For anyone who enjoys a leisurely drive with plenty of places to stop along the way, the Connecticut River Byway is for you. This 500-mile byway is nestled between the Green Mountains of Vermont and the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Traveling from the Massachusetts border to the Canadian border, one of the best scenic drives in Vermont allows adventurers to pass some wonderful vistas, historic towns, and more than a few covered bridges along the way. Let's take a look at just some of the covered bridges on this scenic route in VT.

1. The Schoolhouse Bridge, Lyndon

The Schoolhouse Bridge in Lyndon

was built in 1879 with special design features for the local school children. It originally had walkways on both sides and also has the trusses boarded up on the inside of the bridge as well as outside. This was likely done as a safety feature to prevent the kids from climbing on the trusses. This is one of the most beautiful covered bridges near me and I love exploring it during each different season.

2. The Sayres Covered Bridge, Thetford

This 127-foot-long Town Lattice Truss bridge is picture-perfect. It was built in 1839 and crosses the Ompompanoosuc River in Thetford Center.

3. The Martin's Mill (aka Martinsville) covered bridge, Hartland

One interesting feature about old bridges such as this one is how they start to show their age. You can see how the walls of the entrances on the Martin’s Mill Bridge are no longer parallel.

4. Salmond Covered Bridge, Weatherford

Be sure to venture off the byway for even more exploring. The Salmond Covered Bridge was built around 1880 by one of the area's best-known builders, James Tasker. It was removed from its original location in 1959 and was almost lost. Thankfully it was restored in 1986 and then the bridge was moved where it stands on a very quiet dirt road. Directions: Go to Weatherford and head "Thataway."

5. The Upper Falls Covered Bridge, Perkinsville

Interestingly, this bridge is known as either the Downers or Upper Falls. It was originally built in 1840 and received a beautiful restoration in 2007/2008. It looks almost new again!

6. Worrall Covered Bridge, Bellows Falls

This bridge in Bellows Falls was built around 1868 by Sanford Granger, a local master builder. It was one of seventeen 19th-century bridges once located in Rockingham. Today it is one of only two that remain. The bridge includes one rare feature: a wooden ramp leading up to the northwest entrance.

7. The Mount Orne Covered Bridge, Lunenburg

The Mount Orne Covered Bridge was built in 1911 by the Berlin Construction Company. It replaced one that was washed away by flooding in 1905 and is one of only two Howe truss bridges over the Connecticut River.

8. Windsor-Cornish Bridge, Windsor

This impressive structure was built in 1866 and spans the Connecticut River. It connects Windsor, VT, and Cornish, NH, and is known as either the Cornish-Windsor or Windsor-Cornish Bridge. The order given depends on which side of the river you're on.

Have you visited these beautiful covered bridges in Vermont? If you have and you can think of any tips or tricks to make a visit extra special, let us know in the comments. We especially love hearing about any nearby local restaurants, cafes, or stores we should check out. This is one of the best Vermont scenic drives and we think you'll agree. Of course, before you hop in the car for this trip (or really, any trip!) be sure to consult our list of the best road trip snacks. Getting this right might just be the most important part of any journey.

Another great element of this route is the ability to stop into the historic town of Bellows Falls along the way.