Ohio Scenic Byways take the traveler past rural settings such as this one near Glenford, Ohio.

By Ken Drenten

Ohio has 27 routes designated by the state as Ohio Scenic Byways, offering adventures, historic sites and relaxing scenery as an alternative to high-speed freeway travel. Six of these byways are also designated as America’s Byways by the Federal Highway Administration.

These roads are great if you want to take in some sights, take photographs, visit out-of-the-way places or just change up your travel routine. I have traveled many of these byways to take photos of barns, mills and other scenery in our beautiful state.

Dusty Tires has information about all 27 Scenic Byways. Here are the six designated as America’s Byways:

• Amish Country Byway — The Amish Country Byway features 160 miles of natural vistas with winding curves, rolling hills, horse-drawn Amish buggies, bustling towns and beautiful farmlands in Holmes County.
• Historic National Road — The Historic National Road Byway extends from the West Virginia state line at the Ohio River to the Indiana state line, 225 miles long. Look for uniquely designed bridges, mile markers, old pike towns and sections of roadway on the original 1830s route.
• Hocking Hills Scenic Byway — This 26.4-mile byway follows SR 374 through Ohio’s scenic Hocking Hills and around Hocking State Forest. Byway visitors are treated to some of the most dramatic scenery in Ohio, with rock formations, caves, waterfalls, cliffs and forested trails.
• Lake Erie Coastal Scenic Byway — The 293-mile Lake Erie Coastal Ohio Scenic Byway has beaches, state parks, preserves, lighthouses, vacation islands, quaint villages and big cities. From east to west, the byway starts at Conneaut and closely follows the coastline before ending at the Michigan border near Toledo.
• Ohio & Erie Canalway — The Ohio & Erie Canalway America’s Byway approximates travel alongside the historic path of the Ohio & Erie Canal, the nation’s first inland waterway link between the Great Lakes and the Gulf of Mexico. The byway closely follows the former canalway from Dover to Cleveland. 
• Ohio River Scenic Byway — Spanning 14 counties in southern Ohio, this byway encompasses the entire length of the Ohio River in Ohio, a total of 452 miles. Starting at US 50 at the Indiana border, the route follows US 52, SR 7, SR 124 and SR 39 to East Liverpool at the Pennsylvania border.

(Source: Ohio Department of Transportation)

Ken Drenten is creator and manager of Dusty-Tires.com, a travel blog for out-of-the-ordinary places in Ohio.

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