Where to base yourself
Questions, answered
Is it worth basing here instead of Burlington?
If you want lower prices and quiet, yes. St. Albans is about 30 minutes up I-89 from Burlington, so you can day-trip into the city and still stay in farm country with lake access.
How easy is crossing into Quebec?
Very. The I-89 crossing at Highgate Springs is the busiest in the state and puts you on the Montreal autoroute, with the city around an hour and a quarter from St. Albans. There are smaller crossings at Richford and elsewhere, and everyone needs a passport or equivalent.
When is maple season?
The sap normally runs from late February into early April, depending on how the freeze-thaw cycles fall. Many producers open to visitors during a statewide maple open house weekend in March, and St. Albans holds the Vermont Maple Festival once the boiling is done in spring.
What is there to do here in summer?
Lake Champlain is the main draw: swimming and boating at St. Albans Bay, camping on the island state parks, and birding in the Missisquoi delta. Add the rail trail, the covered bridges, and a dense run of farm stands and creemee shacks.
Where to stay — Franklin County
Live prices for every hotel and inn in the area — free cancellation, updated daily.
