Traveling from Saint Johnsbury to Shelburne covers 79.5 miles across Vermont, making this an efficient journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 43 minutes. Because of the manageable distance, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $13 on fuel for the trip, keeping the excursion budget-friendly. The drive primarily utilizes I-89 and U.S. Route 2, offering a straightforward path between the Northeast region's key areas. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a day of exploration, the predictable timing makes this a reliable choice for your schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39.7 miles from Saint Johnsbury, VT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 89
34.4 mi
39m
U.S. Route 2 West
25.7 mi
29m
U.S. Route 2
7.7 mi
12m
Shelburne Road
4.8 mi
9m
I 189
1.4 mi
2m
River Street
1.2 mi
2m
Memorial Drive
1.2 mi
2m
High Street
0.6 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 89
— 34.4 mi, about 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Johnsbury, VT and Shelburne, 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
34 mi·39 min·I 89
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward I 189 West: Shelburne, RutlandUse the slight right lane.
20
Continue on I 189
1.4 mi·2 min·I 189
Use the straight / left lanes.
21
Turn left onto US 7
4.8 mi·9 min·Shelburne Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
22
Arrive at destination
US 7
Trip Plan
Since the total drive time is under two hours, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though hitting the road early helps avoid potential traffic flow changes. Because there are no mandatory stops scheduled, you can easily pace the 79.5-mile journey however you like, but keep an eye on your fuel gauge before merging onto the longer interstate segments. Given that the route consists of high-speed highway stretches, staying alert during the 34.4-mile I-89 segment is key for a safe arrival. Use the shorter duration to your advantage by planning your arrival in Shelburne for a specific time, as the predictability of the route makes tight scheduling quite easy.
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 39.7 miles from Saint Johnsbury, VT, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 34.4 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 17 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.7 miles or 52m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Shelburne, 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 79.5 miles and 1h 43m.
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 34.4 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 74.7 — 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
7
73 mi into trip|~1h 31m in
Take the exit toward I 189 West: Shelburne, Rutland
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 189 West: Shelburne, Rutland
6
74.7 mi into trip|~1h 34m in|US 7 / Shelburne Road
Turn left onto US 7 / Shelburne Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.80 one way
$25.60 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$14.08
$28.16
premium
$4.86
$15.22
$30.45
diesel
$5.61
$17.55
$35.11
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: 27.8 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
23.8
0
$8.35
$3.82
Efficient EV
19.9
0
$6.96
$3.18
EV Truck/SUV
31.8
0
$11.13
$5.09
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 20, 2026
Origin
Saint Johnsbury, VT
Late night
in Saint Johnsbury on Tuesday
Local time
4:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Shelburne, VT
Late night
in Shelburne on Tuesday
Local time
4:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°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
22 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 43m 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?
This trip is heavily highway-focused, with 87% of your travel time spent on major roads. You will find yourself cruising along I-89 for the majority of the duration, including a longest uninterrupted stretch of 34.4 miles that allows for steady, consistent driving. As you transition between the interstate and U.S. Route 2, the road character shifts from high-speed highway lanes to more localized travel. Expect a functional, direct experience behind the wheel that prioritizes efficiency over technical mountain passes or winding backroads. It is a straightforward drive that keeps you moving toward your destination with minimal fuss.
87% 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: 34.4 mi on I 89.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 89 and U.S. Route 2 West. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 2; US 5 / Railroad Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 79.5 miles you will encounter 8 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 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
1,558 ft155 ft
Total Climb
1,150 ft
Total Descent
1,592 ft
Highest Point
1,558 ft
~11.4 mi in
Elevation Range
1,403 ft
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 Saint Johnsbury, VT to Shelburne, VT, road signs begin pointing toward Rutland along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 43m. Total distance: 79.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 34.4 miles on I 89. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 3 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Shelburne, VT before heading back.
