Much of the brilliant red, orange, and gold color is from native sugar maples, which are abundant in Vermont (the flip side of fall foliage is the sugaring season in late winter, when maple sap begins to flow). Plan ahead to see fall foliage in Vermont, because people from around the world flock here. Best option: reserve lodgings in a mountain resort or sweet inn for a romantic getaway and stay awhile.
The route travels north-to-south between the towns of Wilmington and Waterbury, VT through the center of the state. Route 100 – sometimes called “Vermont’s Main Street” – skirts the Green Mountains and offers picturesque views of valleys, farms & old barns, and sweet towns. It also passes many state and local parks, along with Mount Snow, Stratton, Okemo, Killington and Sugarbush ski areas. Lots of activities, including walking, mountain biking, and enjoyment of foliage, happen at ski areas during no-snow seasons. Waterbury, the northernmost town on this drive, is one of many VT towns with a historically significant downtown.
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The Vermont towns of Manchester and Bennington are cherished for their classic New England beauty structures, and for their fine museums, dining and shopping. This drive also dips into northwestern Massachusetts to visit the delightful town of Williamstown. Take all or a part of the drive, which includes a very outdoorsy side trip to the pristine Somerset Reservoir. This drive has lots of digressions for dining and wining. Choose and enjoy! Route Map
This loop drives starts and ends at the bustling, hippie-period-redux town of Brattleboro, VT, with lots of good dining, fun shops, and a circus school, and travels on and around Route 9, also called the Molly Stark Byway. The drive passes through the Mount Snow ski area, which offers scenic chair life rides on the Bluebird Express daily during foliage season. You will pass through delightful towns like Newfane and Whitingham, VT, and the views all along the way are guaranteed to be spectacular if the weather cooperates. Route Map
This drive is actually two intersecting loops, forming a figure eight, so you can shorten or lengthen the entire drive as you see fit. The loops travel around Lake Bomoseen, Birdseye Mountain, and Lake St. Catherine. A neat side trip takes you to Proctor, where you can learn about and marvel at the state’s historic marble quarrying industry. Also, tour a real castle! Route Map
This loop is a large north-south oval in east-central Vermont, starting and ending in the beautiful town of Woodstock, VT and passing through Killington Ski Area. A small side trip takes you to the dramatic Quechee Gorge, also known as Vermont’s "Little Grand Canyon", with fun souvenir shopping right nearby. You can shorten the drive easily by doing only pieces of the loop. Route Map
Ski areas don’t limit their activities to the snow seasons. At Killington Resort you can enjoy great vistas with bright foliage, plus great dining and shopping. Come up for one of the many fall outdoor activities including mountain biking, camping, golfing, or great events including mountain sports competitions, the Brewfest and Harvest Faire.
One of the highlights of the mountain in fall is the awesome scenic gondola ride, which puts you above the treetops on a ride to the mountain summit at 4,241 feet. It's a view the whole family will remember.
This route meanders through the Green Mountain National Forest and skims Lake Dunmore, passing through the towns of Middlebury, Ripton, Lincoln, Jerusalem, Irasville, Granville, Hancock, Goshen, Brandon, Leicester, and Salisbury, VT, before returning to Middlebury. Route Map
The centerpiece of this beautiful drive is the long, north-south string of the Lake Champlain Islands, where almost every twist and turn of the roads towns reveals both countryside views and vistas across the lake and out toward distant mountains. A unique and impressive mix. Route Map
Discover the serene and inviting Stone Hill Inn, a picturesque retreat set on 9.5 wooded acres near Stowe, VT. Each finely appointed guest room features a fireplace, a two-person whirlpool tub, and direct access to the Inn’s lush gardens. Indulge in a three-course breakfast in the sunny dining room or relax next to the fireplace in the cozy game room.
The Inn is just minutes from the charming village of Stowe, which is home to crafts, foods, wines, and more. Massage treatments and outings like micro-brewery tours and scenic hikes are sure to enhance your fall experience. Plan your visit and see why Stone Hill Inn is consistently ranked among New England's most romantic destinations.
Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom is a paradise for people who love outdoor summer and winter sports. The major towns are St. Johnsbury and Newport, VT. The region is also home to Jay Peak - a wonderful ski resort with a huge indoor water park for year-round family fun. Route Map
Newport, Vermont has it all: deep lakes, majestic mountains, a vibrant downtown, and year-round fun. This September 27-28, attend Discover Newport VT's Downstreet Business Expo to experience the beauty and opportunity that Newport has to offer. Explore the outdoors and fall in love with the independently owned shops, local breweries (and a cidery!), and regional cuisines. Tour thriving businesses in the heart of Newport’s downtown district and hear about the specific resources available to businesses that make Newport their home. Pop in and out of the stores along Newport's walkable downtown, enjoy live music, and celebrate the arrival of fall at the Newport Fall Festival.
This drive starts & ends at Stowe, VT, where you board a gondola and see the foliage from above as you warm up the seat for wintertime skiers. Nearby are two waterfalls, where adventurous people may hike, take photos or have a picnic. The drive also passes one of the state's parks with a beautiful mountain lake. Prepare for classic images of Vermont’s Green Mountains.
Also, a quick, 6-mile side-trip down Route 100, directly south of Stowe like a tail on this drive loop, is Waterbury Center, VT, a sweet place, partly because of the presence of Cold Hollow Cider Mill. Route Map
* Our thanks to the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing.
