Kansas Byways

The Kansas Byways Program preserves the natural beauty and heritage of the state’s designated byways by providing resources and support to increase tourism and economic development within the byway communities. Designated byways are public roads with special scenic, historical, recreational, cultural, archeological, and/or natural qualities vetted by the Kansas Byways Advisory Committee and approved by the Secretary of the Kansas Department of Transportation. Byway designation refers not only to the road itself but also to the corridor through which it passes.

Each byway is managed by a committee of vested individuals at the grassroots level. The committee is a local collaboration between private citizens, non-profit organizations, government agencies, and businesses. The efforts of the group are to promote the byway and to create and enhance an authentic experience for Kansans and out-of-state visitors.

The Kansas Byways Program follows many of the same guidelines as the Federal Highway Administration’s National Scenic Byways Program. The national program was created by the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 to identify and develop outstanding byways for the traveling public throughout the U.S. In 1992, the Kansas Department of Transportation began the process of establishing a byways program for Kansas. The Kansas Byways Program was officially launched in 1994

The Kansas Byways Advisory Committee includes representatives from:

• Kansas Tourism
• Kansas Department of Transportation
• Kansas Historical Society 
• Federal Highway Administration