El Camino Real
Photo: Ewen Denney, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
El Camino Real (The Royal Road) is a historic road linking the 21 Spanish missions of California. Stretching over 600 miles (1000 km) from San Diego in the south to Sonoma in the north, the route traverses much of the state and has been a popular traveler itinerary for California motorists for nearly a century. A trip along El Camino Real offers a fascinating look into California's history and takes you past scenic coastline, picturesque countryside, and through the heart of the state's largest cities.
UnderstandThis article covers only the northern half of the total length of California's Camino Real.
PrepareEl Camino Real can be traveled at any time of year. In most cases, there is a town with gas and food at least every 15 miles or so, and lodgings every 20 or 30.
Get inThere are a number of major airports along the route, most notably at San Francisco, San Jose, Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego.
GoBells were a very important part of mission life: they signaled the passage of time and alerted the natives for mass or special occasions.
Sources and licences
- Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "El Camino Real" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo: Ewen Denney, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons