Quick answer — three road categories
- Conventional state highways and US routes (US-101, US-50, state route numbers): bicycles are almost always permitted, like any rural two-lane road, except for individual bridges, tunnels, or urban-freeway segments posted 'No Bicycles'.
- Limited-access highways and expressways: permission depends on state DOT policy and is communicated by signage at each on-ramp.
- Interstate highways (I-5, I-90, I-95): the most restricted category. About a dozen western states allow shoulder cycling where no alternative exists; most others prohibit it.
- 23 CFR 652 requires state DOTs to give 'due consideration' to bicycles on federal-aid projects but reserves the access decision to each state.1
- Posted signage controls — but the absence of a 'No Bicycles' sign is not, by itself, affirmative permission. Always check the state DOT's policy before riding.
Interstate, expressway, or regular highway — the distinction matters
The word 'highway' is used loosely in conversation but has narrow legal meanings in state vehicle codes. The cycling rules turn on which definition applies.
A conventional highway in most state vehicle codes simply means any public road open to vehicular travel — US numbered routes (US-1, US-101), state routes, and county highways. Bicycles are permitted as a matter of course, with individual bridges or segments occasionally signed prohibited.
A limited-access or controlled-access highway has restricted entry and exit (interchanges only) but is not necessarily an Interstate. State law typically delegates to the DOT the authority to prohibit bicycles, pedestrians, and slow-moving traffic via signage. California Vehicle Code § 21960 is the textbook example: Caltrans and local authorities may, by sign, prohibit pedestrians, bicycles, and motorised bicycles on freeways and expressways.6 In practice, urban California freeways are signed prohibited and rural ones are not.
An Interstate is a numbered route in the Eisenhower system — built to AASHTO design standards, federally funded, and shown by the red-and-blue shield. 23 CFR 652 leaves the bicycle-access decision to the state DOT.1 State policies range from 'allowed on all rural shoulders' (Wyoming, Montana) to 'prohibited everywhere' (most of the East Coast).
The federal framework and the west–east divide
FHWA does not directly authorise or forbid Interstate cycling. 23 CFR 652 requires state DOTs to consider bicycle and pedestrian needs in highway design and to consult the AASHTO Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities.4 FHWA's longstanding policy guidance (HEP-50) instructs that Interstate-cycling prohibitions should be the exception rather than the default, supported by a documented engineering or safety justification.2
Geography largely explains why the map looks the way it does. Across the Mountain West and Great Basin, the Interstate is sometimes the only paved through-route for hundreds of miles. I-80 across Wyoming, Nevada, and Utah has long permitted shoulder cycling for this reason. I-90 across Montana is open under MDT policy except where specifically signed.9 I-5 in Oregon allows cycling along most of the rural corridor, with the Portland metro section and certain bridges signed prohibited per ODOT policy.7 By contrast, every eastern Interstate corridor has a parallel US route or state highway within a few miles. I-95 from Maine to Florida is closed to bicycles end-to-end, and I-81, I-77, I-85, and I-87 are likewise closed under state controlled-access statutes.
State-by-state Interstate access table
The table below summarises Interstate-cycling rules for each state we have verified against a primary source — typically a state DOT bicycle-policy page or a state vehicle-code section. 'Allowed' means bicycles may use Interstate shoulders by default, subject to specifically signed prohibitions. 'Prohibited' means bicycles are banned from all Interstate shoulders within the state. 'Varies' means the state has a mixed regime — many segments are open while others (typically urban or high-traffic) are signed closed, and the rider must check the specific corridor before riding. States not yet listed are still being researched; absence is not a legal conclusion.
