Best 50’s Road Trip Playlists (2025)

Are you ready for a road trip? It’s important to pack the essentials and start building the perfect soundtrack before you get on the road. Music from the 1950s can get you in the perfect mood to pack up the car and drive. Make sure to create a checklist before you drive away and forget something.

Below you’ll find an essential road trip checklist that will ensure your vehicle is ready for anything you have planned, including the correct type of auto insurance and a perfect playlist of the top 50’s songs.

The Best 1950s Road Trip Playlist

A 1950s road trip playlist is more than just a few songs about the road. We did include one or two of those, but a true playlist with the top songs of the 50s will feature hit songs that transcend genres. 

Each year of the decade brought new, groundbreaking sounds to the scene, and we still hear how artists with songs from the 50s and 60s influenced the hits of the 21st century. So, we’ve gathered tracks from the top artists of the decade to bring you a perfect blend of 50s swing bands, pop hits, and R&B crooners. You can learn more about the best 1960s road trip playlist here.

These songs from the 1950s feature enough rock and roll, rhythm and blues, mambo, and croony ballads to give everyone in your car a chance to belt out their favorite tune.

Best 1950s Road Trip Playlist

1. “You Send Me” – Sam Cooke
2. “Summertime Blues” – Eddie Cochran
3. “Tutti Frutti” – Little Richard
4. “Great Balls of Fire” – Jerry Lee Lewis
5. “Hound Dog” – Elvis Presley
6. “Johnny B. Goode” – Chuck Berry
7. “Yakety Yak” – The Coasters
8. “I’ve Got a Woman” – Ray Charles
9. “La Bamba” – Ritchie Valens
10. “Banana Boat (Day-O)” – Harry Bellafonte
11. “The Twist” – Hank Ballard & The Midnighters
12. “The Doggie in the Window” – Patti Page 
13. “Mr. Sandman” – The Chordettes
14. “Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White” – Perez Prado
15. “Purple People Eater” – Sheb Wooley
16. “All I Have to Do is Dream” – The Everly Brothers
17. “Rocket ‘88’” – Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats
18. “Gas Money” – Jan and Arnie 
19. “Little Side Car” – The Larks
20. “Race With the Devil” – Gene Vincent
21. “Buick 59” – The Medallions
22. “Black and White Thunderbird” – Fred Mollin
23. “Oh! Oh! Get Out of the Car” – Richard Berry
24. “T-Model Boogie” – Rosco Gordon
25. “Come Fly With Me” – Frank Sinatra
26. “Splish Splash” – Bobby Darin
27. “I Walk The Line” – Johnny Cash
28. “Shake, Rattle, and Roll” – Bill Haley & His Comets
29. “Come Prima” – Tito Puente
30. “You’re So Square” – Buddy Holly
31. “Moonlight Bay” – The Drifters
32. “Dream Lover” – Bobby Darin
33. “That’s Amore” – Dean Martin 
34. “Magic Moments” – Perry Como
35. “Witch Doctor” – David Seville
36. “Book of Love” – The Mudlarks
37. “Blueberry Hill” – Fats Domino
38. “A Guy is A Guy” – Doris Day 
39. “Red River Rock” – Johnny & The Hurricanes 
40. “Calendar Girl” – Neil Sedaka 
41. “Come Go With Me” – The Del-Vikings
42. “Something’s Gotta Give” – Sammy Davis Jr.
43. “Butterfly” – Andy Williams
44. “Shout, Pts. 1 & 2” – The Isley Brothers
45. “Papa Loves Mambo” – Perry Como
46. “Mambo No. 5” – Perez Prado 
47. “My Foolish Heart” – Gordon Jenkins 
48. “Goodnite, It’s Time to Go” – The Spaniels 
49. “Rama Lama Ding Dong” – The Edsels
50. “Be-Bop-A-Lula” – Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps

Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of auto accidents, so queue up this playlist before you hit the road. You can also ensure your car is road trip ready by following the safety checklist below.

Also, don’t forget to check WayBackAttack for a more comprehensive list of the top 100 car songs of the ’50s and ’60s.

Do you need road trip insurance?

You don’t need road trip insurance if you have a minimum liability policy. However, you may want to buy full coverage auto insurance to pay for damages in an accident or if your vehicle is stolen or vandalized. 

You might also add roadside assistance, which can provide a tow or tire change if you break down during your road trip. 

If you’re visiting from outside the U.S., many companies offer temporary auto insurance for non-U.S. residents. You can drive for up to three months in the U.S. with a valid driver’s license from their country of residence, and you can choose from six-month or month-to-month policies. Each type of auto insurance will provide enough coverage for a road trip or short-term stay. 

Do you need rental car insurance?

What if you don’t own a car? Do you need proof of insurance to rent a car for a road trip? The answer is yes, but you don’t need to own a car to buy auto insurance. 

For example, non-owner car insurance will extend coverage to any vehicle you drive, including rentals. Many top companies offer auto insurance for drivers who don’t own a car. You can find the proper policy limits at the right price when comparing rates from these companies with quotes from local insurers in your area.

Fortunately, car rental companies also provide temporary coverage at the counter. You can choose the type of auto insurance you want when you rent the car, and the policy limits will automatically meet the value of the vehicle you’re driving. 

However, rental car insurance from the counter is the most expensive. You will get cheaper road trip insurance rates if you carry a personal policy.

How to Protect Your Car Before a Road Trip

Safety is the top priority on every road trip, even if you have the perfect playlist. Ensure your vehicle is ready for this trip by checking the oil, wiper fluids, battery, and tire pressure. 

Don’t forget to check the spare tire in the trunk and ensure you have other essentials, including jumper cables, flashlights, and water bottles.

It’s also wise to keep a copy of your insurance card in case of an accident. Some major companies provide digital copies through a mobile app, but you can also print a copy from your insurer’s website by logging into your account. 

Always check your insurance policy before leaving to ensure you have the right coverage. Your auto insurance will follow you if you’re taking a cross-country road trip. As long as you carry minimum liability coverage in your home state, your limits will adjust to whichever state you visit along the road. However, you may want to buy additional coverage if you are visiting from outside the country.

If you need to buy auto insurance before your next road trip, start by comparing quotes from at least three different companies. Doing so will help you find the most affordable auto insurance rates for your trip.