South Burlington to Bennington is 124 miles and takes about 3h 12m via Vermont Route 116, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Vermont, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast. It's a drive that primarily uses surface roads, making it a more relaxed, scenic option than a highway-heavy route. Given its relatively short duration and modest fuel cost, this is a straightforward day trip for anyone looking to explore more of Vermont's landscape.
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 miles from South Burlington, VT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 37m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
North Main Street
54.6 mi
1h 22m
Vermont Route 116
17.7 mi
26m
Franklin Street
14.1 mi
23m
Ethan Allen Highway
10.9 mi
16m
Case Street
6.1 mi
8m
South 116 Road
5.5 mi
8m
Hinesburg Road
4.3 mi
7m
North 116 Road
4.1 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
North Main Street
— 54.6 mi, about 1h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Burlington, VT and Bennington, VT.
1
Start on US 2
100 ft·11 sec·Williston Road
2
Turn left onto VT 116
4.3 mi·7 min·Hinesburg Road
3
Continue on VT 116
1.0 mi·1 min·Vermont Route 116
4
Continue on VT 116
17 mi·24 min·Vermont Route 116
5
Continue on VT 116
4.1 mi·6 min·North 116 Road
6
Continue on VT 17; VT 116
0.9 mi·1 min·Rockydale Road
7
Continue on VT 17; VT 116
0.5 mi·1 min·East Street
8
Continue on VT 17; VT 116
0.2 mi·25 sec·Main Street
9
Continue on VT 17; VT 116
0.6 mi·53 sec·West Street
10
Continue on VT 17; VT 116
0.5 mi·56 sec·Stony Hill Road
11
Turn left onto VT 116
2.1 mi·3 min·South 116 Road
12
Continue on VT 116
3.4 mi·5 min·South 116 Road
13
Continue on VT 116
6.1 mi·8 min·Case Street
14
Turn right onto VT 116
0.5 mi·51 sec·Ossie Road
15
At end of road, turn left onto US 7
1.1 mi·1 min·U.S. Route 7 South
16
Continue on US 7
11 mi·16 min·Ethan Allen Highway
17
Continue on US 7; VT 73
0.2 mi·39 sec·Conant Square
18
Continue on US 7; VT 73
0.2 mi·44 sec·Center Street
19
Continue on US 7
14 mi·23 min·Franklin Street
20
Continue on US 7
55 mi·1 hr 22 min·North Main Street
Use the straight lane.
21
Merge onto US 7; VT 279
0.2 mi·14 sec·Bennington Bypass
22
Keep slight right at fork onto US 7
0.9 mi·1 min·U.S. Route 7
Toward US 7 South: Bennington Downtown
23
Continue on US 7
0.3 mi·47 sec·North Street
24
Turn right onto Depot Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Depot Street
25
Turn left onto VT 9
0.1 mi·23 sec·Main Street
26
Arrive at destination
VT 9
Trip Plan
For this 124-mile drive, leaving mid-morning should give you plenty of time to arrive in Bennington before evening. With only one recommended stop and a duration under four hours, you have flexibility on when and where to pause. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $20, and while there are surface roads, services might be less frequent than on major interstates. A good tip for this route is to be aware that Vermont Route 116 can have varying speed limits, so plan accordingly.
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 miles from South Burlington, VT, or about 1h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.6 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 miles or 1h 37m 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 Bennington, VT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving South Burlington, 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 South Burlington, VT
This is one driving day of about 124 miles and 3h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from South Burlington, 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 North Main Street for about 54.6 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 122.1 — 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 116 / Hinesburg Road
Turn left onto VT 116 / Hinesburg Road
Navigation decision point
3
28.7 mi into trip|~44m in|VT 116 / South 116 Road
Turn left onto VT 116 / South 116 Road
Navigation decision point
4
40.8 mi into trip|~1h 2m in|US 7 / U.S. Route 7 South
At end of road, turn left onto US 7 / U.S. Route 7 South
Navigation decision point
3
122 mi into trip|~3h 8m in|US 7; VT 279 / Bennington Bypass
Merge onto US 7; VT 279 / Bennington Bypass
Merge point - match speed before joining
5
122.1 mi into trip|~3h 8m in|US 7 / U.S. Route 7
Keep slight right at fork onto US 7 / U.S. Route 7 toward US 7 South: Bennington Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 7 South: Bennington Downtown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.96 one way
$39.92 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg43 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$21.96
$43.93
premium
$4.86
$23.75
$47.49
diesel
$5.61
$27.38
$54.76
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: 43.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
37.2
0
$13.02
$5.95
Efficient EV
31
0
$10.85
$4.96
EV Truck/SUV
49.6
0
$17.36
$7.94
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
15 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 20, 2026
Origin
South Burlington, VT
Morning
in South Burlington on Tuesday
Local time
11:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bennington, VT
Morning
in Bennington on Tuesday
Local time
11:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live 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
3 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 12m 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...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 68.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is mostly surface roads, with highway driving making up only 16% of the total distance. You'll experience a significant stretch of 54.6 miles on North Main Street, which suggests a considerable amount of time on local roads. Expect to transition from highway cruising to surface road driving early on, as the highway portion is limited. The majority of your time will be spent on these more direct, local routes.
Only 16% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.6 mi on North Main Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near VT 116 / Hinesburg Road.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from South Burlington, VT to Bennington, VT is easy. At 3h 12m with 16% 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 116 / Hinesburg Road): Navigation decision point; at 28.7 miles (VT 116 / South 116 Road): Navigation decision point; at 40.8 miles (US 7 / U.S. Route 7 South): Navigation decision point.
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.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.6 miles on North Main Street. 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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 116 / Hinesburg Road): Navigation decision point; at 28.7 miles (VT 116 / South 116 Road): Navigation decision point; at 40.8 miles (US 7 / U.S. Route 7 South): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Marsh - Billings - Rockefeller National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Bennington, VT, but most travelers stay overnight.
