5,000-Step Walking Playlist for Summer
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Summer is almost here! I love so many things about the summer: summer vacations at the lake, the smell of burgers on the grill, super-sweet snow cones, and long, sunny days filled with fun adventures. But, admittedly, this isn’t always my favorite time of year for walking. It may be bright and sunny outside, but it’s also hot. Even when you hit the trail first thing in the morning—or later in the evening—it’s still a sweaty experience.
This summer walking playlist combats the hot-and-stickiness of summer walks with some fun, upbeat songs about summer. So pack some extra water (and maybe mix in some extra electrolytes), grab your cooling towels (and maybe a personal fan), and join me in getting in some sweaty summer steps.
A little more about the playlist:
I’ve included a number of different ways to listen. I’ve got YouTube videos posted below. If you want to download the MP3, I’ve also got links to find them on Amazon. Or you can listen to the whole thing by playing the Spotify playli
For each song in this playlist, I’ve listed the beats per minute, the pace (in minutes per mile) that you’ll be walking if you’re walking to the beat, and the number of steps that you’ll take during the song if you keep up that pace. We’ll start with an easy pace and work our way up, finishing with a cool-down. The songs here eventually build up to a pretty brisk pace, but take it at a pace that works for you—whether that means moving faster or slower. You’re totally allowed to dance and sing your way through this playlist, too (in fact, it’s almost guaranteed). But if you follow the pace of each song, you’ll be over 5,000 steps by the time you reach the end.
1) “Rock Lobster” by The B-52s
The first song on our playlist may have an easy beat, but this quirky summer classic is a whole lot peppier than you might expect—so it’s a great way to get moving as we start our walk.
Beats per Minute: 92
Pace: 21:44
Steps: 627
2) “Black Summer” by Red Hot Chili Peppers
Though it may be a song by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, we’re still just working through our warm-up. Of course, since it’s summer, you might have already worked up a sweat. But we’ll really start to turn up the heat on our summer walk soon.
Find it on Amazon
Beats per Minute: 106
Pace: 18:52
Steps: 410
3) “Cruel Summer” by Bananarama
As we pick things up just a little bit, we’re jumping back in time to the summer of 1983 for a classic hit that always puts a little bit of a dance in my step—no matter how cruel the summer may be.
Beats per Minute: 109
Pace: 18:21
Steps: 391
4) “Summer Feelings” by Lennon Stella feat. Charlie Puth
The last couple of tracks may not have been the happiest, most upbeat songs about summer, but this one makes up for it. There’s just something about this song that makes me feel like rollerskating. It’s all about the best parts of summer: the sand and the water and watching the sunset at the beach.
Find it on Amazon
Beats per Minute: 116
Pace: 17:14
Steps: 309
5) “Summer in New York” by Sofi Tukker
Now, I’ve experienced summer in New York, and I didn’t find it to be quite as fun and quirky as this song makes it seem. It was more just…uncomfortably hot and stinky. But I prefer the image that this playful summer track paints to the reality.
Beats per Minute: 117
Pace: 17:06
Steps: 310
6) “Magic” by The Cars
There’s something so purely ‘80s about this track from The Cars about summer romance. Though the song was released when I was very young, I picked up the band’s greatest hits album for a penny from Columbia House when I was in college, and this song was one of our favorite tracks.
Beats per Minute: 118
Pace: 16:57
Steps: 466
7) “Soak Up the Sun” by Sheryl Crow
This track by Sheryl Crow is another carefree summer staple—a song that’s perfect for cruising the beach or hitting the trail.
Find in on Amazon
Beats per Minute: 120
Pace: 16:40
Steps: 584
8) “Conga” by Miami Sound Machine
If you’ve somehow managed to make it this far through the playlist without breaking a sweat (or breaking out some dance moves), Gloria Estefan will fix that with this fast-moving tropical dance number. I’m pretty sure it’s impossible to get through this song without moving your hips a little more than usual—which will actually help you pick up your pace, too.
Beats per Minute: 122
Pace: 16:24
Steps: 521
9) “Hot Hot Hot” by Buster Poindexter
Now that we’ve got those tropical summer vibes going, I had to throw in a little Buster Poindexter to keep things moving. If you’re walking with friends, you might find yourself starting a conga line at this point…
Beats per Minute: 128
Pace: 15:38
Steps: 533
10) “Rockaway Beach” by Ramones
Every time I hear this song, I picture punk rockers the Ramones hanging out at the beach in their black leather jackets, and it makes me laugh. And if that’s what it takes to get you through the super-fast pace of this super-short song, so be it.
Beats per Minute: 187
Pace: 10:42
Steps: 580
11) “Summertime” by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
Congratulations! You’ve made it to the cool down! We’re finishing up our playlist with a cool, laidback track that will take you back to your childhood, when you spent your days hanging out with your friends, riding your bikes and running through the sprinklers. In fact, after you finish today’s walk, you might want to get out the sprinklers and run through with the kids to cool off.
Beats per Minute: 95
Pace: 21:03
Steps: 429
Total Time for Today’s Workout: 43:27
Total Steps: 5,160
Have you tried out the playlist? What were your favorite parts? Do you have other favorite summertime tracks? I’d love to hear them (and maybe I’ll make another summertime playlist of your favorites)!
