeche Mode – Enjoy the Silence

Words like violence Break the silence Come crashing in Into my little world

Painful to me Pierce right through me Can’t you understand? Oh my little girl

All I ever wanted All I ever needed

Is here in my arms Words are very unnecessary They can only do harm Vows are spoken

To be broken Feelings are intense Words are trivial Pleasures remain

So does the pain Words are meaningless And forgettable All I ever wanted All I ever needed

Is here in my arms Words are very unnecessary They can only do harm

44. Gladys Knight & The Pips – Midnight Train to Georgia

L.a. Proved too much for the man (Too much for the man, he couldn’t make it) So he’s leavin’ the life he’s come to know, ooh (He said he’s goin’) He said he’s goin’ back to find (Goin’ back to find) Ooh ooh ooh, what’s left of his world The world he left behind Not so long ago

He’s leavin’ (leavin’) On that midnight train to Georgia (Leavin’ on the midnight train) Yeah, said he’s goin’ back (Goin’ back to find) To a simpler place in time (Whenever he takes that ride) oh yes he is (Guess who’s gonna be right by his side)

45. The Sounds – Painted By Numbers

Could I act like you, and put a smile on face? Not even for a second would I lie to myself.. Too many things are missing And there’s a tear in my eye It’s not a question or an answer

But it will change you mind We’ll be the same tomorrow ‘Cause we’ve all been painted my numbers We dance and eyes will follow You said it was love I said I’d like you to be mine

46. Kings Of Convenience – I’d Rather Dance With You

I’d rather dance with you than talk with you So why don’t we just move into the other room There’s space for us to shake and hey, I like this tune

Even if I could hear what you said I doubt my reply would be interesting for you to hear Because I haven’t read a single book all year And the only film I saw, I didn’t like it at all

I’d rather dance, I’d rather dance than talk with you I’d rather dance, I’d rather dance than talk with you I’d rather dance, I’d rather dance than talk with you

47. Alphaville – Forever Young

Let’s dance in style, let’s dance for a while Heaven can wait we’re only watching the skies Hoping for the best, but expecting the worst Are you gonna drop the bomb or not?

Let us die young or let us live forever We don’t have the power, but we never say never Sitting in a sandpit, life is a short trip The music’s for the sad man

Can you imagine when this race is won? Turn our golden the faces into the sun Praising our leaders, we’re getting in tune The music’s played by the, the madman

48. Sting – Englishman In New York

I don’t take coffee, I take tea, my dear I like my toast done on one side And you can hear it in my accent when I talk I’m an Englishman in New York

See me walking down Fifth Avenue A walking cane here at my side I take it everywhere I walk

I’m an Englishman in New York Oh, I’m an alien, I’m a legal alien I’m an Englishman in New York Oh, I’m an alien, I’m a legal alien I’m an Englishman in New York

49. Incubus – Wish You Were Here

I dig my toes into the sand The Ocean looks like a thousand diamonds Strewn across a blue blanket I lean against the wind Pretend that I am weightless And in this moment I am happy happy)

50. Kodaline – All My Friends

So it starts We go back to your house We check the charts And start to figure it out

And if it’s crowded, all the better Cause we know we’re gonna be up late And if you’re worried about the weather Then you picked the wrong place to stay That’s how it starts

51. R.E.M. – Leave

Nothing could be bring me closer Nothing could be bring me near Where is the road I follow? Believing, leave

It’s under, under, under my feet The scene spread out there before me Better I go where the land touches the sea There is my trust in what I believe

52. Mr. Brightside – The Killers

Coming out of my cage And I’ve been doing just fine Gotta gotta be down Because I want it all It started out with a kiss How did it end up like this? It was only a kiss, it was only a kiss Now I’m falling asleep And she’s calling a cab While he’s having a smoke And she’s taking a drag Now they’re going to bed And my stomach is sick And it’s all in my head But she’s touching his chest now He takes off her dress now Let me go And I just can’t look, it’s killing me And taking control

53. David Bowie- Space Oddity

Ground Control to Major Tom Ground Control to Major Tom Take your protein pills and put your helmet on

Ground Control to Major Tom Commencing countdown, engines on Check ignition and may God’s love be with you

54. Queen – Don’t Stop Me Now

Tonight, I’m gonna have myself a real good time I feel alive and the world I’ll turn it inside out, yeah And floating around in ecstasy So don’t stop me now don’t stop me

‘Cause I’m having a good time, having a good time I’m a shooting star, leaping through the sky Like a tiger defying the laws of gravity I’m a racing car, passing by like Lady Godiva

I’m gonna go, go, go There’s no stopping me I’m burnin’ through the sky, yeah Two hundred degrees That’s why they call me Mister Fahrenheit I’m traveling at the speed of light I wanna make a supersonic man out of you

55. Mando Diao – Dance With Somebody

Break your happy home learn to sing alone to the music, to the music Clap your hands and shake on a summer’s day to the music, to the music

I’m falling in love with your favorite song I’m gonna sing it all night long I’m gonna dance with somebody dance with somebody dance dance dance

56. David Gray – “Sail Away”

Sail away with me honey I put my heart in your hands Sail away with me honey now, now, now Sail away with me What will be will be I want to hold you now, now, now

Crazy skies all wild above me now Winter howling at my face And everything I held so dear Disappeared without a trace Oh all the times I’ve tasted love Never knew quite what I had Little darling if you hear me now Never needed you so bad Spinning ’round inside my head

57. Foster The People – Pumped up Kicks

Robert’s got a quick hand He’ll look around the room, he won’t tell you his plan He’s got a rolled cigarette, hanging out his mouth he’s a cowboy kid Yeah found a six shooter gun In his dad’s closet hidden oh in a box of fun things, I don’t even know what But he’s coming for you, yeah he’s coming for you

All the other kids with the pumped up kicks You’d better run, better run, out run my gun All the other kids with the pumped up kicks You’d better run, better run, faster than my bullet All the other kids with the pumped up kicks You’d better run, better run, out run my gun All the other kids with the pumped up kicks You’d better run, better run, faster than my bullet

58. Gorillaz – Clint Eastwood

I ain’t happy, I’m feeling glad I got sunshine in a bag I’m useless but not for long The future is coming on I ain’t happy, I’m feeling glad I got sunshine in a bag I’m useless but not for long The future is coming on It’s coming on It’s coming on It’s coming on

59. Weezer – Island In The Sun

When you’re on a holiday You can’t find the words to say All the things that come to you And I wanna feel it too

On an island in the sun We’ll be playing and having fun And it makes me feel so fine I can’t control my brain

60. Modest Mouse Float

I backed my car into a cop car the other day Well, he just drove off – sometimes life’s okay I ran my mouth off a bit too much, ah what did I say? Well, you just laughed it off and it was all okay

And we’ll all float on okay And we’ll all float on okay And we’ll all float on okay And we’ll all float on anyway, well

A fake Jamaican took every last dime with that scam It was worth it just to learn some sleight of hand Bad news comes, don’t you worry even when it lands Good news will work it way to all them plans We both got fired on, exactly, the same day Well, we’ll float on, good news is on the way

61. MGMT- Kids

You were a child Crawling on your knees toward him Making momma so proud But your voice is too loud

We like to watch you laughing Picking insects off of plants No time to think of consequences Control yourself Take only what you need from it A family of trees wanting to be haunted

62. Franz Ferdinand – Take Me Out

So if you’re lonely You know I’m here waiting for you I’m just a cross hair I’m just a shot away from you And if you leave here You leave me broken, shattered, I lie I’m just a cross hair I’m just a shot, then we can die

63. Black – Wonderful Life

Here I go out to sea again The sunshine fills my hair And dreams hang in the air

Gulls in the sky and in my blue eyes You know it feels unfair There’s magic everywhere

Look at me standing Here on my own again Up straight in the sunshine

64. Beirut – Elephant Gun

If I was young, I’d flee this town I’d bury my dreams underground As did I, we drink to die, we drink tonight

Far from home, elephant guns Let’s take them down one by one We’ll lay it down, it’s not been found, it’s not around

Let the seasons begin – it rolls right on Let the seasons begin – take the big king down

65. Eagles – Hotel California

On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair Warm smell of colitas, rising up through the air Up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering light My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim I had to stop for the night.

There she stood in the doorway; I heard the mission bell And I was thinking to myself ‘This could be heaven or this could be Hell’ Then she lit up a candle and she showed me the way There were voices down the corridor, I thought I heard them say

66. The Cranberries – Zombie

Another head hangs lowly Child is slowly taken And the violence, caused such silence Who are we mistaken?

But you see, it’s not me It’s not my family In your head, in your head, they are fighting With their tanks, and their bombs And their bombs, and their guns In your head, in your head they are crying

67. The Strokes – You Only Live Once

Some people think they’re always right Others are quiet and uptight Others they seem so very nice nice nice nice (oh-ho) Inside they might feel sad and wrong (oh no)

Twenty-nine different attributes Only seven that you like Twenty ways to see the world (oh-ho) Twenty ways to start a fight (oh-ho)

68. The Black Keys – Lonely Boy

Well I’m so above you And it’s plain to see But I came to love you anyway So you pulled my heart out And I don’t mind bleeding Any old time you keep me waiting Waiting, waiting

Oh, oh-oh I got a love that keeps me waiting Oh, oh-oh I got a love that keeps me waiting I’m a lonely boy I’m a lonely boy Oh, oh-oh I got a love that keeps me waiting

69. Come With Me Now – Kongos

Come with me now Come with me now

Woah come with me now I’m gonna take you down

Woah come with me now I’m gonna show you how Woah come with me now I’m gonna take you down

Woah come with me now I’m gonna show you how

Afraid to lose control And caught up in this world I’ve wasted time, I’ve wasted breath I think I’ve thought myself to death

70. Passenger | The Wrong Direction

When I was a kid the things I did were hidden under the grid Young and naive I never believed that love could be so well hid With regret I’m willing to bet and say the older you get It gets harder to forgive and harder to forget It gets under your shirt like a dagger at work The first cut is the deepest but the rest still flipping hurt You build your heart of plastic Get cynical and sarcastic And end up in the corner on your own

‘Cause I’d love to feel love but I can’t stand the rejection I hide behind my jokes as a form of protection I thought I was close but under further inspection It seems I’ve been running in the wrong direction oh no

71. Billy Joel – Travelin’ Prayer

Hey Lord, take a look all around And I’d a find where my baby’s gonna be Hey Lord, would ya look out for her tonight ‘Cause she is far across the sea Hey Lord, would ya look out for her tonight And make sure that she’s gonna be alright And things are gonna be alright with me

Hey Lord, would ya look out for her tonight And make sure that all her dreams are sweet Said now, would ya guide her on the roads And make them softer for her feet Hey Lord, would ya look out for her tonight And make sure that she’s gonna be alright Until she’s home and here with me

72. Creedence Clearwater Revival – Travellin’ Band

Seven thirty seven comin’ out of the sky Won’t you take me down to Memphis on a midnight ride I want to move Playin’ in a travelin’ band Yeah Well I’m flyin’ ‘cross the land tryin’ to get a hand Playin’ in a travelin’ band

Take me to the hotel baggage gone, oh well Come on, come on won’t you get me to my room I want to move Playin’ in a travelin’ band Yeah Well I’m flyin’ ‘cross the land, tryin’ to get a hand Playin’ in a travelin’ band

73. Have Love, Will Travel – The Sonics

Wow,Have love Whoa baby will travel Uh huh, uh huh,have love Woah baby will travel I said if you need loving then Mm,hmm,I’ll travel

Yeah,I’ll travel from Main to Mexico Just to find a little girl that loves me so No matter when, no matter where I’ll be I’m looking for a woman that’ll satisfy me

74. Queens Of The Stone Age – Go With The Flow

She said “I’ll throw myself away, They’re just photos after all” I can’t make you hang around. I can’t wash you off my skin. Outside the frame, is what we’re leaving out You won’t remember anyway I can go with the flow But don’t say it doesn’t matter anymore I can go with the flow Do you believe it in your head? It’s so safe to play along Little soldiers in a row Falling in and out of love With something sweet to throw away. But I want something good to die for To make it beautiful to live. I want a new mistake, lose is more than hesitate. Do you believe it in your head? I can go with the flow But don’t say it doesn’t matter anymore I can go with the flow Do you believe it in your head?

75. Maïa Vidal – Our Place

Last but not least, the ultimate travel song to wanderlust. I’d like to stay here For a while And go wild You’ll call me crazy But I don’t care ‘Cause I know where

Where I go where I go, you’re gonna take me Where I go where I go, you’re gonna take me Take me for a ride, And I’ll be by your side

Just let me stay here A little while We’ll go wild They’ll call us crazy But I don’t care ‘Cause I’ll be where you are

This all happened fast But I know how I feel Like you were the sand And I was the se

Extra 76. Sky on the Loose – Inkfield

Do you want an insider tip for cool travel songs? Then listen into Inkfield’s Sky on the Loose. Inkfield is a solo solo indie rock act from Edinburgh, UK.

Here are the lyrics.

Messaging like nights before, crashing through the wall I’m using all my strength and breath, I’m gonna show them all

You talk of my impending doom, no promise nor a myth You justify avoiding me to sell out on a whiff

Oh if I, I want to be the lonely one, I want to be the only one And if I, lord I And if I, I want to be the chosen one, I want to be the chosen one And if I, lord I

Don’t you tire of telling me? ‘The world ends at the sky, You’re just a little fish another simple passer by, All your songs and poetry are droplets in the sea’ I said ‘That is ok for you, your words won’t follow me!’

Sum it up: The 75 Travel Songs

By now your notebook should be full and you should have taken lots of notes.

This is your ultimate list of best travel songs. We tried to make a compulsive list of all the important things you have to put on your iPod, your Smartphone and Spotify list.

More travel songs here:

Again, this is your inspiration. Take it with you, let is inspire you, but make sure you add your own travel songs to your very own memory list.

The world is wide and there is a lot of adventures out there, waiting for you to live them.

We are Hostelgeeks, and we are here to help you to travel smarter, longer, and especially safe. We collect for you the best hostels in the world, the 5 Star Hostels.

Do you have your own favorite travel song?

We would love to grow this list, add more travel tracks to it. Leave us a comment with your favorite ones, we are curious what songs you love when you are on the road.

Love, cheers and safe travels,

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We are 100% Independent: Some links on Hostelgeeks are so-called affiliate links. If you decide to book through these links, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you . Your support allows us to keep producing high-quality, independent content free of influence from hostels or external advertisers. Learn more here . 🙏

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The 125+ Popular Songs About Traveling

Successful musicians spend a lot of time on the road, so it's only natural that they write songs about their constant moving and experiences away from home. This is a ranked list of all songs about traveling, as voted on by music fans like you. Some of the songs included below may have the words "travel" in the lyrics or title, while others are only about traveling the world as a subject or theme. A few of these tracks are about modes of transportation, while others are simply about traveling, whether it's a cruise on the ocean or a hike across the country.

Willie Nelson On the Road Again

Leaving on a Jet Plane

On the Road Again

Born to Run

Take Me Home Country Roads

The Long and Winding Road

We gotta get out of this place - animals.

Take It Easy

Hit the Road Jack

Homeward Bound

Goodby yellow brick road.

Magic Carpet Ride

Turn the Page

Immigrant Song

Last Train to Clarksville

King of the road roger miller.

Midnight Train to Georgia

Johnny Cash Highwayman

On the road again - canned heat.

Going Up the Country

Smoke on the Water

Fly Me to the Moon

Highway to Hell

Ventura Highway

No Particular Place To Go

Night Moves

Listen to the Music

Come Fly With Me

• Places/Travel

Songs for people who listen to the lyrics.

72 Best Songs about Travel and Adventure

Published by sarah vaughan on february 9, 2022 february 9, 2022.

In this article, we list our top 72 favorite songs about travel and adventure, with the option to listen to them on a Spotify playlist. As full-time nomads and constant road-trippers, we spend a lot of time in the car, which means hours upon hours of listening to music. In 2021 alone, we drove over 10,000 miles on our journey from Virginia to California and back. So needless to say, we spend an inordinate amount of time listening to music in the car.

Often, we find ourselves gravitating towards songs that align with our two favorite things – travel and adventure, but it can be hard to find songs that fit that mood. Songs that inspire wanderlust, that make you feel like a you just took a deep breath of mountain air, that remind you of a travel memory, or, in their own unique way, perfectly capture the essence of life on the road. It’s not one particular genre or type of music, just anything that makes you feel inspired to pack your bags and go on an adventure !

Two Outliers may contain affiliate links – we only recommend products we personally use and love. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. For more information, see our privacy policy.

Our life as nomads

In March of 2021, we sold most our belongings, packed up what was left into our Jeep Cherokkee, left our apartment in Virginia and hit the road: California bound! We drove from Virginia to St. Louis before making our way to Denver.

