Trip from Dorset, VT to Essex Junction, VT

Drive Time

2h 14m

Distance

98.7 mi

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$15

one way

Downtown Essex Junction, VT, VT

Photo: Dave Luzi, Litchfield CT REALTOR

Trip Overview

The drive from Dorset, VT to Essex Junction, VT covers 98.7 miles and takes about 2h 14m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Route 30, Route 149, East Main Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.33 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.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

49.3 miles from Dorset, VT

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 7m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 14m drive with frequent turns across 98.7 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Route 30 is one of the defining roads on this drive.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Route 30 Unavailable Refreshing
Route 149 Unavailable Refreshing
East Main Street Unavailable Refreshing
North Street Unavailable Refreshing
Main Street Unavailable Refreshing
Highway 22A Unavailable Refreshing
South Main Street Unavailable Refreshing
North Park Place Unavailable Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: Route 30 — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Dorset, VT and Essex Junction, VT.

1

Start on Vermont Route 30

8.2 mi · 14 min · Vermont Route 30
2

Continue on Vermont Route 30

5.3 mi · 9 min · Vermont Route 30
3

Turn left onto Vermont Route 149

1.3 mi · 1 min · Vermont Route 149
4

Continue on East Main Street

0.5 mi · 42 sec · East Main Street
5

Turn right onto North Street

0.2 mi · 18 sec · North Street
6

Keep slight left to continue on North Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · North Street
7

Continue on Main Street

1.4 mi · 3 min · Main Street
8

Turn right onto State Highway 22A

10 mi · 15 min · State Highway 22A
9

Continue on South Main Street

1.9 mi · 2 min · South Main Street
10

Turn slight left onto North Park Place

0.1 mi · 12 sec · North Park Place
11

Turn right onto Washington Street

1.0 mi · 1 min · Washington Street
12

Continue on Vermont Route 22A North

39 mi · 1 hr 1 min · Vermont Route 22A North
13

Continue on West Main Street

1.5 mi · 4 min · West Main Street
14

Turn right onto Monkton Road

0.5 mi · 1 min · Monkton Road
15

Turn left onto U.S. Route 7

0.9 mi · 1 min · U.S. Route 7
16

Continue on Ethan Allen Highway

12 mi · 19 min · Ethan Allen Highway
17

Continue on Shelburne Road

6.6 mi · 13 min · Shelburne Road
18

Take the exit slight right toward I 189: Montpelier, Saint Albans

0.2 mi · 32 sec · I 189: Montpelier, Saint Albans
19

Merge slight left onto I 89

1.0 mi · 1 min · I 89
20

Take the exit slight right toward I 89 South: Williston, Montpelier

0.3 mi · 42 sec · I 89 South: Williston, Montpelier
21

Merge slight left

3.1 mi · 3 min
22

Take the exit slight right toward VT 2A: Williston, Essex Junction

0.2 mi · 31 sec · VT 2A: Williston, Essex Junction
23

Turn left onto Saint George Road

0.8 mi · 1 min · Saint George Road
24

Continue on Essex Road

2.2 mi · 3 min · Essex Road
25

Continue on Park Street

0.7 mi · 2 min · Park Street
26

Turn slight right onto Main Street

79 ft · 3 sec · Main Street
27

Arrive at your destination

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 49.3 miles from Dorset, VT, or about 1h 7m into the drive.

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 80 miles or 1h 49m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 49.3 miles or 1h 7m 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 50m

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

Before You Leave

+

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

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Dorset, VT

This is one driving day of about 98.7 miles and 2h 14m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Dorset, VT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 49.3 mi from Dorset, VT · 1h 7m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Rome, NY

49 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

Peru, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Rome, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 49.3 miles from Dorset, VT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Essex Junction, VT

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

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Essex Junction, VT.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$15.33 one way

$30.66 round trip

$3.95/gal 25.4 MPG avg 35 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.46 $17.32 $34.64
premium $4.86 $18.88 $37.75
diesel $6.00 $23.30 $46.61

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$15

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$40–$65

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 34.5 kg one way.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 29.6 0 $10.36 $4.74
Efficient EV 24.7 0 $8.64 $3.95
EV Truck/SUV 39.5 0 $13.82 $6.32

Gas CO2

35 kg

EV CO2

12 kg (66% 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

Local time and weather at both ends of the drive

Current conditions at both ends of the drive. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.

Forecast data refreshed 1 day ago

Origin

Dorset, VT

Morning in Dorset on Saturday

Local time

8:15 AM

EDT

Current temp

49°F

Forecast unavailable right now

EDT Live mapsof forecast

Destination

Essex Junction, VT

Morning in Essex Junction on Saturday

Local time

8:15 AM

EDT

Current temp

46°F

Forecast unavailable right now

EDT Live mapsof forecast

Along the Route

66°F

Rome, NY

49 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

3 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

2h 14m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Dorset, VT to Essex Junction, VT covers 98.7 miles and takes about 2h 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Route 30, Route 149, East Main Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 49.3 miles from Dorset, VT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.33 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.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Return Trip

Essex Junction, VT to Dorset, VT

Plan the drive back the other way.

100.6 mi 2h 44m

Explore more options from Dorset, VT or browse trips ending in Essex Junction, VT.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse VT road trips.

Explore maps for Dorset, VT or Essex Junction, VT on MapSof.net.