The performance of cement-stabilized macadam (CSM) is influenced by the duration of vibration compaction. However, the relationship between laboratory-prepared specimens under different compaction durations and the properties of field cores remains unclear. In this study, specimens were compacted using a vertical vibration compaction method for 90, 120, and 150 s (CSM-90, CSM-120, and CSM-150) to investigate the effect of compaction time on CSM performance. The unconfined compressive strength, indirect tensile strength, flexural tensile strength, fatigue, and shrinkage tests were conducted. Field core samples were used for comparison. The results showed the trend of mechanical and fatigue properties: CSM-120 > CSM-150 > field cores > CSM-90. The strength of CSM increased gradually, and the mixture became denser as the vibration compaction time increased. Compared with CSM-90, the compressive strength increase was the most obvious. CSM-120 and CSM-150 increased 34.71–48.43 % and 25.20–40.71 %. However, the long-time compaction resulted in aggregate breakage and large gradation variation, and the mechanical properties of CSM-150 decreased slightly. Compared with CSM-90, the drying shrinkage strains of CSM-120 and CSM-150 decreased by 29.21 % and 26.20 %, respectively. The drying shrinkage capacity of CSM increased with increasing vibration compaction time. However, the effect of compaction time on temperature shrinkage properties was insignificant. In conclusion, the performance of CSM could be improved by appropriately increasing the vibration compaction time, and the recommended compaction time was in the range of 90–120 s. This study could offer some advice for the practical application of CSM.