Vermont may be one of America’s smaller states, but apparently nobody told it to behave like one.
Inside its borders you’ll find mountain passes, waterfalls, covered bridges, historic villages, swimming holes, farm stands, maple sugarhouses, ski towns, enormous lakes and backroads that look suspiciously like they were designed specifically for fall postcards.
And that’s exactly what makes the best day trips in Vermont so much fun.
You don’t need to spend half the day on an interstate just to reach the interesting stuff.
In Vermont, the interesting stuff is often hiding around the next bend.
Sometimes it’s a waterfall.
Sometimes it’s a 200-year-old general store.
Sometimes it’s a covered bridge.
And sometimes it’s a roadside stand selling maple syrup, cheese and something you absolutely did not know you needed until five minutes ago.
Let’s explore Vermont one region at a time.
Jump to a Vermont Region
Northern Vermont & Northeast Kingdom
Lake Willoughby, Jay Peak, Newport, St. Johnsbury and some of Vermont’s wildest scenery.
Burlington, Lake Champlain & Northwest Vermont
Burlington, Lake Champlain, islands, farms and waterfront adventures.
Stowe & North-Central Vermont
Stowe, Smugglers’ Notch, Mount Mansfield, Waterbury and mountain roads.
Central Vermont
Montpelier, Barre, Mad River Valley, waterfalls and classic Vermont villages.
Woodstock & Upper Valley
Woodstock, Quechee Gorge, conservation history, farms and covered bridges.
Southern Vermont
Manchester, Bennington, Brattleboro, mountain drives and historic towns.
Or jump directly to:
Covered Bridges | Waterfalls & Swimming Holes | Scenic Drives | Small Towns | Hidden Gems | Family Trips | Fall Day Trips
Northern Vermont & Northeast Kingdom Day Trips
The Northeast Kingdom is where Vermont starts feeling considerably wilder.
Forests stretch toward Canada.
Small towns sit between mountains and lakes.
Cell service can become optimistic.
That’s usually a good sign.
Lake Willoughby
Location: Westmore
Map: Open in Google Maps
Planning: Vermont Tourism
Lake Willoughby sits between steep mountains in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom.
The long, narrow lake has a distinctly alpine appearance that can make first-time visitors wonder whether Vermont borrowed scenery from Switzerland.
Hiking, paddling, swimming and scenic drives make this one of northern Vermont’s signature day trips.
Best for: Hiking, swimming, paddling, photography and fall foliage.
City Unknown Tip
Don’t just photograph Lake Willoughby from the road.
Give yourself time to explore the surrounding trails and shoreline.
This is one of those places where rushing defeats the purpose.
Mount Pisgah
Location: Lake Willoughby
Map: Open in Google Maps
Trails climb above Lake Willoughby to dramatic overlooks.
The views are spectacular.
The cliffs are real.
Stay well back from exposed edges.
Newport & Lake Memphremagog
Location: Newport
Map: Open in Google Maps
Newport sits along Lake Memphremagog, which stretches north across the Canadian border.
The waterfront makes a pleasant base for paddling, walking and exploring Vermont’s far north.
Jay Peak
Location: Jay
Map: Open in Google Maps
Jay Peak is famous for snow.
A lot of snow.
Winter brings skiing and snowboarding, while warmer months open the surrounding mountains to hiking and scenic exploration.
St. Johnsbury
Location: St. Johnsbury
Map: Open in Google Maps
This historic Northeast Kingdom town makes an excellent cultural stop between outdoor adventures.
Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium
Location: St. Johnsbury
Map: Open in Google Maps
Natural history collections fill an extraordinary Victorian-era building.
This is exactly the sort of museum you hope to stumble across in a small Vermont town.
Dog Mountain
Location: St. Johnsbury
Map: Open in Google Maps
Artist Stephen Huneck created Dog Mountain as a celebration of dogs and the people who love them.
Its best-known feature is the Dog Chapel.
Inside, visitors leave photographs and handwritten notes honoring beloved pets.
Bring tissues.
I’m serious.
Burke
Location: East Burke
Map: Open in Google Maps
Mountain biking helped turn this little Northeast Kingdom community into an outdoor destination.
The surrounding Kingdom Trails network draws riders from far beyond Vermont.
