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National Historic Trail · 7 states

Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail

National Historic Trail in 7 states. No entrance fee.

By The Green Adventures · Updated · How we check

TypeNational Historic Trail
StateMissouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California
Entrance feeNo entrance fee
CampgroundsNone
Nearest national parkWhite Sands (50 mi)
Closest airportLRU (7 mi)
A cross and bell on the roof alcove of a white stucco church.
A site along the Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail Photo: NPS Photo

Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail is a national historic trail run by the National Park Service in 7 states.

In the park service’s words

In 1857, businessman and transportation entrepreneur John Butterfield was awarded a contract to establish an overland mail route between the eastern United States and growing populations in the Far West. What became known as the Butterfield Overland Trail made an arcing sweep across the southern rim of the country. Stagecoaches left twice a week carrying passengers, freight, and mail.

From the National Park Service (public domain).

Fees and hours

Entrance fee: No entrance fee.

Hours: Open 24 hours, every day. The Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail is not a clearly marked hiking trail. Instead, it is a corridor that passes through communities, urban areas, public lands, and Wilderness. The route travels across a variety of land ownerships and management, including private land. Each location varies as to the hours of operation and access. Please contact individual trail sites before your visit for more information.

Getting there

Those portions of the Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail authorized by Congress include nearly 3,300 miles of historic trail.

Airport City Drive to the park Straight-line miles Type
Las Cruces International Airport (LRU) Las Cruces, NM No road route 7 Regional
El Paso International Airport (ELP) El Paso, TX No road route 41 Large hub
Grant County Airport (SVC) Silver City, NM No road route 83 Regional

Drive times run from the airport to Zion Canyon Visitor Center, estimated with OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap roads at normal speeds; allow extra for traffic, stops and construction.

Miles are straight-line distances.

Visitor centers

Weather

Due to the length of the trail, be sure to consult local weather sources for the region you'll be visiting. Check out the forecast with the National Weather Service and search for the area you'd like to visit: weather.gov

From the National Park Service (public domain).

Know before you go

Drones are banned at almost every park site, and you may not take rocks, plants or artifacts. Pets must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet where they are allowed. Bring no firewood from home.

Nearby

The nearest national park is White Sands, about 50 miles away in a straight line.

Sources

Last checked 1 November 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an entrance fee at Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail?

No entrance fee.

Where is Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail?

In Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California. The closest airport with scheduled flights is Las Cruces International Airport, about 7 miles away.

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