Road	Length	High point
American Flatbread at Lareau FarmStop American Flatbread occupies the original farmhouse at Lareau Farm, a 25-acre property on the west side of Route 100 in Waitsfield, Vermont, just south of Waitsfield Village and north of the Mad River crossing. Open Thursday through Sunday evenings, the restaurant bakes thin-crust wood-fired flatbreads (pizza) using local Vermont ingredients in a hand-built outdoor earthen oven. The farm setting — river meadows, gardens, and the 19th-century farmhouse — makes it one of the most atmospheric dining stops on the VT-100 corridor. The restaurant has occupied this location since 1991 and is consistently cited among the best food stops in the Mad River Valley.	—	—
Appalachian Gap — VT-17 Vermont Route 17 crosses the Green Mountains via the Appalachian Gap ("App Gap"), the highest paved mountain pass in Vermont at 2,369 feet, in Buel's Gore. The road runs roughly 40 miles from Addison in the Champlain Valley east through Bristol, Starksboro, and Waitsfield to Mad River Glen. The eastern approach from Waitsfield packs 53 turns into 3 miles of climbing with sustained 15%+ grades through dense hardwood forest. The summit is within the Long Trail corridor; the Long Trail crosses the road here. The western descent to Bristol and Bristol Cliffs is equally technical. Frequently combined with VT-100 to form the classic Mad River Loop.	40 mi	—
Appalachian Gap Summit — VT-17Stop The Appalachian Gap ("App Gap") is the highest paved mountain pass road in Vermont, cresting at 2,369 feet on Route 17 in Buels Gore. The summit parking area sits just west of the crest and gives immediate access to sweeping views of the Champlain Valley, Lake Champlain, and the Adirondack Mountains of New York on clear days. The Long Trail crosses here, and a short walk north or south yields even wider panoramas. The eastern approach from Waitsfield climbs through dense hardwood forest with sustained 15% grades and tight switchbacks — generally considered one of the finest motorcycle roads in the state. Open seasonally; check conditions in shoulder season.	—	—
Brandon Gap — VT-73 Vermont Route 73 runs 36 miles from Shoreham in the west to Rochester on VT-100 in the east, crossing the Green Mountains through Brandon Gap. The gap section climbs through forest between Brandon and Rochester, reaching elevations near 2,200 feet, with a cliff-face observation pull-off at the top allowing riders to view the sheer face of Mount Horrid above. The road is lightly traveled compared to the gap roads further north, making it one of the more peaceful Green Mountain crossings. The western approach passes through Brandon, a village with a notable arts scene and direct US-7 access, while the eastern descent drops into Rochester on VT-100.	36 mi	—
Creemee Stand — WilmingtonStop The Creemee Stand is a seasonal roadside soft-serve custard shack at 716 Route 100 North in Wilmington, Vermont, on the southern stretch of the VT-100 corridor near the junction with Route 9. Serving since the 1970s, it is one of the most cited creemee destinations in southern Vermont — the Signature Vermont Maple Creemee is made with locally produced maple syrup. Ice cream is sourced from Wilcox Dairy, the oldest ice cream manufacturer in Vermont. Open daily noon–9 PM during the May–October season. The stand sits in a wide gravel pull-off with easy motorcycle parking directly off Route 100.	—	—
Hogback Mountain Scenic OverlookStop Hogback Mountain Scenic Overlook sits directly beside Route 9 (the Molly Stark Scenic Byway) in Marlboro, roughly 14 miles west of Brattleboro. From an elevation of about 2,400 feet, the overlook delivers a 100-mile panorama spanning three states — southern Vermont's ridgelines, northern Massachusetts, and western New Hampshire. The Hogback Mountain Country Store and gift shop are located at the pull-off and provide parking, a small restroom, and seasonal food options. The viewpoint is accessible within a few steps from the parking area, making it a zero-effort destination on a fast-moving tour of the Molly Stark Trail.	—	—
Jay Peak Road — VT-242 Vermont Route 242 runs 12.8 miles through the Green Mountains from Montgomery (VT-118) east to Troy (VT-101), passing directly by Jay Peak — Vermont's northernmost major ski mountain, known for the highest average snowfall in the eastern US. The road climbs through dense boreal forest typical of the far north, reaches its high point near the Jay Peak ski area access road, then descends into the Missisquoi River valley at Troy. Traffic is light year-round outside ski season. The route is a natural extension of a Northeast Kingdom loop combining VT-5A (Lake Willoughby), US-5, and VT-118 through the Montgomery covered bridge village.	13 mi	—
