Vermont has a lot going for families, whether you’re planning a ski week at Smugglers’ Notch, a fall drive through the Northeast Kingdom, or a first trip to the Ben and Jerry’s Factory in Waterbury. Here’s what works, what to plan around, and where to point yourself first.
Why Vermont Works for Families
Vermont is a small state, which is one of its real advantages with kids. Burlington to Stowe is 45 minutes. Burlington to Woodstock is about 1.5 hours. The whole length of the state, from the Massachusetts border at Brattleboro to the Canadian border north of Newport, is around 160 miles on two-lane roads. That scale means you’re not spending half a vacation in a car. You can cover a ski resort, a farm stop, a gorge, and a small town in a few days without anyone feeling like they’ve been on a road marathon.
Vermont also doesn’t have theme parks or manufactured entertainment districts, which turns out to be an advantage. The entertainment here is walking down to a frozen lake, watching a sugarhouse boil sap in March, picking up a maple creemee (soft-serve ice cream swirled with maple syrup) from a roadside stand in May, or skiing a green trail at a real mountain. Kids who spend time outside tend to take to it quickly. The Vermont Travel Guide covers all six regions if you’re trying to figure out which part of the state fits your family’s pace and interests.
The Best Family Destinations in Vermont
Smugglers’ Notch on Route 108 in Jeffersonville is the most consistently family-focused ski and summer resort in the state. In winter, the resort runs all-day childcare programs starting at age 6 weeks, and ski lessons for children as young as 3. The terrain is set up to keep beginners and young learners on their own mountain (Sterling) away from the steeper runs on Madonna and Morse. In summer, Smugglers’ Notch Resort runs day camps, a waterslide complex called FunZone 2.0, and a roster of evening activities that give parents an actual break. Jay Peak Resort at 830 Jay Peak Rd in Jay, Vermont, near the Canadian border, takes a different approach: the Pump House indoor waterpark runs year-round and is included for lodging guests, making it the only resort in New England where you can ski a powder day and then swim in a wave pool that same afternoon. For families with kids who love water as much as snow, that combination is hard to beat.
If your kids are more curious than athletic, Quechee Gorge near the town of Quechee drops 165 feet to the Ottauquechee River and is accessible from the Route 4 bridge overlook in minutes, with short trails down to the gorge floor. The Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS) Nature Center, just across the road from the gorge parking area, has live raptors in outdoor enclosures and seasonal educational programs. A few miles west, Woodstock has the Billings Farm and Museum on River Road, a working dairy farm with live animals, 19th-century farm life exhibits, and seasonal programs that run from maple sugaring in March through pumpkin carving in October. For more on spending time in that area, the post on a weekend in Woodstock, Vermont has a full day-by-day breakdown.
Family Activities by Season
In winter (December through March), skiing and snowboarding are the primary draw, but they’re not the only option. The 5.3-mile paved Stowe Recreation Path is cleared and walkable most of the season, and it runs from the Stowe village past farms and along the West Branch River, a route that works for bundled-up strollers. Okemo Mountain Resort in Ludlow has 121 trails across four peaks with well-maintained beginner terrain and a Kids’ Camp program for ages 4 through 7. Smugglers’ Notch Resort packages often include lodging, lift tickets, and lessons in one price, which simplifies family trip planning. For a broader look at Vermont ski season logistics, check the Best Time to Visit Vermont page before booking.
Spring in Vermont (April and May) is mud season, which is Vermont’s least tourist-friendly window, but it has its own rewards if you know what you’re looking for. Sugar season peaks in March and runs into early April, when sugarhouses across the state are boiling sap into syrup. Many operations, particularly in the central and northeastern regions, are open to visitors during boiling, and the smell of wood smoke and caramelizing sap is something kids remember. By late May and June, farms are opening their doors, cider mills are gearing up, and the state parks that were closed or muddy start to become accessible. Lake Champlain is warm enough for swimming from mid-June through August. Burlington’s waterfront bike path runs 7.5 miles along the eastern shore of the lake, and bike rentals are available near the ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain on College Street.
Fall (mid-September through mid-October) is Vermont’s most photogenic window, and it holds up well with kids because so much is happening at ground level: farms selling cider doughnuts and fresh apples, corn mazes opening in late August, and the full leaf show turning from north to south across two to three weeks. The Northeast Kingdom’s Caledonia and Essex Counties tend to peak from late September into the first week of October. As colors work south, central Vermont (Montpelier, Mad River Valley) and then southern Vermont (Manchester, Brattleboro) follow about a week behind. Families on a fall trip can time a drive through multiple regions to catch different stages of color in a single visit.
