Milton, VT to Pownal, VT is 146.5 miles and takes about 3h 50m via US 7, with a fuel budget near $26 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Northeast region, specifically within Vermont, making it a straightforward trip without crossing state lines. You'll spend most of your time on the highway, so expect a relatively quick transit between these two points. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost under $30, this route is an efficient option for a single-day trip.
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
73.2 miles from Milton, VT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 7
85.3 mi
2h 13m
Ethan Allen Highway
22.5 mi
32m
U.S. Route 7
11.9 mi
17m
I 89
10.4 mi
12m
Shelburne Road
6.8 mi
13m
U.S. Route 7 South
4.3 mi
7m
I 189
1.2 mi
1m
River Street
1.2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
US 7
— 85.3 mi, about 2h 13m
Traffic on I-89
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 10 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,762 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~83 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
21.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 33 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 Milton, VT and Pownal, VT.
1
Start on Main Street
0.1 mi·27 sec·Main Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto US 7
1.1 mi·2 min·River Street
3
Continue on River Street
246 ft·7 sec·River Street
4
Turn right onto Railroad Street
323 ft·9 sec·Railroad Street
5
Turn straight onto US 7
4.3 mi·7 min·U.S. Route 7 South
6
Turn right onto US 2
0.2 mi·23 sec·U.S. Route 2
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
8
Merge onto I 89
10 mi·12 min·I 89
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·31 sec
Toward I 189 West: Shelburne, Rutland
10
Merge onto I 189
1.2 mi·1 min·I 189
Use the straight / left lanes.
11
Turn left onto US 7
6.8 mi·13 min·Shelburne Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
12
Continue on US 7
12 mi·19 min·Ethan Allen Highway
13
Continue on US 7
3.1 mi·4 min·U.S. Route 7
14
Continue on US 7
10 mi·13 min·Ethan Allen Highway
15
Enter roundabout onto US 7
348 ft·16 sec·US 7
Toward VT 125
16
Continue on US 7
85 mi·2 hr 13 min·US 7
Toward VT 125Use the straight lane.
17
Merge onto US 7; VT 279
0.2 mi·14 sec·Bennington Bypass
18
Keep slight right at fork onto US 7
0.9 mi·1 min·U.S. Route 7
Toward US 7 South: Bennington Downtown
19
Continue on US 7
0.3 mi·47 sec·North Street
20
Turn right onto Depot Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Depot Street
21
Turn left onto VT 9
0.1 mi·20 sec·Main Street
22
Turn right onto US 7
0.8 mi·2 min·South Street
23
Continue on US 7
7.8 mi·12 min·U.S. Route 7
24
Turn right onto Oak Hill School Road
0.3 mi·1 min·Oak Hill School Road
25
At end of road, turn left onto VT 346
67 ft·1 sec·Vermont Route 346
26
Arrive at destination
VT 346
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 50m duration, leaving Milton in the morning allows ample time to reach Pownal with daylight to spare. Plan for one stop along the 146.5-mile route; the 85.3-mile stretch on US 7 might be a good place to find amenities. The estimated fuel cost is around $26, so budget accordingly. Since this is a single-day trip, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience, but an early start will maximize your time upon arrival in Pownal.
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 73.2 miles from Milton, VT, or about 1h 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 85.3 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 32 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 73.2 miles or 1h 53m 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 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pownal, VT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Milton, 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 Milton, VT
This is one driving day of about 146.5 miles and 3h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Milton, 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 US 7 for about 85.3 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 50.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|US 7 / River Street
At end of road, turn left onto US 7 / River Street
Navigation decision point
5
16.5 mi into trip|~25m in
Take the exit toward I 189 West: Shelburne, Rutland
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 189 West: Shelburne, Rutland
5
16.7 mi into trip|~25m in|I 189
Merge onto I 189
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
17.9 mi into trip|~27m in|US 7 / Shelburne Road
Turn left onto US 7 / Shelburne Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
50.3 mi into trip|~1h 17m in|US 7
Enter roundabout onto US 7 toward VT 125
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Toward VT 125
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.90 one way
$51.79 round trip
$4.49/gal25.4 MPG avg51 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.92
$28.37
$56.73
premium
$5.29
$30.51
$61.01
diesel
$5.35
$30.86
$61.71
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44
0
$15.38
$7.03
Efficient EV
36.6
0
$12.82
$5.86
EV Truck/SUV
58.6
0
$20.51
$9.38
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Milton, VT
Afternoon
in Milton on Wednesday
Local time
3:05 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Mostly Cloudy
N 2 mph8% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Pownal, VT
Afternoon
in Pownal on Wednesday
Local time
3:05 PM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Patchy Fog
N 2 mph1% chanceLive forecast
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
4 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 50m 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 85.9
Park Closure: Temporary Trail Closures on May 13 for Native Grasslands Restoration
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is mostly highway, with 77% of the 146.5 miles on high-speed roads like US 7. You'll experience a long stretch of 85.3 miles on US 7, which offers consistent cruising. The drive transitions from highway to surface roads for the remaining 33.7 miles, likely with fewer exits and a more rural feel as you approach Pownal.
77% 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: 85.3 mi on US 7.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 7 and Ethan Allen Highway. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 7 / River 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 146.5 miles you will encounter 17 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 0.1 miles (US 7 / River Street): Navigation decision point; at 16.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.7 miles (I 189): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
966 ft154 ft
Total Climb
813 ft
Total Descent
522 ft
Highest Point
966 ft
~125.5 mi in
Elevation Range
813 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 Milton, VT to Pownal, VT, road signs begin pointing toward Rutland along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 50m. Total distance: 146.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 85.3 miles on US 7. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 2 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 Pownal, 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 2 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 0.1 miles (US 7 / River Street): Navigation decision point; at 16.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.7 miles (I 189): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Marsh - Billings - Rockefeller National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Pownal, VT, but most travelers stay overnight.
