What's the difference between crossing and traveling on a road?

A crossing is a perpendicular, direct, single-attempt traversal of a public road — almost every state allows it for an OHV under a uniform set of conditions (right angle, full stop before, headlight on after dusk, no roadway travel beyond the crossing). Traveling is parallel operation along the road, on either the shoulder or the lane. Crossing is the easy part of OHV-on-road law because state codes are nearly uniform; traveling is where the four-regime fragmentation kicks in.

Do agricultural exemptions exist?

Yes — most states carve out an agricultural / farm-use exception that lets a registered farm operator move an OHV short distances on or alongside a public road when transiting between fields, between fields and barn, or between fields and a public crossing. The carveout typically restricts distance, time of day, posted speed, and rider age. It is the most common exception to the default no-shoulder rule, but it is also the easiest to misread — read the state code section closely before relying on it for non-farm operation.

Can I ride an ATV in a county-road ditch?

Some states (especially upper-Midwest snow-belt states and some Mountain West states) explicitly allow OHV travel in the ditch or right-of-way alongside a county or township road. The county-road ditch rule typically applies only to specific road classes (not state highways), in one direction of travel, at reduced speed, and during specific hours. Other states treat the right-of-way as part of the public roadway and bar OHV use the same way they bar shoulder travel. The matrix above marks states with explicit ditch-travel allowances.

Can a side-by-side (UTV) ride on the shoulder if an ATV can't?

Sometimes, when the state code distinguishes between an ATV and a UTV / side-by-side at the road-access level. A handful of states allow a UTV under the OHV-on-road permit regime while leaving narrow-track ATVs out, because the UTV has roll-cage, seatbelt, and turn-signal hardware closer to a standard motor vehicle. The bridge in those states is usually the LSV (Low-Speed Vehicle) classification under FMVSS 500 plus a state-issued road-use registration. See the street-legal-conversion explainer for the per-state pattern.

How do I check my state's specific shoulder rule?

Start at the per-state lookup below — each state page links to the operative vehicle-code chapter that defines OHV operation on a public way. The matrix above also gives a one-line regime tag (Prohibited / Ag exemption / OHV-on-road permit / Designated routes) and an operative section citation. For local exceptions (county ordinances opting into shoulder access on specific roads), the state DNR and the county clerk are the canonical sources — a state code may be silent on a permission that a county has affirmatively enacted.

Reference

Can I ride my ATV on the road shoulder? — four state approaches

Last updated: 2026-05-19

The answer turns on two questions. First, are you crossing the road perpendicular to traffic, or traveling the shoulder along the direction of traffic? Crossings are broadly allowed; shoulder travel is generally not. Second, do you qualify for an exemption — agricultural use, an OHV-on-road permit, or a posted designated-route segment? This page maps the four approaches state codes take, the federal Interstate ban that applies everywhere, and the right-of-way ownership question that decides who actually writes the rule for a given road.

Not legal advice

This page summarises how state codes structure OHV road-shoulder rules and the federal-Interstate baseline that applies everywhere. It does not list per-state distance caps, permit equipment lists, or county / township local-option ordinances — those change and are published by the relevant state DOT or DNR. Open the per-state page for your destination and consult the linked state code before relying on a specific carveout.

What controls — federal baseline and state authority

Interstates are federally off-limits to OHVs
Citation: 23 U.S.C. § 109 (Interstate System design standards) — implemented through state DOT rules that prohibit non-Interstate-grade vehicles
Every Interstate Highway operates under federal design standards that exclude vehicles incapable of safe operation at posted Interstate speeds. Consumer ATVs and UTVs are universally excluded from Interstates, including the shoulder, in every state. The exclusion typically appears in the state vehicle code's prohibition on operating a vehicle on a controlled-access highway, not in the OHV chapter. Crossing an Interstate is permitted only at a grade-separated overpass or underpass — never at-grade.
Right-of-way ownership decides who writes the rule
Citation: State DOT enabling statutes + county / township road authorities (varies by state)
A public road's shoulder is part of the road right-of-way, and the rule that governs OHV use on that shoulder is set by whichever government owns the road. State DOTs control state highways; counties and townships control local roads. A blanket statewide statute may set a floor — but a county or township road authority can layer additional restrictions on the roads it owns. Always check both the state OHV code and the local road authority's posted rules before riding a shoulder.
State authority sits in the OHV chapter (or the vehicle code)
Citation: State OHV / off-highway-vehicle code chapter — same chapter that defines registration and helmet rules
Where a state allows shoulder operation under a defined condition (agricultural use, OHV-on-road permit, designated-route signage), the carveout sits in the OHV code chapter. Where a state prohibits shoulder operation, the prohibition usually sits in the vehicle code's 'vehicles prohibited on highway' section, and the OHV code repeats it for clarity. Look for the words 'shoulder' or 'right-of-way' inside the OHV chapter — that is the operative section.
Posted route signage can flip the default
Citation: State DOT designated-route program + state OHV trail-system statutes
Many states publish a designated OHV route map maintained by the state DOT or DNR. Where a road segment is posted as a designated OHV route, the shoulder (and often the full lane) is open to OHV operation regardless of the underlying default rule. Where signage is absent, the default rule applies. The route map is the single source of truth for which segments are designated — do not rely on word-of-mouth or trail-club lists alone.

