Is El Camino Real the 101?

El Camino Real -- originally part of 101 -- runs the length of the Peninsula between San Francisco and San Jose. Its very name implies a regal history. Translated from the Spanish, it means The King's Highway.



The answer is yes and no, as the relationship is more historical than literal. El Camino Real (The King's Highway) was the original trail established by Spanish missionaries in the 1700s to connect California's 21 missions. When the modern highway system was built, U.S. Route 101 was constructed to follow the general path of this historic route. Today, in many parts of California—especially in the San Francisco Peninsula (San Mateo and Santa Clara counties)—El Camino Real exists as a surface street (State Route 82) that runs parallel to the 101 freeway. However, in more rural coastal areas like San Luis Obispo or Santa Barbara, the 101 freeway is the official designated "El Camino Real." You can tell when you are on the "Royal Road" by the iconic mission bell markers that line the route. So, while the 101 is the modern high-speed successor to the trail, "El Camino Real" usually refers to the historic name of the path or the specific local boulevards that still bear the name while the 101 freeway hums nearby.

People Also Ask

The Camino Real de los Tejas is a historic route that stretches from the Texas-Mexico border to Natchitoches, La. It's called the Camino Real, which translates to royal road, because the roads were once part of Spain's empire in the Americas.

MORE DETAILS

The main physical challenges are the multiple days walking; even fit people will hit the 'wall' at some stage. The hardest day of the Camino is on the first day of the French Way, where you have to cross the great mountain range of the Pyrenees over the Napoleon Pass.

MORE DETAILS

The difficulty of your first day will largely depend on where you start. For example, the French Way (Camino Francés) begins in the Pyrenees at St. Jean Pied de Port, presenting a challenging uphill climb on the first day. On the other hand, the Portuguese Way (Camino Portugués) starts with a gentler, flatter terrain.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS