Colchester, VT to Guilford, VT is 154.7 miles and takes about 3h 7m via I 89 and I 91, with a fuel budget near $25 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Vermont for its entire length, connecting two points in the Northeast region. With 95% highway, it’s a straightforward drive focused on efficient travel between these two locations. Plan for a quick trip that prioritizes getting there over a leisurely exploration, making it ideal for a day trip or a short segment of a larger journey.
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
77.4 miles from Colchester, VT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 36m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 89
77.4 mi
1h 29m
I 91
62 mi
1h 11m
Vermont Route 289
4.5 mi
7m
River Road
3.2 mi
5m
Vermont Route 117
2.8 mi
4m
Main Street
1.5 mi
2m
Colchester Road
1 mi
1m
Canal Street
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 89
— 77.4 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Colchester, VT and Guilford, VT.
1
Start on East Road
100 ft·9 sec·East Road
2
Turn left onto VT 2A
1.5 mi·2 min·Main Street
3
Continue on VT 2A
1.0 mi·1 min·Colchester Road
Use the left lane.
4
Turn left onto VT 289
4.5 mi·7 min·Vermont Route 289
Toward VT 289 EastUse the left lane.
5
At end of road, turn left onto VT 117
2.4 mi·3 min·River Road
Toward US 2, VT 289 West: Richmond
6
Continue on VT 117
2.8 mi·4 min·Vermont Route 117
7
Continue on VT 117
0.8 mi·1 min·River Road
8
At end of road, turn left onto US 2
0.3 mi·36 sec·West Main Street
9
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·15 sec
10
Merge onto I 89
77 mi·1 hr 29 min·I 89
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 91: Brattleboro, White River
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward I 91 South: Brattleboro
13
Merge onto I 91
62 mi·1 hr 11 min·I 91
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·42 sec
Toward US 5: Brattleboro, Guilford
15
Turn right onto US 5
0.8 mi·1 min·Canal Street
16
Continue on US 5
0.5 mi·1 min·Coolidge Highway
17
Turn right onto Guilford Center Road
175 ft·4 sec·Guilford Center Road
18
Arrive at destination
Guilford Center Road
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 7m duration, you can comfortably complete this drive in a single day. Aim to depart Colchester in the morning to maximize daylight and allow for any unforeseen delays. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimate of $25, you won't need extensive planning for refueling. Consider making your stop around the halfway point or whenever you feel the need to stretch your legs, as the longest stretch without an exit is 77.4 miles on I 89. Since this is a relatively short drive, you have flexibility in your timing.
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 77.4 miles from Colchester, VT, or about 1h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 77.4 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 34 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 77.4 miles or 1h 36m 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 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Guilford, VT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Colchester, 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 Colchester, VT
This is one driving day of about 154.7 miles and 3h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Colchester, 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 77.4 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 2.5 and 153.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
2.5 mi into trip|~4m in|VT 289 / Vermont Route 289
Turn left onto VT 289 / Vermont Route 289 toward VT 289 East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward VT 289 East
5
7 mi into trip|~11m in|VT 117 / River Road
At end of road, turn left onto VT 117 / River Road toward US 2, VT 289 West: Richmond
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 2, VT 289 West: Richmond
5
90.7 mi into trip|~1h 51m in
Take the exit toward I 91: Brattleboro, White River
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 91: Brattleboro, White River
6
91 mi into trip|~1h 52m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 91 South: Brattleboro
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 91 South: Brattleboro
5
153.1 mi into trip|~3h 3m in
Take the exit toward US 5: Brattleboro, Guilford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 5: Brattleboro, Guilford
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.90 one way
$49.81 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg54 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$27.40
$54.80
premium
$4.86
$29.62
$59.25
diesel
$5.61
$34.16
$68.31
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 54.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
46.4
0
$16.24
$7.43
Efficient EV
38.7
0
$13.54
$6.19
EV Truck/SUV
61.9
0
$21.66
$9.90
Gas CO2
54 kg
EV CO2
18 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 20, 2026
Origin
Colchester, VT
Morning
in Colchester on Tuesday
Local time
7:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Guilford, VT
Morning
in Guilford on Tuesday
Local time
7:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
37°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
59°F
Hartford, VT
77 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
23 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
3h 7m 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 85.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is almost entirely highway driving, with 95% of the 154.7 miles on interstates. You'll spend the bulk of your time on I 89 and I 91, experiencing a longest stretch of 77.4 miles on I 89 without needing to exit. Expect consistent cruising speeds for much of the drive, with the highway portion concluding as you approach Guilford. The transition from interstate to Vermont Route 289 marks the end of the high-speed travel.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 77.4 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 2.5 miles in near VT 289 / Vermont Route 289.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 7m 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 2.5 miles (VT 289 / Vermont Route 289): Lane positioning matters here; at 7 miles (VT 117 / River Road): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 90.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Colchester, VT to Guilford, VT, road signs begin pointing toward White River along the way.
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.
The longest stretch is about 77.4 miles on I 89. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 9 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: at 2.5 miles (VT 289 / Vermont Route 289): Lane positioning matters here; at 7 miles (VT 117 / River Road): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 90.7 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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Guilford, VT, but most travelers stay overnight.
