Fascinating: Here’s how to decode U.S. highway numbers if your battery or GPS dies on your next road trip

It’s amazing the stuff you can find on the internet and I just came across something I wished I’d found a long time ago. And apparently I’m not the only one who feels this way, as you will see in the comments below the transcript.

The video, created by GeoGlobeTales, has some important tips for travelers taking road trips in the United States of America. First, watch the video embedded below and then read the transcript so you can really soak it all in. There’s so much information coming at you so fast, it’s difficult to absorb, which is why I’m writing and sharing this.

@geoglobetales How Highways are Numbered 🚗 U.S Interstate Highways 🇺🇸 #interstate #highways #ushighways #highwaysystem #highwaynumbering #us #unitedstates #canada #learn #us #map #maps #geography #history #viralfact #facts #fyp #interestingfact #geotok #historytok ♬ original sound – GeoGlobeTales

Here’s the transcript: “What is behind the numbering of US interstate highways?

First, the interstate major highways are labeled with two digits that are divisible by five. Highways connecting east and west end in zero, ranging from I-10 to the longest, I-90. Interestingly, there are no I-50 and I-60; they are skipped to avoid confusion with the US highways that existed before the interstates.

The highways running from north to south end in 5. I-5 stands out from the general rule; it is not a two-digit number, so you just need to imagine a zero before the five.

This system helps you navigate easily, much like our ancestors did by the stars. The farther southwest you are, the lower the highway numbers, and the farther northeast you go, the higher the numbers.

If you see a zero at the end, you are moving horizontally, and if you see a 5, you are moving vertically.

There are also interstate markers with a three-digit number, which are branches off the major highways. The last two digits match the number of the major highway, and if the first digit is even, the branch returns to the major highway. If it’s odd, it does not connect back.”

I think the most important bit to learn (which a friend taught me a long time ago but I forgot) is the highways running from north to south end in 5 and highways connecting east and west end in zero. The most fascinating part, which I had no idea about, is that “the farther southwest you are, the lower the highway numbers, and the farther northeast you go, the higher the numbers.”

Here are some popular comments from TikTok:

Kos: This is the kind of stuff they need to be teaching us in school
Tori: Why is this not required on the drivers ed written exam
Alone: bro this is actually helpful for us geoguessr players
Marysia: I don’t live in USA but that’s hella interesting

There does seem to be one mistake caught by Anthony Russo, who points out that the 495 Long Island expressway does NOT reconnect to the 95.

Not only is this interesting trivia, but I hope this helps you on your next road trip, just in case your phone battery dies or you don’t have access to GPS or, as one user wrote: “Gonna need this info when the apocalypse occurs 😂”

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