Where to Eat, Sleep, Explore
Whether you’re visiting campus for the first time as a prospective student or planning a local adventure for your parents during family weekend, the town of Bennington is a gem of the Green Mountains.
Though located less than four hours from major cities like New York and Boston, Bennington’s abundant natural beauty, including rolling mountains with biking and hiking trails and close proximity to some of the best skiing in the East, feels worlds away.
Bennington offers critically-reviewed restaurants and eateries as well as farm-to-table produce and local specialties. The region offers antique finds and high-end designer shopping alongside traditional retail and grocery stores that can supply your daily needs.
Where to Eat
Whatever you're craving—a casual dinner or fine cuisine, homemade pastry or Japanese hibachi—food in the Bennington area is sure to satisfy.
Cafés & Bakeries
Approx. 5 Min. Drive
Prospect Coffee House: Coffee, tea, and a European-inspired menu. 1 Prospect St, North Bennington, VT
Approx. 10 Min. Drive
The Roasted Bean Espresso Bar: Quick, casual coffee truck. 259 Benmont St, Bennington, VT
The Coffee Bar: Casual coffee spot, baked goods, art and live music. Wi-Fi. 109 South St, Bennington
The Local: Breakfast & Lunch Cafe. Fresh bagels, baked goods, breakfast sandwiches, scratch-made soup and wraps. 434 Main St, Bennington
W. Collective: Alum-owned cafe offers locally roasted espresso drinks and fresh baked items from local women-owned bakeries. 198 North St, Bennington
Avocado Pit: Casual lunch and dinner spot for fresh burritos, tacos, and salads. 201 South St, Bennington
Pubs & Cocktails
Approx. 15 Min. Walk
Kevin’s Sports Pub & Restaurant: Local sports bar serving lunch and dinner daily specials. A North Bennington favorite. 27 Main St, North Bennington
Pangaea Lounge: Lounge serving cocktails, and a dinner menu hosting fresh local ingredients. 3 Prospect St, North Bennington
Approx. 10 Min. Drive
421 Craft Bar and Kitchen: Craft brews, cocktails, and food. Live music, outdoor dining. 421 Main St, Bennington
Harvest Brewing: Craft beers, rotating art installations, and a warm environment. 201 South St, Bennington
Madison Brewing Co.: A microbrewery serving lunch and dinner. 428 Main St, Bennington
The Miller’s Toll: Dinner club & cocktail lounge. 716 Main St, Bennington
Approx. 20 Min. Drive
Brown's Brewing Company's Walloomsac Taproom and Brewery: Artful old factory building on the river serving craft beer and a dinner menu with vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free options. Weekend lunch service. 50 Factory Hill Rd, North Hoosick, NY
Casual Dining
Approx. 15 Min. Walk
Pangaea Lounge: Lounge serving cocktails, and a dinner menu hosting fresh local ingredients. 3 Prospect St, North Bennington.
Approx. 10 Min. Drive
Fuji Hibachi and Sushi: An assortment of Japanese cuisine that includes sushi, sashimi, bento, tempura, and hibachi grilled items. 132 Northside Dr, Bennington
Blue Benn Diner: A 1945 Silk City classic serving New England breakfast, lunch and dinner diner staples. Named one of the “21 Best Diners in America” by Thrillist. Owned by John Getchell ’86. 314 North St, Bennington
Your Belly’s Deli: Serving American deli food and sandwiches. 100 Pleasant St, Bennington
Lucky Dragon: Casual dining, serving Chinese cuisine that offers a menu of lunch specials, dinner combinations and a buffet. A student favorite. Offering takeout only. 460 Main St, Bennington
Papa Pete’s Diner: A local favorite serving traditional American breakfast and lunch dining staples. 1104 Woodford Rd, Woodford
Sunny Side Diner: A classic breakfast spot with standard diner fare. Make sure you try the pancakes! 241 VT-9, Bennington
Fine Dining
Approx. 10 Min. Drive
The Grille at Mount Anthony Country Club: American fine dining. Lunch, dinner, weekend brunch, and a seasonal menu. 180 Country Club Rd, Bennington.
Publyk House: Vermont tavern style dining with gluten free options and a spectacular view. 782 Hardwood Hill Rd, Bennington
Quick & Delicious
Approx. 10 Min. Drive
Lil’ Britain: Authentic British restaurant serving fish and chips, bangers and mash, and other British lunch and dinner staples. 116 North St, Bennington
Ramunto’s: Sports bar serving New York-style brick oven pizza, subs, and entrées. 519 Main St, Bennington
Where to Sleep
Bennington hosts a wide range of overnight options in close proximity to the College. Reasonable for any price point, quaint New England inns and B&Bs stand nearby larger motel and hotel chains. For a broader range of options, visitors are encouraged to check Airbnb for additional accommodations.