Middlebury Gap — VT-125 Vermont Route 125, officially signed as Scenic VT-125, crosses Middlebury Gap at 2,144 feet in the Green Mountains, running 35 miles east-west between VT-17 in Addison and VT-100 in Hancock. The mountain section between Ripton and Hancock winds along the Middlebury River through the Green Mountain National Forest, with the Breadloaf Wilderness to the north and Middlebury College Snow Bowl near the summit. Established as a Vermont State Scenic Road in 1987, the road was designated under the Vermont Scenic Roads Law. Robert Frost spent summers in Ripton along this corridor — the Robert Frost Interpretive Trail is directly on VT-125. The eastern descent into Hancock intersects VT-100 for immediate connection to the northern spine.	20 mi	—
Molly Stark Scenic Byway — VT-9 Vermont Route 9, designated the Molly Stark Scenic Byway, runs 40 miles east-west across southern Vermont from Brattleboro on the Connecticut River to Bennington near the New York border. The road climbs through the Green Mountain National Forest, cresting near Hogback Mountain at roughly 2,400 feet with a 100-mile, three-state panorama, then descends through Wilmington into the valley. The route includes winding curves following river corridors, forested switchbacks with grade changes, and the highest village in Vermont (Woodford, at 2,215 feet). It is one of Vermont's two official All-American Roads and has been fully state-designated as a Scenic Byway.	44 mi	—
Smuggler's Notch (VT-108) Jeffersonville to Stowe through Mt. Mansfield SF. ~18 mi overall, with the Notch a 5-mi section of extremely tight switchbacks, single-lane sections squeezing between boulders, and sharp hairpins. Stowe-side ascent on a Road Glide is doable but go slowly. Notch portion closed late October through mid-May.	28 mi	—
Smugglers Notch Summit — VT-108Stop The high point of Vermont Route 108 through Smugglers Notch is one of the most dramatic mountain-pass experiences in New England. At roughly 1,750 feet the road narrows to a single lane squeezed between towering cliff faces on Mount Mansfield and Spruce Peak, with boulders the size of houses tumbled across the roadside. A small pull-off near the summit allows riders to stop, walk among the glacially deposited rocks, and look up at the sheer walls overhead. The pass connects Stowe to Jeffersonville and is closed to vehicles from late fall through late spring — check VTrans seasonal closure notices before riding. No commercial traffic is permitted; motorcycles, cars, and bicycles only.	—	—
Stone Valley Scenic Byway — VT-30 Vermont Route 30, designated the Stone Valley Byway and Seth Warner Memorial Highway, runs 111 miles from Brattleboro north to Middlebury, traversing four counties (Windham, Bennington, Rutland, Addison) through the heart of southern and central Vermont. The route follows the West River valley through West Dummerston, Newfane, Townshend, Jamaica, and Winhall before climbing past the Stratton and Bromley Mountain ski areas and continuing north through Manchester, Dorset, Pawlet, and Castleton. Dorset village features marble quarries whose stone was used in the New York Public Library and Harvard Medical School. The northern hilltop section from Poultney to Middlebury delivers open panoramic mountain views with broad sweeping bends.	66 mi	—
Vermont Route 100 — The Spine Vermont Route 100 runs roughly 216 miles from the Massachusetts border in Stamford north to Newport near the Canadian border, tracing the eastern flank of the Green Mountains along their full length. Known as "Vermont's Main Street" and the "Skier's Highway," the road passes through Wilmington, Weston, Ludlow, Killington, Pittsfield, Rochester, Hancock, Warren, Waitsfield, Stowe, and Coventry. The southern section features off-camber and reducing-radius corners with forested switchbacks; north of Killington the road dips and swoops through open hill country with a rhythm that rewards mid-pace riding. Multiple mountain-gap roads (VT-17, VT-125, VT-73) branch off the spine, making it the natural backbone for any multi-day Vermont tour.	133 mi	—
Warren Covered BridgeStop The Warren Covered Bridge spans the Mad River on Covered Bridge Road in Warren, Vermont, just off Route 100. Completed in 1880 and built by Walter Bagley, the 57-foot Queenpost truss structure is one of Vermont's most photographed covered bridges and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The bridge is accessible by vehicle but remains a narrow, low-clearance single-lane crossing — motorcycles pass through with ease. Warren village itself sits at the southern end of the Mad River Valley corridor, minutes from Sugarbush Resort and the turnoff for Lincoln Gap Road.	—	—

