milepost

A milepost is a marker placed along a road, rail line, or trail that indicates distance, typically in miles, from a defined origin such as the start of a route, a state line, or a major terminus. Mileposts provide a simple reference for navigation, emergency response, and maintenance planning, helping users determine how far they have traveled or how far remains to a destination.

On roads, mileposts may be standalone stones or posts, or they may be integrated into signs, guardrails, or overhead structures. They usually display the mileage from the route’s origin and may include the route number, direction, and occasionally the next city or junction. In some regions the numbers increase in the direction of travel; in others they may be aligned with a broader highway mileage system.

Regional variations exist. In the United States and parts of Canada, highway mileposts commonly increase from the beginning of a route and are used for location references in maps, reports, and emergency dispatch. On railways, mileposts mark distance from a fixed origin and assist in timetable planning and signaling. In many older European roads, milestone markers date from turnpike eras or even earlier and may use miles or kilometers, depending on local convention. While the design and exact placement vary, the core purpose remains a straightforward distance reference along a transportation route.