Speed Limits By State

Maximum Speed Limit
Maximum Speed Limit
1.MontanaMontana80 mph
2.NevadaNevada80 mph
3.South DakotaSouth Dakota80 mph
4.MaineMaine75 mph
5.NebraskaNebraska75 mph
6.New MexicoNew Mexico75 mph
7.North DakotaNorth Dakota75 mph
8.ArkansasArkansas75 mph
9.OklahomaOklahoma75 mph
10.WyomingWyoming75 mph
11.LouisianaLouisiana75 mph
12.ColoradoColorado75 mph
13.ArizonaArizona75 mph
14.KansasKansas75 mph
15.UtahUtah75 mph
16.TexasTexas75 mph
17.IdahoIdaho75 mph
18.MississippiMississippi70 mph
19.IndianaIndiana70 mph
20.TennesseeTennessee70 mph
21.OhioOhio70 mph
22.MinnesotaMinnesota70 mph
23.West VirginiaWest Virginia70 mph
24.MichiganMichigan70 mph
25.FloridaFlorida70 mph
26.North CarolinaNorth Carolina70 mph
27.CaliforniaCalifornia70 mph
28.WisconsinWisconsin70 mph
29.MarylandMaryland70 mph
30.IllinoisIllinois70 mph
31.AlabamaAlabama70 mph
32.WashingtonWashington70 mph
33.VirginiaVirginia70 mph
34.IowaIowa70 mph
35.PennsylvaniaPennsylvania70 mph
36.MissouriMissouri70 mph
37.South CarolinaSouth Carolina70 mph
38.GeorgiaGeorgia70 mph
39.MassachusettsMassachusetts65 mph
40.New HampshireNew Hampshire65 mph
41.AlaskaAlaska65 mph
42.KentuckyKentucky65 mph
43.ConnecticutConnecticut65 mph
44.VermontVermont65 mph
45.New YorkNew York65 mph
46.OregonOregon65 mph
47.DelawareDelaware65 mph
48.Rhode IslandRhode Island65 mph
49.New JerseyNew Jersey65 mph
50.HawaiiHawaii60 mph

A State-by-State Look at Speed Limits

In the United States, a mosaic of varied landscapes and cityscapes, speed limits on our highways, freeways, and interstates play a pivotal role in maintaining traffic safety and efficiency. Speed limits, often determined by road type, traffic flow, and local regulations, are essential components of state traffic laws aimed at reducing accidents and promoting disciplined driving. Key findings from the data include:

  • When it comes to maximum legal speed limits, three states stand out from the crowd with a limit of 80 mph: Montana, Nevada, and South Dakota. These states, with their long stretches of rural highways and lesser density of population, permit higher speed limits.
  • The second most common maximum speed limit across states is 70 mph, covering a wide range of geographically diverse states, from California on the west coast to Florida in the southeast and Washington in the northwest.
  • Data indicates that northeastern states like New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey along with a few others limit their maximum speeds to a conservative 65 mph. This limit could be a reflection of these states' dense population and heavy traffic situation.
  • Texas, despite its roads that could theoretically accommodate a high speed limit like Montana or Nevada, limits speeds to 75 mph, potentially to maintain highway safety in areas with high traffic volume and variability in driving conditions.
  • Ranked last on the list, Hawaii sets its maximum speed limit at 60 mph. Uniquely situated and made up primarily of islands, Hawaii's lower speed limit may be attributed to its unique geographical conditions and road structure.

States with the Highest Speed Limits

The highest speed limit, observed in Montana, Nevada, and South Dakota, is 80 mph. These states, characterized by expansive rural highways and a low population density, allow for this elevated speed threshold. Following closely are states with speed limits set at 75 mph. Spanning from the rocky coasts of Maine to the vast plains of Nebraska, the desert expanses of New Mexico, and the stark landscapes of North Dakota, this speed limit marks a crucial middle ground in national speed regulations. The southern states of Arkansas and Oklahoma, along with the wild frontier of Wyoming, also fall under this speed category. 10 States with the Highest Speed Limits:

  1. Montana - 80 mph
  2. Nevada - 80 mph
  3. South Dakota - 80 mph
  4. Maine - 75 mph
  5. Nebraska - 75 mph
  6. New Mexico - 75 mph
  7. North Dakota - 75 mph
  8. Arkansas - 75 mph
  9. Oklahoma - 75 mph
  10. Wyoming - 75 mph

By Region

Alabama

See Less
Alabama

Metric

Value

Rank

Maximum Speed Limit

70 mph

#31

Alaska

See More
Alaska

Metric

Value

Rank

Maximum Speed Limit

65 mph

#41

Arizona

See More
Arizona

Metric

Value

Rank

Maximum Speed Limit

75 mph

#13

Arkansas

See More
Arkansas

Metric

Value

Rank

Maximum Speed Limit

75 mph

#8

California

See More
California

Metric

Value

Rank

Maximum Speed Limit

70 mph

#27

Colorado

See More
Colorado

Metric

Value

Rank

Maximum Speed Limit

75 mph

#12

Connecticut

See More
Connecticut

Metric

Value

Rank

Maximum Speed Limit

65 mph

#43

Delaware

See More
Delaware

Metric

Value

Rank

Maximum Speed Limit

65 mph

#47

Florida

See More
Florida

Metric

Value

Rank

Maximum Speed Limit

70 mph

#25

Georgia

See More
Georgia

Metric

Value

Rank

Maximum Speed Limit

70 mph

#38

Hawaii

See More
Hawaii

Metric

Value

Rank

Maximum Speed Limit

60 mph

#50

Idaho

See More
Idaho

Metric

Value

Rank

Maximum Speed Limit

75 mph

#17

Illinois

See More
Illinois

Metric

Value

Rank

Maximum Speed Limit

70 mph

#30

Indiana

See More
Indiana

Metric

Value

Rank

Maximum Speed Limit

70 mph

#19

Iowa

See More
Iowa

Metric

Value

Rank

Maximum Speed Limit

70 mph

#34

Kansas

See More
Kansas

Metric

Value

Rank

Maximum Speed Limit

75 mph

#14

Kentucky

See More
Kentucky

Metric

Value

Rank

Maximum Speed Limit

65 mph

#42

Louisiana

See More
Louisiana

Metric

Value

Rank

Maximum Speed Limit

75 mph

#11

Maine

See More
Maine

Metric

Value

Rank

Maximum Speed Limit

75 mph

#4

Maryland

See More
Maryland

Metric

Value

Rank

Maximum Speed Limit

70 mph

#29

Massachusetts

See More
Massachusetts

Metric

Value

Rank

Maximum Speed Limit

65 mph

#39

Michigan

See More
Michigan

Metric

Value

Rank

Maximum Speed Limit

70 mph

#24

Minnesota

See More
Minnesota

Metric

Value

Rank

Maximum Speed Limit

70 mph

#22

Mississippi

See More
Mississippi

Metric

Value

Rank

Maximum Speed Limit

70 mph

#18

Missouri

See More
Missouri

Metric

Value

Rank

Maximum Speed Limit

70 mph

#36

Montana

See More
Montana

Metric

Value

Rank

Maximum Speed Limit

80 mph

#1

Nebraska

See More
Nebraska

Metric

Value

Rank

Maximum Speed Limit

75 mph

#5

Nevada

See More
Nevada

Metric

Value

Rank

Maximum Speed Limit

80 mph

#2

New Hampshire

See More
New Hampshire

Metric

Value

Rank

Maximum Speed Limit

65 mph

#40

New Jersey

See More
New Jersey

Metric

Value

Rank

Maximum Speed Limit

65 mph

#49

New Mexico

See More
New Mexico

Metric

Value

Rank

Maximum Speed Limit

75 mph

#6

New York

See More
New York

Metric

Value

Rank

Maximum Speed Limit

65 mph

#45

North Carolina

See More
North Carolina

Metric

Value

Rank

Maximum Speed Limit

70 mph

#26

North Dakota

See More
North Dakota

Metric

Value

Rank

Maximum Speed Limit

75 mph

#7

Ohio

See More
Ohio

Metric

Value

Rank

Maximum Speed Limit

