Top 12 Best Places To Go In Vermont

Vermont offers pristine landscapes, charming villages, and outdoor adventures across four distinct seasons. The best places to go in Vermont include Stowe's legendary slopes, Burlington's vibrant waterfront, and Woodstock's picture-perfect village center.

Keep reading as we explore Vermont's most captivating destinations that will transform your New England adventure into unforgettable memories.

1. Stowe: Where Mountains Meet Memory

Stowe sits beneath Mount Mansfield like a postcard that came to life. The village stretches along Route 100, lined with white-steepled churches and maple trees that explode in October fire.

I remember standing at the base of the gondola one September morning, watching fog lift from the valleys below. The mountain revealed itself slowly, like a secret being whispered.

Winter transforms Stowe into Vermont's skiing capital. Summer brings hiking trails that wind through alpine meadows where wildflowers grow thick as carpet.

Quick Facts:

• Peak Season: December-March, September-October
  
• How to Get There: I-89 to Exit 10, then Route 100 north
  
• Entry Fees: From free (village) to resort day passes
  
• Suggested Stay: 2-3 days
  
• Key Areas: Mount Mansfield, Stowe Village, Trapp Family Lodge
  

2. Burlington: Lake Champlain's Crown Jewel

Burlington hugs the eastern shore of Lake Champlain with the confidence of a city that knows its worth. Church Street Marketplace pulses with street musicians and local artisans selling their crafts.

The waterfront stretches for miles, perfect for cycling or walking as ferries glide toward New York's Adirondacks. Locals gather at Oakledge Park for sunset picnics, watching sailboats drift across water that mirrors the sky.

Quick Facts:

• Peak Season: May-October
  
• How to Get There: I-89 to Exit 14W
  
• Entry Fees: Free (most attractions)
  
• Suggested Stay: 2-4 days
  
• Key Areas: Church Street, Waterfront Park, University of Vermont campus
  

3. Woodstock: New England Perfection

Woodstock arranged itself around its village green like actors taking their marks. Federal and Victorian homes line elm-shaded streets, their gardens bursting with hollyhocks and climbing roses.

The covered bridge on Middle Covered Bridge Road spans the Ottauquechee River, framing mountain views that painters spend lifetimes trying to capture. Walk the streets early morning when mist still clings to the hills.

Quick Facts:

• Peak Season: September-October, December-February
  
• How to Get There: I-89 to Route 4 west
  
• Entry Fees: Free (village exploration)
  
• Suggested Stay: 1-2 days
  
• Key Areas: Village Green, Billings Farm, Mount Tom
  

4. Manchester: Outlet Shopping Meets Mountain Air

Manchester spreads across the Battenkill Valley beneath the shoulders of Mount Equinox. Designer outlets line Historic Route 7A, but the real treasure lies in the surrounding mountains.

The Equinox Skyline Drive spirals up 3,848 feet, revealing valley views that stretch into three states. Hildene, Robert Todd Lincoln's estate, sits on a hillside where formal gardens cascade toward the valley floor.

Quick Facts:

• Peak Season: June-October
  
• How to Get There: Route 7 or Historic Route 7A
  
• Entry Fees: From free (shopping) to attraction fees
  
• Suggested Stay: 2-3 days
  
• Key Areas: Depot Street, Hildene, Mount Equinox
  

5. Killington: Four-Season Adventure Hub

Killington sprawls across six peaks, creating Vermont's largest ski area. But summer transforms these slopes into mountain bike trails and hiking paths that climb through dense hardwood forests.

The K-1 Lodge sits at 4,241 feet, accessible by gondola even when snow melts. From here, the Green Mountains roll away like green waves frozen at their peak.

Quick Facts:

• Peak Season: December-March, July-September
  
• How to Get There: Route 4 to Killington Road
  
• Entry Fees: From resort day passes
  
• Suggested Stay: 2-4 days
  
• Key Areas: Killington Peak, Pico Mountain, Route 4 corridor
  

6. Montpelier: Small Capital, Big Character

Montpelier earned the title of America's smallest state capital, but size never measured character. The gold dome of the State House catches morning light like a beacon above the Winooski River.

Downtown fits into six walkable blocks where local cafes serve maple lattes and bookstores occupy converted Victorian houses. The farmers market on Saturdays brings the surrounding valleys into the city center.

Quick Facts:

• Peak Season: May-October
  
• How to Get There: I-89 to Exit 8
  
• Entry Fees: Free (most areas)
  
• Suggested Stay: 1-2 days
  
• Key Areas: State House, Downtown, Hubbard Park
  

7. Shelburne: Museum and Lake Country

Shelburne stretches along Lake Champlain's eastern shore, home to one of New England's most eclectic museums. The Shelburne Museum preserves everything from Impressionist paintings to a restored Lake Champlain steamboat.

