Minnesota posts 70 mph on rural interstates, 65 mph on urban interstates and divided expressways, and a 55 mph statutory default on most other highways.
Minnesota speed limits at a glance
| Road type | Limit |
|---|---|
| Cities, towns, business districts | 30 mph (48 kph) |
| Residential / school zones | 30 mph (48 kph) |
| Rural highways | 55 mph (89 kph) |
| Interstates / freeways | 70 mph (113 kph) |
About speed limits in Minnesota
Minnesota law sets a 70 mph maximum on interstate highways outside urbanized areas, which covers long rural stretches of I-90, I-94 and I-35. Interstates inside urbanized areas of 50,000 or more people, such as the Twin Cities freeway network, carry 65 mph, and the same 65 mph figure applies to many rural divided expressways. Away from the freeway system the statutory default is 55 mph, though MnDOT has raised a number of well-built two-lane highways to 60 mph after engineering studies. Urban districts default to 30 mph unless otherwise posted, and alleys are limited to 10 mph.
A distinctive Minnesota rule, often called the Dimler amendment, keeps certain minor speeding convictions off a driver's public record: violations of no more than 10 mph over in a 55 mph zone, or no more than 5 mph over in a 60 mph zone, are generally not recorded for insurance purposes. At the other extreme, driving over 100 mph anywhere in the state triggers a driver's license revocation of at least six months.
Cities gained authority in 2019 to set their own limits on city-owned streets without a state study, and both Minneapolis and St. Paul used it to drop most residential streets to 20 mph under their shared 20 is Plenty campaign. School zones can be posted as low as 15 mph, and fines are doubled for violations committed in a school zone.
Minnesota launched its first automated speed enforcement under a pilot authorized by statute 169.147, running from August 1, 2025 to July 31, 2029 in Minneapolis and Mendota Heights. Minneapolis switched on its first camera locations on October 1, 2025 and may operate up to 42 sites, while Mendota Heights runs a single camera near Two Rivers High School. Cameras only trigger at more than 10 mph over the limit, first offenses draw a warning, and subsequent administrative citations are $40, or $80 at more than 20 mph over, with no impact on driving records.
Enforcement
The Minnesota State Patrol relies on radar, laser and aircraft-assisted patrols, with heavily publicized statewide speed waves each summer. Automated enforcement is limited to the Minneapolis and Mendota Heights camera pilot plus planned MnDOT work-zone camera tests, so nearly all tickets elsewhere still come from officers.
Tolerance
There is no legal grace margin, and troopers can cite any speed over the limit. In practice enforcement often focuses on drivers well above the flow of traffic, and the pilot cameras are barred by statute from ticketing below 10 mph over.
Speeding fines in Minnesota
Speeding is normally a petty misdemeanor with a base fine of roughly $40 to $150 depending on speed, plus a $75 court surcharge and local fees that push the real cost higher. The base fine doubles at 20 mph or more over the limit or in a school zone, and work-zone violations carry a $300 fine. Exceeding 100 mph adds a mandatory license revocation of at least six months.
Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum speed limit in Minnesota?
The maximum is 70 mph, posted on interstate highways outside urbanized areas such as rural I-90, I-94 and I-35. Urban interstates and many divided expressways are 65 mph, and most other highways default to 55 mph unless a study supports 60 mph.
Does Minnesota have speed cameras?
Yes, but only in a limited pilot. Statute 169.147 authorizes Minneapolis and Mendota Heights to run speed safety cameras from August 2025 through July 2029, with warnings for first offenses and administrative fines of $40 to $80 that do not go on driving records. MnDOT is also testing cameras in a small number of work zones.
What is the residential speed limit in Minnesota?
The statutory urban district limit is 30 mph unless otherwise posted. Since a 2019 law, cities may set lower limits on their own streets, and Minneapolis and St. Paul have moved most residential streets to 20 mph.
Do small speeding tickets go on your record in Minnesota?
Often not. Under the so-called Dimler amendment, convictions of up to 10 mph over in a 55 mph zone, or up to 5 mph over in a 60 mph zone, are generally kept off the record used by insurers, though the fine still applies.
Speed limits in nearby states
- Wisconsin speed limit — interstate, rural highway, and city limits.
- Iowa speed limit — interstate, rural highway, and city limits.
- North Dakota speed limit — interstate, rural highway, and city limits.
- South Dakota speed limit — interstate, rural highway, and city limits.
Related tools
- Convert MPH to KPH — convert any speed reading between units.
- Car speed test — verify your speedometer accuracy.
- Live GPS speedometer — see your actual speed in the browser.
- Stopping distance calculator — how far you need to brake from each speed.
- US speed limits overview — federal background and national patterns.