What does the Destination sign mean?

The Destination sign (MUTCD D1-1, D1-2, D1-3) is a guide sign under the federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, the national standard the states build from. It names the places reached by the route and the direction to take.

Source: MUTCD 11th Edition (FHWA), checked 2026-09-09.

What shape and color is the Destination sign?

What a horizontal rectangle means. Usually guidance: direction, distance and destination. Also used for some regulatory plaques mounted under another sign.

What green means. Permitted movements, direction, distance and destination guidance.

Guide and service signs. Direction, services, recreation: three colors doing three jobs, and not one of them carrying a duty. Work out which job the color does and most questions in this group answer themselves.

What is the Destination sign often mistaken for?

Distance signs (D2 series), which give mileage rather than a turn direction.

The Destination sign compared side by side with the Distance sign

Destination signthis sign	Distance signD2-1, D2-2, D2-3
GroupGuide and service signs	GroupGuide and service signs
ShapeHorizontal rectangle	ShapeHorizontal rectangle
ColorGreen background, white legend, arrow and border	ColorGreen background, white legend and border
What it meansNames the places reached by the route and the direction to take.	What it meansLists upcoming places and how many miles away they are.

What does the permit test ask about the Destination sign?

This question is from the practice bank, with the answer marked.

Question 1

A sign in this color carries:

1. A.A warning about the road ahead
2. B.Directions, distances and destinations(correct answer)
3. C.A traffic law you must obey
4. D.A motorist service such as fuel or lodging

Source: MUTCD D1-1, D1-2, D1-3

What are the other guide and service signs?

US Route MarkerM1-4

Distance signD2-1, D2-2, D2-3

Street Name signD3-1

Exit Gore signE5-1, E5-1a

Exit Number plaqueE1-5P, E1-5bP

EXIT ONLY panelE11-1d, E11-1e, E11-1f

Rest AreaD5-1, D5-1a, D5-2

HospitalD9-2

General Service signs (Gas, Food, Lodging, Telephone)D9-7, D9-8, D9-9, D9-1

Reference Location sign (mile marker)D10-1, D10-2, D10-3

All 11 guide and service signs on one page, or every US road sign by shape and color.

Test yourself on this sign and the rest of the set with a road signs practice test for Florida, Texas or California.

The artwork is the federal design itself, which the manual dedicates to the public domain in MUTCD 11th Edition, Part 1, Section 1D.06, checked 2026-09-09. The Interstate Shield, the 511 pictograph and the National Scenic Byway graphic are named exceptions and are not reproduced anywhere on this site.

Source: Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, 11th Edition. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the Federal Highway Administration or any state agency.