You’re standing at North Station, coffee in hand, looking for a direct track to Burlington. You’ll be looking for a long time. It’s one of those weird quirks of New England infrastructure that drives people absolutely bonkers. People assume that because Boston and Vermont are neighbors, there’s a straight shot through the mountains. There isn't.
Honestly, taking trains from Boston to Vermont is an exercise in patience and strategic planning. If you’re expecting a high-speed rail experience, you’re going to be disappointed. But if you want to see the Connecticut River Valley or skip the nightmare that is I-93 traffic during leaf-peeping season, the train is actually a vibe. You just have to know which line to pick, because choosing the wrong one means ending up in a completely different part of the state than you intended.
The Two-Route Dilemma
Most travelers don't realize that Amtrak doesn't actually run a train directly from Boston’s North or South Station into Vermont. It sounds fake, but it’s true. To get on a train, you basically have two choices. You can take the Downeaster up to New Hampshire and figure it out from there (don't do this), or you do the logical thing and head to Springfield, Massachusetts.
Springfield is the "hub." From there, you catch the Vermonter. This line is the workhorse of the region. It starts way down in Washington D.C., crawls through New York and Connecticut, and then finally hits the Vermont border. If you’re coming from Boston, you usually take a regional train or a bus to Springfield to hook up with it. It’s a bit of a shuffle.
The other option is the Ethan Allen Express. This one is a bit of a legend lately because they finally extended it to Burlington in 2022. For years, it just kind of died in Rutland, which was fine if you were going skiing at Killington, but useless if you wanted to see the Church Street Marketplace. Now, it runs all the way to the Burlington Waterfront. The catch? It leaves from New York City. So, if you’re in Boston, you’d have to travel south to go north. It sounds ridiculous because it is.
Why the Vermonter is Your Best Bet
The Vermonter is the most realistic path for a Bostonian. It hits the "East Side" of the state. We’re talking Brattleboro, White River Junction, and Montpelier.
Brattleboro is the first stop once you cross the line. It’s got that gritty, artsy, "we still have a Co-op from the 70s" energy. The station there is literally just a platform, but it’s right downtown. You step off the train and you’re basically in a brewery or a bookstore within three minutes.
White River Junction is further up. It’s a massive rail town. Historically, this was the place where everything connected. Today, it’s home to the Center for Cartoon Studies and some of the best pie you’ll ever eat at the Tip Top Cafe. If you’re heading to Dartmouth College across the river in Hanover, this is your stop.
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The Logistics Nobody Tells You
Let’s talk money and time. A ticket on the Vermonter from the Springfield connection isn't usually bank-breaking, but it fluctuates. You might pay $35 one way if you book a month out. If you try to book it on a Friday afternoon for a trip to see the foliage in October? You’re looking at $100+.
And the time. Oh, the time.
Driving from Boston to Burlington takes maybe three and a half hours if you aren't speeding and the state troopers in New Hampshire are being nice. The train? You’re looking at a six to eight-hour odyssey depending on your connections.
Why do it then?
Because the stretch between Greenfield, MA, and Waterbury-Stowe is arguably the most beautiful rail miles in the Eastern United States. You’re tracking the river. You see the back gardens of old farmhouse estates that you can’t see from the highway. In the winter, it’s like being inside a snow globe, assuming the heater in your car is working. Amtrak's Amfleet cars are old, sure, but the seats are huge. You get way more legroom than you do in a Delta Comfort+ seat, and you can actually walk to the cafe car for a mediocre hot dog and a decent local IPA.
The Burlington Connection Gap
There is a massive misconception that you can take a train from Boston and get off in downtown Burlington. You can’t. Not directly.
The Vermonter’s northernmost stop is St. Albans. To get to Burlington on that line, you actually get off at Essex Junction. It’s about 15-20 minutes away from downtown Burlington. You’ll need an Uber, a bus, or a very patient friend to pick you up.
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If you absolutely must arrive in downtown Burlington at the Union Station on Main Street, you have to take the Ethan Allen Express. Again, that requires going through Albany or NYC.
Hidden Stops and Local Secrets
Most people overlook the Waterbury-Stowe stop. If you are a tourist, this is actually where you want to be. It’s the home of Ben & Jerry’s. The station itself is a restored 1875 brick building that looks exactly like what a Hollywood director thinks Vermont looks like.
