"Happy Journey" was released as a single in November 1961 on RCA Victor Records. The single was released as a seven-inch RPM record, containing "Happy Journey" as the A-side and "I Need You Now" as the B-side. The song spent a total of 14 weeks on the Billboard Hot Country and Western Sides chart, peaking at number ten in February 1962. The song became Locklin's eighth top ten hit on the country singles chart and his first since the number one success of "Please Help Me, I'm Falling." It was later released on Locklin's 1962 studio album, also titled Happy Journey.
