Scenic Route 100: Vermont's Ultimate Late-Summer and Fall Foliage Drive from The Governor's Inn
Planning a fall foliage trip to Vermont? Discover the best stops along Scenic Route 100 near Ludlow, from Buttermilk Falls to the Calvin Coolidge Historic Site, Weston's Vermont Country Store, and the Okemo Valley Cheese Trail.
Scenic Route 100: Vermont's Ultimate Late-Summer and Fall Foliage Drive from The Governor's Inn
There is a moment in late August when the Okemo Valley shifts gears. The air loses its humidity, the evening light turns golden an hour earlier, and the first hints of color appear on the hillsides above 2,000 feet. It is the unofficial start of foliage season in southern Vermont, and there is no better way to chase it than a drive along Scenic Route 100, the corridor Yankee Magazine named one of the most scenic drives in New England. If you are staying at The Governor's Inn in downtown Ludlow, you are already parked at the southern gateway. Here is your guide to the Route 100 byway and the stops worth making between now and peak foliage in October.
The Route: Ludlow to Londonderry
The Vermont Scenic Route 100 Byway runs through Plymouth, Ludlow, Andover, Weston, and Londonderry, following the eastern edge of the Green Mountains. The southern section traces the Black River past Lake Rescue, Amherst Lake, Lake Pauline, and Echo Lake, with mountain views opening around every bend. The full byway stretches over 200 miles to the Canadian border, but the 20-mile Okemo Valley section packs in enough history, food, and scenery for a full day.
Stop 1: Buttermilk Falls, Ludlow
Before heading north on Route 100, detour off Route 103 onto Buttermilk Falls Road, just south of the village. A short 0.5-mile trail leads to three waterfalls on Branch Brook, including a 20-foot middle falls that drops into a deep 25-foot-wide swimming pool. It is one of southern Vermont's best swimming holes, and the easy trail makes it accessible for all ages. Pack a sandwich from Big Pop's Sandwich Shop on Pond Street and make it a picnic.
Stop 2: Plymouth Notch and the Calvin Coolidge Historic Site
Five miles north of Ludlow, bear right onto Route 100A into Plymouth Notch, one of the best-preserved presidential birthplaces in the nation. The President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site preserves the entire village where Coolidge was born and took the oath of office in 1923. Open daily from 9:30 AM to 5 PM through mid-October, admission is free. Walk the general store, the church, and the homestead, all virtually unchanged from a century ago.
While you are there, stop at Plymouth Artisan Cheese, one of the oldest cheese operations in the country, still making raw-milk cheese in the same village where Coolidge grew up. Their herbed cheddar and sage cheese are worth the detour alone.
Stop 3: Weston
Ten minutes north, the entire village of Weston is registered as a historic district, with white clapboard houses, a village green, and the West River running through it. The must-stop is The Vermont Country Store at 657 Main Street, open daily from 8:30 AM to 6 PM. Founded in 1946, it is part general store, part museum, part testing ground for every old-fashioned candy, flannel nightgown, and hard-to-find household gadget you forgot existed. Grab a creemee at Mildred's Dairy Bar out front.
If you are visiting after August 26, the Weston Theater Company closes out its 90th anniversary season with Primary Trust, the 2024 Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Eboni Booth. Performances run August 26 through September 6 at Walker Farm, with 2 PM matinees Wednesday through Sunday and 7:30 PM evening shows. Tickets at westontheater.org or 802-824-5288.
Stop 4: Londonderry and the Lakes
Continuing north on Route 100, you pass through Andover into Londonderry, home to Lowell Lake, a quiet 35-acre pond perfect for kayaking or a shoreline walk. Magic Mountain sits on the ridge above town, and in late summer its summit offers some of the first foliage views in the valley. Turn around here for a 45-minute round trip from the inn, or keep going toward Mount Holly and the Granville Gulf, one of the most dramatic stretches of road in Vermont.
The Okemo Valley Cheese Trail
Route 100 also connects several stops on the Okemo Valley Cheese Trail. Beyond Plymouth Artisan Cheese, the trail includes Crowley Cheese in Mount Holly and Grafton Village Cheese in Grafton. Pick up a wedge at each stop and build a cheese board back on the porch at the inn.
When to Go for Foliage
Foliage in the Okemo Valley typically begins at higher elevations in mid-September and peaks in late September through mid-October. The Old Farmer's Almanac and Explore Fall's interactive map both point to the first two weeks of October as the prime window for southern Vermont in 2026. Book early -- foliage weekends fill fast in Ludlow.
What Is Still Happening This Week
Before the leaves turn, there is plenty happening right now. The Best of Vermont Summer Festival takes over Okemo Field this Saturday and Sunday, August 22-23, with 100-plus vendors, live music, and a family fun zone. Tonight's Jackson Gore Summer Music Series concert runs from 5:30 to 8:30 PM and is free. The Ludlow Farmers Market continues every Sunday from 9 AM to 1 PM on Depot Street through October 11. And the Weston Theater's Primary Trust opens August 26, giving you a reason to come back before foliage season even begins.
Whether you are chasing the first blush of color or planning a peak-foliage weekend in October, Route 100 delivers. And there is no better base camp than a rocking chair on the porch at The Governor's Inn.
Book your stay at The Governor's Inn and let Vermont's most scenic road be your guide.
