Skip to main content
search

NSBA Byway Awards

Click here for a great offer from our Co-Sponsor, American Road Magazine!

2026 National Scenic Byway Awards Announced

The National Scenic Byway Association is thrilled to extend our heartfelt congratulations to the eight 2026 National Byway Award winners!

Contact Sharon.Strouse@nsbassociation.com for Press Releases and Photos on individual byway awards.

Cascade Loop National Scenic Byway, WA, Communications Award, celebrating a comprehensive travel guide that equips visitors with everything they need to experience Washington State’s 440-mile ultimate road trip;

Cayuga Lake Scenic Byway, NY, Interpretation Award for their beloved family program that turns an 87-mile scenic byway into an educational scavenger hunt adventure for children of all ages;

Colorado Scenic and Historic Byways, 2026 Viewshed Improvement Award, celebrating the development of the state’s first comprehensive design guidelines to protect and enhance the character of Colorado’s 26 designated scenic corridors;

Indiana’s Historic Pathways, Partnership Award, celebrating a collaborative workshop series and updated interactive story map that connect communities to the ancient history of Indiana’s Buffalo Trace;

Mohawk Towpath National Scenic Byway, NY, Visitor Experience Award, celebrating a summer of Erie Canal Bicentennial festivities that brought history to life for thousands of visitors and locals across upstate New York;

Schoodic National Scenic Byway, ME, Leveraging Resources Award, celebrating a 25th byway anniversary festival that turned a milestone into a meaningful community investment along Maine’s working coast;

Sequatchie Valley National Scenic Byway, TN, Communications Award, celebrating a year-long social media campaign that brought the valley’s farms, businesses, and communities to life for audiences near and far;

Upper Delaware Scenic Byway, NY, Partnership Award, celebrating an innovative scavenger hunt that transformed 70 miles of scenic byway into a community-wide adventure for visitors and locals alike.

Two Honorable Mentions go to:

Jemez Mountain Trail National Scenic Byway, NM

Lincoln Highway National Scenic Byway, IL

Thank you to the co-sponsors of our NSBA Byway Awards: 

American Road Magazine,
Boom or Bust National Scenic Byway – LA,
Cascade Loop National Scenic Byway – WA,
Colorado Scenic & Historic Byways,
Ohio Amish Country, and
TravelStoryGPS

For Printing - NSBA Annual Awards GuidelinesOnline NSBA Award Application Link

NSBA Byway Awards – Annually

A Byway Organization, Collection or DMO (representing a byway) must be a NSBA member to win.

  1. Byway Enhancement Award – Community-based improvement on the byway such as innovative signage, wayshowing, improved access to byway resources or sites such as hiking, biking, picnic areas, parks, water, etc.
  2. Communications Award – Raising the visibility of the byway to the public using technology: social media, website, apps, blogs, photography, video, newsletters, innovative news features.
  3. Hospitality Award – Training program for volunteers and front-line personnel, provide training and byway orientation efforts to raise awareness of the byway story and the visitor experience.
  4. Interpretation Award – Creative, innovative or educational projects, publications, panels or kiosks with emphasis on telling your byway story.
  5. Leveraging Resources Award – Innovative fundraising, in-kind or other revenue or resource-generating activity.
  6. Partnership Award – Projects that engaged multiple public-private partners and stakeholders.
  7. Viewshed Improvement Award – Conservation and protection of scenic views, beautification efforts, select-cutting of foliage and trees to regain lost views. Provided plantings or walls to shield junkyards, utility substations, and/or distracting views.
  8. Visitor Experience Award – Experiential or authentic activities or events, re-enactments, created new attractions or destinations for visitors to have a comprehensive experience about the byway and its story.

National Recognition for NSBA Award Winners

Application Process – Deadline February 28, Midnight ET

 

2025 Byway Award Winners – Click to read about their winning project and best byway practices:

 

2024 Byway Award Winners – Click to read about their winning project and best byway practices:
Read our Byway Award Winning Case Studies 2020 – 2025 here: https://nsbfoundation.com/byway-resource-library/case-studies-research/