Old King’s Highway

Story of the Byway

If you are taking a trip to Massachusetts’ beautiful Cape Cod or other shore towns, the Old King’s Highway is a must to drive along. Designated as a National Scenic Byway in 2021, this Highway stands out for its historical, recreational, and natural qualities. With it being only 65 miles in length, this stretch of road can easily be done in a day and visitors can experience everything that it has to offer. This road is the backbone for America’s largest historic district, so there is plenty of opportunity to learn about the area and how the first settlers built it. There is also an abundance of scenic views and beautiful natural areas that can be found along the Byway. Visitors can stop by at any point to see the Cape Cod Bay or maybe take a break in Nickerson State Park to take in the gorgeous scenery.

The history of the area is what truly makes it one of the most fascinating and intriguing Byways in the entire country. As previously stated, it is located in America’s largest historic district, so there is no shortage of opportunity to learn about the rich history of the area. It is believed that this route was used by Native Americans as a trading route between villages and camps found in the area and has been developing ever since. It then became a route in for early settlers in the area during the 1600s to travel from east to west and can be found being described in documents in 1684. The area then went through an agricultural phase in the seventeenth century where the people first created residences, villages, and farms. Then, once maritime activities became popular in the area during the eighteenth century, the whole culture shifted, and it has become what we know of it today. There are still hundreds of historic structures and early homes that can be found along Old King’s Highway, like the Jonathan Young Windmill. This windmill was created in the early 1700s and most of the machinery is still fully functional from when it was first built!

While the history of this area is incredibly rich, he natural aspects of this area cannot be overlooked. The scenery that acts as a backdrop for this Byway is absolutely breathtaking and can be appreciated by all that drive along it. The views of Cape Cod Bay throughout the entirety of the road are unbelievable as visitors pass through dozens of different ports and harbors full of incredible boats. Not only is the Bay a scenic aspect of the Byway, but there are also plenty of bayside marshes, open vistas, cranberry bogs, and even a large tree canopy that covers a large portion of the road!

The possibilities along Old King’s Highway are truly endless and just about anybody can have a great time. With the gorgeous views and rich history, a trip along this Byway would be wonderful for the entire family and can prove to be a great day trip.