Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no extra cost for you!
Are you after a ready-made itinerary for driving Vermont from top to bottom? You’ve come to the perfect place!
I absolutely love Vermont and there are so many things to see and do!
This route takes you from Burlington in the north all the way down to the small town of Brattleboro in the south.
Along the way, you’ll discover everything Vermont is famous for. Mountain towns, waterfalls, ice cream, scenic drives, maple syrup… there is a bit of everything!
Here’s the complete Vermont road trip itinerary.
🚗 Good to know: This is a one-way route from north to south, so a car is essential and you’ll want around 5 to 8 days. You can also do the same loop the other way round, especially if you are driving from Connecticut or New York.
If you don’t have a car, I recommend using Discover Cars to find the best deals on rentals.
🌆 Stop 1: Burlington
Begin in Burlington, the biggest city in Vermont and, since it’s home to the main airport, most likely where you’ll arrive anyway.
First, head to the Waterfront Park on Lake Champlain. There’s a short boardwalk to wander, and the views across the water to the Adirondacks are stunning.
You’ll also find ECHO, the Leahy Center for Lake Champlain which is a fun interactive science and nature center (with a model of Champ, the lake’s legendary monster). It’s a great place to visit, especially if you are traveling with kids.
Then head up to Church Street, a pedestrian street lined with shops, cafes and restaurants. It’s a lovely place to browse and grab lunch.
🧀 Stop 2: Shelburne
🚗 Driving time: 15 min (8 mi)
Next, head to Shelburne which is only 15 minutes drive from Burlington. There are quite a few things to do here so it all depends on what you like.
The big one is Shelburne Farms, a 1,400-acre working farm right on Lake Champlain, with walking trails, animals to meet and its famous cheddar to buy.
Next door, the Shelburne Museum is a huge “collection of collections,” with everything from folk art to a whole 220-foot steamboat on dry land.
Before you move on, stop for a tasting at the Shelburne Vineyard, or a pint at Fiddlehead Brewing next door.
And if you have little ones, the Vermont Teddy Bear Factory here runs fun tours (though I’m saying that but I’m an adult and I really enjoyed them even without kids!)
🐴 Stop 3: Middlebury
🚗 Driving time: 45 min (30 mi)
Keep driving to Middlebury, a lovely small town built around Middlebury College.
It’s a pleasant town to walk around as the church is very pretty (it’s a classic white New England church).
You can get very nice photos of it from the bridge on Main Street. That’s also where you’ll find Otter Creek Falls.
Take some time to go inside the independent shops and cafes (there are some great antiques there!), and pop into the Middlebury College Museum of Art, which is free.
Just outside town, the UVM Morgan Horse Farm is also an interesting stop if you love horses.
🏘️ Stop 4: Bristol
🚗 Driving time: 20 min (13 mi)
Next, make a little detour to Bristol, a lovely small town on the New Haven River. I know you usually don’t find this one in many travel guides but it is one of my favorite small towns in the whole of the US so I had to add it!
It has a really cute, walkable downtown with independent shops and cafes set around a classic village green.
I love the shops here because they are not touristy and you can find some real gems! For jewelry, I would recommend Island Girl Jewelry. They have really nice things and it’s not that expensive.
On a warm day head to Bartlett Falls, a beautiful swimming hole just outside town on the New Haven River.
It’s a local favorite for a dip, with a wide waterfall and a pool, so bring your swimsuit.
🌉 Stop 5: Waitsfield
🚗 Driving time: 40 min (25 mi)
Head over the scenic Appalachian Gap into the gorgeous Mad River Valley and join Route 100 in Waitsfield.
Route 100 is the most famous road in Vermont and it’s particularly beautiful during the fall foliage.
Waitsfield is a classic Vermont village, home to one of the oldest operating covered bridges in Vermont (Historic Waitsfield Covered Bridge), plus some shops, galleries and farm stands to browse.
