Montpelier, Vermont · Farragutful · CC BY-SA 4.0

Road Trip Guide:
Vermont

Explore Vermont

Vermont banned roadside billboards in 1968, and its legislature records it as the first state to do so. The law replaced them with limited informational and directional signs, which the legislature credits with preserving the scenic views from the state's highways.

Around 13 breweries sit near the stops we cover in Vermont. 3 of them are brewpubs with a kitchen, which off the motorway is often the useful part. The kitchen figure is a floor: the source lists some full restaurants as production sites.

Brewpub locations from Open Brewery DB (MIT)

Outdoors

Public land, water and snow — the places that are the reason for the drive.

National parks and federal sites in Vermont

3 National Park Service sites in Vermont. We have written guides to only a few of these — the rest are here so you can see what is in the state.

*Check before you go. Entrance fees, seasonal road closures, timed-entry reservations and whether a site suits your family are set by each park and change through the year. Follow the link and check with the park itself.

Park register from the National Park Service (public domain)

State parks in Vermont

57 state parks we know of in Vermont. We have not visited these and have no guide to them — this is a list of what exists, so you can look one up.

See all 57

Alburg Dunes State Park
Allis State Park
Ascutney State Park
Big Deer State Park
Bomoseen State Park
Boulder Beach State Park
Branbury State Park
Brighton State Park
Burton Island State Park
Button Bay State Park
Camp Plymouth State Park
Coolidge State Park
Crystal Lake State Park
D.A.R. State Park
Elmore State Park
Emerald Lake State Park
Gifford Woods State Park
Grand Isle State Park
Green River Reservoir State Park
Half Moon Pond State Park
Hazen's Notch State Park
Jamaica State Park
Kettle Pond State Park
Kill Kare State Park
Kingsland Bay State Park
Knight Island State Park
Knight Point State Park
Lake Carmi State Park
Lake Shaftsbury State Park
Lake St. Catherine State Park
Law Island State Park
Little River State Park
Lowell Lake State Park
Maidstone State Park
Molly Stark State Park
Molly's Falls Pond State Park
Mount Philo State Park
New Discovery State Park
Niquette Bay State Park
North Hero State Park
Quechee State Park
Ricker Pond State Park
Sand Bar State Park
Sentinel Rock State Park
Seyon Lodge State Park
Silver Lake State Park
Smugglers' Notch State Park
Stillwater State Park
Sweet Pond State Park
Taconic Mountains Ramble State Park
Thetford Hill State Park
Townshend State Park
Underhill State Park
Waterbury Center State Park
Wilgus State Park
Woodford State Park
Woods Island State Park

*Check before you go. Opening hours, entry fees, campsite availability and whether a park suits your family are not in this data and change with the season. Several of these are day-use only. Please confirm with the park before setting out.

State park locations from Wikidata (CC0)

Lakes in Vermont

6 lakes in Vermont that we have checked. These are the ones from our research that we could check against an official page — not every lake there is. We have not been to these; this is what the official pages say, so you can look one up.

