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USA Destinations
Scenic Roads, called Byways and All-American Roads
The National Scenic Byways Program (NSBP)
The National Scenic Byways Program is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The Program is a grass-roots collaborative effort established to help recognize, preserve and enhance selected roads throughout the United States. The program was established in 1991. Since 1992, the National Scenic Byways Program has provided over $388 million in funding for 2,832 State and nationally designated byway projects in 50 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia.
The U.S. Secretary of Transportation recognizes certain roads as America's Byways® -- All-American Roads or National Scenic Byways-based on one or more archaeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational and scenic intrinsic qualities.
National Designation of First Roads
The U.S. Secretary of Transportation designated the first roads as National Scenic Byways and All-American Roads in 1996. Byways have been nationally designated in 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002 and 2005. In 2005, 45 roads were recognized as new America's Byways, extensions of existing Byways, or changed designation from National Scenic Byway to All-American Road.
Difference between National Scenic Byways and All-American Roads
All the roads nationally designated by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation are considered part of the America's Byways® collection. To be designated as a National Scenic Byway, a road must possess at least one of these six intrinsic qualities (historic, cultural, natural, scenic, recreational, archaeological). The features contributing to the distinctive characteristics of the corridor's intrinsic qualities must possess regional significance. To receive an All-American Road designation, a road must possess multiple intrinsic qualities that are nationally significant and contain one-of-a-kind features that do not exist elsewhere. The road must also be considered a "destination unto itself." That is, the Byway must be the primary destination for a trip, and must provide an exceptional travel experience.
Statistics
Total number of All-American Roads = 31
Total number of National Scenic Byways = 121
Grand Total = 151*
* Historic Route 66 is listed in both categories - the Arizona portion is designated as an All-American Road, while the other portions are designated as National Scenic Byways.
List of All-American Roads and National Byways
Source: America's Byways®, retrieved: Nov 2009
All-American Roads
- Acadia All-American Road (ME - 2009)
- Alaska's Marine Highway (AK - 2005)
- Beartooth Highway (MT - 2002, WY - 2000)
- Blue Ridge Parkway (VA - 2005, NC - 1996)
- Chinook Scenic Byway (WA - 1998)
- Colonial Parkway (VA - 2005)
- Creole Nature Trail (LA - 2002)
- Florida Keys Scenic Highway (FL - 2009)
- George Washington Memorial Parkway (VA - 2005)
- Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway (MD - 2009)
- Hells Canyon Scenic Byway (OR - 2000)
- Historic Columbia River Highway (OR - 1998)
- Historic National Road (MD - 2002, WV - 2002, IN - 2002, PA - 2002, IL - 2002, OH - 2002)
- Historic Route 66 (AZ - 2009)
- International Selkirk Loop (ID - 2005, WA - 2005)
- Lakes to Locks Passage (NY - 2002)
- Las Vegas Strip (NV - 2000)
- Natchez Trace Parkway (AL - 1996, MS - 1996, TN - 1996)
- North Shore Scenic Drive (MN - 2002)
- Northwest Passage Scenic Byway (ID - 2005)
- Pacific Coast Scenic Byway - Oregon (OR - 2002)
- Red Rock Scenic Byway (AZ - 2005)
- Route 1 - Big Sur Coast Highway (CA - 1996)
- Route 1 - San Luis Obispo North Coast Byway (CA - 2002)
- San Juan Skyway (CO - 1996)
- Scenic Byway 12 (UT - 2002)
- Selma to Montgomery March Byway (AL - 1996)
- Seward Highway (AK - 2000)
- Trail Ridge Road/Beaver Meadow Road (CO - 1996)
- Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway (OR - 1998, CA - 2002)
- Woodward Avenue (M-1) - Automotive Heritage Trail (MI - 2009)
American Byways / Scenic Roads
- Alabama's Coastal Connection (AL - 2009)
- Amish Country Byway (OH - 2002)
- Arroyo Seco Historic Parkway - Route 110 (CA - 2002)
- Ashley River Road (SC - 2000)
- Baltimore's Historic Charles Street (MD - 2009)
- Big Bend Scenic Byway (FL - 2009)
- Billy the Kid Trail (NM - 1998)
- Brandywine Valley Scenic Byway (DE - 2005)
- Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway (OR - 1998)
- Cherohala Skyway (TN - 1996, NC - 1998)
- Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway (SC - 1998)
- Cherokee Hills Byway (OK - 2009)
- Chesapeake Country Scenic Byway (MD - 2002)
- City of Las Vegas, Las Vegas Boulevard State Scenic Byway (NV - 2009)
- Coal Heritage Trail (WV - 2009)
- Colorado River Headwaters Byway (CO - 2005)
- Connecticut River Byway (NH - 2005, VT - 2005, MA - 2009)
- Connecticut State Route 169 (CT - 1996)
