20 Best Classic Rock Songs About Driving

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As a website focused mainly on rock music from the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s, we have dedicated many of our articles to the car. It’s quite simple: besides love, the road and all that goes with it is one of the most common topics rock and roll songwriters have been driven to write about. Whether writing about highways or cars, we’ve published some great driving articles, but this one encompasses everything.

It’s a combination of everything related to getting in a car and hitting the road. There aren’t a lot of metaphors here, although you may find a few, but this list mostly covers songs that, in some shape or form, are about driving. If there ever is a great escape in this world, it’s getting in your car, turning up the music, rolling down the windows, and just letting go for a drive.

# 20 – I Can’t Drive 55 – Sammy Hagar

“I Can’t Drive 55,” the lead single from Sammy Hagar’s 1984 album VOA, captures the frustration of drivers living under the old National Maximum Speed Law. Hagar has explained that the idea came after he was stopped near Albany, New York, for driving 62 mph on a road with a 55 mph limit. Recorded in 1984 and produced by Ted Templeman, the track features Hagar on vocals and guitar, Gary Pihl on guitar, Jesse Harms on keyboards, Bill Church on bass, and David Lauser on drums.

The song reached number 26 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number nine on Billboard’s Top Rock Tracks chart. Its music video, directed by Gil Bettman and filmed at Saugus Speedway in California, became one of Hagar’s defining MTV-era clips.

# 19 – Red Barchetta – Rush

“Red Barchetta,” featured on Rush’s 1981 album Moving Pictures, imagines a future where certain cars have been outlawed. Neil Peart drew inspiration from Richard S. Foster’s short story “A Nice Morning Drive,” and the lyrics follow a driver secretly taking his uncle’s preserved red Barchetta onto the road. The track was recorded at Le Studio in Morin-Heights, Quebec, with Rush and Terry Brown producing.

Geddy Lee handles vocals and bass, Alex Lifeson plays guitar, and Neil Peart drives the song with his intricate drumming. The combination of storytelling, dynamic shifts, and precision playing made “Red Barchetta” one of the defining tracks on Moving Pictures.

# 18 – Road to Nowhere – Talking Heads

“Road to Nowhere,” written by David Byrne and released in 1985, appears on Talking Heads’ sixth studio album, Little Creatures. Recorded at Sigma Sound in New York City, the song features Byrne, Jerry Harrison, Tina Weymouth, and Chris Frantz, with additional musicians adding saxophone, percussion, washboard, accordion, and backing vocals. Talking Heads produced the track.

The song reached number six on the UK Singles Chart and became one of the band’s most recognizable later-period recordings. Its video, co-directed by Byrne and Stephen R. Johnson, also earned multiple nominations at the 1986 MTV Video Music Awards.

# 17 – Slow Ride – Foghat

“Slow Ride,” Foghat’s signature track, grew out of the sessions for the band’s fifth studio album, Fool for the City, released in 1975. With original bassist Tony Stevens gone, producer Nick Jameson played bass and keyboards on the album alongside “Lonesome” Dave Peverett, Rod Price, and Roger Earl. The track was recorded at Suntreader Studios in Sharon, Vermont.

Price’s slide guitar and Peverett’s vocals helped give “Slow Ride” its instantly recognizable sound. The single reached number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100, while Fool for the City became Foghat’s first platinum album.

# 16 – Drive My Car – The Beatles

“Drive My Car” opens the British edition of The Beatles’ 1965 album Rubber Soul. Recorded on October 13, 1965, at EMI Studios in London, the session was the band’s first to run past midnight. Paul McCartney and John Lennon share lead vocals, McCartney plays bass and lead guitar, Lennon adds piano and tambourine, George Harrison contributes guitar and harmony vocals, and Ringo Starr plays drums and cowbell.

Produced by George Martin, the track features the bass-and-guitar riff suggested by Harrison after listening to Otis Redding’s version of “Respect.” Its playful chauffeur story and double meanings made it one of the album’s sharpest examples of the band’s increasingly mature songwriting.

# 15 – Route 66 – The Rolling Stones

“Route 66,” written by Bobby Troup in 1946, was recorded by The Rolling Stones for their self-titled 1964 debut album. The group cut the album at Regent Sound Studios in London, with Andrew Loog Oldham and Eric Easton receiving production credit. The recording features Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Brian Jones, Bill Wyman, and Charlie Watts.

