Best 8 alternative road trip songs

Every road trip is different, so the usual dad rock lists that seems to assume everyone is driving down Route 66 about to start a new life in California, feet hanging out the window of a Cadillac without a care in the world is just irrelevant to Martin stuck in traffic on the M6. Does Martin really want to listen to Thin Lizzy’s The Boys are Back in Town when it’s thundering down with rain on the M6 through Birmingham because he didn’t want to pay the toll and he’s just been cut off by a Vauxhall Mokka X? No, he doesn’t, because every road trip is different.

I’ve attempted to split these song choices into different situations, rather than one playlist for one setting. Hopefully one of these applies to you.

Immigrant Song

For an early morning start

OK, so this one might appear on the odd dad rock list, but it’s justifiable by the energy levels that every early morning start needs. I’d have preferably chosen a song from either their Led Zeppelin II or Led Zeppelin IV albums, but the iconic Immigrant Song comes from their 3rd album. Use this song as your triple espresso guaranteed to get you going every morning.

I want to break free

If you’re stuck in traffic on the M25

So, you’re well into your road trip and you’ve hit the inevitable traffic jam that is the M25.There’s never any song recommendations for how to get through this situation, but there is one that springs to mind that is cathartic whilst gridlocked. Queen’s I want to break free may be a bit on the nose, but as soon as it starts playing, you remember how uplifting and liberating it makes you feel. It is less cathartic if you’ve left the sat nav on to interrupt with ‘recalculating’.

It was a good day

For a chilled cruise

It’s a sunny day, you’re in no rush to reach your destination, maybe you don’t even have a destination, you’re just driving. What’s the perfect song for the occasion? Well, we’re heading to the initially unlikely source of Ice Cube. Before you succumb completely to your initial gut reaction, just have a listen to It Was A Good Day and tell me it isn’t the perfect chilled drive song… Apology accepted

Night Call

For a night drive through the city

It’s the dead of night. It’s dark. Street lights guide you through a concrete jungle. What’s the mood setting song? Well, I’ve taken inspiration/completely ripped the idea from the film Drive. The song is Night Call by Kavinsky and if you don’t feel like you’re Ryan Gosling after a minute, then you can throw away this entire list, because I’ve failed you.

Tints

For a long motorway cruise

When there’s not much action happening in the car and you’re staring at that long, straight stretch of motorway wanting to both stay alert and chill at the same time, what do you put on? Don’t worry, I’ve got this one sorted. Tints by Anderson .Paak ft. Kentrick Lamar is both perfectly relaxing whilst having that little bit of bounce to keep you alert and content at the same time.

Go Your Own Way

For a leisurely countryside drive

It’s the weekend. You’re in the countryside and everything is right with the world. You’re feeling as happy as the actors after they’ve taken a few Imodium tablets. What’s the perfect song to keep this momentum going? Look no further than Fleetwood Mac’s Go Your Own Way. It’s a well-known classic, but it’s the perfect countryside road trip son.

The end

For when you’re stuck in the rain

This suggestion is specifically for Martin, who’s now not moved in the past 40 minutes on the M25 and it’s starting to look like he’ll have to cancel all the plans he had that afternoon. Unfortunately, a 1994 Vauxhall Astra that’s still inexplicably someone’s daily driver has broken down in the middle of the road. Don’t worry Martin, just pop on The End by The Doors and you’ll start looking at life through a whole new lens.

Kickstart My Heart

For a Sunday drive

This one’s a little more selfish on my part. Most Sunday’s when I want to have a fun drive in the countryside, within 15 minutes I’ll be stuck behind a Rover 45 doing 24mph in a 40mph and it starts to ruin my day. This one is a suggestion for the folks in the Rover to put on to maybe get some motivation to speed up a tad. I’ve gone for Mötley Crüe’s Kickstart My Heart. There’s just enough energy in the song to get them up to the speed limit, without exceeding it. Perfect.

Let us know your favourite road trip songs in the comments.