Where Is Hitchhiking Illegal?

Nevertheless, hitchhiking on limited access highways is illegal in all but five states (Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina and South Carolina), while all but six states (Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota and Wyoming) generally allow hitchhiking on secondary roads as long as the hitchhiker stays ...

Is hitchhiking illegal in USA?

Today, hitchhiking is legal in 44 of the 50 states, provided that the hitchhiker is not standing in the roadway or otherwise hindering the normal flow of traffic. Even in states where hitchhiking is illegal, hitchhikers are rarely ticketed.

Why is hitchhiking illegal in the US?

It's illegal to stand on the side of a major highway and solicit rides, because this is a danger to other drivers on the road. However, standing at the on-ramp entrance before a highway is legal in most states.

James H. Sterling

James H. Sterling

Environmental Science & Climate Journalist

James Sterling reports on renewable energy developments, climate policy, ecological conservation, and green tech innovations around the globe.