| State | Interstates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Prohibited | Bicycles are prohibited on Interstates and other controlled-access highways in Alabama. Ala. Code § 32-5A-52 authorises ALDOT and local authorities to bar pedestrians, bicycles, and other slow-moving traffic from any controlled-access roadway by sign; ALDOT has exercised that authority on every Interstate corridor in the state. |
| Alaska | Allowed | Alaska generally permits bicycle travel on the shoulders of state highways and Interstate-equivalent routes (the Glenn, Parks, Seward, and Richardson Highways) where no parallel alternative exists. Alaska DOT&PF posts site-specific 'No Bicycles' signs on bridges, tunnels, and certain urban segments around Anchorage; the on-ramp signage controls. |
| Arizona | Allowed | ADOT permits bicycle travel on the paved shoulders of rural Interstate segments where no reasonable alternative exists, including long stretches of I-10, I-8, I-17, I-19, and I-40. Bicycles are prohibited on Interstate segments within the Phoenix and Tucson metropolitan areas (signed at on-ramps) and through tunnels. |
| Arkansas | Prohibited | Bicycles are prohibited on all Interstate highways in Arkansas under ARDOT policy. Conventional state highways and US numbered routes are open by default; individual bridges and urban-freeway segments may be signed prohibited. |
| California | Varies | Cal. Veh. Code § 21960 authorises Caltrans and local authorities to prohibit pedestrians, bicycles, and motor-driven cycles on any freeway or expressway by sign. In practice, every urban Interstate segment in California is signed prohibited; many rural Interstate shoulders (notably parts of I-5, I-8, I-10, I-15, I-40, and I-80) are signed open. Always check the Caltrans bicycle-on-freeways map for the specific corridor before riding. |
| Colorado | Allowed | CDOT permits bicycle travel on the paved shoulders of rural Interstate segments where no reasonable alternative exists, including most of I-70 west of Denver and large portions of I-25 and I-76. Urban Interstate segments through metro Denver, Colorado Springs, and Fort Collins are signed prohibited, as are the Eisenhower–Johnson tunnels on I-70 (a designated cyclist shuttle is provided). |
| Connecticut | Prohibited | Bicycles are prohibited on all Interstate highways in Connecticut (I-84, I-91, I-95, I-291, I-384, I-395, I-684, I-691) and on most other limited-access state highways under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-298 and ConnDOT policy. Conventional state and US routes are open by default. |
| Delaware | Prohibited | Bicycles are prohibited on Delaware Interstates (I-95, I-295, I-495) and on most limited-access state highways (including SR 1 from the Roth Bridge south to Dover) under DelDOT policy. Conventional state routes — including the iconic shoulder of US 13 — are open by default. |
| District of Columbia | Prohibited | Bicycles are prohibited on all freeway segments in the District (the I-66, I-295, I-395, and I-695 segments). The District has no rural Interstate mileage; all Interstate segments are urban controlled-access roadways signed prohibited at every on-ramp. |
| Florida | Prohibited | Bicycles are prohibited on all Interstate highways in Florida (I-4, I-10, I-75, I-95, I-275, I-295, I-595) under FDOT Rule 14-65.0031 and the on-ramp signage. Conventional US routes and state highways — including the long-distance touring routes across the Panhandle and through the Keys — are open by default. |
| Georgia | Prohibited | Bicycles are prohibited on all Interstate highways in Georgia (I-16, I-20, I-24, I-59, I-75, I-85, I-95, I-185, I-285, I-475, I-516, I-575, I-675, I-985) under O.C.G.A. § 40-6-50 and GDOT signage. Conventional US routes and state highways are open by default. |
| Hawaii | Prohibited | Bicycles and pedestrians are prohibited on Hawaii's Interstate H-1, H-2, H-3, and H-201 freeways under HRS § 291C-101 and HDOT signage. The Interstate corridors on Oahu are urban controlled-access expressways; all are signed prohibited at on-ramps. Conventional state and county highways across the islands are open by default. |
