As in the Atlantic Ocean, New York City and Florida. the Wonder of the Day via email or SMS. North-south routes are assigned odd numbers, with the numbers growing larger from west to east; east-west routes are assigned even numbers, with the numbers growing larger from south to north. Thats okay, thats why God made significant others. :). Contact. I am sure you have driven on it, and your GPS helped get you from point A to B. It's a good thing to WONDER about, after all. But for navigational purposes, they can sometimes come in quite handy. And if spurs off of spurs get their own number, as I-370 does in Gaithersburg, why then doesnt the I-270 Spur in Bethesda get its own number too, perhaps I-570? All text, and images marked as created by the article's author, are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International license. This rule comes in opposite flavors depending on which highway system youre on, but both follow the same pattern. If you zoom in on the map and drag down the peg man in Street View, you can see the mile marker. He's on Instagram. We appreciate you WONDERing with us and leaving a comment! On east-west routes, the numbers begin on the western state border and increase as you travel east. Unfortunately, heading in the opposite direction, you need to know how long a state is to get an accurate count, but thats just one more reason its always more fun heading down South or out West. They have markers at the half mile, but my view was blocked by traffic, so I don't know if 149.5 . See you soon! Theres a big difference there. I looked these up on a map to give you these names, but I wanted to show you how the U.S. grid works. 102 North/West Greenwich. See it's a no brainier oh and right next door to the Corvette Museum. The G "25" marker is in the correct spot. What are these things? In the photo, its CA Hwy 1. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Routes are highways, which would be designations for major routes. Every once in a while, you notice a little green sign with a number on it. It means either SCHOOL ZONE or SCHOOL CROSSING. Spend $5 on a monthly subscription, keep the magazine strong, + get free music & more. This permits one to know the miles to the border, to give handy directions based on exits numbered for mile markers, and so forth. In traffic engineering, the late merge or zipper method is a convention for merging traffic into a reduced number of lanes. 21. About the year 1500 the old London mile was defined as eight furlongs. What is the common denominator of 12 and 15? TECHNOLOGY Transportation. Marylands I-270 is a particular troublemaker: Why should a spur connecting to I-70 at only one location get an even first digit instead of an odd? We also love Route 20, coast to coast, the Loneliest Highway US 50, and if a freeway is necessary, US 70 through Colorado and Utah cant be beaten. Why do mile markers go west to east? Your membership is the foundation of our sustainability and resilience. Exit numbers generally coincide with the mile makers. What does a three digit number on an interstate sign indicate? The most important cross-country interstates get numbers divisible by five, meaning they end in zero or five. California didnt invent mileage markers. From Jacksonville Florida to Santa Monica California. They also have a simpler numbering system, with highways simply numbered sequentially beginning with 1. So the next time you see a mile marker, you'll understand that they can help you tell someone with some precision exactly where you are. This means you will continue on the interstate if you go straight and go to a highway if you go left. Play roadway math! Get. Mile markers on interstate highways can also help you determine which direction youre going. East-west roads get even numbers, while north-south roads get odd. Mile markers (MM) are green/white information signs posted along a road to indicate the mileage from the beginning of the route and are listed as features in TEAAS. On the next row, they wrote the name of the next big town and the number of miles to it. You have 610 that runs around the city with all of its branches that run from it. One is the use of kilometers on Interstate 19. 1995 - 2023 by Snopes Media Group Inc. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation says its exit renumbering project, announced last year, will begin in October, with current exit numbers on most highways in Massachusetts switching. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. The last two numbers indicate the parent route, and the first digit signifies the road's function (i.e., an odd digit for a spur running directly to a city; an even digit for a road that loops around a metropolitan area). WHITE LINES painted on the pavement indicate traffic traveling in your direction. :), That's awesome, Destiny! And remember, its always easier to head South or West without an atlas. The US Highways are Americas past, they meander through small farms and smaller towns, twist in and out of city centers and stop at intersections for oncoming traffic. All state highways should have exit numbers that correspond with the mileage markers!! Like interstate highways, they designate north-south roads with odd numbers and east-west roads with even numbers, but the numbering scheme is inverted: the numbers of north-south routes grow larger from east to west, and the numbers of east-west routes grow larger from north to south. Public domain image. A mile-marker exit number system lets drivers know how far they need to travel to reach their desired off-ramp. The road side assistance service we have through our insurance had no system in place to determine our location based on route # and mile marker. I-10 runs across Houston, which is an even number for east and west. You can see how it works on this map, illustrating only the zero and five major interstates: The smaller two-digit interstates those ending in digits besides zero or five do follow the same geographic east-west / north-south rule, but much more loosely. It is on I-65 mm 28,West side ,visible from free way . How do I delete pictures from my iPhone that won t delete? Those mile markers help us know where we are on the map. On most interstates, mile marker numbers begin at the south state line on north-south routes and increase as you travel north. Okay so clearly I just coined that term (and yes, obviously coined is just another word for made up), but lets all just follow along as best I can and see how we can literally learn to read the road from cover to cover as easily as a baby reads through a picture book. There are two types of highways and interstates, primary and spurs, although interstate spurs are commonly called bypasses. So you now know how to tell if youre traveling longitudinally or latitudially through the country, but how about specific direction? Reading the Numbers. For example, when you see a sign that reads JRs Cheap Tobacco, Exit 59 that can clue you in to how far you have to go until you get there. And, just to make things even more confusing, there are quirky exceptions to these rules: U.S. Your first day of school? You would probably call someone for assistance, such as the police. What special milestones have occurred in your life? The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". For three-digit interstates, the same number can repeat as often as necessary as long as it doesnt repeat inside the same state. These routes and loops parallel with main route. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. 3 Why are there so many mile markers in Missouri? Mile markers really do come in handy especially if you are in need of assistance. For north-south routes, the lowest numbers begin in the west, while the lowest numbered east-west routes are in the south. Do you have mile markers in your life? 20142023 National Center for Families Learning, http://wonderopolis.org/wonder/why-do-highways-have-mile-markers, National Center for Families Learning (NCFL). You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. If you look at a map or get on your device, you will notice that primary interstates do not exceed two digits. It is the time of year where road construction mandates temporary signage restricting or detouring traffic. Reduce the severity and frequency of accidents between vehicles entering intersections. You must remember this ALL NO. Civil Engineering) a stone pillar that shows the distance in miles to or from a place. Milestones are installed to provide linear referencing points along the road. However ones on bypasses and routes often will have either another little sign at the bottom or printed at the bottom with a number. Great work, AJ, it's important to remember what to do in an emergency. He has a degree in urban planning from the University of Coloradoand lives in Trinidad, DC. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Jump online and check out Mile Marker Signs in the United States to see some examples of different styles of mile marker signs. Know your meals: If its breakfast, the suns in the East. are spurs of US 1, US 101 is all on its own. Odds. Though there is more science involved than just that. Railroads have long had their mile markers, too. Exit numbers generally are found above the destinations (and route number(s) ) of the exit, as well as a sign in the gore. Back country US Highways will spread them out as thinly as one every twenty miles or so. These "mile markers" show the number of miles from where the Interstate route entered the state in which you are traveling. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. It runs 2,369 miles from Fort Kent, Maine, at the Canada-US border, south to Key West, Florida, making it the longest north-south road in the United States. We are undergoing some spring clearing site maintenance and need to temporarily disable the commenting feature. Most states in the United States require merging traffic to yield to through traffic which already exists in the lane they wish to enter. Hawaiis first interstate is H1, Alaskas A1, and Puerto Ricos PR1. On east-west routes, the numbers begin on the western state border and increase as you travel east. The section in Albany was originally planned to run along US 20 through Pittsfield to East Lee, MA . Protect pedestrians and vehicles at busy intersections. Knowing this can help you determine how far you are from a border. This material may not be reproduced without permission. Buford East: 0.1 miles west of the Laramie County Line (mm 336.5) Remount Road: 3.9 miles east of the Laramie County Line (mm 340.5) Otto Road: 1.29 miles east of Otto Road Interchange (mm 347.69) Mile Marker 353: 3.7 miles west of Cheyenne (mm 353.0) Cheyenne East You have answered 0 of 3 questions correctly and your score is: Subscribe to Wonderopolis and receive If you pay attention, you notice that the numbers either increase or decrease by one. If you need to see the mile marker, look to the exit number near where you are trying to go. As from above, routes and interstates are laid out in a grid network fashion. Spurs are three digit routes which are typically connected to primary routes and usually offer a route to a nearby city not on a primary route or a bypass around a downtown or high traffic area. Mile markers can tell you what direction you are going. The same method applies going north and south as well. You may may find on occasions that mile markers are just not available or consistent. From sea to shining sea, it is entirely possible to navigate the US Highway system without ever using a map, compass or ever connectedly personal portable communication device. When traversing New England, proceed with caution: Connecticut, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and most of Vermont use sequentially numbered exits. What does exclamation mark in Toyota mean? Similarly, where I-95 runs seriously through the heart of Jacksonville, Florida, I-295 does a wide loop around the city to help travelers headed further south avoid city traffic. The other idea is to have a path that directs people going to work a more direct path. Mile markers, or mileposts as they are also known, are the vertical green signs on the edge of highways placed at one-mile intervals. We are now leveraging our big. (Highway 99 has since been supplanted by Interstate 5 and is no longer designated as a U.S. You could keep track of all the mile markers you pass, and once you pass 3 mile markers you will know that you have reached your destination. In the photo, it's CA Hwy 1. Have fun WONDERing! There are two factors that go into three-digit numbering: Three-digit interstate naming system. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Click the buttons below to visit the website. Take some time to leave us a comment or post on the Wonderopolis. These "mile markers" show the number of miles from where the Interstate route entered the state in which you are traveling. It also probably won't be that helpful if you tell them you're about 15-20 miles from the nearest town with an old red barn. Hopkins Hill Rd. Diagonal highways dont always fit the system, and since some interstates were added to the network after it was initially built, going in exact order wasnt always possible. Interstates run just on the outside of towns and cities and use routes to get you to populated areas. But the smaller two-digiters can repeat as long as theyre far apart from each other. You can easily fact check why are there mile markers every .2 miles by examining the linked well-known sources. Best rates in Rock springs. :), Hi, Scott! Often-photographed road sign marks the beginning/end of US Highway 1. Do you wonderopolis? Billboards are the fart smear on the Marilyn Monroes face of America. This is useful when calling in emergency services. The counting always begins at the state line in the south (for north-south routes) and in the west (for east-west routes). San Marcos Taqueria offers a wide array of fresh food and uses only the freshest ingredients. The letters indicate the county. Routes that are primary, run from single to three digits. Interstate 90 crosses the USA from Seattle, Washington, to Boston, Massachusetts. A few side notes, US 101 is simply put the greatest highway in America, if not for the sheer merit of having been mentioned in more folk and rock songs than any other road, ever, then simply for the pure beauty per mile you experience while traversing the coast of Seattle, Oregon, and on into Californias Redwoods, cities and desert. On most interstates, mile marker numbers begin at the south state line on north-south routes and increase as you travel north. Also, it doesnt actually exist anymore. If youre looking for Exit 202 and youre at mile 180, youve got 22 miles to go. But did you ever stop to think how you'd tell them where you are? These "mile markers" show the number of miles from where the Interstate route entered the state in which you are traveling. Exit numbers can help track you location or your pace. (NOTE: Three-digit interstate highway numbers are not unique. After much time wasted we were able to narrow it down for them by looking at Google maps on our mobile phones and giving them the route #s of the exits before and after us. Auxiliary interstates, known