10 Albums That Are Practically Summer Road Trip Essentials

The open road, good tunes, and no worries.

Summer is here, which means it's time to start planning out our vacation time, and there's nothing better than a good road trip.

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Everyone knows the most important part of a road trip is picking the right music.

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I love putting an album on straight through, instead of going through a playlist and hitting shuffle.

I can keep the tunes flowing and my eyes on the road.

So, here are some of my favorite albums to blast on a road trip.

1. Rumours by Fleetwood Mac

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I mean, of course. This should be in your record collection no matter the season, but especially on a summer road trip. Every song is fit for driving in the sun and singing along, from "Don't Stop" to "You Make Loving Fun," and, of course, "The Chain."

2. Sour by Olivia Rodrigo

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Our teen idol's first single is called "Drivers License," so of course her album was made for a road trip. She also made a documentary road tripping while performing songs along the way. So what are you doing if this isn't in your rotation?

3. Tapestry by Carole King

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One of the best albums of all time. Just stellar. Great for any occasion, and especially a road trip.

4. An Evening With Silk Sonic by Silk Sonic

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Need some good jams? Try this duo's album. There's funk and slow jams and all the good stuff.

5. Golden Hour by Kacey Musgraves

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With songs like "Slow Burn" and "Oh, What a World," this album is made for an easy drive at sunset, just marveling at the scenery. And then when there's a rude driver on the road, there's "High Horse."

6. Humble Quest by Maren Morris

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You need some good country music on a road trip. Any of Maren Morris' albums will get the job done, but I especially like her newest for driving around.

7. Future Nostalgia by Dua Lipa

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This is the album that got us through the quarantine stage of the pandemic, and it will keep carrying us through. Thankfully, we're at a stage where we can safely be with others, blasting music in our cars and singing and dancing along.

8. Is Your Love Big Enough? by Lianne La Havas

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You might not have heard this album before, but that's why it's so perfect for a road trip. Each song is full of power and soul.

9. After Laughter by Paramore

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If you really listen to the lyrics, you might not think this is a great pop album to sing along to, but you'd be wrong. This is perfect for when you want a deep and emotional drive, but you also need bops. And these songs are bops.

10. And American Idiot by Green Day

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When will this album stop being relevant? Also, it's just a great rock album, and when you pair it with the Broadway cast album, you'll have a great audio experience.

What albums do you blast on a road trip?

Let us know in the comments below!

This post is an entry in BuzzFeed’s 2nd Annual Community Summer Writers’ Challenge, where you can earn $$$ for creating your own lists and quizzes published through September 15, 2022! Check out alllll the details here. 👀