Road Trippin' From Bennington, Vermont to Houston, Texas: The Cost of Gas and Tolls
The open road, the wind in your hair, and an endless supply of snacks - all the ingredients for a memorable road trip. However, the cost of gas and tolls can put a damper on the adventure. Fear not, intrepid explorers, we've done all the legwork to give you an idea of what you'll be spending on a road trip from Bennington, Vermont to Houston, Texas.
Route #1: I-95 and I-10
The first and most direct route to Houston, Texas from Bennington, Vermont is following I-95 and I-10. This route takes you through Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and ends in Texas. The distance of this route is approximately 1675 miles, and it would take around 25 hours to complete the drive.
Now let's break down the cost of gas and tolls for this route, based on a car that gets around 27 miles per gallon, the national average for passenger cars. At the current national average gas price of $3.29 per gallon, you'd need to budget around $198 for gas. Additionally, there are a few tolls on this route that you'll need to take into account, including:
- The Pennsylvania Turnpike: $53.50
- The Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel: $30.00
- The Bayou Bienvenue Bridge: $2.00
Overall, the total cost for gas and tolls for Route #1 is around $283.
Route #2: I-81 and I-10
The second route takes you through Tennessee, Arkansas, and Oklahoma before entering Texas. This route starts by taking I-88 to I-81 and then onto I-40 and I-30. Finally, you'll join I-45 South, which takes you through Houston. This route is approximately 1745 miles and takes around 26 hours to complete.
As for the cost of gas and tolls, we'll use the same car and gas price as before. With these factors considered, you'd need to budget around $208 for gas alone. Like Route #1, there are a few tolls on this route, including:
- The Pennsylvania Turnpike: $41.60
- The George P. Coleman Memorial Bridge: $2.00
- The Bayou Bienvenue Bridge: $2.00
The total cost of gas and tolls for Route #2 is approximately $253.
Route #3: I-80 and I-35
The last route is the longest, covering approximately 2000 miles and taking about 30 hours to complete. This route takes you through New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. The estimated gas cost for this route, given our same assumptions, is approximately $233. There are also a few tolls to consider, including:
- The Ohio Turnpike: $12.50- $44.50 depending on your vehicle and distance
- The Kansas Turnpike: $13.00
- The Oklahoma Turnpike: $19.00
The total cost of gas and tolls for Route #3 is around $305.
Final Thoughts
While there are several routes to choose from, there's always a cost associated with getting behind the wheel. It's worth taking the time to crunch your own numbers based on gas prices and your car's mileage, but hopefully, this gives you an idea of what to expect for your adventurous road trip. Safe travels!