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Vermont is fall. Cold-pressed cups of apple cider, self-service farm stores, warm maple syrup drizzled over freshly fried apple cider doughnuts. The weather is crisp and cool and the foliage is on fire. Don’t get me wrong, Vermont is beautiful any time of year, but in Fall or Winter, it just has this holiday feel.
This is probably because 3/4 of Vermont is carpeted in maple trees. Leaf-peepers from around the world come to watch the forests erupt in crimson red to pale yellow. Entire hillsides are bathed in color and when winter rolls around covered in a fluffy blanket of snow. The stuff straight out of postcards. But Vermont is also a foodie destination (try Vermont’s famous poutine & pretzels alongside its Maple syrup and doughnuts).
So let’s talk about Vermont. Cities you should visit, where you should eat, what you should do, and scenic routes to take while road tripping across the green mountain state.
5 Interesting Things to Know About Vermont
There are lots of interesting tidbits to know about Vermont. For instance, that it’s Bernie Sanders’, America’s most beloved political figure, home state. But these 5 Vermont facts are important for travelers to know.
1. Covered bridges are a big deal.
Built in the mid-1800s, covered bridges are historical and often picturesque. Vermont has tons of them scattered all throughout the state. I’m not going to recommend you go on an Easter Egg hunt looking for ALL Vermont’s covered bridges because, honestly, we didn’t visit any.
I mean, how many covered bridges do you need to photograph in one road trip? But if this sounds like your jam then I highly recommend reading this blog post on visiting 10 of Vermont’s prettiest covered bridges in one day. Even if you just choose a handful, it’s a great resource to have.
2. Creemee is slang for Soft Serve Ice Cream & you have to have one.
Specifically, a maple creemee. Because if there’s one thing we all already know about Vermont it’s that they are total Maple Syrup snobs.
All that vibrant fall foliage is due to the Sugar Maple, hence the mass amounts of fresh pure Maple Syrup coming out of Vermont. It’s been a huge part of Vermont’s economy and local culture since the 19th century.
The Burlington Free Press (a local Vermont paper) did a round-up of Vermont’s dreamiest Creemee’s. So you can pick the cone closest to you.
3. No one lives here. It’s the 49th most populated state.
Wyoming comes in dead last, but Vermont is a close second. The entire state has less than 700,000 residents.
Considering how close Vermont is to New York and how breathtakingly gorgeous it is, this is extremely surprising.
But its winding country roads, quaint brick-covered towns, and family-owned dairy farms have retained the small town country feel that’s long gone in most of the East Coast.
4. Self-service farm stores are common.
Picture this. Driving down a gravel residential road, on your way to a log cabin in the woods slinging fresh tapped maple syrup by the gallon, you spot a red farmhouse with a large wooden barn and a small cardboard sign that reads– Eggs for Sale. You pull over and walk into the shop building to find baskets of fresh harvested veggies, piles of brown eggs, and maybe some local honey, fruit, or unpasteurized milk. There’s no one around, just a paper sheet where you tally up what you’ve taken and a register with a drawer full of cash for you to leave the appropriate payment.
It’s a self-service farm store. & they are all over rural Vermont. Isn’t it nice to live in such a trusting world?
5. Vermont is the best place in the U.S. to view fall colors.
I have a feeling you already knew this.
We visited Vermont in October on our road trip to every single national park in the US. & it was magnificent. If you’re planning a Vermont road trip to see the changing of the leaves here’s exactly what you need to know.
The colors change earlier at higher elevations.
Mountains change first and the coasts change last. Early leaf-peeping season means you should stick to high elevation. If you visit late in the season go low.
When is peak Leaf-peeping season?
Sept-Nov has some form of colorful foliage. But October is universally known as the best time to visit for peak foliage. Unfortunately, trees don’t follow calendars so the actual dates of peak colors vary each year. Vermont’s foliage forecaster website does an excellent job of scientifically predicting when the leaves will turn and where to help you better plan your trip.
Where is the best place to see Fall foliage in Vermont?
