Guide signs
Mile Marker sign
Shows the distance in miles from where the highway entered the state, counted from the south or west end.
- Tall rectangle
- Green
- MUTCD D10-1
Shape and background first
Federal designation D10-1 in the MUTCD, the national standard every state signs to. Placed roughly every mile along most interstates and many state highways, almost always on the right shoulder.
What the MUTCD specifies
Designation: D10-1
MUTCD Section 2H.11
Conventional road size: 10 x 18 in
Source: Federal Highway Administration, MUTCD 11th Edition (December 2023), Part 2, Table 2H-1, verified 2026-09-26.
How states handle it
A handful of states count from the north or east end instead of the south or west, so the number can climb in the direction a driver least expects.
What the test wants you to know
The mistake people make
Emergency dispatchers use this number to find a stranded driver or a crash when there is no other landmark around. The practical exam question is usually about what to read off during a roadside call, not about what the sign shows, so know your own mile marker before you need it.