Burlington, Lake Champlain & Northwest Vermont Day Trips
Northwestern Vermont revolves around Lake Champlain.
Mountains rise on both sides of the lake, Burlington provides an energetic city base, and the Champlain Islands offer one of Vermont’s most relaxed scenic drives.
Burlington
Location: Burlington
Map: Open in Google Maps
Planning: Hello Burlington
Vermont’s largest city is still small enough to explore comfortably in a day.
Walk Church Street Marketplace.
Explore the waterfront.
Ride the bike path.
Find something local to eat.
Then sit beside Lake Champlain and watch the Adirondack Mountains turn dark against the sunset.
That’s a pretty good Vermont day.
Burlington Waterfront
Location: Burlington
Map: Open in Google Maps
Parks and paths line Lake Champlain.
The Burlington Greenway provides miles of cycling and walking.
Shelburne Museum
Location: Shelburne
Map: Open in Google Maps
Official Site: Shelburne Museum
Historic buildings, folk art, decorative arts, transportation collections and an enormous steamboat make this far more than a traditional museum.
Plan several hours.
Shelburne Farms
Location: Shelburne
Map: Open in Google Maps
Official Site: Shelburne Farms
This historic farm and educational nonprofit occupies a beautiful landscape overlooking Lake Champlain.
Walking trails, farm programs and educational experiences vary seasonally.
Champlain Islands
Location: Grand Isle County
Map: Open in Google Maps
A chain of islands stretches north through Lake Champlain.
Drive slowly.
Stop at farm stands.
Explore small communities.
Watch the lake.
Forget what time it is.
That’s basically the itinerary.
Grand Isle State Park
Location: Grand Isle
Map: Open in Google Maps
Lake access and peaceful island scenery make this an excellent summer escape.
Stowe & North-Central Vermont Day Trips
If you asked someone who had never visited Vermont to draw Vermont, they might accidentally draw Stowe.
White church.
Mountains.
Historic buildings.
Covered bridges.
Ski slopes.
Fall foliage.
Yep.
That’s Vermont.
Stowe
Location: Stowe
Map: Open in Google Maps
Planning: Go Stowe
Stowe is one of Vermont’s classic mountain towns.
Explore the village, walk or bike the recreation path, then head into the surrounding Green Mountains.
Best for: Couples, families, hiking, skiing and fall foliage.
Smugglers’ Notch
Location: Stowe/Cambridge
Map: Open in Google Maps
Official Site: Vermont State Parks
Route 108 twists through an extraordinarily narrow gap in the Green Mountains.
Cliffs rise nearly vertically beside the road.
Boulders crowd the forest.
Trails disappear into the mountains.
And the road gets wonderfully ridiculous.
Large vehicles should pay very close attention to restrictions.
The narrow mountain section closes during winter.
Bingham Falls
Location: Smugglers’ Notch area
Map: Open in Google Maps
A short trail leads to a beautiful waterfall and gorge.
Wet rock around Vermont waterfalls can be extremely slippery.
Admire the scenery without attempting to audition for a rescue operation.
Mount Mansfield
Location: Stowe area
Map: Open in Google Maps
At 4,393 feet, Mount Mansfield is Vermont’s highest mountain.
Several routes reach the ridgeline, ranging from serious hikes to seasonal mountain-road and lift-assisted options.
Conditions near the summit can change quickly.
Waterbury
Location: Waterbury
Map: Open in Google Maps
Waterbury makes an excellent stop between Burlington and Stowe.
Food, beer and classic Vermont attractions surround town.
Ben & Jerry’s Factory
Location: Waterbury
Map: Open in Google Maps
Official Site: Ben & Jerry’s
Yes, we’re putting an ice cream factory on the adventure list.
Adventure comes in many forms.
Tours explore the company’s history and ice-cream production.
Then comes the Flavor Graveyard.
May Chunky Monkey live forever.
Cold Hollow Cider Mill
Location: Waterbury Center
Map: Open in Google Maps
Apple cider.
Cider doughnuts.
Maple products.
This is where Vermont attacks your road-trip diet.
Resistance is largely pointless.
Central Vermont Day Trips
Central Vermont trades tourist-heavy mountain towns for state history, working communities, forests and quiet valleys.
This is where you start finding Vermont behind Vermont.
Montpelier
Location: Montpelier
Map: Open in Google Maps
Vermont’s capital feels remarkably small for a state capital.
