Music can be your best friend when traveling alone, and your private time when traveling in groups. Whether you are on the road solo or traveling along with friends, your music is probably right there in your pocket with you. Here are my top 12 songs that both inspire me to travel, and keep me company when I am on the road.
Top 12 Travel Songs
12. Wondering Where the Lions are?– Bruce Cockburn
11. Home-Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros
10. Down in the Valley-The Head and the Heart
9. Stones on the Road-Saint Alvia
8. Carolina in my Mind-James Taylor
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKOhDNsS4OQ
7. King of the Road– Roger Miller
6. Life is a Highway-Tom Cochrane
5. Travelling Alone-Passenger
4. Welcome Home-Radical Face
3. On the Road Again– Willie Nelson
2. The Drifter- Devour the Day
1. On the Road-Canned Heat
Conor says
Time to hop into the Mustang and hit the open road with these tunes blasting out of the radio – some great choices, haven’t listened to Passenger in loooong time!
Kimberly Erin says
ahaha looks like this post made you feel like a Big Sur style road trip! What would you have on your list?
Himanshu says
great and well thought off compilation
Kimberly Erin says
Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed it
Nikita says
On the Road Again and Home perpetually flood my head when I travel. Great list!
Kimberly Erin says
ahahah you have great taste in music then…because :) me too
Julie @ Girl on the Move says
I love having a good travel playlist and for me absolute favorite is “Life is a Highway”…such a good song so I was happy to see it on this list!
Kimberly Erin says
We used to listen to that as kids every time we were in the car on our 5 hour drive to the cottage….ever since then its really radiated travel to me :) its so good
Stacey Valle says
I never heard of any of these songs! The only song I know so far and like that gives me the vibe of traveling is Top of the World by Imagine Dragons. :) Thanks for sharing these!
Kimberly Erin says
I thought about putting them on…check some of these out, you might even become a fan
melody pittman says
Good selection. I just came back from Black Sea cruise and heard “King of the Road” twice! I like “I’ve Been Everywhere” by Johnny Cash, too.
Kimberly Erin says
King of the Road is such a classic, when ever I am home my Dad sings it to me, ahah his one and only drifting daughter
Emily says
Love “Home”! What about “These boots are made for walkin’!”? haha.
Kimberly Erin says
AHAHAH the boots are made for walking….thats a cute addition, I never thought of that one.. ahaha anymore where that came from?
Chris says
LOL, sadly I only know 2 of these songs (at least by name)!
I’ll have to give them all a sample when I have decent internet.
One of my favourite travel songs is probably a bit more obscure (not is it technically about travel, but some of the words suit), is ‘Wide Open Road’ by The Triffids :-)
Kimberly Erin says
Thats perfect!! give me more songs like that! :) Thats what I was going for… I didnt want to do the most popular travel songs, because thats a little bit repetitive, but instead I wanted to do my top picks personally, and then maybe give others some new jams they might fall in love with :)
katja - globetotting says
I was relieved to see in the comments that I’m not the only one to draw a blank at some of these songs! It’s always good to get some new road trip inspiration, however, so I will be listening to them all! Happy travels!
Kimberly Erin says
Ahh yes I figured some of the songs are a little unknown, but thats what I was going for, not quite a list of most popular travel songs, but a list of my favorites, and maybe some new favorites for others out there
Karla says
Great list selection. On the road again and Life is a high way… perfect companion dor travel
Kimberly Erin says
Thanks so much! Do you have any other favorites, I am always into building up my playlist. I am a music girl for sure.
Tami says
What a great collection of “travel” songs. Makes me want to get up and get going!
Kimberly Erin says
Ahh my ultimate list for trains, planes, walks, buses….
Lieurene Tran says
I actually haven’t heard any of these songs before but it’s still a great, unique list! Seems fitting for a road trip :)
Kimberly Erin says
AHAH Well I am actually glad! because I didn’t want to make alist of ‘most popular travel songs’ but rather a list of personal favorites that might be hidden gems for people, and cause a little wanderlust inspiration:) did it work?
