Spanning 73.2 miles across Vermont, this journey from Lincoln to St. Johnsbury is a straightforward trek that typically takes about 1 hour and 53 minutes. Because of the manageable distance, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $12 for fuel, making it a cost-effective way to navigate between these two Northeast locations. While the drive is focused on highway travel, the path remains efficient for those looking to transit across the state. Whether you are heading out for business or a quick change of scenery, the simplicity of this trip makes it a reliable choice for your travel calendar.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
36.6 miles from Lincoln, VT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 5m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
U.S. Route 2
33.9 mi
42m
Vermont Route 100B
7.9 mi
13m
Main Street
7.7 mi
13m
Lincoln Gap Road
7.7 mi
16m
I 89
5.3 mi
6m
Vermont Route 100
2.9 mi
5m
River Street
1.3 mi
2m
Memorial Drive
1.2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
U.S. Route 2
— 33.9 mi, about 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lincoln, VT and St Johnsbury, VT.
1
Start on Quaker Street
89 ft·2 sec·Quaker Street
2
Turn slight left onto East River Road
1.1 mi·2 min·East River Road
3
Continue on Lincoln Gap Road
7.7 mi·16 min·Lincoln Gap Road
4
Turn straight onto VT 100
2.9 mi·5 min·Vermont Route 100
5
Continue on VT 100
7.6 mi·13 min·Main Street
6
Continue on VT 100
0.5 mi·45 sec·Vermont Route 100 South
7
Continue on VT 100B
7.9 mi·13 min·Vermont Route 100B
8
Turn left onto US 2
0.5 mi·1 min·U.S. Route 2
9
Turn slight right
145 ft·6 sec
10
Turn straight onto Center Road
241 ft·5 sec·Center Road
11
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·21 sec
12
Merge onto I 89
5.3 mi·6 min·I 89
13
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 8Toward US 2: Montpelier, Saint Johnsbury
14
Continue on Memorial Drive
1.2 mi·2 min·Memorial Drive
Use the left lane.
15
Continue on US 2
0.5 mi·1 min·Berlin Street
16
Turn slight left onto US 2
1.2 mi·2 min·River Street
17
Enter roundabout onto US 2
137 ft·1 sec·River Street
18
Continue on US 2
97 ft·1 sec·River Street
19
Merge onto US 2
0.4 mi·47 sec·East Montpelier Road
20
Continue on US 2
7.1 mi·11 min·U.S. Route 2
21
Continue on US 2
0.6 mi·39 sec·High Street
22
Continue on US 2
0.2 mi·12 sec·School Street
23
Continue on US 2
26 mi·30 min·U.S. Route 2
24
Continue on US 2
0.4 mi·36 sec·Western Avenue
25
Continue on US 2
227 ft·3 sec·Western Avenue
26
Continue on US 2; US 5 Alternate
0.1 mi·11 sec·Main Street
27
Turn right onto US 2
0.3 mi·32 sec·Eastern Avenue
28
At end of road, turn left onto US 2; US 5
0.5 mi·56 sec·Railroad Street
29
Turn sharp left onto Main Street
90 ft·3 sec·Main Street
30
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive of under two hours, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. You will find that the lack of mandatory stops allows you to complete the journey in one continuous push, which is ideal if you want to reach St. Johnsbury as quickly as possible. Before setting out, verify your fuel levels, as the $12 estimate is based on consistent highway driving conditions. To make the most of your travel, try to avoid peak traffic times on Main Street to ensure a smoother start to your day. Prioritizing a steady pace during the 33.9-mile stretch on U.S. Route 2 will help you maintain your estimated arrival time.
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 36.6 miles from Lincoln, VT, or about 1h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 33.9 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 16 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.6 miles or 1h 5m 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 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near St Johnsbury, VT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lincoln, VT so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lincoln, VT
This is one driving day of about 73.2 miles and 1h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Lincoln, VT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on U.S. Route 2 for about 33.9 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 28.2 and 73.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
28.2 mi into trip|~53m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
6
33.7 mi into trip|~1h in
Take the exit toward US 2: Montpelier, Saint Johnsbury
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 8
Toward US 2: Montpelier, Saint Johnsbury
4
37.3 mi into trip|~1h 7m in|US 2 / River Street
Enter roundabout onto US 2 / River Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
72.7 mi into trip|~1h 52m in|US 2; US 5 / Railroad Street
At end of road, turn left onto US 2; US 5 / Railroad Street
Navigation decision point
5
73.2 mi into trip|~1h 53m in|Main Street
Turn sharp left onto Main Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.78 one way
$23.57 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg26 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$12.97
$25.93
premium
$4.86
$14.02
$28.04
diesel
$5.61
$16.16
$32.32
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22
0
$7.69
$3.51
Efficient EV
18.3
0
$6.41
$2.93
EV Truck/SUV
29.3
0
$10.25
$4.68
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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
Lincoln, VT
Late night
in Lincoln on Tuesday
Local time
5:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
St Johnsbury, VT
Late night
in St Johnsbury on Tuesday
Local time
5:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
38°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
1h 53m 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?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 69% of this 73.2-mile journey is spent on major roads. You will spend a significant portion of your time on U.S. Route 2, which features the longest uninterrupted stretch of the trip at 33.9 miles. The transition between Vermont Route 100B and Main Street provides a mix of road types that keeps the drive from feeling purely like an interstate grind. While the pace is generally steady, the road character shifts as you move from the smaller local connectors onto the primary highway corridors. Keeping your focus on the road is essential as you navigate these varying transit speeds and infrastructure types.
69% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 33.9 mi on U.S. Route 2.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on U.S. Route 2 and Vermont Route 100B. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 28.2 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 53m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 28.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 33.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37.3 miles (US 2 / River Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
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 Lincoln, VT to St Johnsbury, VT, road signs begin pointing toward Saint Johnsbury along the way.
Saint Johnsbury
33.7 mi in|~1h
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 53m. Total distance: 73.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 33.9 miles on U.S. Route 2. 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: at 28.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 33.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37.3 miles (US 2 / River Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at St Johnsbury, VT before heading back.