Harriman Reservoir (Lake Whitingham)
near Whitingham; Readsboro · 2,039 acres · reservoir (hydroelectric)
- Boating4 gravel and concrete boat ramps
- SeasonDay-use only; open half hour before sunrise to half hour after sunset
Reservoir managed seasonally; about 58 ft of usable storage
Run by Great River Hydro LLC (owner since 2017)
Lake Bomoseen
near Castleton; Hubbardton · 2,400 acres · natural (glacial)
- Fishingyes - bass, northern pike, brown trout, yellow perch, smelt, bullhead, panfish
- BoatingMotorized allowed (water skiing, wakeboarding); marinas and public launches
- Rentals & marinayes - Bomoseen SP rents kayaks, canoes, pedal boats, rowboats
- Swimmingyes - Bomoseen SP sandy beach; Crystal Beach (public)
- CampingBomoseen SP: 55 tent/RV + 10 lean-tos, Memorial Day weekend-Labor Day weekend; online via vtstateparks.com
- EntryVT day use $5 adult/$2 child
- SeasonIce fishing
Check VT recreational water status. VT cyanobacteria tracker: healthvermont.gov
Run by VT FPR (Bomoseen State Park); VT DEC (milfoil control)
Lake Carmi
near Franklin · 1,375 acres · natural
- Fishingyes - northern pike, walleye, perch
- BoatingBoat launch at state park
- Rentals & marinayes - kayaks and rental boats at state park
- Swimmingyes - sandy beaches at both camping areas and day-use area
- CampingLake Carmi SP: 138 tent/RV, 35 lean-tos, 2 cabins (largest VT state park campground), 3rd weekend May-2nd weekend Sept; online via vtstateparks.com
- EntryVT day use $5 adult/$2 child
Park directs visitors to recreational water status before swimming. VT cyanobacteria tracker: healthvermont.gov
Run by VT FPR (Lake Carmi State Park)
Lake Champlain
near Burlington VT; Plattsburgh NY · 329,000 acres · natural
- Fishingyes - about 81 species; noted for lake trout, Atlantic salmon, bass
- BoatingMotorized allowed; ferries cross Charlotte VT-Essex NY and Grand Isle VT-Cumberland Head NY; part of Northern Forest Canoe Trail
- Rentals & marinayes (Burlington, Plattsburgh, Port Henry ports; Grand Isle SP kayak rentals)
- Swimmingyes - Sand Bar SP (VT, 2,000-ft beach); Point Au Roche SP (NY, public beach); Cumberland Bay SP (NY)
- CampingVT: Grand Isle SP (115 tent/RV, 36 lean-tos, 4 cabins; camping only, no day use), Button Bay SP; NY: Cumberland Bay SP, Ausable Point; VT reservations via vtstateparks.com/reservations
- EntryVT day use $5 adult/$2 child (4-13)
- SeasonParts freeze each winter, sometimes the whole lake; some ferries stop when frozen. Grand Isle SP season 2nd weekend May-3rd weekend Oct
Cyanobacteria blooms most problematic in Missisquoi Bay. VT cyanobacteria tracker: healthvermont.gov ; NY HABs notifications/map: dec.ny.gov
Run by Multi-jurisdictional; Lake Champlain Basin Program coordinates pollution plan; state parks run by VT FPR and NYS Parks
Lake Dunmore
near Salisbury; Leicester · 985 acres · natural (glacial; small dam)
- BoatingBranbury SP rents canoes, kayaks, pedal boats, rowboat, SUPs
- Rentals & marinayes - Branbury SP
- Swimmingyes - Branbury SP 1,000-ft sandy beach
- CampingBranbury SP: 36 tent/RV + 7 lean-tos, 2nd weekend May-2nd Monday Oct; online via vtstateparks.com
- EntryVT day use $5 adult/$2 child
Check VT recreational water status. VT cyanobacteria tracker: healthvermont.gov
Run by VT FPR (Branbury State Park)
Lake Elmore
near Elmore · 219 acres
- Fishingyes - perch, pike, panfish (mostly small fish)
- BoatingCartop boats carried to waterfront
- Rentals & marinayes - canoes, kayaks, pedal boats, SUPs at Beach House
- Swimmingyes - large sandy beach, designated swim area
- CampingElmore SP: 44 tent/RV + 15 lean-tos, Memorial Day Friday-2nd Monday Oct; online via vtstateparks.com
- EntryVT day use $5 adult/$2 child
Check VT recreational water status. VT cyanobacteria tracker: healthvermont.gov
Run by VT FPR (Elmore State Park)

*Check before you go. Every lake here links to the official page we checked it against. 5 of these state a price we read off that page on the date we checked. 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. Never assume a lifeguard. Whether a beach is staffed turns on the season, the day, and which agency runs that particular beach — two beaches on one lake can differ. If that matters to your family, confirm it with the agency before you set out.

Skiing and Snowboarding

18 in this state.

