Skyline Drive, Canon City, Colorado, by Kathy Alexander.
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, individual states designate hundreds more, and the Bureau of Land Management designates scenic drives and back-country byways.
Scenic Byways & Historic Trails:
Scenic 7 Byway in Arkansas, Kathy Alexander.
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
California Trail Map
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
White Cloud, Kansas Overlook, viewing the Missouri River, Missouri, and Iowa, by Dave Alexander.
Midland Trail – First Transcontinental Auto-Trail
National Road – First Highway in America
Cherokee Trail – Alternate Route to the West
Fort Leavenworth-Fort Gibson Military Road
Fort Leavenworth-Fort Kearny Military Road
Fort Leavenworth-Fort Riley Military Road
Fort Riley-Fort Kearny Military Road
Midland Trail – First Transcontinental Auto-Trail
Midland Trail – First Transcontinental Auto-Trail
Wilderness Road north of London, Kentucky, by Kathy Alexander.
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
National Road – First Highway in America
Franconia Notch, New Hampshire, on the Appalachian Trail, photo by Carol Highsmith.
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
Pony Express Route Map
Midland Trail – First Transcontinental Auto-Trail
Nez Perce National Historic Trail
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
Dry Cimarron River, New Mexico, by Kathy Alexander.
El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro
Granada-Fort Union Military Road
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
Route 66 near Afton, Oklahoma, Kathy Alexander.
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
National Road – First Highway in America
Cherokee Trail – Alternate Route to the West
Nez Perce National Historic Trail
Oregon Trail pioneers pass through the sand hills painted by William Henry Jackson.
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
National Road – First Highway in America
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
El Camino Real by the Bureau of Land Management.
Midland Trail – First Transcontinental Auto-Trail
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
Linn Cove Viaduct, Blue Ridge Parkway near Linville, North Carolina, by Carol Highsmith.
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 March 2025.
Also See:
Adventures and Tragedies on the Overland Trail
The National Road – First Highway in America