Top 5 Great RV Road Trip Songs

What makes a song great for road tripping?

With so much great music out there, it’s really tough to decide which songs are the best for any particular mood or activity. It’s important to define the parameters before choosing songs for a playlist, but this is especially important for a road trip, since you may be a captive audience to your own whims for many hours. 

For our money, road trip songs should have at least some of the following characteristics:

1. Upbeat tempo. Although “Superstar” by the Carpenters gave us one of the most memorable road trip singing moments in cinematic history thanks to Chris Farley and David Spade in “Tommy Boy,” the tempo of just 83 beats per minute is far below what we enjoy most in a road trip song. Generally speaking, 100-150 bpm is going to give you a nice driving rhythm, though of course we welcome outliers! 
2. Singable lyrics. Lyrics that inspire adventure, freedom, and possibility about the open road or life in general are likely to engage even the most curmudgeonly traveler. And who doesn’t love it when everyone in the car bursts out into song at the same time?
3. Emotional connection. Whether it’s a memory, a melodic lick, or a specific genre that elicits an emotional response of some sort, you’re most likely to enjoy long trips on the road with music that means something to you. 

Our top 5 playlist picks for RV road trips

“King of the Road” by Roger Miller

No road trip playlist would be complete without Roger Miller’s iconic country/folk take on the thrills of nomadic life. First recorded in 1964, “King of the Road” incorporates the universal desires for freedom and independence with a catchy melody and clever wordplay. Rogers was famous for writing songs in bits and pieces while out on the road touring, and he once shared that he got the idea for “King of the Road” after seeing a sign reading “Trailers for Sale or Rent” late at night outside of Chicago. The song went on to top the Billboard charts and sell over 10 million records, and from the first snaps and Miller’s deep, swaggering vocals, it’s easy to see what makes this a great RV road trip song. 

“Only Wanna Be with You” by Hootie and the Blowfish

Released in 1995, “Only Wanna Be with You” speaks to the profoundly human desire to hold onto a moment or feeling forever. The song’s sweet, longing lyrics combined with lead singer Darius Rucker’s powerfully emotive vocals captures a nostalgia that is relatable and also very specific to the moment in time. The catchy, upbeat melody is a quick study in rock-pop crossover commercial success, as the song reached the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remains a symbolic encapsulation of 1990s pop culture. At 108 bpm, the tempo of “Only Wanna Be with You” falls just within our parameters alongside its powerful emotional pull and singability, making this a great addition to any RV road trip playlist. 

“Good Vibrations” by the Beach Boys

The Beach Boys’ smash hit is famously the product of one of the earliest instances of “stacking” in production, as the instruments and vocals were layered on top of one another to achieve its depth and complexity. This is common practice now, but in 1966, it was groundbreaking, and it paid off in droves as the song is now an absolute classic. Its hummable melody, intricate and fun harmonies deliver an easygoing, positive message at a perfect-for-driving 130 beats per minute. So get out there and pick up your own good RV vibrations on the road with this one!

“I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) by the Proclaimers

A highly singable, super uplifting song from Scottish twin sensation, The Proclaimers, “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles),” is a great choice for any road trip because of its catchy melody, upbeat tempo, and heartfelt lyrics. Over time, it’s become associated with a number of road trip scenes, including its feature in the Johnny Depp film, “Benny and Joon,” which launched its success in the US market, as well as an endearing Superbowl commercial and a road trip scene in the mid-aughts hit television series, “How I Met Your Mother,” in which one of the main characters drives an old car with a tape that only has this song on it stuck in the player. Like every great, somewhat-overplayed joke, this one will go from “awesome” to “annoying” to “endearing,” over and over again. 

“I’m a Believer” by the Monkees OR Smash Mouth

Little known fact: “I’m a Believer” was actually written by Neil Diamond. The Monkees first recorded it in 1966, but when the Smash Mouth version was released as part of the “Shrek” soundtrack in 2001, it quickly became closely associated with the very popular franchise. We think this is a great road trip song because it’s upbeat, has great lyrics you can really belt out, and it’s fun for all ages. If you’re road tripping with a baby boomer, they likely heard the Monkees version on the radio, while Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z can sing along with the Smash Mouth version. 

Honorable Mentions

There’s no way we could cover all the great choices for road trip songs out there, so here’s a handful of bonus songs to consider for your next RV journey:

• “Every Morning” by Sugar Ray
• “Life is a Highway” by Tom Cochrane or Rascal Flatts
• “Here I Go Again” by Whitesnake
• “Sultans of Swing” by Dire Straits
• “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
• “Can’t Stop the Feeling” by Justin Timberlake
• “Shut Up and Dance” by Walk the Moon
• “Hey Ya!” by Outkast
• “All the Small Things” by Blink-182
• “Beautiful Day” by U2
• “On the Road Again” by Willie Nelson
• “Under the Bridge” by Red Hot Chili Peppers
• “Take it Easy” by the Eagles
•  “I’ve Been Everywhere” by Johnny Cash

Ready to rock out to your playlist in your own RV?

Here at Transwest, we understand that investing in an RV is a really big decision, so we’re here to streamline your search and bring your RV aspirations to life. We sell only the highest quality coaches (and more!) from top manufacturers, and our friendly, knowledgeable staff is eager to help. Find a location near you today, or shop our online inventory and let our experts help you find the perfect RV to go with that rocking playlist.