During the ten years Chris and I lived in New York City, spring always felt like a quiet promise...soft rain, early light, tulips between concrete slabs. But in Vermont, spring is something bigger. It moves through the mountains with a kind of reverence, asking you to look closer, linger longer. These day trips became our favorite way to shake off the city and breathe again. Each destination, just a drive away, offered something we didn’t even know we needed: stillness, charm, beauty, surprise. If you're craving quiet trails, crisp air, maple everything, and moments that stay with you, this is your list.
Best Day Trips in Vermont:
Finding stillness in the hills of Bennington - 3.5 hours from NYC
In the spring, Bennington felt like it had just exhaled winter. Trees budded in slow motion, and daffodils leaned into the breeze like they'd waited all year for this. Chris and I drove in from New York, a world away in just a few hours. The village streets were quiet, but full of character—shaker shingles, hand-painted signs, and antique stores where time seemed to soften. I remember thinking, “This is what we were missing all those busy years in the city.” The air smelled like thawed earth and pine, and we didn’t check our phones once.
What I Loved Most: Standing at the foot of the Bennington Battle Monument, watching clouds drift over the Green Mountains, feeling like we had stepped into a slower chapter.
My highlights? A cozy brunch at The Blue Benn Diner, a railcar-style gem from the 1940s. I had the Vermont maple French toast with cinnamon butter and a side of local sausage. Chris ordered the spinach and cheddar omelet, and we swapped bites between sips of strong diner coffee. It was the kind of meal you wish you could stretch out forever.
Plan your day trip:
- Drive Time from NYC: ~3.5 hours north via Taconic Parkway and Route 7
- Vibe: Historic, peaceful, understated
- Highlights: Bennington Battle Monument, covered bridges, antique shops
- Best Time to Visit: Spring for blossoms and fewer crowds; fall for foliage
- Cost: Monument entry ~$6; walking and browsing are free
- Hours: Most shops open 10 am–5 pm; monument seasonal
- Address: 15 Monument Circle, Bennington, VT 05201
If you have more time to explore...check out my favorite things to to do in Bennington.
Breathing deep in the ridgelines of Burke
Burke felt like a place built for breath. Spring had just started to wake the mountains, and patches of snow still lingered in the shadows, like winter didn’t want to let go. Chris and I hiked the trails at Darling Hill, where the trees were bare but buzzing with anticipation. The stillness here was different—less about silence, more about presence. I remember thinking, “This is the cleanest air I’ve ever breathed.” There was something healing in those early leaves and open skies, like we were being gently reminded how much room we still had to grow.
What I Loved Most: Walking together beneath the fire tower at Burke Mountain, wind in our ears, and an endless view of ridges rolling north into Canada.
My highlights? A fireside lunch at Foggy Goggle Osteria near the base of Burke Mountain—truffle fries, wood-fired pizza with caramelized onions and goat cheese, and a crisp local cider. It was warm inside, with maps on the walls and the hush of a mountain crowd slowly thawing out.
Plan your day trip:
- Drive Time from NYC: ~6 hours northeast via I-91
- Vibe: Rugged, restorative, off-the-beaten-path
- Highlights: Kingdom Trails, Burke Mountain summit, mountain biking (in season)
- Best Time to Visit: Late spring for trails, early summer for wildflowers
- Cost: Trail pass ~$15 for bikers; hiking is free
- Hours: Trails open dawn to dusk
- Address: Start at Burke Mountain Hotel, 2559 Mountain Rd, East Burke, VT 05832
Soaking up storybook charm in Chester
Chester was the kind of town that looked like it belonged on a watercolor postcard. Its pastel-painted Victorian homes and quiet green commons made us slow down without even trying. Chris and I wandered in and out of old bookstores and artisan shops, the scent of lilacs hanging heavy in the spring air. I remember thinking, “We could live here someday.” It had that feeling—gentle, welcoming, timeless. And after ten years of city noise, that kind of hush felt like a gift.
What I Loved Most: Holding hands as we strolled the Stone Village, admiring the 19th-century granite houses and their quiet resilience.
My highlights? A slow, sunny lunch on the porch at The Free Range, where I had a maple-glazed chicken sandwich with crispy Brussels sprouts and Chris ordered the lamb burger with rosemary aioli. Every bite was thoughtful and local, right down to the maple butter served with the bread.
Plan your day trip:
- Drive Time from NYC: ~4.5 hours northeast via I-91
- Vibe: Quaint, romantic, New England classic
- Highlights: Stone Village, art galleries, village green, spring gardens
- Best Time to Visit: Spring for blooms and quiet streets; fall for colors
- Cost: Free to explore; meals $15–$30/person
- Hours: Most shops and cafés open 10 am–5 pm
- Address: Start at Chester Village Green, Main St, Chester, VT 05143
Stepping back in time in Grafton
Grafton felt like it hadn’t changed in a hundred years...and I mean that in the best way. As we walked past weathered barns and colonial homes with daffodils blooming along the fences, I felt like we had stumbled into a living painting. Everything was slower here, quieter, purposeful. Chris and I browsed the village store, watched bees at the nature museum, and let the day unfold with no plan at all. I remember thinking, “This must be what weekends used to feel like.”
What I Loved Most: The soft creak of floorboards in the Grafton Village Cheese shop and tasting sharp cheddar while looking out at a grazing sheep pasture.
