The drive from Colchester, VT to Barnet, VT covers 86.3 miles and takes about 1h 54m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on U.S. Route 2, I 89, I 91 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 32.3 miles on U.S. Route 2.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.89 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.2 miles from Colchester, VT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 54m. Total distance: 86.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 54m highway drive covering 86.3 miles, with most of the trip on U.S. Route 2 and I 89. The longest continuous stretch is about 32.3 miles on U.S. Route 2.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 28 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
U.S. Route 2 is the longest continuous segment at about 32.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on U.S. Route 2 and I 89. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.5 miles in near VT 289 / Vermont Route 289.
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 86.3 miles you will encounter 14 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 2.5 miles (VT 289 / Vermont Route 289): Lane positioning matters here; at 7 miles (VT 117 / River Road): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
2.5 mi into trip|~4m in|VT 289 / Vermont Route 289
Turn left onto VT 289 / Vermont Route 289 toward VT 289 East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward VT 289 East
5
7 mi into trip|~11m in|VT 117 / River Road
At end of road, turn left onto VT 117 / River Road toward US 2, VT 289 West: Richmond
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 2, VT 289 West: Richmond
6
38.3 mi into trip|~50m in
Take the exit toward US 2: Montpelier, Saint Johnsbury
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 8
Toward US 2: Montpelier, Saint Johnsbury
6
85.5 mi into trip|~1h 52m in
Take the exit toward Barnet, Peacham
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 18
Toward Barnet, Peacham
5
85.8 mi into trip|~1h 53m in|Bimson Drive
Turn left onto Bimson Drive
Navigation decision point
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 Colchester, VT to Barnet, VT, road signs begin pointing toward Saint Johnsbury along the way.
Saint Johnsbury
38.3 mi in|~50m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
U.S. Route 2
32.3 mi
40m
I 89
24.9 mi
28m
I 91
9.7 mi
11m
Vermont Route 289
4.5 mi
7m
River Road
3.2 mi
5m
Vermont Route 117
2.8 mi
4m
Main Street
1.5 mi
2m
River Street
1.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
U.S. Route 2
— 32.3 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Colchester, VT and Barnet, VT.
1
Start on East Road
100 ft·9 sec·East Road
2
Turn left onto VT 2A
1.5 mi·2 min·Main Street
3
Continue on VT 2A
1.0 mi·1 min·Colchester Road
Use the left lane.
4
Turn left onto VT 289
4.5 mi·7 min·Vermont Route 289
Toward VT 289 EastUse the left lane.
5
At end of road, turn left onto VT 117
2.4 mi·3 min·River Road
Toward US 2, VT 289 West: Richmond
6
Continue on VT 117
2.8 mi·4 min·Vermont Route 117
7
Continue on VT 117
0.8 mi·1 min·River Road
8
At end of road, turn left onto US 2
0.3 mi·36 sec·West Main Street
9
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·15 sec
10
Merge onto I 89
25 mi·28 min·I 89
11
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 8Toward US 2: Montpelier, Saint Johnsbury
12
Continue on Memorial Drive
1.2 mi·2 min·Memorial Drive
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on US 2
0.5 mi·1 min·Berlin Street
14
Turn slight left onto US 2
1.2 mi·2 min·River Street
15
Enter roundabout onto US 2
137 ft·1 sec·River Street
16
Continue on US 2
97 ft·1 sec·River Street
17
Merge onto US 2
0.4 mi·47 sec·East Montpelier Road
18
Continue on US 2
7.1 mi·11 min·U.S. Route 2
19
Continue on US 2
0.6 mi·39 sec·High Street
20
Continue on US 2
0.2 mi·12 sec·School Street
21
Continue on US 2
25 mi·28 min·U.S. Route 2
22
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 91
23
Merge onto I 91
9.7 mi·11 min·I 91
24
Take the exit
0.2 mi·39 sec
Exit 18Toward Barnet, Peacham
25
Turn left onto Bimson Drive
0.2 mi·27 sec·Bimson Drive
26
Turn left onto Church Street
0.3 mi·1 min·Church Street
27
Turn slight left onto Monument Circle
175 ft·7 sec·Monument Circle
28
Arrive at destination
Anderson Street
Trip Plan
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 43.2 miles from Colchester, VT, or about 1h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 32.3 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 19 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.2 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 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Barnet, VT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Colchester, VT so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Colchester, VT
This is one driving day of about 86.3 miles and 1h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Colchester, VT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on U.S. Route 2 for about 32.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 43.2 mi from Colchester, VT
· 1h into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.89 one way
$27.79 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$15.29
$30.57
premium
$4.86
$16.53
$33.05
diesel
$5.61
$19.05
$38.11
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.9
0
$9.06
$4.14
Efficient EV
21.6
0
$7.55
$3.45
EV Truck/SUV
34.5
0
$12.08
$5.52
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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 15, 2026
Origin
Colchester, VT
Morning
in Colchester on Friday
Local time
8:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Barnet, VT
Morning
in Barnet on Friday
Local time
8:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live 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
9 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
1h 54m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Colchester, VT to Barnet, VT covers 86.3 miles and takes about 1h 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are U.S. Route 2, I 89, I 91. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 43.2 miles from Colchester, VT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.89 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 86.3 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.5 miles (VT 289 / Vermont Route 289): Lane positioning matters here; at 7 miles (VT 117 / River Road): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Colchester, VT to Barnet, VT, road signs begin pointing toward Saint Johnsbury along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