From here, you are a short drive from the Alchemist Brewery (where Heady Topper is brewed) and the ski slopes of Mt. Mansfield. It’s the sweet spot of the line.
- Brattleboro: Best for a day trip. Walkable, funky, easy.
- Bellows Falls: Surprisingly cool. It’s an old industrial town with a massive canyon and a vintage movie theater.
- Windsor: The "Birthplace of Vermont." Great if you like history or want to visit Harpoon Brewery.
- Montpelier: It’s the smallest state capital in the country. No McDonald's. Just vibes and the gold-domed State House.
The Reality of Winter Travel
Vermont winters are no joke. Neither is the infrastructure. While trains handle snow better than cars on I-89, they aren't invincible. Ice on the switches can cause "signal issues," which is Amtrak-speak for "we’re sitting in the middle of a field for forty minutes."
However, there is something deeply satisfying about watching a blizzard through a wide train window while sipping a tea you bought in the cafe car. You don't have to worry about black ice or the person in the SUV behind you who doesn't understand how braking works on slush.
What to Pack
Don't rely on the train's Wi-Fi. It’s notoriously spotty once you hit the Green Mountains. The cellular towers are blocked by, well, mountains. Download your movies. Bring a book.
Also, bring layers. The Vermonter can be a sauna in one car and a refrigerator in the next. It’s a vintage experience in every sense of the word.
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Navigating the "Missing Link"
The dream of a direct "Knowledge Corridor" rail between Boston and Montreal (via Vermont) has been floating around for decades. Politicians talk about it every election cycle. They’ve done studies. They’ve looked at the old tracks.
The problem is the "Inland Route." To get from Boston to Vermont directly, the train would need to go through Worcester and then up. Currently, the tracks are owned by freight companies (like CSX), and they aren't always thrilled about sharing.
Until that happens, your best "hack" for trains from Boston to Vermont is taking the Greyhound or the Dartmouth Coach to a rail-connected city and jumping on from there. The Dartmouth Coach is actually remarkably fancy—think leather seats and power outlets—and it drops you right in Lebanon, NH, which is a stone's throw from the White River Junction Amtrak station.
Is it worth it?
If you’re a businessman trying to make a 9:00 AM meeting in Burlington? No. Fly or drive.
If you’re a couple looking for a weekend getaway where you can actually talk to each other instead of screaming at GPS directions? 100%.
The pace of Vermont is slow. The train reflects that. It forces you to downshift before you even cross the state line. By the time you see the "Welcome to Vermont" sign, you’ve already spent three hours looking at trees and rivers. Your heart rate is lower. You’re ready for a maple creemee.
Actionable Steps for Your Trip
To actually make this work without losing your mind, follow this sequence:
- Check the Springfield Connection: Go to Amtrak.com and look for tickets from Boston (BOS) to Essex Junction (ESX). It will automatically show you the bus or regional train transfer in Springfield. This is the most "seamless" way to book it on one ticket.
- Book the Left Side of the Train: If you’re heading North, sit on the left side of the car (west-facing). This gives you the best views of the Connecticut River for the majority of the trip.
- Validate your Ground Transport: If you are getting off in Essex Junction or Waterbury, book your Uber or taxi before you lose cell service. These aren't major metros; there aren't 50 drivers waiting around at 7:00 PM.
- Check the "Save 25%" Deals: Amtrak often has a "Share Fares" discount or a New York/New England regional discount. Check the "Deals" tab on their site specifically for the Vermonter line; they often run specials for students and seniors that aren't advertised on the main search page.
- Prepare for the "Bus Bridge": Occasionally, Amtrak does track work. They will put you on a bus for a portion of the trip. Check your email 24 hours before departure. If you see the words "bus bridge," be prepared for a slightly less romantic journey.
The rail system in New England is a patchwork quilt of history and modern necessity. It’s not perfect, and it’s certainly not fast, but it’s a legitimate way to experience the transition from the frantic energy of Boston to the quiet, rolling hills of the Green Mountain State. Just don't forget to pack your own snacks; the cafe car runs out of the good stuff by the time you hit the New Hampshire border.