If you are looking to travel from Hartford to Leicester, Vermont, expect a straightforward 60.6-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 36 minutes. This trip is perfectly suited as a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You can anticipate a fuel budget of approximately $10, making this a cost-effective way to navigate the Northeast. The route utilizes a mix of I-89, Vermont Route 107, and the winding Brandon Mountain Road to connect these two Vermont destinations. Because this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever your schedule allows without the stress of a long-haul haul.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
30.3 miles from Hartford, VT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 41m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 89
18.2 mi
21m
Brandon Mountain Road
9 mi
15m
Vermont Route 107
8.6 mi
13m
Vermont Route 100
7.7 mi
12m
Gap Road
3.6 mi
6m
River Street
3.4 mi
5m
Fern Lake Road
2.3 mi
5m
Woodstock Road
2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 89
— 18.2 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hartford, VT and Leicester, VT.
1
Start on Christian Street
42 ft·3 sec·Christian Street
2
Continue on V.A. Cutoff Road
0.4 mi·55 sec·V.A. Cutoff Road
3
Turn right onto TH 132
144 ft·10 sec·TH 132
4
Turn left onto US 4
2.0 mi·3 min·Woodstock Road
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
6
Merge onto I 89
18 mi·21 min·I 89
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·59 sec
Exit 3Toward VT 107: Bethel, Royalton
8
Turn right onto VT 107
1.9 mi·3 min·Vermont Route 107
9
Continue on VT 107
0.9 mi·1 min·South Main Street
10
Turn slight left onto VT 107
3.4 mi·5 min·River Street
11
Continue on VT 107
6.7 mi·10 min·Vermont Route 107
12
Turn right onto VT 100
1.0 mi·1 min·Vermont Route 100
13
Continue on VT 100
6.7 mi·10 min·Vermont Route 100
14
Turn left onto VT 73
3.9 mi·6 min·Brandon Mountain Road
15
Continue on VT 73
5.1 mi·8 min·Brandon Mountain Road
16
Continue on VT 73
3.6 mi·6 min·Gap Road
17
Continue on VT 73
1.6 mi·2 min·Forest Dale Road
18
Turn right onto VT 53
1.3 mi·3 min·North Street
19
Continue on VT 53
0.9 mi·2 min·Lake Dunmore Road
20
Keep slight left at fork onto Fern Lake Road
2.3 mi·5 min·Fern Lake Road
21
Turn right onto US 7
385 ft·6 sec·US 7
22
Arrive at destination
US 7
Trip Plan
Since this is a compact 1 hour and 36-minute drive, you have the advantage of total flexibility in your departure time. There are no planned stops on this route, so it is wise to ensure your tank is ready for the $10 fuel estimate before you head out from Hartford. Keep a close eye on your navigation as you transition from the interstate onto Brandon Mountain Road, as the shift in road type can happen quickly. Because the longest highway stretch is only 18.2 miles, you will find yourself on secondary roads for a large portion of the trip. Plan your departure to avoid peak local traffic hours to ensure the most consistent travel time possible.
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 30.3 miles from Hartford, VT, or about 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 18.2 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 13 miles or 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 30.3 miles or 41m 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 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Leicester, VT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hartford, VT so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Hartford, VT
This is one driving day of about 60.6 miles and 1h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 13 miles from Hartford, VT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 89 for about 18.2 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 2.4 and 58.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
2.4 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
6
20.9 mi into trip|~25m in
Take the exit 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
4
34.1 mi into trip|~47m in|VT 100 / Vermont Route 100
Turn right onto VT 100 / Vermont Route 100
Navigation decision point
4
55.9 mi into trip|~1h 24m in|VT 53 / North Street
Turn right onto VT 53 / North Street
Navigation decision point
4
58.2 mi into trip|~1h 30m in|Fern Lake Road
Keep slight left at fork onto Fern Lake Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.76 one way
$19.51 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg21 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$10.73
$21.47
premium
$4.86
$11.60
$23.21
diesel
$5.61
$13.38
$26.76
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
18.2
0
$6.36
$2.91
Efficient EV
15.2
0
$5.30
$2.42
EV Truck/SUV
24.2
0
$8.48
$3.88
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (67% 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 20, 2026
Origin
Hartford, VT
Morning
in Hartford on Tuesday
Local time
6:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Leicester, VT
Morning
in Leicester on Tuesday
Local time
6:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
59°F
Rochester, VT
30 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
19 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 36m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive offers a varied experience, blending high-speed interstate travel with more intimate local roads. With 57% of your time spent on highways, you will start with the 18.2-mile stretch on I-89, which represents the longest uninterrupted portion of your journey. As you transition onto Vermont Route 107 and eventually Brandon Mountain Road, the pace naturally shifts from highway cruising to a more technical, mixed-road feel. Expect the character of the drive to change significantly once you leave the interstate, requiring a bit more attention behind the wheel. It is a balanced route that keeps you engaged without feeling like a monotonous highway grind.
57% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18.2 mi on I 89.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 2.4 miles in.
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 36m 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: at 2.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 20.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34.1 miles (VT 100 / Vermont Route 100): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,629 ft392 ft
Total Climb
1,381 ft
Total Descent
1,328 ft
Highest Point
1,629 ft
~51.9 mi in
Elevation Range
1,237 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 Hartford, VT to Leicester, VT, road signs begin pointing toward Royalton along the way.
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 18.2 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: at 2.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 20.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34.1 miles (VT 100 / Vermont Route 100): 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 Leicester, VT before heading back.
