Mile marker sign: what it means

Mile marker sign: a narrow green vertical sign with a white border, the word MILE and the number 12 in white
Drawing: DriveQuiz, based on MUTCD sign D10-2. Simplified; real signs follow the FHWA Standard Highway Signs specifications.

A mile marker, officially a reference location sign, shows the distance point along a highway. It helps you track your progress and tell emergency services where you are.

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What it means

MUTCD Section 2H.11: reference location signs show a whole-number distance point along a highway. Unless enhanced reference location signs are used instead, they are placed on all freeways, and on expressways along routes with continuous numbering, to help road users estimate their progress, to identify the location of emergencies and crashes, and to help with maintenance.

Numbering starts at zero at the south or west state line, or where the route begins within a state (Section 2H.11). Like other general information signs, they have white legends and borders on green (Section 2H.01).

Where you see it

Along freeways and many other highways, normally on the right-hand side of the road.

A common mistake

Ignoring them until you need them. If you break down or see a crash, the nearest mile marker is a quick way to tell a 911 dispatcher where you are.

Quick quiz

From where do mile marker numbers normally count up?

  1. The south or west state line
  2. The nearest big city
  3. The north or east state line
Show answer

A. The south or west state line. Section 2H.11: zero distance begins at the south and west state lines, or where the route begins within a state. Source: MUTCD 11th Edition, Chapters 2H to 2N, General Information and Service Signs: Sections 2H.11, 2H.01, FHWA; MUTCD 11th Edition, FHWA

Compare with

Next in guide and service signs: Hospital sign. See all guide and service signs or the full road signs list.

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Sources

  1. MUTCD 11th Edition, Chapters 2H to 2N, General Information and Service Signs: Sections 2H.11, 2H.01, FHWA
  2. MUTCD 11th Edition, FHWA. FHWA lists the current version as the 11th Edition with Revision 1, dated December 2025

Sign pictures are our own simplified drawings of the MUTCD designs, which are in the public domain (MUTCD Section 1D.06). Sources and image credits.