Wisconsin Scenic Byways program

The Scenic Byways program is a cooperative effort between local communities and WisDOT to identify and promote state and local highway corridors with scenic and/or histo​rical attributes that provide travelers an enjoyable visual, educational and recreational experience.

1999 Wisconsin Act 9 directed the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) to develop and administer a state scenic byways program. 

Currently, there are five state designated scenic byways:

• the Great River Road - All-​American Road (WIS 35) between Prescott and Kieler,
• the Lower Wisconsin River ​Road (WIS 60) between Lodi and Prairie du Chien,
• the Door County Coastal Byway - National Scenic Byway (WIS 42 and 57) circling the northern Door County peninsula,
• the Wisconsin Lake Superior Scenic Byway - National Scenic Byway​ (WIS 13) from US 2 to County H in northwest Wisconsin,
• and the newest scenic byway - the Nicolet-Wolf River Scenic Byway (WIS 55, 32, 70 and 52).
  

The Scenic Byways program is similar but separate from WisDOT’s Rustic Roads program. Typically, Rustic Roads are lightly-traveled town or county roads that offer bikers, hikers and other travelers a leisurely opportunity to see native terrain and wildlife in a rural setting.​​

• ​The 2023 Rustic Roads Guide now includes Wisconsin's Scenic Byways.​​
  

In contrast, a scenic byway is a non-interstate highway route, at least 30 miles long, that offers travelers numerous scenic and/or historical attributes whose promotion can serve to boost a region’s attractiveness as a tourist destination.​​