North Dakota recently joined the growing list of states allowing higher top speeds on its interstates.
This week, North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong signed House Bill 1298. The bill officially raises the maximum speed on Interstates 29 and 94 from 75 mph to 80 mph effective August 1, 2025.
The legislation also updates the structure of speeding fines, with steeper penalties for drivers who exceed limits by larger margins.
North Dakota becomes the ninth U.S. jurisdiction with an 80-mph cap on selected highways. Here’s the rundown:
• Montana – Rural interstates up to 80 mph (70 mph for trucks)
• Nevada – Primarily I-80 between Fernley and Winnemucca
• South Dakota – Mainline interstates, including I-90 and I-29
• Wyoming – Certain freeway segments after engineering studies
• Idaho – Selected stretches approved by traffic investigations
• Utah – Portions of I-80, I-15 and I-84 via traffic-engineering assessments
• Oklahoma – Turnpike segments, per Oklahoma Turnpike Authority
• Texas – Western I-10 and I-20 plus State Highway 130 tollway (and even 85 mph on some toll roads)
As of August 1, North Dakota joins these peers in allowing a legal maximum of 80 mph on its key interstate corridors.
Tips for RVers
Even if you plan to keep your RV’s cruise set well below 80 mph, faster-moving traffic may affect your journey. Here are some things to consider:
• Speed differential: A large gap between your speed and surrounding traffic can increase the risk of collisions during lane changes or merges.
• Stay right, pass left: Stick to the right lane when at all possible. This allows passenger-car traffic to safely overtake your RV.
• Use your mirrors: Regularly check side and rearview mirrors so you’re aware of approaching vehicles traveling at higher speeds.
• Anticipate passing zones: In stretches where passing is safe and legal, consider pulling off or using a designated turnout if you notice a long line of vehicles behind.
• Maintain your brakes: Extended downhill grades at higher highway speeds demand that your braking system be in top condition—inspect pads, rotors, and fluid before you go.
• Adjust GPS and cruise control: Set alerts or cruise-control limits to remind you of your personal top speed for comfort and safety.
Practical steps to adapt
• Plan extra travel time: Even with higher posted speeds, RVs accelerate and handle differently—factor in a modest reduction (e.g., 10–15 mph under the limit) when estimating arrival times.
• Monitor road signs: Keep an eye out for reduced-speed zones near urban areas, construction, or sharp curves—80 mph won’t apply everywhere on I-29 and I-94.
• Stay informed on fines: Under House Bill 1298, fines for speeding on highways ≥ 65 mph are $20 or $5 per mph over the limit (whichever is greater), with extra penalties for going more than 16 mph over or speeding in work zones.
• Communicate with your co-pilot: Have your navigator watch for signs and traffic, so you can focus on steering and speed control.
RELATED
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RVT1213b
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always good to receive new road information, thanks !
Wouldn’t affect me. I don’t tow my camper more than 60mph. Much less chance of sway problems (and yes, I do use a sway control hitch – a Reese dual cam system). As for slower traffic, the adaptive cruise in my tow vehicle (2017 Nissan Armada) is a REALLY nice feature!
Yes it does. Those around you will kill you. PS I am a “60 tops” guy too.
The faster you drive, the less chance of surviving an accident. Todays cars disintegrate at slowed speeds.
Even more reason to stay off I-dash-hell roads as much as practical when towing. My ST tires are speed rated for 65mph (typical). I set my adaptive cruise to what my GPS (more accurate than the speedometer) says is 63mph. I know I am hated by most of the other traffic. They come up fast behind me, tailgate in my blind spots, then abruptly change lanes to get around me – – all too often to cut me off to exit a 1/4 mile ahead of me. At 63mph this isn’t just cars & light trucks, but also semis. And a semi passing me going 7 to 17mph faster has a huge bow wave followed by a huge vacuum. You have to be hypervigilant at the wheel.
There is no sane reason on this earth to drive today’s plastic junk 80 mph on any worn out highway that has not been maintained properly in the last 60 years. Exceptions should be law enforcement and first responders only. Greed from gas and oil corporations is bad enough let alone fools driving that fast wasting gas.
I didn’t have greedy oil corporations on my bingo card for this article JB. Far too many dots to connect.
Dot: “Plastic Junk” (made from oil). Dot: “Highways not maintained” (blacktop made with oil) Dot: North Dakota: (they have oil fields) Dot; “fools driving” (ya got me with that one). You’re right, hard to connect the dots.
At first I thought it was just an article about a speed limit increase but now that you mention it, the soles of my shoes against the accelerator pedal are a big oil product as well, plus the eye glasses on my melon are plastic and its the only way I can actually read the speed limit signs anymore so yup, just another greedy oil corporation story i guess.
Happy trails KellyR
Dot: Melon”’Dot:…brain…no connection available. Mouth tape needed.
My father used to comment when speeders rushed by him as he drove the speed limit, “Drive on fool, h*ll’s only half full.”
Thank you, Gail, for the news. I understand that some spend as little time as possible commuting, but I won’t be driving our RV through the mentioned states and roads at 70 mph. My tires are rated for speeds to 70 mph, but I don’t wish to try to stop 21 1/2 tons (RV @ 19 tons + towed @ 2 1/2 tons) quickly at that speed. Thankfully for all concerned, I am in any of these states an average of once every ten years. Perhaps the increase in states with higher speed limits will keep me even more restricted to the southeast. 🙂 To shamelessly paraphrase Nilsson, “I’ll go where the speed limit suits my speed (https://youtu.be/5mAMHZ4gLcQ?feature=shared).” Have a great weekend and safe travels! 🙂
Wonder will insurance go up for those who are living in high speed limit state
Which just means that most traffic will be moving at 88 MPH.
Speed kills. ND going in the wrong direction.
Absolutely….. Most people can barely handle 60… “Safely”
So does a lack of driving skills.
I suppose they need to do the same increase for I-95 in Florida. Traveled to Ft. Lauderdale from SC twice in the last year. I drive an Outback, and the speedo is within 1 mph of the GPS. I set cruise on 70 and try to drive in the right lane. Florida has a minimum of 3 lanes on each side of I-95. I was passed by literally everyone. In a limited experiment I attempted to just keep up with traffic in the right lane for a while and I had to travel between 75 and 80. The center and inside lanes were much faster. In two trips I never saw anyone pulled over by Florida HP. I did however see 3 wrecks that slowed down traffic to a crawl. My sympathies for anyone traveling that highway.
As a driver from the SW Pacific I have been surprised by North American drivers insane “need 4 speed” & practising for Daytona yet show a distinct lack of basic driving skills. It appears that getting a driver’s licence in USA requires being able to steer a vehicle and occasionally experiment with the brakes. On the positive side I have experienced some excellent drivers on North American highways and byways. Overall, it appears that the level of driving skills needs to be higher before drivers are let loose on public roads. I have a current heavy truck & trailer licence, & driving since the 1950s & an ex-driving instructor.