Where to base yourself
Questions, answered
Is Montpelier walkable, or do I need a car?
Downtown is genuinely walkable end to end in ten minutes, and Hubbard Park is a walk from it. You will want a car for anything beyond that, including Barre, Waterbury, and the ski mountains.
How did the July 2023 flood affect downtown?
The Winooski River and the North Branch put several feet of water through Main and State Streets, and Montpelier spent the following years rebuilding. Most businesses reopened, some did not come back, and a few storefronts are still being worked on, so it is worth checking that a specific place is trading before you make the trip for it.
Is Montpelier a sensible base for skiing?
Yes, and it is usually cheaper than staying at the mountains. Sugarbush and Mad River Glen are roughly 30 to 40 minutes away by VT-100, and Stowe is about 35 minutes north.
When is foliage best here?
Central Vermont normally peaks from late September into the middle of October, with the hills above town turning before the valley floor. Book well ahead for those weekends, because the whole state is competing for the same rooms.
Where to stay — Montpelier
Live prices for every hotel and inn in the area — free cancellation, updated daily.
