Trip from Saint Johnsbury, VT to Colchester, VT

Drive Time

1h 40m

Distance

76.6 mi

123 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 23 min
4 AM
1h 33m ★
6 AM
1h 41m
8 AM
1h 56m
10 AM
1h 46m
12 PM
1h 45m
3 PM
1h 47m
5 PM
1h 55m
8 PM
1h 36m

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

Downtown Saint Johnsbury, VT, VT

Saint Johnsbury, VT

Abdel Achkouk

Downtown Colchester, VT, VT

Colchester, VT

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Spanning 76.6 miles across Vermont, this straightforward journey from Saint Johnsbury to Colchester typically takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes. Because of the manageable distance, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $12 on fuel, making it a budget-friendly option for your travel plans. The trip relies primarily on U.S. Route 2 and I-89, providing a reliable connection between these two Northeastern locations. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a quick getaway, this drive offers a direct path that keeps travel time efficient.

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

38.3 miles from Saint Johnsbury, VT

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 50m into the drive .

Drive Character

This trip is heavily highway-focused, with 86% of your time spent on high-speed roads. You will navigate a mix of travel styles, starting with U.S. Route 2 West before transitioning onto the interstate. Expect a consistent pace, highlighted by a longest uninterrupted stretch of 25.7 miles on U.S. Route 2 West. The drive balances these faster highway segments with shorter transitions, ensuring you move through the Vermont landscape with steady momentum. It is a functional, efficient drive that prioritizes speed and directness over technical or winding backroads.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 28 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
U.S. Route 2 West is the longest continuous segment at about 25.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on U.S. Route 2 West and I 89. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 2; US 5 / Railroad Street.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 1h 40m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 2; US 5 / Railroad Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 2 / Eastern Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (US 2; US 5 Alternate / Main Street): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 12 key points

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

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 2; US 5 / Railroad Street

Turn left onto US 2; US 5 / Railroad Street

Navigation decision point

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 2 / Eastern Avenue

Turn right onto US 2 / Eastern Avenue

Navigation decision point

5
0.4 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 2; US 5 Alternate / Main Street

At end of road, turn left onto US 2; US 5 Alternate / Main Street

Navigation decision point

6
63.7 mi into trip | ~1h 20m in

Take the exit toward US 2: Richmond, Williston

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

Exit 11 Toward US 2: Richmond, Williston
7
74.3 mi into trip | ~1h 36m in | VT 2A / Colchester Road

At end of road, turn right onto VT 2A / Colchester Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Saint Johnsbury, VT to Colchester, VT, road signs begin pointing toward Williston along the way.

Williston

63.7 mi in | ~1h 20m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
U.S. Route 2 West 25.7 mi 29m
I 89 25.1 mi 28m
U.S. Route 2 7.7 mi 12m
Vermont Route 289 4.5 mi 6m
River Road 2.9 mi 4m
Vermont Route 117 2.8 mi 4m
Main Street 1.6 mi 3m
River Street 1.2 mi 2m
Longest stretch: U.S. Route 2 West — 25.7 mi, about 29m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Saint Johnsbury, VT and Colchester, VT.

1

Start on US 2

105 ft · 7 sec · Portland Street
2

Turn left onto US 2; US 5

0.1 mi · 15 sec · Railroad Street
3

Turn right onto US 2

0.3 mi · 30 sec · Eastern Avenue
4

At end of road, turn left onto US 2; US 5 Alternate

0.1 mi · 11 sec · Main Street
5

Turn slight right onto US 2

0.4 mi · 39 sec · Western Avenue
6

Continue on US 2

0.6 mi · 52 sec · U.S. Route 2
7

Continue on US 2

26 mi · 29 min · U.S. Route 2 West
8

Continue on US 2

0.2 mi · 12 sec · School Street
9

Continue on US 2

0.6 mi · 39 sec · High Street
10

Continue on US 2

7.1 mi · 11 min · U.S. Route 2
11

Continue on US 2

0.4 mi · 48 sec · East Montpelier Road
12

Enter roundabout onto US 2

74 ft · 0 sec · East Montpelier Road
13

Continue on US 2

115 ft · 1 sec · East Montpelier Road
14

Continue on US 2

1.2 mi · 2 min · River Street
15

Continue on US 2

0.5 mi · 1 min · Berlin Street
16

Continue on US 2

1.2 mi · 2 min · Memorial Drive
Use the none lane.
17

Keep slight right at fork

0.1 mi · 17 sec
18

Merge onto I 89

25 mi · 28 min · I 89
19

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 49 sec
Exit 11 Toward US 2: Richmond, Williston
20

Turn right onto US 2

187 ft · 6 sec · West Main Street
21

Turn right onto VT 117

0.8 mi · 1 min · River Road
22

Continue on VT 117

2.8 mi · 4 min · Vermont Route 117
23

Continue on VT 117

2.0 mi · 3 min · River Road
24

Turn right onto VT 289

4.5 mi · 6 min · Vermont Route 289
Toward VT 289 West
25

At end of road, turn right onto VT 2A

0.8 mi · 1 min · Colchester Road
Use the right lane.
26

Continue on VT 2A

1.5 mi · 2 min · Main Street
27

Turn right onto East Road

100 ft · 2 sec · East Road
28

Arrive at destination

East Road

Trip Plan

Since the drive is relatively short at under two hours, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You won't need to plan for any major stops, so feel free to head out whenever it best suits your schedule. Keep in mind that with 86% of the route on highways, maintaining a steady speed is key to reaching Colchester on time. Because there are no mandatory stops included in this 76.6-mile trek, consider fueling up before you leave Saint Johnsbury to avoid potential delays. Use this efficiency to your advantage, allowing you to spend more time at your destination rather than worrying about complex logistics on the road.

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 38.3 miles from Saint Johnsbury, VT, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 25.7 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 76.6 miles or 1h 40m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 38.3 miles or 50m 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 Colchester, VT than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Saint Johnsbury, 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 Saint Johnsbury, VT

This is one driving day of about 76.6 miles and 1h 40m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Saint Johnsbury, 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 U.S. Route 2 West for about 25.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 38.3 mi from Saint Johnsbury, VT · 50m into the drive

Downtown Peru, NY, NY

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Peru, NY

38 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 76.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Peru, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 38.3 miles from Saint Johnsbury, VT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Colchester, VT

The final approach into Colchester, 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 Colchester, 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

$12.26 one way

$24.52 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 27 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.46 $13.44 $26.88
premium $4.83 $14.56 $29.12
diesel $5.64 $17.02 $34.04

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$12

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$37–$62

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 26.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 23 0 $8.04 $3.68
Efficient EV 19.2 0 $6.70 $3.06
EV Truck/SUV 30.6 0 $10.72 $4.90

Gas CO2

27 kg

EV CO2

9 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Saint Johnsbury, VT

Late night in Saint Johnsbury on Monday

Local time

1:33 AM

EDT

Current temp

48°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Colchester, VT

Late night in Colchester on Monday

Local time

1:33 AM

EDT

Current temp

45°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

51°F

Peru, NY

38 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

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 Saint Johnsbury, VT to Colchester, VT covers 76.6 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 U.S. Route 2 West, I 89, U.S. Route 2. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 38.3 miles from Saint Johnsbury, VT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.26 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 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 2; US 5 / Railroad Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 2 / Eastern Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (US 2; US 5 Alternate / Main Street): Navigation decision point.
On the drive from Saint Johnsbury, VT to Colchester, VT, road signs begin pointing toward Williston along the way.

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