This Vermont Scenic Byway Is The Road Trip Of A Lifetime

Come autumn, few U.S. states can rival the bucolic beauty of Vermont. And while the Green Mountain State is lovely in any season, it’s a fall road trip that you’ll find yourself writing home about. So it might come as a bit of a surprise that Vermont has only one official scenic byway under the Federal Highway Administration’s America’s Byways program. But don’t let that stat fool you: the Connecticut River Byway is on another level.

At nearly 500 miles in length, the Connecticut River Byway cuts through three states. It follows the path of two colliding tectonic plates, from Vermont’s Canadian border to New Hampshire and its eventual terminus in Northern Massachusetts, offering more million-dollar views of the New England countryside than you could shake a stick at. Even if you only want to stick with the Vermont section, there’s more than enough to draw your interest along the 318-mile stretch. So if you find yourself in any part of Vermont with a day to spare - preferably, but not necessarily, in leaf-peeping season - here are a few can’t-miss stops to hit along the way.

About the Byway

If you imagine New England as a flat land of rolling fields and apple orchards, you’ll be in for a surprise when you head off on the Connecticut River Byway. Flanked on one side by the Green Mountains and on the other by the White Mountains, its topography is anything but flat, and the Connecticut River, from which it takes its name, is said to be one of the nation’s most beautiful. Also of note: the northernmost reaches of the Appalachian Trail intersect with the Byway in places, so you may just run across a few intrepid hikers finishing (or starting) their treks along the spine of the continent.

For the most scenic and interesting drive, start by hopping onto Route 5 near the northern end of the byway in St. Johnsbury, which has several attractions to explore before you set off, and then proceed south towards Brattleboro. This stretch of the Connecticut River Byway will take about two hours from top to bottom without stops - the perfect length for a full day's trip once you build in time to check out the many points of interest along the route.

St. Johnsbury

Kicking off your road trip in St. Johnsbury, you’ll already have plenty to stop for. Strolling through the perfectly New England red-brick charm of its cozy downtown is a good start, but you’ll really want to make your way over to the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium first. Small-town science museums aren’t exactly a rarity, but this 1890-built complex is on the National Register of Historic Places and has been forecasting the area’s weather since 1893.

And, thanks to the wealthy Fairbanks family that built its namesake museum, that isn’t the only St. Johnsbury attraction worth a stop. The Fairbanks family’s library and art collection are on display in the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, a stately reminder of New England’s historic prominence in American cultural and intellectual life. If you’re interested in both of those attractions, allot a morning to the pair. If not, choose one or simply stroll through the beautiful center of town, then proceed to your next stop: the town of Norwich, located about an hour to the south.

Norwich

After you depart from St. Johnsbury, take an hour on the road to admire the scenery (it is a scenic byway, after all) before arriving in the town of Norwich. Along this stretch of the route, you'll follow the Connecticut River through a fertile valley that has long contributed to the region's farming heritage. Flanked by a mountain range on either side, the route is beautiful in any season. From winter's blanket of snow and summer's lush green to the famed New England autumn, Vermont offers year-round appeal, and the drive from St. Johnsbury to Norwich won't feel like an hour.

But why Norwich, you ask, and not one of the other small towns along the route? It isn't because this is where the Connecticut River Byway intersects the Appalachian Trail, though that's true, and may well be a major draw for hikers looking to trek a small portion of the trail. No, there's something else going on here. If you’ve ever felt the urge to go on a baking spree, you’ll likely recognize this town’s claim to fame as the hometown of the beloved-by-bakers King Arthur Baking Company.

As such, you’ll find a baker’s utopia in Norwich. The company’s brick-and-mortar store, baking school, and bakery are all located here, so even if you’ve never so much as turned on an oven, you will at very least find something delicious to snack on before you get back on the road. And if you do have a way with a pie crust, you might find your suitcase is a whole lot heavier than you remembered by the end of this stop…

Windsor

Departing from Norwich, drive a cool twenty-ish minutes down the road to the town of Windsor for a decided change of pace. By now, you've had your intellectual moment and gotten your fill of baked goods, so it’s time for some shopping and then a bit of boots-on-the-ground scenery. Ordinarily, a visit to the Old Constitution House State Historic Site, where Vermont’s constitution was signed, would be a must, but it’s closed through the summer of 2027 for renovations. Instead, take a peek from the outside, then consider stopping by Artisan’s Park. Home to local businesses including a distillery, a cheesemonger, and a glassblowing studio, it’s a great place to pick up some uniquely Vermont souvenirs.

Next, stretch your legs down the road at Mount Ascutney State Park. As the first state park in Vermont, it’s a favorite spot for local outdoor enthusiasts. If you fancy a hike, twelve miles of trails crisscross the park. If you don’t, you can also drive up the mountain to take in the views from the 3,144-foot summit of the highest peak in Windsor County. The trail from the parking lot is about a mile to the top.

If you wish, continue on to Brattleboro to enjoy more of the scenery for which this road trip is famous. You'll be treated to looming mountain views, the beauty of the changing seasons, and a peaceful course along the meandering river, no matter what. But if you've had enough bucolic New England perfection for one day, turn back at Windsor to cut about forty minutes off the return trip.

Only the Beginning

While these points of interest are perhaps the most noteworthy, there are a handful of equally lovely towns along this section of the Connecticut River Byway, not to mention hundreds of miles to the south in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. So if you see something that piques your interest, go ahead and stop; there’s no telling what hidden gems you'll uncover.