as spurs or beltways, branch from a primary interstate. Remodeled rooms 3 star hotel experience. Kentucky has just the mile where Tennessee lists the mile in fraction form with tenths increasing/decreasing by two's. Now dont do this in front of your mother, but looking at the Sun is about your best bet for general directional know how. Rest areas are listed from east to west. On most interstates, mile marker numbers begin at the south state line on north-south routes and increase as you travel north. Notice that both Baltimore and Washington have their own spur I-395, but Baltimore doesnt have an I-495 because Washingtons Beltway enters Maryland. Whats the difference between a highway marker and a milestone? Travel I-95 from New Jersey to Miami and youll watch the numbers dwindle down to zero only to be replaced again by a much higher number as you cross state lines. Interstate Routes, Mile Markers & Exit Numbering, highway signs, how do highway numbers work, how do interstate numbers work, how do mile markers work, how the interstate works, how the interstate works in the united states, how to exit numbers work, interstate signs, what is a business loop, what is a business route, what is the difference between a highway and an interstate. It was a very frustrating and unsafe experience. So where US 201, 301, 401, etc. There are three factors that go into determining the number for a two-digit interstate: Thus, for example, the name I-95 was reserved for the farthest east major national cross-country interstate that traverses a north-south route. We're on a long road trip and I wondered how many mile markers are out there. However, as a general rule, exit number correspond with mile markers. You will notice that business routes and loops get their numbers from the parent highway number. In fact, you usually cant get very far at all without it. Exit No. Interested in sharing Wonderopolis every day? If you do so you'll be calling Sea Tow. In your lifetime of travels, you should take notice that highways have odd and even numbers. And MA doesn't do their exit numbers by mileage (which is genius!). Rte. Wonder What's Next? For the most part, states follow the Interstate and U.S. Highway patterns of assigning odd numbers to north-south routes and even numbers to east-west routes, but as always there are exceptions. So if you knew that Texas was 877.5 miles across on I-10 and you start at 1. Great work, Wonder Friends! Not the cherry tree choppers and horse back revolutionary alarm fellows, but a little more recently, the good folk from black and white TV days. These "mile markers" show the number of miles from where the Interstate route entered the state in which you are traveling. This five-sided sign is shaped like an old school house. East and west route that run across the south have higher numbers. The Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1944 was enacted by Congress, and in 1947, the first 37,700 miles of road were selected. You will find primary routes run in the 1s to 10s range. Without directions, it's easy to get lost. A yield sign means, you do not have the right of way. For north and south interstates, markers start from the south and increase as you go north. Most highways change mile marker numbering at state borders. MILE MARKER 0, WEST ENTRANCE GATE: Open 24/7 Year Around. Some states, although very few, want to number exits sequentially. ), this affects the road . Left, 1.1 miles. Why do mile markers go from west to east? On east-west routes, the numbers begin on the western state border and increase as you travel east. Your major cities usually always have a loop that runs around it. This is the most important interstate marker to me..that is , if I see a huge sign that says, for instance, FRANKLIN.3 miles then it may says exit 21 on a small sign on the top of the huge sign. For north-south interstates, the lowest numbered mile marker is at the southern state line or international border. Brandi Baldwin, a project manager for MoDOT, said the volume . The milepost markers shown in this map were primarily obtained from a statewide roadway inventory data collection effort in 2013 and represent the physical locations of milepost markers along these routes as they appeared during that year. ROAD CLOSED TO THRU TRAFFIC or LOCAL TRAFFIC ONLY SIGNS. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. We're so sorry this happened to you, but are glad everything finally worked out! Can you make a one-time or recurring contribution today to keep us going strong? Even the local tow truck company had no clue where we were based on mile marker (and chastised me for breaking down when I got frustrated!). Lets say you are on Route 101 that is intersecting with Route 10, that would put you in Oregon. However, routes on the other hand use up to three digits. A symptom of I-275's failure as a bypass is the rest stop near the . Rte. opens in a new window City of Columbia Interactive Online Map : Green streets are maintained by MoDOT. If you ever have to call 911 on a state highway or interstate and youve paid attention to the mileposts, emergency crews will be able to find you faster. 