Islands in the Inland Sea
Grand Isle County is unlike anywhere else in Vermont — a chain of low, green islands running down the middle of Lake Champlain, joined by causeways and bridges. With the Green Mountains rising to the east and the Adirondacks to the west, it has more shoreline than any county in the state and, thanks to the moderating lake, its longest growing season.
Life here is unhurried and water-centered: sailing, farm stands, sunset-watching and slow drives up Route 2.
The five islands
Each island has its own personality.
South Hero — orchards, farm stands and Vermont’s first winery.
Grand Isle — the largest island, with a state park and the Plattsburgh ferry.
North Hero — the county seat and Hero’s Welcome store.
Isle La Motte — fossil reefs and St. Anne’s Shrine.
Alburgh — a border peninsula reaching toward Quebec.
Orchards, vines & farm stands
The islands' mild climate makes them a garden. Snow Farm on South Hero was Vermont’s first winery, and orchards like Allenholm and Hackett’s draw visitors for apples, cider and warm donuts each fall. Roadside farm stands sell island produce all summer.
On the water
The Inland Sea is the heart of it all — sail, kayak or fish for bass and pike; ride the Island Line bike path and its seasonal ferry from Burlington; or simply find a west-facing shore for one of Vermont’s great sunsets over the Adirondacks.
Getting here
The islands are an easy 40 minutes from Burlington on Route 2, or a scenic arrival on the Grand Isle–Plattsburgh ferry from New York. Lodging runs to lakeside cabins, cottages and small inns — book ahead for summer.
Good to know
How do you reach the Champlain Islands?+
Drive Route 2 north from Burlington (about 40 minutes) across the causeways, or take the year-round Grand Isle–Plattsburgh ferry from New York.
What are the islands known for?+
Orchards and Vermont’s first winery, the longest growing season in the state, superb lake sunsets, and the Chazy fossil reef on Isle La Motte.
Is it good for cycling?+
Excellent — flat roads, the Island Line causeway and a seasonal bike ferry make it one of Vermont’s best cycling areas.