The Best Road Trip Playlists for Every Mood

There's nothing like a multi-hour drive to Delaware again for another tournament, so here are some playlists to help.  Our favs in BOLD.

Feel-Good Hits for a Sunny Day:
When the sun is shining and the road stretches out before you, there’s no better time to blast some feel-good hits. 

1. “Here Comes the Sun” – The Beatles
2. “Walking on Sunshine” – Katrina and the Waves
3. “Shut Up and Dance” – Walk the Moon
4. “Good Vibrations” – The Beach Boys
5. “Happy” – Pharrell Williams
6. “Mr. Blue Sky” – Electric Light Orchestra
7. “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” – Justin Timberlake
8. “I Gotta Feeling” – The Black Eyed Peas
9. “Best Day of My Life” – American Authors
10. “Lovely Day” – Bill Withers

Chill Vibes for Relaxed Driving:
For those stretches of road where you just want to unwind and enjoy the scenery, a playlist of chill, mellow tunes is ideal.

1. “California Dreamin’” – The Mamas & The Papas
2. “Banana Pancakes” – Jack Johnson
3. “Pink + White” – Frank Ocean
4. “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay” – Otis Redding
5. “Holocene” – Bon Iver
6. “Rivers and Roads” – The Head and the Heart
7. “Breezeblocks” – alt-J
8. “Skinny Love” – Bon Iver
9. “Lost in My Mind” – The Head and the Heart
10. “Ain’t No Sunshine” – Bill Withers

Sing-Along Anthems for Group Road Trips:
If you’re traveling with friends or family, nothing beats a playlist of sing-along anthems that everyone knows and loves. 

1. “Don’t Stop Believin’” – Journey
2. “Sweet Caroline” – Neil Diamond
3. “Livin’ on a Prayer” – Bon Jovi
4. “Bohemian Rhapsody” – Queen
5. “I Want It That Way” – Backstreet Boys
6. “Dancing Queen” – ABBA
7. “Wonderwall” – Oasis
8. “Hotel California” – Eagles
9. “Let It Be” – The Beatles
10. “Take Me Home, Country Roads” – John Denver

Reflective Tunes for Solo Adventures:
Solo road trips are the perfect time for self-reflection, and the right music can enhance that introspective mood.

1. “Fast Car” – Tracy Chapman
2. “Landslide” – Fleetwood Mac
3. “Let It Be” – The Beatles
4. “Drive” – Incubus
5. “The Night We Met” – Lord Huron
6. “Hallelujah” – Jeff Buckley
7. “The A Team” – Ed Sheeran
8. “Breathe Me” – Sia
9. “Fix You” – Coldplay
10. “Gravity” – John Mayer

Rock Classics for the Ultimate Driving Experience:

For those who love the thrill of the open road, a playlist of rock classics is essential.

1. “Born to Run” – Bruce Springsteen
2. “Highway to Hell” – AC/DC
3. “Free Bird” – Lynyrd Skynyrd
4. “Sweet Child O’ Mine” – Guns N’ Roses
5. “Smoke on the Water” – Deep Purple
6. “Hotel California” – Eagles
7. “Paradise City” – Guns N’ Roses
8. “More Than a Feeling” – Boston
9. “Carry On Wayward Son” – Kansas
10. “Runnin’ Down a Dream” – Tom Petty
    (couldn't pick a favorite here)

Nostalgic Hits for a Trip Down Memory Lane:
Sometimes, the best road trips are those that take you back in time. 

1. “Take on Me” – a-ha
2. “Summer of ’69” – Bryan Adams
3. “Dancing in the Dark” – Bruce Springsteen
4. “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” – Wham!
5. “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” – Cyndi Lauper
6. “Africa” – Toto
7. “Footloose” – Kenny Loggins
8. “Eye of the Tiger” – Survivor
9. “Jesse’s Girl” – Rick Springfield
10. “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” – Simple Minds

Indie Gems for a Unique Journey:
For those who like to explore off the beaten path, an indie playlist offers a fresh, eclectic mix of tracks. 

1. “Home” – Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
2. “Dog Days Are Over” – Florence + The Machine
3. “Mountain Sound” – Of Monsters and Men
4. “Young Lion” – Vampire Weekend
5. “Sweater Weather” – The Neighbourhood
6. “Mykonos” – Fleet Foxes
7. “Take Me Out” – Franz Ferdinand
8. “Little Talks” – Of Monsters and Men
9. “Electric Feel” – MGMT
10. “Do I Wanna Know?” – Arctic Monkeys

Upbeat Dance Tracks for a High-Energy Drive:
When you need to keep your energy up during a long drive, a playlist of upbeat dance tracks is just the ticket. 

1. “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” – Justin Timberlake
2. “Uptown Funk” – Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
3. “Wake Me Up” – Avicii
4. “Blinding Lights” – The Weeknd
5. “Titanium” – David Guetta ft. Sia
6. “Get Lucky” – Daft Punk ft. Pharrell Williams
7. “Levitating” – Dua Lipa
8. “Party Rock Anthem” – LMFAO
9. “Dynamite” – Taio Cruz
10. “24K Magic” – Bruno Mars

And actually - sometimes it's easier to just give the aux to your kids.