Shelburne Farms occupies 1,400 acres of rolling pastures where Brown Swiss cows graze against backdrops of lake and mountain. The farm store sells cheese made from milk produced steps away.

Quick Facts:

• Peak Season: May-October
  
• How to Get There: Route 7 south from Burlington
  
• Entry Fees: From museum admission
  
• Suggested Stay: 1-2 days
  
• Key Areas: Shelburne Museum, Shelburne Farms, Lake Champlain shoreline
  

8. Quechee: Gorge and Village Charm

Quechee centers around Vermont's deepest gorge, where the Ottauquechee River carved a 165-foot chasm through solid rock. The Route 4 bridge offers the classic view, but hiking trails descend to the river level.

The village clusters around Quechee Lakes, where golf courses roll between forest and water. Simon Pearce's glassblowing workshop sits beside the covered bridge, where artisans create pieces while the river thunders below.

Quick Facts:

• Peak Season: May-October
  
• How to Get There: I-89 to Route 4 west
  
• Entry Fees: Free (gorge viewing)
  
• Suggested Stay: 1-2 days
  
• Key Areas: Quechee Gorge, Simon Pearce, Quechee Lakes
  

9. Grafton: Village Frozen in Time

Grafton arranged itself around a village common so perfect it seems almost rehearsed. White clapboard houses face the green where sheep graze beneath towering maples.

The Old Tavern has welcomed guests since 1801, its wide front porch lined with rocking chairs that overlook the common. Walk the village at dusk when golden light filters through ancient elms.

Quick Facts:

• Peak Season: September-October, December-March
  
• How to Get There: Route 35 from Route 11
  
• Entry Fees: Free (village exploration)
  
• Suggested Stay: 1-2 days
  
• Key Areas: Village Common, Old Tavern, Grafton Village Cheese Company
  

10. Green Mountains: Vermont's Backbone

The Green Mountains run north to south like Vermont's spine, creating the landscape that defines the state. Mount Mansfield stands tallest at 4,393 feet, its ridgeline resembling a sleeping giant's profile.

The Long Trail follows the mountain crest for 272 miles, passing through wilderness where black bears pad through beech forests and moose wade in hidden ponds. Day hikers can access sections from multiple trailheads.

Quick Facts:

• Peak Season: June-October
  
• How to Get There: Multiple access points via Routes 4, 100, 108
  
• Entry Fees: Free (most trail access)
  
• Suggested Stay: 3-5 days for extensive hiking
  
• Key Areas: Mount Mansfield, Camel's Hump, Stratton Mountain
  

11. Lake Champlain: Vermont's Great Lake

Lake Champlain stretches 120 miles between Vermont and New York, creating an inland sea surrounded by mountains. The lake's 587 square miles support sailing, fishing, and swimming during Vermont's brief but brilliant summers.

Ferry crossings connect Vermont to New York, each route offering different perspectives of the Adirondacks rising from the western shore. Islands dot the northern reaches, accessible by boat and perfect for camping under star-filled skies.

Quick Facts:

• Peak Season: May-September
  
• How to Get There: Multiple access points along Route 7
  
• Entry Fees: Free (most public access)
  
• Suggested Stay: 2-4 days
  
• Key Areas: Burlington waterfront, Shelburne Bay, Lake Champlain Islands
  

12. Mad River Valley: Skiing and Sugaring

The Mad River Valley cradles two legendary ski areas—Sugarbush and Mad River Glen—between mountain walls that rise like amphitheater seats. The valley maintains its agricultural heritage with working farms scattered between the slopes.

During mud season, maple syrup producers fire their evaporators around the clock, filling the valley with sweet steam. The covered bridge in Waitsfield spans the Mad River, connecting villages that time seems to have overlooked.

Quick Facts:

• Peak Season: December-March, September-October
  
• How to Get There: Route 100 through Waitsfield and Warren
  
• Entry Fees: From ski area day passes
  
• Suggested Stay: 2-4 days
  
• Key Areas: Sugarbush, Mad River Glen, Waitsfield village
  

Vermont rewards those who seek authenticity over convenience. These best places to go in Vermont offer experiences that settle into memory like morning mist in mountain valleys.

Pack layers for changeable weather. Bring your camera but don't forget to look up from the viewfinder.

The mountains are calling. Your Vermont adventure begins the moment you answer.