After spending a week in Denver, we continued to Southern California, then to southern Utah, Arizona, northern California, Idaho, South Dakota, Minnesota… eventually we decided we loved life on the road too much to ever give it up and we made this nomadic lifestyle permanent.

We both secured jobs that would allow us to work remotely full-time during the week and are now full-time nomads. We typically settle into a new “home base” each month with space for us both to work, usually in small towns strategically located near beautiful places with abundant opportunities for outdoor adventuring.

P.S: You can read more about us here and keep up with our road trip adventures here .

Inspiration for our Songs about Travel & Adventure Playlist

We love listening to music that stokes our wanderlust and gets us excited for new adventures. We’ve found it tough to find songs that fit that bill, so we’ve been slowly compiling our own playlist as we come across songs we relate to.

Our lifestyle demands a lot of road tripping, and over the many miles and hours in the car, we’ve crafted the perfect playlist of songs about travel and adventure that we’re excited to share with you!

We hope our playlist will leave you feeling inspired to get out there and see the world!

Details | 64 Best Songs about Travel & Adventure

Our music taste tends to lean towards the Folk, Americana, and blues-y Country genres, and that’s mainly what you’ll find on this playlist.

A few of our favorite bands, like Caamp , Trampled by Turtles , Turnpike Troubadours (we are beyond thrilled they are back together!), Lord Huron , and The National Parks, make an appearance on the list a few times. We hope you love these songs as much as we do, and that our playlist inspires you to hit the road, start a new adventure, or discover a new place that you love!

In the article below, we list our favorite songs about adventure and travel, sorted roughly into the following categories:

• Wanderlust & travel inspiration songs
• Songs about the outdoors and nature

Songs about road tripping

Songs inspired by specific locations.

And if you don’t see one of your favorites, let us know! We are always looking for new music and would love to add new songs to the list.

Download our Songs about Travel & Adventure Spotify Playlist

For our complete list of songs about travel and adventure already in playlist form and ready for your enjoyment, enter your email below and we’ll send you a link to download our ultimate travel playlist on Spotify.

We add to the Spotify playlist periodically as we find music that inspires us, so it may contain additional songs not yet included in this blog post. Happy listening!

Download the Travel & Adventure Playlist on Spotify

Songs about travel inspiration & wanderlust.

The songs in this section are sure to stoke your wanderlust, leaving you with the urge to “ see the world ” and travel to “ the ends of the earth “! If you’re planning a trip, setting off on a new adventure, or just dreaming of future travels, you are sure to find some lyrics you relate to from the songs below.

As we packed up our lives in Virginia and planned to become full-time nomads, we found ourselves relating to Rob Baird’s “Fade Away”. We were certainly packing our “ bags a little heavy this time” , with no immediate plans to return to the place that we had always called home, but we were so “ ready for the big ol’ world ” and the pain of leaving home was overshadowed by our urge to explore!

• See the World | Caamp
• Vagabond | Caamp
• Never Come Back Again | Austin Plaine
• As We Ran | National Parks
• Sprawl II | Will Daily
• 7 Wonders | Jon Robert Hall
• Mason-Dixon Line | Judah & the Lion
• Only the Wild Ones | DISPATCH
• Next to You | John Vincent III
• See the World | Brett Dennen
• Free | Zac Brown Band
• Starting Over | Chris Stapleton
• Traveller | Chris Stapleton
• Nomads | John Craigie
• Hopeless Wanderer | Mumford & Sons
• Ends of the Earth | Lord Huron
• Ba Ba Ra | The National Parks
• Wildflowers | Trampled by Turtles
• I’ve Been Everywhere | Johnny Cash
• Castaway | Zac Brown Band
• The Life You Chose | Jason Isbell
• Mountain Song | Little Chief
• Sleep on the Floor | The Lumineers
• Fade Away | Rob Baird
• Borderlines | Hollow Coves
• Wherever I Go | The National Parks
• Middle of Nowhere | Vancouver Sleep Clinic
• Open Road | Roo Panes
• Woodland | The Paper Kites
• Yellow Eyes | Rayland Baxter
• Wild + Free | Andrew Simple
• Every Mile | Layup

Songs about the outdoors & nature

The songs in this section are inspired by adventure in the great outdoors and the beauty of the world around us. These songs will make you want to hit the trails, climb that mountain, go on a camping trip or just inspire you to get outdoors.

Perhaps my favorite song on this list, “Blue Above the Green” by Mike Edel perfectly captures that feeling you get when you’ve reached the summit after hiking up a mountain. When you look up, all you can see is green leaves and blue sky. If you’re a hiker, this may become your new favorite song!

• Blue Above the Green | Mike Edel
• Specks | Matt Pond PA
• Mountain Sound | Of Monsters and Men
• Painted Sky | The National Parks
• Coastline | Hollow Coves
• Mountains | Jess Taylor
• To the Mountains | Lizzy McAlpine
• Meet Me in the Woods | Lord Huron
• Mighty Mountains | National Park Radio
• The Woods | Hollow Coves
• Wildflower | The National Parks
• Old Pine | Ben Howard
• The River | Good Old War
• These Mountains | Sunday Best

This section includes songs about traveling on the road! From Willie Nelson’s classic “On the Road Again” to lesser-known gems like National Park’s Radio’s “The Road Ahead”, these songs will make you want to pack a bag, “fill the car with gasoline” and hit the road.

Hollow Coves’ song “The Open Road” perfectly describes the urge to travel, when you’ve been feeling stuck in your hometown for too long and you just “ miss the way it feels to roam “, that feeling of freedom that the open road ahead of you brings, as every twist and turn brings the possibility for new adventure.

If you’re planning a road trip, add this song to your travel playlist and you’ll be listening on repeat as your “ troubles fade away “!

• America | Austin Plaine
• All the Debts I Owe | Caamp
• On the Road Again | Willie Nelson
• Heads Carolina, Tails California | Jo Dee Messina
• The Open Road | Hollow Coves
• Life is Good on the Open Road | Trampled by Turtles
• The Road Ahead | National Park Radio
• Born to Be Wild | Steppenwolf
• Ramblin’ Man | Allman Brothers Band
• Road Runner | Vincent Neil Emerson
• Lost, Scared & Tired | Jared & The Mill

These songs about specific locations will make you want to travel to new places and seek out somewhere new to explore!

Maybe you’ll be inspired by the “ red sandstone ” landscapes in Sedona, set “ off to Colorado ” to find that “ rocky mountain high “, lay peacefully watching for “ shootin’ stars in Oklahoma “, be enchanted by the mystery of the Marfa Lights as they “ dance across the horizon ” or come “ alive down in New Orleans “. Wherever your travels take you, these songs are sure to add new places to your bucket list!

During our 2021 road trip , we absolutely fell in love with Idaho (so much so that we ended up buying a piece of land…), and we played Yonder Mountain String Band’s song Idaho on repeat as we road tripped from Idaho Falls to the Sawtooth Mountains. This Bluegrass tune truly captures the beauty of state! Add it your playlist and you may just find yourself planning a trip to Idaho…

• Oklahoma Stars | Turnpike Troubadours
• Wyoming | Family & Friends
• Stockholm | Judah & the Lion
• New Orleans | Parachute
• Colorado | CHAPPY
• Sedona | Houndsmouth
• Shenandoah | Trampled by Turtles
• Morocco | Moon Taxi
• Ohio | Caamp
• Colorado | Alex Gunthrie
• Carolina | Corey Smith
• Idaho | Yonder Mountain String Band
• Rocky Mountain High | John Denver
• Alabama Pines | Jason Isbell
• Marfa Lights | Kaitlin Butts

About the artists

We love all the artists and bands on this list, but we wanted to highlight a few of our favorites.

When I find a new artist that I love, I can listen to their songs on repeat for hours. This is Caamp for me! We started listening to their songs on our first cross country road trip and then went to a Caamp concert and we’ve been hooked ever since!

Evan Westfall, Taylor Meier and Matt Vinson make up the trio behind this American Folk band originally from Ohio. Caamp released their first album in 2016 and has been gaining popularity ever since. Many of their songs are about nature, being outdoors, and traveling, which is part of why we love them so much!

The National Parks

Songs from The National Parks take up several spots on our list of the best 72 songs about travel and adventure! This Indie folk/pop band formed in Provo, Utah consists of 4 members, Brady Parks, Sydney Macfarlane, Cam Brannelly and Megan Taylor Parks. They released their first single in 2013 and have since released four albums, “Wildflowers”, “Places”, “Until I Live”, and “Young”.

The National Parks songs have many songs about the beauty of the world around us, from the peaks of the Grand Tetons to the “painted sky” of the desert in the southwest. In fact, their single “As We Ran” was written for a short documentary by REI called “ Love in the Tetons” .

Hollow Coves

Another group that takes up a few spots on our list of songs about travel and adventure is Hollow Coves, an Australian Indie band led by sing-songwriters,  Ryan Henderson and Matt Carins.

The band’s earthy folk songs are inspired by the singers’ own travels, and their passion for seeing the world shines through in their music. In fact, their first album released in 2017 was titled ‘Wanderlust”, and includes several of the songs on our list, such as “Coastline” and “The Woods.”

Other useful resources

Planning a road trip or a new adventure? We think you may find some inspiration and useful information here:

• Travel tips | 11 Proven Tips for Road Tripping with a Cat
• Road trip| Complete List of Road Trip Camping Essentials
• Road trip | 27 Highlights of Our Life on the Road in 2021
• Southwestern USA | The Ultimate 1 Week Arizona and Southern Utah Road Trip
• Wyoming | 18 Best Hikes in Grand Teton National Park

What are your favorite songs about travel and adventure?! What songs would you add to the list? Let us know what you think of our playlist – we would love to hear from you!

You may also like

Sarah Vaughan

Hello! I'm Sarah, one half of the couple behind Two Outliers! In 2023, I quit my job as a Data Scientist to travel around the world on an epic 15-month journey in search of the world's greatest hikes and outdoor adventures. Matt and I started Two Outliers in 2021 as a place for visitors to find concise, accurate, and honest information to plan their own adventures. We hope our experiences inspire you to hit the trail! Happy Hiking! Sarah

Josh Sanders · February 9, 2022 at 10:00 pm

Wow an amazing list and photo!

twooutliers · February 10, 2022 at 8:12 am

thank you! we love this playlist, enjoy!

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93 Best Songs About Travel and Adventure for Your Playlist

Looking for great songs for your next trip? Well, you’re in the right place! I’ve put together 93 of the BEST adventure songs for the ultimate wanderlust playlist! Be sure to add them to your travel playlist before you leave so you don’t run into trouble with Internet connections.

When you get out on the open road, there’s nothing quite like turning up the music and listening to the perfect song to get you excited about your travel plans! Exploring new places, getting out of your comfort zone, meeting new people, basking in the sun — whatever travel adventures you are taking on your next vacation will help keep you young, healthy, and happy!

We are traveling out west to Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, and South Dakota soon! I am beyond excited to be off on our next adventure for 15-days! My road trip playlist has already been keeping me company as I plan and prepare for the trip, but I’ve discovered even more great songs to add before we leave!

Related Article: 30 Reasons Why Traveling Is Important To Your Overall Wellness

Disclaimer : This list of the best adventure songs has been curated by me, thus they represent my taste and preferred style and genres. You will note that the selected songs are primarily clean, traditional songs from mainstream genres. I recognize that there are many other enjoyable songs about travel today that may not have been included in this list.

Best Adventure Songs to Inspire Your Wanderlust

I think travel and music go together just like peanut butter and jelly. A perfect playlist in the background almost always enriches your adventures.

Favorite songs bring back wonderful memories of past travels, as well as inspire a clear and present mindset for your current adventures.

Whether you are riding along country roads or flying across the mid-west on a jet plane — or maybe both — the best travel songs inspire positive vibes and great memories!

These are my all-time favorite travel and adventure songs that bring me great joy on every trip!

• “Welcome to New York” by Taylor Swift
• “Highway Don’t Care” by Tim McGraw and Taylor Swift
• “Surfin’ USA” by The Beach Boys
• “California Girls” by Katy Perry ft. Snoop Dogg
• “Havana” by Camila Cabello
• “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere” by Alan Jackson
• “Proud Mary” by Tina Turner
• “Kokomo” by The Beach Boys
• “Escape (The Pina Colada Song)” by Rupert Holmes
• “Cruise” by Florida Georgia Line
• “Dirt Road Anthem” by Jason Aldean
• “Blowin’ Smoke” by Kacey Musgrave
• “On The Road Again” by Willie Nelson
• “My Church” by Maren Morris
• “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” by The Proclaimers
• “I Know Where I’m Going” by The Judds

Travel and Adventure Songs from Country Artists

Country music is generally my preferred genre of music. But when I travel, I enjoy a variety of music genres because of the upbeat tempo of many of the songs.

These are some of my favorite adventure songs from country music that I have on my playlist. They take me back to many times in my life when I traveled with loved ones and they are a breath of fresh air that bring back wonderful memories.

• “Soak Up The Sun” by Sheryl Crow
• “Leaving On A Jet Plane” by John Denver
• “Life Is A Highway” by Rascal Flats
• “I’ve Been Everywhere Man” by Johnny Cash
• “On The Road Again” by Willy Nelson
• “Ramblin’ Man” by The Allman Brothers
• “Drunk on a Plane” by Dierks Bentley
• “Somewhere on a Beach” by Dierks Bentley
• “Highway Vagabond” by Miranda Lambert
• “I’m a Ramblin’ Man” by Waylon Jennings
• “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver
• “Jackson” by Johnny Cash and June Carter

Best Songs for Beach Vacations

I’ve spent my entire life going on vacations to the beach. We live about 3 hours from Ocean City, Maryland so that has always been our vacation spot every summer. And since we are a family of teachers, it worked out especially well during our summer break.

The Beach Boys songs went on every vacation with us for years, so today their songs bring me great joy! I have such wonderful memories! Plus, who doesn’t have a little summer love story that comes to mind when you listen to some of these songs?

I’ve also discovered some new favorites, too. When I listen to these songs, they magically take me back to the beach where I am carefree and happy. Where I am making great memories with family and friends over the years.

I hope these summertime beach adventure (and love:) songs bring great joy to your heart and mind.

• “Toes” by Zack Brown Band
• “Surfin’ Safari” by The Beach Boys
• “When The Sun Goes Down” by Kenny Chesney and Uncle Kracker
• “Pontoon” by Little Big Town
• “Summertime” by Will Smith & DJ Jazzy Jeff
• “Yellow Submarine” by The Beatles
• “California Dreamin’ ” by The Beach Boys
• “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems” by Kenny Chesney
• “All Summer Long” by Kid Rock
• “Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini” by Brian Hyland
• “Under the Boardwalk” by The Drifters
• “Summer Nights” by Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta
• “Surf City” by Jan & Dean
• “Beachin’ ” by Jake Owen
• “Summertime” by Kenny Chesney

Relaxing Adventure & Travel Songs

Sometimes when we are traveling, we just want to sit with our music, our favorite people, and relax. These are some of the best songs for that. Enjoy those moments!

• “Margaritaville” by Jimmy Buffett
• “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by Ava Cassidy
• “Come Away With” Me by Norah Jones
• “Leaving On A Jet Plane” by Chantal Kreviazuk
• “New York State Of Mind” by Billie Joel
• “Homeward Bound” by Simon & Garfunkel
• “Orinoco Flow” by Enya
• “Road Trippin'” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers
• “New York State of Mind” by Billy Joel
• “Fast Car” by Tracy Chapman
• “Free” by Donavon Frankenreiter
• “Hotel California” by Eagles
• “Africa” by Toto

Favorite Rock Songs About Travel

These rock songs are all pretty amazing. My husband is going to especially love these songs on our vacation playlist.

I know and love almost all of these songs from my youth, and I find it very interesting that they have common themes that reflect the times several decades ago. The world was free and wild back then — people hitchhiked across the United States with no worries — and these songs reflect that freedom.

Let these songs take you back to a more simple, yet wild and free time!

• “Born To Be Wild” by Steppenwolf
• “Born to Run” by Bruce Springsteen
• “Travelin’ Man” by Lynyrd Skynyrd
• “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynard Skynard
• “A Horse with No Name” by America
• “Go Your Own Way” by Fleetwood Mac
• “Like a Rolling Stone” by Bob Dylan
• “Life is a Highway” by Tom Cochrane

Best Classic Songs About Adventure and Travel

No list of songs is ever going to satisfy everyone simple because we each have our own opinions and preferences. But there are classic songs about adventure and travel that seem to make every list — just because everyone knows and loves them.

Each of these songs is on this list for a different reason. Sometimes the lyrics are meaningful and remind us of a great adventure on the open road. Sometimes the music is upbeat or inspiring and makes us excited about our adventure. Sometimes it’s just a happy beat that gets our toes tapping and puts a smile our faces.

Some of these songs go back decades but they are ingrained in our minds and inspire our wanderlust dreams. Who could put together a playlist of the best adventure songs without these classics?

