Average cruising speeds on freeways in your area/state

[Roadgeekteen]

What speed do drivers travel on local highways without traffic? Around here, traffic flows at 70-80 on freeways.

[Max Rockatansky]

80 MPH on CA 99, 41, 180 and 168 around Fresno. 

[interstatefan990]

Around 70-75 on most freeways, though you'll encounter the occasional 85er in the left lane and 60-65er in the right lane.

[Flint1979]

Around here usually between 80 and 90 mph on like I-75, I-96, I-94, I-69, US-23 and so on.

[SkyPesos]

In the Ohio part of the Cincinnati metro, excluding the left lane, average of around 70-75 mph in 65 mph zones (I-71 exits 12-28, I-75 north of exit 14, most of I-74 and I-275), and 75-80 mph in 70 mph zones (I-71 north of exit 28, I-74 west of exit 3). 55 mph zones are weird, as it can range from 60-65 mph on I-71 exits 9-12, most of OH 126 and 562, because of the many curves and/or narrower medians. Also, I-71 is currently a construction zone in that area. Or it can go at 70-75 mph, like I-71 between downtown and exit 9.

[In_Correct]

What speed do drivers travel on local highways without traffic? Around here, traffic flows at 70-80 on freeways.

Without traffic, and in good weather, and if running late, I have done 87 continuously until approach highway exit.

With traffic, I drive as fast as possible in the regular lane until I notice a car in front of me. I keep many Invisible Cars distance. I usually keep the same speed as that automobile as long as their speed is constant. If it is a windy day, I will pass them. I return to the regular lane one minute after passing the car to make plenty of space.

Other people's traffic is as fast as possible (usually Chryslers) dangerously too close to each other, and pass on shoulders. This is also dangerous as they block the off ramps. The off ramps are often congested from traffic light to frontage road to ramp to shoulder. It is necessary to slow down prematurely to be able to stop at the very long line of cars.

The highways could be widened, but many people oppose the upgrades, and there is not enough upgrades being done on the nearby parallel highways.

[webny99]

It depends. Usually around 65-70 mph in 55 mph zones, and 75-80 mph in 65 mph zones. 70 mph and 80 mph respectively seem to be people's expectation for the left lane. Below that, and you'll get passed on the right. Above that, and you're probably fine (but should still move right when you can, of course! )

The freeways that collect traffic from outlying areas, like NY 104 and NY 531 (and even the short section of NY 441), are my favorites for traffic flow. They tend to move along really fast, especially during commute times, while 390/I-490/590 sometimes have fast packs but are a bit slower in general. It's rare to encounter anyone doing more than 85 mph though, no matter the speed limit.

[JoePCool14]

For Chicagoland, usually it's around 75-80. When you get farther out, it might increase to 80-85. I can't speak for the inner city freeways though like the Kennedy and Eisenhower. I just remember the Edens being a rat-race when I drove down to Touhy Ave daily last year before the virus restrictions.

[Roadgeekteen]

For Chicagoland, usually it's around 75-80. When you get farther out, it might increase to 80-85. I can't speak for the inner city freeways though like the Kennedy and Eisenhower. I just remember the Edens being a rat-race when I drove down to Touhy Ave daily last year before the virus restrictions.

75-80 in 55 zones? Normally cars can hit that in MA 55 zones, but mostly 70-75.

[Flint1979]

For Chicagoland, usually it's around 75-80. When you get farther out, it might increase to 80-85. I can't speak for the inner city freeways though like the Kennedy and Eisenhower. I just remember the Edens being a rat-race when I drove down to Touhy Ave daily last year before the virus restrictions.

Kennedy, Dan Ryan and the Ike are anywhere between 40 and about 65 mph. Anything over that your just on the back end of the car in front of you. It's frustrating beyond belief. I've never been able to steady go above 65 mph in Chicago. I have gone over that but I've had to slow down. It gets worse the closer to the Circle interchange you get.

[FrCorySticha]

In Montana, people generally drive ~5 MPH above or below the speed limit, so speeds generally range from 75-85 in 80 MPH zones and 60-70 in 65 MPH zones within city limits. Of course, the mountainous stretches are different as the speed limits are set more by terrain, and speeds vary accordingly.

