Vermont
Vermont is a small New England state known for hiking, skiing, mountain towns and maple sugaring. Fall foliage peaks in late September and early October.
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Vermont is a small state in northern New England, bordered by New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and the Canadian province of Quebec. The Green Mountains run north to south through the middle, and most residents live in small towns and farm country rather than cities. Burlington, the largest city, sits on the shore of Lake Champlain.
Fall foliage usually peaks in late September and early October, when the hills turn red and gold. Winter brings skiing and snowboarding across the Green Mountains. From late winter into spring, sugarhouses boil sap into syrup. The state is also known for cheese, craft beer and Ben & Jerry's, which started in Burlington. Road trips, hikes and slow weekends suit it well. Plan at least three or four days for one or two regions, or a week to cover the Champlain Valley, the Green Mountains and the Northeast Kingdom. Fall is the busiest season, so book lodging early for those weeks.
Vermont in five
- Rent a car for anywhere beyond BurlingtonBurlington has city buses, but most villages, state parks and trailheads outside the city need a car. Pick up the rental at the airport or in town before you head into the hills.Getting around
- Download offline maps before you leave townPhone signal drops out on many back roads and mountain passes. Save the area's maps in your map app while you still have coverage.Phones and eSIM
- Book fall foliage beds as soon as you set datesPeak leaf weeks in late September and October fill inns and lodges across the state. Stowe, Woodstock and Manchester are popular bases, so they fill early.Where to stay
- Check Vermont 511 before winter drivesVermont 511 posts road closures and winter driving conditions. Check it before any mountain road drive between November and April.
- Time a sugarhouse visit for March and AprilSugarhouses boil maple sap in late winter and early spring. Buy syrup at the sugarhouse, where it is made.
Neighborhoods
Burlington
- Price band: $$
Stowe
- Price band: $$$
Woodstock
- Price band: $$$
Things to do in Vermont
See all attractions in Vermont
Need to know
- Currency
- US dollar (USD)
- Entry
- ESTA for Visa Waiver visitors; visa for everyone else Read more
- Emergency
- 911 police, fire and ambulance
- Tipping
- Expected at restaurants, usually 15 to 20%
- Time
- UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer (Eastern Time with daylight saving)
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuarySnow, skiing
- FebruaryCold, skiing
- MarchMud season
- AprilMud, sugaring
- MayGreen, mild
- JuneLong days
- JulyWarm, busy
- AugustWarm, lakeside
- SeptemberFoliage starts
- OctoberPeak foliage
- NovemberQuiet, bare
- DecemberEarly snow
Right now in Vermont
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
14
- Feels like
- 12°
- Humidity
- 60%
- Wind
- 5 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 2%
Vermont
07:04 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today19°4°2%Monday: Cloudy. High 19°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Tue15°9°44%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 15°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 44%.
- Wed21°10°5%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 21°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 5%.
- Thu17°10°55%Thursday: Drizzle. High 17°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 55%.
- Fri18°10°55%Friday: Drizzle. High 18°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 55%.
- Sat11°3°55%Saturday: Drizzle. High 11°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 55%.
- Sun8°2°49%Sunday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 49%.
Updated 04:24 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Montpelierabout 40 to 50 min by carVermont's state capital, the smallest in the US, with a walkable downtown.
- Waterburyabout 40 min by carHome of the Ben & Jerry's factory tour, with a short drive into the hills.
- Stoweabout 1 hour by carMount Mansfield, hiking trails and village inns for an overnight or a long day.
- Shelburne Farmsabout 20 min by carA working farm on the lake, a short drive south of Burlington.
Before you go to Vermont
Rules for Vermont, checked
- Visitors from countries outside the Visa Waiver Program need a US visa. Check the US Department of State travel site before you fly.Source
- Declare fresh food, plants and animal products on your CBP form, and check the CBP travel page before you carry them into another country.Source
- Anglers in Vermont need a state fishing license. Check Vermont Fish & Wildlife's rules before you fish Lake Champlain or the rivers.
Plan around Vermont
Lake Champlain waterfront, Church Street and the bike path.
Read the guideAll of the USAOther US states, national rules and where to go next.
Read the guideGetting around VermontRenting a car and riding the Burlington buses.
Read the guideVisas and entryESTA, visa rules and what to have ready at the border.
Read the guideMoney and costsCards, tipping and what a day costs in Burlington.
Read the guideWhere to stayBurlington, Stowe, Woodstock and Manchester as bases.
Read the guideVermont FAQ
Is Vermont worth visiting?
Yes, for a few days of lake time, hiking and small towns. Burlington, the Green Mountains and the fall foliage are the main reasons to go.
How many days do you need in Vermont?
Three to four days covers Burlington, one mountain town and a day trip to Montpelier or Waterbury. A week lets you cross the Green Mountains at a slow pace.
When is the best time to visit Vermont?
September and October for leaf color, and June for long days and green hills. Mud season in March and April is the quietest and muddiest time to go.
Should I base myself in Burlington or in the mountains?
Burlington for food, the lake and a first night without a car. Stowe or Manchester suit skiing and hiking, and you will need a car for either.
Can you visit Vermont in winter?
Yes. Ski resorts run through the winter and Burlington stays open, but mountain roads can close, so check Vermont 511 before you drive.