Sometimes it seems as though you only find backroads in Vermont. Sure, there are highways and even areas that have traffic (gasp!) so we always like to have a few options at the ready to take a scenic drive. These 7 best scenic drives in Vermont have some great routes for you to travel and take in all the mountains, rivers, and lakes you’re looking for. Gas up the car and get ready to take a wonderful drive through the Green Mountain State!

1. Alburg to Colchester, Route 2A
Alburgh, VT 05440, USA
Flickr/Jeremy Falling
Take a drive through the scenic Lake Champlain Islands where the people are friendly and the activities are abundant. There are loads of places to stop and watch the sunset, so pack your sunscreen and a picnic because this ride is incredible.
2. Wilmington to Newport, Route 100
Vermont Route 100, Vermont Rte 100, Stowe, VT, USA
Flickr/Professor Bop
This route is famous for its beauty and for good reason. It's spectacular in any season, but fall is particularly awesome. If you're looking to take scenic backroads in Vermont during fall foliage, this has to be at the top of the list.

Take a look at this video by @natureandlifesteps9201:
3. Vergennes to Fair Haven, 22A Highway
Flickr/Peter Rintels
If you're looking for "backroads near me," you'll find plenty of classic Vermont scenes on this route. Be sure to bring your camera to capture the rolling hills, pastures of cows, weathered red barns, and tall white steeples. Any town you stop in will be filled with small-town charm, too.

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4. Middlebury to Poultney, Route 30
Flickr/Doug Kerr
Another drive to showcase pure Vermont with covered bridges and rolling fields is this great route. While it starts and ends in more populated areas, be sure to soak in the small towns you travel through such as Cornwall, Sudbury, and Whiting.
5. Montpelier to Island Pond, Routes 2 to 114
Flickr/Roger LeJeune
This scenic drive travels into the Northeast Kingdom where you'll be sure to have peace and quiet in Vermont's most rural region.
6. West Arlington, Route 313 to Sandgate Road
Famartin/Wikimedia Commons
This 14-mile stretch will show you the Green Mountains at its finest. Stretch your legs at the Vermont Country Store when you're in Weston. To get there take Route 313 and head north on Sandgate Road. This will take you around the back of Equinox Mountain which gives you a new and gorgeous perspective.
7. Tunbridge, Chelsea Mountain Road to Route 110
Flickr/James Walsh
You'll just love the covered bridges on this drive which is a short and sweet 7 miles. The best time to go? While you're at the Tunbridge World's Fair in September, of course! It's one of the best scenic drives in Vermont.

If you love country roads in Vermont, you’ve got to travel on these eight byways that are perfect for beautiful drives in Vermont. But before you hit the road on any road trip, check out our Ultimate Road Trip Packing List for your road trip essentials!

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best scenic drives in Vermont

Luke | July 06, 2021

What are the most unique towns in Vermont? 

The following are the most unique towns in Vermont:

  • Montpelier, our state capital, is a fascinating and unique city in Vermont. In fact, Montpelier is the smallest U.S. capital city with roughly 8,000 inhabitants. The city is interesting due to its small-town charm, lack of big box stores, and position within the surrounding mountains and wilderness.
  • Another unique town in Vermont is Barre. With granite quarries and odd marble statues, this place is particularly unordinary. The city is also composed of four small unincorporated areas.

 

What are the best road trips in Vermont?

Here are our picks for the best road trips in Vermont. If you are looking for the best mini road trip in Vermont, the two-hour drive through the Notch of Mt. Mansfield along Vermont Route 108 from Stowe to Jeffersonville is perfect, and it may just be the most beautiful drive in all of Vermont. And during fall foliage, you simply cannot find a better viewing place.

What is the most scenic town in Vermont?

The following are among the five most scenic towns in Vermont:

  • Manchester
  • Woodstock
  • Grafton
  • Stowe
  • Shelburne.

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