Traveling from Colchester to Ludlow covers 115.1 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 38 minutes to complete. This trip is perfectly manageable as a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily utilize I-89, Vermont Route 100, and Vermont Route 107 to navigate through the heart of the Northeast. Budgeting approximately $18 for fuel should cover your transit costs comfortably. Since the route remains entirely within Vermont, you will experience a consistent regional feel throughout your journey. Whether you are heading south for a getaway or a quick visit, this drive provides a straightforward and efficient connection between these two locations.
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
57.5 miles from Colchester, VT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 13m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 89
55.8 mi
1h 4m
Vermont Route 100
24.8 mi
37m
Vermont Route 107
8.4 mi
13m
U.S. Route 4
6.2 mi
9m
Vermont Route 289
4.5 mi
7m
River Street
3.4 mi
5m
River Road
3.2 mi
5m
Vermont Route 117
2.8 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 89
— 55.8 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Colchester, VT and Ludlow, 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
56 mi·1 hr 4 min·I 89
11
Take the exit onto VT 107
0.3 mi·46 sec·VT 107
Exit 3Toward VT 107: Bethel, Royalton
12
Turn right onto VT 107
1.7 mi·3 min·Vermont Route 107
13
Continue on VT 107
0.9 mi·1 min·South Main Street
14
Turn slight left onto VT 107
3.4 mi·5 min·River Street
15
Continue on VT 107
6.7 mi·10 min·Vermont Route 107
16
Continue on VT 100
11 mi·16 min·Vermont Route 100
17
Continue on VT 100
421 ft·7 sec·Vermont Route 100
18
Merge onto US 4; VT 100
6.2 mi·9 min·U.S. Route 4
19
Turn right onto VT 100
14 mi·20 min·Vermont Route 100
20
At end of road, turn left onto VT 103; VT 100
1.1 mi·1 min·Vermont Route 103 North
21
Continue on VT 103; VT 100
0.6 mi·1 min·Pond Street
22
Turn slight left onto VT 103; VT 100
0.2 mi·38 sec·Main Street
23
Arrive at destination
VT 103
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 115.1-mile journey, aim to depart early in the day to maintain a relaxed pace. You only need to plan for one major stop, which gives you plenty of flexibility to adjust your itinerary based on your personal comfort. Since the drive is under three hours, you can easily complete it in one go, but keep an eye on your fuel gauge before leaving the interstate to ensure you stay within your $18 budget. Pay close attention to the transition points where you leave I-89 for state routes, as navigating these turns requires more focus than the long highway stretches. By keeping your stops minimal, you will reach Ludlow in the estimated 2 hours and 38 minutes with time to spare for your afternoon plans.
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 57.5 miles from Colchester, VT, or about 1h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.8 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 25 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.5 miles or 1h 13m 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 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ludlow, 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 115.1 miles and 2h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 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 55.8 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 0 and 69.2 — 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|VT 2A / Main Street
Turn left onto VT 2A / Main Street
Navigation decision point
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
4
13 mi into trip|~21m in|US 2 / West Main Street
At end of road, turn left onto US 2 / West Main Street
Navigation decision point
6
69.2 mi into trip|~1h 26m in|VT 107
Take the exit onto VT 107 toward VT 107: Bethel, Royalton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 3
Toward VT 107: Bethel, Royalton
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.53 one way
$37.06 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg40 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$20.39
$40.77
premium
$4.86
$22.04
$44.08
diesel
$5.61
$25.41
$50.83
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34.5
0
$12.09
$5.52
Efficient EV
28.8
0
$10.07
$4.60
EV Truck/SUV
46
0
$16.11
$7.37
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (68% 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
Colchester, VT
Late night
in Colchester on Sunday
Local time
12:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Ludlow, VT
Late night
in Ludlow on Sunday
Local time
12:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
36°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
36°F
Bethel, VT
58 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
3 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
2h 38m 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...
11 mi from route
~28 min detour
Free
near mile 99.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a trip that is heavily highway-focused, with about 90% of your travel occurring on higher-speed roads. You will settle into a rhythm quickly, as the longest uninterrupted stretch spans 55.8 miles along I-89. The character of the road shifts as you transition from the interstate onto Vermont Route 100 and Route 107, moving from high-speed transit to more localized driving conditions. While the interstate sections allow you to cover ground efficiently, the remaining 10% of the route introduces a change in pace as you head toward Ludlow. Overall, the drive offers a blend of fast-paced highway cruising followed by a more grounded experience on state routes.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 55.8 mi on I 89.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 89 and Vermont Route 100. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near VT 2A / Main Street.
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 38m 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: near the start (VT 2A / Main Street): Navigation decision point; 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.
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 Ludlow, VT, road signs begin pointing toward Royalton along the way.
Royalton
69.2 mi in|~1h 26m|via VT 107
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 38m. Total distance: 115.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 55.8 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: near the start (VT 2A / Main Street): Navigation decision point; 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.
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 Ludlow, VT before heading back.
