New Jersey Speed Limits – National Speed Limits in New Jersey

In New Jersey the maximum speed limit on the common limited access freeway is posted at 65 mph (105 km/h). New Jersey’s only statutory speed limits are 50 mph (80 km/h) rural and, 25 mph (40 km/h) urban. Because New Jersey is largely suburbanized, it varies between 25–50 mph (40-80 km/h) depending on the jurisdiction of the road and whether the municipality is township, village, borough or city status.

Shorter length freeways such as US 202, Route 15, and Route 33 remain at 55 mph (89 km/h). In all 65 mph (105 km/h) speed zones, the speeding fines and “other violations” are doubled. Urban freeway speed limits are 50 to 55 mph (80 to 89 km/h). However, some freeways in urban areas retain a 65 mph (105 km/h) speed limit such as the New Jersey Turnpike up to Exit 13 (Interstate 278), I-80 from the Delaware Water Gap (Exit 4) to the Passaic River (Exit 53) and I-78 from the Delaware River to the Newark border (Exit 55). Only the New Jersey Turnpike has variable speed limits on its entire length.

Four-lane or greater state highways (often with a jersey divider or grass median) are generally posted at 55 mph (89 km/h), such as Route 73 from CR 544 in Evesham Township to the Atlantic City Expressway. County four-lane highways and municipal maintained four-lane roads (with a jersey divider or grass median) are not posted above 50 mph (80 km/h).

Two-lane rural state highways and county maintained roads generally have 40 to 50 mph (64 to 80 km/h) limits. The only two lane surface roads posted at 55 mph (89 km/h) in New Jersey are County Route 539, Route 70, and Route 72 in the Pine Barrens of Ocean and Burlington Counties and Route 54 in Atlantic County. The Route 33 Freehold Bypass section where it is a super two freeway is also 55 mph (89 km/h).

Urban two-lane roads in boroughs and cities are 25 mph (40 km/h) or 35 mph (56 km/h). Residential streets at the municipal or county level are generally posted at 25 mph (40 km/h) speed limits in boroughs and cities. However, they can be as high as 40 to 45 mph (64 to 72 km/h) at the county level, less likely in municipal maintained roads. Municipal and county maintained roads through Townships are a bit more common with speed limits higher than 25 mph (40 km/h) through residential areas. Generally, anything above 40 mph (64 km/h) becomes uncommon. However, there are a handful of 45 mph (72 km/h) residential stretches such as Terill Road in Scotch Plains and Woodbridge Avenue (CR 514) in Edison. At 50 mph (80 km/h), County Route 537 in Freehold Township (south of Route 18) and Half Acre Road in Monroe.

School zones and suburban areas on two-lane roadways normally have a speed limit of 25 mph (40 km/h) when children are present. However, this limit can be as low as 15 mph (24 km/h) and as high as 35 mph (56 km/h) in some school zones.