Cambridge, VT to Bennington, VT is 146.1 miles and takes about 3h 49m via Vermont Route 116, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Vermont, traversing the Northeast region for both its start and end points. Expect a route with frequent turns, offering a more engaging local driving experience rather than a high-speed interstate journey. Given its manageable duration and distance, this route is well-suited for a single-day excursion, allowing ample time to reach your destination without feeling rushed.
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
73.1 miles from Cambridge, VT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 55m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 49m. Total distance: 146.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
This is a turn-heavy local drive, with only 24% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter numerous changes in direction, making it a more involved driving experience. The longest continuous stretch you'll navigate is 54.6 miles on North Main Street, so be prepared for frequent adjustments. The roads will likely feel more intimate and winding as you move through local areas, contrasting with any brief highway segments. This character means you'll be paying close attention to navigation and road conditions throughout the 3h 49m drive.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 34 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Main Street is the longest continuous segment at about 54.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 11.3 miles in near Browns Trace.
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 146.1 miles you will encounter 16 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 11.3 miles (Browns Trace): Navigation decision point; at 18.8 miles (VT 117 / River Road): Navigation decision point; at 24.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
11.3 mi into trip|~18m in|Browns Trace
Turn left onto Browns Trace
Navigation decision point
4
18.8 mi into trip|~33m in|VT 117 / River Road
At end of road, turn left onto VT 117 / River Road
Navigation decision point
6
24.5 mi into trip|~40m in
Take the exit toward VT 2A: Williston, Essex Junction
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 12
Toward VT 2A: Williston, Essex Junction
6
29.8 mi into trip|~49m in|VT 116 / Vermont Route 116
At end of road, turn left onto VT 116 / Vermont Route 116
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
144.3 mi into trip|~3h 45m 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
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 Cambridge, VT to Bennington, VT, road signs begin pointing toward Essex Junction along the way.
Essex Junction
24.5 mi in|~40m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
North Main Street
54.6 mi
1h 22m
Vermont Route 116
14.2 mi
21m
Franklin Street
14.1 mi
23m
Vermont Route 15
11.3 mi
18m
Ethan Allen Highway
10.9 mi
16m
Case Street
6.1 mi
8m
South 116 Road
5.5 mi
8m
I 89
5.3 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
North Main Street
— 54.6 mi, about 1h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cambridge, VT and Bennington, VT.
1
Start on VT 15
11 mi·18 min·Vermont Route 15
Use the straight lane.
2
Turn left onto Browns Trace
5.3 mi·11 min·Browns Trace
3
Turn right onto Governor Peck Road
1.4 mi·2 min·Governor Peck Road
4
Continue on Governor Peck Highway
0.8 mi·1 min·Governor Peck Highway
5
At end of road, turn left onto VT 117
240 ft·9 sec·River Road
6
Turn left onto US 2
216 ft·9 sec·West Main Street
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·38 sec
8
Merge onto I 89
5.3 mi·6 min·I 89
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 12Toward VT 2A: Williston, Essex Junction
10
Turn left onto VT 2A
3.0 mi·4 min·Saint George Road
11
Continue on VT 2A
2.0 mi·2 min·Vermont Route 2A
12
At end of road, turn left onto VT 116
14 mi·21 min·Vermont Route 116
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on VT 116
4.1 mi·6 min·North 116 Road
14
Continue on VT 17; VT 116
0.9 mi·1 min·Rockydale Road
15
Continue on VT 17; VT 116
0.5 mi·1 min·East Street
16
Continue on VT 17; VT 116
0.2 mi·25 sec·Main Street
17
Continue on VT 17; VT 116
0.6 mi·53 sec·West Street
18
Continue on VT 17; VT 116
0.5 mi·56 sec·Stony Hill Road
19
Turn left onto VT 116
2.1 mi·3 min·South 116 Road
20
Continue on VT 116
3.4 mi·5 min·South 116 Road
21
Continue on VT 116
6.1 mi·8 min·Case Street
22
Turn right onto VT 116
0.5 mi·51 sec·Ossie Road
23
At end of road, turn left onto US 7
1.1 mi·1 min·U.S. Route 7 South
24
Continue on US 7
11 mi·16 min·Ethan Allen Highway
25
Continue on US 7; VT 73
0.2 mi·39 sec·Conant Square
26
Continue on US 7; VT 73
0.2 mi·44 sec·Center Street
27
Continue on US 7
14 mi·23 min·Franklin Street
28
Continue on US 7
55 mi·1 hr 22 min·North Main Street
Use the straight lane.
29
Merge onto US 7; VT 279
0.2 mi·14 sec·Bennington Bypass
30
Keep slight right at fork onto US 7
0.9 mi·1 min·U.S. Route 7
Toward US 7 South: Bennington Downtown
31
Continue on US 7
0.3 mi·47 sec·North Street
32
Turn right onto Depot Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Depot Street
33
Turn left onto VT 9
0.1 mi·23 sec·Main Street
34
Arrive at destination
VT 9
Trip Plan
For this 146.1-mile trip, leaving Cambridge, VT in the morning is advisable to maximize daylight and take advantage of the flexibility a single-day drive offers. Plan for one primary stop to break up the 3h 49m travel time, perhaps around the halfway point or where you anticipate needing fuel. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially since only 24% of the route is on highways, meaning you might pass fewer service stations. A specific tip for this route: pay close attention to signs for Vermont Route 116, as it forms a significant portion of your journey and the turns can be frequent.
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 73.1 miles from Cambridge, VT, or about 1h 55m 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 32 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 73.1 miles or 1h 55m 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 8m
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 Cambridge, 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 Cambridge, VT
This is one driving day of about 146.1 miles and 3h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Cambridge, 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.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 73.1 mi from Cambridge, VT
· 1h 55m into the drive
The midpoint is around 73.1 miles from Cambridge, VT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Bennington, VT
The final approach into Bennington, VT usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Bennington, VT.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
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 90.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.52 one way
$47.04 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg51 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$25.88
$51.76
premium
$4.86
$27.98
$55.96
diesel
$5.61
$32.26
$64.51
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
43.8
0
$15.34
$7.01
Efficient EV
36.5
0
$12.78
$5.84
EV Truck/SUV
58.4
0
$20.45
$9.35
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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Cambridge, VT
Morning
in Cambridge on Saturday
Local time
10:54 AM
EDT
Current temp
37°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bennington, VT
Morning
in Bennington on Saturday
Local time
10:54 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
36°F
Wright, NY
73 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
17 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 49m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Cambridge, VT to Bennington, VT covers 146.1 miles and takes about 3h 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Main Street, Vermont Route 116, Franklin Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 73.1 miles from Cambridge, VT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $23.52 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 146.1 miles you will encounter 16 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 11.3 miles (Browns Trace): Navigation decision point; at 18.8 miles (VT 117 / River Road): Navigation decision point; at 24.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Cambridge, VT to Bennington, VT, road signs begin pointing toward Essex Junction along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
