When towing a trailer, it is important to obey the speed limit to ensure the safety of you and other vehicles on the road. This will ensure that you drive safely and avoid any potential accidents.
In this guide, we’ll cover the speed limit when towing a trailer, trailer towing speed limits by state, and how to stay safe while driving.
What’s The Speed Limit When Towing A Trailer?
In general, the speed limit when towing a trailer is about 10 miles per hour less than the regular posted speed limit.
This usually translates to about a 55 mph max towing speed limit on highways in most States.
Just like driving any other vehicle, each road is going to have a posted speed limit, which you should always follow.
But what about highways where the speed limit could be as high as 70 or even 80 mph in some States?
It’s not wise to tow a trailer at such high speeds.
Doing so can increase trailer sway, which can put you, others, and your towed property at risk of a collision.
There are specific requirements that each State has in place, so you’ll need to be aware of them when towing in your home State as well as across State lines.
Trailer Towing Speed Limits By State
We’ll jump into each State’s towing speed limits next.
Before we do, it’s important to understand that there are specific designations for towing speed limits, and those can vary from travel trailers, cargo trailers, and RVs, so pay attention to which rules apply to you.
Below, we’ll list out the towing speed limits for each State, as well as any additional remarks they have regarding towing and speed limits that the State has commented on for extra context.
We’ll also list out any additional relevant towing rules or regulations for extra reference.
In addition to following these speed limits, you should always practice general towing safety.
Alabama
Towing Speed Limit: 55 mph, must be reasonable and proper.
RVs are required to keep headlights on when towing.
Alaska
Towing Speed Limit: 55 mph.
Maximum towing speed while towing a mobile home is 45 mph.
RVs are required to carry reflective signs or flares, as well as fire extinguishers and a gas detector.
Arizona
Towing Speed Limit: 65 mph.
Vehicles towing trailers or semitrailers may not exceed a rate of speed that causes lateral sway.
Triple towing is allowed with a fifth wheel.
Arkansas
Towing Speed Limit: 65 mph.
Speed limits are 70 mph on rural interstates and 55 mph on urban freeways or as posted.
Maximum towing speed while towing a mobile home is 45 mph.
Overnight parking in rest areas is allowed unless otherwise posted.
California
Towing Speed Limit: 55 mph.
Maximum speed for any vehicle towing another vehicle is 55 mph.
Vehicles towing in California must use the right-hand lane only.
Colorado
Towing Speed Limit: 65 mph.
Towing two trailers at once is allowed in Colorado.
Connecticut
Towing Speed Limit: 55 mph.
RVs are forbidden from using carpool lanes in Connecticut.
Delaware
Towing Speed Limit: 55 mph.
No trailer carrying a gross weight (GW) load in combination with a vehicle in excess of 4,000 lbs can go over 10mph unless equipped with trailer brakes.
You need to use two methods of applying vehicle and trailer brakes in Delaware.
District of Columbia
Towing Speed Limit: 55 mph.
The maximum RV width is 8 feet in D.C..
Florida
Towing Speed Limit: 65 mph.
Speed limit is 30mph in business and residential districts, 55mph at all other locations besides highways where it’s 65mph (unless otherwise posted).
Double and/or triple towing is not allowed in Florida.
Georgia
Towing Speed Limit: 65 mph or as posted.
You cannot park overnight at rest areas in Georgia.
Hawaii
Towing Speed Limit: 55 mph or as posted.
The maximum allowable trailer length in Hawaii is 48 feet.
Idaho
Towing Speed Limit: 65 mph.
Idaho allows passengers to ride inside truck campers.
Illinois
Towing Speed Limit: 55 mph.
Trailers are not allowed on boulevards around or inside Chicago.
Indiana
Towing Speed Limit: 65 mph or as posted.
The maximum allowable motorhome length in Indiana is 45 feet.
Iowa
Towing Speed Limit: 65 mph or as posted.
