Traveling between Saint Johnsbury and Essex Junction is a straightforward 73.1-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 33 minutes. You will primarily utilize I-89 and U.S. Route 2 to navigate across Vermont's Northeast region. Budgeting approximately $12 for fuel makes this an economical trip to complete in a single day. Since the entire route is well under two hours, there is no need for an overnight stay, allowing you plenty of flexibility for your schedule. It is a practical, efficient connection that serves as a reliable link between these two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
36.6 miles from Saint Johnsbury, VT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 89
30.6 mi
35m
U.S. Route 2 West
25.7 mi
29m
U.S. Route 2
7.7 mi
12m
Essex Road
2.2 mi
3m
River Street
1.2 mi
2m
Memorial Drive
1.2 mi
2m
Saint George Road
0.7 mi
1m
Park Street
0.7 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 89
— 30.6 mi, about 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Johnsbury, VT and Essex Junction, 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
31 mi·35 min·I 89
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Exit 12Toward VT 2A: Williston, Essex Junction
20
Turn right onto VT 2A
0.7 mi·1 min·Saint George Road
21
Continue on VT 2A
2.2 mi·3 min·Essex Road
22
Continue on VT 2A
0.7 mi·2 min·Park Street
23
Turn slight right onto VT 15
79 ft·2 sec·Main Street
24
Arrive at destination
VT 15
Trip Plan
Since this is a short trip, you have the advantage of planning your departure time around your personal preference rather than worrying about mid-trip fatigue. Aim to leave during off-peak hours if you want to ensure the smoothest flow of traffic on I-89. Because the total duration is only 1 hour and 33 minutes, you likely won't need to plan for formal rest stops, though it is always smart to verify your fuel levels before heading out. Keep in mind that your $12 fuel estimate can fluctuate based on local prices, so fill up in Saint Johnsbury if you prefer to avoid potential price variations near Essex Junction. Having this level of flexibility makes the drive easy to manage in a single, relaxed session.
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 Saint Johnsbury, VT, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 30.6 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 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.6 miles or 47m 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 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Essex Junction, 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 73.1 miles and 1h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 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 30.6 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 69.2 — 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
6
69.2 mi into trip|~1h 26m in
Take the exit toward VT 2A: Williston, Essex Junction
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 12
Toward VT 2A: Williston, Essex Junction
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.77 one way
$23.54 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg26 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$12.95
$25.90
premium
$4.86
$14.00
$28.00
diesel
$5.61
$16.14
$32.28
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
21.9
0
$7.68
$3.51
Efficient EV
18.3
0
$6.40
$2.92
EV Truck/SUV
29.2
0
$10.23
$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 15, 2026
Origin
Saint Johnsbury, VT
Morning
in Saint Johnsbury on Sunday
Local time
6:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
34°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Essex Junction, VT
Morning
in Essex Junction on Sunday
Local time
6:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°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
5 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 33m 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 88% of this trip is spent on major thoroughfares. You will spend the vast majority of your time on I-89, including a longest uninterrupted stretch of 30.6 miles that allows for consistent cruising. While the journey begins with highway driving, your transition onto U.S. Route 2 adds a bit of variety to the final approach. The road maintains a steady, functional pace throughout, prioritizing speed and efficiency over complex navigation. It is a predictable drive that keeps you moving toward your destination without unnecessary technical challenges.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 30.6 mi on I 89.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
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 Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 33m drive. You will face about 8 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
1,470 ft346 ft
Total Climb
1,032 ft
Total Descent
1,283 ft
Highest Point
1,470 ft
~10.4 mi in
Elevation Range
1,124 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 33m. Total distance: 73.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 30.6 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 Essex Junction, VT before heading back.
