75 Songs That Make Us Want to Hit The Road

There’s nothing like a good song to give you a swift injection of wanderlust. Whether they’re whisking you away to holiday memories, getting you pumped for an upcoming trip or giving you the itch to travel, there’s something about music that really gets us dreaming of faraway places.

It helps that musicians seem to be equally as inspired by their holidays, as there’s no shortage of travel-themed music. Here are our 75 hand-picked songs that’ll make you want to call in sick for the next few weeks and promptly hit the road.

1. On the Road Again by Willie Nelson – it’s catchy, it’s timeless and it’s accurate. And we know you’re humming it in your head right now.
2. Holiday by Madonna – because holidays absolutely are a time to celebrate.
3. Should I Stay or Should I Go by The Clash – go, go, go!
4. Walk Like an Egyptian by The Bangles – Egypt’s biggest export, winning dance-offs since 3100 BC.
5. Island in the Sun by Weezer – this song starts with ‘When you’re on a holiday…’, what more could you want in a holiday song?
6. Leaving on a Jet Plane by Peter Paul & Mary – because odds are, you will be.
7. San Francisco by Scott McKenzie – are you going to San Francisco? If the answer is yes, then we’re officially jealous.
8. A Whole New World from Disney’s Aladdin – that’s where any good holiday begins.
9. Viva Las Vegas by Elvis Presley – Las Vegas will always set our souls on fire.
10. Africa by Toto – this soulful chorus is quite possibly one of the best.
11. London Calling by The Clash – ring ring… ‘Yes, hello, this is London speaking.’
12. Route 66 by Nat King Cole – the ultimate road trip needed its own song.
13. Rocket Man by Elton John – Just in case you were having too much fun on your holiday, here’s a slow jam to remind you of how sweet going home can be.
14. Coming to America by Neil Diamond – today!
15. America by Simon & Garfunkel – this is one of those simmering songs you listen to when standing at the foot of a big rock face or something equally as dwarfing.
16. Jamming by Bob Marley – when you’re stuck in the madness that can sometimes be an airport, all you need is the soothing sounds of Jamaica to keep you calm.
17. King of the Road by Roger Miller – maybe not the best song to listen to when driving, as you don’t want to get an ego.
18. Vacation by The Go-Go’s – it really, truly is all we’ve ever wanted.
19. Hit the Road Jack by Ray Charles – if we’re going somewhere tropical like Costa Rica, we will gladly hit the road, thank you very much.
20. I Want to Break Free by Queen – that’s what holidays are for.
21. California Dreamin’ by The Mamas and the Papas – we’re pretty sure all dreams factor sunny California in them somehow.
22. Beat It by Michael Jackson – ‘Beat It’ is what everyone is thinking as they’re leaving the office on the Friday before their holiday.
23. The Passenger by Iggy Pop – don’t mind us, we’re just along for the ride.
24. Horse with No Name by America – if we travel through the desert on horseback, we’ll probably name our horse. It seems only fair.
25. Life is a Highway by Tom Cochrane – isn’t it just?
26. International Love by Pitbull ft. Chris Brown – you never know what your holiday might entail.
27. We Are the World by USA for Africa – and we’re going to travel the world, too.
28. Highway to Hell by ACDC – hopefully it’s just a highway to, say, Dubrovnik.
29. Kokomo by The Beach Boys – we will gladly go on a trip to Aruba, Bermuda or the Bahamas with the Beach Boys.
30. Come Fly with Me by Frank Sinatra – there are times when we all want to fly, just fly away. And if you’re flying with Frank Sinatra, you can bet you’re going first class.
31. Ventura Highway by America – cruising down the highway to this song is absolute bliss. Pop the top off the car, and it’s in heavenly territory.
32. Freedom! by George Michael – this song should be on repeat once you reach the airport leaving for your holiday.
33. Hotel California by The Eagles – where holidaymakers are eternally living it up.
34. I’ve Been Everywhere by Johnny Cash – or at least that’s the goal.
35. Empire State of Mind by Jay Z ft. Alicia Keys – the name ‘concrete jungle’ might not sound that appealing, but believe us, New York is something else.
36. What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong – stand on a beach in Sicily and you’ll have a hard time not humming this song to yourself.
