As any Peninsula resident or visitor knows, the stretches of highway that run up and around Door County are some of the most beautiful in the entire country.
For many – including me – a leisurely drive up and around the picturesque Door County Coastal Byway (DCCB) is the perfect way to start a trip.
National Scenic Byway: Exciting news for Door County lovers.
On January 19, 2021, the Department of Transportation approved an additional 49 designations to the America’s Byways collection. Here’s the list of the 49 that were added to the National Scenic Byways Program, increasing the number of designated highways to 184 in 48 states.
And just announced, the 66 miles of highways that circle the Peninsula have been awarded one of those designations.
Highways 42 and 57 run from Sturgeon Bay to the northern tip of Door County, creating the perfect peninsula loop. Highway 42 runs up the bay side of the Peninsula from Sturgeon Bay to Sister Bay, running through Egg Harbor, Fish Creek and Ephraim. Highway 57 continues up the Peninsula to Ellison Bay, Gills Rock and Northport, and runs back down the peninsula on the Lake Michigan side through Baileys Harbor and Jacksonport.
National Scenic Byway: Door County Charm
Defined by picturesque views of Lake Michigan, Green Bay, the Niagara Escarpment bluffs and charming waterfront villages, the Coastal Byway is quintessential Door County. The DCCB stretch is lined with delightful cafes, quaint, independent shops and coffee houses, local bars and microbrews, wineries, charming hotels, some of the country’s most challenging golf courses. In addition, Potawatomi State Park, Peninsula State Park, and Newport State Park offer excellent outdoor activities along the drive.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the America’s Byway designations are split between “All-American Roads” and “National Scenic Byways.” The 66-mile stretch in Door County is designated a National Scenic Byway. And as a frequent driver of the loop, I’d say the designation is long overdue.
Other Wisconsin Routes Recognized
Wisconsin has two additional highways on the America’s Byway system: The Great River Road, and the Wisconsin Lake Superior Scenic Byway.
Here’s the complete list of the America’s Byway system, courtesy of the Federal Highway Administration:
| America’s Byways Name | State | Designation (see Notes) | Intrinsic Qualities (see Notes) |
| Alabama’s Coastal Connection | Alabama | NSB (2009) | S |
| Natchez Trace Parkway – Alabama | Alabama | AAR (1996) | H & S |
| Selma to Montgomery March Byway | Alabama | AAR (1996) | H & N |
| Talladega Scenic Drive | Alabama | NSB (1998) | S |
| Alaska’s Marine Highway | Alaska | NSB (2002) AAR (2005) | S, C & N |
| Glenn Highway | Alaska | NSB (2002) | S |
| The George Parks Highway Scenic Byway | Alaska | NSB (2009) | N |
| Haines Highway – Valley of the Eagles | Alaska | NSB (2009) | N |
| Seward Highway | Alaska | NSB (1998) AAR (2002) | R & S |
| Coronado Trail Scenic Byway | Arizona | NSB (2005) | S |
| Historic Route 66 – Arizona | Arizona | NSB (2005) | H |
| AAR (2009) | H & N | ||
| Kaibab Plateau – North Rim Parkway | Arizona | NSB (1998) | S |
| Red Rock Scenic Byway (Red Rock Scenic Road) | Arizona | AAR (2005) | S & R |
| Sky Island Scenic Byway | Arizona | NSB (2005) | N |
| Crowley’s Ridge Parkway – Arkansas | Arkansas | NSB (1998) | N |
| Great River Road – Arkansas | Arkansas | NSB (2002) AAR (2021) | H, H & C |
| Talimena Scenic Drive – Arkansas | Arkansas | NSB (2005) | S |
| Arroyo Seco Historic Parkway – Route 110 | California | NSB (2002) | H |
| Big Sur Coast Highway – Route 1 | California | AAR (1996) | H & S |
| California Historic Route 66 Needles to Barstow Scenic Byway | California | NSB (2021) | H |
| Death Valley Scenic Byway | California | NSB (1998) | S |
| Ebbetts Pass Scenic Byway | California | NSB (2005) | S |
| San Luis Obispo North Coast Byway – Route 1 | California | AAR (2002) | H & S |