• “I Left My Heart In San Francisco” by Tony Bennet
• “Midnight Train To Georgia” by Gladys Knight And The Pips
• “Island in the Sun” by Weezer
• “Coming To America” by Neil Diamond
• “California Dreamin’ ” by The Mamas And The Papas
• “Travelin’ Man” by Ricky Nelson
• “Come Fly With Me” by Frank Sinatra
• “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong
• “New York, New York” by Frank Sinatra
• “Send Me On My Way” by Rusted Root
• “Carry on Wayward Son” by Kansas
• “Sittin’ On the Dock of the Bay” by Otis Redding
• “Leaving On a Jet Plane” by Peter, Paul, and Mary
• “Wayfaring Strangers” by Johnny Cash
• “American” by Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel

Contemporary Songs About Travel

I honestly don’t know too many of these songs, but I noticed they were frequently found on other lists of best adventure songs. I listened to them and didn’t find anything offensive, so I included them on my list since they are obviously popular songs and inspire new adventures and fun!

•   “Galway Girl” by Ed Sheeran
•  “A Thousand Miles” by Vanessa Carlton
• “Shut Up and Drive” by Rihanna
• “On Top of The World” by Imagine Dragons
• “Around the World” by Daft Punk
• “All I Want” by Joni Mitchell
• “Take Me Home” by Phil Collins
• “My Traveling Star” by James Taylor

Best Travel Songs for Reels and TikTok

These are some super fun songs to use for your vacation and travel videos! They are staples on Reels and TikTok, so when you are putting together a little music video of your vacation to share on social media, consider one of these great songs.

Or, you can even consider one of the songs in the above — any of them would be a great song to go with your short-form, vertical video! A classic song that everyone knows is always a good choice, too.

• “Magic in the Hamptons” by Social House
•  “Vacation” by The Dirty Heads
• “Sunny Day” by Ted Fresco
• “Explore the World” by Brainheart
• “Dancing in the Streets of Barcelona” by Ed Sheeran

Final Thoughts: Best Adventure Songs for your Playlist

I have thoroughly enjoyed curating this list of best adventure songs for all of us! I can hardly wait to add new songs to my travel and adventure playlist in preparation for my national parks vacation out west.

While researching songs for this article, if I didn’t already know a song, I asked Alexa to play it for me to determine if it would make the cut or not. There are more travel songs out there than I ever imagined! And I didn’t realize how many travel and adventure songs were also about LOVE:)

Did you know that traveling and adventure are beneficial to your overall wellness? That’s why I include articles about adventure on my website about personal growth and wellness:) Traveling actually helps you live a happier, healthier, and longer life! So while you’re singing your way through your adventures, you might want to check out these other articles about travel and adventure:

• 5 Secrets to Help You Plan an Adventure Vacation
• Adventure Quotes to Inspire Your Youthful Spirit
• 19 Awesome Adventurous Bucket List Ideas to do in America
• 5 Cool Things To Do on a Weekend in Charleston, SC
• Family Fun in Nashville – Over 50 Things to Do in 2021!

Have fun in all of your travels and adventures ! Meet new people… see new places… learn new things…all while relaxing with your favorite travel and adventure songs!

Love to ALL! ~ Susan

Did I Forget Any of the Very Best Adventure Songs?

Do you have favorites that aren’t on this list? Please share them with us in the comment section below:)

If you found value in my words, please consider sharing it on your socials by clicking the buttons below. Thank you for your continued support! It means so much to me!

Susan Ballinger is an award-winning educator, author, speaker, PTSD survivor, and advocate for ALL who has always been passionate about supporting and inspiring others in their personal growth. In her retirement years, she became the primary caregiver of her aging parents and developed an extensive knowledge-base about the elderly. You can learn more about Susan's professional work and compassionate nature by exploring her ABOUT page and connecting through her social media platforms.

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45 Best Songs About Traveling and Experiencing the World

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Looking for songs about traveling that make you excited to see the world?

Traveling makes people happy . It’s one way of understanding yourself , life, and the world.

Embark on a trip with us today where we share a collection of songs that capture the essence of travel .

The songs in this collection highlight the exciting prospect of experiencing something new , the thrill of adventure , and the anticipation that anything is possible .

You may also find that some of the songs featured today allow you to travel back in time. They envelope you in a sense of nostalgia, bringing up memories of travels you’ve enjoyed before.

If you’re ready, pack up your things and let’s check out the songs we’ve found for you.

Table of Contents

1. Roads Go Ever On , Clamavi De Profundis

“ The Road goes ever on and on, down from the door where it began. Now far ahead the Road has gone, and I must follow, if I can. ”

Let’s begin with a song inspired by poems written by J. R. R. Tolkien for his Middle Earth stories.

According to Clamavi De Profundis, “ This is a compilation of poems that J.R.R. Tolkein wrote throughout his books: the first stanza coming from The Fellowship of the Ring, the middle two stanzas from The Hobbit, and the last from the Return of the King. We took a creative approach to this, sort of weaving in the tale of Bilbo, since it is he around whom most of this text is centered. ”

2. Anywhere , Rita Ora

“ Over the hills and far away, a million miles from L.A. Just anywhere away with you. I know we've got to get away someplace where no one knows our name. We'll find the start of something new. ”

First released in 2018, this upbeat song is an awesome addition to your travel playlist.

The narrator is tired of seeing the same old city and wishes to get away with her beloved. The destination isn’t important, she just wants them to be together, wherever they end up going.

3. The City of New Orleans , Arlo Guthrie

“ Nighttime on the City of New Orleans. Changing cars in Memphis, Tennessee. Halfway home, we'll be there by morning. Through the Mississippi darkness, rolling down to the sea. ”

Here’s a song that evokes feelings nostalgia for the old times, when people weren’t always in a hurry and everything seemed simpler.

The song is an ode to train travel, which began to disappear from America toward the end of the 20 th century.

There was an actual train called City of New Orleans that made trips between Chicago and Louisiana. Steve Goodman, who composed the song, was a passenger on the train on its last journey before it was decommissioned.

4. Roam , The B-52’s

“ Roam if you want to. Roam around the world. Roam if you want to. Without anything but the love we feel. ”

Need a happy song to keep the vibe cheerful during your travels? Here’s a song that urges you to get out there and check out what the world has to offer.

5. Traveling On , Kongos

“ So long, my flame, my warmth, my fear, my fight. The road's calling again tonight. Maybe I'll catch a train to Rome. See the world until I can't go on. Or maybe I'll come traveling home. ”

Here’s a song about being unable to resist wanderlust. One must answer the call to travel and leave everything else behind.

6. Wanderlust , Frank Turner

“ Darling, I'm leaving. The distance keeps calling me on. Darling, come morning, I'll be gone. ”

Here’s another song that pays tribute to wanderlust. This song from Frank Turner is about a man who can’t resist the call of the road, saying goodbye in advance to his lover, telling her it’s most likely he’ll be gone by morning.

7. Good Life , OneRepublic

“ To my friends in New York, I say hello. My friends in L.A., they don't know where I've been for the past few years or so. Paris to China to Colorado. ”

This song is about meeting friends in different parts of the world. It’s a celebration of the freedom to constantly travel in order to grow and learn.

8. On the Road Again , Willie Nelson

“ On the road again. Goin' places that I've never been. Seein' things that I may never see again. And I can't wait to get on the road again. ”

Here’s a song about a touring musician who loves what he does. Performing and traveling to do it make him feel alive.

Play this song for good vibes on your own travels.

9. I’ve Been Everywhere , Johnny Cash

“ …I've been everywhere, man. Crossed the deserts bare, man. I've breathed the mountain air, man. Of travel I've had my share, man. I've been everywhere. ”

What places have you already visited? Which ones are your favorites?

Here’s a song about an intrepid traveler. A large portion of the song recounts all the places he’s been to.

10. Leaving on a Jet Plane , Chantal Kreviazuk

“ All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go. I'm standing here outside your door. I hate to wake you up to say goodbye. But the dawn is breaking, it's early morn. The taxi's waiting, he's blowin' his horn. Already I'm so lonesome I could die. ”

This song is a cover of John Denver’s iconic goodbye song, and it is part of the soundtrack for the movie Armageddon . In it, a lover bids farewell to their beloved, not sure when they’ll see each other again.

11. Anywhere , Passenger

“ If you get up in a jet plane or down in a submarine. If you get onto the next train to somewhere you never been. If you wanna ride in a fast car and feel the wind in your hair. Darling, just look beside you. Oh, I'll go with you anywhere. ”

Traveling is more fun when we’re with people we love. Here’s a song that serves as an invitation for you to travel with the person you love the most.

12. Road Trippin’ , Red Hot Chili Peppers

“ Road trippin' with my two favorite allies. Fully loaded, we got snacks and supplies. It's time to leave this town. It's time to steal away. Let's go get lost anywhere in the USA. Let's go get lost. Let's go get lost. ”

Looking for a mellow road trip song? This song from RHCP fits the bill. It is about the band’s own road trip.

13. Explore the World , Brainheart ft. Sis

“ Explore the world in your way. Create memories that you won't forget. You only live once, so don't waste your time. Please don't waste your time. ”

Life is short, and this song understands that.

It appeals to the principle that you only live once (YOLO) and encourages you to experience everything the world has to offer, and explore as much as you can.

14. The Open Road , Hollow Coves

“ It's been years since I've been gone. I miss the way it feels to roam. This urge that's grown inside my heart to pack my bags and hit the road. ”

Sometimes, the urge to travel hits just when you’ve decided it’s time to settle down.

You may have established a good reputation for yourself in your community. Perhaps, you’re raising a family or flying high in a fulfilling career.

But suddenly, it’s as if the road calls you to go on new adventures.

This is the case for the narrator in this song. If you were in his shoes, what would you do?

15. Traveler , Chris Stapleton

“ And I'm just a traveler on this earth. Sure as my heart's behind the pocket of my shirt, I'll just keep rollin' 'til I'm in the dirt. ‘Cause I'm a traveler. Oh, I'm a traveler. ”

This song won a Grammy for Best Country Solo Performance.

Chris Stapleton was inspired to write this song after his father passed away in 2013. According to him, this song is about the cycle of life we all go through.

16. Little Wanderer , Death Cab For Cutie

“ You sent a photo out your window of Tokyo. Told me you were doing fine. You said the cherry blossoms were blooming. And that I was on your mind. ”

This song depicts a situation where one of the partners has wanderlust. The other one insists on being the lighthouse to his wanderer.

17. Barcelona , Ed Sheeran

“ And you and I we're flying on an airplane tonight. We're going somewhere where the sun is shining bright. Just close your eyes and let's pretend we're dancing in the street in Barcelona… ”

Travel to foreign countries can elevate the feeling of romance. In this song, a couple dancing together imagines they’re in Barcelona.

The references to cultural landmarks in that city give the couple’s time together an exotic appeal. It also sets the mood for a very romantic evening for the two of them.

18. Sleep on the Floor , The Lumineers

“ Pack yourself a toothbrush, dear. Pack yourself a favorite blouse. Take a withdrawal slip. Take all of your savings out. ‘Cause if we don't leave this town, we might never make it out. ”

This song encourages listeners to embrace impulsivity. It tells you that adventure awaits those who are brave of heart .

19. Hard Travelin’ , Woody Guthrie

“ I've been havin' some hard travelin', I thought you knowed. I've been havin' some hard travelin', way down the road. ”

Traveling is often associated with going to exotic places and experiencing local cultures. But this is typically only possible for those who can afford it.

This song is not about vacations or holidays overseas. It’s about workers who travel for their livelihood.

Although most people focus on the romantic side of the traveling life, this song highlights the struggles of the workers traveling to make a living.

20. Malibu , Hole

“ Hey, hey, you know what to do. Oh, baby, drive away to Malibu. ”

Travel can be a form of healing . This song is about going to a healing place, away from negativity. It makes you think of sunrise and being reborn.

21. (Motor) Way of Life , Lower Than Atlantis

“ And we are miles away from the place where we're playing. We won't abide by the law. We are lads on tour. ”

A lot of musicians are inspired to write songs about their life while touring. In this song, Lower Than Atlantis describes the gritty reality of the life of a touring band.

22. California Bound , Carolina Liar

“ There's a southern bound train tomorrow. Takes us out of this dirty town. Chase the sun back to the west coast. In eight hours we're California bound. We're California bound. ”

Sometimes, being stuck in a place where you feel limited can inspire you to travel. This song is about escaping a dead-end place to go to sun-drenched California.

23. Carolina in My Mind , James Taylor

“ In my mind, I'm gone to Carolina. Can't you see the sunshine? Now can't you just feel the moonshine? And ain't it just like a friend of mine to hit me from behind? Yes, I'm gone to Carolina in my mind. ”

Homesickness can sometimes encourage a person to travel and go back home. In this song, the narrator dreams of going back to his home state and experiencing the things that he misses the most while he’s away.

24. I Have Been Around the World , Dar Williams

“ I have been around the world. There's so much there to see. And the story never ends. You're all the world to me. ”

There are people who travel from place to place because they’re searching for something. Perhaps it’s a place they can call home, or a person who they think will complete their life.

In this song, a person with wanderlust travels all over the world and experiences many wonders. However, she’s not satisfied. Only after meeting someone does she realize where home truly is.

25. Travel the World Song , Spookiz

“ Let's go to Rio, Paris, Tokyo. Paris, Tokyo, Berlin, New York and Mexico. We see Ibiza, Seoul, Beijing and Rome. Travel 'round the world, come on, let's go. ”

Here’s an upbeat song about travel that will give you good vibes during your trip. Its joyful melody encourages you to travel to the places you want to see.

If you need a cheerful song that leads you out of your comfort zone into exciting experiences, this song’s for you!

26. Happy Trails , Roy Rogers

“ Happy trails to you, until we meet again. Happy trails to you. Keep smiling until then. ”

This is a blessing for those on the road. With so many things that could go wrong during your travels, it’s nice to know that there are those who wish you well.

27. White Line Fever , Merle Haggard

“ I wonder just what makes a man keep pushing on. What makes me keep on hummin' this old highway song. I've been from coast to coast a hundred times or more. And I ain't found one single place where I ain't been before. ”

Do you ever wonder what it feels like to live your entire life on the road, answering the call of wanderlust and never settling anywhere?

“White line fever” is a term for the state of mind many car drivers have after traveling for an extended period of time. While in the grip of white line fever, a driver may manage to drive safely without remembering that they’ve done so.

28. Africa , Toto

“ I bless the rains down in Africa. Gonna take some time to do the things we never had. ”

Here’s a classic song to remind you that when you travel, it’s more than just seeing exotic places and learning about new cultures. It helps you develop a deep love and appreciation for the diversity around you.

29. Every Day Is a Winding Road , Sheryl Crow

“ Every day is a winding road. I get a little bit closer. Every day is a faded sign. I get a little bit closer to feeling fine. ”

This song teaches us to cherish every second of our lives— to live mindfully . In it, a hitchhiker’s trip aboard a guy’s truck is a metaphor for life—full of twists and turns. Sometimes, it has unexpected stops and detours.

30. Marrakesh Express , Crosby, Stills, and Nash

“ Looking at the world through the sunset in your eyes. Travelling the train through clear Moroccan skies. ”

If you’re stuck in a rut, traveling can help you gain a fresh perspective. A trip, especially to a foreign place, encourages you to get out of your comfort zone

This song is about what happens when you step out of your comfort zone. You start noticing interesting things that add richness to your travel experience.

31. Paris, Texas , Lana Del Rey

“ I went to Paris (Texas) with a suitcase in my hand. I had to leave. Knew they wouldn't understand. ”

Sometimes, we take a trip to get away from painful memories or experiences. Here’s a song that describes this type of healing journey.

The song also plays on the names of the American cities mentioned in the lyrics. When you hear the names, you might think of their European namesakes. At first, it seems like the narrator is traveling overseas. But as it turns out, the narrator didn’t have to travel that far.

32. Mountain Trip to Japan, 1959 , The Trachtenburg Family Sideshow Players

“ Mountain trip to Japan. Going to see the mountains on a mountain trip. He's a very fine man. He is so well rounded and he'd like to see the world before it ever started. ”

Here’s a cheery, quirky, catchy song you can play on a road trip. I can almost guarantee that you’ll find this song stuck in your head for days!

33. Paris Nights/New York Mornings , Corinne Bailey Rae

“ Ooh, we crash into love-filled nights (Paris nights and New York mornings). ”

This song describes the exhilaration of traveling to new places. It also highlights the romance and excitement of experiencing what these new places have to offer.

34. No Roots , Alice Merton

“ I build a home and wait for someone to tear it down. Then pack it up in boxes, head for the next town running. ‘Cause I've got memories and travel like gypsies in the night. And a thousand times I've seen this road… ”

This catchy, upbeat song actually belies the sad origin of the lyrics. This song is about someone who does not feel they have a place to call home, as she’s constantly moving from place to place.

