Origin
East Montpelier, VT
Morning in East Montpelier on Sunday
Local time
8:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
36°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from East Montpelier, 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
57m
Distance
42.4 mi
68 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 52m
★
6 AM
0h 57m
8 AM
1h 6m
10 AM
1h 0m
12 PM
0h 59m
3 PM
1h 1m
5 PM
1h 6m
8 PM
0h 54m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
East Montpelier, VT
Owen.outdoors
Essex Junction, VT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Embark on a short, 42.4-mile journey from East Montpelier, VT, to Essex Junction, VT, a trip that can easily be completed in about 57 minutes. This drive is primarily highway-focused, with 83% of the route on interstates and main roads like I-89 and U.S. Route 2. With a fuel cost estimated at just $7, it's an economical option for a day trip within Vermont's Northeast region. You won't need to split this drive, making it a straightforward addition to any itinerary. The overall feel is efficient, allowing you to get from point A to point B without significant detours.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 89 | 30.6 mi | 35m |
| U.S. Route 2 | 4.4 mi | 7m |
| Essex Road | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| River Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Memorial Drive | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Saint George Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Park Street | 0.7 mi | 2m |
| Berlin Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 89
— 30.6 mi, about 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between East Montpelier, VT and Essex Junction, VT.
1
Start on Quaker Road
77 ft
·
3 sec
·
Quaker Road
2
Turn right onto US 2; VT 14
4.4 mi
·
7 min
·
U.S. Route 2
3
Continue on US 2
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
East Montpelier Road
4
Enter roundabout onto US 2
74 ft
·
0 sec
·
East Montpelier Road
5
Continue on US 2
115 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Montpelier Road
6
Continue on US 2
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
River Street
7
Continue on US 2
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Berlin Street
8
Continue on US 2
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Memorial Drive
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
10
Merge onto I 89
31 mi
·
35 min
·
I 89
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 12
Toward VT 2A: Williston, Essex Junction
12
Turn right onto VT 2A
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Saint George Road
13
Continue on VT 2A
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Essex Road
14
Continue on VT 2A
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Park Street
15
Turn slight right onto VT 15
79 ft
·
2 sec
·
Main Street
16
Arrive at destination
VT 15
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.2 miles from East Montpelier, VT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 65 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 38.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 2; VT 14 / U.S. Route 2
Turn right onto US 2; VT 14 / U.S. Route 2
Navigation decision point
4
4.9 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
US 2 / East Montpelier Road
Enter roundabout onto US 2 / East Montpelier Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
7.8 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
38.6 mi into trip
|
~49m 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
4
38.8 mi into trip
|
~50m in
|
VT 2A / Saint George Road
Turn right onto VT 2A / Saint George Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.83 one way
$13.65 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $7.51 | $15.02 |
| premium | $4.86 | $8.12 | $16.24 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.36 | $18.72 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.7 | 0 | $4.45 | $2.04 |
| Efficient EV | 10.6 | 0 | $3.71 | $1.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17 | 0 | $5.94 | $2.71 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Destination
Essex Junction, VT
Morning in Essex Junction on Sunday
Local time
8:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
61°F
Waterbury, VT
21 mi in
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
3 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
57m 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?
This drive leans heavily towards highway travel, with 83% of its character defined by interstate and major road conditions. You'll experience a significant stretch of 30.6 miles on I-89, offering a consistent, high-speed experience for a good portion of your trip. While the profile is highway-focused, the inclusion of U.S. Route 2 and Essex Road suggests a slight shift in scenery and pace as you approach your destination. Expect a smooth, predictable drive for the most part, with minimal complexity.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 30.6 mi on I 89.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
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 early in the drive near US 2; VT 14 / U.S. Route 2.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 57m 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 (US 2; VT 14 / U.S. Route 2): Navigation decision point; at 4.9 miles (US 2 / East Montpelier Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 7.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
716 ft
321 ft
Total Climb
267 ft
Total Descent
637 ft
Highest Point
716 ft
Elevation Range
395 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 57m. Total distance: 42.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 30.6 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: near the start (US 2; VT 14 / U.S. Route 2): Navigation decision point; at 4.9 miles (US 2 / East Montpelier Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 7.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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