Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
34m
Distance
22.7 mi
37 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Stowe, VT
Sydney Sang
Montpelier, VT
Wikimedia Commons
Stowe to Montpelier is 22.7 miles and takes about 34 minutes via I 89, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short, easy trip connects two points within Vermont's Northeast region, offering a straightforward drive between towns. You'll experience a mixed drive that's primarily on the interstate but includes local road segments. It's a quick hop, making it ideal for a spontaneous outing or as part of a larger Vermont exploration. Plan for a smooth journey with minimal fuss.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 89 | 10.6 mi | 12m |
| Waterbury Stowe Road | 6.1 mi | 10m |
| Waterbury Road | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Main Street | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| Memorial Drive | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Vermont Route 100 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Stowe, VT and Montpelier, VT.
Start on VT 100
Continue on VT 100
Continue on VT 100
Continue on VT 100
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 89
Take the exit
Continue on Memorial Drive
Turn left onto VT 12; US 2 Business
Arrive at destination
4 decision points cluster between mile 9.9 and 22.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the ramp toward I 89 South: Middlesex, Montpelier
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Merge onto I 89
Merge point - match speed before joining
Take the exit toward US 2: Montpelier, Saint Johnsbury
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn left onto VT 12; US 2 Business / Main Street
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$3.65 one way
$7.31 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $4.02 | $8.04 |
| premium | $4.86 | $4.35 | $8.69 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.01 | $10.02 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.8 | 0 | $2.38 | $1.09 |
| Efficient EV | 5.7 | 0 | $1.99 | $0.91 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.1 | 0 | $3.18 | $1.45 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Stowe on Tuesday
Local time
4:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Sunny
Destination
Late night in Montpelier on Tuesday
Local time
4:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This 22.7-mile journey presents a mixed drive, with 48% of it on the interstate. You'll encounter a 10.6-mile stretch on I 89, which provides a chance for consistent speed. The remaining portion of the drive involves local roads like Waterbury Stowe Road and Waterbury Road, offering a change of pace from the highway. Expect the road to transition from faster interstate travel to more community-oriented routes as you approach your destination.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 9.9 miles in.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Stowe, VT to Montpelier, VT is easy. At 34m with 48% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 9.9 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.1 miles (I 89): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 20.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Stowe, VT to Montpelier, VT, road signs begin pointing toward Saint Johnsbury along the way.
Saint Johnsbury
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Cafe
Near the end, right off the route
Montpelier, VT
Cafe
Near the end, right off the route
Cuisine: coffee;sandwich;breakfast
Hours: Mo-Su 07:00-15:00
Visit websiteCafe
Near the end, right off the route
Montpelier, VT
Cuisine: tea
Cafe
Early in the drive, right off the route
Cuisine: sandwich
Cafe
Near the end, right off the route
Cafe
Later in the drive, right off the route
Restaurant
Near the end, right off the route
Montpelier, VT
Cuisine: mexican
Hours: Mo-Su 11:00-21:00
Visit websiteRestaurant
Near the end, right off the route
Montpelier
Cuisine: crepe
Hours: Mo-Su 08:00-20:00
Visit websiteRestaurant
Near the start, right off the route
Stowe
Visit websiteRestaurant
Near the end, right off the route
Montpelier, VT
Cuisine: pizza
Hours: Mo-Su 11:00-21:00
Visit websiteRestaurant
Near the end, right off the route
Montpelier, VT
Cuisine: thai
Visit websiteRestaurant
Near the end, right off the route
Montpelier, VT
Hours: Tu-Sa 16:30-21:00
Visit websitePicnic_site
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Attraction
Near the end, right off the route
Viewpoint
Near the start, right off the route
Viewpoint
Near the start, right off the route
Park
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Attraction
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Museum
Near the start, right off the route
Stowe, VT
Hours: Th-Sa 13:00-16:00
Visit websiteMuseum
Near the end, right off the route
VT
Hours: Tu-Sa 10:00-16:00
Visit websiteDistrict
Near the end, right off the route
District
Near the start, right off the route
District
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Artwork
Near the end, short detour
Montpelier, VT
Hotel
Near the start, right off the route
Hotel
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Waterbury, VT
Visit websiteMotel
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Waterbury
Hotel
Near the end, right off the route
Hotel
Near the end, right off the route
Montpelier
Hotel
Near the start, right off the route
Points of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.
Stowe is a four-season resort town of 4,400 people (2014) in north-central Vermont at the base of Mount Mansfield—Vermont's highest peak. It is home to Stowe Mountain Ski Resort. It is 10 miles north of Waterbury along Highway 100.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 34m. Total distance: 22.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (48%). Straightforward navigation.
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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