Montpelier

Montpelier is the capital city of Vermont, the smallest state capital in the United States with a population of 8,074 as of the 2020 census.

Understand

Montpelier is the smallest state capital in the United States. It is also the only state capital that does not have a McDonald's restaurant. The local newspaper is the Times-Argus.

Climate

Downtown flooding has become more common in the last few years. While it is not a danger to people, some shops or roads in the downtown area may be closed for a few days in the early spring.

Visitor information

Capital Region Visitor's Center, 134 State St, 44.2616°, -72.5829°, +1 802 828-5981, bgs.capitolregionvisitorcenter@vermont.gov. M-F 7AM- 5PM; Sa- Su 9AM- 5PM. 2021-10-18

Get in

By car

A common way to get to Montpelier is by auto. It is located along Interstate 89. It is about 3 hours from Boston and Montreal.

By plane

You can also fly into Burlington, Vermont, which is about a 45-minute drive from Montpelier. Or, if it is a weekday, you can take the bus from Burlington to Montpelier (dead link: January 2023).

By train

Montpelier station, 44.257303°, -72.608225°. Amtrak has the Vermonter passenger train with daily service between Washington, D.C., New York and St. Albans, Vermont. Unfortunately there aren't sidewalks for a good portion of the distance between the station and downtown.

By bus

Greyhound serves downtown Montpelier with buses that connect to Boston, Montreal, and Manchester NH airports. Buses stop in front of city hall at 39 Main St.
Megabus connects Montpelier with Boston. Buses stop at the Dog River Park & Ride, off of exit 8 on Interstate 89.

Get around

Walking - It is a very small town, so walking is an excellent way to get around from the State House and downtown area. You will find that people park their vehicle downtown and then can walk all of downtown and the State House area. Montpelier is a very compact town. Drivers are very courteous to pedestrians at the frequent cross walks you find in the downtown area.
Green Mountain Transit bus service covers Montpelier and other area communities. A Capital Shuttle operates seasonally.

See

Vermont State House, 115 State St, 44.262539°, -72.580528°, +1 802 828-1411. This golden-domed building is the most notable in the capital and is the meeting-place of the Vermont Legislature. The building is open to the public. Guided tours available late June through October: M-F 10AM-3:30PM, Sa 11AM-2:30PM. Free audio tour wands are available year-round from the Sargent-At-Arms office, off the Main Lobby. 2017-04-07
Vermont History Museum, 109 State St, 44.261279°, -72.579409°, +1 802 828-2291. Pavilion Building. 2016-10-27
T.W. Wood Gallery, 46 Barre St (At the Center for Arts and Learning), 44.257564°, -72.574765°, +1 802-262-6035, twwoodgallery@gmail.com. Tu–Sa noon–4PM (closed Su M). 2017-04-16
Montpelier City Hall, 44.2592°, -72.5755°. Built in 1908/9 2017-11-26
A total solar eclipse on Monday 8 April 2024 starts at 3:27PM local time and lasts 90 sec. The chances of a clear sky are 20%. The track of totality is northeast from Mexico and Texas to Ohio and the Canada–New England border, then across New Brunswick and Newfoundland.

Do

The Morse Farm Sugar Works, 1168 County Rd, 44.286561°, -72.543150°. Take a free tour of the sugar house and sample the maple syrup. You can even sample some of the different grades of syrup. It is open year round. March is when the maple sap flows and the syrup is made. Try the sugar on snow, maple sugar drizzled over shaved ice. 2016-10-27
Savoy Theater, 26 Main St, 44.259051°, -72.576583°, +1 802 229-0598. This is a small 130 seat theater for independent, alternative and foreign films. They also host the week-long Green Mountain Film Festival in March each year and have baby-friendly matinees on Monday. 2016-10-27
Farmers Market, State Street. Open on Saturdays 9AM-2PM from May to October. Produce from numerous organic gardeners and area farms. Flowers, baked goods, breads, herbs and also crafts.
Lost Nation Theater, City Hall, 39 Main St. See one of the theater productions or special programs that are available all year long.
Summer Evening Concerts. During the summer every Wednesday night. Free
Hubbard Park, +1 802 223-7335. 7AM-9PM, gates may be locked around dark. Hike to the top or drive and climb the 50-foot high tower to see a spectacular view from the highest point in the city. Free
Vermont Mountaineers, One Ballpark Rd., +1 802-223-5224. Attend a Vermont Mountaineers baseball game. The Mountaineers are members of "The New England Collegiate Baseball League" (NECBL) and the league has all NCAA baseball players. Early June to early August. Tickets $4.00, Senior, Student or Military $2.00 and Family Ticket Pack $7.00. Good homemade burgers and hot dogs at the game.

Learn

New England Culinary Institute (NECI), +1-877-223-6334 (email:info@neci.edu), has a campus in Montpelier and operates the La Brioche bakery, Main Street Bar & Grill, and the Chef's Table.
Center for Arts and Learning (dead link: January 2023), 802-595-5252 (email:info@cal-vt.org), is an arts and education center in downtown Montpelier which is committed to enhancing the cultural life of central Vermont through its founding member organizations, as well as embracing individual artists, musicians, and other non-profits in a collaborative and welcoming community.

Buy

La Brioche Bakery & Cafe, 89 Main St, +1 802 229-0443. Breads, pastries and cakes. Custom orders available. Open Monday through Friday 6:30AM to 7PM and Saturday 7AM through 5PM. Run by NECI, so the quality will vary as students are learning how to cook.
Cool Jewels, 2 State St, +1 802 223-1718. Beads, rocks, crystals and jewelry. Stop and see the Ultimate Beadbox in the store window.

