Following a list of American Byways.
Note: The National Scenic Byways Program is no longer funded.
Anyhow, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is conducting a one-time solicitation of nominations for designation to America’s Byways (2020).
More details on the National Scenic Byways Program and the actual byways, see here: National Scenic Byways and All-American Roads — the Scenic Way to Travel
As of now, the following designations are in place:
| America’s Byways Name | State | Designation | Intrinsic Qualities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama’s Coastal Connection | Alabama | NSB (2009) | S |
| Natchez Trace Parkway – Alabama | Alabama | AAR (1996) | H & S |
| Selma to Montgomery March Byway | Alabama | AAR (1996) | H & N |
| Talladega Scenic Drive | Alabama | NSB (1998) | S |
| Alaska’s Marine Highway | Alaska | NSB (2002) AAR (2005) | S C & N |
| Glenn Highway | Alaska | NSB (2002) | S |
| The George Parks Highway Scenic Byway | Alaska | NSB (2009) | N |
| Haines Highway – Valley of the Eagles | Alaska | NSB (2009) | N |
| Seward Highway | Alaska | NSB (1998) AAR (2002) | R & S |
| Coronado Trail Scenic Byway | Arizona | NSB (2005) | S |
| Historic Route 66 – Arizona | Arizona | NSB (2005) | H |
| AAR (2009) | H & N | ||
| Kaibab Plateau – North Rim Parkway | Arizona | NSB (1998) | S |
| Red Rock Scenic Byway (Red Rock Scenic Road) | Arizona | AAR (2005) | S & R |
| Sky Island Scenic Byway | Arizona | NSB (2005) | N |
| Crowley’s Ridge Parkway – Arkansas | Arkansas | NSB (1998) | N |
| Great River Road – Arkansas | Arkansas | NSB (2002) | H |
| Talimena Scenic Drive – Arkansas | Arkansas | NSB (2005) | S |
| Arroyo Seco Historic Parkway – Route 110 | California | NSB (2002) | H |
| Big Sur Coast Highway – Route 1 | California | AAR (1996) | H & S |
| Death Valley Scenic Byway | California | NSB (1998) | S |
| Ebbetts Pass Scenic Byway | California | NSB (2005) | S |
| San Luis Obispo North Coast Byway – Route 1 | California | AAR (2002) | H & S |
| Tioga Road/Big Oak Flat Road | California | NSB (1996) | N |
| Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway – California | California | AAR (2002) | N & R |
| Colorado River Headwaters Byway (Colorado River Headwaters Scenic and Historic Byway) | Colorado | NSB (2005) | H |
| Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway – Colorado | Colorado | NSB (2002) | N |
| Frontier Pathways Scenic and Historic Byway | Colorado | NSB (1998) | S |
| Gold Belt Tour Scenic and Historic Byway | Colorado | NSB (2000) | H |
| Grand Mesa Scenic and Historic Byway | Colorado | NSB (1996) | H |
| Lariat Loop Scenic and Historic Byway | Colorado | NSB (2009) | H |
| San Juan Skyway | Colorado | AAR (1996) | H & S |
| Santa Fe Trail – Colorado | Colorado | NSB (1998) | H |
| Top of the Rockies | Colorado | NSB (1998) NSB extension (2009) | S |
| Trail of the Ancients – Colorado | Colorado | NSB (2005) | A |
| Trail Ridge Road/Beaver Meadow Road | Colorado | AAR (1996) | N & S |
| Connecticut State Route 169 | Connecticut | NSB (1996) | S |
| Merritt Parkway | Connecticut | NSB (1996) | H |
| Brandywine Valley Scenic Byway | Delaware | NSB (2005) | H |
| A1A Scenic & Historic Coastal Byway (A1A Scenic and Historic Coastal Highway) | Florida | NSB (2002) | R |
| Big Bend Scenic Byway | Florida | NSB (2009) | N |
| Florida Black Bear Scenic Byway | Florida | NSB (2009) | N |
| Florida Keys Scenic Highway | Florida | AAR (2009) | R & S |
| Indian River Lagoon National Scenic Highway (Indian River Lagoon Scenic Highway) | Florida | NSB (2002) | N |
