Origin
Strafford, VT
Afternoon in Strafford on Tuesday
Local time
2:47 PM
EDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Strafford, VT to Montpelier, VT
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 7m
Distance
49.6 mi
80 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 2m
★
6 AM
1h 7m
8 AM
1h 18m
10 AM
1h 11m
12 PM
1h 10m
3 PM
1h 11m
5 PM
1h 17m
8 PM
1h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Strafford, VT
Vladimir Srajber
Montpelier, VT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Strafford to Montpelier is 49.6 miles and takes about 1 hour 7 minutes via I 89 and Route 132, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays entirely within Vermont, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Given its brevity and focus on highway travel, it's a straightforward journey ideal for a quick transit or a scenic detour. You'll spend most of your time on the interstate, so expect a functional rather than an overtly scenic drive. Plan for a minimal fuel cost of around $8 for this leg.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 89 | 39.2 mi | 45m |
| Route 132 | 6.2 mi | 12m |
| Justin Morrill Memorial Highway | 2.3 mi | 5m |
| Memorial Drive | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Brook Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 89
— 39.2 mi, about 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Strafford, VT and Montpelier, VT.
1
Start on this road
67 ft
·
10 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto Brook Road
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
Brook Road
3
Continue on Justin Morrill Memorial Highway
2.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Justin Morrill Memorial Highway
4
Turn right onto VT 132
6.2 mi
·
12 min
·
Route 132
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
6
Merge onto I 89
39 mi
·
45 min
·
I 89
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 8
Toward US 2: Montpelier
8
Continue on Memorial Drive
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Memorial Drive
Use the left lane.
9
Turn left onto VT 12; US 2 Business
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Main Street
10
Arrive at destination
VT 12; US 2 Business
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.8 miles from Strafford, VT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 65 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 49.4 — 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
|
Brook Road
Turn left onto Brook Road
Navigation decision point
4
2.4 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
VT 132 / Route 132
Turn right onto VT 132 / Route 132
Navigation decision point
3
8.6 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
5
48 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
Take the exit toward US 2: Montpelier
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 8
Toward US 2: Montpelier
4
49.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
|
VT 12; US 2 Business / Main Street
Turn left onto VT 12; US 2 Business / Main Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.90 one way
$15.80 round trip
$4.05/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.47 | $8.72 | $17.45 |
| premium | $4.84 | $9.44 | $18.89 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.95 | $21.90 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.9 | 0 | $5.21 | $2.38 |
| Efficient EV | 12.4 | 0 | $4.34 | $1.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.8 | 0 | $6.94 | $3.17 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Destination
Montpelier, VT
Afternoon in Montpelier on Tuesday
Local time
2:47 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
58°F
Bethel, VT
25 mi in
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
23 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 7m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 91% of the journey utilizing major roadways like I 89. You'll encounter a significant uninterrupted stretch of 39.2 miles on I 89, allowing for consistent speed. While the profile is mainly highway, the inclusion of Route 132 and Justin Morrill Memorial Highway suggests a brief transition to more local roads. The character is one of efficient travel, with the interstate dominating the driving experience for the majority of the trip.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 39.2 mi on I 89.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 89 and Route 132. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Brook Road.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Strafford, VT to Montpelier, VT is easy. At 1h 7m with 91% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Brook Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles (VT 132 / Route 132): Navigation decision point; at 8.6 miles: Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 7m. Total distance: 49.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 39.2 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 (Brook Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles (VT 132 / Route 132): Navigation decision point; at 8.6 miles: 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 Montpelier, VT before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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