The crossing-vs-traveling distinction

This is the single most important distinction in OHV-on-road law. Every state draws the line between a one-time perpendicular crossing and travel along the road itself. The two scenarios are governed by different statute sections and different default rules. Treat them as separate questions.

Crossing the road at right angle
Rule of thumb
Generally allowed in nearly every state, with conditions (stop, yield, cross perpendicular, daylight only in some states, under-16 prohibition in some states).
Detail
Most state OHV codes contain an explicit cross-the-road carveout — language like 'an OHV may cross a public road at right angle for the purpose of getting from one trail to another' — even where shoulder travel is prohibited. Typical conditions: come to a full stop before entering the roadway, yield to all traffic, cross at the nearest right-angle point, complete the crossing in a single direct movement. Some states condition the carveout on the operator holding a driver's licence or being supervised, on the road being below a posted-speed threshold, and on daylight operation. The crossing rule is the most permissive piece of the OHV-on-road framework; it is also the rule riders most often violate by mistake (cutting at an angle, crossing a divided highway in two segments, lingering on the centerline).
Traveling along the shoulder
Rule of thumb
Heavily restricted; usually only allowed under an agricultural-use exemption, an OHV-on-road permit, or on a posted designated route. Default is no.
Detail
The default in most states is that an unregistered, non-street-legal OHV may not travel on the shoulder of a public road. The carveouts vary — agricultural-use exemption (farm-to-farm travel by the farmer or farm employee), an OHV-on-road permit issued by the state DMV or DNR, posted designated-route status, or a county / township local-option ordinance. Where a carveout applies, additional conditions often attach: minimum daylight hours, maximum distance from the originating private parcel, headlights / taillights required, slow-moving-vehicle (SMV) triangle required, single-file operation, no carrying of passengers on a single-rider machine, no operation on the road surface itself (shoulder only). The carveout is narrow; treat it as the exception, not the rule.

Four state approaches to shoulder operation

The four approaches below describe how a given state structures shoulder travel for an unregistered, non-street-legal OHV. Most farm-belt and Great Plains states fall into approach 1 or 2; many higher-density and coastal states fall into approach 3; mountain-west and trail-tourism states often combine approach 4 with one of the first three.

