Mileage signs: long distances?

[xzmattzx]

I'm curious as to what kind of large distances are shown on mileage aisngs in your area. What's the farthest places you've ever seen given on signs that indicate how far away you are?

There are a few that I have seen that are interesting to drive past.

One is just west of Baltimore, where I-70 starts. It gives the mileage to Columbus OH, St. Louis MO, Denver CO, and Cove Fort UT.

http://www.interstate-guide.com/images051/i-070_et_27.jpg

Another one I've seen is near downtown Richmond, VA. It gives the mileage going southbound, and includes the distance to Miami, which is the southern terminus.

Lastly, US Route 50 is an at-grade road that goes from Ocean City, MD, to San Francisco. In Ocean City, you can see a sign that gives the distance to San Francisco. The sign is so popular, and has been stolen or vandalized so much, that it was taken out of the ground (like a regular stop sign sits in the ground), and placed on an overhang.

So, what long-distance mileage signs are there where you're from?

[Alex Von Königsberg]

This sign is located on US-50 (E/B) in West Sacramento (some 140 km East of San Francisco). It is posted right at the fork where I-80 and US-50 split apart. The sign was installed only 3 years ago.

http://www.route50.com/sacramento-sign-new.jpg

And below is its complementary from the other end of US-50 :)

http://www.route50.com/US_50_Sign.jpg

The second one was installed earlier because I found it online some 4-5 years ago.

These signs obviously have no value in terms of practical application and serve rather as the mere symbol. No one travelling across the country would stay on US-50 for the entire trip.

[ChrisZwolle]

http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images025/i-040_eb_exit_001_02a.jpg

[x-type]

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a203/ixic/walserbergM3.jpg

it's quite a curiosity in Europe such long. this one is right after A-D border. and i remember that i saw in Spain sign to Madrid near Barcelona

[ChrisZwolle]

http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/4412/picture124mediumqs0.jpg

A Dutch lookalike sign in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain

[Nikom]

Here is one in Portugal,near the border with Spain :)

http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/7648/a601lj3.jpg

[x-type]

Here is one in Portugal,near the border with Spain :)


khhhm, topic is about long distances. 156 km is not too long.

[Verso]

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a203/ixic/walserbergM3.jpg

it's quite a curiosity in Europe such long. this one is right after A-D border. and i remember that i saw in Spain sign to Madrid near Barcelona

Soon after the German-Swiss border by Basle (Basel) it says Berlin - 850 km (about 530 mi). :)

[Joshapd]

Leaving Amsterdam on the A1 you see a sign wich gives the distances to Berlin and Copenhagen, don't know the distance.

[ChrisZwolle]

Leaving Amsterdam on the A1 you see a sign wich gives the distances to Berlin and Copenhagen, don't know the distance.

Those are one of a kind signs, and not embedded to the signage on those motorways

[lpioe]

^^
Aren't most of the signs posted here 'one of a kind signs'?

[Aokromes]

Russia:

Vladivostok 2400km
Moscow 7200km

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/5518/vladivostoktoulanude8pu2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[gladisimo]

http://www.route50.com/sacramento-sign-new.jpg

These signs obviously have no value in terms of practical application and serve rather as the mere symbol. No one travelling across the country would stay on US-50 for the entire trip.

Here's an "incomplete" list:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_long-distance_mileage_signs_on_interstates

This is curious. Does anyone know if there's any kind of standardisation in determining what destinations are put into these signs? It seems absurd for someone to put in the terminus of the highway on the sign...and if strangers to the road see it, they might think that there are no major destinations along the route! (What I always thought the signs portrayed)

[xzmattzx]

Here's an "incomplete" list:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_long-distance_mileage_signs_on_interstates

This is curious. Does anyone know if there's any kind of standardisation in determining what destinations are put into these signs? It seems absurd for someone to put in the terminus of the highway on the sign...and if strangers to the road see it, they might think that there are no major destinations along the route! (What I always thought the signs portrayed)

I think it's just for fun. Termini are put on just to kind of show how far that Interstate or road will take you if you keep using it.

Certainly you don't expect the federal government to list every single large and medium-sized city on one Iterstate from coast to coast? It would be ridiculous to see a sign in Boston at the beginning of I-90 that says:

WORCESTER x MI
SPRINGFIELD x MI
ALBANY x MI
SYRACUSE x MI
BUFFALO x MI
ERIE x MI
CLEVELAND x MI
SOUTH BEND x MI
CHICAGO x MI
MADISON x MI
LA CROSSE x MI
SIOUX FALLS x MI
BILLINGS x MI
BUTTE x MI
COUER D'ALENE x MI
SPOKANE x MI
SEATTLE x MI

A typical mileage sign would probably give the distances to Worcester, Springfield, and Albany. Any other cities would show up on distance signs as you went west into Massachusetts and New York. If a super-distance sign was put up, I would expect it to show just the biggest of the cities, like Cleveland, Chicago, and Seattle. There is a bit of a logical explanation for putting far-away cities like that on a sign, because the Interstate goes to those cities for a reason, and commercial trucks or people driving cross-country would be able to use one road to get from Boston to Seattle.

[ChrisZwolle]

This is how i like it:

1st: Next exit
2nd: First regional destination
3rd: Control City
4th: Control City or Remote Focal Point (usual in smaller countries).

Near urban areas maybe a 5th; a destination on an intersection interstate, which route should be logical. (like Pittsburgh and New York on the I-80 between Cleveland and Youngstown in Ohio)

[Nephasto]

Here in Europe, the farthest away I've seen was in France, where some signs indicate Paris at long distances... even above 800km's in some of the most "remote" places.

[Nephasto]

Usually there aren't many destinations indicated from other countries in the signs, which kind of limitate things for Europe. ;)
Although there are certain exceptions... you can see the distance to Barcelona in motorways in southern France at distances of more than 400 km's.

Also, in Spain the same motorway goes from Algeciras to Barcelona, and up to the border with France... so you could have signs indicating Barcelona at a distance of more than 1000 km's from Barcelona (near Algeciras), but I think there aren't any. Just distances to closer cities like Malaga, Valencia, etc.

[gladisimo]

I think it's just for fun. Termini are put on just to kind of show how far that Interstate or road will take you if you keep using it.

Certainly you don't expect the federal government to list every single large and medium-sized city on one Iterstate from coast to coast?


No of course not! I would think it would list the three closest cities. From experience I know they list the three closest cities in the urban areas, and in the rural areas they would have one of those signs every 50 miles or so, and then when a smaller town comes up, it would get its own sign.

[ChrisZwolle]

Here in Europe, the farthest away I've seen was in France, where some signs indicate Paris at long distances... even above 800km's in some of the most "remote" places.

800kms? I haven't seen that, but then again, i haven't drove the whole French autoroute system.

http://franceautoroutes.free.fr/photos/a62/A62-039-B.jpg

[ChrisZwolle]

Strasbourg 560km near Grenoble
http://franceautoroutes.free.fr/photos/a48/A48-008-B.jpg

[Minato ku]

I have ever see see more than 1000 km in France on A6 motorway : Milan about 1500 km

[Rebasepoiss]

The longest distance sign I have seen in Estonia:
http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/3083/stockholm412vo6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[Verso]

^^ :crazy: Ok, this is certainly the weirdest destination-sign I've ever seen: pointing to a city, for which you must use a ferry, and the distance counts in the ferry distance. I believe you have signs for Helsinki as well then, if coming from Riga. :crazy:

[Aokromes]

I think http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/4412/picture124mediumqs0.jpg wins by far the stockholm one by far has weirdest destination-sign.

[Nephasto]

800kms? I haven't seen that, but then again, i haven't drove the whole French autoroute system.

http://franceautoroutes.free.fr/photos/a62/A62-039-B.jpg

Well, I'm not sure about the 800 km's... it was just a +/- random number, but I think I've distances around that in France.

I have ever see see more than 1000 km in France on A6 motorway : Milan about 1500 km

Milan about 1500km on the A6? How can that be, if the distance between Paris and Milan is under 1000km??

I think http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/4412/picture124mediumqs0.jpg wins by far the stockholm one by far has weirdest destination-sign.

But that's just a touristic sign, not a real sign, and definatly not a road signs, so it doesn't really qualify for this.

[Aokromes]

^^ I know that :) for now the Siberian one wins by far :)

[lpioe]

If I remember correctly there is a sign showing Paris on the A10 in Italy near the french border. Can anyone confirm this?

[Nephasto]

^^ I know that :) for now the Siberian one wins by far :)

Well, that one in Siberia you showed looks like the one in the canary islands. Just for tourist(well, not touristic, if it's in Siberia :D ) purposes or whatever.... clearly not the real thing. ;)

I can also paint a sign in my street showing the distance to Singapore and put it into a wooden telephone pole. ;)

[Cicerón]

Also, in Spain the same motorway goes from Algeciras to Barcelona, and up to the border with France... so you could have signs indicating Barcelona at a distance of more than 1000 km's from Barcelona (near Algeciras), but I think there aren't any. Just distances to closer cities like Malaga, Valencia, etc.

There is a sign near Marbella on AP-7 indicating the distance to Barcelona.

Also, in Spain, on radial highways near Madrid you have signs indicating the distance to the cities you can go using that highway. For example, on A-1: Burgos, Santander, Logroño, Bilbao, Vitoria, San Sebastián and Irún.

[Aokromes]

Well, that one in Siberia you showed looks like the one in the canary islands. Just for tourist(well, not touristic, if it's in Siberia :D ) purposes or whatever.... clearly not the real thing. ;)

I can also paint a sign in my street showing the distance to Singapore and put it into a wooden telephone pole. ;)

It's not joke/tourist/whatever false thing, it's on a road on Siberia :)

http://dreamers1.com/russia/Ulan_Ude/Ulan_Ude_Pictures.htm

[Minato ku]

Well, I'm not sure about the 800 km's... it was just a +/- random number, but I think I've distances around that in France.



Milan about 1500km on the A6? How can that be, if the distance between Paris and Milan is under 1,000km??
.
It will maybe around 1,000 km and not 1,500 but with motorway Milan is at more than 1,000 km of Paris

[Verso]

http://dreamers1.com/russia/Ulan_Ude/Ulan_Ude_Pictures.htm

:master: Thanks for this site, I was looking for it more than an hour! Now I can publish this sign, pointing to Chita. :)
http://img373.imageshack.us/img373/6626/itakt1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

:cheers:

[Nephasto]

It's not joke/tourist/whatever false thing, it's on a road on Siberia :)

http://dreamers1.com/russia/Ulan_Ude/Ulan_Ude_Pictures.htm

Still, I don't consider it to be eligible for this.
Though the sign Verso just posted(from that same website) would be! And although not 7200km, 1815km is still quite far away. :D

Btw: Quite a nice landscape in southern(I guess, from the landscape and the fact that the transsiberian railway passes nearby that it's southern) siberia. :)

[Verso]

^^ It's even more than 1,000 miles!:D I agree, that sign for Moscow (7,200 km) isn't very useful (it's interesting though), but to point to Chita, if standing in Khabarovsk, is the only logical thing.:cheers:

[Nephasto]

It will maybe around 1,000 km and not 1,500 but with motorway Milan is at more than 1,000 km of Paris


From www.viamichelin.com:
Paris-Milan: Distance: 854km including 816km on motorways

Anyway, if there are signs near Paris with the distance to Milan that would still be a great distance.

There is a sign near Marbella on AP-7 indicating the distance to Barcelona.



Well, than that signs near Marbella must state a distance of a little bit more than 1000km's to Barcelona. We should see a photo of that one!

Also, in Spain, on radial highways near Madrid you have signs indicating the distance to the cities you can go using that highway. For example, on A-1: Burgos, Santander, Logroño, Bilbao, Vitoria, San Sebastián and Irún.


I guess the best you can get would be a little bit over 600 km's for Barcelona and La Coruña.

[UrbanFanatic!]

Well.. maybe in north Mexico.. The longest I've seen is of Cancun 1000 km, from Coatzacoalcos, in South Veracruz.

[Alex Von Königsberg]

In California, the longest useful posted distances I have seen were 420 miles (670 km) from Sacramento to LA and 400 miles (640 km) from Redding, CA to Portland, OR.

I think it would be quite convenient if upon leaving San Diego they posted distances to some major cities that I-5 runs through (e.g. LA, Sacramento, Portland, Seattle). From San Diego to Seattle it would be impressive 2000 km, and yet it would not be useless because many tourists indeed cross the entire West Coast on I-5 (some non-tourists do too).

[x-type]

this is one of the longest in Croatia. actually, there should be few more on the same motorway few exits before, or even on border crossing.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a203/ixic/A4-D28/IMGP1388.jpg

[Verso]

^^ How 'bout this?;) Split - 403 km (or sth like that).

http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/3170/a7ld7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://www.homepage.hispeed.ch/Dj-Micky/sm05/Sommerferienteil1.htm

[Reivajar]

If I'm not wrong, leaving Madrid on the A-1 you can see a sign with the distance to Paris, 1300 km aproximately. I think it's the farthest pleace I've seen on a official sign -at least in Spain-.

[Republica]

Well, than that signs near Marbella must state a distance of a little bit more than 1000km's to Barcelona. We should see a photo of that one!

It says 1000km and is just past Marbella, maybe around Benalmadena, I've seen it too, we were doing the drive from Marbella to Barcelona and this sign nearly made me cry.

[pwalker]

In the U.S., I think these rare signs are somebody's sense of humor. The interstate highway system has standards for these type of things, but some jurisdictions do it anyway. However, the sign out of Baltimore on I-70 is reasonable, as this road is a direct route to Denver. I guesss the significance of the Cove Fort, Utah mileage on this sign, is it is the terminus of I-70. However, how many travel from Baltimore to Cove Fort, Utah as a destination? My guess would be about zero!

[Liam-Manchester]

In the UK, places over 100 miles (with the exception of London) aren't usually shown on distance signs. While signing a place that is over 500 miles or something like 1000km away isn't necessary, I'd like to see signs to places in the UK from further away. The M6 is the longest motorway in the UK and when travelling south from Scotland, Manchester and Liverpool which are the first large cities when travelling in this direction are not signed until about 60 miles or 100km away.

I've noticed since being in the US that much bigger distances are put on signs. Can any Floridians explain to why Perry, Florida is placed on the signs from virtually all parts of the state? From what I can gather it's a fairly insignificant small town in northern Florida. I've seen signs to Perry from over 200 miles away. It puzzles me.

[traveler99]

Does this count??? :D

I found this picture, Pier at Puerto Vallarta (Mexico)

http://www.dropshots.com/photos/109685/20061129/b_143332.jpg

[Verso]

^^ Naah, I don't like such signs; they can be funny, but that's all. We'd probably like to see road signs, and even here, I personally, would only be interested in destinations that are logical (pointing to Moscow in Khabarovsk still isn't very logical, despite Moscow's size and importance as a capital city; it's just too far away, there are other cities on the way).

[Maxx☢Power]

This one probably falls in under the same category.. Although it is a real sign and you can drive there, it's mostly just for fun.. The only ones who actually do follow the sign drive camper vans ;)

http://breogfjellsport.no/npl/blog/wp-photos/20060115-223505-4.jpg


Lindesnes is the southernmost part of Norway and Nordkapp (North Cape) is the northernmost part.

[Verso]

^^ You can't believe how long such a small (and European) country as Norway is, can be!

[ChrisZwolle]

Norway and Sweden are huge countries for European standards.

[Billpa]

This one probably falls in under the same category.. Although it is a real sign and you can drive there, it's mostly just for fun.. The only ones who actually do follow the sign drive camper vans ;)

I would say it counts because it actually serves a purpose, if the camper van drivers are planning to make the long trip up there. Plus it's not some touristy thing put up by the local hotel- it's an actual official highway sign.

[CharlieP]

http://www.dropshots.com/photos/109685/20061129/b_143332.jpg

Hang on a sec, the circumference of the Earth is only just over 40,000km - wouldn't Moscow be about 1,500km closer if you pointed at it in the opposite direction?!? :nuts:

[Verso]

^^ Why easier when it can go harder... :D

[DanielFigFoz]

^^ Why easier when it can go harder... :D



Of course:lol:

[Bucket O'Bits]

Can any Floridians explain to why Perry, Florida is placed on the signs from virtually all parts of the state? From what I can gather it's a fairly insignificant small town in northern Florida. I've seen signs to Perry from over 200 miles away. It puzzles me.

