This 136.2-mile journey takes you from Bellows Falls to Milton, typically requiring about 2 hours and 52 minutes of driving time. Because the route is straightforward and efficient, you can easily complete it in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $22 on fuel for the trip, depending on your vehicle's efficiency. You will spend the vast majority of your time on major corridors, making this a highly practical transit route across Vermont. Since both ends of the trip are located within the Northeast, you will experience consistent regional road conditions throughout the drive.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
68.1 miles from Bellows Falls, VT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 20m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 89
77.6 mi
1h 29m
I 91
34.6 mi
40m
Vermont Route 289
4.5 mi
6m
Middle Road
3 mi
6m
East Road
3 mi
5m
River Road
2.9 mi
4m
Vermont Route 117
2.8 mi
4m
Rockingham Road
2.2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 89
— 77.6 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bellows Falls, VT and Milton, VT.
1
Start on US 5
312 ft·5 sec·Westminster Street
2
Continue on US 5
1.2 mi·2 min·Rockingham Street
3
Continue on US 5
2.2 mi·3 min·Rockingham Road
4
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 91 North: Springfield, White River Junction
5
Merge onto I 91
35 mi·40 min·I 91
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward I 89 North
7
Merge onto I 89
78 mi·1 hr 29 min·I 89
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Exit 11Toward US 2: Richmond, Williston
9
Turn right onto US 2
187 ft·6 sec·West Main Street
10
Turn right onto VT 117
0.8 mi·1 min·River Road
11
Continue on VT 117
2.8 mi·4 min·Vermont Route 117
12
Continue on VT 117
2.0 mi·3 min·River Road
13
Turn right onto VT 289
4.5 mi·6 min·Vermont Route 289
Toward VT 289 West
14
At end of road, turn right onto VT 2A
0.8 mi·1 min·Colchester Road
Use the right lane.
15
Continue on VT 2A
1.5 mi·2 min·Main Street
16
Turn right onto East Road
3.0 mi·5 min·East Road
17
Continue on Middle Road
3.0 mi·6 min·Middle Road
18
Continue on River Street
1.2 mi·3 min·River Street
19
Turn right onto Main Street
0.1 mi·21 sec·Main Street
20
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a sub-three-hour trip, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time to avoid the heaviest traffic. Plan for at least one stop during the 136.2-mile trek to stretch your legs and refresh, especially since the longest stretch on I-89 covers more than half of the total distance. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before merging onto the longer interstate sections, as services can be spaced out. Taking advantage of the single recommended stop will help you maintain focus during the final leg toward Milton. This route is best treated as a simple, efficient run, so prioritize a steady pace rather than rushing the highway segments.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 68.1 miles from Bellows Falls, VT, or about 1h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 77.6 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 30 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 68.1 miles or 1h 20m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Milton, VT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bellows Falls, VT so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bellows Falls, VT
This is one driving day of about 136.2 miles and 2h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Bellows Falls, VT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 89 for about 77.6 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.4 and 128.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3.4 mi into trip|~5m in
Take the exit toward I 91 North: Springfield, White River Junction
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 91 North: Springfield, White River Jun...
4
38.2 mi into trip|~46m in
Take the exit toward I 89 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 89 North
6
116.1 mi into trip|~2h 16m in
Take the exit toward US 2: Richmond, Williston
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 11
Toward US 2: Richmond, Williston
7
126.6 mi into trip|~2h 32m in|VT 2A / Colchester Road
At end of road, turn right onto VT 2A / Colchester Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
4
128.9 mi into trip|~2h 36m in|East Road
Turn right onto East Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.93 one way
$43.85 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg48 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$24.12
$48.25
premium
$4.86
$26.08
$52.16
diesel
$5.61
$30.07
$60.14
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 47.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
40.9
0
$14.30
$6.54
Efficient EV
34.1
0
$11.92
$5.45
EV Truck/SUV
54.5
0
$19.07
$8.72
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 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
Bellows Falls, VT
Night
in Bellows Falls on Saturday
Local time
9:26 PM
EDT
Current temp
36°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Milton, VT
Night
in Milton on Saturday
Local time
9:26 PM
EDT
Current temp
39°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
3 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
2h 52m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Marsh - Billings - Rockefeller National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Walk through one of Vermont's most beautiful landscapes under the shade of the Mount Tom Forest, the oldest continuously managed scientific forest in the United States. This is a landscape of loss, re...
8 mi from route
~19 min detour
Free
near mile 42.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 88% of this trip is spent on high-speed roads. You will utilize I-91 and I-89 as your primary arteries, transitioning briefly onto Vermont Route 289 as you near your destination. The most significant portion of your time behind the wheel will be a 77.6-mile uninterrupted stretch on I-89. While the route is designed for speed and directness, the transition between these major interstates defines the character of the drive. It is a functional, steady commute that prioritizes getting you from point A to point B with minimal navigational complexity.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 77.6 mi on I 89.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 89 and I 91. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 3.4 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 52m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 116.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,655 ft300 ft
Total Climb
1,572 ft
Total Descent
1,587 ft
Highest Point
1,655 ft
~77.8 mi in
Elevation Range
1,356 ft
Notable High Points
1,655 ft at ~77.8 miles+508 ft prominence
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 Bellows Falls, VT to Milton, VT, road signs begin pointing toward Williston along the way.
Williston
116.1 mi in|~2h 16m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 52m. Total distance: 136.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 77.6 miles on I 89. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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: at 3.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 116.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Milton, VT before heading back.