Bolton Valley ResortSummer bike parkBolton
Night skiing and backcountry near Burlington
Ascutney OutdoorsBrownsville
Nonprofit hill on former Ascutney resort
Burke MountainSummer bike parkEast Burke
Northeast Kingdom mountain near Kingdom Trails biking
Mad River GlenFayston
Co-op owned; skiers only; single chair
Middlebury College Snow BowlHancock
College-owned area on Middlebury Gap
Jay Peak ResortJay
Snowiest in East; tram and indoor waterpark
Smugglers' Notch ResortJeffersonville
Award-winning family resort with three mountains
Killington ResortSummer bike parkKillington
Largest East resort; long season and big apres scene
Pico MountainKillington
Killington's quieter sister mountain
Magic MountainLondonderry
Old-school steep terrain; indie favorite

See the other 8

Okemo Mountain ResortLudlow
Groomed cruisers; Vail-owned
Bromley MountainPeru
South-facing sunny slopes near Manchester
Cochran's Ski AreaRichmond
Historic nonprofit family hill
Saskadena SixSouth Pomfret
Formerly Suicide Six; near Woodstock
Stowe Mountain ResortStowe
Mount Mansfield classic; upscale village nearby
Stratton Mountain ResortSummer bike parkStratton
Southern Vermont resort with pedestrian village
Sugarbush ResortWarren
Two big mountains in Mad River Valley
Mount SnowSummer bike parkWest Dover
Closest big Vermont resort to NYC and Boston

This is a list of what is there, not a recommendation of any of it. We do not list rentals: our source marked every ski area in the country “likely” to have them and confirmed none, so there was nothing to publish. Most hills do rent gear — ring ahead rather than take that from us. Opening dates, lift schedules and trail conditions move every year and we hold none of them, so check before you build a day around it. Every name above links to the operator’s own site.

Lift-Served Bike Parks

4 in this state.

Bolton Valley ResortAlso a ski resortLift-servedBolton
Small, raw northern Vermont lift riding
Killington ResortAlso a ski resortLift-servedKillington
East's biggest park; gondola plus multiple lifts
Stratton MountainAlso a ski resortLift-servedStratton
Gondola-served southern Vermont park
Mount SnowAlso a ski resortLift-servedWest Dover
Pioneering southern Vermont bike park

This is a list of what is there, not a recommendation of any of it. Opening dates, lift schedules and trail conditions move every year and we hold none of them, so check before you build a day around it. Every name above links to the operator’s own site.

Long Bike Trails

2 in this state.

Island Line Trail
Length
14 miles
Surface
Mixed
End to end
Burlington VT – Colchester VT
Causeway out into Lake Champlain; seasonal bike ferry
Stowe Recreation Path
Length
5.3 miles
Surface
Paved
End to end
Stowe village VT – Topnotch area VT
Riverside path toward Mount Mansfield

Days out with the family

Gated attractions with a front door, a ticket and a car park.

Aquariums and Aviaries

2 across Vermont, by town.

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.
VINS Nature Center — some details below are unconfirmedQuechee
Hours
10am-5pm daily
Raptor exhibits and bird rehabilitation; Forest Canopy Walk included with admission
* We could not confirm: 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. 2 entries are 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.

Water Parks

1 across Vermont, by town.

Pump House Indoor Waterparkwater parkJay
Indoor water park at Jay Peak Resort.

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.

Wineries, Distilleries and Cideries in Vermont

5 producers in Vermont that we have checked. These are the ones from our research we could check against their own site — not every producer there is. We have not been to these; this is what their own sites say, so you can look one up.

