National Scenic Byway · Minnesota

Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway

88 miles of Highway 16 through southeast Minnesota's Root River valley, past dolomite bluffs and small historic towns.

Also known as Minnesota Highway 16

Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway: Como Falls

Photo: U.S. Department of Transportation, America's Byways collection (National Archives), Public domain, source

  • Length88 miles[2]
  • Drive timeAbout three hours[1]FHWA's "time to allow"
  • RoadsMinnesota Highway 16[2]
  • Start and endI-90 just west of Dexter to La Crescent[2]
  • Fees and passesByway travel is free; some attractions charge.[1]
  • Best seasonNot verified
  • SurfaceNot verified
  • Vehicle notesNot verified
  • Seasonal closuresNot verified

Before you go

Road status and weather can change quickly. Check the official road-conditions link before you go.

Facts last checked against the sources on October 22, 2026.

About the drive

The Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway follows Minnesota Highway 16 for 88 miles from I-90 near Dexter to La Crescent. It's a slower alternative to the interstate through the Root River valley, with dolomite bluffs above the road.

Lanesboro has a historic district and sits on the Root River State Trail, which is popular with cyclists. You may share the road with Amish buggies, and Mystery Cave and Historic Forestville are nearby.

Plan about three hours, longer with stops in the towns.

Stops along the way

  1. Preston

    Small town in the Root River valley.

    Official information · 43.67025, -92.08322 · about 0.4 mi from the route line

  2. Lanesboro

    Historic district on the Root River State Trail.

    Official information · 43.72081, -91.97683 · about 0.3 mi from the route line

  3. Rushford

    River town on the trail.

    Official information · 43.80831, -91.75293 · about 0.2 mi from the route line

  4. La Crescent

    East end, near the Mississippi.

    Official information · 43.82803, -91.30403 · about 0.1 mi from the route line

Stops are listed in order along the route; the numbers match the map. Stop locations come from the National Park Service, the U.S. Geological Survey place-names database, the stop's own official page or, where noted in the data, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors).

Food along the way

Farmers markets within about 25 miles

Markets keep their own seasons and hours, so check with the market before you go. Find more in the Farmers Market Finder.

Sources

  1. America's Byways: Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway (FHWA) (checked 2026-10-22)
  2. Minnesota Trunk Highway 16 Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway corridor plan (Minnesota DOT) (checked 2026-10-22)
  3. Historic Bluff Country National Scenic Byway (Explore Minnesota) (checked 2026-10-22)
  4. Route line: U.S. DOT scenic byways map service (geo.dot.gov), retrieved 2026-10-22.

Written by VanillaGoods from the cited official sources. This is a drive to know, not a ranking. Road status and weather can change quickly; check the official road-conditions link before you go.

Spot something out of date? Email help@vanillagoods.com (help@vanillagoods.com).

More drives in Minnesota · All scenic drives