9 Ideal Vermont Destinations for a 3-Day Weekend in 2025
When you have a long weekend and a strong desire to get away from it all, Vermont may be the perfect New England state to escape to. Whether you’re here for the fall foliage or the wintertime ski slopes, Vermont delivers in exceptional natural beauty and outdoor adventures. At the same time, this state also abounds in wonderful small towns with unique character and only-in-Vermont experiences like farm tours and interactive art programs.
With so much to see and do across the Green Mountain State, you may have a hard time limiting yourself to one extended weekend. With this in mind, here are nine ideal Vermont destinations for a three-day weekend in 2025.
Newport
Perched on the southern shores of Lake Memphremagog (and just south of the United States-Canada border), Newport might have everything you need for a relaxing extended weekend. In town, check out the MAC Center for the Arts for a variety of fascinating works by local artists. If you’re planning an autumn trip to the Northeast Kingdom, you still have time to visit Prouty Beach and take advantage of its campsites and lovely lakefront beach. Whenever you’re visiting, it’s worth the short drive north to Eagle Point Wildlife Management Area at Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge to hike the trail and spot local wildlife like red foxes, eastern coyotes, river otters, and occasionally even moose.
A short drive away from town is Jay Peak, a year-round outdoor destination featuring an 18-hole golf course that’s open through mid-October, and a ski area that usually opens late in November and offers up to 80 trails on 385 skiable acres. Once you’re ready to settle down, you won’t have to settle for less with a stay at Cliff Haven Farm, a boutique bed-and-breakfast set on 300 acres of rolling hills near the lake.
Stowe
When it comes to signature Vermont scenery, it’s hard to beat the glorious mountain beauty of Stowe. If you’re here for fall foliage, head to Smugglers Notch State Park for prime autumn leaf peeping and grand views of 1,000-foot cliffs. Try the Wiessner Woods closer to town for a quieter meadow and woodlands setting that offers just as gorgeous fall colors. And if you’re up for some hiking and biking, Cady Hill Forest is another inviting option.
In winter Stowe takes its place as “The Ski Capital of the East,” and Stowe Mountain Resort is the best place to do winter sports in the region with its 126 trails offering up to 2,360 feet of vertical drop on terrain that extends to Vermont’s tallest mountain at Mount Mansfield. Whatever you’re aiming to do in and around Stowe, make your weekend a top-notch experience with a stay at Topnotch Resort, an alpine luxury resort spread across 120 acres in the foothills of Mount Mansfield.
Shelburne
Only about eight miles south of Burlington, the village of Shelburne shines with its many unique offerings that must be seen and experienced to be believed. While in town, you can stop at the Vermont Teddy Bear Factory for a very cute and cuddly time seeing where Vermont’s most adorable exports are made. Nearby is Fiddlehead Brewing Company’s tasting room, where you can enjoy a prime selection of local craft beers and order some grub from Folino’s Pizza next door. And if you’re here during autumn, make sure to visit the Shelburne Museum for their world-class collection of fine art (including works by French Impressionists like Claude Monet, Edouard Manet, Edgar Degas, and Mary Cassatt), unique finds like decoys and locally made firearms, and the historic Ticonderoga steamboat that was built here in 1906.
While Vermont has plenty of farms available to tour, there’s none quite like Shelburne Farms, and expansive community open space and sustainable agriculture resource featuring over 10 miles of walking trails, curated farm tours, children’s activities at the barn, and even a farm store stocked with local produce, maple syrup, and artisan cheese that’s open year-round. To make your Shelburne sojourn even better, book a stay at the Heart of the Village Inn for a fantastic central location in town and genuine local hospitality.
Vergennes
Around 24 miles south of Burlington is Vergennes, a tiny town with great spirit and a surprising variety of attractions. Come for Button Bay, a 253-acre state park on the shores of Lake Champlain that’s perfect for boating, fishing, hiking, and biking. Nearby, you will also find the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, a local institution that documents the maritime history and archaeology of the Champlain Valley, and it offers interactive sailing and rowing programs.
Once you return to town, make sure to stop at Vergennes Falls Park for a stunning array of waterfalls along Otter Creek, and catch some great performances at the historic Vergennes Opera House that’s been entertaining locals and guests since 1897. But if you desire some more quality time at the lake, book a cottage (or guest room) at the lovely Basin Harbor Resort & Boat Club and enjoy a long weekend boating, paddling, fishing, birding, and doing plenty more activities at Lake Champlain.
Middlebury
It might seem odd to opt for a long weekend in a college town, but Middlebury is no ordinary college town. Of course, it’s worth perusing the Middlebury College campus for special treasures like the extensive collection of historic treasures at the Middlebury College Museum of Art. But in winter, the college also provides alpine skiing for all at Middlebury College Snow Bowl, along with some 42 kilometers of Nordic skiing trails at the nearby Rikert Outdoor Center.
