U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Vehicle Technologies Program

Fact #410: February 6, 2006
Maximum Speed Limits by State, 2005

Since 1995, when the federal speed limit law was repealed, each state has set its own speed limits. Rural interstate highways are usually assigned the highest speed limits. The graphics below show the maximum rural interstate speed limit in each state for cars (top) and heavy trucks (bottom).

Though many states, particularly in the Southeast and Northeast, have the same speed limits for cars and heavy trucks, some states have lower posted speed limits for trucks.

Maximum Rural Interstate Posted Speed Limits for Cars, 2005
Map of United States showing maximum interstate speed limits for each state; see table below for details
Maximum Rural Interstate Posted Speed Limits for Heavy Trucks, 2005
Map of United States showing maximum interstate speed limits for trucks in each state; see details in table below

Supporting Information

Maximum Posted Speed Limits on Rural Interstates: 2005 (miles per hour)
State Heavy Trucks Cars
Alabama 70 70
Alaska 65 65
Arizona 75 75
Arkansas 65 70
California 55 70
Colorado 75 75
Connecticut 65 65
Delaware 65 65
District of Columbia1 55 55
Florida 70 70
Georgia 70 70
Hawaii 60 60
Idaho 65 75
Illinois 55 65
Indiana2 65 70
Iowa2 70 70
Kansas 70 70
Kentucky 65 65
Louisiana 70 70
Maine 65 65
Maryland 65 65
Massachusetts 65 65
Michigan 55 70
Minnesota 70 70
Mississippi 70 70
Missouri 70 70
Montana 65 75
Nebraska 75 75
Nevada 75 75
New Hampshire 65 65
New Jersey 65 65
New Mexico 75 75
New York 65 65
North Carolina 70 70
North Dakota 75 75
Ohio 55 65
Oklahoma 75 75
Oregon 55 65
Pennsylvania 65 65
Rhode Island 65 65
South Carolina 70 70
South Dakota 75 75
Tennessee 70 70
Texas 65 75
Utah 75 75
Vermont 65 65
Virginia 65 65
Washington 60 70
West Virginia 70 70
Wisconsin 65 65
Wyoming 75 75

1Urban Interstate.

2Indiana and Iowa increased speed limits for both cars and trucks by 5 miles per hour beginning July 1, 2005

Source:  U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Freight Facts and Figures 2005, November 2005.

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