Maryland’s 18 designated byways encompass 2,487 miles of beautiful roads and offer a taste of Maryland’s scenic beauty, history and culture. Take the roads less traveled - including byways featuring nationally significant themes: The Star-Spangled Banner, Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad, Religious Freedom, Chesapeake Country, Charles Street, Historic National Road, and the Catoctin Mountain National Scenic Byways.

If you’re planning a trip, escape the highway and enjoy a Maryland Scenic Byway. You’ll find great suggestions for scenic or historic driving tours, Maryland Heritage areas, historic districts, parks, and other cultural and recreational destinations. Don’t forget that most scenic byways are also perfect for exploring by bicycle! Way-finding signs guide you off-the-beaten tracks. We recommend that you use the Maryland Scenic Byways Map when you drive these routes.

Maryland belongs to a longstanding network of national and state byways that include the most distinct and diverse roads of our nation.  These corridors embody archaeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational and scenic qualities that are worthy of preservation and promotion. Maryland’s Scenic Byway program enhances community pride, as well as visitor appeal, by encouraging the responsible management and preservation of the State’s most scenic, cultural and historic roads.

Scenic Byway Resource Protection Application

Click here to view the application

MDOT SHA partnered with the Maryland Department of Planning (MDP) to develop a Scenic Byways Resource Protection Application. It is a GIS based inventory mapping tool. It allows users to analyze protected, vulnerable and threatened resources along Maryland’s scenic byways. Local and State agencies can use the tool to set conservation priorities in a targeted and strategic manner.

MDOT SHA Scenic Byways Web Map For more information about Maryland Scenic Byways Program, contact