| Tioga Road/Big Oak Flat Road | California | NSB (1996) | N |
| Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway – California | California | AAR (2002) | N & R |
| Colorado River Headwaters Byway (Colorado River Headwaters Scenic and Historic Byway) | Colorado | NSB (2005) | H |
| Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway – Colorado | Colorado | NSB (2002) | N |
| Frontier Pathways Scenic and Historic Byway | Colorado | NSB (1998) | S |
| Gold Belt Tour Scenic and Historic Byway | Colorado | NSB (2000) | H |
| Grand Mesa Scenic and Historic Byway | Colorado | NSB (1996) | H |
| Lariat Loop Scenic and Historic Byway | Colorado | NSB (2009) | H |
| San Juan Skyway | Colorado | AAR (1996) | H & S |
| Santa Fe Trail – Colorado | Colorado | NSB (1998) | H |
| Scenic Highway of Legends | Colorado | NSB (2021) | N |
| Silver Thread Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway | Colorado | NSB (2021) | H |
| Top of the Rockies | Colorado | NSB (1998) NSB extension (2009) | S |
| Trail of the Ancients – Colorado | Colorado | NSB (2005) | A |
| Trail Ridge Road/Beaver Meadow Road | Colorado | AAR (1996) | N & S |
| Connecticut State Route 169 | Connecticut | NSB (1996) | S |
| Merritt Parkway | Connecticut | NSB (1996) | H |
| Brandywine Valley Scenic Byway | Delaware | NSB (2005) | H |
| Delaware Bayshore Byway | Delaware | NSB (2021) | H |
| A1A Scenic & Historic Coastal Byway (A1A Scenic and Historic Coastal Highway) | Florida | NSB (2002) AAR (2021) | R, R & H |
| Big Bend Scenic Byway | Florida | NSB (2009) | N |
| Florida Black Bear Scenic Byway | Florida | NSB (2009) | N |
| Florida Keys Scenic Highway | Florida | AAR (2009) | R & S |
| Indian River Lagoon National Scenic Highway (Indian River Lagoon Scenic Highway) | Florida | NSB (2002) | N |
| Ormond Scenic Loop & Trail | Florida | NSB (2009) | S |
| River of Lakes Heritage Corridor | Florida | NSB (2021) | H |
| Scenic Highway 30A | Florida | NSB (2021) | N |
| *Tamiami Trail Scenic Highway | Florida | NSB (2000) de-designated (2008) | N |
| Russell – Brasstown National Scenic Byway (Russell-Brasstown Scenic Byway) | Georgia | NSB (2000) | S |
| International Selkirk Loop – Idaho | Idaho | AAR (2005) | H & R |
| Northwest Passage Scenic Byway | Idaho | NSB (2002) | H |
| AAR (2005) | H & C | ||
| Payette River Scenic Byway | Idaho | NSB (2002) | R |
| Pend Oreille Scenic Byway | Idaho | NSB (2002) | R |
| Pioneer Historic Byway | Idaho | NSB (2005) | H |
| Western Heritage Historic Byway | Idaho | NSB (2005) | S |
| Great River Road – Illinois | Illinois | NSB (2000) AAR (2021) | H, H & C |
| Historic National Road – Illinois | Illinois | NSB (2000) AAR (2002) | C & H |
| Historic Route 66 – Illinois | Illinois | NSB (2005) | H |
| Illinois River Road (Illinois River Road: Route of the Voyageurs) | Illinois | NSB (2005) | N |
| Lincoln Highway | Illinois | NSB (2000) | H |
| Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Route | Illinois | NSB (1998) | H |
| Ohio River Scenic Byway – Illinois (Ohio River Scenic Route) | Illinois | NSB (1998) | H |
| Historic National Road – Indiana | Indiana | NSB (2000) AAR (2002) | C & H |
| Indiana’s Historic Pathways | Indiana | NSB (2009) | H |
| Ohio River Scenic Byway – Indiana (Ohio River Scenic Route) | Indiana | NSB (1996) | H |
| Whitewater Canal Scenic Byway | Indiana | NSB (2021) | H |
| Great River Road – Iowa | Iowa | NSB (2000) AAR (2021) | H, H & S |
| Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway | Iowa | NSB | H |
| Loess Hills Scenic Byway | Iowa | NSB (2000) | N |
| Flint Hills Scenic Byway | Kansas | NSB (2005) | S |
| Wetlands and Wildlife Scenic Byway | Kansas | NSB (2005) | N |
| Country Music Highway | Kentucky | NSB (2002) | C |
| Great River Road – Kentucky | Kentucky | NSB (2009) AAR (2021) | H, H & N |
| Lincoln Heritage Scenic Highway | Kentucky | NSB (2009) | H |
