Alternative Text Description for Scenic Highways

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAP OVERVIEW

This map displays the locations of designated scenic highways throughout the state of Florida. The Scenic Highways layer shows officially recognized scenic routes as derived from the FDOT Roadway Characteristics Inventory data. The map depicts 26 distinct named scenic highways distributed across different regions of Florida, each shown as a colored linear route.

GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

The map covers the entire state of Florida, extending from the panhandle region in the northwest to the Florida Keys in the south. Major cities labeled on the map include Tallahassee in the north-central area, Jacksonville along the northeastern coast, Gainesville in north-central Florida, Orlando in the central region, Tampa and St. Petersburg along the central west coast, Palm Coast on the northeast coast, and Miami in the southeast. The map also shows portions of neighboring states including Alabama, Georgia, and Dothan to the north. The coastline is clearly visible, including both the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Gulf of America to the west, as well as the Florida Keys island chain extending southwest from the southern tip of the mainland.

KEY INSIGHTS

The scenic highways are distributed throughout Florida but show distinct regional concentrations. The densest cluster of scenic routes appears in the Palm Coast and Orlando region of east-central Florida, where multiple colored routes converge and intersect. The eastern coastal areas, particularly along the Atlantic coast and through the Florida Keys, contain numerous scenic highway designations. The panhandle region near Tallahassee shows a large inland scenic byway loop. Central and southwestern Florida display moderate scenic highway coverage, while some rural interior areas of the state have minimal or no designated scenic routes. The southernmost extent of the state, including the Keys, features continuous scenic highway designations following the island chain.

VISUAL ELEMENTS

Scenic Highways

This layer represents officially designated scenic highways throughout Florida, each identified by a unique name and shown as a distinct colored linear route.

A1A Historic Byway (light blue/cyan line)

Appearance:

Light blue or cyan colored linear route

Distribution:

Located along the northeastern coast near Jacksonville

Notable locations:

Runs through the Jacksonville coastal area

Spatial patterns:

Follows the Atlantic coastline in a generally north-south orientation

A1A Ocean Islands Trail (magenta/pink line)

Appearance:

Bright magenta or pink colored linear route

Distribution:

Located on the Atlantic coast in northeastern Florida

Notable locations:

Positioned near Jacksonville along the coastal barrier islands

Spatial patterns:

Follows coastal geography in a linear north-south pattern

A1A Ocean Shore (light green line)

Appearance:

Light green colored linear route

Distribution:

Located in east-central Florida near Palm Coast

Notable locations:

Runs through the Palm Coast area along the Atlantic shore

Spatial patterns:

Follows the coastline with some inland connections

A1A River-Sea (coral/salmon line)

Appearance:

Coral or salmon colored linear route

Distribution:

Located in the Palm Coast region

Notable locations:

Positioned near Palm Coast in coastal northeastern Florida

Spatial patterns:

Short route segment with coastal orientation

Big Bend Scenic Byway (tan/gold line)

Appearance:

Tan or golden brown colored linear route

Distribution:

Located in the northern Florida panhandle region

Notable locations:

Creates a large loop south and west of Tallahassee

Spatial patterns:

Forms a distinctive curved loop pattern through the Big Bend coastal region

Bradenton Beach Highway (dark blue line)

Appearance:

Dark blue colored linear route

Distribution:

Located along the central west coast

Notable locations:

Runs through the Tampa Bay area along barrier islands

Spatial patterns:

Short linear coastal segment

Broward County A1A Scenic Highway (purple/maroon line)

Appearance:

Purple or maroon colored linear route

Distribution:

Located in southeastern Florida

Notable locations:

Extends along the coast in the Fort Lauderdale/Broward County area

Spatial patterns:

Linear north-south coastal route with distinctive dark coloring

Courtney Campbell (green line)

Appearance:

Medium green colored linear route

Distribution:

Located in the Tampa Bay region on the central west coast

Notable locations:

Positioned in the Tampa-St. Petersburg area

Spatial patterns:

Short route segment connecting across Tampa Bay

Florida Black Bear (light green line)

Appearance:

Light green colored linear route

Distribution:

Located in central Florida

Notable locations:

Positioned in the greater Orlando region

Spatial patterns:

Multiple connected segments forming a network pattern

Florida Keys Highway (dark red/brown line)

Appearance:

Dark red or brown colored linear route

Distribution:

Extends throughout the Florida Keys island chain and along the southeastern coast

Notable locations:

Runs from the southern tip of mainland Florida through the Keys, and extends northward along the Atlantic coast past Palm Beach and into the lower east coast region

Spatial patterns:

Follows the island chain in a southwest arc, then continues as a long linear coastal route northward

Green Mountain Byway (teal/cyan line)

Appearance:

Teal or cyan colored linear route

Distribution:

Located in central Florida

Notable locations:

Positioned south of Orlando in the central region

Spatial patterns:

Short linear segment

Halifax Heritage Byway (pink/salmon line)

Appearance:

Pink or light salmon colored linear route

Distribution:

Located on the east coast of Florida

Notable locations:

Runs through the Daytona Beach/Volusia County area north of Palm Coast

Spatial patterns:

Coastal linear route following the Atlantic shoreline

HRTG Crossroads Highway (yellow line)

Appearance:

Yellow or golden colored linear route

Distribution:

Located in east-central Florida

Notable locations:

Positioned in the Orlando/Palm Coast region

Spatial patterns:

Branching network of yellow route segments

Indian River Lagoon (blue-purple line)

Appearance:

Blue-purple colored linear route

Distribution:

Located along the east-central coast

Notable locations:

Runs along the Indian River Lagoon system near Palm Coast

Spatial patterns:

Follows the lagoon's linear coastal configuration

IRL-Treasure Coast (light purple/lavender line)

Appearance:

Light purple or lavender colored linear route

Distribution:

Located along the southeastern Atlantic coast

Notable locations:

Extends along the Treasure Coast region south of the Indian River Lagoon area

Spatial patterns:

Linear coastal alignment following the shoreline

JC Penney Memorial Highway (cyan line)

Appearance:

Cyan or light blue colored linear route

Distribution:

Located on the central west coast

Notable locations:

Short segment near Tampa

Spatial patterns:

Brief linear route

Lemon Bay/Myakka Trail (purple line)

Appearance:

Purple colored linear route

Distribution:

Located on the southwestern coast

Notable locations:

Positioned south of Tampa along the Gulf coast

Spatial patterns:

Coastal linear route with some inland segments

Martin Grade Highway (magenta line)

Appearance:

Magenta or pink colored linear route

Distribution:

Located in southern Florida

Notable locations:

Positioned in the area between the west coast and Lake Okeechobee

Spatial patterns:

Short east-west oriented segment

Old Florida Heritage (light purple line)

Appearance:

Light purple or lavender colored linear route

Distribution:

Located in southwestern Florida

Notable locations:

Extends from the Tampa area southward along the Gulf coast and into the interior

Spatial patterns:

Long route with both coastal and inland segments

Ormond Loop & Trail (light blue line)

Appearance:

Light blue colored linear route

Distribution:

Located on the east coast near Daytona Beach

Notable locations:

Positioned in the Ormond Beach area north of Palm Coast

Spatial patterns:

Loop configuration with connected trail segments

Palma Sola Highway (teal line)

Appearance:

Teal or blue-green colored linear route

Distribution:

Located on the central west coast

Notable locations:

Positioned in the Tampa Bay/Bradenton area

Spatial patterns:

Short coastal segment

Pensacola Bluffs Highway (green line)

Appearance:

Green colored linear route

Distribution:

Located in the western Florida panhandle

Notable locations:

Small segment west of Tallahassee in the Pensacola region (visible in the far western edge of the map)

Spatial patterns:

Short route segment in the panhandle

River of Lakes Heritage Corridor (yellow line)

Appearance:

Yellow or golden colored linear route

Distribution:

Located in central Florida

Notable locations:

Positioned in the central region between Tampa and Orlando

Spatial patterns:

North-south oriented route through interior lake country

Scenic Highway 30-A (pink line)

Appearance:

Pink or light coral colored linear route

Distribution:

Located in the panhandle region

Notable locations:

Small segment in the northwestern Florida panhandle (partially visible on map edge)

Spatial patterns:

Coastal segment along the Gulf shore

Scenic Sumter Heritage Byway (teal line)

Appearance:

Teal or blue-green colored linear route

Distribution:

Located in central Florida

Notable locations:

Positioned in the area between Tampa and Orlando in Sumter County

Spatial patterns:

Multiple branching segments forming a network

Suncoast Scenic Parkway (yellow line)

Appearance:

Yellow or golden colored linear route

Distribution:

Located on the central west coast

Notable locations:

Runs north-south between Tampa and the Nature Coast region

Spatial patterns:

Linear route running parallel to the Gulf coast

The Ridge Highway (pink line)

Appearance:

Pink or light magenta colored linear route

Distribution:

Located in central Florida

Notable locations:

Positioned in the interior highlands between the coasts in central Florida

Spatial patterns:

North-south oriented linear route through ridge geography

TT-Windows to Gulf Coast Water (blue line)

Appearance:

Blue colored linear route

Distribution:

Located in southwestern Florida

Notable locations:

Positioned south of Tampa along the Gulf coast near Cape Coral

Spatial patterns:

Curved coastal route configuration

William Bartram Trail (yellow-green line)

Appearance:

Yellow-green or lime colored linear route

Distribution:

Located in the panhandle region

Notable locations:

Small segment in northwestern Florida (partially visible on western map edge)

Spatial patterns:

Short segment in the western panhandle

Overlapping Patterns

The greatest concentration and overlap of scenic highway routes occurs in the Palm Coast and Orlando region of east-central Florida, where multiple colored routes converge and create a complex network. The southeastern coastal area also shows significant route density along the Atlantic shore. Some routes connect coastal and interior regions, while others follow continuous coastal alignments. The Tampa Bay area shows moderate convergence of scenic routes connecting different parts of the region.

SYMBOL GUIDE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This map shows officially designated scenic highways as recognized by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). Each route has been formally designated based on scenic, historic, recreational, cultural, archaeological, or natural qualities. The map represents a snapshot of the scenic highway network as of the most recent inventory and may not reflect current conditions or recent designations. The colored routes represent the centerlines of the designated roadways rather than road widths. Some scenic highways follow existing numbered routes like A1A, while others have unique names reflecting regional character or historic significance. The density of scenic highways is highest in coastal and central Florida regions with notable tourist destinations.

DATA CONTEXT

Data Source:

The data is derived from event mapping Feature 115 of the FDOT Roadway Characteristics Inventory, specifically the characteristics related to Scenic Highway Designation (SCENEHWY), Scenic Highway Designation Date (SCENEDTE), and Scenic Highway Designation Extension (SCENEEXT). This represents information collected and reported as of the most recent inventory performed. The source layer is SCENIC_HIGHWAYS_OCT25.

Definition Query:

No definition query or data filter was applied. The map shows all scenic highway designations present in the source dataset.

Scale Information:

The map shows statewide coverage at a scale appropriate for viewing the entire state of Florida and the general locations of all designated scenic highways. Individual route details and precise alignments would be more visible at larger scales.

Coordinate System:

NAD 1983 HARN Florida GDL Albers (WKID 3087)

Time Period of Content:

The data represents conditions as of October 2025 (based on the layer name SCENIC_HIGHWAYS_OCT25). The inventory reflects the most recent collection date but may not represent current on-the-ground conditions.

Limitations:

The data may not reflect the current conditions as scenic highway designations can change over time through additions, modifications, or removals. The dataset represents official designations as maintained in the FDOT Roadway Characteristics Inventory and may have a lag between field conditions and database updates. The linear representation shows route centerlines and does not convey information about roadway width, scenic viewsheds, or the specific qualities that led to each designation.

Map Coverage:

The map covers the entire state of Florida from the Alabama and Georgia borders in the north to the southernmost Florida Keys, and from the Gulf of America coast in the west to the Atlantic Ocean coast in the east. Small portions of southern Alabama and southern Georgia are visible for geographic context. The map includes all mainland Florida and the offshore Keys island chain.

The alternative text description of this map was AI-generated and may contain inaccuracies.