1. Universal agricultural exemption (no distance cap)
What the state does
The OHV code grants an open-ended agricultural-use exemption: a farmer or farm employee may operate an OHV on a public-road shoulder for any farm-related travel, with no statutory distance cap. Conditions typically attach (daylight, SMV triangle, headlights, single-rider, no passenger), but the exemption is broad enough that practical riders treat it as a working farm vehicle. Common in low-density Great Plains and farm-belt states with strong agricultural-policy weight in the state legislature.
Who qualifies
Farmers, ranchers, and farm employees engaged in farm-related travel — typically defined by the relationship to a working agricultural operation, not by the operator's home address. Recreational riders do not qualify even on the same machine on the same road.
How to spot it in the code
Look in the OHV chapter for a section titled 'agricultural-use exemption' or 'farm-vehicle exemption' that does not contain a numeric mileage limit or a 'within X miles of …' clause.
2. Distance-capped agricultural exemption
What the state does
The OHV code grants an agricultural-use exemption, but caps the permitted travel distance — typical caps are framed as 'within X miles of the operator's farm', 'from one parcel to another parcel of the same farm', or 'to the nearest implement-repair or fuel facility'. The cap is set per state and varies; we do not list per-state mileage thresholds on this page because they are amended frequently and a wrong number is worse than no number — check the per-state code section through the state-page lookup below.
Who qualifies
Same as approach 1 — farmers, ranchers, and farm employees. Some states extend the carveout to certified emergency responders (fire and rescue) and to county road-maintenance crews.
How to spot it in the code
Look in the OHV chapter for an agricultural-use section that contains a 'within X miles' or 'between parcels' phrase. That phrase is the operative cap.
3. Cross-only (no shoulder travel)
What the state does
The OHV code prohibits OHV operation on a public road and on the road shoulder, with no agricultural-use carveout. The only OHV-on-road use the state allows is a perpendicular crossing under the standard cross-the-road carveout (see the crossing-vs-traveling section above). Riders who want to travel between trails on a public road must either trailer the machine or use a state-DMV-permitted street-legal conversion.
Who qualifies
No one for shoulder travel. Everyone for the cross-the-road carveout, subject to the state's standard crossing conditions.
How to spot it in the code
OHV chapter contains a 'prohibited operation' subsection that lists 'on any public highway, road, street, or right-of-way', followed by a narrow cross-the-road carveout. No mention of agricultural use.
4. OHV-on-road permit / street-legal-conversion states
What the state does
The state OHV chapter (or a separate vehicle-code section) creates an OHV-on-road permit — a state-issued registration upgrade that allows the OHV to operate on the road surface and shoulder of non-Interstate public roads. Permit conditions vary widely (equipment package, headlights / turn signals / mirrors / DOT tires / liability insurance, inspection, posted-speed limit on permitted segments). Common in mountain-west and trail-tourism states that monetise OHV ridership on lightly-trafficked county roads. Shoulder operation is then governed by the OHV-on-road permit, not the agricultural-use exemption (though both may coexist).
Who qualifies
Owners of an OHV that has been registered for road use under the permit, and operated within the conditions of the permit (typically including the equipment package and licensed-driver-only requirement).
How to spot it in the code
The OHV chapter contains a section titled 'OHV-on-road permit', 'street-legal OHV registration', or 'limited-speed OHV registration', with its own equipment package and fee. See the street-legal-conversion explainer for the per-state pattern.

Five pitfalls that catch riders

Cutting across at an angle is not 'crossing'
The cross-the-road carveout requires a right-angle (perpendicular) crossing. Cutting diagonally to reach a driveway or a trailhead a few hundred feet down the road is travel on the road, not a crossing, and falls under the shoulder-travel rule (usually prohibited). If the trailhead is offset from where the trail meets the road, cross perpendicular first and then re-enter the trail on foot or by walking the machine — do not ride the shoulder to the offset.
Agricultural exemption is occupation-tied, not residence-tied
The ag-use carveout is keyed to the relationship between the operator and an active farming operation — not to whether the operator lives in a rural area. A homeowner with five acres and no working farm typically does not qualify, even in a universal-exemption state. State enforcement officers ask 'what farm task were you doing' — recreational travel does not count.
County and township roads may have their own rules
A statewide statute typically sets a floor for OHV-on-road use, but counties and townships often have authority to layer restrictions on the local roads they own. A road that is technically open under state law may be posted closed by the county. Posted signage controls; unposted absence does not imply permission on a locally-controlled road.
Interstate underpass / overpass crossings still need to be off-roadway
An at-grade crossing of an Interstate Highway is impossible (the federal exclusion is total). Where a trail crosses an Interstate, it must do so on a grade-separated bridge or tunnel — and the trail surface must remain off the highway right-of-way at the crossing. Trail systems that include an Interstate-crossing segment publish the approved crossing location; using any other point of crossing is a federal offence under the Interstate access rules.
Street-legal conversion is not portable across the state line
An OHV-on-road permit issued by State A does not authorise shoulder operation in State B. Cross-state reciprocity for road-permit OHVs is rare. When trailering across state lines, treat the destination state as if your home-state permit did not exist — and consult that state's OHV-on-road rules separately. See the trailering checklist for the workflow.

Verified state road-access matrix

50 of 50 states verified · expanding incrementally

Each row below references the state-code section that defines whether and how a stock OHV may travel on a public-road shoulder. We add states as we verify primary-source citations; the per-state lookup further down covers the rest with a direct path to the canonical DNR / DMV portal.

