Your guide to Vermont
Top destinations in Vermont
Burlington
Lakefront strolls, farm fresh eats and mountain adventures make Burlington the perfect New England getaway.
Rutland
From summer’s festivals to snowy winter slopes and fiery autumn foliage, this vibrant Vermont city keeps the fun going all year long.
Vermont: fast facts
| Language | English |
|---|---|
| Currency | United States dollar ($) |
| Time zone | Burlington - UTC−5 (EST) and UTC−4 (EDT) |
| High season | June – October |
| Low season | January – March |
Vermont highlights
Watch the leaves change
There’s nothing like autumn foliage in Vermont. Cruising the Upper Connecticut River Valley Loop or Smugglers’ Notch on a mid-October day is pure Instagram bliss. Enjoy leaf peeping with a side of small-town life in the cosy hamlets of Montpelier, Stowe and Woodstock. Peak viewing season varies wildly. Check local foliage forecasts for an estimate of the best timing.
Live the country life
One of the best things to do in Vermont is to embrace country living. You could spend a long afternoon picking apples at a family orchard, touring a maple sugar factory or visiting a llama farm. Larger farms like Shelburne and Billings offer a wide range of organised tours. For total immersion, book an overnight stay at a bed and breakfast or cabin on a working farm.
Hit the ski slopes
Home to more than 20 resorts, Vermont is one of the top ski destinations in the US. Popular spots like Killington and Stowe combine top-notch amenities with a wide range of slopes. Looking for a less vertical snowy adventure? Strap on snowshoes or take a horse-drawn sleigh ride. The snow typically lasts from December to March.
Things to do in Vermont
Top attractions
Quechee Gorge cuts a dramatic 50-metre-deep trench through the surrounding forest. The Shelburne Museum’s 39 historical buildings house an incredible collection of American art and artefacts. Wandering the grounds, you’ll discover beautiful gardens, a steamship and a lighthouse. The nineteenth-century mansion and surrounding forest of Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park in Woodstock tell the story of conservation in America.
Beaches
The state may be landlocked, but you’ll find beaches in Vermont thanks to its more than 800 lakes. Calm water for swimming, sandy shores and connections to hiking trails make lakes Champlain, Elmore and Dunmore popular summer spots. The Waterbury Reservoir boasts idyllic beachfront campsites that can only be reached by boat.
Nature
Vermont has more than 50 state parks. Explore the famous gorge at Quechee State Park or climb the state’s highest peak at Underhill State Park. To combine hiking with a day on the water, visit Lake St Catherine or Kingsland Bay. And for a total retreat, head to Burton Island State Park, a tiny island in Lake Champlain that’s reachable by ferry.
Cuisine
All those farms and forests you see while driving around make for some amazing farm-to-table cuisine at restaurants in Vermont. Don’t miss apple doughnuts, farmstead cheeses and a dizzying array of maple-flavoured food. Comfort dishes like chicken pot pie and venison are big in autumn and winter, while greens like fiddleheads and ramps brighten up spring plates.
Culture and museums
One of the most fun museums in Vermont is the tiny New England Maple Museum, which explores Vermont’s best-known export with a tour and syrupy samples. The Birds of Vermont is a full avian experience that includes a pollinator garden and trail for birdwatching in the wild. The Lake Champlain Maritime Museum displays a fleet of historical boat reproductions.
Nightlife
From outdoor performances to an apres-ski scene, nightlife in Vermont has something unique all year round. Wind down a warm summer evening with live music at Burlington’s Church Street Marketplace. Nearby bars serve inventive cocktails alongside Vermont-made beers and cider. And as the birthplace of the Hazy New England IPA, Vermont’s craft brewing scene is one of the country’s best.
Find the best time to visit Vermont
Weather in Vermont through the year
March – May: Spring is known as ‘mud season’, but sturdy footwear makes it possible to enjoy this transitional period. Be careful, as some muddy trails are off-limits for conservation reasons.
June – August: Summer brings occasional heatwaves above 32°C with humidity, though most days are milder, and evenings usually cool down.
September – November: This season is all about warm days, crisp nights and brilliant autumn colour. It’s a great time to enjoy mountain hikes and scenic drives — but expect plenty of company.
December – February: Winter sunshine is rare in Vermont. But with dozens of ski resorts and abundant snow, you’ll find plenty of reasons to get outside.
Events in Vermont
Curds and Curling (February): Greensboro puts a Vermont twist on curling by using a wheel of cheese as the stone. Visitors can try their hand at the game or simply relax by a bonfire, enjoying cheesy snacks while cheering on the competitors.
Garlic Town USA (August): In Bennington, this popular food festival celebrates all things garlic. Sample creative dishes, browse local vendors, and don’t miss quirky highlights like garlic ice cream.
Wassail Weekend (December): Woodstock welcomes winter with a Yuletide celebration of hot cider, carol singing and bonfires. A festive tree lighting and horse-drawn carriages transform the town centre into a scene straight from a Christmas movie.
Know before you go
Budget
A wide variety of accommodation and plenty of simple dining options make budget-friendly visits to Vermont easy. In the state’s larger cities, you can expect an inexpensive meal to cost roughly 20 US dollars ($) and a taxi ride to cost about $9.
Health and safety
It’s a good idea to be cautious when exploring Vermont’s forests and backcountry, no matter the time of year. Weather can have a big effect on trail conditions, washing out trails or making ski runs icy. In summer, apply lots of insect repellent to protect from mosquitoes, ticks and black flies. Beaches along Lake Champlain are monitored for water quality.
Free things to do
Explore a working farm with cheesemaking demonstrations and plenty of walking trails at Shelburne Farms. Trails are free, but some activities require admission fees. Summer concerts in Woodstock, Burlington and Montpelier bring live music to downtown streets and the banks of the Ottauquechee River. And catch free screenings of classic movies at the Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center in Burlington.
Family friendly
The larger-than-life paper-mache puppets of Bread and Puppet Theater in Glover tell stories of justice and tolerance. ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain in Burlington teaches kids about the science of Lake Champlain, including the fabled Champ, ‘America’s Lake Monster’. Explore a historic farmhouse, kid-sized farm stand and sunflower labyrinth at Woodstock’s Billings Farm and Museum.
Getting around Vermont
Public transport
Buses: Vermont Translines connects major towns along a north–south corridor from Colchester to Bennington. A number of regional buses serve the rest of the state, and you’ll find shuttles from some towns to nearby ski resorts in winter.
Trains: Amtrak’s Vermonter train runs from Washington, D.C., up to Saint Albans city. It’s slower than driving, but the views are breathtaking, especially in autumn.
Boats: Car ferries on Lake Champlain link Vermont with New York, offering a scenic way to cross the water. For something different, board the Island Runner to Burton Island State Park, a peaceful retreat accessible only by boat.
Domestic flights
Burlington is home to Vermont’s largest airport, with connections to major domestic hubs. For a direct international connection, some people choose to fly into Montreal, which is only an hour north of Vermont. If you’re staying in Southern Vermont, you may find it more convenient to come through Albany, New York. You’ll find flights to New York City, Chicago and elsewhere.
Driving and car hire
Drive one of Vermont’s scenic byways during October to experience the state’s famous autumn foliage. In winter, snow and ice can make driving a challenge. Highways and interstates are well maintained, but some mountain passes close for the season.
