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10 Blues Rock Road Trip Songs

There’s nothing like hitting the open road with the windows down, the sun on your face, and the right soundtrack blaring through the speakers. And when it comes to road trip music, blues rock delivers the perfect blend of grit, soul, and momentum. It’s music made for motion, driven by riffs, soaked in swagger, and built for the highway.

Whether you’re cruising down backroads or barreling down the interstate, these 30 blues rock tracks belong on every road trip playlist. Buckle up.

ZZ Top – “La Grange

There’s no better way to kick off a road trip than with the raw, greasy groove of “La Grange.” From the moment Billy Gibbons’ guitar kicks in with that slinky intro, you’re transported to a world of dusty highways and neon-lit roadhouses. It’s a blues boogie built for rolling wheels. Crank it loud, let the engine growl, and let that Texas swagger set the tone for your journey.

Albert King – “Born Under a Bad Sign”

Slow, steady, and full of punch, this classic from Albert King doesn’t scream down the road, it cruises with confidence. With its heavy groove and cutting lyrics, “Born Under a Bad Sign” gives you something to sink into while the miles tick by. And if you’re traveling under stormy skies, it makes the perfect soundtrack for driving through the blues.

Joe Walsh – “Rocky Mountain Way”

Few songs evoke wide-open spaces like “Rocky Mountain Way.” With its soaring slide guitar, laid-back groove, and sense of liberation, it sounds like it was custom-made for long-distance drives. Joe Walsh’s vocals float over the music like a bird riding mountain thermals. It’s more than a song, it’s a breath of fresh air at 70 miles an hour.

Gary Clark Jr. – “Don’t Owe You A Thang”

Built on a punchy riff and loose-limbed groove, this song swaggers with attitude. Gary Clark Jr. blends blues grit with modern sensibility in a way that feels effortlessly cool. The vocals are defiant, and the guitar work is playful and raw. It’s a great track for rolling into a new town like you own the place.

George Thorogood & The Destroyers – “Bad To The Bone

Sure, it’s been overplayed in TV and movies, but there’s a reason for that. “Bad to the Bone” is pure road trip fuel. That riff, that snarl, that cocky deliver, it turns a routine drive into a rebel run. It’s blues rock theater, and every highway is a stage. Don’t fight it. Just play it loud and own the road.

B.B. King and Eric Clapton – “Riding With The King

This smooth collaboration between two titans of blues is equal parts elegance and groove. Clapton plays with restraint, letting B.B. King’s phrasing shine, and the chemistry between them is infectious. The lyrics are fun and metaphorical, tapping into the fantasy of being untouchable on the road. It’s a polished yet soulful track perfect for coasting with class.

John Lee Hooker: “Boom Boom”

Hooker’s hypnotic groove and trademark vocal rhythm make “Boom Boom” an enduring blues rock staple. It’s primal, repetitive, and infectiously rhythmic, the kind of song that syncs with the thrum of tires on pavement. The guitar work is minimal but effective, letting the beat and feel do most of the talking. It’s a must-have for keeping things gritty and grounded.

Canned Heat – “On The Road Again”

With its hypnotic groove and Alan Wilson’s unmistakable high-pitched vocals, “On the Road Again” is a psychedelic blues rock staple that perfectly captures the restless spirit of travel. The droning rhythm and harmonica give it a trance-like quality, echoing the endless repetition of white lines on asphalt. Lyrically, it taps into themes of loneliness, freedom, and the pull of the unknown, core ingredients of any meaningful road trip. It’s a song that doesn’t just accompany the journey; it becomes part of it. As the miles roll by, it settles into your brain and doesn’t let go.

Eddie 9V – “Saratoga

“Saratoga” cruises with a laid-back groove that feels like it was born to soundtrack a long drive through southern heat. Eddie 9V mixes old-school soul, blues, and rock ‘n’ roll with an effortless cool that makes the song feel both vintage and fresh. The guitar licks are subtle but smooth, riding just behind the beat while the rhythm section keeps things rolling with swagger. There’s a cinematic quality to the track. It doesn’t rush, it strolls, inviting you to roll down the windows and take your time. It’s the kind of tune that makes even a short drive feel like a journey worth savoring.

