Although routes offering premier scenic recreational and historic opportunities date back to the early 1900’s, today’s National Scenic Byways Program began with the President’s Commission on Americans Outdoors (1985-1987). That commission noted the high level of public interest in seeing the nation’s beauty and diversity along and adjacent to a network of existing roads, and called upon transportation and natural resource agencies to cooperate in identifying, improving and protecting outstanding byways across the nation.
The National Scenic Byways Program attracted prominent and passionate advocates from the beginning. President George H. W. Bush personally championed the program, calling byways “the roads Americans love.” His support was mirrored by Congressional champions including U.S. Representative Jim Oberstar and Senators Moynihan and Rockefeller.
The National Scenic Byways Program was created through the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) in 1991. It has enjoyed the active support of Federal Highway Administrators and Secretaries of Transportation who developed and implemented the legislation - Federico Pena, Rodney Slater, Mary Peters, Norman Mineta and others.
The National Scenic Byways Program, administered by the Federal Highway Administration, oversees the designation of routes offering outstanding scenic, recreational, cultural, archeological, natural and historic opportunities as National Scenic Byways and All-American Roads. Scenic byways grants and technical assistance began in 1992; the first designations of routes were done in 1996. The popularity of the program was illustrated in 1998 when the program was expanded significantly and re-authorized under TEA-21 and again under SAFETEA-LU in 2005. In September 2005, Transportation Secretary Mineta designated an additional 45 byways, bringing the total to 126 America’s Byways in 44 states.
Financial support for national Scenic Byways and All-American Roads is provided through a national grant program financed by SAFETEA-LU, the national surface transportation act. Funds are available annually on a competitive basis for enhancing visitor experiences along designated and prospective scenic byways, including interpretive sites, access improvements to sites along the byways, roadway improvements to boost safety and enjoyment (shoulders, passing lanes, roadway design improvements, guardrails, bridges, etc.), and byways marketing efforts. Technical assistance and training for byways managers and others is available through the America’s Byways Resource Center in Duluth, Minnesota.
US DOT FHWA National Scenic Byways Program Office
Federal Highway Administration
HEP-10, Room 3222
400 7th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20590
(202) 366-1862 or (800) 429-9297, FAX (202) 366-7660
Rob Draper, Byways Team Leader
www.bywaysonline.org
America’s Byways Resource Center
394 lake Avenue South, Suite 600
Duluth, MN 55802
(866)974-6403 or FAX (218) 625-3333
Michelle Johnson, Executive Director
www.bywaysonline.org
A listing of State Byway Coordinators is available at http://www.bywaysonline.org/contacts/states.html
National Scenic Byways Program
Collection of America’s Byways R
Designated by U.S. Secretary of Transportation
| Byway Name | State | Year |
Natchez Trace Parkway |
AlabamaMississippiTennessee | 1996 1996 1996 |
Selma To Montgomery March Byway |
Alabama | 1996 |
| Talladega Scenic Drive | Alabama | 1998 |
Alaska’s Marine Highway |
Alaska | 2005(2002) |
| Glenn Highway | Alaska | 2002 |
Seward Highway, The |
Alaska | 2002(1998) |
