[GaiaGoddess]

I live in Minnesota and am trying to research the best way for me to get to Vermont. I've only flown once (not a fan), and besides there are no direct flights there. I really want to take a train since I could sit back and enjoy the scenery, but the Amtrak site is no help at all, I've tried the 10 closest stations to end in and they're all telling me there are no trains that go there even though I can see on the map that there are routes there, so I'm confused about that.

Driving directly there might be my only option, but I wanted to avoid that since my car is 13 years old and I would have to stop and sleep a few times along the way, adding more expenses to my trip. So my first question is how do I find a train route that goes there, are there trains other than Amtrak? Or what am I doing wrong that the site isn't giving me a route? I am fine with stopping to get on another train along the way but it isn't even giving me that option.

Also, I wanted to see all of Vermont, so I was wondering how long it takes to drive from West to East, and from North to South (not including sleep time). Basically, if one wanted to visit all the major cities and the perimeter of the back roads, how much time would be necessary?

[Gemini1963]

Originally Posted by GaiaGoddess

I live in Minnesota and am trying to research the best way for me to get to Vermont. I've only flown once (not a fan), and besides there are no direct flights there. I really want to take a train since I could sit back and enjoy the scenery, but the Amtrak site is no help at all, I've tried the 10 closest stations to end in and they're all telling me there are no trains that go there even though I can see on the map that there are routes there, so I'm confused about that.

Driving directly there might be my only option, but I wanted to avoid that since my car is 13 years old and I would have to stop and sleep a few times along the way, adding more expenses to my trip. So my first question is how do I find a train route that goes there, are there trains other than Amtrak? Or what am I doing wrong that the site isn't giving me a route? I am fine with stopping to get on another train along the way but it isn't even giving me that option.

Also, I wanted to see all of Vermont, so I was wondering how long it takes to drive from West to East, and from North to South (not including sleep time). Basically, if one wanted to visit all the major cities and the perimeter of the back roads, how much time would be necessary?

It's true that there are no direct flights between Minneapolis and Burlington, but there are some combinations that are not too bad, and might, in the end, be much preferable to the other options. United has flights from MSP to BTV that stop over at O'Hare, and Delta has flights from MSP to BTV that stop over in Detroit.

I have taken Amtrak to and from VT but I use the Albany station. I am not knowledgeable about other possible VT stations, but I think if there were an option that landed me within two hours of Middlebury, where I am usually headed, I'd have found it by now. (I do know about Port Henry, but I think it only goes in one direction?)

For the driving part, I leave that question to others. I will say, it's a lot of 2-lane double-yellow-line roads driving. if you're fine with that, then good. I used to have no problem with it. Now I have to get used to it again whenever I go back.

When are you planning to travel? If it's soon(ish) before sure to check the COVID-related quarantine rules.

Good luck.

[GaiaGoddess]

Originally Posted by Gemini1963

It's true that there are no direct flights between Minneapolis and Burlington, but there are some combinations that are not too bad, and might, in the end, be much preferable to the other options. United has flights from MSP to BTV that stop over at O'Hare, and Delta has flights from MSP to BTV that stop over in Detroit.

I will probably not fly then, having a layover is one of the worst things I could imagine, especially at one of those airports. The whole concept of getting through an airport is confusing to me and I'd rather not make it more complicated.

I have taken Amtrak to and from VT but I use the Albany station. I am not knowledgeable about other possible VT stations, but I think if there were an option that landed me within two hours of Middlebury, where I am usually headed, I'd have found it by now. (I do know about Port Henry, but I think it only goes in one direction?)

Hmm, that really sucks because train would have been my first choice.

For the driving part, I leave that question to others. I will say, it's a lot of 2-lane double-yellow-line roads driving. if you're fine with that, then good. I used to have no problem with it. Now I have to get used to it again whenever I go back.

I like to drive slow and don't like to pass people, so I wouldn't mind those roads at all.

When are you planning to travel? If it's soon(ish) before sure to check the COVID-related quarantine rules.

Good luck.

It would be a miracle if I could get there this fall, so most likely next fall, which would also be better for Covid reasons. I have been wanting to go for years so I'm just finally getting serious about planning it, I have 3 Vermont guidebooks coming in the mail! Maybe I'll find some good information in those too.

[Riley.]

