Origin
Franklin, VT
Morning in Franklin on Saturday
Local time
11:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Franklin, VT to Essex Junction, VT
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 5m
Distance
43.3 mi
70 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 0m
★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 16m
10 AM
1h 9m
12 PM
1h 8m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 16m
8 PM
1h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Franklin, VT
Wikimedia Commons
Essex Junction, VT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Franklin, VT to Essex Junction, VT covers 43.3 miles and takes about 1h 5m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 89, Vermont Route 105, Sheldon Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 15.3 miles on I 89. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.97 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 5m. Total distance: 43.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (56%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
The drive from Franklin, VT to Essex Junction, VT covers 43.3 miles and takes about 1h 5m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 20 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 15.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Hanna Road.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 43.3 miles you will encounter 10 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 (Hanna Road): Navigation decision point; at 18.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 18.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Hanna Road
Turn left onto Hanna Road
Navigation decision point
5
18.8 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Take the ramp toward I 89
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 89
7
18.9 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 89 South: Burlington
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 89 South: Burlington
6
34.6 mi into trip
|
~49m in
Take the exit toward US 2, US 7: Lake Champlain Islands, Colchester
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 17
Toward US 2, US 7: Lake Champlain Islands, Colc...
5
43.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
|
VT 15 / Main Street
Turn sharp left onto VT 15 / 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 Franklin, VT to Essex Junction, VT, road signs begin pointing toward Colchester along the way.
Colchester
34.6 mi in
|
~49m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 89 | 15.3 mi | 17m |
| Vermont Route 105 | 6.7 mi | 9m |
| Sheldon Road | 4.4 mi | 6m |
| Main Street | 3.3 mi | 6m |
| Roosevelt Highway | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| North Sheldon Road | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| Colchester Road | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Fisher Pond Road | 1.8 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
I 89
— 15.3 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Franklin, VT and Essex Junction, VT.
1
Start on this road
56 ft
·
9 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto Hanna Road
171 ft
·
6 sec
·
Hanna Road
3
Turn right onto VT 120
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
4
Continue on VT 120
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
North Sheldon Road
5
Continue on VT 120
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Vermont Route 120
6
Turn right onto VT 105
6.7 mi
·
9 min
·
Vermont Route 105
7
Continue on VT 105
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
Sheldon Road
8
Continue on VT 104
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Fisher Pond Road
9
Continue on VT 104
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Fairfax Road
10
Take the ramp
266 ft
·
15 sec
Toward I 89
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
Toward I 89 South: Burlington
Use the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto I 89
15 mi
·
17 min
·
I 89
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 17
Toward US 2, US 7: Lake Champlain Islands, Colchester
14
Turn left onto US 2
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
U.S. Route 2
15
At end of road, turn right onto US 2; US 7
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Roosevelt Highway
16
Turn slight left onto VT 2A
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Main Street
17
Continue on VT 2A
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Colchester Road
Use the left lane.
18
Continue on VT 2A
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Lincoln Street
19
Turn sharp left onto VT 15
79 ft
·
2 sec
·
Main Street
20
Arrive at destination
VT 15
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 21.7 mi from Franklin, VT · 34m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.7 miles from Franklin, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.97 one way
$13.94 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $7.67 | $15.34 |
| premium | $4.86 | $8.29 | $16.58 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.56 | $19.12 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13 | 0 | $4.55 | $2.08 |
| Efficient EV | 10.8 | 0 | $3.79 | $1.73 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.3 | 0 | $6.06 | $2.77 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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
Essex Junction, VT
Morning in Essex Junction on Saturday
Local time
11:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
39°F
Milton, VT
22 mi in
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
10 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 5m 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 Franklin, VT to Essex Junction, VT covers 43.3 miles and takes about 1h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 89, Vermont Route 105, Sheldon Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 21.7 miles from Franklin, VT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.97 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 43.3 miles you will encounter 10 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 (Hanna Road): Navigation decision point; at 18.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 18.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Franklin, VT to Essex Junction, VT, road signs begin pointing toward Colchester 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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