How to Make the Ultimate Road Trip Playlist

By Matt DeMotts on March 7, 2012

Image by gizameluke on flickr.com

A crucial part of any road trip experience is the music that you listen to while driving. A bad playlist can make an otherwise enjoyable trip into an awkward and uncomfortable drive that seems never-ending. Creating a good mix is an art that brings in a number of factors. Here are a few tips for all the audiophiles driving across the country for Spring Break!

Know Your Audience

Knowing the tastes of the people you’re driving with is key. Make sure that you factor in the musical styles that your car-mates like. For example, if you were driving with a group of hipsters, a playlist full of bands like Arcade Fire and Mumford & Sons would be ideal. A car full of metalheads would probably enjoy a mix that includes bands like Slayer and Mammoth. And if you’re driving with a group of Justin Bieber fans… well, maybe it’s time to find some new friends.

Self-Sacrifice

If your musical tastes are wildly different than your friends’ tastes, you might need to see that the needs of the many are taken care of while the needs of the few are put to the wayside. That doesn’t mean that you have to forgo your own tastes entirely. Slip a few songs of your favorite genre between the songs that your friends are into–and hey, they might even like them!

Always Bet on Classics

No matter what styles your friends like, nobody will complain about some golden oldies. They also make for excellent sing-along songs, as most people will know the lyrics or recognize the tune. Including some classic songs in your mix will help liven up the mood and get the whole car singing. (And it is a great way to keep the driver awake!)

Destinations

Make sure to include some songs that relate to your destination. It gets the whole car pumped up and makes the eventual arrival much more exciting. For example, if you’re going to California, include some “California Dreamin’ “, “California Gurls”, and other songs related to the state. It’s pretty intuitive.

Making a playlist isn’t a horribly difficult task, but it is an important one nonetheless. This Spring Break, make sure you create a great one.