Planning your first visit to Stowe, VT and not sure where to stay? I’m really happy you’re here! I’ve been visiting Stowe for 20+ years, and have stayed in a lot of different hotels in town. I’ve also visited in all four seasons, including braving the massive crowds during peak foliage season, experienced the winter ski vibes, and have also visited in the summer and quiet off-seasons.
Despite being small, it’s still good to have an idea of what part of town to stay in, and this post is all about where to stay in Stowe, VT. I’ll break down the main areas, and share the pros and cons of each. After reading this, you should have a pretty good idea on where to stay when planning your itinerary.
Let’s get started!
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Overview Of Stowe’s Different Parts Of Town
Stowe is a pretty small town with a population of just over 5,000 people, but generally, most are surprised to see how spread out it actually is. Because it encompasses mountains, a downtown area, walking trails, and hiking, you actually can’t just park and leave your car in the lot for your entire stay – you do need to drive to different parts of town during your visit.
Here’s a breakdown of each area of Stowe to give you the lay of the land, so to speak:
Village Center/Main Street: Best For Most People & First-Timers
This is where I’d recommend most people stay during a first-time visit to Stowe. You’ll be within walking distance to shops and cafés, and have a few different hotel options. From here, it’s about a 10-15 minute drive to the mountain area.
Mountain Road: Best For First-Timers & Those Who Need More Hotels To Choose From
This is the next closest area to Main Street and the village center, and parts of it are technically within walking distance to Main Street. You’ll find a lot more hotels along this road, and there’s a sidewalk for walking to different restaurants and such. This area has the main road that runs through it, so it’s a less quaint part of town, but still very convenient. You’re usually about 10 minutes from the mountains when staying here, depending on the exact hotel.
Mountains/Smugglers Notch: Best For Those Focused on Hiking, Skiing Or Want To Be More Remote
This is the most remote area of Stowe to stay in, but you’re either steps or minutes from hiking, Smugglers Notch, Mount Mansfield, the ski resort, and the Skyride Gondola. From here, you’ll have fewer dining options, and it’s about a 10-15 minute drive to the main part of town with shops and restaurants.
You’ll also see in the map above that the mountain area of town is much larger, and that’s really just because things are more spread out up that way due to the nature of the terrain – you’ve got skiing, hiking, scenic drives, etc., so naturally, that takes up more space 😊 It doesn’t mean that it’s got more hotel options – quite the opposite, actually.
I should also clarify that “remote” doesn’t mean the middle of nowhere with nothing around it. It just means that you’ll have fewer amenities in terms of food and such in this part of town, but it’s not wilderness remote by any means.
Breakdown Of Where To Stay In Stowe: Hotels & Amenities In Each Area
Best Hotels & Amenities Near Main Street & Village Center
These are my top-recommended hotels in this part of town:
Green Mountain Inn: Best All-Around Option
This is one of my favorite places to stay in town overall. It’s located right on Main Street, so you’re steps from cafés, shops, dining, and the Recreation Path. They also have a large parking lot in the back, which is very convenient. Rooms here are so cozy, with a traditional New England-style, and the building also maintains a lot of its historic charm. It’s not a super modern hotel, but I honestly just love it.
→ Click here to check rates & availability at the Green Mountain Inn
The Stowe Village Inn
I also love this cute little ini, which is located on Mountain Road heading to the other part of town, but remains very close to Main Street – so you can still walk to everything mentioned above. They have two separate buildings – the traditional inn and the motel, and both are great. The motel is a nice budget-friendly option in the area, and is also very modern and clean. They have parking on-site, which is very convenient.
→ Click here to check rates & availability at the Stowe Village Inn
Amenities When Staying Near Main Street/Village Center:
→ Walkability. As mentioned, you’ll be able to walk to a lot of places here, and you’ll get the full “I’m in a small town” vibe when staying in this part of Stowe. You’ll walk right out to Main Street, and be able to immediately feel like a local. All the shops are right there, too.
→ If you stay at one of my recommended hotels above, you’ll be able to easily park at the hotel without having to look for street or public parking, which can be a challenge during busy times.
→ Easy access to the Recreation Path. The Rec Path is a 5.3 mile paved pedestrian path that goes from the village center to the mountain part of town, and is one of the best things to do in Stowe. Having easy access to it is really nice.
