Backroads of Appalachia

The Backroads of Appalachia app features select beautiful Appalachian highways that are incredibly fun to drive or ride. Through motorsports-focused tourism, we work to drive economic development, job training, and opportunity in the poverty-stricken areas of Appalachia. From peak to valley, the Appalachian Mountains offer awe-inspiring natural beauty. The people of Appalachia are warm and welcoming – you won’t find friendlier folks anywhere else. We encourage you to explore the communities along your route to grab a bite to eat, do some shopping, or stay the night. We welcome your support of local businesses, which provide jobs, relieve poverty, and improve the quality of life for the people of Appalachia. Backroads of Appalachia is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with a passion for the Appalachian Region. We are based in Lynch, Kentucky, in Harlan County — one of the poorest counties in Kentucky. Our town once boomed with 10,000 people but now has fewer than 500 residents. There are scores of distressed former coal towns just like Lynch all along the winding Appalachian backroads.