★ 4.0Positioned on the western side along Lake Champlain (home to Burlington).
Vermont’s most populous county — a lakefront city, a big university and easy island and mountain day trips.
Where to stay in Chittenden County
Downtown Burlington, a few blocks from Church Street and the waterfront, is the one base in the state that genuinely works without a car, and the premium is worth it if you plan to eat and drink out. South Burlington along Williston Road and Dorset Street, plus Williston and Essex further east, is the value play — chain lodging near the airport and the shopping, a bus ride or ten minutes from downtown — and Winooski, just across the river, sits between the two. South on US-7, Shelburne and Charlotte are quiet lakeside villages handy for Mount Philo and the ferry, while a room east toward Richmond or Bolton shortens the morning drive to the ski areas. Book well ahead for UVM graduation in May and for the October foliage weekends.
Hand-checked stays
Stays in Chittenden County
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★ 4.0On the ground
Things to do in Chittenden County
- Church Street MarketplaceA four-block pedestrian mall of shops, buskers and restaurants at the center of Burlington.
- Waterfront & Island LineSwim, sail or ride the bike path out onto the Lake Champlain causeway toward the islands.
- Shelburne Museum & Farms39 buildings of Americana, plus a Vanderbilt-era working farm on the lakeshore.
- ECHO Leahy CenterLake Champlain aquarium and science center on the downtown waterfront — great for families.
Getting around & the essentials
Transport
I-89 runs through the county to the Canadian border, with US-7 heading south along the lake through Shelburne and Charlotte. Burlington International (BTV) is in South Burlington, minutes from downtown, the Amtrak Ethan Allen Express terminates in Burlington, and seasonal ferries cross Lake Champlain to New York from Burlington and Charlotte; a car is useful but not strictly necessary if you stay in the city.
Good to know
Common questions
Can I visit without a car?
Burlington itself works well car-free, with the waterfront, Church Street and the university all walkable and a local bus network reaching the airport, Winooski and Shelburne. For Mount Philo, Bolton Valley or the islands you will want a car or a rideshare.
How close is skiing?
Bolton Valley is about 30 minutes east, Smugglers' Notch and Stowe within an hour, and Sugarbush around an hour south. Staying in the county and driving out is a common way to cut lodging costs against on-mountain rates.
What is there to do on the lake?
Swim from the town beaches in July and August, paddle or sail out of Burlington, take the seasonal ferries across to New York, or cycle the Island Line north. The lake is large enough to build real waves, so check conditions before going out in a small boat.
Does Amtrak reach Burlington?
Yes. The Ethan Allen Express runs from New York City up through Rutland, Middlebury and Vergennes to Burlington, making the county the easiest part of Vermont to reach without driving. Journey times are long, so treat it as part of the trip rather than a shortcut.
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Nearby towns
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