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Trip from Essex Junction, VT to Berkshire, VT

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 15m

Distance

48.3 mi

78 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$8

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 18 min
4 AM
1h 10m ★
6 AM
1h 16m
8 AM
1h 28m
10 AM
1h 20m
12 PM
1h 19m
3 PM
1h 20m
5 PM
1h 27m
8 PM
1h 12m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States

Essex Junction, VT

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Berkshire, VT, VT

Berkshire, VT

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are planning a trip from Essex Junction to Berkshire, Vermont, expect a straightforward 48.3-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes to complete. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking overnight accommodations. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $8, it is an economical choice for those looking to traverse the Northeast region efficiently. The drive utilizes a combination of I-89, Vermont Route 105, and Water Tower Road to navigate the landscape. Whether you are traveling for business or a quick change of pace, this direct connection between these two Vermont towns offers a practical, no-fuss experience.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 89 15.4 mi 17m
Vermont Route 105 11.1 mi 16m
Water Tower Road 4.4 mi 10m
Sheldon Road 4.4 mi 6m
Main Street 2.9 mi 5m
Roosevelt Highway 2.9 mi 4m
Colchester Road 1.9 mi 3m
Fisher Pond Road 1.8 mi 3m
Longest stretch: I 89 — 15.4 mi, about 17m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Essex Junction, VT and Berkshire, VT.

1

Start on VT 15

134 ft · 11 sec · Main Street
2

Turn left

143 ft · 6 sec
Toward VT 2A North
3

Turn right onto VT 2A

0.9 mi · 2 min · Lincoln Street
4

Continue on VT 2A

1.9 mi · 3 min · Colchester Road
5

Continue on VT 2A

2.3 mi · 4 min · Main Street
6

Keep slight right at fork onto VT 2A

0.2 mi · 19 sec · Main Street
7

Turn slight right onto US 2; US 7

2.9 mi · 4 min · Roosevelt Highway
8

Turn left onto US 2

447 ft · 15 sec · U.S. Route 2
9

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 37 sec
Toward I 89 North: Georgia, Saint Albans, Montreal
10

Merge onto I 89

15 mi · 17 min · I 89
11

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Exit 19 Toward US 7, VT 36, VT 104: Saint Albans
12

Turn right onto VT 104

0.6 mi · 1 min · Fairfax Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
13

Continue on VT 104

1.8 mi · 3 min · Fisher Pond Road
14

Continue on VT 105

4.4 mi · 6 min · Sheldon Road
15

Continue on VT 105

11 mi · 16 min · Vermont Route 105
16

Continue on VT 105

0.7 mi · 1 min · Pearl Street
17

At end of road, turn left onto VT 105; VT 108

0.5 mi · 45 sec · Main Street
18

Turn slight right onto VT 105

0.3 mi · 29 sec · Elm Street
19

Turn left onto Water Tower Road

4.4 mi · 10 min · Water Tower Road
20

Turn slight left onto Center Hill Road

100 ft · 4 sec · Center Hill Road
21

Arrive at destination

Center Hill Road

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Saint Albans, VT, VT

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Saint Albans, VT

24 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

Milton, VT

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Saint Albans, VT

Meal break

The midpoint is around 24.2 miles from Essex Junction, 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 9

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 24.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
0 mi into trip | ~0m in

Turn left toward VT 2A North

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

Toward VT 2A North
4
5.1 mi into trip | ~10m in | VT 2A / Main Street

Keep slight right at fork onto VT 2A / Main Street

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

6
8.2 mi into trip | ~15m in

Take the ramp toward I 89 North: Georgia, Saint Albans, Montreal

Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 89 North: Georgia, Saint Albans, Montr...
6
23.9 mi into trip | ~34m in

Take the exit toward US 7, VT 36, VT 104: Saint Albans

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 19 Toward US 7, VT 36, VT 104: Saint Albans
5
24.5 mi into trip | ~35m in | VT 104 / Fairfax Road

Turn right onto VT 104 / Fairfax Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$7.78 one way

$15.55 round trip

$4.09/gal 25.4 MPG avg 17 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.50 $8.56 $17.11
premium $4.86 $9.25 $18.50
diesel $5.61 $10.66 $21.33

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$8

Estimated CO2 emission: 16.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 14.5 0 $5.07 $2.32
Efficient EV 12.1 0 $4.23 $1.93
EV Truck/SUV 19.3 0 $6.76 $3.09

Gas CO2

17 kg

EV CO2

6 kg (65% 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

Essex Junction, VT

Late night in Essex Junction on Sunday

Local time

12:50 AM

EDT

Current temp

39°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Berkshire, VT

Late night in Berkshire on Sunday

Local time

12:50 AM

EDT

Current temp

48°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

50°F

Saint Albans, VT

24 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

9 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

1h 15m 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 trip offers a mixed driving profile, balancing high-speed interstate travel with more localized road conditions. You will spend roughly 55% of your time on highways, providing a consistent pace during the initial segments of your journey. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on I-89, covering 15.4 miles of the total distance. As you transition away from the interstate and onto Vermont Route 105 and Water Tower Road, the character of the drive shifts from a fast-paced highway cruise to a more conventional local transit experience. Expect a varied sensory environment as you shift from the primary thoroughfares to the secondary roads that guide you into Berkshire.

55% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 15.4 mi on I 89.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.

Driving Effort 5/10

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 48.3 miles you will encounter 9 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: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 5.1 miles (VT 2A / Main Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 8.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

715 ft 150 ft

Total Climb

902 ft

Total Descent

532 ft

Highest Point

715 ft

~48.3 mi in

Elevation Range

565 ft

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Essex Junction, VT and Berkshire, VT, road signs point toward Saint Albans and Montreal.

Saint Albans

8.2 mi in | ~15m

Montreal

8.2 mi in | ~15m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 15m. Total distance: 48.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (55%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 15.4 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: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 5.1 miles (VT 2A / Main Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 8.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Berkshire, 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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Explore More

Return Trip

Berkshire, VT to Essex Junction, VT

Plan the drive back the other way.

48.4 mi 1h 15m

Explore more options from Essex Junction, VT or browse trips ending in Berkshire, VT.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse VT road trips.