VERMONT SCENIC BYWAYS
Scenic Route 100 Byway
Take time for Vermont’s villages, waterfalls and local history. Plan a Route 100 road trip with memorable stops, useful maps and room to explore.
Weston photograph: Scenic Vermont Photography
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MAKE TIME FOR THE JOURNEY
Plan a Vermont Route 100 scenic drive
The Scenic Route 100 Byway offers a starting point for exploring central and southern Vermont. Build your day around a village visit, a cultural stop or an outdoor outing, then let the drive connect them.
Vermont Tourism’s 2025 byways brochure lists the designated byway at 146 miles. The full Vermont Route 100 highway and the named scenic byway are not interchangeable: a longer Route 100 road trip can include destinations beyond this guide.
Published byway length: 146 miles in the 2025 state brochure.
A good approach: choose one area and a few meaningful stops.
Allow extra distance: for detours, your starting point and the return drive.
CHOOSE YOUR STOPS
Places to explore along the byway
The state byways brochure highlights the following places. Some visits require leaving the main road; check the exact visitor address and allow separate time for each detour. This is a collection of trip ideas, not turn-by-turn directions.
Jamaica: make room for an outdoor stop
Jamaica State Park is one of the brochure’s featured stops. If an outdoor activity is the focus of your day, choose it first and fit the driving around it. Check park access, facilities and conditions before setting out.
Planning tip: For a shorter visit, pick a manageable activity rather than combining a long walk with several distant attractions.
Weston: shops, village time & theatre
Weston pairs the Vermont Country Store with Weston Theatre Company. Browse at your own pace, then leave time to enjoy the village. A performance needs its own place in the schedule, so confirm dates and book directly if you want to attend.
Planning tip: The Vermont Country Store has more than one location. Select the Weston store when planning this stop.
Plymouth Notch: a history-focused detour
Consider the President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site and Plymouth Artisan Cheese. Give this area enough time for the experience you want, rather than treating it as a quick photograph between other stops.
Planning tip: Review the historic site’s current visitor information and seasonal schedule before building your day around a visit.
Rochester & Granville: art and waterfall scenery
BigTown Gallery in Rochester and Moss Glen Falls in Granville offer two different reasons to pause. Choose the stop that suits your interests, or split the day between a cultural visit and time outdoors.
Planning tip: Use the Granville location when looking up this Moss Glen Falls. Check access and park only where permitted.
A CLOSER LOOK AT WESTON
Leave time to enjoy the village
Photograph: Scenic Vermont Photography.
A village stop works best when it gives you a break from driving. Choose a shop or attraction, allow time for a meal, and take a look around before continuing.
If your plans include shopping at the Vermont Country Store, check the Weston location’s visitor information. If you are attending a performance, make the start time the anchor for your afternoon or evening.
YOUR DAY, AT YOUR PACE
A flexible Route 100 day-trip itinerary
Morning: Start in the area closest to your overnight base. Choose one main attraction and allow enough time to enjoy it before adding more driving.
Midday: Stop in a village for lunch and a look around. Confirm opening times if a particular restaurant, shop or gallery is important to your plans.
Afternoon: Add a nearby scenic stop or a second attraction. Leave a buffer for parking, weather and the drive back, especially if you have dinner reservations or a check-in time.
This suggested outline covers a selected portion of the corridor. It is not a timed tour of the entire 146-mile byway, and it does not assume that every attraction is open on your travel date.
Turn the drive into a weekend
For a longer visit, divide your stops into geographic groups and explore a different area each day. Pick accommodation after deciding which attractions matter most; this helps you avoid repeatedly driving the same stretch.
Keep one optional stop in reserve instead of filling every hour. A little flexibility makes it easier to linger at a favorite place or change plans when the weather turns.
CHOOSE YOUR SEASON
Foliage drives, summer outings & winter visits
Summer & fall
For a summer outing, combine village time with an outdoor stop that suits your group. Carry water and a layer, and check the forecast before choosing a walk.
For fall foliage, check reports close to departure. Color varies by location and weather, so build a trip you will enjoy without relying on a guaranteed peak date. Reserve important overnight stays and activities ahead of time.
Winter & spring
In winter, plan around current road conditions and daylight. Allow extra travel time and verify access to each attraction before leaving.
For spring outings, confirm trail and park conditions before adding an outdoor stop. Keep an indoor alternative, and avoid assuming that seasonal businesses or visitor facilities have reopened.
BEFORE YOU SET OUT
Practical tips for your scenic drive
- Download your route: save the stops and directions you need before leaving.
- Check the visitor entrance: a town name or scenic-road marker is not always the arrival point for an attraction.
- Plan food and fuel: choose convenient stops rather than leaving everything to the last minute.
- Use designated parking: keep travel lanes and private driveways clear when stopping for photographs.
- Match walks to your group: confirm distance, terrain and accessibility directly with the site you plan to visit.
- Count the return journey: include detours and travel back to your accommodation when estimating the day.
MAPS & USEFUL LINKS
Scenic Route 100 Byway maps and planning resources
Start with Vermont Tourism’s statewide brochure for byway context. The original Route 100 map remains available below as a historical planning reference; its filename identifies it as a 2012 map. Check current navigation and road information before traveling.
For additional road-trip reading, see the Happy Vermont Route 100 article linked from the original guide. Its older publication date means visitor details should be checked directly.
Planning a longer trip north? Explore our Mad River Byway guide and Green Mountain Byway guide as separate additions to your itinerary.
HELPFUL ANSWERS
Scenic Route 100 Byway FAQs
How long is the Scenic Route 100 Byway?
Vermont Tourism’s 2025 byways brochure lists it at 146 miles. Your own driving distance will depend on the section you choose, side trips and the return journey.
Is the byway the same as all of Vermont Route 100?
No. Use the designated byway map when planning this route. A trip along more of the state highway can extend beyond the area covered by the scenic byway guide.
Can I visit in one day?
Yes, by choosing a section and a few nearby stops. Allow longer if you want to explore several villages, attend a performance or spend substantial time at attractions.
What are some stops to consider?
Options include Weston, Plymouth Notch, Rochester and Granville. Choose the experiences that interest you, then use the map to group nearby visits rather than trying to fit everything into one day.
Which Moss Glen Falls is included in this guide?
This guide refers to Moss Glen Falls in Granville. Check the town and exact visitor location when searching for directions.
When should I drive Route 100 for fall foliage?
Check current foliage reports close to your trip. Timing varies, so keep your schedule flexible and include stops you will enjoy regardless of the color.
Do attractions stay open year-round?
Schedules vary by operator and season. Confirm opening dates, reservations and access with each place before traveling, particularly when it is the main reason for your trip.
Find your next Vermont scenic drive
Choose another byway, explore a nearby covered bridge, or save an idea for your next Vermont visit.
Route and featured-stop resource: Vermont Tourism’s 2025 byways brochure.