Road trips: they’re so good on paper, but so dull in reality, right? Well, yeah, sometimes … although if you plan them right – and do them with your best friends – there’s no better feeling than being on an open road, putting your foot down, and feeling the wind in your hair. And if you’re really looking for that ultimate Thelma & Louise feeling, I’ve put together my top ten roadtrip tracks on a Spotify playlist for you. Play them loud.

Check out my Spotify Sunlounger Road Trip Soundtrack!

1. HOKU – PERFECT DAY

This song never fails to put me in a good mood, and you might remember it from the Legally Blonde soundtrack. The lyrics don’t really make much sense, but when the tune is empowering, bubble-gum pop at it’s finest it kind of doesn’t matter. It’s not cool, but I don’t care; this is the best way to kick off any journey.

2. IRON MAIDEN – RUN TO THE HILLS

My favourite Iron Maiden song … it starts off a little slowly, but then the drums kick in and it really starts to rock out. I always play it when I’m driving out of London and into the countryside. I just don’t pay too much attention to the lyrics…

3. OZZY OSBOURNE & MISS PIGGY – BORN TO BE WILD

Not only is this song heralded (by some) as the first ‘heavy metal’ song, it’s also on the soundtrack to Easy Rider – the ultimate biker road-trip movie. The Steppenwolf original is pretty cool, but I prefer to blast out this version by Ozzy Osbourne and Miss Piggy. Yes, really.

4. ELTON JOHN – TINY DANCER

This isn’t a traditional road-trip song, but it plays a starring role in Almost Famous, one of my most favourite movies. If you’ve not seen it take a look at the scene on YouTube, and then recreate it on your trip. If you’re aiming for a boho vibe, this is the song to do it with.

5. CANCER BATS – ROAD SICK

There’s always a point in a road trip when you can’t face the journey and your eyes start to blur. That’s where this song comes in. It was recommended to me by an actual, real-life radio DJ, and while it’s kind of heavy, it’s the perfect song to wake you up … so long as you like screamy, gritty, punk rock, that is.

6. DAVID BOWIE – HEROES

This may be another movie soundtrack song (from Perks of Being a Wallflower), but it’s also – in my opinion – the best Bowie song. Some of the lyrics may read like one of those awful ‘inspirational quote’ posters, but God, the song is good. We can be heroes! Just for one day!

7. MEATLOAF – ROCK N’ ROLL DREAMS COME THROUGH

This may not be the first song you think of when it comes to roadtrips, but it’s a belter of a song that’s all about how rock n’ roll will always be there for you. And if you’ve not seen it, the video features a very young Angelina Jolie. No matter how good or bad the journey, you’ll always have rock n’ roll.

8. KATY PERRY (FT SNOOP DOGG) – CALIFORNIA GURLS

I LOVE driving to this song. Wind your window down, top up your lip-gloss, and play it loud. Katy Perry is the ultimate party girl, and this is one of my favourite songs to dance to. It’s such a girly song; it’s perfect and pink.

9. WHITESNAKE – HERE I GO AGAIN

It’s no secret that I’m in the minority with my adoration of really bad 80s hair metal bands, but everyone loves this song, right? Not only do I love the music and the lyrics, I kind of also really fancy David Coverdale’s voice. I may need help.

10. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN – BORN TO RUN

I know this song probably isn’t supposed to be that sexy, but it kind of can’t help but be – the line ‘wrap your legs ‘round these velvet rims and strap your hands across my engines’ is one of the hottest ever. Well, I think so, anyway.

Ilana Fox’s first SUNLOUNGER story – A Road Trip to Remember – takes us cruising from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. Her SUNLOUNGER 2 story – We Found Love – switches between London and Havana - and two time periods…