Does El Camino Real still exist?

Today, the historic road that once served most of California functions more like a local street than like a State highway. While El Camino Real/Monterey Highway still accommodates some regional traffic, most trips on the road entail relatively short distances.



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While it is possible to follow the general route of El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro today on modern highways in New Mexico and Texas, many miles of the Trail cross private lands and many of the most significant trail sites are privately owned or managed by tribal, state, or municipal agencies.

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The El Camino Real has many names, most common are “The Royal Road” and “The King's Highway.” The El Camino Real is widely known today as a 600-mile (965-kilometer) road which is spans from the area in San Diego near the Mission San Diego del Alcalá to the Mission San Francisco Solano in Sonoma.

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Most pilgrim budgets fall in the $30-60 (€25-50) per day range, meaning a 30-day walk would cost $900-1800 (€750-1500).

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Camino reals were known to link Spanish settlements from Mexico City to Sonora as well to Santa Fe as well throughout Baja California before Alta California. In Alta California, the route was needed in order to link the presidios (military forts), pueblos (towns) as well the missions.

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The best approach, especially at the beginning, is to get out and start walking (or cycling if you plan to cycle the Camino). If you are walking the Camino, you're going to want to build up to being able to walk 20km a day comfortably. Start small with your Camino training and gradually build up your KM.

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Once again, El Camino Real de los Tejas played a prominent role in the Spanish cycle of populating and abandoning eastern Texas. The trail retained its importance after Mexican independence in 1821. Ranchers continued to bring cattle along El Camino Real, establishing large ranches along the Rio Grande south of Laredo.

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El Camino Real Bell installed at original site of Mission San Gabriel in Montebello. Los Angeles Almanac Photo. Today, there are reported to be 585 bells in place marking the old highway and its branches. Bells range between San Diego County in the south to Sonoma County in the north.

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Accommodations are available on the Camino at a variety of budgets, from affordable dormitory beds to posh 5-star hotels. Pilgrim Albergues are the most convenient and economic choice, but bring your earplugs! Pensiones, Hostales, Casas Rurales and Hotels offer more privacy in a variety of prices ranges.

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If you want to fully experience the Camino, you'll communicate a lot with other unknown pilgrims. This is easier when you're alone and fully open to it. So, talk, share, joke, be free, and enjoy your time. But if you don't feel like it, that's okay too – there's room for that on the Camino.

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