Bakersfield to Bennington is 162.7 miles and takes about 4h 8m via US 7 and I 89, with a fuel budget near $26 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Vermont, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Expect a drive that's primarily highway, making it a straightforward journey. With only one recommended stop and a maximum stretch of 85.3 miles on US 7, it's a manageable one-day adventure.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
81.4 miles from Bakersfield, VT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 7
85.3 mi
2h 13m
I 89
25.9 mi
30m
Ethan Allen Highway
22.5 mi
32m
Vermont Route 36
9.9 mi
17m
Shelburne Road
6.8 mi
13m
U.S. Route 7
4.1 mi
5m
Fairfield Road
2.5 mi
4m
Fairfield Hill Road
2.2 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
US 7
— 85.3 mi, about 2h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bakersfield, VT and Bennington, VT.
1
Start on VT 36
2.5 mi·4 min·Fairfield Road
2
Continue on VT 36
9.9 mi·17 min·Vermont Route 36
3
Continue on VT 36
2.2 mi·4 min·Fairfield Hill Road
4
Turn left onto VT 104
0.6 mi·1 min·Fairfax Road
5
Take the ramp
266 ft·15 sec
Toward I 89Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·58 sec
Toward I 89 South: BurlingtonUse the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto I 89
26 mi·30 min·I 89
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·31 sec
Toward I 189 West: Shelburne, Rutland
9
Merge onto I 189
1.2 mi·1 min·I 189
Use the straight / left lanes.
10
Turn left onto US 7
6.8 mi·13 min·Shelburne Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
11
Continue on US 7
12 mi·19 min·Ethan Allen Highway
12
Continue on US 7
3.1 mi·4 min·U.S. Route 7
13
Continue on US 7
10 mi·13 min·Ethan Allen Highway
14
Enter roundabout onto US 7
348 ft·16 sec·US 7
Toward VT 125
15
Continue on US 7
85 mi·2 hr 13 min·US 7
Toward VT 125Use the straight lane.
16
Merge onto US 7; VT 279
0.2 mi·14 sec·Bennington Bypass
17
Keep slight right at fork onto US 7
0.9 mi·1 min·U.S. Route 7
Toward US 7 South: Bennington Downtown
18
Continue on US 7
0.3 mi·47 sec·North Street
19
Turn right onto Depot Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Depot Street
20
Turn left onto VT 9
0.1 mi·23 sec·Main Street
21
Arrive at destination
VT 9
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour duration, starting your drive in the morning will give you ample time to reach Bennington comfortably. Plan for your single stop strategically to break up the 85.3-mile stretch on US 7. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $26, and it's always wise to top off before embarking on longer highway segments. This is a route where you can easily depart on a whim, but having a general idea of your planned stop will help maximize your time.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 81.4 miles from Bakersfield, VT, or about 2h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 85.3 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 36 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 81.4 miles or 2h in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bennington, VT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bakersfield, 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 Bakersfield, VT
This is one driving day of about 162.7 miles and 4h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from Bakersfield, 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 US 7 for about 85.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 15.2 and 43.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
15.2 mi into trip|~26m in
Take the ramp toward I 89
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 89
7
15.3 mi into trip|~27m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 89 South: Burlington
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 89 South: Burlington
5
41.6 mi into trip|~58m in
Take the exit toward I 189 West: Shelburne, Rutland
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 189 West: Shelburne, Rutland
5
41.9 mi into trip|~59m in|I 189
Merge onto I 189
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
43.1 mi into trip|~1h 1m in|US 7 / Shelburne Road
Turn left onto US 7 / Shelburne Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.19 one way
$52.38 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg57 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$28.82
$57.64
premium
$4.86
$31.16
$62.31
diesel
$5.61
$35.92
$71.84
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
48.8
0
$17.08
$7.81
Efficient EV
40.7
0
$14.24
$6.51
EV Truck/SUV
65.1
0
$22.78
$10.41
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 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
Bakersfield, VT
Night
in Bakersfield on Saturday
Local time
9:27 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bennington, VT
Night
in Bennington on Saturday
Local time
9:27 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
36°F
Wright, NY
81 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
6 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
4h 8m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 106.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is largely highway-focused, with 78% of the route utilizing major roads like I 89 and US 7. You'll experience a significant 85.3-mile stretch on US 7, which offers a more consistent pace. While predominantly highway, the route provides a mix of interstate speeds and sections that feel like a continuous drive on a well-maintained arterial road. The character remains consistent, prioritizing efficient travel over winding scenic detours.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 85.3 mi on US 7.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 7 and I 89. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 15.2 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 162.7 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 15.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 15.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 41.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Bakersfield, VT to Bennington, VT, road signs begin pointing toward Rutland along the way.
Rutland
41.6 mi in|~58m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 8m. Total distance: 162.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 85.3 miles on US 7. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Bennington, VT before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 15.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 15.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 41.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Marsh - Billings - Rockefeller National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Bennington, VT, but most travelers stay overnight.
