Origin
Colchester, VT
Morning in Colchester on Tuesday
Local time
9:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Colchester, VT to Waitsfield, VT
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 2m
Distance
40.6 mi
65 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 57m
★
6 AM
1h 2m
8 AM
1h 12m
10 AM
1h 6m
12 PM
1h 5m
3 PM
1h 6m
5 PM
1h 12m
8 PM
0h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Colchester, VT
Wikimedia Commons
Waitsfield, VT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Colchester, VT to Waitsfield, VT is 40.6 miles and takes about 1h 2m via I 89 and VT Route 100, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, specifically Vermont, making it a straightforward local journey. Expect a drive that primarily utilizes interstate highway, offering a quick connection between these two points. It's a short enough distance that you won't feel rushed, allowing for a relaxed pace, and is perfect for a single-day excursion.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 89 | 14.1 mi | 16m |
| Vermont Route 100 | 7.2 mi | 12m |
| Main Street | 5.4 mi | 9m |
| Vermont Route 289 | 4.5 mi | 7m |
| River Road | 3.2 mi | 5m |
| Vermont Route 117 | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| North Main Street | 1.2 mi | 3m |
| Colchester Road | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 89
— 14.1 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Colchester, VT and Waitsfield, 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 East
Use 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
14 mi
·
16 min
·
I 89
11
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Exit 10
Toward VT 100: Waterbury, Stowe
12
Turn right onto VT 100
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Vermont Route 100
13
Enter roundabout onto US 2; VT 100
154 ft
·
5 sec
·
North Main Street
14
Continue on US 2; VT 100
1.1 mi
·
3 min
·
North Main Street
15
Continue on US 2; VT 100
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
U.S. Route 2
16
Turn right onto VT 100
7.0 mi
·
11 min
·
Vermont Route 100
17
At end of road, turn right onto VT 100
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
Vermont Route 100 South
18
Continue on VT 100
3.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Main Street
19
Arrive at destination
VT 100
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 40.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.3 miles from Colchester, VT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 27.8 — 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
6
27.5 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Take the exit toward VT 100: Waterbury, Stowe
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 10
Toward VT 100: Waterbury, Stowe
5
27.8 mi into trip
|
~39m in
|
US 2; VT 100 / North Main Street
Enter roundabout onto US 2; VT 100 / North Main Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.54 one way
$13.07 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $7.19 | $14.38 |
| premium | $4.86 | $7.77 | $15.55 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.96 | $17.93 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.26 | $1.95 |
| Efficient EV | 10.2 | 0 | $3.55 | $1.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.2 | 0 | $5.68 | $2.60 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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.
Destination
Waitsfield, VT
Morning in Waitsfield on Tuesday
Local time
9:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
59°F
Bolton, VT
20 mi in
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
1 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
1h 2m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is characterized as highway-focused, with 72% of it utilizing interstate travel. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 14.1 miles on I 89, offering a period of steady cruising. As you progress, the route transitions from the interstate onto Vermont Route 100, providing a change of scenery and driving experience. You'll likely notice the shift from high-speed highway driving to more local road conditions as you approach your destination.
72% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 14.1 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 Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 2m 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.
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 Waitsfield, VT, road signs begin pointing toward Stowe along the way.
Stowe
27.5 mi in
|
~38m
About the Cities
Starting in Colchester, VT
Full guide →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.
Arriving in Waitsfield, VT
Full guide →Waitsfield is a ski resort town in Central Vermont. Mad River Glen and Sugarbush are both nearby.
Top landmarks
- • Waitsfield Village Historic District — historic district in Vermont, United States
- • Great Eddy Covered Bridge — bridge in Waitsfield, Vermont
- • Pine Brook Covered Bridge — bridge in Waitsfield, Vermont
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 2m. Total distance: 40.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (72%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 14.1 miles on I 89. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Waitsfield, VT before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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