Essex Junction to Barnet is 82.4 miles and takes about 1 hour 46 minutes via U.S. Route 2 and I-89/I-91, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Vermont, connecting two points in the Northeast region. The route is predominantly highway, making for a straightforward and efficient drive. Given its short duration and manageable cost, this is a convenient option for a same-day excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.2 miles from Essex Junction, VT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
U.S. Route 2
32.3 mi
40m
I 89
30.4 mi
35m
I 91
9.7 mi
11m
Essex Road
2.2 mi
3m
River Street
1.3 mi
2m
Memorial Drive
1.2 mi
2m
Saint George Road
0.8 mi
1m
Park Street
0.7 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
U.S. Route 2
— 32.3 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Essex Junction, VT and Barnet, VT.
1
Start on VT 15
79 ft·5 sec·Main Street
2
Turn left onto VT 2A
0.7 mi·2 min·Park Street
3
Continue on VT 2A
2.2 mi·3 min·Essex Road
4
Continue on VT 2A
0.8 mi·1 min·Saint George Road
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·34 sec
6
Merge onto I 89
30 mi·35 min·I 89
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 8Toward US 2: Montpelier, Saint Johnsbury
8
Continue on Memorial Drive
1.2 mi·2 min·Memorial Drive
Use the left lane.
9
Continue on US 2
0.5 mi·1 min·Berlin Street
10
Turn slight left onto US 2
1.2 mi·2 min·River Street
11
Enter roundabout onto US 2
137 ft·1 sec·River Street
12
Continue on US 2
97 ft·1 sec·River Street
13
Merge onto US 2
0.4 mi·47 sec·East Montpelier Road
14
Continue on US 2
7.1 mi·11 min·U.S. Route 2
15
Continue on US 2
0.6 mi·39 sec·High Street
16
Continue on US 2
0.2 mi·12 sec·School Street
17
Continue on US 2
25 mi·28 min·U.S. Route 2
18
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 91
19
Merge onto I 91
9.7 mi·11 min·I 91
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi·39 sec
Exit 18Toward Barnet, Peacham
21
Turn left onto Bimson Drive
0.2 mi·27 sec·Bimson Drive
22
Turn left onto Church Street
0.3 mi·1 min·Church Street
23
Turn slight left onto Monument Circle
175 ft·7 sec·Monument Circle
24
Arrive at destination
Anderson Street
Trip Plan
For this 1 hour 46 minute drive, leaving any time of day works well, though an early start can help you avoid any potential midday traffic. You won't need to break this trip up, but if you'd like to stretch your legs, consider a brief stop around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge; the estimated cost is $13, so filling up before you leave Essex Junction is a good idea. The longest stretch without services is about 32.3 miles on U.S. Route 2, so plan accordingly if you need to stop before then.
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 41.2 miles from Essex Junction, VT, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 32.3 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 18 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.2 miles or 55m 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Barnet, VT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Essex Junction, VT so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Essex Junction, VT
This is one driving day of about 82.4 miles and 1h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Essex Junction, 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 32.3 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.7 and 81.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
3.7 mi into trip|~6m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
6
34.4 mi into trip|~42m 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
4
37.9 mi into trip|~49m in|US 2 / River Street
Enter roundabout onto US 2 / River Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
81.7 mi into trip|~1h 44m in
Take the exit toward Barnet, Peacham
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 18
Toward Barnet, Peacham
5
81.9 mi into trip|~1h 44m in|Bimson Drive
Turn left onto Bimson Drive
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.27 one way
$26.53 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$14.60
$29.19
premium
$4.86
$15.78
$31.56
diesel
$5.61
$18.19
$36.39
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.7
0
$8.65
$3.96
Efficient EV
20.6
0
$7.21
$3.30
EV Truck/SUV
33
0
$11.54
$5.27
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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 20, 2026
Origin
Essex Junction, VT
Morning
in Essex Junction on Tuesday
Local time
6:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Barnet, VT
Morning
in Barnet on Tuesday
Local time
6:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°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
4 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 46m 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 mostly highway, with 88% of the 82.4 miles on interstates. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 32.3 miles on U.S. Route 2 before hitting the highway system. Expect a more rural cruising feel for a significant portion of the trip, transitioning to faster interstate speeds. The highway portion will likely feature fewer exits and more consistent travel.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 32.3 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 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.7 miles in.
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 82.4 miles you will encounter 10 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 3.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 34.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37.9 miles (US 2 / River Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
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 Essex Junction, VT to Barnet, VT, road signs begin pointing toward Saint Johnsbury along the way.
Saint Johnsbury
34.4 mi in|~42m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 46m. Total distance: 82.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 32.3 miles on U.S. Route 2. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 3.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 34.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37.9 miles (US 2 / River Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Barnet, VT before heading back.
