Out-of-state control cities in non-neighboring states

[KCRoadFan]

When it comes to control cities, the vast majority of them are either within the state or in an adjacent state; however, on occasion you'll find one that's in a non-neighboring state. For me, the example that comes to mind most readily is the signage in Maryland for New York on I-95 northbound past Baltimore. (It seems as though MDOT thought that Philadelphia didn't exist, or something like that...)

Further down I-95, in Petersburg, VA at the junction with I-85, you have the somewhat famous signs for Miami and Atlanta (not sure if they're still there or not).

Throughout the country, what other examples are there of control cities in another state - one that's not adjacent to the state in which the sign is located?

[1995hoo]

When it comes to control cities, the vast majority of them are either within the state or in an adjacent state; however, on occasion you'll find one that's in a non-neighboring state. For me, the example that comes to mind most readily is the signage in Maryland for New York on I-95 northbound past Baltimore. (It seems as though MDOT thought that Philadelphia didn't exist, or something like that...)

Further down I-95, in Petersburg, VA at the junction with I-85, you have the somewhat famous signs for Miami and Atlanta (not sure if they're still there or not).

Throughout the country, what other examples are there of control cities in another state - one that's not adjacent to the state in which the sign is located?

The signs you reference in Petersburg have been replaced, although as of my most recent trip through the area there was still one LGS just south of I-85 that listed Miami. September 2021 Street View image shows it was still there as of that time (bad sun glare mars image, but I think you can read the sign).

There is also a sign listing "New York City" on northbound I-95 in Fairfax County.


Edited to add: There are also the famous signs listing "New York City" in the general vicinity of Youngstown, Ohio (here's one; there are others).

[jeffandnicole]

Pennsylvania features both New York and Baltimore as a control cities on I-95, even though one needs to drive thru NJ and DE first, respectively.

That said, does it meet the merit of this thread, since both NY and MD border PA...just not along the route the control cities reference?

[SkyPesos]

St Louis on I-70 WB in Indiana, and I-64 WB in Indiana and Kentucky.

On the flipside, MoDOT doesn't mention Indianapolis at all, so that's out, but Louisville on I-64 EB in IL makes it.

[JayhawkCO]

Boston in southern Maine.

[jmacswimmer]

That said, does it meet the merit of this thread, since both NY and MD border PA...just not along the route the control cities reference?

On a similar note, since OH & PA do directly border north of where the Ohio River swings east for Pittsburgh:

Washington PA at the beginning of I-470 in OH, with I-470 (and I-70 beyond) briefly passing thru WV first.

[ilpt4u]

Illinois using Memphis (I-57, I-255), Nashville (I-24), and Tulsa (I-255)

I think Toledo still exists on a sign for I-80 at the I-57 interchange

[GaryV]

Michigan uses Duluth on US-41 at the northern end of US-141:
https://www.google.com/maps/@46.5840272,-88.4706907,3a,75y,341.74h,85.44t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1slzlU_wSPUyYOhuEDh7_QmQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

Note that both control cities on that sign are NOT on US-141!

Edit: MI and MN technically touch in the waters of Lake Superior - does that invalidate this example?

[SP Cook]

There is a single sign at the split of I-64 E and I-77 S on the WV Turnpike that states "Richmond use 64 / Charlotte use 77"  although it isn't really a traditional control city sign and the local (and grossly unhelpful, thus the auxiliary signage) control cities of Lewisburg and Bluefield are used for the rest of the time. 

[Flint1979]

Illinois using Memphis (I-57, I-255), Nashville (I-24), and Tulsa (I-255)

I think Toledo still exists on a sign for I-80 at the I-57 interchange

I can't remember since it's been so long ago but isn't Rolla a control city west of St. Louis? If so I'm wondering why Illinois wouldn't use it too.

[hbelkins]

St Louis on I-70 WB in Indiana, and I-64 WB in Indiana and Kentucky.

On the flipside, MoDOT doesn't mention Indianapolis at all, so that's out, but Louisville on I-64 EB in IL makes it.

Doesn't count, as Missouri borders Kentucky (although there's no direct highway access, only a ferry), and Illinois borders Kentucky as well, although I-64 goes through Indiana between the two states.

Not technically a control city, but there's a sign on VA 127 eastbound after you turn onto it from US 522 in Virginia that lists mileage to Cumberland. This also technically doesn't count, since Virginia and Maryland border one another, but you have to go through West Virginia and take other routes to get to Cumberland.

[jaehak]

I-10 in Tucson uses El Paso (correctly, imo) although once in New Mexico it's Lordsburg, Deming, and Las Cruces.

[Mapmikey]

The Miami LGS past I-85 Petersburg VA was still there 3 weeks ago...

