Spanning 113.1 miles through the heart of Vermont, this trip from Essex Junction to Jamaica is a straightforward journey typically taking about 3 hours and 1 minute. It functions perfectly as a one-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight split. You should budget approximately $18 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Northeast locations. Navigating via Vermont Route 116, Franklin Street, and Vermont Route 100, you will experience a classic New England drive. This route offers a practical, mixed-drive experience that is ideal for travelers looking to traverse the state efficiently while enjoying the transition between regions.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
56.5 miles from Essex Junction, VT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 28m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Vermont Route 116
14.2 mi
21m
Franklin Street
14.1 mi
23m
Vermont Route 100
11.4 mi
17m
Ethan Allen Highway
10.9 mi
16m
Vermont Route 155
9.9 mi
14m
Vermont Route 103
8.1 mi
12m
North Main Street
6.3 mi
10m
Case Street
6.1 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
Vermont Route 116
— 14.2 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Essex Junction, VT and Jamaica, 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
3.7 mi·5 min·Saint George Road
5
Continue on VT 2A
2.0 mi·2 min·Vermont Route 2A
6
At end of road, turn left onto VT 116
14 mi·21 min·Vermont Route 116
Use the left lane.
7
Continue on VT 116
4.1 mi·6 min·North 116 Road
8
Continue on VT 17; VT 116
0.9 mi·1 min·Rockydale Road
9
Continue on VT 17; VT 116
0.5 mi·1 min·East Street
10
Continue on VT 17; VT 116
0.2 mi·25 sec·Main Street
11
Continue on VT 17; VT 116
0.6 mi·53 sec·West Street
12
Continue on VT 17; VT 116
0.5 mi·56 sec·Stony Hill Road
13
Turn left onto VT 116
2.1 mi·3 min·South 116 Road
14
Continue on VT 116
3.4 mi·5 min·South 116 Road
15
Continue on VT 116
6.1 mi·8 min·Case Street
16
Turn right onto VT 116
0.5 mi·51 sec·Ossie Road
17
At end of road, turn left onto US 7
1.1 mi·1 min·U.S. Route 7 South
18
Continue on US 7
11 mi·16 min·Ethan Allen Highway
19
Continue on US 7; VT 73
0.2 mi·39 sec·Conant Square
20
Continue on US 7; VT 73
0.2 mi·44 sec·Center Street
21
Continue on US 7
14 mi·23 min·Franklin Street
22
Continue on US 7
6.3 mi·10 min·North Main Street
Use the straight lane.
23
Turn left onto VT 103
8.1 mi·12 min·Vermont Route 103
24
Turn right onto VT 155
0.3 mi·43 sec·Village Street
25
Turn left onto VT 140; VT 155
452 ft·13 sec·Vermont Route 140
26
Turn right onto VT 155
0.1 mi·16 sec·Weston Road
27
Continue on VT 155
9.9 mi·14 min·Vermont Route 155
28
Continue on VT 100
2.9 mi·4 min·Vermont Route 100
29
Continue on VT 100
0.9 mi·2 min·Main Street
30
Continue on VT 100
4.6 mi·7 min·Vermont Route 100
31
At end of road, turn left onto VT 11
290 ft·8 sec·Vermont Route 11
32
Turn slight right onto Middletown Road
2.5 mi·6 min·Middletown Road
33
Continue on VT 100
3.9 mi·6 min·Vermont Route 100
34
At end of road, turn left onto VT 30; VT 100
5.0 mi·8 min·Vermont Route 30
35
Turn left onto Depot Street
91 ft·11 sec·Depot Street
36
Continue on Depot Street
31 ft·1 sec·Depot Street
37
Arrive at destination
Depot Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a manageable three-hour drive, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time based on your personal preference. To make the most of the journey, consider timing your single planned stop to coincide with the transition between the different state routes you will be using. Keep a close watch on your fuel levels early on, as the $18 estimate is based on typical conditions and can fluctuate depending on your vehicle's efficiency. Given the mix of local roads and highways, pacing yourself is easy; use the 14.2-mile stretch on Route 116 to settle into a comfortable cruising rhythm. Always double-check your route navigation before heading out to ensure you stay on the transition from Franklin Street to Route 100.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 56.5 miles from Essex Junction, VT, or about 1h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 14.2 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 25 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 56.5 miles or 1h 28m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jamaica, 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.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Essex Junction, VT
