SPEED LIMITS IN THE 50 STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

NOVEMBER 2013 INDEX

SPEED LIMITS FOR VARIOUS TYPES OF ROADS IN THE 50 STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Speeding makes crashes more likely and more likely to be deadly.

October 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 The requirement was loosened for rural interstates in 1987 and completely repealed in 1995.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, 37 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	70³	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 road⁴	65	65	55
Louisiana	75	70	70	65
Maine	75	75	75	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; 70 on specified segments of road⁵	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	70	65	70	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 road⁶	75	75	75
Utah	75; 80 on specified segments of road⁷	65	75	65
Vermont	65	55	50	50
Virginia	70	70	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

In Arkansas, the speed limit may be raised on particular two-lane or four-lane highways to 65 mph if based on traffic and engineering studies.
In Hawaii, the maximum speed limit is established by county ordinance or by the director of transportation.
The Illinois law allows Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, Madison, McHenry, St. Clair and Will Counties to opt-out by adopting an ordinance that sets a lower maximum speed limit, empowering counties to make adjustments based on their own local needs.
In Kentucky, the speed limit may be increased to 70 mph on specific segments of highway on the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation.
2013 New Hampshire House Bill 146 raised the speed limit from 65 to 70 mph on the portion of I-93 from mile marker 45 to the Vermont border.
Sections of I-10 and I-20 in West Texas and sections of Highway 45 in Travis County have a speed limit for passenger cars and light trucks of 80 mph. Speed limits of up to 85 mph may be established 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) has a posted limit of 85 mph, effective Oct. 2012.
In Utah, the speed limit may be increased beyond 75 mph on specific segments of highway on the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation.

Maximum posted daytime speed limits on rural interstates

Maximum limit may apply only to specified segments of interstate.

In Hawaii, the maximum speed limit is established by county ordinance or by the director of transportation.
The Illinois law allows Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, Madison, McHenry, St. Clair and Will Counties to opt-out by adopting an ordinance that sets a lower maximum speed limit, empowering counties to make adjustments based on their own local needs.
In Kentucky, the speed limit may be increased to 70 mph on specific segments of highway on the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation.

SPEED LIMITS FOR VARIOUS TYPES OF ROADS IN THE 50 STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

In Arkansas, the speed limit may be raised on particular two-lane or four-lane highways to 65 mph if based on traffic and engineering studies.

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

The Illinois law allows Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, Madison, McHenry, St. Clair and Will Counties to opt-out by adopting an ordinance that sets a lower maximum speed limit, empowering counties to make adjustments based on their own local needs.

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

2013 New Hampshire House Bill 146 raised the speed limit from 65 to 70 mph on the portion of I-93 from mile marker 45 to the Vermont border.

In Utah, the speed limit may be increased beyond 75 mph on specific segments of highway on the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation.

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