If you are planning a journey from Dorset to Essex Junction, you are looking at a 100.2-mile trek that typically takes about 2 hours and 44 minutes. This drive is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to easily complete the transit without needing an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $16 on fuel for this Vermont excursion. By utilizing a combination of Vermont Route 30, Vermont Route 22A North, and the Ethan Allen Highway, you will navigate through the heart of the Northeast. Whether you are traveling for business or a change of scenery, this route offers a straightforward connection between these two Vermont locations.
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
50.1 miles from Dorset, VT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 20m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Vermont Route 22A North
39.2 mi
1h 1m
Vermont Route 30
13.5 mi
23m
Ethan Allen Highway
12.3 mi
19m
State Highway 22A
10.2 mi
15m
Shelburne Road
6.6 mi
13m
I 89
3.1 mi
3m
Essex Road
2.2 mi
3m
South Main Street
1.9 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Vermont Route 22A North
— 39.2 mi, about 1h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dorset, VT and Essex Junction, VT.
1
Start on VT 30
8.2 mi·14 min·Vermont Route 30
2
Continue on VT 30
5.3 mi·9 min·Vermont Route 30
3
Turn left onto VT 149
1.3 mi·1 min·Vermont Route 149
4
Continue on NY 149
0.5 mi·41 sec·East Main Street
5
Turn right onto CR 24
0.2 mi·18 sec·North Street
6
Keep slight left at fork onto CR 24
0.6 mi·1 min·North Street
7
Continue on CR 24
1.4 mi·3 min·Main Street
8
Turn right onto NY 22A
10 mi·15 min·State Highway 22A
9
Continue on VT 22A
1.9 mi·2 min·South Main Street
10
Turn slight left onto VT 22A
0.1 mi·11 sec·North Park Place
11
Turn right onto VT 22A
1.0 mi·1 min·Washington Street
12
Continue on Vermont Route 22A North
39 mi·1 hr 1 min·Vermont Route 22A North
13
Continue on VT 22A
1.5 mi·4 min·West Main Street
14
Turn right onto Monkton Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Monkton Road
15
Turn left onto US 7
0.9 mi·1 min·U.S. Route 7
16
Continue on US 7
12 mi·19 min·Ethan Allen Highway
17
Continue on US 7
6.6 mi·13 min·Shelburne Road
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Toward I 189: Montpelier, Saint AlbansUse the slight right / right lanes.
19
Merge onto I 189
1.0 mi·1 min·I 189
Toward I 89
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward I 89 South: Williston, Montpelier
21
Merge onto I 89
3.1 mi·3 min·I 89
22
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 12Toward VT 2A: Williston, Essex Junction
23
Turn left onto VT 2A
0.8 mi·1 min·Saint George Road
24
Continue on VT 2A
2.2 mi·3 min·Essex Road
25
Continue on VT 2A
0.7 mi·2 min·Park Street
26
Turn slight right onto VT 15
79 ft·2 sec·Main Street
27
Arrive at destination
VT 15
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule rather than rushing to beat the clock. With only one recommended stop planned, you can easily manage your fatigue and keep your focus sharp for the duration of the 2-hour and 44-minute drive. Be mindful of your fuel consumption, as budgeting $16 is a solid baseline for this distance. Before heading out, ensure you are comfortable navigating the transition between Vermont Route 30 and the longer stretches of Route 22A North. Taking a brief break during your designated stop will help you stay alert as you transition onto the Ethan Allen Highway for the final leg of your trip.
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 50.1 miles from Dorset, VT, or about 1h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 39.2 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 22 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50.1 miles or 1h 20m 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 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Essex Junction, VT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Dorset, 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 Dorset, VT
This is one driving day of about 100.2 miles and 2h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Dorset, 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 Vermont Route 22A North for about 39.2 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 15.4 and 96.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
15.4 mi into trip|~26m in|CR 24 / North Street
Keep slight left at fork onto CR 24 / North Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
7
91.6 mi into trip|~2h 30m 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
91.9 mi into trip|~2h 31m in|I 189
Merge onto I 189 toward I 89
Merge point - match speed before joining
Toward I 89
5
92.9 mi into trip|~2h 32m 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
96.3 mi into trip|~2h 37m 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
$16.13 one way
$32.26 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg35 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$17.75
$35.50
premium
$4.86
$19.19
$38.38
diesel
$5.61
$22.12
$44.25
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30.1
0
$10.52
$4.81
Efficient EV
25.1
0
$8.77
$4.01
EV Truck/SUV
40.1
0
$14.03
$6.41
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 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
Dorset, VT
Late night
in Dorset on Sunday
Local time
12:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Essex Junction, VT
Late night
in Essex Junction on Sunday
Local time
12:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
39°F
Crown Point, NY
50 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
1 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 44m 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 100.2-mile journey is heavily highway-focused, with 69% of the route consisting of higher-speed driving. You will spend a significant portion of your time on these main roads, including a longest uninterrupted stretch of 39.2 miles along Vermont Route 22A North. Because the route relies on a mix of state routes and the Ethan Allen Highway, the experience behind the wheel is consistent rather than overly technical. While you transition between these roads, the drive maintains a steady flow that helps you cover the distance efficiently. It is a practical path that prioritizes movement over winding local detours.
69% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 39.2 mi on Vermont Route 22A North.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Vermont Route 22A North and Vermont Route 30. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 15.4 miles in near CR 24 / North Street.
Driving Effort6/10
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 100.2 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: at 15.4 miles (CR 24 / North Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 91.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 91.9 miles (I 189): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
960 ft181 ft
Total Climb
268 ft
Total Descent
882 ft
Highest Point
960 ft
Elevation Range
778 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Dorset, VT and Essex Junction, VT, road signs point toward Saint Albans and Montpelier.
Saint Albans
91.6 mi in|~2h 30m
Montpelier
92.9 mi in|~2h 32m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 44m. Total distance: 100.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (69%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 39.2 miles on Vermont Route 22A North. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Essex Junction, VT before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 15.4 miles (CR 24 / North Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 91.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 91.9 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.
