Origin
Montpelier, VT
Late night in Montpelier on Tuesday
Local time
5:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Montpelier, VT to Burlington, VT
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
49m
Distance
39 mi
63 km
Drive Score
5/10
Practical drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 45m
★
6 AM
0h 49m
8 AM
0h 57m
10 AM
0h 52m
12 PM
0h 51m
3 PM
0h 52m
5 PM
0h 57m
8 PM
0h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Montpelier, VT
Wikimedia Commons
Burlington, VT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Connecting Vermont’s capital to its largest city, this 39-mile transit is a quick and efficient journey through the heart of the Northeast. You can expect to spend about 49 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $6, it is a very economical way to traverse the state. The path primarily utilizes I-89 to bridge the gap between Montpelier and Burlington. Whether you are commuting or exploring, the simplicity of this route allows for maximum flexibility in your schedule. It is a straightforward drive that prioritizes speed and reliability over complex navigation.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 89 | 35.7 mi | 41m |
| Main Street | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| Memorial Drive | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Williston Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 89
— 35.7 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Montpelier, VT and Burlington, VT.
1
Start on VT 12; US 2 Business
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Main Street
2
Turn right onto US 2
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Memorial Drive
3
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
4
Merge onto I 89
36 mi
·
41 min
·
I 89
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
51 sec
Toward US 2 West: Burlington
6
Turn straight onto US 2
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
Williston Road
7
Continue on US 2
1.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Main Street
Use the straight lane.
8
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.5 miles from Montpelier, 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
4 of 44 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 37.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 2 / Memorial Drive
Turn right onto US 2 / Memorial Drive
Navigation decision point
4
1.4 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
3
1.5 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 89
Merge onto I 89
Merge point - match speed before joining
4
37.2 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Take the exit toward US 2 West: Burlington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 2 West: Burlington
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.28 one way
$12.56 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $6.91 | $13.82 |
| premium | $4.86 | $7.47 | $14.94 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.61 | $17.22 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.7 | 0 | $4.10 | $1.87 |
| Efficient EV | 9.8 | 0 | $3.41 | $1.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.6 | 0 | $5.46 | $2.50 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 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
Burlington, VT
Late night in Burlington on Tuesday
Local time
5:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
S 2 to 6 mph
78% chance
Live forecast
59°F
Bolton, VT
20 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
7 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
49m on the road
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.
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is defined by its efficiency, as 92% of your travel time is spent on high-speed interstate highways. You will settle into a rhythm quickly, with the longest uninterrupted stretch covering 35.7 miles along I-89. While the highway dominates the experience, you will transition onto local roads like Main Street and Memorial Drive to reach your final destination. Expect a consistent, fast-paced environment that keeps you moving steadily toward Lake Champlain. The road is straightforward and functional, serving as a no-nonsense artery between these two key Vermont locations.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
8 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 35.7 mi on I 89.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 89 and Main Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near US 2 / Memorial Drive.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 49m drive. You will face about 4 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (US 2 / Memorial Drive): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 1.5 miles (I 89): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 49m. Total distance: 39 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 35.7 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: at 0.2 miles (US 2 / Memorial Drive): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 1.5 miles (I 89): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Burlington, 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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