Alice Merton drew inspiration for her hit single from her personal experience of having a nomadic lifestyle. By the time she was 24, she had moved 12 times .

35. The Longest Road , Morgan Page

“ Giddy up and gold mine. Different place, different time. All the stars are in their prime. Pastel trailer park, stars so bright to hide the dark. All is quiet in the yard. ”

The primary concept of this song is the desert. It evokes images of long trips and being surrounded by a desolate landscape.

36. Vienna , Billy Joel

“ When will you realize Vienna waits for you? ”

In this song, Vienna serves as a metaphor for the rest of your life. The song asks listeners, “When are you going to start living your life?”

37. Midnight Memories , One Direction

“ Straight off the plane to a new hotel. Just touched down, you could never tell. ”

This song describes a group of young jetsetters ready to party wherever they land. It highlights making memories and living life to the fullest.

38. On the Road to Find Out , Yusuf/Cat Stevens

“ Well, I hit the rowdy road and many kinds I met there. Many stories told me of the way to get there. So on and on I go, the seconds tick the time out. There’s so much left to know, and I’m on the road to find out. ”

This song is about traveling “in search of freedom and purity.” The narrator is spurred forward by his hunger for spiritual balance.

39. New Horizons (Ultima Thule Mix) , Brian May

“ New horizons to explore. New horizons no one's ever seen before. Limitless wonders in a never ending sky. We may never, never reach them. That's why we have to try. ”

So far, the songs in this collection have been about traveling in different places within the planet. But here’s a song about traveling beyond our world.

It is about traveling to and exploring new places in outer space. It might not be long before commercial space travel is available to humans!

40. Highway Song , Blackfoot

“ It's a highway song. You sing it on and on. On and on. Highway song is as lonely as the road I'm on. ”

This song is about a musician on tour. He feels lonely and homesick.

However, the exhilaration of performing and being on the road prevents him from going home.

41. Hotel California , Eagles

“ On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair. Warm smell of colitas rising up through the air. Up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering light. My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim. I had to stop for the night. ”

Many travelers report having at least one strange experience during their travels. Have you had one?

In this iconic song, a wayward traveler discovers dark secrets in a hotel set in the desert.

42. Trains, Boats, and Planes , Dionne Warwick

“ Trains and boats and planes are passing by. They mean a trip to Paris or Rome for someone else, but not for me. The trains and the boats and planes took you away, away from me. ”

What’s your favorite mode of transportation when going on long trips?

In this song, almost all modes of transportation are seen in a negative light by a woman who was left by a man eager to see the world.

43. The Love Boat Theme , Jack Jones

“ The Love Boat soon will be making another run. The Love Boat promises something for everyone. Set a course for adventure. Your mind on a new romance. ”

The Love Boat is a TV show that aired from 1977 to 1986. It is about the hilarious romantic experiences of the crew and passengers of the cruise ship MS Pacific Princess .

The show has a theme song that highlights the possibilities of romance and adventure while on board the love boat.

44. Lost in Japan , Shawn Mendes

“ Do you got plans tonight? I'm a couple hundred miles from Japan, and I, I was thinking I could fly to your hotel tonight 'cause I-I-I can't get you off my mind. ”

This song is about traveling for the sake of love. In it, Mendes shows his commitment to his beloved by offering to fly to Japan so that they can be together.

45. Hitch Hike , Marvin Gaye

“ I've got to find that girl if I have to hitchhike 'round the world. ”

In the same vein as the previous song, a guy hitchhikes all across the country, determined to find his girlfriend, even though the girl’s been unfaithful to him.

Final Thoughts on Songs About Traveling

Each time you pack your bags and head to new places, you become a new person.

Traveling is one of the best ways for you to grow in wisdom and experience. It helps you develop a deeper understanding of yourself , the world, and life in general.

Hopefully, you’ve found a favorite or two among the songs about traveling featured in this collection.

If you enjoyed this article, you might want to check out the following articles of song collections for specific topics:

• 57 Best Songs About Home: Leaving, Missing, and Coming Home
• 43 Best Songs About Happiness and Good Times
• 33 Best Songs About Family & Being with Loved Ones

31 Best Travel Songs 2024 (to have the perfect background music!)

Over time we collected a bunch of great and cool travel songs we just love to share.We love good travel music, it doesn’t matter where we are. On a boat floating through the Ha Long Bay in Vietnam, driving along the coast in Australia, or catching a plane.

Just hit the play button on the first song and enjoy your road trip wherever you are.

More the backpacker type? Find 17 more backpacker songs here .

If you still wanna more travel music, we just summed up my 29 favorite songs about traveling . Or check out these 117 cool and funny Instagram captions .

So, here it goes, A collection of the best travel songs for this 2024.

And we want to start with The Sonics!

1. Have Love, Will Travel – The Sonics

The Sonics’ “have love, will travel” is one of my favorite travel music.

Have love, whoa Baby I will travel (I say)Have little love, whoa Darlin’ will travel (Isaid) If you need lovin Then yeah, yeah, Ill travel

Well I might take a boat, or I’ll take a plane Might hitchhike, or jump a railroad train Your kind of lovin’ drives a man insane So look for me a walkin’ just any ol’ way

2.  The House of the Rising Sun – The Animals

There is a house in New Orleans They call the Rising Sun And it’s been the ruin of many a poor boy And God I know I’m one

My mother was a tailor She sewed my new bluejeans My father was a gamblin’ man Down in New Orleans

Now the only thing a gambler needs Is a suitcase and trunk And the only time he’s satisfied Is when he’s on, a drunk

3. KONGOS – Traveling On

So long my friend, my foe, my love, my pain The road’s calling out my name Dreaming of La Boheme Maybe I’ll go to Barbizon Or see a girl before she catches cold and she’s gone Or maybe I’ll just travel on

So long my flame, my warmth, my fear, my fight The road’s calling again tonight Dreaming under street lights Maybe I’ll catch a train to Rome See the world until I can’t go on Then maybe I’ll come traveling home

4. KONGOS – Escape

Every few thousand years Come true man’s greatest fears All the living things Mother nature brings to tears When the bombs are bursting in the air And the rockets are making that red glare I’m heading down Down to that good hope town, where the weather’s fair

So why don’t you come away With me my love We’ll do what it takes I’ll keep you safe

Why don’t you stay by me And when the time comes We’ll escape

5. Angus & Julia Stone – A Heartbreak

I saw your friends at the drive-in They were falling in love I met your friends, they were lying About falling in love

Girl, you’re just a child A heartbreak Girl, you’re just a child A heartbreak

6. Seafret – Oceans

It feels like there’s oceans Between me and you once again We hide our emotions Under the surface and tryin’ to pretend But it feels like there’s oceans Between you and me

Fancy more songs? keep scrolling or check out our favorite 29 songs for the road.

7. The Lumineers – Sleep On The Floor

Pack yourself a toothbrush dear Pack yourself a favorite blouse Take a withdrawal slip Take all of your savings out ‘Cause if we don’t leave this town We might never make it out I was not born to drown Baby come on

8. Snow Patrol – Just Say Yes

Just say yes, just say there’s nothing holding you back It’s not a test, nor a trick of the mind Only love

It’s so simple and you know it is You know it is, yeah We can’t be to and fro like this All our lives You’re the only way to me The path is clear

9. Asaf Avidan & The Mojos – One Day

One day baby, we’ll be old Oh baby, we’ll be old And think of all the stories that we could have told

No more tears, my heart is dry I don’t laugh and I don’t cry I don’t think about you all the time But when I do, I wonder why

10. Empire Of The Sun – We Are The People

We can remember swimming in December Heading for the city lights in 1975 We share in each other Nearer than farther The scent of a lemon drips from your eyes

We are the people that rule the world A force running in every boy and girl All rejoicing in the world Take me now, we can try

11. MGMT – Electric Feel

I said ooh girl Shock me like an electric eel Baby girl You turn me on with your electric feel

I said ooh girl Shock me like an electric eel Baby girl Turn me on with your electric feel

All along the eastern shore Put your circuits in the sea This is what the world is for Making electricity

You can feel it in your mind Oh you can do it all the time Plug it in and change the world You are my electric girl

12. Two Door Cinema Club – Sun

Drawn apart New York and London All I see now Are distant drumlins

The roads I knew Became a city And I wonder Will you wait for me?

You can find more New York City Songs here .

13. Love of Lesbian – Fantastic shine

Did I ever tell you we are drivers through a road called life Oh, what is life A piece of pie bursting from the seems that everything’s alright Spin in circles, jump together now

Shine, you can make it grow From the summer ground To the highest clouds

14. Ramon Mirabet – Those Little Things

I remember that first summer. Settled on the (dark) you said, Open up your heart

Even good things can leave scars, Don’t be afraid.

15. Manel Navarro – Candle

Your smile is like the sunset in the month of June. When we’re together there is nothing out of tune. ‘Cause I hear your voice and I don’t know what to do.

I’m not feeling heavy when I’m next to you. ‘Cause you’re the endless fire that shows me the way. When the night is dark you can be my flame, oh oh. ‘Cause the candle you hold inside, oh oh.

16. The Chainsmokers – Paris

We were staying in Paris To get away from your parents And I thought, “Wow If I could take this in a shot right now

I don’t think that we could work this out” Out on the terrace I don’t know if it’s fair but I thought “How Could I let you fall by yourself

While I’m wasted with someone else”

17. Ed Sheeran – Shape of You

Girl, you know I want your love Your love was handmade for somebody like me Come on now, follow my lead I may be crazy, don’t mind me

Say, boy, let’s not talk too much Grab on my waist and put that body on me Come on now, follow my lead Come, come on now, follow my lead

18. Coldplay – Paradise

When she was just a girl She expected the world But it flew away from her reach And the bullets catch in her teeth

Life goes on, it gets so heavy The wheel breaks the butterfly Every tear a waterfall In the night the stormy night she’ll close her eyes In the night the stormy night away she’d fly

19. Bob Dylan – A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall

Oh, where have you been, my blue-eyed son? Oh, where have you been, my darling young one? I’ve stumbled on the side of twelve misty mountains I’ve walked and I’ve crawled on six crooked highways I’ve stepped in the middle of seven sad forests I’ve been out in front of a dozen dead oceans I’ve been ten thousand miles in the mouth of a graveyard And it’s a hard, and it’s a hard, it’s a hard, and it’s a hard And it’s a hard rain’s a-gonna fall

20. Jake Bugg – Simple As This

Traveled to each ocean’s end Saw all seven wonders, trying to make some sense Memorized the mantra Confucius said But it only let me down

Tried absolution of the mind and soul It only led me where I should not go Oh and the answer well how could I miss Something as simple as this Something as simple as this

21. Birdy – Wings

Sunlight comes creeping in Illuminates our skin We watch the day go by Stories of all we did It made me think of you It made me think of you

Under a trillion stars We danced on top of cars Took pictures of the stage So far from where we are They made me think of you They made me think of you

22. George Ezra – Barcelona

Barcelona, I still long to hold her once more, oh, My boots of leather, From Europe I gather you know, know,

Every time you have to go Shut my eyes and you know I’ll be lying right by your side In Barcelona

23. The Killers – When You Were Young

You sit there in your heartache Waiting on some beautiful boy to To save you from your old ways You play forgiveness Watch it now, here he comes

He doesn’t look a thing like Jesus But he talks like a gentlemen Like you imagined When you were young

24. Semisonic – Closing Time

Closing time Time for you to go out to the places you will be from Closing time This room won’t be open till your brothers or your sisters come So gather up your jackets, move it to the exits I hope you have found a friend Closing time Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end

25. Incubus – Drive

Sometimes, I feel the fear of uncertainty stinging clear And I can’t help but ask myself how much I’ll let the fear Take the wheel and steer It’s driven me before And it seems to have a vague, haunting mass appeal But lately, I am beginning to find That I should be the one behind the wheel

26. Blur – Song 2

I got my head checked By a jumbo jet It wasn’t easy But nothing is No

Woo-hoo When I feel heavy-metal And I’m pins and I’m needles Well, I lie and I’m easy All the time but I am never sure Why I need you Pleased to meet you

27. Foo Fighters – Times Like These

it’s times like these you learn to live again it’s times like these you give and give again it’s times like these you learn to love again it’s times like these time and time again

I am a new day rising I’m a brand new sky to hang the stars upon tonight I am a little divided do I stay or run away and leave it all behind?

28. Milky Chance – Stolen Dance

And I want you We can bring it on the floor You’ve never danced like this before We don’t talk about it Dancin’ on do the boogie all night long Stoned in paradise, shouldn’t talk about it

29. Coldplay – Hymn For The Weekend

Oh, angel sent from up above You know you make my world light up When I was down when I was hurt You came to lift me up

Life is a drink, and love’s a drug Oh, now I think I must be miles up When I was a river, dried up You came to rain a flood

30. Boston- More than A Feeling

So many people have come and gone Their faces fade as the years go by Yet I still recall as I wander on As clear as the sun in the summer sky

It’s more than a feeling when I hear that old song they used to play (more than a feeling) I begin dreaming (more than a feeling) ‘Till I see Marianne walk away I see my Marianne walkin’ away

31. Toto – Africa

It’s gonna take a lot to drag me away from you There’s nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do I bless the rains down in Africa Gonna take some time to do the things we never have

32. Guaranteed – Eddie Vedder

On bended knee is no way to be free Lifting up an empty cup I ask silently That all my destinations will accept the one that’s me So I can breath

Circles they grow and they swallow people whole Half their lives they say goodnight to wive’s they’ll never know Got a mind full of questions and a teacher in my soul So it goes

Don’t come closer or I’ll have to go Holding me like gravity are places that pull If ever there was someone to keep me at home It would be you

Everyone I come across in cages they bought They think of me and my wandering But I’m never what they thought Got my indignation but I’m pure in all my thoughts

I’m alive Wind in my hair, I feel part of everywhere Underneath my being is a road that disappeared Late at night I hear the trees

They’re singing with the dead Overhead Leave it to me as I find a way to be Consider me a satellite for ever orbiting

I knew all the rules but the rules did not know me Guaranteed

I also summed up my 29 favorite songs about traveling . Find 17 BEST backpacker songs here .

And why not check out these good reads, too?

• Funny Quotes for Instagram Bio
• 119 Cool Quotes for WhatsApp
• Best Adventure Quotes of all time

How to download travel music?

There are awesome songs for travel videos.

Please be aware that you cannot use any music for your own videos. You have the own the license.

Either way. There is a website we hear that is perfect to download music and videos from YouTube. The website is www.filsh.net .

Just visit the website, include the link of the video and add your settings. It is as simple as that.

Sum it up: Time to Dance, time to Travel

The background music of a trip is crucial.

Well, okay, the trip and experience itself are obviously more important.

Nevertheless, it is always awesome to have these awesome travel songs up your sleeve.

And if you’re looking for more, you can find amazing travel quotes with these articles below.

• 603 best travel quotes
• funny travel quotes
• 23 travel quotes for friends
• 499 best Instagram captions you can copy and paste

If you know more songs, please leave us a comment. We are always keen to add more songs to our own list.

Therefore, please LEAVE me a comment below.

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This playlist is perfect for when I’m going traveling! Thanks from Malaysia. :)

So much to listen to, thank you! Another one to add to the list is My Wild Heart by Tiffany Hill

Thanks for sharing this nice blog. This blog is really too good.

Im sick of the fake free mp3 downloaders that have literally no songs to download and makes you waste your time typing things out like Fatty Wap or Disturbed

Harold Burton

There are plenty of tools to download MP3 version from platforms like Youtube. That might be something for you to consider.

Safe travels, Matt

Or you could just download the songs you like on your computer and connect your phone to your pc with a USB wire or whatever it’s called and transfer.

This does not work for iPhone, I am afraid 🙂

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28 Songs That Capture the Spirit of Travel (With Videos)

T HERE’S A GOOD reason many of us take music with us when we travel; it can transport us — back home, away from an overcrowded bus, or through a restless night.

Music helps us connect to others — to fellow travelers who might share our taste in songs and to locals who might not speak our language but can carry the rhythm.

For those of us with gipsy blood, music can speak to who we are and why it is that we can never seem to settle down. Music engenders a desire to see a new place, or to travel simply for the joy of the journey.

In the few minutes that a song lasts, the ember of wanderlust inside us can be stoked into a bonfire that can’t be ignored. Suddenly, we’re inspired to earn that money, book that flight, pack that bag — do whatever it takes to get back on the road.

So here I present thirty songs that best capture the spirit of travel.

Go ahead and load up your phone, slip on your earphones, and crank up the tunes. Who knows where these songs will take you.

Songs About Place

Certain songs take you immediately to a specific place. They precisely capture somewhere you’ve been or inspire you to plan a trip to the locale forever locked in lyrics.