I can. Not only am I Floridian, but I live in Perry!

Perry is located at the crossroads of several major state highways. Because of that, it has long been a destination for people hundreds of miles away. Lots of people come to Perry--not to visit us, but to get somewhere else.

The Florida Department of Transportation has recently changed its guidelines for signs, though, so many of the Perry mileage signs will be going away in the future. On top of that, interstate highways with more lanes and higher speed limits have drawn traffic away from the state highways.

[mgk920]

In the U.S., I think these rare signs are somebody's sense of humor. The interstate highway system has standards for these type of things, but some jurisdictions do it anyway. However, the sign out of Baltimore on I-70 is reasonable, as this road is a direct route to Denver. I guesss the significance of the Cove Fort, Utah mileage on this sign, is it is the terminus of I-70. However, how many travel from Baltimore to Cove Fort, Utah as a destination? My guess would be about zero!
Cove Fort, UT is the west end of I-70. It is a 'middle of nowhere' speck on the map where traffic on I-70 meets I-15 and continues on southwestwards towards to the Las Vegas, NV and Los Angeles, CA areas. It is a major highway junction.

As for other more 'fanciful' distance signs, there used to be one for 'Miami, FL' on US 41 as it leaves the parking lot at its north end at the northern tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula in Michigan. I don't know if it is still there or not.

Mike

[Substructure]

Nice. I can't believe the distance in this picture:
http://picasaweb.google.nl/ASWchris/A9PerpignanOrange/photo#5137617139187154962
Have you seen anywhere else in Europe with such long distances on highway signs?

[ABRob]

Nice. I can't believe the distance in this picture:
http://picasaweb.google.nl/ASWchris/A9PerpignanOrange/photo#5137617139187154962
Have you seen anywhere else in Europe with such long distances on highway signs?
In Germany:
http://rippachtal.de/12/A12-1-02-50.jpg
http://rippachtal.de/05/A05-1-01-50.jpg

[Verso]

401 km is nothing. I mean, it's a lot actually, but there are plenty of signs across Europe with longer distances. Would be interesting to know the longest one. I can't remember seeing a sign with 1,000 km or more in Europe. I know there's a sign for Berlin - 850 km - soon after Basel, already in Germany, of course.

[lpioe]

Paris is signed on the italian A10 near the french border with more than 1000km if I remember correctly. But it's only signed once.
Barcelona is also signed quite early on the french A8 near Aix-en Provence, must be about 450km.

[wyqtor]

And the proof, straight from my hard disk: :D

http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/930/img0321tp6.jpg

[Patrick]

If I'd travel there, I'd not know what Parigi would be (in the first moment) ;)

[Qwert]

If I'd travel there, I'd not know what Parigi would be (in the first moment) ;)

Parigi? Probably some kind of food.:lol:

[wyqtor]

Now I've also noticed that E1 road (on the left of those destinations in France). I thought E1 was in Portugal...

[Verso]

^ Indeed, where did they get E1, it's in Portugal, Spain, Ireland and UK, not Italy. And who cares for Paris here, that's nonsense. Oh, and is there any sign later that uses the word "Paris", not "Parigi"?

[ChrisZwolle]

Paris is not signed the whole route, right? Than this sign makes no sense. We have some signs near Amsterdam that sign København, Berlin, London, Paris & Luxembourg once.

[Verso]

:crazy:

[Patrick]

Paris is not signed the whole route, right? Than this sign makes no sense. We have some signs near Amsterdam that sign København, Berlin, London, Paris & Luxembourg once.

photo please ;)

here is a sign near Munich
http://autobahnatlas-online.de/Bildergalerie/A99_00220.jpg
http://autobahnatlas-online.de

[x-type]

If I'd travel there, I'd not know what Parigi would be (in the first moment) ;)

you wouldn't know for Parigi, but you would know for Nizza and Marsiglia?

btw, signs up to 500 km are not rare nor worth to mention, those over 500 km are more special (for Europe). we also have a thread about longest destances on signs ;)

[ChrisZwolle]

Miami is signed already somewhere near Richmond. That's what i call a long distance.

[Patrick]

you wouldn't know for Parigi, but you would know for Nizza and Marsiglia?

btw, signs up to 500 km are not rare nor worth to mention, those over 500 km are more special (for Europe). we also have a thread about longest destances on signs ;)

Nizza is also the german spelling for Nice :D and driving in that direction, Marsiglia should be clear, too ;)

[Verso]

Parigi sounds like Luigi. :D

[Patrick]

edit out ;)

[ChrisZwolle]

I'll merge it ;)

[Verso]

Anyone has pics of the German A5 closer to Switzerland, direction Karlsruhe?

[Patrick]

it says: via A5, A7, A2 Berlin 850 km
http://autobahn-bilder.de/images/A5%20Ri%20Kassel/Weil-Karlsruhe/Bild%20164.jpg
http://autobahn-bilder.de/inlines/a5.htm#A5%20Richtung%20Kassel

;)

but you could safe 20km when you'd drive via A5, A6, A9 (if Google Maps is right) ;)
using A5, A7, A4, A9 is also about 20km shorter ;)
and A5, A6, A81, A3, A7, A70, A71, A4, A9, too :D

[Ron2K]

Some South African ones that I know of...


