PA Route 6 Wins National “Byways Madness 2025” Competition
Pennsylvania’s Newest Scenic Byway Captures National Attention
The PA Route 6 Alliance is thrilled to announce that Pennsylvania Route 6 has been crowned the national winner of Byways Madness 2025—a bracket-style competition hosted by Scenic America to celebrate the country’s most beloved scenic byways.
In a thrilling final round, PA Route 6 triumphed over the legendary Blue Ridge Parkway with a resounding 2,913 votes to 765, capturing the hearts and imaginations of scenic road lovers from across the country. The Alliance would like to extend a huge thank-you to Scenic America for hosting this fun and engaging challenge, which brought nationwide attention to the value of scenic byways and encouraged people to explore the diverse stories behind each route.
This exciting recognition comes at a milestone moment: Pennsylvania Route 6 was recently designated as Pennsylvania’s newest official scenic byway. The designation includes 211 of the 427 miles of U.S. Route 6 in PA, highlighting a key stretch of the Route 6 Heritage Corridor that passes through Warren, McKean, Potter, and Tioga Counties—a region known for its breathtaking landscapes, historic towns, cultural landmarks, and warm hospitality.
Throughout the competition there was an overwhelming outpour of support from locals, loyal fans, and curious new explorers. The community showed up in full force to shine a light on all the things that make PA Route 6 so unique. As Candace Hillyard, Executive Director of the PA Route 6 Alliance, reflected, this victory is more than just a title—it’s a celebration of the people and places that bring the corridor to life. “This recognition not only celebrates the beauty of our corridor but also the incredible people and places that make the Route 6 Heritage Corridor so special,” she shared.
The enthusiasm from everyone who voted, shared, and rallied behind PA Route 6 throughout the competition has helped shine a national spotlight on the importance of scenic byways—and the enduring appeal of the Route 6 Heritage Corridor. Whether you’re a lifelong resident, a first-time visitor, or a passionate road tripper, there’s never been a better time to experience the beauty, history, and charm of Pennsylvania Route 6.
The PA Route 6 Alliance, a 501(c3) corporation, was established in 2003 to manage the PA Route 6 Heritage Corridor and to implement the Management Action Plan, branding and marketing plans, community development programs, and other planning efforts along the corridor. The Alliance includes representatives from all 11 counties, 9 convention and visitor bureaus, 4 heritage areas, local development districts, local business owners, Chambers of Commerce, and other parties along the corridor.
Through the leadership of the PA Route 6 Alliance, citizens from 11 counties are joining together to preserve, enhance and promote the treasured resources that contribute to their shared sense of place. Using the corridor’s strategic Management Action Plan as their guide, they are initiating heritage tourism development strategies that will build more sustainable local economies and enhance the quality of life in every community along Pennsylvania Route 6.
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