If you are looking to traverse the heart of Vermont, the 70.8-mile journey from Bennington to Brandon is a straightforward trip that typically takes about 1 hour and 50 minutes. This route is designed as a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination with ease and plenty of time to spare. Budgeting around $11 for fuel is sufficient for this drive, making it a cost-effective way to navigate the Northeast. Because the trip is relatively short, you won't need to worry about overnight logistics or complex travel splits. It serves as a reliable, efficient connection between these two Vermont towns, providing a practical travel experience for anyone moving through the region.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
35.4 miles from Bennington, VT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
U.S. Route 7
51.6 mi
1h 16m
U.S. Route 7 North
15.1 mi
25m
South Main Street
2.8 mi
5m
Depot Street
0.4 mi
1m
North Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Bennington Bypass
0.2 mi
<1m
Main Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Center Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
U.S. Route 7
— 51.6 mi, about 1h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bennington, VT and Brandon, 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
512 ft·21 sec·Center Street
10
Turn right onto Park Street
109 ft·4 sec·Park Street
11
Arrive at destination
Park Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a compact 1 hour and 50-minute drive, you have the flexibility to depart whenever it best suits your schedule without needing to plan for major mid-route stops. While you won't need to break up the journey for rest, keeping an eye on your fuel gauge is still smart practice; filling up in Bennington before you head out should comfortably cover the $11 cost for the entire 70.8-mile stretch. Aim to clear the bulk of your driving during daylight hours to maintain better visibility on U.S. Route 7. Your best strategy is to embrace the simplicity of the trip and enjoy the direct path north, which allows you to arrive in Brandon feeling refreshed and ready for your next set of plans.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 35.4 miles from Bennington, VT, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 51.6 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 16 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 35.4 miles or 53m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brandon, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bennington, VT
This is one driving day of about 70.8 miles and 1h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Bennington, VT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on U.S. Route 7 for about 51.6 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 5
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 70.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Depot Street
Turn right onto Depot Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|US 7 / North Street
Merge onto US 7 / North Street
Merge point - match speed before joining
3
1.9 mi into trip|~3m in|US 7; VT 279 / Bennington Bypass
Merge onto US 7; VT 279 / Bennington Bypass
Merge point - match speed before joining
4
2.1 mi into trip|~4m in|US 7 / U.S. Route 7
Keep slight right at fork onto US 7 / U.S. Route 7
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
70.8 mi into trip|~1h 49m in|Park Street
Turn right onto Park Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.40 one way
$22.80 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg25 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$12.54
$25.08
premium
$4.86
$13.56
$27.12
diesel
$5.61
$15.63
$31.26
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
21.2
0
$7.43
$3.40
Efficient EV
17.7
0
$6.19
$2.83
EV Truck/SUV
28.3
0
$9.91
$4.53
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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 20, 2026
Origin
Bennington, VT
Late night
in Bennington on Tuesday
Local time
5:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Brandon, VT
Late night
in Brandon on Tuesday
Local time
5:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
40°F
Wallingford, VT
35 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
22 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
1h 50m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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 53.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive, as 94% of this journey is spent on major thoroughfares. You will spend the vast majority of your time on U.S. Route 7, which serves as the backbone of your trip. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 51.6 miles, offering a consistent driving rhythm as you head north. Because the route relies so heavily on U.S. Route 7 and South Main Street, you can anticipate a steady, predictable pace rather than a series of technical turns. It is an ideal route if you prefer a direct driving experience that keeps you moving toward your destination without unnecessary detours or complicated navigation.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 51.6 mi on U.S. Route 7.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on U.S. Route 7 and U.S. Route 7 North. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Depot Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 50m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Depot Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (US 7 / North Street): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 1.9 miles (US 7; VT 279 / Bennington Bypass): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Bennington is a town in Southwestern Vermont. Boasting five covered bridges it is a classic Vermont country town, and is also home to Bennington College. This article also encompasses the neighboring town of North Bennington.
Brandon is a town in Southern Vermont with a population of 4,000 people. The town is known for its vibrant arts scene, including several well known artists who reside there.
The longest stretch is about 51.6 miles on U.S. Route 7. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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 0.1 miles (Depot Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (US 7 / North Street): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 1.9 miles (US 7; VT 279 / Bennington Bypass): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Yes — Marsh - Billings - Rockefeller National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Brandon, VT before heading back.
