Boston to Vermont with kids: where to stay, what to do & our road trip

Last updated: September 2026.

We drove from Boston through Vermont with R as part of his first American road trip, before continuing north to Montreal. Vermont was only meant to be a short stop on the journey, but it ended up being one of our favourite parts of the trip.

If you’re planning the drive from Boston to Vermont, it’s an easy route to do with kids: Woodstock is around 2.5 hours from Boston, Stowe around three hours and Burlington roughly 3.5 hours. But I’d spend less time worrying about where to stop on the drive and more time deciding where to base yourself once you get there.

We explored Stowe, Waterbury, Burlington, Woodstock and the Lake Champlain Islands. Stowe was easily our favourite place to stay with a baby, Burlington would be my second choice, while Waterbury and North Hero worked much better as stops along the way. Below is our route, where I’d stay next time and what I’d actually prioritise if you’re visiting Vermont with kids.

Boston to Vermont: drive time and our route

Vermont is an easy addition to a Boston family holiday. The drive takes around 2.5 hours to Woodstock, three hours to Stowe and 3.5 hours to Burlington, depending on traffic and where you’re starting from in Boston.

We hired a car from Boston Logan and travelled through Vermont before continuing to Montreal. With a baby, I’d allow extra time for feeds, nappy changes and a chance to get out of the car seat, but we found the drive itself very straightforward.

Our route was: Boston → Woodstock → Stowe and Waterbury → Burlington → Lake Champlain Islands → Montreal.

If Vermont is the destination rather than a stop on a longer road trip, I wouldn’t try to stay in every town. Stowe would be my first choice for a family base, with Burlington the other place I’d consider staying for a few nights.

Where should you stay in Vermont with kids?

If you don’t want to read the whole article, here’s our quick take on each place. More detail on every town follows below.

Place	Our verdict	Best for
Stowe	Our top choice	First family trip to Vermont
Burlington	Would stay here	Lake Champlain and more going on
Woodstock	Visit rather than prioritise as a base	A pretty stop from Boston
Waterbury	Day trip / stop	Ben & Jerry’s and easy outdoor stops
North Hero	Scenic stop	Lake Champlain drive en route to Canada

If we went back tomorrow, I’d book Stowe again. It had the best balance for us of easy walks, places to eat, family-friendly accommodation and things to do nearby without needing to spend hours in the car.

Stowe with kids: our top choice for where to stay in Vermont

Stowe was easily our favourite place and would be my number-one recommendation if you’re deciding where to stay in Vermont with kids.

Why stay in Stowe with kids?

• Spacious hotel options like The Green Mountain Inn.
• Heated outdoor pools to enjoy all year round.
• Mountain town charm.
• Walkable centre with pram-friendly paths.

Things to do in Stowe with kids

Stowe itself was cute, and I could see how it would be a nice place to visit in the ski season. We grabbed breakfast from Cafe on Main near our hotel and went for a lovely walk along the 5-mile-long Stowe Recreation Path. There were plenty of other trails nearby too, like the Quiet Path which goes past ‘Bear’s Bench’. I don’t know how far you’d have to walk before you got into bear territory, so it was slightly unnerving!

We’d planned to ride the Stowe SkyRide gondola up Mount Mansfield, but it was too cloudy to see much, so it felt like a waste (and it was quite expensive). On a clear day, the views are said to be spectacular.

If you’d rather explore somewhere on foot that isn’t pram-friendly, a child carrier backpack earns its place on the steeper trails around Stowe.

Where to stay in Stowe

If you only book one Vermont base from this guide, I’d make it Stowe. We stayed at The Green Mountain Inn and it worked far better with a baby than I expected: our suite had a separate living room for R to sleep in, there was an outdoor heated pool, food could be collected from the hotel restaurant and we could park close to our room. Those small things made the stay noticeably easier.

The takeout from the hotel’s restaurant The Whip was tasty and easy to collect, and the outdoor pool was perfectly heated for a splash about with R. There was also a hot, bubbly jacuzzi and indoor sauna/jacuzzi area for me to enjoy while R was napping with Jack, a total luxury. Plus each part of the hotel had its own parking area, meaning your car was never far away. I was expecting a lot less being a 3-star hotel, but it was definitely reflective of a strong 4-star in my experience.

If The Green Mountain Inn isn’t available, Stoweflake Mountain Resort is a solid alternative with family suites, a spa and good access to the trails.

Waterbury with kids: an easy day trip from Stowe

Waterbury is a fun stop, especially with older kids in tow, and it’s an easy day trip if you’re based in Stowe rather than somewhere you need to stay overnight. The Ben & Jerry’s Factory Tour is short, easy to manage with little ones, and ends with tasty samples. We timed it well with R’s nap on route, so managed to get through the whole experience with him happily smiling at the crowd in the carrier. The tour is relatively basic but a novelty, and the whole site has enough cool stuff to see to make it worthwhile visiting, like the flavour graveyard.

We also stopped at the nearby Cold Hollow Cider Mill to pick up a takeaway lunch and have a juice tasting (side note – I picked up some of their Apple Cider jelly/jam and it is incredible!). Afterwards we headed to the Waterbury Centre State Park, where we enjoyed a walk by the water. It was peaceful but really stunning, a perfect New England picnic spot.

Burlington with kids: our second choice for a Vermont base

Burlington is often billed as Vermont’s ‘biggest’ city, but it still felt easy-going, and it’s the base I’d pick if you want a larger town with more choice than Stowe. We’d worried about parking, but it was straightforward down by the waterfront (we parked on Lake Street but there was a carpark over the road too), and the lake walk was perfect for a stroll, giving R a break from the car.

We grabbed some (huge) sandwiches from Yellow Mustard Deli, another win for takeaway-friendly meals on the go. Burlington had just the right balance for an easy-going Vermont road trip stop, and I’d be tempted to come back and explore further based on what I saw. You could also drive straight from Boston to Burlington, and base yourself here for a few days.

Where to stay in Burlington

If you’re basing yourself in Burlington rather than Stowe, the Hilton Burlington Lake Champlain is the obvious choice for families, right on the waterfront with the lake views you’d want.

For families who want a kitchen and more space, the Residence Inn Burlington has suite-style rooms with kitchenettes, which makes a difference when you’re travelling with a baby.

North Hero and the Lake Champlain Islands: a scenic Vermont road trip stop

Instead of heading straight up the Interstate, we drove to Canada via the islands of Lake Champlain. This route was scenic and worth the tiny bit of extra time Google said it would take (although I suspect it was shorter in the end, as the Alburgh border crossing was very small and quiet). We stopped at North Hero State Park (which had free parking) for a short walk and picked up sandwiches at the quirky Hero’s Welcome General Store, which had an impressive selection of sandwiches with fun names. We both went for the honey mustard one, which was VERY sweet!

It was a small place to stop so I wouldn’t suggest it for an overnight stay, but for a lunch stop it worked perfectly, and was a far more interesting drive than up the Interstate. This worked well as part of our onward journey to Montreal rather than somewhere we’d stay, and we used the quiet border crossing again on the way through.

Woodstock with kids: pretty, but we’d visit rather than stay

Woodstock is often cited as one of the prettiest towns in America, and while it was nice and clearly a town with money, it was disappointing in all honesty. It was nice for a brief wander, but there wasn’t much going on, and our stay wasn’t very child-friendly. Our hotel (The Shire, Woodstock) was comfortable but expensive and didn’t have any food options, and we couldn’t find any takeout in town, so we ended up with supermarket salads eaten on our balcony.

If you do want to stay in Woodstock, the Woodstock Inn & Resort is the place to do it properly. It’s the classiest option in town, with a pool and family rooms that are a big step up from The Shire. But it works far better as a stop from Boston than an overnight base, and I’d still prioritise Stowe or Burlington if you’re short on time.

Getting around Vermont with kids

Driving really is the easiest way to see Vermont, as the towns are spread out, and the scenic drives are part of the appeal. We’d recommend searching with Discover Cars to compare the best rates on car hire.

There are some public transport links though, if you can’t drive. Amtrak runs the Vermonter service from Washington D.C. through New York and up to St. Albans, Vermont, with stops including Brattleboro, Montpelier and Essex Junction (near Burlington). Greyhound have limited routes into Vermont from Boston and New York. But once you’re in Vermont, buses are apparently infrequent, so they’re not practical for sightseeing.

For families, a car is by far the best option. The drives themselves are beautiful, with plenty of places to pull over for a walk or picnic.

How many days do you need in Vermont with kids?

We only had two nights in Vermont because we were continuing on to Montreal, and it was enough to get a taste of the state, but I’d allow longer if Vermont is the main point of your trip.

For a first visit with kids, I’d aim for three to four nights and use one main base rather than moving hotel every night. Stowe works particularly well for this because Waterbury is easy to visit from there, while Burlington and Lake Champlain can be added if you have more time.

If you’re simply breaking up a longer Boston to Montreal or New England road trip, two nights still works. I’d spend them in Stowe rather than trying to squeeze in several different overnight stops.

Best time to visit Vermont with kids

For fall foliage, late September to mid-October is peak time. Northern Vermont (Stowe, Burlington) peaks in late September to early October, while southern Vermont peaks mid-October. This is Vermont’s busiest season, so book accommodation well ahead.

For families with babies or toddlers, I’d actually recommend summer (June-August) instead: warm weather, outdoor pools open (like at The Green Mountain Inn), fewer crowds than fall, and easier to navigate with a pram. Early fall (September) is a good middle ground too, still warm and with fewer crowds than peak foliage season. I’d avoid winter with a baby unless you’re specifically going skiing, as icy paths make pram-pushing treacherous and many attractions close.

Our verdict on Vermont with kids

Vermont ended up being one of the easiest parts of our New England road trip with R. The driving was straightforward, the towns were small enough not to feel overwhelming and there was always somewhere to stop for a walk or a bit of time outside.

If you’re travelling from Boston, I’d head for Stowe and use it as your main base rather than trying to stay in every town. Add Waterbury as an easy trip from there, Burlington if you have another day or two, and Woodstock as a stop on the way north. If you’re continuing to Montreal, the drive through the Lake Champlain Islands is a lovely alternative to simply following the Interstate.

Are you planning a wider New England road trip? We enjoyed Boston and loved Cape Cod, plus Montreal was a big surprise. You’ll find more inspiration in our round-up of best family road trip destinations.

Frequently asked questions

Keep us posted on your travels. We’d love you to say hi on Instagram.
Allie, Jack & R x