When it comes to embarking upon an epic road trip, what’s one of the first things that comes to mind? That’s right – EPIC tunes. You can have the most gorgeous convertible, but cruising down the Pacific Coast Highway isn’t legendary until you add The Beach Boys or Red Hot Chili Peppers to the mix. Cruising at 100MPH+ down the Autobahn in Germany isn’t the same unless your speakers are blaring music from The Fast and The Furious. Let’s face it – having an epic road trip playlist is the icing on the cake.
(Need some help planning your next road trip? Check out our Ultimate Road Trips Guide!)
Take it from someone who has put hundreds of thousands of miles on her vehicles…road trips are infinitely better when you’re thumping your fingers on the steering wheel to the beat, loudly serenading the other vehicles you fly by, or trying to memorize the latest Lizzo song.
I get asked for song recommendations all the time.
My first initial response is that not everyone likes the same type of music. I think some people have it in their minds that there is just ONE all-encompassing road trip playlist or CD compilation.
Newsflash: there isn’t.
We all have different tastes in music, and often just “aren’t feeling” a certain genre or group.
It happens.
Preferences change as well as moods. Sometimes I just really want to rock out to Van Halen and Chickenfoot, while other times I’m in the mood to practice my Disney karaoke.
And sometimes even the destination or the particular route prompts me to listen to something not usually in my standard library. When I took a side trip to the Calico Ghost Town in Southern California, I found myself listening to ragtime-style music…in my mind, it sounded like old-timey saloon music.
Cheesey?
You betcha!
But as a hopeless romantic, having an appropriate soundtrack added to the memory, emblazoned on my heart forever.
And you know what?
You can have a similar experience with creating the perfect soundtrack to your next adventure.
Are you planning a road trip and want to make it extra?
Here are my top 3 tips to create an EPIC road trip playlist, including some samples of my own!
Tip #1 – Have a variety of songs for your EPIC Road Trip Playlist
We all have our favorite songs, but listening to them for hours on end will make you want to put your head out the window and hope you smack a construction cone.
Don’t get burned out with your favorite song just because you didn’t have a variety of options. When I drive early in the morning (like, we’re talking 3:30am-early), I prefer hard rock, 90s rap, and heavy metal. It helps me wake up and get my blood going.
Don’t judge.
I love me some Big Daddy Kane.
When I feel myself getting agitated with other drivers, I know to put on my Disney playlist and serenade my Tinkerbell steering wheel cover.
And whether you use Spotify, iTunes, Pandora, CDs, or whatever other media is available, create some “fun” playlists to give yourself a variety.
In addition to my early-morning-slasher-music and Disney, I have Jazz, Celtic Rock, Throwback Jams, Lord of the Rings OST, Church Songs, Zydeco, and The Fast and The Furious OST playlists. You never know when one of those is going to come in handy!
One last piece of advice – don’t be afraid to rotate the songs in your playlist. My favorite playlist is entitled “My Happy Songs,” and it is literally a living thing. I’m constantly adding new songs, removing oldies-but-goodies so I don’t burn out, and trying to discover similar, yet new-to-me artists and songs.
Tip #2 – Prepare your song AHEAD of time
There’s nothing worse than being on the open road and needing a new song…only to find out that it’s not ready to go. You can’t find the CD, you haven’t created the playlist, or it hasn’t been downloaded and you’re driving in the middle of the desert. Definitely NOT a great position to find yourself in.
Distracted driving is out of control and not something you should participate in, whether it’s using a cell phone or rummaging around your glove compartment in search of a CD or song.
I try to create a few playlists every couple of weeks and rotate out the older ones. One of the cool things about using Spotify is having access to other people’s playlists. Following a new playlist created by someone across the country is like a present that I get to unwrap every 3-5 minutes. Plus, they’ve done most of the work for me!
Even if you don’t have a road trip coming up in the near future, create a playlist and just have it on retainer. You never know when a spontaneous adventure is going to happen!
Don’t think you have enough time? Next time you’re sitting on the toilet, perusing through your Twitter feed, consider looking into Spotify!
Tip #3 – Consider books, comedy sketches, and podcasts
I have to admit, I was a little slower jumping onto the bandwagon for this last tip.
I have a few comedy shows downloaded every now and then, from comics such as Jim Gaffigan, Fluffy, and The Blue Collared Comedy Tour. And while I’m not a huge fan of podcasts, I recently discovered a few audiobooks on Spotify that I just love.
Every now and again, I get so tired of music, I switch off my radio and start talking to myself. And while that’s okay every now and again, listening to my favorite book being read by someone with a lovely accent is magical.
I excitedly found Pride and Prejudice on Spotify and can’t wait for my next road trip!
So there you have it…my top 3 tips to creating an epic road trip playlist. Or 2. Or 10. Really, the sky is the limit and it’s always better to be over-prepared in this instance. I tend to road trip alone, so having a wide variety of options at my fingertips is one less thing I have to worry about!
What tips would you add to creating an epic road trip playlist? What are your go-to songs or books?
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