Here's Why Only Certain Businesses Appear On Hwy Exit Signs

Commonly known as both "interstate logo signs" and "specific service signs", not just any company can enjoy the privilege of having their logo featured on these exit signs. In order to qualify for this honor, your company has to be considered either a gas, food, or lodging business. What's more, your business has to have a restroom as well as drinking water and public phones. The reason for this is because, in addition to advertising the business, the logos also provide some publicity for the state as well. Of course, this means that states will only want to include businesses with the required amenities so as not to mislead travelers. Occasionally, other attractions and tourist hotspots like museums, zoos, and wineries are also eligible for inclusion. Some of the types of businesses that are ineligible, on the other hand, are movie theatres, places of worship, and adult-themed entertainment venues. But even once a logo is approved for a highway exit sign, there are several types of advertising that could be conducted.

There are three types of blue highway exit signs that could feature a brand's logo. The mainline is the large board that you see first. This is a highly visible sign that immediately shows you what services are nearby. The ramp itself also has a sign that shows you whether to turn left or right at the end of the offramp. Often, services that are visible from the offramp are not eligible to be featured on this sign. Finally, there's the trailblazer, which is a small sign that is placed on each corner where drivers need to turn in order to arrive at the business. While significantly smaller, this type of signage is effective at drawing in customers who may not have initially intended to visit the establishment in question. Once one knows whether or not their business is eligible to be featured and the types of signs they could be featured on, it's time to apply for the advertisement!

The application process for getting your logo on the sign is relatively easy — all you have to do is fill out a form online. While simple enough, the waiting time for a spot on the exit sign can be lengthy, especially when it comes to highly-populated, urban areas. The price of such real estate can also vary according to how busy an area is. For example, while such placements can cost around $2,400 per year in New Jersey, they can be as little as $230 in Iowa, particularly due to the wide-open spaces in the area. Still, the blue exit signs are an effective form of advertising for companies in the vicinity, especially with the decline in billboard usage.

While billboards may appear larger, highway exit signs are overtaking them as the most effective form of advertising on the road. As Americans became disgruntled by how billboards cluttered the highways and the overcommercialization that followed, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Highway Beautification Act, which limited billboard advertising. Some states went even further with their decision to eliminate billboards, with Vermont, Maine, Hawaii, and Alaska outlawing them altogether. While billboards may not be as prominent, highway exit signs present a unique opportunity for small businesses to market themselves at a cheaper cost. What's more, because travelers typically drive slower as they arrive at offramps, there is a much higher chance that they'll catch a glimpse of your logo.