Spanning 171.5 miles from Bennington to Berkshire, this Vermont road trip typically takes about 4 hours and 22 minutes to complete. Because the total duration is manageable, you can easily tackle this drive in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $27 on fuel for the journey, making it a relatively budget-friendly venture through the Northeast. You will primarily navigate via U.S. Route 7 and I-89, transitioning between local roads and faster highway segments. Whether you are heading north for a weekend getaway or a quick change of scenery, this route offers a straightforward path across the state.
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
85.8 miles from Bennington, VT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 13m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
U.S. Route 7
54.8 mi
1h 20m
I 89
25.8 mi
30m
U.S. Route 7 North
15.1 mi
25m
Ethan Allen Highway
12.3 mi
19m
Vermont Route 105
11.1 mi
16m
Grove Street
10.9 mi
16m
North Pleasant Street
10.2 mi
13m
Shelburne Road
6.6 mi
13m
Longest stretch:
U.S. Route 7
— 54.8 mi, about 1h 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bennington, VT and Berkshire, VT.
1
Start on VT 9
0.1 mi·26 sec·Main Street
2
Turn right onto Depot Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Depot Street
3
Merge onto US 7
0.3 mi·47 sec·North Street
4
Continue on US 7
1.0 mi·1 min·U.S. Route 7 North
5
Merge onto US 7; VT 279
0.2 mi·15 sec·Bennington Bypass
6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 7
52 mi·1 hr 16 min·U.S. Route 7
7
Continue on US 4; US 7
2.8 mi·5 min·South Main Street
8
Continue on US 7
14 mi·23 min·U.S. Route 7 North
9
Continue on US 7; VT 73
0.2 mi·42 sec·Center Street
10
Continue on US 7; VT 73
0.2 mi·39 sec·Conant Square
11
Continue on US 7
11 mi·16 min·Grove Street
12
Continue on US 7
4.0 mi·5 min·U.S. Route 7 South
13
Continue on US 7; VT 125
1.2 mi·3 min·Court Street
14
Enter roundabout onto US 7
375 ft·14 sec·North Pleasant Street
15
Continue on US 7
10 mi·13 min·North Pleasant Street
16
Continue on US 7
3.1 mi·4 min·U.S. Route 7
17
Continue on US 7
12 mi·19 min·Ethan Allen Highway
18
Continue on US 7
6.6 mi·13 min·Shelburne Road
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Toward I 189: Montpelier, Saint AlbansUse the slight right / right lanes.
20
Merge onto I 189
1.2 mi·1 min·I 189
Toward I 89
21
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward I 89 North: Winooski, Saint Albans
22
Merge onto I 89
26 mi·30 min·I 89
23
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 19Toward US 7, VT 36, VT 104: Saint Albans
24
Turn right onto VT 104
0.6 mi·1 min·Fairfax Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
25
Continue on VT 104
1.8 mi·3 min·Fisher Pond Road
26
Continue on VT 105
4.4 mi·6 min·Sheldon Road
27
Continue on VT 105
11 mi·16 min·Vermont Route 105
28
Continue on VT 105
0.7 mi·1 min·Pearl Street
29
At end of road, turn left onto VT 105; VT 108
0.5 mi·45 sec·Main Street
30
Turn slight right onto VT 105
0.3 mi·29 sec·Elm Street
31
Turn left onto Water Tower Road
4.4 mi·10 min·Water Tower Road
32
Turn slight left onto Center Hill Road
100 ft·4 sec·Center Hill Road
33
Arrive at destination
Center Hill Road
Trip Plan
To keep your 4-hour and 22-minute drive smooth, aim to depart early in the morning to avoid peak traffic periods on the highway portions. Although the route is short enough to drive in one go, planning for at least one stop will help you break up the 171.5-mile journey and stay alert. Be mindful of your fuel gauge, as spending around $27 is a baseline; having a little extra buffer is always wise when traveling through Vermont's varying terrain. Since you are spending a significant portion of the trip on U.S. Route 7, keep a close eye on road signage during the 54.8-mile stretch to ensure you stay on track. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, so feel free to adjust your pace if you encounter unexpected road work or weather changes.
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 85.8 miles from Bennington, VT, or about 2h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.8 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 38 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 85.8 miles or 2h 13m 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 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Berkshire, VT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bennington, 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 Bennington, VT
This is one driving day of about 171.5 miles and 4h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Bennington, 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 U.S. Route 7 for about 54.8 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 0.6 and 147.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|US 7 / North Street
Merge onto US 7 / North Street
Merge point - match speed before joining
7
119.5 mi into trip|~3h 7m in
Take the exit toward I 189: Montpelier, Saint Albans
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right / right lanes.
Toward I 189: Montpelier, Saint Albans
6
121 mi into trip|~3h 9m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 89 North: Winooski, Saint Albans
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 89 North: Winooski, Saint Albans
6
147.1 mi into trip|~3h 40m in
Take the exit toward US 7, VT 36, VT 104: Saint Albans
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 19
Toward US 7, VT 36, VT 104: Saint Albans
5
147.7 mi into trip|~3h 41m in|VT 104 / Fairfax Road
Turn right onto VT 104 / Fairfax Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.61 one way
$55.22 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg60 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$30.38
$60.75
premium
$4.86
$32.84
$65.68
diesel
$5.61
$37.87
$75.73
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
51.4
0
$18.01
$8.23
Efficient EV
42.9
0
$15.01
$6.86
EV Truck/SUV
68.6
0
$24.01
$10.98
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 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
Bennington, VT
Night
in Bennington on Saturday
Local time
9:26 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Berkshire, VT
Night
in Berkshire on Saturday
Local time
9:26 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
39°F
Crown Point, NY
86 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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 22m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with about 65% of your travel time spent on major routes like I-89 and U.S. Route 7. You will find a blend of fast-paced interstate travel and slower stretches, including a longest uninterrupted segment of 54.8 miles on U.S. Route 7. While the interstate sections allow you to maintain a steady speed, the transition to local stretches requires more attention to changing road conditions. Behind the wheel, the character of the journey shifts from wide, open lanes to tighter, more direct paths as you move through different parts of Vermont. It is a functional, efficient drive that balances consistent momentum with the reality of navigating regional infrastructure.
65% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.8 mi on U.S. Route 7.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on U.S. Route 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 0.6 miles in near US 7 / North Street.
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 171.5 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 0.6 miles (US 7 / North Street): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 119.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 121 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Bennington, VT to Berkshire, VT, road signs begin pointing toward Saint Albans along the way.
Saint Albans
119.5 mi in|~3h 7m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 22m. Total distance: 171.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.8 miles on U.S. Route 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 Berkshire, 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 0.6 miles (US 7 / North Street): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 119.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 121 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Berkshire, VT, but most travelers stay overnight.
