If you are looking for a straightforward connection between South Burlington and St. Johnsbury, this 76-mile route is a highly efficient choice. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 37 minutes behind the wheel, making it an ideal candidate for a single-day trip. With a fuel budget of approximately $12, it is also an affordable way to traverse this portion of the Northeast. You will rely primarily on I-89 and U.S. Route 2 to navigate between these two Vermont points. Because of the manageable duration, you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you have specific reasons to linger. This drive offers a practical, no-nonsense path for commuters or travelers moving across the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38 miles from South Burlington, VT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 46m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 89
35.5 mi
41m
U.S. Route 2
33.4 mi
41m
River Street
1.3 mi
2m
Memorial Drive
1.2 mi
2m
Williston Road
0.7 mi
1m
High Street
0.6 mi
<1m
Railroad Street
0.5 mi
<1m
Berlin Street
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 89
— 35.5 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Burlington, VT and St Johnsbury, VT.
1
Start on US 2
0.7 mi·1 min·Williston Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·50 sec
Toward I 89 South: Montpelier
3
Merge onto I 89
36 mi·41 min·I 89
4
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 8Toward US 2: Montpelier, Saint Johnsbury
5
Continue on Memorial Drive
1.2 mi·2 min·Memorial Drive
Use the left lane.
6
Continue on US 2
0.5 mi·1 min·Berlin Street
7
Turn slight left onto US 2
1.2 mi·2 min·River Street
8
Enter roundabout onto US 2
137 ft·1 sec·River Street
9
Continue on US 2
97 ft·1 sec·River Street
10
Merge onto US 2
0.4 mi·47 sec·East Montpelier Road
11
Continue on US 2
7.1 mi·11 min·U.S. Route 2
12
Continue on US 2
0.6 mi·39 sec·High Street
13
Continue on US 2
0.2 mi·12 sec·School Street
14
Continue on US 2
26 mi·30 min·U.S. Route 2
15
Continue on US 2
0.4 mi·36 sec·Western Avenue
16
Continue on US 2
227 ft·3 sec·Western Avenue
17
Continue on US 2; US 5 Alternate
0.1 mi·11 sec·Main Street
18
Turn right onto US 2
0.3 mi·32 sec·Eastern Avenue
19
At end of road, turn left onto US 2; US 5
0.5 mi·56 sec·Railroad Street
20
Turn sharp left onto Main Street
90 ft·3 sec·Main Street
21
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You can easily make the drive in one go without needing scheduled stops, though it is smart to check your fuel levels before leaving South Burlington to ensure you stay within your $12 estimate. Given that the route is almost entirely highway-based, be prepared for consistent traffic flow on I-89. Because the trip takes less than two hours, you can comfortably leave in the morning or afternoon without feeling rushed. A solid tip for this specific route is to stay alert during the transition from the interstate to the local roads on River Street, as the change in pace can be sudden.
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 South Burlington, VT, or about 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35.5 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 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38 miles or 46m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near St Johnsbury, VT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving South Burlington, VT so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from South Burlington, VT
This is one driving day of about 76 miles and 1h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from South Burlington, VT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 89 for about 35.5 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 36.5 and 76 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
36.5 mi into trip|~43m in
Take the exit toward US 2: Montpelier, Saint Johnsbury
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 8
Toward US 2: Montpelier, Saint Johnsbury
4
40 mi into trip|~51m in|US 2 / River Street
Enter roundabout onto US 2 / River Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
75.2 mi into trip|~1h 35m in|US 2 / Eastern Avenue
Turn right onto US 2 / Eastern Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
75.4 mi into trip|~1h 35m in|US 2; US 5 / Railroad Street
At end of road, turn left onto US 2; US 5 / Railroad Street
Navigation decision point
5
76 mi into trip|~1h 36m in|Main Street
Turn sharp left onto Main Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.23 one way
$24.47 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$13.46
$26.92
premium
$4.86
$14.55
$29.11
diesel
$5.61
$16.78
$33.56
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
$7.98
$3.65
Efficient EV
19
0
$6.65
$3.04
EV Truck/SUV
30.4
0
$10.64
$4.86
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
South Burlington, VT
Morning
in South Burlington on Sunday
Local time
6:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
St Johnsbury, VT
Morning
in St Johnsbury on Sunday
Local time
6:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
34°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
17 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
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?
This trip is heavily weighted toward highway travel, with 91% of your journey spent on high-speed roads. You will find yourself mostly on I-89, which features a longest uninterrupted stretch of 35.5 miles. As you transition from the interstate onto U.S. Route 2 and River Street, the character of the drive shifts from a fast-paced highway experience to more localized road conditions. While the interstate segments allow for steady cruising, the final portions require more focused navigation. Overall, the drive feels like a functional, highway-focused transit that prioritizes speed and directness over winding secondary roads.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 35.5 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 36.5 miles in.
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 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 36.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40 miles (US 2 / River Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 75.2 miles (US 2 / Eastern Avenue): Navigation decision point.
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 South Burlington, VT to St Johnsbury, VT, road signs begin pointing toward Saint Johnsbury along the way.
Saint Johnsbury
36.5 mi in|~43m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 37m. Total distance: 76 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 35.5 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: at 36.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40 miles (US 2 / River Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 75.2 miles (US 2 / Eastern Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at St Johnsbury, VT before heading back.
