Historic Stage Routes of San Diego County

Stagecoaches and the routes they traveled capture our imagination because of the romance, excitement, danger, and new experiences they represent. San Diego was part of one of the most significant stagecoach lines in history. The San Antonio-San Diego Mail Line was the first to provide fast and reliable mail service to and from the east. This was followed by the Butterfield Overland Mail. Many other stage lines crisscrossed the county. Stage stations were built to provide food, water, and a safe haven for people, plus water and feed for the animals. Thousands of emigrants, adventurers, and the military followed the stage routes. This is the story of the stage lines, stage stations, stage drivers, and the people who were born, married, and died along these routes.