We Found 9 Vermont Cheese Shops That Are Worth The Drive, And These Made The Cut

The family of a U.S. president helped start a cheese factory in 1890, and you can still buy cheddar made from their recipe today. That one fact sent me down a very tasty rabbit hole.

The deeper I looked, the better it got. One farm sells goat cheese from a barn bay where you check yourself out on a tablet.

Another makes goat cheese about 50 feet from the barn where its goats live. I love that kind of short commute.

Many of these Vermont stops are working farms and factories, not fancy boutiques. You can taste samples, soak up some history, and grab a souvenir that actually tastes good.

Some even throw in maple syrup tastings for good measure.

So I made a list of cheese stops worth the drive. Your cooler is about to earn its keep.

Ready to hit the road?

1. Crowley Cheese Company, Mt Holly, VT

Few gift shops sit right beside the place where the cheese is actually made. Crowley Cheese Company pulls off that trick in the quiet hills of Mt Holly.

The shop is a factory gift shop, so the handmade cheeses on the shelves come from right next door. That short trip from vat to counter is part of the fun.

You also get artisanal foods from other Vermont producers. It makes building a full snack spread pretty easy in one stop.

Samples here are plentiful, which is great news for indecisive shoppers. Go ahead and try a few before you commit.

The staff is super friendly and happy to share some history with you. Ask a question or two, and you might leave knowing more than you planned.

Plan for a quick visit, since this isn’t an all-day outing. It pairs nicely with a scenic drive through the surrounding countryside.

Weekday hours start early, running from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays go from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays open at 11 a.m.

Free Wi-Fi is available, which helps if you need to check directions for your next cheese stop. Let’s be honest, there will probably be a next cheese stop.

A small cooler in the trunk is a smart move. Handmade cheese deserves better than a hot back seat.

Address: 14 Crowley Ln, Mt Holly, VT 05758

2. Cabot Creamery at the Yellow Barn, Hardwick, VT

A big yellow barn is hard to miss, and that’s the point. This Hardwick stop is basically a cheddar beacon for road trippers.

Cabot is a farmer-owned cooperative that dates back to 1919. Here you can browse a complete collection of Cabot cheese products in one spot.

Limited-edition merch adds a fun twist. A Cabot shirt or souvenir makes a solid gift for the cheese lover back home.

The shelves go well beyond Cabot, too. You’ll find an impressive selection of Vermont artisanal cheese from other makers.

Vermont maple syrups are also on hand. Cheese and maple in one bag feels like the official state souvenir combo.

Thinking about an afternoon charcuterie snack? The specialty foods here make it easy to put one together without extra stops.

Timing matters if you hate crowds. Sunday afternoons are the busiest, while Tuesday afternoons are the quietest.

The store opens Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It’s closed on Mondays, so plan your route around that.

Most people treat this as a quick visit. Still, you might linger longer than expected once you spot the sample-worthy cheddars.

Hardwick sits in a lovely rural stretch of northern Vermont. That makes the drive part of the reward, not just the price of admission.

Address: 323 VT-15, Hardwick, VT 05843

3. Plymouth Cheese, Plymouth, VT

Presidential cheddar is a real thing, and it lives here. The Plymouth Cheese Factory was founded in 1890 by President Calvin Coolidge’s family.

The company calls its product America’s Oldest Cheddar. That’s a bold title, but the history backs up the bragging.

In 2009, the team revived the original Coolidge cheddar recipe. They also brought back the old way of packaging cheese in wax.

The cheese is a heritage raw milk cheddar. It’s made with a granular curd method based on an early American recipe.

The factory sits on the Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site. So you can pair your cheese run with a dose of presidential history.

The shop itself is small, and the staff is friendly. Upstairs, a display of antique equipment covers the history of the company and cheesemaking.

That museum is worth a few minutes, especially for curious kids. Who knew a cheese trip could double as a history lesson?

Hours run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week. That makes weekend trips much easier to plan.

Grab a waxed wheel for the road. It looks charming on a cheese board and tastes like a story.

Honestly, how often do you get to snack on a recipe tied to the White House? You might as well take advantage.

Address: 106 Messer Hill Rd, Plymouth, VT 05056

4. Sugarbush Farm, Woodstock, VT

Cheese and maple syrup under one roof sounds like a dream menu. At this Woodstock farm, it’s just a regular day.

Sugarbush Farm is a family-owned rural farm that makes its own cheese varieties. It also produces pure Vermont maple syrup.

The little shop offers free tastings. You can sample the homemade cheese, the maple syrup, and even maple butter.

Got a sweet tooth and a savory one? This is the rare stop that keeps both happy at the same time.

Outside, a maple tree trail shows how tapping works. You can take a self-guided tour at your own pace.

There’s also a maple-making room to explore. It’s a fun way to see how sap becomes the stuff on your pancakes.

The farm sits off the beaten path with beautiful mountain views. Bring your camera, because the scenery deserves a few photos.

Dogs are allowed, so your four-legged copilot can come along. The store is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

A free parking lot makes arriving pretty painless.

Leave room in your bag for local products from the gift shop. You’ll probably want both cheese and syrup for later.

