Montpelier, VT to Franklin, VT is 81.3 miles and takes about 1h 45m via I 89 and Vermont Route 105, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Vermont, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. It's a mostly highway drive that's straightforward and efficient. Given its short duration, it's ideal for a same-day excursion, allowing plenty of time for activities at your destination or along the way.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.6 miles from Montpelier, VT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 89
60.4 mi
1h 10m
Vermont Route 105
6.7 mi
10m
Sheldon Road
4.4 mi
6m
North Sheldon Road
2.6 mi
4m
Fisher Pond Road
1.8 mi
3m
Vermont Route 120
1.7 mi
3m
Memorial Drive
1.2 mi
2m
Main Street
1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 89
— 60.4 mi, about 1h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Montpelier, VT and Franklin, VT.
1
Start on VT 12; US 2 Business
0.2 mi·27 sec·Main Street
2
Turn right onto US 2
1.2 mi·2 min·Memorial Drive
3
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·17 sec
4
Merge onto I 89
60 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 89
5
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 19Toward US 7, VT 36, VT 104: Saint Albans
6
Turn right onto VT 104
0.6 mi·1 min·Fairfax Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Continue on VT 104
1.8 mi·3 min·Fisher Pond Road
8
Continue on VT 105
4.4 mi·6 min·Sheldon Road
9
Continue on VT 105
6.7 mi·10 min·Vermont Route 105
10
Turn left onto VT 120
1.7 mi·3 min·Vermont Route 120
11
Continue on VT 120
2.6 mi·4 min·North Sheldon Road
12
Continue on VT 120
0.8 mi·1 min·Main Street
13
Turn left onto Hanna Road
171 ft·6 sec·Hanna Road
14
Turn right
56 ft·4 sec
15
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Consider departing Montpelier in the morning to maximize your time in Franklin. Since this drive is under two hours and covers 81.3 miles, you won't need extensive stops for rest or fuel. Your estimated fuel cost is around $13, so plan accordingly. The longest stretch on I 89 is over 60 miles, so it's a good idea to ensure you have enough fuel before embarking on that segment. This short distance offers flexibility; you can leave whenever suits you best and still arrive with ample daylight.
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 40.6 miles from Montpelier, VT, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 60.4 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 18 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.6 miles or 48m 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 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Franklin, VT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Montpelier, VT so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Montpelier, VT
This is one driving day of about 81.3 miles and 1h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Montpelier, VT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 89 for about 60.4 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 0.2 and 81.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|US 2 / Memorial Drive
Turn right onto US 2 / Memorial Drive
Navigation decision point
4
1.4 mi into trip|~2m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
61.9 mi into trip|~1h 13m in
Take the exit toward US 7, VT 36, VT 104: Saint Albans
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 19
Toward US 7, VT 36, VT 104: Saint Albans
5
62.5 mi into trip|~1h 14m in|VT 104 / Fairfax Road
Turn right onto VT 104 / Fairfax Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
81.3 mi into trip|~1h 44m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.09 one way
$26.18 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$14.40
$28.80
premium
$4.86
$15.57
$31.14
diesel
$5.61
$17.95
$35.90
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 64% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.4
0
$8.54
$3.90
Efficient EV
20.3
0
$7.11
$3.25
EV Truck/SUV
32.5
0
$11.38
$5.20
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (64% 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
Montpelier, VT
Late night
in Montpelier on Tuesday
Local time
5:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Franklin, VT
Late night
in Franklin on Tuesday
Local time
5:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
60°F
Colchester, VT
41 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
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 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 85% of the total 81.3 miles on high-speed roads, primarily I 89. The longest continuous stretch on the highway is 60.4 miles, which means you'll experience a significant period of uninterrupted driving. After leaving I 89, you'll transition to surface roads like Vermont Route 105 and Sheldon Road for the final portion of the trip.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 60.4 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 105. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near US 2 / Memorial Drive.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 45m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (US 2 / Memorial Drive): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 61.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 45m. Total distance: 81.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 60.4 miles on I 89. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 0.2 miles (US 2 / Memorial Drive): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 61.9 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 Franklin, VT before heading back.