70 mph

#21

Oklahoma

See More
Oklahoma

Metric

Value

Rank

Maximum Speed Limit

75 mph

#9

Oregon

See More
Oregon

Metric

Value

Rank

Maximum Speed Limit

65 mph

#46

Pennsylvania

See More
Pennsylvania

Metric

Value

Rank

Maximum Speed Limit

70 mph

#35

Rhode Island

See More
Rhode Island

Metric

Value

Rank

Maximum Speed Limit

65 mph

#48

South Carolina

See More
South Carolina

Metric

Value

Rank

Maximum Speed Limit

70 mph

#37

South Dakota

See More
South Dakota

Metric

Value

Rank

Maximum Speed Limit

80 mph

#3

Tennessee

See More
Tennessee

Metric

Value

Rank

Maximum Speed Limit

70 mph

#20

Texas

See More
Texas

Metric

Value

Rank

Maximum Speed Limit

75 mph

#16

Utah

See More
Utah

Metric

Value

Rank

Maximum Speed Limit

75 mph

#15

Vermont

See More
Vermont

Metric

Value

Rank

Maximum Speed Limit

65 mph

#44

Virginia

See More
Virginia

Metric

Value

Rank

Maximum Speed Limit

70 mph

#33

Washington

See More
Washington

Metric

Value

Rank

Maximum Speed Limit

70 mph

#32

West Virginia

See More
West Virginia

Metric

Value

Rank

Maximum Speed Limit

70 mph

#23

Wisconsin

See More
Wisconsin

Metric

Value

Rank

Maximum Speed Limit

70 mph

#28

Wyoming

See More
Wyoming

Metric

Value

Rank

Maximum Speed Limit

75 mph

#10

Table

Region ↕Maximum Speed Limit ↕
Alabama iconAlabama70 mph
Alaska iconAlaska65 mph
Arizona iconArizona75 mph
Arkansas iconArkansas75 mph
California iconCalifornia70 mph
Colorado iconColorado75 mph
Connecticut iconConnecticut65 mph
Delaware iconDelaware65 mph
Florida iconFlorida70 mph
Georgia iconGeorgia70 mph
Hawaii iconHawaii60 mph
Idaho iconIdaho75 mph
Illinois iconIllinois70 mph
Indiana iconIndiana70 mph
Iowa iconIowa70 mph
Kansas iconKansas75 mph
Kentucky iconKentucky65 mph
Louisiana iconLouisiana75 mph
Maine iconMaine75 mph
Maryland iconMaryland70 mph
Massachusetts iconMassachusetts65 mph
Michigan iconMichigan70 mph
Minnesota iconMinnesota70 mph
Mississippi iconMississippi70 mph
Missouri iconMissouri70 mph
Montana iconMontana80 mph
Nebraska iconNebraska75 mph
Nevada iconNevada80 mph
New Hampshire iconNew Hampshire65 mph
New Jersey iconNew Jersey65 mph
New Mexico iconNew Mexico75 mph
New York iconNew York65 mph
North Carolina iconNorth Carolina70 mph
North Dakota iconNorth Dakota75 mph
Ohio iconOhio70 mph
Oklahoma iconOklahoma75 mph
Oregon iconOregon65 mph
Pennsylvania iconPennsylvania70 mph
Rhode Island iconRhode Island65 mph
South Carolina iconSouth Carolina70 mph
South Dakota iconSouth Dakota80 mph
Tennessee iconTennessee70 mph
Texas iconTexas75 mph
Utah iconUtah75 mph
Vermont iconVermont65 mph
Virginia iconVirginia70 mph
Washington iconWashington70 mph
West Virginia iconWest Virginia70 mph
Wisconsin iconWisconsin70 mph
Wyoming iconWyoming75 mph
Keep reading

Additional Miscellaneous Datasets

Squatters Rights By State

Squatters Rights By State

State Densities

State Densities

States with Least Natural Disasters

States with Least Natural Disasters

States with the Most Counties

States with the Most Counties

States without Daylight Savings

States without Daylight Savings

Stop and ID States

Stop and ID States