Spanning 57.6 miles across Southern Vermont, this drive from Bennington to Westminster is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 32 minutes to complete. Because the trip is relatively short, it functions perfectly as a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stays. Budgeting approximately $9 for fuel should cover your travel costs comfortably. You will navigate a combination of Vermont Route 9 and I-91 to reach your destination. This route offers a practical connection between two Northeast towns, providing a reliable path for travelers looking to move efficiently through the region.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
28.8 miles from Bennington, VT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Vermont Route 9
17.5 mi
27m
Vermont Route 9 East
11.7 mi
19m
I 91
8.7 mi
10m
Bellows Falls Road
8.1 mi
11m
Marlboro Road
4.2 mi
7m
Main Street
2.4 mi
5m
Western Avenue
1.7 mi
4m
West Main Street
1.3 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Vermont Route 9
— 17.5 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bennington, VT and Westminster, VT.
1
Start on VT 9
1.5 mi·3 min·Main Street
Use the straight lane.
2
Continue on VT 9
0.9 mi·1 min·Woodford Road
3
Continue on VT 9
18 mi·27 min·Vermont Route 9
4
Continue on VT 9
1.3 mi·3 min·West Main Street
5
Continue on VT 9; VT 100
12 mi·19 min·Vermont Route 9 East
6
Continue on VT 9
4.2 mi·7 min·Marlboro Road
7
Continue on VT 9
1.7 mi·4 min·Western Avenue
8
Turn left
0.5 mi·1 min
9
Merge onto I 91
8.7 mi·10 min·I 91
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 4Toward US 5: Putney
11
Turn left onto Putney Landing Road
0.2 mi·24 sec·Putney Landing Road
12
At end of road, turn right onto US 5
0.9 mi·1 min·Main Street
13
Continue on US 5
8.1 mi·11 min·Bellows Falls Road
14
Turn slight left onto School Street
71 ft·3 sec·School Street
15
Arrive at destination
School Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a manageable drive of under two hours, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You can easily complete the entire 57.6-mile trip in one go without needing to plan for intermediate stops. To ensure a smooth experience, keep an eye on your fuel levels before merging onto I-91, as the $9 cost estimate assumes a direct route. Because the highway portion makes up a significant share of your travel, stay alert for changing traffic patterns when you transition from the state route to the interstate. Take advantage of the short duration to plan your arrival in Westminster with precision, as you will likely reach your destination well ahead of schedule.
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 28.8 miles from Bennington, VT, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 17.5 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 13 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 28.8 miles or 48m 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 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Westminster, 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 57.6 miles and 1h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 13 miles from Bennington, VT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Vermont Route 9 for about 17.5 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 48.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|VT 9 / Main Street
Depart onto VT 9 / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
38.9 mi into trip|~1h 6m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
48.1 mi into trip|~1h 17m in
Take the exit toward US 5: Putney
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 4
Toward US 5: Putney
5
48.3 mi into trip|~1h 18m in|Putney Landing Road
Turn left onto Putney Landing Road
Navigation decision point
4
48.6 mi into trip|~1h 18m in|US 5 / Main Street
At end of road, turn right onto US 5 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.27 one way
$18.55 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg20 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$10.20
$20.40
premium
$4.86
$11.03
$22.06
diesel
$5.61
$12.72
$25.43
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$34–$59
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
17.3
0
$6.05
$2.76
Efficient EV
14.4
0
$5.04
$2.30
EV Truck/SUV
23
0
$8.06
$3.69
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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
12:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Westminster, VT
Late night
in Westminster on Sunday
Local time
12:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
35°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
34°F
Guilford, VT
29 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
19 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 32m 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 features a highway-focused profile, with 66% of the journey spent on high-speed roads. You begin on Vermont Route 9 before transitioning to the interstate, which facilitates a steady pace for the majority of the drive. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 17.5 miles on Vermont Route 9, allowing you to settle into a consistent rhythm behind the wheel. Expect the personality of the road to shift from local state routes to the more structured environment of I-91 as you progress toward Westminster. It is a functional drive designed for steady movement rather than a technical or winding experience.
66% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 17.5 mi on Vermont Route 9.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Vermont Route 9 and Vermont Route 9 East. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near VT 9 / Main Street.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Bennington, VT to Westminster, VT is easy. At 1h 32m with 66% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (VT 9 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 38.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 48.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 32m. Total distance: 57.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 17.5 miles on Vermont Route 9. 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: near the start (VT 9 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 38.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 48.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Westminster, VT before heading back.
