It’s hard to imagine a road trip without the open road and an amazing playlist blasting from your speakers. On any type of road trip, there are bound to be long stretches of boring road. A continuous stream of amazing music can be a wonderful source of entertainment. Even if you aren’t on a boring drive, the right song playing while driving through majestic scenery such as the Rocky Mountains or the Pacific Coast Highway can make it even more enjoyable. This post is a guide to help you create an amazing road trip playlist that you won’t get tired of when you set out on your next Outdoorsy adventure!
Pick your device
In the early 2000s, burning a CD was the ultimate way to make a playlist, boy times have changed. Most travelers now use apps like Pandora and Spotify to make playlists. One thing to remember is that often times on road trips, you may find yourself without cell service. Thus, having a playlist downloaded onto your phone or even an old-fashioned CD is the best way to go. Spotify has a subscription where you can download songs and a playlist, otherwise you need service and will have ads to listen to. If your RV/Van is old like mine and the AUX cord has stopped working, a bluetooth speaker can do the trick!
Include some classic road trip travel songs
What is an American road trip without some classic road trip songs. You know the ones that make you feel alive on the open road? Here is a list of some of the classics:
- “Born to Run” by Bruce Springsteen
- “Take it Easy” by the Eagles
- “America” by Simon and Garfunkel
- “I’m Gonna Be (500 miles)” by the Proclaimers
- “Ramblin Man” by the Allman Brothers
Here is a list of songs in the past 10 years that are musts on my road trip playlists:
- “ Home” by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
- “ Mountain Sound” by of Monsters and Men
- “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield
- “Skinny Love” by Bon Iver
- “Renegades” by X Ambassadors
Pick your top two genres
Whether it’s country, rock, classic, indie, hip hop or whatever style of music you like, pick your top two. Once you figure out your top two genres of music, then pick your top 20 songs in each. It can be difficult to think of this all at once. A few days before a road trip it’s a good idea to jot down on notes in your phone as songs come to your memory. Keep adding to the list of songs until there is about 3 hours of songs in your playlist. If your trip is particularly long, 5 hours would be a better goal.
Browse for new songs
When travelers embark on an especially long road trip, it can sometimes be boring. It’s possible to even get sick of your favorite songs when on the open road. I recommend listening to new music when you have cell service and before your trip to keep a fresh playlist. Pandora station or discover on Spotify are great resources for new music!
Podcasts are another great way to be entertained on the road. Check out this post about awesome podcasts for your next road trip.
Now that you are prepared to be entertained on the road, it’s time to start your next adventure. Get out on the open road with an Outdoorsy RV today!