By Switchback · Updated 2026-07-08

Best season

Late May–early October

Helmet law

Required, all riders (universal)

Lane splitting

Not legal

Signature terrain

Green Mountain gap roads

Vermont is a compact state that packs a serious density of riding into its 160-mile length. The Green Mountains run north to south like a spine, and the gap roads that cross them east to west — VT-17 over the Appalachian Gap, VT-125 through Middlebury Gap, VT-73 at Brandon Gap — are some of the most technically demanding paved roads in New England. Route 100 ties all of them together, tracing the eastern flank of the range from the Massachusetts border to within a few miles of Canada. This is not a state built for straight-line miles; the roads here follow river valleys, climb through hardwood forest, and narrow down to single lanes between boulders in places like Smugglers Notch. Between the mountain passes, you'll find covered bridges, farm stands, wood-fired restaurants, and creemee stands that have been in the same spots for decades. The terrain rewards patience and attentiveness more than pace.

Why Vermont Works for Motorcycle Touring

Vermont's road network was shaped by geography before it was shaped by engineers. Rivers cut valleys, and roads followed rivers. Mountain gaps offered the only east-west crossings of the Green Mountains, so those roads — VT-17, VT-125, VT-73 — became what they are today: narrow, forested, technically demanding climbs with serious grades and corners that require full attention. Route 100 connects them all, running nearly the full length of the state along the eastern edge of the range.

That structure gives you a natural way to plan a Vermont trip. Use Route 100 as your north-south spine, and choose which gap roads to cross based on how much time you have and what kind of riding you want. The Mad River Loop — combining VT-100, VT-17, VT-116, and VT-125 — is a self-contained ~66-mile circuit that many riders treat as a day trip on its own. Adding Smugglers Notch (VT-108) to the north or the Molly Stark Byway (VT-9) to the south builds out a multi-day itinerary naturally.

Choosing Your Region

Southern Vermont (VT-9, VT-30) runs through broader valleys with a more open character. The Stone Valley Byway on VT-30 covers 111 miles from Brattleboro to Middlebury through four counties, while Route 9 crosses the Green Mountain National Forest with a high-point view from Hogback Mountain.

Central Vermont (VT-100 corridor, VT-17, VT-125, VT-73) is the highest-concentration riding zone — gap roads, the Mad River Valley, covered bridges, and the most varied terrain in the state.

Northern Vermont (VT-108, VT-242, VT-15) is quieter and more boreal. Jay Peak Road and the Northeast Kingdom routes see far less traffic than the central gaps.

Practical Notes

Spring sand: Winter road treatment leaves sand and gravel in corners well into May, particularly on shaded mountain roads. Give yourself extra margin in early-season gap riding.
Smugglers Notch closure: VT-108 through the Notch closes roughly mid-October through mid-May — confirmed annually by VTrans. Check 511VT before building a route around it.
Foliage traffic: Late September and early October bring significant tourist traffic to Route 100 and the gap roads. Weekday riding is noticeably calmer.
Fuel: Towns thin out considerably north of Stowe. Top off when you can in the Northeast Kingdom.
Appalachian Gap shoulder season: VT-17 stays open year-round but conditions on the 15%+ grades can be poor in early spring and after autumn frost. Check before you go.

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// Frequently asked

Yes. Vermont has a universal helmet law. All motorcycle operators and passengers must wear a helmet, regardless of age or experience. The helmet must meet DOT federal safety standards (FMVSS 218) and be equipped with a neck or chin strap. Eye protection is also required unless your bike has a windscreen.

The Notch section of VT-108 between Stowe and Jeffersonville is typically closed from mid-October through mid-May. The exact dates shift year to year depending on weather — in some years it has opened as late as mid-May and closed as early as early November. Check VTrans (511VT) for current status before planning a trip around it.

September is widely considered the best single month. Summer crowds thin out, temperatures are comfortable, and foliage begins showing color in the higher elevations by late September. Early October extends the foliage window but bring warmer layers — mornings at elevation can be quite cold.

No. Lane splitting — riding between lanes of traffic — is not legal in Vermont. Vermont law does allow two motorcycles to share a single lane side by side, but motorcycles otherwise have the right to a full lane.

Sand and gravel left from winter road treatment lingers on mountain roads well into spring, particularly in shaded corners and at the base of descents. Fallen leaves in autumn create slippery surfaces, especially when wet. Deer crossings are common at dawn and dusk throughout the state. On gap roads like VT-17 and VT-108, watch for reducing-radius corners and significant grade changes that can surprise riders unfamiliar with the terrain.

The Mad River Valley (Waitsfield/Warren) puts you within easy reach of Routes 100, 17, and 125. Stowe offers access to VT-108, VT-100 north, and VT-15. For southern Vermont rides on Route 9 (Molly Stark Byway) and Route 30 (Stone Valley Byway), Brattleboro or Wilmington work well as bases.

//Sources & references

Vermont Statutes — Title 23, §1256: Motorcycles–Headgear ↗Smugglers' Notch Resort — Driving Directions & Seasonal Road Closure Notice ↗State Closes Notch Road, Possibly for the Season — Stowe Today / VTcng ↗Top 7 Best Motorcycle Rides in Vermont — GreatMotorcycleRoads.com ↗Riding Vermont's Route 100 From Massachusetts to Memphremagog — Rider Magazine ↗