Spanning 133.3 miles, this Vermont excursion connects Chester to South Burlington in approximately 2 hours and 41 minutes. Because the route is straightforward and efficient, you can easily complete it in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend roughly $21 on fuel as you traverse the Northeast region from south to north. The journey relies heavily on major interstate corridors, making it a reliable choice for travelers who prioritize speed and predictability. Whether you are heading to the city for business or a change of pace, this trip offers a practical transit experience across the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
66.6 miles from Chester, VT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 22m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 89
87.9 mi
1h 41m
I 91
34.6 mi
40m
Rockingham Road
6.6 mi
10m
Vermont Route 103 South
2.5 mi
4m
Williston Road
0.6 mi
1m
South Main Street
0.5 mi
1m
Grafton Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 89
— 87.9 mi, about 1h 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chester, VT and South Burlington, VT.
1
Start on VT 35
72 ft·7 sec·Grafton Street
2
Turn right onto VT 11
0.5 mi·1 min·South Main Street
3
Continue on VT 103
2.5 mi·4 min·Vermont Route 103 South
4
Continue on VT 103
6.6 mi·10 min·Rockingham Road
5
Take the exit
0.1 mi·18 sec
Toward I 91 North: Springfield, White River Junction
6
Merge onto I 91
35 mi·40 min·I 91
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward I 89 North
8
Merge onto I 89
88 mi·1 hr 41 min·I 89
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·38 sec
Toward US 2 East: South Burlington
10
Turn slight right onto US 2
0.6 mi·1 min·Williston Road
11
Continue on US 2
87 ft·2 sec·Williston Road
12
Arrive at destination
US 2
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. You only need to account for one planned stop, which is perfect for stretching your legs or grabbing a quick snack along the interstate. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before merging onto the longer highway sections, as services can be spaced out during the 87.9-mile stretch on I-89. To make the most of your travel time, try to avoid peak rush hour traffic when entering the South Burlington area. Having that single stop scheduled halfway through the drive will help keep you alert and comfortable throughout the 2-hour and 41-minute duration.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 66.6 miles from Chester, VT, or about 1h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87.9 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 29 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 66.6 miles or 1h 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near South Burlington, VT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Chester, 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 Chester, VT
This is one driving day of about 133.3 miles and 2h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Chester, VT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 89 for about 87.9 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 132.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|VT 11 / South Main Street
Turn right onto VT 11 / South Main Street
Navigation decision point
7
9.6 mi into trip|~16m in
Take the exit toward I 91 North: Springfield, White River Junction
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 91 North: Springfield, White River Jun...
3
9.7 mi into trip|~16m in|I 91
Merge onto I 91
Merge point - match speed before joining
4
44.3 mi into trip|~56m in
Take the exit toward I 89 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 89 North
4
132.4 mi into trip|~2h 38m in
Take the exit toward US 2 East: South Burlington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 2 East: South Burlington
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.46 one way
$42.92 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg47 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$23.61
$47.22
premium
$4.86
$25.53
$51.05
diesel
$5.61
$29.43
$58.86
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
40
0
$14.00
$6.40
Efficient EV
33.3
0
$11.66
$5.33
EV Truck/SUV
53.3
0
$18.66
$8.53
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (66% 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
Chester, VT
Night
in Chester on Saturday
Local time
9:28 PM
EDT
Current temp
37°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
South Burlington, VT
Night
in South Burlington on Saturday
Local time
9:28 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
36°F
Bethel, VT
67 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
14 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 41m 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 drive is heavily highway-focused, with 94% of your journey spent on high-speed roads. You will utilize a combination of Rockingham Road, I-91, and I-89 to cover the distance efficiently. The personality of the route is defined by a significant 87.9-mile stretch on I-89, which serves as the primary backbone of the trip. While the initial segments involve local roads, the interstate sections dominate the drive, offering a consistent and steady pace. Prepare for long, uninterrupted stretches behind the wheel as you navigate the transition from the smaller roads of Chester toward the more urban environment of South Burlington.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 87.9 mi on I 89.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 89 and I 91. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near VT 11 / South Main Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 41m drive. You will face about 6 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 (VT 11 / South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 9.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.7 miles (I 91): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,632 ft314 ft
Total Climb
1,728 ft
Total Descent
2,021 ft
Highest Point
1,632 ft
~85.7 mi in
Elevation Range
1,318 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Chester, VT to South Burlington, VT, road signs begin pointing toward White River Junction along the way.
White River Junction
9.6 mi in|~16m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 41m. Total distance: 133.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 87.9 miles on I 89. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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: near the start (VT 11 / South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 9.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.7 miles (I 91): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at South Burlington, VT before heading back.
