Connecting Saint Johnsbury to Burlington, this 76.1-mile journey is a straightforward transit across Northern Vermont. You can expect to spend about 1 hour and 37 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. The route relies heavily on I-89 and U.S. Route 2, keeping your travel time efficient and predictable. With a fuel budget of approximately $12, it is a cost-effective way to traverse the state. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a weekend excursion, the simplicity of this path allows for a stress-free travel experience. Since both cities are located within the Northeast, you will remain in a familiar regional climate throughout the drive.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38 miles from Saint Johnsbury, VT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 89
35.7 mi
41m
U.S. Route 2 West
25.7 mi
29m
U.S. Route 2
7.7 mi
12m
Main Street
1.3 mi
3m
River Street
1.2 mi
2m
Memorial Drive
1.2 mi
2m
High Street
0.6 mi
<1m
Berlin Street
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 89
— 35.7 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Johnsbury, VT and Burlington, VT.
1
Start on US 2
105 ft·7 sec·Portland Street
2
Turn left onto US 2; US 5
0.1 mi·15 sec·Railroad Street
3
Turn right onto US 2
0.3 mi·30 sec·Eastern Avenue
4
At end of road, turn left onto US 2; US 5 Alternate
0.1 mi·11 sec·Main Street
5
Turn slight right onto US 2
0.4 mi·39 sec·Western Avenue
6
Continue on US 2
0.6 mi·52 sec·U.S. Route 2
7
Continue on US 2
26 mi·29 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
36 mi·41 min·I 89
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·51 sec
Toward US 2 West: Burlington
20
Turn straight onto US 2
0.4 mi·52 sec·Williston Road
21
Continue on US 2
1.2 mi·3 min·Main Street
Use the straight lane.
22
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
Because this is a relatively short 1-hour and 37-minute drive, you have the flexibility to depart whenever it suits your schedule. You likely won't need to plan for any formal stops, but keeping an eye on your fuel gauge before hitting the interstate is a smart move given the $12 estimated cost. If you are traveling during peak commuting hours, be prepared for heavier traffic near the Burlington area. Since the entire route is under 80 miles, you can easily complete the trip in one go without needing to stretch your legs. A great tip for this specific drive is to monitor local weather reports, as Vermont highway conditions can change quickly regardless of the season.
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 38 miles from Saint Johnsbury, VT, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35.7 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 17 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38 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 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Burlington, VT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Saint Johnsbury, VT so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Saint Johnsbury, VT
This is one driving day of about 76.1 miles and 1h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Saint Johnsbury, VT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 89 for about 35.7 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 38.5 — 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 2; US 5 / Railroad Street
Turn left onto US 2; US 5 / Railroad Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|US 2 / Eastern Avenue
Turn right onto US 2 / Eastern Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.4 mi into trip|~0m in|US 2; US 5 Alternate / Main Street
At end of road, turn left onto US 2; US 5 Alternate / Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
35.5 mi into trip|~45m in|US 2 / East Montpelier Road
Enter roundabout onto US 2 / East Montpelier Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
38.5 mi into trip|~51m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.25 one way
$24.50 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$13.48
$26.96
premium
$4.86
$14.57
$29.15
diesel
$5.61
$16.80
$33.60
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: 26.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22.8
0
$7.99
$3.65
Efficient EV
19
0
$6.66
$3.04
EV Truck/SUV
30.4
0
$10.65
$4.87
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (67% 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
Saint Johnsbury, VT
Morning
in Saint Johnsbury on Sunday
Local time
7:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
34°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Burlington, VT
Morning
in Burlington on Sunday
Local time
7:28 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
4 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 37m 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 91% of this 76.1-mile trek is spent on high-speed roads. The drive centers on a 35.7-mile stretch of I-89, which provides the most significant portion of your travel time. While the interstate allows you to maintain a steady pace, the transition onto U.S. Route 2 offers a slight shift in driving dynamics as you navigate toward your destination. You will find that the route prioritizes speed and efficiency, trading winding backroads for reliable highway lanes. It is a functional, no-nonsense drive that gets you from the Northeast Kingdom toward the Lake Champlain area with minimal complexity.
91% 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: 35.7 mi on I 89.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 89 and U.S. Route 2 West. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 2; US 5 / Railroad Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 37m 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: near the start (US 2; US 5 / Railroad Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 2 / Eastern Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (US 2; US 5 Alternate / Main Street): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,530 ft196 ft
Total Climb
959 ft
Total Descent
1,361 ft
Highest Point
1,530 ft
~10.9 mi in
Elevation Range
1,334 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 37m. Total distance: 76.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
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: near the start (US 2; US 5 / Railroad Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 2 / Eastern Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (US 2; US 5 Alternate / Main Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Burlington, VT before heading back.
