Essex Junction, VT to Pittsford, VT is 61.7 miles and takes about 1h 36m via Vermont Route 116 and Ethan Allen Highway, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Vermont, traveling from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. Expect a drive that primarily uses surface roads, offering a more local feel than a highway-only route. It's a straightforward, relatively short drive, ideal for a single day trip without feeling rushed.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
30.8 miles from Essex Junction, VT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Vermont Route 116
14.2 mi
21m
Ethan Allen Highway
10.9 mi
16m
Franklin Street
7.5 mi
11m
Case Street
6.1 mi
8m
South 116 Road
5.5 mi
8m
North 116 Road
4.1 mi
6m
Saint George Road
3.7 mi
5m
Essex Road
2.2 mi
3m
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 Pittsford, 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
7.5 mi·11 min·Franklin Street
22
Arrive at destination
US 7
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 1 hour and 36 minutes, this route offers a lot of flexibility. You could easily start in the morning and arrive with plenty of time for activities. While there are no designated stops in the data, the longest stretch is 14.2 miles on Vermont Route 116, so consider a brief pause around that point if needed. With a fuel cost estimated at $10, you won't need to worry much about frequent refueling stops, but it's always wise to start with a full tank. Keep an eye out for changes in speed limits as you move between towns on the surface road sections.
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 30.8 miles from Essex Junction, VT, or about 48m 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 14 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 30.8 miles or 48m 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 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pittsford, 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 61.7 miles and 1h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 14 miles from Essex Junction, VT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
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
3 of 3
3 decision points cluster between mile 8.6 and 41.7 — 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.
3
29.6 mi into trip|~46m in|VT 116 / South 116 Road
Turn left onto VT 116 / South 116 Road
Navigation decision point
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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.93 one way
$19.87 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg22 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$10.93
$21.86
premium
$4.86
$11.82
$23.63
diesel
$5.61
$13.62
$27.25
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
18.5
0
$6.48
$2.96
Efficient EV
15.4
0
$5.40
$2.47
EV Truck/SUV
24.7
0
$8.64
$3.95
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 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 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
Pittsford, VT
Morning
in Pittsford on Tuesday
Local time
6:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
42°F
Bristol, VT
31 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 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 36m 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 predominantly on surface roads, with highway travel making up only 28% of the route. You'll encounter your longest continuous stretch on Vermont Route 116 for 14.2 miles. The transition from highway to surface roads will be noticeable as you navigate through towns and local areas. Expect a more connected-to-the-ground feel rather than a high-speed interstate experience.
Only 28% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
22 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?
1/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 8.6 miles in near VT 116 / Vermont Route 116.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Essex Junction, VT to Pittsford, VT is easy. At 1h 36m with 28% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
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 29.6 miles (VT 116 / South 116 Road): Navigation decision point; at 41.7 miles (US 7 / U.S. Route 7 South): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 36m. Total distance: 61.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 14.2 miles on Vermont Route 116. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 2 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 8.6 miles (VT 116 / Vermont Route 116): Lane positioning matters here; at 29.6 miles (VT 116 / South 116 Road): Navigation decision point; at 41.7 miles (US 7 / U.S. Route 7 South): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Pittsford, VT before heading back.
