Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail

About Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail

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.

Weather & Conditions

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

NPS Reference Location

Park state / territory membership: Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California. This map uses the National Park Service reference coordinate. It may represent an administrative or reference point rather than a park entrance, trailhead, visitor center, or the nearest access point. Use the official NPS directions below when planning travel.

Operating Hours

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.

Contact & Address

The NPS-listed address may be an administrative office, visitor center, mailing/contact location, or other park facility rather than a park entrance.

Visitor Centers