Take a scenic drive through the Ouachita National Forest on Arkansas Highway 298 from Story to Hot Springs Village. This quiet, forested 29-mile route offers peaceful wilderness, access to Lake Ouachita, and ends near the popular Scenic Highway 7.
State Highways
Explore America’s diverse network of state highways—regional routes managed by individual states that connect towns, cities, parks, and scenic landscapes.
State highways form the backbone of regional travel across the United States, offering essential connections between cities, rural communities, and major national routes. Managed by individual state departments of transportation, these highways vary widely in scale—from narrow rural byways to multi-lane expressways rivaling interstates in traffic and speed. While numbering systems and signage conventions differ from state to state, each network plays a critical role in local mobility and economic development.
Unlike the federally designated Interstate and U.S. Highway systems, state highways are developed and maintained at the state level, giving them a unique character and flexibility. Some follow historic paths and scenic corridors, while others serve as modern commuter routes or urban spurs. Many are vital links to state parks, natural attractions, and lesser-known destinations that don’t fall within the national systems.
On this site, we highlight a growing collection of notable state highways, organized by region and state. Whether you’re tracing a scenic loop through the mountains, navigating a fast-moving corridor through a metro area, or exploring forgotten rural routes, our guides offer detailed overviews, and video journeys to help you plan your next adventure.
State Highway vs Route vs Road…
State Departments of Transportation use different terminology for their designated road systems, with some states using “state highway,” others “state road,” and still others “state route.” These distinctions, though seemingly minor, often reflect historical and legislative traditions within each state. The choice of a particular term can be tied to the legal language used when the road network was first established or expanded. For example, a state might have initially defined its network as a “system of highways” for commerce and travel, while another may have focused on creating a “system of roads” for local and inter-city connections. The term “state route” is often a more modern designation that emphasizes a specific numbered path for navigation rather than the physical characteristics or purpose of the road itself. While the exact reasoning for each state’s choice is complex and rooted in its unique history, the map on the right provides a visual guide to which term is used where.
Explore State Routes
Arkansas Highway 188: Highway 27 to Little Fir Recreation Area
Take a relaxing drive along Arkansas Highway 188 from AR-27 to the Little Fir Recreation Area, winding through the Ouachita National Forest to the quiet shores of Lake Ouachita. Discover scenic forest views, peaceful campsites, and the perfect escape into nature along t…
![[Revisited] Arkansas Highway 365: Maumelle to Conway](https://www.openroadarchive.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/1pis7bb05lamaxresdefault.jpg)
[Revisited] Arkansas Highway 365: Maumelle to Conway
Take a scenic 16-mile drive along Arkansas Highway 365 from Maumelle to Conway. Follow the historic alignment through Mayflower and Preston, ending in Conway’s urban core on Harkrider Street.
Tennessee Secondary Route 105: Trimble
Tennessee Secondary Route 105 may not stretch far, but its short segment through the town of Trimble offers a brief look into rural northwest Tennessee life. This two-mile drive forms a local connector between TN-89 and US-51, threading its way through the heart of…
Tennessee Secondary Route 89: Kenton to Trimble
Cruise 7 miles along Tennessee Secondary Route 89 from Kenton to Trimble through West Tennessee farmland and the rural community of Mason Hall. A short but scenic drive with local charm and peaceful views.
Tennessee Secondary Route 89: Dresden to Kenton
Take a 23-mile drive down Tennessee Secondary Route 89 from Dresden to Kenton, passing through Sharon and the scenic Obion River Wildlife Management Area. This peaceful route showcases West Tennessee farmland, small-town charm, and natural beauty.
Tennessee Route 54: Paris to Dresden
Cruise 22 miles west along Tennessee Route 54 from Paris to Dresden, passing through quiet communities like Midway, Como, and West Union. This rural drive blends scenic farmland with small-town charm, ending in historic downtown Dresden.
Westbound Tennessee Secondary Route 356: Paris
Tennessee Secondary Route 356 may only be a mile long, but it serves as an important east-west connector through Paris, TN. Running entirely along East Wood Street, the route links US-79 and US-641 while passing through a mix of commercial zones and the edge of the hist…
Tennessee Secondary Route 119: Kentucky to Buchanan
Drive Tennessee Route 119 for 5 scenic miles from the Kentucky state line to Buchanan and Paris Landing State Park. This short but beautiful highway winds through dense forest along Kentucky Lake and ends near the recreational heart of northwest Tennessee.
Kentucky Route 121: Murray to Tennessee
Travel 16 miles south along Kentucky Route 121 from Murray to the Tennessee state line. Explore this scenic connector through western Kentucky farmland, small towns like New Concord, and into lake country via TN-119.
Kentucky Route 2075: Murray
Explore Kentucky Route 2075, a short but important urban connector in Murray, KY, linking US-641 to KY-94 and KY-121 near downtown and Murray State University.
Kentucky Route 91: Cave-In-Rock to Marion
Travel 11 miles along Kentucky Route 91 from the Cave-In-Rock Ferry to Marion, Kentucky, through forested hills, farmland, and quiet rural countryside. Includes a unique ferry crossing and scenic views of the Ohio River Valley.