This 58.2-mile drive from Middlebury to Barre, Vermont, is a manageable 1-hour-and-37-minute journey, making it an excellent option for a single day trip. You'll primarily travel on Vermont Route 17 and Vermont Route 100B before merging onto I-89 for a portion of the drive. With an estimated fuel cost of $9, this route offers an affordable way to experience the Northeast region of Vermont. The mixed terrain suggests a drive that balances efficiency with local flavor, perfect for a relaxed exploration.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
29.1 miles from Middlebury (village), VT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Vermont Route 17
8.3 mi
13m
Vermont Route 100B
7.9 mi
13m
I 89
7.9 mi
9m
Mill Brook Road
5.8 mi
11m
River Road
5.1 mi
8m
Main Street
5.1 mi
9m
Vermont Route 62
4.4 mi
6m
North Pleasant Street
2.7 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Vermont Route 17
— 8.3 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Middlebury (village), VT and Barre, VT.
1
Start on this road
94 ft·12 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto Maple Street
517 ft·32 sec·Maple Street
3
Continue on Maple Street
0.1 mi·24 sec·Maple Street
4
Continue on Middle Seymour Street
519 ft·25 sec·Middle Seymour Street
5
Turn right onto Seymour Street
353 ft·14 sec·Seymour Street
6
Continue on Elm Street
0.1 mi·24 sec·Elm Street
7
Turn left onto US 7
2.7 mi·4 min·North Pleasant Street
8
Turn right onto River Road
5.1 mi·8 min·River Road
9
Continue on VT 116
2.1 mi·3 min·South 116 Road
10
Turn right onto VT 17; VT 116
0.5 mi·48 sec·Stony Hill Road
11
Continue on VT 17; VT 116
0.6 mi·55 sec·West Street
12
Continue on VT 17; VT 116
0.2 mi·22 sec·Main Street
13
Continue on VT 17; VT 116
0.5 mi·1 min·East Street
14
Continue on VT 17; VT 116
0.9 mi·1 min·Rockydale Road
15
Continue on VT 17; VT 116
1.7 mi·2 min·North 116 Road
16
Turn right onto VT 17
1.7 mi·2 min·Drake Woods Road
17
Continue on VT 17
8.1 mi·13 min·Vermont Route 17
18
Continue on VT 17
5.8 mi·11 min·Mill Brook Road
19
Continue on VT 17
0.2 mi·24 sec·Vermont Route 17
20
Keep slight left at fork onto VT 17
243 ft·9 sec·Vermont Route 17
21
Turn slight left onto VT 100
4.9 mi·8 min·Main Street
22
Continue on VT 100
0.5 mi·45 sec·Vermont Route 100 South
23
Continue on VT 100B
7.9 mi·13 min·Vermont Route 100B
24
Turn left onto US 2
0.5 mi·1 min·U.S. Route 2
25
Turn slight right
145 ft·6 sec
26
Turn straight onto Center Road
241 ft·5 sec·Center Road
27
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·21 sec
28
Merge onto I 89
7.9 mi·9 min·I 89
29
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 7Toward VT 62: Berlin, Barre
30
Continue on VT 62
1.3 mi·1 min·Vermont Route 62
31
Keep slight left at fork onto VT 62
3.1 mi·4 min·Vermont Route 62
32
Turn right onto US 302; VT 14
0.4 mi·1 min·North Main Street
33
Continue on VT 14
387 ft·15 sec·North Main Street
Toward VT 14 South
34
Turn right onto Prospect Street
187 ft·7 sec·Prospect Street
35
Turn right
172 ft·12 sec
36
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the short 1-hour-and-37-minute duration for this 58.2-mile trip, you have the flexibility to depart at your leisure. Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid early rush and allow for a relaxed pace. While the drive is relatively short, planning for one brief stop around the halfway point could be beneficial, especially if you plan to take advantage of the local roads. Keep an eye out for the transition onto I-89, as this marks a shift in driving style. With a fuel cost around $9, it's an economical trip, so focus on enjoying the varied roads.
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 29.1 miles from Middlebury (village), VT, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 8.3 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 13 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 29.1 miles or 50m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Barre, VT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Middlebury (village), VT so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Middlebury (village), VT
This is one driving day of about 58.2 miles and 1h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 13 miles from Middlebury (village), VT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Vermont Route 17 for about 8.3 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 58.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Maple Street
Turn left onto Maple Street
Navigation decision point
5
30.6 mi into trip|~53m in|VT 17 / Vermont Route 17
Keep slight left at fork onto VT 17 / Vermont Route 17
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
52.7 mi into trip|~1h 27m in
Take the exit toward VT 62: Berlin, Barre
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 7
Toward VT 62: Berlin, Barre
5
58.2 mi into trip|~1h 36m in|Prospect Street
Turn right onto Prospect Street
Navigation decision point
5
58.2 mi into trip|~1h 37m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.37 one way
$18.74 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg20 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$10.31
$20.62
premium
$4.86
$11.15
$22.29
diesel
$5.61
$12.85
$25.70
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$34–$59
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
14 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Maplewood Convenience Store/Comfort Inn - Tesla Supercharger
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
17.5
0
$6.11
$2.79
Efficient EV
14.6
0
$5.09
$2.33
EV Truck/SUV
23.3
0
$8.15
$3.72
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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 19, 2026
Origin
Middlebury (village), VT
Morning
in Middlebury (village) on Sunday
Local time
10:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Rain Showers
N 6 to 12 mph100% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Barre, VT
Morning
in Barre on Sunday
Local time
10:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Rain Showers
NW 9 mph99% chanceLive forecast
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
2 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 37m 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 varied driving experience on this route, with 51% of it on highways. The journey begins with stretches on local Vermont roads, including a notable 8.3-mile segment on Vermont Route 17 where you'll likely encounter more local scenery. As you progress, the drive transitions, incorporating faster highway travel on I-89. This mixed profile means you'll experience both the ease of interstate cruising and the more intimate feel of navigating through Vermont's landscapes.
51% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 8.3 mi on Vermont Route 17.
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 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Maple Street.
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 58.2 miles you will encounter 16 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: near the start (Maple Street): Navigation decision point; at 30.6 miles (VT 17 / Vermont Route 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 52.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 37m. Total distance: 58.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (51%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 8.3 miles on Vermont Route 17. 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 Barre, 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: near the start (Maple Street): Navigation decision point; at 30.6 miles (VT 17 / Vermont Route 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 52.7 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 Barre, VT before heading back.
