Ohio River Scenic Byway
943 miles along the Ohio River through Illinois, Indiana and Ohio, with near-constant river views and old river towns.
- Length943 miles across Illinois, Indiana and Ohio[1]
- Drive timeTwo and a half days of driving, or eight days to enjoy it[1]FHWA's "time to allow"
- RoadsIn Indiana, US 50, Indiana 56 and Indiana 62 among others[2]
- Start and endNear Wyatt, MO and near Glasgow, PANearest towns to the ends of the U.S. DOT route line
- Fees and passesNone[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 Ohio River Scenic Byway follows the river through three states. FHWA says it hugs the shoreline with almost continuous views of the water, through rural country and river towns that tell the story of the Ohio from Native American settlement to the steamboat and industrial eras.
It's far too long for one trip, so pick a section. In southern Illinois, Cave-in-Rock State Park sits on the river bluffs. In Indiana, Madison has the 1844 Lanier Mansion and nearby Clifty Falls State Park.
FHWA suggests about two and a half days just to drive it, and more than a week to enjoy the whole route.
Stops along the way
-
Cave-in-Rock State Park
River-bluff cave on the Ohio in southern Illinois.
Official information · 37.47203, -88.15516 · about 0.6 mi from the route line
-
Lanier Mansion State Historic Site
Greek Revival mansion from 1844 overlooking the river in Madison.
Official information · 38.73529, -85.38591 · about 0.1 mi from the route line
-
Clifty Falls State Park
Waterfalls and a canyon near Madison, off Indiana 56 and 62.
Official information · 38.75423, -85.41971 · about 0.9 mi from the route line
-
Aurora
Indiana river town on the route.
Official information · 39.05701, -84.90134 · 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
- Ohio Valley Farmers' MarketBellaire, OH · about 0.0 mi from the route
- Farmers Market of Madison, INMadison, IN · about 0.0 mi from the route
- Clark County Farmers' MarketJeffersonville, IN · about 0.0 mi from the route
- Corydon Farmers' MarketCorydon, IN · about 0.0 mi from the route
- Gallia County Farmers MarketGallipolis, OH · about 0.0 mi from the route
Markets keep their own seasons and hours, so check with the market before you go. Find more in the Farmers Market Finder.
Sources
- America's Byways: Ohio River Scenic Byway (FHWA) (checked 2026-10-22)
- Indiana Register, 105 IAC scenic byway definitions (Indiana Department of Transportation, July 2025) (checked 2026-10-22)
- Clifty Falls State Park (Indiana DNR) (checked 2026-10-22)
- Lanier Mansion State Historic Site (Visit Indiana) (checked 2026-10-22)
- Cave-in-Rock State Park (Illinois DNR) (checked 2026-10-22)
- 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).