Obviously, this depends on when you are visiting because of elevation but the most impressive colors can be found in…
- Smuggler’s Notch Pass
- Darling Hill
- Mount Mansfield
- Quechee State Park
- Stowe
- Green River Reservoir State Park
- Burlington (specifically the Burlington Bike Path)
- Missisquoi Wildlife Refuge
Vermont Road Trip Itinerary
Before we get into my full Vermont road trip itinerary let’s talk about vehicles. We drove Vermont in our campervan that we built for under $4,000. If you’re interested in building a DIY campervan of your own check out my vanlife page for a step-by-step guide on building your own dream van in under 6 weeks.
If a rental is more you’re style, I always recommend the site RV Share. It’s like Airbnb but for RV’s. You’re supporting locals in the destinations you visit and 100% mobile to explore the state all on your own.
Now let’s get into where you need to visit on your next Vermont road trip.
Burlington
Burlington is my personal favorite town in Vermont. Pressed up against the shores of Lake Champlain, the 6th largest lake in the United States, you might almost forget that Vermont is a landlocked state. Its picturesque streets are lined with brick homes, each with its own covered front porch, and prominent churches with pointed white steeples.
Even though it’s the largest city in Vermont it still has that classic small-town feel. Just with more college students. We spent two days exploring Burlington (really, it’s not that big) & felt that was sufficient but I definitely could hang around the town longer if given the opportunity.
Best Free Attractions in Burlington
Smack-dab in the middle of town is Church Street Marketplace. You’ll recognize it by, you guessed it, the massive church. This is the heart of the city. It’s also where you’ll find all the classic Vermont shops selling jackets, ice cream, and fancy hippie garb. Begin your tour of the town at the iconic (and very photogenic) church and make your way to City Hall Park. A sprawling green space perfect for picnics, and in October, plays host to Park Days, where live music entertains the locals. Cap off your tour of the town with a brisk walk down to the waterfront and marvel at the colors behind Lake Champlain.
Best Cheap (ish) Eats in Burlington
As far as food is concerned, Burlington isn’t short on options. It’s a great place to try a creemee or eat some of the farm-fresh food that Vermont is known for. Since we were exploring via van in Vermont we kept to a budget (for the most part), and limited our dining to the essentials….fresh-pressed hard cider, poutine, and maple syrup whiskey.
The Whiskey Room near City Hall Park is a small Britsh Style Pub with comfy romantic seating, dim lighting, and Smugglers Knotch Maple Syrup Whiskey. & although whiskey enthusiasts might claim this is blasphemy, it’s as Vermont as it gets. Smugglers Notch is a local distillery (near Stowe), making smooth sweet whiskey with the finest Vermont maple flavors.
If you only visit one Burlington restaurant, make it Citizen Cider. Washington may be the apple capital of the US, but Oregon and Vermont get an A for effort. Citizen Cider is known for its locally farmed apples and not so classic flavor combinations. They always have a handful of new flavors to try, but Holy Basil and the Tumeric-infused are some of my favorites. Citizen Cider is also the best place to rustle up a pile of traditional poutine, topped with gravy and Maplebrook cheese curds.
Honorable Mention: Vermont Pub & Brewery has been around the block. This local staple is serving comfort food and delicious craft beer. I liked their cheap prices and outdoor patio. But they also had a huge indoor space for winter dining.
Stowe
Peeking out of a sea of Ash, Maple, and Oak trees the little town of Stowe should be on everyone’s Vermont road trip itinerary. Distinguishable by a needle thin white church and it’s barn red buildings scattered about the town center, this village is packed with foodie opportunities, breweries, and surrounded by local farms. It’s also a tourist hot spot.
Best Free Attractions in Stowe
It’s not going to take long to fully explore Stowe’s picturesque streets. The town is perfectly suited to a crisp fall walk. But no visit would be complete without a drive through the surrounding countryside to see the White Church in all its glory. When you’re ready to take some sugar shooters pop over to the Nebraska Knoll Sugar House for some free maple syrup tasting and maybe pick yourself up a bottle. There are several different varietals of maple syrup here at this log cabin tucked into the forests near Stowe. This will likely be your first introduction to the farm stores I mentioned before so stock up on fresh veg and eggs to cook yourself a farm-to-table breakfast.
Another reason to love Stowe is its outdoor activities. Namely, it’s ski resort in the winter. It’s also a big biking & hiking destination (Smuggler’s Notch State Park). Here’s a list of a few great hikes in the Stowe, Vermont area.