State	Shoulder travel	Operative section & notes
Alabama	Prohibited	Ala. Code § 32-12A — public-road operation prohibited ATVs may not be operated on Alabama public roads. Only at-grade perpendicular crossings under the standard OHV cross-road carveout are permitted; no shoulder travel.
Alaska	Designated routes	AS 28.39 — OHV operation on public lands; municipal road designations Alaska restricts OHV operation on public highways under AS 28.39 but allows municipal authorities to designate specific local roads open to ATV / OHV use. Outside designated municipal jurisdictions, OHV operation on state-maintained highways is generally prohibited; shoulder operation requires either local designation or qualifying agricultural / utility use.
Arizona	OHV-on-road permit	ARS 28-1179 — OHV street-legal equipment + registration pathway Arizona allows OHVs to be registered for limited highway use after meeting the street-legal equipment package under ARS 28-1179. Plated OHVs may operate on roads where ATVs are not prohibited; without the street-legal endorsement, road and shoulder travel is limited to the standard cross-the-road carveout.
Arkansas	Ag exemption	Ark. Code 27-21-106 — agricultural / governmental shoulder operation Arkansas restricts general ATV operation on public roads but allows narrow shoulder operation for farming-related, governmental, or utility tasks under Ark. Code Title 27 Ch. 21. Recreational riders are limited to the standard cross-the-road carveout. County and city authorities may layer additional restrictions on locally-controlled roads.
California	Prohibited	California Vehicle Code §38001+ — off-highway operation only California restricts OHVs to designated off-highway recreation areas (SVRAs) and approved off-highway trails. A stock OHV may not operate on public roads or shoulders; the standard cross-the-road carveout applies at designated trail-road intersections.
Colorado	Designated routes	CRS Title 33 Article 14.5 — OHV-on-road by county/municipal designation Colorado does not generally allow OHV operation on public highways, but counties and municipalities may designate specific road segments open to OHV use under CRS 33-14.5. Mountain-resort counties (San Juan, Hinsdale, Ouray, Gunnison, others) operate the most extensive designated networks. Check the county / town code before riding any road segment.
Connecticut	Prohibited	CGS §14-381 — ATVs not registered for highway use; road operation prohibited Connecticut registers ATVs and snowmobiles under DMV rules but does not authorise them for highway operation. Stock ATVs may not travel on public roads or shoulders; the standard cross-the-road carveout applies. No general ag exemption or designated-routes statute extends to recreational shoulder travel.
Delaware	Prohibited	21 Del. C. Ch. 68 §6824 — OHV operation on public roads prohibited Delaware prohibits OHV operation on public roads under 21 Del. C. §6824. The standard cross-the-road carveout is the only on-road allowance; helmet and registration rules attach to off-road operation only. No general ag-exemption or designated-routes pathway in the statute.
Florida	Designated routes	F.S. §316.2074 — unpaved roadway ATV use under county designation Florida allows ATV operation on unpaved roadways where the posted speed limit is 35 mph or less, daylight hours only, and only when the county has not posted the segment closed to ATVs. Paved highway shoulder travel is prohibited.
Georgia	Prohibited	MPOHV registration only — ATVs not road-eligible under DOR multipurpose-vehicle rule ATVs may not be operated on Georgia public roads. The state registers multipurpose off-highway vehicles (MPOHVs) for limited road use, but a stock ATV is not eligible for that registration class.
Hawaii	Prohibited	DLNR OHV rules — public-road operation prohibited Hawaii does not allow ATVs on public roads or in state parks. OHV operation is restricted to designated off-highway trails under a DLNR-issued OHV permit; no road or shoulder access.
Idaho	OHV-on-road permit	Idaho Code 49-426 — OHV restricted plates for limited highway use Idaho issues OHV restricted plates that permit operation on certain public highways (typically those with posted speed ≤45 mph and not part of the state Interstate or controlled-access system) after the OHV meets the on-road equipment package. Many county and municipal authorities further designate or restrict specific road segments.
Illinois	Designated routes	625 ILCS 5/11-1426.1 / 5/11-1427 — non-highway vehicle designation Illinois Vehicle Code §11-1426.1 and §11-1427 authorise municipalities and counties to designate specific non-highway vehicle routes open to ATV / UTV / golf-cart operation. Designated routes typically carry a posted speed limit ≤35 mph; off-designation roads remain closed outside the standard cross-the-road carveout.
