We asked the Budget-Minded Traveler Community on Facebook to share their favorite songs about travel and adventure with us. Members of the group were quick to come up with a long list of songs that we compiled into the BMT Community Ultimate Travel Playlist.
Our travel playlist has songs that range from mellow to upbeat and cross musical genres and travel styles. There’s sure to be something on this list for everyone and every type of trip.
Read on to see how you can listen to The BMT Community Ultimate Travel Playlist on your next trip.
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Inspire Wanderlust: Songs About Travel and Adventure
Let’s start off with some adventure songs that inspire. Songs about specific places can conjure up memories of past trips. Or incite the longing to explore new destinations.
Whether it’s in the lyrics or the name itself, some songs ignite a desire to “pick up and go to an exotic place on a whim,” according to one BMT Community member.
Anywhere – Passenger
On Top Of The World – Imagine Dragons
When I’m Gone (Cups Song) – Anna Kendrick
I’ve got my ticket for the long way ‘round
The one with the prettiest of views
It’s got mountains, it’s got rivers, it’s got sights to give you shivers
But it sure would be prettier with you
Around The World – Daft Punk
Free – Donavon Frankenreiter
Midnight Train – James Cotton and Gregg Allman
Travelin’ Man – Ricky Nelson
On My Way – Phil Collins
I’ve Been Everywhere – Johnny Cash
Looking Down – Audiovent
Leaving, On a Jet Plane – John Denver
Southbound – Allman Brothers Band
Fly Away – Lenny Kravitz
Train Song – Phish
Songs About Traveling the World
New York State of Mind – Billy Joel
Mexico – James Taylor
Rio – Michael Nesmith
Wake Up In Paris – The Hot Sardines
I want to wake up in Paris.
As the city greets the day.
I want to wake up in Paris.
And watch the sunrise on the quais.
Sweet Home Alabama – Lynyrd Skynyrd
The Devil Went Down to Georgia – The Charlie Daniels Band
Africa – Toto
Check out our best travel tips:
- A Complete Guide to Using Your iPhone Abroad: For Dummies
- Travel Adapter and Voltage Converter Basics
- How to Keep Your Cell Phone Number While You Travel
Songs for Relaxing on the Plane
One community member has an entire playlist she listens to on the plane, whether on her way to a destination or on her way back.
She says, these songs “make me feel like I’m in a movie because they stir up emotion in their melodies.”
Although the lyrics to these songs are not travel-related, she feels inspired by them and they help spark memories of her travels. Here are her song picks for the travel playlist.
Starman – David Bowie
While My Guitar Gently Weeps – The Beatles
The Ballad of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll) – George Harrison
Crystals – Of Monsters and Men
Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) – The Beatles
I Woke Up In A Car – Something Corporate
Bruised – Jack’s Mannequin
Mountain Sound – Of Monsters and Men
Soul Sacrifice – Santana
“A little soft jazz, like Dave Brubeck or Miles Davis for overnight flights,” was also suggested by one community member. I did not include any single song from either artist on this playlist because it’s my personal opinion that jazz is best enjoyed by the album. I’m also fully aware that jazz is not everyone’s cup of tea. So, if you’re new to the genre, start off with Dave Brubeck’s Greatest Hits (you might recognize the song Take Five) and Kind of Blue by Miles Davis.
Related: How to Survive a Long Flight
Like what you see on the list so far? Give it a listen:
Songs for Chilling at the Beach
Is there anything better than laying in the warm sun, covered in salt and sand, listening to your favorite beach tunes? Here are some songs to add to your travel playlist for your next day at the beach or lake.
Malibu – Miley Cyrus
(Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay – Otis Redding
Cake By the Ocean – DNCE
Me Gustas Tu – Manu Chao
Kokomo – Beach Boys
Escape (The Pina Colada Song) – Rupert Holmes (one of my faves)
D’yer Mak’er – Led Zeppelin
Island Song – Zac Brown Band
Pontoon – Little Big Town
Soak Up the Sun – Sheryl Crow
Songs for Around the Campfire
Another BMT Community member says these Alexi Murdoch songs are “perfect for a camping trip in the woods or by the waterfall. Swinging on a hammock near a campfire sipping a hot steaming cup of tea with great company alongside. Ahh, simply amazing.” We enthusiastically agree!
Through The Dark, Orange Sky, and All My Days – Alexi Murdoch
Society – Eddie Vedder
Breakdown – Jack Johnson
Old Pine – Ben Howard
Southern Cross – Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young (Jackie’s pick!)
Songs for Road Trips
No list of songs about travel and adventure is complete until it has road trip songs. Roll your windows down and turn the volume all the way up. These songs are perfect for the open road and pair well with no destination.
Are You Gonna Go My Way – Lenny Kravitz
Free Fallin’ – Tom Petty
Truckin’ – Grateful Dead
Road To Nowhere – Talking Heads
See the World – Gomez
Road Trippin’ – Red Hot Chili Peppers
Life is a Highway – Rascal Flatts
I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) – The Proclaimers
Take Me Home, Country Roads – John Denver
Born in the USA – Bruce Springsteen
Related: How to Drive the Carretera Austral, Patagonia’s Ultimate Road Trip
Songs for Staying Awake On the Road
Making a long-haul drive late into the night? Blast these songs and you’ll be awake singing along in no time.
Electric Feel – MGMT
Midnight City – M83
Send Me On My Way – Rusted Root
Fly – Loudmouth
Related: 10 Unique Road Trip Gifts and Packing Ideas
Songs About Travel and Adventure for Expats
And finally, some songs for those adventurous spirits living in far-off places. These songs might help take the sting out of your homesickness and reaffirm that what you’re doing is incredible.
Wish You Were Here – Incubus
Home – Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
Go Your Own Way – Fleetwood Mac
Renegades – X Ambassadors
Home – Phillip Phillips
These Are Days – 10,000 Maniacs
Listen to these podcast episodes about expat life:
- From Solo Trips to Expat Life with Rachel Sales
- American Expat Life in Spain and Italy
- Finding Life and Love in Thailand with Expat Ian Ord
- Life As A Serial Expat with Jodi Ettenberg
How to Listen to the BMT Ultimate Travel Songs Playlist
We want you to have easy access to all of these songs. So, we put them on a Spotify playlist that you can follow and share with your adventure travel buddies. Click here to open the playlist in Spotify. Click the follow button to add the playlist to your lineup. Then listen to it via Spotify on any device.
If you have Spotify Premium, be sure to download this playlist so you can take it traveling with you on your adventures, even when you don’t have cell service. Ensure you have enough data to listen on the go with a prepaid SIM card!
Related: A Complete Guide to Using Your iPhone Abroad: For Dummies
Let’s keep adding to this travel playlist! In the comments below, tell us your favorite songs about travel and adventure. Also, join the Budget-Minded Traveler Community Facebook group!
By Brittany Quaglieri with help from the Budget-Minded Traveler Community
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Use these BMT-approved travel resources to plan your best budget-friendly trip yet!
Flights – Learn our tried and true strategies for finding the cheapest flights.
Accommodations – Using Booking.com to search for hostels and budget hotels has many benefits, including free cancelation and member upgrades.
Travel Insurance – Now more than ever, we encourage the purchase of travel insurance for every trip. Insurance protects you against cancellations, lost luggage, theft, injury, and illness. Here are the ones I use the most often:
- SafetyWing – covers travel medical and trip delay/cancelation
- Battleface – customizable protection including cancel-for-any-reason
Activities – Find amazing things to do that won’t break the bank in destinations worldwide on Viator.
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