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There ain’t nothing better on a road trip than to turn up the radio and sing along to a country driving song. Nobody in the car cares whether you can carry a tune or not; everyone is just having a great time. So while everyone has their favorites, you can’t beat a great country driving song.
Even if you’re not a big country fan, there are particular country driving songs that are legendary beyond genres. So if you’re a fan of “both kinds of music, country and western,” you’ll want to check out our list of the 19 best country driving songs for your next RV trip.
19 Best Country Driving Songs for Your Next RV Trip
1. I’ve Been Everywhere – Johnny Cash
The “Man in Black” recorded his version of this classic country driving song in 1996. It’ll make you want to visit all the cities he mentions in the lyrics. It’s perfect to start your road trip.
Did you know that the song features Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers backing up this country legend? The group performs on the entire LP.
Cash’s version is a cover, and the original tune featured Australian cities back in 1962. Hank Snow created the American version. There’s also a version that is Texas-specific, written by Brian Burns.
2. Amarillo By Morning – Alan Jackson
Sing along with Alan Jackson, or maybe George Strait, with this rodeo-cowboy-inspired song. This country driving song has been covered by several different groups and individuals and was the Number 12 country song of all time. If country crooning was a sub-genre, this one would take top honors.
3. Life is a Highway – Rascal Flatts
“Life is a Highway” will get your hands clapping, your feet stomping, and your blood pumping while you bob your head down the highway. You might recognize it from the Pixar animated movie “Cars.”
It was released with the movie soundtrack in 2006 but was never released as an official radio single. Instead, radios began playing it, reaching the top 10 in the Billboard Hot 100, crossing over to pop radio.
The original version, written and performed by Canadian Tom Cochran, wasn’t a stranger to the Billboard Chart. It peaked at number 6 in 1991 and saw worldwide popularity on the alternative rock scene.
4. Red Dirt Road – Brooks & Dunn
Slow down as you enjoy Red Dirt Road, a famous Brooks & Dunn country driving song released in 2003. The lyrics tell the story of Ronnie Dunn and his memories of growing up with his family on a red dirt road in Arkansas.
You can wax nostalgic from your fond memories of growing up as you listen to this catchy tune.
5. Days Go By – Keith Urban
Make sure you put this catchy tune by Keith Urban on your playlist. Released in 2004, “Days Go By” is a country driving song music staple. This was the first single from Urban’s 2004 album “Be Here” and Urban’s fifth number one single on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
The song also has a great rock and pop crossover appeal.
6. On the Road Again – Willie Nelson
Who doesn’t know Willie Nelson’s “On the Road Again?” It’s a well-known tune written in 1980 for a film called Honeysuckle Rose. Nelson starred in the movie and was asked about writing the song. The story says that after the executive producer asked him, Nelson quickly wrote it on a “barf bag.”
It was Nelson’s ninth Country & Western No. 1 hit and has become one of his most recognizable tunes. Reaching No. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 7 on the Adult Contemporary chart, it also won Nelson a Grammy for Best Country Song.
7. Take Me Home, Country Roads – John Denver
This is one of my favorites, and I know all the words. I even had the album, which will give you a good guess about my age. John Denver released this song in 1971 on his album “Poems, Prayers and Promises.”
Bill Danoff and Taffy Nivert wrote the song for Johnny Cash. But when Denver heard the track, he offered to help finish it and included it on his album. It was Denver’s first No. 1 record.
8. Wagon Wheel – Old Crow Medicine Show
I first heard this song about six years ago while on a mission trip to Nicaragua. Two guys on our team played the song on their guitars for the kids as we bounced around on a school bus headed to the beach. The kids loved the tune, even if they didn’t understand the words.
I would put this song into the Folk or Americana sub-genre of country music. The chorus was written by Bob Dylan in 1973. Old Crow Medicine Show frontman Ketch Secor added verses to the original. This version of the song went platinum in 2013.
9. Highway Vagabond – Miranda Lambert
This traveling song by Miranda Lambert will get you clapping and bobbing your head. The song is about a drifter floating from city to city. It compares that to the life of a traveling musician.
10. Cruise – Florida Georgia Line
Roll your windows down and Cruise with Florida Georgia Line. First released in 2012, Cruise was the first Number 1 hit for the duo Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard. In addition, it was 2013’s most played song on country radio.
11. White Line Fever – Merle Haggard
Slow your roll with a bit of White Line Fever with Merle Haggard. The song, released in 1968, is all about the life of an over-the-road truck driver. Don’t let Merle’s crooning give you white-line fever.
12. A Thousand Miles from Nowhere – Dwight Yoakam
For all you boondockers out there, this is the song for you. “A Thousand Miles from Nowhere” was released in June 1993 as the second single from his album “This Time.” The song peaked at Number 2 in the U.S. and Number 3 in Canada. It was featured in two films, Red Rock West and Chasers.
