The El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro belongs to the U.S. National Park Service's National Trails system. However, the historic trail lacks many markers and infrastructure to become a tourist attraction in New Mexico.

Romero said Mexico and Texas are investing heavily into their respective parts of El Camino Real.

Although El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro served as a main route for Spanish explorers, it also was trailed by Estebanico, a black Moroccan slave who explored present-day Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. It was said that Estebanico is the first person of African descent to step on the present-day American Southwest.