Connecting Maps to the Real-World: Expanded U.S. Highway Shield Icons

Mapbox recently made the largest expansion to our highway shield icon library since our inception. The United States is infamous within the mapping and navigation communities for its unique and complex highway shield designs. These highway shields cover thousands of miles and are key indicators for wayfinding through and across states, and it’s imperative that they are represented within our platform.

These icons will help improve turn-by-turn navigation by making it easier to associate car maneuvers with recognizable landmarks on the road. Each icon has been handcrafted to ensure legibility and uses a consistent flat design that resembles their real-life counterparts. In total, 121 icons were created.

In Mapbox Studio, these icons can be styled to match any desired aesthetics by adjusting the icon color scheme. The icons can also be scaled for smaller screen sizes by using the “Navigation” style in the Road Network component – ideal for in-car devices.

Check out some of the new icons below in the interactive map or start a new map style in Mapbox Studio to use the latest highway shield icons in your styles.

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