Indiana	Designated routes	IC 14-16-1 — county / municipal designation of ORV-accessible roads Indiana Code Title 14 Article 16 authorises county and municipal authorities to designate specific local roads open to off-road vehicle operation. Where designated, ORV operators must observe registration, age, and helmet (under-18) rules; off-designation roads remain closed outside the standard cross-the-road carveout.
Iowa	Designated routes	Iowa Code Ch. 321I — county-route designation for ATVs Iowa Code Ch. 321I authorises county supervisors to designate specific county-controlled roads open to ATV/UTV operation. Where designated, riders must observe daylight, slow-moving-vehicle, and age-helmet rules. Off-designation roads remain closed to OHV operation outside the standard cross-the-road carveout.
Kansas	OHV-on-road permit	K.S.A. §8-15,109 — work-site utility vehicle / micro-utility plates Kansas allows micro-utility / work-site utility vehicles meeting equipment requirements to register for limited highway operation (typically county roads with posted speed ≤45 mph). Unregistered ATVs may not operate on public roads outside the standard cross-the-road carveout; ag operators may use shoulders within farm operations under narrow case law.
Kentucky	Ag exemption	KRS 189.515 — public-road use restricted; farming / mining / logging / business exemption Kentucky restricts ATV operation on public roads but exempts riders engaged in farming, mining, logging, or other business activity (the helmet rule for 16+ riders explicitly carves out these uses). Recreational shoulder travel is not permitted on the basis of this statute; the standard cross-the-road carveout applies otherwise.
Louisiana	OHV-on-road permit	La. R.S. 32:299.3 — UTV parish/municipal road registration UTVs operated on parish roads or municipal streets must be registered with the LA DPS-Office of Motor Vehicles as off-road vehicles and display the issued decal. Stock ATVs without that registration may not operate on any public road.
Maine	Designated routes	12 MRSA Ch. 939 — IFW + municipal road designations under ATV statute Maine operates an extensive ATV trail network under 12 MRSA Ch. 939; IFW and municipal road commissioners may designate specific public roads open to ATV use. Where designated, riders must observe age, helmet (under-18), eye-protection, and slow-moving-vehicle rules; off-designation roads remain closed.
Maryland	Prohibited	MD NR §10-922 — OHV operation on public highways prohibited Maryland prohibits OHV operation on public highways under Natural Resources §10-922; OHVs are restricted to public OHV areas, private property with owner consent, and designated DNR trails. The standard cross-the-road carveout applies; no general ag-exemption or designated-routes pathway.
Massachusetts	Prohibited	MGL c. 90B §22 — recreation vehicles prohibited on public ways Massachusetts prohibits the operation of a recreation vehicle (which includes ATVs and similar OHVs) on any public way except for crossings. The standard cross-the-road carveout is the only on-road allowance for a stock ATV; no general ag exemption, designated-routes, or street-legal-pathway statute.
Michigan	Designated routes	NREPA Part 811 / MCL 324.81131 — ORV use on roads under DNR + local designation Michigan ORV operation on public roads is authorised under NREPA Part 811 on county-road shoulders and on roads designated open to ORVs by the township, county, or municipality. The DNR ORV trail map identifies authorised road segments. Off-designation roads remain closed outside the standard cross-the-road carveout.
Minnesota	Designated routes	MN Stat. §84.928 — operation on public road right-of-way under designated rules Minnesota authorises ATV operation on the right-of-way of public roads (excluding Interstates and certain trunk highways) under MN Stat. §84.928, subject to age, daylight, helmet (under-18), single-file, and grade-side restrictions. Specific road classes and DNR-designated grant-in-aid trails further qualify which segments are open.
Mississippi	Prohibited	MS Code §63-31-9 — off-road vehicles prohibited on public roads Mississippi prohibits off-road vehicle operation on public roads under MS Code §63-31-9. The standard cross-the-road carveout applies; no general ag exemption or designated-routes statute extends to ATV shoulder travel. Localities may adopt stricter ordinances on county and municipal roads.
Missouri	Ag exemption	RSMo 304.013 — agricultural / governmental / handicapped-access carveouts On-road use is largely prohibited. Statute carves out three narrow categories: agricultural use by farmers / farm employees, governmental operation, and handicapped-access cases. Recreational riders do not qualify; ag exemption is occupation-tied, not residence-tied.
Montana	OHV-on-road permit	MCA 61-3-321 / Title 23 — street-legal endorsement available Montana allows OHVs to be registered for limited highway use after meeting the street-legal equipment package and obtaining the appropriate plate from MVD. Without that endorsement, road and shoulder travel is restricted to the standard cross-the-road carveout.
