How to Make the Perfect Road Trip Playlist

Having a perfectly curated list of songs for your road trip is beyond ecstatic. You may have plans to go on a solo trip or go with friends and family, it has the unique power of creating the most indelible experiences. But that’s not all there is to it, playlists with music for traveling get a lot of Spotify followers, which is why they are among the artists’ favorites.

However, creating a song list while traveling by road could be quite tricky, especially when you have a long journey ahead of you and a varied taste in music. But not to worry, we have interviewed a few experts, and they have a few tips for you.

Here is how you can make the perfect road trip playlist.

Plan Ahead of Time

Making the perfect collection of songs for your travel requires proper planning, too. So, while you’re packing your bags and booking that hotel, you should also take time out to curate a playlist for the road trip. 

Select your favorite melodies and get inspiration from other public travel playlists available on music streaming platforms. You can search albums on Spotify by keywords like ‘travel songs’, ‘road trip’, ‘trip mood songs’, etc.  

Let Your Mood Make the Selection

When traveling by road, it is normal that you’ll have different moods till you get to your destination. For most people, their mood is dependent on the time of the day. 

So, if you’re not much of a morning person, starting out slow and calm will stir you up for the journey ahead. Put on some country melodies to start your day and switch up to rock or some other high-energy songs at noon or later in the day.

Learning to set the tempo right is key to curating a playlist that is perfect for your journey. So you don’t get bored or tired too easily. 

TRAVEL TIP

If you are traveling on a road with heavy traffic or with more pedestrians, it is advisable to be mindful of the locality and keep the volume low. Many locals get annoyed by tourists who are not respectful of the community rules.  

Give Everyone a Chance to Choose

When traveling as a group, it is an unspoken rule that everyone gets to play some music. Take a few requests and let each one decide what artist or song they want to listen to. This way, every person gets to enjoy something that matches their taste.

Taking song requests is also a great way to bond. Everyone gets to participate and stay active throughout their travel without feeling left out. 

It is also a great way to discover new artists and albums that you may eventually grow very fond of. 

Try Sticking to the Theme

Picking a theme for your road trip song list is a brilliant way to get you hyped for your destination. If you’re traveling South, listen to Southern melodies to get a feel of what the people there love. 

It doesn’t matter where your destination is, curating a list of melodies that is specific to that region is a fun way to enjoy your journey. 

With van life trends and types of car and bike models, people like to travel by road with friends and family. The graph below shows that Americans enjoy road trips much more than the long queues at the Airport.  

Shake Things Up a Little

Listening to songs that you’re only familiar with could ruin the travel experience. You can easily run out of options or quickly get tired of your favorite albums.

So, instead of playing the same five melodies every hour, try something different. Listen to an artist you never pay attention to, switch to a song that could get you dancing, and then play another that fits the environment. 

Silence is Okay Too

Driving in silence is okay from time to time. You don’t always have to have the speaker on full blast. It is absolutely okay to turn off the speaker and just listen to the sound of the wind.

Turning off the music also allows you to just watch the landscape and fully bask in the beauty of the environment around you.

Conclusion

Making a road trip playlist that everyone can enjoy requires creativity and spontaneity. So, when curating one, be sure to have fun with it. Do not let the pressure of perfection overwhelm you. 

Frequently Asked Questions