South Burlington, VT Road Trips
Drivers starting from South Burlington, VT have 3 mapped routes to choose from, making it a small but connected base in the Northeast. Most drives stay under 91 miles, making this area well-suited for day trips and weekend getaways. Most routes from South Burlington, VT head south, giving the route network a clear directional lean.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Trip Routes
5
Longest Drive
141.8 mi
Putney, VT
Quickest Drive
38m
Grand Isle, VT
Plan Around South Burlington, VT
Popular Incoming Routes
Useful if South Burlington, VT is the arrival point and you want the strongest routes into the city first.
Continue From South Burlington, VT
Good next legs if this city is only one stop in a longer road trip.
Trips from South Burlington, VT
Driving from South Burlington, VT
Expect an average of 91 miles and about 2h 8m behind the wheel when leaving South Burlington, VT. The majority of routes are short drives — quick enough to finish before lunch and be back for dinner. The longest mapped route runs 142 miles (2h 46m), while the shortest is just 51 miles.
Popular Destinations
Drivers leaving South Burlington, VT most often head toward Putney, VT (141.8 mi, 2h 46m), Wells, VT (79.9 mi, 2h 13m), and Orwell, VT (50.5 mi, 1h 26m). Most destinations stay within the same state, perfect for exploring the local region thoroughly.
Planning & Costs
Regular gas in VT currently averages around $4.23 per gallon. For the typical 91-mile trip from South Burlington, VT, budget about $15 in fuel one way, assuming 25 MPG. Longer hauls and premium fuel will cost proportionally more.
The majority of destinations are to the south. Morning starts help you avoid the midday heat on longer drives. With an average drive under three hours, you have plenty of flexibility — leave whenever it suits you.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 3 mapped routes leaving South Burlington, VT and 2 routes heading into South Burlington, VT, covering 5 total connections. Distances range from 51 to 142 miles.
The longest mapped route from South Burlington, VT covers 142 miles and takes approximately 2h 46m. Shorter options start at just 51 miles.
The average route from South Burlington, VT runs about 91 miles with a drive time of roughly 2h 8m. This includes both short day trips and longer multi-day drives.
At current gas prices (about $4.23/gallon for regular), the average 91-mile trip from South Burlington, VT costs roughly $15 in fuel one way, based on 25 MPG. Your actual cost depends on your vehicle's efficiency.
The most popular road trip destinations from South Burlington, VT include Putney, VT, Wells, VT and Orwell, VT. Each route page has detailed drive times, fuel estimates, stop suggestions, and turn-by-turn directions.
South Burlington, VT by the Numbers
Recent demographic snapshot from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
Population
20,488
Median Income
$97,229
Median Home Value
$399,600
Median Age
38.8
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year (public domain). See our methodology for details.
South Burlington, VT at a Glance
Founded
1865
Elevation
328 ft
Area
30 mi²
Notable People from South Burlington, VT
A sampling of people born in South Burlington, VT.
Kerstin Anderson
1994
American stage actress and singer
City data from Wikidata (Q26065), available under CC0. Photos from Wikimedia Commons under their respective licenses. See our methodology for details.
Traveler Guide to South Burlington, VT
South Burlington is a city in Northwest Vermont. It is a suburb of Burlington and is the second largest city in the state. Unlike most sizable Vermont communities, it doesn't have a downtown of any sort since most of the city's development has occurred in the last few decades. The city has intelligently reserved a large tract of land near the busiest intersection in town to construct a downtown, however they haven't yet decided how they want this done. Unfortunately, there's nothing there but a dirt road (possibly the only one in the city) and some trees.
The main point of South Burlington for the average traveler is that it hosts various relatively inexpensive hotels but is still close enough to neighboring Burlington to be quite convenient for drivers who want to visit the attractions of that city.
South Burlington's suburban nature means there isn't a whole lot to see here aside from the standard views of the lake and mountains. Magic Hat Artifactory, 5 Bartlett Bay Rd, ☏ +1 802 658-2739. See beer being made, taste some samples, and grab some swag at this well-known brewery. Overlook Park (on Spear St. south of Swift St.). This park is really just a few benches and some parking spaces, but the view of the lake and Adirondack Mountains is hard to beat. Infinity Brewing, 80 Ethan Allen Dr., ☏ +1 802 735-1288. Small craft brewery with tasting room. If the brewer is around, you might be able to get a tour as well.
