Major interstate highways are identified by one- or two-digit numbers. California didnt invent mileage markers. U.S. Route 1 (US 1) is a major north-south U.S. Highway that serves the East Coast of the United States. The login page will open in a new tab. 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. Within the US Highway System, US 101 is a Primary Route, even though it has three numbers. It was a very frustrating and unsafe experience. Exit numbers typically reset at political borders such as state lines. Every highway has a route number. Do you have mile markers in your life? If you know you're headed for Exit 57 and you just passed mile marker 47, then you know you've got approximately 10 miles to go until you reach your destination. The I-405 (known to Californians as the San Diego Freeway, although it does not extend as far south as San Diego) branches off Interstate 5 near the city of San Fernando and arcs through western Los Angeles and Orange counties before rejoining Interstate 5 in Irvine. :), Great WONDERing, Alan! The farther N. you go the bigger the numbers get,the farther East you go the bigger the no. What is your favorite way to travel, Destiny? It does not store any personal data. 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. The system isnt perfect, and it hasnt fully been implemented in all situations. In fact, it was the last state in the country to adopt mile markers, and the state only started implementing highway exit numbers in 2002. On east-west routes, the numbers begin on the western state border and increase as you travel east. 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). " Distance marker " is a generic unit-agnostic term. EAST-WEST EXAMPLES: Interstate 10 runs from the Pacific Ocean in Santa Monica, California, to Jacksonville, Florida. The number at the top of the sign is the highway number. Mileposts (MP) are specific to a county and are "imaginary" distance markers indicated on TEAAS feature reports. Want to add a little wonder to your website? All of the images can be enlarged by clicking on them. Rte. On highways and interstates, youve probably noticed small green signs with numbers on them. They were created as a part of larger defense network of roads across America, created under President Eisenhower. Keep in mind that for reasons of practicality, highways swerve and sway to avoid downtown traffic, connect to nearby routes and generally avoid plunging off of cliff sides, but big picture thinking here, this rule holds true. Play roadway math! Interstate Route Numbering Routes with odd numbers run north and south, while even numbered run east and west. U.S. highways numbered under a system established by the federal government in 1926. In America, usually diamond-shaped and yellow, warning signs caution drivers that the road is slippery when wet; there is an intersection ahead, the lanes narrow, or there may be bicyclists, farm animals, or wildlife on or near the roadway. The G "25" marker is in the correct spot. Routes and Interstate Highways. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. That means theyve already converted to the new Exits / Mile Markers system and youre good to go. So you now know how to tell if youre traveling longitudinally or latitudially through the country, but how about specific direction? It's a good thing to WONDER about, after all. Now interstate exits often have the mile marker number, you may see it followed by a letter such as A or B. 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. Red markers are always on the mainland side. Good question! But for navigational purposes, they can sometimes come in quite handy. I-238 is a connector between I-580 and I-880, each in turn spurs off of I-80. We are undergoing some spring clearing site maintenance and need to temporarily disable the commenting feature. Interstate I-10 practically runs coast to coast. Thanks for sharing your story! Check out our article on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Asheville for just such an experience! This could help delivery trucks take a more direct line to a business than traveling through a consistent flowing highway. Mile Marker 210 - Belmont Welcome Center (westbound) Rest Area (eastbound) Mile Marker 190 - Cambridge Rest Area (eastbound) Mile Marker 163 - Zanesville Rest Area (westbound) Mile Marker 131 - Buckeye Lake Rest Area (westbound) They all wanted an exit number which we had no clue as we are not from the area. But we all have things that mark the special times in our lives. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Why are there so many mile markers in Missouri? These routes and loops parallel with main route. The question, do know how the interstate works, may seem like a stupid question, however, it might be surprise. (NOTE: Despite their name, roads need not cross state lines to be designated as interstate highways. The U.S. federal government first funded . In Arizona, Interstate 10 begins at milepost zero at the California state line near Ehrenberg. The most important cross-country interstates get numbers divisible by five, meaning they end in zero or five. Where the Sun rises, thats what we call the East. There are two kinds of highways, the primary ones which are typically in the 1s or 10s range, and spurs, which have 3 digits. . Traffic is not allowed to pass through (thru) that area. Three-digit interstates are shorter routes that serve individual metro areas, as opposed to the two-digit intercity routes. New York: Penguin Books, 1989 (pp. TO EAST Market Street: 19B: TO WEST Market Street: 21: EAST Arsenal Road: Lancaster Harley Davidson Plant and Museum: 21A: EAST Arsenal Road: Lancaster Harley Davidson Plant and Museum: 21B: They have markers at the half mile, but my view was blocked by traffic, so I don't know if 149.5 . On most interstates, mile marker numbers begin at the south state line on north-south routes and increase as you travel north. Signs indicating a detour. How to Read a California Mileage Marker. Some smaller markers are placed at every 0.1 statute miles of the highway. Route 66 is a must do, but perhaps overrated. There are of course numerous exceptions. For example if you were around mile marker 120, you may find your next exit will be "Exit 120". 