Best Things to Do in Burlington, VT (One-Day Itinerary)
Only have one day in Burlington? You’re in luck, this small Vermont city packs a lot into a little space! From lake views and local cider to pedestrian-friendly streets and mountain backdrops, Burlington, Vermont is one of the best stops you can make on a New England road trip.
In this guide, we’re sharing the perfect one-day Burlington itinerary based on our own trip, plus tips for where to eat, what to do, and which stops are worth it (and which ones you can skip if you’re short on time). Whether you’re traveling with a pup, planning a quick weekend getaway, or just looking for the best things to do in Burlington in a day, we’ve got you covered. Let’s dive in!
Where to Stay: Burlington vs. Stowe
For our trip, we stayed about 1 hour and 15 minutes southeast of Burlington in Topsham, Vermont. Why? Because it fit the budget during our two-week stop in Vermont as part of our 5-month New England Travel Season. (When you’re traveling long-term, sometimes the decision isn’t “What’s the dreamiest Vermont town?” It’s “What’s available, pet-friendly, and doesn’t make our credit card cry?”)
But if you’re deciding between Burlington vs. Stowe for your Vermont home base, here’s our take:
Stay in Burlington if you want walkable access to downtown, breweries, restaurants, and views of Lake Champlain.
Stay in Stowe if you’re into cider mills, scenic hikes, a quieter vibe, and postcard-worthy mountain views.
I’d personally vote for staying in Stowe. It’s only about 45 minutes from Burlington, so it’s still an easy day trip, and I really loved the hikes, cider stops, and fall colors in that area. But I thought for sure Jon would say Burlington, since he’s more of a “stuff to do” guy. When I asked to confirm this, he said, “Stowe is where the cheese place was, right? I’d choose Stowe, for sure.” He’s talking about the Cabot Farmers’ Store, and clearly we both take snack-friendly stops seriously. (If you do too, don’t miss our Foodie Road Trip in Stowe. It was one of our favorite travel days ever!)
Ultimately, you can’t go wrong with either Burlington or Stowe, especially in summer or fall. If you're visiting in winter and want to hit the slopes, we’d definitely recommend Stowe. But if you’re looking for a little of everything and don’t want to drive much, staying in Burlington is super convenient, too.
(And for what it’s worth… we once rerouted an entire road trip just to stop in New Orleans for beignets. So yes, we absolutely judge towns by their snacks.)
One-Day Burlington, VT, Itineraries
No matter how you decide to spend your day in Burlington, it’s going to be a good one. But depending on whether you’re driving into town or staying nearby—and how long you want to spend at each stop—you’ve got a few great options:
Option 1: The Full Burlington Road Trip
This is what we planned to do (we’re known to overplan).
Start your day with a scenic hike at Mt. Philo State Park, grab hot apple cider and donuts from a local orchard (we picked Stine Orchard), then make your way to downtown Burlington to explore the waterfront and Church Street. Wrap it up with a sunset stroll on the Colchester Causeway.
Option 2: Burlington + Causeway
This is what we actually did.
We spent most of the day in downtown Burlington, then made our way out to the Colchester Causeway in the evening. It’s a cool spot—literally a walking trail surrounded by water on both sides—but the weather wasn’t great when we went, and honestly? The views from the Burlington waterfront were just as (if not more) impressive. If we had a do-over, we might have opted for afternoon drinks at Splash at The Boathouse instead.
Option 3: All Burlington, All Day
If it’s your first time in town, or if the idea of adding extra stops sounds like too much, spend your whole day in Burlington.
Wander the waterfront, grab brunch at The Skinny Pancake, stroll Church Street, hit a brewery or cidery, and enjoy one of the prettiest downtowns in New England with that stunning Lake Champlain backdrop.
Best Things to Do in Burlington, Vermont in One Day
1. Start at Burlington Waterfront Park
If you only do one thing in Burlington, start at the waterfront. The views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains across the water are unforgettable.
Park near the Boathouse Marina
Walk the boardwalk or grab a coffee and sit by the lake
Snap a few photos (or a few dozen)
Burlington’s waterfront is what sets it apart. It’s one of the only walkable cities in the U.S. where you get lake views and mountain backdrops in every direction. While lots of cities have market streets and breweries, not many sit on Lake Champlain with the Adirondacks just across the water. It’s spectacular.
2. Explore Church Street Marketplace
This pedestrian-only street is the beating heart of downtown Burlington.
Check out local shops (many are dog-friendly!)
Grab a bite or drink at outdoor patios
Don’t miss the iconic view down Church Street to First Unitarian Church (Google “Burlington, Vermont” or “Church Street Marketplace” and you’re sure to see a photo similar to the third photo below)
Visiting in winter? Church Street lights up beautifully at night.
3. Eat at The Skinny Pancake (or Splash at The Boathouse)
For brunch or lunch, we enjoyed The Skinny Pancake at the waterfront. It’s casual, dog-friendly, and great if you’re craving crepes. Our favorites:
SugarShack – Vermont maple sugar + Cabot butter
The Heartbreaker – Strawberries, bananas, hazelnut spread
The Chicken Bacon Rancher – Just as good as it sounds
Heads up: You’ll order inside and bring your number to the table, so there might be two lines on busy days (one for seating, one to order).
Looking for Burlington restaurants on the water? Splash at The Boathouse is a better pick for direct lake views and casual outdoor dining.
4. Try Hard Cider at Citizen Cider
One of our favorite stops: Citizen Cider. If you love cider—or just want to try something local—this is a great pick with flights, food, and a dog-friendly patio.
We shared two flights:
The Giving Tree (Fruit Flight) – Raspberry Crush was Jon’s favorite
Oldies But Goodies (Classics Flight) – I liked the Good Neighbor, and we both loved Unified Press
Don’t love cider? Burlington is packed with breweries too:
Foam Brewers
Switchback Brewing Co.
Zero Gravity
Four Quarters Brewing
Burlington Beer Co.
5. Walk (or Bike) the Colchester Causeway
This was one of the first things that popped up in my Burlington research, and I was immediately intrigued. A trail that feels like it’s floating on water, with Lake Champlain on both sides? Yes, please.
We saved it for the end of the day and drove out after our afternoon in Burlington. It’s a flat, well-maintained trail that’s ideal for walking, running, or biking. It is beautiful, but it wasn’t quite the wow moment I was expecting.
Maybe it was the overcast skies. Maybe it was that we’d already been spoiled by the views from the waterfront earlier. Or maybe it’s just one of those “if you live here, this would be your go-to trail” kind of places, not a must-see for a quick day trip.
If you have more than one day in Burlington, the Causeway is 100% worth checking out. But if you're squeezing things in, the Burlington Waterfront Park might be the better bang-for-your-view.
6. Road Trip to Mount Philo and Stine Orchard (Bonus Adventure)
This was our original plan before we scaled things back. The idea was to make it a full day of fall magic with a hike, hot cider, downtown Burlington, and a sunset stroll. Easy, right? (Spoiler: not easy.)
Here’s what we mapped out:
Start the morning with a hike at Mount Philo State Park—we picked out the Western Loop Trail, a 1.9-mile dog-friendly hike with views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks on a clear day.
Swing by Boyer’s Orchard and Cider Mill (now Stine Orchard) for hot apple cider and cider donuts.
Then head into Burlington for everything else on this list.
Honestly, I still think this plan sounds amazing, just maybe not all in one day unless you’re operating at peak efficiency. We ended up cutting the hike and orchard to spend more time in Burlington, which was 100% the right call for us that day… but I’m still thinking about those cider donuts.
Recap: The Perfect Day in Burlington, VT
Here’s what we ended up doing:
Morning walk at Burlington Waterfront Park
Brunch at The Skinny Pancake
Afternoon stroll and shopping at Church Street Marketplace
Cider flights at Citizen Cider
Sunset walk on the Colchester Causeway
Not a bad way to spend one day in one of Vermont’s coolest cities!
Keep Planning Your Vermont Road Trip
If you liked this itinerary, don’t miss our full New England foodie road trip (featuring Stowe, Vermont and all our favorite snack stops). And if you’re planning a fall road trip, check out our ultimate guide to New England in October.
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