Vermont has over 100 authentic and charming covered bridges, so if you could only visit one, which bridge should it be? You might be tempted to pick the haunted covered bridge but you really should go for the gusto and choose the longest, most epic river crossing. The Cornish-Windsor Covered Bridge is the longest wooden covered bridge in the United States and it’s definitely a sight worth seeing.
The Cornish-Windsor Bridge is approximately 449 feet long and spans the Connecticut River connecting Vermont and New Hampshire. Visit this historic construction from 1866. There were three previous bridges that were on this site, the first dating back to 1796.
The bridge is a lattice truss construction and not only is the longest wooden covered bridge in America, it's the longest single covered span to carry automobile traffic.
Find the Vermont entrance to the bridge where Route 44 ends at Main Street in Windsor. Main Street becomes Bridge Street and leads to this architectural marvel.
Cross the covered bridge and you'll land in New Hampshire on Route 12A in Cornish. More of the bridge actually lies in New Hampshire than in Vermont but the two states share this breathtaking historical crossing.
In the past, the Cornish-Windsor Bridge had earned the status of a "kissin' bridge". Its length and time to cross gave a few moments of privacy where travellers could sneak in a smooch.
From 1866 to 1943, this remarkable bridge was actually a toll crossing. In 1866, the fee for pedestrians to get from the dry town of Windsor to the wet town of Cornish was two cents. To return to Windsor after having filling up on booze, the fee was upped to 3 cents.
Visit the Cornish-Windsor Covered Bridge for its history, architecture, and amazing beauty. It's incredible that this river crossing has been standing for over 150 years. This is one road trip you won't regret making.
Have you ever crossed this amazing bridge? What were your impressions? If you’re quietly obsessed with Vermont’s covered bridges, you need to take this scenic route where you visit 20 unique historic spans.
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