Spanning 124.9 miles across the Northeast, this drive from Bennington to Essex Junction is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 3 hours and 13 minutes. Because the trip is manageable in a single day, you won't need to worry about overnight logistics, leaving you plenty of time to explore once you arrive. You should budget approximately $20 for fuel to cover the distance. Navigating via U.S. Route 7 and Vermont Route 116, you will experience a steady transition through the Vermont landscape. This route is ideal if you want a reliable, efficient path between these two points without the complexity of a multi-day itinerary.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
62.4 miles from Bennington, VT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 35m 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
Vermont Route 116
14.2 mi
21m
Grove Street
10.9 mi
16m
Case Street
6 mi
8m
South 116 Road
5.5 mi
8m
North 116 Road
4.1 mi
6m
Saint George Road
3.7 mi
5m
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 Essex Junction, 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
1.1 mi·1 min·U.S. Route 7 South
13
Turn right onto VT 116
0.5 mi·45 sec·Ossie Road
14
Turn left onto VT 116
364 ft·6 sec·Church Street
15
Continue on VT 116
6.0 mi·8 min·Case Street
16
Continue on VT 116
5.5 mi·8 min·South 116 Road
17
Turn right onto VT 17; VT 116
0.5 mi·48 sec·Stony Hill Road
18
Continue on VT 17; VT 116
0.6 mi·55 sec·West Street
19
Continue on VT 17; VT 116
0.2 mi·22 sec·Main Street
20
Continue on VT 17; VT 116
0.5 mi·1 min·East Street
21
Continue on VT 17; VT 116
0.9 mi·1 min·Rockydale Road
22
Continue on VT 17; VT 116
4.1 mi·6 min·North 116 Road
23
Continue on VT 116
9.0 mi·13 min·Vermont Route 116
24
Continue on VT 116
5.3 mi·7 min·Vermont Route 116
25
Turn right onto VT 2A
2.0 mi·2 min·Vermont Route 2A
26
Continue on VT 2A
3.7 mi·5 min·Saint George Road
27
Continue on VT 2A
2.2 mi·3 min·Essex Road
28
Continue on VT 2A
0.7 mi·2 min·Park Street
29
Turn slight right onto VT 15
79 ft·2 sec·Main Street
30
Arrive at destination
VT 15
Trip Plan
Since this is a one-day trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best. With only one recommended stop planned, you can easily pace yourself to avoid fatigue during the 3-hour journey. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $20 estimate is a baseline that can fluctuate depending on your vehicle's efficiency. Because you are relying on main thoroughfares like U.S. Route 7, be prepared for typical traffic flow changes as you approach your destination. A helpful tip for this route is to utilize your single stop strategically at the end of that 51.6-mile stretch to stretch your legs before finishing the final leg of the drive.
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 62.4 miles from Bennington, VT, or about 1h 35m 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 27 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.4 miles or 1h 35m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Essex Junction, 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 124.9 miles and 3h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 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 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 83.2 — 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
3
83.2 mi into trip|~2h 9m in|VT 116 / Ossie Road
Turn right onto VT 116 / Ossie Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.11 one way
$40.21 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg44 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$22.12
$44.25
premium
$4.86
$23.92
$47.84
diesel
$5.61
$27.58
$55.15
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
37.5
0
$13.11
$6.00
Efficient EV
31.2
0
$10.93
$5.00
EV Truck/SUV
50
0
$17.49
$7.99
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (66% 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
Late night
in Bennington on Sunday
Local time
12:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Essex Junction, VT
Late night
in Essex Junction on Sunday
Local time
12:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
36°F
Brandon, VT
62 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
15 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
3h 13m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is largely highway-focused, with about 67% of your time spent on higher-speed roads. You will settle into a rhythm quickly, especially during the longest uninterrupted stretch of 51.6 miles along U.S. Route 7. While the drive maintains a consistent pace, the shift between U.S. Route 7 North and Vermont Route 116 creates a slight change in the road's personality. Expect a functional, direct commute that prioritizes efficiency over technical, winding backroads. It is the kind of drive where you can comfortably settle in behind the wheel and cover ground steadily.
67% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 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 3h 13m drive. You will face about 7 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.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 13m. Total distance: 124.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
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.
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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Essex Junction, VT, but most travelers stay overnight.