| Old Frankfort Pike Historic and Scenic Byway | Kentucky | NSB (2021) | H |
| Red River Gorge Scenic Byway | Kentucky | NSB (2002) | N |
| Wilderness Road Heritage Highway | Kentucky | NSB (2002) | H |
| Woodlands Trace | Kentucky | NSB (2009) | R |
| Bayou Teche Scenic Byway | Louisiana | NSB (2021) | C |
| Boom or Bust Byway | Louisiana | NSB (2021) | H |
| Creole Nature Trail | Louisiana | NSB (1996) AAR (2002) | C & N |
| Great River Road – Louisiana | Louisiana | NSB (2009) AAR (2021) | H, H & C |
| Acadia All American Road (Acadia Byway) | Maine | AAR (2000) AAR Trenton extension (2009) | R & S |
| Bold Coast Scenic Byway | Maine | NSB (2021) | H |
| Katahdin Woods and Waters Scenic Byway | Maine | NSB (2021) | R |
| Old Canada Road Scenic Byway | Maine | NSB (2000) | S |
| Rangeley Lakes Scenic Byway | Maine | NSB (2000) | R |
| St. John Valley Cultural Byway / Fish River Scenic Byway | Maine | NSB (2021) | C |
| Schoodic Scenic Byway | Maine | NSB (2000) | S |
| Baltimore’s Historic Charles Street | Maryland | NSB (2009) | H |
| Chesapeake Country Scenic Byway | Maryland | NSB (2002) AAR (2021) | C, C & R |
| Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway | Maryland | AAR (2009) | C & H |
| Historic National Road – Maryland | Maryland | AAR (2002) | C & H |
| Journey Through Hallowed Ground Byway – Maryland (Catoctin Mountain Scenic Byway) | Maryland | NSB (2005) NSB (2009) | R & H |
| Religious Freedom Byway | Maryland | NSB (2009) | H |
| Connecticut River Byway – Massachusetts | Massachusetts | NSB (2009) | H |
| Mohawk Trail Scenic Byway | Massachusetts | NSB (2021) | H |
| Old King’s Highway (Route 6A) | Massachusetts | NSB (2021) | H |
| The Battle Road Scenic Byway | Massachusetts | AAR (2021) | H & C |
| Copper Country Trail | Michigan | NSB (2005) | H |
| River Road Scenic Byway | Michigan | NSB (2005) | R |
| Woodward Avenue (M-1) – Automotive Heritage Trail (Woodward Avenue (M-1)) | Michigan | NSB (2002) AAR (2009) | H, C & H |
| Edge of the Wilderness | Minnesota | NSB (1996) | N |
| Grand Rounds Scenic Byway | Minnesota | NSB (1998) | R |
| Great River Road – Minnesota | Minnesota | NSB (2000) AAR (2021) | H, H & S |
| Gunflint Trail Scenic Byway | Minnesota | NSB (2009) | N |
| Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway | Minnesota | NSB (2002) | S |
| Minnesota River Valley Scenic Byway | Minnesota | NSB (2002) | H |
| North Shore Scenic Drive | Minnesota | AAR (2002) | R & S |
| Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway | Minnesota | NSB (2005) | R |
| Great River Road – Mississippi (Lower Mississippi Great River Road; name on original nomination documents: Lower Mississippi Historic Byway and Mississippi Great River Road) | Mississippi | NSB (2005) NSB extension (2009) | H |
| Natchez Trace Parkway – Mississippi | Mississippi | AAR (1996) | H & S |
| Crowley’s Ridge Parkway – Missouri | Missouri | NSB (2000) | N |
| Great River Road – Missouri (Little Dixie Highway of the Great River Road) | Missouri | NSB (2002) | H |
| Historic Route 66 – Missouri | Missouri | AAR (2021) | H & C |
| Beartooth Highway – Montana | Montana | AAR (2002) | N & S |
| Lincoln Highway Scenic and Historic Byway | Nebraska | NSB (2021) | H |
| Sandhills Journey Scenic Byway | Nebraska | NSB (2021) | N |
| City of Las Vegas, Las Vegas Boulevard State Scenic Byway | Nevada | NSB (2009) | S |
| Lake Tahoe – Eastshore Drive | Nevada | NSB (1996) | S |
| Las Vegas Strip | Nevada | AAR (2000) | C & S |
| Pyramid Lake Scenic Byway | Nevada | NSB (1996) | N |
| Connecticut River Byway – New Hampshire | New Hampshire | NSB (2005) | H |
| Kancamagus Scenic Byway | New Hampshire | NSB (1996) | S |
| White Mountain Trail | New Hampshire | NSB (1998) | S |
| Bayshore Heritage Byway | New Jersey | NSB (2021) | N |
| Delaware River Scenic Byway | New Jersey | NSB (2009) | H |
| Millstone Valley Scenic Byway | New Jersey | NSB (2009) | H |
