Origin
Essex Junction, VT
Afternoon in Essex Junction on Sunday
Local time
1:35 PM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Essex Junction, VT to Swanton, VT
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
46m
Distance
34.8 mi
56 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 43m
★
6 AM
0h 47m
8 AM
0h 55m
10 AM
0h 50m
12 PM
0h 49m
3 PM
0h 50m
5 PM
0h 54m
8 PM
0h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Essex Junction, VT
Wikimedia Commons
Swanton, VT
Andrea Davis
Trip Overview
Essex Junction to Swanton is 34.8 miles and takes about 46 minutes via I 89, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Vermont's Northeast region, offering a straightforward, highway-focused experience. It's a short enough trip that you can easily complete it within a single day, making it ideal for a quick excursion. Consider this route if you're looking for a direct and efficient way to travel between these two points without extensive planning.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 89 | 25.1 mi | 28m |
| Roosevelt Highway | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| Main Street | 2.4 mi | 5m |
| Colchester Road | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| First Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Lincoln Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| U.S. Route 2 | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Grand Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 89
— 25.1 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Essex Junction, VT and Swanton, 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
25 mi
·
28 min
·
I 89
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 21
Toward VT 78, US 7: Swanton
12
Turn left onto VT 78
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
First Street
13
At end of road, turn left onto US 7
64 ft
·
1 sec
·
Grand Avenue
14
Arrive at destination
US 7
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 34.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.4 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 85 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 34.7 — 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
33.7 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Take the exit toward VT 78, US 7: Swanton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 21
Toward VT 78, US 7: Swanton
5
34.7 mi into trip
|
~46m in
|
US 7 / Grand Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto US 7 / Grand Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.60 one way
$11.20 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $6.16 | $12.33 |
| premium | $4.86 | $6.66 | $13.33 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.68 | $15.37 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.65 | $1.67 |
| Efficient EV | 8.7 | 0 | $3.04 | $1.39 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.9 | 0 | $4.87 | $2.23 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Destination
Swanton, VT
Afternoon in Swanton on Sunday
Local time
1:35 PM
EDT
Current temp
34°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
39°F
Milton, VT
17 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
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
46m 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 drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 73% of the journey on faster roads like I 89. You'll experience a longest uninterrupted stretch of 25.1 miles on I 89, so expect consistent highway driving for a significant portion of the trip. While the primary roads include Roosevelt Highway and Main Street, the overall character leans towards efficient travel rather than winding scenic byways. The transition from interstate to local roads is likely to be brief, maintaining a steady pace throughout.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 25.1 mi on I 89.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 89 and Roosevelt Highway. You will hit about 8 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 34.8 miles you will encounter 8 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Swanton, 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 46m. Total distance: 34.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 25.1 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 Swanton, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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