Other songs don’t name names, but in your mind, the place evoked by the tune is so exact you have no doubt what town, city, or country the singer is crooning about…until you meet another traveler who pictures an entirely different place every time that song is played.

1. Carolina in My Mind by James Taylor

Who doesn’t see that Carolina sunshine or feel that moonshine when this classic comes through the speakers? I certainly hear “the highway calling” each time this song appears on my play list.

The vivid imagery of this song–colored cottons, charming cobras–brings this famed Moroccan city right to life. Can you resist its call?

Come on, I couldn’t leave this one off, could I? It’s classic.

Strange and bewildering is certainly one way to describe this town. If you’ve been there, I’m sure you can think of many other fitting adjectives.

5. Graceland by Paul Simon

On the surface, sure, it’s a song about Memphis, but I think we all have our own Graceland, that place where we go for reasons we can’t explain, with the hope of being well received.

In each of our histories, there’s that “happy little foreign town,” where we danced, laughed, and were in love with every minute of every day. It’s the place we find a way to go back to time and again, even if just in our memories.

It’s the town not in any guidebook, the one you found when you got off the train at the wrong stop or surreptitiously shared a hostel room with someone who had just come from there. It’s the restaurant without a sign, the guestroom tucked away in a back alley, the beach you’ll never be able to find again…but will always remember.

Songs About How To Travel

A common maxim reminds us that it’s not the destination, but the journey that matters. If it’s about the journey, then the method of transportation is important.

By boat, by train, by foot, by car…the manner in which we travel plays a large role in the way in which we experience the world.

8. Proud Mary by CCR

Is it possible to listen to this song and not want to give up that “good job in the city” to “hitch a ride on a river boat queen”? Whether it’s on the Mississippi, the Amazon, the Nile, the Ganges, or some smaller, quieter river, boats are a great throwback way to travel.

I’m not sure you can call yourself a traveler if you’ve never made at least one trip by train, passing time playing cards with friends and watching the world pass outside your window.

Songs About the Reasons We Travel

We each have our private reasons for taking a trip, but there are common themes that link travelers.

Often we journey in search of something–ourselves, love, adventure, understanding, the place we belong. Sometimes we go simply because we can’t stand to stay where we are or because of an almost desperate urge for movement.

And in some cases, there is no reason. We travel simply because we are travelers.

Stay in one place too long and sometimes it really seems that you can feel the grass growing underfoot. That’s when you know for certain that it’s time to move on.

10. The World at Large by Modest Mouse

With the changing of seasons comes a desire for a change of scenery. The migrating instinct awakes in our souls.

While every trip might be a search for somewhere new or different, it’s also true that every journey away from home is an opportunity to better understand the place from which we come.

You have them – the friends who stayed at home and settled down. You look at their lives and can’t imagine finding happiness that way. They, on the other hand, look at your life and wonder why you always have to take “the long way around.” Different strokes, right?

Some people are content to sit on the shorelines, but those of us who travel know that we’ve got to get out there and chance the rapids, dance in the tides, and follow the dream wherever it leads.

As Steven Tyler sings, “our hopes and dreams are out there somewhere.” We can stay where we are and hope our dreams come to us or we can go out and find that better place. I’m not seeing much of a choice here.

If you live for that feeling of freedom that comes with arriving in a destination where no one knows you, there’s nothing in the world that can hold you down.

16. Ramble On by Led Zeppelin

Is it love that we’re all looking for as we ramble on? Maybe… though not necessarily romantic love. Love of a place, love of a time, love of life itself.

Sometimes the road is lonely and the destination isn’t always clear, but the dream is always big enough to compel us to walk down that road time and time again.

Trying to explain why you travel to those who’d rather stay in one place is often futile. You’re coming from places too far apart, so sometimes the best answer (and maybe the true answer) is simply that you were “born a ramblin’ man.”

Songs that Capture the Joy of Travel

At the end of the day, what most often inspires us to go is the ecstasy of travel, pure and simple. The frustrations of airports, the struggles with packing, and the tedium of days spent working all fade away when you set off on your journey.

Who hasn’t scanned the departures at the airport and recalled all the places that they’ve already been and made plans for the places still to be explored?

Going places that you’ve never been, seeing things that you’ve never seen, making music with your friends…isn’t that what travel is all about?

The only question this song leaves to ponder is: what day isn’t a good day to run?

Fly the skies, see the seas, run around all the continents. Go ahead, roam without a care.

I’m not sure it’s possible to resist this siren’s call to walk with her in yellow-grassed fields, to stand with her atop a mountain, to lie with her under a tin roof in the rain. It’s travel the romantic way.

23. Fly Away by Lenny Kravitz

Just think of all the places you would visit if you could fly, taking off with every whim. And travel without the hassle of the airport…I’m not sure it gets better than that.

Windows down, gas tank full, an open road in front of you. This song demands that you sing along as you see the world from behind the wheel.

When you’re able to find home on the road, you know that you’ve reached a new level of travel and you no longer care how the world defines you.

Though I’ve yet to actually meet anyone who can claim they’ve been everywhere, there certainly are a lot of people trying. Regardless of whether you like to hit as many spots as you can or take it slow and easy through one place, rambling through the many places listed in this song is always fun.

Everybody wants to be king of something, and if you’re a traveler, there’s no better kingdom than the road.

28. Around the World by the Red Hot Chili Peppers

No arguing here. Life is indeed beautiful all around the world.

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125 Songs About Travel To Fuel Your Wanderlust

If you are like me, then you are always dreaming of travel. 

If I’m not researching  travel captions for Insta , I listen to  songs about travel.  

Honestly, I sometimes wonder if I have a problem…I really seem to be obsessed with travel!

If someone were to see my  travel songs   playlist , they would probably be really confused as to what genre of music I am into. 

I think that is the great thing about music; all genres have great songs.

Playing these songs makes me dream of the days we were honeymooning in Italy , or the many times we sat on the beach in  Mexico .

These travel songs make me happy and are a blessing on a road trip!  

I wanted to share this list of 125 travel songs with you. 

Hopefully, you will find inspiration and happiness in them as well!

*This post contains affiliate links.  By purchasing through these links, we get a small commission at no additional cost to you. That Texas Couple also participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program.  As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

125 Songs About Travel

Kokomo by Beach Boys

“Aruba, Jamaica ooo I wanna take you To Bermuda, Bahama come on pretty mama Key Largo, Montego baby why don’t we go “

B lue Hawaii by Elvis Presley

“Dreams come true In blue Hawaii And mine could all come true This magic night of nights with you”

Holiday by Madonna

“If we took a holiday Took some time to celebrate Just one day out of life It would be, it would be so nice .”

Gravity by Coldplay  

“Baby It’s been a long time coming Such a long, long time And I can’t stop running Such a long, long time Can you hear my heart beating? Can you hear that sound? ‘Cause I can’t help thinking And I won’t stop now “

Margaritaville by Jimmy Buffet

This is a classic song about travel, so much so that there are bars worldwide celebrating it! 

Listening to Margaritaville by Jimmy Buffet makes me wish I was drinking a margarita in the  Riviera Maya !  Let’s check out the lyrics!

Midnight Train to Georgia by Gladys Knight and the Pips  

“Oh, he’s leavin’ (Leavin’) On that midnight train to Georgia, yeah (Leavin’ on that midnight train)

Said, he’s goin’ back (Goin’ back to find) To a simpler place in time”

Read Next: The Ultimate List of Friends Traveling Quotes

What We Live For by American Authors

If this song doesn’t make you want to load up your  road trip essentials  and hit the road, then I don’t know what will!  What do you think?

“I drive a beat-up car, a caravan, the color blue Reminds me of your eyes and all the places we’ve been to We’re tethered to the leather, searching for a better view It’s interstellar when it’s me and you”

Travelin’ Man 1961 by Ricky Nelson

“I’m a travelin’ man Made a lot of stops all over the world And in every port I own the heart Of at least one lovely girl. “

Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) by Shakira

“When you fall, get up, oh oh And if you fall, get up, eh eh Tsamina mina zangalewa ‘Cause this is Africa”

Hello Seattle by Owl City

It’s a pretty simple song, but it will definitely get you thinking about Seattle. LOL!

Havana by Camila Cabello

“Havana, ooh na-na Half of my heart is in Havana, ooh-na-na He took me back to East Atlanta, na-na-na Oh, but my heart is in Havana”

Rio by Michael Nesmith

“And I think I will travel to Rio Using the music for flight, There’s nothing I know of in Rio, But it’s something to do with the night. It’s only a whimsical notion To fly down to Rio tonight, And I probably won’t fly down to Rio, But then again, I just might.”

Leaving Las Vegas by Cheryl Crow

“I’m leaving Las Vegas Lights so bright, palm sweat, blackjack on a Saturday night Leaving Las Vegas Leaving for good, for good I’m leaving for good I’m leaving for good”

Fr ee by Donovan Frankenreiter

“Here comes corner winds and the changin’ tide We better drop them sails and get inside When will the weather ever let us go I guess we’ll have to wait until the trade winds blow”

Come Fly With Me by Frank Sinatra

“Come fly with me, let’s fly, let’s fly away If you could use some exotic booze There’s a bar in far Bombay Come fly with me, let’s fly, let’s fly away”

One Night in Bangkok by Murray Head

“One night in Bangkok and the world’s your oyster The bars are temples but the pearls ain’t free You’ll find a God in every golden cloister A little flesh, a little history I can feel an angel slidin’ up to me”

Graceland by Paul Simon

“In Graceland, in Graceland I’m going to Graceland For reasons I cannot explain There’s some part of me wants to see Graceland:

The Passenger by Iggy Pop

“I am the passenger And I ride and I ride I ride through the city’s backsides “

Life is a Highway by Rascal Flats

Life is a Highway is definitely a song that will get you in the mood to hit the open road.  Of course, I always relate it to Route 66 thanks to the Cars movie.

Come Away With Me by Norah JonesThis one is all about sneaking away with your loved one.  It makes me want to check all of the items off of my  couple’s bucket list  with Marty!

“Come away with me and we’ll kiss On a mountain top Come away with me And I’ll never stop lovin’ you”

Leaving on a Jet Plane by Peter Paul and Mary

“I’m leavin’ on a jet plane I don’t know when I’ll be back again”

Have Love, Will Travel by The Sonics 

“Well I might take a boat or I’ll take a plane I might hitch hike or jump a railroad train Your kind of love drives a man insane So look for me walking just a any old way”

These Days by The Foo Fighters

Ok, this one is a bit of a stretch and I realize that.  I think I consider this a travel song because I think about how one day we will all be gone and so you better live life to the fullest while you can.

American Boy by Estelle featuring Kanye West

“Take me on a trip, I’d like to go some day Take me to New York, I’d love to see LA I really want to come kick it with you You’ll be my American boy.”

First Day of My Life by Bright Eyes

“I went out in the rain, suddenly everything changed They’re spreading blankets on the beach”

Miles Away by The Maine

“I didn’t ever want to come down From that west coast rush and summer high And easy, peaceful sense of time (I felt so alive)”

Take Me Home by Phil Collins

“Take that look of worry Mine’s an ordinary life (Ohh ohh) Working when it’s daylight And sleeping when it’s night”

Hopeless Wanderer by Mumford and Sons

“So when your hope’s on fire But you know your desire Don’t hold a glass over the flame Don’t let your heart grow cold I will call you by name I will share your road “

Carolina In My Mind by James Taylor

“Gone to Carolina in my mind In my mind I’m goin’ to Carolina”

Destination Calabria by Alex Gaudino featuring Crystal Waters

“I left my job, my boss, my car and my home I’m leaving for a destination I still don’t know”

Toes by The Zac Brown Band

“I got my toes in the water, ass in the sand Not a worry in the world, a cold beer in my hand Life is good today”

Travelling Alone by Passenger

“Australian man Scandinavian tan kicking stones round a square he sat for a while and carved out a smile as if someone would care”

You Only Live Once by The Strokes

“Twenty-nine different attributes Only seven that you like, oh Twenty ways to see the world, oh”

Two Tickets To Paradise by Eddie Money

“I’m gonna take you on a trip so far from here, I’ve got two tickets in my pocket, now baby, we’re gonna disappear. We’ve waited so long, waited so long. We’ve waited so long, waited so long. “

Walking in Memphis by Mark Cohn

“Then I’m walking in Memphis Walking with my feet ten feet off of Beale Walking in Memphis But do I really feel the way I feel”

Africa by Toto

” I hear the drums echoing tonight But she hears only whispers of some quiet conversation She’s coming in, 12: 30 flight The moonlit wings reflect the stars that guide me towards salvation”

Road to Nowhere by Talking Heads

Have you ever just jumped in the car and head out to an unknown destination?  I know we have, especially on one of our  road trips in Texas . 

“We’re on a road to nowhere Come on inside Takin’ that ride to nowhere We’ll take that ride”

California Dreaming by The Mamas and Papas

“…I’d be save and warm if I was in L.A. California dreaming on such a winters day”

Beverly Hills by Weezer

“Beverly Hills That’s where I want to be Livin’ in Beverly Hills”

Born to Be Wild by Steppenswolf

“Get your motor runnin’ Head out on the highway Looking for adventure In whatever comes our way”

Not Today by Imagine Dragons

I love the creativity of Imagine Dragon songs, and this one is no exception.

Do You Want to See the World by the Kooks

“Do you want to see the world? In a different way, yeah”

April in Paris by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong

Paris  is definitely a place of dream, and who wouldn’t love to see Paris in April? 

“April in Paris, this is a feeling No one can ever reprise”

A Million Miles Away by David Byrne

“Oh oh A million miles away from here”

Get Here by Oleta Adams

This song is all about all of the ways you can travel to get to the one you love.

“You can reach me by railway, you can reach me by trailway You can reach me on an airplane, you can reach me with your mind You can reach me by caravan, cross the desert like an Arab man I don’t care how you get here, just get here if you can”

Vacation by The GoGo’s

The chorus of this song sums up my travel addiction:

“Vacation, all I ever wanted Vacation, had to get away”

Catch & Release by Matt Simons

“There’s a place I’m going No one knows me”

Road Trippin’ by the Red Hot Chili Peppers

“Road trippin’ with my two favorite allies Fully loaded we got snacks and supplies It’s time to leave this town, it’s time to steal away…”

Take Me Home (Country Roads) by John Denver

A classic song about someone dreaming of being in a different place.

“Country roads, take me home To the place I belong”

Lovers in Japan by Coldplay

“Lovers, keep on the road you’re on Runners, until the race is run”

London Calling by The Clash

Anyone mentioning London takes me back to the  4 days in London  that Marty and I spent there.  We had such a great time and really loved the city!

“Now get this London calling, yes I was there too “

Around the World by Daft Punk

Simple lyrics, but still a fun song.  It really just says “around the world.”

Are You Gonna Go My Way by Lenny Kravitz

This song has many meanings, but I associate it with grabbing the person you love and setting off on a great journey.

We Gotta Get Out of This Place by The Animals

“We gotta get out of this place Girl, there’s a better life For me and you”

Sail Away by David Gray

This is one of the best travel songs. It just makes you feel like you want to get on a boat and never return.

“Sail away with me honey I put my heart in your hand Sail away with me honey…”

Best Travel Songs To Get You Singing Along

Wake up in paris by hot sardines.

Paris is a great city and one that Marty and I really enjoyed visiting.  Let the lyrics of this song get you to dreaming about it.

“I want to wake up in Paris As the city greets the day”

Malibu by Miley Cyrus

“We watched the Sun go down as we were walking I’d spend the rest of my life just standing here talking”

I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) by The Proclaimers

“But I would walk five hundred miles And I would walk five hundred more…”

Ramblin Man by The Allman Brothers Band

This song speaks to me because I have the hardest time staying in one place. LOL!

“Lord, I was born a ramblin’ man”

San Francisco by Scott McKenzie

“For those who come to San Francisco Summertime will be a love-in there”

Change by Some Poetries

I love the following verse of this song so much.  It reminds me that each day we can determine what our life will be.

“Today I woke up, knowing that thing will change, and that thing will change So I open up my eyes ready to write the story of my life.”

Take It Easy by The Eagles

“Lighten up while you still can Don’t even try to understand Just find a place to make your stand, and take it easy”

Come Away by Sons of the East

“Come away with me, baby Join me in my car We can go real far away Away from here”

Back in the U.S.S.R. by The Beatles

“I’m back in the U.S.S.R. You don’t know how lucky you are, boy Back in the U.S.”

Wanderlust by The Weeknd

This is me.  I’m in love with wanderlust!

