Primary route
I-89
Concord to the Canadian border
Length190.9 mi
Designated1957
States2
Junctions3
About I-89
From Concord, NH (I-93) to Highgate, VT (Canada border)
Interstate 89 is a route running about 191 miles from the Concord area of New Hampshire northwest across Vermont to the Canadian border. It begins at Interstate 93 near Bow, south of Concord, and runs northwest through New Hampshire to cross the Connecticut River into Vermont. From there it continues through White River Junction, past Montpelier, to Burlington, then north toward the border near Highgate Springs.
The corridor passes through the hilly and forested interior of northern New England, serving Lebanon and the Upper Valley near the New Hampshire border, the state capital of Montpelier, and the Burlington area on Lake Champlain. It is a scenic route through the Green Mountain foothills, with long grades and river valley crossings along the way.
Interstate 89 forms a major part of the connection between Boston and Montreal, channeling traffic from southern New England toward the Canadian border. It links several of Vermont's largest population centers and serves as the principal freeway for much of the state.
State-by-state mileage
| State | Miles |
|---|---|
| New Hampshire | 60.6 |
| Vermont | 130.3 |
| Total | 190.9 |
History
Interstate 89 was designated in 1957 under the federal Interstate program created the year before, and it was built in segments over the following decades, with the route completed in 1982. Construction through the New England hills required extensive cuts, fills, and river crossings.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge carries the highway across the Connecticut River between New Hampshire and Vermont, a key link completed as the route was assembled into a continuous freeway.
Major cities and places
ConcordLebanonWhite River JunctionMontpelierBurlington
Notable features
- Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge over the Connecticut River
Did you know
- The southern terminus is at I-93 near Bow, New Hampshire, and the northern terminus is at the Canadian border near Highgate Springs, Vermont.
- It crosses two states, New Hampshire and Vermont.
- It forms a major part of the route between Boston and Montreal.
- It serves Burlington, Vermont's largest city, near Lake Champlain.