Travel the Lincoln Highway with your ears—one song at a time.
What does the Lincoln Highway sound like?
To celebrate summer, we set out to create a soundtrack that captures the spirit of America’s first coast-to-coast road trip—specifically, our 200-mile stretch through Pennsylvania’s Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor (LHHC). The result? A Spotify playlist that travels west to east through six diverse counties, each one bringing its own voice, landscape, and rhythm to the road.
From the industrial echoes of Pittsburgh’s eastern edge to the rolling ridges of the Laurel Highlands and the fertile farmlands near Gettysburg, this playlist invites listeners on a journey as winding and storied as the Lincoln Highway itself.
WESTMORELAND COUNTY
Rolling out of the Steel City’s shadow
We begin our journey where the road shakes off its industrial beginnings. Tracks like “Truckin’” by The Grateful Dead and “Roll On (18 Wheeler)” by Alabama honor the legacy of working-class grit and the open road. “Mountain Song” by Jane’s Addiction hints at the ridges rising ahead, while Willie Nelson’s “On the Road Again” sets the tone for the miles to come.
SOMERSET COUNTY
Mining roots and mountain passes
Climbing into the Laurel Highlands, Somerset’s music nods to its coal country heritage with “Coal Miner’s Daughter” by Loretta Lynn and “Hard Traveling” by Woody Guthrie. Bruce Springsteen’s “Highway Patrolman” echoes the rugged isolation of back roads, while “Radar Love” picks up the pace with the promise of freedom just ahead.
BEDFORD COUNTY
Caffeine and contemplation in the valleys
Here, the playlist slows down—fitting for a county where travelers have long pulled over for a break. Songs like “Coffee” by Frank Sinatra, “Java Jive” by The Ink Spots, and “Wake Up & Smell the Coffee” by The Cranberries form a percolating tribute to roadside giants and sleepy small towns. Meanwhile, “Pennsylvania” by Cabinet and “Autobahn” by Kraftwerk reflect Bedford county’s blend of rural roots and global curiosity.
FULTON COUNTY
Winding roads and wide-open views
Sparse and soulful, this portion of the playlist mirrors the meandering beauty of Fulton’s backcountry. Tracks like “Cypress Hills and the Big Country” by Colter Wall, “The Traveling Kind” by Emmylou Harris, and “Every Day is a Winding Road” by Sheryl Crow echo through the ridges and valleys that cradle this lesser-traveled stretch of the highway.
FRANKLIN COUNTY
Where Appalachian farmland meets mellow vibes
As the land softens into low hills and fields, the music grows reflective. “Hazy Field People” by Black Moth Super Rainbow and “The South of Everywhere” by Jonathan Kreisberg lend an ambient calm. “Midnight Rider” rides through at dusk, and “Wave” by Antônio Carlos Jobim adds a breezy, almost cinematic quality to the corridor’s changing pace.
ADAMS COUNTY
Quirky, bold, and unforgettable
The final leg of our journey brings attitude—and humor. Tracks like “Highway to Hell” by AC/DC and “Road to Nowhere” by The Talking Heads wink at the long road behind. “These Boots” by Nancy Sinatra stomp proudly into Gettysburg’s historic heart, while “Candy Man” by Primus" gives a nod to eclectic Mister Ed's Candy Emporium. "30,000 Pounds of Bananas” by Harry Chapin offers an offbeat farewell as we trek east that is worthy of a true road trip playlist.
Listen Now
Our playlist is more than a collection of songs—it’s a musical map of the Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor. Built from community submissions and curated by county, it invites you to hear the character of each region as you travel through it.
Click here to listen on Spotify and take the Lincoln Highway wherever your summer road trips lead you.