Airbnbs
See Airbnb's website for vacation rentals in Bennington, VT and the surrounding area.
Inns
Approx. 10 Min. Drive
Four Chimneys Inn: Rates starting at $249. 21 West Rd, Bennington
The Hotel Vervana: Rates starting at $155. 141 Main St, Bennington
South Shire Inn: Rates starting at $175. 124 Elm St, Bennington
Approx. 20 Min. Drive
Arlington Inn: Rates starting at $165. Includes American Breakfast. 3904 VT-7A, Arlington
Bed & Breakfasts
Approx. 5 Min. Drive
Eddington House Inn: Rates starting at $175. 21 Main St, North Bennington
Historic Henry House: Rates starting at $299 (Airbnb). Breakfast items provided. 1338 Murphy Rd, Bennington
Approx. 30 Min. Drive
Ira Allen House: Rates starting at $125. 6311 VT-7A, Sunderland
Hotels and Motels
Approx. 5 Min. Drive
Hampton Inn: Rates starting at $166. 51 Hannaford Square, Bennington
Harwood Hill: Rates starting at $120. 864 Harwood Hill Rd, Bennington
Knotty Pine Motel: Rates starting at $150. 130 Northside Dr, Bennington
Best Western Bennington: Rates starting at $129. 220 Northside Dr, Bennington
Approx. 10 Min. Drive
Bennington Motor Inn: Rates starting at $123. 143 Main St, Bennington
Approx. 30 Min. Drive
Williamstown Motel: Rates starting at $79. 295 Main St, Williamstown, MA
Where to Explore
Nestled in its stunning natural surroundings, the Bennington area offers world-class cultural and artistic organizations, wide-ranging outdoor activities for all seasons, a variety of shopping opportunities, and rich local history.
Shops with Character
Approx. 10 Min. Drive
Bennington Bookshop: Bennington’s independently owned bookstore. Wi-Fi. 109 South St, Bennington
Hawkins House: Handmade gifts and jewelry, clothing, and blown glass. 262 North St, Bennington
W. Collective: Alum-owned cafe and gift shop offers locally crafted items by local women artisans. 198 North St, Bennington
Fiddlehead at Four Corners: Gift shop meets gallery. Owned and operated by Joel Lentzner ’91 and Nina Lentzner ’91. 338 Main St, Bennington
Approx. 30 Min. Drive
Manchester Designer Outlets: High-end shopping in an outdoor mall. 97 Depot St, Manchester Center
Mountain Goat: Fine outdoor clothing and gear for serious adventurers and casual wanderers. 4886 Main St, Manchester Center
Northshire Bookstore: Everything you want in a bookstore: great staff picks, regional books and products, and vinyl. 4869 Main St, Manchester Center
H.N. Williams Store: General store with Vermont-made goods and a full deli. Family-owned and operated since 1840. 2732 VT-30, Dorset
Approx. 1 Hr. Drive
Crossgates Mall: Eat, shop, and play at the Capital Region's premier destination. 1 Crossgates Mall Rd, Albany, NY
Colonie Center: Multi-level mall featuring retail shops, dining, and movie theater. 131 Colonie Center, Albany, NY
The Great Outdoors
Skiing & Snowboarding
Prospect Mountain: A cross-country ski center located in Woodford, VT, maintaining more than 18 miles of trails expertly groomed for both skating and classical cross-country skiing, as well as special snowshoeing and single-track trails. Prospect has a base lodge with a full restaurant. 204 Prospect Access Rd, Woodford
Bromley Mountain: Voted first for family-friendly skiing, hosting 9 lifts and 47 trails on 148 skiable acres. 3984 VT-11, Peru
Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort: The only mountain resort in North America to generate its energy using wind power. Hosts 47 trails (21 night trails), and 9 lifts on 167.4 acres. 37 Corey Rd, Hancock, MA
Mount Snow: Hosts 86 trails on 600 acres, serviced by 20 lifts. 89 Grand Summit Way, West Dover
Stratton Mountain Ski Resort: 670 skiable acres of top-ranked terrain, 99 trails, and 11 lifts. 5 Village Lodge Rd, Stratton
Golf
Mount Anthony Country Club: Voted one of the “Best Places to Play” by Golf Digest. 180 Country Club Dr, Bennington
The Golf Club at Equinox: Named one of the “Top 75 courses in the U.S.” by Golf Digest and the “#1 Golf Course in Vermont” by Golfweek. 3567 Main Street, Manchester
Hiking
The Mile-Around-Woods: A 1.4-mile scenic road nearby the historic Park-McCullough House that features views of farmland, wildflowers, and undergrowth. Woods Ln, North Bennington
Robert Frost Trail: Running from Lake Paran in North Bennington to the Robert Frost Stone House Museum in Shaftsbury, this 2-mile footpath offers views of deep woods, breathtaking waterways, and surrounding mountains. 121 VT-7A, Shaftsbury
