New England foliage: Mad River Byway is one of Vermont’s most-scenic drives

A Mad River Byway covered bridge. (Vermont Tourism)

Foliage drives are the perfect way to enjoy all the splendor of a New England fall, welcoming the kaleidoscope of color into your vehicle, as you marvel at the fleeting beauty that surrounds you.

Here is one of our favorite fall drives in Vermont, the Mad River Scenic Byway.

Mad River Scenic Byway:  One of Vermont’s best and most popular foliage drives, the Mad River Scenic Byway — along Routes 100 and 100B — is a roadway where motorists will encounter quiet (but loud in color) forests, stretches of farmland, and quintessential downtown areas. Along the 36-mile corridor you’ll find favorite ski destinations Mad River Glen and Sugarbush Mountain Resort, access to the Long Trail, and plenty of canoeing, fishing, and hiking. 

Points of interest: The Mad River Path (4061 Main St., Waitsfield, madriverpath.com) is a network of public trails and greenways to explore via bike or foot. Through October, check out the Waitsfield Farmers’ Market (5249 Main St., Waitsfield, waitsfieldfarmersmarket.com) for the freshest produce and crafts from the Green Mountain State. Swing by Sugarbush (102 Forest Drive, Warren, sugarbush.com) and catch a scenic lift ride ($28 pre-purchase, $30 day-of, weekends through Oct. 10). Or take a dive into the rich history of Vermont covered bridges with a visit to the Pine Brook Covered Bridge (1.2 miles north of Waitsfield Common) which dates back to 1872. The Warren Store (284 Main St., Warren, warrenstore.com) is a must-stop for a quick bite, a sample of some local, craft beer, or to just hang out and catch up on the town gossip. 

Stay: Located in the center of historic Waitsfield, the Mad River Inn (243 Tremblay Road, $150-$260 per night, madriverinn.com) is situated in an 1860 building, completely refurbished without losing any of its charm. The inn has eight uniquely-decorated rooms. For a more luxurious stay, check out the Pitcher Inn (275 Main St., Warren, $665-$920 per night, pitcherinn.com) for hotel luxury in a serene and quintessential Vermont setting. (Note: While children are welcome to stay, the Pitcher Inn is a mostly-adult property). 

Eat: Breakfast at the Red Hen Bakery and Cafe (961 US Route 2, Suite B, redhenbaking.com) features breakfast sandwiches, but it’s the homemade pastries and bread that steal the show. For lunch, hit up the Mad Taco (5101 Main St., Waitsfield, themadtaco.com) for fresh tacos, burritos, and “protein by the pound,” which offers a selection of carnitas, achiote chicken, and pork chorizo. Save some room for dinner at American Flatbread (46 Lareau Road, Waitsfield, americanflatbread.com/locations/waitsfield-vt) for some of the best pizza in Vermont. Try the  sausage and you may not think about pizza in the same way ever again. 

Offbeat attraction: We’re quite a few months away from Vermont’s “mud season” (spring), but that doesn’t stop you from getting your hands all goopy at The Mud Studio (95 Route 2, Waitsfield, themudstudio.com) a full-service pottery studio that offers classes ranging from the basics to sculpture work. Register ahead of time at the studio’s web site.