10 Best Vermont Fall Foliage Road Trips in 2025

There’s quite a few ways to do Vermont fall foliage road trips and in this post you’ll learn about some of the best options! When October hits, this state turns into a dreamscape of fiery reds, golden yellows, and deep oranges blanketing the Green Mountains and surrounding valleys. Each winding road, hidden lake, and elevated peak becomes a front-row seat to one of nature’s most dazzling displays. Whether you’re looking to hike to a mountaintop, paddle across a reflective lake, or take a scenic drive through a narrow mountain pass, Vermont offers an unforgettable autumn experience.

In this guide, you’ll discover the best places to see fall foliage across the state, complete with tips on when to go, a road trip guide and itinerary on top of that, what to do in each location, and how to make the most of your journey through Vermont’s most colorful season.

Lake Willoughby:

Lake Willoughby is located in north central Vermont (East Burke) and it’s one of the most scenic spots on the whole list for the best Vermont fall foliage spots. At the same time, because fall foliage in Vermont is so popular and it gets crowded in many places (some of which are listed here), Lake Willoughby is likely to be far less crowded because of it’s remote location in the state. Besides seeing the fall colors here, there’s other areas to check out like the Willoughby State Forest and hiking trails there (Wheeler Mountain is the most popular there) and you can also kayak on this lake as well (you can find rentals at the south beach region of Lake Willoghby).

Best Times to Visit: Early October is ideal for peak foliage, especially around the cliffs and shoreline.

Best Things to Do:

• Rent a kayak or paddleboard to float between the dramatic cliffs of Mount Pisgah and Mount Hor.

• Hike Wheeler Mountain for sweeping views of the lake surrounded by fall colors.

• Explore the south beach area for peaceful shoreline walks and quiet photo spots.

Stowe (Including Mount Mansfield):

Stowe Vermont is located about 1 hour east from Burlington and it’s likely one of the most popular places in the state for fall foliage views. I’ve personally stayed in Stowe several times throughout most seasons including autumn and besides the views, the town itself is amazing with awesome restaurants, great hotels and hikes in the area. Just walking or driving through Stowe during fall season is an amazing experience too and I highly recommend it. Also a highly recommended peak and drive you can do is to Mount Mansfield which will give you more fall foliage views.

Best Times to Visit: Late September through mid-October offers the best combination of color at varying elevations.

Best Things to Do:

• Drive the scenic toll road up Mount Mansfield for panoramic foliage views.
• Hike the Sunset Ridge Trail for open ridgeline vistas.
• Stroll through Stowe Village to enjoy local shops, cafés, and fall-themed treats.
• Drive through the neighboring Smugglers Notch area for even more fun hikes, scenic drives and views!
• Walk through the covered bridges in the town (more Vermont covered bridges)

Waterbury Center State Park:

Waterbury Center Park is actually pretty close to Stowe but what makes it an amazing destination to visit during fall foliage is the lake (it’s actually a reservoir) and the views itself. You can also go boating around this lake and though it isn’t as large as Lake Willoughby that I mentioned earlier, because of the amazing views and the fact that it’s already close to Stowe and the next destination on this list, you can easily visit it alongside the 2 other spots to get even more amazing views of the fall colors.

Best Times to Visit: Plan your trip in early to mid-October when the reservoir reflects peak colors.

Best Things to Do:

• Paddle across the Waterbury Reservoir for mirrored autumn views.
• Enjoy a lakeside picnic with mountain backdrops.
• Explore nearby biking and walking trails through the colorful forest.

Camel’s Hump Trail:

This is a very popular hike in a place called Camel’s Hump State Park. Although it’s about 6 miles in and out and difficult, if you do it in the fall, not only will the experience of hiking it be incredible for the views, but the actual peak of Camel’s Hump which you’ll reach at the end is where you’ll see one of the best overlooks in the state and just as well some of the best Vermont fall foliage in addition to that.  

Best Times to Visit: The first two weeks of October bring peak colors, especially at higher elevations.

Best Things to Do:

• Hike the Camel’s Hump Trail for one of Vermont’s most iconic summit views.
• Traverse sections of the Long Trail for ridge walks through golden foliage.
• Relax at the base with a packed lunch and enjoy the quiet beauty of the forest.