In Durban, on the N3 leaving town. Just after passing the interchange with the N2, the sign indicates 558km to Johannesburg.
I think that the N2 leaving Port Elizabeth in the direction of Cape Town has a sign that indicates around 750km to Cape Town, but I'm not too sure.
The furthest I've seen was when I was in Cape Town in January, and noticed a sign on the N1 indicating ~970km to Bloemfontein. It's a few kilometers past the R300 interchange.


These long distance markers are the exception rather than the rule in this country though. Most signs indicate the distance to the next town (regardless of size), and the next town of some significant size. Take the N3 for example (the Durban to Johannesburg road), which I've travelled on quite frequently. As you leave Durban, the first place of any significance is Pietermaritzburg, so that appears on all the distance markers. After Pietermaritzburg, Harrismith. After Harrismith, Jo'burg. Besides those towns that are indicated, smaller towns that come up before them are also indicated as you approach them.

Unfortunately, I don't have any photos to show you. I can search the web though if you're interested.

[Verso]

and A5, A6, A81, A3, A7, A70, A71, A4, A9, too :DLOL! :D Yeah, this is the one. ;) It's more of a cosmetic thing, but it isn't useless either.

Anyway, one more:

http://img467.imageshack.us/img467/2485/samara2114kmrw4.jpg

:D

[pmaciej7]

http://autobahn-bilder.de/images/A5%20Ri%20Kassel/Weil-Karlsruhe/Bild%20164.jpg

but you could safe 20km when you'd drive via A5, A6, A9 (if Google Maps is right) ;)
using A5, A7, A4, A9 is also about 20km shorter ;)
and A5, A6, A81, A3, A7, A70, A71, A4, A9, too :D

I remember this sign :)

And i prefer A5/A6/A9, because driving this way, i can avoid all big cities.

[mcuri]

This is in Argentina, between Mendoza and San Luis.

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u171/marcelocuri/S3500817.jpg


I never realized the reason, since the brazilian border is almost 2000km from this point!! :nuts:

[woutero]

photo please

These are the signs in The Netherlands Chris was talking about:

On the A1 near Muiden:
http://dd50.inducks.org/wegen/imgb/b001/a1berlin.jpg

On the A2 near Abcoude:
http://dd50.inducks.org/wegen/imgb/b006/a2luxembourg.jpg

On the A4 near Hoofddorp:
http://dd50.inducks.org/wegen/imgb/b009/a4london.jpg

[x-type]

it's interesting to see such long destinations. i've been thinking and i realized why we actually don't have them: we have made totaly order in traffic signs about 5-6 years ago and in law there are strictly defined destinations at signs. i don't know it exactly, but it has something with local centre, regional centre, county centre, macroregional centre, and i know there are in one paragraph foreign cities that can be signed.

[Republica]

theres a sign in south spain for barcelona for 1000km.

[Okty1]

I found this one on another forum, it's on the BR-174 road near Manaus (Brasil), and it shows the distance to Caracas (Venezuela) as 2047 KM.

http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/8154/placayh4.jpg

Sorry about the quality but it's readable, i'm sure there must another sign showing a greater distance, though probable not that much.

[Substructure]

Cool thread! It seems the longest displayed distance in Europe is around 1000km.
By any chance, does anyone know what's the longest distance one can encounter on the French highways?

[ChrisZwolle]

^^ I saw Bordeaux signed about 600km away near Rouen on the A13.

[Ingenioren]

Actually i bet i've seen the longest distance road sign in Europe. In the town Kirkenes, 3000 inhabitants on the russian border in Northern Norway there's a sign on E6-highway saying Oslo, 2502 km and Rome, 5102 km. And some closer towns. Though E6 highway changes name in Trelleborg after just 3120 km. Unfortunately i didn't manage to find a picture. The first town you reach on this highway after Kirkenes is with 16.000 is inhabitants Alta, after 520 km.

[Jonesy55]

I've seen signs in Australia of over 1000km.

[Verso]

Actually i bet i've seen the longest distance road sign in Europe. In the town Kirkenes, 3000 inhabitants on the russian border in Northern Norway there's a sign on E6-highway saying Oslo, 2502 km and Rome, 5102 km. And some closer towns. Though E6 highway changes name in Trelleborg after just 3120 km. Unfortunately i didn't manage to find a picture. The first town you reach on this highway after Kirkenes is with 16.000 is inhabitants Alta, after 496 km.

That's just cosmetic, especially Rome. Who cares for Rome in Kirkenes?

[ChrisZwolle]

Yeah, we're not looking for cities that are signed once here, but continuously signed cities.

[Ingenioren]

Yes, because when you get to Oslo you're halfway to Rome! They don't sign Rome anywhere else on that road;D

[54°26′S 3°24′E]

I think Rome is there because E6, which has its northern terminus in Kirkenes, used to go all the way to Rome (and beyond?). Since they changed the European highway numbering system some time ago, however, E6 is confined to Norway and Sweden only.

[marki]

This may not be very long by world standards, but its pretty long for Iceland.

http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/701/icelanddistance01ah5.jpg

Iceland also has some of the coldest distance signs.

http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/5093/icelanddistance02jg1.jpg

[marki]

I've seen signs in Australia of over 1000km.

In Australia, there are hundreds of signs with distances over 1000km, particularly in the west and north (up to 4,000km between Perth and Darwin). Sometimes 1000km won't even get you to the next city.

