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John Cletheroe's
USA and Canada Holiday Hints |
There are also Indian Roads (in some Indian Reservations) and National Forest Service roads but the average visitor to the USA from abroad is very unlikely to use these roads.
Visitors to the USA who plan to drive should be sure to familiarise themselves in advance with the different designs of highway marker shields and map symbols used to indicate Interstate Highways, US Highways and State Highways. As a good rule of thumb if a highway marker shield isn't an Interstate, a US Highway or a pentagon shape then it's almost certainly a State Highway.
Interstate Highways
The above image is computer generated and therefore only an approximation of the real sign.
Interstate Highways are the US equivalent of Britain's motorways, France's autoroutes, Germany's autobahns, Italy's autostradas, etc. They are almost universally divided highways (dual carriageways) with a median (central reservation), controlled access via on and off ramps (slip roads) and at least two lanes plus a hard shoulder in each direction.
According to an article on the February 1968 edition of National Geographic magazine, the US was then in the process of completing 41,000 miles of Interstates, taking up 1.6 million acres for right of way, an area larger than the state of Delaware. These figures have probably increased somewhat since then.
Interstate Highways retain the same road number across state boundaries, in many cases over huge distances and in some cases all the way from the Atlantic coast to the Pacific coast or from the Canadian border to the Mexican border. Except for a very small number of exceptions, each one or two digit Interstate highway number only applies to one highway throughout the United States. However, I suspect that some three digit numbers may be repeated in different places.
Interstate Highways are indicated on highway marker shields, on signposts and on maps by a distinctive relatively simple shield containing the road number. The indication on maps, especially maps displayed as images on computers, may be a slightly simplified version of the normal shield. Photograph (26KB).
Interstate Highways are usually specified as I-15, I-80, etc (together with a compass direction if relevant, for example I-80 West or I-5 North).
Long distance Interstate Highways are given one or two digit numbers. Even numbered Interstates run east-west with low numbers in the south and high numbers in the north. Odd numbered Interstates run north-south with low numbers in the west and high numbers in the east.
Interstate Highways through and round cities are given three digit numbers with the first digit even. Interstate spur roads into cities and loops around cities are given three digit numbers with the first digit odd. The last two digits of the number indicate the main Interstate to which the spur or loop connects, for example I-405 connects to I-5.
The suffix "Bus.", "Business Loop" or "BL" indicates a road passing through a city. The suffix "Business Spur" or "BS" indicates a spur road running into a city.
In all states, Interstate Highways have mile markers with the distance being measured from a fixed point such as a state boundary or the start of the road. Some states also have mile markers on their US Highways and their State Highways.
In some states the exits on Interstates are given sequential numbers, while in others they are numbered within each state based on the mile markers. In the latter case, if there are two exits in the same mile then each is given a letter suffix, for example Exit 35A and Exit 35B.
California doesn't number its Interstate exits and Alaska hasn't yet got any Interstate Highways. Hawaii has some freeways on the island of Oahu but I'm not sure whether they are officially regarded as being Interstates or not; no exit numbers for these freeways are shown in the Rand McNally Road Atlas but Alexander Tropp emailed me to say that the American/Canadian Automobile Association Road Atlas does show exit numbers.
Interstate exit numbers are often marked on road maps and frequently quoted in directions (for example, in motel directories).
States with sequentially numbered Interstate exits are Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York State, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont.
States with mile marker numbered Interstate exits are Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington State, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
US Highways
The above image is computer generated and therefore only an approximation of the real sign.
US Highways are important national trunk routes.
The standard of US Highways varies considerably, from divided highway/controlled access roads (motorways/freeways) through four lane divided highways but without controlled access (dual carriageways) to traditional two lane roads. Even two lane highways tend to have wide hard shoulders but there are some exceptions, such as less important roads in mountainous regions.
US Highways retain the same road number across state boundaries. Each US Highway number only applies to one highway throughout the entire United States.
Many long distance US Highways are given numbers as follows: even numbers run east-west with low numbers in the north and high numbers in the south. Odd numbers run north-south with low numbers in the east and high numbers in the west. However, for US Highways the numbering rules are not adhered to nearly as strictly as with Interstates, presumably because many US Highways don't run rigidly north-south or east-west and because many were given their numbers in the past.
