milemarkers

Milemarkers, commonly written as mile markers or mileposts, are roadside markers that indicate the distance in miles from a defined starting point such as the beginning of a highway, a state line, or a major city. They provide a fixed reference for navigation, emergency response, maintenance, and planning, and are common on long-distance routes, interstates, and rural roads.

In countries that use miles, mile markers typically show numbers representing miles from the starting point. Within a jurisdiction, mileposts generally increase in the direction of travel and may reset when a route crosses into a new state or province. Some highways pair mile markers with exit numbers to help locate exits by mile distance.

Design varies: traditional markers are metal or concrete posts with painted or embossed numerals; some are reflective, illuminated, or embedded in the pavement. In certain regions, mile markers may include decimal fractions (for example, 12.3 miles) or letters indicating direction.

In many parts of the world, kilometers replaced miles on major roads, and kilometer markers are used instead of mile markers. Historically, milestones used on turnpikes are the precursors to modern mile markers; the term "milestone" is more common in older contexts or in the UK.

Today mile markers remain a practical navigational tool, aiding drivers and responders to determine location and distance. They support maintenance planning, incident reporting, and map-based referencing in routing, emergency services, and transportation records.