Colchester, VT to Norwich, VT is 97.1 miles and takes about 2h 1m via I 89, I 91, and VT-289, with a fuel budget near $17 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, entirely within Vermont. Given its predominantly highway profile, it's a straightforward drive, ideal for a single-day excursion. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates, making it a quick and efficient connection between these two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48.6 miles from Colchester, VT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 89
77.4 mi
1h 29m
I 91
4.6 mi
5m
Vermont Route 289
4.5 mi
7m
River Road
3.2 mi
5m
Vermont Route 117
2.8 mi
4m
Main Street
2.2 mi
4m
Colchester Road
1 mi
1m
West Main Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 89
— 77.4 mi, about 1h 29m
Traffic on I-89
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 43 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~951 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,393
Quietest
1 AM
~31 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
30.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 98 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 Colchester, VT and Norwich, 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 left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 91 North
13
Merge onto I 91
4.6 mi·5 min·I 91
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·33 sec
Exit 13Toward VT 10A: Norwich, Hanover New Hampshire
15
Turn left onto VT 10A
0.7 mi·2 min·Main Street
16
Turn right
133 ft·9 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
You can easily complete this 2-hour drive in a single day, offering flexibility in your departure time. Leaving mid-morning allows you to avoid the busiest commute times, and with only 97.1 miles, you won't need to plan for overnight stops. Keep an eye on your fuel; the estimated cost is around $17, so a fill-up before you leave Colchester or upon arrival in Norwich should suffice. Since the drive is short and mostly highway, you can easily adjust your schedule if needed.
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 48.6 miles from Colchester, VT, or about 1h 2m 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 21 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.6 miles or 1h 2m 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 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Norwich, 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 97.1 miles and 2h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Colchester, VT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
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 96.1 — 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
5
91 mi into trip|~1h 52m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 91 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 91 North
6
96.1 mi into trip|~1h 58m in
Take the exit toward VT 10A: Norwich, Hanover New Hampshire
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 13
Toward VT 10A: Norwich, Hanover New Hampshire
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.95 one way
$33.89 round trip
$4.43/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.93
$18.86
$37.72
premium
$5.30
$20.26
$40.53
diesel
$6.18
$23.62
$47.24
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: 34 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29.1
0
$10.20
$4.66
Efficient EV
24.3
0
$8.50
$3.88
EV Truck/SUV
38.8
0
$13.59
$6.21
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 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 Oct 16, 2026
Origin
Colchester, VT
Afternoon
in Colchester on Saturday
Local time
12:33 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Rain Showers
S 16 mph79% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Norwich, VT
Afternoon
in Norwich on Saturday
Local time
12:33 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Rain Showers
S 7 mph87% chanceLive forecast
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 1m 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...
8 mi from route
~19 min detour
Free
near mile 87.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is mostly highway, with 92% of the 97.1 miles on major roads like I 89 and I 91. You'll encounter a long stretch of 77.4 miles on I 89, indicating significant interstate cruising. The transition to surface roads will occur late in the drive, after the main highway portions conclude. Expect a consistent flow typical of interstate travel for the majority of your time behind the wheel.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 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?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 89 and I 91. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.5 miles in near VT 289 / Vermont Route 289.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 97.1 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,475 ft271 ft
Total Climb
1,333 ft
Total Descent
1,075 ft
Highest Point
1,475 ft
~48.6 mi in
Elevation Range
1,204 ft
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 Norwich, 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.
Top landmarks
•Fort Ethan Allen — historic Army base in Vermont, USA
Norwich is a city of 3,600 people (2020) in eastern Vermont across the Connecticut River from Hanover, New Hampshire. It is commuter town for nearby Hanover, New Hampshire, across the Connecticut River, and is home to some of the state of Vermont's wealthiest residents. The town contains the Norwich Mid-Century Modern Historic District.
Top landmarks
•Norwich Village Historic District — historic district in Vermont, United States
•Beaver Meadow Union Chapel — historic church in Vermont, United States
•Norwich Mid-Century Modern Historic District — historic district in Norwich, Vermont
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 1m. Total distance: 97.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
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 5 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Norwich, VT before heading back.
