Vermont · the United States

Stowe and Burlington

Northern Vermont: Burlington on the shore of Lake Champlain, with its pedestrian street and sunsets over the Adirondacks, and Stowe at the foot of Mount Mansfield, offering skiing and autumn color.

New England

In the photo: Stowe and the Green Mountains in winter

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

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Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

Burlington is Vermont’s largest city but feels like a small town: it slopes down to Lake Champlain, a freshwater body about 190 km long between Vermont, New York State and Quebec. Church Street, a four-block pedestrian street, is the heart of downtown, and the waterfront has parks, a lake science center and a bike path that extends over the water on an old rail causeway. Across the lake, the sun sets behind the Adirondack Mountains.

South of the city, in Shelburne, are two Webb family–linked sites: the Shelburne Museum, with dozens of historic buildings and a steamboat, and Shelburne Farms, a 19th-century model farm that still produces cheese on the lakeshore.

Stowe is about an hour east, at the foot of Mount Mansfield, Vermont’s highest point. The village has a white church with a slim steeple, wooden houses and a riverside bike path. Skiing arrived early: the first slopes opened in the 1930s, and in autumn the maple-covered slopes turn red and yellow.

Between Stowe and the north, the narrow Smugglers' Notch gorge cuts between rock walls. The region is rural, with dairy farms, maple syrup producers and wooden covered bridges on the back roads.

This destination brings together 2 cities: Burlington, Stowe.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Stowe and Burlington is

Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau / geoBoundaries (public domain). Adapted by Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Stowe and Burlington

✈ Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport (BTV), in South Burlington · 5 km to Burlington

Burlington Airport (BTV) is about 5 km from downtown. The Ethan Allen Express train connects New York to Burlington station, and the Vermonter stops in Waterbury, near Stowe. By car, Stowe is roughly 55 km from Burlington via I-89.

Suggested arrival point: Burlington

Vermont · Stowe and Burlington Suggested arrival point

Burlington

Vermont’s largest city, on the east shore of Lake Champlain, home to the University of Vermont. Downtown centers on the Church Street Marketplace, a pedestrian street with shops, cafés and street performers. The hill slopes down to the waterfront, with Waterfront Park, the ECHO science center and a lakeside bike path. South in Shelburne are the Shelburne Museum and Shelburne Farms. Watching the sunset over the Adirondacks across the lake is a city highlight.

Vermont · Stowe and Burlington

Stowe

Mountain village at the foot of Mount Mansfield, Vermont’s highest point, known for skiing since the 1930s and for its fall colors. The center has a white church with a thin steeple, shops and inns in wooden houses. Mountain Road climbs the valley to the Mansfield ski runs and continues to the Smugglers' Notch gorge. An 8.5 km bike path follows the river through the valley.

The local experience

Things to do in Stowe and Burlington

Burlington · Vermont · Pedestrian street

Church Street Marketplace

A four-block pedestrian street in downtown Burlington, with shops, cafés, outdoor seating and street performers, among 19th-century buildings and the church that gives the street its name.

Stowe · Vermont · Mountain

Mount Mansfield

Vermont’s highest point, at 1,339 meters, whose ridge resembles a profile of a face. At the top there is an area of alpine tundra; the east slope is the Stowe ski area.

Stowe · Vermont · Gorge

Smugglers' Notch

A narrow gorge between Mount Mansfield and Spruce Peak, where Route 108 winds through tight curves among large rock slabs. The road closes in winter.

Burlington · Vermont · Park

Waterfront Park

Burlington’s waterfront park, with lawns, a boardwalk over Lake Champlain, the ECHO science center and the bike path that follows the shore and runs out onto the lake on an old rail causeway.

See 3 more places in Stowe and Burlington

Burlington · Vermont · Museum

Shelburne Museum

An open-air museum in Shelburne with about 40 buildings, many moved from elsewhere: a 1906 steam-driven paddleboat, a covered bridge, a round barn and collections of quilts, decoys and impressionist paintings.

Stowe · Vermont · Cycling route

Stowe Recreation Path

An 8.5 km bike-and-walk path that starts at the village church and follows the river through the valley, with 20 bridges and views of Mount Mansfield.

Burlington · Vermont · Historic farm

Shelburne Farms

A model farm from the late 19th century on the shore of Lake Champlain, with a landscape designed by the office of Frederick Law Olmsted, monumental barns, dairy cattle and cheddar cheese production.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

Fall peak foliage usually occurs between late September and mid-October, starting first in the mountains. Summer, from June through August, has days between 22 °C and 28 °C, good for the lake and the trails. From December to March, snow ensures skiing in Stowe; April and early May are thaw and mud season.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Three days allow one day in Burlington, one in Shelburne and one in Stowe. In autumn or ski season, it’s worth staying an extra day or two in Stowe.

Which city to stay in

In Burlington, downtown between Church Street and the waterfront is walkable and close to the train station. South Burlington, near the airport, has more roadside hotels. In Stowe, the village has inns and restaurants within walking distance; along Mountain Road, the road up Mount Mansfield, are hotels and lodges closer to the ski slopes. Waterbury, to the south, is near the train station.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Stowe and Burlington

How many days to plan for Burlington and Stowe?

Three days to see Burlington, Shelburne and Stowe. For skiing or touring the fall roads, four or five days.

Do you need a car to visit Stowe and Burlington?

In Burlington, no: you can walk from Church Street to the lake. For Shelburne, Stowe and the rural roads, a car is the most practical option; there are buses between towns but with limited schedules. In the United States, drive on the right.

When do the leaves change color in Vermont?

Peak colors typically fall between late September and mid-October, first in the mountains and later in the valleys and lake shore. The timing varies each year; follow the state’s foliage reports.

Can you take a train from New York to Burlington?

Yes. The Ethan Allen Express departs from Penn Station in New York, passes Albany and reaches Burlington in about seven and a half hours. Check schedules.

What time zone is Vermont in?

Vermont follows Eastern Time: UTC−5 in winter and UTC−4 during daylight saving time, from March to November.

What documents are required to visit Vermont?

U.S. entry rules vary by nationality and travel document: some travelers are visa-exempt with electronic authorization and others need a visa. Requirements can change: confirm before you travel.

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Stowe and Burlington

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.