Trip from Saint Johnsbury, VT to Shelburne, VT

Drive Time

1h 43m

Distance

79.5 mi

128 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$13

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 23 min
4 AM
1h 36m ★
6 AM
1h 44m
8 AM
1h 59m
10 AM
1h 49m
12 PM
1h 48m
3 PM
1h 50m
5 PM
1h 59m
8 PM
1h 39m

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 Shelburne, VT, VT

Shelburne, VT

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

Traveling from Saint Johnsbury to Shelburne covers 79.5 miles across Vermont, making this an efficient journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 43 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 $13 on fuel for the trip, keeping the excursion budget-friendly. The drive primarily utilizes I-89 and U.S. Route 2, offering a straightforward path between the Northeast region's key areas. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a day of exploration, the predictable timing makes this a reliable choice for your schedule.

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

39.7 miles from Saint Johnsbury, VT

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 52m into the drive .

Drive Character

This trip is heavily highway-focused, with 87% of your travel time spent on major roads. You will find yourself cruising along I-89 for the majority of the duration, including a longest uninterrupted stretch of 34.4 miles that allows for steady, consistent driving. As you transition between the interstate and U.S. Route 2, the road character shifts from high-speed highway lanes to more localized travel. Expect a functional, direct experience behind the wheel that prioritizes efficiency over technical mountain passes or winding backroads. It is a straightforward drive that keeps you moving toward your destination with minimal fuss.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 22 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 U.S. Route 2 West. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 2; US 5 / Railroad Street.

Route Complexity 5/10

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

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 79.5 miles you will encounter 8 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 (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 8 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

7
73 mi into trip | ~1h 31m 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
74.7 mi into trip | ~1h 34m in | US 7 / Shelburne Road

Turn left onto US 7 / Shelburne Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight lanes.

Towns Along This Route

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

Rutland

73 mi in | ~1h 31m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 89 34.4 mi 39m
U.S. Route 2 West 25.7 mi 29m
U.S. Route 2 7.7 mi 12m
Shelburne Road 4.8 mi 9m
I 189 1.4 mi 2m
River Street 1.2 mi 2m
Memorial Drive 1.2 mi 2m
High Street 0.6 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 89 — 34.4 mi, about 39m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

34 mi · 39 min · I 89
19

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 39 sec
Toward I 189 West: Shelburne, Rutland Use the slight right lane.
20

Continue on I 189

1.4 mi · 2 min · I 189
Use the straight / left lanes.
21

Turn left onto US 7

4.8 mi · 9 min · Shelburne Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
22

Arrive at destination

US 7

Trip Plan

Since the total drive time is under two hours, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though hitting the road early helps avoid potential traffic flow changes. Because there are no mandatory stops scheduled, you can easily pace the 79.5-mile journey however you like, but keep an eye on your fuel gauge before merging onto the longer interstate segments. Given that the route consists of high-speed highway stretches, staying alert during the 34.4-mile I-89 segment is key for a safe arrival. Use the shorter duration to your advantage by planning your arrival in Shelburne for a specific time, as the predictability of the route makes tight scheduling quite easy.

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 39.7 miles from Saint Johnsbury, VT, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 34.4 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 79.5 miles or 1h 43m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 39.7 miles or 52m 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 24m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Shelburne, 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 79.5 miles and 1h 43m.

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 I 89 for about 34.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 39.7 mi from Saint Johnsbury, VT · 52m into the drive

Downtown Peru, NY, NY

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Peru, NY

40 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 79.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Peru, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 39.7 miles from Saint Johnsbury, VT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Shelburne, VT

The final approach into Shelburne, 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 Shelburne, 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

$12.73 one way

$25.45 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 28 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.46 $13.95 $27.90
premium $4.83 $15.11 $30.22
diesel $5.64 $17.66 $35.32

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$13

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$38–$63

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 27.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 23.8 0 $8.35 $3.82
Efficient EV 19.9 0 $6.96 $3.18
EV Truck/SUV 31.8 0 $11.13 $5.09

Gas CO2

28 kg

EV CO2

9 kg (68% 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

1:32 AM

EDT

Current temp

48°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Shelburne, VT

Late night in Shelburne on Monday

Local time

1:32 AM

EDT

Current temp

45°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

51°F

Peru, NY

40 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 43m 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 Shelburne, VT covers 79.5 miles and takes about 1h 43m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 89, U.S. Route 2 West, 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 39.7 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 $12.73 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 79.5 miles you will encounter 8 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 (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 Shelburne, VT, road signs begin pointing toward Rutland along the way.

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