My highlights? A rustic lunch at Phelps Barn Pub—cheddar ale soup, a Vermont turkey sandwich with cranberry aioli, and hand-cut fries. We lingered in a sunny window seat, content to let time stretch out.
Plan your day trip:
- Drive Time from NYC: ~4 hours northeast via I-91
- Vibe: Historic, pastoral, deeply charming
- Highlights: Grafton Village Cheese, Nature Museum, covered bridges
- Best Time to Visit: Spring for blossoms and lambs; winter for cozy getaways
- Cost: Mostly free to explore; lunch ~$15–$25/person
- Hours: Cheese shop open 10 am–5 pm; museum seasonal
- Address: 162 Main St, Grafton, VT 05146
Romantic Day Trips in Vermont:
Following rivers and railways in Hartford
In Hartford, everything felt touched by movement—trains, rivers, history—but spring made even the motion feel gentle. We started in White River Junction, where old rail buildings now held cafés and galleries, and ended our day walking along the Ottauquechee, watching the water rush full from snowmelt. Chris and I stood on the Quechee Covered Bridge, hand in hand, marveling at how Vermont blended grit and grace so effortlessly. I remember thinking, “This place is always on the way...and always worth the stop.”
What I Loved Most: Discovering glassblowers at work at Simon Pearce, and watching sunlight catch in every handcrafted curve and bubble of glass.
My highlights? Lunch at the Simon Pearce Restaurant, overlooking the falls. I had the roasted trout with lemon herb butter and a side of local greens. Chris had the shepherd’s pie. We toasted with sparkling cider and let the sound of the river fill in the silences.
Plan your day trip:
- Drive Time from NYC: ~4.5 hours north via I-91
- Vibe: Creative, riverside, quietly vibrant
- Highlights: Simon Pearce glassworks, Quechee Gorge, Main Street Museum
- Best Time to Visit: Spring for waterfalls and glassblowing season; fall for foliage
- Cost: Museum by donation; glass shop and restaurants vary
- Hours: Most attractions open 10 am–6 pm
- Address: 1760 Quechee Main St, Quechee, VT 05059
Letting spring unfold in Hildene and Killington
We saved Hildene for a warm spring Saturday when the lilacs were just starting to bloom. The Lincoln family home in Manchester was regal but welcoming—each window framing the Green Mountains, each room telling a quieter story. Chris and I walked the gardens, hands brushing past early tulips, bees buzzing like static in the still air. I remember thinking, “If we had a country house, it would be like this—thoughtful, steady, full of life.”
What I Loved Most: Standing in the garden as a train passed in the valley below, imagining what it must have sounded like to Robert Todd Lincoln over a century ago.
My highlights? A Vermont cheese board and warm baguette on the patio at The Copper Grouse, followed by a drive up to Killington just for the view. No skiing this time—just spring melt, waterfalls, and crisp mountain air. A different kind of thrill.
Plan your day trip:
- Drive Time from NYC: ~4.5 hours north via Taconic Parkway and Route 7
- Vibe: Elegant, quiet, scenic contrast
- Highlights: Hildene House & Gardens, Lincoln family history, Killington views
- Best Time to Visit: Spring for blooms and mountain runoff; summer for hiking
- Cost: Hildene admission ~$23; scenic drives free
- Hours: Hildene open daily 9:30 am–4:30 pm
- Address: 1005 Hildene Rd, Manchester, VT 05254
If you have more time, check out more to see and do in Killington.
Drifting into stillness at Lake Willoughby
Lake Willoughby felt like a secret the mountains were keeping. The road curved gently beside its glacial-blue water, flanked by cliffs that rose like cathedral walls. Chris and I pulled over more than once, just to stand in the hush and watch the reflections ripple. Spring had only just arrived, and the trees clung to early buds, still shy from winter. I remember thinking, “This feels like somewhere we were always meant to find.” The lake was too cold to swim, but we dipped our hands in anyway—just to feel a part of it.
What I Loved Most: Sitting on a rocky shore with thermoses of coffee, the entire lake mirror-still, and no one else in sight.
My highlights? A late breakfast at Parson’s Corner in nearby Barton—scrambled eggs with Cabot cheddar, home fries, and a blueberry muffin that tasted like spring itself. We lingered, trading glances and coffee refills in a room that felt like it belonged to the town.
Plan your day trip:
- Drive Time from NYC: ~6.5 hours northeast via I-91 and VT-5A
- Vibe: Remote, reverent, glacially serene
- Highlights: Lake Willoughby scenic drive, hiking Mt. Pisgah or Mt. Hor, shoreline picnics
- Best Time to Visit: Late spring for quiet beauty; fall for foliage and crisp hikes
- Cost: Free to explore; bring your own picnic or stop in Barton
- Hours: Always open; best viewed early morning or golden hour
- Address: Willoughby Lake Rd, Westmore, VT 05860
Conclusion: One Season, Eight Journeys
Each Vermont day trip gave us a different piece of spring—an echo in the hills, a porch lunch in a forgotten village, a quiet lake with sky in its eyes. What began as weekend escapes became something more like ritual. We weren’t just sightseeing—we were softening, reconnecting, remembering who we were when things were simpler. Whether you’re driving up from the city or already calling New England home, these places wait patiently for your return. Let spring be your reason. Let Vermont show you how to slow down.
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