Chesapeake Country National Scenic Byway: Introduction
Come celebrate life on Maryland's Eastern Shore. Experience the Chesapeake Bay and observe watermen bringing their bounty to shore. Visit historic towns and learn about the area's rich history and culture. Travel through scenic stretches of productive farmland and see farmers work their fields. Let the Chesapeake Country Scenic Byway introduce you to one of the last truly special landscapes of the Mid-Atlantic Region and gain an appreciation for the working life of the Eastern Shore's farmers, watermen and merchants.
The Chesapeake Country National Scenic Byway was designated as a state scenic byway in 1998 and a national scenic byway in 2002. The Byway runs primarily along MD Route 213 and MD Route 18 between the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge in the upper section of the Delmarva Peninsula. The Byway also includes a spur along MD Route 20 and MD Route 445 to Rock Hall and Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge. The Byway runs through the Eastern Shore's coastal plain, where the streams and rivers draining into the Bay, divide level upland areas. The view varies between open agricultural landscapes and brief forested corridors, with historic towns and river crossings punctuating the overall experience.
The Byway is a joint effort of the Departments of Tourism and Business Development and Planning and Zoning of Cecil, Kent and Queen Anne's Counties.