That’s part of the charm.
Walk downtown and visit the Vermont State House.
Vermont State House
Location: Montpelier
Map: Open in Google Maps
The gold-domed State House is one of Montpelier’s defining landmarks.
Barre
Location: Barre
Map: Open in Google Maps
Granite shaped Barre.
Immigrant stoneworkers helped build an industry that supplied monuments across America.
Hope Cemetery
Location: Barre
Map: Open in Google Maps
Okay, stay with me.
We’re recommending a cemetery.
But Hope Cemetery contains remarkable granite monuments carved by some of the skilled stoneworkers who lived in Barre.
The artistry is extraordinary.
And yes.
This is absolutely going into the future haunted-Vermont article.
Mad River Valley
Location: Waitsfield/Warren
Map: Open in Google Maps
Mountain villages, farms, ski areas and scenic roads surround the Mad River.
Waitsfield and Warren make excellent stops.
Warren
Location: Warren
Map: Open in Google Maps
This tiny village has exactly the sort of general store, bridge and mountain setting travelers hope to find in Vermont.
Moss Glen Falls
Location: Granville
Map: Open in Google Maps
One of Vermont’s most photogenic roadside waterfalls requires very little effort to see.
That’s a favorable effort-to-scenery ratio.
Woodstock & Upper Valley Day Trips
Woodstock has mastered the art of looking almost suspiciously Vermont-like.
Historic homes.
A village green.
Covered bridges.
Farms.
Forested hills.
It’s all here.
Woodstock
Location: Woodstock
Map: Open in Google Maps
Planning: Woodstock Vermont
Walk the village rather than simply driving through it.
Explore shops and side streets.
Then head toward the surrounding farms and forests.
Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park
Location: Woodstock
Map: Open in Google Maps
Official Site: National Park Service
This unusual national park tells the story of American conservation and land stewardship.
Forested carriage roads climb Mount Tom while the historic estate helps explain generations of changing ideas about conservation.
The trails and grounds provide plenty to explore even when mansion tours aren’t operating.
Billings Farm & Museum
Location: Woodstock
Map: Open in Google Maps
Official Site: Billings Farm & Museum
A working farm and museum explores Vermont agricultural history.
Pair it with Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller across the road for an excellent full day.
Quechee Gorge
Location: Quechee
Map: Open in Google Maps
Official Site: Vermont State Parks
Glacial activity helped carve what is considered Vermont’s deepest gorge.
View it from above, then explore the surrounding park and trails.
Quechee
Location: Quechee
Map: Open in Google Maps
The village makes an easy addition to a Woodstock trip.
Vermont Institute of Natural Science
Location: Quechee
Map: Open in Google Maps
Live raptor programs, nature exhibits and a forest canopy walk make VINS one of Vermont’s better family attractions.
Killington
Location: Killington
Map: Open in Google Maps
Winter means skiing.
Summer brings mountain biking and hiking.
Fall means the entire mountain starts showing off.
Southern Vermont Day Trips
Southern Vermont is easy to overlook if you’re racing toward Burlington or Stowe.
Don’t.
Manchester, Bennington and Brattleboro provide history, arts, mountain scenery and some excellent backroad wandering.
Manchester
Location: Manchester
Map: Open in Google Maps
Manchester combines historic architecture, shopping and easy access to the Green Mountains.
Hildene
Location: Manchester
Map: Open in Google Maps
Official Site: Hildene
Robert Todd Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln’s only child to survive to adulthood, built this Georgian Revival estate.
The property explores Lincoln family history, agriculture and the broader social history connected to the estate.
Mount Equinox Skyline Drive
Location: Manchester area
Map: Open in Google Maps
A seasonal toll road climbs Mount Equinox to broad mountain views.
Check operating conditions before visiting.
Bennington
Location: Bennington
Map: Open in Google Maps
Historic sites and museums make Bennington one of southern Vermont’s strongest day-trip destinations.
Bennington Battle Monument
Location: Bennington
Map: Open in Google Maps
The monument commemorates the Battle of Bennington during the American Revolution.
Interestingly, much of the actual fighting occurred across the modern state line in New York.
History enjoys making geography inconvenient.
Brattleboro
Location: Brattleboro
Map: Open in Google Maps
This artsy Connecticut River town has bookstores, galleries, restaurants and a strong independent personality.
