Montpelier, VT to Wells, VT is 91.6 miles and takes about 2h 18m via I 89 and VT Route 100, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Vermont, taking you from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. The route is primarily highway driving, offering a straightforward path for a quick transit. It's a manageable distance for a single-day excursion, allowing for a relaxed pace or a swift arrival at your destination.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
45.8 miles from Montpelier, VT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 89
30.7 mi
35m
Vermont Route 100
10.7 mi
16m
U.S. Route 4
9.3 mi
14m
Vermont Route 107
8.4 mi
13m
Vermont Route 133
6.2 mi
9m
East Wells Road
4.6 mi
8m
South Street
3.6 mi
6m
River Street
3.4 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 89
— 30.7 mi, about 35m
Traffic on I-89
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 11 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,057 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,479
Quietest
1 AM
~32 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
33×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 51 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Montpelier, VT and Wells, 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 left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
4
Merge onto I 89
31 mi·35 min·I 89
5
Take the exit onto VT 107
0.3 mi·46 sec·VT 107
Exit 3Toward VT 107: Bethel, Royalton
6
Turn right onto VT 107
1.7 mi·3 min·Vermont Route 107
7
Continue on VT 107
0.9 mi·1 min·South Main Street
8
Turn slight left onto VT 107
3.4 mi·5 min·River Street
9
Continue on VT 107
6.7 mi·10 min·Vermont Route 107
10
Continue on VT 100
11 mi·16 min·Vermont Route 100
11
Merge onto US 4
9.3 mi·14 min·U.S. Route 4
12
Continue on US 4
1.2 mi·2 min·Woodstock Avenue
13
At end of road, turn left onto US 4; US 7
0.1 mi·21 sec·North Main Street
14
Turn right onto US 4 Business
1.6 mi·4 min·West Street
15
Continue on US 4 Business
1.2 mi·2 min·Business Route 4
16
Continue on US 4 Business
0.9 mi·1 min·Rutland Road
17
Turn slight left onto Main Street
0.4 mi·44 sec·Main Street
18
Turn left onto VT 133
1.7 mi·3 min·Clarendon Avenue
19
Continue on VT 133
6.2 mi·9 min·Vermont Route 133
20
Continue on VT 133
1.0 mi·1 min·Morgan Road
21
Continue on VT 133; VT 140
2.1 mi·4 min·East Street
22
Continue on VT 133
3.6 mi·6 min·South Street
23
Continue on VT 133
1.2 mi·1 min·West Tinmouth Road
24
Turn right onto East Wells Road
4.6 mi·8 min·East Wells Road
25
Turn straight onto VT 30
135 ft·3 sec·Vermont Route 30
26
Arrive at destination
VT 30
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 18m duration, leaving Montpelier in the morning is ideal, allowing you to reach Wells with plenty of daylight. Since this is a shorter, single-day trip, you have flexibility with timing and stops. There are no specific stops recommended, so plan your own breaks as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $16, and it's always wise to top off before embarking on the 30.7-mile stretch on I 89 to ensure smooth travel.
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 45.8 miles from Montpelier, VT, or about 1h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 30.7 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 20 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.8 miles or 1h 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 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wells, 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.
+
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 Montpelier, VT
This is one driving day of about 91.6 miles and 2h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 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 30.7 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 0.2 and 66.8 — 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 left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
32.6 mi into trip|~38m in|VT 107
Take the exit onto VT 107 toward VT 107: Bethel, Royalton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 3
Toward VT 107: Bethel, Royalton
4
32.9 mi into trip|~39m in|VT 107 / Vermont Route 107
Turn right onto VT 107 / Vermont Route 107
Navigation decision point
4
66.8 mi into trip|~1h 34m in|US 4; US 7 / North Main Street
At end of road, turn left onto US 4; US 7 / North Main Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.19 one way
$32.38 round trip
$4.49/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.92
$17.74
$35.47
premium
$5.29
$19.07
$38.15
diesel
$5.35
$19.29
$38.59
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: 32 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.5
0
$9.62
$4.40
Efficient EV
22.9
0
$8.02
$3.66
EV Truck/SUV
36.6
0
$12.82
$5.86
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (66% 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 Jun 3, 2026
Origin
Montpelier, VT
Evening
in Montpelier on Wednesday
Local time
5:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Wells, VT
Evening
in Wells on Wednesday
Local time
5:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Mostly Clear
SE 7 mph0% 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
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 18m 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.
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...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
Free
near mile 41.1
Park Closure: Temporary Trail Closures on May 13 for Native Grasslands Restoration
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly highway, with 73% of the 91.6 miles on I 89 and Vermont Route 100. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 30.7 miles on I 89 before transitioning to surface roads. Expect a good amount of highway cruising, with exits spaced out as you move between the interstate and the state routes. The shift from higher-speed interstate to the state highway system is noticeable as you get closer to Wells.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 30.7 mi on I 89.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 89 and Vermont Route 100. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near US 2 / Memorial Drive.
Driving Effort5/10
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 91.6 miles you will encounter 10 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: at 0.2 miles (US 2 / Memorial Drive): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 32.6 miles (VT 107): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
1,849 ft505 ft
Total Climb
3,013 ft
Total Descent
3,031 ft
Highest Point
1,849 ft
~58.9 mi in
Elevation Range
1,344 ft
Notable High Points
1,849 ft at ~58.9 miles+729 ft prominence
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 Montpelier, VT to Wells, VT, road signs begin pointing toward Royalton along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 18m. Total distance: 91.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 30.7 miles on I 89. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 3 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, 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 0.2 miles (US 2 / Memorial Drive): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 32.6 miles (VT 107): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Wells, VT before heading back.
