We propose a large-area, cost-effective muon telescope detector (MTD) at mid-rapidity for the solenoidal tracker at the RHIC (STAR) and for the next generation of detectors at a possible electron–ion collider. We utilize large multi-gap resistive plate chambers with long readout strips (long-MRPC) in the detector design. The results from cosmic ray and beam tests show that the intrinsic timing and spatial resolution for a long-MRPC are 60–70 ps and ~1 cm, respectively. The performance of the prototype muon telescope detector at STAR indicates that muon identification at a transverse momentum of a few GeV/c can be achieved by combining information from track matching with the MTD, ionization energy loss in the time projection chamber and time-of-flight measurements. A primary muon over secondary muon ratio of better than 1/3 can be achieved. This provides a promising device for future quarkonium programs and primordial dilepton measurements at the RHIC. Simulations of the muon efficiency, the signal-to-background ratio of J/ψ, the separation of 1S from 2S+3S states and the electron–muon correlation from charm pair production in the RHIC environment are presented.