10 Best Small Towns In Vermont For A Crowd-Free Summer
In summer, Vermont's towns happily exchange ski-season crowds for swimming holes and mountain trails. Village greens fill with farmers markets. Quiet country roads run past old barns and covered bridges. While larger destinations around the state fill up during peak travel season, these hamlets offer a more relaxed way to experience Vermont. You will find uncrowded lakes and scenic backroads, hiking trails where the soundtrack is rushing water and birdsong instead of traffic. These 10 small towns capture Vermont at its most peaceful in summer.
Montgomery
Montgomery is known as Vermont's Covered Bridge Capital, and for good reason. The town has six historic covered bridges within its borders, plus another straddling the town line with Enosburg, giving it the most covered bridges of any town in the country. A summer visit can be as simple as following the Trout River, stopping for photos and watching the water move past shaded banks and old timber crossings.
Nearby, Three Holes is a favorite swimming spot with a series of rocky pools and small cascades along the river. It is best suited to careful swimmers who know how to read current and footing, but even from the rocks, it has the kind of clear, cold water that defines a Vermont summer. For a longer day outside, head toward the Long Trail or Jay Peak Resort. Jay Peak is best known for winter, but its summer season brings hiking, mountain biking, golf and wide green views across the northern mountains.
Westmore
Westmore sits beside Lake Willoughby, often called the "Lucerne of America." The lake is regularly compared to a Norwegian fjord because Mount Pisgah and Mount Hor rise steeply on either side. In summer, the water draws swimmers, kayakers, paddleboarders and anyone looking for a cool place to spend an afternoon. It is also Vermont's deepest lake entirely within the state, reaching 328 feet at its lowest point. Its clear water and cliffside setting make it one of the strongest visual anchors in New England.
Hikers can climb Mount Pisgah or Mount Hor for broad views over the lake, nearby forests and the surrounding hills. For something more unusual, the Museum of Everyday Life offers a quirky indoor stop in a barnlike setting, with exhibits built around ordinary objects and the stories people attach to them. After a lake day or hike, Parker Pie Co. in nearby West Glover is a reliable stop for pizza, local drinks and an easygoing Vermont crowd.
Bristol
Outdoor adventure abounds in this classic New England town. At Bristol Falls, you'll find a roughly 14-foot waterfall plunging into a deep pool, where activities like swimming and cliff-jumping are popular among locals. The Bristol Town Green is a 1.5-acre New England common that hosts Bristol Band Concerts every Wednesday from mid-June to late August. You can also catch a family-friendly movie as part of the Movies in the Park after dark series. Locals and visitors alike bring their chairs or blankets to enjoy the entertainment on the grounds.
Get a dose of nostalgia at Recycled Reading on Main Street. This store has an extensive collection of books, board games, puzzles, art supplies, toys and musical instruments from your childhood. The Deer Leap Overlook Trail offers views of the valley at an elevation of 1,825 feet. Once you climb the rocky ascents, you'll be immersed in dense woodland, helping you connect with your natural surroundings. The south-facing cliff offers wide views of Bristol and the surrounding areas.
Brandon
Brandon sits along Otter Creek in west-central Vermont and runs at a noticeably quieter pace than the state's bigger resort towns. The downtown historic district holds the Brandon Inn (in operation since 1786) and the Brandon Artists Guild, where local painters and sculptors show year-round. Brandon Music runs a chamber concert series through the summer at its converted barn venue just outside the village.
Otter Creek runs through town for paddling and easy fishing, and the Neshobe River meets it just north of downtown. For a longer day outside, the Falls of Lana on the Branbury State Park land are a short drive south, with a moderate hike to a cascading waterfall above Lake Dunmore.
Craftsbury
Craftsbury offers one of the quieter summer escapes in the Northeast Kingdom. The Craftsbury Outdoor Center, best known for winter sports, stays active in warmer months with trails for running, mountain biking, walking, hiking and roller skiing. Big Hosmer Pond is the town's summer centerpiece. The narrow lake is popular for paddling, fishing, sailing and relaxed swimming, with rolling hills and forested shores giving it a peaceful feel.
Craftsbury Common adds a postcard view, with open grass, white fences, maple trees, historic buildings and a white-steepled church. In summer, the common is also a gathering place for outdoor concerts and community events where families spread out on the grass while music plays nearby.
