Traveling from Ludlow to Colchester covers 114.8 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 37 minutes. Because this is a relatively short trip, it works perfectly as a straightforward day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $18 for fuel to complete the journey. The route primarily utilizes Vermont Route 100 and I-89, keeping you within the Northeast region for the duration of the drive. It is a practical, efficient way to traverse this part of Vermont, offering a balance of local roads and interstate travel that makes for an easy day of driving.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
57.4 miles from Ludlow, VT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 25m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 89
55.7 mi
1h 4m
Vermont Route 100 North
14.1 mi
20m
Vermont Route 100
10.7 mi
16m
Vermont Route 107
8.6 mi
13m
U.S. Route 4
6.2 mi
9m
Vermont Route 289
4.5 mi
6m
River Street
3.4 mi
5m
River Road
2.9 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 89
— 55.7 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ludlow, VT and Colchester, VT.
1
Start on VT 103
0.2 mi·38 sec·Main Street
2
Continue on VT 103; VT 100
0.6 mi·1 min·Pond Street
3
Continue on VT 103; VT 100
1.1 mi·1 min·Vermont Route 103 North
4
Turn right onto VT 100
14 mi·20 min·Vermont Route 100 North
5
At end of road, turn left onto US 4; VT 100
6.2 mi·9 min·U.S. Route 4
6
Turn slight right onto VT 100
11 mi·16 min·Vermont Route 100
7
Continue on VT 107
6.7 mi·10 min·Vermont Route 107
8
Continue on VT 107
3.4 mi·5 min·River Street
9
Turn right onto VT 107
0.9 mi·1 min·South Main Street
10
Continue on VT 107
2.0 mi·3 min·Vermont Route 107
11
Turn left
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward I 89 North
12
Merge onto I 89
56 mi·1 hr 4 min·I 89
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Exit 11Toward US 2: Richmond, Williston
14
Turn right onto US 2
187 ft·6 sec·West Main Street
15
Turn right onto VT 117
0.8 mi·1 min·River Road
16
Continue on VT 117
2.8 mi·4 min·Vermont Route 117
17
Continue on VT 117
2.0 mi·3 min·River Road
18
Turn right onto VT 289
4.5 mi·6 min·Vermont Route 289
Toward VT 289 West
19
At end of road, turn right onto VT 2A
0.8 mi·1 min·Colchester Road
Use the right lane.
20
Continue on VT 2A
1.5 mi·2 min·Main Street
21
Turn right onto East Road
100 ft·2 sec·East Road
22
Arrive at destination
East Road
Trip Plan
Since the total drive time is under three hours, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure schedule. Plan for at least one stop to break up the 114.8-mile journey, which helps keep you alert as you move between local routes and the interstate. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before merging onto the longer stretches of I-89 to ensure you are comfortable between service areas. Because your longest stint on the highway spans 55.7 miles, make sure you are fueled up before hitting that stretch to avoid any mid-trip stress. Embracing the single-day timeline allows you to reach your destination in Colchester without the need for complex multi-day logistics.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 57.4 miles from Ludlow, VT, or about 1h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.7 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 25 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.4 miles or 1h 25m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Colchester, VT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ludlow, 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 Ludlow, VT
This is one driving day of about 114.8 miles and 2h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Ludlow, VT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 89 for about 55.7 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 16 and 114.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
16 mi into trip|~25m in|US 4; VT 100 / U.S. Route 4
At end of road, turn left onto US 4; VT 100 / U.S. Route 4
Navigation decision point
4
45.8 mi into trip|~1h 11m in
Turn left toward I 89 North
Navigation decision point
Toward I 89 North
6
101.9 mi into trip|~2h 17m in
Take the exit toward US 2: Richmond, Williston
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 11
Toward US 2: Richmond, Williston
7
112.5 mi into trip|~2h 33m in|VT 2A / Colchester Road
At end of road, turn right onto VT 2A / Colchester Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
4
114.8 mi into trip|~2h 37m in|East Road
Turn right onto East Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.48 one way
$36.96 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg40 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$20.33
$40.67
premium
$4.86
$21.98
$43.97
diesel
$5.61
$25.35
$50.69
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34.4
0
$12.05
$5.51
Efficient EV
28.7
0
$10.05
$4.59
EV Truck/SUV
45.9
0
$16.07
$7.35
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 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 15, 2026
Origin
Ludlow, VT
Late night
in Ludlow on Sunday
Local time
12:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
36°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Colchester, VT
Late night
in Colchester on Sunday
Local time
12:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
36°F
Bethel, VT
57 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
3 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 37m 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 trip is heavily highway-focused, with 90% of the journey spent on major thoroughfares. You will start by navigating Vermont Route 100 North before transitioning onto the interstate system. Expect a consistent pace, highlighted by a longest uninterrupted stretch of 55.7 miles on I-89. While the highway segments provide speed and reliability, the initial transition from local roads provides a shift in driving intensity. Behind the wheel, you will find the experience transitions from rural road navigation to the predictable rhythm of a multi-lane highway, allowing you to cover the distance efficiently.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 55.7 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 100 North. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 16 miles in near US 4; VT 100 / U.S. Route 4.
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 37m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 16 miles (US 4; VT 100 / U.S. Route 4): Navigation decision point; at 45.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 101.9 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.
On the drive from Ludlow, VT to Colchester, VT, road signs begin pointing toward Williston along the way.
Williston
101.9 mi in|~2h 17m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 37m. Total distance: 114.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 55.7 miles on I 89. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: at 16 miles (US 4; VT 100 / U.S. Route 4): Navigation decision point; at 45.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 101.9 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 Colchester, VT before heading back.
