Star routes is a term used in connection with the United States postal service. Prior to 1845 it was the custom in letting the contracts for the trasportation of inland mails, other than by railroad or steamboat routes, to give the preference to bidders who offered stage or coach service. This was abolished by act of Congress, March 3, 1845, which provided that the postmaster-general should let all such contracts to the lowest bidder tendering sufficient guarantee for faithful performance, without any condition except to provide for due celerity, certainty and security of transportation. These bids for such service became classified as "celerity, certainty and security bids", and for brevity were designated on the route registers by three stars (***) and known as star routes.

Early in 1881 rumors were in circulation of extensive frauds in this branch of the mail service. It was charged that there was a "ring" to defraud the government in which were included some of the large contractors, the Second Assistant Postmaster-General, some of the subordinates in the deparment, a United States Senator, and others. Proceedings were begun, but no conviction was secured either on these charges or on others which were made in 1883.