Summer time means travel time. Many choose to vacation in Europe or get away somewhere tropical, but trips like that can be really expensive! The perfect alternative -- road tripping the United States! A road trip is the perfect vacation for you and your friends, and a 2018 summer road trip playlist is exactly what you need to get your adventure started and ready to mark up that map. No road trip playlist is complete without some new jams, some old favorites, and those happy, feel-good tunes. We made a list of 50 songs to add to your playlist, or easily tune into our road trip playlist on Spotify.
Ariana says she hopes this song brings light and comfort, "but also makes you wanna dance and live your best life!" Have a mini competition in the car to see who can hit the most highs and lows like Ariana can.
With over 1 billion views on Youtube Cabello's hit, Havana is one of the most popular songs of the summer! We dare you not to sing along to this one -- now that's a challenge.
Youngblood is that song you'll find yourself humming out of the blue. It's full of romanticism and anger, but also energy and color. There's just something about the beat of this one that makes it perfect for summer road trips.
This G-Easy/Halsey collab is exactly the song you're missing on your summer road trip playlist. This is the perfect song for a young couple in a slower part of the world. Enjoy the smoothness of G-Eazy's voice and the giggle in Halsey's singing.
If you're looking for a song that you can get lost in the melody to, this is it. Have fun singing along to this one with the windows down and your favorite pair of sunglasses on.
This Is Me is the perfect anthem of self-love, empowerment, and courage. Belt it out at the top of your lungs end enjoy that freeing feeling of being on a summer road trip.
Between the beat and the sweet sound of Adam Levine's voice, you can't go wrong with this song of heartbreak and love.
Delicate is possibly one of the best songs on Taylor's new album, Reputation. Unless you avoid all radios and public places, you're sure to have heard this song and you'll probably be singing it by the second or third time.
So maybe going on a road trip isn't always the smartest decision financially or responsibility wise, but the memories are worth it in the end right? And as the song says, "do it all in the name of fun."
Add this song to our summer playlist for a little Cardi B and Bruno flavor. Not sure about you, but we're loving the retro vibes Bruno has been putting off these last few years.
Cardi B has been popping up in every new song lately, talk about a roll! Have a mini competition in the car to see who can rap Cardi B's verse the best, or steal the spotlight and belt it out yourself!
You're definitely going to want to look up the Feel It Still lyrics before embarking on any road trips this summer. This is one of those songs that you think you know the lyrics to until you actually look them up. You're welcome in advance.
Kahlid's voice + Normani's voice = pure harmony. Both singers have such strong vocals and absolute magic happened when they melded together for this collab.
We apologize for the double hit on The Greatest Showman, but it really was the greatest show. You can't help but sing along to every song. While you're at it, hit replay and jam out one more time. While you're at it, watch this video without getting chills, we dare you.
If you're one of those people who loves a good beat drop that doesn't completely destroy the song, this one is for you. Take a minute to listen to the lyrics, you might just find them extremely relatable.
This is the perfect song for summer. Just imagine listening to it while driving along the shore in a jeep with the windows down and your favorite outfit on.
For some reason, listening to Khalid's songs makes you feel like you're in LA cruisin' round the streets at 2:00 am. It also sounds better when you're either sad or it's a very sunny day outside, there is no in-between.
We're picturing this as the perfect canyon drive song with the windows down and the fresh air pouring in. Pull over on the side of the road, grab a cool graphic tee, and take some pictures with the beautiful scenery around you.
If you're a fan of The Princess Diaries, you'll be happy to hear that the actor who played Micheal is actually the lead singer in a band called Rooney. This is one of those songs where it's impossible not to immediately "light up" the moment you hear it and starting dancing.
Finally, the song featured in every early 2000's movie. Cue She's The Man and John Tucker Must Die. So the question is, what's your dirty little secret?
Talk about a happy, feel-good song to add to your summer road trip playlist. match the happy vibes of this song with an inspirational graphic tee.
This is one of those songs that you pull over and dance to in the middle of the road (as long as no cars are around!) Let me see your best air guitar!
Nine years later and this song is still just as phenomenal as it was in 2008. We dare you not to sing to this when it comes on, you know you still know every single word.
When you're on hour 15 of your summer road trip and still have a lot more hours to go, turn this one on to give you a blast of energy. If you're really feeling it, pull over, get out of the car, and shut up and dance a little to liven up the mood.
