Overview
Essex is a town in Northwest Vermont. It is the largest town and second most populated place in Vermont. About half the population lives in the village of Essex Junction, which separated from the town of Essex in 2023.
4 sights · 5 things to do · 18 places to eat · 2 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Essex
Darkroom Gallery
Photography gallery.
Essex Junction Historic District
10 listed buildings
Fort Ethan Allen
This former military base has been converted into housing and commercial space. There are many historic structures throughout the fort, especially surrounding the parade ground.
Harriet F. Powell Historical Museum
A small local history museum with limited hours.
Champlain Valley Fair
Held at the fairgrounds in late August-early September, it is the state's largest fair. In the warmer months, the fairgrounds hosts frequent concerts.
Indian Brook Reservoir
Hike or mountain bike the trails around this reservoir. Swimming, canoeing, and fishing are also options.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Sep. Summer highs reach about 78°F; winter lows dip to about 7°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Jul and Jun. (climate data from nearby Montpelier)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- BTV Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport, Burlington — 4 mi away. Directions
- PBG Plattsburgh International Airport, Plattsburgh — 21 mi away. Directions
- ALB Albany International Airport, Albany — 126 mi away (major hub). Directions
Routes 15, 2a, and 117 will bring you to the center of Essex. All three roads connect with I-89.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Darkroom Gallery, Fort Ethan Allen, Champlain Valley Fair
- Lunch Bagel Market
- Afternoon The Links at Lang Farm, Vermont Quilt Festival
- Dinner Cafe Mediterano
Day 2
- Morning Essex Junction Historic District, Harriet F. Powell Historical Museum
- Lunch Cody's Irish Pub
- Afternoon Indian Brook Reservoir, Spring Fine Arts & Crafts Show
- Dinner Firebird Cafe
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Essex has the typical suburban chains like McDonald's, Wendy's, KFC, and the ubiquitous (in New England) Dunkin Donuts. However most of the restaurants are one-off local places with much better food. Most restaurants are lunch oriented due to the number of people who work in Essex, but most still serve dinner.
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
By car
Routes 15, 2a, and 117 will bring you to the center of Essex. All three roads connect with I-89.
By train
- Route stopping at Essex Junction:
- Vermonter operates daily between St. Albans and Washington, D.C. including stops in Essex Junction, Waterbury, Montpelier, White River Junction, Claremont, Bellows Falls, Brattleboro, Greenfield, Northampton, Holyoke, Springfield, Windsor Locks, Hartford, Meriden, New Haven, Bridgeport, Stamford, New York City, Newark, Trenton, Philadelphia, Wilmington, Baltimore, and New Carrollton.
By plane
Place Burlington International Airport (BTV)
Essex is only a few miles away from Burlington International Airport. Flights arrive daily via several carriers from as far away as Chicago and Orlando. Travelers from farther afield will have to make a connection in a larger city. There are non-stop flights to Burlington Airport from the following cities (some cities may be seasonal or only offer service certain days of the week): Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Toronto and Washington.
Get around
On foot
Essex Junction is small enough to be navigated on foot.
On a bike
Cycling can be a good way to get around the village. There are dedicated bike lanes on some streets and traffic moves at fairly low speeds,
Public Transportation
The Essex Junction, Essex-Williston, and Essex Town routes of CCTA all serve the village, however they are more useful for getting to and from Essex Junction than getting around. CCTA frequency can sometimes be low.
By car
Getting around Essex by car is the best option. VT Route 289 can be used to bypass traffic in the center of the village. There is ample parking, and the only problem you are likely to encounter is traffic at Five Corners during rush hour.
See
Admittedly, there isn't much here for the traveler to see. From some parts of town you can get excellent views of Mt. Mansfield and Camel's Hump. The rural parts of Essex offer pleasant landscapes, but these can be found all over Vermont. The older parts of town are fairly attractive, especially from late spring through fall, and that's about it.
See Fort Ethan Allen
This former military base has been converted into housing and commercial space. There are many historic structures throughout the fort, especially surrounding the parade ground.
Do
Essex is home to several golf courses and parks of interest as well as Vermont's busiest exposition center. If you do end up in Essex, it's probably to see a concert or attend a fair of some kind.