13. Take a Back Road – Rodney Atkins
You might want to stay on the main roads in your RV, but the phrase makes for a great road trip song. So “grab you[r] honey,” take “the two-lane,” and “get right with [your] soul.” Those three themes are what country music is all about.
This song was released in 2011 and is about leaving the city’s stress to enjoy country life; spending time with people that matter the most.
14. Dirt Road Anthem – Jason Aldean
I dare you to try and sing all the words to this country rap song. Written by country rapper Colt Ford, Jason Aldean made this one a hit well before he added it to his 2011 album “My Kinda Party.” The song exudes country pride, southern values, and remembering good times from the past.
15. American Kids – Kenny Chesney
Get into this song as you head down the road in your schoolie. Of course, you have to watch the video to get that reference. This feel-good song was from Chesney’s 2014 album “The Big Revival.” He said the song “grabs you and holds on.”
Hold on to this one for your road trip playlist.
16. Somethin’ ‘Bout a Truck – Kip Moore
Released in 2011 as the first single from his debut album “Up All Night,” “Somethin’ ‘Bout a Truck” reached number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. It was also a top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 29.
The song captures the youthful spirit that is in all of us.
17. Let’s Go to Vegas – Faith Hill
Take a gamble on Faith Hill’s “Let’s Go to Vegas,” released in 1995 as the lead single from the album “It Matters to Me.” The catchy lyrics depict the woman trying to talk her man into eloping in Las Vegas.
18. Down the Road I Go – Travis Tritt
Travis Tritt’s “Down the Road I Go” could be an answer to Faith Hill’s “Let’s Go to Vegas.” This song has a great beat, and the song’s gist is from a drifter to his girl, warning her that he doesn’t plan to hang around.
The single was on the album by the same name, released in 2000.
19. King of the Road – Roger Miller
I remember this song that my dad would play on his guitar. He had a full three-ring binder of music from singers like Roger Miller and Johnny Cash, to name a few. It takes me back to those times of listening to my dad playing.
Roger Miller first recorded this song in November 1964. The lyrics talk about the life of a hobo who, despite being poor, revels in his freedom. He describes himself cynically as the “king of the road.”
You can find remakes of the song sung by Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, and many others.
Bonus Classic Rock Songs
Here are a couple of bonus classic rock songs that will get you moving in your seat.
1. Old Time Rock and Roll – Bob Seger
While this may not be your typical “road” song, you can’t be my friend if you can’t sing along to Bob Seger’s “Old Time Rock & Roll” from 1978. Just kidding.
This is a classic that you must add to your RV driving playlist. The song was featured in 1983’s movie Risky Business and was listed as one of the Songs of the Century in 2001.
2. Take It Easy – The Eagles
Before the 1970s, Winslow, Arizona, was just another town on the all but forgotten Route 66. Due to an unfortunate event, Glenn Frey was stuck in Winslow for a while but eventually returned to Los Angeles. Co-writer Jackson Browne came up with the idea for the Arizona line to solve Frey’s writer’s block.
Released on May 1, 1971, it peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. It not only became one of the band’s signature songs, but the City of Winslow, Arizona, has a statue of Glenn Frey and an annual “Standin’ on the Corner” Festival.
3. Free Bird- Lynard Skynard
Ranked as number 409 on Rolling Stone’s Top 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and the 26th hard rock song of all time by VH1, “Free Bird” by Lynard Skynard should be on every playlist. This southern rock band is a classic that crosses the country and rock genres since its release in 1974 as a single (although it was on the band’s debut album in 1973).
Allen Collins’ iconic guitar solo is legendary. Without this anthem about wanderlust and being free to roam, no RV playlist would be complete.
Wrapping Up
I hope you have as much fun listening to the songs on this list as I did writing about them. Of course, any country driving song for the road is always a personal preference, but you can’t miss them if you include a few of these in your RV tune collection.
Keep your eyes on the road, stay in your lane, and always get to your destination safely.
Let me know some of your favorite country driving songs in the comments.
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About the Author
Terri Nighswonger – Author and Full Time RVer
Terri Nighswonger and her husband Todd have been RVing and work camping for six years with their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Newton, and their Minnie Australian Shepherd, Remi.
In Addition to the RVBlogger team, Terri has written for RV Life and RV Camping Magazine and is always excited to talk about her passion for RVing and her knowledge and experience in work camping.
Writing is Terri’s passion, but she also loves hiking, kayaking, walking her dogs, and anything she can do outdoors.
They originate from the Midwest but plan to enjoy the West for a few years, wintering in Arizona and summering wherever the road may lead.
Terri, such great classics! I would add “Sweet Home Alabama” to the list! As soon as you hear the opening riff, younare hooked! HeeHaw from Canada!