Best Small Towns in Vermont
The best small towns in Vermont are Stowe for Mount Mansfield and year-round mountain trips, Woodstock for its village green and Vermont’s national park, Manchester for Hildene and Mount Equinox, Middlebury for a college town on Otter Creek, and St. Johnsbury for the Northeast Kingdom. Most of them look their best in fall. Here are 10 worth the trip, grouped by region.
- Best season: Late September to mid-October for foliage; December to March for skiing
- Regions: Northern Vermont, Central Vermont, Champlain Valley, Southern Vermont, Northeast Kingdom
- Closest big cities: Burlington, Boston, Albany, Montreal
| Town | Region | Best for | Nearest airport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stowe | Northern Vermont | skiing, fall foliage, hiking, biking, couples' getaways | Burlington (BTV), about 45 min |
| Woodstock | Central Vermont | fall foliage, history, families, walking, couples' getaways | Lebanon, NH (LEB), about 25 min |
| Manchester | Southern Vermont | history, scenic drives, fly fishing, shopping, fall foliage | Albany (ALB), about 1 hr 15 min |
| Middlebury | Champlain Valley | museums, college towns, walking, history, fall foliage | Burlington (BTV), about 50 min |
| St. Johnsbury | Northeast Kingdom | museums, art, dog owners, biking, fall foliage | Lebanon, NH (LEB), about 1 hr 15 min |
| Brattleboro | Southern Vermont | art, live music, food, walkable downtown, fall foliage | Lebanon, NH (LEB), about 1 hr |
| Bennington | Southern Vermont | history, art, covered bridges, fall foliage | Albany (ALB), about 50 min |
| Montpelier | Central Vermont | history, architecture, maple, fall foliage, walkable downtown | Burlington (BTV), about 45 min |
| Waitsfield | Central Vermont | skiing, covered bridges, farmers markets, craft beer, river walks | Burlington (BTV), about 1 hr |
| Vergennes | Champlain Valley | history, small-town downtowns, Lake Champlain, museums, road trips from Burlington | Burlington (BTV), about 40 min |
Northern Vermont
1. Stowe
Stowe sits in a valley below Mount Mansfield, Vermont's highest peak, and has drawn visitors since before the Civil War. You can ride the gondola or drive the 1923 Toll Road up the mountain, walk the 5.3-mile Recreation Path, and hike Smugglers' Notch. The von Trapp family's lodge is on the hill above town.
Pop. 5,223 (2020 Census) Lamoille County Founded 1763 (chartered) Nearest airport: Burlington (BTV), about 45 min Known for: Mount Mansfield, Stowe Mountain Resort, von Trapp Family Lodge, Smugglers' Notch
- Best for: skiing, fall foliage, hiking, biking, couples' getaways
- Don't miss: Gondola SkyRide; Stowe Recreation Path; Smugglers' Notch State Park
- Heads up: Foliage weekends book up early; the Notch road closes in winter.
Central Vermont
2. Woodstock
Woodstock is the Windsor County shire town, built around a long village Green lined with Federal and Greek Revival houses. It has Vermont's only national historical park, Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller, and the working Billings Farm & Museum across the road. Covered bridges and Quechee Gorge are close by.
Pop. 3,005 (2020 Census) Windsor County Founded 1761 (chartered) Nearest airport: Lebanon, NH (LEB), about 25 min Known for: Village Green, Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, Billings Farm, covered bridges
- Best for: fall foliage, history, families, walking, couples' getaways
- Don't miss: Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park; Billings Farm & Museum; Quechee Gorge
- Heads up: National park mansion tours sell out and skip Tuesdays and Wednesdays; book ahead.
3. Montpelier
Montpelier is Vermont's capital and the smallest state capital by population. The 1859 State House, the Hubbard Park stone tower and the Vermont History Museum sit within a few blocks. Morse Farm's maple creemees are just up the hill.
Pop. 8,074 (2020 Census) Washington County Founded 1787 (settled); city 1895 Nearest airport: Burlington (BTV), about 45 min Known for: smallest state capital, gold-domed State House, Hubbard Park tower, Morse Farm maple
- Best for: history, architecture, maple, fall foliage, walkable downtown
- Don't miss: Vermont State House; Hubbard Park and Observation Tower; Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks
- Heads up: State House parking fills early during the January-May legislative session.
4. Waitsfield
Waitsfield is the main village of Vermont's Mad River Valley, on Route 100. Sugarbush and skier-owned Mad River Glen are minutes away, and the 1833 Great Eddy Covered Bridge still carries traffic over the Mad River. Summer brings a Saturday farmers market and riverside trails.
Pop. 1,844 (2020 Census) Washington County Founded 1782 (chartered) Nearest airport: Burlington (BTV), about 1 hr Known for: Mad River Valley skiing (Sugarbush, Mad River Glen), 1833 covered bridge, farmers market
- Best for: skiing, covered bridges, farmers markets, craft beer, river walks
- Don't miss: Great Eddy Covered Bridge; Mad River Glen; Waitsfield Farmers Market
- Heads up: Mad River Glen bans snowboards; riders should plan on Sugarbush.
Southern Vermont
5. Manchester
Manchester sits between the Green Mountains and the Taconics in Bennington County. Robert Todd Lincoln's Hildene estate and the Skyline Drive up Mount Equinox are the big draws. Orvis was founded here in 1856, and the town pairs its fly fishing heritage with outlet shopping and an arts center.