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Uptown funk is 20% cool, 70% fun, 100% catchy and gets an 11/10 for pure style. No summer road trip playlist is complete without this funky tune.
In the mood for a little stroll down memory lane? Me too. Maybe 'N Sync will get back together for one last song called Hey, Hey, Hey!
If this ain't your jam then we don't know what is! Do the ring dance, you know exactly what we're talking about. We're convinced that this song will never go out of style.
You used to not be able to drive to the grocery store without hearing this song at least once. Good time, good times. Add Forget You to your summer road trip playlist to make whatever road you're driving on Memory Lane.
Your entire car better know the lyrics to this one. We're not quite sure how every person managed to memorize the lyrics to Mr. Brightside, but ask anyone and they'll know exactly what you're talking about.
You won't feel old until we tell you that this song came out in 2010! Does anyone else feel like 2010 wasn't actually that long ago? Same.
We're convinced that Beyoncé will be singing and dancing till she is 89 years old. You better turn this song up really loud because unless you're Beyonce, you probably won't hit all the nites. So just turn it up loud and sing your little heart out.
If this isn't the epitome of 80's we don't know what is. Whitney Houston is a queen that was taken from us too soon.
If you don't play this song on the first of September then you are missing out on something magical. September still counts as summer right?
While you might be thinking about how nice it would be to be older, make sure to stop for a minute and look around. You're only this young once. On another note, you can't listen to The Beach Boys and not wish you were cruizing down the coast in a convertible.
Talk about an oldie but a goodie. All I'm saying is that if we were alive in the 60's we would have been hardcore fangirling over the king. Just 3 seconds into this song and you'll be all hyped up ready to dance.
This song will forever scream of innocence and youth. We dare you to try and be in a rotten mood while jamming out to Do You Believe In Magic.
We call this one of those "old but gold" songs. And no matter what Spiderman says, Footloose was definitely the greatest movie ever made. We got your back Star Lord.
Talk about a timeless classic that will never get old. This song will keep you groovin' on your summer road trip from the West Coast to the East Coast.
You know a song was one of the good ones when people enjoy it even after almost four decades. This better be on your summer road trip playlist.
We're convinced that if every morning started with this song that everyone would be in a better mood. How can one not be happy, happy, happy, while listening to this? We're begging you, make sure you don't forget to add Here Comes The Sun to your summer road trip playlist.
Have you seen the new Bohemian Rhapsody trailer? If not, you are missing out! Fill six minutes of your summer road trip with the sweet sounds of Queen and Bohemian Rhapsody.
Calling all 90's babies, let's take it back to the days of your childhood. Talk about a quick dose of the 90's wrapped up into a two-minute song.
We're still not quite sure what exactly Stacy's mom, has going on, but one thing we do know for sure is this song has got it going on. Can we go so far as to say your summer road trip playlist has got this song going on it?
This is the most head-bangable song that isn't hard rock. Let me see your best headbang in the car, just make sure not to bang your head into the dashboard.
This song says it best, "today's music ain't got the same soul, I like that old time Rock n' Roll." Ironic since this song has become that old time rock n' roll. Either way, throw on a rock tee shirt and cue the air guitars.
Will Byers knew what was up with this song -- also if you haven't seen Stranger Things yet, download them to your phone before that road trip and binge a few episodes while it's still light outside.
This is the best song to rock out to when traveling a long long ways -- at least 500 miles. Couldn't help it, it was right there, but seriously, check out our summer road trip playlist on Spotify.
Take a short pitstop and loosen up those stiff muscles with a few practice kicks and punches to this song. Your body will thank you later.
There's something about this song that just makes you want to roll the window down and ride the waves of the wind with your hand. You know the feeling we're talking about.
Even if you don't like country music, you might just like this one. It's got such a good vibe and it just catchy enough you might find yourself humming along to it later.
This list of summer road trip songs is nowhere near complete. What favorite, classic, or new song did we miss on our list? Leave it in the comments below -- we'll be adding suggestions to our 2018 Summer Road Trip Playlist on Spotify!
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If you're still trying to narrow down your summer vacation for this year, you're in the right place. Take our quick quiz to find the perfect summer vacation destination for you.
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Sierra is Bella Ella Boutique’s fashion and lifestyle blogger. Along with fashion, she has a love for succulents, graphic design, and fitness. On the weekends, you can find Sierra playing with dogs, hiking in the mountains, or eating at new places.
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Diana Moore
June 29, 2020
Awesome playlist. I miss road trips..