So, I just made a big ol’ road trip with my kids…and without my husband.  It was about an 11 hour drive, and that’s not including stops for a 2-weeks-potty-trained two-year-old, an overnight stay along the way, or the additional delay for the traffic ticket I got for “failure to switch lanes near an emergency vehicle” on the interstate.  (I knew that applied to police cars, firetrucks, and ambulances in route, but didn’t realize that when there are 3 cops parked in a row on one side of the interstate, and 2 parked on the other, that I should get out of the left lane and move to the right. So, Tifton, GA….this ragged feeling mommy after a full day of driving, does not dub you “Friendliest City” even though that’s what you like to call yourself.)

I’ll tell you what helped along the way though to pass the time….a good old fashioned mix tape.  It wasn’t an actual cassette tape (which would have been gloriously old-school) , but I had a great time on Spotify the day before I left creating a mix of songs that made the time fun.  So I thought I’d share with you my…

Top 100 Absolutely Necessary Road Trip Songs

In no particular order, and I’m confident that I’ve forgotten a few additionally necessary ones, so you’ll have to please add your own few “can’t be missed” road trip songs in the comments section below.

1. 1234 – Feist
2. All For Believing – Missy Higgins
3. Ants Marching – Dave Matthews
4. Any Way You Want It – Journey
5. Be Ok – Ingrid Michaelson
6. 5 Years Time – Noah and the Whale
7. Barely Breathing – Duncan Sheik
8. Bittersweet – Big Head Todd and the Monsters
9. Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison
10. California Dreamin’ – The Mamas and the Papas
11. Call Me Maybe – Carly Rae Jepsen
12. Cecelia – Simon and Garfunkel
13. Champagne High – Sister Hazel
14. To Be With You – Mr. Big
15. Cherry Pie – Warrant
16. Closer to Fine – Indigo Girls
17. Come Away with Me – Norah Jones
18. Come to Jesus – Mindy Smith
19. Cowboy Take Me Away – Dixie Chicks
20. Dixieland Delight – Alabama
21. Drops of jupiter – Train
22. Dust on the Bottle – David Lee Murphy
23. Eternal Flame – The Bangles
24. Fast Car – Tracy Chapman
25. Free Fallin’ – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
26. Margaritaville – Jimmy Buffet
27. Geek in the Pink – Jason Mraz
28. Go your Own Way – Fleetwood Mac
29. Green and Gray – Nickel Creek
30. Heaven is a Place on Earth – Belinda Carlisle
31. Here I Go Again – Whitesnake
32. Hey Now – Dave Barnes
33. Hold On – Alabama Shakes
34. Hook – Blues Traveler
35. Jacaranda Tree – Josh Garrels
36. Jessie’s Girl – Rick Springfield
37. Jezebel – Red Molly
38. Jolene – Mindy Smith and Dolly Parton
39. Killing Me Softly – The Fugees
40. Kiss Me – Sixpence None The Richer
41. Leaving on a Jet Plane – Peter, Paul, and Mary
42. Life is a Highway – Rascal Flatts
43. Little Goodbyes – SheDAISY
44. Look Away – Chicago
45. Love Story – Taylor Swift
46. Lovers Lane – Squirrel Nut Zippers
47. Manic Monday – The Bangles
48. Material Girl – Madonna
49. Misguided Angel – Cowboy Junkies
50. November Rain – Guns N’ Roses
51. Only Wanna Be With You – Hootie and the Blowfish
52. Picture – Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow
53. Put Your Records On – Corinne Bailey Rae
54. Ready to Run – Dixie Chicks
55. Rumor Has It – Adele
56. Run Away – Sarah Jarosz
57. Sample in a Jar – Phish
58. Send Me On My Way – Rusted Root
59. Strawberry Wine – Deana Carter
60. Summer Nights – John Travolta and Olivia Newton John
61. Shiny Happy People – R.E.M.
62. Something Like That – Tim McGraw
63. Sparrow – Audrey Assad
64. Sweet Emotion – Aerosmith
65. Sweet Jane – Cowboy Junkies
66. The Joker – Steve Miller Band
67. The Show – Lenka
68. The Way I Am – Ingrid Michaelson
69. The Wind – Zac Brown Band
70. These Are The Days – 10,000 Maniacs
71. These Arms of Mine – Otis Redding
72. Thieves – She & Him
73. Uptown Girl – Billy Joel
74. Used to Be – Daughtry
75. Vogue – Madonna
76. Walk on the Ocean – Toad The Wet Sprocket
77. Wanted Dead or Alive – Bon Jovi
78. We Are – Kari Jobe
79. We Are Young – Fun
80. What Makes You Beautiful – One Direction
81. Wildflowers – Tom Petty
82. Wolfman’s Brother – Phish
83. You and I – Ingrid Michaelson
84. You Know I’m No Good – Amy Winehouse
85. You’re Beautiful – James Blunt
86. You’re the Inspiration – Chicago
87. Complicated – Avril Lavigne
88. Ironic – Alanis Morisette
89. This Love – Maroon 5
90. If You Want Me – Glen Hansard
91. Billie Jean – Michael Jackson
92. My Prerogative – Bobby Brown
93. Mack The Knife – Bobby Darin
94. Wouldn’t It Be Nice – The Beach Boys
95. Depende – Jarabe De Palo
96. Stronger – Kelly Clarkson
97. I’ll Be – Edwin McCain
98. It Must Have Been Love – Roxette
99. Hey Ya – OutKast
100. Beautiful Things – Gungor

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