10 Things to Know Before Visiting Stowe Vermont in Fall

Thinking of visiting Stowe, Vermont in fall? Read this post before you visit.

If you’re planning to visit New England in the fall chances are you have heard of Stowe, Vermont. It’s one of the best places in New England to see fall colors.

10 Things to Know Before visiting Stowe, VT Pin image with 4 photos of the Stowe area.

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Stowe is a small town located in Northern Vermont and has the look and feel of stepping into a Hallmark movie.

Listed in the top 10 of most fall foliage destinations in the United States Stowe is a town to add to your autumn New England travel plans.

Stowe, Vermont

As the leaves turn their vibrant autumnal colors, Stowe, Vermont is a picturesque town for fall enthusiasts.

Nestled in the heart of New England, this charming town transforms into a vision of colors each fall season.

The Stowe area offers an unforgettable experience for visitors seeking beautiful fall foliage in a charming town.

The Best Time to Visit Stowe, VT in Fall

Stowe is a great place to visit year round with skiing in the winter, hiking and mountain biking in the warm months and of course some of the best fall foliage.

While I could write about all the things to do in the Stowe area during the summer and winter (like how Smuggler’s Notch Resort is considered by many one of the best places to ski in the winter). I’m focusing this post on our fall trip to Stowe, VT and tips to make your visit to Stowe Vermont in the fall the best!

When is Peak Foliage Season in Stowe, Vermont

If you’re thinking of visiting New England during the fall season chances are you want to know when the Peak Foliage season is. That is kind of a hard question to answer.

Each year there are foliage trackers for Vermont and other New England States to help estimate the peak foliage. But each year it can very slightly depending on the weather.

Beautiful tree starting to change colors on main street in Stowe

Typically the best time to experience all the fall colors in this area is from late September to early October when the leaves are at their most vibrant.

We took a road trip through New England and visited Stowe the last weekend of September and the colors had just started to change. Though it wasn’t peak foliage time it was beautiful.

So by now I’m sure you’re convinced that a visit to Stowe needs to be part of your fall plans but what do you need to know before you visit? What places do you need to make sure to add to your plans?

Things To Know Before Visiting Stowe Vermont in Fall

Stowe, Vermont is a cute town and you could defiantly do minimal planning and have a great time visiting the Stowe area. But there are a few things that will make your trip more fun and stress free.

Don’t worry I’m also sharing some of the best things to do in Stowe Vermont in Fall later in this post.

Plan Ahead

The best tip I can give you is to plan your trip ahead. New England in the fall is on many peoples bucket lists and the number of people that visit each year can make planning a last minute trip difficult.

But…it’s not impossible to plan a last minute trip. But keep in mind that with last minute trips there are limited options and things can cost a lot more.

We weren’t sure if our New England road trip was actually going to happen until a couple of weeks before we left, so we ended up planning a last minute trip.

Be Flexible

Being flexible with your plans will allow you to make that random stop at the maple syrup shop or take an unplanned hike.

Going on your trip to Stowe with an idea of things you want to do is a great idea. But try to be flexible where you can so you can enjoy where your trip takes you.

Book Hotels Early

Hotels and vacation rentals book fast in New England during the fall season. If you wait until last minute expect to pay a lot more and only find hotels in not so convenient locations.

Three months before you plan to visit is probably the latest you want to book hotels if you want options. Many people say to book 6 months or more in advance, especially if you have a specific place you want to stay.

For our trip I booked our hotels very last minute and we ended up staying an hour away from where we originally planned.

It worked ok as we were road tripping through several states. But we ended up driving through some beautiful area in the dark (not ideal).

Next time we visit I will be planning months in advance and getting a place in Stowe or Smugglers Notch. Staying at the Trapp Family Lodge is on my Vermont Bucket List, so maybe we will do that next time.

Book Activities and Get Tickets Online Before Your Trip

Just as hotels get booked so do activities, luckily for most of the activities you don’t need to plan months ahead.

You can typically get tickets a few weeks before you visit. BUT if it’s something you really want to do book as soon as the tickets are available so you don’t miss it.

One of the main things I saw people trying to walk up and get tickets for was the Ben and Jerry’s Factory Tour. Get your tickets online or you won’t be touring the factory in the fall.

Expect Crowds

Like I said earlier we visited the end of September just before the “busy” season. And there were already a lot of people exploring.

We visited Stowe on Friday during the day and there were a surprising number of people. We went to get breakfast at a restaurant on main street and the wait was 45 minutes.

We talked to some of the locals when we stopped for a pizza lunch and they told us that we came at the right time to get some of the colors and avoid the crowds.

They said during the peak time you will be in lines of traffic driving through the area.

Keep in mind that a lot of people visiting means it will take more time to find parking, eat at restaurants and get the pictures you want.

Take a Hike

There are a lot of hiking trails in the Stowe area and taking a hike is a great way to enjoy the colorful fall foliage.

If you’re planning on hiking be sure to come prepared with good shoes and water. Also take a look at the trails online before you go to have an idea of which trails you want to hike.

This popular hiking destination has hikes of various difficulties and lengths so everyone can get out and enjoy nature.

One of the highlights of our trip was hiking to Bingham Falls.

Bingham Falls

Bingham Falls is right off of Route 108 and isn’t a long trail which is what we wanted with our kids. But it was more challenging than we expected.

The trail is half a mile long and starts of easy with a descent on a wide path but ends with a steep stone staircase to view the falls.

This hike is perfect for adults and teens but not something I would do again with little ones. The slippery wet stones going down to the falls with kids was stressful. But it was beautiful.

