Highlands Scenic Byway
Highlands Scenic Byway is a State Scenic Byway in Virginia. Within Virginia it covers roughly 19 miles. The map below shows its route. Use “Plan a drive” to open it in the Road Sorties route planner — already routing along Highlands Scenic Byway with scenic roads turned on, ready to add your own stops.
Virginia's Highlands Scenic Byway is a 19-mile loop between Clifton Forge and Interstate 64 near Lexington, in the heart of Virginia's Western Highlands. It's one of the routes recognized under the Virginia Byway program, created by the General Assembly's 1966 State Scenic Highway and Virginia Byway Act, which lets the Commonwealth Transportation Board designate roads of high aesthetic or cultural value that lead to or through areas of historical, natural, or recreational significance. The drive threads mountain overlooks and forested ridgelines typical of Alleghany County and the Alleghany Highlands, giving visitors easy access to the region's hiking, fishing, and other outdoor recreation without leaving pavement. Compared to Virginia's more famous mountain drives farther east, the Highlands Scenic Byway is a shorter, quieter loop, valued locally more for everyday access to the Western Highlands' natural beauty than for any single marquee landmark.
- Clifton Forge
- Western Highlands
- 19-mile loop
- 1966 Virginia Byway Act
- Alleghany County
- Interstate 64
- mountain overlooks
Plan a drive on Highlands Scenic Byway →
What is a State Scenic Byway?
State Scenic Byways are roads a state has formally recognized for their scenic, natural, historic or cultural value — each state's own curated collection of drives worth taking slowly.
Where to Stay along Highlands Scenic Byway
No campgrounds are listed close to Highlands Scenic Byway yet, but there are rooms near the route.
Campsite and lodging links are affiliate links — booking through them may earn Road Sorties a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Recreation.gov links are not affiliate links.