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Hit the Road: San Diego's State Scenic Highways
By Marlena Krcelich
March/April 2021
 California State Scenic Highway official roadway marker. Courtesy Wikimedia Commons |
After a year cooped up inside, many of us are itching to get back out there and explore historic landmarks and history in person. While beloved house museums and interior sites remain closed, an alternative and safe option is to explore the California State Scenic Highways.
Established in 1963, the California State Scenic Highways program designates roadways that are recognized for their natural beauty. From expansive vistas to working farms and historic structures, you can take in panoramas from the comfort and safety of your car. Over 200 different drives are designated, or eligible for designation, as California scenic highways. The best part: they are free for the public to enjoy any time, and we currently have 6 officially designated routes in San Diego County for you to explore.
Highlights of these six designated routes include the captivating ocean views along the Silver Strand on Route 75, Mission Trails Regional Park's rolling hills off of Route 52, and the flat desert expanses dotted with ocotillos in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park along Route 78. In addition to the officially designated routes, there are more than 10 eligible routes you can drive along to be a judge for yourself. These include Route 79, curving gently around Lake Cuyamaca, and Route 94, traveling steadily towards the US-Mexico border.
While we may be stuck inside a while longer, we can still discover adventure, beauty, and history in a safe way. To find out more about the California State Scenic Highways program, and to access an interactive State Scenic Highway Map, click HERE.
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