Scenic Roadways
Michael McClanahan
Scenic Roadways Coordinator
Michael.McClanahan@tn.gov
(615) 741-0803
Tennessee’s collection of scenic roadways are a network of Tennessee Parkways, Scenic Highways, and National Scenic Byways. Roadways in this collection are often the road less travelled, have unmatched intrinsic qualities, and have a regional or national significance. Learn more about these routes, and their designations, by viewing the following resources:
- Tenneessee’s Scenic Handbook
- Tennessee Scenic Byway Intrinsic Qualities Guide
- Mountain Byways Guide of Tennessee and North Carolina
- Scenic Roadway Program Summary Memorandum
A brief overview of each scenic roadway type is listed below.
Tennessee Parkways
State Highways with scenic quality are eligible to be designated as Tennessee Parkways by the Commissioner of Transportation. Overview
National Scenic Byways
Local roads and State Highways with significant scenic quality, and who are designated as either Tennessee Parkway or Scenic Highway, are eligible to be designated as National Scenic Byway by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Tennessee boasts 13 Scenic Byway routes, including 10 designated by the U.S. Department of Transportation. This number of designations is the most of any state east of the Mississippi River and 4th most nationally. Overview
Scenic Highways
Local roads and State Highways are eligible to be designated as a Scenic Highway through legislation by the Tennessee General Assembly. Overview