| Idaho | Allowed | ITD permits bicycle travel on the paved shoulders of rural Interstate segments in Idaho — including I-15, I-84, I-86, and I-90 — where no reasonable alternative exists. Urban Interstate segments through Boise and Coeur d'Alene are signed prohibited; long tunnels and certain bridges are individually posted. |
| Illinois | Prohibited | Bicycles are prohibited on all Interstate highways in Illinois under IDOT policy (625 ILCS 5/11-1426.1 authorises the Department to prohibit pedestrians, bicycles, and other slow-moving traffic on any controlled-access highway). Conventional US routes and state highways are open by default; the Illinois Bicycle Rules of the Road manual lists the signed exceptions. |
| Indiana | Prohibited | Bicycles are prohibited on all Interstate highways in Indiana under INDOT policy and Ind. Code § 9-21-8-58, which authorises the Department to bar pedestrians, bicycles, and other slow-moving traffic from any controlled-access facility. Conventional US routes and state highways are open by default. |
| Iowa | Prohibited | Bicycles are prohibited on all Interstate highways in Iowa (I-29, I-35, I-74, I-80, I-380, I-680) under Iowa DOT policy. Conventional US routes and state highways — including the cross-state RAGBRAI corridors — are open by default. |
| Kansas | Prohibited | Bicycles are prohibited on all Interstate highways in Kansas (I-29, I-35, I-70, I-135, I-235, I-335, I-435, I-470, I-635, I-670) under KDOT policy. Conventional US routes and state highways are open by default. |
| Kentucky | Prohibited | Bicycles are prohibited on Kentucky Interstate highways under the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) controlled-access regulations. Bicycles remain permitted on conventional state and US routes (US-31, US-60, KY-15) unless an individual bridge or segment is signed prohibited. |
| Louisiana | Prohibited | Bicycles are prohibited on Louisiana Interstate highways (I-10, I-12, I-20, I-49, I-55) under La. Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) controlled-access regulations. Conventional US and state routes remain open to bicycles. |
| Maine | Prohibited | Bicycles are prohibited on Maine Interstate highways (I-95, I-295, I-195, I-395) under MaineDOT controlled-access regulations. The Maine portion of US-1 and other state routes remain open to bicycles. |
| Maryland | Prohibited | Bicycles are prohibited on Maryland Interstate highways and on other controlled-access highways designated by the State Highway Administration. The Capital Beltway (I-495/I-95), I-70, I-83, and I-97 are all closed to bicycles. Conventional US and state routes (US-1, US-40, MD-355) remain open. |
| Massachusetts | Prohibited | Bicycles are prohibited on Massachusetts Interstate highways (I-90 Mass. Pike, I-93, I-95, I-195, I-290, I-495) under MassDOT controlled-access regulations. The Bourne and Sagamore Bridges over the Cape Cod Canal carry separate sidewalks for bicycles. Conventional US and state routes (US-1, US-3, MA-2) remain open. |
| Michigan | Prohibited | Bicycles are prohibited on Michigan Interstate freeways (I-75, I-94, I-96, I-69, I-275, I-696) under Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) controlled-access regulations. The Mackinac Bridge runs an annual Labor Day bike-walk crossing under MDOT escort. Conventional US and state routes (US-2, US-23, M-22) remain open to bicycles. |
| Minnesota | Prohibited | Bicycles are prohibited on Minnesota Interstate freeways (I-35, I-90, I-94, I-394, I-494, I-694) under Minn. Stat. § 169.305 and MnDOT controlled-access regulations. Conventional US and state routes (US-61, US-2, MN-100) remain open. The Stone Arch Bridge in Minneapolis is the recommended Mississippi River crossing in lieu of the I-35W bridge. |
| Mississippi | Prohibited | Bicycles are prohibited on Mississippi Interstate highways (I-10, I-20, I-55, I-59, I-220) under Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) controlled-access regulations. Conventional US and state routes (US-49, US-61 Great River Road, MS-25) remain open to bicycles. |