Make sure to grab a creemee from the Canteen Creemee Company, and if you’re hungry, the Mad Taco is a great spot for lunch.
🍦 Stop 6: Waterbury
🚗 Driving time: 30 min (20 mi)
Keep following Route 100 north until you get to Waterbury, which is home to two Vermont icons.
First is the Ben & Jerry’s Factory. You can stop and get an ice cream or merch from the shop but I would highly recommend taking the tour. It’s only $6, you get to see how the ice cream is made and taste the flavor of the day.
Also, don’t miss the quirky Flavor Graveyard. It’s just outside the playground and it’s quite a unique sight.
Then head a few minutes up the road to Cold Hollow Cider Mill for a bag of warm apple cider donuts and a taste of the fresh cider. This is simply a must do while in Vermont!
This specific cider mill produces one of the best ciders in Vermont. You’ll find it everywhere in shops but obviously it’s always better when you get it from the producer.
In the fall, make sure to get a warm apple cider with your donut. In summer, opt for a dreamee (which is a creamee inside an apple cider donut).
⛪ Stop 7: Stowe
🚗 Driving time: 20 min (12 mi)
From the cider mill, keep driving until you reach Stowe, one of the best small towns in Vermont.
There are many things to do around this area so I would highly recommend spending at least 2 days here.
Firstly, you should explore the town itself. You can park behind the church and walk along Main Street. Pop into the old-fashioned stores like Shaw’s General Store and Stowe Mercantile.
You’ll also find the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum and the ‘Welcome to Stowe’ mural.
Make sure to go to the viewpoint to see the white Stowe Community Church against the mountains, and if you have time, hire a bike and ride the lovely Stowe Recreation Path.
🎼 Stop 8: von Trapp Family Lodge
🚗 Driving time: 5 min (2 mi)
Just outside Stowe, visit the von Trapp Family Lodge.
It’s an Austrian-style estate that was built by the family from ‘the Sound of Music’ (and they still own it!).
It really does look like a slice of Austria, and there are walking trails all over the grounds.
Say hi to the highland cows in the field by the café, and stop at the von Trapp Bierhall for an Austrian-style lager.
💧 Stop 9: Bingham Falls
🚗 Driving time: 10 min (5 mi)
Once you’re done at the lodge, start driving towards the Stowe Mountain Resort and stop on the laybys to go to Bingham Falls.
The trail heads down through the forest to the falls and a gorge, where you can scramble over the rocks or even take a dip in the natural pool.
Wear good walking shoes, as it can get slippery near the falls.
🚡 Stop 10: Stowe Mountain Resort
🚗 Driving time: 5 min (3 mi)
Go back to your car and keep driving to Stowe Mountain Resort.
If you’re visiting between mid-June and mid-October, ride the SkyGondola up Mount Mansfield, the highest peak in Vermont, for the views from the top.
It’s especially spectacular during the fall foliage.
Alternatively, you can drive up to Mount Mansfield. It’s a scenic drive and the views are beautiful but please note that it’s a toll road.
🏔️ Stop 11: Smugglers’ Notch Drive
🚗 Driving time: 10 min (5 mi)
Just past the resort, drive Smugglers’ Notch (Route 108), a narrow mountain pass squeezed between huge boulders and cliffs.
It’s one of the best drives in New England, and magical in the fall. Just note the road is narrow and closes in winter, so it’s a warmer-months drive only.
Once you get to Jeffersonville, you have two options, either you drive back the way you came (very scenic but you’ve already seen it) or complete the loop back to Stowe via Johnson and Hyde Park (less scenic but different).
🏛️ Stop 12: Montpelier
🚗 Driving time: 45 min (30 mi)
Next, head to Montpelier, the state capital of Vermont and such a cute New England town.
Head first to the State House to see the gold dome, and take a free tour inside to learn about Vermont’s history and politics. It’s very interesting.
Then wander the downtown, which is full of vintage shops, bars and cafes. There are several churches and bridges which really give a lot of charm.
