Origin
Hartford, VT
Afternoon in Hartford on Saturday
Local time
4:25 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hartford, VT to South Hero, VT
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 8m
Distance
105.4 mi
170 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 59m
★
6 AM
2h 8m
8 AM
2h 27m
10 AM
2h 15m
12 PM
2h 13m
3 PM
2h 16m
5 PM
2h 26m
8 PM
2h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hartford, VT
Wikimedia Commons
South Hero, VT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Hartford, VT to South Hero, VT covers 105.4 miles and takes about 2h 8m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 89, U.S. Route 2, Woodstock Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 93.9 miles on I 89. At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.97 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
52.7 miles from Hartford, VT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 3m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 89 | 93.9 mi | 1h 49m |
| U.S. Route 2 | 8.5 mi | 13m |
| Woodstock Road | 2 mi | 3m |
| V.A. Cutoff Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| South Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| TH 132 | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Christian Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 89
— 93.9 mi, about 1h 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hartford, VT and South Hero, VT.
1
Start on Christian Street
42 ft
·
3 sec
·
Christian Street
2
Continue on V.A. Cutoff Road
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
·
V.A. Cutoff Road
3
Turn right onto TH 132
144 ft
·
10 sec
·
TH 132
4
Turn left onto US 4
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Woodstock Road
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
6
Merge onto I 89
94 mi
·
1 hr 49 min
·
I 89
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 17
Toward US 2, US 7: Lake Champlain Islands, Colchester
8
Keep slight right at fork
265 ft
·
6 sec
9
Turn right onto US 2
8.5 mi
·
13 min
·
U.S. Route 2
10
Turn left onto South Street
166 ft
·
4 sec
·
South Street
11
Arrive at destination
South 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 52.7 miles from Hartford, VT, or about 1h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 93.9 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 23 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.7 miles or 1h 3m 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 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near South Hero, VT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hartford, 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 Hartford, VT
This is one driving day of about 105.4 miles and 2h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Hartford, VT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 89 for about 93.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
53 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 52.7 miles from Hartford, VT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 89 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 93.9 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 96.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0.4 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
TH 132
Turn right onto TH 132
Navigation decision point
3
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 4 / Woodstock Road
Turn left onto US 4 / Woodstock Road
Navigation decision point
4
2.4 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
6
96.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 54m in
Take the exit toward US 2, US 7: Lake Champlain Islands, Colchester
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 17
Toward US 2, US 7: Lake Champlain Islands, Colc...
5
96.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 54m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.97 one way
$33.94 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
37 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $18.67 | $37.34 |
| premium | $4.86 | $20.18 | $40.37 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $23.27 | $46.54 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 31.6 | 0 | $11.07 | $5.06 |
| Efficient EV | 26.4 | 0 | $9.22 | $4.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 42.2 | 0 | $14.76 | $6.75 |
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (68% 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.
Destination
South Hero, VT
Afternoon in South Hero on Saturday
Local time
4:25 PM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
36°F
Waterbury, VT
53 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
12 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
2h 8m 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 3.6
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
105.4 mi in 2h 8m, mostly highway — 93.9 mi of that is on I 89.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 93.9 mi on I 89.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 89 and U.S. Route 2. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near TH 132.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 8m 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 0.4 miles (TH 132): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (US 4 / Woodstock Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Hartford, VT to South Hero, VT, road signs begin pointing toward Colchester along the way.
Colchester
96.6 mi in
|
~1h 54m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 8m. Total distance: 105.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 93.9 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 0.4 miles (TH 132): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (US 4 / Woodstock Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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 South Hero, VT before heading back.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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