| Missouri | Prohibited | Bicycles are prohibited on Missouri Interstate and other limited-access highways within urban areas under Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) controlled-access regulations. I-70, I-44, I-55, I-29, and I-35 are closed to bicycles end-to-end across the state. Conventional US and state routes (US-50, US-63, MO-94 Katy Trail parallel) remain open. |
| Montana | Allowed | Bicycles are permitted on Montana Interstate shoulders where no reasonable alternative route exists, under MDT bicycle policy. I-15, I-90, and I-94 are open to bicycles across most of their rural Montana mileage; specific tunnels, urban segments (Billings, Missoula, Bozeman), and bridges may be signed prohibited. Always check the on-ramp signage and the MDT Bicycle and Pedestrian Program map before entering. |
| Nebraska | Varies | Bicycles are permitted on Nebraska Interstate shoulders in most rural segments under Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) policy, where no reasonable alternative route exists. I-80 across western and central Nebraska is the principal example. Urban segments around Omaha and Lincoln are signed prohibited. Always verify the corridor before riding. |
| Nevada | Allowed | Bicycles are permitted on Nevada Interstate shoulders in rural segments under Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) policy. I-80 across northern Nevada and I-15 between the Arizona line and the southern Las Vegas valley are open. Urban segments through metropolitan Las Vegas and Reno are signed prohibited; verify with NDOT before riding. |
| New Hampshire | Prohibited | Bicycles are prohibited on New Hampshire Interstate highways (I-89, I-93, I-95) and on the toll-road portions of the Everett, Spaulding, and Central Turnpikes under New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) controlled-access regulations. Conventional US and state routes (US-3, US-4, NH-101) remain open to bicycles. |
| New Jersey | Prohibited | Bicycles are prohibited on New Jersey Interstate highways (I-78, I-80, I-95, I-280, I-287, I-295, I-676) under NJDOT controlled-access regulations and on the New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Parkway, and Atlantic City Expressway under their respective authority regulations. Conventional US and state routes (US-1, US-9, US-202, NJ-29) remain open. The Pulaski Skyway and the Hudson River crossings (Lincoln and Holland Tunnels, George Washington Bridge bike path) have separate rules — check the Port Authority bicycle access pages. |
| New Mexico | Allowed | Bicycles are permitted on New Mexico Interstate shoulders in rural segments under New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) policy. I-25 between the Colorado line and Las Vegas, NM and I-40 across most of the state are open; urban segments through Albuquerque and Santa Fe and specific bridges are signed prohibited. Always verify the corridor with NMDOT before riding. |
| New York | Prohibited | Bicycles are prohibited on New York State Interstate highways under NYSDOT controlled-access regulations and on the New York State Thruway (I-87, I-90), the Garden State and Cross-Westchester Expressways, and most NYC-area parkways. The Hudson River crossings have specific bicycle rules — see the Port Authority and MTA bicycle access pages for the Verrazzano-Narrows, George Washington, and Bear Mountain bridges. Conventional US and state routes (US-9, US-20, NY-9W) remain open. |
| North Carolina | Prohibited | Bicycles are prohibited on North Carolina Interstate highways (I-26, I-40, I-77, I-85, I-95, I-540) under North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) controlled-access regulations. Conventional US and state routes (US-1, US-17 Coastal route, US-64, NC-12 Outer Banks) remain open to bicycles. The NCDOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Division publishes nine cross-state bicycle routes that intentionally avoid all Interstate mileage. |
| North Dakota | Prohibited | Bicycles, pedestrians and other non-motorized traffic are prohibited on the Interstate system in North Dakota under NDDOT policy and the limited-access framework in NDCC § 24-01-01.1; cyclists must use parallel state highways and county roads. |
