Best scenic drive
 

We will be in Vermont in about three weeks and only have 3 days for site seeing near the Montpelier area. I would like to know which route to take on rt. 100 for the best scenery: South towards Waitsfield and Warren along Moutain National Park, or North to Stowe and Morrisville. All inputs very much appreciated.

You will have time to drive in all three directions. Expect traffic congestion on Rt 100 north to Stowe in the section where there are so many shops and Ben and Jerry's but it's fun to make those stops. We recently stayed in Whitefield NH and did a loop that included Waitsfield and were still back in time for dinner. In fact, you should plan a loop thru NH's White Mountains. Vermont's Green Mountains aren't as tall and craggy. The road thru NH's Notch is very dramatic.

Evanphyl, buy your self a Vermont road atlas. Delorme, Jimapco, and Northern Cartographic make them. Study the map to see what looks interesting to you, then go! Go on the "back" roads (don't be afraid of the dirt) for the best scenery and the "real" Vermont. Most tourists don't do this and stick to the main roads, thus, as dfrost pointed out, will be busy.
If interested I can suggest a great loop from Montpelier to Jonesville, over Wes White Hill Rd to Huntington, on to Monkton, Bristol, Middlebury, Ripton, Lincoln, Warren, WAitsfield, and back to Montpelier. It involves lots of back roads-if interested, let me know & I'll post more detailed info.

Thanks "bm" for your suggestion. We will be driving with two other couples in a mini-van. Will this be a problem for the back roads you suggested? Could you please list the routes to be taken. My map does not show all locations you named.

Minivan-no problem. Many folks who live up here have 'em and drive the roads up here daily.
Here's the route. Keep in mind some of these roads are dirt, but they are all well-maintained.
From Montpelier, take Route 2 west to the village of Jonesville. Jonesville is between Bolton and Richmond.
Take a left on Cochran's Road. Go approx 1/3 mile and take a left on Wes White Hill. Follow this road up and over the hill and to the road's end in the Village of Huntington (once you cross the Huntington town line, the road name changes to Pond Road). Take a left on Main Road. Go approx. 1 mile and take a right onto Hinesburg Hollow Road. Go a couple miles and take a left onto Big Hollow Road. Big Hollow Road will end in the village of Starksboro at VT Route 116. Follow Route 116 south to Bristol. Bristol is a cute town to get out and strech the legs. If you're hungry, try Snap's Cafe.
At this point, if you're low on time or getting tired, you can head back toward Montpelier-take Route 17 east over the Appalacian Gap into Waitsfield. In Waitsfield, take 100 North to 100B North to I-89 or Route 2 to Montpelier.
If you feel like trucking onto MIddlebury, follow Route 116 south. A couple miles south of Bristol, you'll see River Road on your right. Take River Road to Route 7 South.
Middlebury is another good stop. From MIddlebury, take Route 7 south to Route 125 east. Follow 125 East over Middlebury Gap. Texas Falls, off Route 125 is a nice stop. When 125 intersects with 100, take 100 north through Warren, Waitsfield, and 100B north to I-89 or Route 2 to Montpelier.
Phew!
Again, I recommend getting yourself a good detailed map once you get here showing all these back roads. Then go explore!
Have fun.

Hi BM,

Thanks for your help.