Origin
Colchester, VT
Night in Colchester on Sunday
Local time
11:01 PM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Colchester, VT to Bennington, VT
Drive Time
3h 23m
Distance
129.2 mi
208 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 11m
★
6 AM
3h 23m
8 AM
3h 47m
10 AM
3h 32m
12 PM
3h 29m
3 PM
3h 33m
5 PM
3h 46m
8 PM
3h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Colchester, VT
Wikimedia Commons
Bennington, VT
Andrea Davis
Trip Overview
If you are looking to traverse Vermont from Colchester down to Bennington, prepare for a 129.2-mile journey that takes approximately 3 hours and 23 minutes. This trip is ideally suited as a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You can expect to spend roughly $21 on fuel for the trip, making it a relatively affordable way to explore the state. The route relies heavily on local paths like North Main Street, Vermont Route 116, and Franklin Street rather than major interstates. Because this is a turn-heavy drive, it offers a more hands-on experience behind the wheel than a standard highway commute.
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
64.6 miles from Colchester, VT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 43m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a winding, turn-heavy experience that keeps you engaged throughout the entire 129.2-mile trek. With only 14% of the route consisting of highway travel, you will spend the vast majority of your time navigating local roads. The longest uninterrupted section is a 54.6-mile stretch on North Main Street, which serves as the backbone of your journey. Unlike a monotonous interstate grind, this profile requires your full attention as you transition between various local routes. The character of the drive is consistently technical, shifting away from fast-paced transit toward a slower, more deliberate pace through the Northeast region.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 31 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near VT 2A / Main Street.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 3h 23m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (VT 2A / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 12.9 miles (VT 116 / Vermont Route 116): Lane positioning matters here; at 33.9 miles (VT 116 / South 116 Road): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
VT 2A / Main Street
Turn left onto VT 2A / Main Street
Navigation decision point
6
12.9 mi into trip
|
~22m 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.
3
33.9 mi into trip
|
~55m in
|
VT 116 / South 116 Road
Turn left onto VT 116 / South 116 Road
Navigation decision point
4
46 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m 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
5
127.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 19m 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
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 |
| Ethan Allen Highway | 10.9 mi | 16m |
| Case Street | 6.1 mi | 8m |
| South 116 Road | 5.5 mi | 8m |
| North 116 Road | 4.1 mi | 6m |
| Saint George Road | 3.7 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
North Main Street
— 54.6 mi, about 1h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Colchester, VT and Bennington, VT.
1
Start on East Road
100 ft
·
9 sec
·
East Road
2
Turn left onto VT 2A
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
3
Continue on VT 2A
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Colchester Road
Use the left / none lanes.
4
Continue on VT 2A
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Lincoln Street
5
Continue on VT 2A
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Park Street
6
Continue on VT 2A
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Essex Road
7
Continue on VT 2A
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Saint George Road
8
Continue on VT 2A
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Vermont Route 2A
9
At end of road, turn left onto VT 116
14 mi
·
21 min
·
Vermont Route 116
Use the left lane.
10
Continue on VT 116
4.1 mi
·
6 min
·
North 116 Road
11
Continue on VT 17; VT 116
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Rockydale Road
12
Continue on VT 17; VT 116
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Street
13
Continue on VT 17; VT 116
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Main Street
14
Continue on VT 17; VT 116
0.6 mi
·
53 sec
·
West Street
15
Continue on VT 17; VT 116
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
Stony Hill Road
16
Turn left onto VT 116
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
South 116 Road
17
Continue on VT 116
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
South 116 Road
18
Continue on VT 116
6.1 mi
·
8 min
·
Case Street
19
Turn right onto VT 116
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
Ossie Road
20
At end of road, turn left onto US 7
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
U.S. Route 7 South
21
Continue on US 7
11 mi
·
16 min
·
Ethan Allen Highway
22
Continue on US 7; VT 73
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
Conant Square
23
Continue on US 7; VT 73
0.2 mi
·
44 sec
·
Center Street
24
Continue on US 7
14 mi
·
23 min
·
Franklin Street
25
Continue on US 7
55 mi
·
1 hr 22 min
·
North Main Street
Use the straight lane.
26
Merge onto US 7; VT 279
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
Bennington Bypass
27
Keep slight right at fork onto US 7
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
U.S. Route 7
Toward US 7 South: Bennington Downtown
28
Continue on US 7
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
·
North Street
29
Turn right onto Depot Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Depot Street
30
Turn left onto VT 9
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Main Street
31
Arrive at destination
VT 9
Trip Plan
Since this is a manageable one-day trip, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time to avoid local traffic. Plan for at least one dedicated stop during your 3-hour and 23-minute drive to stretch your legs and break up the technical driving segments. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, as the $21 estimated cost can fluctuate depending on your vehicle's efficiency on these winding roads. Because the route relies on local streets rather than highways, ensure your GPS is updated to handle frequent turns along Vermont Route 116 and Franklin Street. Prioritize checking your route map before leaving Colchester, as the high density of turns makes navigation more complex than a simple interstate run.
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 64.6 miles from Colchester, VT, or about 1h 43m 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 80 miles or 2h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.6 miles or 1h 43m 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 47m
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 Colchester, 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 Colchester, VT
This is one driving day of about 129.2 miles and 3h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Colchester, 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 64.6 mi from Colchester, VT · 1h 43m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
65 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 64.6 miles from Colchester, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.68 one way
$41.36 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
45 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.46 | $22.67 | $45.34 |
| premium | $4.83 | $24.56 | $49.12 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $28.70 | $57.41 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 38.8 | 0 | $13.57 | $6.20 |
| Efficient EV | 32.3 | 0 | $11.30 | $5.17 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 51.7 | 0 | $18.09 | $8.27 |
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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.
Destination
Bennington, VT
Night in Bennington on Sunday
Local time
11:01 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
68°F
Wilton, NY
65 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
8 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 23m 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 Colchester, VT to Bennington, VT covers 129.2 miles and takes about 3h 23m 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 64.6 miles from Colchester, VT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $20.68 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 is a straightforward 3h 23m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (VT 2A / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 12.9 miles (VT 116 / Vermont Route 116): Lane positioning matters here; at 33.9 miles (VT 116 / South 116 Road): Navigation decision point.
The route from Colchester, VT to Bennington, VT does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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