Colchester, VT to Saint Johnsbury, VT is 77.4 miles and takes about 1 hour 43 minutes via U.S. Route 2 and I 89, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Vermont, traversing the Northeast region of the state. It's a straightforward, highway-focused journey perfect for a single day trip. Given its relatively short duration, you can expect a relaxed pace with plenty of time for exploration upon arrival in Saint Johnsbury.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.7 miles from Colchester, VT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
U.S. Route 2
33.4 mi
41m
I 89
24.9 mi
28m
Vermont Route 289
4.5 mi
7m
River Road
3.2 mi
5m
Vermont Route 117
2.8 mi
4m
Main Street
1.6 mi
3m
River Street
1.3 mi
2m
Memorial Drive
1.2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
U.S. Route 2
— 33.4 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Colchester, VT and Saint Johnsbury, VT.
1
Start on East Road
100 ft·9 sec·East Road
2
Turn left onto VT 2A
1.5 mi·2 min·Main Street
3
Continue on VT 2A
1.0 mi·1 min·Colchester Road
Use the left lane.
4
Turn left onto VT 289
4.5 mi·7 min·Vermont Route 289
Toward VT 289 EastUse the left lane.
5
At end of road, turn left onto VT 117
2.4 mi·3 min·River Road
Toward US 2, VT 289 West: Richmond
6
Continue on VT 117
2.8 mi·4 min·Vermont Route 117
7
Continue on VT 117
0.8 mi·1 min·River Road
8
At end of road, turn left onto US 2
0.3 mi·36 sec·West Main Street
9
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·15 sec
10
Merge onto I 89
25 mi·28 min·I 89
11
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 8Toward US 2: Montpelier, Saint Johnsbury
12
Continue on Memorial Drive
1.2 mi·2 min·Memorial Drive
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on US 2
0.5 mi·1 min·Berlin Street
14
Turn slight left onto US 2
1.2 mi·2 min·River Street
15
Enter roundabout onto US 2
137 ft·1 sec·River Street
16
Continue on US 2
97 ft·1 sec·River Street
17
Merge onto US 2
0.4 mi·47 sec·East Montpelier Road
18
Continue on US 2
7.1 mi·11 min·U.S. Route 2
19
Continue on US 2
0.6 mi·39 sec·High Street
20
Continue on US 2
0.2 mi·12 sec·School Street
21
Continue on US 2
26 mi·30 min·U.S. Route 2
22
Continue on US 2
0.4 mi·36 sec·Western Avenue
23
Continue on US 2
227 ft·3 sec·Western Avenue
24
Continue on US 2; US 5 Alternate
0.1 mi·11 sec·Main Street
25
Turn right onto US 2
0.3 mi·32 sec·Eastern Avenue
26
At end of road, turn left onto US 2; US 5
0.1 mi·12 sec·Railroad Street
27
Turn right onto US 2
105 ft·1 sec·Portland Street
28
Arrive at destination
US 2
Trip Plan
With a total duration of just over an hour and a half, this trip offers significant flexibility. Consider departing Colchester in the late morning to allow for a leisurely start and arrive in Saint Johnsbury with ample daylight. Since the drive is short, you won't need many stops, but keep an eye on your fuel gauge as the longest stretch without significant towns is 33.4 miles on U.S. Route 2. Planning your fuel stops before this segment is a smart move.
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 38.7 miles from Colchester, VT, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 33.4 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 17 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.7 miles or 51m 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 29m
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 Colchester, VT so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Colchester, VT
This is one driving day of about 77.4 miles and 1h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Colchester, VT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on U.S. Route 2 for about 33.4 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 77.2 — 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 2A / Main Street
Turn left onto VT 2A / Main Street
Navigation decision point
6
2.5 mi into trip|~4m in|VT 289 / Vermont Route 289
Turn left onto VT 289 / Vermont Route 289 toward VT 289 East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward VT 289 East
5
7 mi into trip|~11m in|VT 117 / River Road
At end of road, turn left onto VT 117 / River Road toward US 2, VT 289 West: Richmond
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 2, VT 289 West: Richmond
6
38.3 mi into trip|~50m 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
6
77.2 mi into trip|~1h 42m 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
$12.46 one way
$24.92 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$13.71
$27.42
premium
$4.86
$14.82
$29.64
diesel
$5.61
$17.09
$34.18
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: 27.1 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
23.2
0
$8.13
$3.72
Efficient EV
19.4
0
$6.77
$3.10
EV Truck/SUV
31
0
$10.84
$4.95
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
Colchester, VT
Late night
in Colchester on Sunday
Local time
12:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Saint Johnsbury, VT
Late night
in Saint Johnsbury on Sunday
Local time
12:41 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
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 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 85% of the journey utilizing major roadways like I 89 and U.S. Route 2. You'll experience stretches of efficient travel, including one segment of 33.4 miles on U.S. Route 2 without interruption. The character of the drive is geared towards covering distance effectively, offering a practical and direct connection between Colchester and Saint Johnsbury.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 33.4 mi on U.S. Route 2.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on U.S. Route 2 and I 89. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near VT 2A / Main Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 77.4 miles you will encounter 12 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 (VT 2A / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.5 miles (VT 289 / Vermont Route 289): Lane positioning matters here; at 7 miles (VT 117 / River Road): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 43m. Total distance: 77.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 33.4 miles on U.S. Route 2. 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: near the start (VT 2A / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.5 miles (VT 289 / Vermont Route 289): Lane positioning matters here; at 7 miles (VT 117 / River Road): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Saint Johnsbury, VT before heading back.
