A story worth following.
Explore California’s Spanish mission-road story through selected missions and historic communities. Learn about architecture and travel alongside the disruption and coercion experienced by Native communities under the mission system.
Places to begin
- San Diego
- Santa Barbara
- Sonoma
Suggested starting points, not a turn-by-turn route. Choose a manageable local section; stops may be far apart.
Make the visit work for you
Give the story time
Allow time for interpretation, a short walk and conversations. One well-chosen historic place can be more rewarding than a rushed list of stops.
Bring your group comfortably
Confirm parking, restrooms, walking surfaces and group reservations with each site. A historic trail designation does not guarantee coach access.
U.S. visits only. Historic routes may cross private property or have disconnected public sections. Official links provide current maps, access and operating information. Photographs may show earlier conditions.