These routes are perfect for spontaneous Sunday drives or pit stops along a greater cross-country journey.

There are several designations used to honor these routes. The most common type of designation is the National Scenic Byway though there are also state scenic byways, National Forest Byways, and Back Country Byways. Another type of scenic byway is a National Parkway, which is a type of protected roadway within federal park lands that is managed by the National Park Service for recreational use.
Sometimes a road can have multiple honorary designations. If a particular parkway or scenic byway is especially outstanding, it may sometimes be bestowed with the additional title of “All-American Road.”
Not sure where to start planning your next road trip? We’ve listed a few of our favorites below.

Arizona: Sky Island Scenic Byway
National Scenic Byway
Length: 27.2 miles
Plan for three to six hours to drive, including backtracking.

Start your journey among giant saguaro cacti of the Sonoran desert and climb to shady conifer forests at nearly 9,000 feet, passing biological diversity equivalent to a drive from Mexico to Canada in just 27 miles. Enjoy spectacular views and recreational opportunities from hiking and camping to picnicking and skiing.

Utah: Scenic Byway 12
All-American Road
Length: 124 miles
Allow three hours to drive or three days to experience the byway.

Scenic Byway 12 takes you to the heart of the American West. This exceptional 124 mile route negotiates an isolated landscape of canyons, plateaus, and valleys ranging from 4,000 to 9,000 feet above sea level. You’ll encounter archaeological, cultural, historical, natural, recreational, and scenic qualities while driving this exhilarating byway.

North Carolina and Tennessee: Cherohala Skyway
National Scenic Byway
Length: 44 miles
Two hours to drive the byway

The Skyway offers the cultural heritage of the Cherokee tribe and early settlers in a grand forest environment in the Appalachian Mountains. Enjoy mile-high vistas and brilliant fall foliage, as well as great hiking opportunities and picnic spots in magnificent and seldom-seen portions of the southern Appalachian National Forests. It is a 2-laned road with wide shoulders and 15 scenic overlooks.

Louisiana: Creole Nature Trail
All-American Road
Length: 180 miles
Depending on route, allow four or five hours to drive or two days to visit the byway.

Known as Louisiana’s Outback, the Creole Nature Trail meanders through marshes, prairies, and along the Gulf of Mexico. As you loop through Calcasieu and Cameron parishes in Southwest Louisiana, view alligators and birds up close and in the wild, along with colorful wildflowers and rare cheniers shaped by salty winds

Georgia: Russell-Brasstown National Scenic Byway
National Scenic Byway
Length: 40 miles
Three hours to enjoy the byway

Surrounded by the beauty of the Chattahoochee National Forest, the byway winds through the valleys and mountain gaps of the southern Appalachians. From the vistas atop Brasstown Bald to the cooling mists of waterfalls, scenic wonders fill this region. Hike the Appalachian Trail or fish in a cool mountain stream.

Colorado and Utah: Trail of the Ancients
National Scenic Byway
Length: 480 miles
Nine hours to drive (including backtracking) or six days to enjoy the byway

Explore the long and intriguing occupation of the Four Corners region by Native American peoples. Travel through the archaeological heartland of America while crossing the beautiful and diverse landscapes of the Colorado Plateau. World-renowned Mesa Verde National Park, Monument Valley Tribal Park, and Four Corners Monument are highlights on the trail.
Worth Pondering…
There is adventure in any trip; it’s up to us to seek it out.
—Jamie Francis