Congratulations to our 2025
National Byway Award Winner
Partnership Award – Great River Road – All-American Road/National Scenic Byway
Spanning 3,000 miles through 10 states along the Mississippi River, the Great River Road is a lifeline for wildlife and communities alike. In recent years, the Mississippi River Parkway Commission (MRPC) and its state partners have launched an ambitious and wide-reaching effort to support pollinators — including bees, butterflies, and birds — whose health is critical to ecosystems and agriculture.
Through partnerships with the Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative, the U.S. Forest Service, and Rotary International, the byway was officially designated as the Great River Road Pollinator Trail. The Commission has developed a pollinator playbook, public brochures, educational flyers, a “how-to” guide for landowners, and a robust training program to raise awareness and encourage action.
“This partnership has brought together conservation, education, and tourism in a powerful way,” said Susan Thiede-Barnet, who helped lead the initiative. “We’re helping landowners plant better habitat, teaching travelers about the importance of pollinators, and building a stronger sense of environmental responsibility along the route.”
https://experiencemississippiriver.com/
Case Studies Available (2020-2025)
The National Scenic Byway Association (NSBA) publishes case studies of its award winners to share best practices within the scenic byways community. These annual awards recognize excellence in categories such as byway enhancement, communications, interpretation, leveraging resources, and visitor experience. By providing detailed examples of successful projects, the association helps other byways nationwide to improve their programs.
https://nsbfoundation.com/byway-resource-library/case-studies-research/
2026 Awards
Next year, we encourage you to nominate a byway for one of our 8 National Awards for 2026. The application is typically due in February and the winners are announced in April. Applicants must be NSBA members.
https://nsbfoundation.com/nsbf-awards/
Thank you!
Thank you to the co-sponsors of our NSBA Byway Awards:
Boom or Bust National Scenic Byway – LA,
Cascade Loop National Scenic Byway – WA,
Colorado Scenic & Historic Byways,
Ohio Amish Country, and
American Road Magazine Subscription
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