| Ohio | Prohibited | Ohio Rev. Code § 4511.051 prohibits bicycles, pedestrians, and other non-motorized traffic on freeways. The Ohio Department of Transportation enforces the prohibition statewide; cyclists must route on US, state and county routes paralleling the Interstate corridor. |
| Oklahoma | Prohibited | Bicycles are prohibited on Interstate highways in Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Department of Transportation excludes non-motorized traffic from limited-access facilities and posts the prohibition at on-ramps; cyclists touring the state route around Interstate corridors via parallel US and state routes. |
| Oregon | Allowed | ODOT's bicycling policy permits cycling on the shoulders of most rural Interstate segments in Oregon (notably much of I-5, I-84 and I-82) where no reasonable alternative exists. Specific urban segments, the Portland metro area, and certain bridges are signed prohibited; always confirm against ODOT's bicycling-on-Oregon-highways guidance before riding. |
| Pennsylvania | Prohibited | 75 Pa.C.S. § 3511 prohibits pedalcycles and pedestrians on freeways and limited-access highways in Pennsylvania, including the entire Interstate system. PennDOT signs the prohibition at on-ramps; cyclists must use the parallel US and state-route network. |
| Rhode Island | Prohibited | Bicycles are prohibited on Interstate and other limited-access highways in Rhode Island under RIDOT policy and the general limited-access framework in RIGL Title 24 / Title 31. I-95, I-195, I-295 and Route 4 are signed prohibited at every on-ramp. |
| South Carolina | Prohibited | Bicycles are prohibited on Interstate highways in South Carolina under SCDOT regulations governing limited-access facilities. I-26, I-77, I-85 and I-95 are closed to bicycle traffic; cyclists must route on parallel US, SC and county routes. |
| South Dakota | Varies | South Dakota DOT permits bicycle use on the shoulders of most rural Interstate segments (notably I-90 and I-29 outside metropolitan areas) where no reasonable alternative parallel route exists. Urban Interstate segments through Sioux Falls and Rapid City are signed prohibited. Verify the specific corridor against SDDOT signage before riding. |
| Tennessee | Prohibited | Bicycles are prohibited on Interstate highways in Tennessee under TDOT policy governing controlled-access facilities. I-24, I-40, I-65, I-75 and I-81 are signed closed to bicycle traffic at on-ramps; cyclists must route on parallel US and state routes. |
| Texas | Prohibited | Bicycles are prohibited on the Interstate system in Texas under TxDOT regulations governing controlled-access highways. The TxDOT Roadway Design Manual and posted on-ramp signage exclude non-motorized traffic; rural 'no reasonable alternative' exceptions, common in Western states, are not in force in Texas. |
| Utah | Allowed | UDOT permits cycling on the shoulders of most Interstate segments in Utah (including substantial portions of I-15, I-70, I-80 and I-84) where no reasonable alternative parallel route exists. Specific urban segments along the Wasatch Front and several tunnels and bridges are signed prohibited; verify against UDOT bicycle-on-Interstate guidance before riding. |
| Vermont | Prohibited | Bicycles, pedestrians, and other non-motorized traffic are prohibited on Interstate highways in Vermont under VTrans policy and the limited-access framework in 23 V.S.A. Chapter 23. I-89, I-91 and I-93 are signed closed at on-ramps; cyclists use the parallel US-2, US-4, US-5 and Route 7 corridors. |
| Virginia | Prohibited | Va. Code § 46.2-808 and VDOT regulations prohibit bicycles, pedestrians and other non-motorized traffic on Interstate highways in Virginia. I-64, I-66, I-77, I-81, I-85, I-95 and I-295 are all signed closed; cyclists must route on parallel US and state routes (the US Bicycle Route 1 corridor parallels much of I-95). |
| Washington | Allowed | WSDOT permits bicycle use on the shoulders of most Interstate segments in Washington (including substantial portions of I-5, I-82, I-90 and I-182) where no reasonable alternative parallel route exists. Specific urban segments through Seattle, Tacoma and Spokane, plus several bridges and tunnels, are signed prohibited; verify against WSDOT's Bicycling on State Highways and Interstates guidance. |
