Franklin, VT to Montpelier, VT is 81.6 miles and takes about 1h 45m via I 89 and VT 105, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Vermont, connecting two points in the Northeast region. The drive is predominantly on the interstate, making it a straightforward connection between these two locations. With a single day recommended, this route is ideal for a quick transit or a day trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.8 miles from Franklin, VT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 89
60.3 mi
1h 10m
Vermont Route 105
6.7 mi
9m
Sheldon Road
4.4 mi
6m
North Sheldon Road
2.6 mi
4m
Fisher Pond Road
1.8 mi
3m
Vermont Route 120
1.7 mi
3m
Memorial Drive
1.2 mi
2m
Main Street
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 89
— 60.3 mi, about 1h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Franklin, VT and Montpelier, VT.
1
Start on this road
56 ft·9 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto Hanna Road
171 ft·6 sec·Hanna Road
3
Turn right onto VT 120
0.8 mi·1 min·Main Street
4
Continue on VT 120
2.6 mi·4 min·North Sheldon Road
5
Continue on VT 120
1.7 mi·3 min·Vermont Route 120
6
Turn right onto VT 105
6.7 mi·9 min·Vermont Route 105
7
Continue on VT 105
4.4 mi·6 min·Sheldon Road
8
Continue on VT 104
1.8 mi·3 min·Fisher Pond Road
9
Continue on VT 104
0.6 mi·1 min·Fairfax Road
10
Take the ramp
266 ft·15 sec
Toward I 89Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·58 sec
Toward I 89 South: BurlingtonUse the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto I 89
60 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 89
13
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 8Toward US 2: Montpelier, Saint Johnsbury
14
Continue on Memorial Drive
1.2 mi·2 min·Memorial Drive
Use the left lane.
15
Turn left onto VT 12; US 2 Business
0.2 mi·22 sec·Main Street
16
Arrive at destination
VT 12; US 2 Business
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of 1 hour and 45 minutes, this route offers a lot of flexibility. You could easily depart in the morning and arrive well before lunch, or leave in the afternoon for an evening arrival. A fuel cost of around $13 suggests filling up before you leave Franklin, VT, or at a major stop along I 89, would be sufficient. Since there are no specific stops recommended, consider utilizing rest areas on I 89 for a break if needed. The transition from I 89 to Vermont Route 105 is a key point to be aware of for navigation.
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 40.8 miles from Franklin, VT, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 60.3 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 18 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.8 miles or 56m 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Montpelier, VT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Franklin, VT so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Franklin, VT
This is one driving day of about 81.6 miles and 1h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Franklin, VT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 89 for about 60.3 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 81.4 — 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|Hanna Road
Turn left onto Hanna Road
Navigation decision point
5
18.8 mi into trip|~30m in
Take the ramp toward I 89
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 89
7
18.9 mi into trip|~30m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 89 South: Burlington
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 89 South: Burlington
6
79.6 mi into trip|~1h 42m in
Take the exit toward US 2: Montpelier, Saint Johnsbury
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 8
Toward US 2: Montpelier, Saint Johnsbury
4
81.4 mi into trip|~1h 45m in|VT 12; US 2 Business / Main Street
Turn left onto VT 12; US 2 Business / Main Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.14 one way
$26.27 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$14.45
$28.91
premium
$4.86
$15.63
$31.25
diesel
$5.61
$18.02
$36.03
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.5
0
$8.57
$3.92
Efficient EV
20.4
0
$7.14
$3.26
EV Truck/SUV
32.6
0
$11.42
$5.22
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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
Franklin, VT
Late night
in Franklin on Sunday
Local time
12:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Montpelier, VT
Late night
in Montpelier on Sunday
Local time
12:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
36°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
39°F
Colchester, VT
41 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
13 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
1h 45m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is mostly highway, with 84% of the drive on interstates. You'll experience a longest stretch of 60.3 miles on I 89 before transitioning to Vermont Route 105 and Sheldon Road. Expect a significant amount of rural cruising on the interstate before you encounter more local road conditions. The interstate portion means you'll likely see frequent, but not necessarily dense, exit signage.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 60.3 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 105. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Hanna Road.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 45m drive. You will face about 8 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 (Hanna Road): Navigation decision point; at 18.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 18.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 45m. Total distance: 81.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 60.3 miles on I 89. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 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. 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 (Hanna Road): Navigation decision point; at 18.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 18.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Montpelier, VT before heading back.
