Spanning 98.1 miles through the heart of Vermont, this trip from Bennington to Hartford is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 18 minutes. It functions perfectly as a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight logistics. You can expect to spend roughly $16 on fuel for the trek, making it an affordable option for a quick transit between these two Northeast hubs. Since the route is entirely contained within the state, you remain in a consistent regional climate throughout the drive. Whether you are commuting or just exploring, this highway-focused itinerary offers a reliable and efficient way to travel across the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
49.1 miles from Bennington, VT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 13m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 91
34.8 mi
40m
U.S. Route 7
21.2 mi
28m
Vermont Route 11 30
11.5 mi
17m
Rockingham Road
6.6 mi
10m
Vermont Route 11
5.6 mi
8m
Vermont Route 11 West
4.4 mi
6m
Simonsville Road
3.7 mi
5m
Vermont Route 103 South
2.5 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 91
— 34.8 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bennington, VT and Hartford, 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
21 mi·28 min·U.S. Route 7
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·48 sec
Toward VT 11, VT 30
8
Turn right onto VT 11; VT 30
1.7 mi·2 min·Depot Street
9
Continue on VT 11; VT 30
12 mi·17 min·Vermont Route 11 30
10
Continue on VT 100; VT 11
0.4 mi·59 sec·North Main Street
11
Continue on VT 11
5.6 mi·8 min·Vermont Route 11
12
Continue on VT 11
3.7 mi·5 min·Simonsville Road
13
Continue on VT 11
4.4 mi·6 min·Vermont Route 11 West
14
Continue on VT 11
1.2 mi·3 min·Main Street
15
Continue on VT 103
2.5 mi·4 min·Vermont Route 103 South
16
Continue on VT 103
6.6 mi·10 min·Rockingham Road
17
Take the exit
0.1 mi·18 sec
Toward I 91 North: Springfield, White River Junction
18
Merge onto I 91
35 mi·40 min·I 91
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Exit 11Toward US 5: White River Junction
20
Turn right onto US 5
510 ft·8 sec·North Main Street
21
Enter roundabout onto US 5
99 ft·1 sec·North Main Street
22
Continue on US 5
0.5 mi·44 sec·North Main Street
23
Turn left onto US 4
0.9 mi·1 min·Woodstock Road
Use the left lane.
24
Turn left onto TH 132
144 ft·11 sec·TH 132
25
Turn left onto V.A. Cutoff Road
0.4 mi·54 sec·V.A. Cutoff Road
26
Arrive at destination
Christian Street
Trip Plan
Because this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule best. With no mandatory stops required to cover the 98.1-mile distance, you can easily complete the drive in one go without feeling rushed. Keep in mind that since the majority of your time is spent on major roads like I-91, maintaining a steady pace is easy, but stay alert for the transitions between U.S. Route 7 and the local state routes. Budgeting about $16 for gas should keep you covered for the duration of the trip. If you prefer a more relaxed pace, plan to stretch your legs during the transition between the state route segments and the interstate portion.
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 49.1 miles from Bennington, VT, or about 1h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 34.8 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 22 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49.1 miles or 1h 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 1h 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hartford, 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 98.1 miles and 2h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Bennington, VT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 91 for about 34.8 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 96.4 — 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
5
23.3 mi into trip|~32m in
Take the exit toward VT 11, VT 30
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward VT 11, VT 30
7
61.2 mi into trip|~1h 34m in
Take the exit toward I 91 North: Springfield, White River Junction
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 91 North: Springfield, White River Jun...
5
96.1 mi into trip|~2h 14m in
Take the exit toward US 5: White River Junction
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 11
Toward US 5: White River Junction
5
96.4 mi into trip|~2h 15m in|US 5 / North Main Street
Enter roundabout onto US 5 / North Main Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.79 one way
$31.59 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$17.38
$34.75
premium
$4.86
$18.79
$37.57
diesel
$5.61
$21.66
$43.32
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29.4
0
$10.30
$4.71
Efficient EV
24.5
0
$8.58
$3.92
EV Truck/SUV
39.2
0
$13.73
$6.28
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 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 15, 2026
Origin
Bennington, VT
Night
in Bennington on Saturday
Local time
11:05 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hartford, VT
Night
in Hartford on Saturday
Local time
11:05 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
39°F
Londonderry, VT
49 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
3 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
2h 18m 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...
9 mi from route
~22 min detour
Free
near mile 91.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a drive defined by efficiency, as roughly 82% of your time will be spent on highways. You will navigate a combination of I-91, U.S. Route 7, and Vermont Route 11/30 to complete your journey. The route transitions between these roads, with the longest uninterrupted stretch occurring on I-91 for 34.8 miles. While the experience is primarily focused on highway speed and connectivity, the mix of interstate and local state routes provides a balanced feel behind the wheel. It is a practical, no-nonsense drive that prioritizes steady progress over technical complexity.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 34.8 mi on I 91.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 91 and U.S. Route 7. 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 98.1 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 23.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 61.2 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 Bennington, VT to Hartford, VT, road signs begin pointing toward White River Junction along the way.
White River Junction
61.2 mi in|~1h 34m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 18m. Total distance: 98.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 34.8 miles on I 91. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Hartford, 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. 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 23.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 61.2 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Hartford, VT before heading back.