If you fancy a walk, hike up through Hubbard Park to the stone observation tower for lovely views over the city and the mountains.
🏞️ Stop 13: Quechee Gorge
🚗 Driving time: 1 hr 10 (60 mi)
Next, drive to Quechee Gorge, “Vermont’s Little Grand Canyon” and the deepest gorge in the state at around 165 feet.
You can park next to the visitor center and then choose between two options.
The quick option is to walk to the bridge on Route 4 and take in the views from there.
The second option is to walk down the trail and go for a hike.
While you’re here, you can also stop at the Simon Pearce mill, where you can watch the glassblowers at work and have lunch in the restaurant right over the river.
Bonus: At this point you’ll be very close to Hanover, just over the border in New Hampshire. It’s not really on a Vermont itinerary, but it’s a lovely town and home to Dartmouth College, so it’s worth the detour to be honest.
📸 Stop 14: Woodstock
🚗 Driving time: 10 min (7 mi)
Once you’re done at Quechee Gorge (or Hanover), head to Woodstock, one of the prettiest towns in Vermont.
Park near the green and walk over to the Middle Covered Bridge, then browse the independent shops along Central Street and grab a maple creemee.
There are lots of good places to eat here too (like the Mont Vert Café), and just outside the center, the Billings Farm & Museum is a working dairy farm and museum that’s well worth a visit.
⛷️ Stop 15: Ludlow
🚗 Driving time: 40 min (28 mi)
Rejoin Route 100 heading south to Ludlow.
It’s a town built around Okemo Mountain Resort.
It has a small, walkable downtown with shops and places to eat, so it’s a nice spot to stretch your legs.
On a warm day, nearby Buttermilk Falls is a lovely spot.
You can also go to the Okemo Mountain Resort and try any of their outdoor activities (there is loads to do!).
🛍️ Stop 16: Manchester
🚗 Driving time: 50 min (35 mi)
Keep driving until you reach Manchester.
Start in Manchester Center and walk up and down Main Street. There are a few cute shops here including Northshire Bookstore, one of the best independent bookshops in New England.
There are also a lot of designer outlets in Manchester so if you fancy some shopping, that’s a good place to do so.
Apart from this, the main attraction is Hildene.
It was built by Abraham Lincoln’s son and features a manor, formal gardens, walking trails and a working farm.
Fishing fans can also visit the American Museum of Fly Fishing.
🧀 Stop 17: Grafton
🚗 Driving time: 45 min (30 mi)
Take a detour to tiny, storybook Grafton, one of the best-preserved villages in the state.
Wander the village to admire the white clapboard buildings, the historic Grafton Inn (my favorite inn in Vermont), the village store, and pick up some cheese at Grafton Village Cheese, made here since 1892.
There is also a nice wooden covered bridge here.
It’s a lovely, quiet place to slow down before the final stop.
🎭 Stop 18: Brattleboro
🚗 Driving time: 40 min (28 mi)
Finish your road trip in Brattleboro in South Vermont.
It’s an artsy, slightly bohemian town with great vintage and independent shops. I found a beautiful vintage dress here.
Pop into the galleries, and catch a film or show at the Art Deco Latchis Theatre.
If you’re there on a Saturday, the Brattleboro Farmers Market is well worth a visit, and just outside town, Retreat Farm has trails, farm animals and a food market.
Keep an eye out for the Creamery Covered Bridge (built in 1879) just off Route 9.
It’s the perfect note to end your Vermont journey on.
🗺️ Map of this Vermont Road Trip Itinerary
💡 A few practical tips
- This is a one-way route, so plan your car hire and drop-off accordingly.
- Much of it follows the scenic Route 100, which is spectacular in the fall.
- Wear proper shoes for the waterfall hikes, and check that the Gondola Skyride and Smugglers’ Notch are open.
- Book your accommodation in advance, especially if you are visiting in October.
🔗 You May Also Be Interested In:
