A long, leisurely drive can be so relaxing – especially when we’re treated to miles and miles of gorgeous scenery. We’ve got quite a few backroads and scenic byways in Missouri that we can explore when we have a few free hours or even an entire day. For a beautiful scenic drive in Missouri, follow the Blue Buck Knob Forest Scenic Byway.

You probably won’t need more than a couple of hours for your journey along the 24-mile Blue Buck Knob Forest Scenic Byway, which meanders through Mark Twain National Forest.
Flickr/pfly
Short and sweet, this is one of the best scenic byways in Missouri.
However, you may want to carve out more time, if you want to stop and admire the landscape from scenic overlooks or if you want to explore a bit of Mark Twain National Forest.
All Trails/Conway Hawn
If you're looking for one of the best Missouri scenic routes that's pretty all year long, you've just found it.
Here are the directions from All Trails to make following this Mark Twain National Scenic Drive easier.
All Trails/Mark Howard
Did you know that Mark Twain National Forest spans an estimated 1.5 million acres? When you're not driving, you can explore on a scenic hike, too, or go kayaking.
The scenic byway meanders through a variety of landscapes, including breathtaking wooded areas that are home to an assortment of trees - shortleaf pine and mixed hardwoods, for example.
All Trails/Kimberly Alles
The Missouri forest is so vast that it runs through nearly 30 counties. That's a ton of space to explore.

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As you make your way along the Missouri scenic byway, you’ll also pass wide open pastures that allow you to see the landscape for miles and miles.
All Trails/Doug Neidholdt
If you're searching for inspiration, you're sure to find it around every turn on what might be the prettiest drive in Missouri.
Bring your camera along, especially if you plan on stopping at one of the scenic overlooks. Indian Creek Overlook and Blue Buck Overlook offer sweeping views of the forest landscape.
All Trails/Doug Neidholdt
Make sure you take a few minutes, too, to sit back, relax, and admire the scenery.
Consider bringing a picnic along, too, for a stop at the Noblett Lake Recreation Area. The recreation area doesn’t have fresh water, but it does feature picnic tables and is popular for canoeing.
Google Maps/Isaac Protiva
Remember to take everything you brought with you back out again.
Still up for more fun after your drive along the scenic byway? Stop at Blue Hole Trailhead, and follow some or all of the 22-mile Ridge Runner Trail that winds through the Ozarks.
All Trails/Monica Hoover
Ridge Runner Trail is just one of 70 hiking trails that wander through Mark Twain National Forest.
Find more information on the official website of Blue Buck Knob Forest Scenic Byway.
All Trails/Doug Neidholdt

Have you been on this scenic drive in Missouri? Do you think it’s one of the best scenic drives in Missouri? Or do you have another scenic drive that’s your favorite? Let us know in the comments! If you’re a fan of long, leisurely drives, check out the 10 best backroads in Missouri for a scenic drive.

A Mark Twain National Forest scenic drive promises an abundance of stunning beauty, but what happens when you want to go on a hike? Check out AllTrails for some of the best hiking trails in Missouri.

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More to Explore

Scenic Drives In Missouri

Beth Price-Williams | August 21, 2023

Are there any other scenic byways in Missouri?

Blue Buck Knob Forest Scenic Byway is one of the best scenic drives in Missouri, but it’s not the only picturesque path that winds through the state. Here are a few more scenic byways in Missouri:

  • Stars & Stripes Byway is short and sweet at just 5.5 miles and will lead you past several sites, including a Civil War-era cemetery.
  • Sugar Camp Scenic Byway stretches just 28 miles and will take you deep into Ozark County, through forests and past farms.
  • Old Trails Road Byway will take you 15 miles from Lexington, a darling small town in Missouri.
  • Drive 23 miles on the Glade Top Trail, which meanders through the Hercules Glade Wilderness Area. Be sure to stop at the wilderness area for a bit of exploration, too.
  • Travel some or all of Historic Route 66, which stretches all the way from St. Louis to Joplin.

One of the very best times of the year for a scenic drive in Missouri, fall promises some of the most spectacular landscapes. Check out these five roads in Missouri that are pure bliss in the fall.

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Featured Addresses
Mark Twain National Forest, 401 Fairgrounds Rd, Rolla, MO 65401, USA