If you’re planning a road trip this season, keep a close eye on your speedometer. Each state can set its own speed limits, so they vary widely across the country. A handful of jurisdictions maintain a respectable 55-mph limit on urban routes, while others keep theirs at 60, 65 or 70.
The Upper Limit?
Five states allow a head-spinning 75 mph on urban roadways, and on certain stretches of rural highways, it soars to 80 or even 85 mph.
Unless otherwise posted, 55 mph is the default limit on two-lane rural roads in many states. Posted or not, it pays to familiarize yourself with each state’s limits and let common sense prevail: always drive at a safe speed. So what states have the fastest and slowest urban speed limits?
Slowest Speed Limit (55 mph or lower)
- Alaska
- Connecticut
- District of Columbia
- Hawaii (50 mph)
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- New York
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
Fastest Speed Limits (75+ mph)
- Arizona
- Idaho
- New Mexico
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
By David Wright
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In Massachusetts there is not only a speed limit of 55 mph for the Mass pike but a limit of no lower than 40 mph.
Louisiana
State Hwy. – 55 mph
Interstate – on city limits: 60, outside city limits: 70.
Utah should also be included in the fastest speed limits !!! Most of their limits were raised to 80 m.p.h. for the bulk of the freeways in the state (outside of city limits) !!! We loved driving on Utah freeways !!!
The speed limit in both NY & CT have a maximum speed of 65 MPH in many areas
That maybe because of NYC, where the speed limit is 25 but 65 upstate
There are posted speed limits and then there is the actual speed limits. That is the rule in New Jersey. You can witness this on i95.