| West Virginia | Prohibited | Bicycles are prohibited on Interstate and other controlled-access highways in West Virginia under WVDOH policy and the limited-access framework in WV Code Chapter 17. I-64, I-68, I-70, I-77, I-79 and I-81 are signed closed; cyclists must route on parallel US and state routes. |
| Wisconsin | Prohibited | Wis. Stat. § 346.075 and Wis. Admin. Code Trans 276 prohibit bicycles, pedestrians and other non-motorized traffic on Wisconsin Interstate highways and other expressways designated as freeways. I-39, I-41, I-43, I-90, I-94 and I-535 are signed closed at on-ramps. |
| Wyoming | Allowed | WYDOT expressly permits bicycle travel on the shoulders of all Wyoming Interstate highways (I-25, I-80 and I-90) — across most of the state the Interstate is the only paved through-route, and the policy reflects that geography. Specific tunnels and certain urban segments through Cheyenne and Casper are signed prohibited; consult WYDOT's bicycle-travel guidance for the current corridor list. |
Read the table as a starting point, not as a green light. Even in states where Interstate cycling is permitted by default, individual ramps, bridges, tunnels, and urban segments may carry their own 'No Bicycles' sign. The rule is always: the sign at the on-ramp controls the entry you are about to make.
How to read the on-ramp signage
Interstate-access decisions are communicated through standard signs defined in the FHWA Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.3 At an on-ramp, look for the R5-10b 'No Bicycles' pictogram (the operative legal prohibition under most state codes) or the R5-10a/R5-10c combined-prohibition signs that bundle pedestrians, bicycles, and motor-driven cycles. A few western states post an affirmative R9-3a 'Bicycles Use Shoulder' plaque. Even on a non-Interstate, individual bridges and tunnels can carry their own prohibition sign.
Practical riding considerations
Even where Interstate cycling is legal, the experience is demanding. Shoulder widths vary from a twelve-foot paved lane on rural I-80 in Wyoming to a debris-strewn two-foot strip on I-15 in Idaho, and the lateral airflow off a semi at 75 mph is a real handling challenge with a loaded touring bike. NHTSA bicycle-safety guidance recommends maximum visibility — high-visibility clothing and daytime running lights — for any high-speed roadway.5 Ride mid-shoulder rather than at the edge to leave room for debris, cross on-ramps and off-ramps perpendicularly rather than diagonally to minimise time in the merge zone, and carry extra tubes because shoulder debris causes far more flats than typical road riding.
Even in the most permissive states, certain features are universally signed prohibited: long tunnels (the I-70 Eisenhower–Johnson tunnels in Colorado), major bridges (the I-5 Interstate Bridge between Oregon and Washington), and high-traffic urban interchanges. Caltrans, ODOT, WSDOT, and CDOT all publish 'bicycle on freeways' maps showing which segments are open and where the recommended detours are.8 If your route crosses one of these features, plan the alternative before you leave.
When you have to use the bike lane (and when you don't) →
Mandatory-use rules, exceptions, and how the 'as far right as practicable' standard interacts with shoulder riding.
Right-of-way and traffic rules for cyclists →
How the same vehicle code that governs cars applies to bicycles on highways and shoulders.
Browse the full Bike-Laws Hub →
Helmets, sidewalks, lights, DUI, hand signals, and every state we cover, in one place.
Sources
- 23 CFR Part 652 — Pedestrian and Bicycle Accommodations and Projects
- FHWA — Bicycle and Pedestrian Program (HEP-50 policy guidance)
- FHWA — Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)
- AASHTO — Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities (2012)
- NHTSA — Bicycle Safety
- Cal. Veh. Code § 21960
- ODOT — Bicycling on Oregon's Highways
- Caltrans — Bicycle Program & Freeway Access
- MDT — Montana Bicycle and Pedestrian Program
- WSDOT — Bicycling on State Highways and Interstates
- WYDOT — Bicycle Travel on Wyoming Interstates