Colchester, VT to Woodstock, VT is 90.6 miles and takes about 2h 6m via I 89 and Vermont Route 12, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Vermont, connecting two points in the Northeast region. It's a straightforward, mostly highway drive, making it a convenient option if you're looking for a short journey with minimal fuss. You'll spend most of your time on well-maintained roads, so it's a good choice for a relaxed, same-day excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
45.3 miles from Colchester, VT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 89
55.8 mi
1h 4m
Vermont Route 12
11 mi
19m
Vermont Route 289
4.5 mi
7m
River Road
3.2 mi
5m
Barnard Road
2.9 mi
5m
Vermont Route 117
2.8 mi
4m
River Street
1.9 mi
3m
Vermont Route 107
1.7 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 89
— 55.8 mi, about 1h 4m
Traffic on I-89
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 23 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,138 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,481
Quietest
1 AM
~34 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
33.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 51 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 Woodstock, 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
1.9 mi·3 min·River Street
15
Turn left onto VT 12
1.4 mi·2 min·Creek Road
16
Continue on VT 12
11 mi·19 min·Vermont Route 12
17
Continue on VT 12
2.9 mi·5 min·Barnard Road
18
Continue on VT 12
1.0 mi·2 min·Elm Street
19
Turn left onto Pleasant Street
0.1 mi·13 sec·Pleasant Street
20
Turn right onto Bond Street
312 ft·17 sec·Bond Street
21
Turn right onto US 4; VT 12
519 ft·21 sec·Central Street
22
Turn left onto Mechanic Street
0.1 mi·35 sec·Mechanic Street
23
At end of road, turn right onto Court Street
101 ft·5 sec·Court Street
24
Turn right
165 ft·12 sec
25
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
With a drive time of just over 2 hours, this is a perfect route for a single-day trip, offering flexibility in your departure time. You won't need to worry much about fuel stops, given the estimated $15 cost and the relatively short distance. Consider leaving in the morning to maximize your time at your destination. The longest stretch is on I 89, so if you need a break before then, plan it in Colchester or a nearby town. Once you transition to Vermont Route 12, keep an eye out for local road conditions as you approach Woodstock.
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 45.3 miles from Colchester, VT, or about 59m 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 20 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.3 miles or 59m 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 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Woodstock, 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 90.6 miles and 2h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 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 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 90.6 — 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
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
6
90.6 mi into trip|~2h 5m in|Court Street
At end of road, turn right onto Court Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.02 one way
$32.03 round trip
$4.49/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.92
$17.54
$35.08
premium
$5.29
$18.87
$37.73
diesel
$5.35
$19.08
$38.17
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.2
0
$9.51
$4.35
Efficient EV
22.7
0
$7.93
$3.62
EV Truck/SUV
36.2
0
$12.68
$5.80
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 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 May 27, 2026
Origin
Colchester, VT
Afternoon
in Colchester on Wednesday
Local time
3:56 PM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Mostly Sunny
N 10 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Woodstock, VT
Afternoon
in Woodstock on Wednesday
Local time
3:56 PM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Mostly Sunny
NW 7 mph3% chanceLive forecast
77°F
Duxbury, VT
45 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
2 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 6m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 84% of the route utilizing interstate and major highways. You'll experience the longest uninterrupted stretch of 55.8 miles on I 89, offering a chance for steady progress. As you transition to Vermont Route 12, expect a change in scenery and road type, moving from the faster pace of the interstate to a more regional highway feel. The overall character is one of efficient travel, with a significant portion dedicated to smooth, high-speed driving before a slight shift in pace towards the end.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 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?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 89 and Vermont Route 12. 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 6m drive. You will face about 15 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.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,643 ft271 ft
Total Climb
1,917 ft
Total Descent
1,485 ft
Highest Point
1,643 ft
~51.8 mi in
Elevation Range
1,372 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 Woodstock, VT, road signs begin pointing toward Royalton 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
Woodstock is a quaint little shire town in the state of Vermont. The town holds its pertaining country seat, and is known for its old town buildings. The little town looks nearly the same as it did over one hundred years ago.
Top landmarks
•Billings Farm Museum — Museum and active dairy farm in Woodstock, Vermont
•George Perkins Marsh Boyhood Home — architectural centerpiece of Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park...
•Taftsville Covered Bridge — historic covered bridge in Woodstock, Vermont, USA
The longest stretch is about 55.8 miles on I 89. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 3 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: 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 Woodstock, VT before heading back.