“You’re in love with something bigger than love You believe in something stronger than trust Wanderlust Wanderlust”

Sweet Home Alabama by Leonard Skynard

“Sweet home Alabama Where the skies are so blue”

New York by Cat Power

“Start spreading the news I’m leaving today I want to be a part of it New York, New York”

Sitting on the Dock of the Bay by Otis Redding

“So I’m just go sit on the dock of the bay Watching the tide roll away”

Surfin’ USA by The Beach Boys

“If everybody had an ocean Across the U.S.A. Then everybody’d be surfin’ Like California”

Mexico by James Taylor

“Oh, Mexico It sounds so simple I just got to go The sun’s so hot I forgot to go home Guess I’ll have to go now”

Island in the Sun by Weezer

“When you’re on a holiday You can’t find the words to say…”

Send Me On My Way by Rusted Root

“I would like to hold my little hand How we will run, we will, how we will crawl

Send me on my way…”

Wonderful Life by Black

“Here I go out to sea again Sunshine fills my hair… You know it feels unfair There’s magic everywhere.”

When I’m Gone by Anna Kendrick

“I’ve got my ticket for the long way ‘round The one with the prettiest of views…”

See the World by Gomez

“See the world, find an old fashioned girl”

Travelin’ Prayer by Billy Joel

Travelin’ Prayer by Billy Joel is a man’s prayer to protect his loved one while she is traveling.

“Hey Lord, take a look all around And I’d a find where my baby’s gonna be Hey Lord, would ya look out for her tonight ‘Cause she is far across the sea”

America by Siman & Garfunkel

“They’ve all come to look for America All come to look for America”

Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen

“We’ll run until we drop, baby we’ll never go back Will you walk with me out on the wire…”

Kathmandu by Bob Seger

“I think I’m going to Katmandu That’s really, really Where I’m going to”

Wish You Were Here by Incubus

“I dig my toes into the sand The ocean looks like A thousand diamonds Strewn across a blue blanket …”

Come With Me Now by KONGOS

I know this song isn’t officially about travel, but I tell Marty often to “come with me now!” LOL!

“Far away I heard him say (Come with me now)”

End of the Line by Traveling Wilburys

“Well, it’s all right, riding around in the breeze Well, it’s all right, if you live the life you please”

Moon River by Audrey Hepburn

“Two drifters, off to see the world There’s such a lot of world to see…”

California Love by Tupac and dr. Dre

“California love! California knows how to party…”

God Bless Texas by Little Texas

“‘Cause God blessed Texas with His own hand Brought down angels from the Promised Land…”

Englishman in New York by Sting

“See me walking down fifth avenue A walking cane here at my side I take it everywhere I walk Im an Englishman In New York”

Galway Girl by Ed Sheeran

“You know, she played the fiddle in an Irish band But she fell in love with an English man…’”

On The Road Again by Willie Nelson

“On the road again Just can’t wait to get on the road again…”

Big Jet Plane by Angus and Julia Stone

“Gonna take her for a ride on a big jet plane Gonna take her for a ride on a big jet plane Hey hey, hey hey”

Go Your Own Way by Fleetwood Mac

I know this song is more about breaking up, but I like to think of it more like a getaway song just encouraging people to go their own way and see the world!

“If I could Baby I’d give you my world Open up Everything’s waiting for you”

I’ve Been Everywhere by Johnny Cash

“I’ve been everywhere, man I’ve been everywhere, man Across the deserts bare, man I’ve breathed the mountain air, man Of travel I’ve had my share, man I’ve been everywhere”

Castle on the Hill by Ed Sheeran

“I’m on my way Driving at 90 down those country lanes Singing to “Tiny Dancer”…”

Anywhere by Passenger

“If you get up in a jet plane Or down in a submarine If you get onto the next train To somewhere you never been If you wanna ride in a fast car And feel the wind in your hair Darling just look beside you Oh, I’ll go with you anywhere”

Miami by Will Smith

“I’m goin to Miami Welcome to Miami…”

Traveling On by KONGOS

“So long my friend, my foe, my love, my pain The road’s calling out my name…”

Fast Car by Tracy Chapman

“You got a fast car I want a ticket to anywhere Maybe we make a deal Maybe together we can get somewhere”

Budapest by George Ezra

“My house in Budapest My hidden treasure chest…”

King of the World by First Aid Kit

“I keep running around Trying to find the ground But my head is in the stars My feet are in the sky”

Hotel California by The Eagles

“Welcome to the Hotel California Such a lovely place (such a lovely place) Such a lovely face…”

Adventure of a Lifetime by Coldplay

“Then this adventure, more than I And if we’ve only got this life You’ll get me through alive And if we’ve only got this life”

Leave by R.E.M.

“It’s under, under, under my feet. The sea spread out there before me. Where do I go when the land touches sea?”

On Top of The World by Imagine Dragons

“‘Cause I’m on top of the world, ‘ay I’m on top of the world, ‘ay Waiting on this for a while now Paying my dues to the dirt I’ve been waiting to smile, ‘ay Been holding it in for a while, ‘ay Take you with me if I can Been dreaming of this since a child I’m on top of the world.”

A Thousand Miles by Vanessa Carlton

“If I could fall into the sky Do you think time would pass me by? ‘Cause you know I’d walk a thousand miles If I could just see you Tonight”

Californication by Red Hot Chili Peppers

Another song about California.  This one is pretty catchy.  Check it out if you’ve never heard it!

Permanent Vacation by Aerosmith

“I got to take myself a permanent vacation The sky’s the limit but my plane won’t fly…”

In America by Neil Diamond

“Free, Only want to be free…”

Roam by the B-52s

“Roam if you want to Roam around the world…”

Viva Las Vegas by Elvis Presley

“Viva Las Vegas with you neon flashin’ And your one arm bandits crashin’ All those hopes down the drain …”

I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For by U2  

“I have climbed highest mountains I have run through the fields…”

Barcelona by Ed Sheeran

“And you and I we’re flying on an aeroplane tonight We’re going somewhere where the sun is shining bright Just close your eyes And let’s pretend we’re dancing in the street In Barcelona”

Marrakesh Express by Crosby, Still, and Nash

“Looking at the world Trough the sunset in your eyes Trying to make the train To clear Moroccan skies…”

Pompeii by Bastille

“And if you close your eyes Does it almost feel like You’ve been here before?”

Ho Hey by The Lumineers 

“Took the bus to china town (hey!) I’ve been standing on Canal (ho!) And Bowery (hey!) (ho!) And she’d be standing next to me (hey!) 1, 2, 3 I belong with you you belong with me you’re my sweet heart…”

On My Way by Phil Collins 

“Tell everybody I’m on my way New friends and new places to see With blue skies ahead, yes I’m on my way…”

Ventura Highway by America

“Ventura Highway in the sunshine Where the days are longer The nights are stronger than moonshine You’re gonna go I know …”

New York State of Mind by Billy Joel

“It comes down to reality And it’s fine with me ’cause I’ve let it slide Don’t care if it’s Chinatown or on Riverside I don’t have any reasons I’ve left them all behind I’m in a New York state of mind”  

Fly Away With Me by Tom Walker

“So come on fly away with me To a place where we could be anyone we wanna be…”

Time of Your Life by Green Day

“Another turning point a fork stuck in the road Time grabs you by the wrist directs you where to go So make the best of this test and don’t ask why It’s not a question but a lesson learned in time

It’s something unpredictable but in the end It’s right I hope you’ve had the time of your life”

Paris by The Chainsmokers  

“We were staying in Paris To get away from your parents…””

Travelling by Paper Lions

“Travelling the road, less known is where I want to be My compass directing, electing, an open road with golden trees…”

Escape (The Pina Colada Song) by Rupert Holmes

“If you like Pina Coladas and getting caught in the rain If you’re not into yoga, if you have half-a-brain If you like making love at midnight in the dunes of the cape I’m the lady you’ve looked for, write to me and escape”

Rocky Road To Dublin by The Irish Descendents

“In the merry month of june, from me home I started left the girls of Tuam, so sad and broken hearted saluted father dear, kissed me darlin’ mother…, frightened all the dogs, on the rocky road to Dublin,”

Running Away by Ed Sheeran ft. Kygo 

“You got your bags packed Hoppin’ on the train tonight Nothing to say cause you’re drifting like a satellite”

Final Thoughts  

Well, there you have it, our list of the 125 best travel songs that will inspire your wanderlust.  I hope that his list of travel songs has something that you fall in love with also.  

Of course, our list isn’t all-inclusive, so be sure and comment below what other songs we should add to our list!

Happy Travels, Friends!!

While You’re Here, Check Out These Posts:

100 Perfect Quotes About Paris

The Road to Hana: 22 Must-See Stops

85 Quotes About Italy to Inspire Your Wanderlust

25 Roman Ruins In Rome That You Have To See

3 Days in Venice: A Great Venice Itinerary

150 Dreamy Beach Quotes

101 Travel Quotes for Insta

Perfect Sunshine Captions for Instagram

The Best Wheeled Backpack for Travel

The Best Travel Backpack for Europe…and Beyond

How We Travel With Only a Backpack

The Perfect Gifts for Travel Lovers

Like This Post? Please Pin It!

Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight:

We love using CheapOAir, Kayak, and Kiwi to search for the best flight prices. We love using these search engines because they search the web for airlines worldwide to ensure you get the best deal! In addition to flights, you can also find great hotel prices on Kayak and Kiwi.

Book Your Vacation Package:

If you want to book an entire vacation package, we suggest using Expedia. We love how easy Expedia is to use, and we always find good deals on entire vacation packages on their site.

Another great site for vacation packages is BookVIP . BookVIP offers super cheap vacation packages to incredible destinations. You are sure to save money using their site!

For full guided vacations, including hotels, some meals, transportation, and guides, then we book with Trafalgar. Trafalgar is a trusted tour company that will meet all your needs while ensuring a great experience.

Trip.com allows you to book flights, hotels, train tickets, rental cars, airport transfers, tours, and more all on one site. Owned by the parent company that also owns Skyscanner, this is a trusted resource for travel booking and a great “one-stop shop.”

Book Your Accommodations:

We always begin our search by checking out honest reviews on TripAdvisor hotels. This allows us to narrow our search for specific properties once we are ready to book. Of course, you can also book directly on the TripAdvisor site!

There are several accommodation sites that we like to use. One of our favorites is Booking.com because it offers a wide variety of hotels and guesthouses at a good price.

Another “go-to” hotel booking site for us is Hotels.com . We love their loyalty program that allows you to earn free nights, and their “secret prices” for members are fabulous deals!

HotelsCombined is another cool site. They allow you to compare all the top travel sites with one search to ensure you find the best deal out there. Kayak works in this way as well.

If you want a luxurious all-inclusive vacation, consider checking out the Sandals/Beaches properties. Sandals properties are for couples only and Beaches are for families. We have visited Sandals in the past and absolutely love the attention to detail and the service they provide.

Tour Companies We Trust:

We love taking guided tours when visiting new places. Our go-to tour companies are Viator.com and Get Your Guide . Both of these companies have been in business for years and provide excellent customer service. You can trust booking tours from their sites for sure!

For a guided city tour, check out City Sightseeing and BigBus Tours . These bus tours are so much fun and easy to hop on and hop off at top attractions in cities around the world.

CityPass is a great way to save money when visiting large cities. CityPass allows you to get free admission to major attractions once you buy their pass. The savings add up quickly with this pass, often saving 50% with combined admissions.

Another great pass to save money in larger cities is the Sightseeing Pass . This pass allows you to save valuable time and money by combining admissions to major attractions. They also have a handy app that keeps everything you need at your fingertips.

Looking to Save Time and Money?

Check out our resource page for all of our favorite vendors. These companies help us to save time and money on our travels!

About the Author

Michelle Snell is a travel writer, history buff, wine lover, and enthusiast of different cultures. Michelle enjoys bringing places to life through creative content creation and her informative writing style on her blogs, That Texas Couple and Totally Texas Travel and accompanying social media accounts.  She is happiest sipping wine in Italy or chilling on a beach with her husband, Marty.

Monday 15th of February 2021

This is a super fun post! Thanks for the inspiration and an awesome diverse list of music!

Sunday 14th of February 2021

Ah so many great songs! You definitely had me humming along as I was reading through the list!

Saturday 13th of February 2021

Thank you got this amazing list. Such a good new fun way to travel through music .

thattexascouple

Thank you for checking it out!

Friday 22nd of January 2021

This list is already fuelling my wanderlust! I am on the same boat as you, that I love specific songs, not necessarily belonging to the same genre. By the way, while reading this, I just started playing some of these songs, my favorites from the list :-)

This is so fun to know! Thank you, Pubali. I hope you enjoyed it!

Renata - bye:myself

Tuesday 19th of January 2021

What a comprehensive and varied list - includes some of my favorite artists like Coldplay...totally unexpected. Nevertheless, you're actually starting with the cheesiest song ever - it really made me love - and then I had this tune for hours in my head.

Wednesday 20th of January 2021

Haha. I didn't think of that, Renata but I see it and agree with you :)

The Ultimate Travel Songs Playlist to Inspire Wanderlust

Written By: The Planet D

Inspiration

Updated On: March 2, 2023

The best travel songs playlist had an outstanding turn out by The Planet D fans.

We wanted to hear, what songs inspire travel, make you think of a destination, or simply make you want to hit the road, so we asked our readers to share their favorite songs about travel.

We had such an awesome response that now have a huge list of the best travel songs as chosen by you ! There were a lot of duplicate votes for but after adding up the choices, these are the top songs.

Table of Contents

The Best Travel Songs Playlist

We took some of our favorite quotes from people when they chose their favorite songs about travel and you can read what they below.

• If you want some more travel inspiration, check out our 101 Ultimate Travel Quotes.
• Looking for a different playlist? We’ve rounded up the best road trip songs to rock the long drive.

If you have a song to add to our playlist leave a comment below. We update this list regularly

1. Africa by Toto

Nothing makes me want to go to Africa more than this song by Toto.

They capture it beautifully with their lyrics and each time I listen to it, I am brought back to camping in the desert listening to the dog crying out in the night.

Or it makes me think of climbing Kilimanjaro towering over the Serengeti. And it has had a renaissance getting a lot of air time.

“The wild dogs cry out in the night As they grow restless, longing for some solitary company I know that I must do what’s right As sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti I seek to cure what’s deep inside, frightened of this thing that I’ve become”

Dina Rosita Koudys says “ Not exactly about traveling, but it does mention Africa, Kilimanjaro, and Serengeti. And I love the song!

We replied to Dina saying,  “We think Africa is exactly a travel song. It is our favorite song about travel and makes us want to see the Serengeti again and again.”

2. Galway Girl by Ed Sheeran

Ireland is one of our favorite country’s to visit and when Ed Sheeran wrote about Galway it brought us right back to being in the pubs there.

A lot of playlists omit the modern travel songs, but musicians these days have explored more of the world than anyone. And Ed Sheeran is a huge traveler.

We saw Ed Sheeran on Graham Norton talking about his travels and we love his free spirit and down to earth attitude.

“I meet her on Grafton street right outside of the bar She shared a cigarette with me while her brother played the guitar She asked me what does it mean, the Gaelic ink on your arm? Said it was one of my friend’s songs, do you want to drink on?”

3. One Night in Bangkok by Murray Head

From the Musical Chess, this hit by Murray Head made me want to visit Bangkok in the 1990s.

Whenever I’m in the city, I can’t stop singing it!

“I said, “do you speak-a my language?” He just smiled and gave me a vegemite sandwich And he said I come from a land down under Where beer does flow and men chunder”

4. Land Down Under by Men at Work

When thinking about travel music, this song is at the top for and Australian theme.

Men at work reference the Hippy Trail, muscles in Brussels and a den in Bombay.

All while bonding with people from the Land Down Under. Men at work are from Melbourne , Australia

“Bangkok, Oriental setting And the city don’t know that the city is getting The creme de la creme of the chess world In a show with everything but Yul Brynner”

5. Havana by Camila Cabello

This song takes me to Havana. The groove makes me feel that I am at a lounge in Cuba and I love it.

Even if Camila Cabello is taken to East Atlanta, her heart is always in Havana. Just like so many people feel when they visit Havana too!

Havana, ooh na-na Half of my heart is in Havana, ooh na-na He took me back to East Atlanta, na-na-na Oh, but my heart is in Havana My heart is in Havana Havana, ooh na-na

6.  Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd

This song makes me want to go to the American South.

My favorite lyric is when they mention the recording studio Muscle Shoals.

“Now Muscle Shoals has got the Swampers And they’ve been known to pick a song or two (yes they do) Lord they get me off so much They pick me up when I’m feeling blue, now how bout you?”

After watching the documentary about Muscle Shoals, I now understand what that lyric is all about.

It was the place for rock musicians to record in the 1960s. Rent Muscle Shoals on Amazon

Kathy Bovair  says “ Dave will have my back on this one “SWEET HOME ALABAMA” is the best travel song and an old high school classic from our past” 

7. I’ve Been Everywhere Man by Johnny Cash

Carmen Davis-Harcum said.  “It’s My favourite travel song.” And we agree. I’ve been everywhere is the ultimate travel song!

If you want to add a song to your travel playlist that captures what it’s like to travel around.

I always envisioned this song being about Johnny Cash writing about his life on the road as a traveling musician.

