Trip from St Johnsbury, VT to Burlington, VT

Drive Time

1h 38m

Distance

76.5 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 22 min
4 AM
1h 31m ★
6 AM
1h 39m
8 AM
1h 53m
10 AM
1h 44m
12 PM
1h 42m
3 PM
1h 44m
5 PM
1h 53m
8 PM
1h 34m

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

Downtown St Johnsbury, VT, VT

St Johnsbury, VT

Tom Fisk

Downtown Burlington, VT, VT

Burlington, VT

Troy Tumbin

Trip Overview

Connecting St. Johnsbury to Burlington, this 76.5-mile journey is an efficient way to cross Northern Vermont. You can expect to spend about 1 hour and 38 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. With a fuel budget of approximately $12, the transit remains quite affordable for most travelers. Because the route is straightforward and relatively short, there is no need to plan for an overnight stop unless you prefer a leisurely pace. Whether you are heading west for business or leisure, the drive offers a reliable link between these two key regional hubs.

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

38.2 miles from St 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 90% of your travel occurring on major roads like I-89 and U.S. Route 2. You will spend the vast majority of your time cruising, highlighted by a longest uninterrupted stretch of 35.7 miles on I-89. Expect a consistent experience as you transition from the interstate onto U.S. Route 2 West. While the drive is efficient, the shift between highway speeds and local road conditions requires you to stay alert. It is a functional, streamlined path that prioritizes speed and directness over winding secondary roads.

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 35.7 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 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 76.5 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 5 / Railroad Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.5 miles (US 2 / Eastern Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 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.

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

Turn sharp right onto US 5 / Railroad Street

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

4
0.5 mi into trip | ~1m in | US 2 / Eastern Avenue

Turn right onto US 2 / Eastern Avenue

Navigation decision point

5
0.8 mi into trip | ~1m 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

4
36 mi into trip | ~45m in | US 2 / East Montpelier Road

Enter roundabout onto US 2 / East Montpelier Road

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

5
39.1 mi into trip | ~52m in | I 89

Merge onto I 89

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 89 35.7 mi 41m
U.S. Route 2 West 25.7 mi 29m
U.S. Route 2 7.7 mi 12m
Main Street 1.3 mi 3m
River Street 1.2 mi 2m
Memorial Drive 1.2 mi 2m
High Street 0.6 mi <1m
Railroad Street 0.5 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 89 — 35.7 mi, about 41m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between St Johnsbury, VT and Burlington, VT.

1

Start on Main Street

90 ft · 10 sec · Main Street
2

Turn sharp right onto US 5

0.5 mi · 54 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

36 mi · 41 min · I 89
Use the none lane.
19

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 51 sec
Toward US 2 West: Burlington
20

Turn straight onto US 2

0.4 mi · 52 sec · Williston Road
Use the none lane.
21

Continue on US 2

1.2 mi · 3 min · Main Street
Use the straight lane.
22

Arrive at destination

Main Street

Trip Plan

Since this is a short drive with no mandatory stops, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. You should aim to fill your tank before leaving St. Johnsbury to keep your $12 fuel budget on track for the 76.5-mile trek. Because there are no scheduled stops on this route, make sure you are comfortable with a continuous 1-hour and 38-minute window of driving. Take advantage of the simplicity of this trip by checking traffic conditions on I-89 before you head out. Having the freedom to arrive in Burlington without the need for midway breaks makes this an ideal route for a quick, stress-free transit.

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 38.2 miles from St Johnsbury, VT, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35.7 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 76.5 miles or 1h 38m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 38.2 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 Burlington, VT than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving St 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 St Johnsbury, VT

This is one driving day of about 76.5 miles and 1h 38m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from St 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 35.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 38.2 mi from St 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 76.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Peru, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 38.2 miles from St Johnsbury, VT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Burlington, VT

The final approach into Burlington, 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 Burlington, 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

$12.25 one way

$24.49 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 27 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.46 $13.42 $26.85
premium $4.83 $14.54 $29.08
diesel $5.64 $17.00 $33.99

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 $8.03 $3.67
Efficient EV 19.1 0 $6.69 $3.06
EV Truck/SUV 30.6 0 $10.71 $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

St Johnsbury, VT

Night in St Johnsbury on Sunday

Local time

9:52 PM

EDT

Current temp

48°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Burlington, VT

Night in Burlington on Sunday

Local time

9:52 PM

EDT

Current temp

43°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

5 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 38m 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 St Johnsbury, VT to Burlington, VT covers 76.5 miles and takes about 1h 38m 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 38.2 miles from St Johnsbury, VT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.25 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 76.5 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 5 / Railroad Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.5 miles (US 2 / Eastern Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (US 2; US 5 Alternate / Main Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from St Johnsbury, VT to Burlington, VT does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Burlington, VT to St Johnsbury, VT

Plan the drive back the other way.

76.4 mi 1h 38m

Explore more options from St Johnsbury, VT or browse trips ending in Burlington, VT.

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