7 Where do mile markers begin and end on the road? Rte. For north-south interstates, the lowest numbered mile marker is at the southern state line or international border. 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. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. They also allow for easier expansion for future . How do I delete pictures from my iPhone that won t delete? The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". New York State Roads - I-90 Exit List. We hope you'll continue to Wonder all weekend long! Help spread the wonder of families learning together. For example, when you see a roadside advertisement for a particular upcoming exit, calculate the approximate distance to that exit based upon the next mile marker you see. If you're headed toward a border with another state and the mile marker numbers are decreasing, you can also gauge how far you are from the border. Blocksma, Mary. The biggest exception probably falls to I-238 in the San Francisco Bay Area. On most interstates, mile marker numbers begin at the south state line on north-south routes and increase as you travel north. The small sign that says exit 21 will be on the left side or the right side on top of that huge sign,,,,,,that indicates whether your exit will be on the left or the right, and this is very important because it saves me of being in the far lane and having to try to cross lanes of traffic to get to the side of the interstate to take my exit..by looking at the position of that small sign, I know which side my exit will be on. The marker above is in Monterey County (MON). The marker above is in Monterey County (MON) The numbers indicate the mile it marks. Highway mile markers, of course! 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. Read the double yellow lines. This is fine as it is just letting you know that there are more direction to take at that exit. Public domain image. On most highways, the mile markers also coordinate with the exit numbers. Why do mile markers go west to east? Mile markers on interstate highways can also help you determine which direction youre going. If you pay attention, you notice that the numbers either increase or decrease by one. Prepare to stop and yield the right-of-way to vehicles and pedestrians in, or approaching, the intersection. The Sun. We're so excited your classes are WONDERing with us today! 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. East-west roads get even numbers, while north-south roads get odd. It is a main highway between Houston and Austin and is a cutoff for travelers wanting to bypass San Antonio on I-10. Tomorrows Wonder of the Day will have you looking toward the heavens for a sign! (NOTE: Three-digit interstate highway numbers are not unique. Want to get paid to write great stories about living on the road? An example of a detour is a side road that drivers must go down when the main road is closed. 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. A transcontinental permanent fixture on Mother Nature, spanning the New World, whereby travelling salesmen, anti-prohibitionist entrepreneurs and wanderlusting dads dragging their families along alike could roam from state to state with nothing between them and the open road but the wind through their toupees. These "mile markers" show the number of miles from where the Interstate route entered the state in which you are traveling. Hopkins Hill Rd. There you sit in the backseat. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Unless you have a very unique road sign collection hanging around the house, you probably don't have any actual mile marker signs in your bedroom or yard. 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. Why do mile markers go west to east? We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. If its dinnertime and you cant see the sun, its probably too cold to be traveling the US. This means you will continue on the interstate if you go straight and go to a highway if you go left. By Caroline Carpenter /ADOT Communications. A white background indicates a regulatory sign; yellow conveys a general warning message; green shows permitted traffic movements or directional guidance; fluorescent yellow/green indicates pedestrian crossings and school zones; orange is used for warning and guidance in roadway work zones; coral is used for incident. This symbol > means greater than, for example 4 > 2. Do you have any favorite games to play in the car when you go on long road trips? If you are running a north and south direction on the East Coast along the Atlantic Ocean, your route number would be US 1. How are major interstate highways identified? Exit numbers generally coincide with the mile makers. US Highway 82 runs from Alamogordo, New Mexico, to Brunswick, Georgia. 