Walk downtown.
Then explore the surrounding backroads.
Molly Stark Byway
Location: Southern Vermont
Map: Open in Google Maps
Route 9 crosses southern Vermont through forests, historic communities and mountain scenery.
It’s particularly good during fall.
Vermont Covered Bridge Day Trips
Vermont and covered bridges go together like maple syrup and pancakes.
Put these on your list:
Middle Covered Bridge — Woodstock
Taftsville Covered Bridge — Taftsville
Cornish-Windsor Covered Bridge — Windsor area
Emily’s Bridge — Stowe
Gold Brook Covered Bridge — Stowe
Silk Road Covered Bridge — Bennington
Paper Mill Village Bridge — Bennington
Chiselville Covered Bridge — Sunderland
Warren Covered Bridge — Warren
Creamery Covered Bridge — Brattleboro
Some bridges remain open to vehicles.
Others are pedestrian-only.
Obey weight, height and traffic restrictions.
And please don’t stop your car in the middle of an active bridge because the lighting suddenly became Instagram-perfect.
Waterfalls & Swimming Holes in Vermont
Vermont has an impressive collection of waterfalls and natural swimming areas.
Start with:
Moss Glen Falls — Granville
Moss Glen Falls — Stowe
Yes.
There are two famous Vermont waterfalls named Moss Glen Falls.
Apparently Vermont ran out of waterfall names.
Also try:
Bingham Falls
Texas Falls
Lye Brook Falls
Thundering Brook Falls
Buttermilk Falls
Warren Falls
Hamilton Falls
Bristol Falls
Water levels change dramatically with rainfall and snowmelt.
Never jump from cliffs simply because someone else is doing it.
Wet rocks can be dangerously slippery.
Best Scenic Drives in Vermont
Route 100
If Vermont has a signature road trip, this is it.
Route 100 travels north-south through mountain towns, valleys and forests.
Smugglers’ Notch — Route 108
A spectacular seasonal drive through a narrow mountain pass.
The pass closes in winter.
Route 17 — Appalachian Gap
Twisting mountain roads and broad overlooks make this a wonderful Mad River Valley drive.
Route 9 — Molly Stark Byway
Cross southern Vermont through historic towns and Green Mountain scenery.
Route 7A
Travel through classic southern Vermont communities around Manchester and Bennington.
Route 2 through the Northeast Kingdom
Small towns, forests and northern landscapes make this a quieter alternative.
Champlain Islands
Drive north through farms and lake scenery.
City Unknown Tip
Vermont rewards slow driving.
Not “hold up traffic while staring at foliage” slow.
Pull over somewhere legal.
Then stare.
Best Small-Town Day Trips in Vermont
You could build an entire Vermont vacation around small towns.
Start with:
Woodstock
Stowe
Manchester
Waitsfield
Warren
Grafton
Chester
Middlebury
Bristol
Montgomery
Dorset
Weston
Vergennes
Peacham
Craftsbury
Shelburne
Brattleboro
Bennington
Newport
East Burke
The perfect Vermont town doesn’t necessarily need a famous attraction.
Sometimes a general store, church steeple, mountain backdrop and bakery are enough.
Actually, that’s more than enough.
Hidden Gems Worth the Vermont Detour
Dog Mountain
Dog chapel.
Mountain scenery.
Unexpected emotions.
Hope Cemetery
Granite artistry in Barre.
Bread and Puppet Theater
Location: Glover
Map: Open in Google Maps
This long-running theater company is famous for enormous puppets, political theater and a wonderfully unconventional museum.
It is difficult to explain.
That’s usually a recommendation around here.
Rock of Ages
Location: Graniteville
Map: Open in Google Maps
Granite quarrying shaped central Vermont.
Check current tour availability before planning your visit.
Balancing Rock
Location: Northfield area
Map: Open in Google Maps
Vermont has plenty of geological oddities hiding beyond its postcard villages.
Lake Willoughby
It’s becoming less hidden.
We don’t care.
It belongs here anyway.
