Fast Facts
- Population
- 44,743 (2020 census)
- Typical visiting season
- June–Sept, or Sept–Oct for foliage
- One Unusual Stat
- First U.S. city on 100% renewable electricity (2015)
- Nickname
- The Queen City / BTV
What to Know Before You Arrive
Burlington is Vermont's most populous city, with 44,743 residents at the 2020 census, and has been known as “The Queen City” since at least 1848, when telegraph service arrived. It sits on the eastern shore of Lake Champlain, where a formerly industrial waterfront — described in Wikipedia's account as a “derelict wasteland” of oil storage tanks and industrial uses — was transformed through community advocacy into the Burlington Bike Path and Waterfront Park. The city also claims a place in transportation history as the site of the world's first lake-going steamboat, in 1808.
Church Street Marketplace is described in Wikipedia's account as a four-block pedestrian mall at the heart of the city, hosting festivals year-round and serving as its commercial and cultural hub, lined with local shops and galleries. The University of Vermont, founded in 1791 with Ira Allen honored as its founder after he donated a 50-acre parcel of land, is one of the city's largest employers, engaging more than 4,125 people, and anchors Burlington's identity as a college town alongside Champlain College. UVM is described in its own Wikipedia account as the oldest university in Vermont and the fifth-oldest in New England, and was named a “Public Ivy” by Richard Moll in his 1985 book on top public undergraduate colleges.
Burlington became, in 2015, the first U.S. city to run entirely on renewable electricity, according to Wikipedia's account. It is also home to Ben & Jerry's, founded in 1978 by childhood friends Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, who opened their first ice cream parlor in a renovated gas station in downtown Burlington with a $12,000 investment.
The Road Trip Stop
Church Street Marketplace is a four-block pedestrian mall at the center of downtown Burlington, described in Wikipedia's account as the city's commercial and cultural hub. It hosts festivals throughout the year and is lined with local shops and galleries rather than the mall's original 19th-century commercial buildings alone.
What the visit involves
- The marketplace spans four blocks of Church Street in downtown Burlington, closed to vehicle traffic.
- Festivals are held throughout the year, according to Wikipedia's account; the marketplace's own annual-events page lists more than 30 events each year, and its event calendar shows current dates.
- The Lake Champlain waterfront and bike path sit a short walk downhill from the marketplace, connecting to Waterfront Park.
- Business hours for individual shops and restaurants along the marketplace vary: its FAQ says each establishment sets its own hours, that most stores are open 10am to 7pm Monday through Saturday and 11am to 5pm on Sundays, that hours are usually extended in December, and that businesses usually close on national holidays, Christmas and New Year's Day.
Neighborhoods
Downtown / Church Street
The commercial core, centered on the four-block Church Street Marketplace pedestrian mall.
Waterfront district
The former industrial lakefront, now home to Waterfront Park and the Burlington Bike Path along Lake Champlain.
University District / Hill Section
Per Wikipedia's account, the University District, which includes the UVM campus, lies east of Willard Street north of Main Street, while the Hill Section is a separate neighborhood south of Main Street that includes all of Champlain College.
Old North End
Described in Wikipedia's account as Burlington's oldest and most densely populated neighborhood, inclusive of areas north of downtown; the city's Love Burlington guide says it has been home to immigrants since the 1800s.
The Food Stop
Been here a while
Places that have been serving a long time. We could not confirm this one as still trading in 2026 — ring ahead. Each name links to its source.
- 1946Al's French FrysRoadside fry stand founded by Al and Genevieve Rusterholz; James Beard America's Classic 2010still trading? unconfirmed
8 breweries within 10 miles of Burlington, 2 of them brewpubs with a kitchen.
See all 8
- Vermont Pub and Brewery144 College St, Burlington
- Zero Gravity Craft Brewery716 Pine St, Burlington
- Fiddlehead Brewing6305 Shelburne Rd, Shelburneproduction site*
- Foam Brewers112 Lake St, Burlingtonproduction site*
- Four Quarters Brewing Co150 W Canal St, Winooskiproduction site*
- Queen City Brewery, LLC703 Pine St, Burlingtonproduction site*
- Switchback Brewing Co160 Flynn Ave, Burlingtonproduction site*
- Weird Window Brewing82 Ethan Allen Dr, South Burlingtonproduction site*
*Check before you go. This list says what the source records as open and where it is — nothing more. Opening hours, whether a kitchen is serving, and whether anywhere suits your family are not in this data and change without notice. A production site may have no public room at all. Please confirm with the venue.
Brewpub locations from Open Brewery DB (MIT)
The Home Teams
Vermont Lake Monsters
Futures Collegiate Baseball League (collegiate summer wood-bat league, since 2021)The Lake Monsters left Minor League Baseball after the 2020 season, when the entire Single-A short-season New York-Penn League was eliminated and the Oakland Athletics ended their MLB affiliation; the team won the FCBL championship in its first collegiate-league season, 2021.
Vermont Catamounts
NCAA Division I (University of Vermont)The Catamounts are UVM's NCAA Division I athletic program.
Day Trips
| Destination | Time | Distance | How we got it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stoweguide | 52 min | 36 mi | routed |
| About 45 minutes east: Mount Mansfield, the Stowe Recreation Path, and the Trapp Family Lodge. | |||
| Waterburyguide | 35 min | 27 mi | routed |
| About 35 minutes east: the Ben & Jerry's factory tour and Cold Hollow Cider Mill. | |||
| Montpelierguide | 50 min | 39 mi | routed |
| About 45 minutes east: the Vermont State House and the country's least populous state capital. | |||
| Lake Champlain Islands | 1 hr | 49 mi | routed |
| Grand Isle County, which Wikipedia's account describes as several sparsely populated islands and peninsulas of Lake Champlain and as part of the Burlington metropolitan area. | |||
3 of these are places the Hub has its own guide to — marked guide and linked from the name.
Routed figures are computed over map data at free-flowing speeds, between map points rather than street addresses, so a real drive runs longer.
Distances routed by OSRM and places geocoded by Nominatim, over map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)
Worth a Weekend
12 more Highway Heads places lie within about 180 miles of Burlington in a straight line — far enough that most are a night away rather than an afternoon.
- North Conway (White Mountains)New Hampshireabout 110 mi
- ConcordNew Hampshireabout 120 mi
- Albany/CooperstownNew Yorkabout 130 mi
- ManchesterNew Hampshireabout 130 mi
- National Baseball Hall of FameNew Yorkabout 150 mi
- FreeportMaineabout 160 mi
- PortlandMaineabout 160 mi
- PortsmouthNew Hampshireabout 160 mi
- AugustaMaineabout 170 mi
- Basketball Hall of FameMassachusettsabout 170 mi
- SpringfieldMassachusettsabout 170 mi
- SalemMassachusettsabout 180 mi
Lakes Nearby
1 lake we have checked near here. These are the ones from our research that we could check against an official page — not every lake there is.
Lake Placid
- Fishingyes - lake trout (naturally reproducing; former state record), rainbow trout (stocked), brown & brook trout, smallmouth bass
- BoatingMotorized allowed (DEC hard-surface ramp, Mirror Lake Dr). Adirondack Park: motorboats need AIS certification (steward inspection or self-cert) before launch; Adirondack Watershed Institute runs inspection/cleaning
- CampingNone on lake per DEC page
- SeasonICE FISHING PROHIBITED (DEC)
Cold, deep lake. NY HABs notifications/map: dec.ny.gov
Run by NYSDEC (fisheries, launch); Lake Placid Shore Owners' Association (dam/water level)
*Check before you go. Every lake here links to the official page we checked it against. Fees, seasons, water levels, algal advisories and ramp closures change without notice and belong to the agency that runs the water. A blank is something we did not confirm, not something the lake lacks.
Distilleries Nearby
1 producer we have checked near here. These are the ones from our research we could check against their own site — not every producer there is.
Mad River Distillers
Spirits maker with a Burlington tasting room, tasting counters in Waitsfield and Stowe, and tours at its Warren distillery.
- HoursSun-Wed 12-6pm; Thu-Sat 12-8pm
- Toursyes - Warren distillery tours by appointment, about 45 min, $15
- Reservationswalk-in
- Phone802-489-5501
137 St. Paul St., Burlington, VT 05401
*Check before you go. Every producer here links to its own site, which is where we read these details on the date we checked. Opening hours, tour times, tasting fees and who may come in change without notice and belong to the producer. A blank is something we did not confirm, not something they lack. None of these say anything about children, so do not plan around it without asking them.
Aquariums Nearby
Within 60 miles of Burlington, nearest first.
ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain — some details below are unconfirmedBurlington
- Season
- year-round (implied; daily animal demos)
Science center and aquarium with 50+ live species
* We could not confirm: hours/admission not captured. Check their site before you go.
This is a list of what is near you, not a recommendation of any of it. None of these carry an accreditation we were able to confirm, which is not the same as none being accredited — we check against one register, and plenty of good municipal, state and university places are in no register at all. One entry is marked with an asterisk: we could not confirm part of what is listed, and the note under it says which part. Opening times, prices and seasons change without notice, so check the operator’s own site — every name above links to it.
Annual Events Nearby
Within 60 miles of Burlington, nearest first.
What is on, and when
Champlain Valley FairfairEssex Junction
- Usually
- Late August–Labor Day, over several days
- Held at
- Champlain Valley Exposition
Vermont Maple Festivalcultural festivalSt. Albans
- Usually
- April, over several days
- Held at
- Downtown St. Albans
This is a list of what is near you, not a recommendation of any of it. Events are listed by the month they usually fall in, because that is what we hold — we do not publish dates, and a month is not a promise. Check the organiser before you plan around one. Opening times, line-ups and ticketing change without notice, so check the venue’s or organiser’s own site — every name above links to it.
Theme Parks Nearby
Within 60 miles of Burlington, nearest first.
Santa's Workshoptheme parkWilmington (North Pole)
Christmas-themed park; winter weekends Nov 21-Dec 20, 2026.
This is a list of what is near you, not a recommendation of any of it. Prices, hours and ride closures change without notice — every name above links to the park’s own site.
Practical Road Trip Info
Church Street Marketplace is closed to vehicle traffic; the city's marketplace garage (entrances at 147 Cherry St. and Bank St.), its downtown garage (entrances at 41 Cherry St., 60 College St. and Battery St.) and metered street parking serve the area. The city says the first two hours at the downtown garage are free Monday through Saturday when a ParkMobile session is started, that parking at meters and city garages is free on Sundays, and that overnight parking at the downtown garage is $12* per 24-hour period; the city's parking-rates page lists the other garage and meter rates.
The Burlington Bike Path along the waterfront is open-air and free to walk or bike, connecting downtown to Waterfront Park.
The University of Vermont's admissions pages list a campus map and a self-guided walking tour, and its Admissions Welcome Center (Davis Center, 590 Main Street) gives out information on self-guided tour options; the page lists its hours as Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm, with Saturday hours varying and the center closed Sundays and select holidays. We were unable to confirm which parts of campus and which buildings are open to visitors.
Burlington sits on Lake Champlain's eastern shore, with I-89 passing just outside the city and its exit 14 serving downtown, making it a natural anchor for a Vermont road trip.
*Fees subject to change, please check burlingtonvt.gov for updated information.
The Local Debate
Family-Friendly
Church Street Marketplace
A pedestrian-only four-block mall with shops, galleries and year-round festivals in downtown Burlington.
Burlington Bike Path & Waterfront Park
An open, free lakefront path and park along Lake Champlain, suitable for walking or biking.
A Lake Monsters game at Centennial Field
Collegiate summer-league wood-bat baseball at Burlington's historic ballpark.
Plan Your Visit
Church Street Marketplace
- Address
- Church St, Burlington, VT 05401
- Hours
- Open-air pedestrian mall; individual shop hours vary
- Price
- Free to walk; individual shop and restaurant prices vary
We checked seasonal opening, opening hours, operating status and fees on 2026-09-22. These change without notice — confirm with en.wikipedia.org, churchstmarketplace.com, uvm.edu and burlingtonvt.gov the week you travel.