Do Champlain Valley Fair
Held at the fairgrounds in late August-early September, it is the state's largest fair. In the warmer months, the fairgrounds hosts frequent concerts.
Do Indian Brook Reservoir
Hike or mountain bike the trails around this reservoir. Swimming, canoeing, and fishing are also options.
Do The Links at Lang Farm
Play a round of golf at one of the most affordable courses in the area while enjoying views of Mt. Mansfield and Camel's Hump.
Buy
There are fewer shopping opportunities here than you might expect because the town isn't served by an interstate. There are lots of stores that serve residents (hardware, grocery, and autopart stores), but not as many that would be of interest to travelers.
Shop Essex Shoppes & Cinema
Outlet mall containing stores like Orvis, Puma, Ralph Lauren, and Van Huesen. There's also a 9 screen cinema and several restaurants.
Eat
Essex has the typical suburban chains like McDonald's, Wendy's, KFC, and the ubiquitous (in New England) Dunkin Donuts. However most of the restaurants are one-off local places with much better food. Most restaurants are lunch oriented due to the number of people who work in Essex, but most still serve dinner.
Budget
Eat Bagel Market
Fresh bagels and sandwiches as well as house roasted coffee. You can't miss bagel market, it's located in a distinctive bagel shaped building (ok, it was originally a tire store). They make a large variety of bagels and whipped cream cheeses. There are also breads and other baked goods to choose from. Weekend mornings and weekday lunches are incredibly popular here and the line is frequently out the door.
Eat Cafe Mediterano
Greek, Turkish, and Bosnian food.
Eat Cody's Irish Pub
Irish pub specializing in burgers, sandwiches, and fish & chips. Lots of TVs for sporting events.
Eat Firebird Cafe
Breakfast and lunch spot serving burritos, paninis, and omelettes. Everything is freshly prepared and each burrito is served with its own specific sauce. The breakfast menu is heavily southwestern influenced and features dishes like Huevos Rancheros. Firebird serves Vermont Coffee Roasters coffee in a bottomless mug for guests who dine in and provides a bottle of house-made hot sauce for each table. The restaurant itself is tiny, occupying the first floor of a small house and only has a handful of tables.
Eat Martone's Market and Deli
Sandwich shop located at Five Corners. Huge sandwiches as well as a few homemade side dishes. An Essex institution.
Eat Mimmo's
Italian restaurant and pizzeria run by southern Italians.
Eat On Tap
Formerly the Lincoln Inn, this is an Essex Junction institution. They have live bands W-Sa. This is a great place to rub elbows with the locals. They have 28 beers on tap, including a good selection of Vermont beers.
Eat Rocky's NY Pizza & Ice Cream
Popular pizza place with attached creamee stand
Eat West Meadow Farm Bakery
Gluten-free bakery
Mid-range
Eat Essex Grill
Small restaurant serving burgers, sandwiches, and a few dinner entrees. Pictures of dogs on the walls and outdoor seating in the warmer months.
Eat Euro Restaurant
Bosnian and other Mediterranean dishes.
Eat Istanbul Kebab House
Turkish restaurant.
Eat Joyce's Noodle House
Mid-range Chinese w/ higher quality ingredients.
Eat Tavern at the Essex
Tavern located at culinary resort.
Splurge
Eat Amuse
Fine dining restaurant located at a culinary resort.
Drink
Essex, despite being the second largest municipality in Vermont, isn't a nightlife hotspot. Most people looking for a night out will head into Burlington.
That being said, Essex does have a few bars. However, they are not quite like those in Burlington. The presence of IBM and the transition to a bedroom community for office workers has transformed Essex into a town of suburban yuppies, but it wasn't always that way and the old rural/blue collar Essex still exists. Unlike Burlington, most bars won't have an extensive list of microbrews, tasteful decorations, or rowdy college students. What you will find are cheap American lagers, dingy bar rooms, darts, pool, and sometimes karaoke. This is Northern Vermont, so you will always be able to find a Switchback if you don't like PBR and Rolling Rock.
Sleep
For some reason, Essex only has two hotels, one of which is a luxury resort. For most tourists, this won't be an issue as you will probably be staying elsewhere, however business travelers and people visiting relatives may have to stay in neighboring Colchester, Williston, or South Burlington.
Go next
Nearby
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