Best Vermont Day Trips for Families
Try:
Ben & Jerry’s Factory
Shelburne Museum
Billings Farm & Museum
VINS Nature Center
Quechee Gorge
Lake Champlain
Dog Mountain
Fairbanks Museum
Smugglers’ Notch
Montshire Museum of Science
Vermont Teddy Bear
Echo Leahy Center for Lake Champlain
Lake Willoughby
Mix one indoor attraction with one outdoor stop and you’ve got a very Vermont family day.
Ice cream helps.
Ice cream always helps.
Best Vermont Fall Day Trips
This is the season everybody talks about.
And yes.
It’s worth the hype.
Try:
Route 100
Stowe
Smugglers’ Notch
Woodstock
Northeast Kingdom
Lake Willoughby
Mad River Valley
Manchester
Molly Stark Byway
Mount Equinox
Quechee Gorge
Champlain Islands
But remember:
Peak foliage is not a statewide appointment.
Color develops differently depending on elevation, latitude and weather.
Northern and higher-elevation areas generally change earlier than southern valleys.
Follow current foliage reports rather than planning around last year’s peak date.
Best Vermont Spring Day Trips
Spring is quieter.
It’s also mud season.
Try:
Burlington
Shelburne
Montpelier
Brattleboro
Bennington
Woodstock
Museums and historic sites
Higher-elevation trails can remain muddy or snow-covered well after valleys turn green.
Respect seasonal trail closures.
Best Vermont Summer Day Trips
Summer is ideal for:
Lake Willoughby
Lake Champlain
Smugglers’ Notch
Green Mountain hikes
Quechee Gorge
Swimming holes
Champlain Islands
Northeast Kingdom
Mountain biking
Long days give you plenty of time.
Just don’t mistake Vermont for mosquito-free paradise.
The mosquitoes have not received that memo.
Best Vermont Winter Day Trips
Winter transforms Vermont.
Try:
Stowe
Jay Peak
Killington
Mad River Valley
Manchester
Woodstock
Cross-country skiing
Snowshoeing
Winter village weekends
Frozen waterfall walks where conditions permit
Mountain roads can become difficult quickly.
Route 108 through Smugglers’ Notch closes through the narrow pass during winter.
Plan routes accordingly.
Vermont Food Day Trips
Vermont road trips should involve eating.
This is not negotiable.
Look for:
Maple syrup
Cheddar cheese
Cider doughnuts
Apple cider
Farmstead cheese
Creemees
Local bakeries
Farm-to-table restaurants
Craft beer
Farm stands
And yes:
It’s called a creemee.
Not soft serve.
At least not while we’re in Vermont.
Vermont Road-Trip Combinations
Try:
Burlington → Shelburne → Lake Champlain
Burlington → Champlain Islands
Stowe → Smugglers’ Notch → Bingham Falls
Stowe → Waterbury → Ben & Jerry’s
Montpelier → Barre → Hope Cemetery
Waitsfield → Warren → Moss Glen Falls
Woodstock → Billings Farm → Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller
Woodstock → Quechee Gorge → VINS
Manchester → Hildene → Mount Equinox
Bennington → Covered Bridges → Manchester
St. Johnsbury → Dog Mountain → Lake Willoughby
Newport → Lake Memphremagog → Northeast Kingdom backroads
Brattleboro → Route 9 → Bennington
Vermont is compact enough that these combinations actually make sense.
Which is refreshing after Texas.
Texas required snacks just to read the map.
Vermont Road-Trip Safety
Vermont adventures come with a few practical considerations.
Watch for:
Winter snow and ice
Mud season
Mountain weather
Slippery waterfalls
Cold water
Ticks
Limited cell service
Wildlife
Seasonal roads
Flood-damaged roads or trails
Rapid weather changes
Fall traffic
Download maps before heading deep into rural areas.
Check road conditions after major storms.
And don’t assume a picturesque dirt road is the shortcut Google promised.
Sometimes it’s a shortcut.
Sometimes it’s how your Vermont adventure becomes considerably more adventurous.
City Unknown Tip
Don’t over-plan Vermont.
Choose one or two major destinations for the day and leave space between them.
Because Vermont’s best surprises rarely announce themselves on an itinerary.
They’re the farm stand you weren’t looking for.
The covered bridge you didn’t know existed.
The mountain overlook that made you pull over.
The tiny bakery where you accidentally spent 40 minutes.
And the backroad that turned out to be considerably more memorable than the attraction you were originally driving toward.
That’s Vermont.
The state may be small.
The detours are not.