Where to base yourself
Questions, answered
What is Orange County actually like?
It is deep-country Vermont: hill farms, dirt roads, white steeples and very small villages, sitting between I-89 in the west and the Connecticut River in the east. There is no resort town and no crowd, which is the point.
Where should I base myself?
Randolph in the west is the largest village and sits near I-89 with an Amtrak stop, while Bradford and Fairlee on the eastern side put you on I-91 and the river. Both are within an hour of Woodstock, Montpelier and the Upper Valley.
Is a car necessary?
Yes, without qualification. Distances between villages are long, roads are frequently unpaved, and there is no meaningful local transport. A vehicle with decent clearance is a comfort on the back roads in mud season, roughly late March into April.
When is the best time to visit?
Late September and early October for foliage on the hill farms, or high summer for swimming holes and the lakes at Fairlee. Avoid mud season in early spring, when dirt roads soften and many rural attractions have not yet opened.
Where to stay — Orange County
Live prices for every hotel and inn in the area — free cancellation, updated daily.