Majesta Zea says
I love ‘Home’! That’s one of my favorite travel songs as well.
Kimberly Erin says
Thats my trekking song…ahaha for some reason when I am wandering through beautiful vistas…this is the song that I always want to hear…im guilty of repeat. AHAH
lucy says
Oops i didn’t know any of these songs but I liked travelling alone by passengers <3
Kimberly Erin says
Thats ok that you didn’t!but now look you have a 12 new bits of inspiration :)
The Educational Tourist says
What a great list! Having some fun listening to some new songs. :)
Gabby | The Globe Wanderers says
Oh my goodness, you included Passenger :). He’s been one of my favourites for a long long time now. He writes perfect lyrics that resonate… have you heard Scare away the Dark? That song pretty much sums up EVERYTHING. Love the list… there’s a few on here i don’t know so thanks for adding to my travel playlist :).
Gabby
Doreen Pendgracs says
What a great idea for a post, Kimberly. And a terrific list of songs. Thx for introducing me to some new songs, and for mentioning some of my favs. One song missing, that I love to play during road trips is Gordon Lightfoot’s Railroad Trilogy (or something like that.) it’s a terrific song to drive thru the mountains of Western Canada.
Elizabeth says
Good collection. Ramblin’ Man bu the Allman Brothers is a personal favorite!
Cherri Megasko says
Music can be inspiration for almost anything. I remember when I first found out we were moving from Chicago to San Diego … I blasted Beach Boys music all the while I packed. It almost made it fun!
Betsy Wuebker | PassingThru says
I love your choices and was thrilled to see many that I recognized as well as some new to me. Nothing beats a road trip with the top down and the music blasting; for that, I choose “Boys of Summer” by Don Henley: “out on the road again, I saw a Deadhead sticker on a Cadillac…” :)
Gemma Two Scots Abroad says
That ‘Home’ songs by Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros just makes me melt every time!
I’d go for Big Jet Plane by Angus and Julia Stone but the STERN* remix (dancier!)
anna says
Gosh, I only know a few out of your list but I love the idea of a travel playlist. I love how certain songs have the power to bring you back to moments you had during your travels!
Laura says
Some really great choices! I love that you posted the videos so it was easy to listen to each one.
Veronika says
HI! Thanks for your selection. Let me add one : The Cranberries – Dreams. I know its very old, but it always gets me into travel moode:)
Ryazan Tristram says
Awwww… great selection of songs!! saving this list! <3
Carolann - One Modern Couple says
Great playlist!! Music is definitely an essential part of our experiences travelling. It can bring such powerful emotions and memories to the forefront and such strong connections are made between places, events and the music we were listening to at the time. You’ve got a few here I need to add and look forward to building some memories with them as the soundtrack :)
Jennifer @ Made all the Difference Travel Blog says
I love Africa by Toto. It inspired me to want to got Africa and explore the world.
Lindsay nieminen says
life is a highway would have to be my favorite! I love having the windows down and singing it at the top of my lungs!
Robyn says
Great choices, ‘Home’ by Edward Sharpe and ‘Welcome Home’ by Radical Face are my go to tunes when adventuring!
http://www.thetechgypsy.com
Trisha Velarmino says
I actually didn’t know half of the list but are familiar with the artists. I was expecting for songs that frequently play on the radio and you surprised me by putting something that not all people know about, but are classics. Thanks for sharing! Xx
Joe Ankenbauer says
Good list here! I need to update my library!
Sanket D. says
love LOVE that you’ve got Passenger on this list. He’s my all time favourite and right at the top of my travel playlists. This particular song in fact is so touching. Not sure you know, but the two stories he sings about, are from people he actually met during his busking days. Such a breath of fresh air to hear artists still making songs out of experience.
Another one of his song called ‘Travelling Song’ (so aptly titled. HA), is also pretty kickass. So is ‘Life’s for the Living’.
Haven’t heard most of the other songs on this list before, perhaps time for a re-shuffle of those old playlists, eh? ;)