Essex Junction to Wells is 84.1 miles and takes about 2h 20m via Vermont Route 30 and Vermont Route 116, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, single-day trip entirely within Vermont, connecting two points in the Northeast region. You'll experience a drive that's largely focused on highway travel, making it a practical choice if you're looking to cover ground efficiently. Consider this route for a simple journey with minimal complexities, perfect for a day trip or a quick transit.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.1 miles from Essex Junction, VT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 8m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Essex Junction, VT and Wells, 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 River Road
5.1 mi·8 min·River Road
15
Turn left onto US 7
2.9 mi·4 min·Ethan Allen Highway
16
Turn right onto VT 30
0.2 mi·44 sec·Main Street
17
Enter roundabout onto VT 30; VT 125
68 ft·2 sec·Main Street
18
Continue on VT 30; VT 125
1.6 mi·3 min·Main Street
19
Continue on VT 30
6.3 mi·10 min·Vermont Route 30
20
Continue on VT 30
4.9 mi·8 min·North Main Street
21
Continue on VT 30
23 mi·38 min·Vermont Route 30
22
Continue on VT 30
0.3 mi·55 sec·Beaman Street
23
Continue on VT 30
444 ft·22 sec·Grove Street
24
Turn left onto VT 30
0.3 mi·49 sec·Furnace Street
25
Turn right onto VT 30
259 ft·4 sec·Lake Road
26
Continue on VT 30
7.8 mi·13 min·Vermont Route 30
27
Arrive at destination
VT 30
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 2 hours and 20 minutes, this 84.1-mile journey offers significant flexibility. You can comfortably depart any time of day and still complete the drive before evening. With a fuel cost estimated at $14, planning for gas stops is straightforward; a full tank should easily cover the distance. The longest uninterrupted segment is 36.9 miles on Vermont Route 30, so keep that in mind for any planned breaks. Since this is a single-day trip, you can be spontaneous with your timing and enjoy the drive at a relaxed pace.
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 42.1 miles from Essex Junction, VT, or about 1h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 36.9 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 19 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.1 miles or 1h 8m 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 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wells, 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 84.1 miles and 2h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 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 30 for about 36.9 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 8.6 and 76.3 — 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
36.8 mi into trip|~58m in|US 7 / Ethan Allen Highway
Turn left onto US 7 / Ethan Allen Highway
Navigation decision point
5
40 mi into trip|~1h 4m in|VT 30; VT 125 / Main Street
Enter roundabout onto VT 30; VT 125 / Main Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
76 mi into trip|~2h 6m in|VT 30 / Furnace Street
Turn left onto VT 30 / Furnace Street
Navigation decision point
5
76.3 mi into trip|~2h 7m in|VT 30 / Lake Road
Turn right onto VT 30 / Lake Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.54 one way
$27.08 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$14.90
$29.79
premium
$4.86
$16.10
$32.21
diesel
$5.61
$18.57
$37.14
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.2
0
$8.83
$4.04
Efficient EV
21
0
$7.36
$3.36
EV Truck/SUV
33.6
0
$11.77
$5.38
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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
Morning
in Essex Junction on Sunday
Local time
6:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Wells, VT
Morning
in Wells on Sunday
Local time
6:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
39°F
Bristol, VT
42 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
1 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
2h 20m 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 route is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 63% of the journey on faster roads. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 36.9 miles on Vermont Route 30, offering a good opportunity for sustained driving without frequent turns. While the highway component dominates, expect some transitions as you navigate through different local roads like River Road. The overall feel is one of steady progress, with opportunities to experience both open stretches and more varied road conditions as you travel.
63% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 36.9 mi on Vermont Route 30.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Vermont Route 30 and Vermont Route 116. 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 Wells, VT is easy. At 2h 20m with 63% 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 36.8 miles (US 7 / Ethan Allen Highway): Navigation decision point; at 40 miles (VT 30; VT 125 / Main Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 20m. Total distance: 84.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 36.9 miles on Vermont Route 30. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 36.8 miles (US 7 / Ethan Allen Highway): Navigation decision point; at 40 miles (VT 30; VT 125 / Main Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Wells, VT before heading back.
