Traveling between Hartford and Manchester, Vermont, covers 77.7 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 52 minutes of driving time. This trip works perfectly as a straightforward day trip, allowing you to reach your destination in under two hours without the need for an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $12 on fuel for the journey, making this an economical excursion within the Northeast region. The route relies heavily on major thoroughfares, consisting of 76% highway driving. Whether you are heading south for a quick getaway or navigating between these two Vermont hubs, the experience is designed for efficiency and ease.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.8 miles from Hartford, VT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 91
35.1 mi
40m
Vermont Route 11
17.1 mi
26m
Rockingham Road
6.5 mi
9m
Vermont Route 11 West
4.4 mi
6m
Simonsville Road
3.7 mi
5m
Depot Street
3.2 mi
6m
Vermont Route 103 South
2.5 mi
4m
South Main Street
1.2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 91
— 35.1 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hartford, VT and Manchester, 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·8 sec·TH 132
4
Turn right onto US 4
0.8 mi·1 min·Woodstock Road
5
Turn right onto US 5
0.5 mi·42 sec·North Main Street
6
Enter roundabout onto US 5
68 ft·1 sec·North Main Street
7
Continue on US 5
0.2 mi·26 sec·North Main Street
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·39 sec
9
Merge onto I 91
35 mi·40 min·I 91
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·41 sec
Exit 6Toward US 5, VT 103: Rockingham, Bellows Falls
11
At end of road, turn left onto VT 103
6.5 mi·9 min·Rockingham Road
12
Continue on VT 103
2.5 mi·4 min·Vermont Route 103 South
13
Continue on VT 11; VT 103
1.2 mi·3 min·South Main Street
14
Continue on VT 11
4.4 mi·6 min·Vermont Route 11 West
15
Continue on VT 11
3.7 mi·5 min·Simonsville Road
16
Continue on VT 11
5.6 mi·8 min·Vermont Route 11
17
Continue on VT 100; VT 11
0.4 mi·59 sec·North Main Street
18
Continue on VT 11
12 mi·17 min·Vermont Route 11
19
Continue on VT 11; VT 30
1.3 mi·2 min·Depot Street
20
Continue on VT 11; VT 30
1.9 mi·4 min·Depot Street
21
Enter roundabout onto VT 7A
182 ft·3 sec·Main Street
22
Continue on VT 7A
0.3 mi·47 sec·Main Street
23
Enter roundabout onto VT 7A
79 ft·1 sec·Main Street
24
Continue on VT 7A
0.8 mi·2 min·Main Street
25
Turn right onto Seminary Avenue
90 ft·3 sec·Seminary Avenue
26
Arrive at destination
Seminary Avenue
Trip Plan
Because this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your own schedule rather than rushing to beat the clock. With no mandatory stops built into this 1 hour and 52 minute drive, feel free to pace yourself according to your personal comfort levels. I recommend keeping an eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Hartford, as the $12 estimated cost is based on a direct run. Since a significant portion of your time is spent on I-91, stay alert for changes in speed limits when you exit the interstate to transition onto Vermont Route 11 and Rockingham Road. Enjoy the convenience of a route that keeps you moving efficiently from start to finish.
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 38.8 miles from Hartford, VT, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35.1 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 17 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.8 miles or 47m 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 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Manchester, 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 77.7 miles and 1h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Hartford, VT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 91 for about 35.1 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 and 76.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
6
37.4 mi into trip|~44m in
Take the exit toward US 5, VT 103: Rockingham, Bellows Falls
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 6
Toward US 5, VT 103: Rockingham, Bellows Falls
5
37.6 mi into trip|~45m in|VT 103 / Rockingham Road
At end of road, turn left onto VT 103 / Rockingham Road
Navigation decision point
5
76.5 mi into trip|~1h 49m in|VT 7A / Main Street
Enter roundabout onto VT 7A / Main Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
76.8 mi into trip|~1h 50m in|VT 7A / Main Street
Enter roundabout onto VT 7A / Main Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.51 one way
$25.02 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$13.76
$27.53
premium
$4.86
$14.88
$29.76
diesel
$5.61
$17.16
$34.31
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: 27.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.3
0
$8.16
$3.73
Efficient EV
19.4
0
$6.80
$3.11
EV Truck/SUV
31.1
0
$10.88
$4.97
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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 15, 2026
Origin
Hartford, VT
Late night
in Hartford on Sunday
Local time
12:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Manchester, VT
Late night
in Manchester on Sunday
Local time
12:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
37°F
Chester, VT
39 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
12 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 52m 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 drive is primarily a highway-focused endeavor, utilizing a combination of I-91, Vermont Route 11, and Rockingham Road to get you to your destination. You will settle into a steady rhythm early on, as the longest uninterrupted stretch spans 35.1 miles while navigating I-91. While the interstate segments provide a fast, consistent pace, the journey transitions into local transit as you move onto Vermont Route 11 and Rockingham Road. This mix creates a functional balance between high-speed travel and the transition onto smaller state roads. You can expect a predictable driving experience that prioritizes direct movement through the Vermont landscape.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 35.1 mi on I 91.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 91 and Vermont Route 11. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 2 miles in.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Hartford, VT to Manchester, VT is easy. At 1h 52m with 76% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 37.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37.6 miles (VT 103 / Rockingham Road): Navigation decision point.
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 Manchester, VT, road signs begin pointing toward Bellows Falls along the way.
Bellows Falls
37.4 mi in|~44m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 52m. Total distance: 77.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 35.1 miles on I 91. 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 miles: Navigation decision point; at 37.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37.6 miles (VT 103 / Rockingham Road): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Manchester, VT before heading back.
