VERMONT SCENIC BYWAYS
Molly Stark Scenic Byway
Follow Route 9 across southern Vermont, with time for village streets, mountain scenery and a few well-chosen stops along the way.
Photo credit: Scenic Vermont Photography
Home / Vermont scenic byways / Molly Stark Scenic Byway
SOUTHERN VERMONT BY ROAD
From Bennington to Brattleboro on Route 9
The Molly Stark Scenic Byway follows a 48-mile Route 9 corridor between Bennington and Brattleboro, passing through Wilmington along the way. Travel in either direction and choose stops that suit the time you have.
A scenic drive is more rewarding when there is time to get out of the car. Plan a village lunch, a short walk or a heritage stop rather than trying to fit every possible detour into one day.
Main road: Vermont Route 9.
Route anchors: Bennington and Brattleboro.
Plan around: one main activity, a meal and time to enjoy the scenery.
CHOOSE YOUR STOPS
Explore the route in manageable sections
Use these places to organize your trip. This is a planning guide, not a timed driving loop; include your arrival and return travel before adding stops.
Bennington
Begin or end with time in the western gateway. The chamber’s route guide highlights Bennington’s Revolutionary-era heritage and the Bennington Battle Monument.
If history is the focus of your visit, check the attraction’s current visitor arrangements and build the rest of the day around it. Leave room for lunch and a look around town.
Wilmington
Make Wilmington a village break along Route 9. Choose a meal, shops or a short walk, and allow enough time to enjoy the stop rather than treating it as a quick pause between viewpoints.
Use designated public parking and check opening hours when a particular business matters to your plans.
Hogback Mountain & Marlboro
Consider Hogback for scenery or a walk in the conservation area. Review the conservation association’s map before deciding on a trail, and choose an outing that fits the weather and your group.
Use designated parking and public access points. Views depend on visibility, so keep another nearby activity in reserve.
Brattleboro
Give the eastern gateway a place in your schedule. The regional guide points to downtown arts, shops and dining as reasons to spend time here beyond the drive.
If this is the end of your outing, choose your evening arrangements before setting out. If you are returning west, leave a comfortable margin for the journey back.
OUTDOOR STOPS TO CONSIDER
Hogback Mountain & Molly Stark State Park
Hogback Mountain Conservation Area
The conservation area offers trails for low-impact recreation. Use the association’s current maps to choose a suitable walk, and check conditions before leaving the car.
Bring layers, water and footwear suited to the terrain. A short walk can be a satisfying part of your road trip without turning the day into a long hike.
Molly Stark State Park
The park sits along Route 9 and is another option for spending time outdoors. Check Vermont State Parks for visitor information, trail details and seasonal access before making it a planned stop.
If you want to camp, confirm reservations and arrival arrangements separately. Do not assume park facilities operate on the same schedule throughout the year.
A ROAD WITH A STORY
Why the byway is called Molly Stark
The byway is named for Molly Stark, the wife of General John Stark. The Federal Highway Administration’s route description connects its history with the general’s return toward New Hampshire after the 1777 Battle of Bennington.
Use that history as a starting point for a deeper visit. Choose a museum or historic site that interests you, check the visitor schedule, and allow time to learn about the area beyond a roadside photograph.
BUILD A RELAXED DAY
One scenic drive, a few memorable experiences
Morning: Start in Bennington or Brattleboro and choose one main stop along your route. Include time to park and explore before moving on.
Midday: Plan a village meal, with time to look around Wilmington or another stop that fits your direction of travel.
Afternoon: Add one outdoor or historical highlight, then leave time to reach your destination comfortably. If the weather changes, shorten the walk or choose an indoor alternative.
This outline is flexible rather than a fixed tour. Completing the drive and fully exploring several attractions are different plans; choose the pace that works for your group.
Where to stay and how much time to allow
Compare accommodation by its distance from your main activities and your next destination. Confirm parking and arrival arrangements before booking the rest of the day. If you are returning to the same base, include the return drive in your schedule.
Use current navigation for a driving estimate, then add time for meals, photographs and visits. There is no single travel time that covers every kind of byway outing.
BEFORE YOU SET OUT
Practical tips for your Route 9 trip
Check roads and weather
Review the forecast and current road information before departure. Mountain-road conditions can differ from those in town, so give yourself flexibility when the weather is unsettled.
Download your route and avoid relying on unfamiliar shortcuts. In colder weather, allow extra travel time and check the exact roads you intend to use.
Stop with care
Use designated parking and public viewpoints. Keep driveways, farm entrances and travel lanes clear, and respect posted property boundaries.
For a foliage trip, plan enjoyable activities as well as views. Check color reports close to the visit rather than depending on one fixed peak date.
MAPS & ROUTE RESOURCES
Plan your Molly Stark Byway route
Use the regional route guide for context and current navigation to connect your selected stops. The downloadable map from the original page remains available below.
The map filename dates it to 2008. Treat it as an older planning reference and confirm present-day roads, access and visitor information separately.
HELPFUL ANSWERS
Molly Stark Scenic Byway FAQs
Where does the Molly Stark Scenic Byway begin and end?
It connects Bennington and Brattleboro along Vermont Route 9. Wilmington is an intermediate stop, not the western endpoint of the full byway.
How long is the byway?
The published route length is 48 miles. Your total driving distance will depend on your starting point, detours and whether you return the same way.
Can I visit in one day?
Choose a manageable drive and a few stops for a day outing. Allow extra time if you want longer walks, museum visits or a relaxed meal, and include your return journey.
What are good outdoor stops?
Hogback Mountain Conservation Area and Molly Stark State Park are options to consider. Check current access and choose a trail or activity appropriate to your group.
Is it a good fall foliage drive?
Plan a fall outing around scenery and stops you would enjoy regardless of the color. Weather and visibility vary, so keep the schedule flexible and check foliage reports close to departure.
Do I need a long hike to enjoy the route?
No. Village visits, public viewpoints and historical stops can form the whole day. Check the walking distances and access details at individual destinations if mobility is a concern.
Where can I find more scenic drives?
Visit our Vermont scenic byways hub to compare routes and choose another drive near your next overnight base.
Keep exploring Vermont
Choose another scenic byway or find an attraction to add to your southern Vermont visit.
Route resource: Brattleboro Area Chamber of Commerce.