Looking for best route

[pbd2]

I wish I'd found this wonderful forum weeks ago! We'll be traveling this weekend (we DO have reservations) from Rochester, NY to Deerfield, MA and then to Rutland for 2 nights. It's about 5 1/2 hours from our home to Deerfield, and we're wondering the driving time between Deerfield and Rutland. Planning to spend some time at the Yankee Candle Shop and then drive on to Rutland. We'll have our almost 4 yr. old granddaughter with us. She's quite the traveler and we have some stops planned to give her a break. Looking for a pretty drive to Rutland. Thanks for any help.

[pwt54]

I'm not familiar with the Mass. routes, but route 100 north should have some good color according to IXL and route should be starting up. Another way to get to Rutland would be; You could do Deerfield to Rutland in about 2 hours taking the quickest route, but the best colors are in the highlands, so add maybe 2 more hours to this ride. Take I-91 north to Exit 2 in Brattleboro,Vt.( There is a welcome center just before the exit where you can get a VT. Map.) Turn left at the end of the ramp and take route 9 west to Wilmington. Route 9 in the higher sections should be starting up if route 100 is. Pick up route 100 north and drive that up to and through Ludlow. Pick up route 103 past Ludlow and drive that to route US 7 north. Drive that to Rutland. You should have nice colors for most of that ride. Foliage is peaking in northeast Vermont right now. But the highlands of route 100 north of Rutland are getting close to peak. Next day take route US 7 north to Brandon. Pick up route 73 east on the right as you enter the village. Take that to route 100 north in Rochester and turn left. Take route 100 north to route 125 west on the left side in Hancock. Drive about 2 miles on route 125 west and look for a sign that says Texas Falls. The road is about 500 feet on the right. Drive up to the parking area and park. The falls are across the road. There is a restroom facility there. If the lot is full there is parking past there. After you are done go back to route 125 west and turn right. Finish route 125 west to route 116 north on the right side in East Middlebury. Drive route 116 north to the 4 way intersection of route 17 west and 4 way stop just south of Bristol. Turn right and drive into Bristol. There is a restaurant in Bristol and one about 1 mile past the village on route 116 and on the left side. Continue route 116 north until you come to route 17 east for Waitsfield. This road in called the Appalachian Gap. Drive that to route 100 south in Waitsfield and turn right. Take route 100 south to route US 4 west and turn right for Rutland. Next day do to The Woodstock / Quechee Gorge area and wander around. Check out the Raptor Center near the Gorge. If the weather on the first day doesn’t look good and the next day looks better, reverse the tours.

[pbd2]

Thank you both for your replies. We thought it might be about a 2 hour drive but weren't sure. Will get the map out and check out your suggestions. Thanks again!

[pwt54]

Flipping a coin would be almost as accurate. However you do it, get to route 100.