5 road trips for crisscrossing all of Vermont

19.12.2024 - 15:09 / lonelyplanet.com

Dec 18, 2024 • 6 min read

The state of Vermont seems designed for road trips.

More than 1300 named mountains dominate this rural place, and motorists quickly find themselves winding through valleys and passes, forests and small towns – an endless cycle of beautiful vistas. In some ways, the state feels big and open; backcountry Vermonters think nothing of driving 30 minutes for a gallon of milk. On the other hand, you’re never too far from a crossroads or country store.

Area-wise, Vermont is the sixth-smallest state in the USA – yet it manages to pack in 14,200 miles (22.853km) of roads, half of them unpaved. The National Scenic Byway Foundation has designated 10 official routes around the state, and creative travelers can mix and match segments in near-infinite ways. Vermont is a place famous for its seasonal changes, and any given drive will feel very different in snowy winter, verdant summer or foliage-soaked fall, only adding to the possibilities.

While the routes below are designed to be traveled by car, byways are popular cycling routes as well, and you’ll find hundreds of footpaths, cross-country ski trails and well-used fishing spots along the way.

Here are seven outstanding road trips through Vermont, each a dramatic combination of scenery, heritage and roadside attractions.

Best for exploring Vermont’s heartland
Middlebury–Burlington; 44 miles

The first European to encounter this land, 17th-century French explorer Samuel de Champlain was the source of the name “Vermont” (“green mountain”). Champlain also lends his name to the famous lake – a 490-square-mile playground for sailing and angling – and the so-called Champlain Valley forms the vast basin between the Green Mountains and New York’s mighty Adirondacks. This is Vermont’s most populous region, a checkerboard of orchards, dairy farms and historic mill towns.

Start in the sporty college town of Middlebury, where old brick buildings crowd around Otter Creek’s majestic waterfall. Head west to Rte 22A, then drive over rolling hills to the revitalized city of Vergennes, home of the lovely Vergennes Opera House. Here, 22A merges into Rte 7, which takes you north to quirky Burlington, Vermont’s urban heart. On the way, visit the sprawling Shelburne Museum; create a cuddly friend at the Vermont Teddy Bear Factory; or learn about local boatmen – and step aboard antique watercraft – at the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum.

Best for dramatic views
Route 7a, near Sunderland–summit of Mt Equinox; 5.2 miles

Expect your ears to pop: Skyline Drive isn’t very long as the crow flies, but the road takes drivers to the top of Equinox Mountain, climbing an impressive 3248ft (990m) in just over 5 miles (8km). Designed to trace Equinox’ spine and maximize the views,