Byway Driving

Travels along our America’s Byway

Take a drive on the Ohio & Erie Canalway America's Byway - and discover a bit more about our corner of the heart and soul of America. It’s an ideal way to tour the National Heritage Area, especially if you’re seeking an easy-to-navigate experience with lots to see and do - from exploring small towns and villages to finding national and historic attractions.

A driving route through our past and present
 

The America’s Byway is not a single road - but a carefully mapped 110-mile route taking you through four counties and 58 communities in the National Heritage Area.

More than 600 Byway signs bearing the “Ohio & Erie Canalway America’s Byway” name guide you on this driving journey. The blue and orange signs signal more than the fact that you’ve arrived on a nationally designated route - they’re also guideposts to an easy-to-follow path connecting you to National Heritage Area culture, history, recreational areas and natural wonders.
 

What can you discover?

The Byway weaves a rich tapestry of our heritage. At its core, the America’s Byway allows you to trace the historical development of the Ohio & Erie Canal and acts as an outdoor classroom to understand its impact on the history of our area. In addition, you’ll find: 

• A birders’ paradise - To start, there are 25+ Key Viewing Sites for you to get out and explore
• Cultural meccas - The Pro Football Hall of Fame (Canton), the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (Cleveland), and the First Ladies Library (Canton) offer uniquely American venues
• A history buff’s playground - The Canalway boasts 385 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places & the Ohio Historical Inventory lists over 3,000 historical resources
• A wealth of national treasures
• Tinkers Creek - Cleveland Metroparks, a National Natural Landmark
• Cuyahoga Valley National Park - one of our country’s “Top 10” most visited parks
• Stan Hywet Hall (Akron), President McKinley’s Tomb (Stark) and a four-mile section of watered canal in the National Park - all National Historic Landmarks
• First Ladies Library in Canton - a National Historic Site

America‘s Byway - Canalway Fast Facts

    Length: 110 Miles
    Route: Primarily a single, two-lane North/South route.
    Variations:
    Cuyahoga - Three, interconnecting routes loop
    through Cleveland
    Where? Canal Road - N of Granger - West, Central and
    East Routes begin
    South: Canal Road - S of Granger - One continuous route to
    New Philadelphia - with a leg in Stark County extending
    from  the main route in Massillon to Canton
    Time to Travel: approx. 4.5 hours - off-freeway driving

Visitor’s Notes: 

Bicyclists - It is NOT a bicycle trail, and often follows two-lane roads without berms or bike lanes. 

Byway Drivers - NOTICE - Current road construction projects are temporarily affecting portions of the Byway in the National Park. Please check Park Closures & Constuction Projects on the National Park site, prior to using the Byway in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Use our Maps page for workarounds.

How to get there

Map Your Trip! - Head over to the map to see the route the America’s Byway takes through the Canalway.
We’ve also called out key roads in each Byway County Section that you can use as starting points.

Visitor’s Tip: You’ll find that most Canalway journeys involve a combination of our three travel components - America’s Byway, Scenic Railroad and Towpath. They often travel side-by-side or interconnect. So you may want to combine your drive with a Towpath walk/run or hop aboard CVSR for a double-your-fun Canalway day. [travel side-by-side link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWbCnsLtilQ

How to follow the route

 

• Byway Signs - are posted along both sides of the route - to guide you north and south.
• Follow the signs - Simply keep an eye out and follow any left, right directionals on the signs.
• Haven’t seen a sign in awhile?
  • That’s OK - signs appear occasionally on straightaway sections of the route - but primarily occur prior to intersections where a turn is needed.
    • North - Three looping routes take you on three different journeys in Cleveland.
    • The routes interconnect and pass through the historic point where the Canal and the Cuyahoga River once met - the future site of Canal Basin Park.
    • Massillon-Canton Leg - A new leg of the Byway connects Massillon and Canton. See the Stark County Section for details.
    • South - Near Schoenbrunn Village, the route ends/begins along E. High Avenue at the National Heritage Area’s southern boundary.

More On the America’s Byway

To learn more - we invite you to read the Ohio & Erie Canalway America’s Byway Management Plan Update - a 77-page comprehensive Byway guide.

For a national viewpoint, head to: http://www.byways.org