We were only able to fit the hike to Bingham Falls in this trip. But I already have a list of hikes I want to take next time we visit.

Moss Glen Falls

This Vermont waterfall hike is probably the one we should have done with our little ones. It’s at the top of my list for next time.

The trail to the falls is only about .25 miles long and Moss Glen Falls is the tallest waterfall in Vermont.

Sunset Rock

Another hike at the top of my list is the hike to Sunset Rock and the Upper Overlook. This is a great trail to take to get views of Stowe, VT.

Hiking to the top of Mount Mansfield and on trails in Smugglers Notch would also be a lot of fun.

Bring a Tripod For Taking Photos

A small phone tripod for taking photos is a must. I left mine sitting on the counter at home and there were so many times I wished I had it with us.

If you forget the tripod or don’t have one you can always ask people to take photos for you, take a selfie or try propping your phone on something. You just never know what photos you will get with those methods.

Try Local Fall Foods

One of my favorite parts of traveling is trying new foods and seasonal favorites. On our trip to Vermont we tried apple cider donuts, maple candies, ice cream and more.

I’ll share some of the places we stopped for food in the things to do in Stowe Vermont below.

Get up Early For Breakfast in Stowe

On our trip to Stowe we got to town early and wanted to get breakfast. I was surprised at the limited options.

We stopped at Cold Hollow Cider Mill for some apple cider donuts and apple cider (both were delicious). But we wanted a real breakfast.

Once in Stowe we figured we would find a good breakfast place on main street.

We stopped at the Butler’s Pantry and the wait was 45 minutes, and that didn’t fit into our day. (We figured out that you can get on the wait list with the yelp app so you can do it before you get there.)

If you want to enjoy breakfast at one of the sit down restaurants in Stowe be sure to start your day early to avoid the crowds.

A few other places were open for breakfast including black cap coffee across the street.

We ended up going to the Trapp Kaffeehaus and enjoying some pastries with a view.

Visit the Trapp Family Lodge

A stop at the Trapp Family Lodge and the Trapp Kaffeehaus is something to add to your travel plans.

Fun fact the Lodge is owned by the same family in the sound of music movie which makes it even more fun.

The Kaffeehaus is small but a great spot for some beautiful mountain views.

We got a few pastries and enjoyed sitting outside at the picnic tables with a beautiful view. The kids had fun running around the grassy area and just hanging out.

The Trapp Family Lodge is beautiful and has breathtaking views. Staying at the lodge would be such a cool exprience, there are so many fun outdoor activities and things to do staying at the lodge.

Plan Scenic Drives and Be Patient

This probably goes without saying but plan to drive some of the scenic roads in Stowe and the surrounding area.

We took a drive on Vermont Route 108 from Stowe toward Smugglers Notch and this mountain road was beautiful. This road is a mountain road so be prepared for winding roads and slow speeds.

Other scenic drives to take around Stowe include the Stowe Scenic Auto Toll Road (this road has a toll) and the Green Mountain Byway.

If you visit during peak times be prepared for slow moving traffic as everyone enjoys the beautiful scenery.

Get Tickets to Tour the Ben And Jerry’s Factory

One of the highlights of our time in Vermont (especially for the kids) was touring the Ben and Jerry’s Ice cream factory.

Tickets for the tour are available 2 weeks in advance online for a few dollars. If you want to do the tour GET TICKETS!

When we were at the factory I heard several people talking about how they thought they would be able to get tickets that day.

A quick look online showed me that tickets sell out fast, especially at peak times.

If you don’t get tickets to the factory you can still go and enjoy the playground, flavor graveyard, photo ops, gift shop and of course cream!

The tour was short and sweet and a great way to learn a little bit more about the Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. Trying an ice cream sample at the end of the tour was one of everyone’s favorite things.

After the tour we were going to get ice cream.

The line was so long we would have been waiting for over an hour. Instead we went and got Ben and Jerry’s ice cream and enjoyed it at the hotel.

Things to Do In Stowe Vermont in Fall

I have already shared several things to do in Vermont in my list of things to know before you visit. But I wanted to share a list of things to do in the area for a quick reference.

Depending on how long you are visiting Stowe you may only be able to do a few of these things. That just leaves more fun for next time.

Gold Brook Covered Bridge – (aka Stowe Hollow Bridge or Emily’s Bridge) is a small wooden covered bridge you can visit in Stowe
Stowe Mountain Resort – is a ski resort with 2 mountains Mount Mansfield and Spruce Peak you can visit year round.
Stowe Gondola Skyride – Enjoy a ride to the top of Mt. Mansfield, Vermont’s highest peak.
Ben & Jerry’s Factory – (Don’t forget to get tickets online to tour the factory!)
Smugglers’ Notch State Park – Enjoy hiking and mountain biking in the park or spend the night camping.
Hiking – Pick one of the many trails in the area to enjoy this beautiful place.
Stop for Vermont Maple Tours and/or Products – Get some maple to bring home and learn about the making of the syrup.

Cabot Creamery – Enjoy some cheese samples in the shop and take some home with you.
Trapp Family Lodge – Stay the night or stop by for the views.
Cold Hollow Cider Mill – Shop at the country store for gifts and souvenirs or enjoy apple cider and donuts.
Stowe Recreation Path – Enjoy the 5.3 mile paved trail for biking or walking and enjoying beautiful views.

No matter what you decide to do when you visit Stowe, Vermont in fall it’s the perfect place to slow down and enjoy the beautiful vibrant colors of fall.