“I’ve been everywhere, man I’ve been everywhere, man Crossed the deserts bare, man I’ve breatherd the mountain air, man Travel, I’ve had my share, man I’ve been everywhere”

He may not have been everywhere int he world, but he has definitely crossed all of the United States and Canada.

I’ve Been Everywhere by Johnny Cash does the trick.

 8. Route 66 by Nat King Cole

Route 66 certainly captures the heyday of America’s famous highway running across the country.

It makes me think of simpler (and tougher) times of people hitting the open road with nothing but dreams in their heads.

This song makes me want to get in the car and drive.

“Well if you ever plan to motor west Just take my way it’s the highway that’s the best Get your kicks on Route 66 Well it winds from Chicago to L.A. More than 2000 miles all the way Get your kicks on Route 66″

Trisha Miller  is inspired by Route 66, a trip I have dreamed of for a long time, and someday I will do the entire length in one long, leisurely road trip”

9. Desert Rose – Sting

This song is apparently about when Adam was banished from the garden of Eden.

But when I listen to it, I think of travel and it transports me straight to the Middle East.

“I dream of rain, I dream of gardens in the desert sand I wake in vain, I dream of love as time runs through my hand Sweet desert rose Each of her veils, a secret promise This desert flower No sweet perfume ever tortured me more than this…”

10. Where the Streets Have No Name by U2

The song is inspired by the streets of Ethiopia where there aren’t (or weren’t) any street names.

I remember cycling through Africa and we barely saw a road sign.

At the time, Ireland was still under a lot of civil unrest and Bono wrote about a place where class, religion and income are not indicitve of the street they live on.

“I want to feel sunlight on my face I see that dust cloud disappear without a trace I wanna take shelter from the poison rain Where the streets have no name.”

11. Sympathy For The Devil by The Rolling Stones

Daniel Stein Says “ Sympathy For the Devil makes you want to drive. Who wouldn’t include this in their best travel songs playlist?”

This travel song had the most votes in our survey.

So it had to be on our playlist even though it isn’t really about travel. It does talk about historical events around the world though. 

“I stuck around St. Petersburg When I saw it was a time for a change Killed the czar and his ministers Anastasia screamed in vain” 

12. On the Road Again by Willy Nelson

Diane Grady .” We were camping year’s ago on Vancouver Island and a big motorhome pulled out playing”On the Road Again” through the loudspeakers. It was hilarious .

But you know what, On the Road Again is one of the most popular songs played when hitting the road.

The words alone. I’m on the road again!

13. I Left My Heart In San Francisco by Tony Bennet

Suggested by Katherine Hill who said, “I left my Heart in San Francisco, of course! This song is the epitome of San Francisco.

Travel Songs don’t have to be about going everywhere. They can be about one place and this is the ultimate love story dedicated to San Francisco.

Add it to your playlist on Amazon

14. Montego Bay by Amazulu

Whenever we go to Jamaica we sing this song. It is perfect for travel.

It not only captures the spirit and energy of Jamaica, it explains a lot about the island.

They drive on the island, they drink rum from a silver tray and greet you like a brother would.

“Vernon’ll meet me when the BOAC lands Keys to th M. G. will be in his hands Adjust to the driving ‘n’ I’m on my way It’s all on the right side in Montego Bay

BOAC is a British airplane and I love how they say, “it’s all on the right side, because when you are in Jamaica, you drive British style.

15. Midnight Train To Georgia by Gladys Knight and the Pips

Lauren Mcleod  made this addition to our playlist.

She says “ Even though it’s about heading home instead of away, it sure gets me groovin’ along like I want to leave.”

“The world is his, his and ‘ers alone Oh he’s leavin’ On that midnight train to Georgia (leavin’ on the midnight train) Said he’s goin’ back to find (goin’ back to find) Oh a simpler place in time”

You can also download on Amazon

16. Roam by the B52s

Genelle Gregorio “ Roam “ by the B-52s is a fantastic song for slideshows of your travels and to get you all pumped up about traveling and seeing the world.

“Roam if you want to Roam around the world Roam if you want to Without wings, without wheels Roam if you want to Roam around the world Roam if you want to Without anything but the love we feel”

In our hearts, aren’t we all roamers at heart?

17. Leaving on a Jet Plane by Chantal Kreviazuk

Jenny Leach “ We love this track when we are traveling . Leaving on a Jet Plane just screams travel song! Famous recordings are from Peter Paul and Mary, and John Denver.

“All my bags are packed I’m ready to go I’m standin’ here outside your door I hate to wake you up to say goodbye”

While the song is more about leaving for work (most likely the life of a rock n roll band, it still makes us think about traveling.

This song has been re-done a lot over the years, our favorite version is from the movie Armageddon  by Chantal Kreviazuk.

18. Kokomo by The Beach Boys

Keith Jenkins of Velvet Escape chose Kokomo. This makes me think of the beach for sure.

What we love about Kokomo is that it is a made up place by the Beach Boys, but it sure makes you want to go there. And it captures the spirit of the islands.

19. Graceland by Paul Simon

Sheri Anderson Wallace  said. “ I love that travel song because it captures all the pieces of a road trip. What could be more of a travel song than a song about road tripping?

We say, it also inspired us to get ourselves to Graceland and see Elvis’ home in Memphis Tennessee.

We’ll never forget visiting Kenya and seeing photographs of Paul Simon at a lodge we stayed at in the Masai Mara. He stayed here with Carry Fisher and it was this place that inspired his music for the album Graceland. I think that was one of the coolest things to see that we stayed at the same lodge.

2 0. Born to be Wild by Steppenwolf

Bonnie Paridaen says “ By Steppenwolf Baby!”  Need we say more?

“Get your motor runnin’ Head out on the highway Lookin’ for adventure And whatever comes our way Yeah Darlin’ go make it happen Take the world in a love embrace Fire all of your guns at once And explode into space.”

Born to Be Wild is all about taking a motorcycle trip across the country. The movie isn’t bad either.

21. New York State of Mind by Billie Joel

Merav Benaia  told us that it’s the travel song that makes me want to pack my bag and hop on a flight. (event though it’s about taking the bus)

Some folks like to get away Take a holiday from the neighborhood Hop a flight to Miami Beach or to Hollywood But I’m takin’ a Greyhound on the Hudson River line I’m in a New York state of mind

I love New York and this is a love song dedicated to the beautiful State. 

Get New York State of Mind on Amazon

22. Sailing, Christopher Cross

Stephanie Broschart stated. “The lyrics from Sailing totally make for a great travel song.”

It’s not far to never-never land, no reason to pretend And if the wind is right you can find the joy of innocence again Oh, the canvas can do miracles, just you wait and see. Believe me.

23. Proud Mary – Tina Turner

Whenever we’re in New Orleans , this is the song that comes to mind. It has amazing energy and gets you in the mood to hop on a riverboat and explore!

Big wheel keep on turnin’ Proud Mary keep on burnin’ Rollin’, rollin’, rollin’ on the river

It wasn’t until we took a riverboat tour in New Orleans that we even understood what big wheel keeps on turnin’ meant. It’s the big wheel that propels these riverboats. Cool eh?

24. American Woman by The Guess Who

Lorna Hazen-Francavilla said.  “ It is one of those “roll down the windows and makes crank the tunes kind of songs!”

Even though it is a song about dissing America, a lot of people look at it as a tribute to America. Regardless, it is a song that has a lot of energy.

Check it out on Amazon .

25. Man in the Mirror by Micheal Jackson

Claire Algarme “ I like the beat and the message of the song. It also reminds me to be open to everything I see & meet in my travels and how to be a better person at the end of my journeys.

We love the words of The Man in the Mirror .

Travel creates compassion. It brings people together and it is the best education.

This song empowers that feeling. Through travel we have often been compelled to make a difference.

If you want to make the world a better place Take a look at yourself, and then make a change

26. Kathmandu

When we were in Kathmandu before climbing to Everest Base Camp in Nepal.

This song captures the wanderlust of travel.

“I figure baby I’ve got nothing to lose, I’m tired of being blue, That’s why I’m going to Kathmandu Up to the mountains where I’m going to.”

It’s such a fun song.

Check it out on Amazon

27. London Calling by the Clash

Okay, so it might be an anti travel song, but if you just listen to the chorus, London is calling!

so even though the lyrics are pretty angry and depressing, I always sing it when I go to London.

“The ice age is coming, the sun’s zooming in Meltdown expected, the wheat is growing thin Engines stop running, but I have no fear ‘Cause London is drowning I live by the river”

28. Coming to America by Neil Diamond

I said this in our best road trip songs post, and I’ll say it again, I loved listening to this song while cycling down the continent of Africa .

Coming to America captures the hope and freedom of what was America.

Far We’ve been traveling far Without a home But not without a star Free Only want to be free We huddle close Hang on to a dream

The world looked America for so much when he sang this. Hopefully, it will get it’s welcoming status back again in our life.

But in the meantime, we love listening to Neil Diamond, he is the coolest cat in town.

29. Rambling Man by The Allman Brothers

Voted by – Rasheed Hooda – It’s a classic

“I’m on my way to New Orleans this mornin’ I’m leavin’ out of Nashville, Tennessee They’re always having a good time down on the bayou Lord, them Delta women think the world of me”

30. Laredo by Band of Horses

Catherine Reyes   says.”It has been my favourite of song to inspire travel for the past three months. It’s pretty recent and has that good on the road again feel.

“Gonna take a trip to Laredo Gonna take a dip in the lake Oh, I’m at a crossroads with myself I don’t got no one else”

31. Istanbul not Constantinople by They Might Be Giants

I had never heard this song before watching the Umbrella Academy on Netflix. When I heard it, it was my new favourite travel song.

We’ve been to Istanbul many times and we did know that it was once called Constantinople.

Istanbul was Constantinople Now it’s Istanbul, not Constantinople Been a long time gone, Constantinople Now it’s Turkish delight on a moonlit night

So now whenever we go back, you know we are going to be singing this song. It is so much fun.

Seriously, give it a listen!

And add it to your playlist through Amazon $1.29

32. Carolina on my Mind by James Taylor

I just love James Taylor’s calm and soothing voice. And that is exactly what travel is meant to do – calm and sooth.

A lot of can’t travel right now, but we do go to places in our mind, and this captures that daydreaming part of our lives where we imagine being somewhere else.

“In my mind I’m gone to Carolina Can’t you see the sunshine? Can’t you just feel the moonshine? Ain’t it just like a friend of mine To hit me from behind? Yes, I’m gone to Carolina in my mind.”

33. California Dreaming – Mamas and the Papas

I think we all feel this way about California on a winter’s day:

I’d be safe and warm, If I was in L.A. California Dreaming, On such a winter’s day?

And who doesn’t love the vocal harmonies of the Mamas and the Papas?

Start dreaming and get it now.

33. Bali Eyes – Porno for Pyros

When traveling through South East Asia, we discovered this song and became huge fans of the unplugged version by Porno for Pyros.

Ate a mushroom turned into Bali Didn’t look it just jumped down my throat I was starting to die until I Took a trip to Bali Their eyes are god In a glass full of jelly Bali in my eyes

Once we reached Bali, we couldn’t stop playing this one. I think you’ll like it!

34. Sand in My Shoes – Dido

This song captures how amazing travel can be, but how much of a let down it is when you get home.

“Two weeks away feels like the whole world should have changed, But I’m home now, and things still look the same I think I’ll leave it ’til tomorrow to unpack, Try to forget for one night that I’m back in my flat On the road where the cars never stop going through the night, To a life where I can’t watch the sun set”

35. New York by Alicia Keys

There are so many songs about New York City, we could have created a travel song playlist all about New York alone! (Hey that’s a great idea! )

But we could only choose one and while Frank Sinatra, Beastie Boys, and even New York New York from Guys and Dolls springs to mind, I’m going with Alicia Keys beautiful song about New York.

In New York! Concrete jungle where dreams are made of There’s nothing you can’t do now you’re in New York! These streets will make you feel brand new Big lights will inspire you Now you’re in New York

Thank you to everyone who contributed to our Best Travel Songs Playlist. I found a lot of songs I’d never heard of, some old classics and some fun ones too!

Save this list to Pinterest to share these songs about travel.

Do you have a favourite travel song? Share it with us and see if it makes the list!

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• How to Travel the World – The Ultimate Travel Resource

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25 thoughts on “The Ultimate Travel Songs Playlist to Inspire Wanderlust”

Ah these are some great songs! Some old school, some new, it’s perfect! Its pretty much my karaoke list too. Thanks so much for sharing!

Africa by Toto is classic. Its my favourite one :))) Does anyone use a travel itinerary on the worldee? For inspiration?

Please add the Spanish song Ay Carmela to your playlist.

Haha of course Sweet Home Alabama when you are cruising through bama!

Admiring the time and effort you put into your blog and detailed information you offer. This is the first time i am reading your post and admire that you posted article which gives users lot of information regarding particular topic thanks for this share.

This list is as bad as you could do without trying to be the worst… One Jason Mraz is bad enough, but two? And no Canned Heat “Going Up The Country”.

Great suggestion with – going up the Country.

Thank You for this amazing list, A Playlist for Best English, Hindi and Bengali songs for travel is a very tough work and you have done a great work.

Great list, I’m glad I contributed to the list 😀 I like Midnight train to Georgia. I don’t know bunch of the song, but now I need to have this playlist, I want to hear what others suggested! .-= Dina´s last blog ..Top 8 Animal Street Signs from Australia and New Zealand =-.

We are putting a playlist together on playlist.com when we have the final list compiled we will be putting up the playlist as well so everyone can hear. We didn’t know a few of the songs either, they are awesome. Can’t wait until monday when the new post goes out.

That’s cool! Looking forward to having the playlist 🙂

Hey, hows about something a BIT less cheesy though guys n gals. I give you M.Ward’s Paul’s Song, beautifully mournful and full of bittersweet lonesomeness.

‘How does it feel to be travelling, to live your life on the train oand the aeroplane. Well I ain’t gonna lie to you. Well every town is just the same, when you’ve left your heart in the Portland rain.’ Check it out! .-= Jools Stone´s last blog .. Edinburgh TweetUp Hatches =-.

Thanks Jools, Put it on our facebook fan page and we can include it in our list. Sounds like beautiful lyrics, I would love to include it:)

Whoever submitted “Leaving on a Jet Plane” by John Denver must be unaware that he perished in an experimental aircraft.

Haha, I forgot about that. Very ironic.

Great idea guys! I found myself spending too much time on YouTube 😉 and realised I have so many favourite travel songs I can hardly choose. I chose New York State of Mind; I think it is obvious it’s been a while since I last visited my one and only NYC. .-= Merav | AllWays Rental´s last blog ..Take the Tranz Alpine Train and Dream a Little =-.

Great list!! we have a theme song not so much a travel song. What do you think?? 🙂 http://gotpassport.org/2010/01/08/our-gotpassport-family-theme-song/ .-= GotPassport´s last blog .. That’s Right We’re Bad We’re Locals OK- Sort Of! =-.

#40 is my favourite on the list… I remember listening to this song watching the sun going down on Caye Caulker in Belize… amazing! .-= Brendan van Son´s last blog ..Fun Fotography on the Salt Flats =-.

Such an awesome list!!! .-= Andi´s last blog ..Love- Head Over Heels For The Amalfi Coast =-.

I’d love to make a second vote for Weather with You — such a great suggestion by Career Break HQ! (Especially because you two are such fundamentally happy people, and it’s a fundamentally happy song. :)) .-= Melanie@TravelsWithTwo´s last blog ..Strolling Through Hacienda Baru =-.

Thanks Melanie. We will be opening votes on the 9th, looks like it might be a winner already:)

My vote is for the Grateful Dead, the most comforting travel music I can think of. Trucking up to Buffalo is the best album for travel. .-= Shawn´s last blog ..FeedBurner’s Delusional Subscription Statistics =-.

Thanks Shawn. I don’t know if you want to enter your song. You still have a week. We need a specific song, sorry not an album and we have to have it on our facebook page to be included in the final list. Sorry, but we have to follow the rules:)

Excellent list of songs, and such a fun contest! I love that people who are submitting their favorites aren’t just pulling them out of thin air – the songs have real meaning to them…..I’ve been enjoying reading all the entries on your Facebook Page. .-= Trisha´s last blog .. Increase Your Travel Writing Exposure and Readership with Syndication =-.

Thanks Trisha, I have to say we are blown away with the song choices. They are so clever, heartfelt and interesting. It puts my post to shame about favorite travel songs. People are coming up with better choices than I ever could have thought of. It really is the ultimate playlist!

15 Best Songs About Travel

Is there anything better than cranking up the radio when you’re on the road? There’s something perfectly transporting about letting music fill your car, or just your head if you’re traveling publicly and need to use headphones. It’s almost as if the music gets you to your destination sooner, so it’s no coincidence that many of our most popular songs are about places to escape to when life has gotten to be too much.