Pop. 4,484 (2020 Census) Bennington County Founded 1761 (chartered) Nearest airport: Albany (ALB), about 1 hr 15 min Known for: Hildene, Mount Equinox Skyline Drive, Orvis, Southern Vermont Arts Center, outlet shopping
- Best for: history, scenic drives, fly fishing, shopping, fall foliage
- Don't miss: Hildene, the Lincoln Family Home; Mount Equinox Skyline Drive; Southern Vermont Arts Center
- Heads up: Skyline Drive is seasonal (Memorial Day weekend to Oct 31) and closed to buses, RVs and large vans.
6. Brattleboro
Brattleboro sits where the West River meets the Connecticut, just north of Massachusetts. Its arts scene centers on the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center and the First Friday Gallery Walk. The Estey Organ Museum, Retreat Farm and a circus school round it out.
Pop. 12,184 (2020 Census) Windham County Founded 1753 (chartered) Nearest airport: Lebanon, NH (LEB), about 1 hr Known for: arts scene, Gallery Walk, Estey organs, Kipling's Jungle Book, circus school
- Best for: art, live music, food, walkable downtown, fall foliage
- Don't miss: Brattleboro Museum & Art Center; First Friday and Gallery Walk; Estey Organ Museum
- Heads up: The Estey Organ Museum opens only on weekend afternoons, May through October.
7. Bennington
Bennington is the largest town in southern Vermont and was the first of the New Hampshire Grants, chartered in 1749. The 306-foot Battle Monument marks the 1777 fight over its supply depot. The Bennington Museum's Grandma Moses gallery, Robert Frost's grave and three covered bridges fill out a day.
Pop. 15,333 (2020 Census) Bennington County Founded 1749 (chartered) Nearest airport: Albany (ALB), about 50 min Known for: Bennington Battle Monument, Grandma Moses, Robert Frost's grave, covered bridges
- Best for: history, art, covered bridges, fall foliage
- Don't miss: Bennington Battle Monument; Bennington Museum; Old First Church and Robert Frost's Grave
- Heads up: The Battle Monument is seasonal (late May through October); call ahead to confirm the elevator is running.
Champlain Valley
8. Middlebury
Middlebury is the Addison County seat and home of Middlebury College, founded in 1800. Otter Creek tumbles over falls in the middle of downtown, steps from the Henry Sheldon Museum. The free college art museum and the Morgan Horse Farm round out a visit.
Pop. 9,152 (2020 Census) Addison County Founded 1761 (chartered) Nearest airport: Burlington (BTV), about 50 min Known for: Middlebury College, Otter Creek Falls, Henry Sheldon Museum, Morgan horses
- Best for: museums, college towns, walking, history, fall foliage
- Don't miss: Otter Creek Falls; Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History; Middlebury College Museum of Art
- Heads up: The Sheldon closes from early January to late May; the college museum closes over winter break.
9. Vergennes
Vergennes, chartered in 1788, is Vermont's first city and its smallest by population. Otter Creek drops 37 feet at the edge of downtown, and the 1897 Opera House still hosts shows. The free Lake Champlain Maritime Museum and Button Bay State Park are a short drive west.
Pop. 2,553 (2020 Census) Addison County Founded 1788 (chartered as a city) Nearest airport: Burlington (BTV), about 40 min Known for: Vermont's first and smallest city, Otter Creek Falls, Vergennes Opera House, Lake Champlain Maritime Museum
- Best for: history, small-town downtowns, Lake Champlain, museums, road trips from Burlington
- Don't miss: Otter Creek Falls; Vergennes Opera House; Lake Champlain Maritime Museum
- Heads up: The maritime museum and Button Bay are seasonal, open late May to mid-October.
Northeast Kingdom
10. St. Johnsbury
St. Johnsbury is the Caledonia County seat and the largest town in the Northeast Kingdom. The Fairbanks family's scale fortune left it the Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium and the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, a National Historic Landmark. Stephen Huneck's Dog Mountain and the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail add time outdoors.
Pop. 7,364 (2020 Census) Caledonia County Founded 1786 (chartered) Nearest airport: Lebanon, NH (LEB), about 1 hr 15 min Known for: Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium, St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, Dog Mountain, Fairbanks scales, maple
- Best for: museums, art, dog owners, biking, fall foliage
- Don't miss: Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium; St. Johnsbury Athenaeum; Dog Mountain and the Stephen Huneck Gallery
- Heads up: The Fairbanks Museum closes for a few weeks in early January, and the Athenaeum is closed Sundays.
- Late September–October: Color starts at high elevations and in the north, then moves into the valleys and south. Peak usually lands in the last week of September and the first two weeks of October. Weekends in Stowe and Woodstock book up early, so reserve rooms well ahead.
- June–August: Hiking, swimming holes and farm stands. The Lake Champlain Maritime Museum near Vergennes is open late May to mid-October.
- Winter: Ski season in Stowe and the Mad River Valley. The valley towns are quiet and snowy, and inns fill up on holiday weeks.
What is the prettiest small town in Vermont?
Woodstock is the classic pick, with its long village green, three covered bridges and power lines the Rockefellers had buried to keep the village looking the way it does.
What small towns in Vermont are best for a weekend?
Stowe works in any season, with Mount Mansfield for skiing or hiking. From Boston, Manchester and Bennington are the closest pair.
What is the smallest town in Vermont worth visiting?
Waitsfield has about 1,800 people in the Mad River Valley. Vergennes is the state’s smallest city and its first chartered one, from 1788.
What are the best small towns in the Northeast Kingdom?
St. Johnsbury is the Kingdom’s largest town and the best base. Start at the Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium, which opened in 1891.