13+ Worship Songs for Long Drives and Roadtrips

What worship songs make for excellent company on long drives and road trips? Obviously, musical taste comes into play, but there are some universal concepts to consider when working out a long-drive playlist.

First, consider your route. Is it a familiar route with easy driving? Feel free to mix up your musical selection to include some songs that are new or a range to appeal to passengers’ differing tastes. Or are there areas of heavy traffic on unfamiliar roadways? Consider music that is agreeable to everyone in the car, even allowing for songs that make for perfect sing-alongs, interspersed with calming instrumentals to allow for times of focus and calm.

Second, consider time of day. Will it be nighttime when you’ll want mostly upbeat tunes to keep you alert or morning when you’ll want to start out with some energizing pieces before merging onto a calmer selection for rush hour?

Third, the reason for your travel. Is this an exciting journey for which you’ve long planned or a burdened one as you travel to comfort loved ones? Are you moving and this road trip signifies a huge transition for you or your family? Are you a group of friends embarking on a spiritual and fun retreat? Choose music that fits the mood and focuses you on Jesus in sadness or in joy.

Finally, consider the personality of the driver and passengers. Will you become easily bored or will it be better to loop through a playlist more than once to allow for those favorites to come around again? Are you hoping for bonding car trip memories? Choose sing-alongs. Are you on your own—choose all your favorites and sing them again and again.

Here is a baker’s dozen of selections that will start you off on creating your own long drive or road trip worship playlist:

1. Toby Mac—Move (Keep Walkin’)

This perky rhythm will get you started on your way with joy. Lots of references to traveling and moving on. 

2. We the Kingdom—Holy Water

How wonderful to start a long road trip with some energetic worship. Holy Water is a lively and yet calmly-paced song that’s catchy for the singers in the car. It will also be fun for groups traveling together who enjoy singing in parts.

3. Chris Tomlin—Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies)

This is a wonderful song for nervous drivers or drivers encountering challenging driving conditions like traffic, mountain roads, or storms. It’s good to call on the Lord in prayerful singing or praying along with the music (eyes open for you drivers, of course!).  

4. Maranatha! Music— You are My All in All

This is an older praise song but well-known, easy-listening, and designed for singing in rounds with more than one passenger. Divide the car into front seat/back seat or driver-side/passenger-side for fun and comforting worship.

5. Sinach—Way Maker

Running into many detours or challenging conditions? Declare your confidence in the Lord with Way Maker and trust as you drive that God goes before you and leads you all the way.

6. Project of Love: Best of the Bible in Song (1 Hour)

A long car trip is a beautiful opportunity to meditate on Scripture or memorize Bible verses. There are many playlists that include God’s Word set to song. Make those travel hours do double duty and fill your thoughts with God’s thoughts. This is one such selection that is one hour of God’s Word set to easy-to-learn music.

7. Handel’s Messiah

Any time of year, but especially when traveling at Christmas, it can be wonderful to enjoy a concert of Handel’s Messiah. This version is over two hours long and will get you through the middle of a lengthy road trip with a new appreciation for Isaiah’s words. This version is performed by the Academy of Ancient Music (AAM) & Choir of the Queen’s College, Oxford.

**Bonus: Handel’s Messiah: A Soulful Celebration is a Dove award-winning alternate arrangement of Handel’s Messiah you may enjoy. The album, a little over 1 hour of music, was recorded in 1992 and directed by Quincy Jones. This is Handel’s familiar piece set to gospel and soul rhythms. Traveling with musical children? Play both versions of Handel and talk about differences in instrumentation, rhythm, and style.

This version of Handel’s Messiah will reawaken your appreciation of Handel’s compositions and Isaiah’s words. Plus, it’s a stirring version for a long car trip.

8. Shane & Shane—Psalm 23 (Live from Sing! 2018)

Again, road trips are an excellent opportunity to fill our minds with God’s Word. Choose individual songs such as this one based on Psalm 23 to rotate into your playlist and enjoy an edifying time of meditating on God’s Word as you embark on your adventure.

9. All Sons and Daughters—Great Are You Lord

Enjoying breathtaking views? What a perfect opportunity to praise God and remember the awe-inspiring creativity of our God. It's also a wonderful time to pray (eyes open for the driver) for all your concerns, your loved ones, your church family, and for people who don’t yet know Jesus.

10. Phil Wickham—Everyday Hallelujah

What a profitable time to thank Jesus and express your gratitude mile after mile. Praising and thanking God can get you through long roads, transitions from home to a new adventure, or troubling traffic. 

Traveling for Thanksgiving? Compile your own list of gratitude songs or upload this playlist of worship songs about gratitude and thanksgiving. Even if it’s not a holiday, long road trips provide a wonderful setting to consider all God has provided and thank Him for every blessing.

11. Hillsong UNITED—Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)

Of course, Oceans could be considered, by virtue of length, the “Bohemian Rhapsody of contemporary worship songs.” This nine-minute song asking God for greater faith as God calls us beyond our comfort zones, is a serene and mind-focusing piece of music to include in your road trip playlist.

12. The Joslin Grove Choral Society—The Greatest Hymns of All Time

Do you have a car full of singers? Consider nearly one hour and 15 minutes of the greatest hymns and have an old-fashioned hymn sing on your drive! That’s sure to create some amazing memories and turn hearts toward God and not the long, long ride.

13. Sounds Like Reign—Day by Day

Sounds Like Reign has a host of recorded hymns set to guitar with a solo voice and are paced for unhurried worship. Day by Day is a song of trust and confidence in the Lord. What a wonderful mindset for a long road trip! 

Additional Roadtrip Songs

If her voice is the ideal accompaniment for your long car ride, her many other recordings sometimes incorporate her whole family and include:

The Love of God: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmQuS0Ng49s

Holy Forever: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipnZ_NX6EmQ&list=RDipnZ_NX6EmQ&start_radio=1

Rock of Ages: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJ2b3skJmck

I’ll Fly Away: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PccxXdceCqw&list=PLIQvwFT2P5kTZAitPBxZK8FVgFtHCOSNF

Sounds Like Reign’s tagline is “Inspirational songs for weary pilgrims on planet earth.” Isn’t that a beautiful sentiment to keep you company and focused on Jesus on the longest ride?

Final Thoughts for Your Roadtrip Worship Playlist

Plan ahead.

Create your own playlist or upload the music you plan to enjoy before you travel so you’re not risking your own safety by switching songs or searching your phone or car’s listening device.

God travels with us, and having music that reminds us of that great truth can turn even the longest ride into a spiritual pilgrimage with rest and wonder you never imagined.

Travel safely. Journey with Jesus. Enjoy the ride.

Photo credit: Unsplash.com

Lori Stanley Roeleveld is a writer, coach, speaker, and disturber of hobbits. She’s authored seven encouraging, challenging books, including Running from a Crazy Man, The Art of Hard Conversations, and God’s Abundant Mercy 40 Days of Living in His Compassion. She speaks her mind at www.loriroeleveld.com.