The ultimate summer road trip playlist

It’s early on a sunny morning in December, you’re donned in your shorts, flip-flops and your funkiest pair of shades, your bags are crammed into the boot and you’ve claimed your seat for the journey ahead. A cd gets popped into the player (or some sort of device is miraculously connected with the radio) and as that first track starts pumping; you know that your summer road trip has officially begun.

Read: Why road trips are so addictive

So to help you plan and to get the excitement going, I’ve scoured the social networks (and the brains of the Getaway editorial) for some highly recommended road trip songs. And seeing as summer is officially here, it’s a great excuse to start compiling your ultimate summer road trip playlist.

Some of these songs are no-brainers, some might be new discoveries and some are absolute classics. Naturally, this is a subjective list, so please feel free to comment below and add your favourites.

The ultimate summer road trip playlist

Beach Boys – Good Vibrations
Few describe summertime vacations quite as well as the Beach Boys

AC/CD – Back in black
Because the open road and AC/DC just go together

Canned Heat – On the road again

The Doors – Alabama song (whiskey bar)

The Fratellis – Chelsea Dagger
The name might sound strange, but you’ll know you know this song the moment you hear it.

Lenny Kravitz – Fly away

Jack Johnson – Better together
For when you realise that life doesn’t get much better than this.

Smashing Pumpkins – 1979

Johnny Cash – I’ve been everywhere

Toploader – Dancing in the moonlight
Ideal for those classic sing along sessions

The Black Keys – Tighten up
Put on those neon shades and feel like a rockstar

Alt J – Breeze blocks

Neil Diamond – Sweet Caroline
It might not be on your everyday playlist, but when you’re on the road, you can’t argue against the Neil

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros – Home
You don’t have to feel like going home to enjoy this catchy tune

Florence and the Machine  – Dog days are over

Franz Ferdinand – Take me out

The Strokes – You only live once
A great title for a great driving song .

Two Door Cinema Club – What you know

Passion Pit – Take a walk

The Lumineers – Hey ho
You’ll be singing along after the first chorus.

Creedence Clearwater Revival – Bad moon rising
Can’t leave for summer without a good dose of CCR.

Foster the People – Pumped up kicks

Cat Stevens – Wild world
Ideal for quiet humming and staring out the window while you’re drinking in the beautiful scenery.

Poison – Nothing but a good time

Red Hot Chili Peppers – Scar tissue

White Stripes – Seven-nation army
Jack White should be a welcome passenger on any road trip – but this might just be my personal opinion.

Cypress Hill – Insane in the Membrane
For when the road gets long, everyone is pumped up on sugar and caffeine and the mood gets a little, well, crazy.

Pixies – Where is my mind
For after the insane backseat freak-out.

King of Leon – Radioactive

Neon Trees – Animal

Nicolas Jaar – Mix tapes
When everyone is asleep except the driver, these 40min electro sets are perfect for getting lost in thought.

Now that you have your playlist, you can pay attention to another vital part of any road trip – Padkos. Take a look at our favourite padkos recipes for the holidays.

*Pictures courtesy of Daniel d’Auria and Abby Ray.