- Copper Country Trail (MI - 2005)
- Coronado Trail Scenic Byway (AZ - 2005)
- Coulee Corridor Scenic Byway (WA - 2005)
- Country Music Highway (KY - 2002)
- Crowley's Ridge Parkway (MO - 2000, AR - 1998)
- Death Valley Scenic Byway (CA - 2002)
- Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway (UT - 2002, CO - 2002)
- Dry Cimarron Scenic Byway (OK - 2009, NM - 2009)
- East Tennessee Crossing (TN - 2009)
- Ebbetts Pass Scenic Byway (CA - 2005)
- Edge of the Wilderness (MN - 1996)
- Edisto Island National Scenic Byway (SC - 2009)
- El Camino Real (NM - 2005)
- The Energy Loop: Huntington/Eccles Canyons Scenic Byway (UT - 2000)
- Flaming Gorge-Uintas National Scenic Byway (UT - 1998)
- Flint Hills Scenic Byway (KS - 2005)
- Florida Black Bear Scenic Byway (FL - 2009)
- Forest Heritage National Scenic Byway (NC - 2009)
- Frontier Pathways Scenic and Historic Byway (CO - 1998)
- The George Parks Highway Scenic Byway (AK - 2009)
- Geronimo Trail Scenic Byway (NM - 2005)
- Glenn Highway (AK - 2002)
- Gold Belt Tour Scenic and Historic Byway (CO - 2000)
- Grand Mesa Scenic and Historic Byway (CO - 1996)
- Grand Rounds Scenic Byway (MN - 1998)
- Great River Road (AR - 2002, MN - 2000, IA - 2000, IL - 2000, WI - 2000, MS - 2009, MO - 2002, KY - 2009, LA - 2009, TN - 2009)
- Haines Highway - Valley of the Eagles (AK - 2009)
- Highland Scenic Highway (WV - 1996)
- Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway (MN - 2002)
- Historic Route 66 (NM - 2000, IL - 2005, OK - 2009)
- Illinois River Road (IL - 2005)
- Indian River Lagoon Scenic Highway (FL - 2002)
- Indiana's Historic Pathways (IN - 2009)
- Jemez Mountain Trail (NM - 1998)
- Journey Through Hallowed Ground Byway (VA - 2009, MD - 2009, PA - 2009)
- Journey Through Hallowed Ground Byway - Pennsylvania (PA - 2009)
- Kaibab Plateau-North Rim Parkway (AZ - 1998)
- Kancamagus Scenic Byway (NH - 1996)
- Lake Erie Coastal Ohio Trail (OH - 2005)
- Lake Tahoe - Eastshore Drive (NV - 1996)
- Lariat Loop Scenic & Historic Byway (CO - 2009)
- Lincoln Heritage Scenic Highway (KY - 2009)
- Lincoln Highway (IL - 2000)
- Loess Hills Scenic Byway (IA - 2000)
- Logan Canyon Scenic Byway (UT - 2002)
- McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass Scenic Byway (OR - 1998)
- Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Route (IL - 1998)
- Merritt Parkway (CT - 1996)
- Midland Trail (WV - 2000)
- Millstone Valley Scenic Byway (NJ - 2009)
- Minnesota River Valley Scenic Byway (MN - 2002)
- Mohawk Towpath Byway (NY - 2005)
- Mountains to Sound Greenway - I-90 (WA - 1998)
- Mt. Hood Scenic Byway (OR - 2005)
- Native American Scenic Byway (SD - 2005, ND - 2005)
- Nebo Loop Scenic Byway (UT - 1998)
- Ohio & Erie Canalway (OH - 2000)
- Ohio River Scenic Byway (IN - 1996, IL - 1998, OH - 1998)
- Old Canada Road Scenic Byway (ME - 2000)
- Ormond Scenic Loop & Trail (FL - 2009)
- Outback Scenic Byway (OR - 1998)
- Outer Banks Scenic Byway (NC - 2009)
- Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway (MN - 2005)
- Payette River Scenic Byway (ID - 2002)
- Pend Oreille Scenic Byway (ID - 2002)
- Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway (SD - 1996)
- Pioneer Historic Byway (ID - 2005)
- Pyramid Lake Scenic Byway (NV - 1996)
- Rangeley Lakes Scenic Byway (ME - 2000)
- Red River Gorge Scenic Byway (KY - 2002)
- Religious Freedom Byway (MD - 2009)
- River Road Scenic Byway (MI - 2005)
- Rogue-Umpqua Scenic Byway (OR - 2002)
- Russell-Brasstown National Scenic Byway (GA - 2000)
- Santa Fe Trail (NM - 1998, CO - 1998)
- Savannah River Scenic Byway (SC - 1998)
- Scenic Byway 143 - Utah's Patchwork Parkway (UT - 2009)
- Schoodic Scenic Byway (ME - 2000)
- Seaway Trail (NY - 1996, PA - 2005)
- Sheyenne River Valley Scenic Byway (ND - 2002)
- Sky Island Scenic Byway (AZ - 2005)
- Skyline Drive (VA - 2005)
- Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike (WV - 2005)
- Stevens Pass Greenway (WA - 2005)
- Strait of Juan de Fuca Highway - SR 112 (WA - 2000)
- Talimena Scenic Drive (OK - 2005, AR - 2005)
- Talladega Scenic Drive (AL - 1998)
- Tioga Road/Big Oak Flat Road (CA - 1996)
- Top of the Rockies (CO - 2009)
- Trail of the Ancients (UT - 2005, CO - 2005)
- Trail of the Mountain Spirits Scenic Byway (NM - 2005)
- Turquoise Trail (NM - 2000)
- Washington Heritage Trail (WV - 2000)
- West Cascades Scenic Byway (OR - 2000)
- Western Heritage Historic Byway (ID - 2005)
- Wetlands and Wildlife Scenic Byway (KS - 2005)
- White Mountain Trail (NH - 1998)
- White Pass Scenic Byway (WA - 2009)
- Wichita Mountains Byway (OK - 2009)
- Wilderness Road Heritage Highway (KY - 2002)
- Woodlands Trace (KY - 2009, TN - 2009)
TOP OF THE ROCKIES -- The area above Leadville was historically mined for its gold and silver. The hills can be seen between the trees and next to the road ahead.
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Source: magazineUSA.com
Last modified: 20091022