US Highways are indicated on highway marker shields, on signposts and on maps by a distinctive relatively complex shield containing the road number. The indication on maps, especially maps displayed as images on computers, may be a slightly simplified version of the normal shield.
US Highways are usually specified as US50, US191, etc, together with a compass direction if relevant, for example US50 West or US50 East.
As far as I am aware all US Highways are paved.
State Highways, State Roads, State Routes
California |
Colorado |
Florida |
North Carolina |
The highway marker shields for State Highways are completely different in each US state.
State Highways vary from important trunk roads to quiet backroads.
The standard of State Highways also varies very considerably. A very small number of State Highways are divided highway/controlled access roads (motorways/freeways), notable examples being some of the freeways in Los Angeles. Some State Highways are four lane divided highways but not controlled access (dual carriageways). However, the vast majority of State Highways are traditional two-lane highways.
State Highways are also often called State Roads or State Routes. All three terms are synonymous.
Each State Highway number only occurs once within each state. However, the same number can and often does refer to different State Highways in different states, which can occasionally be confusing.
State Highways are usually specified as SR5, etc (yet again with a compass direction if relevant), the SR meaning "State Road" or "State Route". Another common method of referring to State Highways is by the official two letter abbreviation for the relevant state followed by the road number, for example Ca1 (meaning California State Highway 1) or Co89 (meaning Colorado State Highway 89). Sometimes the full name of the state is used, for example "California 49". If the meaning is obvious, sometimes only the initial letter of the state is used, for example U143 or U-143 to refer to Utah State Highway 143.
Each state uses a different design of shield for its State Highway marker shield. The shields for State Highways are in most cases outlines of the state's shape on a map, a symbol associated with the state, or a simple geometrical shape. Details of the highway marker shield designs for each state can be found on this site in the "Introduction" page for each state, most easily accessed via the State/Province Index. As a general rule of thumb, if you see a highway marker shield which is not an Interstate, a US Highway or a pentagon shape, then it is almost certainly a State Highway.
Whereas Interstate Highways and US Highways are indicated on road maps in exactly the same way as they are on signposts and highway marker shields, a different system is used for State Highways. On road maps State Highways in all states are usually indicated by a outline circle, an ellipse or an oval, in each case containing the road number. However, in some cases State Highways may be indicated on maps by an outline rectangle containing the road number or by an outline simplified version of the State Highway marker shield containing the road number. Because different symbols can be used for State Highways, check the map's legend.
In most cases State Highway road numbering is not consistent across state boundaries but in a small number of cases two states have agreed to use the same road number, with a different state name prefix on each side of the boundary of course.
Almost all State Highways are paved but there are some exceptions. Maps always indicate unpaved roads.
County Roads, Secondary Roads, Farm Roads, Ranch Roads, Indian Roads, Forest Roads
The names given to roads of lesser importance than county roads varies from state to state. In most states these are called county roads or secondary roads. In Texas they are called farm roads and ranch roads. Arizona has Indian Routes and South Dakota has Bureau of Indian Affairs Highway System roads. There may also be additional names used in other states. I don't what name Louisiana, which is divided into parishes instead of counties, gives these roads.
To avoid tedious repetition of all the possibilities, this web site uses the name "county roads" to refer to all these types of roads.
Since county roads are purely for local use in rural areas they are almost always traditional two-lane roads. They are not usually marked on national or state highway maps, only on highly detailed local maps. If they are shown on maps then no road numbers may be indicated.
Some county roads are paved, others are unpaved.
Many states use a pentagonal shaped shield for their county road marker shields. This has a blue background, yellow text and a yellow border. The pentagon is oriented so that its base is horizontal. Some states and possibly some individual counties use other designs of shields. Some states use one or two letters to designate their county roads, with rectangular highway marker shields having white backgrounds and black text.
If you know the designs of the shields used to indicate Interstates, US Highways and the State Highways in the state in question, then it is a reasonable assumption that any design of shield that you don't recognise almost certainly indicates a county road.
There are standard designs of highway marker shields for Indian Routes and Forest Roads which apply in all relevant states but the normal visitor is unlikely to encounter these.
On road maps county roads are usually indicated, if at all, by an outline rectangle containing the road number or by an outline pentagon containing the road number. Because different symbols can be used for county roads, check the map's legend.