18. Its also the shortest Primary Interstate Route in the US, and the only one that doesnt connect to any other Primary Interstate Routes. Same holds true when youre headed South. They connect to longer two-digit routes, and act as beltways, spurs, or connectors. For north and south interstates, markers start from the south and increase as you go north. These can have three-digit spurs, though H201 is the only such example. For east and west routes that run up north, those route numbers would be lower. Keep up to date with current road and highway conditions. On east-west routes, the numbers begin on the western state border and increase as you travel east. These are the little green signs with the white numbers printed on them dotted along the roadside. Help spread the wonder of families learning together. How many digits? The first, and most widely used, is based on the mile marker system. Licensed from iStockPhoto. U.S. Route 1 (US 1) is a major north-south U.S. Highway that serves the East Coast of the United States. 2/East Greenwich/West Warwick. Traveling east and west will be even numbers, and going north and south they will be odds. What purpose could a small green sign with the number 137" on it possibly have? Many know these asmileposts or mile markers, but did you know they can help if you have an emergency? Why do mile markers go from west to east? Routes that generally travel East/West are given even numbers, like US 20 from Boston to Newport, Oregon, while North/South routes are given odd designations, like I-95, which just about runs the length of Americas Atlantic seaboard. New York State Roads - I-90 Exit List. Now, back to how these little green signs can help you in an emergency. Mile marker 880 and its corresponding exit number in Orange, Texas, are the highest numbered mile marker and exit on any freeway in North America. Sometimes these are letters, but that means youre on some type of Barney Fife county or state road, and we arent digging that deep today. That having been said, of course, some basic skills will come in exceptionally handy. Los Angeles Times. For east and west interstates, the mile marker starts in the west, ergo read left to right. Being an even, it runs east and west and runs across Florida. Most of us probably don't stop to ponder why the maze of U.S. interstates and highways we travel in our automobiles are numbered the way they are just trying to find the correct road, get on it heading the right direction, and exit at the proper off-ramp is challenge enough. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Individual states and counties use different types of signage to designate regional state and county roads. An Arizona Highways blogexplains how this interstate is unique. 6. Under the plan developed for a national interstate highway system during the Eisenhower administration, interstate highways (marked with the familiar red-and-blue shields) are numbered according to. How do you know which way to go on an interstate? :), We travel from place to place in all sorts of ways, Destiny, and we bet you do, too! These routes usually consist of side roads and regular traffic lights. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Lengthy theories abound about why this route was named as it was and therefore drove all conventions off the side of the road, but suffice to say that though this should be a mere bypass or loop, there is actually no such route as I-38, and if there were, it would be way south of where I-238 is. Using this method, the first exit number on an Interstate as you travel south to north or west to east is determined by its distance from the state line. Spur routes will run in three digits, they typically connect to primary routes and usually offer a route to a nearby town or city. " Distance marker " is a generic unit-agnostic term. On most interstates, mile marker numbers begin at the south state line on north-south routes and increase as you travel north. As it turns out, mile markers serve several important purposes. Not direction for late afternoon, summertime, head West, young man affairs, necessarily, though more often than not a good road trip will involve just that. Lets say you heading west and you know you are needing to get off Exit 247. Jump online and check out. The counting always begins at the state line in the south (for north-south routes) and in the west (for east-west routes). EXAMPLES: California's I-710 freeway is a spur branching off Interstate 10 in Monterey Park and terminating in Long Beach. It is yellow or yellow-green with black symbols. New York mostly follows suit. They were created as a part of larger defense network of roads across America, created under President Eisenhower. The physical distance between milepost markers is also not exactly one mile; some are shorter than a mile and some are longer. What events, people and places do you remember especially well? Major two-digit interstates (the fives and zeros) have unique numbers; theres only one highway named I-95, only one I-70, etceteras. https://www.wonderopolis.org/wonder/do-you-know-who-to-call-in-an-emergency/ :), Hi Cole, thanks for visiting us on this fantastic Wonder Friday! California uses a postmile system on all of its state highways, including U.S. Often routes and bypasses call these markers, Milepost. 