Higher Ground, 1214 Williston Rd., ☏ +1 802 652-0777. See a concert at this local music venue. 1 Red Rocks Park, Central Ave, ☏ +1 802 846-4108. Hike one of the many trails to get excellent views of Lake Champlain or go for a swim. 2 Wheeler Nature Park (at the end of Swift St. Extension). Hike the miles of trails through forests and fields at this 140-acre park. 3 Cairns Arena. Hockey arena. (updated Oct 2020)
Al's French Fries, 1251 Williston Rd, ☏ +1 802 862-9203. Fast food joint and a Burlington-area institution. Serves burgers, hot dogs, fries, and creamees. 1 Burlington Bagel Bakery, 992 Shelburne Rd, ☏ +1 802 864-0236. Contrary to the name, it's not in Burlington; however, they do have 15 kinds of bagels. Charlie's Rotisserie Chicken, 1160 Williston Rd, ☏ +1 802 862-1211. Rotisserie chicken restaurant. Also serves ribs, burgers, and salads. All the sides are homemade. Hana Japanese Restaurant, 150 Dorset St., ☏ +1 802 448-3525. Hibachi, sushi, and sashimi. The Rotisserie, 1355 Williston Rd, ☏ +1 802 658-1838. Steak and seafood. The Wooden Spoon Bistro, 1210 Williston Rd., ☏ +1 802 399-2074. Guild & Company, 1633 Williston Rd, ☏ +1 802 497-1207. Steakhouse that sources its meat and produce from local farms. Lakeview House, 1710 Shelburne Rd., ☏ +1 802 865-3900. Elevated comfort food. Pauline's Cafe, 1834 Shelburne Rd., ☏ +1 802 862-1081. Cafe featuring locally sourced ingredients on seasonal menus Pulcinella's, 100 Dorset St., ☏ +1 802 863-1000. Authentic Italian restaurant. Vermont National Country Club, 1227 Dorset St, ☏ +1 802 264-9415. The food is almost as popular as the golf and you don't need to be a member to eat here. 2 The Windjammer, 1076 Williston Rd, ☏ +1 802 862-6585. Popular steak and seafood restaurant featuring many local ingredients. Huge salad bar and large wine list.
South Burlington doesn't have much in the way of nightlife aside from restaurant bars and the previously mentioned Higher Ground. The Upper Deck Pub located at The Windjammer has a decent bar and serves a lot of the same food as the restaurant downstairs, often at lower prices. Guild & Company is also well known for the quality of their cocktails. If coffee is what you're after, skip Starbucks and try the coffee shop inside Healthy Living. If you really want nightlife in the area, head to Burlington or Winooski. Magic Hat Brewing Co., 5 Bartlett Bay Rd, ☏ +1 802-658-BREW (2739). Microbrewery.
Shelburne Road (Route 7) is generally where you will find the least expensive hotels, while the more upscale ones (though check current prices) are on Williston Rd. Both locations are quite convenient to Downtown Burlington, if you drive. Comfort Inn & Suites, 5 Dorset St, ☏ +1 802 863-5541. 1 Best Western Windjammer Inn & Conference Center, 1076 Williston Rd, ☏ +1 802 863-1125. Comfort Inn & Suites, 5 Dorset St, ☏ +1 802-863-5541. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Comfort Suites, 1712 Shelburne Rd, ☏ +1 802-860-1112. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. 2 Doubletree Hotel, 1117 Williston Rd, ☏ +1 802 658-0250. G.G.T. Tibet Inn, 1860 Shelburne Road, ☏ +1 802-863-7110, [email protected]. Check-in: 3:30PM, check-out: 11AM. This hotel is owned and operated by a Tibetan follower of the Dalai Lama who is friendly and helpful. The front desk is accordingly adorned with pictures of him and is redolent of sweet, mild incense. The rooms are spacious and have furniture that is not in perfect condition but has a slightly faded charm; the couch may be slightly sunken in, but the beds are very comfortable and everything works (or if it really doesn't, the owner, who also works as a housekeeper and electrician, will fix it) — with one exception: You may find the air doesn't circulate so well with the air conditioner, and when you open the windows, the air circulation still may not be perfect, but you will hear the noise from busy Shelburne Road (Route 7). If you believe that noise would prevent you from falling asleep, pay more and go to a different hotel.
South Burlington is accessible via I-89 exit 14, US 2, and US 7. 1 Burlington International Airport (BTV IATA), Airport Drive, ☏ +1 802 863-1889. Flights arrive daily via several carriers from as far away as Chicago O'Hare and Orlando. Travelers from farther afield will have to make a connection in a larger city. There are non-stop flights to Burlington Airport from the following cities (some cities may be seasonal or only offer service certain days of the week): Baltimore, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Toronto and Washington-National.
South Burlington is not a very walkable city. Although there are sidewalks, heavy traffic and long distances can make walking unpleasant or dangerous. Some roads have bike lanes which makes cycling a viable option in some cases. However, be aware that not all of the busier roads have bike lanes, and they are often narrower than in other parts of the United States. Much of Williston Road should be avoided by cyclists. South Burlington is served by several CCTA bus routes. The routes serve Shelburne Road, Williston Road, the University Mall, and Burlington International Airport. A car is the easiest way to get around the city, although traffic can be frustrating at times. Williston and Shelburne Roads should be avoided at rush hour.
Travel tips adapted from South Burlington on Wikivoyage, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Content summarized; visit the source for the full article. See our methodology for how we use it.
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