Speed limits in the United States by jurisdiction
appellate court forms
Speed limits in the United States vary depending on jurisdiction. Rural freeway speed limits of 70 to 80 mph (113 to 129 km/h) are common in the Western United States, while such highways are typically posted at 65 or 70 mph (105 or 113 km/h) in the Eastern United States. States may also set separate speed limits for trucks and night travel along with minimum speed limits. The highest speed limit in the country is 85 mph (137 km/h), which is posted on a single stretch of tollway in exurban areas outside Austin, Texas. The lowest maximum speed limit in the country is 30 mph (48 km/h) in American Samoa.
Alabama
In Alabama, it is illegal to drive at a speed that is not "reasonable and prudent" for the current conditions and hazards. Drivers must also not drive so slowly that they impede the flow of traffic. If the speed limit is not otherwise posted, it is:
30 mph (48 km/h) in urban areas
35 mph (56 km/h) on unpaved roads
45 mph (72 km/h) on rural paved county roads
55 mph (89 km/h) on other two-lane roads
65 mph (105 km/h) on four-lane roads
70 mph (113 km/h) on Interstate Highways
Trucks carrying hazardous materials are not to exceed 55 miles per hour (89 km/h).
Although not a statutory default limit, the speed limit is usually 25 mph (40 km/h) in residential areas.
Alaska
In Alaska, many of the major highways carry a 65-mile-per-hour (105 km/h) speed limit, including:
A majority of the Parks Highway between Fairbanks and Willow (excepting slower zones through Nenana, Denali Park, Cantwell, and Healy)
Most of the Richardson Highway between Valdez and North Pole
On the Glenn Highway, the 35-mile (56 km) freeway between Wasilla and Anchorage, and most of the 100 miles (160 km) west of Glennallen
The Seward Highway in Anchorage between 36th Avenue and Rabbit Creek Road, and other non-freeway parts of the Seward Highway south of Bird Point
Most of the Alaska Highway between the Canadian border and Delta Junction
The Minnesota Drive Expressway features a 60-mile-per-hour (97 km/h) speed limit, as does the Richardson Highway between Fairbanks and North Pole.
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