This 58.4-mile drive from Brandon to Colchester, Vermont, will take you about 1 hour and 32 minutes to complete. It's a straightforward trip entirely within the Northeast region and the state of Vermont, making it an ideal day trip. The estimated fuel cost is around $9, suggesting an economical journey. The profile is described as a "Mixed drive," indicating a varied experience on the road. With no recommended stops, you have the flexibility to tailor the pace to your liking. This route is perfect for a short excursion without the need for an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
29.2 miles from Brandon, VT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Vermont Route 116
14.2 mi
21m
Grove Street
10.9 mi
16m
Case Street
6 mi
8m
South 116 Road
5.5 mi
8m
North 116 Road
4.1 mi
6m
Saint George Road
3.7 mi
5m
Essex Road
2.2 mi
3m
Vermont Route 2A
2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Vermont Route 116
— 14.2 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brandon, VT and Colchester, VT.
1
Start on Park Street
109 ft·6 sec·Park Street
2
Turn right onto US 7; VT 73
0.1 mi·23 sec·Center Street
3
Continue on US 7; VT 73
0.2 mi·39 sec·Conant Square
4
Continue on US 7
11 mi·16 min·Grove Street
5
Continue on US 7
1.1 mi·1 min·U.S. Route 7 South
6
Turn right onto VT 116
0.5 mi·45 sec·Ossie Road
7
Turn left onto VT 116
364 ft·6 sec·Church Street
8
Continue on VT 116
6.0 mi·8 min·Case Street
9
Continue on VT 116
5.5 mi·8 min·South 116 Road
10
Turn right onto VT 17; VT 116
0.5 mi·48 sec·Stony Hill Road
11
Continue on VT 17; VT 116
0.6 mi·55 sec·West Street
12
Continue on VT 17; VT 116
0.2 mi·22 sec·Main Street
13
Continue on VT 17; VT 116
0.5 mi·1 min·East Street
14
Continue on VT 17; VT 116
0.9 mi·1 min·Rockydale Road
15
Continue on VT 17; VT 116
4.1 mi·6 min·North 116 Road
16
Continue on VT 116
9.0 mi·13 min·Vermont Route 116
17
Continue on VT 116
5.3 mi·7 min·Vermont Route 116
18
Turn right onto VT 2A
2.0 mi·2 min·Vermont Route 2A
19
Continue on VT 2A
3.7 mi·5 min·Saint George Road
20
Continue on VT 2A
2.2 mi·3 min·Essex Road
21
Continue on VT 2A
0.7 mi·2 min·Park Street
22
Continue on VT 2A
0.9 mi·2 min·Lincoln Street
23
Continue on VT 2A
1.9 mi·3 min·Colchester Road
24
Continue on VT 2A
1.5 mi·2 min·Main Street
25
Turn right onto East Road
100 ft·2 sec·East Road
26
Arrive at destination
East Road
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of about 1 hour and 32 minutes for this 58.4-mile trip, you have plenty of flexibility. Consider departing mid-morning to avoid potential rush hour traffic, although this route is unlikely to experience significant congestion. The estimated fuel cost of $9 is quite low, so you won't need to worry much about frequent refueling stops. Keep an eye on Vermont Route 116 for the longest continuous stretch of 14.2 miles; this might be a good point to check your mirrors and prepare for any upcoming turns or changes in scenery.
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 29.2 miles from Brandon, VT, or about 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 14.2 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 13 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 29.2 miles or 45m 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 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Colchester, VT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Brandon, VT so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Brandon, VT
This is one driving day of about 58.4 miles and 1h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 13 miles from Brandon, VT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Vermont Route 116 for about 14.2 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 5
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 58.4 — 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 7; VT 73 / Center Street
Turn right onto US 7; VT 73 / Center Street
Navigation decision point
3
12.4 mi into trip|~19m in|VT 116 / Ossie Road
Turn right onto VT 116 / Ossie Road
Navigation decision point
3
24.5 mi into trip|~37m in|VT 17; VT 116 / Stony Hill Road
Turn right onto VT 17; VT 116 / Stony Hill Road
Navigation decision point
3
45.5 mi into trip|~1h 10m in|VT 2A / Vermont Route 2A
Turn right onto VT 2A / Vermont Route 2A
Navigation decision point
4
58.4 mi into trip|~1h 32m in|East Road
Turn right onto East Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.40 one way
$18.80 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg20 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$10.34
$20.69
premium
$4.86
$11.18
$22.37
diesel
$5.61
$12.89
$25.79
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$34–$59
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
17.5
0
$6.13
$2.80
Efficient EV
14.6
0
$5.11
$2.34
EV Truck/SUV
23.4
0
$8.18
$3.74
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Brandon, VT
Morning
in Brandon on Tuesday
Local time
8:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Colchester, VT
Morning
in Colchester on Tuesday
Local time
8:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
42°F
Bristol, VT
29 mi in
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
20 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 32m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a "Mixed drive" experience on this 58.4-mile route, with about 30% of it on highways. You'll primarily navigate Vermont Route 116, Grove Street, and Case Street. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 14.2 miles along Vermont Route 116, offering a continuous segment of driving. This blend of road types means you'll transition between different driving conditions, so stay alert for changes in speed limits and road surface.
30% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 14.2 mi on Vermont Route 116.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
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 early in the drive near US 7; VT 73 / Center Street.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Brandon, VT to Colchester, VT is easy. At 1h 32m with 30% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 7; VT 73 / Center Street): Navigation decision point; at 12.4 miles (VT 116 / Ossie Road): Navigation decision point; at 24.5 miles (VT 17; VT 116 / Stony Hill Road): Navigation decision point.
Brandon is a town in Southern Vermont with a population of 4,000 people. The town is known for its vibrant arts scene, including several well known artists who reside there.
Colchester is a town in Northwest Vermont. It is home to Saint Michael's College. Colchester is primarily a bedroom community of Burlington. The town is very spread out, with most businesses and residences clustered in three villages: Colchester village, Mallet's Bay, and Severance Corners. St. Michael's College is located in the southeast corner of the town near Winooski and Essex Junction.
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 14.2 miles on Vermont Route 116. 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 7; VT 73 / Center Street): Navigation decision point; at 12.4 miles (VT 116 / Ossie Road): Navigation decision point; at 24.5 miles (VT 17; VT 116 / Stony Hill Road): 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 Colchester, VT before heading back.