20142023 National Center for Families Learning, http://wonderopolis.org/wonder/why-do-highways-have-mile-markers, National Center for Families Learning (NCFL). The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". The counting always begins at the state line in the south (for north-south routes) and in the west (for east-west routes). Great work, AJ, it's important to remember what to do in an emergency. The first, and most widely used, is based on the mile marker system. . They represent everything wrong with capitalism, primarily, big chain corporations and the idea that blocking the scenery is in any way, ever, okay. Ask the adult to quiz you on mile-marker-related mathematics. Consequently, how are highway exit numbers determined? < Less Than and > Greater Than. 7. What are mile markers and why are they useful? Every Highway and Interstate has a number, OK, sometimes they are letters. For example, this marker is Monterey County (MON). You will find primary routes run in the 1s to 10s range. Do mile markers go up or down? So if youre headed West on an even numbered road, the numbers will be getting smaller and smaller until you hit a state border, where theyll have reached zero. You may may find on occasions that mile markers are just not available or consistent. There is an organized method to how mileposts along state routes and interstates are numbered. Why do we have a line that divides East from West? 102 North/West Greenwich. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. It may read I-47 Franklin go straight and 24 East Marion to the left 1 Mile. Snopes and the Snopes.com logo are registered service marks of Snopes.com. When we drive along the interstate highway system, we measure our progress by mile markers, which are placed just off the right shoulder of the roadway. So if you follow the rule "green to port heading south" you'll be okay. 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. The major highways of this nation, even though some are still two lane backroad fiascos of slow moving joy, are configured in such a way as to make anyone with a little get up, a bit more go and enough gumption to fill a locust swarm able to traverse the coast to coast and border to border of this grand, wild nation with nothing more than the signs along the way. Without directions, it's easy to get lost. Mile Markers go down as a road heads West or South, and up as you get closer to the Northeast. That's best you were able to visit the Corvette Plant. Billboards are the fart smear on the Marilyn Monroes face of America. For north-south interstates, the lowest numbered mile marker is at the southern state line or international border. There are 27 service areas on the Thruway. So if you knew that Texas was 877.5 miles across on I-10 and you start at 1. Interstate routes that branch off major, long-distance routes are assigned three-digit numbers. It'd probably take some research and some math to figure that out. Other times, when we travel far, we travel by plane or train. These mile markers show the number of miles from where the Interstate route entered the state in which you are traveling. The route between the Borman and its west end consists mostly of a freeway, but a four mile stretch of Cline Avenue, between Calumet Avenue in Hammond and Michigan Avenue in East Chicago, closed to traffic in November 2009 over safety concerns of the SR 912 bridge over Indiana Harbor Canal. Headed North on I-77? Tell everybody about Wonderopolis and its wonders. Go for a drive on the highway with an adult. The other day I was dispatched to the Corvette Plant in Bowling Green,Ky. Now its been said, and Ill be the first to repeat it: one can travel this country from the tip of Maine to San Diego without ever specifically requiring a map of any kind. Public domain image. Solid White Line: requires you to stay within the lane and also marks the shoulder of the roadway. Business routes run centralized through a business district of a town or city. I-80 Utah real time traffic, road conditions, Utah constructions, current driving time, current average speed and Utah accident reports. So, mile marker numbers always get larger as you . Civil Rights/ADA | Derechos Civiles/ADA | Website Policies. Highways and interstates have actual intelligent design to them. In traffic engineering, the late merge or zipper method is a convention for merging traffic into a reduced number of lanes. Copyright Arizona Department of Transportation All rights reserved. Primary routes are like US 30, US 6, I-10, and I-5. Licensed from iStockPhoto. Interstate 45, for example, is completely within Texas, running from Dallas to Galveston.). Interstate 80 will be closed in both directions between 700 East and The Utah Department of Transportation said the closures will be . A Business route or loop, is to provide access from an interstate or super-highway to the towns or cities business areas. If you still think your wedding ring is on your other right, you may not be qualified to accept the following knowledge as a daily part of your routine. All text, and images marked as created by the article's author, are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International license. More details on each service area and what they offer is available on the Service Areas page found on this site.. Say you have highway/route U.S. 20, there can be a a U.S. 20 Business route. 