→ A good amount of food and coffee options. You’ll be within walking distance to Black Cap Café, Main Street Café, Butler’s Pantry for the best breakfast in town (in my opinion 😉), Harrison’s, which is one of my favorite restaurants in Stowe, and a chocolate shop.
Cons Of Staying Near Main Street/Village Center:
→ Fewer hotel options, but the ones I’ve recommended in this area are really great. It’s also the smallest area, despite being the heart of the town.
→ You’re further from the mountains, so if that’s a big focus of your trip, it’s something to think about. That said, unless you’re planning to only ski your entire trip, I don’t think it’s really a huge con, since the drive isn’t that far.
→ It’ll be the busiest part of Stowe during peak times. It’s always bustling during fall foliage season, so you’ll be dealing with the crowds then. Ski season is the next busiest time in town. That said, if your hotel has parking, that makes a huge difference.
Best Hotels & Amenities Near Mountain Road
These are my top-recommended hotels in this part of town:
Topnotch Resort & Spa
This is considered the best hotel in this part of town, and sits on the northern part of Mountain Road – almost to the mountain area. It feels secluded, and has mountain views from the grounds and pool area (one of the pools is also open year-round). They also have a spa on-site. The only downside to the resort is that the rooms and bathrooms don’t feel as updated as they maybe should be. But overall, it’s a great option in town.
→ Click here to check rates & availability at the Topnotch Resort & Spa
Field Guide Lodge
Owned by the Lark hotel group, I really like the Field Guide Lodge because it’s a great location, and has a boutique feel to it. Sitting on the lower end of Mountain Road it’s only about a half mile to the village center, so you can walk to Main Street if you wanted. The lobby and breakfast area are so nicely decorated for the perfect “lodge” atmosphere, and they also have an outdoor seasonal pool. My only con for this hotel is the same as Topnotch, in that the rooms need a little updating. However, they’re clean and comfortable, and I highly suggest the Deluxe Queen rooms because they have an awesome soaking tub.
→ Click here to check rates & availability of the Field Guide Lodge
Stowe Motel & Snowdrift
This is a great budget option in this area, and I’ve stayed here a few times when I knew I wouldn’t be in the room much. It’s probably the cheapest place to stay in town, and while the rooms are definitely in need of some updating, it’s always been clean and cozy otherwise. The rooms are also pretty spacious, which is nice if you’re bringing ski equipment with you.
→ Click here to check rates & availability for the Stowe Motel & Snowdrift
Amenities When Staying Near Mountain Road
→ You have a lot of hotel options. This part of town is heavily populated with hotels, so you’ll be able to find something to fit most budgets and preferences. It’s also a bit larger than the village center.
→ You’re usually a very quick drive to restaurants like American Flatbread and Idletyme. You’re also very close to Stowe Cider and Stowe Bee Bakery & Cafe. It’s also possible you may be able to walk to some places, depending on which hotel you stay at.
→ You’re not far from the village center and Main Street. Depending on where you stay on Mountain Road, you could be within walking distance of Main Street. Otherwise, it’s just a very short drive away (typically 5-7 minutes or less).
Cons Of Staying Along Mountain Road:
→ The scenery isn’t as charming as the village center. It’s mostly just a road that runs through town, and it can be busy, especially during peak times, as it’s a major road in Stowe that connects to a lot of places. That said, the speed limit is only about 30 MPH where most everything is, so it’s not like cars are flying past you super fast.
→ It’s more spread out than the village center, and Mountain Road runs about two miles. So depending on where you stay, you could be close to a restaurant or two, but you may also need to drive. It will just depend.
Best Hotels & Amenities Near The Mountains/Smugglers Notch
These are my top-recommended hotels near the mountains and Smugglers Notch in Stowe. Keep in mind that in this area, pretty much all the hotels are either high end, or budget-friendly. There aren’t a lot on in-between options.
Lodge At Spruce Peak
Known as the best resort in town, it’s also one of the most expensive. But, if it fits within your budget, and you’re looking for a resort experience with lots of amenities, it’s worth it. There an absolutely wonderful spa on-site, dining right on the grounds, and in the winter, it’s the only ski-in/ski-out hotel in Stowe. Also in the winter, there’s a cute outdoor ice rink which is free to skate on (but they also have skating rentals available for an additional cost). There are a lot of different room types to choose from here as well, so if you’re traveling with a larger group, you’ll be able to find something that works at this resort.
→ Click here to check rates & availability for the Lodge At Spruce Peak
Edson Hill
This is the other high end, luxury hotel in Stowe. Full disclosure, I haven’t stayed here yet, but it’s been recommended to me a lot from people who have. Edson is more of a luxury boutique hotel/inn experience, as opposed to the resort experience at Spruce Peak. Rooms are very high end, the restaurant is farm-to-table, and the hotel sits on 38 acres of land with hiking trails and ponds for swimming. It kind of feels worlds away in an otherwise still very quiet part of town, which is perfect for a romantic getaway.
→ Click here to check rates & availability At Edson Hill
Northern Lights Lodge
This is one of the best affordable options in this part of town. The rooms here are pretty basic, but it’s a clean and cozy inn that’s only about 5 minutes or so from the gondola and Smugglers Notch.
→ Click here to check rates & availability At Northern Lights Lodge
Amenities When Staying Near The Mountains:
→ If you’re visiting in the winter, you’ll be way closer to the slopes, and by staying at the Lodge at Spruce Peak, you’ll have ski-in/ski-out access. If you want to go ice skating at Spruce Peak village in the winter, you’ll be close to that, too.
→ If a big focus of your trip is hiking the mountains, it may be worth it to you to stay in this part of town because you’ll have such quick and easy access to many of the trails. If you’re looking to do the SkyRide Gondola, it’s also right in this area. But one thing to keep in mind is that the Stowe Pinnacle trail is not in this part of town – it’s actually closer to the village center than this area. But several trails begin in the mountain area of Stowe.
→ It’s a quieter part of town. So, if you’re looking for less hustle and bustle, and a more remote stay, this area may be a good fit for you. Just keep in mind that it’s not completely remote, as previously mentioned. It’s just much less busy than the village center and Mountain Road areas – especially in the evenings.
Cons Of Staying Closer To The Mountains:
→ An important thing to know is that the road through Smugglers Notch closes in the winter because it’s unsafe to drive. There are a lot of narrow turns and such, so the road closure is actually a good thing. It’s typically closed mid-November through mid-May. The roads going to Mount Mansfield and the hotels will be open, but the rest of the drive through Smugglers Notch will be closed. It doesn’t usually affect your stay as much, but I just wanted to mention it.
→ There are fewer hotel options out this way. However, the hotels I’ve recommended are definitely great options.
→ There are hardly any dining options out this way, so you’ll likely be driving a lot between here and the village center/Mountain Road. If visiting during a peak time, that means you’ll be looking for parking spots in the village center and at restaurants during a very busy time when spaces fill up fast. However, when not a peak time, this will not be an issue.
What About The Trapp Family Lodge & Resort? Here’s What To Know About The Location
I LOVE the Trapp Family Lodge, and I do recommend looking into it to see if it’s a good fit for your stay. Budget-wise, it tends to fall into the more luxury side of pricing, but it’s a full resort with a lot of amenities to make it worth the cost.
It’s also a very beautiful resort, with of course, ties to the Von Trapp family. Yep, that Von Trapp family from the Sound of Music. The real family escaped the Nazis in Austria, and landed in Stowe. They opened the earliest version of this resort in 1950, and it eventually developed into what it is today. So, if you’re a big Sound of Music fan, you may really want to stay here – and I say go for it.
The location is also either a downside or a nice perk. It’s kind of not near – anything 😂 It’s really in its own little part of town, and this map shows you where it is in comparison to the other parts of Stowe:
It’s pretty secluded, and there’s not much around. But, because Stowe isn’t a large town, you’re never too far from anything, The Trapp Family Lodge is about 10 minutes from the village center, and about 15-20 minutes from the mountain area, depending on traffic and where you’re heading. It’s also only about 5-7 minutes from a few places on Mountain Road for quick access to dinner – like Idletyme Brewing.
The resort has on-site dining and a bierhall, but other than that, you’ll need to leave the resort grounds each time you want to do anything.
→ Click here to check rates & availability of the Trapp Family Lodge
What About Waterbury Center?
I often get asked if staying in Waterbury Center is convenient, as you’ll likely be able to find some cheaper hotels out that way during peak times in Stowe.
The answer really depends. Waterbury Center is NOT part of Stowe. A lot of travel guides kind of group them together because they’re neighboring towns, and many guides on things to do in Stowe will include activities in Waterbury Center like Cold Hollow and Ben & Jerry’s (I do the same, but just make sure that readers understand that you’re leaving Stowe).
It’s about a 10-minute drive from downtown Stowe to Waterbury Center, so it’s pretty quick. BUT, here’s the catch:
If you’re traveling during peak times in Stowe, like foliage or ski season, the traffic getting between Waterbury Center and Stowe can be a big pain.
That’s my biggest hesitation is recommending this area to stay in. There’s really only one road that goes between the two, and with the massive amounts of people that visit in the fall season, it can take up to 30 minutes of sitting in traffic to get from Stowe to Waterbury. I’ve sat in it a few times, so I have the experience to back up the claim! 😂The traffic congestion really stems from people trying to turn in and out of Cold Hollow Cider.
Traffic isn’t as bad during ski season, but it can still get a little backed up on weekends in January and February.
The rest of the year, though? The drive shouldn’t be congested, and if it works with your plans, it’s totally fine to stay in Waterbury Center if you find a hotel that works better with your budget. If your budget allows, I’d still pick staying right in Stowe, but it’s not the worst thing in the world to stay in Waterbury, either.
Where To Stay In Stowe: Answering More Of Your Questions
Is Stowe Expensive To Stay In?
Yes, especially during peak times like fall foliage and ski seasons. However, New England in general is pricey during peak season in any location, so I wouldn’t say it’s any more expensive than other places in New England during high season.
The most expensive times to visit are peak foliage, which is the first half of October, and then ski season – December-February.
One thing I really like about staying in Stowe, though, is that there are a lot of hotel options in varying price points. You can find more affordable motels if you’re on a tighter budget, and also luxury resorts – plus everything in between.
How Far In Advance Should I Book Accommodations In Stowe?
It depends on if you’re visiting during peak times. For fall foliage and ski season – especially weekends – I would book at least 6 months in advance. But I’ve also gone to book a hotel during peak foliage season 8 months in advance, and some of my favorite hotels were already fully booked.
Weekdays are usually easier to book than weekends, and if you’re not visiting during peak time, you can usually book last-minute, unless there’s a festival or event going on. But for the best rates, even outside of peak season, I would still try to book 1-2 months in advance.
Is There An Inexpensive Time To Visit Stowe?
Yes! Late March through April, and November. Both of these are transition times in New England, and tend to be a lot cheaper in Stowe.
Ski season begins to slow down a little by March, despite the slopes still being open. Weather in March begins to warm up slightly, so the snow begins to melt a little – especially if it’s a warmer-trending year. The mountains will still make snow, which keeps the trails open, but it’s not considered the best time for skiing in New England.
April is also a tough month weather-wise, and tends to be mud season – when all the snow starts to melt, and it begins to rain a lot – creating mud everywhere. Trails are harder to navigate for this reason, and in general, the scenery isn’t the best.
November is the time between foliage season and ski season, so hotels usually offer lower prices since it’s a weird in-between time to visit. I’ve gotten some nicely discounted rates at the best hotels in Stowe in November. It’s secretly one of my favorite times to visit for this reason 😉
I Want To Drive Smugglers Notch – Should I Stay By The Mountains?
If you’re looking to drive Smugglers Notch, and maybe do one other activity near the mountains, like the SkyRide gondola, I don’t think it’s necessary for you to stay in the mountains area for your whole trip. It’s not a far drive from the other parts of town, and parking is not usually a massive challenge out this way (unless you’re visiting during peak foliage, in which case spots along Smugglers Notch do fill up fast).
However, if you plan to do a lot of hiking, and only need to pop into town to eat, staying by the mountains is usually worth it.
Most people tend to stay in the mountain area in the winter, or to stay at the Lodge at Spruce Peak because it’s the best resort in town.
More of my Vermont posts you may enjoy:
- Stowe vs. Woodstock, VT: Which Is Better To Stay In?
- Vermont In November: A Guide To Stick Season
- Vermont Route 100 Road Trip Guide
That’s A Wrap On Where To Stay In Stowe, VT
And there you have it! All my tips, suggestions, and insight into where to stay when visiting Stowe, VT. After years of visiting, I’m so happy to share all this information with you, and I hope this guide was helpful while you plan your trip to beautiful Vermont!
