# Interstate Exit Numbering. Everybody's Talking About It. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 31, 2005, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interstate-exit-numbering-everybodys-talking-about-it/314945 "2005-07-31T00:11:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2005, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interstate-exit-numbering-everybodys-talking-about-it/314945/41 "2005-08-02T14:43:58Z")
> [@butler1850](#): > > The reason he mentions where the exits go, is that if you get off at the wrong one, it can be very difficult to either: A) Get back on the highway, to get to the right exit, or B) get from where you exited, to where you wanted to exit. Lots of turns and loops when you get off, and it’s nearly impossible to navigate that area. Close. It’s the Fairfield/Bridgeport line, with 27A being the start of Route 8, as was also mentioned upthread. The point I was making was that you usually see letters in related exits. 32N and 32S for route 32 north and south, for example. But these exits are pretty much completely unrelated to each other, and would make giving them the same number with distinctive letters confusing. Basically, mileage numbering works great when exits are far apart. When they are bunched together, sequential is much better. But no matter what the situation, mileage exit numbers are indeed difficult to remember. That’s a big negative, IMO. I _hate_ it when I get directions and the person says “I don’t remember the exact number, but…” This never seems to happen with sequentially numbered exits. ---
**Author:** ![PigBoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/97f17d/32.png) [@PigBoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PigBoy)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2005, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interstate-exit-numbering-everybodys-talking-about-it/314945/42 "2005-08-02T15:24:22Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > Ah, my own home town. The biggest example was when Shoup Mill Road/Turner Road/Needmore Road/Harshman Road/Woodman Drive was all renamed “Wright Brothers Parkway.” > > And Main Street is regularly subject to temporary renaming – “Swan Lake Boulevard,” “All-America Boulevard.” > > Have they ever decided whether the proper spelling is “Waggoner Road” or “Wagner Road”? Wow, I don’t think I ever noticed the various Main Street names. I believe now it’s called “Avenue of the Arts” or something. And “Wagner Ford Road” seems to have finally been made standard on the highway exit signs, at least. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2005, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interstate-exit-numbering-everybodys-talking-about-it/314945/43 "2005-08-02T16:41:09Z")
> [@Ellis Dee](#): > > But no matter what the situation, mileage exit numbers are indeed difficult to remember. That’s a big negative, IMO. I _hate_ it when I get directions and the person says “I don’t remember the exact number, but…” This never seems to happen with sequentially numbered exits. That’s true… I spent eight years at a certain exit number off of I-696. I have no idea what the exit number is. Since I’ve moved, there are two exits off of I-94 I regularly use to get home, and two more to get the work. No idea what they are. But when I say things like “Oakwood” or “Gratiot” no one has any problems understanding which exit. All the same, when travelling someplace unknown (like getting through Phoenix), I always like to know the exit numbers. The only exits I do know for certain are in Michigan; I-75 exit 69 is Big Beaver Rd., and I-75 exit 168 is Beaver Rd. Hey, sorry, certain things stick. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2005, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interstate-exit-numbering-everybodys-talking-about-it/314945/44 "2005-08-02T17:32:22Z")
> [@Ellis Dee](#): > > I _hate_ it when I get directions and the person says “I don’t remember the exact number, but…” This never seems to happen with sequentially numbered exits. Really? I never use exit numbers when giving directions. I find it much easier to use the name – take the exit for I-70 eastbound toward Columbus – that tells you a lot more than an exit number would. I never remember any exit numbers, whether they’re sequential or mileage-based. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2005, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interstate-exit-numbering-everybodys-talking-about-it/314945/45 "2005-08-02T17:49:17Z")
> [@Civil Guy](#): > > Been to California? Don’t hate us because we can read. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interstate-exit-numbering-everybodys-talking-about-it/314945.md?page=2)