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Trip from Essex Junction, VT to Craftsbury, VT

Data updated 5 hours ago

Drive Time

1h 40m

Distance

64.3 mi

103 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$10

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 22 min
4 AM
1h 33m ★
6 AM
1h 40m
8 AM
1h 55m
10 AM
1h 45m
12 PM
1h 44m
3 PM
1h 46m
5 PM
1h 54m
8 PM
1h 36m

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

city in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States

Essex Junction, VT

Wikimedia Commons

town in Vermont

Craftsbury, VT

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 64.3-mile drive from Essex Junction, VT, to Craftsbury, VT, should take about 1 hour and 40 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll spend about half your time on the interstate, with the rest on scenic Vermont routes. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is a modest $10. This is a straightforward drive through the Northeast region of Vermont, offering a glimpse into its rural charm. Given its short duration, you can easily complete this trip in a single day without needing an overnight stay.

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

32.1 miles from Essex Junction, VT

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 45m into the drive .

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Drive Character

The drive presents a mixed profile, with 49% of the journey on highways like I-89. You'll encounter your longest uninterrupted stretch of 19.6 miles on I-89, offering a chance to make good time. Following that, you'll transition to Vermont Route 15 East and the Waterbury Stowe Road, which will likely offer a more varied driving experience. Expect a blend of efficient highway cruising and more engaging, potentially winding, local road travel as you approach your destination.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 28 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 19.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 3.7 miles in.

Route Complexity 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 1h 40m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 3.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 4 miles (I 89): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 23.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.

4
3.7 mi into trip | ~6m in

Take the ramp

Navigation decision point

3
4 mi into trip | ~7m in | I 89

Merge onto I 89

Merge point - match speed before joining

6
23.6 mi into trip | ~30m in

Take the exit toward VT 100: Waterbury, Stowe

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

Exit 10 Toward VT 100: Waterbury, Stowe
4
62.4 mi into trip | ~1h 35m in | South Craftsbury Road

Turn right onto South Craftsbury Road

Navigation decision point

4
64.2 mi into trip | ~1h 40m in | Town Garage Road

Turn right onto Town Garage Road

Navigation decision point

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 Essex Junction, VT to Craftsbury, VT, road signs begin pointing toward Stowe along the way.

Stowe

23.6 mi in | ~30m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 89 19.6 mi 22m
Vermont Route 15 East 11.1 mi 16m
Waterbury Stowe Road 6.1 mi 10m
Laporte Road 4.8 mi 7m
Craftsbury Road 4.5 mi 7m
Pucker Street 2.6 mi 4m
Park Street 2.4 mi 5m
Essex Road 2.2 mi 3m
Longest stretch: I 89 — 19.6 mi, about 22m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on VT 15

79 ft · 5 sec · Main Street
2

Turn left onto VT 2A

0.7 mi · 2 min · Park Street
3

Continue on VT 2A

2.2 mi · 3 min · Essex Road
4

Continue on VT 2A

0.8 mi · 1 min · Saint George Road
5

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 34 sec
6

Merge onto I 89

20 mi · 22 min · I 89
7

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec
Exit 10 Toward VT 100: Waterbury, Stowe
8

At end of road, turn left onto VT 100

0.4 mi · 55 sec · Vermont Route 100
9

Continue on VT 100

6.1 mi · 10 min · Waterbury Stowe Road
10

Continue on VT 100

2.2 mi · 3 min · Waterbury Road
11

Continue on VT 100

1.3 mi · 3 min · South Main Street
12

Continue on VT 100

0.7 mi · 1 min · Maple Street
13

Continue on VT 100

0.9 mi · 1 min · Pucker Street
14

Continue on VT 100

1.8 mi · 2 min · Pucker Street
15

Continue on VT 100

4.6 mi · 7 min · Laporte Road
16

Continue on VT 100

0.2 mi · 17 sec · Laporte Road
17

Continue on VT 100

0.4 mi · 47 sec · Jersey Heights
18

Turn right onto VT 100

0.1 mi · 12 sec · Lower Main Street
19

Continue on VT 15A

0.1 mi · 10 sec · Upper Main Street
20

Continue on VT 15A

1.7 mi · 3 min · Park Street
21

Turn right onto VT 15

11 mi · 16 min · Vermont Route 15 East
22

Turn left onto VT 14

4.5 mi · 7 min · Craftsbury Road
23

Continue on VT 14

1.9 mi · 3 min · Eligo Lake Road
24

Continue on VT 14

0.6 mi · 1 min · Vermont Route 14
25

Turn right onto South Craftsbury Road

1.8 mi · 4 min · South Craftsbury Road
26

Turn right onto Creek Road

297 ft · 8 sec · Creek Road
27

Turn right onto Town Garage Road

43 ft · 3 sec · Town Garage Road
28

Arrive at destination

Town Garage Road

Trip Plan

Consider an early morning departure to maximize daylight and enjoy the roads with less traffic. This 1-hour-and-40-minute trip is short enough that you won't need to plan for extensive stops, but factor in a brief pause for fuel if needed, especially since the longest stretch on I-89 is nearly 20 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you leave the interstate and transition onto the state routes, as services might be more spread out. A specific tip for this route: be mindful of deer, particularly during dawn and dusk, as you move onto the less-trafficked Vermont routes.

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 32.1 miles from Essex Junction, VT, or about 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 19.6 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 64.3 miles or 1h 40m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 32.1 miles or 45m 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 22m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Craftsbury, 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 64.3 miles and 1h 40m.

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 19.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 32.1 mi from Essex Junction, VT · 45m into the drive

Downtown Peru, NY, NY

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Peru, NY

32 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

Beekmantown, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 64.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Peru, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 32.1 miles from Essex Junction, VT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Craftsbury, VT

The final approach into Craftsbury, 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 Craftsbury, 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

$10.35 one way

$20.70 round trip

$4.09/gal 25.4 MPG avg 23 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.50 $11.39 $22.78
premium $4.86 $12.31 $24.63
diesel $5.61 $14.20 $28.39

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$10

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$35–$60

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 22.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 19.3 0 $6.75 $3.09
Efficient EV 16.1 0 $5.63 $2.57
EV Truck/SUV 25.7 0 $9.00 $4.12

Gas CO2

22 kg

EV CO2

8 kg (64% 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 5 days ago

Origin

Essex Junction, VT

Morning in Essex Junction on Wednesday

Local time

7:10 AM

EDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Craftsbury, VT

Morning in Craftsbury on Wednesday

Local time

7:10 AM

EDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

51°F

Peru, NY

32 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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

1h 40m 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 Craftsbury, VT covers 64.3 miles and takes about 1h 40m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 89, Vermont Route 15 East, Waterbury Stowe Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 32.1 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 $10.35 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 is a straightforward 1h 40m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 4 miles (I 89): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 23.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Essex Junction, VT to Craftsbury, VT, road signs begin pointing toward Stowe along the way.

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