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Fall in Vermont isn’t just about leaves, it’s about rhythm. Hillsides flush red, orange, and gold while villages hum quietly with cider presses and farmers’ markets. Drive slowly, keep your windows cracked, and you’ll notice how every bend feels different depending on the light. The trick is not to rush; these byways reward pauses for coffee, covered bridges, or a photo pulled over at the right shoulder. Here are eight drives that bring out Vermont’s most vivid season.
Scenic Route 100 Byway
Route 100 cuts straight through the Green Mountains, running nearly the whole state. You pass through villages like Ludlow, Warren, and Stowe, where church steeples rise above a backdrop of flaming sugar maples. Pull into farm stands for cider donuts, or stop at trailheads for a quick walk under glowing canopies. It’s not just a road trip, it’s Vermont’s backbone, offering the kind of changing scenery that keeps you looking for the next curve.
Green Mountain Byway
This loop runs from Waterbury through Stowe and on toward Johnson, pulling you through farmland and into mountain views. Maple-lined stretches glow at midday, while valley meadows reflect late-afternoon gold. You can stop in Waterbury for chocolate or cider before heading north to wide-open landscapes. The byway isn’t long, but it’s layered with moments where you’ll want to linger and just let the ridges burn with color around you.
Mad River Byway
Following the Mad River, this drive blends small-town charm with dramatic mountain climbs. It threads through Warren and Waitsfield before winding over Appalachian Gap, a twisting ascent with sweeping views back across the valley. Covered bridges peek from quiet bends, and farm fields glow in warm shades that feel almost painted. This is a drive that asks you to slow down, step out, and actually breathe in the crisp October air.
Smugglers’ Notch
Smugglers’ Notch is dramatic in any season, but fall makes it unforgettable. The road squeezes between massive boulders and cliff walls, twisting and turning in a way that keeps you leaning forward on the wheel. Sugar maples cling to the rock faces, their colors amplified by the shadows of Mount Mansfield. The drive is short, but you’ll remember the tight turns and sudden bursts of gold and scarlet long after you’ve cleared the notch.
Middlebury Gap
Route 125 climbs into Green Mountain National Forest, where the air cools and the colors deepen as you rise. The pull-off at Texas Falls is worth every minute, with rushing water framed by fiery maples. Higher up, the Long Trail crosses, inviting you to step out for a ridge walk before dropping back down into Ripton. West of the pass, farms spread across open valleys, their fields edged with glowing birch and beech.
Crossroad of Vermont Byway
US 4 takes you from Rutland east to Woodstock and Quechee, weaving along river valleys that burst into color. The road is lined with orchards, old barns, and general stores that seem frozen in time. Quechee Gorge gives you a dramatic overlook, while Woodstock greets you with postcard-perfect greens and bridges. The drive balances lively towns with quiet, tree-lined stretches where every glance out the window feels like a painting in motion.
Lake Champlain Byway
Drive north along the Champlain Islands and the lake guides you at every turn. Orchards drop apples onto roadside grass, while sailboats drift past in the background of glowing hills. Pull into state parks or ferry landings for views that stretch across to the Adirondacks. On a calm afternoon, the lake mirrors the sky, doubling the effect of fall’s brilliance. This is a drive where water and foliage play equal roles in the beauty.
Northeast Kingdom Byway
Gopats92 Jonathan Leo Connor, Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0/Wikimedia Commons
Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom feels wilder, and the byway from St. Johnsbury to Newport proves it. The road runs past Lake Willoughby, where sheer cliffs plunge into blue water edged by blazing trees. You’ll see moose signs, long farm valleys, and fewer crowds than in central Vermont. Colors often peak earlier here, so timing matters, but if you catch it right, the mix of rugged landscapes and deep, rich hues feels like another world.