Burlington in March
Not the best time
March is mud season - not pretty, but perfect for maple syrup tours. Hotels stay cheap and you'll have restaurants mostly to yourself.
Weather
March teases spring but delivers more winter. Snow melts during the day then refreezes at night, creating icy sidewalks. Rain starts mixing with snow, making everything slushy and miserable.
6°C high-4°C low10 rain days
Crowds & Cost
low crowds
~$100/day average
Events & Festivals
- •Maple Open House Weekend
March Tips
- •Maple Open House Weekend lets you visit sugar houses across Vermont for free tastings
- •Bring waterproof shoes - melting snow creates puddles everywhere
- •Some seasonal attractions start opening but with limited hours
All Months
May through October gives you the full Burlington experience. Lake Champlain warms up enough for swimming by late June, and the waterfront comes alive with festivals and outdoor dining.
Summer means peak crowds and prices, especially during UVM graduation in mid-May and the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival in early June. But you get 14-hour days and perfect weather for lake activities.
Fall foliage peaks in late September to early October. The drive from Burlington to Stowe becomes a parade of leaf-peepers, but the colors are genuinely spectacular. Book accommodations months ahead for foliage season.
Winter has its charms if you ski. Smugglers' Notch and Stowe are both under an hour away. But half the restaurants close or reduce hours, and lake activities shut down completely. The city feels like it's hibernating.
Here's the sweet spot: late May or early September. You get great weather, fewer crowds, and everything's open. Plus, local ingredients are at their peak.
Burlington Scores
Solo
7/10
Couples
7/10
Families
8/10
Adventure
6/10
Budget
6/10
Luxury
5/10
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