93 Best Songs About Travel and Adventure for Your Playlist

Looking for great songs for your next trip? Well, you’re in the right place! I’ve put together 93 of the BEST adventure songs for the ultimate wanderlust playlist! Be sure to add them to your travel playlist before you leave so you don’t run into trouble with Internet connections.

When you get out on the open road, there’s nothing quite like turning up the music and listening to the perfect song to get you excited about your travel plans! Exploring new places, getting out of your comfort zone, meeting new people, basking in the sun — whatever travel adventures you are taking on your next vacation will help keep you young, healthy, and happy!

We are traveling out west to Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, and South Dakota soon! I am beyond excited to be off on our next adventure for 15-days! My road trip playlist has already been keeping me company as I plan and prepare for the trip, but I’ve discovered even more great songs to add before we leave!

Related Article: 30 Reasons Why Traveling Is Important To Your Overall Wellness

Disclaimer: This list of the best adventure songs has been curated by me, thus they represent my taste and preferred style and genres. You will note that the selected songs are primarily clean, traditional songs from mainstream genres. I recognize that there are many other enjoyable songs about travel today that may not have been included in this list.

Best Adventure Songs to Inspire Your Wanderlust

I think travel and music go together just like peanut butter and jelly. A perfect playlist in the background almost always enriches your adventures.

Favorite songs bring back wonderful memories of past travels, as well as inspire a clear and present mindset for your current adventures.

Whether you are riding along country roads or flying across the mid-west on a jet plane — or maybe both — the best travel songs inspire positive vibes and great memories!

These are my all-time favorite travel and adventure songs that bring me great joy on every trip!

1. “Welcome to New York” by Taylor Swift
2. “Highway Don’t Care” by Tim McGraw and Taylor Swift
3. “Surfin’ USA” by The Beach Boys
4. “California Girls” by Katy Perry ft. Snoop Dogg
5. “Havana” by Camila Cabello
6. “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere” by Alan Jackson
7. “Proud Mary” by Tina Turner
8. “Kokomo” by The Beach Boys
9. “Escape (The Pina Colada Song)” by Rupert Holmes
10. “Cruise” by Florida Georgia Line
11. “Dirt Road Anthem” by Jason Aldean
12. “Blowin’ Smoke” by Kacey Musgrave
13. “On The Road Again” by Willie Nelson
14. “My Church” by Maren Morris
15. “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” by The Proclaimers
16. “I Know Where I’m Going” by The Judds

Travel and Adventure Songs from Country Artists

Country music is generally my preferred genre of music. But when I travel, I enjoy a variety of music genres because of the upbeat tempo of many of the songs.

These are some of my favorite adventure songs from country music that I have on my playlist. They take me back to many times in my life when I traveled with loved ones and they are a breath of fresh air that bring back wonderful memories.

17. “Soak Up The Sun” by Sheryl Crow
18. “Leaving On A Jet Plane” by John Denver
19. “Life Is A Highway” by Rascal Flats
20. “I’ve Been Everywhere Man” by Johnny Cash
21. “On The Road Again” by Willy Nelson
22. “Ramblin’ Man” by The Allman Brothers
23. “Drunk on a Plane” by Dierks Bentley
24. “Somewhere on a Beach” by Dierks Bentley
25. “Highway Vagabond” by Miranda Lambert
26. “I’m a Ramblin’ Man” by Waylon Jennings
27. “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver
28. “Jackson” by Johnny Cash and June Carter

Best Songs for Beach Vacations

I’ve spent my entire life going on vacations to the beach. We live about 3 hours from Ocean City, Maryland so that has always been our vacation spot every summer. And since we are a family of teachers, it worked out especially well during our summer break.

The Beach Boys songs went on every vacation with us for years, so today their songs bring me great joy! I have such wonderful memories! Plus, who doesn’t have a little summer love story that comes to mind when you listen to some of these songs?

I’ve also discovered some new favorites, too. When I listen to these songs, they magically take me back to the beach where I am carefree and happy. Where I am making great memories with family and friends over the years.

I hope these summertime beach adventure (and love:) songs bring great joy to your heart and mind.

29. “Soak Up The Sun” by Sheryl Crow
30. “Toes” by Zack Brown Band
31. “Surfin’ Safari” by The Beach Boys
32. “When The Sun Goes Down” by Kenny Chesney and Uncle Kracker
33. “Pontoon” by Little Big Town
34. “Summertime” by Will Smith & DJ Jazzy Jeff
35. “Yellow Submarine” by The Beatles
36. “California Dreamin’ ” by The Beach Boys
37. “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems” by Kenny Chesney
38. “All Summer Long” by Kid Rock
39. “Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini” by Brian Hyland
40. “Under the Boardwalk” by The Drifters
41. “Summer Nights” by Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta
42. “Surf City” by Jan & Dean
43. “Beachin’ ” by Jake Owen
44. “Summertime” by Kenny Chesney

Relaxing Adventure & Travel Songs

Sometimes when we are traveling, we just want to sit with our music, our favorite people, and relax. These are some of the best songs for that. Enjoy those moments!

