About Santa Fe

The Royal Road to the Interior
Take a journey on El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail to savor 300 years of heritage and culture in the Southwest. This Spanish colonial "royal road" in New Mexico and Texas originally extended to Mexico City, Mexico.

For 25 years (1821-1846), when New Mexico was part of the Republic of Mexico, El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro was the road that Missouri merchants - known as Santa Fe traders - used to reach Mexico's interior markets. Dry goods and hardware were traded for bullion and mules.

While the legislated El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail extends 404 miles in Texas and New Mexico, the historic trail extended all the way to Mexico City. There are museums, historic sites, churches, and original trail segments located all along the length of the trail into Mexico.