Stowe and Woodstock are widely considered to be the most quaint and charming towns in all of Vermont, and honestly, I happen to agree with that statement 😉 Both destinations offer a variety of things to do, small-town charm, great restaurants, and beautiful scenery, so deciding where to stay on your trip to Vermont can be tough if you’re not familiar with the area. But after reading this post, you’ll hopefully have a much better idea on where to stay.
I’ve been visiting Vermont since 2005, and my husband and I even honeymooned there! Since then, I’ve taken countless vacations, days trips, and getaways in all different seasons, and have explored as much of the state as possible. I’ve now lost track of how many visits I’ve made to both Stowe and Woodstock, but we’ll just say … it’s a lot. I’m happy to share all the insight I have to help you decide where to stay.
With that, let’s get into it!
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Stowe Vs. Woodstock, VT: Key Differences & Similarities
Both are quaint New England destinations with all the small-town charm you’re looking for, making them very similar is some ways. But they also have their own unique atmosphere and vibe that sets them apart. Let’s talk about their key differences first:
Differences Between The Two On A Basic Level:
Stowe is more of a mountain town – it’s home to Vermont’s highest peak, and definitely feels like a mountain town in many ways. It’s very casual, attracts big ski crowds in the winter, and huge leaf-peeper crowds in the fall because it’s truly home to some of the top foliage views in all of New England. Stowe also has a great Main Street that’s on the smaller side, but filled with charming boutiques, cafés, and restaurants. Even though it’s a mountain town, it still has a lot of cozy, New England charm with covered bridges, pretty houses, etc.
Woodstock has a slightly more upscale feel to it, and the village center has more shops and restaurants that are easily walkable if you’re staying right in that area. It’s also easier to walk around the neighborhood side streets to admire the picturesque houses. It feels very New England and Hallmark movie, if that makes sense. The shopping is a little better in Woodstock, too.
Key Similarities:
Both honestly feel idyllic, but Woodstock is ever-so-slightly “prettier,” if that makes any sense. However, the difference in this regard is minimal in my opinion. Woodstock is also a bit more walkable than Stowe, but both have a downtown area with shops/restaurants, and both have attractions located outside of the town center where you’d need to drive to get there. So neither town will allow you to park your car, and then never use it.
Both towns also have covered bridges, a distinct small-town feel, hiking/nature trail opportunities, and fun things to do nearby.
Location Breakdown:
Stowe and Woodstock are only about an hour and 20 minutes from each other, so it’s very easy to stay in one town, and visit the other as a day trip. That’s why I usually recommend you pick one of these towns to stay in versus trying to stay overnight in both. The exception would be if you had at least two nights to spend in each town.
Stowe is located further north, and on the edge of the Northeast Kingdom, which is home to attractions like Lake Willoughby, Jay Peak Resort, etc.
Woodstock is pretty much smack-dab in the middle of the state when looking at it from a north/south perspective, and sits a bit further east. In fact, it’s only about 30 minutes from the New Hampshire border. Woodstock is closer to places like Killington, Plymouth/the Calvin Coolidge Historic Site, and Quechee.
Walkability Breakdown:
As mentioned, Woodstock is a little more walkable than Stowe, but that’s not to say that Stowe isn’t walkable either. Stowe’s Main Street, where the village center is located, is the most walkable area, and that part of town has a great hotel right there, which makes for a cozy and convenient option if walkability is a concern for you.
The rest of Stowe’s restaurants and businesses are located off Main Street either heading out of town along Stowe-Waterbury Road, or toward Smugglers Notch, which is along Mountain Road. Technically, you can walk to a lot of places along Mountain Road, but some places are further down, and over a mile out. This will just depend on your mobility preferences, but the street has sidewalks, making it easy to walk.
Stowe also has the awesome Recreation Path (or, Rec Path, as the locals call it), which actually allows you to walk the entire length of the town, from the village center, to the mountains. The length is about 5.3 miles, which is very manageable.
Woodstock’s village center, however, offers easy walkability to almost all the shops and restaurants, including one of the covered bridges. However, you’ll still need to drive to get to a few of the top attractions in both towns.
In general, Woodstock only wins in this category by a small margin because things are a bit more condensed.
Which One Has Better Hotels:
Stowe definitely has more hotel options around town than Woodstock, so you’ll be able to find a bigger variety of places to stay, which includes everything from a budget motel to a luxury resort. It’s good to know that not all hotels in Stowe are walkable to the village center’s Main Street, however, the town is fairly condensed, so it’s definitely possible to walk there, depending on where you choose to stay.
Woodstock is actually home to “Vermont’s Most Beautiful Address,” which is the Woodstock Inn & Resort. This option is located in the heart of the village center, and you can walk to all the shops and restaurants in town. There are also a few select other places to stay that allow you to walk into town.
That said, Woodstock definitely has fewer options for places to stay.
Overall, if you’re looking for a luxury stay, you’ll find great options in both towns. But if you’re on more of a budget, you’ll have more options in Stowe.
I link my favorite hotels in each town down below, so keep reading 😉
Stowe & Woodstock In The Fall
Both towns are really beautiful in the fall, but I will say, you’ll see more foliage color in the Stowe area. Woodstock’s town center has sidewalks lined with trees, and while some of them turn bright fall colors, some aren’t as bright, so you don’t always get the same impact in Woodstock in terms of foliage. However, both are widely-considered to be some of the best towns for fall foliage, which I think is accurate, and I’m just being nit-picky for the sake of this post.
That said, in Woodstock, there are plenty of places you can go outside of the village center to see beautiful fall color. And also, what Woodstock’s village center may lack in fall color compared to Stowe, it makes up for it in amazing fall decorations around town. It’s really hard to not get into the fall spirit in the fall in Woodstock.
However, Stowe is honestly my absolute favorite in terms of foliage. There’s just something about the impact of the mountain views, the ability to ride a gondola to the state’s highest peak, and the scenic drives that all offer the jaw-dropping fall foliage views you’re probably hoping for. Stowe is also home to Smugglers Notch, which is one of the most scenic fall drives in Vermont.
Stowe is usually more lacking when it comes to cute town fall decorations, though many storefront do a nice job decorating in the fall. But I just think you’ll find better decor around town in Woodstock.
It’s also good to know that both towns get extremely crowded in the fall season, especially peak foliage around Indigenous People’s weekend. Parking can be a challenge, as both towns were not designed to host the crowds they receive. But in my opinion, it’s worth it. You just have to plan ahead and know what to expect.
Is One Better For Day Trips?
Honestly, not really, as both offer great options to explore other places nearby. However, if I had to pick one for this category, I’d go with Stowe.
As mentioned, Stowe is right on the border of the Northeast Kingdom, allowing you to see Jay Peak and Lake Willoughby as day trips. You’re also only about 15 minutes from Waterbury Center, which is home to a lot of cool things to check out like the Ben & Jerry’s Factory, Cold Hollow Cider, the Cabot Cheese Farmer’s Store, and a few other places. Stowe is also only about 45 minutes from Burlington, and about 50 minutes to Shelburne Farms (near Burlington).
Woodstock also has great options for day trips and exploring outside of the town, including Killington, Quechee, and Plymouth, as already mentioned. Woodstock is a little further from Burlington, at about 1.5 hours, which is still doable as a day trip. Woodstock is also closer to the southern Vermont attractions, and you can drive for about 50 minutes to get to the Vermont Country Store in Weston, and continue on down to Manchester, which is another beautiful little town to explore.
So, Which Town Is Better To Stay? My Opinion:
You honestly can’t go wrong with either, and with the towns only being about an hour and 20 minutes apart, it’s very easy to see both when visiting this region of Vermont (which I very much encourage!). For many people, it will come down to location and hotel options, so you’ll want to think about if one town’s location and hotels are better for your overall trip plans.
Throughout my website and in my itineraries, I more often recommend staying in Stowe because it has a bigger variety of hotel options in varying budgets, which will appeal to a lot of people.
And in terms of things to do, I think Stowe has slightly more options, but you’ll have a good amount of things to keep you busy in both towns, especially for a 1-3 day trip.
Where To Stay In Stowe, VT
The Lodge At Spruce Peak: The best luxury resort option in town, and located across the street from the base of the mountains. In the winter, it’s a ski-in/ski-out hotel, and in the fall, you’re right on the Smuggler’s Notch scenic drive. The hotel is located about a 15-minute drive from Main Street.
Green Mountain Inn: Located right on Main Street in town, and walkable to the shops and restaurants in that area, as well as the Rec Path. This is a wonderful cozy and historic hotel for the perfect New England experience. I stay here quite a bit when visiting Stowe because the location is just so good.
The Stowe Motel & Snowdrift: A great budget option that sits between the mountains and the village center. The motel is clean and cozy, but is a little outdated. However, I stay here when I know I’ll be out exploring most of my trip, and I always enjoy my stays.
Where To Stay In Woodstock, VT
The Woodstock Inn & Resort: As mentioned, this is the best location in town, and known as “Vermont’s Most Beautiful Address.” Located right on the town green, and across the park from a beautiful covered bridge, you can walk to everything located within the village center. For a luxury stay, this one is worth the splurge! I often get emails from readers telling me they were so happy they booked a stay here because it was worth every penny.
506 On The River Inn: A fantastic moderate option in Woodstock with beautiful decor, and just a short drive to the village center. I love the boutique hotel experience here, and a complimentary breakfast buffet is included with your stay. I also recommend making some time for pre-dinner drinks at their bistro – they’re so good!
The Vesper: Another great location right off the town green, The Vesper is walkable to the village center’s shops and restaurants, and has a fun, quirky vibe inside a historic building. An elevated continental breakfast is included with your stay, too. This hotel tends to be more affordable than the other options.
Top Things To Do In Stowe, VT
→ Visiting the charming Main Street, which has great little shops, cafés, and Lake Champlain Chocolates.
→ Drive the scenic Smugglers Notch (seasonal, and closed in the winter)
→ Walk the Rec Path throughout town and the mountains (my favorite stretch of the path starts at Brookdale Covered Bridge, which takes you past farms, and offers views of the mountains).
→ Take the Skyride Gondola to the top of Mount Mansfield, the highest peak in Vermont.
→ Sample local flavors via bites and drinks! American Flatbread Co., Harrison’s, and Idletyme are my favorite places to eat in town. You can also get locally-crafted cider at Stowe Cider, do a tasting at Smugglers Notch Distillery, and get great local coffee at Vermont Artisan Coffee and The Roastery.
Psst! I have full guides on the best things to do in Stowe and visiting Stowe, VT in the winter, if you’re in need of more ideas 😉
Top Things To Do In Woodstock, VT
→ Explore the village center’s shops and cafés, including the F. H. Gillingham & Sons general store, Vermont Flannel Company, and so many more great boutique shops (you won’t find chains here!). You can also visit the Farmhouse Pottery flagship store just outside of the village center.
→ Take photos at Middle Covered Bridge in town.
→ Visit Billings Farm, which is an award-winning outdoor history museum and historic working dairy farm with stunning scenery.
→ Walk the trails at the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller Historic Site.
→ Visit Sugarbush Farms for locally-made syrup and cheeses.
→ Get a taste for the local flavors here, too! I love The Prince & The Pauper and The Lincoln Inn for a nice dinner out. For breakfast and lunch, Mon Vert Café is hard to beat. You also have Woodstock Scoops right in the village for a maple creemee, which is a Vermont staple.
Psst! I have a full guide on things to do in Woodstock, VT if you’re looking for more info 😉
More posts you may enjoy:
- Best Times & Places To See Fall Foliage In Vermont
- My Ultimate Vermont Covered Bridges Self-Guided Driving Tour
- A Guide To Visiting Vermont In The Spring
- A Guide To Visiting Vermont In November: What Is Stick Season Like?
- Vermont Vs. New Hampshire In The Fall Season: Is One Better?
That’s A Wrap On Stowe Vs. Woodstock, VT
And there you have it! All my tips and insight to help you decide which town is better for your upcoming trip. Between Stowe and Woodstock, you honestly can’t go wrong, and both will provide all the small-town New England charm you’re hoping for. And since it’s easy to visit both in the same trip, you’ll get to experience both. But when it comes down to it, pick Woodstock for a more upscale Hallmark vibe, and go with Stowe if you’re looking for epic mountain views. Happy planning! 😊