Smugglers Notch:

Smugglers Notch is a famous area next to Stowe and after going there at least 7 times (including during autumn) I cannot say enough good things about how amazing this place is and while I have an article on Smugglers Notch Vermont to check out. What I will say about this place in this post is that it’s a combination of an incredibly beautiful scenic drive, several great hikes to high Vermont peaks and of course the fall foliage and rolled into one.

Best Times to Visit: Early to mid-October is perfect for driving the scenic mountain pass and exploring the trails.

Best Things to Do:

• Take a drive through Route 108 for twisting, cliff-hugging roads framed in color.
• Hike to Sterling Pond or explore the caves tucked into the rock faces.
• Visit nearby waterfalls like Bingham Falls for a peaceful autumn escape.

Lake Champlain:

Lake Champlain is basically located all throughout the west end of Vermont and because its so long, there isn’t any one best spot on it that I can recommend to see fall foliage, so I’m just going to recommend you see as much of this area as possible during autumn season.

Best Times to Visit: Mid-October is perfect for shoreline color, especially on the Vermont side.

Best Things to Do:

• Drive along Route 2 and stop at islands and scenic overlooks.
• Walk or bike the Burlington waterfront path for glowing sunset reflections.
• Explore state parks along the shoreline like Kingsland Bay for quiet lake views.

Jay’s Peak:

Jay’s Peak is a popular mountain and ski resort in the northern middle end of Vermont and when it comes to fall foliage, it’s also a great spot to spend time at. There’s a bunch of great hikes like the Long Trail there (the greater forest there is called Jay’s State Forest) and ski lifts you can use to get to the top sections of the mountain. At the same time the resort in the area is a great place to stay at for a few days or just one if you plan to visit some of the other spots on this list.

Best Times to Visit: Peak color tends to arrive in early to mid-October, especially around the ski slopes and ridgelines.

Best Things to Do:

• Ride the tram to the summit for stunning mountain views in every direction.
• Hike nearby trails for peaceful, less crowded foliage walks.
• Enjoy a cozy meal or drink at the base lodge after exploring.

Killington Peak:

Killington Peak is another popular ski spot in Vermont, but it’s further southwest of Jay’s Peak. But it doesn’t change that the fall foliage views here are equally incredible and worth checking out. Other than checking out the ski resort and area as a whole (there’s at least 3 lodges to stay at), there is a popular hike here known as the Bucklin Trail which takes you to the top of Killington Peak for a great overlook area, but that hike is over 7 miles long. I will also add that further south and north of this area is the amazing Green Mountain National Forest which as a whole is highly recommended to check out not just in autumn but during the other seasons.

Best Times to Visit:
Mid-October is best for colorful views across the valleys and surrounding peaks.

Best Things to Do:

• Take the gondola to the top for wide-open mountain views.
• Hike the Bucklin Trail for a rewarding summit experience.
• Explore nearby mountain villages for shopping, dining, and local events.

Lake Elmore:

Lake Elmore is located not too far from Stowe and the Waterbury Park area (it’s east of those locations) and just like the other lake locations on this list, it’s worth coming to this spot to see fall foliage in Vermont but the great news is that it’s a pretty small area so it’s usually not that crowded during the peak fall season, but at the same time it’s easy to make a quick stop here so you can have more time to see the others in the area (in this case Stowe, Waterbury and Camel’s Hump).

Best Times to Visit: Early to mid-October is a great time to catch vibrant reflections on the water.

Best Things to Do:

• Kayak or canoe across the lake to see fall colors from the water.
• Hike Elmore Mountain or explore trails through Groton State Forest.
• Spend a peaceful afternoon birdwatching or enjoying a lakeside picnic.

Green Mountain Railroad:

Green Mountain Railroad (aka the Champlain Valley Dinner Train) is a scenic train ride that has several options for attractions, including a dinnfer train ride and also an option to see fall foliage in Vermont. The station area is located in Burlington Vermont and you can also get tickets online. The train attraction is is about 3 hours long and highly recommended for anyone who doesn’t want to drive anywhere or explore places outside too much, but rather just stay in a train, have good food options and enjoy the ride and fall views. It’s also one of many scenic train rides in the state.

Best Times to Visit: October rides typically align with Vermont’s most colorful weeks.

