Shaftsbury to Winooski is 117.7 miles and takes about 3 hours 7 minutes via U.S. Route 7 North, with a fuel budget near $19 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Vermont, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Expect a drive that largely sticks to major roadways, making it a straightforward journey. Given its manageable length and focus on highway travel, this route is well-suited for a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without feeling rushed.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
58.9 miles from Shaftsbury, VT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 32m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
U.S. Route 7
43.4 mi
1h 5m
U.S. Route 7 North
14.1 mi
23m
Ethan Allen Highway
12.3 mi
19m
Grove Street
10.9 mi
16m
North Pleasant Street
10.2 mi
13m
Shelburne Road
6.6 mi
13m
Vermont Route 7A
4 mi
6m
U.S. Route 7 South
4 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
U.S. Route 7
— 43.4 mi, about 1h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Shaftsbury, VT and Winooski, VT.
1
Start on Dexter Road
117 ft·6 sec·Dexter Road
2
Turn left onto Old Depot Road
0.2 mi·31 sec·Old Depot Road
3
At end of road, turn right onto VT 7A
4.0 mi·6 min·Vermont Route 7A
4
Turn right onto VT 313
2.0 mi·3 min·Vermont Route 313
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward US 7 North: Manchester, Rutland
6
Merge onto US 7
40 mi·1 hr 1 min·U.S. Route 7
7
Continue on US 4; US 7
2.8 mi·5 min·South Main Street
8
Continue on US 7
14 mi·23 min·U.S. Route 7 North
9
Continue on US 7; VT 73
0.2 mi·42 sec·Center Street
10
Continue on US 7; VT 73
0.2 mi·39 sec·Conant Square
11
Continue on US 7
11 mi·16 min·Grove Street
12
Continue on US 7
4.0 mi·5 min·U.S. Route 7 South
13
Continue on US 7; VT 125
1.2 mi·3 min·Court Street
14
Enter roundabout onto US 7
375 ft·14 sec·North Pleasant Street
15
Continue on US 7
10 mi·13 min·North Pleasant Street
16
Continue on US 7
3.1 mi·4 min·U.S. Route 7
17
Continue on US 7
12 mi·19 min·Ethan Allen Highway
18
Continue on US 7
6.6 mi·13 min·Shelburne Road
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Toward I 189: Montpelier, Saint AlbansUse the slight right / right lanes.
20
Merge onto I 189
1.2 mi·1 min·I 189
Toward I 89
21
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward I 89 North: Winooski, Saint Albans
22
Merge onto I 89
2.5 mi·3 min·I 89
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward VT 15: Winooski, Essex JunctionUse the left lane.
24
At end of road, turn left onto VT 15
0.7 mi·2 min·East Allen Street
Use the straight lane.
25
Turn straight onto East Allen Street
17 ft·0 sec·East Allen Street
26
Arrive at destination
East Allen Street
Trip Plan
With a drive time of just over three hours, you have plenty of flexibility on when to depart. Leaving in the morning will give you ample time to reach Winooski with daylight to spare. There's one suggested stop, and the longest stretch without a break is 43.4 miles, so plan your pause accordingly. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $19, and filling up before you hit the longer stretches on U.S. Route 7 is a good idea.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 58.9 miles from Shaftsbury, VT, or about 1h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 43.4 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 26 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58.9 miles or 1h 32m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Winooski, VT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Shaftsbury, VT so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Shaftsbury, VT
This is one driving day of about 117.7 miles and 3h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Shaftsbury, VT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on U.S. Route 7 for about 43.4 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 6.2 and 117.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
6.2 mi into trip|~10m in
Take the ramp toward US 7 North: Manchester, Rutland
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 7 North: Manchester, Rutland
7
112.4 mi into trip|~2h 58m in
Take the exit toward I 189: Montpelier, Saint Albans
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right / right lanes.
Toward I 189: Montpelier, Saint Albans
6
113.9 mi into trip|~3h in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 89 North: Winooski, Saint Albans
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 89 North: Winooski, Saint Albans
7
116.9 mi into trip|~3h 4m in
Take the exit toward VT 15: Winooski, Essex Junction
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward VT 15: Winooski, Essex Junction
5
117.1 mi into trip|~3h 5m in|VT 15 / East Allen Street
At end of road, turn left onto VT 15 / East Allen Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.95 one way
$37.90 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$20.85
$41.70
premium
$4.86
$22.54
$45.08
diesel
$5.61
$25.99
$51.97
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.3
0
$12.36
$5.65
Efficient EV
29.4
0
$10.30
$4.71
EV Truck/SUV
47.1
0
$16.48
$7.53
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (66% 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 19, 2026
Origin
Shaftsbury, VT
Late night
in Shaftsbury on Sunday
Local time
12:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Winooski, VT
Late night
in Winooski on Sunday
Local time
12:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
36°F
Brandon, VT
59 mi in
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
27 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 7m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Marsh - Billings - Rockefeller National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Walk through one of Vermont's most beautiful landscapes under the shade of the Mount Tom Forest, the oldest continuously managed scientific forest in the United States. This is a landscape of loss, re...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 48.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is primarily highway-focused, with 61% of the route utilizing major roads. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on U.S. Route 7, including a continuous stretch of 43.4 miles. The character of the road remains fairly consistent, offering a practical and efficient path north. While it's not a winding scenic byway, it provides a direct connection through the Vermont landscape.
61% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 43.4 mi on U.S. Route 7.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on U.S. Route 7 and U.S. Route 7 North. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 6.2 miles in.
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 117.7 miles you will encounter 12 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: at 6.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 112.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 113.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Shaftsbury, VT to Winooski, VT, road signs begin pointing toward Rutland along the way.
Rutland
6.2 mi in|~10m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 7m. Total distance: 117.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (61%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 43.4 miles on U.S. Route 7. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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 6.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 112.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 113.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Marsh - Billings - Rockefeller National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Winooski, VT, but most travelers stay overnight.
