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Trip from Springfield, VT to South Hero, VT

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 48m

Distance

138.8 mi

223 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$22

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min
4 AM
2h 38m ★
6 AM
2h 49m
8 AM
3h 11m
10 AM
2h 56m
12 PM
2h 54m
3 PM
2h 57m
5 PM
3h 9m
8 PM
2h 42m

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

town in Vermont, United States

Springfield, VT

Wikimedia Commons

town in Grand Isle County, Vermont, United States

South Hero, VT

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Springfield, VT to South Hero, VT covers 138.8 miles and takes about 2h 48m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 89, I 91, U.S. Route 2 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 97.3 miles on I 89. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.34 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.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

69.4 miles from Springfield, VT

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 24m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 48m. Total distance: 138.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (97%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

This is a 2h 48m highway drive covering 138.8 miles, with most of the trip on I 89 and I 91. The longest continuous stretch is about 97.3 miles on I 89.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 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 97.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 89 and I 91. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 3.9 miles in.

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 2h 48m 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 3.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 4.2 miles (I 91): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 32.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 8 key points

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

3
3.9 mi into trip | ~7m in

Take the ramp toward I 91 North

Navigation decision point

Toward I 91 North
3
4.2 mi into trip | ~8m in | I 91

Merge onto I 91

Merge point - match speed before joining

4
32.4 mi into trip | ~40m in

Take the exit toward I 89 North

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward I 89 North
6
130 mi into trip | ~2h 34m 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
130.2 mi into trip | ~2h 35m in

Keep slight right at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

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 Springfield, VT to South Hero, VT, road signs begin pointing toward Colchester along the way.

Colchester

130 mi in | ~2h 34m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 89 97.3 mi 1h 53m
I 91 28.2 mi 32m
U.S. Route 2 8.5 mi 13m
Charlestown Road 2.3 mi 3m
Clinton Street 1.3 mi 2m
Main Street 0.3 mi <1m
South Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 89 — 97.3 mi, about 1h 53m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Springfield, VT and South Hero, VT.

1

Start on VT 11

0.3 mi · 50 sec · Main Street
2

Continue on VT 11

1.3 mi · 2 min · Clinton Street
3

Continue on VT 11

2.3 mi · 3 min · Charlestown Road
4

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 41 sec
Toward I 91 North
5

Merge onto I 91

28 mi · 32 min · I 91
6

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 30 sec
Toward I 89 North
7

Merge onto I 89

97 mi · 1 hr 53 min · I 89
8

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 34 sec
Exit 17 Toward US 2, US 7: Lake Champlain Islands, Colchester
9

Keep slight right at fork

265 ft · 6 sec
10

Turn right onto US 2

8.5 mi · 13 min · U.S. Route 2
11

Turn left onto South Street

166 ft · 4 sec · South Street
12

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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 69.4 miles from Springfield, VT, or about 1h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 97.3 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 31 miles or 39m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 69.4 miles or 1h 24m 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 15m

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 Springfield, 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 Springfield, VT

This is one driving day of about 138.8 miles and 2h 48m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Springfield, 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 97.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 69.4 mi from Springfield, VT · 1h 24m into the drive

Downtown Montpelier, VT, VT

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Montpelier, VT

69 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

Hartford, VT

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Barre, VT

Meal break

The midpoint is around 69.4 miles from Springfield, VT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 89 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 97.3 miles.

Arriving in South Hero, VT

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

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around South Hero, VT.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$22.34 one way

$44.69 round trip

$4.09/gal 25.4 MPG avg 49 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.50 $24.59 $49.17
premium $4.86 $26.58 $53.16
diesel $5.61 $30.65 $61.29

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$22

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$47–$72

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 48.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 41.6 0 $14.57 $6.66
Efficient EV 34.7 0 $12.15 $5.55
EV Truck/SUV 55.5 0 $19.43 $8.88

Gas CO2

49 kg

EV CO2

16 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

Springfield, VT

Morning in Springfield on Friday

Local time

7:28 AM

EDT

Current temp

36°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

South Hero, VT

Morning in South Hero on Friday

Local time

7:28 AM

EDT

Current temp

39°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

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 48m 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 Springfield, VT to South Hero, VT covers 138.8 miles and takes about 2h 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 89, I 91, U.S. Route 2. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 69.4 miles from Springfield, VT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.34 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.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

This is a straightforward 2h 48m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

The main spots that need attention: at 3.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 4.2 miles (I 91): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 32.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

On the drive from Springfield, VT to South Hero, VT, road signs begin pointing toward Colchester 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.

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