| Coronado Trail Scenic Byway | Arizona | 2005 |
| Historic Route 66 | ArizonaIllinoisNew Mexico | 200520052000 |
| Kaibab Plateau - North Rim Parkway | Arizona | 1998 |
Red Rock Scenic Road |
Arizona | 2005 |
| Sky Island Scenic Byway | Arizona | 2005 |
| Crowley’s Ridge Parkway | Arkansas Missouri | 1998 2000 |
| The Great River Road | ArkansasIllinoisIowa
Minnesota Wisconsin |
200220002000
2000 2000 |
| Talimena Scenic Drive | ArkansasOklahoma | 20052005 |
| Arroyo Seco Parkway Scenic Byway | California | 2002 |
Big Sur Coast Highway, Route One |
California | 1996 |
| Death Valley Scenic Byway | California | 1998 |
| Ebbets Pass Scenic Byway | California | 2005 |
San Luis Obispo North Coast Byway - Route 1 |
California | 2002 |
| Tioga Road/Big Oak Flat Road | California | 1996 |
| Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway | CaliforniaOregon | 2002 1998 |
| Colorado River Headwaters Byway | Colorado | 2005 |
| Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway | ColoradoUtah | 20022002 |
| Frontier Pathways Scenic and Historic Byway | Colorado | 1998 |
| Gold Belt Tour Scenic and Historic Byway | Colorado | 2000 |
| Grand Mesa Scenic and Historic Byway | Colorado | 1996 |
San Juan Skyway |
Colorado | 1996 |
| Santa Fe Trail Scenic and Historic Byway | ColoradoNew Mexico | 19981998 |
| Top of the Rockies | Colorado | 1998 |
Trail of the Ancients |
ColoradoUtah | 20052005 |
Trail Ridge Road/Beaver Meadow Road |
Colorado | 1996 |
| Connecticut State Route 169 | Connecticut | 1996 |
| Merritt Parkway | Connecticut | 1996 |
| Brandywine Valley Scenic Byway | Delaware | 2005 |
| A1A Scenic and Historic Coastal Highway | Florida | 2002 |
| Indian River Lagoon Scenic Highway | Florida | 2002 |
| Tamiami Trail Scenic Highway | Florida | 2000 |
| Russell-Brasstown Scenic Byway | Georgia | 2000 |
International Selkirk Loop |
IdahoWashington | 2005 2005 |
Northwest Passage Scenic Byway |
Idaho | 2005(2002) |
| Payette River Scenic Byway | Idaho | 2002 |
| Pend Oreille Scenic Byway | Idaho | 2002 |
| Pioneer Historic Byway | Idaho | 2005 |
| Western Heritage Historic Byway | Idaho | 2005 |
Historic National Road, The |
IllinoisIndianaMaryland
Ohio Pennsylvania West Virginia |
2002(2000) 2002(2000) 2002
2002 2002 2002 |
| Illinois River Road: Route of the Voyageurs | Illinois | 2005 |
| Lincoln Highway | Illinois | 2000 |
| Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Route | Illinois | 1998 |
| Ohio River Scenic Route | Illinois | 1998 |
| Loess Hills Scenic Byway | Iowa | 2000 |
| Flint Hills Scenic Byway | Kansas | 2005 |
| Wetlands and Wildlife Scenic Byway | Kansas | 2005 |
| Country Music Highway | Kentucky | 2002 |
| Red River Gorge Scenic Byway | Kentucky | 2002 |
| Wilderness Road Heritage Highway | Kentucky | 2002 |
Creole Nature Trail |
Louisiana | 2002(1996) |
Acadia Byway |
Maine | 2000 |
| Old Canada Road Scenic Byway | Maine | 2000 |
| Rangeley Lakes Scenic Byway | Maine | 2000 |
| Schoodic Scenic Byway | Maine | 2000 |
| Catoctin Mountain Scenic Byway | Maryland | 2005 |
| Chesapeake Country Scenic Byway | Maryland | 2002 |
| Woodward Avenue | Michigan | 2002 |
| Edge of the Wilderness | Minnesota | 1996 |
| Grand Rounds Scenic Byway, The | Minnesota | 2000 |
| Historic Bluff Country Scenic | Minnesota | 2002 |
| Minnesota River Valley Scenic | Minnesota | 2002 |
North Shore Scenic Drive |
Minnesota | 2002 |
| Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway | Minnesota | 2005 |
| Lower Mississippi Great River Road | Mississippi | 2005 |
| Little Dixie Highway of the Great River Road | Missouri | 2002 |
