Connecting Essex Junction to Hartland, this 97.4-mile trip is a straightforward journey through the heart of Vermont. Clocking in at approximately 1 hour and 56 minutes, the route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion. You should budget about $16 for fuel to complete the transit between these two Northeast locations. Because the drive is relatively short and efficient, there is no need to plan for an overnight stay unless you have other commitments. Whether you are traveling for business or a quick change of scenery, the simplicity of this trip makes it a reliable choice for your schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48.7 miles from Essex Junction, VT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 89
82.9 mi
1h 35m
I 91
9 mi
10m
Essex Road
2.2 mi
3m
U.S. Route 5
1 mi
1m
Saint George Road
0.8 mi
1m
Park Street
0.7 mi
2m
Main Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 89
— 82.9 mi, about 1h 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Essex Junction, VT and Hartland, 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
83 mi·1 hr 35 min·I 89
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 91: Brattleboro, White River
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward I 91 South: Brattleboro
9
Merge onto I 91
9.0 mi·10 min·I 91
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Exit 9Toward US 5, VT 12: Hartland, Windsor
11
Turn right onto US 5; VT 12
1.0 mi·1 min·U.S. Route 5
12
Arrive at destination
US 5; VT 12
Trip Plan
Since this is a quick sub-two-hour drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You won't need to worry about complex stop planning, as the duration is manageable without mandatory breaks. Keep in mind that with nearly the entire trip occurring on high-speed interstates, it is best to check for any major traffic updates on I-89 before you head out. Because you are traversing 97.4 miles of mostly interstate, ensure your vehicle is fueled up before leaving Essex Junction to avoid unnecessary stops along the highway. Use the direct nature of this route to your advantage by planning your arrival to hit Hartland exactly when you need to be there.
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 48.7 miles from Essex Junction, VT, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 82.9 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 21 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.7 miles or 59m 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 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hartland, 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 97.4 miles and 1h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 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 82.9 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.7 and 96.4 — 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
5
86.9 mi into trip|~1h 43m in
Take the exit toward I 91: Brattleboro, White River
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 91: Brattleboro, White River
6
87.1 mi into trip|~1h 43m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 91 South: Brattleboro
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 91 South: Brattleboro
6
96.3 mi into trip|~1h 54m in
Take the exit toward US 5, VT 12: Hartland, Windsor
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 9
Toward US 5, VT 12: Hartland, Windsor
4
96.4 mi into trip|~1h 54m in|US 5; VT 12 / U.S. Route 5
Turn right onto US 5; VT 12 / U.S. Route 5
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.68 one way
$31.36 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$17.25
$34.50
premium
$4.86
$18.65
$37.30
diesel
$5.61
$21.50
$43.01
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: 34.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29.2
0
$10.23
$4.68
Efficient EV
24.4
0
$8.52
$3.90
EV Truck/SUV
39
0
$13.64
$6.23
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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
Hartland, VT
Late night
in Hartland on Sunday
Local time
12:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
35°F
Northfield, VT
49 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
22 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 56m 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?
Expect a highly efficient experience, as 95% of your travel time will be spent on highways. You will spend the vast majority of your time on I-89, which accounts for a single, 82.9-mile stretch of the journey. The remainder of the route navigates via I-91 and Essex Road to complete the transition. This is primarily a highway-focused drive, meaning you can anticipate a consistent pace rather than the stop-and-go nature of local backroads. It is a functional, streamlined path that prioritizes speed and directness over winding, secondary routes.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 82.9 mi on I 89.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 89 and I 91. 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 56m drive. You will face about 7 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 86.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 87.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 Hartland, VT, road signs begin pointing toward White River along the way.
White River
86.9 mi in|~1h 43m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 56m. Total distance: 97.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 82.9 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 86.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 87.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Hartland, VT before heading back.
