Essex Junction, VT to Bradford, VT is 70 miles and takes about 1 hour 40 minutes via I 89 and Vermont Route 25, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Vermont, connecting two points in the Northeast region. It's a straightforward, highway-focused trip perfect for a single day of travel. You'll find it a convenient way to cover this short distance without much fuss, making it a practical choice for getting between these two locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
35 miles from Essex Junction, VT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 43m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 89
33 mi
38m
Vermont Route 25
10.7 mi
15m
William Scott Memorial Highway
6.1 mi
9m
Waits River Road
5.3 mi
8m
Vermont Route 62
4.4 mi
6m
East Barre Road
3 mi
5m
Essex Road
2.2 mi
3m
Washington Street
1.3 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 89
— 33 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Essex Junction, VT and Bradford, 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
33 mi·38 min·I 89
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 7Toward VT 62: Berlin, Barre
8
Continue on VT 62
1.3 mi·1 min·Vermont Route 62
9
Keep slight left at fork onto VT 62
3.1 mi·4 min·Vermont Route 62
10
Turn right onto US 302; VT 14
0.4 mi·1 min·North Main Street
11
Continue on US 302; VT 14
1.3 mi·3 min·Washington Street
12
Continue on US 302
2.5 mi·4 min·East Barre Road
13
Enter roundabout onto US 302
131 ft·2 sec·East Barre Road
14
Continue on US 302
0.4 mi·36 sec·East Barre Road
15
Continue on US 302
0.4 mi·33 sec·Orange Road
16
Continue on US 302
6.1 mi·9 min·William Scott Memorial Highway
17
Turn right onto VT 25
11 mi·15 min·Vermont Route 25
18
Continue on VT 25
5.3 mi·8 min·Waits River Road
19
Turn left onto VT 25B
0.9 mi·2 min·South Main Street
20
Arrive at destination
VT 25B
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of 1 hour and 40 minutes, this is an easy same-day trip. You can depart anytime, but leaving in the morning allows for a relaxed drive with ample daylight. There are no specific stops recommended, so you can decide on the fly if you need to stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without a clear exit opportunity is 33 miles on I 89, and refueling is always a good idea before heading out on any drive.
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 35 miles from Essex Junction, VT, or about 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 33 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 15 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 35 miles or 43m 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 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bradford, 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 70 miles and 1h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Essex Junction, VT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 89 for about 33 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.7 and 46.2 — 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
3
4 mi into trip|~7m in|I 89
Merge onto I 89
Merge point - match speed before joining
6
37 mi into trip|~45m in
Take the exit toward VT 62: Berlin, Barre
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 7
Toward VT 62: Berlin, Barre
4
38.8 mi into trip|~48m in|VT 62 / Vermont Route 62
Keep slight left at fork onto VT 62 / Vermont Route 62
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
46.2 mi into trip|~1h 3m in|US 302 / East Barre Road
Enter roundabout onto US 302 / East Barre Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.27 one way
$22.54 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg25 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$12.40
$24.80
premium
$4.86
$13.40
$26.81
diesel
$5.61
$15.46
$30.91
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
21
0
$7.35
$3.36
Efficient EV
17.5
0
$6.13
$2.80
EV Truck/SUV
28
0
$9.80
$4.48
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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
Essex Junction, VT
Morning
in Essex Junction on Sunday
Local time
6:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bradford, VT
Morning
in Bradford on Sunday
Local time
6:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
36°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
3 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 40m 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 trip is largely a highway-focused drive, with 69% of the journey utilizing major roadways like I 89. You'll experience a 33-mile stretch on I 89 without significant interruptions, offering a consistent pace. As you transition to Vermont Route 25 and the William Scott Memorial Highway, the character of the drive may subtly shift, though it remains predominantly on well-maintained routes. Expect a generally efficient travel experience with minimal complexity.
69% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 33 mi on I 89.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 89 and Vermont Route 25. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 3.7 miles in.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 40m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 4 miles (I 89): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 37 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Bradford, VT, road signs begin pointing toward Barre along the way.
Barre
37 mi in|~45m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 40m. Total distance: 70 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 33 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: at 3.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 4 miles (I 89): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 37 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Bradford, VT before heading back.
