Trip from Essex Junction, VT to Berkshire, VT

Drive Time

1h 15m

Distance

48.3 mi

78 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$8

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 18 min
4 AM
1h 10m ★
6 AM
1h 16m
8 AM
1h 28m
10 AM
1h 20m
12 PM
1h 19m
3 PM
1h 20m
5 PM
1h 27m
8 PM
1h 12m

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

Downtown Essex Junction, VT, VT

Essex Junction, VT

Dave Luzi, Litchfield CT REALTOR

Downtown Berkshire, VT, VT

Berkshire, VT

Andrea Davis

Trip Overview

If you are planning a trip from Essex Junction to Berkshire, Vermont, expect a straightforward 48.3-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes to complete. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking overnight accommodations. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $8, it is an economical choice for those looking to traverse the Northeast region efficiently. The drive utilizes a combination of I-89, Vermont Route 105, and Water Tower Road to navigate the landscape. Whether you are traveling for business or a quick change of pace, this direct connection between these two Vermont towns offers a practical, no-fuss experience.

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

24.2 miles from Essex Junction, VT

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 34m into the drive .

Drive Character

This trip offers a mixed driving profile, balancing high-speed interstate travel with more localized road conditions. You will spend roughly 55% of your time on highways, providing a consistent pace during the initial segments of your journey. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on I-89, covering 15.4 miles of the total distance. As you transition away from the interstate and onto Vermont Route 105 and Water Tower Road, the character of the drive shifts from a fast-paced highway cruise to a more conventional local transit experience. Expect a varied sensory environment as you shift from the primary thoroughfares to the secondary roads that guide you into Berkshire.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 89 is the longest continuous segment at about 15.4 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

715 ft 150 ft

Total Climb

902 ft

Total Descent

532 ft

Highest Point

715 ft

~48.3 mi in

Elevation Range

565 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.

Route Complexity 5/10

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

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 48.3 miles you will encounter 9 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: near the start: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 5.1 miles (VT 2A / Main Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 8.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

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

6
0 mi into trip | ~0m in

Turn left toward VT 2A North

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

Toward VT 2A North
4
5.1 mi into trip | ~10m in | VT 2A / Main Street

Keep slight right at fork onto VT 2A / Main Street

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

6
8.2 mi into trip | ~15m in

Take the ramp toward I 89 North: Georgia, Saint Albans, Montreal

Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 89 North: Georgia, Saint Albans, Montr...
6
23.9 mi into trip | ~34m in

Take the exit toward US 7, VT 36, VT 104: Saint Albans

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

Exit 19 Toward US 7, VT 36, VT 104: Saint Albans
5
24.5 mi into trip | ~35m in | VT 104 / Fairfax Road

Turn right onto VT 104 / Fairfax Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.

Towns Along This Route

Between Essex Junction, VT and Berkshire, VT, road signs point toward Saint Albans and Montreal.

Saint Albans

8.2 mi in | ~15m

Montreal

8.2 mi in | ~15m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 89 15.4 mi 17m
Vermont Route 105 11.1 mi 16m
Water Tower Road 4.4 mi 10m
Sheldon Road 4.4 mi 6m
Main Street 2.9 mi 5m
Roosevelt Highway 2.9 mi 4m
Colchester Road 1.9 mi 3m
Fisher Pond Road 1.8 mi 3m
Longest stretch: I 89 — 15.4 mi, about 17m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on VT 15

134 ft · 11 sec · Main Street
2

Turn left

143 ft · 6 sec
Toward VT 2A North
3

Turn right onto VT 2A

0.9 mi · 2 min · Lincoln Street
4

Continue on VT 2A

1.9 mi · 3 min · Colchester Road
Use the none lane.
5

Continue on VT 2A

2.3 mi · 4 min · Main Street
6

Keep slight right at fork onto VT 2A

0.2 mi · 19 sec · Main Street
7

Turn slight right onto US 2; US 7

2.9 mi · 4 min · Roosevelt Highway
8

Turn left onto US 2

447 ft · 15 sec · U.S. Route 2
9

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 37 sec
Toward I 89 North: Georgia, Saint Albans, Montreal
10

Merge onto I 89

15 mi · 17 min · I 89
11

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Exit 19 Toward US 7, VT 36, VT 104: Saint Albans
12

Turn right onto VT 104

0.6 mi · 1 min · Fairfax Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
13

Continue on VT 104

1.8 mi · 3 min · Fisher Pond Road
14

Continue on VT 105

4.4 mi · 6 min · Sheldon Road
15

Continue on VT 105

11 mi · 16 min · Vermont Route 105
16

Continue on VT 105

0.7 mi · 1 min · Pearl Street
17

At end of road, turn left onto VT 105; VT 108

0.5 mi · 45 sec · Main Street
18

Turn slight right onto VT 105

0.3 mi · 29 sec · Elm Street
19

Turn left onto Water Tower Road

4.4 mi · 10 min · Water Tower Road
20

Turn slight left onto Center Hill Road

100 ft · 4 sec · Center Hill Road
21

Arrive at destination

Center Hill Road

Trip Plan

Since this 1 hour and 15 minute drive is relatively short, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You can easily complete the entire 48.3-mile distance without needing to schedule formal stops, though keeping your tank topped off before leaving Essex Junction is a smart way to manage your $8 fuel estimate. Pay close attention to your speed as you exit the highway portions, as the transition to local roads like Water Tower Road often involves sudden changes in speed limits. Given the lack of required stops on this route, you can prioritize a continuous drive to reach your destination quickly. Use the time saved by the direct nature of the route to plan your arrival in Berkshire rather than worrying about road-side delays.

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 24.2 miles from Essex Junction, VT, or about 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 15.4 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 48.3 miles or 1h 15m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 24.2 miles or 34m 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

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Essex Junction, 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 Essex Junction, VT

This is one driving day of about 48.3 miles and 1h 15m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Essex Junction, 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.
The longest stretch is on I 89 for about 15.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 24.2 mi from Essex Junction, VT · 34m into the drive

Downtown Beekmantown, NY, NY

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Beekmantown, NY

24 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

Champlain, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 48.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Beekmantown, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 24.2 miles from Essex Junction, VT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Berkshire, VT

The final approach into Berkshire, 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 Berkshire, 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

$7.73 one way

$15.46 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 17 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.46 $8.48 $16.95
premium $4.83 $9.18 $18.36
diesel $5.64 $10.73 $21.46

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$8

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$33–$58

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 16.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 14.5 0 $5.07 $2.32
Efficient EV 12.1 0 $4.23 $1.93
EV Truck/SUV 19.3 0 $6.76 $3.09

Gas CO2

17 kg

EV CO2

6 kg (65% 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Essex Junction, VT

Night in Essex Junction on Sunday

Local time

9:54 PM

EDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Berkshire, VT

Night in Berkshire on Sunday

Local time

9:54 PM

EDT

Current temp

44°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

2 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 15m 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 Essex Junction, VT to Berkshire, VT covers 48.3 miles and takes about 1h 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 89, Vermont Route 105, Water Tower Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 24.2 miles from Essex Junction, VT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.73 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 48.3 miles you will encounter 9 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: near the start: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 5.1 miles (VT 2A / Main Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 8.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Essex Junction, VT and Berkshire, VT, road signs point toward Saint Albans and Montreal.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Berkshire, VT to Essex Junction, VT

Plan the drive back the other way.

48.4 mi 1h 15m

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

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