Reference
RV height clearance by state
The maximum legal vehicle height in every US state and DC — and the one thing that table can't tell you: whether the next bridge actually clears your rig.
Last updated: July 2026
Read this first
A state's legal maximum height is not a promise that every bridge clears it.The numbers below are the tallest a legal vehicle can be — but low underpasses well under the legal max exist everywhere (the Durham "can-opener" clears just 12′4″; some New York parkway bridges are under 7′). Most RVs are at or under 13′6″, which is legal in every state — so plan around 13′6″, measure your true height, and always obey posted clearance signs. Laws change; confirm with the state DOT before you rely on a figure.
13′6″
Legal in every state — the number to plan around
14′
The limit in roughly half the states
15′
Highest — Alaska (CO & NE allow 14′6″)
| State | Max legal height | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 13′6″ | — |
| Alaska | 15′ | 17′ on part of the Dalton/Elliott Hwys |
| Arizona | 14′ | — |
| Arkansas | 14′ | Raised from 13′6″ in 2021 |
| California | 14′ | Over 13′6″ only on routes deemed safe |
| Colorado | 14′6″ | Obey any lower posted structure |
| Connecticut | 13′6″ | — |
| Delaware | 13′6″ | — |
| District of Columbia | 13′6″ | — |
| Florida | 13′6″ | — |
| Georgia | 13′6″ | — |
| Hawaii | 14′ | — |
| Idaho | 14′ | — |
| Illinois | 13′6″ | — |
| Indiana | 13′6″ | — |
| Iowa | 13′6″ | — |
| Kansas | 14′ | — |
| Kentucky | 13′6″ | — |
| Louisiana | 13′6″ | 14′ on the Interstate system |
| Maine | 13′6″ | — |
| Maryland | 13′6″ | — |
| Massachusetts | 13′6″ | — |
| Michigan | 13′6″ | — |
| Minnesota | 13′6″ | — |
| Mississippi | 13′6″ | — |
| Missouri | 14′ | 13′6″ off Interstate/designated routes |
| Montana | 14′ | — |
| Nebraska | 14′6″ | — |
| Nevada | 14′ | — |
| New Hampshire | 13′6″ | — |
| New Jersey | 13′6″ | — |
| New Mexico | 14′ | — |
| New York | 13′6″ | Parkways ban RVs — far lower clearances |
| North Carolina | 13′6″ | — |
| North Dakota | 14′ | — |
| Ohio | 13′6″ | — |
| Oklahoma | 14′ | 13′6″ on county roads |
| Oregon | 14′ | — |
| Pennsylvania | 13′6″ | — |
| Rhode Island | 13′6″ | — |
| South Carolina | 13′6″ | — |
| South Dakota | 14′ | — |
| Tennessee | 13′6″ | — |
| Texas | 14′ | Liable for damage to structures above 13′6″ |
| Utah | 14′ | — |
| Vermont | 13′6″ | — |
| Virginia | 13′6″ | — |
| Washington | 14′ | — |
| West Virginia | 13′6″ | — |
| Wisconsin | 13′6″ | — |
| Wyoming | 14′ | — |
Why there's no single national number
People reach for "13′6″" as if it were federal law. It isn't. The federal government setsno nationwide maximum vehicle height — each state does. Most land at 13′6″ or 14′, a handful allow more, and the tallest is Alaska at 15′. The reason 13′6″ still rules trip planning is simple: it's legal in every state, and most RVs fit under it.
Don't confuse the legal maximum with Interstate design clearance, either. Federal design standards call for at least 16 feet of vertical clearance over new rural Interstate construction (14 feet on some urban routes) — but that's a standard for new work. It says nothing about the older overpass on a county road or the stone-arch bridge on a parkway.
Measure your true height
Every one of these numbers is useless if you've measured your own rig wrong. Measure from the ground to the single highest fixed point — usually the rooftop air conditioner, sometimes an antenna, vent, or satellite dome. Manufacturer spec sheets routinely leave the A/C off, so measure it yourself and write it on a card on the dash. Then plan as if you were an inch or two taller, because repaving and imprecise signage eat into real clearance.
Watch the Northeast parkways
The single most dangerous exception to any state table: New York and New Englandparkways. Many were built for cars only, ban trucks and RVs outright, and carry landscaped stone overpasses with posted clearances as low as roughly 7 feet. A "13′6″-legal" state means nothing on a road your RV isn't allowed on in the first place. Use RV-safe routing, not a car map, anywhere near them.
Let your rig's height drive the route
The cleanest way to use any of this is to never think about it again after setup. Enter your height once and RV Compass computes every route against it — steering around low clearances, weight-limited bridges, and restricted tunnels, and telling you which ones it avoided. See the fundamentals in big-rig route planning and the deeper dive on avoiding low-clearance bridges.
Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum legal RV height in the US?
There's no single federal maximum — each state sets its own limit, and they generally fall between 13 feet 6 inches and 14 feet. A few states allow more (Colorado and Nebraska permit 14'6", and Alaska allows 15'). Because 13'6" is legal everywhere and most RVs fit under it, 13'6" is the practical number to plan around.
Does the legal maximum height mean every bridge will clear my RV?
No — and this is the most important thing to understand. A state's legal maximum tells you the tallest a legal vehicle can be; it does not guarantee that every bridge, tunnel, or underpass clears that height. Low underpasses well below the legal max exist everywhere, especially older rail bridges and Northeast parkways. Always obey posted clearance signs.
How tall are most RVs?
Most motorhomes and tall fifth wheels run roughly 12 to 13 feet 6 inches. That's why 13'6" is the standard planning height even though many states legally allow 14 feet. Measure your own rig to the highest fixed point — usually the roof air conditioner, which manufacturer spec sheets often leave out.
Which states allow RVs taller than 13'6"?
Many states set the limit at 14 feet, and a few go higher: Colorado and Nebraska allow 14'6", and Alaska allows 15'. But being legal isn't the same as being safe on every road — even in a 14-foot state, you must respect any lower posted clearance, and taller-than-legal rigs need an oversize permit.
Set your height once. Route safely everywhere.
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