If you are planning a trip from Fair Haven to Milton, expect a straightforward 80.2-mile journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 10 minutes to complete. This route is best tackled as a single-day excursion, as it is designed for efficiency rather than a multi-day itinerary. You will primarily utilize Vermont Route 22A North, the Ethan Allen Highway, and I-89 to make your way through the Northeast region of Vermont. Budget approximately $13 for fuel to cover the distance, assuming standard vehicle efficiency. Since there are no mandatory stops scheduled, this drive offers a direct path between your points of origin and destination. It is a practical choice for those who prioritize getting from point A to point B without unnecessary detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.1 miles from Fair Haven, VT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Vermont Route 22A North
39.2 mi
1h 1m
Ethan Allen Highway
12.3 mi
19m
I 89
10.2 mi
12m
Shelburne Road
6.6 mi
13m
U.S. Route 7
5.1 mi
8m
West Main Street
1.5 mi
4m
I 189
1.2 mi
1m
River Street
1.2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Vermont Route 22A North
— 39.2 mi, about 1h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fair Haven, VT and Milton, VT.
1
Start on North Park Place
495 ft·8 sec·North Park Place
2
Turn right onto VT 22A
1.0 mi·1 min·Washington Street
3
Continue on Vermont Route 22A North
39 mi·1 hr 1 min·Vermont Route 22A North
4
Continue on VT 22A
1.5 mi·4 min·West Main Street
5
Turn right onto Monkton Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Monkton Road
6
Turn left onto US 7
0.9 mi·1 min·U.S. Route 7
7
Continue on US 7
12 mi·19 min·Ethan Allen Highway
8
Continue on US 7
6.6 mi·13 min·Shelburne Road
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Toward I 189: Montpelier, Saint AlbansUse the slight right / right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 189
1.2 mi·1 min·I 189
Toward I 89
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward I 89 North: Winooski, Saint Albans
12
Merge onto I 89
10 mi·12 min·I 89
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·34 sec
Exit 17Toward US 2, US 7: Lake Champlain Islands, Colchester
14
Keep slight left at fork
242 ft·12 sec
15
Turn left onto US 2
481 ft·16 sec·U.S. Route 2
16
At end of road, turn left onto US 7
4.3 mi·7 min·U.S. Route 7
17
Turn straight onto Railroad Street
323 ft·10 sec·Railroad Street
18
Turn left onto River Street
1.2 mi·3 min·River Street
19
Turn right onto Main Street
0.1 mi·21 sec·Main Street
20
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
Because this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever it suits your schedule, though aiming for off-peak hours can help you maintain the estimated 2-hour and 10-minute duration. Since the route is continuous without planned stops, ensure your vehicle is fueled up before leaving Fair Haven to avoid searching for stations during the longer 39.2-mile stretch on Route 22A. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, as the $13 cost estimate is a baseline; having a little extra set aside is always a smart move. Given the lack of required breaks, feel free to pull over at your own discretion if you need to stretch or grab a snack. Utilizing the interstate segments of I-89 allows you to make up time effectively if you encounter any unexpected slowdowns earlier in your drive.
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 40.1 miles from Fair Haven, VT, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 39.2 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 18 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.1 miles or 1h 2m 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 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Milton, VT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fair Haven, 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 Fair Haven, VT
This is one driving day of about 80.2 miles and 2h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Fair Haven, VT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Vermont Route 22A North for about 39.2 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 62.1 and 74.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
62.1 mi into trip|~1h 41m in
Take the exit toward I 189: Montpelier, Saint Albans
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right / right lanes.
Toward I 189: Montpelier, Saint Albans
6
63.6 mi into trip|~1h 44m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 89 North: Winooski, Saint Albans
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 89 North: Winooski, Saint Albans
6
74.2 mi into trip|~1h 57m in
Take the exit toward US 2, US 7: Lake Champlain Islands, Colchester
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 17
Toward US 2, US 7: Lake Champlain Islands, Colc...
5
74.4 mi into trip|~1h 58m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
74.5 mi into trip|~1h 58m in|US 7 / U.S. Route 7
At end of road, turn left onto US 7 / U.S. Route 7
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.91 one way
$25.82 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$14.21
$28.41
premium
$4.86
$15.36
$30.72
diesel
$5.61
$17.71
$35.41
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.1
0
$8.42
$3.85
Efficient EV
20.1
0
$7.02
$3.21
EV Truck/SUV
32.1
0
$11.23
$5.13
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 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
Fair Haven, VT
Late night
in Fair Haven on Tuesday
Local time
4:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Milton, VT
Late night
in Milton on Tuesday
Local time
4:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live 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
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 10m 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 trip is a highway-focused drive, with 70 percent of the journey spent on high-speed roads. You will settle into a rhythm early on, as the longest uninterrupted stretch covers 39.2 miles along Vermont Route 22A North. Transitioning from these local highway segments onto the interstate creates a shift in pace, moving from two-lane travel to the faster flow of I-89. While the road personality is consistent and functional, you should be prepared for the transition between these different road types as you head north. The experience behind the wheel remains predictable throughout the 80.2-mile trek, favoring steady progress over technical or winding terrain.
70% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 39.2 mi on Vermont Route 22A North.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Vermont Route 22A North and Ethan Allen Highway. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 62.1 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
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 80.2 miles you will encounter 12 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: at 62.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 63.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 74.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
Between Fair Haven, VT and Milton, VT, road signs point toward Saint Albans and Colchester.
Saint Albans
62.1 mi in|~1h 41m
Colchester
74.2 mi in|~1h 57m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 10m. Total distance: 80.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 39.2 miles on Vermont Route 22A North. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Milton, VT before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 62.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 63.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 74.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Milton, VT before heading back.
