Where to base yourself
Questions, answered
What exactly is the Northeast Kingdom?
It is the three northeastern counties, Essex, Orleans and Caledonia, named by Senator George Aiken in 1949 and never officially anything else. It is the least populated, most forested and coldest part of Vermont, and St. Johnsbury is its largest town and effective gateway.
Is St. Johnsbury a good base?
For the southern Kingdom, yes. Burke Mountain and Kingdom Trails are twenty minutes north, Peacham and Cabot half an hour west, and Lake Willoughby's cliffs about forty-five minutes north. It also has the supermarkets, fuel and restaurants that the villages beyond it do not.
When does the foliage peak here?
Earlier than the rest of Vermont. The Kingdom usually turns from around the third week of September and peaks in the last days of September or the first week of October. If you are travelling in mid-October, look south rather than north.
How cold does it get in winter?
Genuinely cold. Nights well below zero Fahrenheit are normal in January and February, and the town sits in a valley where the cold pools. Pack properly, keep the car fuelled, and expect snow on the roads from December into March.
Where to stay — St. Johnsbury
Live prices for every hotel and inn in the area — free cancellation, updated daily.
