Vermont Route 100: No Itinerary. No problem.
- Avumilejourneys
- Jul 17
- 3 min read
It's summer. You live in New England. You have no plans. That's actually perfect. Don't think about it. Don't Google it. Just head to Route 100 in Vermont. It will create the plan for you. You don't need an itinerary. You don't need to know what's coming. Route 100 will show you. The views alone are rewarding. There's so much more waiting. Waterfalls hidden in gorges. Cheese you can taste for free. Ice cream samples: combinations you didn't think were possible. A historic town that feels frozen in time. Let the Adventure begin.
Before You Even Get There: Poet Seat Tower
If you're coming from central or western Massachusetts on Route 91, there's a quick 20-minute detour that'll make you feel like you're already on vacation. Stop at Poet Seat Tower in Rocky Mountain Park, Greenfield, MA. Before the real adventure. Hike up. Fifteen minutes.
Route 100: The Road That Changed Everything
Once you cross into Vermont and hit Route 100, something happens. The road becomes a ribbon threading through a landscape that looks Photoshopped: dense forest, sudden valleys, massive sky. Ben & Jerry's Factory hits you with free samples, then Cabot Cheese tests your self-control with aged cheddar poetry, then waterfalls Moss Glen, Bingham, etc. Woodstock appears like a time machine, green so perfect it hurts, buildings ancient, covered bridge from paintings, and you hike above it, realizing you're actually there. Stowe walk Main Street for free, skip the tourist restaurants, find the Chinese buffet outside town for $8-15, then Quechee Gorge stops you cold with a 165-foot canyon that rivals the Grand Canyon.
The Canada Detour: Bedford, Quebec
Here's where I got brave.
From Stowe, you can reach the Canadian border in about an hour by driving north on Route 89. Once you cross, make sure you have a passport. Bedford, Quebec, appears like a small, charming movie set. I parked and walked Main Street. Explored shops selling local goods and vintage items. Then I went to Café Rouge. It's a small café with an intentional vibe. Not expensive. Good coffee. Good food. Across the street is Maison Cornell-Kimmell, a historic house open to visitors. Explore it. Learn about the building. It's free or by donation. The town has other restaurants and shops worth browsing. Get lost for an hour. On the way back, if time permits, you can stop in Montpellier. Walk around State Street and visit the museum.
The Actual Cost Breakdown
Let me be specific about what this trip cost me, traveling solo. This is even more cost-effective if you're traveling with friends or family. And here's the key: I pre-packed most of my food and snacks.
My Route 100 Experience (2 Days with Camping & Canada):
Gas (round trip from Cape Cod, including Canada detour): $123
Ben & Jerry's Factory samples: $0
Cabot Cheese Creamery samples: $0
All waterfalls (Moss Glen, Bingham, hiking): $0
Woodstock: $0
Stowe Main Street walk: $0
Quechee Gorge: $0
Chinese buffet lunch in Stowe: $11
Café Rouge in Bedford, Quebec: $22
Camping at Millbrook Campground (one night): $37
Montpellier: $0
Total: $193 for two days
Just Route 100, Day Trip Version (No Camping, No Canada):
Gas: $107
Chinese buffet: $11
Total: $118 for one day
This is what Route 100 teaches you: the views cost zero. The road costs gas. The food costs what you decide to spend. The adventure costs exactly what you're willing to show up for.
Avumile Journeys
Travel is not expensive. Uninformed travel is.
