Speed Limit Laws

Setting speed limits has traditionally been the responsibility of states, except for the period of 1973-1994. During that time, the federal government enacted mandatory speed limit ceilings on interstate highways and similar limited access roads through a National Maximum Speed Limit.

Learn More About Speeding

Issue Brief

Speeding in Work Zones

Survey of the States Published 2005

Related Links

Congress repealed the National Maximum Speed Limit in 1995. Since then, 34 states have raised speed limits to 70 mph or higher on some portion of their roadway systems.

Several states have set different speed limits for cars and trucks. Speed limits may vary depending on whether the roadway is urban or rural. In some states, the nighttime and daytime speed limits are different as well. The chart below lists speed limits for both urban and rural interstates, as well as other limited access roads.

A few states' speed limits are not mandated by law. These are noted in the footnotes.

NOTE: Some states apply different speed limits to the same type of roadway, depending on various conditions.

State	Rural Interstates		Urban Interstates		Other Limited Access Roads
State	Cars (mph)	Trucks (mph)	Cars (mph)	Trucks (mph)	Cars (mph)	Trucks (mph)
Alabama	70	70	65	65	65	65
Alaska ¹	55	55	55	55	55	55
Arizona	75	75	65	65	65	65
Arkansas	70	65	55	55	60	60
California	70	55	65	55	70	55
Colorado	75	75	65	65	65	65
Connecticut	65	65	55	55	65	65
Delaware	55	55	55	55	65	65
D.C.	N/A	N/A	55	55	N/A	N/A
Florida	70	70	65	65	70	70
Georgia	70	70	55	55	65	65
Georgia	Georgia ‘Super Speeder Law’ adds on $200 in state fees for any driver convicted of speeding at >75 on any two-lane roads or >85 on multiple lane roads anywhere in the state.
Guam	Guam does not have any Interstates. The maximum speed limits for cars and trucks are: 35 in rural area; 15 in residential areas; and 15 or 25 in school zones.
Hawaii	60	60	60	60	55	55
Idaho	75	65	65	65	65	65
Illinois	65	65	55	55	65	55
Indiana	70	65	55	55	60	60
Iowa	70	70	55	55	65	65
Kansas	75	75	75	75	75	75
Kentucky	65	65	65	65	65	65
Kentucky	70 on specific segments based on an engineering and traffic investigation		65	65	65	65
Louisiana	70	70	70	70	70	70
Maine	75	65	65	65	65	65
Maine	75	65	65	65	Two limited access highways are posted at 55.
Maryland	65	65	65	65	65	65
Massachusetts	65	65	65	65	65	65
Michigan	70	60; 55 if speed limit for cars is <70	70	60; 55 if speed limit for cars is <70	70	60; 55 if speed limit for cars is <70
Minnesota	70	70	55, 60 or 65	55, 60 or 65	65	65
Mississippi	70	70	70	70	70	70
Missouri	70	70	60	60	65	65
Montana	75	65	65	65	day: 70 night: 65	day: 70 night: 65
Nebraska	75	75	65	65	65	65
Nevada	75	75	65	65	70	70
New Hampshire	65	65	65	65	55	55
New Jersey	65	65	55	55	65	65
New Mexico	75	75	65	65	60-70	60-70
New York	65	65	55	55	55	55
New York	65	65	Except for certain designated highways
North Carolina	70	70	70	70	70	70
North Dakota	75	75	75	75	4-lane: 70; other: 65	4-lane: 70; other: 65
North Dakota	<75 on some rural Interstates		75	75	4-lane: 70; other: 65	4-lane: 70; other: 65
Northern Mariana Islands	None	None	45	25	None	None
Ohio	65; 70 on Turnpike	65; 70 on Turnpike	65	65	65	55
Ohio	May be posted lower in some locations
Oklahoma	75	75	70	70	70	70
Oregon	65	55	55	55	55	55
Oregon	65	55	60 in some sections; can be changed from 55 to 60 for cars.		55	55
Pennsylvania	65	65	55	55	65	65
Rhode Island ²	65	65	55	55	55	55
South Carolina	70	70	70	70	55	55
South Dakota	75	75	75	75	70	70
Tennessee	70	70	70	70	70	70
Texas	75; 80 or 85 on specified segments	75; 80 or 85 on specified segments	75	75	75	75
Utah	75; 80 on specified segments	75; 80 on specified segments	65	65	75	75
Vermont	65	65	55	55	50	50
Virgin Islands	40	40	55	55	20	20
Virginia	70	70	70	70	65	65
Washington	70	60	60	60	60	60
West Virginia ³	70	70	60 or 65	60 or 65	65	65
Wisconsin	65	65	65	65	65	65
Wyoming	75	75	75	75	65	65

¹ Alaska’s default speed limit is 55 mph. 65 on select Interstate routes is by engineering investigation and case by case, not automatic or default.
² Rhode Island speed limits not set by law, but by state traffic commission.
³ West Virginia speed limits, in general, are not set by law, but by the Commissioner of the Division of Highways.

Sources: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and State Highway Safety Offices.

Disclaimer: The information on this page is for general information purposes only and is not to be considered legal authority. For clarification on any law, consult the appropriate State Highway Safety Office.