Beartooth Scenic Byway |
MontanaWyoming | 2002 2000 |
| Lake Tahoe – Eastshore Drive | Nevada | 1996 |
Las Vegas Strip |
Nevada | 2000 |
| Pyramid Lake Scenic Byway | Nevada | 1996 |
| Connecticut River Byway | New HampshireVermont | 20052005 |
| Kancamagus Scenic Byway | New Hampshire | 1996 |
| White Mountain Trail | New Hampshire | 1998 |
| Billy the Kid Trail | New Mexico | 1998 |
| El Camino Real | New Mexico | 1998 (Extension 2005) |
| Geronimo Trail Scenic Byway | New Mexico | 2005 |
| Jemez Mountain Trail | New Mexico | 1998 |
| Trail of the Mountain Spirits Scenic Byway | New Mexico | 2005 |
| Turquoise Trail | New Mexico | 2000 |
| Lakes to Locks Passage, The Great Northeast Journey | New York | 2002 |
| Mohawk Towpath Byway | New York | 2005 |
| Seaway Trail | New YorkPennsylvania | 19962005 |
Blue Ridge Parkway |
North CarolinaVirginia | 1996 2005 |
| Cherohala Skyway | North CarolinaTennessee | 19961996 |
| Sheyenne River Valley Scenic Byway | North Dakota | 2002 |
| Standing Rock Native American Scenic Byway Standing Rock Native American Scenic Byway Native American Scenic Byway, The | North DakotaSouth DakotaSouth Dakota | 200520051998 (extension 2005) |
| Amish Country | Ohio | 2002 |
| Lake Erie Coastal Ohio Trail | Ohio | 2005 |
| Ohio & Erie Canalway Byway (CanalWay Ohio Scenic Byway) | Ohio | 2000 |
| Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway | Oregon | 1998 |
Hells Canyon Scenic Byway |
Oregon | 2000 |
Historic Columbia River Highway |
Oregon | 2000 |
| McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass Scenic Byway | Oregon | 1998 |
| Mt. Hood Scenic Byway | Oregon | 2005 |
| Outback Scenic Byway | Oregon | 1998 |
Pacific Coast Scenic Byway |
Oregon | 2002(1998) |
| Rogue-Umpqua Scenic Byway | Oregon | 2002 |
| West Cascades Scenic Byway | Oregon | 2000 |
| Ashley River Road | South Carolina | 2000 |
| Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway | South Carolina | 1998 |
| Savannah River Scenic Byway | South Carolina | 1998 |
| Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway | South Dakota | 1996 |
| Flaming Gorge-Uintas Scenic Byway | Utah | 1998 |
| Logan Canyon Scenic Byway | Utah | 2002 |
| Nebo Loop Scenic Byway | Utah | 1998 |
| The Energy Loop: Huntington and Eccles Canyons Scenic Byways | Utah | 2000 |
Utah’s Scenic Byway 12 - A Journey Through Time |
Utah | 2002 |
Colonial Parkway |
Virginia | 2005 |
George Washington Memorial Parkway |
Virginia | 2005 |
| Skyline Drive | Virginia | 2005 |
| Chinook Scenic Byway (Stephen Mather Memorial Parkway) | Washington | 1998 |
| Coulee Corridor Scenic Byway | Washington | 2005 |
| Mountains to Sound Greenway - I-90 | Washington | 1998 |
| Stevens Pass Greenway | Washington | 2005 |
| Strait of Juan de Fuca Highway - SR 112 | Washington | 2000 |
| Coal Heritage Trail, The | West Virginia | 1998 |
| Highland Scenic Highway | West Virginia | 1996 |
| Midland Trail | West Virginia | 2000 |
| Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike | West Virginia | 2005 |
| Washington Heritage Trail | West Virginia | 2000 |
Notes:
- Routes listed in bold have been designated as All-American Roads
- Routes listed in normal text have been designated as National Scenic Byways
- Roads with a date listed 2000 (1998)were originally designated as National Scenic Byways in the year shown in parenthesis but then sought and were designated as All-American Roads in a subsequent year
- Routes listed with a name in (xxx) were originally designated using that name but requested a name change after designation