Jacksonville FL from Hardeeville SC - https://goo.gl/maps/pBTXShbiW4DBtCS4A

Roanoke VA from Hagerstown MD (have to pass through WV here) - https://goo.gl/maps/NstVLu8NMUQTFkFT8

Winchester VA from Hancock MD (have to pass through WV here) - https://goo.gl/maps/i47SiyhZoq4YbK5H8

[jmacswimmer]

Winchester VA from Hancock MD (have to pass through WV here) - https://goo.gl/maps/i47SiyhZoq4YbK5H8

It's a shame the PennDOT advance signage on I-70 omits Winchester - if it were listed, then it'd be Winchester VA from Warfordsburg PA passing thru both MD & WV!

Which reminds me of another example nearby in Breezewood - Washington DC, which of course requires passing thru MD first.

[KCRoadFan]

A point of clarification: even if two states do border otherwise, they are treated as non-neighboring for the purposes of this thread if the route in question passes through other states en route to the control city (as is the case with the signs for Louisville on I-64 in Illinois, because you would be going through Indiana).

[SkyPesos]

^ In that case, St Louis on I-55 NB in TN, and Memphis on I-55 and 270 SB in MO would count too, as I-55 goes through AR in between.

[gonealookin]

Related to the thread with three different states represented on mileage signs:  "Boise" on US 95 in downtown Winnemucca, NV.  US 95 passes through about 120 miles of emptiness in Oregon on the way.

[1995hoo]

Winchester VA from Hancock MD (have to pass through WV here) - https://goo.gl/maps/i47SiyhZoq4YbK5H8

It's a shame the PennDOT advance signage on I-70 omits Winchester - if it were listed, then it'd be Winchester VA from Warfordsburg PA passing thru both MD & WV!

Which reminds me of another example nearby in Breezewood - Washington DC, which of course requires passing thru MD first.

I find it peculiar how they have "D.C." incorrectly spaced out as "D. C." on that sign.

[US20IL64]

I find it peculiar how they have "D.C." incorrectly spaced out as "D. C." on that sign.

Seen sign long time ago and couldn't remember if just said 'Washington'. Should say 'DC', as the Postal Service and shipping companies use.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

Michigan uses Duluth on US-41 at the northern end of US-141:
https://www.google.com/maps/@46.5840272,-88.4706907,3a,75y,341.74h,85.44t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1slzlU_wSPUyYOhuEDh7_QmQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

Note that both control cities on that sign are NOT on US-141!

Those control cities are for M-28, which swaps between US 41 and US 141 here.

[ran4sh]

A point of clarification: even if two states do border otherwise, they are treated as non-neighboring for the purposes of this thread if the route in question passes through other states en route to the control city (as is the case with the signs for Louisville on I-64 in Illinois, because you would be going through Indiana).

Birmingham for the exit from I-75 SB to I-24 (the sign lists both Chattanooga and Birmingham). Similarly, Chattanooga along I-59 in AL north of Gadsden.

These are actual control cities and not novelty destination listings like some of the other provided examples

[US 89]

Mobile, AL appears to be a control on I-10 in parts of eastern Louisiana:

https://goo.gl/maps/qxjyLJM1bY9i6A8S7

A point of clarification: even if two states do border otherwise, they are treated as non-neighboring for the purposes of this thread if the route in question passes through other states en route to the control city (as is the case with the signs for Louisville on I-64 in Illinois, because you would be going through Indiana).

In that case, then any instance of Las Vegas in Utah. That's a lot of I-15 south of SLC and the westernmost parts of I-70, as you're going through Arizona on I-15 to get there.

The reverse also qualifies, with Salt Lake City as the northbound control from Vegas.

[Molandfreak]

Michigan uses Duluth on US-41 at the northern end of US-141:
https://www.google.com/maps/@46.5840272,-88.4706907,3a,75y,341.74h,85.44t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1slzlU_wSPUyYOhuEDh7_QmQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

Note that both control cities on that sign are NOT on US-141!

Those control cities are for M-28, which swaps between US 41 and US 141 here.

And if you want to get really persnickety, Michigan technically borders Minnesota through Lake Superior, but obviously there's no road connection.

Edit: I checked a random point on I-95 in Rhode Island expecting to see New York as a control city, but nope... Westerly? Who knows where Westerly is? Clear example of in-state bias...

[ilpt4u]

Along the "water borders"  line, surprised no one has mentioned Chicago being signed in Michigan and Detroit

Of course, Illinois and Michigan share a water border out on Lake Michigan

[jmacswimmer]

I find it peculiar how they have "D.C." incorrectly spaced out as "D. C." on that sign.

Seen sign long time ago and couldn't remember if just said 'Washington'. Should say 'DC', as the Postal Service and shipping companies use.

What I find equally interesting is how the PTC has handled the "DC" compared to PennDOT...previous signs also spaced out the letters while omitting periods, but after sign replacements that removed DC from the main signage, this auxiliary sign now does it per the Postal Service.