Guide 05 · 6 min read
Speed limits by state: the highest limit in every state
The fastest posted limit in the United States is 85 mph, on Texas's State Highway 130. 7 more states allow 80 mph on some of their interstates, mostly in the West, while much of the Northeast tops out at 65. Every limit is a maximum where posted: cities, work zones and bad weather bring it down, and trucks often have a lower one. Below: the top limit in every state, where it applies, and the law behind it.
The short version
- 85 mph: Texas, on SH 130.
- 80 mph: Idaho, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wyoming.
- 75 mph: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico.
- 70 mph: Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia.
- 65 mph: Alaska, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Vermont.
The fastest roads
Where each of the highest limits applies:
- Texas: on SH 130; 75 mph on most state highways, 80 mph on parts of I-10 and I-20 in West Texas
- Idaho: on interstates where posted
- Montana: on rural interstates; 65 mph in urban areas, 70 mph for heavy trucks
- Nevada
- North Dakota: on I-94 and I-29 outside cities, since August 1, 2025
- Oklahoma: on parts of the turnpikes; 75 mph on rural interstates
- South Dakota: on interstates
- Wyoming: on designated interstates; 75 mph on others
Recent changes
- North Dakota: 80 mph on I-94 and I-29 outside city limits since August 1, 2025.
- Missouri: a 2026 law raised rural interstates and freeways to 75 mph from August 28, 2026; until MoDOT changes the signs, the posted limit is the one that applies.
Trucks and urban interstates
Several states set lower limits for heavy trucks and on interstates in cities. Where the state's own source gives them, they are in the table below: for example 55 mph for trucks with three or more axles in California, 65 mph for trucks on Michigan's freeways, and 65 mph on Minnesota's and Ohio's urban interstates.
Every state
| State | Highest limit (cars) | Where, and exceptions |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 70 mph | On interstates; 65 mph on other roads of 4 or more lanes |
| Alaska | 65 mph | |
| Arizona | 75 mph | On rural interstates |
| Arkansas | 75 mph | On rural divided highways; 70 mph for trucks |
| California | 70 mph | Where Caltrans posts it; 55 mph for trucks with 3 or more axles |
| Colorado | 75 mph | |
| Connecticut | 65 mph | On multilane limited-access highways |
| Delaware | Not confirmed | We could not confirm the top limit on an official page |
| District of Columbia | Not confirmed | We could not confirm the top limit on an official page |
| Florida | 70 mph | On limited-access highways |
| Georgia | 70 mph | On rural interstates; 65 mph on urban interstates |
| Hawaii | Not confirmed | We could not confirm the top limit on an official page |
| Idaho | 80 mph | On interstates where posted |
| Illinois | 70 mph | On interstates outside urban areas |
| Indiana | 70 mph | On rural interstates |
| Iowa | 70 mph | On interstates |
| Kansas | 75 mph | On separated multilane highways |
| Kentucky | 70 mph | On designated interstates and parkways; 65 mph elsewhere on them |
| Louisiana | 75 mph | On rural I-49; 70 mph elsewhere |
| Maine | 75 mph | On interstates |
| Maryland | 70 mph | |
| Massachusetts | 65 mph | On interstates |
| Michigan | 75 mph | On designated freeways; 70 mph on others, 65 mph for trucks |
| Minnesota | 70 mph | On rural interstates; 65 mph in urban areas |
| Mississippi | 70 mph | On interstates |
| Missouri | 75 mph | On rural interstates by a law in force since August 28, 2026; follow the posted sign |
| Montana | 80 mph | On rural interstates; 65 mph in urban areas, 70 mph for heavy trucks |
| Nebraska | 75 mph | On interstates |
| Nevada | 80 mph | |
| New Hampshire | 70 mph | On I-93 north of mile 45; 65 mph on other interstates |
| New Jersey | Not confirmed | We could not confirm the top limit on an official page |
| New Mexico | 75 mph | |
| New York | 65 mph | |
| North Carolina | 70 mph | |
| North Dakota | 80 mph | On I-94 and I-29 outside cities, since August 1, 2025 |
| Ohio | 70 mph | On rural freeways; 65 mph in urban areas |
| Oklahoma | 80 mph | On parts of the turnpikes; 75 mph on rural interstates |
| Oregon | 70 mph | On I-84 east of The Dalles; 65 mph on other interstates |
| Pennsylvania | 70 mph | On most of the Pennsylvania Turnpike |
| Rhode Island | Not confirmed | We could not confirm the top limit on an official page |
| South Carolina | 70 mph | On interstates |
| South Dakota | 80 mph | On interstates |
| Tennessee | 70 mph | On rural interstates |
| Texas | 85 mph | On SH 130; 75 mph on most state highways, 80 mph on parts of I-10 and I-20 in West Texas |
| Utah | Not confirmed | We could not confirm the top limit on an official page |
| Vermont | 65 mph | On interstates |
| Virginia | 70 mph | On interstates where posted |
| Washington | Not confirmed | We could not confirm the top limit on an official page |
| West Virginia | Not confirmed | We could not confirm the top limit on an official page |
| Wisconsin | Not confirmed | We could not confirm the top limit on an official page |
| Wyoming | 80 mph | On designated interstates; 75 mph on others |
What this guide leaves out
Every limit here comes from the state's statute, its DOT, its state police or its driver manual, checked in October 2026. We could not confirm the top limit on an official page for Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin; their rows say so. Minimum speeds, night limits and school zones are not covered.
