St. Johnsbury to Rutland is 102 miles and takes about 2 hours and 20 minutes via I-89 and U.S. Route 2 West, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Vermont, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. Expect a largely highway experience that transitions to scenic surface roads as you approach your destination. It's a straightforward drive, ideal for a single-day excursion without feeling rushed.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
51 miles from St Johnsbury, VT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 5m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 89
28.1 mi
32m
U.S. Route 2 West
25.7 mi
29m
Vermont Route 100
10.7 mi
16m
U.S. Route 4
9.3 mi
14m
Vermont Route 107
8.4 mi
13m
U.S. Route 2
7.7 mi
12m
River Street
4.3 mi
7m
Vermont Route 62
1.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 89
— 28.1 mi, about 32m
Traffic on I-89
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 15 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,043 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,496
Quietest
1 AM
~32 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
32.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 98 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between St Johnsbury, VT and Rutland, VT.
1
Start on Main Street
90 ft·10 sec·Main Street
2
Turn sharp right onto US 5
0.5 mi·54 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 302
199 ft·2 sec·River Street
13
Continue on US 302
0.8 mi·1 min·River Street
14
Continue on US 302
0.2 mi·26 sec·Barre-Montpelier Road
15
Turn right onto Berlin State Highway
0.9 mi·1 min·Berlin State Highway
16
Turn straight onto VT 62
1.4 mi·2 min·Vermont Route 62
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·55 sec
Toward I 89 South: White River Junction
18
Merge onto I 89
28 mi·32 min·I 89
19
Take the exit onto VT 107
0.3 mi·46 sec·VT 107
Exit 3Toward VT 107: Bethel, Royalton
20
Turn right onto VT 107
1.7 mi·3 min·Vermont Route 107
21
Continue on VT 107
0.9 mi·1 min·South Main Street
22
Turn slight left onto VT 107
3.4 mi·5 min·River Street
23
Continue on VT 107
6.7 mi·10 min·Vermont Route 107
24
Continue on VT 100
11 mi·16 min·Vermont Route 100
25
Merge onto US 4
9.3 mi·14 min·U.S. Route 4
26
Continue on US 4
1.2 mi·2 min·Woodstock Avenue
27
Arrive at destination
US 4
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour and 20-minute drive time, you can comfortably start your day anytime. The majority of the route is on I-89, so plan your fuel stops before you get too far into the more rural sections. While there are no designated stops in the data, the flexibility of a single-day trip means you can easily pull over if you need a break or want to stretch your legs. Keep an eye out for the transition from I-89 to U.S. Route 2 West, as this is where the driving experience will change most significantly.
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 51 miles from St Johnsbury, VT, or about 1h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 28.1 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 22 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51 miles or 1h 5m 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 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rutland, VT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving St Johnsbury, 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 St Johnsbury, VT
This is one driving day of about 102.1 miles and 2h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from St 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 28.1 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 67.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 5 / Railroad Street
Turn sharp right onto US 5 / Railroad Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
4
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|US 2 / Eastern Avenue
Turn right onto US 2 / Eastern Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.8 mi into trip|~1m 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
5
39.3 mi into trip|~51m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 89 South: White River Junction
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 89 South: White River Junction
6
67.8 mi into trip|~1h 24m in|VT 107
Take the exit onto VT 107 toward VT 107: Bethel, Royalton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 3
Toward VT 107: Bethel, Royalton
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.82 one way
$35.64 round trip
$4.43/gal25.4 MPG avg36 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.93
$19.83
$39.67
premium
$5.30
$21.31
$42.62
diesel
$6.18
$24.84
$49.68
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30.6
0
$10.72
$4.90
Efficient EV
25.5
0
$8.93
$4.08
EV Truck/SUV
40.8
0
$14.29
$6.53
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
St Johnsbury, VT
Late night
in St Johnsbury on Tuesday
Local time
5:31 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Sunny
S 1 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Rutland, VT
Late night
in Rutland on Tuesday
Local time
5:31 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Sunny
SW 1 mph0% chanceLive 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
2 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
2h 20m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
Free
near mile 77.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway, with 90% of the drive on faster roads. You'll experience a continuous stretch of 28.1 miles on I-89 before transitioning. The remaining portion of the drive will be on U.S. Route 2 West and Vermont Route 100, offering a change of pace from the interstate. Expect more local traffic and slower speeds once you leave the interstate.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 28.1 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 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 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 102.1 miles you will encounter 10 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 5 / Railroad Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.5 miles (US 2 / Eastern Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (US 2; US 5 Alternate / Main Street): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
1,800 ft550 ft
Total Climb
3,268 ft
Total Descent
3,226 ft
Highest Point
1,800 ft
~94.8 mi in
Elevation Range
1,251 ft
Notable High Points
1,800 ft at ~94.8 miles+697 ft prominence
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 St Johnsbury, VT to Rutland, VT, road signs begin pointing toward Royalton along the way.
Rutland is a city of about 17,000 people in Southern Vermont. It is the third largest city in the state. It is a good starting point for exploring the Green Mountains, and is very close to several major ski areas. The town has over one hundred houses on the National Register of Historic Places. This article also covers the nearby village of Chittenden.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 20m. Total distance: 102.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 28.1 miles on I 89. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 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, 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: near the start (US 5 / Railroad Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.5 miles (US 2 / Eastern Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (US 2; US 5 Alternate / Main Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Marsh - Billings - Rockefeller National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Rutland, VT before heading back.
