Spanning 102.3 miles through the heart of Vermont, this trip from Manchester to Williston is an ideal one-day excursion. You should budget approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes of driving time to complete the journey comfortably. With a fuel cost estimate of $16, the trip remains budget-friendly for a quick getaway or a necessary commute. Since the drive is contained entirely within the Northeast region, you can expect a consistent New England atmosphere throughout the transit. Given the manageable distance and duration, there is no need to plan for an overnight stay unless you prefer a leisurely pace. Overall, this route offers a straightforward, practical link between two notable Vermont hubs.
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
51.2 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
14.2 mi
21m
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
North 116 Road
4.1 mi
6m
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 Williston, 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
5.3 mi·7 min·Vermont Route 116
29
Turn right onto VT 2A
2.0 mi·2 min·Vermont Route 2A
30
Continue on VT 2A
3.7 mi·5 min·Saint George Road
31
Turn right onto US 2
2.3 mi·4 min·Williston Road
32
Continue on North Williston Road
18 ft·0 sec·North Williston Road
33
Arrive at destination
North Williston Road
Trip Plan
Because this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. While the route only requires one stop to reach Williston, building in a break during your 2 hour and 45 minute journey can make the time behind the wheel feel much shorter. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $16 estimate is based on standard driving conditions and could fluctuate depending on your vehicle's efficiency. Since you are utilizing a mix of state and U.S. routes, stay alert for changing speed limits and local traffic patterns as you transition between highways. Taking advantage of the route's short duration allows you to arrive in Williston refreshed and ready to start your day without the fatigue of a long-haul drive.
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 51.2 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 23 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51.2 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 Williston, 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 102.3 miles and 2h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 6 — 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
3
1.2 mi into trip|~3m in|VT 7A; VT 30 / Main Street
Right onto VT 7A; VT 30 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.47 one way
$32.94 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg36 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$18.12
$36.24
premium
$4.86
$19.59
$39.18
diesel
$5.61
$22.59
$45.17
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: 35.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30.7
0
$10.74
$4.91
Efficient EV
25.6
0
$8.95
$4.09
EV Truck/SUV
40.9
0
$14.32
$6.55
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 18, 2026
Origin
Manchester, VT
Night
in Manchester on Saturday
Local time
10:44 PM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Mostly Cloudy then Rain Showers Likely
S 8 mph59% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Williston, VT
Night
in Williston on Saturday
Local time
10:44 PM
EDT
Current temp
36°F
Mostly Cloudy then Rain Showers
S 12 to 17 mph78% chanceLive 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
4 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
2h 45m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed driving experience as you navigate a combination of U.S. Route 7, Vermont Route 116, and U.S. Route 7 North. With 58% of the journey spent on highways, you will encounter a blend of faster transit and slower, more localized road sections. Your longest uninterrupted stretch is 25.8 miles on U.S. Route 7, which provides a steady rhythm before the route shifts in character. The transition between these specific roads ensures the drive remains engaging rather than monotonous. You will find that the personality of the road changes as you move through these varied segments, requiring you to adapt your driving style accordingly.
58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
33 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 Williston, VT is easy. At 2h 45m with 58% 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; VT 30 / Main Street): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 45m. Total distance: 102.3 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; VT 30 / Main Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Williston, VT before heading back.