The Stones gave the rhythm-and-blues standard a rawer edge that fit their early devotion to American blues and R&B. “Route 66” became a staple of their early live repertoire and helped establish the sound of their debut album.

# 14 – Life Is A Highway – Tom Cochrane

Tom Cochrane released “Life Is a Highway” in 1991 as the lead single from his second solo studio album, Mad Mad World. The song grew in part from the emotional impact of his work with World Vision in Africa and turned that experience into one of rock’s most enduring road anthems. It reached number one in Canada and number six on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

The David Storey-directed video was filmed in Alberta’s Badlands near Drumheller, reinforcing the song’s wide-open-road imagery. Rascal Flatts later introduced the song to another generation with their 2006 version for the Disney/Pixar film Cars.

# 13 – 409 – The Beach Boys

“409” first appeared as the B-side of The Beach Boys’ “Surfin’ Safari” single in June 1962. Recorded on April 19, 1962, at Western Studios in Los Angeles and produced by Murry Wilson, the song features Mike Love on lead vocals with Brian Wilson, Carl Wilson, David Marks, and Dennis Wilson. Brian Wilson, Mike Love, and Gary Usher wrote the song.

The lyrics celebrate Chevrolet’s 409-cubic-inch V8 engine and helped push hot rod music into the center of Southern California pop culture. The song later appeared on Surfin’ Safari and Little Deuce Coupe.

# 12 – Diamonds On My Windshield – Tom Waits

“Diamonds on My Windshield,” from Tom Waits’ 1974 album The Heart of Saturday Night, blends jazz atmosphere with Beat-influenced road imagery. Recorded at Wally Heider Recording Studio in Hollywood and produced by Bones Howe, the track features Waits over an understated jazz backing. Its references to nighttime travel and California locations give the song the feel of a restless drive through the dark.

# 11 – Driver’s Seat – Sniff N’ The Tears

“Driver’s Seat,” the standout single from Sniff ‘n’ the Tears’ debut album Fickle Heart, was recorded during the late 1970s with producer Luigi Salvoni. Paul Roberts leads the track on vocals and guitar, backed by the band’s layered guitars, bass, keyboards, drums, percussion, and its memorable synthesizer work. The song reached number 15 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in 1979.

More than a decade later, “Driver’s Seat” returned to number one in the Netherlands after being used in a Pioneer car-stereo advertising campaign. That revival helped introduce the song to another generation of listeners.

# 10 – Drive All Night – Bruce Springsteen

Few people ever seem to mention that this song by Bruce Springsteen, released on his 1980 The River album, grew out of the extended closing segment of his live performances of “Backstreets.” Often labeled by fans as the “Sad Eyes” interlude, it was one of the emotional highlights of those performances. Springsteen took that material and turned it into the full-fledged epic “Drive All Night” for The River, making it one of his hardcore fans’ favorite songs.

There were many Springsteen songs we could have chosen about driving, especially from his ’70s output, but this one just really hits the mark. I mean, just from The River album alone, you had “Wreck on the Highway,” “Stolen Car,” and “Drive All Night.”

# 9 – Little Red Corvette – Prince

“Little Red Corvette,” released in 1983 from Prince’s 1999 album, became his first top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number six. Basic tracking took place on May 20, 1982, at Prince’s Kiowa Trail Home Studio in Chanhassen, Minnesota, with later work at Sunset Sound in Los Angeles. Prince performs the main instrumental parts and vocals, with Lisa Coleman contributing vocals and Dez Dickerson adding vocals and guitar solos.

The lyrics use automotive imagery to tell the story of a brief romantic encounter. The song’s official video became part of Prince’s breakthrough on MTV, and the recording remains one of the defining examples of his blend of rock, pop, funk, and R&B.

Read More: 10 Most Rocking Prince Songs

# 8 – Drive – The Cars

“Drive,” from The Cars’ 1984 album Heartbeat City, marked a softer and more haunting turn for the band. Recorded at Battery Studios in London, the track was produced by The Cars and Robert John “Mutt” Lange. Benjamin Orr sings lead, with Ric Ocasek and Elliot Easton on guitars, Greg Hawkes on keyboards, and David Robinson on drums.

The single reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Adult Contemporary chart. Its Timothy Hutton-directed video, featuring Paulina Porizkova, became one of the band’s most recognizable visual performances.

