A single branch on a sugar maple ignites first, a flash of red against a wall of late-summer green. Soon, a current of colors runs through the entire state. Historic inns along Route 100 hang ‘No Vacancy’ signs and morning lines form at roadside stands for warm apple cider donuts. The quiet backroads fill with cars moving slowly, their occupants hunting for that perfect canvas of color. The spectacle of Vermont fall foliage unfolds across the hills, with sugar maples burning crimson and birches adding a brilliant, shimmering yellow.
A few days can separate a view of brilliant reds from a muted landscape of lingering greens. Peak color first arrives in the state’s coldest corners, appearing in the Northeast Kingdom near the Canadian border in late September. From there, the wave of color spills south along the spine of the Green Mountains, lighting up towns like Stowe and Waitsfield before settling in the southern valleys around Manchester by mid-October. The first two weeks of October give a traveler the most reliable opportunity to witness the heart of the state at its most vibrant.
For world-class Stowe, Vermont, fall foliage, the town’s historic village and massive mountain resort are the main destinations. A seven-mile stretch of Mountain Road, Route 108, connects them and becomes the chief channel for autumn traffic. On peak weekends, this road slows to a crawl between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Staying at the AAA Four Diamond property The Lodge at Spruce Peak means you can be on a trail or gondola while most other visitors are still sitting in traffic.
The massive silhouette of Mt. Mansfield dominates the Stowe landscape and there are three distinct ways to reach its summit. The 4.5-mile Mt. Mansfield Auto Toll Road is the most direct path, a steep drive up a historic road to a ridgeline with immense views. For a different perspective, the Gondola SkyRide lifts you smoothly to the Cliff House restaurant, perched high on the mountain’s shoulder. Hikers can take the classic Long Trail from the Stowe side, but a better option involves a 45-minute drive to Underhill State Park. From this quieter western flank, the Sunset Ridge Trail climbs over open, rocky ledges for spectacular, crowd-free views.
Back in the valley, take the winding drive through Smugglers’ Notch, where Route 108 narrows to a single lane as it twists between thousand-foot cliffs. For a quick and rewarding stop, Moss Glen Falls, one of Vermont’s tallest waterfalls, is just a five-minute walk from its roadside parking lot. You can also get a taste of modern Vermont at Junction at The Essex, a theater-style restaurant where you’ll be seated at a chef’s counter.
The ideal lodging choice for a Woodstock foliage trip is actually 20 minutes outside of town at either Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites or the Hampton by Hilton White River Junction, both AAA Three Diamond properties. The short commute saves a lot of money compared to Woodstock’s expensive village inns. The 20-minute drive along US-4 is also the first attraction of the day, as it leads directly to the beautiful view of Quechee Gorge, a 165-foot-deep canyon carved into the ground.
Head to the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park for the best foliage views and a look into the region’s history. Miles of meticulously maintained carriage roads wind through the property’s old-growth forest. Follow these paths to the South Peak of Mount Tom for a perfect panorama view of the village, its white church steeple and the winding Ottauquechee River.
The famous view of Sleepy Hollow Farm on Cloudland Road draws large crowds. Plan to arrive on a weekday at sunrise for the best light and to avoid the congestion, keeping in mind that the farm is a private home. Afterward, head into the village to walk across the Middle Covered Bridge and around the town’s immaculate central green. End the day with dinner at AAA Four Diamond Red Rooster at The Woodstock Inn and Resort, but be sure to make reservations weeks in advance for a table at this village institution.
For the best fall foliage in Vermont by car, Route 100, with its two-lane road that twists through the heart of the Green Mountains, is a top contender. The most rewarding stretch sits in the north, stretching from the town of Weston to Waitsfield. Begin the journey in Weston with a stop at The Vermont Country Store, a massive emporium of New England wares and a good place to gather supplies for the road.
Driving north from Weston, the first recommended stop is Moss Glen Falls in Granville. A short boardwalk leads from a roadside pull-off directly to the base of the 35-foot cascade as it fans out over dark rock. A few miles later, the pools and cascades of Warren Falls offer another beautiful stop. For the ideal panoramic view, look for a small, unmarked dirt pull-off on the west side of the road just south of Warren village. The spot reveals a sweeping vista of the entire Mad River Valley.
The road trip wraps up in the Mad River Valley, with the historic Hyde Away Inn & Restaurant in Waitsfield acting as a perfect endpoint. For those seeking a challenging hike, the trailhead for the rugged ascent of Camel’s Hump is just a short drive away. The definitive dinner reservation is at American Flatbread at Lareau Farm. Inside the property’s restored 19th-century barn, you can watch bakers pull remarkable pizzas from a massive wood-fired earth oven.
Check out while you’re there: Willoughby State Forest
Vermont’s foliage season starts in the Northeast Kingdom, with peak color often arriving in the last week of September. The Inn at Burklyn, a restored Gilded Age mansion on a sprawling hilltop estate, is a destination in itself. From the inn, take a drive up the nearby Burke Mountain toll road. The summit has a stunning 360-degree panorama view of the region’s raw, unbroken wilderness.
The region’s geological centerpiece is Lake Willoughby, a deep lake squeezed between the thousand-foot cliffs of Mount Pisgah and Mount Hor, creating a dramatic freshwater fjord. To truly grasp its scale, hike the 4.1-mile Mount Pisgah Trail loop within Willoughby State Forest. The path is challenging but rewards you with several exposed overlooks that have sheer, dizzying drops to the turquoise water far below.