Best Things to Do:

• Book a dinner ride through the mountains for a foliage-filled evening experience.
• Take photos from the train’s observation windows as you pass through scenic valleys.
• Combine your trip with a visit to nearby towns for local shopping and attractions.

Where to Stay

• Lake Willoughby – Westmore, VT (check hotels)
• Stowe & Mount Mansfield – Stowe, VT (check hotels)
• Waterbury Center State Park – Waterbury, VT (check hotels)
• Camel’s Hump Peak – Huntington, VT (check hotels)
• Smugglers’ Notch – Stowe VT (check hotels)
• Lake Champlain (Vermont Side) – Burlington, VT (check hotels)
• Jay Peak – Jay, VT (check hotels)
• Killington Peak – Killington, VT (check hotels)
• Lake Groton / Elmore – Groton, VT (check hotels)
• Green Mountain Railroad (Dinner Train) – Burlington, VT (check hotels)

Vermont fall foliage map:

7 Day Vermont fall foliage road trip itinerary:

Want to explore all of the above locations in one road trip? Here’s a sample planner you can follow:

Day 1: Burlington & Lake Champlain

• Walk or bike along the Burlington Waterfront Path
• Explore Church Street Marketplace
• Optional side trip to Grand Isle or Shelburne Farms
• Overnight in Burlington

Day 2: Green Mountain Railroad (Dinner Train)

• Ride the Champlain Valley Dinner Train from Burlington or Chester
• Enjoy fall views and dinner aboard a vintage train
• Spend extra time in Chester or Middlebury if riding from the south
• Overnight in Burlington or Chester

Day 3: Stowe & Smugglers’ Notch

• Drive Route 108 through Smugglers’ Notch
• Hike Sterling Pond Trail or visit Bingham Falls
• Stroll through Stowe Village and visit local shops
• Optional: Drive or ride the gondola up Mount Mansfield
• Overnight in Stowe

Day 4: Waterbury Center & Camel’s Hump

• Morning paddle or hike at Waterbury Center State Park
• Afternoon hike Camel’s Hump Trail (moderate to strenuous)
• Visit Cold Hollow Cider Mill or Ben & Jerry’s Factory
• Overnight in Waterbury or Montpelier

Day 5: Groton & Elmore State Parks

• Hike Elmore Mountain or explore Groton State Forest
• Visit Owl’s Head Lookout or paddle at Lake Elmore
• Stop in Peacham or Danville for scenic drives and photography
• Overnight in St. Johnsbury or Montpelier

Day 6: Lake Willoughby & Jay Peak

• Visit Lake Willoughby and hike Mount Pisgah or Wheeler Mountain
• Continue north to Jay Peak and ride the tramway
• Optional side trip to Newport or Lake Memphremagog
• Overnight in Jay or Newport

Day 7: Killington via Route 100

• Drive the scenic Route 100 corridor south to Killington
• Ride the Killington gondola or hike the Bucklin Trail
• Relax at a mountain lodge or local restaurant
• Overnight in Killington or Rutland

Itinerary Overview

Burlington, Chester (optional), Stowe, Waterbury, Groton, Lake Willoughby, Jay Peak, Killington, return to Burlington

This route blends iconic fall views with quieter trails, small towns, and backroads for a complete Vermont foliage experience.

Related:

• Vermont road trip ideas 
• Catskills fall foliage
• New Hampshire fall foliage

Tips for Visitors

• When to Visit Vermont for Fall Foliage: October 1–15 is your best window across most regions.
• Book Early: Accommodations and attractions fill fast during peak season. Booking 1-2 months ahead is recommended.
• What to Pack: Layers, waterproof hiking shoes, and a camera for those once-in-a-lifetime views.

More Vermont Fall Foliage Photos:

Final Things to Know:

From the quiet shores of Lake Willoughby to the summit views of Camel’s Hump and the unforgettable colors lining the Green Mountain Railroad, Vermont fall foliage delivers in all its wild, vivid glory. Each destination in this list offers its own unique charm whether you’re chasing mountaintop sunrises, lakeside reflections, or cozy towns bursting with autumn character.

To make the most of your trip, aim for early to mid-October, pack for cool weather, and book lodging well in advance. And above all, take your time, fall in Vermont isn’t just about where you go, but how deeply you let the scenery pull you into the moment.

25 Fall Foliage Road Trips to Try This Year