If you are looking to cross Vermont from St. Johnsbury to Winooski, this 77.1-mile trip is a straightforward and efficient journey. You can expect to spend about 1 hour and 38 minutes behind the wheel, making it an ideal candidate for a single-day trip. With a fuel budget of approximately $12, the drive is quite economical for a solo traveler or a small group. Since both cities are located within the Northeast region, the transition is seamless as you move across the state. This highway-focused route is designed for travelers who prioritize time and efficiency over scenic detours, allowing you to reach your destination quickly without the need for an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.5 miles from St Johnsbury, VT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 89
37.2 mi
43m
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
East Allen Street
0.7 mi
2m
High Street
0.6 mi
<1m
Railroad Street
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 89
— 37.2 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between St Johnsbury, VT and Winooski, 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
37 mi·43 min·I 89
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward VT 15: Winooski, Essex JunctionUse the left lane.
20
At end of road, turn left onto VT 15
0.7 mi·2 min·East Allen Street
Use the straight lane.
21
Turn straight onto East Allen Street
17 ft·0 sec·East Allen Street
22
Arrive at destination
East Allen Street
Trip Plan
Because this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. With no mandatory stops built into the 77.1-mile route, you can complete the drive in one steady push if you prefer. Keep in mind that your fuel costs will hover around $12, so topping off your tank before leaving St. Johnsbury will ensure you reach Winooski without a mid-trip detour. Since the route relies heavily on I-89 and U.S. Route 2, monitor local traffic reports for those specific corridors before you head out. Taking advantage of the lack of required stops allows you to arrive in Winooski refreshed and ready to start your day.
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 38.5 miles from St Johnsbury, VT, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37.2 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 38.5 miles or 51m 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 Winooski, 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 77.1 miles and 1h 38m.
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 37.2 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 76.4 — 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
7
76.2 mi into trip|~1h 35m in
Take the exit toward VT 15: Winooski, Essex Junction
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward VT 15: Winooski, Essex Junction
5
76.4 mi into trip|~1h 36m in|VT 15 / East Allen Street
At end of road, turn left onto VT 15 / East Allen Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.41 one way
$24.82 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$13.66
$27.31
premium
$4.86
$14.76
$29.53
diesel
$5.61
$17.02
$34.05
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: 27 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
23.1
0
$8.10
$3.70
Efficient EV
19.3
0
$6.75
$3.08
EV Truck/SUV
30.8
0
$10.79
$4.93
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
St Johnsbury, VT
Night
in St Johnsbury on Saturday
Local time
11:09 PM
EDT
Current temp
34°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Winooski, VT
Night
in Winooski on Saturday
Local time
11:09 PM
EDT
Current temp
38°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
4 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 38m 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?
Expect a trip dominated by high-speed travel, as 92% of this route consists of highway driving. You will spend the vast majority of your time on I-89, which provides a consistent pace for the duration of the 1 hour and 38-minute commute. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 37.2-mile segment on I-89, offering a predictable experience behind the wheel. While the journey begins by utilizing U.S. Route 2, the transition to the interstate system defines the overall character of the drive. It is a functional, highway-focused experience that minimizes technical local roads in favor of steady, mainline transit.
92% 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: 37.2 mi on I 89.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
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 Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 38m drive. You will face about 8 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.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,446 ft190 ft
Total Climb
1,023 ft
Total Descent
1,438 ft
Highest Point
1,446 ft
~11 mi in
Elevation Range
1,256 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 38m. Total distance: 77.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 37.2 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 Winooski, VT before heading back.