Mad River Distillers
distillery · Burlington, VT · Champlain Valley / Mad River Valley
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
Boyden Valley Winery & Spirits
winery and distillery · Cambridge, VT · Northern VT (Lamoille)
Family farm producing wines, whiskeys and cream liqueurs.
- HoursThu-Mon 11am-5pm (Sun listed 12-5pm)
- Toursyes - Whiskey Tour Experience
64 VT-104, Cambridge, VT 05444
Smugglers' Notch Distillery
distillery · Jeffersonville, VT · Northern VT (Lamoille) · founded 2006
Distillery founded in 2006 with additional tasting rooms in Waterbury Center, Burlington, Manchester and Stowe.
- HoursDaily 10am-5pm
- Phone802-760-0619
5087 Vermont Rte. 15, Jeffersonville, VT 05464
Shelburne Vineyard
winery · Shelburne, VT · Champlain Valley
Vineyard south of Burlington that planted its first grapes in 1998.
- HoursMon-Tue 11am-7pm; Wed-Sun 11am-8:30pm
- Phone802-985-8222
6308 Shelburne Road, Shelburne, VT 05482
Champlain Orchards Cidery
cidery · Shoreham, VT · Champlain Valley
Orchard on Lake Champlain since 1998 producing hard ciders with a farm market.
- HoursFarm market daily 10am-5pm, closed Tue (from Nov 2)
- Toursyes - orchard tours/experiences bookable
- Foodyes
- Phone(802) 897-2777
3597 VT-74 W., Shoreham, VT 05770

*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.

Roadside oddities in Vermont

Hope CemeteryFolk art / sculpture gardenBarre
Cost to see it
Free
When you can see it
Any time — outdoors, visible from the road
Nearest road
VT-14 / I-89
Granite carvers' cemetery with whimsical carved headstones
- Fine for most children, but look it over before you let them loose
Read on the page we checked
Haskell Free Library & Opera HouseOffbeat landmarkDerby Line
Cost to see it
Free
When you can see it
Only while it is open, and we did not find its hours published
Nearest road
I-91
Library split by the U.S.-Canada border; access rules changed
- Something about this one changed recently — check before you drive out
Read on the page we checked
Dog Chapel at Dog MountainOdd building / architectureSt. Johnsbury
Cost to see it
Free
When you can see it
Only while it is open, and we did not find its hours published
Nearest road
I-91 / I-93
Chapel for dogs covered in pet memorial notes
Read on the page we checked

These are things you can go and look at, not a recommendation of any of them. Oddities move, get sold and quietly disappear more than anything else we list, so check anything you are driving a long way for. Where this list says we did not find a price or opening times published, that is exactly what we mean. A blank is not “free” and not “always open”. Some sit on private land and can only be seen from the road — please do not go onto anyone’s property. Every entry links the page we read it off.

Annual Events

11 across Vermont, by town.

What is on, and when

Orleans County FairfairBarton
Usually
Mid September, over several days
Held at
Orleans County Fairgrounds
Bondville FairfairBondville
Usually
Late August, over several days
Held at
Bondville Fairgrounds
Champlain Valley FairfairEssex Junction
Usually
Late August–Labor Day, over several days
Held at
Champlain Valley Exposition
Lamoille County Field DaysfairJohnson
Usually
Mid July, over several days
Held at
Lamoille County Field Days grounds
Caledonia County FairfairLyndonville
Usually
Late August, over several days
Held at
Caledonia County Fairgrounds
Marlboro Music Festivalmusic festivalMarlboro
Usually
July–August, over several days
Held at
Marlboro College campus (Persons Auditorium)
Since
1951

See the other 5

Addison County Fair & Field DaysfairNew Haven
Usually
Early August, over several days
Held at
Addison County Field Days grounds
Vermont State FairfairRutland
Usually
Mid–late August, over several days
Held at
Vermont State Fairgrounds
Franklin County Field DaysfairSt. Albans
Usually
Early August
Vermont Maple Festivalcultural festivalSt. Albans
Usually
April, over several days
Held at
Downtown St. Albans
Tunbridge World's FairfairTunbridge
Usually
Mid September, over several days
Held at
Tunbridge Fairgrounds

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.

On the road

Before you set off.

Scenic roads through Vermont

Federally designated scenic byways and All-American Roads, with the places we publish along each one in the order you meet them.

Connecticut River Byway3 states · 11 places we publish

What to wear in Vermont

Illustrated outfit board for Vermont: four seasonal panels of clothing with average temperatures.

Spring 52°/30°F (11°/-1°C)

Spring brings cool weather, snowmelt, and muddy stops.