For even more outdoor recreational opportunities, head out to Green Mountain National Forest and hit their extensive network of hiking and biking trails, including the famed Long Trail that extends for 272 miles across the entire state. Also worth a short field trip is Moosalamoo National Recreation Area, a 16,000-acre nature preserve with its own world-class hiking and biking trails sporting incredible views of mountains, streams, lakes, and seasonal fall foliage. Once you return to town, check into the Swift House Inn for a refined bed-and-breakfast experience with classically well-appointed guest rooms and the acclaimed Jessica’s restaurant.
Rutland
Situated near the southern end of Green Mountain National Forest is the town of Rutland, a vibrant town surrounded by many more wonderful outdoor recreational spaces. Nearby, you will find Aitken State Forest, a prime spot for hunting, trapping, fishing, and hiking up Bald Mountain. A little farther out is the Bucklin Trail that you can hike to reach the summit of Killington Peak, which sports panoramic views that span as far as the Adirondacks of New York and the White Mountains of New Hampshire on a clear day.
Speaking of Killington, it’s worth the field trip to Killington Resort for epic mountain biking and golfing during the warmer months, as well as 1,509 skiable acres in winter that include seven mountain peaks and offer up to 3,050 feet of vertical drop. If you crave even more adventures on open snow, Rutland is also a short drive from Okemo Mountain Resort with 667 acres of skiable terrain and trails suitable for skiers at all levels. After a long day exploring the mountains, retreat to a cozy and comfy refuge at Red Clover Inn near Killington Resort.
Woodstock
Not to be confused with that other famous town of Woodstock in New York, Vermont’s Woodstock has plenty of its own legendary treasures. For one, there’s Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, which encompasses the nation’s oldest continuously managed scientific forest and the 220-year-old Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller Mansion. Right by the park is Billings Farm, one of the United States’ finest outdoor museums with a fully operational Jersey dairy farm, five distinct gardens, a full array of farm animals (including sheep, goats, and chickens), and a gift shop that’s stocked with local maple syrup and cheeses.
A short drive east of Woodstock sits one of New England’s greatest natural landmarks at Quechee State Park, where you can admire the massive Quechee Gorge that formed some 13,000 years ago and is now Vermont’s deepest gorge (at up to 165 feet deep). Also nearby is Saskadena Six, a historic ski resort that’s been serving locals and visitors for over nine decades. Whenever you’re ready to call it a day, treat yourself to luxurious nights at Woodstock Inn & Resort, a timelessly elegant resort with several delectable dining options, a full-service spa on site, and beautifully appointed rooms and suites.
Brattleboro
Just across the Connecticut River from New Hampshire and about 115 miles from Boston (Massachusetts) lies Brattleboro, a Vermont town that seamlessly blends past, present, and future. You can step into history at Fort Dummer State Park, a 217-acre forest preserve that includes the state’s first permanent European settlement (established in 1724). For some more fascinating local history, check out the Estey Organ Museum to see how one of the world’s largest producers of reed organs and pipe organs started here. And staying on the subject of music, Stone Church is a Victorian-era neo-gothic landmark that now hosts a wide variety of artists for concerts.
These days, Brattleboro has a thriving arts scene, and you can experience much of this local creativity at the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center (BMAC), a one-time train station that’s now a central place to showcase a vast array of cutting-edge works by artists near and far. From there, feel free to retreat to The Inn on Putney Road, a quaint yet elegant bed-and-breakfast right by the confluence of the West and Connecticut Rivers.
Manchester
Where the Green and Taconic mountains meet in southern Vermont, about 63 miles northeast of Albany (New York), Manchester has pretty much everything you need for the ideal getaway. If you’re here for prime New England fall foliage, take the Mount Equinox Skyline Drive to enjoy the brilliant display of autumn colors all the way up to the highest peak in the Taconic Range (at about 3,848 feet above sea level). For a different kind of leaf peeping experience, do a scenic chairlift ride at Bromley Mountain Ski Resort, or wait a few more weeks to take advantage of its 178 skiable acres in winter.
If you crave an authentic taste of Vermont farm life, head over to Merck Forest & Farmland Center, a 3,500-acre sustainable treasure with multiple forest hiking trails, fruit orchards, and an animal farm that includes sheep, goats, horses, and pigs. There’s also the Southern Vermont Arts Center, a beautiful forest estate that’s been transformed into a multi-format art space featuring the Arkell Pavilion concert hall, the Joan Hay Madeira Education Center studios, an outdoor sculpture park, and rotating visual art exhibitions at Yester House. Whatever you decide to do in and around town, a stay at the cozy yet chic Kimpton Taconic boutique hotel will make your Manchester weekend feel so much better.
These Destinations Make for a Picture-Perfect Three-Day Weekend
Across Vermont, you have plenty of inviting options for a three-day weekend escape that can be as exciting or as relaxing as you please. Go to Stowe for some of New England’s best fall foliage and winter skiing, and try Shelburne for a lovely farm town that grows all kinds of tantalizing treats. Head to Woodstock for the incredible scenery of Quechee Gorge and the many treasures at Billings Farm, and hit up Manchester to soar to new heights at Mount Equinox and Bromley Mountain. Whether you’re planning a weekend ski trip, or you fancy a last-minute autumn leaf peeping adventure, these Vermont destinations can make your three-day weekend extra special.