| Palisades Scenic Byway – New Jersey | New Jersey | NSB (2021) | S |
| Pine Barrens Byway | New Jersey | NSB (2021) | N |
| Western Highlands Scenic Byway | New Jersey | NSB (2021) | R |
| Billy the Kid Trail | New Mexico | NSB (1998) | S |
| *Dry Cimarron Scenic Byway – New Mexico | New Mexico | NSB (2009) de-designated (2010) | N |
| El Camino Real | New Mexico | NSB (1998) NSB extension (2005) | H |
| Geronimo Trail Scenic Byway | New Mexico | NSB (2005) | H |
| Historic Route 66 – New Mexico | New Mexico | NSB (2000) | H |
| Jemez Mountain Trail | New Mexico | NSB (1998) | R |
| Santa Fe Trail – New Mexico | New Mexico | NSB (1998) | H |
| Trail of the Ancients Scenic Byway – New Mexico | New Mexico | NSB (2021) | A |
| Trail of the Mountain Spirits Scenic Byway | New Mexico | NSB (2005) | N |
| Turquoise Trail | New Mexico | NSB (2000) | S |
| Great Lakes Seaway Trail – New York (Seaway Trail) | New York | NSB (1996) | H |
| Lakes to Locks Passage | New York | AAR (2002) | H & R |
| Mohawk Towpath Byway | New York | NSB (2005) | H |
| Palisades Scenic Byway – New York | New York | NSB (2021) | S |
| Blue Ridge Parkway – North Carolina | North Carolina | AAR (1996) | H & S |
| Cherohala Skyway – North Carolina | North Carolina | NSB (1998) | S |
| Forest Heritage National Scenic Byway | North Carolina | NSB (2009) | H |
| Newfound Gap Road Byway – North Carolina | North Carolina | AAR (2021) | H & S |
| Outer Banks Scenic Byway | North Carolina | NSB (2009) | C |
| Native American Scenic Byway – North Dakota (Standing Rock Native American Scenic Byway) | North Dakota | NSB (2005) | H |
| Sheyenne River Valley Scenic Byway | North Dakota | NSB (2002) | H |
| Amish Country Byway | Ohio | NSB (2002) | C |
| Ohio & Erie CanalWay (CanalWay Ohio Scenic Byway) | Ohio | NSB (2000) | H |
| Historic National Road – Ohio | Ohio | AAR (2002) | C & H |
| Hocking Hills Scenic Byway | Ohio | NSB (2021) | R |
| Lake Erie Coastal Ohio Trail | Ohio | NSB (2005) | H |
| Ohio River Scenic Byway – Ohio (Ohio River Scenic Route) | Ohio | NSB (1998) | H |
| Cherokee Hills Byway | Oklahoma | NSB (2009) | C |
| *Dry Cimarron Scenic Byway – Oklahoma | Oklahoma | NSB (2009) de-designated (2010) | N |
| Historic Route 66 – Oklahoma | Oklahoma | NSB (2009) | H |
| Talimena Scenic Drive – Oklahoma | Oklahoma | NSB (2005) | S |
| Wichita Mountains Byway | Oklahoma | NSB (2009) | N |
| Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway | Oregon | NSB (1998) | S |
| Hells Canyon Scenic Byway | Oregon | AAR (2000) | N & S |
| Historic Columbia River Highway | Oregon | AAR (1998) | H & S |
| McKenzie Pass – Santiam Pass Scenic Byway | Oregon | NSB (1998) | S |
| Mt. Hood Scenic Byway | Oregon | NSB (2005) | H |
| Outback Scenic Byway | Oregon | NSB (1998) | N |
| Pacific Coast Scenic Byway – Oregon | Oregon | NSB (1998) AAR (2002) | N & S |
| Rogue-Umpqua Scenic Byway | Oregon | NSB (2002) | R |
| Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway – Oregon | Oregon | AAR (1998) | N & R |
| West Cascades Scenic Byway | Oregon | NSB (2000) | S |
| Revolutionary Heritage Byway | Rhode Island | NSB (2021) | H |
| Brandywine Valley Scenic Byway | Pennsylvania | NSB (2021) | H |
| Historic National Road – Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | AAR (2002) | C & H |
| Journey Through Hallowed Ground Byway – Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | NSB (2009) | H |
| Great Lakes Seaway Trail – Pennsylvania (Seaway Trail) | Pennsylvania | NSB (2005) | H |
| Ashley River Road | South Carolina | NSB (2000) | H |
| Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway | South Carolina | NSB (1998) | S |
| Edisto Island National Scenic Byway | South Carolina | NSB (2009) | S |
| Savannah River Scenic Byway | South Carolina | NSB (1998) | H |
| Native American Scenic Byway – South Dakota (Standing Rock Native American Scenic Byway) | South Dakota | NSB (1998) NSB extension (2005) | C H |
| Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway | South Dakota | NSB (1996) | S |
| Cherohala Skyway – Tennessee | Tennessee | NSB (1996) | S |
| Cumberland Historic Byway | Tennessee | NSB (2021) | H |
| East Tennessee Crossing | Tennessee | NSB (2009) | H |
| Great River Road – Tennessee | Tennessee | NSB (2009) AAR (2021) | H, H & C |
| Natchez Trace Parkway – Tennessee | Tennessee | AAR (1996) | H & S |
| Newfound Gap Road Byway – Tennessee | Tennessee | AAR (2021) | H & S |
| Norris Freeway | Tennessee | NSB (2021) | R |
| Sequatchie Valley Scenic Byway | Tennessee | NSB (2021) | S |
| Woodlands Trace | Tennessee | NSB (2009) | R |
| Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway – Utah | Utah | NSB (2002) | N |
| The Energy Loop: Huntington and Eccles Canyons Scenic Byways | Utah | NSB (2000) | S |
| Flaming Gorge-Uintas Scenic Byway | Utah | NSB (1998) | N |
| Logan Canyon Scenic Byway | Utah | NSB (2002) | N |
| Nebo Loop Scenic Byway | Utah | NSB (1998) | S |
| Scenic Byway 12 (Highway 12 – A Journey Through Time Scenic Byway) | Utah | AAR (2002) | H & S |
| Scenic Byway 143 – Utah’s Patchwork Parkway | Utah | NSB (2009) | H |
| Trail of the Ancients – Utah | Utah | NSB (2005) | A |
| Zion Scenic Byway | Utah | NSB (2021) | S |
| Connecticut River Byway – Vermont | Vermont | NSB (2005) | H |
| Blue Ridge Parkway – Virginia | Virginia | AAR (2005) | R & C |
| Colonial Parkway | Virginia | AAR (2005) | N & H |
| George Washington Memorial Parkway | Virginia | AAR (2005) | N & H |
| Journey Through Hallowed Ground Byway – Virginia | Virginia | NSB (2009) | H |
| Skyline Drive | Virginia | NSB (2005) | S |
| Cascade Loop | Washington | NSB (2021) | S |
| Chinook Scenic Byway (Stephen Mather Memorial Parkway) | Washington | AAR (1998) | S |
| Coulee Corridor Scenic Byway | Washington | NSB (2005) | N |
| International Selkirk Loop – Washington | Washington | AAR (2005) | R & S |
| Mountains to Sound Greenway – I-90 | Washington | NSB (1998) | S |
| Stevens Pass Greenway | Washington | NSB (2005) | R |
| Strait of Juan de Fuca Highway – SR 112 | Washington | NSB (2000) | N |
| White Pass Scenic Byway | Washington | NSB (2009) | R |
| Coal Heritage Trail | West Virginia | NSB (1998) NSB extension (2009) | H |
| Highland Scenic Highway | West Virginia | NSB (1996) | N |
| Historic National Road – West Virginia | West Virginia | AAR (2002) | C & H |
| Midland Trail | West Virginia | NSB (2000) | R |
| Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike | West Virginia | NSB (2005) | H |
| Washington Heritage Trail | West Virginia | NSB (2000) | H |
| Door County Coastal Byway | Wisconsin | NSB (2021) | N |
| Great River Road – Wisconsin | Wisconsin | NSB (2000) AAR (2021) | H, H & C |
| Wisconsin Lake Superior Scenic Byway | Wisconsin | NSB (2021) | N |
| Beartooth Highway – Wyoming | Wyoming | AAR (2000) | N & S |
| Flaming Gorge – Green River Basin Scenic Byway | Wyoming | AAR (2021) | N & R |
Notes
Identified Intrinsic Quality(s) are the ones the U.S. Secretary of Transportation recognized when designating the road. IQ’s are A (Archaeological), C (Cultural), H (Historic), N (Natural), R (Recreational) and S (Scenic). Visit National Scenic Byways Program – Intrinsic Qualities for IQ definitions from FHWA’s Interim Policy for National Scenic Byways published in the Federal Register on May 18, 1995.
Designations are NSB (National Scenic Byway) and AAR (All-American Road)
Roads with multiple designations and years listed sought for and were granted an extension of the designated route, or a change in designation from National Scenic Byway to All-American Road.
Routes listed with a name in (xxx) were originally designated using that name but requested a name change after designation.
Routes marked by asterisks were later de-designated and removed from the list of America’s Byways. They are included here as part of the designation history.
