Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 5, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
53m
Distance
36.7 mi
59 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Essex Junction, VT
Wikimedia Commons
Waitsfield, VT
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Essex Junction, VT to Waitsfield, VT covers 36.7 miles and takes about 53m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 89, Vermont Route 100, Main Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 19.6 miles on I 89. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.11 one way before food or hotel costs.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 89 | 19.6 mi | 22m |
| Vermont Route 100 | 7.2 mi | 12m |
| Main Street | 4 mi | 6m |
| Essex Road | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| North Main Street | 1.2 mi | 3m |
| Saint George Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Park Street | 0.7 mi | 2m |
| Vermont Route 100 South | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,230 veh/hr typical · worst 1,587
Quietest
1 AM
~36 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
34.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 74 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Essex Junction, VT and Waitsfield, VT.
Start on VT 15
Turn left onto VT 2A
Continue on VT 2A
Continue on VT 2A
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 89
Take the exit
Turn right onto VT 100
Enter roundabout onto US 2; VT 100
Continue on US 2; VT 100
Continue on US 2; VT 100
Turn right onto VT 100
At end of road, turn right onto VT 100
Continue on VT 100
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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.
A short stop after about 36.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 18.3 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.7 and 32.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
Take the exit toward VT 100: Waterbury, Stowe
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Enter roundabout onto US 2; VT 100 / North Main Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Turn right onto VT 100 / Vermont Route 100
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn right onto VT 100 / Vermont Route 100 South
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$6.11 one way
$12.23 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.70 | $6.78 | $13.57 |
| premium | $5.07 | $7.32 | $14.64 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $8.09 | $16.18 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11 | 0 | $3.85 | $1.76 |
| Efficient EV | 9.2 | 0 | $3.21 | $1.47 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.7 | 0 | $5.14 | $2.35 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Essex Junction on Saturday
Local time
3:03 PM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Mostly Cloudy
Destination
Afternoon in Waitsfield on Saturday
Local time
3:03 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Patchy Drizzle
53°F
Duxbury, VT
18 mi in
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
36.7 mi in 53m, mostly highway — 19.6 mi of that is on I 89.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 89 and Vermont Route 100. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 3.7 miles in.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Essex Junction, VT to Waitsfield, VT is easy. At 53m with 75% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 23.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.9 miles (US 2; VT 100 / North Main Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Gently rolling terrain
Total Climb
1,101 ft
Total Descent
745 ft
Highest Point
1,081 ft
~28.8 mi in
Elevation Range
757 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Essex Junction, VT to Waitsfield, VT, road signs begin pointing toward Stowe along the way.
Stowe
Founded 1892
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.
Waitsfield is a ski resort town in Central Vermont. Mad River Glen and Sugarbush are both nearby.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 53m. Total distance: 36.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (75%). Straightforward navigation.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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