St. Johnsbury to Salisbury is 96.5 miles and takes about 2 hours 26 minutes via U.S. Route 2 West and Vermont Route 17, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Vermont, moving from the Northeast region of the state to its western edge. Expect a mix of highway driving and surface roads, offering a straightforward transit between these two points. It's a manageable route for a single day, allowing for a relaxed pace and potential brief stops along the way.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48.2 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
U.S. Route 2 West
25.7 mi
29m
Vermont Route 17
8.3 mi
13m
U.S. Route 2
8.3 mi
13m
Vermont Route 100B
7.9 mi
13m
Case Street
6.1 mi
8m
Mill Brook Road
5.8 mi
11m
South 116 Road
5.5 mi
8m
I 89
5.5 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
U.S. Route 2 West
— 25.7 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between St Johnsbury, VT and Salisbury, 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 2
74 ft·0 sec·East Montpelier Road
13
Continue on US 2
115 ft·1 sec·East Montpelier Road
14
Continue on US 2
1.2 mi·2 min·River Street
15
Continue on US 2
0.5 mi·1 min·Berlin Street
16
Continue on US 2
1.2 mi·2 min·Memorial Drive
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·17 sec
18
Merge onto I 89
5.5 mi·6 min·I 89
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 9Toward US 2: Middlesex, Moretown
20
Turn left onto Center Road
0.1 mi·17 sec·Center Road
21
At end of road, turn left onto US 2
0.6 mi·1 min·U.S. Route 2
22
Turn right onto VT 100B
7.9 mi·13 min·Vermont Route 100B
23
Continue on VT 100
0.5 mi·45 sec·Vermont Route 100 South
24
Continue on VT 100
4.9 mi·8 min·Main Street
25
Turn right onto VT 17
0.2 mi·30 sec·Vermont Route 17
26
Continue on VT 17
5.8 mi·11 min·Mill Brook Road
27
Continue on VT 17
8.1 mi·13 min·Vermont Route 17
28
Continue on VT 17
1.7 mi·2 min·Drake Woods Road
29
Turn left onto VT 17; VT 116
1.7 mi·2 min·North 116 Road
30
Continue on VT 17; VT 116
0.9 mi·1 min·Rockydale Road
31
Continue on VT 17; VT 116
0.5 mi·1 min·East Street
32
Continue on VT 17; VT 116
0.2 mi·25 sec·Main Street
33
Continue on VT 17; VT 116
0.6 mi·53 sec·West Street
34
Continue on VT 17; VT 116
0.5 mi·56 sec·Stony Hill Road
35
Turn left onto VT 116
2.1 mi·3 min·South 116 Road
36
Continue on VT 116
3.4 mi·5 min·South 116 Road
37
Continue on VT 116
6.1 mi·8 min·Case Street
38
Turn right onto VT 116
0.5 mi·51 sec·Ossie Road
39
At end of road, turn left onto US 7
1.1 mi·1 min·U.S. Route 7 South
40
Continue on US 7
3.7 mi·5 min·Ethan Allen Highway
41
Turn left onto West Salisbury Road
0.2 mi·26 sec·West Salisbury Road
42
Continue on Maple Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Maple Street
43
Turn sharp left onto Smead Road
61 ft·2 sec·Smead Road
44
Arrive at destination
Smead Road
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hour 26 minute drive time, a morning departure from St. Johnsbury is ideal, allowing ample time for the drive and any unscheduled stops. You'll want to keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $15 and there are no designated stops mentioned, so plan your refueling accordingly. The longest stretch is 25.7 miles, so you can easily break up the drive with a short pause if needed. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility; consider leaving a bit later if you prefer a more leisurely start.
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 48.2 miles from St Johnsbury, VT, or about 1h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 25.7 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 21 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.2 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 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Salisbury, 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 96.5 miles and 2h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from St Johnsbury, VT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on U.S. Route 2 West for about 25.7 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 96.5 — 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
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
6
44.5 mi into trip|~58m in
Take the exit toward US 2: Middlesex, Moretown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 9
Toward US 2: Middlesex, Moretown
5
44.8 mi into trip|~59m in|US 2 / U.S. Route 2
At end of road, turn left onto US 2 / U.S. Route 2
Navigation decision point
5
96.5 mi into trip|~2h 26m in|Smead Road
Turn sharp left onto Smead Road
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.84 one way
$33.68 round trip
$4.43/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.93
$18.75
$37.49
premium
$5.30
$20.14
$40.28
diesel
$6.18
$23.48
$46.95
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29
0
$10.13
$4.63
Efficient EV
24.1
0
$8.44
$3.86
EV Truck/SUV
38.6
0
$13.51
$6.18
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 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.
Forecast as of Oct 18, 2026
Origin
St Johnsbury, VT
Late night
in St Johnsbury on Tuesday
Local time
5:31 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Sunny
S 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Salisbury, VT
Late night
in Salisbury on Tuesday
Local time
5:31 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Sunny
S 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
61°F
Duxbury, VT
48 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
1 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 26m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route features a 59% highway share, meaning you'll spend a significant portion on faster roads. The longest continuous stretch without a major change is 25.7 miles on U.S. Route 2 West. You'll transition from highway cruising to surface roads, so be prepared for a change in speed and traffic flow. Expect a more rural feel as you progress westward.
59% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
44 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 25.7 mi on U.S. Route 2 West.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 5 / Railroad Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 26m drive. You will face about 15 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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 0.8 miles (US 2; US 5 Alternate / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 44.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,655 ft428 ft
Total Climb
2,001 ft
Total Descent
2,178 ft
Highest Point
1,655 ft
~13.8 mi in
Elevation Range
1,227 ft
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 Salisbury, VT, road signs begin pointing toward Moretown along the way.
The longest stretch is about 25.7 miles on U.S. Route 2 West. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza 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 0.8 miles (US 2; US 5 Alternate / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 44.5 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 Salisbury, VT before heading back.
