21 Scenic Sumter Heritage Byway

Scenic Sumter Heritage Byway

Byway Length: 62 Miles

Designated: May 2, 2013

FDOT District: 5

OVERVIEW

The Scenic Sumter Heritage Byway traverses pastoral farmlands, cattle ranches and horse farms with lush open fields along with quiet country towns, hardwood forests, the tranquil Withlacoochee River lined with moss covered cypress trees and beautiful Lake Panasoffkee. This byway strikes a balance between this natural beauty and a historical story that dates to the early 1800s with the arrival of the Europeans and their eventual interactions with the local Native Americans as they began to settle in Florida. These early-on interactions resulted in epic conflicts that helped place the area that eventually become Sumter County in the history books.

Adding to this early on story of conflict is the regions agricultural successes in the 1900s. A 1925 edition of Travelon Magazine called Sumter County the “storehouse of Florida” and a “place where good living could be made on ten acres of land”. Much of this quote from Travelon still holds true to this day. The story of the corridor is built on the belief in “good living”. Farms interspersed between natural areas offer a “balance to the senses”. This feeling of oneness when enjoying the byway is balanced by the history of man’s efforts to develop a family and homestead.

This Byway corridor provides an opportunity to have an experience that balances both the history/heritage and scenic beauty of rural Florida.

Byway Website: sumterbyway.com
Byway Map: Downloadable PDF Map

Share This Page:

Scenic Sumter Heritage Byway Map

Scenic Sumter Heritage
Byway Video

Byway Resources

Byway Website: sumterbyway.com
Byway Facebook: Scenic Sumter Heritage Byway
Interactive Map: sumterbyway.com/along-the-route
YouTube Channel: Scenic Sumter Byway

2023 Florida Channel Video: Florida Scenic Highways & Byways – Scenic Sumter Heritage Byway

General Directions

Sumter County is located approximately one hour north of Tampa on Interstate 75. The Scenic Sumter Byway can be accessed from several I-75 interchanges (Exit 314 or 321).