The numbering system used for county roads varies from state to state. Some states use purely numbers, some states use letter prefixes followed by numbers and some states use purely letters. In some states the same number (or combination of characters) is only used once within the state while in other states the same number (or combination of characters) is repeated - but never within the same county. The same county road number can and often does occur in numerous different states.
Statistics
According to USA Today 28-Feb-02, there are 3.9 million miles of public roads in the USA. 45% come under county jurisdiction, 30.6% under local jurisdiction (including towns, townships and municipalities), 19.6% under state jurisdiction, 3% under federal jurisdiction and 1.8% under other jurisdiction (including parks and other agencies).
Highways, Roads And Routes
In everyday usage Interstate Highways tend to nearly always be called "Interstate 80" or "I-80", etc.
In everyday usage, "Highway 5", "Road 5" and "Route 5" might refer to US5 or State Highway 5. The meaning is usually obvious from the context (especially if you consult a road map). For example "Route 66" normally means US66, the highway which used to run between Chicago and Los Angeles (but which has now been almost totally replaced by Interstates).
In Britain the word "route" is always pronounced "root" (to rhyme with "boot"). In the USA that pronunciation is often used but some people in the USA pronounce it "rowt" (to rhyme with "doubt"). Chris Jordan, who lives near Albany in New York State, kindly sent me this comment:
I pronounce it root, like boot, and around the US, this is pretty much how route is said. I believe they say "rowt" in the South and also Texas. When I say the south, I refer to Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Arkansas. Rowt is part of the southern accent. But either one is acceptable around the country.
All (or very nearly all) Interstates are divided highways (and limited access). Some but by no means all US Highways are divided highways. A few State Highways are divided highways, for example some of the freeways in large cities such as Los Angeles. Very few if any country roads are divided highways. Some main roads in towns are divided highways.
Emergency Telephones
See separate article.
Expressways
An expressway is a divided highway with controlled access, i.e. a motorway, almost always in a large city such as New York City. An expressway might be an Interstate, a US Highway, a State Highway or (very occasionally if ever) a county road. The term expressway tends to be used only in the east and only in urban areas. Most expressways are toll-free but I'm not sure that they all are.
Freeways
A freeway is a toll-free divided highway with controlled access, i.e. a motorway, almost always in a large city such as Los Angeles. A freeway might be an Interstate, a US Highway, a State Highway or (very occasionally if ever) a county road. The term freeway tends to be used only in the west and only in urban areas.
Limited Access Highways
Limited access highways have on and off ramps (which would be called slip roads in Britain). They have no roads intersecting them (other than by means of on and off ramps) and in the vast majority of cases it is only possible to enter and leave these roads on the right. A few limited access highways in congested urban areas have some on and off ramps on the left but this is very rare.
Pedestrians and some types of vehicles are prohibited from using limited access highways.
Most limited access highways are divided highways (dual carriageways) and are therefore equivalent to British motorways.
The Blue Ridge Parkway and the Natchez Trace Parkway are rare examples of limited access highways which are not divided highways. All the intersections with normal roads on these Parkways are by means of on and off ramps but each of these roads also have a small number of uncontrolled intersections with very minor rural roads to allow local farm vehicles to cross them.
All (or very nearly all) Interstates are limited access highways. Some but by no means all US Highways are limited access highways. A few State Highways are limited access highways, for example some of the freeways in large cities such as Los Angeles. I doubt if any county roads are limited access highways.
Limited Access Highway Entrances (Expressway Entrances, Freeway Entrances, Interstate Entrances)
Due to space restrictions, the entrances from normal roads to limited access highways (expressways, freeways, Interstates, etc) in urban areas can sometimes be narrow and far from obvious. Sometimes the signposting of freeway entrances leaves something to be desired, with only a small "Freeway Entrance" sign at ground level. Freeway entrances tend to be less obvious when a normal road passes over a freeway at the intersection than in the opposite situation.
When a freeway passes above a normal street, it can sometimes be all to easy to turn right into a parking lot or onto a frontage road and not the freeway's on ramp.
Depending on the design of the intersection (whether the on ramp is fairly straight or does a 180 degree turn), the direction in which you need to turn from the normal road to join the freeway may be the same as that in which you will eventually be travelling or the reverse direction, with no way of knowing in advance. Only the most detailed of electronic maps reveals the layout of the ramps at intersections. When approaching an intersection along the normal road keep a good look out for advance signs indicating which way you need to turn for each direction on the freeway, and therefore which lane you need to be in, and also whether you should turn just before passing over or under the freeway or just after. Also be aware of the convention on US road signs that a left or right pointing arrow with no tail means "turn here" whereas one with a vertical tail means "turn ahead".
