There are wonderful drives across America, including National Scenic Byways, Back Country Byways, and State Scenic Byways. The United States Department of Transportation recognizes a National Scenic Byway for one of the six “intrinsic qualities”: archeological, cultural, historical, natural, recreational, and scenic. The most scenic byways are designated All-American Roads, which must meet two of the six intrinsic qualities. Currently, there are 120 National Scenic Byways and 31 All-American Roads. In addition, hundreds more are designated by individual states, and scenic drives and back-country byways are designated by the Bureau of Land Management.
Scenic Byways & Historic Trails:
Midland Trail – First Transcontinental Auto-Trail
Alpine Loop Back Country Byway
Cherokee Trail – Alternate Route to the West
Granada-Fort Union Military Road
Midland Trail – First Transcontinental Auto-Trail
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
Nez Perce National Historic Trail
Midland Trail – First Transcontinental Auto-Trail
National Road – First Highway in America
Midland Trail – First Transcontinental Auto-Trail
National Road – First Highway in America
Cherokee Trail – Alternate Route to the West
Midland Trail – First Transcontinental Auto-Trail
Midland Trail – First Transcontinental Auto-Trail
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
National Road – First Highway in America
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
Midland Trail – First Transcontinental Auto-Trail

Oregon Trail Re-enactors
Cherokee Trail – Alternate Route to the West
Nez Perce National Historic Trail
Midland Trail – First Transcontinental Auto-Trail
Nez Perce National Historic Trail
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro
Granada-Fort Union Military Road
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
National Road – First Highway in America
Cherokee Trail – Alternate Route to the West
Nez Perce National Historic Trail
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
National Road – First Highway in America
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
Midland Trail – First Transcontinental Auto-Trail
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
Midland Trail – First Transcontinental Auto-Trail
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
Midland Trail – First Transcontinental Auto-Trail
National Road – First Highway in America
Cherokee Trail – Alternate Route to the West
Stop worrying about the potholes in the road & enjoy the journey.
© Kathy Alexander/Legends of America, updated December 2022.
Also See:
Adventures and Tragedies on the Overland Trail
The National Road – First Highway in America