Recreation and cultural interest sign: what it means
Brown guide signs show the way to recreation and cultural interest areas, such as state parks, historic sites and lakes.
What does the recreation and cultural interest sign mean?
MUTCD Section 2M.09 says signs to recreational or cultural interest destinations use a white legend on a green or brown background. Brown is the color for recreational and cultural interest guidance (Section 1D.05).
Quick quiz
What does the sign at the top of this page mean?
- Gas is available nearby.
- Directions to a park or cultural site.
- Directions to a place.
Show answer
B. Directions to a park or cultural site. Brown guide signs point to recreation and cultural interest areas (MUTCD Section 2M.09). Source: MUTCD 11th Edition, Chapters 2H to 2N, General Information and Service Signs: Section 2M.09, FHWA; MUTCD 11th Edition, Part 1, General: Section 1D.05, FHWA; MUTCD 11th Edition, FHWA
Where will you see it?
On roads leading to parks, campgrounds, historic sites and other attractions.
What should you do?
Follow the brown signs to the destination, and keep watching the regular signs on the way.
What do people get wrong?
Mixing brown signs up with blue service signs. Brown means places to visit; blue means services like gas and hospitals.
Common questions
What does a brown road sign mean?
Brown is used for recreational and cultural interest area guidance (MUTCD Section 1D.05).
Are all park signs brown?
Not always. MUTCD Section 2M.09 allows green or brown backgrounds.
Compare with
Want to test someone else? Play a road-sign quiz with friends and family.
Sources
Checked on 3 November 2026 against the MUTCD 11th Edition (FHWA), Sections 1D.05 and 2M.09.
- MUTCD 11th Edition, Chapters 2H to 2N, General Information and Service Signs: Section 2M.09, FHWA
- MUTCD 11th Edition, Part 1, General: Section 1D.05, FHWA
- MUTCD 11th Edition, FHWA. FHWA lists the current version as the 11th Edition with Revision 1, dated December 2025
Sign pictures are our own simplified drawings of the MUTCD designs, which are in the public domain (MUTCD Section 1D.06). Sources and image credits.