Book stores

Enjoy shopping the fine book stores in Montpelier, all within close walking distance.

Bear Pond Books, 77 Main St, +1 802 229-0774. New and used books for all ages and interests. 2016-11-03
The Book Garden, 50 State St, +1 802 223-2824. Buy used books and new, used and remainder books available.

Eat

Bagitos Bagel and Burrito Cafe, 28 Main St., 44.2589°, -72.5766°, +1 802-229-9212, info@bagitos.com. Sun-Mon 8am-2pm T-Sa 7am-8pm. Bagitos offers hand rolled and baked fresh-daily bagels with all the trimmings as well as burritos and tacos, great coffee, desserts, beer on tap and a selection of nice wines. Live music many nights of the week 6-8, a lively Irish session every Saturday 2-5 and old time music sessions once a month. $ 2017-04-16
NECI on Main, 118 Main St, 44.260931°, -72.574948°, +1 802 229-9202. Lunch, dinner Tu-Sa. Fine dining and run by the New England Culinary Institute. Reservations are recommended for Dinner. Quality is extremely variable since the food is prepared by students. If you show up early in first week of the session don't be surprised if you get undercooked sides with burnt main dishes or vice versa. 2017-04-16
Coffee Corner, 83 Main St (corner of State and Main), 44.259913°, -72.574994°, +1 802 229-9060. Breakfast and Lunch Daily 6:30AM-3PM. Mom and Pop Dinner. 2017-04-16
J Morgans Steakhouse, 100 State St (in Capitol Plaza Hotel), +1 802 223-5252. Open daily 7AM for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. The kids will love to watch locomotives traveling throughout the restaurant. They also have a Sunday Brunch. The menu is fairly pricey for Montpelier, and the meals will run right up against the $50 ethics limit since this is a favorite spot for lobbyists to ply their trade when the Legislature is in session. 2017-04-16
Julio's Cantina, 54 State St, 44.260282°, -72.576960°, +1 802 229-9348. On summer days sitting outside, this restaurant offers the best people-watching in all Montpelier. And the food's not bad, either. 2017-04-16
Mad Taco, 72 Main St, 44.259943°, -72.575771°, +1 802-225-6038. A very good Mexican place (especially by Vermont standards) serving cheap lunches and dinners. It has a few seats, but it's mostly a carryout place. 2017-04-16
Positive Pie, 22 State St, 44.260158°, -72.576275°, +1 802 229-0453. This upscale pizza & pasta place features trendy decor and many local microbrews on tap. Some of the best pizza in the state, though service can be very slow by American standards. 2017-04-16
Philamena's, 41 Elm St, 44.261381°, -72.575641°, +1 802-223-5217. 2017-04-16
Sarducci's, 3 Main St, 44.257880°, -72.576819°, +1 802 223-0229. Authentic Italian cuisine from a wood burning oven serving dinner seven nights a week plus lunch Monday thru Saturday. 2017-04-16
Skinny Pancake, 89 Main St, 44.260296°, -72.574626°, +1 802 262-2253. They feature crepes made into main meals as well as fabulous dessert creations. 2017-04-16

Drink

McGillicuddy's Irish Pub, 14 Langdon St, 44.260834°, -72.575752°, +1 802 223-2721. Another local hangout and sports bar. They have individual speakers that you can tune and listen to the game you are watching. 2016-10-27
Charlie-O's, 70 Main St, 44.259902°, -72.575780°, +1 802 223-6820. This is a real locals bar with pool table and a lot of character. No tabs and pay cash. Great place to meet the locals. 2016-10-27
Three Penny Taproom, 108 Main St, 44.260674°, -72.575115°, +1 802 223-8277. This bar features dozens of craft and micro brews from all over the place. Packed with locals. 2016-10-27
Sweet Melissa's, 4 Langdon St, Montpelier, VT 05602, +1 802 225-6012. 3pm-2am. Great place to get drinks or a late night snack. Offers live band karaoke on Sundays and open mic night on Tuesdays. 2020-01-28

Sleep

Capital Plaza Hotel, 100 E State St, 44.260595°, -72.578784°, +1 802 223-5252. 2016-10-27
The Inn At Montpelier, 147 Main St, 44.262102°, -72.572351°, +1 802 223-2727. 2016-10-27
Doyle's Guesthouse, 35 School St, 44.259949°, -72.572699°, +1 802 223-3535. 2016-10-27
Econo Lodge, 101 Northfield St, 44.252893°, -72.581416°, +1 802 223-5258. 2016-10-27
Betsy's Bed & Breakfast, 74 E State St, 44.258032°, -72.569937°, +1 802 229-0466. 2016-10-27
The Lazy Pear Gallery and Guesthouse, 154 Main St, +1 802 223-7680. Fully furnished apartments rented on a monthly basis.

Go next

Montpelier is an excellent place to stay and get out to see other area sites.

Stowe, Vermont Ski Resort Area, with hiking, shops and restaurants.
Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream Take a factory tour.
Cabot Creamery, in Cabot. See how cheese is made.
Church Street in Burlington. Great shopping, food and bars.
Rock of Ages Quarry, in Barre. The Quarry is located just a few miles from Montpelier. Take tours of an active granite quarry over 600 feet (182 m) deep.
Hope Cemetery in Barre, has tombstones of granite that are works of art and in some cases unique. Examples are a race car, soccer ball, a cube balanced on one corner, a biplane and a husband and wife that are side by side in bed overlooking their tombs.

Montpelier - capital of Vermont, United States and seat of Washington County