Here are two located at Ipswich, near Brisbane. After Toowoomba, the next major city is Darwin!

http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/7602/darwindistancedd9.jpg

http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/5528/darwindistance2nw9.jpg

[DanielFigFoz]

The shortest one i've ever seen was:

ESPANHA 0,5
I have never seen a non-Portuguese location on a Portuguese sign.

[ChrisZwolle]

^^ That's real bad. You know, in this time and age, borders are becoming invisible in the Schengen era. There is no need anymore to only sign a border.

[PLH]

I have never seen a non-Portuguese location on a Portuguese sign.

Really? Even Madrid?

[Skyprince]

:master: Thanks for this site, I was looking for it more than an hour! Now I can publish this sign, pointing to Chita. :)
http://img373.imageshack.us/img373/6626/itakt1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

:cheers:

In Moscow or St Petersburg is there any mileage sign for Vladivostok ? :D :D

[Republica]

^^ That's real bad. You know, in this time and age, borders are becoming invisible in the Schengen era. There is no need anymore to only sign a border.

Why not? Different country, different laws, customs, language. Surely theres still loads of reasons for a sign even though the actual physical border no longer exists.

[horiababu]

In fact, i think the shortest distance i seen is in bulgaria, on the highway, GREECE 0,4.

[ChrisZwolle]

Why not? Different country, different laws, customs, language. Surely theres still loads of reasons for a sign even though the actual physical border no longer exists.

Yeah, but in this case, the border is the ONLY destination signed. How do you know if this is the right border crossing? What's the harm in signing a major foreign cities on the way?

[Dan1113]

I agree...

Can any Dutch person confirm that Stockholm is listed in one of the Amsterdam ring road signs? I heard that from a friend once, but no pictures of that have been posted here.

[ChrisZwolle]

No it's not. Only Berlin and København are signed in that direction.

[ChrisZwolle]

I happened to make a pic of that sign 2 days ago:
http://lh3.google.com/ASWchris2/R82TLH81q_I/AAAAAAAAGU8/qM4QfZTPQMc/IMG_6261.JPG?imgmax=800

[Verso]

^^ What's the purpose of writing Copenhagen in the Netherlands? Hamburg is more than enough, I think it's even bigger than Copenhagen, right?

[ChrisZwolle]

Those signs are just for fun.

On the A2, a sign read Luxemburg, and on the A4, London and Paris are signed once.

[ChrisZwolle]

I think it's done for "European Unity" sake or something.

[Timon91]

@ Verso: Well, these signs only appear once, not all the way to Copenhagen. There is also a sign near Abcoude with Luxembourg, and one on the A4 with Paris and London (perhaps one more, but I don't remember). I don't exactly know why those signs are there, but I thought it had got something to do with promoting the E-roads (see Chriszwolle's pic: via E30 and E231)

[Verso]

Interesting. Well, Paris or even London aren't so useless IMO, but Copenhagen? :dunno:

[LT1550]

Miami is signed already somewhere near Richmond. That's what i call a long distance.

http://www.aaroads.com/mid-atlantic/virginia095/i-095_sb_exit_052_01.jpg

Yeah, I have found it at www.aaroads.com - on I-95 South

[ChrisZwolle]

That is about 950 miles or 1530 kilometers. Atlanta is also not the nearest town by the way, with around 530 miles or 850 kilometers.

[Dan1113]

Chris: Why is Copenhagen written in the Danish way though?

[woutero]

Why is Copenhagen written in the Danish way though?


In The Netherlands the idea is that cities are signed in the spelling that the destination city uses locally. So Aken becomes Aachen, Luik is signed as Liège, etc.

In many places this principle is not consistently implemented, but it is the idea.

In the province of Friesland four municipalities have chosen Frisian as the official language, so the signs to these towns (also from places not using frisian) are in Frisian. Roordahuizim (nl) is signed as Reduzum (fr), Eernewoude (nl) is signed as Earnewâld (fr), etc.

In short: the language of the destination determines the spelling.

[Alle]

There are many situations in which names are not usually translated, because they are names...

[Czas na Żywiec]

It makes sense to sign names of cities in their local language. People in smaller countries or who live near borders know name of cities on the other side of the border in both theirs and the local language. But tourists may not. I mean, if you didn't know much Italian how are you supposed to know Parigi is Paris?

[Ron2K]

In The Netherlands the idea is that cities are signed in the spelling that the destination city uses locally. So Aken becomes Aachen, Luik is signed as Liège, etc.

In many places this principle is not consistently implemented, but it is the idea.

In the province of Friesland four municipalities have chosen Frisian as the official language, so the signs to these towns (also from places not using frisian) are in Frisian. Roordahuizim (nl) is signed as Reduzum (fr), Eernewoude (nl) is signed as Earnewâld (fr), etc.

In short: the language of the destination determines the spelling.

I've noticed this too. I did a bit of a road trip involving Austria, the Czech Republic and Hungary in 2002. I noticed that in Austria, Prague was signed as Praha and that in the Czech Republic, Vienna was signed as Wien.

There's a not too different situation in these parts - in areas where Afrikaans is widely spoken, some signs are in Afrikaans while others are in English. This is particularly prevalent in Johannesburg, Pretoria and Bloemfontein where a lot of people speak Afrikaans. An Afrikaans sign is very rare here in Durban, as people who speak that language in Durban are few and far between.

I wonder how many tourists have been slightly confused by that though... ;)

Here's an example for you, which I found on Panaramio through Google Earth. This sign is on the the N1, around 200km away from Bloemfontein and 600km from Johannesburg. "Kaapstad" is the Afrikaans name for Cape Town.

