Originally Posted by
rack him
Hi Folks, I will be driving from Bennington, VT to Springfield, MA in the summer. I checked Google Maps, and it looks like there are several routes that all take about the same amount of time, so I would like to take the most scenic/interesting/entertaining route. Can those of you who know this area kindly provide input on the routes I have listed below:
(1) Highway 9 to I-91 via Brattleboro,
(2) Highway 7 to I-90 via Adams/Pittsfield,
(3) Another choice??
Thanks for your help.
I'm a little confused about (2), since Route 7 doesn't go through Adams. From Bennington, you can take Route 7 south through Williamstown and then through Pittsfield and Lenox, and then Route 20 south to Lee, picking up the Turnpike (I-90) in Lee. Route 7 is quite scenic from Bennington, but the problem is that you have to go through the center of Pittsfield, with several traffic lights and "city" traffic. On the other hand, downtown Pittsfield can be "entertaining" if that's your thing.
Route 9 is also a very scenic route passing through Wilmington en route to Brattleboro. I-91 passes through a lot of green on both sides but it is an Interstate, so nothing much of interest along the road.
We live in Williamstown and, unless it is in the middle of the night with no Pittsfield traffic, we actually cut from Route 7 over Route 43 south into New York state (yes, that's counterintuitive, but it's actually a tad quicker because of the Pittsfield traffic). Then you take Route 22 south all the way to I-90 east. There's a wonderful farm store on Route 22 just south of Route 43 and sometimes a flea market in New Lebanon.
If you take Route 9/I-90 and have the time, you may want to get off and wander around Northampton. If you take Route 7, Williamstown has some interesting places (Williams College, Clark Art Institute) that are worth a visit.
This advice is summer-advice. Would be different if snow/ice were an issue.
Hope that helps.