Brattleboro to Franklin is 194.9 miles and takes about 3 hours 58 minutes via I 89 and I 91, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Vermont, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Expect a drive that is predominantly highway, making it a straightforward journey. With a recommended one-day duration, it’s a manageable drive if you’re looking to cover ground efficiently.
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
97.4 miles from Brattleboro, VT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 89
112.9 mi
2h 11m
I 91
60.6 mi
1h 10m
Vermont Route 105
6.7 mi
10m
Sheldon Road
4.4 mi
6m
North Sheldon Road
2.6 mi
4m
Fisher Pond Road
1.8 mi
3m
Vermont Route 120
1.7 mi
3m
Main Street
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 89
— 112.9 mi, about 2h 11m
Traffic on I-89
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 41 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,356 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,605
Quietest
2 AM
~54 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
25.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 51 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brattleboro, VT and Franklin, VT.
1
Start on this road
110 ft·9 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto US 5
54 ft·3 sec·Canal Street
3
Turn left onto US 5
504 ft·23 sec·Main Street
4
Turn left onto Elliot Street
0.1 mi·20 sec·Elliot Street
5
Turn right onto Church Street
357 ft·15 sec·Church Street
6
Turn slight left onto Green Street
0.3 mi·1 min·Green Street
7
Continue on VT 9
0.6 mi·1 min·Western Avenue
8
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
9
Merge onto I 91
61 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 91
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward I 89 North
11
Merge onto I 89
113 mi·2 hr 11 min·I 89
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 19Toward US 7, VT 36, VT 104: Saint Albans
13
Turn right onto VT 104
0.6 mi·1 min·Fairfax Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Continue on VT 104
1.8 mi·3 min·Fisher Pond Road
15
Continue on VT 105
4.4 mi·6 min·Sheldon Road
16
Continue on VT 105
6.7 mi·10 min·Vermont Route 105
17
Turn left onto VT 120
1.7 mi·3 min·Vermont Route 120
18
Continue on VT 120
2.6 mi·4 min·North Sheldon Road
19
Continue on VT 120
0.8 mi·1 min·Main Street
20
Turn left onto Hanna Road
171 ft·6 sec·Hanna Road
21
Turn right
56 ft·4 sec
22
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 3 hour 58 minute duration, starting your drive in the morning will give you ample time to reach Franklin without feeling rushed. The route is focused on highways, so your longest stretch without a major turn is 112.9 miles on I 89. Plan for your fuel needs, as the estimated cost is around $31, and gas stations will be more readily available on the interstate sections. Since it's a one-day trip, you have the flexibility to stop for a quick break on the highway or wait until you reach a town if you prefer.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 97.4 miles from Brattleboro, VT, or about 1h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 112.9 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 43 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 97.4 miles or 1h 56m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Franklin, VT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Brattleboro, 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 Brattleboro, VT
This is one driving day of about 194.9 miles and 3h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 miles from Brattleboro, 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 112.9 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 176.1 — 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 5 / Canal Street
Turn left onto US 5 / Canal Street
Navigation decision point
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 5 / Main Street
Turn left onto US 5 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|Church Street
Turn right onto Church Street
Navigation decision point
6
175.5 mi into trip|~3h 27m in
Take the exit toward US 7, VT 36, VT 104: Saint Albans
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 19
Toward US 7, VT 36, VT 104: Saint Albans
5
176.1 mi into trip|~3h 28m in|VT 104 / Fairfax Road
Turn right onto VT 104 / Fairfax Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.45 one way
$68.91 round trip
$4.49/gal25.4 MPG avg68 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.92
$37.74
$75.47
premium
$5.29
$40.58
$81.17
diesel
$5.35
$41.05
$82.10
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 68.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
58.5
0
$20.46
$9.36
Efficient EV
48.7
0
$17.05
$7.80
EV Truck/SUV
78
0
$27.29
$12.47
Gas CO2
68 kg
EV CO2
23 kg (66% 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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Brattleboro, VT
Afternoon
in Brattleboro on Wednesday
Local time
3:08 PM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Patchy Fog
N 2 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Franklin, VT
Afternoon
in Franklin on Wednesday
Local time
3:08 PM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Patchy Fog
NW 1 mph4% chanceLive forecast
72°F
Northfield, VT
97 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
3h 58m 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.
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...
7 mi from route
~19 min detour
Free
near mile 67.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is largely a highway-focused drive, with 93% of the route utilizing major highways. You’ll spend a significant portion of your time on I 89, including the longest uninterrupted stretch of 112.9 miles. The experience will feel like a steady cruise on well-maintained roads, allowing for consistent speed. While the profile is highway-dominant, be aware that the transition onto Vermont Route 105 will offer a change of pace as you approach your destination.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 112.9 mi on I 89.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
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 early in the drive near US 5 / Canal Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 58m drive. You will face about 12 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 5 / Canal Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (US 5 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Church Street): Navigation decision point.
Brattleboro is a town of 12,000 people in southern Vermont. From points south, it will most likely be the place for travelers to begin their exploration of Vermont.
Top landmarks
•Union Station — railway station in Brattleboro, Vermont
•Brattleboro Retreat — private not-for-profit mental health and addictions hospital in Brattleboro, Ver...
•Brooks House — built for hotelier George Brooks in Brattleboro, Vermont, United States
The longest stretch is about 112.9 miles on I 89. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 12 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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: near the start (US 5 / Canal Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (US 5 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Church Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Marsh - Billings - Rockefeller National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Franklin, VT, but most travelers stay overnight.