Parkways
The term "parkway" refers to two types of road: on the one hand a toll road (usually of motorway standard), and on the other hand a outstanding scenic road such as the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Natchez Trace Parkway, and the Icefields Parkway between Banff and Jasper in Alberta.
In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania the major expressways are denoted by the names Parkway East (I-376), West (I-279), or North (I-279) (South will come with the completion of the Mon-Fayette Expressway). The Parkway East and West are shortened names for the Penn-Lincoln Parkway.
Turnpikes
A turnpike is normally a toll road, usually of motorway standard. However, some roads which were historically toll roads and thus called turnpikes no longer have a toll but still retain the name, which can be confusing. Toll roads are normally indicated by a distinct colour (often green) on road maps.
Frontage Roads
A frontage road is a relatively minor road running alongside a main highway, for local traffic. There is often a frontage road on each side of a highway. In the country frontage roads provide access to farms, fields, etc., while in towns they provide access to motels, restaurants, shops, gas stations and other businesses. Frontage roads are normally two-way.
It's very important to remember that frontage roads and roads in large car parks, such as at shopping malls, are still subject to the same rules and regulations as normal roads. For example, be sure to obey stop signs on these roads.
Frontage roads are also sometimes called service roads. Seth Verdot of Jefferson City Missouri kindly emailed me to say they are also sometimes called outer roads, although I must say I've never heard that term used myself. Perhaps this differs by region.
Surface Roads
This term is sometimes used to describe conventional roads in towns and cities, because urban limited access divided highways (Interstates, freeways, expressways, etc) tend to be elevated.
Business Routes
A Business Route (BR) is a diversion off a main road which passes through the business district of a town. A Business Route is therefore the opposite of a by-pass and should be ignored by through traffic. Shields having the same shape as that of Interstate Highways but with a light green colour are used to indicate Business Routes which divert from Interstates. It can sometimes be confusing if you are following an Interstate through a complex set of junctions and see a Business Route signpost for the same road number which you should ignore.
Service Areas
Toll-free controlled access highways in the USA and Canada do not have services in special areas reserved solely for their traffic as are found in Europe. Instead, services are found in the form of normal restaurants, garages, shops, etc., open to all customers and traffic, located at exits, in most cases at junctions with roads leading into towns, or a short distance along these approach roads. There are often advertising billboards for each of these businesses as you approach a town, together with official signposts at the exit itself which frequently specify both the direction and the distance.
Some long distance toll roads have European style service areas. Such an area is sometimes called an Oasis.
Rest Areas
Seth Verdot of Jefferson City Missouri kindly sent me the following message, reminding me about rest areas:
In addition to the service areas on American Interstate Highways, there are also "rest areas", which are provided by the government as a non-commercial part of the highway itself. They are usually found on remote stretches where there is no business and they are in the main untended. They generally consist of a large parking area, free public toilets, some benches, a pay phone, a large map under glass indicating your location, and probably some snack vending machines. They can be a good place to stretch the legs and shake off the stupor caused by a long, boring rural drive - professional over-the-road drivers are not allowed to drive more than sixteen hours in a day, and will park in these free locations for their compulsory eight hours of rest.James Cloninger of Columbus, Ohio sent me these additional comments:
Except for a few out-of-the-way remote rest areas, they have all modern toilets, phones, snack machines, etc. They are often patrolled by the Highway Patrol. If you wish to sleep, you must sign in with the Deputy on duty. There is usually a time limit on how long you can stay there (usually four to six hours).Most rest areas have separate parking areas for cars, RV's and trucks.
Some rest areas, especially those located just over state lines, have welcome centres which offer information for visitors.
Some states also provide rest areas on US Highways and State Highways.
Road Names
Many roads have names as well as numbers. These can be official names or unofficial names, the latter often being used for tourist promotion purposes. Names of mountain passes are also frequently used. Some road names may apply to a connected set of different road numbers; sometimes different parts of the same road number have different names.
Many of Los Angeles' freeways and New York City's expressways have both road numbers and official names.
A few roads only have names.
