The Perfect 3-Day Stowe, Vermont Itinerary for Fall
Stowe is one of the best places to experience fall in Vermont, with colorful mountain views, scenic drives, covered bridges and plenty of charming New England towns nearby.
This 3-day Stowe, Vermont itinerary covers the village, Mount Mansfield, Smugglers’ Notch and a day trip through Waterbury to Burlington. It’s the perfect mix of fall foliage, short hikes, local favorites and some of the most beautiful drives in the area.
Here’s how to spend 3 days in Stowe during fall!
Disclosure: This post contains a few affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through my link.
Quick Travel Planning Tips for Stowe, Vermont
🏨 Where to Stay: Stay at Tälta Lodge for a modern mountain retreat along Mountain Road, or choose the historic Green Mountain Inn to be right in the heart of Stowe Village. Book well in advance, as accommodation fills up quickly during fall foliage season!
✈️ How to Get There: Burlington International Airport is the closest airport to Stowe, around a 40-minute drive away. Stowe is also approximately 3.5 hours from Boston and 5.5 hours from New York City by car.
🚗 How to Get Around: A rental car is a must for exploring Stowe, Mount Mansfield, Smugglers’ Notch and the surrounding towns! I recommend using Discover Cars to compare prices and find the best rental-car deal.
🍁 When to Visit: Fall foliage typically peaks between late September and mid-October, although the exact timing varies each year. Use this peak fall foliage map to help choose your dates, and book accommodation as early as possible.
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Day 1: Stowe Village
Explore Stowe Village and Main Street
Start your 3-day Stowe itinerary by exploring the village itself before heading farther into the surrounding countryside.
Stowe Village is small and easy to explore on foot, so park the car and spend some time wandering along Main Street. You’ll find independent shops, cafés, galleries and plenty of classic New England architecture.
Café on Main is one of my favorite spots for a quick coffee break, and you can also walk across the Giles W. Dewey Memorial Bridge, a small pedestrian bridge with lovely views of the village and surrounding fall foliage.
Before moving on, stop by the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum to learn more about the state’s skiing history. Even if you’re visiting outside ski season, it’s an interesting addition that won’t take up too much of your morning.
Photograph Stowe Community Church
Stowe Community Church is one of the village’s most recognizable landmarks, especially when its white steeple is surrounded by fall foliage. You’ll pass the church while exploring Main Street, but the best-known view is from farther up Mountain Road.
Search for the Stowe Community Church Viewpoint on Google Maps, near 232 Mountain Road. From here, you can photograph the church framed by the colorful hills behind it.
The viewpoint gets busy during peak foliage season, so try to arrive early and be respectful of the nearby businesses and parking restrictions.
Walk or cycle part of the Stowe Recreation Path
The Stowe Recreation Path begins behind Stowe Community Church and stretches for around 5.3 miles through the countryside. The paved trail follows the West Branch of the Little River, passing wooden bridges, open fields and plenty of colorful trees along the way.
Walking a short section is enough to enjoy the scenery, but you can also rent a bike if you want to cover more of the trail. The path is mostly flat and separated from the road, making it an easy and relaxing way to see another side of Stowe.
You don’t need to complete the entire route for this Stowe, Vermont itinerary. Simply follow it for as long as you like before turning around and heading back toward the village.
Hike to Sunset Rock
Just a short distance from the village, Sunset Rock is an easy hike through the forest with viewpoints overlooking Stowe and the surrounding mountains. The views have become somewhat obstructed by the growing trees, but it’s still a lovely walk, especially during fall.
You can access the trail from Sunset Street, although there is no visitor parking there, so you’ll need to leave your car in Stowe Village. Alternatively, start from Taber Hill Road, where there is a designated parking area, although spaces are very limited.
The Sunset Street route climbs steeply for around 200 yards to the main viewpoint. You can also continue to the Upper Overlook for views toward Mount Mansfield.
Visit the Gold Brook Covered Bridge
A short drive from the village brings you to the Gold Brook Covered Bridge, one of Stowe’s best-known fall photo spots. Built in 1844, it is the town’s only surviving 19th-century covered bridge and still carries traffic across Gold Brook.
You may also hear it called Emily’s Bridge, after a local legend claiming that the bridge is haunted by the ghost of a young woman named Emily. The story has several different versions, but it has made this one of Vermont’s most famous supposedly haunted landmarks.
Parking near the bridge is limited, and it remains an active one-lane road, so be mindful of passing cars while taking photos. You only need around 15–20 minutes here before continuing to your final stop of the day.
Visit Trapp Family Lodge
Finish your first day at Trapp Family Lodge, the Austrian-inspired mountain resort founded by the family portrayed in The Sound of Music. Its hillside location offers beautiful views across the surrounding mountains, particularly when the landscape turns red and gold in fall.
Non-guests need to buy a property day pass to explore the private grounds, which include walking trails, gardens, a chapel, farm animals and the von Trapp family cemetery. You can also check the activity schedule for history tours, farm tours and other seasonal experiences.
Afterward, head to the von Trapp Brewing Bierhall for Austrian-inspired food and beers brewed on-site. Dining reservations are recommended, especially during peak foliage season.
Day 2: Mount Mansfield and Smugglers’ Notch
Your second day takes you into the mountains for some of the best fall scenery around Stowe. Start at Mount Mansfield before following Route 108 through Smugglers’ Notch and continuing to Jeffersonville.
Ride the Gondola SkyRide or drive the Mount Mansfield Auto Toll Road
Begin the morning at Mount Mansfield, the highest mountain in Vermont. You have two scenic ways to experience it without completing a long summit hike: the Gondola SkyRide or the Mount Mansfield Auto Toll Road.
