Traveling from Colchester to Manchester, Vermont, covers 107.2 miles of the state's picturesque landscape. You should plan for a drive time of approximately 2 hours and 55 minutes, making this a perfect single-day excursion. With a modest fuel budget of about $17, the trip is an affordable way to cross the Northeast region. While the route is manageable in a single day, the turn-heavy nature of the roads suggests you should prioritize comfort over speed. You will primarily navigate via North Main Street, Vermont Route 116, and Franklin Street to reach your destination. It is a straightforward trip that balances travel time with the charm of local Vermont transit.
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
53.6 miles from Colchester, VT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 25m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
North Main Street
28.6 mi
46m
Vermont Route 116
14.2 mi
21m
Franklin Street
14.1 mi
23m
Ethan Allen Highway
10.9 mi
16m
Main Street
6.1 mi
12m
Case Street
6.1 mi
8m
South 116 Road
5.5 mi
8m
North 116 Road
4.1 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
North Main Street
— 28.6 mi, about 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Colchester, VT and Manchester, 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
1.9 mi·3 min·Colchester Road
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on VT 2A
0.9 mi·2 min·Lincoln Street
5
Continue on VT 2A
0.7 mi·2 min·Park Street
6
Continue on VT 2A
2.2 mi·3 min·Essex Road
7
Continue on VT 2A
3.7 mi·5 min·Saint George Road
8
Continue on VT 2A
2.0 mi·2 min·Vermont Route 2A
9
At end of road, turn left onto VT 116
14 mi·21 min·Vermont Route 116
Use the left lane.
10
Continue on VT 116
4.1 mi·6 min·North 116 Road
11
Continue on VT 17; VT 116
0.9 mi·1 min·Rockydale Road
12
Continue on VT 17; VT 116
0.5 mi·1 min·East Street
13
Continue on VT 17; VT 116
0.2 mi·25 sec·Main Street
14
Continue on VT 17; VT 116
0.6 mi·53 sec·West Street
15
Continue on VT 17; VT 116
0.5 mi·56 sec·Stony Hill Road
16
Turn left onto VT 116
2.1 mi·3 min·South 116 Road
17
Continue on VT 116
3.4 mi·5 min·South 116 Road
18
Continue on VT 116
6.1 mi·8 min·Case Street
19
Turn right onto VT 116
0.5 mi·51 sec·Ossie Road
20
At end of road, turn left onto US 7
1.1 mi·1 min·U.S. Route 7 South
21
Continue on US 7
11 mi·16 min·Ethan Allen Highway
22
Continue on US 7; VT 73
0.2 mi·39 sec·Conant Square
23
Continue on US 7; VT 73
0.2 mi·44 sec·Center Street
24
Continue on US 7
14 mi·23 min·Franklin Street
25
Continue on US 7
29 mi·46 min·North Main Street
Use the straight lane.
26
Turn right onto VT 7A
1.6 mi·2 min·Vermont Route 7A
27
Continue on VT 7A
3.2 mi·6 min·Main Street
28
Enter roundabout onto VT 7A; VT 30
65 ft·1 sec·Main Street
29
Continue on VT 7A; VT 30
180 ft·4 sec·Main Street
30
Enter roundabout onto VT 7A
94 ft·1 sec·Main Street
31
Continue on VT 7A
0.3 mi·47 sec·Main Street
32
Enter roundabout onto VT 7A
79 ft·1 sec·Main Street
33
Continue on VT 7A
0.8 mi·2 min·Main Street
34
Turn right onto Seminary Avenue
90 ft·3 sec·Seminary Avenue
35
Arrive at destination
Seminary Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this 107.2-mile journey takes nearly three hours, departing early in the morning allows you to maximize your time once you arrive in Manchester. Although the trip is short enough to complete without an overnight stay, planning for at least one dedicated stop along the way will help you stay fresh behind the wheel. Given the high volume of turns, keep a close eye on your navigation to ensure you remain on the correct path through Vermont Route 116. Factor the $17 fuel estimate into your travel budget before heading out, as local roads may result in varied gas mileage compared to highway driving. Use the flexibility of this shorter route to adjust your pace as needed based on local traffic conditions.
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 53.6 miles from Colchester, VT, or about 1h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 28.6 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 24 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53.6 miles or 1h 25m 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 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Manchester, 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 107.2 miles and 2h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 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 North Main Street for about 28.6 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 106.4 — 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|VT 2A / Main Street
Turn left onto VT 2A / Main Street
Navigation decision point
6
12.9 mi into trip|~22m in|VT 116 / Vermont Route 116
At end of road, turn left onto VT 116 / Vermont Route 116
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
46 mi into trip|~1h 13m in|US 7 / U.S. Route 7 South
At end of road, turn left onto US 7 / U.S. Route 7 South
Navigation decision point
5
106 mi into trip|~2h 52m in|VT 7A / Main Street
Enter roundabout onto VT 7A / Main Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
106.4 mi into trip|~2h 53m in|VT 7A / Main Street
Enter roundabout onto VT 7A / Main Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.26 one way
$34.52 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg38 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$18.99
$37.98
premium
$4.86
$20.53
$41.06
diesel
$5.61
$23.67
$47.34
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
32.2
0
$11.26
$5.15
Efficient EV
26.8
0
$9.38
$4.29
EV Truck/SUV
42.9
0
$15.01
$6.86
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Colchester, VT
Late night
in Colchester on Sunday
Local time
2:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Manchester, VT
Late night
in Manchester on Sunday
Local time
2:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
37°F
Leicester, VT
54 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
2h 55m 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...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 73.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. With only 18% of the journey spent on highways, you will spend most of your time navigating local roads that wind through the state. You will encounter your longest continuous stretch on North Main Street, which spans 28.6 miles of the total distance. Because the route relies heavily on secondary roads, the experience behind the wheel feels much more involved than a typical highway trek. Prepare for a dynamic journey where the road surface and turn frequency shift constantly as you transition between towns.
Only 18% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
35 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 28.6 mi on North Main Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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 Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 55m drive. You will face about 10 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 12.9 miles (VT 116 / Vermont Route 116): Lane positioning matters here; at 46 miles (US 7 / U.S. Route 7 South): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 55m. Total distance: 107.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 28.6 miles on North Main Street. 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 12.9 miles (VT 116 / Vermont Route 116): Lane positioning matters here; at 46 miles (US 7 / U.S. Route 7 South): 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 Manchester, VT before heading back.