45. “Margaritaville” by Jimmy Buffett
46. “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by Ava Cassidy
47. “Come Away With” Me by Norah Jones
48. “Leaving On A Jet Plane” by Chantal Kreviazuk
49. “New York State Of Mind” by Billie Joel
50. “Homeward Bound” by Simon & Garfunkel
51. “Orinoco Flow” by Enya
52. “Road Trippin'” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers
53. “New York State of Mind” by Billy Joel
54. “Fast Car” by Tracy Chapman
55. “Free” by Donavon Frankenreiter
56. “Hotel California” by Eagles
57. “Africa” by Toto

Favorite Rock Songs About Travel

These rock songs are all pretty amazing. My husband is going to especially love these songs on our vacation playlist.

I know and love almost all of these songs from my youth, and I find it very interesting that they have common themes that reflect the times several decades ago. The world was free and wild back then — people hitchhiked across the United States with no worries — and these songs reflect that freedom.

Let these songs take you back to a more simple, yet wild and free time!

58. “Born To Be Wild” by Steppenwolf
59. “Born to Run” by Bruce Springsteen
60. “Travelin’ Man” by Lynyrd Skynyrd
61. “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynard Skynard
62. “A Horse with No Name” by America
63. “Go Your Own Way” by Fleetwood Mac
64. “Like a Rolling Stone” by Bob Dylan
65. “Life is a Highway” by Tom Cochrane

Best Classic Songs About Adventure and Travel

No list of songs is ever going to satisfy everyone simple because we each have our own opinions and preferences. But there are classic songs about adventure and travel that seem to make every list — just because everyone knows and loves them.

Each of these songs is on this list for a different reason. Sometimes the lyrics are meaningful and remind us of a great adventure on the open road. Sometimes the music is upbeat or inspiring and makes us excited about our adventure. Sometimes it’s just a happy beat that gets our toes tapping and puts a smile our faces.

Some of these songs go back decades but they are ingrained in our minds and inspire our wanderlust dreams. Who could put together a playlist of the best adventure songs without these classics?

66. “I Left My Heart In San Francisco” by Tony Bennet
67. “Midnight Train To Georgia” by Gladys Knight And The Pips
68. “Island in the Sun” by Weezer
69. “Coming To America” by Neil Diamond
70. “California Dreamin’ ” by The Mamas And The Papas
71. “Travelin’ Man” by Ricky Nelson
72. “Come Fly With Me” by Frank Sinatra
73. “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong
74. “New York, New York” by Frank Sinatra
75. “Send Me On My Way” by Rusted Root
76. “Carry on Wayward Son” by Kansas
77. “Sittin’ On the Dock of the Bay” by Otis Redding
78. “Leaving On a Jet Plane” by Peter, Paul, and Mary
79. “Wayfaring Strangers” by Johnny Cash
80. “American” by Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel

Contemporary Songs About Travel

I honestly don’t know too many of these songs, but I noticed they were frequently found on other lists of best adventure songs. I listened to them and didn’t find anything offensive, so I included them on my list since they are obviously popular songs and inspire new adventures and fun!

81.  “Galway Girl” by Ed Sheeran
82.  “A Thousand Miles” by Vanessa Carlton
83. “Shut Up and Drive” by Rihanna
84. “On Top of The World” by Imagine Dragons
85. “Around the World” by Daft Punk
86. “All I Want” by Joni Mitchell
87. “Take Me Home” by Phil Collins
88. “My Traveling Star” by James Taylor

Best Travel Songs for Reels and TikTok

These are some super fun songs to use for your vacation and travel videos! They are staples on Reels and TikTok, so when you are putting together a little music video of your vacation to share on social media, consider one of these great songs.

Or, you can even consider one of the songs in the above — any of them would be a great song to go with your short-form, vertical video! A classic song that everyone knows is always a good choice, too.

89. “Magic in the Hamptons” by Social House
90.  “Vacation” by The Dirty Heads
91. “Sunny Day” by Ted Fresco
92. “Explore the World” by Brainheart
93. “Dancing in the Streets of Barcelona” by Ed Sheeran

Final Thoughts: Best Adventure Songs for your Playlist

I have thoroughly enjoyed curating this list of best adventure songs for all of us! I can hardly wait to add new songs to my travel and adventure playlist in preparation for my national parks vacation out west.

While researching songs for this article, if I didn’t already know a song, I asked Alexa to play it for me to determine if it would make the cut or not. There are more travel songs out there than I ever imagined! And I didn’t realize how many travel and adventure songs were also about LOVE:)

Did you know that traveling and adventure are beneficial to your overall wellness? That’s why I include articles about adventure on my website about personal growth and wellness:) Traveling actually helps you live a happier, healthier, and longer life! So while you’re singing your way through your adventures, you might want to check out these other articles about travel and adventure:

• 5 Secrets to Help You Plan an Adventure Vacation
• Adventure Quotes to Inspire Your Youthful Spirit
• 19 Awesome Adventurous Bucket List Ideas to do in America
• 5 Cool Things To Do on a Weekend in Charleston, SC
• Family Fun in Nashville – Over 50 Things to Do in 2021!

Have fun in all of your travels and adventures! Meet new people… see new places… learn new things…all while relaxing with your favorite travel and adventure songs!

Love to ALL! ~ Susan

Did I Forget Any of the Very Best Adventure Songs?

Do you have favorites that aren’t on this list? Please share them with us in the comment section below:)

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