A few roads such as the Great River Road and the Lake Superior Circle Tour have special highway marker shields which appear on signposts and road maps in addition to their normal road numbers.
Signposts tend to include both road numbers and official road names but drivers should be always prepared for signposts which only include one or the other.
Street Names In Towns
Streets in towns have names or street numbers which are independent of and additional to any highway numbering.
In many towns the streets are numbered: 12th Street, 15th Avenue, etc. This especially applies in towns laid out in the block system.
At every intersection of two streets in towns throughout the USA and Canada there is a sign bearing the names of the two streets which cross. These signs normally consist of two small rectangular plates bearing the street names, mounted at right angles to one another, with one sign under the other, on a pole near the intersection. On major routes through towns the names of the street being crossed is sometimes indicated on large overhead signs at each intersection. Often the current block number is also indicated, in smaller type, for example "Colorado Ave 1200" (meaning that this intersection is at the 1200 block of Colorado Avenue, i.e. buildings numbered 1200 to 1299).
Amos Newcombe of Boston emailed me to comment that in some city centres the street name signs have been vandalised - either removed, damaged or rotated so as to point in the wrong direction. I've never seen any examples of such vandalism in small-town USA and Canada - but then I tend to keep away from the big cities as much as possible.
Beware of streets changing their names along their length. In small and medium sized towns this is very rare but in large cities where what were once separate suburbs have now merged together it is not uncommon.
Beware of streets which are not continuous because of natural features such as rivers, lakes and hills. You may need to divert onto other streets in order to reach a different section of a street.
Tolls And Charges
Tolls, both for toll roads and toll bridges, tunnels, etc., tend to be very low in the USA and Canada. It isn't usually worth considering taking an alternative route just because of a toll. No sales tax is charged on road tolls, road bridge tolls or road tunnel tolls (or perhaps where relevant the tax is included in the stated charge).
James Cloninger of Columbus, Ohio kindly send me this description of the most commonly used system for turnpikes (toll roads):
You get a ticket as you enter the turnpike, and your toll is based on the distance you travel. The ticket has a chart, indicating the toll based on your destination exit. Often the time when you enter and exit the tollway is marked on the ticket. That information is used to calculate your speed and issue a speeding ticket if you have been rather heavy-footed.The following information was kindly provided in November 2005 by Jeff Kitsko, the webmaster of the Pennsylvania Highways web site:
Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) is spreading across the US and Canada. E-ZPass is the system for most of the northeastern US, with other systems in various parts of the country. However, unlike the 407 ETR in Toronto, all US toll roads that use ETC also use tickets and cash. The writer from Columbus mentioned that the entry and exit time is calculated to determine if you were speeding and if so, you are issued a citation. I can assure you this is false.If a road passes through a US National Park then you must pay the park entrance fee at the entrance station, almost certainly located on the highway itself. Usually main roads which pass through National Monuments are free unless you intend to stop.
In Canada, in most cases motorists using a road through a National Park do not need to pay a toll unless they intend to stop. However, the Canadian authorities seem to be tightening up on this in recent years so I would highly advise anyone planning to stop to pay the park entrance fee. In Canada you often have to divert off the highway to visit the park's entrance station.
Road Markings (Lane Markings)
Lines on the road surface separating lanes of traffic travelling in the same direction are white.
Lines on the road surface marking the separation of two-way traffic are yellow.
On each carriageway of a divided highway (dual carriageway) and on one-way roads there is a solid yellow line on the lefthand side of the road. If you see a yellow line on the righthand side of a road then you are travelling in the wrong direction.
There are concrete highways in parts of the US, especially the Interstates. Canadian highways are asphalt/blacktop/tar/whatever you wanna call it. Reason is that concrete expands and contracts to such a degree that it'd self-destruct during a Canadian winter.The joins between the slabs of concrete often cause a rhythmic thump as you drive which I'm sure does the tyres and suspension no good at all.
Most car rental companies include clauses in their rental agreements prohibiting the use of their vehicles on unpaved roads.
Unpaved roads are usually clearly marked on maps, often by dashed lines. Unpaved roads may also be referred to as gravel roads, dirt roads or unsealed roads. This web site uses the term unpaved roads to cover all of these.
Driving - Combination Of Road Type Names
Driving - Other Articles Index
Driving - Road Signs, Signposts And Highway Marker Shields
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Most recently modified 26-Mar-06
