Okay, so yesterday I got this itch, right? Needed some tunes for this weekend’s drive up the coast. Wanted something fitting, love songs but about travel. Sounds simple? Man, digging into it was a whole thing. Here’s how it went down.
The Plan & First Hunt
Figured Spotify would have something. Typed in “love songs travel” – boom, tons of playlists. Started clicking on everything labeled “Road Trip Love” or “Wanderlust Romance”. Big mistake. Half were just random pop love songs, nothing about journeys. Got frustrated fast. Needed to be smarter.
Switching Tactics & Manual Sifting
Scrapped the playlist search. Decided to hunt individual songs instead. Searched for stuff like “best travel love songs” and actually read articles from folks who seemed to know music. Started compiling a list in my notes app:
- “Leaving on a Jet Plane” (John Denver)
- “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” (The Proclaimers)
- “Sweet Disposition” (The Temper Trap)
- “Jet Lag” (Simple Plan ft. Natasha Bedingfield)
- “Come Away With Me” (Norah Jones)
Looked promising! But I know me. I need to feel it.
The Real Test: Listening While Moving
Grabbed my headphones and decided to test these out in motion. Because sitting at your desk isn’t the same as cruising down the highway. Did my chores, went for a walk – anything to simulate traveling. My process:
- Mood Check: Does it actually make me feel like I’m heading somewhere? Or just generic love?
- Drive Rhythm: Does the beat kinda work with driving? Too slow puts you to sleep, too fast feels frantic.
- Lyrics Matter: Actually paying attention this time! “Jet Lag” talks about missing someone across time zones – that’s travel angst! “500 Miles” is pure determination to get to your love.
Some surprises:
- Norah Jones? Beautiful song, amazing voice. But “Come Away With Me” is more like… whispering you to sleep, not pump you up for the drive. Saved it for maybe nighttime at the destination.
- “Sweet Disposition” – banger! That steady beat is perfect for highway driving, and the hopeful vibe nails that road trip feeling. Instantly added.
- “Leaving on a Jet Plane” – classic for a reason. That melancholic leaving vibe hits different when you’re actually moving away from your usual spot.
Discoveries & The Ex Factor
Found a few gems I hadn’t considered originally:
- “Fast Car” (Tracy Chapman): More escape than love song, but damn, the imagery of driving toward a better life? Powerful stuff for the open road.
- “Ho Hey” (The Lumineers): Super catchy, foot-stompy rhythm, all about finding belonging. Great driving energy!
Then… I stumbled into “Jet Lag” again. Used to jam to this ages ago. And boom. Memory unlocked. Road trip with Sarah to the lake years back. We blasted this, singing (yelling) off-key, windows down. We broke up later that year. The song hits different now. It’s still about travel and love (or missing someone), but man, listening to “We’re in different time zones / But my heart is set on you” while walking my dog felt weirdly sharp. Personal travel baggage!
The Final Road Trip Picks
So, after all that testing, reminiscing, and maybe mild emotional turmoil? Here’s what made my cut for the actual coast drive:
- “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” – Pure energy booster.
- “Ho Hey” – Upbeat and road-worthy.
- “Sweet Disposition” – Perfect driving rhythm & mood.
- “Fast Car” – For those quieter stretch moments.
- “Leaving on a Jet Plane” – For the bittersweet highway departure feels.
Left “Jet Lag” off this time. Too many damn time zones in my own head.
The biggest takeaway? Finding travel love songs is more than lyrics about planes or roads. It’s about the feeling of movement, distance, longing, or adventure wrapped in a melody that matches the journey’s rhythm. And sometimes, your own history hijacks the playlist! Ended up with solid tunes though. Just need to find someone to sing them badly with on the highway…