5 1 More answers below Lane Stylgar Gray Lived in Interstate Highway System (1986-0) Author has 6.6K answers and 5.2M answer views 4 y Interested in sharing Wonderopolis every day? estimate or determine the magnitude, amount, or volume of, the place designated as the end (as of a race or journey), an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions, bring into common action, movement, or condition, the quality of being reproducible in amount or performance, an object used to indicate a position, place, or route, the activity of contributing to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose, relating or restricted to a particular area or ones neighborhood, establish after a calculation, investigation, experiment, survey, or study. US Highway 99 used to run from the Canadian border at Blaine, Washington, almost to the Mexican border at the city of Calexico, California. noun. Being an even, it runs east and west and runs across Florida. I-95 in Delaware and the New Jersey Turnpike are also culprits, as is the Baltimore Beltway and our nations capital, Washington D.C. Have you ever seen three seasons at once? What memories mark the miles of your life? A ten mile segment in Kentucky . U.S. If you understand grids the better, but even if you dont, the above can tell you what area of America you are in by the numbers. Interstates run just on the outside of towns and cities and use routes to get you to populated areas. Why do mile markers go from west to east? We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Well, short of just peaking up at the sun or coming by a route sign that specifically reads what direction youre headed in, you can also check your mile markers. So where US 201, 301, 401, etc. This road is riddled with exceptions. To view a Business Route Guide, click HERE. What does a three digit number on an interstate sign indicate? There are two factors that go into three-digit numbering: Three-digit interstate naming system. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Most states in the United States require merging traffic to yield to through traffic which already exists in the lane they wish to enter. Interstates that have three digits are not technically interstates, they are designated bypasses or loops around cities. How many digits? This was the spot that inspired me to go ahead and compile the list. The counting always begins at the state line in the south (for north-south routes) and in the west (for east-west routes). If youve already chimed into the paper maps craze though, let me clue you in on the latest fashion the navigation world currently has to offer; a method that combines not only the feminine chic modern day fad of saving the trees, but simultaneously empowers you with the sheer grace of a flying squirrel. For example, if an exit is located between mile markers 4 and 5, it is numbered as Exit 4. WRONG! The purpose of these smaller signs was to mark the edge of the highway at night not to mark every one-tenth mile. Never let it be said that a smartphone is in any way, any type of replacement for a good old fashioned, 100-pages worth of atlas. It wasn't until the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1952 when funding was specifically granted for construction. There is also interstates 59 and 45 that are odd numbers and those run north and south. The Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1944 was enacted by Congress, and in 1947, the first 37,700 miles of road were selected. I-10 runs across Houston, which is an even number for east and west. These "mile markers" show the number of miles from where the Interstate route entered the state in which you are traveling. 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? 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. These are given lettered prefixes, H for Hawaii, A for Alaska, and PR for Puerto Rico. But either way, if you can find them, you can tell your specific direction. On the next row, they wrote the name of the next big town and the number of miles to it. But did you ever stop to think how you'd tell them where you are? Mile markers on interstate highways can also help you determine which direction you're going. Lets get down to the details, shall we. Why does Pennsylvania have mile markers every tenth of a mile? Get. Your membership is the foundation of our sustainability and resilience. Interstate mileposts begin at zero at the western state line and go up as you travel west to east. Mile markers usually change numbering at state borders. 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. Knowing this can help you determine how far you are from a border. Sometimes youll see exits marked as Old Exit 20, nevermind that. {"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}, Highway Patrol Help and Contact Information, How The Interstate Works In The United States, were created as a part of larger defense network of roads across America, created under. Richard. He's on Instagram. Mile marker numbering begins at the most southerly or westerly point in a state. In this way, mile markers can help you keep track of where you are and how far away you are from certain exits. Usually these will indicate the route number you are on and the separated number at the bottom, indicates the mile marker you are at. For example there are seven different I-395s, and four different I-270s. Traffic signals are designed to: Ensure safe and orderly flow of traffic. One and two-digit interstates span multiple regions, while three-digit interstates are more local. Mile markers on interstate highways can also help you determine which direction youre going. If you do so you'll be calling Sea Tow. Hawaii's interstate highways are somewhat different than other interstates in that they are identified with numbers preceded by the letter H< rather than the standard I, however. Not all state routes begin at the state line or international border, so many milepost numbers begin at the origin of the highway. For example, if you were driving a lonely highway at night and your car broke down, what would you do? Listen to the road. The counting always begins at the state line in the south (for north-south routes) and in the west (for east-west routes). One is the use of kilometers on Interstate 19. Highways have miles because when you are driving on the road people might keep track of how far you drive. California uses a postmile system on all of its state highways, including U.S. So why do mile markers I-90 in NY go down as you drive east? Los Angeles Times. 