The Quiet Vermont Towns That Tourists Keep Overlooking
Vermont is famous for its fall colors and ski resorts, but most visitors stick to the same crowded spots year after year.
Beyond Burlington and Stowe, dozens of charming small towns offer peaceful streets, local shops, and authentic New England character without the tourist chaos.
These hidden gems provide the real Vermont experience that guidebooks often miss.
Pack your bags and discover places where locals still wave from their porches and traffic jams simply don’t exist.
1. Grafton
Picture a postcard coming to life, and you’ve got Grafton nailed down perfectly.
This village looks like someone pressed pause in the 1800s, complete with a working cheese company and an old-fashioned general store.
The Grafton Inn has welcomed guests since 1801, serving up cozy rooms and home-cooked meals.
Wander the quiet roads and you’ll forget what century you’re in—that’s the whole point of coming here.
2. Chester
Ever seen an entire neighborhood built from stone?
Chester’s Stone Village district features homes constructed in the 1800s that look like they belong in a fairy tale.
Beyond the rocks, this town serves up antique shops, art galleries, and cafes where conversation flows slower than maple syrup.
Kids love exploring while parents appreciate the lack of neon signs and chain restaurants cluttering the landscape.
3. Warren
Warren hides in the Mad River Valley like a secret only locals know about.
The Warren Store anchors this tiny community, offering sandwiches, supplies, and friendly banter that makes you feel like family.
Hiking trails wind through nearby forests where wildlife outnumbers people by ridiculous margins.
Summer brings swimming holes that stay refreshingly cold even during heat waves, perfect for adventurous souls.
4. Dorset
Marble built this town’s fortune, and elegance still runs through its veins today.
Dorset’s village green hosts theater performances at America’s oldest continuously operating playhouse, where Broadway-quality shows surprise first-time visitors.
The abandoned marble quarries transformed into swimming spots offer crystal-clear water surrounded by white cliffs.
Upscale inns and farm-to-table restaurants dot the landscape without feeling pretentious or stuffy.
5. Hardwick
Food lovers, pay attention—Hardwick earned its reputation as Vermont’s agricultural hub for good reason.
Local farms surround this working town where tractors share roads with pickup trucks.
The farmers market bursts with fresh produce, artisan cheeses, and baked goods that’ll ruin grocery store bread forever.
Visit the Cellars at Jasper Hill to taste world-class cheese aged in underground caves carved into hillsides.
6. Greensboro
Caspian Lake steals the show in Greensboro, offering mirror-perfect reflections of surrounding mountains.
Summer cottages ring the shoreline where families return generation after generation for swimming, kayaking, and doing absolutely nothing productive.
The Highland Center for the Arts brings concerts and performances to this quiet corner.
Willey’s Store serves as the social headquarters where locals swap stories over coffee and pastries.
7. Rochester
Getting to Rochester requires commitment since no major highways lead directly here—that’s precisely its charm.
Tucked into the Green Mountains, this isolated community offers access to hiking trails that see more moose than humans.
Winter blankets everything in snow that stays pristine for days because crowds simply don’t venture this far off the beaten path regularly enough to disturb it.
8. Montgomery
Six covered bridges span the rivers around Montgomery—more than most counties can claim!
Each bridge tells stories through weathered wood and hand-hewn beams that have sheltered travelers for over a century.
Photographers go wild here, especially when fall transforms the landscape into an explosion of reds and golds.
The town itself stays wonderfully quiet, with a handful of shops and restaurants that close early.
9. Island Pond
Railroad history runs deep through Island Pond, where trains still rumble through regularly carrying freight northward.
The actual pond offers fishing, boating, and a sandy beach that locals cherish during brief summers.
Surrounding wilderness stretches for miles, perfect for spotting black bears, deer, and occasional moose wandering through.
This northeastern outpost feels wonderfully remote and authentic, far from Vermont’s tourist machine.
10. Granby
Blink twice and you’ll miss Granby entirely—it’s that small and gloriously undeveloped.
Dirt roads outnumber paved ones in this mountain hamlet where cell service plays hide-and-seek.
Victory Bog Wildlife Management Area nearby attracts birdwatchers hoping to spot rare species in undisturbed wetlands.
Accommodations are practically nonexistent, so plan accordingly if you’re visiting for the day.