Spanning 102 miles across Vermont, this journey from Manchester to South Burlington is a straightforward trek that typically takes about 2 hours and 45 minutes to complete. It is a perfect candidate for a single-day trip, allowing you to easily make the transit without the need for an overnight stay. You can expect to spend roughly $16 on fuel for the entire drive, making it a budget-friendly option for your regional travels. The route primarily utilizes U.S. Route 7 and Vermont Route 116 to bridge these two Northeast locations. Because the duration is relatively short, you have plenty of flexibility to adjust your pace or add a stop along the way.
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
51 miles from Manchester, VT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 26m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
U.S. Route 7
25.8 mi
41m
Vermont Route 116
17.7 mi
26m
U.S. Route 7 North
14.1 mi
23m
Grove Street
10.9 mi
16m
Case Street
6 mi
8m
South 116 Road
5.5 mi
8m
Main Street
4.6 mi
9m
Hinesburg Road
4.3 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
U.S. Route 7
— 25.8 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Manchester, VT and South Burlington, VT.
1
Start on Seminary Avenue
90 ft·7 sec·Seminary Avenue
2
Turn slight left onto VT 7A
0.8 mi·2 min·Main Street
3
Enter roundabout onto VT 7A
93 ft·2 sec·Main Street
4
Continue on VT 7A
0.3 mi·47 sec·Main Street
5
Enter roundabout onto VT 7A; VT 30
91 ft·1 sec·Main Street
6
Continue on VT 7A; VT 30
186 ft·4 sec·Main Street
7
Enter roundabout onto VT 7A
17 ft·0 sec·Main Street
8
Continue on VT 7A
3.2 mi·6 min·Main Street
9
Continue on VT 7A
1.6 mi·2 min·Vermont Route 7A
10
At end of road, turn left onto US 7
26 mi·41 min·U.S. Route 7
11
Continue on US 4; US 7
2.8 mi·5 min·South Main Street
12
Continue on US 7
14 mi·23 min·U.S. Route 7 North
13
Continue on US 7; VT 73
0.2 mi·42 sec·Center Street
14
Continue on US 7; VT 73
0.2 mi·39 sec·Conant Square
15
Continue on US 7
11 mi·16 min·Grove Street
16
Continue on US 7
1.1 mi·1 min·U.S. Route 7 South
17
Turn right onto VT 116
0.5 mi·45 sec·Ossie Road
18
Turn left onto VT 116
364 ft·6 sec·Church Street
19
Continue on VT 116
6.0 mi·8 min·Case Street
20
Continue on VT 116
5.5 mi·8 min·South 116 Road
21
Turn right onto VT 17; VT 116
0.5 mi·48 sec·Stony Hill Road
22
Continue on VT 17; VT 116
0.6 mi·55 sec·West Street
23
Continue on VT 17; VT 116
0.2 mi·22 sec·Main Street
24
Continue on VT 17; VT 116
0.5 mi·1 min·East Street
25
Continue on VT 17; VT 116
0.9 mi·1 min·Rockydale Road
26
Continue on VT 17; VT 116
4.1 mi·6 min·North 116 Road
27
Continue on VT 116
9.0 mi·13 min·Vermont Route 116
28
Continue on VT 116
8.7 mi·12 min·Vermont Route 116
29
Continue on VT 116
4.3 mi·7 min·Hinesburg Road
30
Turn right onto US 2
177 ft·31 sec·Williston Road
31
Continue on US 2
87 ft·2 sec·Williston Road
32
Arrive at destination
US 2
Trip Plan
Since this is a manageable drive, you have the advantage of departing whenever it best suits your schedule. Planning for at least one stop will help you break up the 2-hour and 45-minute travel time, ensuring you arrive in South Burlington refreshed. Keep your fuel budget of $16 in mind when mapping out your departure, and ensure your tank is topped off to avoid unnecessary detours. Given the route's reliance on specific stretches like U.S. Route 7, monitor traffic reports for that section before you head out. Because the drive is under three hours, you don't need a rigid itinerary, so feel free to take your time and utilize that single recommended stop to stretch your legs.
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 51 miles from Manchester, VT, or about 1h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 25.8 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 22 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51 miles or 1h 26m 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 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near South Burlington, VT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Manchester, 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 Manchester, VT
This is one driving day of about 102 miles and 2h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Manchester, 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 U.S. Route 7 for about 25.8 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 102 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.8 mi into trip|~2m in|VT 7A / Main Street
Enter roundabout onto VT 7A / Main Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
1.2 mi into trip|~3m in|VT 7A; VT 30 / Main Street
Enter roundabout onto VT 7A; VT 30 / Main Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
1.2 mi into trip|~3m in|VT 7A / Main Street
Enter roundabout onto VT 7A / Main Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
6 mi into trip|~12m in|US 7 / U.S. Route 7
At end of road, turn left onto US 7 / U.S. Route 7
Navigation decision point
4
102 mi into trip|~2h 44m in|US 2 / Williston Road
Turn right onto US 2 / Williston Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.42 one way
$32.84 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg36 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$18.07
$36.13
premium
$4.86
$19.53
$39.07
diesel
$5.61
$22.52
$45.04
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30.6
0
$10.71
$4.90
Efficient EV
25.5
0
$8.92
$4.08
EV Truck/SUV
40.8
0
$14.28
$6.53
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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
Manchester, VT
Night
in Manchester on Saturday
Local time
10:49 PM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
South Burlington, VT
Night
in South Burlington on Saturday
Local time
10:49 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
36°F
Brandon, VT
51 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 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 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.
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...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 31.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip offers a mixed driving profile, balancing regional highway efficiency with more local road segments. With a 59% highway share, you will experience a blend of faster-paced travel and slower, more deliberate navigation. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on U.S. Route 7, where you will cover 25.8 miles at a time. The transition between U.S. Route 7 and Vermont Route 116 changes the feel of the road, requiring you to stay alert as the environment shifts. Expect a varied experience that keeps you engaged behind the wheel rather than settling into a monotonous interstate grind.
59% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 25.8 mi on U.S. Route 7.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near VT 7A / Main Street.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Manchester, VT to South Burlington, VT is easy. At 2h 45m with 59% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (VT 7A / Main Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.2 miles (VT 7A; VT 30 / Main Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.2 miles (VT 7A / Main Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
887 ft314 ft
Total Climb
511 ft
Total Descent
1,084 ft
Highest Point
887 ft
Elevation Range
573 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 45m. Total distance: 102 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 25.8 miles on U.S. Route 7. 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 0.8 miles (VT 7A / Main Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.2 miles (VT 7A; VT 30 / Main Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.2 miles (VT 7A / Main Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
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 South Burlington, VT before heading back.