Where to Stay with Kids
Smugglers’ Notch Resort in Jeffersonville has condo-style units ranging from studios to four-bedroom layouts. Rates vary considerably by season, ranging from an estimated $250 to $600 per night in ski season depending on unit size. The advantage for families is that a larger condo with a kitchen and separate bedrooms costs less per person than stacking the same group into hotel rooms. Jay Peak Resort offers similar condo options with on-mountain lodging starting around $200 per night for smaller units in shoulder season.
In Stowe, Green Mountain Inn at 18 Main St is a practical base: it’s right in the village, walkable to restaurants and shops, and has a pool and indoor spa. Rates typically run $200 to $400 per night in ski season and $150 to $280 per night in summer. It’s a well-reviewed property that handles families without the need to drive for every meal. For those flying in from out of state, the guide to flying into Burlington Airport covers the terminal layout, car rental options, and exact drive times to Stowe, Smugglers’ Notch, and the rest of the north.
Getting Here and Getting Around
A car is required for anything outside downtown Burlington. Vermont runs on two-lane state roads, and even the interstates (I-89 and I-91) are two lanes in each direction through most of the state. Boston to Burlington on I-89 is about 3.5 hours in normal traffic. New York City to Burlington is roughly 4.5 hours on I-87 to I-89. Albany (ALB) is worth checking as an alternative airport: it sits about 2 hours from Killington and 2.5 hours from Stowe, and fares can be lower than Burlington International (BTV), especially in ski season. If you’re entering from the south, the Massachusetts Turnpike to I-91 North is the most direct route to Brattleboro, Manchester, and the southern Green Mountains.
One logistical note for winter trips: Route 108 through Smugglers Notch closes to cars in winter. If you’re staying at Smugglers’ Notch Resort on the Jeffersonville side, you approach from the northwest. If you’re staying in Stowe and want to visit the resort for a day, the route goes around the mountain (about 45 minutes via Route 100 and VT-15). Plan accordingly so you’re not surprised by the detour.
Practical Planning Tips
The Ben and Jerry’s Factory at 1281 Waterbury-Stowe Road in Waterbury runs tours year-round at an estimated $4 to $6 per adult and $3 to $4 per child (ages 3 to 12); kids under 3 are free. It’s one of the few stops in Vermont where 30 minutes genuinely holds a child’s attention from start to finish, and the Flavor Graveyard with its headstones for retired ice cream flavors is worth reading aloud. Arrive before 11 a.m. or after 3 p.m. on summer weekends to avoid the mid-day wait.
Vermont state parks require advance reservations from mid-June through Labor Day. Popular campgrounds at Groton State Forest in the Northeast Kingdom and Button Bay State Park on Lake Champlain fill up weeks ahead. Book through Vermont State Parks’ reservations system online. Pack layers regardless of the season. Even July temperatures at the summit of Mount Mansfield (4,395 feet) can drop into the 40s, and afternoon thunderstorms on the Long Trail ridgeline develop fast. For younger kids especially, having a fleece and a rain layer in the day pack pays off consistently across the calendar year.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Vermont ski resort for families with young children?
Smugglers’ Notch Resort on Route 108 in Jeffersonville is designed around families more deliberately than any other resort in the state. It has all-day childcare for kids as young as 6 weeks, ski and snowboard lessons starting at age 3, and terrain separated so beginners aren’t sharing runs with advanced skiers. Jay Peak Resort in Jay, Vermont is the other top pick, particularly if your kids love water: the indoor Pump House waterpark is open year-round and included for resort lodging guests.
Is Vermont worth visiting with kids in summer?
Yes, and it’s underrated for summer family travel. Lake Champlain is warm enough for swimming from mid-June through August, the Billings Farm and Museum in Woodstock has live animals and seasonal programs, and Quechee Gorge is a short walk from the Route 4 parking area with trails down to the Ottauquechee River. Smugglers’ Notch Resort runs summer day camps and a waterslide complex. Burlington’s waterfront bike path and the ECHO Leahy Center on College Street both hold up with school-age kids.
What is the best time of year to bring kids to Vermont?
It depends on what your family wants to do. Winter (December through March) is ski and snow season, and Vermont’s family-focused resorts are at their most organized and programmatic. Summer (late June through August) is good for outdoor activity without the snow learning curve. Fall (late September through mid-October) offers the foliage, farm stands, and cider season, and it’s manageable with kids as long as you book lodging well ahead. Mid-April through May is mud season and the least convenient window for most families.
Do I need a car to travel Vermont with kids?
Yes. Outside of downtown Burlington, a car is effectively required. Vermont doesn’t have meaningful intercity transit between its ski towns and smaller villages. If you’re flying in, Burlington International Airport (BTV) has all the major rental agencies and is 45 minutes from Stowe and about an hour and a half from Woodstock. Albany (ALB) is worth checking for flights if you’re heading to Killington or Manchester in southern Vermont, as it’s often cheaper and a comparable drive time.