The Gondola SkyRide takes you to an observation area near the top of the mountain, where you’ll find viewpoints, short trails and the Cliff House restaurant. It’s the easier option and a great choice if you simply want to enjoy the scenery.
Alternatively, the 4.5-mile Auto Toll Road winds up the mountain to an elevation of around 3,850 feet. From the parking area, you can enjoy the views or follow the ridgeline trails for a longer hike. The road is narrow and unpaved in places, so drive slowly and check vehicle restrictions beforehand.
Both attractions are seasonal and usually operate only until mid-October, with closures possible due to weather. There’s no need to do both, so choose the experience that suits you best and check the current operating schedule before visiting.
Have lunch around Spruce Peak
Once you’re back down the mountain, take a break for lunch at Spruce Peak Village. This small resort village sits at the base of Mount Mansfield and has several places to eat, along with shops and plenty of outdoor seating.
The WhistlePig Pavilion is a good choice for Vermont-inspired comfort food, while Pico Taco serves tacos, bowls and quesadillas. If you take the gondola, you can also eat at the Cliff House near the top of the mountain instead.
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Drive Route 108 through Smugglers’ Notch
After lunch, continue north along Route 108 into Smugglers’ Notch. This narrow, winding stretch of road runs between Mount Mansfield and Spruce Peak, passing dense forest, huge boulders and dramatic rock formations.
The most scenic section is only around 3.5 miles long, but allow extra time to stop at the designated parking areas and explore on foot. Near the highest point of the pass, you can walk between the enormous boulders and follow short paths into the forest.
Drive slowly, as the road includes tight turns and becomes very busy during peak foliage season which is no surprise as it’s one of the best places to see fall foliage in Vermont!
Hike the Sterling Pond Trail
For a closer look at the landscape, stop at the top of Smugglers’ Notch and hike the Sterling Pond Trail. The trail follows part of Vermont’s Long Trail up to a peaceful mountain pond surrounded by forest.
The hike is around 2.3 miles round trip and typically takes 2–3 hours. Although relatively short, it gains approximately 880 feet and includes steep, rocky sections, so it’s best described as moderate rather than easy.
The trailhead is directly across from the main parking area at the top of the pass. Parking fills quickly during fall, so you may need to wait for a space. If you’re running behind schedule or the weather is poor, you can skip the hike and spend more time exploring the roadside scenery instead.
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Continue to Jeffersonville before returning to Stowe
On the other side of Smugglers’ Notch, continue along Route 108 to Jeffersonville. This small village has a handful of shops, cafés and galleries, making it a pleasant place to stretch your legs before driving back to Stowe.
Just before reaching the village, stop at the Historic Grist Mill Covered Bridge, which crosses the Brewster River on Canyon Road. You can also make a short detour to the Historic Cambridge Junction Covered Bridge, a much larger bridge spanning the Lamoille River.
After exploring Jeffersonville, retrace your route through Smugglers’ Notch to Stowe. Try to leave enough daylight for the return journey, as Route 108 is narrow and winding.
Waterfall near Grist Mill Covered Bridge 
Cambridge Junction Covered Bridge
Day 3: Waterbury and Burlington
The final day of your Stowe, Vermont itinerary combines two classic Waterbury stops with an afternoon in Burlington. Start early, as both Cold Hollow Cider Mill and the Ben & Jerry’s Factory become very busy during fall.
Visit Cold Hollow Cider Mill
No fall trip to Vermont would be complete without fresh apple cider and a warm cider donut. Cold Hollow Cider Mill is located around 15 minutes south of Stowe along Route 100 and makes an easy first stop on the way to Waterbury.
Inside, you can watch the cider-making process, sample fresh cider and browse a large selection of Vermont-made foods and gifts. The café also serves breakfast, coffee and heartier meals if you want more than a donut.
Cold Hollow opens early, so arriving shortly after opening is the best way to avoid the crowds before continuing to the Ben & Jerry’s Factory just a few minutes down the road. Try to visit on a weekday if possible because this spot becomes incredibly busy!
Tour the Ben & Jerry’s Factory
Just a few minutes farther along Route 100, the Ben & Jerry’s Factory offers a short behind-the-scenes look at one of Vermont’s most famous brands. The guided tour lasts around 30 minutes and covers the company’s history and ice cream-making process before ending with a sample.
Production schedules vary, so you may not see ice cream being made during your visit. Even so, the tour is fun and includes plenty of interesting details about how the company started.
Afterward, visit the Scoop Shop and walk through the Flavor Graveyard, where discontinued flavors are commemorated with humorous headstones. Tour tickets are released online 14 days in advance, and booking ahead is highly recommended during fall.
Spend the afternoon in Burlington
From Waterbury, it takes around 30–35 minutes to reach Burlington. Vermont’s largest city has a livelier atmosphere than Stowe, with a walkable downtown, plenty of restaurants and beautiful views across Lake Champlain.
Start at Church Street Marketplace, the pedestrianized heart of downtown Burlington. The four-block street is lined with independent shops, cafés, restaurants and historic buildings, and you can easily spend an hour or two browsing. Nearby City Hall Park is also worth a quick look before heading toward the waterfront.
Walk downhill to Waterfront Park, where you can enjoy views across Lake Champlain toward the Adirondack Mountains. If you have time, follow a section of the Burlington Greenway, visit the ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain or stop for a drink at Foam Brewers.
Try to stay until sunset, when the waterfront offers some of the best views in the city. Afterward, return downtown for dinner before driving back to Stowe. For more ideas, read my guide to the best things to do in Burlington.
