Interstates? Routes?

[englebert]

Hello,

Bit of a newbie question here! I'm not sure what part of the forum it should be asked either...

Anyway. I've been using Google Maps to plan my route. I just want to confirm what the icons are if you could help :)

[RoadTripper Brad]

Hello,

Bit of a newbie question here! I'm not sure what part of the forum it should be asked either...

Anyway. I've been using Google Maps to plan my route. I just want to confirm what the icons are if you could help :)

Hi Englebert, welcome to the forum!

Here are the definitions:

This is an Interstate.

This is a US Federal Route.

This is a State Route (note: actual state shields [the ones on signs] are different).

Hope this helps.

-Brad

ps- you can also find some information on general road signs here.

[englebert]

Thanks for that Brad, and the link.

When it comes to following directions, i know people will call interstate 90 'i 90'. Are there abbreviations for the others?

[lhuff]

Unfortunately for the traveler - most others are usually referred to as Highway or just the number. There's no distinction between a state route and a US route in the vernacular.

Laura

[englebert]

Fair enough, i guess the idea is that road signs are meant to be easy to interpret anyway...

[RoadTripper Brad]

When people write highway routes in text or speaking, they may say things like SR 45 for State Route 45. If people are talking about mutliple states, they'll typically use the Postal Abbreviation (WA 9 for Washington State Route 9). So, in a post from us, you'll most likely see directions like this:

Take I-10 to AZ Loop 202 East bound, exiting at Arizona Avenue, and turning north on Arizona Ave, which will become AZ 87.

County routes are usually denoted by the full name of the county route: Maricopa County Route 85 (Buckeye Road).

When talking to someone though, they'll most likely say "Take 9" for Washington Route 9, or SR9.

You'll get more specific details when the directions cross state boundries, people are usually nice enough to denote, for example, a Washington Route vs. a Oregon Route.

Hope this too helps.

[UKCraig]

I do find the route numbers confusing when planning a route using Streets & Trips or, sometimes, on this forum. But usually it all makes sense when you're on the ground. Thankfully!

[Mark Sedenquist]

I do find the route numbers confusing when planning a route using Streets & Trips or, sometimes, on this forum.

All of the RoadTrip Advisors are encouraged (expected) to use and adopt the A/P (Associated Press) standards for describing state highways and other roads on this Forum. We try and provide clear identification of the various roads for this very reason.

Mark

[englebert]

Thanks for the help, i'll rely on the good American people to help me along my way ;)

[Mass Tim]

Generally (certainly not always) you will find that routes are numbered in such a way as to avoid mass confusion. So, for instance, you will notice that I-90 is nowhere near US-90, and I-5 is not near US-5. In fact, for both of these instances, the US route is at the opposite end of the compass needle (I-90 North, US-90 South) when looking at an atlas.

I'd say you would be most likely to run into routes with the same number when dealing with state (and in some places, county,) roads.

Occasionally, you'll see a sign with the wrong shield on it. For instance, I know there is a sign locally that shows a square white field with the numbers "20" on it. However, it should be a US shield to denote US-20. On the rare occasions where two routes have the same number, this can cause some undue grief. I find it is best to have a good map handy at these times.