[JoePCool14]

For Chicagoland, usually it's around 75-80. When you get farther out, it might increase to 80-85. I can't speak for the inner city freeways though like the Kennedy and Eisenhower. I just remember the Edens being a rat-race when I drove down to Touhy Ave daily last year before the virus restrictions.

Kennedy, Dan Ryan and the Ike are anywhere between 40 and about 65 mph. Anything over that your just on the back end of the car in front of you. It's frustrating beyond belief. I've never been able to steady go above 65 mph in Chicago. I have gone over that but I've had to slow down. It gets worse the closer to the Circle interchange you get.

Yup. The roads are just too congested. Like I said, the short stint I had on the Edens was always a fun time. Three lanes each way simply does not cut it.

[Roadgeekteen]

In Montana, people generally drive ~5 MPH above or below the speed limit, so speeds generally range from 75-85 in 80 MPH zones and 60-70 in 65 MPH zones within city limits. Of course, the mountainous stretches are different as the speed limits are set more by terrain, and speeds vary accordingly.

Wow, a state with reasonable speed limits!

[SkyPesos]

In Montana, people generally drive ~5 MPH above or below the speed limit, so speeds generally range from 75-85 in 80 MPH zones and 60-70 in 65 MPH zones within city limits. Of course, the mountainous stretches are different as the speed limits are set more by terrain, and speeds vary accordingly.

Wow, a state with reasonable speed limits!

I'm still waiting for Indiana to raise the speed limit on most of I-465. You're just asking to get crashed into driving at 55 mph, when almost all other vehicles are going at least 15-20 mph over. Pretty sure the cops don't even care at this point, though there are still occasional speed traps (one in the Carmel area and one somewhere in the south loop I think).

[ran4sh]

The last few times I've been on I-85 between I-75/85 and I-285 (northeast side), I've encountered groups of cars going 85+ mph, despite the speed limit being 55 or 65. I usually go 70-75 on that road myself.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

In Minnesota I notice a subtle difference between cruising speeds on Interstates and non-Interstate freeways.

Interstates are 65 in the metro to 80 on outstate Interstates.
US/state freeways and expressways are 60-70.

I notice a much larger variance in speeds on I-494/694 than, say, MN 100 despite both having a 60 limit.

[Ketchup99]

In Pennsylvania, it varies a lot. Usually you'll see 70-80 in 70 zones and 70-75 in 65 zones as general rules. In 55 zones, you're usually looking at 65-75, depending on where it is, but some 55 zones flow under 60. I-99 through Altoona, for instance, I'm not going over 65 because I'll get pulled. I-81 north of Harrisburg, I can go 70-75 and not be noticed at all. The further east you go, as another rule, the faster people go. I-80 from Hazleton to Stroudsburg can sometimes resemble a racetrack.

People do seem to regard 80mph around here as a pretty iron cap.

[sprjus4]

I-64 between Williamsburg and Richmond - speed limit 70 mph - traffic usually moves around 58 - 62 mph in the right lane, and 62 - 65 mph in the left lane. Maybe the occasional 68 - 70 mph if you're lucky, if you want any forward progress, usually you have to pass right when the opportunity opens up to even maintain the speed limit. Once you do pass a group, you can usually cruise about 77 - 80 mph for a couple miles until you reach the next group, and restart. This will usually happen anytime in both directions between 6am - 12am. You usually are clear between the hours of 12am and 6am.

It's hell for 30 miles, but you got 6 lanes on either side to look forward to.

[US 89]

In my experience, Atlanta freeways tend to be about 70-75 mph in 65 or 70 zones, and 65-70 mph in 55 or 60 zones.

The maximum limit posted in Georgia is 70 mph, but once you get out of the cities I'd say the average cruising speed falls somewhere in the 75-80 mph range. I will say, however, that I-575 in particular might as well be a racetrack. Every time I've been on it it seems a majority of cars are doing north of 80-85. Last time I had to set cruise all the way up to 82 just to not get run off the road.

