How To Navigate Highway Signs Without a GPS

When I first started driving over 55 years ago, GPS (The Global Positioning System) was something out of science fiction. To get from point “A” to “B,” you would keep a road atlas, gas stations would give away road maps, and AAA would have its time-honored paper “TripTik” planner (complete with maps). TripTiks provided a simple and easy method to track your route and trip progress. Or you would call wherever you were heading to get directions, then stop at a gas station for guidance once you were close.

Today, GPS, cell phones, online route planning services, and platforms such as On-Star offer “turn-by-turn” navigation/directions. These adaptive technologies help drivers reduce the possibility of missing an exit or taking a wrong turn along their route, reducing anxiety. But if you’re off the beaten track and these technologies become unreliable — or you just want to navigate by following highway signs — read on as traffic law experts and a CDL (Commercial Driver’s License) program coordinator help you understand how to navigate highway signs without a GPS.

A Brief History of Highway Naming Systems

Naturally, the number of local streets, roads and highways increased as automobiles became more popular. But they weren’t always numbered and named consistently. Road names would change from state to state, making it challenging when traveling across state lines or across the country, explains Jason Reese from the Wagner Reese law firm. “For example, the Lincoln Highway can become the Jefferson Highway at a state border. Drivers can become confused, leading to navigational errors, which can cause serious accidents,” he says.

In the ’20s, the modern highway system was introduced. Black and white road signs with a nationally adopted standardized numbering system supported a more logical way to plan long-distance road travel. In 1956, President Eisenhower signed the Federal Aid Highway Act, which became the interstate highway system we know today, featuring those familiar red, white, and blue route signs.

How Interstates Are Numbered

Highway numbers are not randomly assigned. According to Joshua Branch, an attorney at The Law Offices of Joshua W. Branch LLC., “Routes that run east to west are even-numbered (I-80, for example, goes from Teaneck, N.J., to San Francisco, CA.). Numbers in the southern regions are lower. Branch added, “North to south routes are odd-numbered (I-35 runs from Laredo, Texas to Duluth, Minnesota) with the lower numbers starting in the west.” Major interstate routes mostly end in “0” or “5.” Consistent numbering of the interstate highway system provides a quick way for drivers to gain a general sense of direction.

Auxiliary (3-Digit) Interstates

Three-digit interstate numbers indicate the route’s direction (how it travels).

• A ‘loop’ begins with an even number (for example, I-465) and ‘loops’ around, but does not fully circle a city, then reconnects to the original (parent) two-digit route (I-65).
• A ‘beltway‘ (for example, I-495) follows the same numbering routine as a loop but completely circles a city or metropolitan area before reconnecting to the parent road (I-95).
• A ‘spur‘ road begins with an odd number (for example, I-165) “that goes directly to a city’s downtown region or airport but does not reconnect to the parent road,” says Reese.

“I’ve done cases where someone made an unsafe lane change at the last minute to ‘get back on course,’ which confused them and caused a crash,” Reese adds. When driving on unfamiliar roads or highways, being aware of this numbering system can help you avoid getting caught in the wrong lane, especially during times of heavy traffic.

State Highways and Regional Naming Conventions

State highways (which are different from the interstate highway system) are planned, paid for, and maintained by individual states. Based on each state’s unique transportation traditions and history, most states developed their own naming and numbering conventions long before national standards or the Interstate Highway System existed.

Because there is no national coordination for state-level numbering, some states reuse road names and numbers already used by neighboring states. This is why a road number or name in one state can mean something very different in another state. Branch explained, “Each state likely has its own numbering patterns, either sequentially or [similar to the interstate numbering system] by geographic position” (low numbers in the southern part of the state, higher numbers in the north). Other conventions include:

• Northeastern states commonly use the prefix “Route” or “SR” for state routes.
• States in the central part of the country frequently use the first initial of their state name: “K” for Kansas or “M” for Michigan’s route names or numbers.
• Western states regularly use prefixes “SR” for state routes or “SH” for state highways.

Using Highway Numbering to Navigate

“Understanding the highway numbering system helps the driver go in the direction that they are supposed to go,” said Andre K. The, a truck driving instructor from Pensacola State College. “It’s critical to be aware of, understand and read all road signs carefully.”

Common road signage includes:

• Red, white and blue shield-shaped interstate highway signs.
• Black and white U.S. highway signs.
• Green directional informational signs show exit and exit numbers, distances to exits, other roads or attractions, city names, route names or numbers, as well as directional arrows for greater clarity, which helps when driving on unfamiliar county routes, parkways, or even lettered highways.
• Green, or black and white (depending on whether it’s an interstate or state highway or road) mile markers show the distance between state borders. They are also useful for tracking progress and verifying speedometer calibration (at 60 MPH, it takes one minute to go one mile).
• Driving at night or in inclement weather significantly reduces visibility. Slow down on unfamiliar roads and look for reflective signs and mile markers.

FAQ

What are the most reliable non-GPS navigation tools?

Back in the day (pre-GPS), paper maps and or compass worked just fine, offered security, and still do. But in reality, you are the most reliable non-GPS navigation tool. Practice situational awareness by connecting with and utilizing the information your surroundings provide. Some cars have built-in compasses, which indicate where the sun rises (east) and sets (west). Look for landmarks, rivers, bridges or tall buildings. Read road signs closely—check shield colors, don’t confuse I-80 for US-80—most exit signs list nearby towns, junctions or interchanges. This can help you orient yourself. Stop at a gas station or rest stop to ask for directions. It would also be a good time to fill up in case you are really lost.

Are printed directions still useful?

Absolutely. As cliché as it may seem, you should always keep a map in your car. Your GPS can lose its signal, and if not regularly updated, can send you on a wild goose chase, or worse. Reese stated, “People have followed their GPS straight into lakes, onto train tracks, and even the wrong way down the highway. Hundreds of thousands of GPS-related accidents happen every year, and hundreds die from wrong-way driving incidents.”

Reese instructs students to trip plan using old-school methods, not modern technology. Analog tools like printed directions [and maps] let you be proactive and get ready for you trip. “Your GPS gives you information in pieces, keeping you dependent, reactive and distracted,” said Reese. Writing out (or printing) your directions and reviewing your entire route before your trip helps prepare for your drive and can keep you on course. Reduce distractions by only reviewing them at rest stops.

Experts

• Andre K. The has been the CDL Truck Driving Program Coordinator and instructor at Pensacola State College for the past eight years.
• Joshua W. Branch is an attorney, founder and managing partner at The Law Offices of Joshua W. Branch LLC.
• Jason Reese co-founded Wagner Reese, LLP in 2000.

Resources

• AAA: “TripTik Travel Planner“
• National Geographic: “Atlas“
• National Archives: Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library “Interstate Highway System“
• U.S. Dept. of Transportation Federal Highway Administration: “From Names to Numbers: The Origins of the U.S. Numbered Highway System“

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