Robert Jon and the Wreck – “Highway

“Highway” is a powerful mid-tempo anthem that feels tailor-made for long stretches of open road. With soaring guitar harmonies, a tight rhythm section, and Robert Jon’s emotive vocals, the song captures both the freedom and ache that comes with chasing something just out of reach. It’s polished but never overproduced, striking a balance between heartland rock and modern blues grit. There’s a sense of motion in every note, steady, urgent, and impossible to ignore once it kicks in.

27 thoughts on “10 Blues Rock Road Trip Songs

  • Carl S Liedtke

    I would add Govt Mules Highway Song

    Reply
  • I would suggest Rory Gallagher’s “Living Like A Trucker” I always crank this one up on a road trip!! Wife always says I play it too loud, I yell back, what you say, can’t heat you?

    Reply
  • DAN THE MAN

    Not much blues in these songs, might as well add Radar Love, Rockin’ Down the Highway, Roadhouse Blues etc

    Reply
  • These are great for long road trips. I start with ten or more high-energy Hard Rock tunes to match the excitement of the journey, and then settle in with ten or more Blues Rock mid-journey tunes. I have a trip planned to the Adirondack Mountains this August, and these tunes will be on the playlist.

    Reply
  • Bruce A.

    For something “Bluesy” you could play “Drive” by Joe Bonnamassa this song plays well late at night while driving down a two lane highway, always love it.

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    • Great choice. His Driving Towards The Daylight is also great.

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  • Joe Bonamassa a song called Drive !

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    • Warren Blake

      Good song ! Add No good place for the lonely from the same album ..His last solo on it is a cut above .

      Reply
  • Joe Poturica

    Missing Walter Trout’s “Ride”.

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  • You’d need a Lynyrd Skynyrd’ song, like Free Bird or Sweet Home Alabama

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  • Not exactly blues but honorable mention goes out to Blackfoot’s Highway Song, Marshall Tucker’s Take The Highway, Deep Purple Highway Star.

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  • Baybluesman

    Lest we not forget the folksy blues-rock of Hot Tuna, with “Highway Song”, from their 1972 “Burgers” LP release

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  • Baybluesman

    Johnny Winter’s smokin’ blues-rock live version of “Highway 61 Revisited”, from his “Johnny Winter – Captured Live” LP.
    55 to 90 mph without realizing it 😉.

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  • Everyone has their Playlist. 15 yrs ago, I made a CD with only Jackson Brown songs, Running On Empty, etc. It makes me drive faster (or clean the house).

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  • Some great suggestions here. How about Boz Scaggs’ Loan Me a Dime with Duane Allman on guitar?

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  • Dglsolson

    How do you not have Jessica by yhe Allman Bros on this list? Or Running Like The Wind by Marshall Tucker?

    Reply
  • John Keegan

    Not a Blues but totally worthy of any road trip playlist Steve Wynn and the Miracle 3 – Amphetamine. Pedal to the floor rocker. You can thank me later.

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  • Janet Wright

    Runnin’ Down a Dream by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

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  • Kaven B Daniels

    Hideaway by Freddie King should be on this list

    Reply
  • Great songs, thanks.

    Maybe add AC/DCs Ride On? An oldie but a goodie

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  • Great list and comments. To each their own. Here’s mine without spending too much time:

    green grass an high tides-the outlaws
    go faster- richie kotzen
    nothing to lose- bishop gunn
    500 miles- albert cummings
    willin- little feat
    still raining- jonny lang
    road less traveled- drew zaunbrecher
    driving out of the blues- chris anderson
    midnight rider- allman brothers
    born to be wild- steppenwolf
    highway blues- hill country revue

    Reply
  • Road House Blues by the Doors should be on the list

    Reply

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