Grafton
Grafton is one of Vermont's most carefully preserved villages, restored by the Windham Foundation since the 1960s. The village center still feels like a 19th-century photograph, with white clapboard houses, the Grafton Inn (in operation since 1801) and Grafton Village Cheese Company along Main Street. Summer brings free concerts by the Grafton Cornet Band on the village green and a farmers market at the Grafton Trading Post.
Grafton Ponds Outdoor Center keeps trails open in warmer months for hiking and mountain biking through the Windham County hills. The Phelps Barn Pub at the Grafton Inn serves dinner with local cheese and Vermont beer in a setting that hasn't changed much in two centuries. The Grafton Forge runs blacksmith demonstrations during the summer for anyone curious about traditional ironwork.
Wallingford
Wallingford sits along Otter Creek in Rutland County and centers on a 19th-century Main Street historic district that has stayed remarkably unchanged. The town's most-loved summer spot is Elfin Lake in the town park, a small swimming and fishing pond with a sandy beach, picnic shelters and easy access for families. Just east of town, the White Rocks National Recreation Area inside the Green Mountain National Forest runs the Ice Beds Trail, a moderate hike to a rock-pile site where ice deposits stay frozen well into summer.
Devil's Den Trail climbs to a rocky overlook with wide views down the valley. Main Street holds the historic Stafford's Country Store and several restored brick buildings from the True Temper Tools manufacturing era. The South Wallingford General Store, a few miles down Route 7, makes a worthwhile stop for sandwiches before or after a day on the trails.
Weston
Don't be deceived by this small town. It has a strong arts and culture community that peaks in summer. The Weston Theater Company puts on Broadway-style performances on a multi-stage in the village green. Get your tickets as soon as possible because they sell out quickly. Continue your trip with historic buildings, such as the 1797 Farrar-Mansur House & Museum, a fully operational historic house run by the Weston Historical Society. This museum offers a glimpse of 19th-century New England life through Vermont-made artifacts, including musical instruments, pottery, glassware and portraits.
The Vermont Country Store is a must for shopping or browsing. This store looks like a classic red barn. Inside, you'll find vintage-style candies, toys, fresh maple syrup, clothing and accessories. This is a must-stop for those who want to reminisce about the simpler days. Finish your trip with French cuisine at The Left Bank. This dining room is where residents and guests gather to make memories. The head chef strives to deliver five-star dining and signature dishes such as bouillabaisse and steak au poivre.
Middlebury
Middlebury is a Champlain Valley college town that quiets down in summer when students leave, handing the historic downtown back to a slower crowd. Otter Creek Falls cuts right through the middle of town with a footbridge above the water, and the Marquis Theater shows independent films in a restored 1920s movie house. The Henry Sheldon Museum, founded in 1882 as one of the oldest community-based museums in the country, keeps regional history on display in a Federal-style townhouse on Park Street.
Branbury State Park on Lake Dunmore is a 10-minute drive south for swimming and a sandy beach. The Trail Around Middlebury (TAM) runs 19 miles of footpath circling the town through woods, riverbank and the Middlebury College land. Otter Creek Brewing and Drop-In Brewing both pour locally for after-trail flights.
Dorset
Dorset is one of Vermont's most beautifully preserved villages, with white clapboard houses around a village green and the historic Dorset Inn (operating since 1796) at the center of town. The village stays much quieter than the busier Manchester area just south thanks to its small footprint and lack of outlet shopping. The Dorset Quarry, a former marble quarry now filled with cold spring-fed water, is one of New England's most famous swimming holes and the spot locals head on a hot summer afternoon.
The Dorset Theatre Festival runs professional regional theater on the historic village green from June through September in the 1929 Dorset Playhouse. For longer days outdoors, Emerald Lake State Park south of town handles hiking and swimming, and the Mount Aeolus trails climb above the village for valley views.
Explore Small Town Life in Vermont
There are many popular Vermont draws, but unsurprisingly, the more tourists they attract, the less they may appeal to those seeking quiet time. These Vermont small towns combine authentic New England culture with outdoor experiences, including challenging hikes and quiet swimming holes, so whether you want to explore nature or listen to live music, you can still experience summertime relaxation without the crowds.
