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Vermont’s best scenic drive depends on what you want to see: mountain towns and ski country, Lake Champlain’s shoreline, small villages, or quieter Northeast Kingdom roads. Start with one of the state’s designated byways, choose a few stops along it, and check seasonal road access before setting out.
Choose a Vermont drive by scenery and route style
Vermont Tourism identifies ten federally designated scenic byways, with routes ranging from roughly 30 miles to 410 miles. They link mountains, valleys, farms, and historic downtowns; their different lengths and landscapes make the byway system a useful starting point rather than a ranking of the state’s “best” drives. See the state’s Vermont Scenic Byways overview.
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| Route | Distance and road character | Good fit for |
|---|---|---|
| Scenic Route 100 Byway | 146 miles; mountain towns and ski-country communities, from the Waterbury/Stowe region south to West Dover. | A longer north–south drive with waterfalls, local food, historic sites, and theater. |
| Green Mountain Byway | 71 miles on Routes 100, 108, and 15, connecting Waterbury, Stowe, Morristown, Hyde Park, Johnson, and Cambridge. | Meadows, farmland, forest, mountain scenery, and a mix of popular attractions and outdoor stops. |
| Lake Champlain Byway | 184 miles along the lake’s northern length from the Canadian border south; a flatter lakeshore and island-oriented drive. | Waterfront views, parks, farms, museums, and historic sites. |
| Mad River Byway | 36 miles on Routes 100 and 100B through communities including Waitsfield and Warren. | A compact central Vermont drive pairing local food and history with trail access. |
| Northeast Kingdom Byway | 51 miles through St. Johnsbury, Lyndon, East and West Burke, and Newport. | Village architecture, arts, shops, and year-round recreation. |
| The Shires of Vermont Byway | 33 miles on Historic Route 7A, connecting Bennington, Manchester, and other towns. | Batten Kill valley and mountain scenery with historic-town stops. |
Distances and route descriptions are from Vermont Tourism’s byway pages and its 2025 byway brochure. They describe the named byways, not driving times; allow extra time for stops and local road conditions.
Scenic Route 100: Vermont’s classic mountain-town drive
At 146 miles, Scenic Route 100 Byway is a strong choice for travelers who want to link mountain scenery with towns and attractions. Vermont Tourism describes it as Vermont’s “Main Street” and “The Skier’s Highway”; it runs from the Waterbury/Stowe region south to West Dover.
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Stops to consider
- Moss Glen Falls: a waterfall stop.
- Plymouth Artisan Cheese and the Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site: pair local food with regional history.
- BigTown Gallery and Weston Theatre Company: add arts and a performance-oriented stop.
These destinations appear in Vermont Tourism’s 2025 byway brochure. Confirm opening hours, access, and any reservations directly with each venue.
Green Mountain Byway: a central Vermont sampler
The 71-mile Green Mountain Byway follows Routes 100, 108, and 15 through Waterbury, Stowe, Morristown, Hyde Park, Johnson, and Cambridge. Vermont Tourism highlights meadows, farmland, forests, and a mountain backdrop. It works well for a drive that mixes town visits with outdoor stops.
Stops to consider
- Ben & Jerry’s Factory Tour and Cold Hollow Cider Mill for visitor attractions and local food.
- Smugglers’ Notch State Park for mountain scenery and outdoor access.
- Lamoille Valley Rail Trail for a walk or ride that breaks up time in the car.
The route and stop ideas are listed in the state’s 2025 byway brochure. Route 108 through Smugglers’ Notch has seasonal closure concerns, so check its status before planning a crossing.
Rank #2
Lake Champlain Byway: shoreline, islands, and waterfront stops
The 184-mile Lake Champlain Byway follows the lake’s northern length from the Canadian border south. Its flatter lakeshore character differs from the mountain routes, and the stops range from parks and waterfront areas to farms and museums.
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- Alburg Dunes and Mount Philo for outdoor scenery.
- Burlington’s waterfront for a city-side lakeshore stop.
- Shelburne Farms and Shelburne Museum for farm landscapes and cultural attractions.
- Rokeby Museum and the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum for history.
These options are listed in Vermont Tourism’s 2025 byway brochure. Check each attraction’s schedule and access before building the day around it.
Shorter alternatives: Mad River, Northeast Kingdom, and the Shires
Mad River Byway
This 36-mile route follows Routes 100 and 100B through communities such as Waitsfield and Warren. Its brochure-listed stops include food and local-history options, trail access, and Blueberry Lake, making it a practical choice for a shorter drive with time to get out of the car.
Rank #3
- Road Atlas, Adventure Edition
- Road Atlas, Adventure Edition
- National Geographic Maps
Northeast Kingdom Byway
The 51-mile route connects St. Johnsbury, Lyndon, East and West Burke, and Newport. Vermont Tourism describes the area in terms of village architecture, arts, shops, and recreation in every season. The 2025 brochure names the Haskell Library and Opera House, Old Stone House Museum, Kingdom Trails, and Dog Mountain as possible stops.
The Shires of Vermont Byway
This 33-mile drive on Historic Route 7A connects Bennington, Manchester, and other towns, with Batten Kill valley and mountain scenery. It suits travelers seeking a shorter southern Vermont route with historic-town character.
Distances, communities, and these stop ideas come from Vermont Tourism’s byway overview and 2025 brochure. Attraction hours and access can vary; confirm details with the destination before departure.
Seasonal gap roads need a separate access check
Some of Vermont’s more dramatic or remote roads are not dependable year-round through-routes. Vermont Tourism describes the following as typical seasonal patterns, not live road-status information:
- Route 108 through Smugglers’ Notch: typically closed November through May.
- Hazen’s Notch Road: typically closed December through April and not paved throughout.
- Kelley Stand Road and Waterville Mountain Road: described as closed in winter.
Spring mud can make soft dirt roads unsafe until they firm up. The state also notes that Class 4 roads are not maintained for winter traffic in the same way as Class 1–3 roads. In winter conditions, Vermont Tourism strongly recommends snow tires. Read its seasonal scenic-drive guidance and scenic-drive planning advice, then verify access close to departure.
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- Check state-road conditions: use the Vermont road and trail conditions page, which directs travelers to the 511 map for state-road closures and delays.
- Check local roads separately: Vermont Tourism warns that town-managed roads may not appear on the state map. If your route depends on a local road, contact the relevant town.
- Confirm attraction details: check hours, access, and reservations with each venue you plan to visit.
- Carry a map backup: cell service can be spotty, and phone GPS may not work in some areas. Vermont Tourism recommends ordering a free paper map as a backup through its scenic drives page.
The state’s scenic-drive page also notes that public EV charging stations are available around Vermont. Check current listings and charger status for your intended stops rather than assuming a particular charger is available.
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Make a one-day drive or build a 72-hour itinerary
For a day trip, choose one main route and a manageable number of stops instead of trying to cover several regions. The distances above are route lengths, not estimates of how long a drive will take, and attractions may have their own schedules and access limits.
For a longer stay, Vermont Tourism publishes 72-hour itineraries for the Woodstock–Quechee region and Okemo Valley. Its itinerary page identifies the former with the eastern section of the Vermont Route 4 Scenic Byway and the latter with Scenic Route 100. Browse the state’s Vermont itineraries for regional planning ideas.
Use covered bridges as a theme, not a shortcut assumption
Vermont Tourism says 100 covered bridges remain in use, and most are town-owned and still form part of local road systems. They can add a worthwhile secondary theme to a drive, but a particular bridge may not sit on a convenient through-route; verify local access and conditions before routing around one. See the state’s covered bridges guide.
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