Nebraska	Ag exemption	Neb. Rev. Stat. 60-6,356 — Class O license or farm permit On-road operation requires either a Class O operator's license or a farm-permit issued under the same statute. Permit-holders may travel limited road segments on farm-related travel; recreational riders without a Class O license are restricted to off-road use.
Nevada	OHV-on-road permit	NRS Chapter 490 — OHV street-legal class for highway operation Nevada recognises a street-legal OHV class under NRS Chapter 490 — OHVs meeting the equipment package (headlights, tail lights, turn signals, mirrors, horn, DOT tires) may be registered for highway operation. Helmet rules attach when riding road segments open to plated vehicles. Without the street-legal endorsement, road and shoulder travel is restricted to the standard cross-the-road carveout.
New Hampshire	Designated routes	RSA Ch. 215-A — OHRV operation on designated trails / approved roads New Hampshire operates an extensive OHRV trail network under RSA Ch. 215-A; town and state authorities may designate specific roads open to OHRV operation alongside the trail system. Where designated, riders must observe registration, helmet (under-18), eye-protection, and slow-moving-vehicle rules. Off-designation public roads remain closed.
New Jersey	Prohibited	NJSA 39:3C-3 / 39:3C-21 — ATVs prohibited on public roads New Jersey prohibits ATV operation on public roads, public lands, and frozen waters of the state. Registration, insurance, and helmet rules apply to off-road operation; the only on-road allowance is the standard cross-the-road carveout at trail-road intersections.
New Mexico	Designated routes	NMSA 66-3-1011 — OHV operation on highways under designated-route rules New Mexico's Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Act allows limited operation on designated roads — typically county and municipal roads with posted speed ≤45 mph, daylight, and slow-moving-vehicle equipment. NMSA 66-3-1011 sets the framework; specific eligible roads are designated by the road authority. State-maintained highways and Interstates remain closed.
New York	Designated routes	NY V&T Article 48-B §2403 — municipal designation of ATV-accessible roads New York Vehicle & Traffic Law Article 48-B authorises municipalities to designate specific town and county roads as ATV-accessible (typically connector segments where alternative trail access is impractical). Off-designation roads remain closed; state highways are not eligible for designation. Riders must observe registration, helmet, and age rules on designated segments.
North Carolina	Prohibited	G.S. 20-171.21 — operation on public streets/highways/PVAs largely prohibited Operation on public streets, highways, and public vehicular areas is largely prohibited. The standard cross-the-road carveout applies, and a narrow set of off-road permitted classifications exist for emergency / agricultural use, but ATVs may not be ridden on the shoulder for general travel.
North Dakota	Prohibited	NDCC Ch. 39-29 — OHVs cannot be registered as street-legal The OHV chapter explicitly excludes street-legal registration. Shoulder operation by a stock OHV is therefore not permitted on state-controlled roads; the standard cross-the-road carveout is the only on-road allowance.
Ohio	Designated routes	ORC Ch. 4519 / §4519.41 — APV operation on county / township roads Ohio Revised Code Ch. 4519 restricts APV operation on state highways but allows county and township road authorities to designate specific local roads open to APV use. Where designated, riders must observe registration, helmet, and slow-moving-vehicle rules; off-designation roads remain closed outside the standard cross-the-road carveout.
Oklahoma	Prohibited	47 OS §47-1115.3 / §47-11-1106 — off-road only; cross-the-road carveout Oklahoma allows ATV registration but does not authorise general highway operation. ATVs may not be operated on public roads outside the standard cross-the-road carveout. Counties may permit limited road operation by local ordinance on specific segments — verify the locality before riding any road segment.
Oregon	Prohibited	ORS Ch. 821 — Class I/III ATVs prohibited from operating on public highways Oregon's OHV classifications restrict Class I and III ATVs to off-highway operation. Public-highway and shoulder travel is not permitted for stock ATVs; the standard cross-the-road carveout applies at designated trail crossings. Class IV (UTVs / side-by-sides) have a separate street-legal pathway.
Pennsylvania	Prohibited	Title 75 §7727 — public-road operation prohibited except for crossings Pennsylvania prohibits general ATV operation on public roads under Title 75 §7727. The standard cross-the-road carveout applies at trail intersections, and a narrow agricultural-use exception permits short on-road travel for farm purposes. DCNR-administered trail systems are the primary legal ride surfaces.