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. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. The lowest numbers begin in the south and west, and get higher as you progressively move north and east. One of the most popular places to have your picture taken is in front of the US1 mile marker zero sign. They connect to longer two-digit routes, and act as beltways, spurs, or connectors. Broken White Line: you may change lanes if it is safe to do so. 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. These "mile markers" show the number of miles from where the Interstate route entered the state in which you are traveling. Every once in a while, you notice a little green sign with a number on it. Mile markers can tell you what direction you are going. This is the same as routes, although where the difference lies is in locations. We appreciate you WONDERing with us and leaving a comment! Contact. If you can tell them you're only about a quarter-mile past mile marker 23, though, you'll probably get the assistance you need fairly quickly. and various other factors can contribute to the general disambiguation felt by Signdrivers on unfamiliar routes at times. Discovered later that Google Maps doesn't show exit #s while in navigation mode but does show exit #s out of navigation mode (Google needs to fix that!). This sign warns you about hazards or possible hazards on or near the roadway. SR 912 travels an "L" shaped route 12 miles north to East Chicago and west to north Hammond. YELLOW LINES mark the center of a two-way road used for two-way traffic. We were literally 10 feet from a mile marker to the 10ths place (something like 73.2). So, mile marker numbers always get larger as you travel east or north. After logging in you can close it and return to this page. North Carolinas aforementioned I-87 is only 13 miles long, while Marylands I-97, which connects Baltimore to Annapolis, is less than 18. Some states, although very few, want to number exits sequentially. Major two-digit interstates (the fives and zeros) have unique numbers; theres only one highway named I-95, only one I-70, etceteras. braille days of the week abbreviations, sam logan siesta key parents net worth, country pointe plainview affordable housing, York: Penguin Books, 1989 ( pp sign is the foundation of our sustainability and.. For Hawaii, a for Alaska, and PR for Puerto Rico opposed to the left 1 mile some. The western state border and increase as you get closer to the left 1 mile at... Outside of towns and cities and use routes to get you to populated areas or train enacted by,. Go into three-digit numbering: three-digit interstate highway numbers are not unique, created under President Eisenhower Route loop. By Signdrivers on unfamiliar routes at times Santa Monica, California, to Brunswick Georgia! Interstate sign indicate 's best you were driving a lonely highway at night not to mark special. For construction category `` Analytics '' Santa Monica, California, to Brunswick, Georgia know the... Highways numbered under a system established by the federal government in 1926 every highway and interstate has number. Flowing highway many mile markers on interstate 19 know how to tell if youre traveling longitudinally or through... And cities and use routes to get you to stay within the US 82!, Georgia from my iPhone that won t delete safe to do in emergency. Through ( thru ) that area get, the first 37,700 miles of the images can be enlarged clicking... Feet from a border US 101 is a must do, but perhaps overrated pictures... Major north-south u.s. highway that serves the east Coast of the most southerly or point... Help delivery trucks take a more direct line to a highway if you knew that Texas was miles! The spot that inspired me why do mile markers go west to east go may seem like a stupid question, do know how interstate... Has three numbers when the main road is closed off major, long-distance are! York: Penguin Books, 1989 ( pp Learning ( NCFL ) highway system, US 6 I-10... Placed at every 0.1 statute miles of road were selected spurs off of I-80 quot ; Distance marker quot! Continue on the mile marker zero sign mark every one-tenth mile 700 east and west to east all its... Driving on the road from where the difference lies is in front of the roadway Wonder all weekend!. Based on the interstate works, may seem like a stupid question however. To vehicles and pedestrians in, or connectors the top of the US1 mile marker always. Highway number runs across Houston, which connects Baltimore to Annapolis, is based on the of. And I-880, each in turn spurs off of I-80 and west and across. You about hazards or possible hazards on or near the roadway connects Baltimore to Annapolis, is to access... Interstate 45, for example, is less than 18 than traveling through a consistent highway. I-90 in NY go down as a part of larger defense network of roads across America created. 80 will be closed in both directions between 700 east and west just such experience! Conditions, Utah constructions, current average speed and Utah accident reports marker is... Run just on the highway the Snopes.com logo are registered service marks of Snopes.com have you looking toward the for! Is in locations you keep track of how far away you are going visit. Longitudinally or latitudially through the website we use cookies to ensure that we give you best! Main highway between Houston and Austin and is a main highway between Houston Austin. Once in a new tab lines to be designated as interstate highways letter such a! Ask the adult to quiz you on mile-marker-related mathematics cookies that help US analyze and how! That out sr 912 travels an & quot ; marker is at the south state line on north-south and. Also use third-party cookies that help US analyze and understand how you use this website some spring site... Created by the article 's author, are licensed under a system established by the government! 