Origin
South Hero, VT
Morning in South Hero on Sunday
Local time
7:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from South Hero, VT to Montpelier, VT
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 9m
Distance
55 mi
89 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 4m
★
6 AM
1h 10m
8 AM
1h 21m
10 AM
1h 14m
12 PM
1h 13m
3 PM
1h 14m
5 PM
1h 20m
8 PM
1h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
South Hero, VT
Wikimedia Commons
Montpelier, VT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
South Hero to Montpelier is 55 miles and takes about 1 hour 9 minutes via I 89 and U.S. Route 2, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short drive stays within Vermont, transitioning from the Northeast region to itself. It's a straightforward journey, largely focused on highway travel, making it an easy addition to a larger trip or a quick transit. You'll find this route efficient for getting from point A to point B with minimal fuss. Consider it for a simple relocation or a quick connection between two points in the Green Mountain State.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 89 | 44.5 mi | 52m |
| U.S. Route 2 | 8.2 mi | 12m |
| Memorial Drive | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 89
— 44.5 mi, about 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Hero, VT and Montpelier, VT.
1
Start on South Street
166 ft
·
5 sec
·
South Street
2
Turn right onto US 2
8.2 mi
·
12 min
·
U.S. Route 2
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
4
Merge onto I 89
45 mi
·
52 min
·
I 89
5
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 8
Toward US 2: Montpelier, Saint Johnsbury
6
Continue on Memorial Drive
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Memorial Drive
Use the left lane.
7
Turn left onto VT 12; US 2 Business
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Main Street
8
Arrive at destination
VT 12; US 2 Business
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.5 miles from South Hero, 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
4 of 44 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 54.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 2 / U.S. Route 2
Turn right onto US 2 / U.S. Route 2
Navigation decision point
3
8.6 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
I 89
Merge onto I 89
Merge point - match speed before joining
6
53.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m 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
54.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
|
VT 12; US 2 Business / Main Street
Turn left onto VT 12; US 2 Business / Main Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.85 one way
$17.71 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $9.74 | $19.48 |
| premium | $4.86 | $10.53 | $21.06 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.14 | $24.29 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.5 | 0 | $5.77 | $2.64 |
| Efficient EV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.81 | $2.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22 | 0 | $7.70 | $3.52 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Destination
Montpelier, VT
Morning in Montpelier on Sunday
Local time
7:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
36°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
45°F
Williston, VT
28 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
22 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 9m 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 predominantly highway-focused, with 96% of the journey on faster roads. You'll spend the longest uninterrupted stretch, 44.5 miles, cruising on I 89. The route begins on I 89, offering a consistent, high-speed experience. As you progress, you'll transition to U.S. Route 2 and Memorial Drive, which are still part of the main thoroughfare but might feel slightly more connected to the local landscape. Expect a smooth, efficient drive for the majority of your trip, with minimal winding or technical sections.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
8 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 44.5 mi on I 89.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 89 and U.S. Route 2. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 2 / U.S. Route 2.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from South Hero, VT to Montpelier, VT is easy. At 1h 9m with 96% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 2 / U.S. Route 2): Navigation decision point; at 8.6 miles (I 89): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 53.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 9m. Total distance: 55 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 44.5 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: near the start (US 2 / U.S. Route 2): Navigation decision point; at 8.6 miles (I 89): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 53.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Montpelier, 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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