Origin
Fairfax, VT
Late night in Fairfax on Sunday
Local time
3:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
37°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fairfax, VT to Shelburne, VT
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
45m
Distance
32.2 mi
52 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 42m
★
6 AM
0h 46m
8 AM
0h 53m
10 AM
0h 49m
12 PM
0h 48m
3 PM
0h 49m
5 PM
0h 53m
8 PM
0h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fairfax, VT
Wikimedia Commons
Shelburne, VT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Fairfax to Shelburne, this 32.2-mile trek is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 45 minutes. Because of the manageable distance, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you plenty of time to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $5 on fuel for the trip, making it an affordable option for a quick transit. The drive primarily utilizes I-89, Shelburne Road, and Highbridge Road to navigate through the Northeast region of Vermont. It is a practical, efficient connection that gets you from point A to point B with minimal fuss, ideal for those prioritizing speed and simplicity over a leisurely pace.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 89 | 19.1 mi | 22m |
| Shelburne Road | 4.8 mi | 9m |
| Highbridge Road | 4.5 mi | 6m |
| Main Street | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| I 189 | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Ethan Allen Highway | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 89
— 19.1 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fairfax, VT and Shelburne, VT.
1
Start on this road
27 ft
·
3 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto VT 104
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
3
Turn left onto VT 104A
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Highbridge Road
4
Turn right onto US 7
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
Ethan Allen Highway
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
6
Merge onto I 89
19 mi
·
22 min
·
I 89
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
Toward I 189 West: Shelburne, Rutland
8
Merge onto I 189
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
I 189
Use the straight / left lanes.
9
Turn left onto US 7
4.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Shelburne Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
10
Arrive at destination
US 7
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16.1 miles from Fairfax, 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 27.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
VT 104 / Main Street
Turn right onto VT 104 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
6.6 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
5
25.9 mi into trip
|
~33m in
Take the exit toward I 189 West: Shelburne, Rutland
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 189 West: Shelburne, Rutland
5
26.2 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
I 189
Merge onto I 189
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
27.4 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
US 7 / Shelburne Road
Turn left onto US 7 / Shelburne Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.18 one way
$10.37 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $5.70 | $11.41 |
| premium | $4.86 | $6.17 | $12.33 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.11 | $14.22 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.7 | 0 | $3.38 | $1.55 |
| Efficient EV | 8.1 | 0 | $2.82 | $1.29 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.9 | 0 | $4.51 | $2.06 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Shelburne, VT
Late night in Shelburne on Sunday
Local time
3:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
39°F
Colchester, VT
16 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
24 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
45m 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 trip is a highway-focused drive, with 63% of your time spent on major routes. You will find yourself settling into a steady rhythm during the longest stretch, which spans 19.1 miles along I-89. While the interstate portion offers a fast, consistent pace, the character of the drive shifts as you transition onto Shelburne Road and Highbridge Road to reach your final destination. Expect a mix of high-speed transit and local navigation as you move through these different road types. The transition from the open interstate to the local roads provides a clear change in scenery and driving intensity, keeping the experience varied despite the short overall duration.
63% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 19.1 mi on I 89.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 89 and Shelburne Road. 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 near VT 104 / Main Street.
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 32.2 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 (VT 104 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 6.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 25.9 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Fairfax, VT to Shelburne, VT, road signs begin pointing toward Rutland along the way.
Rutland
25.9 mi in
|
~33m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 45m. Total distance: 32.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (63%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 19.1 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 (VT 104 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 6.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 25.9 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 Shelburne, 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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