Best Cheap Eats in Stowe
Food in Stowe was top-notch. Sure, there’s your everyday Pizza joints, taquerias, and classic American eats BUT Stowe is brimming with breweries, squishy German-style pretzels, poutine, and the single best cold-pressed apple cider in the United States.
Start your foodie journey at Cold Hollow Cider Mill. This lovely farmhouse presses fresh cold cider, brews its own array of hard ciders that you can taste in the restaurant, and also frys up a plain apple cider doughnut that is to die for. You can have your cider hot, spiced, or by the gallon. The farm store sells maple candy (YUM), Vermont trinkets, cider jelly, and you get to watch the apple cider doughnuts being made.
For a real meal, head to the restaurant to grab a sandwich and hard cider flight. Everything from the bread up is made fresh and from Vermont.
There’s no shortage of breweries, bars, and wineries in town. But for ambiance, I appreciated Idle Time Brewing. Flights of beer served on mini-skis and tasty German pretzels served on a hanging hook with thick beer cheese sauce make a perfect pair with their outdoor fire pits and twinkle lights.
The crisp cold air and piping hot wood-fired pizza go together like cider and doughnuts. For that, I recommend The Bench.
Because Stowe is such a popular tourist destination, if you’re visiting during the weekend or planning to eat at normal dinner hours, I would arrive early or make a reservation to ensure you skip the long waits.
If you’re looking for a dive bar to finish off the evening (we often are), Backyard was recommended to us by the bartenders at Idle Time.
Plan a Visit to Mount Mansfield
Mount Mansfield is one of the most popular hiking destinations in Vermont. It sits at nearly 4,000 feet elevation and overlooks both the lovely town of Stowe, Lake Champlain, and the Adirondack Mountains. Not everyone is up for the 7-mile hike, so Vermont made it nice and easy with a well-maintained paved toll road to the summit. It costs $26 to drive the 4.5-mile mountain road and it’s only operational between 9 AM- 4 PM during the months of May-October.
If you are road tripping Vermont in an RV or converted van these vehicles are NOT permitted on the toll road. Not even if your van is small. If it’s converted you can’t take it up the mountain. Looks like it’s leg day for you.
Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory
Did you know Ben & Jerry’s was founded in Vermont? & this originally Waterbury factory is unlike any other factory you’ll ever tour. Not only will you get to try all the best Ben & Jerry’s flavors but you can walk through the flavor graveyard (where all retired flavors have gone to die).
You have to at least stop in for a scoop.
Rock of Ages Quarry or Dorset Quarry
I know a granite quarry isn’t exactly the most touristy thing in the world BUT the Rock of Ages Quarry is more the 600 feet deep with columns of pure steel-grey granite and electric blue water in its basin. I didn’t visit the quarries but apparently, they attract quite a few tourists.
It’s kind of a macabre attraction as it’s where the granite for gravestones is harvested. But it really is a striking landscape. For a slightly less touristy option, you can always head to the nearby Dorset Quarry instead for similar views.
Woodstock
Don’t confuse this quaint Vermont town with the far more famous Woodstock, New York of the 1970s. This Woodstock might top your Vermont road trip list if covered bridges, pink sandstone, or farm-style architecture, and idyllic riverside towns are of great interest to you.
Farm-museums, historical parks, and farm-to-table restaurants make this town quintessentially New England.
Scenic Routes
Here’s a few jaw-droppingly beautiful scenic roads that are perfect for your Fall Vermont road trip.
- Cloudland Road past Sleep Hollow Farm in Woodstock.
- Drive from Indian Head (one of New York’s best hikes) to Burlington.
What is Vanlife like in Vermont?
I drove the entire U.S. (more or less, sorry Oklahoma) in my campervan and while much of the East Coast turned a cold shoulder to the van, Vermont welcomed me with open arms. It’s the perfect destination for a vanlife road trip.
On top of being the most vaxxed state in the U.S. (yes, I’m referring to COVID times), the locals here are uncharacteristically friendly (for Americans) to out-of-towners. Even those of us in a sketchy-looking campervan. We were even given free weed a few times in the state. But that’s not my point. My point is that Vermont is a great destination for road trippers.
Once again. If you’re looking to convert your own campervan for epic USA or Mexico road trips (like ours through the Baja Peninsula) you should check out our vanlife page for an easy step-by-step conversion guide to get you on the road in 6 weeks or less.
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