I've never had an issue connecting flights from anywhere to Burlington but not all airports have those connecting flights. You just head to the gate from which the Burlington flight leaves, usually at the end of the day. Another factor to consider, I think, is the long train trip that it would be if you come all the way from Minnesota. It'd probably take a few days and, at least for me, I'd want a sleeper coach so I wouldn't have to sit in the regular seat the whole trip - and that isn't cheap, last I checked. It would probably be less expensive to fly, and obviously much quicker.
Driving around VT....you could spend days driving around so it depends on what you want to see. North to south and east to west can be done in 1/2 day - depending on how fast you drive. Adding stops and sight-seeing obviously adds to that time, but it's not like CA where it can take you two days just to get out of the state (south to north).
Good luck.

[Wells5]

AMTRAK service to Vermont is suspended. There were 2 trains, the Vermonter and the Ethan Allen, both coming from New York City. When and even if they will be reinstated is unknown.

[GaiaGoddess]

Originally Posted by Riley.

I've never had an issue connecting flights from anywhere to Burlington but not all airports have those connecting flights. You just head to the gate from which the Burlington flight leaves, usually at the end of the day. Another factor to consider, I think, is the long train trip that it would be if you come all the way from Minnesota. It'd probably take a few days and, at least for me, I'd want a sleeper coach so I wouldn't have to sit in the regular seat the whole trip - and that isn't cheap, last I checked. It would probably be less expensive to fly, and obviously much quicker.

I don't mind taking a few days to get there, i've always wanted to take a train across the country so this would be killing two birds with one stone! But I still have no idea how to book this when the site isn't giving me options, it's just saying there are no routes. I might have to actually go to the station and ask someone but I hate to stand there in the ticket line taking half an hour or so getting this information that should be online.

Driving around VT....you could spend days driving around so it depends on what you want to see. North to south and east to west can be done in 1/2 day - depending on how fast you drive. Adding stops and sight-seeing obviously adds to that time, but it's not like CA where it can take you two days just to get out of the state (south to north).
Good luck.

That's good to know, for a starting point. I knew VT was tiny but didn't know the time frames for driving. Thanks!

[GaiaGoddess]

Originally Posted by Wells5

AMTRAK service to Vermont is suspended. There were 2 trains, the Vermonter and the Ethan Allen, both coming from New York City. When and even if they will be reinstated is unknown.

Ahhhhh, that would explain it! Thank you!! At least now I can stop trying to find a route!

[jackmccullough]

It can be tricky to get the train into Vermont because even when it's running the routes to Vermont are focused on the north-south corridor.

One time when I had to travel from Michigan back to Vermont, probably thirty years ago or more, I was able to take a train from Windsor, Ont., to Montpelier. I don't think you can get a train from Montreal to Vermont anymore but you might be able to get a train across Ontario and Quebec to Montreal and then rent a car for your Vermont travel. You'll see a lot so it could give you the long-distance railroad adventure you're looking for.

You can drive the entire length of Vermont, taking a combination of Interstates and two-lane highways in half a day, although you'll be pretty tired by the end. If you want to see everything there is to see, including staying over, maybe doing some hiking, and so forth a week would be ample.

[GeoffD]

You can certainly get as far as Albany NY by rail. That’s only a few miles from Vermont. Enterprise is at the train station and Hertz is across the River. I’m not sure if that Hertz branch survived the bankruptcy. NYC to Albany is a major passenger rail route. You can also get as far as Greenfield Ma with more limited service. It would be more challenging to rent a car in Greenfield (Enterprise) but I-91 to Brattleboro would be a good first stopping point and it’s only ~25 minutes.

[harry chickpea]

Originally Posted by Riley.

I've never had an issue connecting flights from anywhere to Burlington but not all airports have those connecting flights. You just head to the gate from which the Burlington flight leaves, usually at the end of the day. Another factor to consider, I think, is the long train trip that it would be if you come all the way from Minnesota. It'd probably take a few days and, at least for me, I'd want a sleeper coach so I wouldn't have to sit in the regular seat the whole trip - and that isn't cheap, last I checked. It would probably be less expensive to fly, and obviously much quicker.
Driving around VT....you could spend days driving around so it depends on what you want to see. North to south and east to west can be done in 1/2 day - depending on how fast you drive. Adding stops and sight-seeing obviously adds to that time, but it's not like CA where it can take you two days just to get out of the state (south to north).
Good luck.

Uhhh, you can do that on the interstate, but once you get on the local roads, good luck. There is an old saw that goes "Vermont is a small state, but if you flattened it out it would be the size of Texas." Obviously, that is overstatement, but the hills and winding of the roads and the required slow speeds can make a journey that looks short on a map be much longer than you might expect.