★ 4.0Located in the southwest corner bordering New York and Massachusetts.
Revolutionary history, Robert Frost’s grave and the marble sidewalks of Manchester beneath Mount Equinox.
Where to stay in Bennington County
Beyond the obvious Bennington-or-Manchester question, the county splits along its two roads. On the US-7 and VT-7A axis, Arlington sits neatly between the two towns on the Battenkill and is the quietest, best-value spot for anglers, while Dorset, north of Manchester on VT-30, is the prettiest village to sleep in and priced accordingly. On the VT-11 and VT-30 side, Peru and Landgrove sit under Bromley and Bondville and the Winhall area serve Stratton, which is where you want to be if you are skiing rather than sightseeing. Bennington itself is the practical, low-cost base and the only one with a real supply of everyday services; whichever you pick, the county is small enough that nothing is more than about forty minutes from anything else.
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Stays in Bennington County
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★ 4.0On the ground
Things to do in Bennington County
- Bennington Battle MonumentA 306-foot obelisk marking the Revolutionary War battle, with an elevator to the viewing deck.
- Robert Frost & Bennington MuseumThe poet’s grave at Old First Church and the largest public collection of Grandma Moses.
- Mount Equinox Skyline DriveThe longest privately owned paved toll road in the US, climbing to 3,848 feet.
- Manchester & HildeneDesigner outlets on marble sidewalks, plus Lincoln-family estate Hildene up the road.
Getting around & the essentials
Transport
US-7 runs north to south through the county with the slower, prettier historic VT-7A shadowing it through Arlington and Manchester, while VT-9 crosses the Green Mountains east to Brattleboro and I-91. Albany International (ALB) is about an hour from Bennington; Burlington is two and a half hours away and there is no passenger rail in the county, the nearest being the Ethan Allen Express at Rutland. A car is essential.
Good to know
Common questions
Bennington or Manchester as a base?
Bennington is a working town with history, a college and lower prices; Manchester is polished, expensive and better for shopping, dining and the ski mountains. They are about 25 minutes apart on US-7, so you can stay in one and visit the other easily.
How do I get here from New York or Boston?
Most people drive: roughly four hours from New York City and around three from Boston. Albany International in New York is about an hour from Bennington and is by far the most convenient airport, and Amtrak’s Ethan Allen Express reaches Rutland about an hour to the north.
What is the Molly Stark Trail?
It is VT-9, the roughly 40-mile route east from Bennington to Brattleboro over Woodford and the Hogback, named for the wife of the general who won the Battle of Bennington. It climbs to the highest sustained stretch of highway in Vermont and is a superb foliage drive.
Is the fly fishing as good as people say?
The Battenkill through Arlington and Manchester is one of the most famous wild trout rivers in the East and also one of the hardest, with wary fish and heavy pressure. Orvis has been outfitting anglers in Manchester since 1856 if you want local guidance.
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