Save time to explore the region’s vast network of dirt roads, especially Darling Hill Road near Lyndonville, for classic views of rolling Vermont farmland. For dinner, a top choice is also The Inn at Burklyn for their farm-to-table American food. It’s an unassuming spot and the perfect, authentic end to a day in the Kingdom.
Bennington’s southern location makes it one of the last places in Vermont to see peak color, with the surrounding hills often igniting in mid-October. The Hampton Inn & Suites serves as a modern and central headquarters for exploring the area. You can begin your visit in Old Bennington, the town’s stunning historic district, which sits on a high hill. Here you can walk through the graveyard behind the Old First Church to find the simple gravestone of poet Robert Frost.
The Bennington Battle Monument towers over the surrounding landscape. The 306-foot stone obelisk commemorates the pivotal 1777 Revolutionary War battle fought nearby. Take the elevator to the observation deck for a stunning panorama that includes the colorful autumn hills of Vermont, New York and Massachusetts on a clear day.
Bennington is also a fantastic starting point for several scenic drives. Head east on the Molly Stark Trail, the section of Route 9 that twists over a high pass in the Green Mountains. For a quieter tour, hunt for covered bridges on the backroads west of town, where a short loop connects the Silk Road Bridge and the Paper Mill Village Bridge. Finish the day back in town with a casual dinner and a pint of local ale at the Gramercy Bistro.
Manchester sits in a wide valley, favorably positioned between the Green Mountains to the east and the Taconic Mountains to the west. The town itself is a hub of elegance, with upscale designer outlets and art galleries that make it one of the classic romantic getaways in the Northeast. The Equinox Golf Resort & Spa captures this polished character perfectly.
The region’s most dramatic view is from Mount Equinox’s summit, reached by the 5.2-mile Equinox Skyline Drive. The private toll road climbs steeply to the 3,848-foot peak, the highest in the Taconic Range. From the top, the 360-degree panorama is immense, taking in the Vermont valley, the Green Mountains and distant ranges in three other states.
Save time for the ten-minute drive north to the village of Dorset, a town known for its white marble sidewalks and the Dorset Union Store, Vermont’s oldest general store. For dinner back in Manchester, the ultimate prize is a table at The Silver Fork. Please note that reservations at this small yet internationally acclaimed restaurant must be secured several months, if not weeks, in advance.
Planning Your Trip
A successful autumn trip to Vermont is planned far in advance. The state’s popularity in October means the best lodging and dinner reservations are often claimed months before the first leaf turns color.
Book lodging six to 12 months out for popular towns like Stowe, especially for weekend travel. The state’s best restaurants also require reservations weeks or months ahead, so consult resources likeAAA Trip Canvas early in your process.
The single best way to avoid crowds is to travel between Monday and Thursday. You’ll find far less traffic, easier parking and shorter waits at popular spots.
Prepare for multiple seasons in a single day. A frosty 30-degree morning can easily turn into a sunny 60-degree afternoon, with cold rain always a possibility. Pack a fleece or wool mid-layer, a waterproof and windproof jacket and sturdy shoes.
Secure your rental car at the same time you book your flights. Inventory at regional airports like Burlington (BTV) is limited in the fall and can sell out completely.
Follow real-time foliage reports to adjust your plans. The Vermont Department of Tourism website and Yankee Magazine’s online foliage map are two of the most reliable sources.
Cell service is nonexistent in many of Vermont’s mountain passes and rural valleys. Before you leave your hotel, download maps for offline use and carry cash for toll roads, farm stands and small shops.
FAQs
A few definitive questions often come up when planning a trip for fall foliage in Vermont.
Is Maine or Vermont better for fall foliage?
Vermont is best known for the colorful, concentrated reds of its sugar maples covering rolling hillsides. Maine’s foliage experience is more rugged, defined by a dramatic coastline and vast northern forests with a different palette of yellows and oranges.
Where is the most beautiful place in Vermont for fall?
The drive along Route 100, a central artery that links many of the state's most scenic towns and landscapes, is widely considered Vermont's signature foliage experience.
When is the best time to visit Vermont for fall foliage?
Vermont’s peak foliage season generally runs from the last week of September through the middle of October. The color appears first in the colder, northern regions and moves southward down the valleys each day.
Plan Your Perfect Vermont Fall Trip with AAA
The best Vermont fall foliage trips are built on precise timing and choosing destinations that fit your plans. Turning that into a full itinerary is the next step and the planning tools at AAA Travel are the place to start.
A trip to see the fall foliage in Vermont is a classic autumn experience and it is just one of manycolorful ideas for fall that make the season an amazing time to travel.
As one of the largest travel agencies in North America, we have a wealth of recommendations to share! Browse our articles and videos for inspiration, or dive right in with preplanned AAA Road Trips, cruises and vacation tours.
Build and Research Your Options
Save and organize every aspect of your trip including cruises, hotels, activities, transportation and more. Book hotels confidently using our AAA Diamond Designations and verified reviews.
Book Everything in One Place
From cruises to day tours, buy all parts of your vacation in one transaction, or work with our nationwide network of AAA Travel Agents to secure the trip of your dreams!