Ohio River Scenic Route crosses southern Indiana from the Illinois state line to the Ohio state line. The byway is 302 miles long and primarily follows two-lane paved roads. The main routes followed are: IN 56, IN 62, and IN 66. For detailed directions, please see "Following the Ohio River Scenic Route" below. The byway usually remains open year-round.

Western Ohio River Scenic Route

Eastern Ohio River Scenic Route

The byway winds through southern Indiana's rolling hills, forests, and farmlands, and at times it clings to the river's edge. As you travel this route, you'll pass through quaint towns with towering church spires, stately mansions, and historic buildings. You'll pass cypress swamps and travel atop rock outcrops peering over the Ohio River, and leisurely pass through dense hardwood forests. At times you'll be given sweeping views of the river, while other times you hardly know it's there. Below is just a small sample of the many attractions and scenery you will discover along this route.

Something you wouldn't expect to find in Indiana is a cypress swamp, complete with water lilies and rare birds. This makes for an interesting and enjoyable short side trip off the scenic drive. Just west of Mount Vernon in southwestern Indiana, you can take IN 69 south to the Hovey Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area, a 4,300-acre wetland. Here, you can do some fishing or enjoy a relaxing boat ride on the waters of Hovey Lake. Next to the lake is the Twin Swamps Nature Preserve, a cypress swamp in Indiana!

North of Rockport on IN 162, just east of US 231, is Lincoln State Park and the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial. It is on this farm that Abraham Lincoln lived from 1816 to 1830. During this time, he grew from a seven-year-old boy to a 21-year-old man. Log farm buildings are staffed by costumed interpreters during the summer months. Visitors are invited to participate in the daily chores that Abe and his family would have performed including breaking flax, splitting wood, or making butter.

The Ohio River Scenic Route passes through portions of the 80,000-acre Hoosier National Forest. The byway travels along the Ohio River in the forest's southern portion before turning north, passing through stands of hardwoods, pine and cedar, springs, caves, and sinkholes. Several recreation areas are available throughout the national forest that provide camping (no hookups) and picnicking facilities.

Rock outcrops, forested hills, caves, and scenic waterways can be found in the most ruggedly scenic part of the byway, Harrison Crawford State Forest. This state forest encompasses the Wyandotte Woods and Wyandotte Caves State Recreation Areas. Visitors can tour the caves that were once used by prehistoric people for mining operations.

Information: Hoosier National Forest, 811 Constitution Ave, Bedford IN 47421 / 812-275-5987. Harmonie State Park, Rt 1 Box 5A, New Harmony IN 47631 / 812-682-4821. Lincoln State Park, Box 216, Lincoln City IN 47552 / 812-937-4710. Harrison Crawford State Forest, 7240 Old Forest Rd SW, Corydon IN 47112 / 812-738-8232. Wyandotte Caves SRA, 7315 S Wyandotte Cave Rd, Leavenworth IN 47137 / 812-738-2782. Deam Lake SRA, 1217 Deam Lake Rd, Borden IN 47106 / 812-246-5421. Clifty Falls State Park, 1501 Green Rd, Madison IN 47250 / 812-273-8885. Versailles State Park, Box 205 US 50, Versailles IN 47042 / 812-689-6424

Following the Ohio River Scenic Route

The following description is traveling the route from east to west.

Begin at the Indiana-Ohio border and follow US 50 west to Oberting Road. Follow Oberting Road to the town of Greendale. In Greendale, turn left onto Ridge Avenue (State Highway 1), which will become Main Street in Lawrenceburg. In Lawrencburg, turn right (west) on US 50 and follow to the town of Aurora. In Aurora, you will want to turn left onto George Street, then left on Second Street, and then south on State Highway 56.

Continue traveling south on SH 56, through Rising Sun, until you reach the intersection with State Highway 156. State Highway 156 will rejoin State Highway 56 in Vevay. Continue traveling west on SH 56 to SH 62, just west of Hanover. Follow SH 62 until you reach the outskirts of Jeffersonville.

In Jeffersonville, you will want to turn left on Allison Lane, right onto Market Street, left on Walnut Street, right on Riverside Drive, right on Sherwood, left on South Clark Boulevard, right on Harrison Avenue, left on Randolph Avenue, then westward on SH 62 once again. State Highway 62 will become Spring Street when you enter New Albany.

In New Albany, State Highway 62 (Spring Street) will intersect with Vincennes Street; turn left and then right onto Main Street. Main Street will eventually turn into the Corydon Pike which, in turn, will end at the intersection with State Highway 62. Turn left onto State Highway 62.

Follow State Highway 62 westward until you reach the town of Sulpher and the intersection with State Highway 66. Turn left onto State Highway 66 and follow it until you reach State Highway 662 near Newburgh. Follow SH 662 west to Interstate 164. Follow I-164 west to Evansville. I-164 will become Veterans Memorial Drive and then Riverside Drive in Evansville. Follow this route until you reach the intersection with State Highway 62 (Lloyd Expressway) From here on out, you'll want to follow State Highway 62 west through Mount Vernon to the Indiana-Illinois state line.