This 126.2-mile journey from Sheldon to Hartford, Vermont, takes about 2 hours and 35 minutes, making it a manageable one-day trip. The route is heavily focused on highway driving, with 90% of the travel on interstates and major roadways. You can expect a fuel cost of around $20 for this drive. Since it's a relatively short distance within the Northeast region, you'll have plenty of flexibility in your schedule to depart at your convenience and arrive with time to spare. This drive is designed for efficiency, getting you from point A to point B smoothly.
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
63.1 miles from Sheldon, VT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 20m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 89
109.7 mi
2h 7m
Sheldon Road
4.4 mi
6m
Vermont Route 105
3.9 mi
5m
Woodstock Road
2.6 mi
3m
Fisher Pond Road
1.8 mi
3m
Main Street
1.6 mi
3m
Fairfax Road
0.6 mi
1m
V.A. Cutoff Road
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 89
— 109.7 mi, about 2h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sheldon, VT and Hartford, VT.
1
Start on Bridge Street
0.2 mi·27 sec·Bridge Street
2
At end of road, turn right onto Main Street
1.6 mi·3 min·Main Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto VT 105
3.9 mi·5 min·Vermont Route 105
4
Continue on VT 105
4.4 mi·6 min·Sheldon Road
5
Continue on VT 104
1.8 mi·3 min·Fisher Pond Road
6
Continue on VT 104
0.6 mi·1 min·Fairfax Road
7
Take the ramp
266 ft·15 sec
Toward I 89Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·58 sec
Toward I 89 South: BurlingtonUse the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto I 89
110 mi·2 hr 7 min·I 89
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward US 4: Woodstock, Quechee
11
At end of road, turn right onto US 4
2.6 mi·3 min·Woodstock Road
12
Turn right onto TH 132
144 ft·11 sec·TH 132
13
Turn left onto V.A. Cutoff Road
0.4 mi·54 sec·V.A. Cutoff Road
14
Arrive at destination
Christian Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour 35-minute duration, this trip is perfectly suited for a single day. You'll want to plan for just one stop to break up the 109.7-mile stretch on I-89. Leaving in the morning will allow you to reach Hartford with ample daylight. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $20, and it's always wise to top off before embarking on a longer highway segment. This efficient route means you won't need to worry about splitting the drive, giving you more freedom in your departure time.
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 63.1 miles from Sheldon, VT, or about 1h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 109.7 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 28 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 63.1 miles or 1h 20m 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 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hartford, VT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Sheldon, 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 Sheldon, VT
This is one driving day of about 126.2 miles and 2h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Sheldon, 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 I 89 for about 109.7 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 122.8 — 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|Main Street
At end of road, turn right onto Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
1.8 mi into trip|~4m in|VT 105 / Vermont Route 105
At end of road, turn left onto VT 105 / Vermont Route 105
Navigation decision point
5
12.6 mi into trip|~21m in
Take the ramp toward I 89
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 89
7
12.6 mi into trip|~21m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 89 South: Burlington
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 89 South: Burlington
5
122.8 mi into trip|~2h 29m in
Take the exit toward US 4: Woodstock, Quechee
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 4: Woodstock, Quechee
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.32 one way
$40.63 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg44 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$22.35
$44.71
premium
$4.86
$24.17
$48.33
diesel
$5.61
$27.86
$55.73
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
37.9
0
$13.25
$6.06
Efficient EV
31.6
0
$11.04
$5.05
EV Truck/SUV
50.5
0
$17.67
$8.08
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Sheldon, VT
Night
in Sheldon on Saturday
Local time
9:25 PM
EDT
Current temp
37°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hartford, VT
Night
in Hartford on Saturday
Local time
9:25 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
45°F
Williston, VT
63 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
14 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 35m 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...
7 mi from route
~19 min detour
Free
near mile 121.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Primarily a highway-focused drive, this route is characterized by its 90% highway share. You'll spend the majority of your time on I-89, experiencing a longest uninterrupted stretch of 109.7 miles on this interstate. While it offers speed and directness, expect a consistent driving experience for most of the trip. Sheldon Road and Vermont Route 105 will offer brief transitions before you merge onto the main highway for the bulk of your travel. The profile leans towards efficient travel rather than winding scenic byways.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 109.7 mi on I 89.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 89 and Sheldon Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Main Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 35m drive. You will face about 9 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 (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.8 miles (VT 105 / Vermont Route 105): Navigation decision point; at 12.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 35m. Total distance: 126.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 109.7 miles on I 89. 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 0.2 miles (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.8 miles (VT 105 / Vermont Route 105): Navigation decision point; at 12.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
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 Hartford, VT before heading back.
