Origin
Montpelier, VT
Morning in Montpelier on Saturday
Local time
8:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
36°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Montpelier, VT to Charlotte, VT
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 4m
Distance
48.1 mi
77 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 0m
★
6 AM
1h 5m
8 AM
1h 15m
10 AM
1h 9m
12 PM
1h 8m
3 PM
1h 9m
5 PM
1h 15m
8 PM
1h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Montpelier, VT
Wikimedia Commons
Charlotte, VT
Andrea Davis
Trip Overview
Montpelier to Charlotte is 48.1 miles and takes about 1h 4m via I 89, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays entirely within Vermont, connecting two points in the Northeast region. It's primarily a highway-focused trip, making it a straightforward and efficient journey. Given its short duration, this route is perfect for a same-day excursion, allowing plenty of time to enjoy your destination without feeling rushed. Consider this a quick hop that gets you where you need to go with minimal fuss.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 4m. Total distance: 48.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This route is largely highway-focused, with 74% of the journey taking place on major roadways like I 89 and Ethan Allen Highway. You'll experience a significant stretch of 34.4 miles on I 89, offering a consistent, higher-speed driving experience for a good portion of the trip. While the majority is interstate, transitions onto roads like Shelburne Road will introduce slightly different driving dynamics. Expect a relatively smooth and uncomplicated drive, ideal for covering ground efficiently. The profile suggests a drive where maintaining highway speeds is the norm for most of the way.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 10 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 34.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 89 and Shelburne Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near US 2 / Memorial Drive.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 4m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (US 2 / Memorial Drive): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 35.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 2 / Memorial Drive
Turn right onto US 2 / Memorial Drive
Navigation decision point
4
1.4 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
7
35.9 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Take the exit toward I 189 West: Shelburne, Rutland
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 189 West: Shelburne, Rutland
6
37.6 mi into trip
|
~45m in
|
US 7 / Shelburne Road
Turn left onto US 7 / Shelburne Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
4
47.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
|
VT F5 / Ferry Road
Turn right onto VT F5 / Ferry 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 Montpelier, VT to Charlotte, VT, road signs begin pointing toward Rutland along the way.
Rutland
35.9 mi in
|
~42m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 89 | 34.4 mi | 39m |
| Shelburne Road | 6.8 mi | 13m |
| Ethan Allen Highway | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| I 189 | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Memorial Drive | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Ferry Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 89
— 34.4 mi, about 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Montpelier, VT and Charlotte, VT.
1
Start on VT 12; US 2 Business
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Main Street
2
Turn right onto US 2
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Memorial Drive
3
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
4
Merge onto I 89
34 mi
·
39 min
·
I 89
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward I 189 West: Shelburne, Rutland
Use the slight right lane.
6
Continue on I 189
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
I 189
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
Turn left onto US 7
6.8 mi
·
13 min
·
Shelburne Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
Continue on US 7
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Ethan Allen Highway
9
Turn right onto VT F5
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Ferry Road
10
Arrive at destination
VT F5
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 24.1 mi from Montpelier, VT · 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.1 miles from Montpelier, VT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Charlotte, VT
The final approach into Charlotte, 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
$7.74 one way
$15.49 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $8.52 | $17.04 |
| premium | $4.86 | $9.21 | $18.42 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.62 | $21.24 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.4 | 0 | $5.05 | $2.31 |
| Efficient EV | 12 | 0 | $4.21 | $1.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.2 | 0 | $6.73 | $3.08 |
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.
Destination
Charlotte, VT
Morning in Charlotte on Saturday
Local time
8:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
45°F
Williston, VT
24 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
4 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 4m 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 Montpelier, VT to Charlotte, VT covers 48.1 miles and takes about 1h 4m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 89, Shelburne Road, Ethan Allen Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 24.1 miles from Montpelier, VT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.74 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 4m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (US 2 / Memorial Drive): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 35.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Montpelier, VT to Charlotte, VT, road signs begin pointing toward Rutland 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Charlotte, VT
More trips to Charlotte, VT
Explore more options from Montpelier, VT or browse trips ending in Charlotte, VT.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse VT road trips.