Music may be the best possible reason for a roadtrip, especially in the summer; and it’s almost always worth it.

When my friend Nancy lost the Thruway ticket out the window on the way to the Lenox Music Inn for the Youngbloods’ last show, and we had to dig change from under the seats to pay the toll from Buffalo: Worth it.

Driving alone in freezing rain to the Iron Horse in Northampton to see Richard Thompson for my first time: Worth it.

When MASS MoCA presented Los Lobos in its first-ever show on opening day, in a nine-sided brick- and glass-sided courtyard that should have sounded awful: Worth it, and sounded great, too.

Jazz fans have rich roadtrip options this holiday weekend at Tanglewood’s Jazz Festival tonight through Sunday. Tonight at 8 p.m., harpist Edmar Castaneda, who was brilliant in the Spa Little Theater in June, leads his Trio with guest Joe Locke, vibes; then pianist Eliane Elias pays tribute to Bill Evans. Tickets are $17 to $59.

On Saturday at 2 p.m. pianist Marian McPartland tapes a special 90th birthday edition of “Piano Jazz” with Nnenna Freelon, Spencer Day and Mulgrew Miller. Tickets are $49 to $18. Then on Saturday at 8 p.m., it’s pianist Donal Fox’s Scarlatti Jazz Suite Project with guest Christian Scott, trumpet; singer Dianne Reeves closes the show. Tickets are $70 to $19; but an all-day lawn pass is $33.

On Sunday at 2 p.m., reedman Eddie Daniels leads his quartet, followed by violinist Mark O’Connor in his “Hot Swing” show with singer Jane Monheit. Tickets are $49 to $18. To close the festival, trumpeter/composer Terence Blanchard fronts his band and a 30-piece orchestra at 8 p.m. in “A Tale of God’s Will (A Requiem for Katrina)” — a stupendous finale. Tickets are $59 to $17. An all-day lawn pass is $33.

Phone 617-266-1492 or visit www.tanglewood.org.

Too much jazz, or too far? Check guitarist Pat Metheny, drummer Jack DeJohnette and Larry Grenadier tonight at the Bearsville Theatre (291 Tinker St., Woodstock). Metheny and DeJohnette are neighbors and longtime playing partners and Grenadier has played in several Metheny trios. This is a benefit for KTD Monastery and Family of Woodstock. Doors open at 7 p.m., show time is 8. Tickets are $65 (first three rows), $50 (reserved seats) and $30 standing room only. Phone 845-679-4406 or visit www.bearsvilletheater.com.

moe.down fest

Biggest and best rock road-trip this weekend is moe.down, hands down. Now in its 9th year at Snow Ridge in Turin, north of Utica, this year’s edition features moe., of course, playing about 150 sets. OK, so it’s “only” six, but they have to leave time for 16 other bands to play.

Tonight, U-Melt starts at 5 p.m., followed by American Babies, U-Melt again, the Sparrow Quartet featuring Abigail Washburn & Bela Fleck, U-Melt once more, then moe.

On Saturday, Swampadelica starts at noon, followed by the Benevento-Russo Duo, Swampadelica again, moe., the PMG, Fishbone, the Brew, the Yonder Mountain String Band, the Brew again, moe. again, another set by the Brew, then moe. — who else?

On Saturday, the music starts at noon again, with Lynch, then Cornmeal, Lynch again, the Presidents of the United States of America, the Bridge, the Levon Helm Band (who were fantastic at the Saratoga Music Fest at SPAC headlined by Bob Dylan), the Macpodz, moe. once more, the Macpodz again, then moe.

Hats off to moe., and not just for playing marathon shows and lots of them. Not everybody can put on their own big, multi-day festival and keep it running as a prime jam-band road-trip destination. Not bad for a bunch of guys who played Albany bars for years. But they were great then, too.

Tickets are $130, available at the Snow Ridge box office (315-348-8456), Terrapin Station (716-874-6677), at www.ticketmaster.com and www.moe.org.

Blues in bearsville

On Saturday, British blues/soul singer and guitarist James Hunter plays the Bearsville Theater. His Grammy-nominated U.S. debut last year put him on the map, and now he’s back with “The Hard Way.” He plays as well as he sings, and that’s very well indeed. Doors open at 8 for Hunter’s show with his tight-as-a-drumhead band. Tickets are $29.90.

Hunter had been touring and playing shows with multi-faceted star Chris Isaak (music, TV, movies). But they split up to headline simultaneous shows on Saturday, and not far apart, either. Isaak — a specialist in big-voiced, big-hearted rock and big guitars, too — plays on Saturday at 8 p.m. at Belleayre Music Festival. Tickets are $75, $65, $55 and $45. Phone 845-254-5600 ext. 344 or visit www.icatskills.us/order-tickets.

Massachusetts gigs

On Sunday, the Sweet Divines sing for a retro soul dance party at MASS MoCA. Show time is 8 p.m. in Courtyard C, where Los Lobos played on opening day, back in 1999, or in the Hunter Center if the weather is bad. This formidable group is four singers and an 11-piece band. Tickets are $14 in advance and $18 on Sunday, $10 for children. Phone 413-662-2111 or visit www.massmoca.org.

On Thursday, a stripped-down version of Hot Tuna — guitarist/singer Jorma Kaukonen, bassist Jack Casady and mandolinist Barry Mitterhoff — teams up with multi-instrumentalist David Lindley at the Calvin Theater (19 King St., Northampton, Mass.) in an 8 p.m. show. Tickets are $35 and $25. Phone 1-800-THE-TICK or visit www.iheg.com.

Also on Thursday, but not so deep into Massachusetts, the Wood Brothers play at Club Helsinki (284 Main St., Great Barrington). Carsie Blanton opens starting at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15. Phone 413-528-3394 or visit www.clubhelsinkiweb.com.

Cray at Egg

Want to stay in town? Head for The Egg tonight to catch the Robert Cray Band for blues at their most skillful and soulful. Cray has been so strong for so long it’s tempting to take him for granted, even when he wins Grammy after Grammy, tours with Eric Clapton and releases such stellar albums as the new live “”Robert Cray: Live From Across the Pond.” He’s a treat, any time and every time.

Show time is 8 p.m. Tickets are $34.50. Phone 473-1845 or visit www.theegg.org.