Whether seen under blankets of snow, patchworks of blazing fall leaves or even the exuberant greens of spring and summer, Vermont's blend of bucolic farmland, mountains and picturesque small villages make it certainly one of America's most appealing states.
Vermont attracts leaf-peepers to goggle highlights such as the Green Mountains and Champlain Valley because they light up with bright oranges and yellow hues. Leaf-peeping is such a well known activity in the area, Vermont includes a leaf color tracker, an excellent reference for planning.
Here are five destinations to head out to for a truly scenic road trip.
Green Mountain Byway
Following Vermont's Green Mountain spine with the rural heart of the state, the Green Mountain Byway rambles past rolling pastures dotted with cows, covered bridges and white-steepled churches. This scenic drive goes along the famed VT Route 100 and travels onward to Routes 15 and 15A, passing through historical villages and tiny towns with country stores.
It's the quintessential trip for individuals who wish to decelerate and experience Vermont's pastoral essence. On the way, you'll go through six Byway towns including Waterbury, Stowe, Morristown, Johnson, Hyde Park and Cambridge. Each offers historic town centers, local shops and restaurants and multiple places for year-round recreation. This drive is especially popular during leaf-peeping season so expect to drive slowly.
Even if your time is restricted, don't miss the section between Waterbury and Stowe Village. Stop at the Ben & Jerry's Factory for a tour, pop into Cold Hollow Cider Mill for donuts and visit the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum.
The Notch
The Smugglers' Notch Scenic Highway is a small segment from the Green Mountain Byway, filled with dramatic twists and turns. Worth the detour, this of Route 108, affectionately known by locals as "The Notch" (3.5 mi), is only open seasonally for cars from May through October.
This spectacular drive has large boulders and goes through the Mount Mansfield State Forest. With several opportunities along the way to stop for photos, this short journey goes between a couple of Vermont's well-known ski resorts.
Begin just beyond the Stowe Mountain Resort and end at Smugglers' Notch Resort in Cambridge. At just about the halfway mark, stop for hiking the Sterling Pond Trail (2.3 mi), a moderate trek with steep rock stairs and a mountain pond at the very top that's ideal for swimming.
Lincoln Gap Road
The Lincoln Gap (2424 ft) may be the highest mountain pass accessible by cars in Vermont. This steep, curvy road between Lincoln and Warren is closed in the winter months for obvious reasons. However, the summer time is the ideal time for you to make this drive, which allows for a respite at a popular Vermont swimming hole.
Coming from Bristol on VT-116, start your drive by activating Lincoln Gap Road after crossing over the New Haven River. Less than one mile down the road on the right-hand side, make a pitstop at Bristol Falls (also known as Bartlette Falls), having a large waterfall and deep pools ideal for cooling off. This drive ends on VT-100 near the renowned Warren Store, one of Vermont's most famous country stores, which is a great location for lunch.
Camel's Hump
The state's third-highest mountain – is a familiar image to Vermonters: its silhouette is visible around the Vermont state quarter, from suburban Burlington and along I-89. Yet, it remains one of the state's wildest spots, one of the few significant Vermont peaks not developed for skiing.
To arrive here from Burlington, detour south off I-89 at Richmond (between Burlington and Waterbury), take US 2 east to Richmond's main stoplight. Head south on Bridge Street through town, where one can grab food and drinks for the hike at Richmond Market.
Then drive south 10 miles to Huntington Center, where you'll turn left (east) 3 miles, dead-ending in the parking area and trailhead for the 6-mile Burrows – Forest City loop to the summit. After climbing with the forest, the final ascent skirts rock faces above the treeline, affording magnificent views from the Adirondacks and also the Green and White Mountains.
Covered bridges
Vermont has more covered bridges per square mile than any state within the union. Listed here are over favorites in the state:
Northfield Falls (northern Vermont): This small town 8 miles south of Montpelier has a unique claim to fame: three covered bridges in a row! Turn west off VT-12 onto Cox Brook Rd and you'll see Station Bridge, Newell Bridge and Upper Bridge – all inside a few hundred feet of each other.
Montgomery (northern Vermont): This village, that is 9.5 miles from Berkshire, has a whopping seven covered bridges, more than any other town in the state.
Windsor (central Vermont): Spanning the Connecticut River from Windsor, VT, to Cornish, NH, the 449ft Cornish-Windsor Bridge is the longest historical covered bridge in the usa still available to automobile traffic.
Bartonsville (southern Vermont): The initial 19th-century bridge was famously swept away in Hurricane Irene's floodwaters in 2011. However in classic Vermont fashion, locals rallied to have a replica reconstructed. The bridge reopened towards the public in January 2013. It's 7 miles northeast of Grafton on VT-35N.
This article was originally published in September 2022 and updated in September 2022.