# 7 – Low Rider – War

“Low Rider,” from War’s 1975 album Why Can’t We Be Friends?, celebrates the lowrider culture that became inseparable from the song’s identity. The recording features Lonnie Jordan, Howard E. Scott, B.B. Dickerson, Harold Brown, Papa Dee Allen, Lee Oskar, and Charles Miller, whose saxophone and lead vocal are central to the track’s sound. The band and Jerry Goldstein are credited among the producers.

“Low Rider” reached number one on Billboard’s R&B chart and number seven on the Billboard Hot 100. Its cultural endurance was formally recognized when the recording entered the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2014.

# 6 – Faster – Samantha Fish

If you don’t know Samantha Fish, I highly recommend you listen to her guitar playing, her singing, and her fabulous songs. She is a pure gem. This video will knock your socks off and maybe a few other items of clothing along the way.

“Faster,” the title track of Samantha Fish’s 2021 album, showcases her dynamic blend of hard rock and blues rock. The album was produced by Martin Kierszenbaum and recorded at The Village Studios in Los Angeles, with Fish joined by bassist Diego Navaira and drummer Josh Freese. Fish’s guitar playing and vocals make the song a perfect fit for a driving list built around speed and attitude.

# 5 – Radar Love – Golden Earring

Golden Earring’s “Radar Love” captures the restless energy of the open road, blending rock intensity with a sense of motion that feels unstoppable. Recorded in 1973 at Trident Studios in London, the track emerged as a defining moment for the Dutch band and was produced by Golden Earring. Barry Hay delivers the lyrics with urgent passion, supported by George Kooymans’ guitar, Rinus Gerritsen’s bass and keyboards, and Cesar Zuiderwijk’s propulsive drumming.

The song’s narrative portrays a driver’s almost telepathic connection with his lover as he speeds through the night. Released in Europe in 1973 and in the United States in 1974, “Radar Love” reached number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became the band’s biggest American hit.

Read More: Top 10 Golden Earring Songs

# 4 – Holiday Road – Lindsey Buckingham

Lindsey Buckingham’s “Holiday Road” was written for the 1983 film National Lampoon’s Vacation. Recorded in 1982 and produced by Buckingham with Richard Dashut, the track centers on Buckingham’s vocals, guitar work, and multi-instrumental studio approach. The single reached the lower portion of the Billboard Hot 100 but became far more enduring than its original chart position suggests.

The song’s association with the Vacation films helped turn it into a road-trip standard. Buckingham later revisited it in live performance, and it has remained one of the most recognizable songs of his solo career.

# 3 – Rockin’ Down The Highway – The Doobie Brothers

Toulouse Street by Doobie Brothers [Music CD]

There’s no mistaking the infectious energy that bursts from “Rockin’ Down the Highway” by The Doobie Brothers, a track that practically demands the windows down and the volume up. Released on their 1972 album Toulouse Street, the song captures the raw spirit of the open road with its driving rhythm and powerful vocal delivery. Recorded at Warner Bros. Studios in North Hollywood and produced by Ted Templeman, it features Tom Johnston on lead vocals and guitar, Patrick Simmons on guitar and backing vocals, Tiran Porter on bass and backing vocals, and the dual drumming power of John Hartman and Michael Hossack.

# 2 – Roll On Down The Highway – Bachman-Turner Overdrive

“Roll On Down the Highway,” from Bachman-Turner Overdrive’s 1974 album Not Fragile, grew from an idea connected to a Ford commercial assignment. Fred Turner and Randy Bachman had been asked to develop music for Ford, although the company did not use their material, and Robbie Bachman later helped Turner shape the song that became “Roll On Down the Highway.” The final writing credit goes to Fred Turner and Robbie Bachman.

Produced by Randy Bachman and recorded at Kaye-Smith Studios in Seattle, the track features Randy Bachman, Fred Turner, Blair Thornton, and Robbie Bachman. Released as a single in 1975, it reached number 14 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and became one of BTO’s best-known highway anthems.

# 1 – Highway Star – Deep Purple

“Highway Star,” the opening track of Deep Purple’s 1972 album Machine Head, is one of the band’s defining hard rock performances. The album was recorded from December 6 through 21, 1971, at the Grand Hotel in Montreux, Switzerland, using the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio. Deep Purple produced the recording, with Ritchie Blackmore on guitar, Ian Gillan on vocals, Roger Glover on bass, Jon Lord on Hammond organ, and Ian Paice on drums.

The song’s driving rhythm, Lord’s organ work, and Blackmore’s classically influenced guitar solo helped make it a cornerstone of Deep Purple’s live shows. A famous live performance also appeared on the band’s 1972 album Made in Japan.