Wear: Start with a long-sleeve tee, stretch pants, and a fleece or sweater. Add a rain shell when the wind or showers pick up.
Shoes: Water-resistant walking shoes with grip; boots for muddy stops.
Pack: fleece or sweater
rain shell
light beanie
spare dry socks

Summer 76°/53°F (24°/12°C)

Summer is often comfortable, with warmer valley afternoons and cooler mountains.

Wear: Wear a tee with lightweight pants or shorts, then carry a fleece and wind-resistant shell. Keep the warm layer handy even on sunny days.
Shoes: Walking sneakers for town; trail shoes for rougher stops.
Pack: fleece
wind and rain shell
sun hat
sunglasses
spare socks

Fall 56°/36°F (13°/2°C)

Fall becomes chilly, with cold evenings and possible late-season snow.

Wear: Build around a long-sleeve tee, comfortable pants, and a sweater or fleece. Add a wind-resistant jacket for breezy overlooks.
Shoes: Walking shoes with grip; water-resistant boots for wet or muddy routes.
Pack: sweater or fleece
wind and rain shell
beanie
light gloves
spare socks

Winter 30°/11°F (-1°/-12°C)

Winter is cold, with snow and especially chilly higher-elevation stops.

Wear: Use thermal top and bottoms, an insulating fleece or sweater, and a wind-resistant insulated parka. Add insulated pants for extended outdoor stops.
Shoes: Waterproof insulated winter boots with wool or synthetic socks.
Pack: thermal base layers
insulated parka
insulated pants
beanie
mittens
neck gaiter
dry spare socks

Adjust for your route. Lake Champlain moderates western areas; the Northeast Kingdom and mountains need extra insulation. Keep shorts available for hot summer days.

Climate background: NOAA State Climate Summary

See what to wear in every state →

Keep exploring

See It in the Book

Explore Vermont

Locations in Vermont

Burlington

Montpelier

Stowe

Waterbury

National parks and federal sites in Vermont

State parks in Vermont

Lakes in Vermont

Skiing and Snowboarding

Bolton Valley ResortSummer bike parkBolton

Ascutney OutdoorsBrownsville

Burke MountainSummer bike parkEast Burke

Mad River GlenFayston

Middlebury College Snow BowlHancock

Jay Peak ResortJay

Smugglers' Notch ResortJeffersonville

Killington ResortSummer bike parkKillington

Pico MountainKillington

Magic MountainLondonderry

Okemo Mountain ResortLudlow

Bromley MountainPeru

Cochran's Ski AreaRichmond

Saskadena SixSouth Pomfret

Stowe Mountain ResortStowe

Stratton Mountain ResortSummer bike parkStratton

Sugarbush ResortWarren

Mount SnowSummer bike parkWest Dover

Lift-Served Bike Parks

Bolton Valley ResortAlso a ski resortLift-servedBolton

Killington ResortAlso a ski resortLift-servedKillington

Stratton MountainAlso a ski resortLift-servedStratton

Mount SnowAlso a ski resortLift-servedWest Dover

Long Bike Trails

Aquariums and Aviaries

ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain* — some details below are unconfirmedBurlington

VINS Nature Center* — some details below are unconfirmedQuechee

Water Parks

Pump House Indoor Waterparkwater parkJay

Wineries, Distilleries and Cideries in Vermont

Roadside oddities in Vermont

Hope CemeteryFolk art / sculpture gardenBarre

Haskell Free Library & Opera HouseOffbeat landmarkDerby Line

Dog Chapel at Dog MountainOdd building / architectureSt. Johnsbury

Annual Events

What is on, and when

Orleans County FairfairBarton

Bondville FairfairBondville

Champlain Valley FairfairEssex Junction

Lamoille County Field DaysfairJohnson

Caledonia County FairfairLyndonville

Marlboro Music Festivalmusic festivalMarlboro

Addison County Fair & Field DaysfairNew Haven

Vermont State FairfairRutland

Franklin County Field DaysfairSt. Albans

Vermont Maple Festivalcultural festivalSt. Albans

Tunbridge World's FairfairTunbridge