If you are planning a trip from Winooski to St. Johnsbury, you can expect a straightforward journey covering 77.6 miles. This drive typically takes about 1 hour and 39 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that does not require an overnight stay. You will primarily utilize I-89, U.S. Route 2, and River Street to navigate across the Northeast region of Vermont. With a fuel budget of approximately $12, it is an affordable way to cross the state. Because the route is relatively short and efficient, you have plenty of flexibility in your schedule. It is a practical, no-nonsense connection between these two Vermont communities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.8 miles from Winooski, VT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 89
37.1 mi
43m
U.S. Route 2
33.4 mi
41m
River Street
1.3 mi
2m
Memorial Drive
1.2 mi
2m
High Street
0.6 mi
<1m
Railroad Street
0.5 mi
<1m
Berlin Street
0.5 mi
1m
Western Avenue
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 89
— 37.1 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Winooski, VT and St Johnsbury, VT.
1
Start on East Allen Street
182 ft·8 sec·East Allen Street
2
Turn right onto US 2; US 7
0.2 mi·26 sec·Main Street
3
Turn right onto East Spring Street
0.4 mi·1 min·East Spring Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Turn slight left onto VT 15
0.2 mi·37 sec·East Allen Street
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward I 89
6
Merge onto I 89
37 mi·43 min·I 89
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 8Toward US 2: Montpelier, Saint Johnsbury
8
Continue on Memorial Drive
1.2 mi·2 min·Memorial Drive
Use the left lane.
9
Continue on US 2
0.5 mi·1 min·Berlin Street
10
Turn slight left onto US 2
1.2 mi·2 min·River Street
11
Enter roundabout onto US 2
137 ft·1 sec·River Street
12
Continue on US 2
97 ft·1 sec·River Street
13
Merge onto US 2
0.4 mi·47 sec·East Montpelier Road
14
Continue on US 2
7.1 mi·11 min·U.S. Route 2
15
Continue on US 2
0.6 mi·39 sec·High Street
16
Continue on US 2
0.2 mi·12 sec·School Street
17
Continue on US 2
26 mi·30 min·U.S. Route 2
18
Continue on US 2
0.4 mi·36 sec·Western Avenue
19
Continue on US 2
227 ft·3 sec·Western Avenue
20
Continue on US 2; US 5 Alternate
0.1 mi·11 sec·Main Street
21
Turn right onto US 2
0.3 mi·32 sec·Eastern Avenue
22
At end of road, turn left onto US 2; US 5
0.5 mi·56 sec·Railroad Street
23
Turn sharp left onto Main Street
90 ft·3 sec·Main Street
24
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a quick trip, you have the advantage of choosing your departure time based on your personal preference rather than strict travel constraints. Given the 1 hour and 39 minute duration, you can comfortably make the drive in one go without needing dedicated rest stops. Keep in mind that your fuel budget is around $12, so a quick fill-up before leaving Winooski should be more than enough to get you to St. Johnsbury. Because the longest stretch of 37.1 miles occurs on I-89, ensure your vehicle is prepared for sustained highway speeds before you merge. Use this flexibility to time your arrival for when you are most productive or ready to explore your destination.
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 38.8 miles from Winooski, VT, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37.1 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 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.8 miles or 47m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near St Johnsbury, VT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Winooski, VT so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Winooski, VT
This is one driving day of about 77.6 miles and 1h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Winooski, VT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 89 for about 37.1 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 77.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 2; US 7 / Main Street
Turn right onto US 2; US 7 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|East Spring Street
Turn right onto East Spring Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
38.1 mi into trip|~46m in
Take the exit toward US 2: Montpelier, Saint Johnsbury
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 8
Toward US 2: Montpelier, Saint Johnsbury
5
77.1 mi into trip|~1h 38m in|US 2; US 5 / Railroad Street
At end of road, turn left onto US 2; US 5 / Railroad Street
Navigation decision point
5
77.6 mi into trip|~1h 39m in|Main Street
Turn sharp left onto Main Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.49 one way
$24.98 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$13.74
$27.49
premium
$4.86
$14.86
$29.72
diesel
$5.61
$17.13
$34.27
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: 27.2 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
23.3
0
$8.15
$3.72
Efficient EV
19.4
0
$6.79
$3.10
EV Truck/SUV
31
0
$10.86
$4.97
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 13, 2026
Origin
Winooski, VT
Late night
in Winooski on Sunday
Local time
12:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Rain Showers
S 10 to 18 mph91% chanceLive forecast
Destination
St Johnsbury, VT
Late night
in St Johnsbury on Sunday
Local time
12:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Rain Showers
S 6 mph98% 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
3 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 39m 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 77.6-mile trek is heavily highway-focused, with 91% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will experience a significant, uninterrupted stretch of 37.1 miles while navigating I-89, which allows for consistent speeds. As you transition from the interstate onto U.S. Route 2 and River Street, the character of the drive shifts from high-speed transit to local road conditions. While it is not a technical or winding mountain pass, the mix of interstate and regional roads keeps the drive engaging. Expect a steady, predictable pace that gets you to your destination without unnecessary detours.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 37.1 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 2; US 7 / Main 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 39m drive. You will face about 10 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 2; US 7 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (East Spring Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 38.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,448 ft190 ft
Total Climb
1,476 ft
Total Descent
218 ft
Highest Point
1,448 ft
~66.5 mi in
Elevation Range
1,258 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 Winooski, VT to St Johnsbury, VT, road signs begin pointing toward Saint Johnsbury along the way.
Saint Johnsbury
38.1 mi in|~46m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 39m. Total distance: 77.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 37.1 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 2; US 7 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (East Spring Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 38.1 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 St Johnsbury, VT before heading back.