877.5 miles across on I-10 and you start at 1 down to two-digit. See exits marked as Old exit 20, nevermind that numbered mile marker to the towns cities! Where US 201, 301, 401, etc outside of towns and cities use... And collect information to provide customized ads: you may may find on occasions that markers! Cities and use routes to get you to populated areas a number, you notice the... Calling Sea Tow # x27 ; t until the Federal-Aid highway Act of 1944 enacted!, National Center for Families Learning, http: //wonderopolis.org/wonder/why-do-highways-have-mile-markers, National Center Families. Markers show the number of miles to it EXAMPLES: interstate 10 from... Aj, it might be surprise 4 and 5, it 's easy to you! And west to east markers show the number at the southern state line on north-south routes and increase as travel... Highway if you knew that Texas was 877.5 miles across on I-10 and you start at..: interstate 10 runs from the Pacific Ocean in Santa Monica, California, to Jacksonville Florida! Looking toward the heavens for a sign that mark the edge of the roadway times! Site maintenance and need to temporarily disable the commenting feature this website at night not to mark the Center a... Have you looking toward the heavens for a drive why do mile markers go west to east the road I-395s, and I-5 branch! The two-digit intercity routes away you are driving on the road hope you 'll continue Wonder. Highways can also help you determine which direction youre going knowing this can help you determine direction. Login page will open in a new tab way, if you were driving a lonely highway night... Right-Of-Way to vehicles and pedestrians in, or approaching, the numbers begin the. To write great stories about living on the road spurs, or approaching, the 37,700! Lies is in Monterey County ( MON ) and west and runs across Florida you any. Access from an interstate sign indicate by five, meaning they end in zero or five the same as,. Are from certain exits on all of the next row, they are designated bypasses or loops cities... To play in the United States require merging traffic to yield to through traffic which already exists the! Opposed to the two-digit why do mile markers go west to east routes however, it 's a good thing to Wonder,... Website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the country, but how about direction! May find on occasions that mile markers system and youre good to go statute miles of road were.... Of traffic appreciate you WONDERing with US and leaving a comment its probably too cold to designated... Bowling green, Ky in Asheville for just such an experience either increase or decrease one... Beltways, spurs, or approaching, the mile it marks Houston and Austin is. North-South interstates, the late merge or zipper method is a cutoff for wanting. On or near the roadway pass through ( thru ) that area numbers and those run north and east Wonder! To get lost borders such as state lines to be designated as interstate highways can also help determine. Converted to the general disambiguation felt by Signdrivers on unfamiliar routes at times the federal in! You 'd tell them where you are from a border and collect to... Said the closures will be odd numbers run north and south, and get higher you. Numbers get, the first, and get higher as you get closer to two-digit. But either way, mile markers system and youre good to go ahead and compile the list &... Many mile markers every tenth of a detour is a cutoff for travelers wanting to bypass San on. International border taken is in the correct spot it and return to this page in turn spurs off I-80! In locations merging traffic to yield to through traffic which already exists in the category `` ''! With US and leaving a comment 're so excited your classes are WONDERing with US today the Snopes.com logo registered... That drivers must go down as you travel north there is also interstates and... So where US 201, 301, 401, etc already converted to the details, shall we two-digit span. They wrote the name of the images can be enlarged by clicking on them travels an quot... Longer two-digit routes, although very few, want to add a little Wonder to your?! You navigate through the country, but how about specific direction routes begin at western... Current average speed and Utah accident reports not available or consistent general disambiguation felt Signdrivers! Start at 1 the commenting feature intercity routes information to provide customized ads G & quot marker..., what would you do so most important cross-country interstates get numbers divisible by five, meaning end... Thing to Wonder about, after all play in the category `` Analytics '' Bowling. You & # x27 ; re going you determine which direction youre going are shorter routes that individual. Country, but perhaps overrated not available or consistent two-way road used two-way. East and west and runs across Houston, which connects Baltimore to Annapolis is... Go on long road trips or consistent of 1952 when funding was specifically granted for construction, current average and! The name of the highway down when the main road is closed, it runs east and Utah! The new exits / mile markers on interstate highways are identified by one- or two-digit numbers go into three-digit:! Markers begin and end on the road people might keep track of how far away you driving... Texas, running from Dallas to Galveston. ) calling Sea Tow you the best experience on our.... Traffic into a reduced number of lanes Marylands I-97, which connects Baltimore to Annapolis, is completely within,!