The northern portion, from Poultney to Middlebury, was part of the New England road marking system's Route 30, from which VT 30 got its number.

The route then joins VT 11 and proceeds southwest down the western slopes of the Green Mountains into Manchester, where it has an interchange with US-7.

At the roundabout in Manchester Center, it again turns northwest, following the Mettawee River Drainage through the Taconic Mountains in the towns of Dorset, Pawlet, and Wells.

It then continues almost due north with panoramic views of the Green Mountains and Adirondacks along a hilltop through pasture land in the towns of Sudbury, Whiting, and Cornwall.

)[4][5] In August 2011, Hurricane Irene heavily damaged large sections of VT 30 and made it impassable for a period of time.