Iowa allows passengers to ride in pickup campers, travel trailers, and fifth wheels.
Kansas
Towing Speed Limit: 65 mph or as posted.
The max allowable trailer and RV height in Kansas is 14 feet.
Kentucky
Towing Speed Limit: 65 mph.
Kentucky does not require trailer brakes for passenger car trailers at any weight.
Louisiana
Towing Speed Limit: 65 mph.
Boat or utility trailers have the same speed limits as passenger cars.
House trailers are limited to 55 mph during the day and 50mph at night for brake-equipped trailers between 15’-32’ long.
50 mph speed limit for trailers without brakes that are less than 15’.
All others have a 45 mph speed limit.
Passengers are allowed to ride in pickup campers.
Maine
Towing Speed Limit: 65 mph or as posted.
Maine allows single trailer towing only, no double or triple towing.
Maryland
Towing Speed Limit: 55 mph.
Maine does not allow liquid propane gas in some tunnels on I-95.
Massachusetts
Towing Speed Limit: 55 mph.
Trailers are not permitted on many Boston parkways.
Michigan
Towing Speed Limit: 65 mph.
Trailer tires must have a minimum tread depth of 2/32” in Michigan.
Minnesota
Towing Speed Limit: 65 mph.
Triple towing is allowed in Minnesota if it is a fifth wheel combined with a watercraft, ATV, snowmobile, or motorcycle.
Mississippi
Towing Speed Limit: 65 mph.
Passengers are forbidden from riding in travel trailers, fifth wheels or pickup campers in Mississippi.
Missouri
Towing Speed Limit: 65 mph.
Missouri requires brake systems on 5th wheel trailers only.
Montana
Towing Speed Limit: 65 mph.
Every RV is required to carry reflective signs or flares in Montana.
Nebraska
Towing Speed Limit: 65 mph.
Every RV is required to carry reflective signs or flares in Nebraska.
Nevada
Towing Speed Limit: 65 mph.
Motorhome speed limit is 50 mph.
Drivers and passengers cannot have open alcoholic beverage containers inside the tow vehicle, but are allowed inside the motorhome or travel trailer living areas.
New Hampshire
Towing Speed Limit: 65 mph.
House Trailer Speed Limit: 45 mph.
You are not allowed to park overnight at rest areas in New Hampshire.
New Jersey
Towing Speed Limit: 55 mph.
Open propane cylinders are forbidden while driving on open highways in New Jersey.
No additional restrictions on cars with trailers.
New Mexico
Towing Speed Limit: 65 mph or as posted.
You can park overnight in New Mexico rest areas, but you can’t park overnight for more than 24 hours in any 3-day period.
New York
Towing Speed Limit: 55 mph.
You cannot transport liquid propane through any New York tunnel.
North Carolina
Towing Speed Limit: 65 mph.
North Carolina requires travel trailers weighing 1,000 lbs and over to have an independent brake system.
North Dakota
Towing Speed Limit: 65 mph
Rural interstate: 75 mph, non-interstate multilane highways 70 mph, 2-lane highways 65 mph if posted. If not posted, 55 mph..
Each trailer going 25mph or over must have safety chains attached.
Ohio
Towing Speed Limit: 65 mph.
55 mph is the max speed limit for any vehicle or vehicle combination weighing over 8,000 lbs.
Brakes are required if the empty trailer weight exceeds 2,000 lbs.
Oklahoma
Towing Speed Limit: 65 mph.
Maximum travel trailer length must be under 40 feet in Oklahoma.
Oregon
Towing Speed Limit: 65 mph.
Any vehicle towing a trailer or camper and any vehicle with a registration weight at or over 8,000 lbs must use the right lane of all roadways with two or more lanes traveling in the same direction.
You cannot pump your own fuel in Oregon.
Pennsylvania
Towing Speed Limit: 55 mph.
Otherwise, rural interstate highways are 65 mph, residential districts on most local highways 25mph, urban districts 35 mph, and 55 mph in other locations.
