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Trip from Franklin, VT to Bennington, VT

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 29m

Distance

165.9 mi

267 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$27

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min
4 AM
3h 17m ★
6 AM
3h 29m
8 AM
3h 54m
10 AM
3h 38m
12 PM
3h 35m
3 PM
3h 39m
5 PM
3h 52m
8 PM
3h 22m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

town in Vermont

Franklin, VT

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Bennington, VT, VT

Bennington, VT

Andrea Davis

Trip Overview

The drive from Franklin, VT to Bennington, VT covers 165.9 miles and takes about 3h 29m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Hanna Road, Main Street, North Sheldon Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.71 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

83 miles from Franklin, VT

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 44m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Hanna Road
Main Street
North Sheldon Road
Route 120
Route 105
Sheldon Road
Fisher Pond Road
Fairfax Road

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Hanna Road — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Franklin, VT and Bennington, VT.

1

Start on the route

56 ft · 9 sec · the route
2

Turn left onto Hanna Road

171 ft · 6 sec · Hanna Road
3

Turn right onto Main Street

0.8 mi · 1 min · Main Street
4

Continue on North Sheldon Road

2.6 mi · 4 min · North Sheldon Road
5

Continue on Vermont Route 120

1.7 mi · 3 min · Vermont Route 120
6

Turn right onto Vermont Route 105

6.7 mi · 9 min · Vermont Route 105
7

Continue on Sheldon Road

4.4 mi · 6 min · Sheldon Road
8

Continue on Fisher Pond Road

1.8 mi · 3 min · Fisher Pond Road
9

Continue on Fairfax Road

0.6 mi · 1 min · Fairfax Road
10

Take the ramp left toward I 89

266 ft · 15 sec · I 89
11

Keep slight right to continue on I 89 South: Burlington

0.5 mi · 58 sec · I 89 South: Burlington
12

Merge slight left

26 mi · 30 min
13

Take the exit slight right toward I 189 West: Shelburne, Rutland

0.3 mi · 32 sec · I 189 West: Shelburne, Rutland
14

Merge slight left

1.2 mi · 1 min
15

Turn left onto Shelburne Road

6.8 mi · 13 min · Shelburne Road
16

Continue on Ethan Allen Highway

12 mi · 19 min · Ethan Allen Highway
17

Continue on U.S. Route 7

3.1 mi · 4 min · U.S. Route 7
18

Continue on Ethan Allen Highway

10 mi · 13 min · Ethan Allen Highway
19

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Court Square

348 ft · 17 sec · Court Square
20

Exit the rotary onto VT 125

85 mi · 2 hr 13 min · VT 125
21

Merge slight right onto Bennington Bypass

0.2 mi · 15 sec · Bennington Bypass
22

Keep slight right to continue on U.S. Route 7

0.9 mi · 1 min · U.S. Route 7
23

Continue on North Street

0.3 mi · 48 sec · North Street
24

Turn right onto Depot Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · Depot Street
25

Turn left onto Main Street

0.1 mi · 23 sec · Main Street
26

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

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 83 miles from Franklin, VT, or about 1h 44m into the drive.

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 36 miles or 45m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 83 miles or 1h 44m 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 51m

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 Franklin, 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 Franklin, VT

This is one driving day of about 165.9 miles and 3h 29m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from Franklin, 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.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

town in Schoharie County, New York

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Wright, NY

83 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

Colchester, VT

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Wright, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 83 miles from Franklin, VT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$26.71 one way

$53.41 round trip

$4.09/gal 25.4 MPG avg 58 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.50 $29.39 $58.77
premium $4.86 $31.77 $63.54
diesel $5.61 $36.63 $73.26

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$27

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$52–$77

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 58 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 49.8 0 $17.42 $7.96
Efficient EV 41.5 0 $14.52 $6.64
EV Truck/SUV 66.4 0 $23.23 $10.62

Gas CO2

58 kg

EV CO2

19 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

Franklin, VT

Afternoon in Franklin on Saturday

Local time

3:58 PM

EDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Bennington, VT

Afternoon in Bennington on Saturday

Local time

3:58 PM

EDT

Current temp

54°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

36°F

Wright, NY

83 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

5 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 29m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

165.9 mi in 3h 29m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.

Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: Hanna Road.

How Hard Is This Drive?

1/10

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.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Franklin, VT to Bennington, VT is easy. At 3h 29m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Franklin, VT to Bennington, VT is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 29m. Total distance: 165.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

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.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Franklin, VT to Bennington, VT is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Bennington, VT, but most travelers stay overnight.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Bennington, VT to Franklin, VT

Plan the drive back the other way.

166.5 mi 4h 12m

Explore more options from Franklin, VT or browse trips ending in Bennington, VT.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse VT road trips.