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Trip from Colchester, VT to Orange County, VT

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 45m

Distance

67.2 mi

108 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$11

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 24 min
4 AM
1h 37m ★
6 AM
1h 45m
8 AM
2h 1m
10 AM
1h 51m
12 PM
1h 49m
3 PM
1h 52m
5 PM
2h 0m
8 PM
1h 41m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Colchester, VT, VT

Colchester, VT

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Orange County, VT, VT

Orange County, VT

Efrem Efre

Trip Overview

Colchester to Orange County is 67.2 miles and takes about 1 hour 45 minutes via I 89 and VT 289, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Vermont, beginning in the Northeast region and ending in the same region. Expect a drive that's primarily on highways, making it a straightforward journey. It’s a relatively short distance, suitable for a single day trip without feeling rushed. You'll be covering a good portion of the miles on I 89, so it's an efficient way to get between these two points.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

33.6 miles from Colchester, VT

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 45m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 45m. Total distance: 67.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (76%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

This route is heavily highway-focused, with 76% of the drive utilizing interstate or high-speed roads. You'll experience a longest stretch of 31.3 miles on I 89, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of your journey. While much of this drive is on major roadways, the inclusion of Vermont Route 289 and Vermont Route 110 introduces some variation. The character shifts from the efficiency of the interstate to slightly more varied terrain as you transition to state routes. It’s a drive that prioritizes getting you to your destination efficiently.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 89 is the longest continuous segment at about 31.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 89 and Vermont Route 289. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near VT 2A / Main Street.

Driving Effort 4/10

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 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (VT 2A / Main Street): Navigation decision point; 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.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 14 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | VT 2A / Main Street

Turn left onto VT 2A / Main Street

Navigation decision point

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
4
13 mi into trip | ~21m in | US 2 / West Main Street

At end of road, turn left onto US 2 / West Main Street

Navigation decision point

6
44.7 mi into trip | ~58m in

Take the exit toward VT 63 East: South Barre, Barre

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 6 Toward VT 63 East: South Barre, Barre

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 Orange County, VT, road signs begin pointing toward Barre along the way.

Barre

44.7 mi in | ~58m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 89 31.3 mi 36m
Vermont Route 289 4.5 mi 7m
Vermont Route 110 4.4 mi 7m
Vermont Route 113 4.3 mi 7m
Chelsea Road 3.9 mi 9m
River Road 3.2 mi 5m
Vermont Route 117 2.8 mi 4m
Vermont Route 14 2.4 mi 4m
Longest stretch: I 89 — 31.3 mi, about 36m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Colchester, VT and Orange County, 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 East Use 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

31 mi · 36 min · I 89
11

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Exit 6 Toward VT 63 East: South Barre, Barre
12

Continue on VT 63

1.8 mi · 2 min · Vermont Route 63
13

Turn right onto Miller Road

166 ft · 10 sec · Miller Road
14

Turn left onto West Road

0.6 mi · 1 min · West Road
15

Continue on Falls Bridge Road

1.4 mi · 3 min · Falls Bridge Road
16

Turn right onto VT 14

2.4 mi · 4 min · Vermont Route 14
17

Turn left onto Chelsea Road

3.9 mi · 9 min · Chelsea Road
18

Continue on Williamstown Road

1.8 mi · 4 min · Williamstown Road
19

Turn right onto VT 110

4.4 mi · 7 min · Vermont Route 110
20

Turn left onto VT 113

4.3 mi · 7 min · Vermont Route 113
21

Turn left onto Goose Green Road

0.7 mi · 1 min · Goose Green Road
22

Turn slight left onto Vershire Riding School Road

0.9 mi · 3 min · Vershire Riding School Road
23

Arrive at destination

Vershire Riding School Road

Trip Plan

Given the short duration of 1 hour and 45 minutes, you have ample flexibility with your departure time. Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid any potential rush hour traffic, though this route is unlikely to be heavily congested. There are no specified stops in the data, but plan for a brief break if needed, perhaps around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch is 31.3 miles on I 89, and it's always wise to refuel before you're running low, especially when transitioning between highway types. The $11 fuel cost estimate suggests this is an economical trip for your vehicle.

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 33.6 miles from Colchester, VT, or about 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 31.3 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 15 miles or 24m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 33.6 miles or 45m 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 Orange County, 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 67.2 miles and 1h 45m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Colchester, VT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 89 for about 31.3 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 33.6 mi from Colchester, VT · 45m into the drive

Downtown Montpelier, VT, VT

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Montpelier, VT

34 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Williston, VT

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Duxbury, VT

Meal break

The midpoint is around 33.6 miles from Colchester, VT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Orange County, VT

The final approach into Orange County, VT usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$10.82 one way

$21.64 round trip

$4.09/gal 25.4 MPG avg 24 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.50 $11.90 $23.81
premium $4.86 $12.87 $25.74
diesel $5.61 $14.84 $29.67

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$11

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$36–$61

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 23.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 20.2 0 $7.06 $3.23
Efficient EV 16.8 0 $5.88 $2.69
EV Truck/SUV 26.9 0 $9.41 $4.30

Gas CO2

24 kg

EV CO2

8 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

Late night in Colchester on Saturday

Local time

4:59 AM

EDT

Current temp

39°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Orange County, VT

Late night in Orange County on Saturday

Local time

4:59 AM

EDT

Current temp

56°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

17 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 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Colchester, VT to Orange County, VT covers 67.2 miles and takes about 1h 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 89, Vermont Route 289, Vermont Route 110. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 33.6 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 $10.82 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 is a straightforward 1h 45m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

The main spots that need attention: near the start (VT 2A / Main Street): Navigation decision point; 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.

On the drive from Colchester, VT to Orange County, VT, road signs begin pointing toward Barre along the way.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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