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Maximum posted speed limits

May 2013

The following table lists the speed limits for various types of roads in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. If a state has different speed limits for commercial trucks, they are listed separately.

In many states, the maximum speed limit that state or local authorities can establish depends on whether the road is a rural or urban interstate, a noninterstate limited-access highway, or another type of road. Limited-access highways are multiple-lane roads with restricted access via exit and entrance ramps, rather than intersections. The limited-access highways that make up the national interstate highway system are divided into urban and rural sections, based on population density figures from the U.S. Census Bureau. The designations may be adjusted by state and local governments to reflect planning and other issues.

Speed limits have traditionally been the responsibility of the states. In the mid-1970s, however, Congress established a national maximum speed limit by withholding highway funds from states that maintained speed limits greater than 55 mph. The requirement was loosened for rural interstates in 1987 and completely repealed in 1995. As of today, 35 states have speed limits of 70 mph or higher on some portion of their roadway systems.

State	Rural interstates (mph)	Urban interstates (mph)	Other limited-access roads (mph)	Other roads (mph)
Alabama	70	65	65	65
Alaska	65	55	65	55
Arizona	75	65	65	65 trucks: 65
Arkansas	70; trucks: 65	55	60¹	55
California	70; trucks: 55	65 trucks: 55	70 trucks: 55	65 trucks: 55
Colorado	75	65	65	65
Connecticut	65	55	65	55
Delaware	65	55	65	55
District of Columbia	n/a	55	n/a	25
Florida	70	65	70	65
Georgia	70	65	65	65
Hawaii	60²	60²	55²	45²
Idaho	75; trucks: 65	75	65	65
Illinois	65	55	65	55
Indiana	70; trucks: 65	55	60	55
Iowa	70	55	70	55
Kansas	75	75	75	65
Kentucky	65; 70 on specified segments of road³	65	65	55
Louisiana	75	70	70	65
Maine	75	65	65	60
Maryland	65	65	65	55
Massachusetts	65	65	65	55
Michigan	70 (trucks 60); <70 (trucks 55)	65	70	55
Minnesota	70	65	65	55
Mississippi	70	70	70	65
Missouri	70	60	70	65
Montana	75; trucks: 65	65	day: 70; night: 65	day: 70; night: 65
Nebraska	75	65	65	60
Nevada	75	65	70	70
New Hampshire	65	65	55	55
New Jersey	65	55	65	55
New Mexico	75	75	65	55
New York	65	65	65	55
North Carolina	70	70	70	55
North Dakota	75	75	70	65
Ohio	65; 70 on Ohio Turnpike	65	55	55
Oklahoma	75	70	70	70
Oregon	65; trucks: 55	55	55	55
Pennsylvania	65	55	65	55
Rhode Island	65	55	55	55
South Carolina	70	70	60	55
South Dakota	75	75	70	70
Tennessee	70	70	70	65
Texas	75; 80 or 85 on specified segment of road⁴	75	75	75
Utah	75; specified segments of road may have posted limits that exceed 75⁵	65	75	65
Vermont	65	55	50	50
Virginia	70⁶	70⁶	65	55
Washington	70; trucks: 60	60	60	60
West Virginia	70	55	65	55
Wisconsin	65	65	65	55
Wyoming	75	60	65	65

¹Based on traffic and engineering studies, the speed limit may be raised on particular two-lane or four-lane highways to 65mph.

²In Hawaii, the maximum speed limit is established by county ordinance or by the director of transportation.

³In Kentucky, the speed limit may be increased to 70 mph on specific segments of highway upon the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation. KRS 189.390

⁴In sections of I-10 and I-20 in West Texas and sections of Highway 45 in Travis County, the speed limit for passenger cars and light trucks is 80 mph. Speed limits may be established not to exceed 85 mph if the highway is originally constructed and designed to accommodate the higher speed and it has been determined by an engineering study to be reasonable and safe. State Highway 130 (portions toll) is operating with a posted limit of 85 mph, effective Oct. 2012.

⁵2013 UT HB 83 expands the portion of roads that may be posted at speed limits that exceed 75 mph to include a portion of Interstate 15 that is between milepost 244 and milepost 24 or between milepost 366 and the Utah-Idaho state line; a portion of Interstate 80 that is between milepost 99 and the Utah-Nevada state line; or a portion of Interstate 84 that is between the Tremonton Interchange and the Utah-Idaho state line. The new limits, reportedly 80 mph, will become effective upon signage.

⁶In Virginia, the posted limit may be as high as 70 mph where indicated by lawfully placed signs, erected subsequent to a traffic engineering study, effective 07/01/10.