Delaware
Delaware
Delaware Byways
Delaware launched its Scenic Byways Program with S.B. 320 during the 2000 legislative session. The state boasts six scenic byways, including the Delaware Bayshore Byway, which was previously a Delaware State Byway and was designated a national scenic byway in February 2021. Delaware’s other national scenic byway, the Brandywine Valley National Scenic Byway, provides visitors with an unparalleled experience of the state, rich with historic sites, sprawling estates, and museums. Tourism destinations that line the byways are integral to local economies, attracting 9.2 million visitors a year from across the country and beyond.
Key Points
- Delaware is home to six scenic byways, including two national scenic byways and four state scenic byways.
- In 2018, visitors to the state of Delaware contributed $3.5 billion to the state’s GDP.
- As one of the largest industries in the state, the travel sector employs 44,030 people – 9.8% of the total employment in the state.
- New Castle County, where the Brandywine Valley National Scenic Byway is located, is responsible for 45.3% of tourism expenditures in the state.
Delaware Byways
Map Key:
- National Scenic Byways
- State Scenic Byways
Byways Provide Access to Public Lands
Delaware byways provide access to the state’s most spectacular public lands, including the first state national historic park, two national historic trails, 381 miles of shoreline including the Chesapeake Bay and Delaware Bay, and 16 state parks.
About the National Scenic Byways Program
The National Scenic Byways Program, established by Congress in 1991, recognizes historic, scenic, and culturally important roads, all of which promote economic development and tourism in communities around the U.S. There are more than 1,200 byways in all 50 states.
All scenic byways exhibit one or more of six core intrinsic qualities — scenic, historic, recreational, cultural, archaeological, or natural. For a road to be named a national scenic byway, it must first be designated a state, tribal, or federal agency scenic byway. Once achieving that, a road may apply for national scenic byway designation, but its intrinsic quality must be of regional significance. All-American Roads are the very best of the national scenic byways, demonstrating at least two intrinsic qualities of national significance.