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l116/ron2k-za/misc/1005745.jpg

[ChrisZwolle]

In the province of Friesland four municipalities have chosen Frisian as the official language, so the signs to these towns (also from places not using frisian) are in Frisian. Roordahuizim (nl) is signed as Reduzum (fr), Eernewoude (nl) is signed as Earnewâld (fr), etc.

In short: the language of the destination determines the spelling.

As far as i know, small places are signed in Frisian language, but the larger cities (Leeuwarden, Sneek, Heerenveen etc) are signed in Dutch.

[SmarterChild]

Interesting. Well, Paris or even London aren't so useless IMO, but Copenhagen? :dunno:

Lol, makes it fun for us northerners. :P

Though short national E-roads, such as these, are useless:

E231 – Amsterdam – Amersfoort
E232 – Amersfoort – Hoogeveen – Groningen
E311 – Breda – Gorinchem – Utrecht
E312 – Vlissingen – Breda – Eindhoven

[ChrisZwolle]

The whole E-network is useless in my opinion, except for those countries which use it as their main numbering scheme.

[ElviS77]

The whole E-network is useless in my opinion, except for those countries which use it as their main numbering scheme.

I think the idea of an European numbering system makes sense, particularly since the entire continent is more and more integrated. National borders mean less and less, even though national culture means more and more. As long as the E roads actually are the most important links, they should be useful. However, in too many countries, those numbers aren't properly signposted.

Imho, it makes better sense to be guided from Prague to Berlin along the E55 than on the D8, A17, A4 and A13. For instance.

To the thread, the longest non-touristy distance sign I know of in Norway, is the one stating that it's 900 kms to Narvik. It's found just north of Trondheim.

[ChrisZwolle]

The problem is, the E-road network is made in a grid, while the continent's geography doesn't favor that like in the United States ( the E-network is based on the US Highway & Interstate Highway system), making a lot of routes not making any sense, especially north-south or diagonal routes.

[x-type]

The whole E-network is useless in my opinion, except for those countries which use it as their main numbering scheme.

i absolutely agree. it could be usefull if you travel at some extra long distances, for instance, from Greece to Sweden or similar. but you'll not follow E65 in that case neither because you can travel on much shorter way and much better roads if you don't follow that route

[PLH]

POLAND:

http://images6.fotosik.pl/102/37b1f4eb55a03ae4.jpg

[wyqtor]

^^ :lol: Bratyslawa & Wieden! :rofl: Good thing Bratislava is somewhat intelligible, or else I would think Wieden is the Polish border village (if I didn't look at the distances)!

[PLH]

^^ Yes, that is our langluage's charm:)

Some examples:
Italy - Włochy
Roma - Rzym

Now I cannot recall any other examples


-----------------------------

\/ Bruksela not Burksela :)

[Patrick]

haha, Rzym is great :D

do you know these cities? ;)
Paryz
Madryt
Londyn
Monachium
Burksela
Mediolan
?

[pmaciej7]

I don't understand it. I tried to visit legendary Monachium, but i couldn't find it. I always arrived in München. Something went wrong or what? ;)

Anyway: Danube = Dunaj

And something special for Patrick:
Akwizgran, Ratyzbona, Brunszwik, Lipsk, Pasawa, Kolonia :)

[ElviS77]

i absolutely agree. it could be usefull if you travel at some extra long distances, for instance, from Greece to Sweden or similar. but you'll not follow E65 in that case neither because you can travel on much shorter way and much better roads if you don't follow that route

Well, the main problem is just that. The older (pre-early-80s) system made more sense, if you ask me. Still, that's no reason to discard the system as a whole, and many, even longer, E numbered links, actually do make sense - E5, E15, E35, E30, E40, E50 don't need much adjustment at all, E45, E55, E60, E80 wouldn't need that many changes either. Even the E65 will make reasonable sense come the new Polish stretches, and if a north-south motorway link through Albania were to be included as a part of that E road, it would make close to perfect sense.

[Verso]

Danube = Dunaj

= Vienna in Slovenian :)

[woutero]

As far as i know, small places are signed in Frisian language, but the larger cities (Leeuwarden, Sneek, Heerenveen etc) are signed in Dutch.

True, but that has nothing to do with size. The places signed in Frisian are in one of the four municipalities that use Frisian as THE official language. Each town in Friesland has only one official name. The municipality decides whether that's the Frisian or the Dutch name. Only four rural municipalities have chosen to use the Frisian names. That's why only these small towns are signed in Frisian.

But this is starting to get quite off topic...

[Patrick]

I don't understand it. I tried to visit legendary Monachium, but i couldn't find it. I always arrived in München. Something went wrong or what? ;)

Anyway: Danube = Dunaj

And something special for Patrick:
Akwizgran, Ratyzbona, Brunszwik, Lipsk, Pasawa, Kolonia :)

ok, without looking to wikipedia:
?, Rostock?, Braunschweig, Leipzig?, Passau?, Köln ;)

[pmaciej7]

1. Aachen, 2. Regensburg :)

[Dan1113]

It'd be nice if all the main routes were E-routes and that the E-routes were the main ones used by nations. In an ever more integrated European continent, it makes sense that the main motorways connecting major cities throughout the continent have the same name.

That some countries sign the E-routes only sometimes/really sporadically just makes it really confusing. Some standardization would be really nice.