| Ormond Scenic Loop & Trail | Florida | NSB (2009) | S |
| *Tamiami Trail Scenic Highway | Florida | NSB (2000) de-designated (2008) | N |
| Russell – Brasstown National Scenic Byway (Russell-Brasstown Scenic Byway) | Georgia | NSB (2000) | S |
| International Selkirk Loop – Idaho | Idaho | AAR (2005) | H & R |
| Northwest Passage Scenic Byway | Idaho | NSB (2002) | H |
| AAR (2005) | H & C | ||
| Payette River Scenic Byway | Idaho | NSB (2002) | R |
| Pend Oreille Scenic Byway | Idaho | NSB (2002) | R |
| Pioneer Historic Byway | Idaho | NSB (2005) | H |
| Western Heritage Historic Byway | Idaho | NSB (2005) | S |
| Great River Road – Illinois | Illinois | NSB (2000) | H |
| Historic National Road – Illinois | Illinois | NSB (2000) AAR (2002) | C & H |
| Historic Route 66 – Illinois | Illinois | NSB (2005) | H |
| Illinois River Road (Illinois River Road: Route of the Voyageurs) | Illinois | NSB (2005) | N |
| Lincoln Highway | Illinois | NSB (2000) | H |
| Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Route | Illinois | NSB (1998) | H |
| Ohio River Scenic Byway – Illinois (Ohio River Scenic Route) | Illinois | NSB (1998) | H |
| Indiana’s Historic Pathways | Indiana | NSB (2009) | H |
| Ohio River Scenic Byway – Indiana (Ohio River Scenic Route) | Indiana | NSB (1996) | H |
| Historic National Road – Indiana | Indiana | NSB (2000) AAR (2002) | C & H |
| Great River Road – Iowa | Iowa | NSB (2000) | H |
| Loess Hills Scenic Byway | Iowa | NSB (2000) | N |
| Flint Hills Scenic Byway | Kansas | NSB (2005) | S |
| Wetlands and Wildlife Scenic Byway | Kansas | NSB (2005) | N |
| Country Music Highway | Kentucky | NSB (2002) | C |
| Great River Road – Kentucky | Kentucky | NSB (2009) | H |
| Lincoln Heritage Scenic Highway | Kentucky | NSB (2009) | H |
| Red River Gorge Scenic Byway | Kentucky | NSB (2002) | N |
| Wilderness Road Heritage Highway | Kentucky | NSB (2002) | H |
| Woodlands Trace | Kentucky | NSB (2009) | R |
| Creole Nature Trail | Louisiana | NSB (1996) AAR (2002) | C & N |
| Great River Road – Louisiana | Louisiana | NSB (2009) | H |
| Acadia All American Road (Acadia Byway) | Maine | AAR (2000) AAR Trenton extension (2009) | R & S |
| Old Canada Road Scenic Byway | Maine | NSB (2000) | S |
| Rangeley Lakes Scenic Byway | Maine | NSB (2000) | R |
| Schoodic Scenic Byway | Maine | NSB (2000) | S |
| Baltimore’s Historic Charles Street | Maryland | NSB (2009) | H |
| Chesapeake Country Scenic Byway | Maryland | NSB (2002) | C |
| Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway | Maryland | AAR (2009) | C & H |
| Historic National Road – Maryland | Maryland | AAR (2002) | C & H |
| Journey Through Hallowed Ground Byway – Maryland (Catoctin Mountain Scenic Byway) | Maryland | NSB (2005) | R |
| NSB (2009) | H | ||
| Religious Freedom Byway | Maryland | NSB (2009) | H |
| Connecticut River Byway – Massachusetts | Massachusetts | NSB (2009 | H |
| Copper Country Trail | Michigan | NSB (2005) | H |
| River Road Scenic Byway | Michigan | NSB (2005) | R |
| Woodward Avenue (M-1) – Automotive Heritage Trail (Woodward Avenue (M-1)) | Michigan | NSB (2002) | H |
| AAR (2009) | C & H | ||
| Edge of the Wilderness | Minnesota | NSB (1996) | N |
| Grand Rounds Scenic Byway | Minnesota | NSB (1998) | R |
| Great River Road – Minnesota | Minnesota | NSB (2000) | H |
| Gunflint Trail Scenic Byway | Minnesota | NSB (2009) | N |
| Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway | Minnesota | NSB (2002) | S |
| Minnesota River Valley Scenic Byway | Minnesota | NSB (2002) | H |
| North Shore Scenic Drive | Minnesota | AAR (2002) | R & S |
| Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway | Minnesota | NSB (2005) | R |
| Great River Road – Mississippi (Lower Mississippi Great River Road; name on original nomination documents: Lower Mississippi Historic Byway and Mississippi Great River Road) | Mississippi | NSB (2005) NSB extension (2009) | H |
| Natchez Trace Parkway – Mississippi | Mississippi | AAR (1996) | H & S |
| Crowley’s Ridge Parkway – Missouri | Missouri | NSB (2000) | N |
| Great River Road – Missouri (Little Dixie Highway of the Great River Road) | Missouri | NSB (2002) | H |
| Beartooth Highway – Montana | Montana | AAR (2002) | N & S |
| City of Las Vegas, Las Vegas Boulevard State Scenic Byway | Nevada | NSB (2009) | S |
| Lake Tahoe – Eastshore Drive | Nevada | NSB (1996) | S |
| Las Vegas Strip | Nevada | AAR (2000) | C & S |
| Pyramid Lake Scenic Byway | Nevada | NSB (1996) | N |
| Connecticut River Byway – New Hampshire | New Hampshire | NSB (2005) | H |
| Kancamagus Scenic Byway | New Hampshire | NSB (1996) | S |
| White Mountain Trail | New Hampshire | NSB (1998) | S |
| Delaware River Scenic Byway | New Jersey | NSB (2009) | H |
| Millstone Valley Scenic Byway | New Jersey | NSB (2009) | H |
| Billy the Kid Trail | New Mexico | NSB (1998) | S |
| *Dry Cimarron Scenic Byway – New Mexico | New Mexico | NSB (2009) de-designated (2010) | N |
| El Camino Real | New Mexico | NSB (1998) NSB extension (2005) | H |
| Geronimo Trail Scenic Byway | New Mexico | NSB (2005) | H |
| Historic Route 66 – New Mexico | New Mexico | NSB (2000) | H |
| Jemez Mountain Trail | New Mexico | NSB (1998) | R |
| Santa Fe Trail – New Mexico | New Mexico | NSB (1998) | H |
| Trail of the Mountain Spirits Scenic Byway | New Mexico | NSB (2005) | N |
| Turquoise Trail | New Mexico | NSB (2000) | S |
| Lakes to Locks Passage | New York | AAR (2002) | H & R |
| Mohawk Towpath Byway | New York | NSB (2005) | H |
| Great Lakes Seaway Trail – New York (Seaway Trail) | New York | NSB (1996) | H |
| Blue Ridge Parkway – North Carolina | North Carolina | AAR (1996) | H & S |
| Cherohala Skyway – North Carolina | North Carolina | NSB (1998) | S |
| Forest Heritage National Scenic Byway | North Carolina | NSB (2009) | H |
| Outer Banks Scenic Byway | North Carolina | NSB (2009) | C |
| Native American Scenic Byway – North Dakota (Standing Rock Native American Scenic Byway) | North Dakota | NSB (2005) | H |
| Sheyenne River Valley Scenic Byway | North Dakota | NSB (2002) | H |
| Amish Country Byway | Ohio | NSB (2002) | C |
| Ohio & Erie CanalWay (CanalWay Ohio Scenic Byway) | Ohio | NSB (2000) | H |
| Historic National Road – Ohio | Ohio | AAR (2002) | C & H |
| Lake Erie Coastal Ohio Trail | Ohio | NSB (2005) | H |
| Ohio River Scenic Byway – Ohio (Ohio River Scenic Route) | Ohio | NSB (1998) | H |
| Cherokee Hills Byway | Oklahoma | NSB (2009) | C |
| *Dry Cimarron Scenic Byway – Oklahoma | Oklahoma | NSB (2009) de-designated (2010) | N |
| Historic Route 66 – Oklahoma | Oklahoma | NSB (2009) | H |
| Talimena Scenic Drive – Oklahoma | Oklahoma | NSB (2005) | S |
| Wichita Mountains Byway | Oklahoma | NSB (2009) | N |
| Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway | Oregon | NSB (1998) | S |
| Hells Canyon Scenic Byway | Oregon | AAR (2000) | N & S |
| Historic Columbia River Highway | Oregon | AAR (1998) | H & S |
| McKenzie Pass – Santiam Pass Scenic Byway | Oregon | NSB (1998) | S |
| Mt. Hood Scenic Byway | Oregon | NSB (2005) | H |
| Outback Scenic Byway | Oregon | NSB (1998) | N |
| Pacific Coast Scenic Byway – Oregon | Oregon | NSB (1998) AAR (2002) | N & S |
| Rogue-Umpqua Scenic Byway | Oregon | NSB (2002) | R |
| Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway – Oregon | Oregon | AAR (1998) | N & R |
| West Cascades Scenic Byway | Oregon | NSB (2000) | S |
| Historic National Road – Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | AAR (2002) | C & H |
| Journey Through Hallowed Ground Byway – Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | NSB (2009) | H |
| Great Lakes Seaway Trail – Pennsylvania (Seaway Trail) | Pennsylvania | NSB (2005) | H |
| Ashley River Road | South Carolina | NSB (2000) | H |
| Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway | South Carolina | NSB (1998) | S |
| Edisto Island National Scenic Byway | South Carolina | NSB (2009) | S |
| Savannah River Scenic Byway | South Carolina | NSB (1998) | H |
| Native American Scenic Byway – South Dakota (Standing Rock Native American Scenic Byway) | South Dakota | NSB (1998) | C |
| NSB extension (2005) | H | ||
| Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway | South Dakota | NSB (1996) | S |
| Cherohala Skyway – Tennessee | Tennessee | NSB (1996) | S |
| East Tennessee Crossing | Tennessee | NSB (2009) | H |
| Great River Road – Tennessee | Tennessee | NSB (2009) | H |
| Natchez Trace Parkway – Tennessee | Tennessee | AAR (1996) | H & S |
| Woodlands Trace | Tennessee | NSB (2009) | R |
| Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway – Utah | Utah | NSB (2002) | N |
| The Energy Loop: Huntington and Eccles Canyons Scenic Byways | Utah | NSB (2000) | S |
| Flaming Gorge-Uintas Scenic Byway | Utah | NSB (1998) | N |
| Logan Canyon Scenic Byway | Utah | NSB (2002) | N |
| Nebo Loop Scenic Byway | Utah | NSB (1998) | S |
| Scenic Byway 12 (Highway 12 – A Journey Through Time Scenic Byway) | Utah | AAR (2002) | H & S |
| Scenic Byway 143 – Utah’s Patchwork Parkway | Utah | NSB (2009) | H |
| Trail of the Ancients – Utah | Utah | NSB (2005) | A |
| Connecticut River Byway – Vermont | Vermont | NSB (2005) | H |
| Blue Ridge Parkway – Virginia | Virginia | AAR (2005) | R & C |
| Colonial Parkway | Virginia | AAR (2005) | N & H |
| George Washington Memorial Parkway | Virginia | AAR (2005) | N & H |
| Journey Through Hallowed Ground Byway – Virginia | Virginia | NSB (2009) | H |
| Skyline Drive | Virginia | NSB (2005) | S |
| Chinook Scenic Byway (Stephen Mather Memorial Parkway) | Washington | AAR (1998) | S |
| Coulee Corridor Scenic Byway | Washington | NSB (2005) | N |
| International Selkirk Loop – Washington | Washington | AAR (2005) | R & S |
| Mountains to Sound Greenway – I-90 | Washington | NSB (1998) | S |
| Stevens Pass Greenway | Washington | NSB (2005) | R |
| Strait of Juan de Fuca Highway – SR 112 | Washington | NSB (2000) | N |
| White Pass Scenic Byway | Washington | NSB (2009) | R |
| Coal Heritage Trail | West Virginia | NSB (1998) NSB extension (2009) | H |
| Highland Scenic Highway | West Virginia | NSB (1996) | N |
| Historic National Road – West Virginia | West Virginia | AAR (2002) | C & H |
| Midland Trail | West Virginia | NSB (2000) | R |
| Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike | West Virginia | NSB (2005) | H |
| Washington Heritage Trail | West Virginia | NSB (2000) | H |
| Great River Road – Wisconsin | Wisconsin | NSB (2000) | H |
| Beartooth Highway – Wyoming | Wyoming | AAR (2000) | N & S |
Notes
Identified Intrinsic Quality(s) are the ones the U.S. Secretary of Transportation recognized when designating the road. IQ’s are A (Archaeological), C (Cultural), H (Historic), N (Natural), R (Recreational) and S (Scenic).
