Overview
Saint Albans is a city of about 7,000 people (2020) in Franklin County, Vermont. It is surrounded by St. Alban's Town (population 6,000 in 2010). This article also covers the nearby villages of Swanton, Highgate, Fairfield, and Fairfax
2 sights · 9 things to do · 7 places to eat · 1 bars & cafés · 4 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about St. Albans
Chester Alan Arthur State Historic Site
Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge
On the eastern shore of Lake Champlain. Refuge lands support a variety of wildlife species and habitats to protect habitat for migratory birds, to preserve the natural diversity and abundance of plants and animals. 5 pub…
Burton Island State Park
240 acres of island with walking trails, campsites, and access via a passenger ferry.
Woods Island State Park
Primitive camping on an island in Inland Sea.
Saint Albans Museum
Maple Festival
St. Albans hosts the Maple Festival every year in late April. Here you can get everything from maple cotton candy to maple ice cream!
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.
- PBG Plattsburgh International Airport, Plattsburgh — 22 mi away. Directions
- BTV Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport, Burlington — 24 mi away. Directions
- ALB Albany International Airport, Albany — 147 mi away (major hub). Directions
The closest airport, Burlington International Airport (BTV), is approximately 29 miles away. Other close airports in the area include: Plattsburgh International Airport (PBG) and Montréal-Trudeau airport (YUL).
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Saint Albans Museum, Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge
- Lunch Jeff's Maine Seafood
- Afternoon Kill Kare State Park, Saint Albans Bay Park
- Dinner Mimmo's Pizza
- Evening 14th Star Brewery
Day 2
- Morning Chester Alan Arthur State Historic Site, Woods Island State Park
- Lunch Eastern Dragon
- Afternoon Weldon Theater, Hard'ak
- Dinner Thai House
Day 3
- Morning Burton Island State Park, Maple Festival
- Lunch Pie in the Sky
- Afternoon Cohen Beach
- Dinner Shaggy's Snack Bar
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
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.
Understand
St. Albans is the largest city in Vermont's northwestern Franklin County; approximately 16 miles south of the Canadian border. It calls itself the Maple Sugar Capital of the World and is the home to the annual Maple Festival .
St. Albans was the site of the Saint Albans Raid, a Confederate bank robbery that took place in 1864 during the Civil War.
Get in
By plane
The closest airport, Burlington International Airport (BTV), is approximately 29 miles away. Other close airports in the area include: Plattsburgh International Airport (PBG) and Montréal-Trudeau airport (YUL).
By train
- Route stopping at St. Albans:
- 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. Travel time to St. Albans from Springfield is 5.5 hours, from Hartford is 6.75 hours, from New York City is 9.25 hours, from Philadelphia is 11.5 hours, from Baltimore is 12.75 hours, and from Washington, DC is 13.25 hours.
By car
St. Albans can be accessed via exits 19 and 20 off of Interstate 89, as well as some smaller roads such as routes 7, 36, and 104.
By boat
As St. Albans is on Lake Champlain, it can be accessed by private boat from New York, Quebec, Canada, and other parts of western Vermont.
See
Do
Do Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge
On the eastern shore of Lake Champlain. Refuge lands support a variety of wildlife species and habitats to protect habitat for migratory birds, to preserve the natural diversity and abundance of plants and animals. 5 public use trails for pedestrian access to refuge habitats and two boat ramps to explore the Missisquoi River and Lake Champlain.
Buy
There are two main shopping complexes in Saint Albans:
Shop Highgate Commons Shopping Center
Has stores such as TJ Maxx, Hannaford Grocery, RadioShack, Olympia Sports Center, and Pizza Hut.
Shop Saint Albans Shopping Center
Strip mall that includes stores such as DollarTree, Walgreens, US Post Office, and Ace Hardware.
Eat
Budget
Mid-range
Eat Jeff's Maine Seafood
Seafood. This place always comes to mind when having a large gathering or a fancy event. Best place to get seafood in town!
Drink
Drink 14th Star Brewery
Brewery and taproom owned by active duty military personnel. It has a taproom in a former bowling alley. The name is a reference to Vermont's status as the 14th state admitted to the union. The taproom offers flights, full pours, and growler fills and they carry Citizen Cider for non-beer drinkers. 14th Star's signature beer is Valor Ale, a very hoppy amber that can be found all over northern Vermont.
Sleep
Go next
There are many ski areas in driving distance from Saint Albans:
Nearby
Milton
City / town · 3 listings · 12 mi away
Grand Isle
City / town · 6 listings · 13 mi away
South Hero
City / town · 18 listings · 16 mi away
Jeffersonville
City / town · 19 listings · 17 mi away
Colchester
City / town · 17 listings · 19 mi away
Champlain and Rouses Point
City / town · 8 listings · 20 mi away
Plattsburgh
City / town · 36 listings · 20 mi away
Essex
City / town · 36 listings · 21 mi away
My experience
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