There’s nothing better than heading out on a run or arriving at the gym knowing you have a rockin’ new playlist ready to go! Creating new workout playlists can be a bit time consuming though and sometimes I feel like I’m repeating the same songs on my personal playlists over and over again. When this happens, I’ll often take a break from my personal music library and turn to Pandora.
Pandora actually has a handful of great stations I rely on when I am looking for new workout music or just want to listen to something other than my my own iTunes collection. Below you will find some of my favorites! And if my fellow Pandora fans would like to weigh in with their favorite upbeat workout stations, I’m always looking for more recommendations!
Best Pandora Workout Music Stations
- Pop and Hip Hop Power Workout Radio
This station features everything from Pitbull to Usher and the beats are always nice and strong! It’s is a great one for cardio workouts like running on the treadmill, power walking, biking and more!
- 140 BPM Radio
This station is a good one to listen to if you’re in the mood to get lost in your workout music. It’s fast-paced and a personal favorite for long runs or boot camp workouts.
- Dance Cardio Radio
Dance Cardio Radio is a fun station that features a range of artists from David Guetta and the Black Eyed Peas to Sonique. (Remember “It Feels So Good”!?<—Oh hey, junior high!) I love it for interval workouts, running, walking outside with Sadie and circuit workouts.
- Lady Gaga Radio
If you’re a fan of Top 40 hits, this station plays a ton of them but does a great job of keeping the vast majority of the songs upbeat and energizing.
- ‘90s Pop Radio
I may be alone in this one, but hearing throwback music I loved when I was growing up makes me smile and also makes a workout more enjoyable. I am a ‘90s music lover through and through, so this station is right up my alley. It plays a variety of music and since not everything is fast-paced, I like to listen to it during strength workouts.
- Classic Rock Power Workout Radio
This is another favorite of mine for classic rock hits from bands like ACDC, Guns N’ Roses and Queen. I also use this station to get ideas for music to incorporate into some of my spinning classes since a handful of my regulars are big classic rock fans.
- Pop Fitness Radio
This station is a current pop music lover’s dream. Pop Fitness Radio features hits from current chart-topping artists like Maroon 5, Taylor Swift and Kelly Clarkson. I’ve used it as background music during the TRX classes I taught in the past but sometimes I get a little sick of this one because it’s everything you’re currently hearing played on the radio.
- Electronic Cardio Radio
This is a newer one in my Pandora workout music rotation, but I really, really like it! The music is very upbeat and energizing (though it can feel repetitive at times) and I’ve been listening to it as a go-to station for steady state cardio or interval workouts. On this station, you’ll hear hits like “Sandstorm” by Darude and “Animals” by Martin Garrix.
More Workout Music Posts
- Workout Music Resources for Fitness Instructors
- Ultimate Happy Music Workout Playlist
- Heat Things Up Playlist
- High Energy Playlist
- Triathlon Playlist
- Rockin’ Playlist
- Oldies But Goodies Playlist
- ’90s Playlist
- Run, Run, Run Playlist
Question of the Day
- Do you have a station you love to listen to on Pandora when you’re looking for some energizing workout music?
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“top pop!” and baby william loves baby einstein on pandora!
The “Top Pop” station just sounds fun- I’m going to use that at the gym today! 🙂
“Work Bitch” (as in the britney spears power jam) Radio! I used to be a cycling instructor and found music here all the time!
Thank you from the future. 🙂
Great list! I like the dance cardio one too! My fav would have to be the 90s one. Something about music from my high school days just gets me motivated!
Because of your blog I got HOOKED (and my co-workers) on Posh Podcast. I love Pandora, but hate the commercials and Posh has none. It’s amazing!
Make note the 80s stations aren’t great for working out! We had an 80s themed event a couple weeks ago and tried to get some 80s music going and there was just way too much slow stuff that we were constantly having to manage the radio. Otherwise, I’m all about Pandora or Spotify radio to keep things fresh!
I love the Pop Fitness station lately too! Suddenly it has become an awesome mix which keeps me from clicking the thumbs down at all! I also listen right now to the Sketchers Half Marathon station as well as Spring Break 1995 – brings back some really great songs and memories.
That Lady Gaga Radio sounds like a good one! I love when her songs come on the radio, they always make me want to push harder! But normally I honestly just listen to the radio haha, most the time it works, except those days when they keep playing commercials!
I like the Running station (Dont’ know the exact name because I can’t turn on my Pandora right now).
Oh awesome! I didn’t realize there was a station specific for running!
This list is so great. Thanks for sharing, Julie. But this Running station? So great for pace!
I love these ideas! Have you ever heard of the app Rock My Run? I just started using is now that I’m a new coach at an Orangetheory Fitness, and it even has pre-made cool-down selections. LOVE IT!
Hip Hop BBQ!! So random, but fun!
I listen to a lot of these, but also Pink Radio. I find it a little more varied than Pop Fitness, but with a similar feel!
Thank you for this! I always need workout music! I love the Posh Podcast for workout music!
I have been enjoying the Ellie Goulding station on pandora for strength workouts or icona Pop for peppy upbeat workouts!
I gave up on Pandora a long time ago (Songza ftw! it’s Pandora without the ads!), but I really like Songza’s workout playlists. Hip Hop Cardio is one of my favorites!
