milemarker

A milemarker, or mile marker, is a sign or marker that indicates the distance in miles along a road, highway, or trail from a defined starting point. They are commonly used to gauge progress, guide drivers and emergency responders, and support road maintenance and planning. Distances are typically measured from an origin such as a state line, a city, or the terminus of a highway. In many places numbers increase in the direction of travel, while in others the system is anchored to a fixed point and may reset at certain junctions or county lines.

Design and placement of milemarkers vary by country and road type. In the United States, mileposts are usually small reflective posts or plaques placed at regular intervals along the shoulder or median, showing long-distance mileage in miles with fractional values. On interstates, mile markers often align with the distance from the state's western or southern terminus or from the state line. In the United Kingdom and some European countries, mileposts or miles to a major destination (such as a capital city) are commonly shown on stone or metal posts and may be embedded in walls or road structures.

History and significance: The concept has ancient roots in milestones used to measure distance along Roman roads, but modern mile markers proliferated with organized highway systems in the 19th and 20th centuries. Today milemarkers support navigation, incident response, route planning, and traveler orientation, though accuracy can be affected by road realignments, maintenance, or vandalism. In many regions, digital maps and GPS complement traditional markers to provide precise distance information.