Vanlife Weekly: Harvest Season in Vermont’s Green Mountains

Early September in Vermont means apple orchards heavy with fruit, mountain air cooling at night, and quiet backroads lined with covered bridges. This week I worked and wandered along Route 100, soaking up the first hints of fall.

Trip Map

From Middlebury south on Route 7, across to Route 100 through Warren, Waitsfield, and Stowe, then looping back via Route 15.

Camps & Parking

• Granville Gulf Rest Area (near Warren): Legal overnight with toilets. Popular with travelers, but quiet midweek.

• North Branch Campground (Worcester): State forest site with fire rings and picnic tables. Affordable and wooded.

• Warren Falls pullout (day-use): Great place for a dip; respect day-use only rules.

• Stowe town lot (daytime): Paid parking for errands and coffee shop work sessions.

Daily Rhythm

• Mornings: Brewed coffee, 30-minute walk among maples, then a couple hours of laptop time while the air stayed crisp.

• Midday: Short drives between towns, farm stands for apples and cider donuts, and trail walks along waterfalls.

• Afternoons: Camp setup or dispersed parking; another work block tethered to cell data; errands in town when needed.

• Evenings: Simple meals, campfire where permitted, and early bed with temperatures dropping into the high 40s.

Meals & Coffee

• Breakfasts: Oatmeal with fresh orchard apples and maple syrup drizzle.

• Lunches: Turkey and cheddar sandwiches picked up from a Waitsfield deli.

• Dinners: One-pot lentil stew bulked out with local carrots and squash.

• Coffee stops: Vermont Artisan Coffee & Tea (Waterbury) had both reliable Wi-Fi and dark roast beans for the van stash.

Tip: Carry a thermos—hot coffee lasts through chilly hikes and saves repeat brewing.

Budget (USD)

• Camps & fees: $48 (two state forest nights + parking)

• Fuel: $64 (hilly terrain but short routes)

• Groceries: $59

• Coffee/treats: $22

• Farm stand produce + cider: $18

  Total: $211

Gear I Loved

• Portable camp heater: Took the edge off cold mornings without running the van’s main system.

• Insulated mug: Kept cider and coffee hot during long work sessions.

• Folding camp chair: Perfect for orchard views and riverside journaling.

• Solar lantern: Reliable light for camps without hookups.

Lessons Learned

• Check leaf-peeper traffic. Even early September sees weekend crowds on Route 100; weekdays are calmer.

• Cash is handy. Farm stands often operate on honor systems or cash only.

• Pack layers. Cool mornings warm quickly—merino wool base layers work best.

• Fire restrictions vary. Even in damp Vermont, some campgrounds had “no fire” signs posted. Always ask.