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Trip from Bristol, VT to St Johnsbury, VT

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 57m

Distance

78.1 mi

126 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$13

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min
4 AM
1h 49m ★
6 AM
1h 58m
8 AM
2h 15m
10 AM
2h 4m
12 PM
2h 2m
3 PM
2h 5m
5 PM
2h 14m
8 PM
1h 53m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

town in Vermont, United States

Bristol, VT

Wikimedia Commons

town in Vermont, United States

St Johnsbury, VT

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Bristol, VT to St Johnsbury, VT covers 78.1 miles and takes about 1h 57m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on U.S. Route 2, Vermont Route 17, Vermont Route 100B for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 33.9 miles on U.S. Route 2. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.57 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

39 miles from Bristol, VT

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 5m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 57m. Total distance: 78.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 1h 57m highway drive covering 78.1 miles, with most of the trip on U.S. Route 2 and Vermont Route 17. The longest continuous stretch is about 33.9 miles on U.S. Route 2.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 36 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
U.S. Route 2 is the longest continuous segment at about 33.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on U.S. Route 2 and Vermont Route 17. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 19.1 miles in near VT 17 / Vermont Route 17.

Driving Effort 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 78.1 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 19.1 miles (VT 17 / Vermont Route 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 33.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 38.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
19.1 mi into trip | ~33m in | VT 17 / Vermont Route 17

Keep slight left at fork onto VT 17 / Vermont Route 17

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

4
33.1 mi into trip | ~58m in

Take the ramp

Navigation decision point

6
38.5 mi into trip | ~1h 4m in

Take the exit toward US 2: Montpelier, Saint Johnsbury

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 8 Toward US 2: Montpelier, Saint Johnsbury
5
77.5 mi into trip | ~1h 56m in | US 2; US 5 / Railroad Street

At end of road, turn left onto US 2; US 5 / Railroad Street

Navigation decision point

5
78 mi into trip | ~1h 57m in | Main Street

Turn sharp left onto Main Street

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Bristol, VT to St Johnsbury, VT, road signs begin pointing toward Saint Johnsbury along the way.

Saint Johnsbury

38.5 mi in | ~1h 4m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
U.S. Route 2 33.9 mi 42m
Vermont Route 17 8.3 mi 13m
Vermont Route 100B 7.9 mi 13m
Mill Brook Road 5.8 mi 11m
I 89 5.3 mi 6m
Main Street 5.2 mi 9m
North 116 Road 1.7 mi 2m
Drake Woods Road 1.7 mi 2m
Longest stretch: U.S. Route 2 — 33.9 mi, about 42m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bristol, VT and St Johnsbury, VT.

1

Start on VT 17; VT 116

99 ft · 3 sec · West Street
2

Continue on VT 17; VT 116

0.2 mi · 22 sec · Main Street
3

Continue on VT 17; VT 116

0.5 mi · 1 min · East Street
4

Continue on VT 17; VT 116

0.9 mi · 1 min · Rockydale Road
5

Continue on VT 17; VT 116

1.7 mi · 2 min · North 116 Road
6

Turn right onto VT 17

1.7 mi · 2 min · Drake Woods Road
7

Continue on VT 17

8.1 mi · 13 min · Vermont Route 17
8

Continue on VT 17

5.8 mi · 11 min · Mill Brook Road
9

Continue on VT 17

0.2 mi · 24 sec · Vermont Route 17
10

Keep slight left at fork onto VT 17

243 ft · 9 sec · Vermont Route 17
11

Turn slight left onto VT 100

4.9 mi · 8 min · Main Street
12

Continue on VT 100

0.5 mi · 45 sec · Vermont Route 100 South
13

Continue on VT 100B

7.9 mi · 13 min · Vermont Route 100B
14

Turn left onto US 2

0.5 mi · 1 min · U.S. Route 2
15

Turn slight right

145 ft · 6 sec
16

Turn straight onto Center Road

241 ft · 5 sec · Center Road
17

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 21 sec
18

Merge onto I 89

5.3 mi · 6 min · I 89
19

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 8 Toward US 2: Montpelier, Saint Johnsbury
20

Continue on Memorial Drive

1.2 mi · 2 min · Memorial Drive
Use the left lane.
21

Continue on US 2

0.5 mi · 1 min · Berlin Street
22

Turn slight left onto US 2

1.2 mi · 2 min · River Street
23

Enter roundabout onto US 2

137 ft · 1 sec · River Street
24

Continue on US 2

97 ft · 1 sec · River Street
25

Merge onto US 2

0.4 mi · 47 sec · East Montpelier Road
26

Continue on US 2

7.1 mi · 11 min · U.S. Route 2
27

Continue on US 2

0.6 mi · 39 sec · High Street
28

Continue on US 2

0.2 mi · 12 sec · School Street
29

Continue on US 2

26 mi · 30 min · U.S. Route 2
30

Continue on US 2

0.4 mi · 36 sec · Western Avenue
31

Continue on US 2

227 ft · 3 sec · Western Avenue
32

Continue on US 2; US 5 Alternate

0.1 mi · 11 sec · Main Street
33

Turn right onto US 2

0.3 mi · 32 sec · Eastern Avenue
34

At end of road, turn left onto US 2; US 5

0.5 mi · 56 sec · Railroad Street
35

Turn sharp left onto Main Street

90 ft · 3 sec · Main Street
36

Arrive at destination

Main Street

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 39 miles from Bristol, VT, or about 1h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 33.9 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 17 miles or 29m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 39 miles or 1h 5m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 43m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near St Johnsbury, VT than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Bristol, VT so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Bristol, VT

This is one driving day of about 78.1 miles and 1h 57m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Bristol, VT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on U.S. Route 2 for about 33.9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 39 mi from Bristol, VT · 1h 5m into the drive

town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, USA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Duxbury, VT

39 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Waitsfield, VT

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Montpelier, VT

Meal break

The midpoint is around 39 miles from Bristol, VT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in St Johnsbury, VT

The final approach into St Johnsbury, VT usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$12.57 one way

$25.15 round trip

$4.09/gal 25.4 MPG avg 27 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.50 $13.83 $27.67
premium $4.86 $14.96 $29.91
diesel $5.61 $17.24 $34.49

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$13

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$38–$63

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 27.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 23.4 0 $8.20 $3.75
Efficient EV 19.5 0 $6.83 $3.12
EV Truck/SUV 31.2 0 $10.93 $5.00

Gas CO2

27 kg

EV CO2

9 kg (67% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Bristol, VT

Morning in Bristol on Saturday

Local time

9:43 AM

EDT

Current temp

39°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

St Johnsbury, VT

Morning in St Johnsbury on Saturday

Local time

9:43 AM

EDT

Current temp

34°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

50°F

Duxbury, VT

39 mi in

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

5 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 57m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Bristol, VT to St Johnsbury, VT covers 78.1 miles and takes about 1h 57m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are U.S. Route 2, Vermont Route 17, Vermont Route 100B. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 39 miles from Bristol, VT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.57 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 78.1 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

The main spots that need attention: at 19.1 miles (VT 17 / Vermont Route 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 33.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 38.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

On the drive from Bristol, VT to St Johnsbury, VT, road signs begin pointing toward Saint Johnsbury along the way.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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