Doing a classic New England fall road trip has been on my bucket list for years, and Stowe Vermont has been the town I’ve been the most excited to visit.
I just got back from a week running around New England with my girlfriends and had to make you the perfect weekend in Stowe, Vermont itinerary. From scenic drives to fall activities to coffee shops I’m still drooling over, these are all the best things to do in Stowe during fall.
Stowe, Vermont in the fall is absolutely beautiful. The girls and I started our trip in New Hampshire to drive the Kancamagus Highway and after 2 days of endless time in fall foliage and mountain views, I was ready to hunker down in a cozy town to do some classic fall activities.
I had fallen asleep somewhere in the area between New Hampshire and Vermont, but I woke up 10 minutes before we arrived to Stowe and got the biggest stupid grin on my face. I loved the fall colors in the distance, the charming downtown stores decked out in fall decor, and the signs for the local corn maze.
I was READY to get my Gilmore Girls vibe on.
I Loved The Bluebird Cady Hill Lodge In Stowe
I somehow snagged the very last room available at the Bluebird Cady Hill Lodge. If you’re planning a New England trip, you have to do it very early (spring and summer is the best time of year – not September like I did!)
But, we lucked out and got this amazing room at the coolest hotel in Stowe. The Bluebird took an old motel and renovated it, making it have this hip modern mountain meets mid-century modern vibe. The lobby is chic and bright, there’s a sauna and pool and hot tub.
They have a firepit going every day, so the air smells like crips fall leaves and campfire smoke every time you step outside. And, it’s right next door to Awol, their sister property.
Awol Hotel is also a great place to stay. They just built brand new a-frame cabins that we talked our way into to tour. They’re a great size and all have a back patio overlooking the trees and pond at Awol. The property also has a huge ceder hot tub, which reminded me of the cedar hot tub at my cabin in California.
We pulled in, helped ourselves to free coffee in the lobby, and immediately got settled. The second night during our stay, we opted to order takeout and play a game of Clue in the lobby with wine. Such a cozy, fun evening! I can’t recommend this place enough.
An adorable boutique mountain-style lodge in Stowe with modern rooms, firepit, sauna, game room, pool and more.
1. Stowe Corn Maze
Literally the very first thing we did when we got to Stowe is check-in and then head to the local corn maze. I’m obsessed with corn mazes, and I’m really good at them, too.
The Percy Farm Corn Maze is $8 for adults, and takes about 45-60 minutes to complete (under 30 if you’re solving this with me, hehe!) They don’t give you maps, but that’s the fun part: trying to find your way out of the maze!
They also have farm animals here to pet, like cows and pigs. It’s such a fun way to kick off your fall trip to Stowe.
2. Trapp Family Lodge Happy Hour
The Trapp Family Lodge has a name you probably recognize – yes, it was built by THAT Trapp family from Sound of Music. After touring the United States as the Trapp Family Singers, they settled in Stowe and launch an Austrian-inspired lodge resort.
Today, you can book a stay at this hotel or do guided tours guided tours if you aren’t a registered guest. But, instead I recommend you come in the evening for a round of drinks. This way, you can bypass the tour fee and instead have a great cocktail and get to enjoy the bar and lobby area for free.
The girls and I ended a night here. We grabbed martinis at the bar (I loved the star and moon designs on the wood bar, by the way. So pretty!) and sat outside to watch the sunset over the mountains. A very special place to visit and coming for a drink is way more chill than a formal tour.
3. Black Cap Coffee Shop
We liked this cafe so much we went for breakfast every day during our visit. Black Cap is located on the edge of downtown Stowe and is clearly a local favorite on top of being a go-to spot for visitors.
They have a robust breakfast menu with hot sandwiches, pastries and specialty coffee drinks. Every morning I ordered a breakfast sandwich with gouda with a maple latter and a maple croissant. And let me tell you, this maple croissant is heaven on earth. I would fly back to Vermont just to eat this maple croissant again.
PS on the second day here while in line, I was recognized from my TikTok videos and that just made my day! I get recognized all the time in San Francisco where I live, but the otherside of the country?! Pinch me.
4. Explore Downtown Stowe
Stowe village is absolutely adorable, especially the main street which is lined with boutiques, restaurants, an ice cream shop, cafes, and a general store.
You must set aside a morning or afternoon to stroll the shops and explore. Plus, take a lot of photos!! Keep in mind that most stores will close around 5pm so plan accordingly.