Rhode Island	Prohibited	RIGL Title 31 Ch. 3.2 — ATV / UTV operation on public roads prohibited Rhode Island prohibits ATV / UTV operation on public roads under RIGL Title 31 Chapter 3.2. The standard cross-the-road carveout is the only on-road allowance for a stock ATV; registration and helmet rules attach to off-road operation only.
South Carolina	Prohibited	SC Code Title 50 Ch. 26 ('Chandler's Law') — off-road only; no highway operation South Carolina's All-Terrain Vehicle Safety Act (Chandler's Law) treats ATVs as off-road recreational equipment. ATVs may not be operated on public roads or rights-of-way; the standard cross-the-road carveout is the only on-road allowance. No general ag or designated-routes statute extends to ATV shoulder travel.
South Dakota	OHV-on-road permit	SDCL 32-20-13 — street-legal compliance application South Dakota allows OHVs on public roads after a compliance application under SDCL 32-20-13. The street-legal endorsement carries equipment requirements (lighting, mirrors, signals); without it, riding on the road or shoulder is prohibited.
Tennessee	OHV-on-road permit	TCA 55-8-203 / 55-8-185 — Class I/II OHV plates for county-road operation Tennessee issues Class I/II OHV plates that allow county-road operation under TCA 55-8-203 / 55-8-185. Plated OHVs are restricted to county and certain municipal roads (not state highways or Interstates). Without the plate, only the standard cross-the-road carveout applies.
Texas	Prohibited	Texas Transportation Code Ch. 663 — OHVs prohibited on public roads Texas restricts OHV operation to public OHV areas and private land. Road and shoulder travel by a stock OHV is prohibited under Transportation Code Ch. 663; narrow carveouts exist for utility / governmental use, but ordinary riders may only cross a public road at right angle.
Utah	OHV-on-road permit	UCA 41-22-10.5 / Street-Legal All-Terrain Vehicle (SLATV) program Utah offers a Street-Legal ATV (SLATV) endorsement: with the equipment package (headlights, tail lights, turn signals, mirrors, horn, DOT tires, muffler) and the SLATV plate, ATVs may operate on roads with posted speed ≤50 mph. Without the SLATV endorsement, road and shoulder travel is prohibited outside designated routes.
Vermont	Designated routes	23 VSA Ch. 31 — VAST/VASA trail system + town-road designations Vermont operates the VASA trail network for ATVs (paralleling the VAST network for snowmobiles). Town selectmen may designate specific town roads as VASA-connector segments under 23 VSA Ch. 31. Off-designation roads remain closed to ATV operation outside the standard cross-the-road carveout; helmet and registration rules attach on every designated segment.
Virginia	Prohibited	VA Code §46.2-915.1 — no operation on public highways except for crossings or by responders Virginia prohibits ATV operation on public highways or public property except for at-grade crossings and authorised emergency-responder use. No shoulder travel; no agricultural exemption in the statute.
Washington	OHV-on-road permit	RCW 46.09.455 — Wheeled All-Terrain Vehicle (WATV) on-road metal tag Washington allows WATVs (Wheeled All-Terrain Vehicles) to operate on county / municipal roads with posted speed ≤35 mph after obtaining a WATV on-road metal tag and meeting the equipment package under RCW 46.09.455. Counties may opt out of the WATV program for their roads. Interstates and state highways with posted speed >35 mph remain closed.
West Virginia	Ag exemption	WV Code Ch. 17F-1 — limited shoulder operation with conditions West Virginia generally restricts ATVs to off-highway use under WV Code Ch. 17F-1, but allows limited shoulder operation on roads where double yellow lines are not present and the posted speed is ≤40 mph (subject to the operator wearing a helmet, traveling no more than 10 miles, and observing daylight-only restrictions). The carveout is most commonly invoked for farm-to-farm and trail-to-trail travel.
Wisconsin	Designated routes	Wis. Stat. Ch. 23.33 — town / county route designation Wisconsin allows town, county, and municipal authorities to designate specific road segments as ATV/UTV routes under Wis. Stat. Ch. 23.33. Where designated, ATVs may operate on the road; where not designated, only the standard cross-the-road carveout applies. Operators must observe age, helmet (under-18), and slow-moving-vehicle equipment rules on designated routes.
Wyoming	OHV-on-road permit	WS 31-2-701 — Multipurpose Vehicle (MPV) registration Wyoming offers a Multipurpose Vehicle (MPV) registration class under WS 31-2-701 that permits limited highway use after the OHV meets the on-road equipment package. MPV plates carry restrictions on Interstate operation and certain controlled-access state highways; check the county / municipal posting before riding any specific road segment.

