Spanning 124.8 miles through the heart of Vermont, this trek from Bennington to Winooski is a straightforward journey that takes approximately 3 hours and 16 minutes. You can easily manage this as a single-day trip, as it only requires one planned stop to keep things comfortable. Budget about $20 for fuel to complete the transit between these two Northeast locations. Because the route is relatively short, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule best. It is an efficient way to traverse the state, connecting the southern region to the northern hub of Winooski without the need for an overnight stay.
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
54.8 mi
1h 20m
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
South Main Street
2.8 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
U.S. Route 7
— 54.8 mi, about 1h 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bennington, VT and Winooski, 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
2.5 mi·3 min·I 89
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward VT 15: Winooski, Essex JunctionUse the left lane.
24
At end of road, turn left onto VT 15
0.7 mi·2 min·East Allen Street
Use the straight lane.
25
Turn straight onto East Allen Street
17 ft·0 sec·East Allen Street
26
Arrive at destination
East Allen Street
Trip Plan
Since this drive is manageable in one session, aim to leave mid-morning to avoid potential commuter traffic near your destination. Plan your single stop around the midpoint of the journey to stretch your legs and refresh before completing the final leg. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, keeping that $20 estimate in mind as you monitor regional gas prices. Because U.S. Route 7 handles the majority of the traffic, remain attentive to changing speed limits as you pass through different zones along the Ethan Allen Highway. The lack of required overnight stops gives you the freedom to tailor your arrival time to your specific needs.
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 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 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 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Winooski, 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 124.8 miles and 3h 16m.
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 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 124.1 — 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
7
123.9 mi into trip|~3h 13m in
Take the exit toward VT 15: Winooski, Essex Junction
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward VT 15: Winooski, Essex Junction
5
124.1 mi into trip|~3h 14m in|VT 15 / East Allen Street
At end of road, turn left onto VT 15 / East Allen Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.09 one way
$40.18 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg44 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$22.11
$44.21
premium
$4.86
$23.90
$47.80
diesel
$5.61
$27.55
$55.11
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
37.4
0
$13.10
$5.99
Efficient EV
31.2
0
$10.92
$4.99
EV Truck/SUV
49.9
0
$17.47
$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 20, 2026
Origin
Bennington, VT
Late night
in Bennington on Tuesday
Local time
4:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Winooski, VT
Late night
in Winooski on Tuesday
Local time
4:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
30°F
Chance Rain And Snow Showers
W 7 mph32% chanceLive forecast
40°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
32 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 16m 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 55.9
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 experience, as roughly 62% of your travel occurs on major thoroughfares. You will spend the bulk of your time navigating U.S. Route 7, also known as the Ethan Allen Highway, which serves as the backbone of your journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 54.8 miles, allowing you to settle into a consistent driving rhythm. While the road transitions through various environments, the focus remains on steady progress along these primary routes. You should anticipate a drive that prioritizes directness and reliable pavement over technical, winding backroads.
62% 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?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on U.S. Route 7 and U.S. Route 7 North. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near US 7 / North Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 124.8 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
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.
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Scout & Co.
Cafe
Near the end, right off the route
Home stretch
0 mi from route
Winooski, VT
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Hours: Mo 07:00-17:00; Tu-Th 07:00-18:00, Fr 07...
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 16m. Total distance: 124.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
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.
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.
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 Winooski, 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. 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 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 3.3 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 Winooski, VT, but most travelers stay overnight.
