Origin
Charlotte, VT
Morning in Charlotte on Sunday
Local time
6:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Charlotte, VT to Essex Junction, VT
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
33m
Distance
19 mi
31 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 30m
★
6 AM
0h 33m
8 AM
0h 39m
10 AM
0h 35m
12 PM
0h 34m
3 PM
0h 35m
5 PM
0h 38m
8 PM
0h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Charlotte, VT
Andrea Davis
Essex Junction, VT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Charlotte to Essex Junction is a quick 19-mile journey that typically takes about 33 minutes to complete. Because of the short distance, this trip is perfectly suited as a simple one-day outing, requiring no overnight stays. You can expect to spend approximately $3 on fuel, making it a very budget-friendly transit across the Northeast region of Vermont. The route relies on a combination of local roads and interstate driving, offering a straightforward connection between these two points. Whether you are commuting or just passing through, this drive provides a practical and efficient way to navigate the area.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Shelburne Road | 6.6 mi | 13m |
| Ethan Allen Highway | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| I 89 | 3.1 mi | 3m |
| Essex Road | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| I 189 | 1 mi | 1m |
| Saint George Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Ferry Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Park Street | 0.7 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Shelburne Road
— 6.6 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Charlotte, VT and Essex Junction, VT.
1
Start on VT F5
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Ferry Road
2
Turn left onto US 7
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Ethan Allen Highway
3
Continue on US 7
6.6 mi
·
13 min
·
Shelburne Road
4
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I 189: Montpelier, Saint Albans
Use the slight right / right lanes.
5
Merge onto I 189
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
I 189
Toward I 89
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 89 South: Williston, Montpelier
7
Merge onto I 89
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
I 89
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 12
Toward VT 2A: Williston, Essex Junction
9
Turn left onto VT 2A
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Saint George Road
10
Continue on VT 2A
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Essex Road
11
Continue on VT 2A
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Park Street
12
Turn slight right onto VT 15
79 ft
·
2 sec
·
Main Street
13
Arrive at destination
VT 15
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 75 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 15.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 7 / Ethan Allen Highway
Turn left onto US 7 / Ethan Allen Highway
Navigation decision point
7
10.4 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Take the exit toward I 189: Montpelier, Saint Albans
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right / right lanes.
Toward I 189: Montpelier, Saint Albans
4
10.7 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
I 189
Merge onto I 189 toward I 89
Merge point - match speed before joining
Toward I 89
5
11.7 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Take the exit toward I 89 South: Williston, Montpelier
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 89 South: Williston, Montpelier
6
15.1 mi into trip
|
~25m in
Take the exit toward VT 2A: Williston, Essex Junction
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 12
Toward VT 2A: Williston, Essex Junction
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.06 one way
$6.12 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $3.37 | $6.73 |
| premium | $4.86 | $3.64 | $7.28 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.19 | $8.39 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.7 | 0 | $1.99 | $0.91 |
| Efficient EV | 4.8 | 0 | $1.66 | $0.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.6 | 0 | $2.66 | $1.22 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Essex Junction, VT
Morning in Essex Junction on Sunday
Local time
6:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 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
33m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that requires your full attention as you transition between different types of roadways. You will spend about 22% of your time on the highway, specifically utilizing I-89 to bridge the gap between local segments. The longest uninterrupted portion of your journey occurs during the 6.6-mile stretch on Shelburne Road. As you navigate the route, the character of the road shifts from local thoroughfares like the Ethan Allen Highway to the faster pace of the interstate. This mix keeps the drive engaging without feeling like a monotonous highway grind.
Only 22% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 6.6 mi on Shelburne Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near US 7 / Ethan Allen Highway.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 19 miles you will encounter 7 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: at 0.7 miles (US 7 / Ethan Allen Highway): Navigation decision point; at 10.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.7 miles (I 189): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Charlotte, VT and Essex Junction, VT, road signs point toward Saint Albans and Montpelier.
Saint Albans
10.4 mi in
|
~19m
Montpelier
11.7 mi in
|
~21m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 33m. Total distance: 19 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (22%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 6.6 miles on Shelburne Road. 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 0.7 miles (US 7 / Ethan Allen Highway): Navigation decision point; at 10.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.7 miles (I 189): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Essex Junction, VT before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner 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.
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