Let the road set the pace.
The Chesapeake Country Scenic Byway offers an epic journey through an unspoiled landscape that has shaped the lifestyles and livelihoods of generations of Watermen, shipbuilders, and farmers. This largely unchanged landscape makes it easy for visitors to imagine earlier times when goods were shipped to Baltimore in wooden barrels aboard schooners. The byway acts as a destination unto itself— it is the best way to travel through the extraordinary landscapes and waterscapes of the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay. The byway experience stretches from its upper Eastern Shore terminus – the picturesque Chesapeake and Delaware Canal to its lower shore recreational terminus at Smith Island.
Public Domain. Photo by John J. Rafferty of Annandale, VA · Photo credits
Public Domain. Photo by S. Clyde · Photo credits
Before you drive
Make it a satisfying day
Choose a realistic section, then allow time for viewpoints, a town stop and breaks. Scenic mileage rarely tells the whole story of how long an outing will take.
Match the road to your vehicle
Check the exact roads for your car, RV or motorcoach. Tunnel dimensions, turning space, grades and road surfaces can matter as much as distance.
Route overview and designation: Federal Highway Administration, America’s Byways. Research: October 2026. This is a travel idea, not live navigation or a guarantee that the full route is open. Confirm exact roads, current conditions, parking and any attraction reservations before departure.