[BND]

POLAND:

http://images6.fotosik.pl/102/37b1f4eb55a03ae4.jpg

Nice you have Budapest on a distance board in Poland! :) In Hungary we don't have any boards indicating the distance to a country which we don't border. I think the longest distance signed on boards here is the one indicating Ljubljana (400+ km)near Budapest. But I remember seeing a pic about a sign somewhere near the Romanian border indicating Bucuresti which can be even more. If I find pics I'll post them.:cheers:

[Verso]

^^ Let me do it for you:http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/3764/spa0454ee6.jpghttp://img111.imageshack.us/img111/6933/im000004ev4.jpg:)

[BND]

^^ Let me do it for you::)

Oh thanks :okay:
These are which I meant. That one with Bucuresti 630km must be the longest distance indicated in Hungary. It is more than the length of the country from West to East :cheers:

[Timon91]

In the Netherlands we don't really have long distance signs. We have those ones with Luxembourg, Berlin, Copenhagen, Paris and London, but those only appear once. As far as I know the longest distance shown over here (and which is indicated every few km) is the indication of Maastricht near Amsterdam on the A2, showing a distance of 205 km.

[ChrisZwolle]

On the German A2, Amsterdam is signed over more than 300 km though.

[Verso]

The sign with Bucharest has disappeared. :(

[pmaciej7]

Ooops, wrong thread...

[diz]

You're in Downtown Seattle, and you see a sign for Portland, Oregon.

[Timon91]

On the German A2, Amsterdam is signed over more than 300 km though.

Yes, but that's not within the Netherlands

[runi]

On the Spanish A-1 in the province of Alava, I saw last year a sign indicating Algeciras. I don't remember the exact distance, but it was something like 1040 km. I don't know if it's still there.

[UrbanFanatic!]

1020 km to paradise!

http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/7438/dscf0745gk1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The image was taken when entering the state of Tabasco, in south Mexico..

(photo of the user nikkodemo)

[Timon91]

In the Netherlands, we consider this as far :ohno::

http://i29.tinypic.com/ejcrw7.jpg

(if you can't read it: it says "Groningen 175")

[Patrick]

well, small and dense-populated countries have other scales ;)

[Timon91]

well, small and dense-populated countries have other scales ;)

Yes, it's comparable with a 500 km sign in Germany. The longest continiously marked destination is Maastricht, near Amsterdam, signing a distance of 205 km. :cheers:

[Verso]

^^ Is this the longest continuously marked DUTCH destination, or any (foreign) destination?

[ChrisZwolle]

It's the longest continuously signed distance destination. We do not sign very far foreign cities. Like Brussel can't be found on Dutch signage (however i think it should be signed near Breda). I don't know what's the longest distance foreign signed city. Perhaps Köln or Osnabrück.

[Timon91]

^^ Is this the longest continuously marked DUTCH destination, or any (foreign) destination?

Yes, it is. We have some foreign cities that are continually signed, like Osnabruck or Oberhausen, but that is only short before the border. The longest distance sign in the Netherlands is Copenhagen, which is signed once near Amsterdam on the A1, 773 km.

[Timon91]

Again, Chris and I managed to reply to someone exactly at the same time :lol:

[Verso]

Ok, then we beat you by 5 km. :D

[Cicerón]

On the Spanish A-1 in the province of Alava, I saw last year a sign indicating Algeciras. I don't remember the exact distance, but it was something like 1040 km. I don't know if it's still there.

Was the sign yellow or blue? If it was yellow, then it's a temporary sign they put to show the distance to the port of Algeciras, one of the southernmost points in the Iberian Peninsula, where the Moroccans/Algerians who live in Europe take the ferry to cross the Strait of Gibraltar to return to their countries during the summer. BTW, these sings are always written in Arabic letters (apart from the Spanish version in the Roman ones obviously).

[runi]

Was the sign yellow or blue? If it was yellow, then it's a temporary sign they put to show the distance to the port of Algeciras, one of the southernmost points in the Iberian Peninsula, where the Moroccans/Algerians who live in Europe take the ferry to cross the Strait of Gibraltar to return to their countries during the summer. BTW, these sings are always written in Arabic letters (apart from the Spanish version in the Roman ones obviously).

No, it was a white sign with black letters and it didn't look temporary for me, that's why I got surprised. It was only written in Spanish and I think it indicated another city too, but I can't remember right know :nuts:

Btw it was exactly in Decembre 2006 when I drove there so not that useful for Maghrebis! :tongue2:

[Onur]

After exit from Antalya and turn left on the Interchange on D400
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d158/ont1991/PA060010.jpg

[Timon91]

Alaska:
http://i34.tinypic.com/2z8nlmt.jpg
As far as I'm concerned the furthest signed distance in Alaska is Deadhorse at the beginning of the Dalton, 454 miles. They should sign Seattle near Anchorage, it's only 2400 miles :D
btw, this picture is taken quite close to Wasilla, the town that Palin used to be the mayor of.

[rpc08]

Was the sign yellow or blue? If it was yellow, then it's a temporary sign they put to show the distance to the port of Algeciras, one of the southernmost points in the Iberian Peninsula, where the Moroccans/Algerians who live in Europe take the ferry to cross the Strait of Gibraltar to return to their countries during the summer. BTW, these sings are always written in Arabic letters (apart from the Spanish version in the Roman ones obviously).

No, it is blue, and Lisbon, Madrid and Valladolid are signed too.
Lisbon is some 880 km away.

[runi]

No, it is blue, and Lisbon, Madrid and Valladolid are signed too.
Lisbon is some 880 km away.

You're right, I saw it again in April! It's located after Alsasua and it's a permanent sign :) I think it says Algeciras 1044 km and Lisbon more or less what you said. Not bad at all :cheers: