Kentucky
Old Frankfort Pike
Kentucky Scenic Byways
Kentucky is home to 37 scenic byways, including seven that have received the national scenic byways designation. These roads are of the utmost importance to local economies as they attract visitors who look for unique ways to experience the naturally beautiful and historically significant attractions located nearby. The byways showcase brilliant foliage, breathtaking natural beauty, native wildlife, and national heritage. Their diversity in attraction and appeal and individual uniqueness attracts many to the state and contributes to the tourism and travel industry of Kentucky.
Key Points
- There are 37 scenic byways in Kentucky, with seven national and 30 state byways.
- In 2018, the tourism and travel industry in Kentucky supported 94,583 jobs and generated $5.1 billion in state GDP, representing 4.4% of jobs and 2.2% of total GDP.
- The tourism sector generated about $787 million in state and local taxes and $669 million in federal taxes, saving each Kentucky household an average of $456 a year in taxes.
Kentucky Byways
Map Key:
- All-American Roads
- National Scenic Byways
- State Scenic Byways
All-American Roads
State Scenic Byways
Byways Provide Access to Public Lands
Kentucky byways provide access to spectacular sites, including one national park, 45 state parks, two historic parks, 12 national monuments, one recreation area, one national battlefield, and two historic trails.
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.