37. Down Under by Men at Work – we might not be from a land down under, but we sure are happy to go there.
38. Come Sail Away by Styx – the most epic song about solo boat travel.
39. Lovely Day by Bill Withers – even if you’ve been caught up in rain on your holiday, this song will bring you instant sunshine.
40. Around the World by Daft Punk – even robots need vacations.
41. Cars by Gary Numan – we suggest getting out of the car when arriving at your holiday destination, but it’s totally up to you.
42. Green Onions by Booker T. and the M.G.’s – if you’ve never driven with this song turned way up, you should.
43. Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen – born to run to the beach, if that’s what you mean.
44. Here I Go Again by White Snake – hopefully it’s not on your own, though.
45. Shut Up and Drive by Rihanna – everyone’s attitude en route to the hotel.
46. Paradise by Coldplay – we’re always dreaming of paradise.
47. Roam by The B-52’s – oh, we want to.
48. Fly Away by Lenny Kravitz – to, say, the Caribbean perhaps? Pretty please?
49. Downtown by Petula Clark – we’re pretty sure this song is the ultimate embodiment of the excitement you feel when wandering through a new city.
50. Like a Rolling Stone by Bob Dylan – it feels okay actually, especially if we’re rolling somewhere sunny like Tenerife.
51. Beyond the Sea by Bobby Darin – you can feel the nostalgia and longing for that little place beyond this sea in this crooning gem.
52. Ramblin’ Man by The Allman Brothers Band – we all have a little bit of a ramblin’ attitude inside of us.
53. Margaritaville by Jimmy Buffet – this song is essentially the anthem of every beach everywhere, especially ones where there’s an actual Margaritaville not far from the coast – we’re looking at you, Jamaica.
54. Hot Fun in the Summertime by Sly and the Family Stone – just how all the fun should be in the summer.
55. Here Comes the Sun by The Beatles – and if we’re at the beach, the sun had better stay out.
56. Walking on Sunshine by Katrina & the Waves – the song in our headphones as we’re scoping out the sunniest and most exclusive sunbathing spot.
57. Love is like a Heat Wave by Martha & the Vandellas – when on holiday, we’re always keeping our fingers crossed for one.
58. Across the Universe by The Beatles – If you’re flying to Australia, it can sometimes feel like you’re travelling all the way across the universe because you kind of are.
59. La Isla Bonita by Madonna – Crete, Ibiza or Majorca, this song can apply to just about any island in the Mediterranean.
60. Around the World by ATC – travelling around the world really is just la la la la la.
61. Road to Nowhere by Talking Heads – hopefully the road you’re on has a better destination to nowhere and, in the meantime, has a pretty great view.
62. Magic Carpet Ride by Steppenwolf – is a magic carpet cheaper to hire than a car?
63. Rio by Duran Duran – we’ll be dancing on the sand right alongside her.
64. Ticket to Ride by The Beatles – let this song serve as a reminder for you to print out your boarding pass.
65. Come Away with Me by Norah Jones – a nice, sultry tune for that romantic couples’ getaway.
66. Where the Streets have No Name by U2 – we’re hoping the streets have names, otherwise this map we just bought is useless.
67. These Boots are Made for Walking by Nancy Sinatra – and that’s just what we’ll do, especially if there’s a scenic hike involved.
68. I Get Around by The Beach Boys – round, round, get around, we get around all over Europe.
69. The Tourist by Radiohead – as much as some of us hate to admit it, we’re all tourists at some point.
70. Message in a Bottle by The Police – we’re sending out an S.O.S. for more cocktails.
71. Happy by Pharrell Williams – strolling down the streets of Paphos, it’s kind of hard not to be.
72. Blowing in the Wind  by Bob Dylan – here’s to hoping the wind is blowing toward somewhere warm.
73. In the Summertime by Mungo Jerry – if this isn’t the world’s greatest summertime strutting song, we aren’t sure what is.
74. Budapest by George Ezra – we can think of a lot of reasons to visit this European gem.
75. Sweet Home Chicago by Blue Brothers – oh baby, we definitely want to go.

Did we miss your favourite travel tune? Let us know your picks in the comments below.