The Long Trail: continues the Appalachian Trail along the crest of the Green Mountain National Forest. Find the closest trailhead at Bald Mountain, accessible down Harbour Rd, Woodford
Lakes, Rivers, and Outdoor Recreation
Lake Paran: Just five minutes from Bennington College, Paran Recreations is an environmentally conscious and locally run not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping people enjoy the beauty of nature and having healthy fun outdoors. They offer swimming with on duty lifeguards, canoe rentals, access to barbecue grills, a beach, concession stand, and much more. Opens Memorial Day weekend and closes after Labor Day weekend. Houghton Lane, North Bennington
Woodford State Park: Just 20 minutes east of Bennington, this recreational park hosts a variety of amenities for the outdoor enthusiast. In addition to four cabins, the campground has 103 sites that includes 20 lean-tos, and an RV site. There is a small beach, picnic area, and several hiking trails. Rowboats, canoes, and kayaks are available for rent. Open Memorial Day Weekend through Columbus Day Weekend. 142 State Park Road, Bennington
Big Big on the Battenkill Kayak and Tubing (BBBKT): Just 30 minutes north of Bennington, BBBKT offers tubing, kayaking, and rafting down the Battenkill River. 5827 VT-313 Arlington, VT 05250
Zoar Adventure Center: Located just 30 minutes from Bennington, the center offers spring, summer and fall kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding and bike rentals. Guides available. Open May-October. 36 West Main St, Wilmington
For History Buffs
Approx. 10 Min. Drive
Bennington Battle Monument: Commemorating the Battle of Bennington, which occurred on August 16, 1777, and is considered to be the turning point in the Revolutionary War. 15 Monument Circle, Old Bennington
The Old First Church: Pulitzer Prize for Poetry winner and Congressional Gold Medal recipient Robert Frost is buried in the cemetery at this historic church. Frost frequently wrote about settings from rural life in New England in the early twentieth century, using them to examine complex social and philosophical themes. 1 Monument Ave, Old Bennington
Park-McCullough House: One of the finest and best-preserved Victorian mansions in New England. 1 Park St, North Bennington
Robert Frost Stone House Museum: Robert Frost wrote "Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening" at this historic property, which is maintained by Bennington College. Frost was a Pulitzer Prize for Poetry winner and a Congressional Gold Medal recipient. 121 VT-7A, Shaftsbury
Approx. 30 Min. Drive
Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home: The former summer estate of Robert Todd and Mary Lincoln. 1005 Hildene Rd, Manchester
Art, Culture, and Entertainment
Approx. 10 Min. Drive
Bennington Museum: The Bennington Museum features the Bennington Modernism Gallery with work included by former faculty members Pat Adams, Sir Anthony Caro, Paul Feeley, Jules Olitski, and Helen Frankenthaler ’49. 75 Main St, Bennington
Bennington Cinemas: Seven-screen movie theater offering new releases. $5 matinees before 5 PM daily. 125 Phyllis Ln, Bennington
Bennington Theater: Year-round professional theater and acting classes. 331 Main St, Bennington
Hathaway's Drive-In Theater: A family tradition since 1948! Drive-in offering double features of new releases. 4762 NY-67, North Hoosick, NY
Approx. 30 Min. Drive
Dorset Theatre Festival: Regional summer stock theatre at the Dorset Playhouse. Led by Artistic Director and Bennington College faculty member Dina Janis. 104 Cheney Rd, Dorset
Williamstown Theatre Festival: Regional summer stock theatre on the campus of Williams College. 1000 Main St, Williamstown, MA
Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute: Boasts an extraordinary collection of Renaissance to late 19th century French Impressionist paintings. 225 South St, Williamstown, MA
Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA): One of the largest centers for contemporary visual and performing arts in the country. The massive museum complex offers fine dining, gift shops, antiques, and a café. 1040 Mass MoCA Way, North Adams, MA
