Origin
Charlotte, VT
Afternoon in Charlotte on Saturday
Local time
2:00 PM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Charlotte, 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 54m
Distance
85.5 mi
138 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 46m
★
6 AM
1h 54m
8 AM
2h 11m
10 AM
2h 0m
12 PM
1h 59m
3 PM
2h 1m
5 PM
2h 10m
8 PM
1h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Charlotte, VT
Andrea Davis
St Johnsbury, VT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Charlotte, VT to St Johnsbury, VT covers 85.5 miles and takes about 1h 54m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 89, U.S. Route 2, Shelburne Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 33.9 miles on I 89. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.76 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
42.7 miles from Charlotte, VT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 57m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 89 | 33.9 mi | 39m |
| U.S. Route 2 | 33.4 mi | 41m |
| Shelburne Road | 6.6 mi | 13m |
| Ethan Allen Highway | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| River Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Memorial Drive | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| I 189 | 1 mi | 1m |
| Ferry Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 89
— 33.9 mi, about 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Charlotte, VT and St Johnsbury, VT.
1
Start on VT F5
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Ferry Road
2
Turn left onto US 7
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Ethan Allen Highway
3
Continue on US 7
6.6 mi
·
13 min
·
Shelburne Road
4
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I 189: Montpelier, Saint Albans
Use the slight right / right lanes.
5
Merge onto I 189
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
I 189
Toward I 89
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 89 South: Williston, Montpelier
7
Merge onto I 89
34 mi
·
39 min
·
I 89
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 8
Toward US 2: Montpelier, Saint Johnsbury
9
Continue on Memorial Drive
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Memorial Drive
Use the left lane.
10
Continue on US 2
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Berlin Street
11
Turn slight left onto US 2
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
River Street
12
Enter roundabout onto US 2
137 ft
·
1 sec
·
River Street
13
Continue on US 2
97 ft
·
1 sec
·
River Street
14
Merge onto US 2
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
East Montpelier Road
15
Continue on US 2
7.1 mi
·
11 min
·
U.S. Route 2
16
Continue on US 2
0.6 mi
·
39 sec
·
High Street
17
Continue on US 2
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
·
School Street
18
Continue on US 2
26 mi
·
30 min
·
U.S. Route 2
19
Continue on US 2
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
·
Western Avenue
20
Continue on US 2
227 ft
·
3 sec
·
Western Avenue
21
Continue on US 2; US 5 Alternate
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
Main Street
22
Turn right onto US 2
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
Eastern Avenue
23
At end of road, turn left onto US 2; US 5
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
Railroad Street
24
Turn sharp left onto Main Street
90 ft
·
3 sec
·
Main Street
25
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 42.7 miles from Charlotte, VT, or about 57m 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 19 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.7 miles or 57m 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 38m
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 Charlotte, VT so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Charlotte, VT
This is one driving day of about 85.5 miles and 1h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Charlotte, VT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 89 for about 33.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
43 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 42.7 miles from Charlotte, VT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 10.4 and 85.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
10.4 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Take the exit toward I 189: Montpelier, Saint Albans
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right / right lanes.
Toward I 189: Montpelier, Saint Albans
5
11.7 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Take the exit toward I 89 South: Williston, Montpelier
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 89 South: Williston, Montpelier
6
46 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m 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
84.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 53m in
|
US 2; US 5 / Railroad Street
At end of road, turn left onto US 2; US 5 / Railroad Street
Navigation decision point
5
85.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 54m in
|
Main Street
Turn sharp left onto Main Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.76 one way
$27.53 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
30 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $15.14 | $30.29 |
| premium | $4.86 | $16.37 | $32.75 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.88 | $37.75 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.7 | 0 | $8.98 | $4.10 |
| Efficient EV | 21.4 | 0 | $7.48 | $3.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 34.2 | 0 | $11.97 | $5.47 |
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Destination
St Johnsbury, VT
Afternoon in St Johnsbury on Saturday
Local time
2:00 PM
EDT
Current temp
34°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
6 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 54m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
85.5 mi in 1h 54m, mostly highway — 33.9 mi of that is on I 89.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 33.9 mi on I 89.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 89 and U.S. Route 2. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 10.4 miles in.
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 85.5 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 10.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 46 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,567 ft
124 ft
Total Climb
1,708 ft
Total Descent
1,273 ft
Highest Point
1,567 ft
~73.3 mi in
Elevation Range
1,443 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Charlotte, VT and St Johnsbury, VT, road signs point toward Saint Albans, Montpelier and Saint Johnsbury.
Saint Albans
10.4 mi in
|
~19m
Montpelier
11.7 mi in
|
~21m
Saint Johnsbury
46 mi in
|
~1h 1m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 54m. Total distance: 85.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 33.9 miles on I 89. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
Mostly yes along the main roads, but rural stretches through VT can have sparse or no coverage. Before you leave, download offline Google Maps or Apple Maps for the route, and consider downloading music or podcasts instead of streaming. If you depend on data for navigation, keep a paper backup of the turn-by-turn directions.
The main spots that need attention: at 10.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 46 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at St Johnsbury, VT before heading back.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From St Johnsbury, VT
More from Charlotte, VT
More trips to St Johnsbury, VT
Explore more options from Charlotte, VT or browse trips ending in St Johnsbury, VT.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse VT road trips.