No U-Turn sign
What does it mean?
A No U-Turn sign prohibits turning around to travel in the opposite direction at that location. The looped arrow identifies the maneuver, so read it separately from restrictions on ordinary left or right turns.
What to do when you see it
- Do not reverse direction with a U-turn here.
- Continue to a location where a turnaround is both legal and safe.
- Check the full sign arrangement before making any other turn.
How to recognize it
- Black arrow curling back downward.
- Red circle and slash covering the U-shaped arrow.
- White square background.
On the road
You miss a driveway and see an opening in the median, but it carries a No U-Turn sign. Keep going and find a permitted place to change your route.
Don’t confuse it with
No Left Turn sign
No Left Turn shows a single left bend; No U-Turn shows the arrow coming back toward its starting direction.
Left Turn Only sign
A mandatory left-turn lane sign does not by itself settle every local rule about U-turns.
Put the meaning into practice
The related quiz includes this sign and other study questions. State practice can also cover local rules; it is not an official DMV exam.
Common U.S. sign recognition, reviewed October 3, 2026. Actual sign values, additional plaques and local rules can change how you should respond.