Vermont’s front door
Chittenden County is where most visitors land and many never leave — Vermont’s most populous, cosmopolitan corner, built around the lakefront city of Burlington. But it is far from all city: within thirty minutes you can climb Camel’s Hump, tour a Vanderbilt-era farm, or ride a bike path out onto Lake Champlain.
The towns
The county blends city, suburb and country.
Burlington — the lake city of Church Street and the waterfront.
South Burlington — the airport, hotels and dining gateway.
Winooski — a revived mill city on the river.
Shelburne — the great museum and lakeside farm.
Charlotte & Huntington — Mount Philo and the Camel’s Hump trailheads.
City & lake
Burlington’s four-block Church Street Marketplace — repeatedly called America’s best public space — anchors a walkable downtown, and the Lake Champlain waterfront adds parks, the ECHO science center and a bike path that rides straight out onto the lake. Sunsets over the Adirondacks are a nightly event.
Museums, farms & mountains
Just south, Shelburne Museum’s 45 acres of Americana and Shelburne Farms' working lakeside estate are essential stops. East and south rise Camel’s Hump and Mount Philo, and the county’s craft-beer and cider scene is among the best in the country.
Getting here & staying
Burlington International Airport sits in South Burlington, and I-89 links the county to the rest of the state. Lodging is the widest in Vermont — city hotels, lakeside inns and suburban stays — so use the search to compare live prices with free cancellation.
Good to know
What is Chittenden County known for?+
Burlington, Lake Champlain, Church Street Marketplace, Shelburne Museum and Farms, and a leading craft-beer scene.
Is it easy to reach the mountains?+
Yes — Camel’s Hump, Mount Philo and Bolton Valley are all within about 30–40 minutes of Burlington.
Where is the airport?+
Burlington International (BTV) is in South Burlington, minutes from downtown.