Leicester, VT to Milton, VT is 61.7 miles and takes about 1h 36m via US 7, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, single-day trip entirely within Vermont, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Expect a mixed drive with a significant portion on highways, making it an efficient way to cover the ground. It's a practical choice if you're looking for a relatively short and direct journey with minimal fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
30.8 miles from Leicester, VT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Ethan Allen Highway
12.3 mi
19m
US 7
11.3 mi
18m
North Pleasant Street
10.2 mi
13m
I 89
10.2 mi
12m
U.S. Route 7
7.4 mi
11m
Shelburne Road
6.6 mi
13m
I 189
1.2 mi
1m
River Street
1.2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Ethan Allen Highway
— 12.3 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Leicester, VT and Milton, VT.
1
Start on US 7
11 mi·18 min·US 7
2
Enter roundabout onto US 7
375 ft·14 sec·North Pleasant Street
3
Continue on US 7
10 mi·13 min·North Pleasant Street
4
Continue on US 7
3.1 mi·4 min·U.S. Route 7
5
Continue on US 7
12 mi·19 min·Ethan Allen Highway
6
Continue on US 7
6.6 mi·13 min·Shelburne Road
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Toward I 189: Montpelier, Saint AlbansUse the slight right / right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 189
1.2 mi·1 min·I 189
Toward I 89
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward I 89 North: Winooski, Saint Albans
10
Merge onto I 89
10 mi·12 min·I 89
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·34 sec
Exit 17Toward US 2, US 7: Lake Champlain Islands, Colchester
12
Keep slight left at fork
242 ft·12 sec
13
Turn left onto US 2
481 ft·16 sec·U.S. Route 2
14
At end of road, turn left onto US 7
4.3 mi·7 min·U.S. Route 7
15
Turn straight onto Railroad Street
323 ft·10 sec·Railroad Street
16
Turn left onto River Street
1.2 mi·3 min·River Street
17
Turn right onto Main Street
0.1 mi·21 sec·Main Street
18
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the 1h 36m duration and 61.7-mile distance, this trip is easily completed in a single day, so you have flexibility with your departure time. Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid the earliest rush and allow for a relaxed start. With a fuel cost estimated at $10, you won't need to budget heavily for gas, but it's always wise to ensure you have a full tank before heading out, especially since the longest continuous stretch without a known stop is 12.3 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach Milton, VT.
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 30.8 miles from Leicester, VT, or about 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 12.3 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 14 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 30.8 miles or 45m 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Milton, VT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Leicester, VT so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Leicester, VT
This is one driving day of about 61.7 miles and 1h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 14 miles from Leicester, VT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Ethan Allen Highway for about 12.3 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 43.6 and 56 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
43.6 mi into trip|~1h 8m in
Take the exit toward I 189: Montpelier, Saint Albans
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right / right lanes.
Toward I 189: Montpelier, Saint Albans
6
45.1 mi into trip|~1h 10m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 89 North: Winooski, Saint Albans
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 89 North: Winooski, Saint Albans
6
55.7 mi into trip|~1h 24m in
Take the exit toward US 2, US 7: Lake Champlain Islands, Colchester
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 17
Toward US 2, US 7: Lake Champlain Islands, Colc...
5
55.9 mi into trip|~1h 25m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
56 mi into trip|~1h 25m in|US 7 / U.S. Route 7
At end of road, turn left onto US 7 / U.S. Route 7
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.93 one way
$19.87 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg22 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$10.93
$21.86
premium
$4.86
$11.82
$23.63
diesel
$5.61
$13.62
$27.25
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: 21.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
18.5
0
$6.48
$2.96
Efficient EV
15.4
0
$5.40
$2.47
EV Truck/SUV
24.7
0
$8.64
$3.95
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (68% 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
Leicester, VT
Morning
in Leicester on Tuesday
Local time
6:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Milton, VT
Morning
in Milton on Tuesday
Local time
6:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
42°F
Charlotte, VT
31 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
20 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 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route offers a mixed driving experience, with 49% of it on highways. You'll encounter stretches on roads like Ethan Allen Highway and US 7, which can feel like a classic highway drive at times. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll navigate is 12.3 miles on Ethan Allen Highway, providing a good opportunity to settle into a rhythm. As you progress, the character of the drive will shift between these more open highway sections and potentially more localized road segments.
49% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.3 mi on Ethan Allen Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 43.6 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 61.7 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 43.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 45.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 55.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
Between Leicester, VT and Milton, VT, road signs point toward Saint Albans and Colchester.
Saint Albans
43.6 mi in|~1h 8m
Colchester
55.7 mi in|~1h 24m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 36m. Total distance: 61.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (49%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.3 miles on Ethan Allen Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Milton, VT before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 43.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 45.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 55.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Milton, VT before heading back.
