What does the US Route Marker mean?

The US Route Marker (MUTCD M1-4) is a guide sign under the federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, the national standard the states build from. It identifies a US numbered highway and its route number.

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

What shape and color is the US Route Marker?

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 US Route Marker often mistaken for?

The Interstate shield (M1-1). Blue and red means Interstate; black and white means US route.

What are the other guide and service signs?

Destination signD1-1, D1-2, D1-3

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.