Color moves roughly north to south and top to bottom. Plan your trip around the region that peaks on your dates, not the other way around.
Northeast Kingdom
Peak ≈ Oct 1–6
Vermont's coldest, wildest corner and usually the first to turn. Glacial lakes, hilltop farms and a fraction of the crowds you'll find on Route 100.
- Lake Willoughby from the north beach on Route 5A — cliffs of color dropping into a fjord-like lake
- Peacham village and the back roads toward Danville, the classic white-steeple-and-hillside view
- Kingdom Trails in East Burke for foliage from a mountain bike
- Island Pond and the Nulhegan basin, where tamarack bogs turn gold in late October
Towns: Jay, Newport, Island Pond, Lake Willoughby, East Burke, Craftsbury, Greensboro, Hardwick, Danville, St. Johnsbury, Peacham, Groton
Northern Green Mountains
Peak ≈ Sept 30 – Oct 6
Stowe, Mount Mansfield and Smugglers' Notch: the postcard. High ground peaks early, the valley follows a week or so later.
- Route 108 through Smugglers' Notch — hairpins between boulders; vehicles over 40 ft (45 ft with a trailer) are banned, and the road closes for winter
- The Stowe gondola or the Mount Mansfield Toll Road for a top-down view (check fall schedules)
- Stowe Pinnacle or Sterling Pond for a short, steep hike with a big payoff
- Cold Hollow Cider Mill and the Ben & Jerry's factory in Waterbury on the way in
Towns: Stowe, Smugglers' Notch, Jeffersonville, Waterbury
Mad River & Central
Peak ≈ Oct 2–9
The Route 100 heartland: Waitsfield, Warren, Granville Gulf and the gaps that cross the Green Mountains.
- Moss Glen Falls in Granville Gulf, a few steps from the Route 100 pull-off
- Appalachian Gap (Route 17) for the overlook looking east across the Mad River Valley
- Lincoln Gap Road — steep, partly gravel and seasonal; skip it in a low car
- Montpelier's gold-domed State House framed by hillsides
Towns: Montpelier, Waitsfield, Warren, Granville, Rochester, Randolph
Champlain Valley
Peak ≈ Oct 6–10
Lake Champlain keeps this valley warmer, so color arrives later and lasts longer. Orchards, barns and the Adirondacks as a backdrop.
- Mount Philo State Park at sunset — Vermont's oldest state park, with a road nearly to the top
- Shelburne Farms' lakeside grounds and barns
- Middlebury Gap (Route 125) and Brandon Gap (Route 73) crossing into the mountains
- Pick-your-own apples in Shoreham and Addison County orchards
Towns: Burlington, Shelburne, Vergennes, Bristol, Middlebury, Brandon
Upper Valley
Peak ≈ Oct 7–10
Woodstock, Quechee and the Connecticut River towns. Historic villages, covered bridges and one of Vermont's best food and farm scenes.
- Mount Tom and the carriage roads of Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, Vermont's only national historical park
- Quechee Gorge — Vermont's deepest gorge, viewable from the Route 4 bridge or a short trail
- Billings Farm & Museum, VINS Nature Center and Simon Pearce glassblowing in Quechee
- Route 5 along the Connecticut River from Norwich up to Bradford
Towns: Woodstock, Quechee, White River Junction, Norwich, Bradford, Windsor
Killington & Okemo
Peak ≈ Oct 5–11
Big mountains, big views. Ridge-top color comes early; the villages below (Ludlow, Weston, Grafton, Chester) peak a week or so later.
- Resort gondola rides at Killington or Okemo when they run fall scenic operations (check schedules)
- Plymouth Notch — Calvin Coolidge's hometown, preserved as a state historic site
- The Vermont Country Store and village green in Weston
- Grafton's white clapboard village and cheese shop, then Chester's stone village
Towns: Killington, Rutland, Plymouth Notch, Ludlow (Okemo), Weston, Chester, Grafton
Southern Vermont
Peak ≈ Oct 6–12
The last region to peak, with more oaks and beeches stretching color into late October. Easiest drive from New York and Boston.
- Molly Stark Trail (Route 9) and the Hogback Mountain overlook west of Brattleboro
- Mount Equinox Skyline Drive above Manchester (private toll road; seasonal)
- Hildene, the Lincoln family home, and the shops of Manchester
- Newfane's common and Route 30 up the West River
Towns: Dorset, Manchester, Arlington, Stratton, Bennington, Wilmington, Newfane, Putney, Brattleboro