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest speed limit in the US?
85 mph, on State Highway 130 in Texas. Texas also allows 80 mph on parts of I-10 and I-20 in West Texas.
Which states have an 80 mph speed limit?
Idaho, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wyoming, each only on certain interstates or turnpikes, and Texas, whose top is 85.
What is the speed limit in California?
70 mph where Caltrans posts it; 55 mph for trucks with 3 or more axles.
What is the speed limit in Montana?
80 mph on rural interstates; 65 mph in urban areas, 70 mph for heavy trucks.
Can I drive at the limit in bad weather?
Not always legally. State traffic laws also require a speed that is safe for the conditions, so a driver going the posted limit in snow, fog or heavy rain can still be cited.
Live on Live Roads USA
Sources
- Alabama: Speed limits · Alabama Law Enforcement Agency · checked October 19, 2026
- Alaska: Highest posted speed limit · Alaska DOT&PF · checked October 19, 2026
- Arizona: A.R.S. §28-702.04 · Arizona Legislature · checked October 19, 2026
- Arkansas: Act 784 of 2019 · Arkansas Legislature · checked October 19, 2026
- California: Vehicle Code §22356 · California Legislature · checked October 19, 2026
- Colorado: How speed limits are set · CDOT · checked October 19, 2026
- Connecticut: Gen. Stat. chapter 248 · Connecticut General Assembly · checked October 19, 2026
- Florida: Fla. Stat. §316.187 · Florida Legislature · checked October 19, 2026
- Georgia: Keep right except to pass · Georgia DDS · checked October 19, 2026
- Idaho: Idaho Code §49-654 (archived copy) · Idaho Legislature · checked October 19, 2026
- Illinois: 625 ILCS 5/11-601 (archived copy) · Illinois General Assembly · checked October 19, 2026
- Indiana: Speed limits · INDOT · checked October 19, 2026
- Iowa: Iowa Code §321.285 · Iowa Legislature · checked October 19, 2026
- Kansas: K.S.A. 8-1558 · Kansas Revisor of Statutes · checked October 19, 2026
- Kentucky: KRS 189.390 · Kentucky General Assembly · checked October 19, 2026
- Louisiana: I-49 speed limit · Louisiana DOTD · checked October 19, 2026
- Maine: 29-A M.R.S. §2073 · Maine Legislature · checked October 19, 2026
- Maryland: Transp. §21-801.1 · Maryland General Assembly · checked October 19, 2026
- Massachusetts: G.L. c. 90 §17A (archived copy) · Massachusetts Legislature · checked October 19, 2026
- Michigan: MCL 257.627 (archived copy) · Michigan Legislature · checked October 19, 2026
- Minnesota: Minn. Stat. §169.14 · Minnesota Revisor of Statutes · checked October 19, 2026
- Mississippi: HB 436 (2026), current law · Mississippi Legislature · checked October 19, 2026
- Missouri: RSMo §304.010 · Missouri Revisor of Statutes · checked October 19, 2026
- Montana: MCA 61-8-303 · Montana Legislature · checked October 19, 2026
- Nebraska: Neb. Rev. Stat. §60-6,186 (archived copy) · Nebraska Legislature · checked October 19, 2026
- Nevada: NRS chapter 484B (archived copy) · Nevada Legislature · checked October 19, 2026
- New Hampshire: RSA 265:60 (archived copy) · New Hampshire General Court · checked October 19, 2026
- New Mexico: SB 226 (2025), current law (archived copy) · New Mexico Legislature · checked October 19, 2026
- New York: VTL §1180-a · New York State Senate · checked October 19, 2026
- North Carolina: G.S. 20-141 (archived copy) · NC General Assembly · checked October 19, 2026
- North Dakota: NDCC chapter 39-09 · North Dakota Legislative Branch · checked October 19, 2026
- Ohio: ORC §4511.21 (archived copy) · Ohio Legislature · checked October 19, 2026
- Oklahoma: 47 O.S. §11-801 (archived copy) · Oklahoma State Courts Network · checked October 19, 2026
- Oregon: ORS chapter 811 (archived copy) · Oregon Legislature · checked October 19, 2026
- Pennsylvania: Turnpike safety · Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission · checked October 19, 2026
- South Carolina: S.C. Code title 56, chapter 5 · South Carolina Legislature · checked October 19, 2026
- South Dakota: SDCL 32-25-4 · South Dakota Legislature · checked October 19, 2026
- Tennessee: Driver manual · Tennessee Dept. of Safety · checked October 19, 2026
- Texas: Speed limits · TxDOT · checked October 19, 2026
- Vermont: Driver's manual · Vermont DMV · checked October 19, 2026
- Virginia: Va. Code §46.2-870 · Virginia General Assembly · checked October 19, 2026
- Wyoming: Wyoming Statutes title 31 · Wyoming Legislature · checked October 19, 2026
Published , last checked . For information only: this guide does not replace road signs, state law or legal advice. Rules change; check the official source before you rely on a date.