Burlington, VT to Saint Johnsbury, VT is 76 miles and takes about 1h 37m via I 89 and U.S. Route 2, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip keeps you within the Northeast region, specifically within Vermont for its entirety. It's a straightforward, highway-focused journey, ideal for a quick transit or a day trip. You'll encounter minimal complexity, making it a practical choice for travelers prioritizing efficiency.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38 miles from Burlington, VT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 89
35.3 mi
41m
U.S. Route 2
33.4 mi
41m
River Street
1.3 mi
2m
Main Street
1.3 mi
3m
Memorial Drive
1.2 mi
2m
High Street
0.6 mi
<1m
Berlin Street
0.5 mi
1m
Western Avenue
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 89
— 35.3 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Burlington, VT and Saint Johnsbury, VT.
1
Start on Main Street
1.2 mi·3 min·Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Continue on US 2
0.2 mi·35 sec·Williston Road
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 89 South: MontpelierUse the right lane.
4
Merge onto I 89
35 mi·41 min·I 89
5
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 8Toward US 2: Montpelier, Saint Johnsbury
6
Continue on Memorial Drive
1.2 mi·2 min·Memorial Drive
Use the left lane.
7
Continue on US 2
0.5 mi·1 min·Berlin Street
8
Turn slight left onto US 2
1.2 mi·2 min·River Street
9
Enter roundabout onto US 2
137 ft·1 sec·River Street
10
Continue on US 2
97 ft·1 sec·River Street
11
Merge onto US 2
0.4 mi·47 sec·East Montpelier Road
12
Continue on US 2
7.1 mi·11 min·U.S. Route 2
13
Continue on US 2
0.6 mi·39 sec·High Street
14
Continue on US 2
0.2 mi·12 sec·School Street
15
Continue on US 2
26 mi·30 min·U.S. Route 2
16
Continue on US 2
0.4 mi·36 sec·Western Avenue
17
Continue on US 2
227 ft·3 sec·Western Avenue
18
Continue on US 2; US 5 Alternate
0.1 mi·11 sec·Main Street
19
Turn right onto US 2
0.3 mi·32 sec·Eastern Avenue
20
At end of road, turn left onto US 2; US 5
0.1 mi·12 sec·Railroad Street
21
Turn right onto US 2
105 ft·1 sec·Portland Street
22
Arrive at destination
US 2
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of this 1h 37m drive, you have ample flexibility for departure time. Consider leaving Burlington, VT in the morning to maximize your day in Saint Johnsbury, VT. With a fuel cost estimated at $12 and no designated stops, planning a single fuel fill-up before you depart should suffice. Keep an eye on the road signs for U.S. Route 2 as you transition off I 89 to ensure a smooth continuation of your journey.
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 miles from Burlington, VT, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35.3 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 17 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38 miles or 47m 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 Saint Johnsbury, VT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Burlington, VT so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Burlington, VT
This is one driving day of about 76 miles and 1h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Burlington, VT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 89 for about 35.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 75.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.4 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 89 South: Montpelier
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 89 South: Montpelier
6
36.9 mi into trip|~45m in
Take the exit toward US 2: Montpelier, Saint Johnsbury
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 8
Toward US 2: Montpelier, Saint Johnsbury
4
40.4 mi into trip|~52m in|US 2 / River Street
Enter roundabout onto US 2 / River Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
75.6 mi into trip|~1h 36m in|US 2 / Eastern Avenue
Turn right onto US 2 / Eastern Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
75.9 mi into trip|~1h 37m in|US 2; US 5 / Railroad Street
At end of road, turn left onto US 2; US 5 / Railroad Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.23 one way
$24.47 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$13.46
$26.92
premium
$4.86
$14.55
$29.11
diesel
$5.61
$16.78
$33.56
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: 26.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22.8
0
$7.98
$3.65
Efficient EV
19
0
$6.65
$3.04
EV Truck/SUV
30.4
0
$10.64
$4.86
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 as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Burlington, VT
Late night
in Burlington on Sunday
Local time
5:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Saint Johnsbury, VT
Late night
in Saint Johnsbury on Sunday
Local time
5:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
34°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
4 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 37m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway drive, with 90% of the mileage on interstates and major roads. You'll experience a consistent pace for a significant portion of the trip, including a longest stretch of 35.3 miles on I 89. Expect a driving experience that is primarily focused on efficient travel rather than winding scenic byways. The transition to U.S. Route 2 and River Street will offer a slight change in pace but remains within the character of a well-maintained corridor.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 35.3 mi on I 89.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 89 and U.S. Route 2. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 37m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 36.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40.4 miles (US 2 / River Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 37m. Total distance: 76 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 35.3 miles on I 89. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
Mostly yes along the main roads, but rural stretches through VT can have sparse or no coverage. Before you leave, download offline Google Maps or Apple Maps for the route, and consider downloading music or podcasts instead of streaming. If you depend on data for navigation, keep a paper backup of the turn-by-turn directions.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 36.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40.4 miles (US 2 / River Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Saint Johnsbury, VT before heading back.