Sources — 18 claims, 16 checked against the source on 2026-09-22
| Claim | Source | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Burlington population 44,743 (2020 census), Vermont's most populous city; described as the least populous U.S. city to be the most populous city within a state; nicknamed BTV and the Queen City since at least 1848 when telegraph service arrived; Lake Champlain waterfront once a derelict wasteland of industrial uses and oil storage tanks, transformed through community advocacy into the Burlington Bike Path and Waterfront Park; Church Street Marketplace described as a four-block pedestrian mall at the heart of the city, hosting festivals year-round; University of Vermont founded late 18th century, one of the city's largest employers with over 4,125 people; first U.S. city running entirely on renewable energy (2015); site of the world's first lake-going steamboat (1808); home to Ben & Jerry's, founded 1978 | Burlington, Vermont — Wikipedia | Checked monitored · 2026-09-22 |
| University of Vermont founded 1791; Ira Allen honored as founder, donated 50-acre parcel of land; approximately 14,320 students enrolled fall 2023 (12,168 undergraduate, 2,152 graduate); described as the oldest university in Vermont and fifth-oldest in New England; named a Public Ivy by Richard Moll in his 1985 book on best public undergraduate colleges; first American institution of higher education with a charter declaring no preference to any religious sect | University of Vermont — Wikipedia | Checked |
| Vermont Lake Monsters currently play in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League, a collegiate summer wood-bat league, since 2021; home stadium is Centennial Field in Burlington; left Minor League Baseball after the 2020 season when the Single-A short-season New York-Penn League was eliminated and the Oakland Athletics ended their MLB affiliation; won the FCBL championship in their first collegiate-league season, 2021, defeating the Pittsfield Suns | Vermont Lake Monsters — Wikipedia | Checked |
| Ben & Jerry's founded May 5, 1978 by Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, childhood friends from Merrick, New York; opened first ice cream parlor in a renovated gas station in downtown Burlington, Vermont, with a $12,000 investment after a Penn State correspondence course in ice cream making | Ben & Jerry's — Wikipedia | Checked |
| Church Street Marketplace shop and restaurant hours: each establishment sets its own; most stores open 10am to 7pm Monday through Saturday and 11am to 5pm on Sundays | Church Street Marketplace — FAQ | Checked monitored · 2026-10-13 |
| Vermont Catamounts is the NCAA Division I athletic program of the University of Vermont, based in Burlington | Vermont Catamounts — Wikipedia | Not confirmed |
| Grand Isle County is made up of several sparsely populated islands and peninsulas of Lake Champlain and is part of the Burlington metropolitan area | Grand Isle County, Vermont — Wikipedia | Checked |
| Burlington neighborhoods: Old North End (oldest and most densely populated, includes areas north of downtown), University District (includes UVM), Hill Section (includes Champlain College) | Burlington, Vermont — Wikipedia (neighborhoods) | Checked |
| Champlain College is a private college in Burlington; Wikipedia calls Burlington a regional college town home to UVM and Champlain College | Champlain College — Wikipedia | Checked |
| Interstate 89 passes just outside Burlington; exit 14 provides access to downtown Burlington and the University of Vermont | Interstate 89 — Wikipedia | Checked |
| Ben & Jerry's first shop (1978) was in a renovated gas station in downtown Burlington, demolished in 1982 to create a parking lot; the company's current Burlington scoop shop is at 36 Church Street | Ben & Jerry's — About Us | Checked |
| Church Street Marketplace dining directory: more than 30 restaurants within the marketplace's four blocks | Church Street Marketplace — Dine | Checked monitored · 2026-10-13 |
| Church Street Marketplace annual events (more than 30 each year) and the current event calendar | Church Street Marketplace — annual events | Checked monitored · 2026-10-13 |
| Ben & Jerry's Church Street scoop shop, 36 Church Street, Burlington; described as around the corner from where the first scoops were served in 1978 | Ben & Jerry's — Burlington scoop shop | Checked |
| Burlington downtown garage and marketplace garage locations; overnight parking at the downtown garage is $12 per 24-hour period; the rates page lists hourly garage and meter rates | City of Burlington — Parking Rates | Checked monitored · 2026-10-13 |
| Free first two hours at the downtown garage Monday through Saturday with a ParkMobile session; free parking at meters and city garages on Sundays | City of Burlington Public Works — Parking | Checked monitored · 2026-10-13 |
| UVM Admissions Welcome Center hours and self-guided tour information | University of Vermont — Visit Options | Checked monitored · 2026-10-13 |
| Public access to the UVM campus grounds and individual buildings | No source accepted yet | Not confirmed |
Road Trippin’ with the Harts
The Highway Heads books turn the miles between stops into a game the whole car can play.
See the booksLive Conditions
Wildlife Spotted Nearby
Nearest Airports
Straight-line distance from Burlington, not drive time.
- Patrick Leahy Burlington International (BTV) — 3 miles
- Plattsburgh International (PBG) — 17 miles
- Edward F Knapp State (MPV) — 37 miles
Explore the Full Road Trip
Return to the Highway Heads map and discover the next family-ready stop.
Explore the Map