5. Gold Brooke Covered Bridge
Who else just loves covered bridges?! I think they are so dang cute! We didn’t have those growing up in Wisconsin and I haven’t seen a single one in California so I made a point to stop by as many New England covered bridges as I could on our trip.
Gold Brooke Covered Bridge is just outside of town and worth the quick drive over. Also a great spot for photos!
6. Ride The Stowe Gondola
I’m always a sucker for gondola rides, especially during autumn when you can get epic views of mountain peaks and fall colors below (I also love to do them during the winter since I don’t ski, I still adore getting the good views!)
The Stowe Gondola is expensive, at $40 a person so it’s tempting to skip it, but don’t. We also did the gondola at Loon Mountain Resort but we all liked the Stowe Gondola much better.
We ALMOST missed the gondola, too! They stop selling tickets at 4:15pm and the last rider also goes up at 4:15pm. We were racing to the mountain, I hoped out of the car and RAN to the ticket booth. I bought the tickets while my friends parked and they ran over.
We almost didn’t make it, I had to sweet-talk the people to wait 30 more seconds. At the top of the mountain, we got out and were able to walk around for about 3 minutes before they called last car down.
Even though it was a short ride, it was so so worth every penny. This gondola is has stunning views, and at top of they have the Cliff House restaurant.
Next time, I would go here for lunch for the most scenic view in the entire state. (It sort of reminded me of the Roundhouse on top of Mount Baldy in Sun Valley.)
7. Cold Hollow Cider Mill
I won’t lie, I was worried this apple cider place was overhyped but it lived up to the praise in everyday. We headed to Cold Hollow Cider Mill for lunch at the cafe and I had a tasty bacon, apple and maple sandwich paired with their hard cider.
Then, we popped over to the bakery and gift store to stock up on maple food goodies and gifts. I grabbed Robin so many maple food things (syrup, maple sugar for coffees, even a maple sriracha!). But the highlight was grabbing hot apple cider and apple cider donuts in that iconic coffee cup.
8. The Butler’ss Pantry
To be honest, The Butler’s Pantry was not a restaurant we even had on our radar. We tried to go to Cork and Plate, but they were all booked up for same-day tables. So, we walked around Stowe and found The Butler’s Pantry.
And I’m so happy we did. This restaurant is amazing. We sat outside and had an epic view of the famous white Stowe church. They make everything in house, including deserts, and I had a fantastic brisket which hit the spot after a long day exploring.
The next morning we were walking around Stowe, we noticed a huge line outside here for breakfast. So, whether you come at night or in the morning, just dine here. You’ll love it!
9. Smuggler’s Notch
Vermont Route 108, aka Smuggler’s Notch Road, is one of the most famous roads you can drive in Vermont for fall colors. Sadly, our friend with the drone had to leave early for a work trip and took the drone with her, so we weren’t able to send it up and take epic photos like we did on The Kanc, but this road is still worth the fall drive in the afternoon.
This mountain road can be a little intense, so make sure to drive slowly and honk as you go around tight, blind curves. Pull off safely at turnouts and never park your car in the road as it could get hit.
If you love leaf peeping, this is the spot to be!
10. Hiking Mount Mansfield
We didn’t go hiking on this trip, but a few people did ask me if we were hiking Mount Mansfield. Standing at 4,393 feet, Mount Mansfield is the tallest mountain in Vermont.
The trail to the top is about 7.5 miles long, so set aside a whole day to enjoy going up, soaking in the fall colors, and heading back down.
11. Ben & Jerry’s Flavor Graveyard
Just down the road from Stowe in Waterbury, Vermont is the famous Ben & Jerry’s Flavor Graveyard! Whenever they retire and ice cream flavor, it gets its very own tombstone in the graveyard.
It’s a fun little roadside attraction to hit up on your way to Burlington or Woodstock. We popped by and we each tried to find a flavor that retired on our birth year. Fresh Georgia Peach was retired the year I was born.
Oh, and it’s totally free to visit!!
I had such a fun time exploring Stowe in the fall. It’s a magical little town and Vermont in autumn is even more magical. We only had a weekend in Stowe but I can’t wait to come back another October one year and take 3-4 days to just vibe and soak up all the fall fun.
I’m going to bring my husband next time!! I also remember driving past a fondue place and I want to check that out next time we travel over to New England.
I hope this helps you plan a great trip to Stowe! If you have more tips to add, drop a comment below or feel free to ask any questions and I’ll get back to you!
