9 Best Lakeside Towns in Vermont
If you’re looking for a small town with beautiful waterfront views, lakeside beaches, and easy access to scenic hikes, Vermont’s towns deliver in every direction. With more than eight hundred lakes and ponds, 220 of them spanning more than twenty acres, Vermont offers so many picturesque options that narrowing down the perfect lakeside town can feel like a challenge. Westmore offers dramatic lake scenery, while Shelburne pairs its shoreline setting with plenty to see and do. Some communities are known for old-fashioned general stores that stock just about everything you could need, while others offer unique attractions, including a library and opera house that sits half in Vermont and half in Quebec, Canada. Whether you want to fish, swim, paddle, hike, or simply relax by the water, these nine of the best lakeside towns in Vermont make it easy to plan an unforgettable getaway.
Westmore
The least populated town in Orleans County, Westmore’s natural beauty has inspired artists for over a century, including poet Robert Frost, who in 1909 camped on what is now the WilloughVale Inn & Cottages, then a farm. Centered around the glacier-carved Lake Willoughby, Westmore is known for its fjord-like setting between Mount Pisgah and Mount Hor. Enjoy kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, fishing, and swimming on the lake. Whether you want to relax lakeside on the South Beach and enjoy postcard-worthy views, or go on a hike, Westmore is the perfect spot to enjoy the surrounding scenery. With Mount Pisgah less than a 10-minute drive away and Willoughby State Forest 15 minutes away, enjoy the great outdoors year-round in Westmore.
Greensboro
Situated on Caspian Lake, Greensboro is a quintessential, quiet town in the Northeast Kingdom. Enjoy a day at the lake for swimming, relaxing, boating, or fishing. There are plenty of public walking trails, or you can walk around downtown Greensboro, which offers unique dining experiences, local artisan shops, and small-town charm. Visit the historic Willey’s Store for everything you need. Willey’s has been a town staple since 1900, and continues to offer everything from clothing to groceries, to hardware and wine. The classic country store also has a coffee bar and a bakery. Visit Hill Farmstead Brewery Taproom & Grounds for draft beer and vintage bottles on site, and growler fills to take away. If you’ve wondered what it would be like to be part of a circus, be sure to visit Circus Smirkus for circus camps for all ages in the summer.
Newport
Just a few miles south of the Quebec border, Newport is on the southern shore of Lake Memphremagog. The small city offers the ideal lake life experience with plenty of opportunities for boating, swimming, biking, hiking, and more. With Wednesdays on the Waterfront concerts happening in the summer, Newport has everything to make the perfect lake day or vacation spot. Enjoy the outdoors on the water, or with beachfront camping, or head into town for art galleries, and to nearby Derby for the Haskell Free Library and Opera House, which straddles the U.S.-Canada border. The library and the opera house both host several events each month, so be sure to check their calendars! For dining, Newport’s small but mighty restaurant scene offers a great variety of options to choose from, including classic pub eats at Tavern on the Hill and upscale lakefront dining at Le Belvedere.
Isle La Motte
A small, 7-mile by 2-mile island in Lake Champlain, and the oldest European settlement in the state, Isle La Motte is a must-visit for history and nature lovers alike. Home to the world’s oldest fossil reef, the Chazy Reef, which is estimated to be between 450 and 480 million years old. A designated National Natural Landmark, visitors can see the fossils themselves at two publicly accessible sites, Goodsell Ridge Preserve and Fisk Quarry Preserve. For a spiritual experience, visit Saint Anne’s Shrine to explore its 32 acres, rustic grottos dedicated to Saints, the over 100-year-old church, and the all-purpose building for picnics.
North Hero
One of the four towns that make up the Lake Champlain Islands, North Hero is a small town with wide open spaces and room to breathe. Lake activities happen all year long, from boating, swimming, ice fishing, and more. Lake life is one of North Hero’s main attractions. Locals and visitors alike enjoy the town’s natural areas that look out over Lake Champlain. Explore the one-mile-long trail at Butternut Hill, starting at Camp Ingalls. Wander through a floodplain forest that looks like it could be the set of Fern Gully, and see butternut trees and giant cedars. At Pelots Natural Area, enjoy a network of fields, a cedar grove, and a sugar maple forest. While this trail is longer, at around three miles, it is still moderate to easy, and has three loops. For shopping, Hero’s Welcome is a must. An old-fashioned general store that sells everything from suvioniers to fishing maps to boat rentals, grab a sandwich from the deli to fuel up for your day of adventuring.
St. Albans
Calling all maple lovers! Unofficially known as the maple syrup capital of the world, St. Albans is filled with small-town Vermont charm. The streets downtown are lined with 19th-century Victorian buildings, and host mom-and-pop cafes and boutique shopping. Home of the Vermont Maple Festival, satisfy your sweet tooth with maple-sugar treats before visiting Kill Kare State Park, which has a popular swimming spot in Lake Champlain, and the Rocky Point House, which is now a museum. For intrepid campers, Woods Island State Park offers no-frills, remote camping and is only accessible by boat. Swing by Maple City Diner for a classic American diner breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and be sure to stop by Catalyst Coffee Bar, which serves locally roasted coffees.
Burlington
Vermont’s biggest city, Burlington, is the ideal spot for an urban vacation with a lakefront view. A very walkable and bikeable city, in 2022, the Church Street Marketplace was named the No. 1 Public Square in America by USA Today. With lots to do out and indoors, there’s fun for the whole family in Burlington! Learn about the Lake Champlain exosystem at the Echo Leahy Center, explore over 100 shops and restaurants at Church Street Marketplace, and enjoy the historic architecture, live music, and public murals. For a truly classic summer Vermont experience, grab a cone at Ben and Jerry's and enjoy a sunset stroll along the lakefront.
Colchester
North of Burlington, Colchester is home to the Colchester Causeway, also known as the Island Line Trail, a walking and biking rail trail along Lake Champlain. In the summer, the trail connects to the Lake Champlain Islands via a bike ferry. Every June, thousands of fishing enthusiasts gather for the Lake Champlain International Father’s Day Fishing Derby, but Colchester is a destination for a lake vacation year-round. Visit the Vermont National Guard Library & Museum to learn about Vermont’s military history, with exhibits from the Revolutionary War to modern-day conflicts. Have a beach day at Bayside Beach and enjoy the scenic views of Lake Champlain.
Shelburne
Twenty minutes away from Burlington, Shelburne is a unique town that offers visitors a range of attractions and activities on the shores of Lake Champlain. Visit the Vermont Teddy Bear Factory to make your own one-of-a-kind teddy. Explore the Shelburne Museum to learn about American history, art, and design. The museum comprises 39 structures spread across 45 acres, making it a great day trip. To learn more about sustainability, visit the Shelburne Farms between mid-May and mid-October and enjoy visiting farmyard animals, trail walking, and cheesemaking and tasting. For the perfect pairing of cheese and wine, visit Shelburne Vineyard.
From Orleans County to the shores of Lake Champlain, these nine lakeside towns in Vermont truly embody the Green Mountain State's charming small-town vibes and stunning natural beauty. Whether you're looking for historic charm, excellent seafood, or waterfront activities for the whole family, you'll find the perfect lakeside escape among these scenic destinations. With so much to offer, a trip to one of these picturesque spots is the ideal way to experience the best of Vermont. Plan an unforgettable Vermont lakeside vacation today!