[Roadgeekteen]

In Montana, people generally drive ~5 MPH above or below the speed limit, so speeds generally range from 75-85 in 80 MPH zones and 60-70 in 65 MPH zones within city limits. Of course, the mountainous stretches are different as the speed limits are set more by terrain, and speeds vary accordingly.

Wow, a state with reasonable speed limits!

I'm still waiting for Indiana to raise the speed limit on most of I-465. You're just asking to get crashed into driving at 55 mph, when almost all other vehicles are going at least 15-20 mph over. Pretty sure the cops don't even care at this point, though there are still occasional speed traps (one in the Carmel area and one somewhere in the south loop I think).

At least Indiana has 70.

[sparker]

During the non-commute hours when traffic flow is generally free, the older freeways in the area (US 101, I-880/CA 17) tend to stay somewhere in the 65-70 range (much of that posted at 55) unless there's a CHP vehicle rolling along at about 68, which they are wont to do sporadically (with traffic bunching up behind).  CA 85 between I-280 and US 101 through Sunnyvale and Mountain View follows this pattern as well.  Generally the highest speeds are seen on the remainder of CA 85 and on I-280 west of I-880/CA 17; I'd put the average somewhere between 70 and 75.  You don't see much above that except on I-680 from about Berryessa north to the Sunol grade and US 101 heading out of town toward Morgan Hill and Gilroy.  But the slowest speeds are found on I-280 from I-880 east (cardinal south) to US 101, primarily because of lane additions and drops exacerbated by the sheer number of interchanges; drivers slow down simply to avoid being sideswiped.  The weirdest area freeway has to be CA 87; it's a raceway north of downtown in the airport area (drivers exceeding 80-85 are commonplace midday), but through downtown shares a lot of characteristics with I-280 (which it intersects in the middle of that freeway's problematic slow section) all the way south to its terminus at CA 85, prompting reactive slowing.  I've had more near-misses on CA 87 than any other regional freeway (it's also the one closest to both my home and office). 

[GaryV]

Around here usually between 80 and 90 mph on like I-75, I-96, I-94, I-69, US-23 and so on.

On average?  No.

Usually you find some people doing 80-90?  Absolutely.

[Crown Victoria]

In Pennsylvania, it varies a lot. Usually you'll see 70-80 in 70 zones and 70-75 in 65 zones as general rules. In 55 zones, you're usually looking at 65-75, depending on where it is, but some 55 zones flow under 60. I-99 through Altoona, for instance, I'm not going over 65 because I'll get pulled. I-81 north of Harrisburg, I can go 70-75 and not be noticed at all. The further east you go, as another rule, the faster people go. I-80 from Hazleton to Stroudsburg can sometimes resemble a racetrack.

People do seem to regard 80mph around here as a pretty iron cap.

I will mostly concur with this. Just amend a little to say 70-80 in both 65 and 70 zones, and to specify that many will go 70-80 in the rural and suburban 55 zones (i.e. free I-70, I-78 in Lehigh County, US 422 King of Prussia-Pottstown), with the urban 55 zones featuring slower traffic, due to increased congestion.

[ET21]

For Chicagoland, usually it's around 75-80. When you get farther out, it might increase to 80-85. I can't speak for the inner city freeways though like the Kennedy and Eisenhower. I just remember the Edens being a rat-race when I drove down to Touhy Ave daily last year before the virus restrictions.

75-80 in 55 zones? Normally cars can hit that in MA 55 zones, but mostly 70-75.

No one follows speed limits around here. Local PD does not bother pulling people over unless they are going 15+ or being very reckless (weaving, using shoulder, etc). So yeah 70-80 is pretty common city/burbs, 80-90 in rural areas

[webny99]

I will say, however, that I-575 in particular might as well be a racetrack. Every time I've been on it it seems a majority of cars are doing north of 80-85. Last time I had to set cruise all the way up to 82 just to not get run off the road.

We might be onto something here with exurban freeways. People on these freeways probably tend to have longer commute times which means more time to make up time.

Upthread I mentioned something similar for Rochester-area freeways such as NY 104 and NY 531, and up in Canada the QEW between Grimsby and Burlington also fits the trend.