All trailers must have trailer brakes.
Rhode Island
Towing Speed Limit: 55 mph.
You can park overnight in Rhode Island rest areas.
South Carolina
Towing Speed Limit: 65 mph.
Manufactured or mobile homes have a maximum towing speed limit of 10 mph under the posted speed limit when it’s over 45 mph, and can never exceed 55 mph.
The total length limit of the tow vehicle and trailer combined cannot exceed 60 feet.
South Dakota
Towing Speed Limit: 65 mph.
65 mph on secondary highways except where posted.
75 mph on interstate except where posted.
All towed vehicles or trailers over 8,000 lbs are required to stop at weigh stations.
Tennessee
Towing Speed Limit: 65 mph.
Rural interstate 70mph or as posted.
The max trailer width is 8 feet in Tennessee.
Texas
Towing Speed Limit: 60 mph during day, 55 mph at night.
You can park in rest areas in Texas for a 24 hour period maximum.
Utah
Towing Speed Limit: 65 mph.
RVs and trailers up to 14 feet tall are allowed in Utah.
Vermont
Towing Speed Limit: 65 mph.
Vermont requires all trailers to have a fire extinguisher.
Virginia
Towing Speed Limit: 55 mph.
Virginia allows a maximum of two 20 lb propane tanks per travel trailer.
Washington
Towing Speed Limit: 60 mph.
You can park for a maximum of eight hours overnight in Washington state rest areas.
West Virginia
Towing Speed Limit: 65 mph.
You cannot triple tow in West Virginia.
Wisconsin
Towing Speed Limit: 65 mph.
Triple towing in Wisconsin is allowed with a special permit.
Wyoming
Towing Speed Limit: 60 mph.
You must prove that you can stop in 40 feet while driving 20 mph while towing in Wyoming.
Puerto Rico
Same as passenger cars or according to the zone you’re in.
Max speed for heavy motor vehicles is 10 mph below the speed limit in any zone.
Trailer Towing Speed Limits In Canada By Province
Alberta
Towing Speed Limit: 100 km/h or as posted.
British Columbia
Towing Speed Limit: 80 km/h on provincial highways. 50 km/h in populated areas, or as posted.
Manitoba
Towing Speed Limit: 90 km/h in rural areas. 50 km/h in urban areas or as posted.
New Brunswick
Towing Speed Limit: 80 km/h or as posted.
Newfoundland and Labrador
Towing Speed Limit: 90 km/h.
Northwest Territories
Towing Speed Limit: 90 km/h or as posted.
Nova Scotia
Towing Speed Limit: 80 km/h or as posted.
Ontario
Towing Speed Limit: Same km/h as passenger cars.
Prince Edward Island
Towing Speed Limit: 80 km/h or as posted.
Quebec
Towing Speed Limit: Same km/h as passenger cars, or as posted.
Saskatchewan
Towing Speed Limit: 80 km/h or as posted.
Yukon
Towing Speed Limit: Same km/h as passenger cars.
Trailer Tire Speed Ratings
When determining the towing speed limit, you should also be aware of the speed rating of your trailer tires.
This will usually exceed the maximum towing speed limit in whatever State you’re in, which is a good thing.
This does not mean that you should go above the posted speed limits, as they’re there for the safety of you and others.
The trailer tire speed rating is the last letter of the description on the tire’s sidewall, ranging from values of A1-A8, B, C, D, etc, all the way up to ZR.
Most trailer tire speed ratings are valued at G, J, K, or L, and are rated for maximum speeds of 65 mph to 75 mph.
Do not exceed these speeds, as you can damage your tires which can lead to shaking, wobbling, or a collision.
Other Considerations
In addition to following the right speed limit when towing, having the right tire pressure for towing is just as critical.
Be sure to check out our other towing guides for more information while you’re here:
How To Hook Up A Trailer Step-By-Step