Songza is another good app! I think Tina suggested it? It recognizes the time of day and the day of the week to give you a TON of different playlist suggestions in categories like working out, going to sleep, making dinner, driving, etc.
These are great! I like pitbull station too–it pumps me up and gives me great ideas for songs for teaching Zumba! 🙂
You need to check out Spotify! They have a genre specific for working out and even break it down into what type of workout you’re doing (HIIT, Running, Spinning, etc)! I love taking SoulCycle classes and they even have a SoulCycle page!
I created ‘Thong Song” radio once and it plays the greatest throwbacks!!! All my friends use it now haha
I love the 90s pop radio station! I haven’t had much luck with Pandora’s preset workout stations, but that one never fails me!
I use the app Jango and actually haven’t switched over to Pandora since moving to the states (because Jango was good for use in Canada and the states), but I love using a station on there called “UK Top 100 Chart” which has a good mix. And when in doubt for pump music, David Guetta station all the way for me 🙂
This is so great! I like to listen to the Black Keys station when in the car, and Radio Disney Jr is great for baby dance parties!
I love Pandora, in general! I’ve been a fan for several years and it’s helped me discover a lot of new music. It’s definitely a good idea for workout accompaniments.
Hip hop BBQ—it has all the hits from late 90’s and early 00’s!!
I really like the Spinning station! It’s got some great tunes, and some upbeat lyric-less songs – great for climbs and sprints to get pumped!
When I’m at the gym doing cardio, I’ll often times “beat the boredom” on a treadmill or elliptical by choosing 80’s throwback, hair band channels and a couple of the stations you mentioned. I can’t help it – I’m a child of the 80’s. The only problem is, I’ve been BUSTED singing out loud in a very quiet gym (at 5am) with a handful of regulars … including my husband. Oh boy….. I tell him this is how our vows will truly be forever – he has SO much dirt on me doing stupid things in public! HAHA!
“Hip Hop BBQ” – I was told about this station 3 weeks ago and can’t get enough! I listen much of the day at work and I workout to it as well, when I’m somewhere with wifi!! It’s basically hip hop from about 1995 to 2005.
LOVE this post, I am always looking for new playlists and most recently just feel in love with BEATS thanks for sharing xo C
If you’re a 30-something, 90’s Hip Hop is the best! 2Pac, Notorious B.I.G., Snoop Dogg are my favorite running buddies!
I’ve never heard of 140 BPM Radio. Thanks for the suggestions! Looking forward to trying them out these next couple weeks–hopefully the weather stays nice!
I have been loving spotify lately…so many AMAZING stations! I also loooooove the acoustic station!
Those are great! I have a few of them saved to my favorites. I love GirlTalk radio… he’s a mashup artist and has some of the best running songs I’ve ever heard.
Girl Talk Radio is what I use up until today… I’ve been sick of it playing all Ed Sheeran (I love him, but not on a run) and I keep giving it the thumbs down and three songs later there he is again. So I’m glad I looked here for an idea before I head out for my afternoon jog.
Fabulous list Julie! I will definitely be checking out some of these, especially the 90’s ones!
Pit Bull Radio! It is the BEST for running and lifting!!!
I have had this same post saved in my drafts for forever. You beat me to the punch! I didn’t write it bc I was having a hard time finding enough stations that I actually liked. Today though during my class I found a new station–“workout”–that was actually really good. I even went back home to do my own workout and used the same one!
I know you’ll appreciate this since you love 90’s music too, but I love the Third Eye Blind pandora station 😉
80’s Cardio is a great station! I listen to it while working out but it’s great when you’re hanging out with friends. So many great classics come on that there is a song for everyone.
You read my mind! This morning after leaving the gym, I thought, “I need a new playlist”. Thank you for the suggestions!
Glad I am no the only one that throughly enjoys Pop and Hip Hop Power Workout station. I love it!!
How perfect! Just today I was scouring about Pandora looking for upbeat playlists! Thank you Julie!
Thank you so much for this! I listen to Pandora all the time when I run & am in desperate need of some new upbeat stations.
I love music from the 90s and will definitely check out the 90s Pop station. Thanks for the suggestions!
This post was perfect timing! I’ve been craving new music lately and not sure where to look for it. Thanks for sharing, I’m excited to check out all these stations!
I use spotify instead of pandora, but i definitely have some favorites depending on the style of workout!”Night Run” is my favorite because its full of upbeat indie rock music that I listen to anyway. “Cardio Workout” and the running stations are also great. “Power Workout” is full of some hardcore rap which sometimes you just need to get the job done!
I love the 90’s pop station!
Thanks for sharing. A lot of these are new to me. I like the country fitness radio station too.
I love Country Fitness Radio! Although I have no idea why they throw some slower songs on there ha!
Hip hop road trip is one of my favorite stations. It is your favorite hip hop songs from the 1990’s to 2000’s. Some eminem, Keith sweat, Naz, puff daddy…etc. all of the favorites. Really pumps me up, listening to these throwbacks!!
Thanks for the suggestions! Definitely going to add a few to my Pandora!
Ashleigh | Mermaid on the Move
I use the Flo Rida pandora station a lot when running and working out. Lots of upbeat songs!