Spanning 75.3 miles across Vermont, this straightforward trek between St. Johnsbury and South Burlington typically takes about 1 hour and 35 minutes. Because the distance is relatively short, you can easily complete the journey in a single day without needing an overnight stay. You should expect to spend roughly $12 on fuel for the trip, making it an affordable transit between the Northeast region's key hubs. Navigating primarily via I-89 and U.S. Route 2, you will find the route efficient for those prioritizing speed over sightseeing. It serves as a reliable, direct connection for travelers moving across the state, offering a stress-free experience that fits perfectly into a busy itinerary.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
37.7 miles from St Johnsbury, VT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 89
35.4 mi
41m
U.S. Route 2 West
25.7 mi
29m
U.S. Route 2
7.7 mi
12m
River Street
1.2 mi
2m
Memorial Drive
1.2 mi
2m
Williston Road
0.6 mi
1m
High Street
0.6 mi
<1m
Railroad Street
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 89
— 35.4 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between St Johnsbury, VT and South Burlington, 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
35 mi·41 min·I 89
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·38 sec
Toward US 2 East: South Burlington
20
Turn slight right onto US 2
0.6 mi·1 min·Williston Road
21
Continue on US 2
87 ft·2 sec·Williston Road
22
Arrive at destination
US 2
Trip Plan
Since this is a quick 1-hour and 35-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You won't need to plan for major breaks, as the 75.3-mile distance is manageable in one go, but keeping an eye on your fuel gauge before leaving St. Johnsbury is a smart move. Because the route relies so heavily on I-89, try to avoid peak commuting hours to ensure you maintain a smooth pace. If you are traveling during winter months, be prepared for changing road conditions on these major highways. Leveraging the direct nature of this connection allows you to maximize your time once you arrive in South Burlington.
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 37.7 miles from St Johnsbury, VT, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35.4 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 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 37.7 miles or 49m 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 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near South Burlington, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from St Johnsbury, VT
This is one driving day of about 75.3 miles and 1h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 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 35.4 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 38.9 — 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
4
36 mi into trip|~45m in|US 2 / East Montpelier Road
Enter roundabout onto US 2 / East Montpelier Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
38.9 mi into trip|~51m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.12 one way
$24.24 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg26 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$13.34
$26.68
premium
$4.86
$14.42
$28.84
diesel
$5.61
$16.63
$33.25
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: 26.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22.6
0
$7.91
$3.61
Efficient EV
18.8
0
$6.59
$3.01
EV Truck/SUV
30.1
0
$10.54
$4.82
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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 14, 2026
Origin
St Johnsbury, VT
Morning
in St Johnsbury on Sunday
Local time
6:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy
W 3 mph20% chanceLive forecast
Destination
South Burlington, VT
Morning
in South Burlington on Sunday
Local time
6:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Cloudy
NW 3 to 7 mph23% 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
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
1h 35m 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 trip is heavily highway-focused, with 91% of your travel time spent on major thoroughfares. You will spend the vast majority of your time cruising on I-89, which includes a notable 35.4-mile stretch of uninterrupted highway driving. While the transition onto U.S. Route 2 adds a bit of variety to the road surface, the overall character remains practical and fast-paced. Expect a consistent, steady rhythm behind the wheel as you navigate these primary Vermont corridors. It is an ideal route if you prefer predictable, high-speed travel over the winding, technical backroads sometimes found elsewhere in the state.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 35.4 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 West. 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 Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 35m drive. You will face about 7 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 0.5 miles (US 2 / Eastern Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (US 2; US 5 Alternate / Main Street): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 35m. Total distance: 75.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 35.4 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 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. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at South Burlington, VT before heading back.
