Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 28m
Distance
70.1 mi
113 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fairfield, VT
James Mirakian
Montpelier, VT
Wikimedia Commons
If you are looking to travel from Fairfield to Montpelier, expect a straightforward 70.1-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 28 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, as it is short enough to complete without needing an overnight stay. You will navigate primarily via Route 36, Fairfield Hill Road, and Fairfax Road. Budgeting approximately $11 for fuel should cover your transit costs comfortably. Since both towns are located within the Northeast region of Vermont, the drive offers a consistent feel as you traverse the local landscape.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 89 | 60.3 mi | 1h 10m |
| Vermont Route 36 | 4.5 mi | 7m |
| Fairfield Hill Road | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| Memorial Drive | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Fairfax Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Fairfield, VT and Montpelier, VT.
Start on North Road
Turn right onto VT 36
Continue on VT 36
Turn left onto VT 104
Take the ramp
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 89
Take the exit
Continue on Memorial Drive
Turn left onto VT 12; US 2 Business
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
35 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 35 miles from Fairfield, VT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 89 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 60.3 miles.
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 6.7 and 69.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto VT 104 / Fairfax Road
Navigation decision point
Take the ramp toward I 89
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward I 89 South: Burlington
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 2: Montpelier, Saint Johnsbury
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn left onto VT 12; US 2 Business / Main Street
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$11.28 one way
$22.57 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $12.42 | $24.83 |
| premium | $4.86 | $13.42 | $26.85 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.48 | $30.95 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21 | 0 | $7.36 | $3.36 |
| Efficient EV | 17.5 | 0 | $6.13 | $2.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28 | 0 | $9.81 | $4.49 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Fairfield on Tuesday
Local time
5:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Partly Sunny
Destination
Late night in Montpelier on Tuesday
Local time
5:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Sunny
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.
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route features zero highway miles, meaning you will navigate strictly through local roads. Because the path is entirely composed of secondary thoroughfares, you should expect a more technical driving experience rather than high-speed cruising. The road’s personality is defined by these constant curves and shifts in direction. Stay alert, as the lack of highway stretches means you will be managing speed changes and steering inputs throughout the entire 70.1-mile duration.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 89 and Vermont Route 36. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 6.7 miles in near VT 104 / Fairfax Road.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 28m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 6.7 miles (VT 104 / Fairfax Road): Navigation decision point; at 7.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 7.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
969 ft
Total Descent
960 ft
Highest Point
887 ft
~5 mi in
Elevation Range
774 ft
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 28m. Total distance: 70.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). 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, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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