We’ve put together the ultimate playlist of 15 classic songs about popular travel destinations. From the sunny shores of California to the gritty streets of New York and across the ocean, the list has something for every traveler. Or, if you’re just daydreaming about your next trip, let our list inspire you. What will it be? Aruba? Jamaica? Bermuda? Bahama?

1. 'Kokomo' by The Beach Boys

Well, we gave it away above, but of course this classic from the Beach Boys leads off our list! It’s the most recent hit in a long string of them for this band. Most Beach Boys songs celebrated the joys of California, but this one heads south to a place “off the Florida Keys” where you can “get away from it all" — Kokomo.

Sadly, Kokomo isn’t a real place, but the relaxed vibe of this song perfectly captures the feeling many of us want when we travel.

2. 'Carolina in My Mind' by James Taylor

James Taylor grew up in North Carolina, and his classic song about escaping back there when life is too tough perfectly captures the allure of his home state. The bridge of the song, “Dark and silent, late last night, I think I might have heard the highway call…” is a familiar feeling to any born traveler.

Listen to this song for long and you’ll be pulling up your favorite travel app  to see how much a direct flight to the Outer Banks is. Gone, you're gone…

3. 'Midnight Train to Georgia' by Gladys Knight and the Pips

Continuing our journey through the American South, we’d be remiss if we didn’t reference this iconic song by Ms. Knight and her back-up singers, which manages to refer to both a glorious destination (Georgia, of course) and the means to get there (that midnight train).

It’s probably not possible to take a midnight train to Georgia or much of anywhere else these days, but oh, the harmonies on this song!

4. 'Take Me Home, Country Roads' by John Denver

When we took a poll for favorite songs about specific destinations, this one was mentioned over and over again. And while it’s such an evocative celebration of West Virginia’s natural beauty that it became the state’s official song in 2014, that longing captured in Denver’s voice is really what makes the song universal.

Who of us hasn’t longed to go back “to the place I belong”? By the way, Denver had never even been to West Virginia when he wrote it!

5. 'Sweet Home Alabama' by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Here’s another absolute classic that’s about traveling home, which we defy you not to sing whenever anyone mentions traveling to Alabama.

Not only has this song made iconic appearances in several movies (like Nicole Kidman’s unforgettable dance to it in "To Die For"), it manages to diss to Neil Young, as well. But, oh, that guitar riff! Roll down the windows and turn up the volume…

6. 'California Dreaming' by the Mamas and the Papas

The four-part harmony of the Mamas and the Papas evocatively captures the longing many of us have felt on a dreary day at home, when we’ve dreamt of our packing our bags and heady to more sunny climates immediately.

“If I didn’t tell her,” they sing, “I could leave today.” It’s so tempting.

7. 'I Left My Heart in San Francisco' by Tony Bennett

Bennett is just one of many artists to record this classic, but his version is iconic. The song namechecks quite a few places we wouldn’t mind going – Paris, Rome – but then returns the singer to the best place of all, San Francisco, where the “golden sun will shine for me.”

San Francisco can be pretty grey, actually, but the song still hits the spot. Who of us wouldn’t take a trip to see the Golden Gate Bridge right this very moment?

8. 'I’ve Been to Memphis' by Lyle Lovett

While this song isn’t as well-known as others on the list, it deserves to be. Lyle Lovett released in 1992, but it has the sound of a much older song, the kind Ray Charles might have sung.

Lovett mentions a long list of places he’s been, such as Memphis, El Paso, San Antonio, only to return to his central problem: he loves a woman “what I don't know.”

Anyone who’s spent too much time on the road trying not to think about someone at home will understand.

9. 'April in Paris' by Ella Fitzgerald

Can you put together a road trip playlist and not include some Ella? We certainly can’t. This swinging song evokes springtime in Paris so beautifully, with the lyrics about “chestnuts in blossom” that it takes all of our will power not to buy a ticket for de Gaulle for next spring.

“What have you done to my heart?” Ella asks the city. We totally understand.

10. 'Atlantic City' by Bruce Springsteen

At the opposite end of the music spectrum is this classic rock number. Springsteen makes Atlantic City seem as gritty as can be, between the mobsters, the sketchy boardwalk and the cross-city bus. But still, the song is alluring.

Maybe it’s the promise that if we put “your make up on, put your hair up pretty” we can meet the Boss tonight in Atlantic City? It’s not an offer we’d pass up.

11. 'I Happen to Like New York' by Judy Garland

Look, there are dozens of great songs about New York, from “New York, New York” to “Empire State of Mind,” so we decided to go with a less obvious classic.

Garland’s version of Cole Porter’s song is swell. It manages to mention Hackensack, New Jersey (which is rejected) and a pastrami on rye at the Carnegie Deli (which is celebrated).

As the lyrics inform us, “The more I see New York, the more I think of it.” It’s a sentiment that many of us can agree with wholeheartedly.

12. 'Margaritaville' by Jimmy Buffet

But when the churning energy of cities gets to be too much, you’ll want to head south again, this time to a yet another place in that’s more a state of mind than a geographic location: Margaritaville.

Sometimes trips are really an excuse to waste away, and Buffet’s beloved song perfectly captures that mood. Grab a salt shaker and a bottle, and stay for a while. It’s not like Jimmy’s going to urge you to be more productive.

13. 'Africa' by Toto

We know, it’s already in your head: "dodo dodo dodo dooo." How much this song really has to do with the continent is anyone’s guess, but for many people, this is the song that comes to mind when Africa is mentioned as a travel destination.

The sense of longing and wonder that suffuses it is probably not a bad mindset for a traveler to any destination, but especially to Africa. Bless those rains.

14. 'Back in the U.S.S.R.' by The Beatles

Sure, you technically can’t travel to the U.S.S.R. anymore, but this song is still perfect for a trip to Russia!

The song parodies the Beach Boys’ “California Girls” a bit, with the lyrics like “The Ukraine girls really knock me out,” and the song is just a lot of fun: try to resist singing along to the line: “Georgia on my my my my mind”!

We could only hope a trip to Russia would be this fun!

15. 'America' by Neil Diamond

There are plenty of songs with “America” in the title, too, but we decided that this song by Neil Diamond, which manages somehow to be both a little campy and a little touching, perfectly captured the desire many of us, or our ancestors, felt: to get to the U.S.A. “on the boats and on the planes.”

Sure, the synthesizer is cheesy, but when you think of the amazing travel destinations the States offers, it’s hard not to agree that we’ve all “got a dream to take them there.”

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Top 25 Songs About Traveling

There’s nothing better than the feeling of being inspired by music, and one of the best ways to connect with that inspiration is when you’re traveling. When traveling, there are so many great songs about traveling that fit any scenario – whether you’re traveling by sea, air, or on a road trip with friends . This is what makes travel memorable at times, as your mind always connects the moment to what you heard and what inspired you at the time.

What we’ve compiled is a short list of songs about travel – ones that mean something to us and that either make us remember traveling to a different location, or even to some degree traveling back in time to a place in our lives that the song made relevant.

Table of Contents

Tom Petty – Running Down a Dream

This is the best road trip song ever – no question. There’s nothing better than listening to Running Down a Dream with an open road and your foot to the floor!

ZZ Top – La Grange

There’s something dirty about La Grange, and ZZ Top in general, that makes you feel like you’re on a chopper somewhere in Arizona. Maybe that’s why the song was used so prominently in  Easy Rider .

Vanessa Carlton – A Thousand Miles

A smash hit from the 90s, this is a great song and, hey, the video is shot in the middle of the road, right!

Billy Joel – Vienna

One of the prettiest songs ever – it’s just beautiful. Listening to this song while actually in Vienna is a memory I’ll never forget, and if you don’t cry in a situation like that, you have a heart of stone.

Johnny Cash – I’ve Been Everywhere

Great song by the coolest dude ever. It’s the definitive travel song that’s blatantly actually about traveling and saying everywhere you’ve been.

Allman Brothers Band – Ramblin’ Man

Great song from the 1970s that’s another one of the quintessential travel songs. Such a great band.

Red Hot Chili Peppers – Scar Tissue

While not directly about travel, it’s one of those songs I’ve listened to on a handful of road trips and, out of respect for those moments, I had to include it on the list.

The Wallflowers – One Headlight

Great song, great band. Son of the legend Bob Dylan , Jacob Dylan made quite a reputation for himself with The Wallflowers, and their biggest hit is a great song about a road trip as a result of heartbreak.

Frank Sinatra – Fly Me To The Moon

One of our favorite artists, we’ve basically adopted the rule that if you don’t like Frank Sinatra, you must be dead inside. This is an absolute classic, and is famous for being butchered nightly in karaoke nights across the world.

Joe Walsh – Rocky Mountain Way

The former Eagles member , this is a great song that’s a wonderful backdrop to any road trip.

Steppenwolf – Magic Carpet Ride

You might notice there’s a lot of 70s on this list, and there’s a reason for that. Songs like this rock.

Paper Lions – Travelling

Not particularly a favorite, but it’s actually called Travelling, so don’t we have to include it?

Lynyrd Skynyrd – The Ballad of Curtis Loew

John Denver – Leaving On A Jet Plane

Great song, great artist… gone too soon.

Journey – Wheel in the Sky

Great song that’s really inspiring, and deep.

Audioslave – Gasoline

One of our favorite bands, and a great song for a road trip.

Joe Walsh – Life’s Been Good

Kind of a quirky song by a very quirky guy.

Creedence Clearwater Revival – Travellin’ Band

Great song written by a famous jerk.

Deftones – Passenger

Great song, and one of the heavier sounding bands or artists on the list.

Frank Sinatra – The Girl From Ipanema

Another Frank Sinatra classic.

Oasis – All Around The World

Another famous song by a well-known pricks.

Styx – Come Sail Away

A song that just doesn’t die, and immediately makes you think of being on a ship heading out to see.

The Mamas & The Papas – California Dreaming

A hippy classic that takes you away to the west coast U.S.

America – A Horse with No Name

Amazing song that is one of my Dad’s favorites. I kind of love it, too.

Incubus – Drive

I mean, it’s kind of about driving, but kind of not. Still sort of about traveling, and really deep.

Audioslave – I Am the Highway

Great song with more road trip references.

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The 10 Best Traveling Wilburys Songs of All-Time

The 1970s may have been the era of the supergroup, but the most super of them all arrived nearly two decades later. Formed by George Harrison , Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan , and Tom Petty in the late ’80s, the Traveling Wilburys bought together some of the best singers and songwriters of the 20th century.

But while they may have been the ultimate supergroup, they were also the antithesis of every supergroup that had come before. There was no self-importance, no egos, and no attempt to be anything other than a bunch of song and dance men trying to introduce a little sunshine into the world – something that, as our pick of the 10 best Traveling Wilburys songs of all time shows, they more than achieved.

10. Congratulations

Kicking off our roundup of the 10 best Traveling Wilburys songs of all time is Congratulations, a slow-burning, emotionally charged number that chronicles the breakdown of a relationship. Despite the heaviness of the subject matter, the song, like the rest of the band’s output, is studded with enough humor and freewheeling whimsy to give it a sense of charming buoyancy.

9. Heading for the Light

Heading for the Light was written primarily by George Harrison, who also takes the lion’s share of the vocals alongside Jeff Lynne. The lyrics, which describe the singer’s journey from a point of doubt and confusion to a place of surety, have been described by author Ian Inglis and various other biographers as Harrison’s “most joyous account to date of the spiritual journey that had saved him from despair.”

An upbeat rocker with an exhilarating melody and a wonderfully ebullient vocal performance from the two leads, it’s one of the most joyously life-affirming records in the band’s catalog. Released as a single in October 1988, it reached number 7 on Billboard’s Album Rock Tracks chart.

8. Nobody’s Child

After George Harrison’s wife, Olivia, asked for the band’s help in raising awareness for the plight of thousands of Romanian orphans left abandoned in state-run orphanages following the fall of communism, Bob Dylan suggested they record Nobody’s Child, an old pop standard from the 1940s.

Harrison subsequently reworked the lyrics to include a new verse about the abandoned children, and the lead vocals were shared out between Dylan, Harrison, Petty and Lynne. It was released as a charity single in June 1990, with all proceeds from the sale going towards the Romanian Angel Appeal Foundation.

There’s some jaw-dropping guitar playing from George Harrison on Rattled, but the stars of the show on this rockabilly showstopper are Roy Orbison and Jeff Lynne, whose exquisite vocals add enough body and character to the song for it to get up and walk. A lusty romp rich in humor and good-time vibes, it’s an unmissable highlight from the band’s equally unmissable debut album.

6. She’s My Baby

She’s My Baby, the opening track to The Traveling Wilbury’s final album (and the first following the death of Roy Orbison), Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3, was written by all four remaining members of the band, with each also taking a share of the vocals. Released in November 1990 as the first single from the album, it became one of the band’s biggest hits, spending three weeks at number 2 on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks.

5. Last Night

As Classic Rock Review explains , most of the writing of Last Night was taken care of by Tom Petty, with the rest of the group jumping in from time to time with their own contributions. The approach demonstrates one of the key strengths of the band’s attitude to songcraft, with Petty’s straightforward, three-chord folk pattern contrasting beautifully with Orbison’s elaborate, Latin-inspired bridges.

A whimsical tale of romance laced with a vague menace and a big helping of humor, it’s a delight, particularly in respect of how genuinely joyful the band seems to be in each other’s company.

4. Dirty World

The second Dylan-led track from the band’s debut is Dirty World, a loose, buoyant rocker about lasting love. Sung with a lusty relish by Dylan, it’s a gleeful, toe-tapping delight, with a propulsive melody and enough energetic blasts of horn to keep you bopping the whole way through. The final round featuring all four members of the band adds to the freewheeling appeal.

3. Tweeter and the Monkey Man

According to Wikipedia , Tweeter and the Monkey Man is thought to have been written as a playful homage to Bruce Springsteen, someone who at the time was constantly being referred to as the next in a very long line of Bob Dylans.

Considering the number of Springsteen song titles scattered throughout the lyrics, not to mention the seedy, Springsteen-esque story filled with desperate characters and dark goings-on, it could well be. Either way, it’s a delicious slice of rock, with a dark, folky melody and elaborate arrangments that perfectly echo the cinematic quality of the lyrics.

Since its release, it’s been covered by numerous artists, including Canadian rock band Headstone, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and P. Paul Fenech of The Meteors.

2. End of the Line

End of the Line, the closing track from The Traveling Wilburys’ multi-platinum selling 1989 debut, finds the band on familiar territory, singing about spiritual strength and survival with the same sense of warm camaraderie that undercuts the entire album.

Each of the band’s members takes a turn at the mic, creating what All Music describes as a fun, almost hootenanny style. Released in January 1989 as the band’s second single, the song peaked at No. 63 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and at No. 2 on the Album Rock Tracks chart.

1. Handle with Care

George Harrison and Jeff Lynne had originally intended Handle with Care to serve as a bonus track to one of Harrison’s European singles, but Harrison’s record label recognized its strength and suggested they find a bigger outlet for it… a request that subsequently led to them forming the Wilburys.

Fittingly, the band issued the song as their debut single, with Harrison taking care of the verses, and Orbison and Dylan managing the bridges. With its joyous camaraderie and theme of survival, it was a superb introduction to the group, and remains their most enduringly popular record to this day.

You can also read:

• The 20 Best Allman Brothers Band Songs of All-Time
• The 10 Best Anne Murray Songs of All-Time
• The 10 Best Black Flag Songs of All-Time
• The 10 Best Frank Sinatra Albums of All Time
• The 10 Best Rare Earth Songs of All-Time

No, do not confuse this Thomas Newman with the composer. But I'm still a music lover nonetheless. You'll catch me mostly writing articles about the artists and bands I love. Maybe some theory. Maybe some analysis. Whatever lands in the world of music is something I'm likely interested in. In particular I'm a huge fan of classic rock and the oldies. Zeppelin are among my favorites and Foghat's "Slowride" is one of my favorite tracks.

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House of Lords is a hard rock/heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. The band was formed in 1987 by ex-Angel members James Christian (singer) and George Lynch (guitarist) and drummer Ken Mary, and bassist…

Ranking All The Songs from the Ghostbusters Soundtrack

Ghostbusters is a 1984 American supernatural comedy film directed and produced by Ivan Reitman and written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis. The film stars Bill Murray, Aykroyd, Ramis, Rick Moranis, Sigourney Weaver, Annie Potts,…

The 10 Best Ace of Base Songs of All Time

Ace of Base was founded in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 1990. However, the band was initially known as Tech Noir. Brothers Silas Bergen and Malin Bergen, alongside their sister Jenny, started the group. Ulf Ekberg was…

Heading for the Light should be #3, if not higher.

One of many I love ❤️ to dance to. Get rhythm and 💓 💓 beats.

Mindbogglingly good. It does not and can not get better than this.

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