Tier reference: Prohibited — shoulder travel not permitted; cross-the-road carveout only. Ag exemption — shoulder travel allowed only under an agricultural / farm carveout. OHV-on-road permit — shoulder access requires a state-issued road-use plate / permit. Designated routes — shoulder access allowed only on posted designated OHV route segments.

Common questions

ATV on the road shoulder — frequently asked

Short answers to the questions riders ask most about whether shoulder travel is allowed, how the agricultural carveout works, and where ditches and county roads sit relative to the state default. Each state’s exact regime is in the matrix above.

Can I ride my ATV on the road shoulder?
In most states, no — the default rule is that an OHV cannot operate on a public highway shoulder unless the state has carved out an exception. The four common exceptions are: (1) an agricultural / farm-use carveout for moving the machine short distances on farm land; (2) an OHV-on-road permit or LSV registration that converts the machine to a road-legal status; (3) designated-OHV-route signage that explicitly permits shoulder travel on a specific road segment; and (4) a county- or municipal-ordinance opt-in that local government has enacted. The matrix above maps each state's regime to one of these.
What's the difference between crossing and traveling on a road?
A crossing is a perpendicular, direct, single-attempt traversal of a public road — almost every state allows it for an OHV under a uniform set of conditions (right angle, full stop before, headlight on after dusk, no roadway travel beyond the crossing). Traveling is parallel operation along the road, on either the shoulder or the lane. Crossing is the easy part of OHV-on-road law because state codes are nearly uniform; traveling is where the four-regime fragmentation kicks in.
Do agricultural exemptions exist?
Yes — most states carve out an agricultural / farm-use exception that lets a registered farm operator move an OHV short distances on or alongside a public road when transiting between fields, between fields and barn, or between fields and a public crossing. The carveout typically restricts distance, time of day, posted speed, and rider age. It is the most common exception to the default no-shoulder rule, but it is also the easiest to misread — read the state code section closely before relying on it for non-farm operation.
Can I ride an ATV in a county-road ditch?
Some states (especially upper-Midwest snow-belt states and some Mountain West states) explicitly allow OHV travel in the ditch or right-of-way alongside a county or township road. The county-road ditch rule typically applies only to specific road classes (not state highways), in one direction of travel, at reduced speed, and during specific hours. Other states treat the right-of-way as part of the public roadway and bar OHV use the same way they bar shoulder travel. The matrix above marks states with explicit ditch-travel allowances.
Can a side-by-side (UTV) ride on the shoulder if an ATV can't?
Sometimes, when the state code distinguishes between an ATV and a UTV / side-by-side at the road-access level. A handful of states allow a UTV under the OHV-on-road permit regime while leaving narrow-track ATVs out, because the UTV has roll-cage, seatbelt, and turn-signal hardware closer to a standard motor vehicle. The bridge in those states is usually the LSV (Low-Speed Vehicle) classification under FMVSS 500 plus a state-issued road-use registration. See the street-legal-conversion explainer for the per-state pattern.
How do I check my state's specific shoulder rule?
Start at the per-state lookup below — each state page links to the operative vehicle-code chapter that defines OHV operation on a public way. The matrix above also gives a one-line regime tag (Prohibited / Ag exemption / OHV-on-road permit / Designated routes) and an operative section citation. For local exceptions (county ordinances opting into shoulder access on specific roads), the state DNR and the county clerk are the canonical sources — a state code may be silent on a permission that a county has affirmatively enacted.

Per-state lookup — find the operative shoulder section

Each per-state page on this site links to the canonical DNR and DMV portals and the state OHV code chapter. Open your destination state to find the operative shoulder-use and crossing sections, the ag-use mileage cap (if any), and the OHV-on-road permit fee. We do not list per-state distance caps or permit details here — those change and our cite-or-omit policy keeps them on the state code page rather than mirrored on this site.

Topic guides

Reference explainers and typologies that sit alongside the per-axis state atlases — vehicle category, where you can ride, by rider, and what to check before a trip.

Vehicle category & paperwork

Where you can ride

By rider

Trip planning

Street-legal conversion — the OHV-on-road permit path that broadens shoulder access in approach-4 states.
Registration & Title atlas — the OHV registration record is what the road-permit endorsement attaches to.
Insurance requirements by state — an OHV-on-road permit usually pulls the machine under the standard vehicle-code liability mandate.
DUI on an ATV — once you are on the road, the standard vehicle-code DUI section usually applies regardless of the OHV-specific section.
Cross-state trailering checklist — road-permit endorsements rarely travel across state lines; confirm the destination-state shoulder rule before unhooking.
Federal & tribal lands — federal-land travel-management rules layer over the state shoulder rule on any segment that touches USFS or BLM land.