Bennington to Swanton is 158 miles and takes about 3 hours 53 minutes via U.S. Route 7 and I-89, with a fuel budget near $25 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Vermont, traversing the Northeast region. You'll experience a mix of highway cruising and surface road driving, making it a straightforward route for a single-day excursion. Consider this if you're looking for an efficient way to move between southern and northern Vermont.
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
79 miles from Bennington, VT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
U.S. Route 7
54.8 mi
1h 20m
I 89
35.5 mi
41m
U.S. Route 7 North
15.1 mi
25m
Ethan Allen Highway
12.3 mi
19m
Grove Street
10.9 mi
16m
North Pleasant Street
10.2 mi
13m
Shelburne Road
6.6 mi
13m
U.S. Route 7 South
4 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
U.S. Route 7
— 54.8 mi, about 1h 20m
Traffic on I-89
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 22 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,367 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,693
Quietest
2 AM
~57 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
24×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 75 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bennington, VT and Swanton, 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
35 mi·41 min·I 89
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit 21Toward VT 78, US 7: Swanton
24
Turn left onto VT 78
0.9 mi·1 min·First Street
25
At end of road, turn left onto US 7
64 ft·1 sec·Grand Avenue
26
Arrive at destination
US 7
Trip Plan
Given the 3 hour 53 minute estimated drive time, leaving in the morning allows for flexibility. You'll want to plan for one stop, perhaps midway, to stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $25, and it's always wise to fill up before embarking on longer stretches. Since this is a single-day trip, you have the advantage of not needing to rush. A specific tip: be aware that U.S. Route 7 North will eventually merge into I-89, so follow signs carefully to ensure a smooth transition.
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 79 miles from Bennington, VT, or about 2h 2m 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 35 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79 miles or 2h 2m 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 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Swanton, 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 158 miles and 3h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 157.9 — 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
156.9 mi into trip|~3h 52m in
Take the exit toward VT 78, US 7: Swanton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 21
Toward VT 78, US 7: Swanton
5
157.9 mi into trip|~3h 53m in|US 7 / Grand Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto US 7 / Grand Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.58 one way
$55.15 round trip
$4.43/gal25.4 MPG avg55 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.93
$30.69
$61.38
premium
$5.30
$32.97
$65.95
diesel
$6.18
$38.44
$76.87
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: 55.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
47.4
0
$16.59
$7.58
Efficient EV
39.5
0
$13.83
$6.32
EV Truck/SUV
63.2
0
$22.12
$10.11
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
18 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Bennington, VT
Late night
in Bennington on Tuesday
Local time
4:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Sunny
NW 1 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Swanton, VT
Late night
in Swanton on Tuesday
Local time
4:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Sunny
S 1 to 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
60°F
Brandon, VT
79 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
1 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 53m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 54.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 70% of this drive is on highways. The longest continuous stretch on a surface road is 54.8 miles along U.S. Route 7. You'll transition from U.S. Route 7 to I-89, offering a predominantly highway experience for much of the trip. Expect to encounter more frequent exits as you approach populated areas.
70% 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: 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 12 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 158 miles you will encounter 12 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.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,033 ft144 ft
Total Climb
1,049 ft
Total Descent
1,583 ft
Highest Point
1,033 ft
~11.3 mi in
Elevation Range
889 ft
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 Swanton, VT, road signs begin pointing toward Saint Albans along the way.
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.
Top landmarks
•Old Bennington — village in Vermont
•Bennington Battle Monument — monument in Bennington, Vermont, United States
•Bennington Museum — museum in Bennington, Vermont, USA
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 53m. Total distance: 158 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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.
Yes — we found about 4 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Swanton, 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. There are 4 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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.
Yes — Marsh - Billings - Rockefeller National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Swanton, VT, but most travelers stay overnight.