Address: 591 Sugarbush Farm Rd, Woodstock, VT 05091

5. Cabot Creamery Store – Waterbury, Waterbury Center, VT

Route 100 is one of the prettiest drives around, and it comes with a snack break. Cabot’s Waterbury Center store sits right along it.

Tasting counters are the star of the show. You can sample many items before deciding what goes home with you.

The shop focuses on artisanal cheddars and complimentary tastings. Expect a wide selection of Cabot cheese products.

Other Vermont artisanal cheese brands share the space. There’s also maple syrup, Vermont-made crafts, and specialty foods.

Interactive exhibits explain how cheese gets made. Factory tours are no longer offered, but the displays still teach plenty.

Special events pop up during the year. Vermont Cheese Week and free grilled cheese days are two worth watching for.

Free grilled cheese might be the best phrase in the English language. Check the calendar before you go.

Want a calmer visit? Wednesday and Thursday mornings are the quietest, while weekend afternoons get busy.

Weekday hours start early, running from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturdays go from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Free parking makes stopping simple. You can treat it as a quick break or a full tasting session.

Address: 2657 Waterbury-Stowe Rd, Waterbury Center, VT 05677

6. Grafton Village Cheese Okemo Valley Retail Store, Proctorsville, VT

Ski country has another kind of powder: shredded cheddar. Okay, that’s a stretch, but this Proctorsville shop is a real treat.

The store sits on Route 103 in the Okemo Valley. It brings Grafton Village Cheese closer to anyone heading toward the slopes.

The selection covers a wide variety of high-quality cheeses. You’ll also find plenty of accompaniments to round out a board.

Here’s a friendly perk: the staff will gladly open any cheese for tasting. That takes the guesswork out of picking a favorite.

Grafton is known for cheddars aged one to three years. Flavored options include Truffle, Maple Smoked, and Smoked Chili Cheddar.

Curious about mixed milk? Shepsog blends cow and sheep milk into a cave-aged cheese with real personality.

Service here is known for being delightful. It’s the kind of stop that turns a quick errand into a fun break.

The store is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Those later hours help if you’re driving back from a day outdoors.

Pick a young cheddar and an older one to compare side by side. It’s a tasty lesson in what aging does.

You might come for one block and leave with four. Nobody here will judge you for that.

Address: 2568 VT-103, Proctorsville, VT 05153

7. Grafton Village Cheese Creamery, Grafton, VT

Cheesemaking in Grafton goes back to 1892. That’s when local farms teamed up to form a cooperative.

The company was later revived in the 1960s under the Windham Foundation. Today the creamery keeps that old tradition rolling.

Milk comes from small family farms. It’s premium, unpasteurized, heat-treated, and hormone-free.

The original aged cheddars can sit for up to three years. Patience really is a flavor here.

Then there’s the Cave Aged line. These small-batch cheeses use cow, sheep, and mixed milk.

They age right in the company’s caves in Grafton. Bear Hill is one cave-aged option worth seeking out.

The shop lets you wander and sample a variety of cheeses. Take your time, since comparing them is half the fun.

It’s closed on weekends. If you’re a Saturday driver, the Okemo Valley store might suit your schedule better.

Grafton itself is a classic Vermont village. Pair your cheese haul with a slow stroll and you’ve got a fine afternoon.

Address: 533 Townshend Rd, Grafton, VT 05146

8. Sage Farm Goat Dairy, Stowe, VT

Shopping in a buck barn is not on most bucket lists. Maybe it should be, because this Stowe farm store is a delight.

The store sits down the farm’s second driveway. Look for the first bay of the buck barn.

Checkout is self-service. You ring yourself up using a tablet and card reader, no line required.

Two sisters run this small family farm. They raise a herd of registered Alpine goats.

The goats supply milk for small-batch artisanal cheeses. You’ll find both fresh and aged options.

Seasonal specials keep things interesting. Maple banon shows up in spring, and Spruce appears in fall.

The store also sells goat milk, eggs, and maple syrup made on the farm. Cool merch rounds out the shelves.

Please stick to the store area. The farm asks visitors not to explore other parts for safety and privacy.

Want a closer look? Farm tours run Sundays at 11 a.m. from April through November.

Cheesemaking happens from March through December, and the store’s schedule can shift with the seasons. Check hours before heading up West Hill Road.

Address: 2248 W Hill Rd, Stowe, VT 05672

9. Boston Post Dairy, LLC, Enosburg Falls, VT

Fifty feet is about how far the goats live from the cheese room. That has to be one of the shortest supply chains in Vermont.

Boston Post Dairy is a family-run creamery and farm shop in Enosburg Falls. It sits up in the northern part of the state.

The cheese is made right on site. The goats that supply the milk are raised in the barn nearby.

Artisanal cheeses fill the shop. Specialty maple products join them, which feels very on brand for the area.

Goat cheese and maple make a fun pairing. Try them together on a cracker and see what you think.

The shop works well for a quick visit. In-store shopping and in-store pickup are both available.

Hours run Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays are shorter, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

It’s closed on Sundays. So plan your northern road trip with that in mind.

This drive takes you deep into farm country near the Canadian border. The quiet roads are part of the appeal.

Bring a cooler and an appetite for something different. Then save one last bite for the ride home, if you can manage it.

Address: 2061 Sampsonville Rd, Enosburg Falls, VT 05450