Origin
Shelburne, VT
Late night in Shelburne on Sunday
Local time
12:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Shelburne, VT to Fairfax, VT
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
45m
Distance
31.6 mi
51 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 42m
★
6 AM
0h 45m
8 AM
0h 53m
10 AM
0h 48m
12 PM
0h 47m
3 PM
0h 48m
5 PM
0h 52m
8 PM
0h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Shelburne, VT
Wikimedia Commons
Fairfax, VT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Shelburne to Fairfax, you are in for a quick 31.6-mile journey that typically takes about 45 minutes to complete. This trip is easily manageable as a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stays. Budgeting roughly $5 for fuel should keep you covered for the duration of the drive. The route primarily utilizes I-89, Shelburne Road, and Highbridge Road to move you through the Northeast region. It is a straightforward, practical connection that functions well for commuters or those looking to navigate between these two Vermont towns efficiently.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 89 | 18.6 mi | 22m |
| Shelburne Road | 4.6 mi | 9m |
| Highbridge Road | 4.5 mi | 6m |
| Main Street | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| I 189 | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Ethan Allen Highway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 89
— 18.6 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Shelburne, VT and Fairfax, VT.
1
Start on US 7
4.6 mi
·
9 min
·
Shelburne Road
2
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I 189: Montpelier, Saint Albans
Use the slight right / right lanes.
3
Merge onto I 189
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
I 189
Toward I 89
4
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward I 89 North: Winooski, Saint Albans
5
Merge onto I 89
19 mi
·
22 min
·
I 89
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 18
Toward US 7: Georgia Center, Fairfax
7
Turn right onto US 7
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Ethan Allen Highway
8
Turn left onto VT 104A
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Highbridge Road
9
Continue on VT 104
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
10
Turn left
27 ft
·
1 sec
11
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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 31.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 15.8 miles from Shelburne, 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
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 4.6 and 25.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
4.6 mi into trip
|
~9m 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
4
4.9 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
I 189
Merge onto I 189 toward I 89
Merge point - match speed before joining
Toward I 89
6
6.1 mi into trip
|
~11m 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
6
25.1 mi into trip
|
~35m in
Take the exit toward US 7: Georgia Center, Fairfax
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 18
Toward US 7: Georgia Center, Fairfax
5
25.3 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
US 7 / Ethan Allen Highway
Turn right onto US 7 / Ethan Allen Highway
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.09 one way
$10.17 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $5.60 | $11.19 |
| premium | $4.86 | $6.05 | $12.10 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.98 | $13.95 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.5 | 0 | $3.32 | $1.52 |
| Efficient EV | 7.9 | 0 | $2.77 | $1.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.6 | 0 | $4.42 | $2.02 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 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
Fairfax, VT
Late night in Fairfax on Sunday
Local time
12:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
37°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
39°F
Colchester, VT
16 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
24 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
45m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is largely highway-focused, with 63% of your time spent on interstates and major thoroughfares. You will experience a significant 18.6-mile stretch on I-89, which provides the most consistent pace of the trip. The character of the road shifts from the initial local segments on Shelburne Road to the higher-speed flow of the interstate. Expect a functional transit experience rather than a winding backroads adventure, as the route is designed for direct connectivity. Staying alert during the transition between the highway and local roads will be key to a smooth drive.
63% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18.6 mi on I 89.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 89 and Shelburne Road. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 4.6 miles in.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 31.6 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: at 4.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.9 miles (I 189): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 6.1 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.
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 Shelburne, VT to Fairfax, VT, road signs begin pointing toward Saint Albans along the way.
Saint Albans
4.6 mi in
|
~9m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 45m. Total distance: 31.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (63%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 18.6 miles on I 89. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Fairfax, VT before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 4.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.9 miles (I 189): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 6.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Fairfax, 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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