Minnesota Speed Limit
What is the Minnesota speed limit?
Minnesota traffic laws define the maximum speed that any motorist travelling on Minnesota roadways can legally drive. Driving over the Minnesota speed limit can result in a traffic citation, fine, license suspension, or even arrest.
Minnesota law states that “No person shall drive a vehicle on a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions.” School zones cannot have a speed limit under 15mph, or a speed limit that is less than 30mph below the road’s normal speed limit. For work zones on highways, the speed limit cannot be below 20mph. The speed limit of the work zone cannot be more than 15mph below the road’s normal speed. However, the speed limit cannot be more than 40mph in a work zone. The speed limit in a business district is 30mph and 10mph for allies. Anyone who’s caught driving over 100mph will have their license suspended for a minimum of 6 months.
There are a total of 16 states with higher maximum speed limits than Minnesota.
SPEED LIMIT
70
Minnesota Speed Limit - Rural Freeways
The maximum speed limit on rural freeways and interstates in Minnesota is 70 miles per hour. "Rural freeways" are the sections of major highways that passing through rural and sparsely populated areas, and can safely allow faster driving. Rural highways will generally have the highest legal speed limits in Minnesota.
In Minnesota, trucks have a reduced maximum speed limit of 70 mph on rural freeways.
SPEED LIMIT
65
Minnesota Speed Limit - Urban Freeways
The maximum speed limit on urban freeways and interstates in Minnesota is 65 miles per hour. "Urban freeways" are the segments of large highways that are located within a city or densely populated area's limits, and are generally more prone to traffic congestion and other hazards.
In most cases, the freeway's speed limit will return to the rural freeway speed limit of 70 mph after the road passes through the most densely populated area.
SPEED LIMIT
65
Minnesota Speed Limit - Divided Roads
The maximum speed limit on divided roads in Minnesota is 65 miles per hour. Divided roads must have a concrete median or buffer zone separating opposite lanes, and may have one or more lanes going in the same direction.
Because the median helps protect drivers from head-on collisions, Minnesota has a higher maximum speed limit for divided roads than undivided roads.
SPEED LIMIT
60
Minnesota Speed Limit - Undivided Roads
The maximum speed limit on rural undivided roads roads in Minnesota is 60 miles per hour. This category includes most small backroads and local routes.
When these routes pass through a residential or heavily-trafficked area, the speed limit will usually drop to 30 mph or below.
SPEED LIMIT
30
Minnesota Speed Limit - Residential Areas
The maximum speed limit on residential roads in Minnesota is 30 miles per hour. Residential roads have the most potential for speed-based accidents and collisions, so residential districts tend to have the lowest speed limits with the most strict enforcement policies.
When driving in residential areas be on the lookout for school, hospital, and construction zones. These areas often have even lower speed limits, with strict enforcement and heavy fines for speeding.
Minnesota Speeding Tickets and Citations
Driving over the posted speed limit, driving too fast for conditions, or failing to obey special speed limit zones can result in a Minnesota speeding ticket, points on your license, and even a license suspension or revocation for repeat offenders.
Minnesota highway patrol officers monitor traffic using radar, speed traps, and cameras. Radar technology is not exact, and as a general rule an officer will not pull you over for exceeding the speed limit by less than 5 mph (75 mph on a rural freeway, or 65 mph on an rural undivided road). However, any speeds in excess of the posted speed limits can be considered a ticketable offence.