Vermont Fall Travel Tips
Planning Your Foliage Vacation
Vermont's foliage season usually begins early to mid-September and extends into late October. While there’s no one best time or place to see Vermont’s maple trees show off their bright fall colors, the below tips will help you get the most out of your Vermont fall vacation.
MAKING RESERVATIONS
Make reservations well in advance, especially if your planned stay includes a weekend. During the foliage season Vermont resort areas have ample lodging facilities, including inns, hotels and condominiums. Lodging will often be available at these areas when beds are filled in some of the larger towns. Consider a multi-night stay in a resort area with day trips to surrounding sites and attractions to keep your vacation planning simple.
Those planning last-minute trips or on a budget, consider booking mid-week. Properties that fill up on weekends often have vacancies during the week.
Browse properties in our travel planning directory.
Different varieties of trees change at different times. Red maples are among the first to change, especially those along roadsides and in wet areas. The earliest foliage change generally occurs in the northern part of the state near the Canadian border, and at higher elevations. By mid-September, full color begins to appear across the north, moving progressively south during October. Individual trees and groups of trees with brilliant color can be found as early as the Labor Day weekend.
Typically, the fullest color can be found from late-September in the north, through mid-October in the south. Many experienced foliage viewers actually consider late October to be the most beautiful time in Vermont. Once the most brilliant colors have passed, the hills take on a subtler and richer range of hues.
Be sure to check out the Fall Foliage Forecaster to plan your next trip.
