diff --git a/docs/3.config/0.index.md b/docs/3.config/0.index.md
index 25851f4e7f..d9e3fa967b 100644
--- a/docs/3.config/0.index.md
+++ b/docs/3.config/0.index.md
@@ -245,6 +245,12 @@ Default: `/`{lang=ts} (or `NITRO_APP_BASE_URL` environment variable if provided)
 
 Server's main base URL.
 
+### `apiBaseURL`
+
+- Default : `/api`
+
+Changes the default api base URL prefix.
+
 ### `handlers`
 
 Server handlers and routes.
@@ -408,6 +414,18 @@ Project source directory. Same as `rootDir` unless specified. Helpful to move co
 
 List of directories to scan and auto-register files, such as API routes.
 
+### `apiDir`
+
+- Default : `api`
+
+Defines a different directory to scan for api route handlers.
+
+### `routesDir`
+
+- Default : `routes`
+
+Defines a different directory to scan for route handlers.
+
 ### `buildDir`
 
 - Default: `.nitro`
diff --git a/src/scan.ts b/src/scan.ts
index b69414c490..2b1c7acf23 100644
--- a/src/scan.ts
+++ b/src/scan.ts
@@ -18,8 +18,12 @@ export async function scanHandlers(nitro: Nitro) {
   const middleware = await scanMiddleware(nitro);
 
   const handlers = await Promise.all([
-    scanServerRoutes(nitro, "api", "/api"),
-    scanServerRoutes(nitro, "routes", "/"),
+    scanServerRoutes(
+      nitro,
+      nitro.options.apiDir || "api",
+      nitro.options.apiBaseURL || "/api"
+    ),
+    scanServerRoutes(nitro, nitro.options.routesDir || "routes"),
   ]).then((r) => r.flat());
 
   nitro.scannedHandlers = [
@@ -49,7 +53,7 @@ export async function scanMiddleware(nitro: Nitro) {
 
 export async function scanServerRoutes(
   nitro: Nitro,
-  dir: "routes" | "api",
+  dir: string,
   prefix = "/"
 ) {
   const files = await scanFiles(nitro, dir);
diff --git a/src/types/nitro.ts b/src/types/nitro.ts
index aa9b836959..ae731a53cb 100644
--- a/src/types/nitro.ts
+++ b/src/types/nitro.ts
@@ -255,6 +255,8 @@ export interface NitroOptions extends PresetOptions {
   rootDir: string;
   srcDir: string;
   scanDirs: string[];
+  apiDir: string;
+  routesDir: string;
   buildDir: string;
   output: {
     dir: string;
@@ -372,6 +374,7 @@ export interface NitroOptions extends PresetOptions {
 
   // Routing
   baseURL: string;
+  apiBaseURL: string;
   handlers: NitroEventHandler[];
   routeRules: { [path: string]: NitroRouteRules };
   devHandlers: NitroDevEventHandler[];