About Us

Byway Overview

The 45.2 mile Green Mountain Scenic Byway is located in the center of the state close to Orlando, but it feels far from the bustle of city life. With its rolling hills and rural charm, Green Mountain Scenic Byway is a place known for wildlife sightings, historical small towns, and outdoor recreation.

This byway has become one of the most popular cycling routes in Florida because it’s the perfect setting for training. Cyclists and runners alike regularly visit to enjoy the rural scenery while challenging themselves on these winding roads.

Motorcyclists and car enthusiasts also savor this byway, with many great stops to plan a trip around, whether it’s outdoor recreation or historic and cultural interests the traveler is looking for. Communities along the byway offer numerous events, tours and restaurants, and lodging from quaint to sophisticated for a getaway.

Vision Statement

The Green Mountain Scenic Byway is envisioned as being an integral part of an interconnected and interdependent system of Scenic Highways, preserves, parks, trails, historic districts, education and recreation centers surrounding Lake Apopka. The rolling hills, sweeping vistas, and rural charm have been preserved and enhanced by the prudent planning, management, and cooperation of citizen’s groups, development interests, and government.

Friends of Green Mountain Scenic Byway Goals

• Goal 1: Preserve, maintain, protect and enhance the intrinsic resources of the Byway Corridor.
• Goal 2: Maintain the Scenic Byway as an international destination for touring and competitive cyclists, to maintain and improve the safety of bicyclists, pedestrians, and motorists as they interact on the byway, while preserving the intrinsic resources of the corridor.
• Goal 3: Involve the community to the maximum extent possible and to act with the support of the community.
• Goal 4: Increase the public’s awareness of the Green Mountain Scenic Byway Corridor’s unique intrinsic resources and the value of these resources to the community and state.
• Goal 5: Protect, enhance and promote the Byway as a recreational resource, and to support the development of environmentally sustainable ecotourism, heritage tourism, and agricultural tourism industries. (Revised 11/14/2013)
• Goal 6: Support and enhance the restoration of Lake Apopka.
• Goal 7: Support the Comprehensive Plans of the local governments with jurisdictions within the Scenic Byway Corridor.

Scenic Highway Designation

The Florida Scenic Highway Program (FSHP) is a grass-roots effort developed to heighten awareness of our State’s historical and intrinsic resources – cultural, historical, archeological, recreational, natural, and scenic – which collectively, enhance the overall traveling experience. Program participation provides subsequent benefits to the community as well, such as resource preservation, enhancement and protection.

The FSHP, once funded by the Federal Highway Administration is now funded by the Florida Department of Transportation. It is a designation only given to select Florida roadways that promote the unique intrinsic characteristics that are native to Florida. The National Scenic Byway program was re-authorized in 2019 under the Federal Highway Administration.

Development Timeline

Byway Segments

• The original Green Mountain Scenic Byway Corridor (12.4 miles) was designated in 2004.
• The Oakland / Tildenville Corridor Addition (3.25 miles) was designated in 2005.
• The Historic Downtown Winter Garden Corridor Addition (3.56 miles) was designated in 2011.
• The Astatula and Mount Dora Corridor Addition (26 miles) was designated in 2014.
• Total current length of the Byway = 45.2 miles.

Location Details

The current northern terminus of the Byway is located at the intersection of Old Highway 441 and Lake Shore Drive which is west of downtown Mount Dora. The current eastern terminus is located at the Winter Garden Trailhead of the West Orange Trail in the City of Winter Garden.

The Corridor includes portions of eight local jurisdictions: Lake and Orange Counties, the City of Winter Garden, the Town of Oakland, the Town of Montverde, the City of Minneola, the Town of Astatula and the City of Mount Dora.

The Corridor also includes portions of the unincorporated communities of Ferndale, Tildenville. and the rural community of Lake Gem.

The Green Mountain Scenic Byway Committee (also known as Friends of Green Mountain Scenic Byway) achieved FDOT District 5 Level One Accreditation in 2012.