This is one driving day of about 113.1 miles and 3h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Essex Junction, VT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Vermont Route 116 for about 14.2 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 8.6 and 101.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
8.6 mi into trip|~14m in|VT 116 / Vermont Route 116
At end of road, turn left onto VT 116 / Vermont Route 116
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
41.7 mi into trip|~1h 4m in|US 7 / U.S. Route 7 South
At end of road, turn left onto US 7 / U.S. Route 7 South
Navigation decision point
4
83 mi into trip|~2h 11m in|VT 140; VT 155 / Vermont Route 140
Turn left onto VT 140; VT 155 / Vermont Route 140
Navigation decision point
4
83.1 mi into trip|~2h 11m in|VT 155 / Weston Road
Turn right onto VT 155 / Weston Road
Navigation decision point
5
101.5 mi into trip|~2h 40m in|VT 11 / Vermont Route 11
At end of road, turn left onto VT 11 / Vermont Route 11
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.99 one way
$39.99 round trip
$4.49/gal25.4 MPG avg40 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.92
$21.90
$43.80
premium
$5.29
$23.55
$47.10
diesel
$5.35
$23.82
$47.64
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33.9
0
$11.88
$5.43
Efficient EV
28.3
0
$9.90
$4.52
EV Truck/SUV
45.2
0
$15.83
$7.24
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Essex Junction, VT
Afternoon
in Essex Junction on Wednesday
Local time
4:07 PM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Chance Rain Showers
N 2 mph38% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Jamaica, VT
Afternoon
in Jamaica on Wednesday
Local time
4:07 PM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Patchy Fog
0 mph9% chanceLive 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
5 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
3h 1m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Marsh - Billings - Rockefeller National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Walk through one of Vermont's most beautiful landscapes under the shade of the Mount Tom Forest, the oldest continuously managed scientific forest in the United States. This is a landscape of loss, re...
21 mi from route
~52 min detour
Free
near mile 81.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a varied driving experience as you transition from local roads to state routes. With a 46% highway share, the trip balances faster stretches with more deliberate, technical driving. You will encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 14.2 miles along Vermont Route 116, which serves as a key portion of your transit. The personality of the road shifts as you leave the vicinity of Essex Junction and move toward the more rural landscape leading into Jamaica. Because the route is a mix of road types, you will need to stay alert to changing speed limits and road conditions throughout the three-hour duration.
46% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
37 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 14.2 mi on Vermont Route 116.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 8.6 miles in near VT 116 / Vermont Route 116.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 1m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 8.6 miles (VT 116 / Vermont Route 116): Lane positioning matters here; at 41.7 miles (US 7 / U.S. Route 7 South): Navigation decision point; at 83 miles (VT 140; VT 155 / Vermont Route 140): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,868 ft331 ft
Total Climb
2,062 ft
Total Descent
1,688 ft
Highest Point
1,868 ft
~88.8 mi in
Elevation Range
1,537 ft
Notable High Points
1,868 ft at ~88.8 miles+533 ft prominence
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Essex is a town in Northwest Vermont. It is the largest town and second most populated place in Vermont. About half the population lives in the village of Essex Junction, which separated from the town of Essex in 2023.
Jamaica is a village in Vermont. It is a great place to stay when going to Stratton ski resort. Jamaica is located at the bottom of the mountain, and has its own access road up the mountain.
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 14.2 miles on Vermont Route 116. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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 8.6 miles (VT 116 / Vermont Route 116): Lane positioning matters here; at 41.7 miles (US 7 / U.S. Route 7 South): Navigation decision point; at 83 miles (VT 140; VT 155 / Vermont Route 140): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Marsh - Billings - Rockefeller National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Jamaica, VT, but most travelers stay overnight.