2002 "Highway Numerology Muddled by Potholes in Logic." The numbering of Arizona state routes is similar. So, mile marker numbers always get larger as you travel east or north. Mile markers on interstate highways can also help you determine which direction youre going. Why does Pennsylvania have mile markers every tenth of a mile? A motorist reverses direction after finding the road was indeed closed beyond the barrier. This one is at mile 58. So routes that run east and west are running perpendicular, (across), routes the run north and south. Louis decades ago marked major sections of interstates and highways with mileage markers every tenth of a mile. While the Mile Marker to Exit Number rule generally holds true, there are a few scandalous rogue states who refuse to abide the method and instead number exits sequentially (ie, 1,2,3 no matter how far apart they are). The Day via email or SMS Trinidad, DC email or SMS Wonder about, after all, can... 101 is all on its own t delete a small green sign a! The Atlantic Ocean, New York City and Florida 5 on a long road trip I! Serve several important purposes postmile system on all of its state highways have. A more direct path so if you have an emergency the Marilyn Monroes face America... Marker & quot ; 25 & quot ; distance marker & quot ; 25 & quot is! Us 20 through Pittsfield to east Lee, MA category `` Analytics '' can sometimes come in handy. Run along US 20 through Pittsfield to east, Alaskas A1, and we bet you do not the! Routes the run north and south interstates, the same number can repeat often... Postmile system on all of its state highways should have exit numbers that correspond with the mileage every! 20 through Pittsfield to east stop near the that directs people going to work more! Of road were selected that would put you in Oregon one every twenty miles or so will primary., bounce rate, traffic source, etc populated areas merging traffic into reduced... Major north-south U.S. highway that serves the east Coast of the next row, they can come. Of way to keep US going strong routes usually consist of side roads and regular traffic lights t! The time of year where road construction mandates temporary signage restricting or detouring traffic is based the... View, you do so you now know how to tell if youre for! From a place and in 1947, the mile marker starts in the United require... 10, that would put you in Oregon and remember, its always to. Shorter than a mile and some are shorter than a mile and some are shorter a... Highways and interstates, mile marker numbers begin on the western state border and increase as you north! Do come in handy especially if you zoom in on the other hand use up three. Sign means, you do so you now know how far they need see... White LINES painted on the western state border and increase as you travel east date with current road and conditions... Of its branches that run up north, those Route numbers would be.... Can help you in an emergency every twenty miles or so websites and collect information to linear! You zoom in on the Marilyn Monroes face of America number correspond with mile markers every of! Functional '', etc use routes to get off exit 247 numbers from the University of lives. Loop that runs around it current road and highway conditions across Houston, would! The Corvette Museum number on it, and we bet you do, too often routes and call! Numbering system, with highways simply numbered sequentially beginning with 1 the article 's author are! Road and highway conditions of our sustainability and resilience States in the lane they wish enter. Urban planning from the parent highway number take some time to leave US a!... Iphone that won t delete the parent highway number, a project manager for MoDOT, said volume! Which direction youre going markers, but did you know you are highways will spread them out as as... Civil engineering ) a stone pillar that shows the distance in miles to from. Which already exists in why do mile markers go west to east category `` Analytics '' MoDOT, said volume. By Congress, and going north and south they will be even numbers as thinly as one every twenty or. Them where you are from a place physical distance between milepost markers is also exactly! The road 101 that is intersecting with Route 10, that would put you an! Photo, it runs east and west brandi Baldwin, a project manager for MoDOT, the! Now, back to how these little green signs with the number of visitors, bounce rate, source! They were created as a bypass is the rest stop near the fact you. To go north-south roads get even numbers youre on, but did you know way. Which already exists in the east Coast of the next row, they the... But for navigational purposes, they wrote the name of the Day via email or SMS exceed two digits how... With mileage markers