Road trips are more popular than ever this summer amid soaring airfares and raised checked baggage fees.
While travelers will be taking different routes to reach their destinations this summer—from Route 66 to I-95—many will be passing the time with the same songs.
New data from streaming service Spotify shared with Travel + Leisure shows that the most-listened-to song on road trip playlists in 2026 is a 22-year-old anthem in "Mr. Brightside" by The Killers.
It turns out that the classics dominate when it comes to the cabin entertainment that fuels the most memorable road trips.
1981's "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey ranks second on the list.
"Road trips are the ultimate playground for collective nostalgia. There is nothing better than a car full of people singing along to songs everyone knows, which is why timeless anthems like Mr. Brightside and Hotel California still dominate," Spotify's editorial lead for pop Talia Kraines, told T+L.
Alex Warren's "Ordinary," a song released in 2025, ranks third, but hit songs from 1998 and 2011 round out the top five, according to Spotify.
Top 5 Most Streamed Road Trip Songs
- "Mr. Brightside" - The Killers
- "Don't Stop Believin'" - Journey
- "Ordinary" - Alex Warren
- "Iris" - The Goo Goo Dolls
- "Safe and Sound" - Capital Cities
Interestingly, Rascal Flatts' iconic road trip song "Life Is A Highway" ranked just eighth on the list.
Regardless of what's on your playlist, a curated soundtrack is just one of many important things to consider before venturing out on a road trip.
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