Traveling from Lyndon to South Burlington is a straightforward 80.3-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 41 minutes. Because this route is entirely within the Northeast region of Vermont, you can easily complete the drive in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend roughly $13 on fuel for the trip, making it an affordable option for transit between the two locations. The path relies heavily on I-89 and U.S. Route 2, providing a direct link across the state. Whether you are heading west for business or leisure, the efficiency of this highway-focused drive makes it a practical choice for your schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.1 miles from Lyndon, VT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 89
35.4 mi
41m
U.S. Route 2 West
25.4 mi
28m
U.S. Route 2
7.1 mi
11m
I 91
6.5 mi
7m
Memorial Drive
1.4 mi
2m
River Street
1.2 mi
2m
Williston Road
0.6 mi
1m
High Street
0.6 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 89
— 35.4 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lyndon, VT and South Burlington, VT.
1
Start on York Street
53 ft·4 sec·York Street
2
Turn left onto US 5
0.2 mi·23 sec·Memorial Drive
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 91
4
Merge onto I 91
6.5 mi·7 min·I 91
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi·37 sec
Exit 21Toward US 2: Saint Johnsbury, Montpelier
6
Keep slight left at fork
211 ft·5 sec
7
Turn left onto US 2
25 mi·28 min·U.S. Route 2 West
8
Continue on US 2
0.2 mi·12 sec·School Street
9
Continue on US 2
0.6 mi·39 sec·High Street
10
Continue on US 2
7.1 mi·11 min·U.S. Route 2
11
Continue on US 2
0.4 mi·48 sec·East Montpelier Road
12
Enter roundabout onto US 2
74 ft·0 sec·East Montpelier Road
13
Continue on US 2
115 ft·1 sec·East Montpelier Road
14
Continue on US 2
1.2 mi·2 min·River Street
15
Continue on US 2
0.5 mi·1 min·Berlin Street
16
Continue on US 2
1.2 mi·2 min·Memorial Drive
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·17 sec
18
Merge onto I 89
35 mi·41 min·I 89
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·38 sec
Toward US 2 East: South Burlington
20
Turn slight right onto US 2
0.6 mi·1 min·Williston Road
21
Continue on US 2
87 ft·2 sec·Williston Road
22
Arrive at destination
US 2
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule best. You won't need to plan for lengthy rest stops, as the 1 hour and 41 minute duration is easily manageable in one go. Keep in mind that with zero mandatory stops identified, you are free to tailor your own breaks if you need to refuel or stretch your legs. Budgeting around $13 for gas should cover your needs, but keeping a little extra on hand is always wise for unexpected traffic delays. Prioritize checking local traffic reports for I-89 before you head out to ensure your travel time remains consistent with the estimated duration.
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 Lyndon, VT, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35.4 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 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.1 miles or 50m 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 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near South Burlington, VT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lyndon, VT so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lyndon, VT
This is one driving day of about 80.3 miles and 1h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Lyndon, VT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 89 for about 35.4 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 0 and 40.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 5 / Memorial Drive
Turn left onto US 5 / Memorial Drive
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in
Take the ramp toward I 91
Navigation decision point
Toward I 91
6
7 mi into trip|~8m in
Take the exit toward US 2: Saint Johnsbury, Montpelier
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 21
Toward US 2: Saint Johnsbury, Montpelier
5
7.2 mi into trip|~9m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
40.9 mi into trip|~51m in|US 2 / East Montpelier Road
Enter roundabout onto US 2 / East Montpelier Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.93 one way
$25.85 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$14.22
$28.45
premium
$4.86
$15.38
$30.75
diesel
$5.61
$17.73
$35.46
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
$8.43
$3.85
Efficient EV
20.1
0
$7.03
$3.21
EV Truck/SUV
32.1
0
$11.24
$5.14
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 15, 2026
Origin
Lyndon, VT
Afternoon
in Lyndon on Sunday
Local time
4:20 PM
EDT
Current temp
35°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
South Burlington, VT
Afternoon
in South Burlington on Sunday
Local time
4:20 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°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
16 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
1h 41m 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?
With 93% of the journey spent on highways, this drive is designed for consistent momentum rather than winding backroads. You will find that the longest uninterrupted stretch spans 35.4 miles along I-89, allowing you to settle into a steady pace. While the transition between I-89 and U.S. Route 2 provides some variety in road type, the overall character remains focused on high-speed transit. Expect a smooth, efficient experience that prioritizes speed and directness over technical maneuvers. It is a functional drive that gets you from point A to point B with minimal complexity.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 35.4 mi on I 89.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 89 and U.S. Route 2 West. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 5 / Memorial Drive.
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 80.3 miles you will encounter 9 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 (US 5 / Memorial Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 7 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.
On the drive from Lyndon, VT to South Burlington, VT, road signs begin pointing toward Montpelier along the way.
Montpelier
7 mi in|~8m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 41m. Total distance: 80.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 35.4 miles on I 89. 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 South Burlington, VT before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 (US 5 / Memorial Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 7 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 South Burlington, VT before heading back.