Designations are NSB (National Scenic Byway) and AAR (All-American Road)
Roads with multiple designations and years listed sought for and were granted an extension of the designated route, or a change in designation from National Scenic Byway to All-American Road.
Routes listed with a name in (xxx) were originally designated using that name but requested a name change after designation.
Routes marked by asterisks were later de-designated and removed from the list of America’s Byways. They are included here as part of the designation history.
National Scenic Byways Program Definitions
Intrinsic Qualities
To be designated a National Scenic Byway, a road must possess characteristics of regional significance within at least one of the intrinsic qualities. All-American Roads must possess characteristics of national significance in at least two of the intrinsic qualities.
Archaeological
Archaeological Quality involves those characteristics of the scenic byways corridor that are physical evidence of historic or prehistoric human life or activity that are visible and capable of being inventoried and interpreted. The scenic byway corridor’s archeological interest, as identified through ruins, artifacts, structural remains, and other physical evidence have scientific significance that educate the viewer and stir an appreciation for the past.
Cultural
Cultural Quality is evidence and expressions of the customs or traditions of a distinct group of people. Cultural features including, but not limited to, crafts, music, dance, rituals, festivals, speech, food, special events, vernacular architecture, etc., are currently practiced. The cultural qualities of the corridor could highlight one or more significant communities and/or ethnic traditions.
Historic
Historic Quality encompasses legacies of the past that are distinctly associated with physical elements of the landscape, whether natural or manmade, that are of such historic significance that they educate the viewer and stir an appreciation for the past. The historic elements reflect the actions of people and may include buildings, settlement patterns, and other examples of human activity. Historic features can be inventoried, mapped, and interpreted. They possess integrity of location, design, setting, material, workmanship, feeling, and association.
Natural
Natural Quality applies to those features in the visual environment that are in a relatively undisturbed state. These features predate the arrival of human populations and may include geological formations, fossils, landform, water bodies, vegetation, and wildlife. There may be evidence of human activity, but the natural features reveal minimal disturbances.
Recreational
Recreational Quality involves outdoor recreational activities directly association with and dependent upon the natural and cultural elements of the corridor’s landscape. The recreational activities provide opportunities for active and passive recreational experiences. They include, but are not limited to, downhill skiing, rafting, boating, fishing, and hiking. Driving the road itself may qualify as a pleasurable recreational experience. The recreational activities may be seasonal, but the quality and importance of the recreational activities as seasonal operations must be well recognized.
Scenic
Scenic Quality is the heightened visual experience derived from the view of natural and manmade elements of the visual environment of the scenic byway corridor. The characteristics of the landscape are strikingly distinct and offer a pleasing and most memorable visual experience. All elements of the landscape — landform, water, vegetation, and manmade development — contribute to the quality of the corridor’s visual environment. Everything present is in harmony and shares in the intrinsic qualities.
[Data source: Federal Highway Administration, retrieved: 2020-March-06]