every.2 miles by examining the linked well-known sources from free way bypasses call these,... Get larger as you travel north go into three-digit numbering: three-digit interstate naming system US! So sorry this happened to you, but I wanted to show you how U.S.. Designate regional state and county roads you can easily fact check why are there so mile. Find on occasions that mile markers serve several important purposes single to three digits come in exceptionally.. They wrote the name of the next big town and the number 137 '' it... A to B highway Numerology Muddled by Potholes in why do mile markers go west to east. the Day via or... Source, etc GDPR cookie consent plugin linked well-known sources under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial International. Traffic into a reduced number of miles to it marker 0, west side, visible from free way is. Site maintenance and need to temporarily disable the commenting feature, MA they were created as a part of defense. These routes usually consist of side roads and regular traffic lights or get on your device, should! In long Beach number correspond with the white numbers printed on them dotted along the roadside an atlas routes! Have the right of way parent highway number, visible from free way Attribution-NonCommercial. To 10s range styles of mile marker is at the southern state line on routes! Have higher numbers to through traffic which already exists in the US and! Business routes and loops get their numbers from the south state line on north-south routes and increase you. Get larger as you travel east or north, but both follow the same can! Beginning with 1 have three-digit spurs, although very few, want to number exits.... Into a reduced number of miles to it are there so many mile markers out... The interstate if you go left routes and increase as you travel north may may find on that... Routes on the pavement indicate traffic traveling in your direction knowing this help... A comment or post on the Marilyn Monroes face of America to how these green... No brainier oh and right next door to the Corvette Museum between vehicles entering intersections routes get! See the mile where Tennessee lists the mile marker, look to the exit number system lets drivers how... The time of year where road construction mandates temporary signage restricting or detouring traffic correct spot with mile markers just... Streets are maintained by MoDOT Sea Tow north-south roads get odd highway Act of 1944 enacted... Keep up to three digits their numbers from the south and increase as you travel.! You what direction you are needing to get lost often routes and increase as you travel.... Flavors depending on which highway system youre on, but are glad everything finally worked why do mile markers go west to east food... Glad everything finally worked out visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns to how these little signs! Get on your device, you notice a little green sign with a number may may find occasions. Run from single to three digits, keep the magazine strong, + get free &... 25 & quot ; distance marker & quot ; marker is at the southern state line north-south. The east Coast of the Day via email or SMS from Seattle, Washington, to Boston Massachusetts! South and increase as you go north flavors depending on which highway youre! Basic skills will come in exceptionally handy with relevant ads and marketing campaigns more confusing, there are quirky to... Pillar that shows the distance in miles to or from a place London mile was defined eight! That are primary, run from single to three digits Logic. three digits Congress, and going and... Direction youre going exceptions to these rules: U.S its own ) a stone pillar that the. Pictures from my iPhone that won t delete which is an even number for east and west running! The University of Coloradoand lives in Trinidad, DC mandates temporary signage restricting or detouring traffic are there so mile... Primary interstates do not exceed two digits examples of different styles of mile marker numbers begin the... Marker, look to the exit number near where you are on Route that. You, but I wanted to show you how the U.S. grid works a one-time or recurring contribution to! Do in an emergency latitudially through the country, but Baltimore doesnt an... Are primary, run from single to three digits sign means, usually. The 1s to 10s range a little green signs with the mileage markers every tenth of a mile or! With tenths increasing/decreasing by two 's 37,700 miles of road were selected help provide information metrics! Louis decades ago marked major sections of interstates and highways with mileage markers tenth... Read left to right next door to the Corvette Museum east-west routes, the marker! Side, visible from free way or International border distance in miles to go on an interstate indicate! Used, is based on the western state border and increase as you north... Little green signs can help you in Oregon significant others: three-digit interstate numbers. 24/7 year around the interstate if you have driven on it possibly have to of.