St. Albans (Vermont)
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
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 IATA), is approximately 29 miles away. Other close airports in the area include: Plattsburgh International Airport (PBG IATA) and Montréal-Trudeau airport (YUL IATA).
By train
- See also: Rail travel in the United States
- 🌍 St. Albans station, 40 Federal St. Near the town's Main street.
- Amtrak, ☏ +1 215-856-7924, toll-free: +1-800-872-7245. Operates train service around the United States of America. 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 Philadephia is 11.5 hours, from Baltimore is 12.75 hours, and from Washington, DC is 13.25 hours.
- Amtrak, ☏ +1 215-856-7924, toll-free: +1-800-872-7245. Operates train service around the United States of America. Route stopping at St. Albans:
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
- 🌍 Saint Albans Museum, 9 Church St, ☏ +1 802-527-7933.
- 🌍 Chester Alan Arthur State Historic Site, 4588 Chester Arthur Rd., Fairfield, ☏ +1 802 933-8362. Donations appreciated.
Do
- 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!
- 🌍 Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge, Visitor's Center on Tabor Road, 6 miles west of Swanton. 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.
- Weldon Theater. In the heart of downtown is the Weldon Theater. One of the few drive-in theaters left in the state can be found off exit 20 on I89.
- 🌍 Burton Island State Park. 240 acres of island with walking trails, campsites, and access via a passenger ferry.
- Camp Kill Kare. Popular recreational day use with lake swimming access.
- 🌍 Woods Island State Park. Primitive camping on an island in Inland Sea.
- Cohen Beach. Daily use swimming point.
- Saint Albans Bay Park. Every 4th of July Saint Albans Bay hosts a Bay Day Celebration that consists of: The Great Race: Triathlon that includes a 3.1-mile run, a 12-mile bike ride, and a 3-mile canoe race, and fireworks at dusk.
- Hard'ak. A local is a ski and sledding hill used by many locals for wintertime fun.
Buy
There are two main shopping complexes in Saint Albans:
- Highgate Commons Shopping Center (off of exit 20 on I89). Has stores such as TJ Maxx, Hannaford Grocery, RadioShack, Olympia Sports Center, and Pizza Hut.
- Saint Albans Shopping Center (on North Main Street). Includes stores such as JC Penny, Rite Aid, US Post Office, and Ace Hardware.
- Green Mountain Blue Cheese, 2183 Gore Road, Highgate Center, ☏ +1 802 868-4193. Buy some cheese directly from the farm. If you're there on the right day, you might get to see it made.
- Northwest Farmers Market. From mid-May until October there is the Northwest Farmers Market in Taylor Park that takes place on Saturdays from 9AM-2PM.
Eat
Budget
- Eastern Dragon, ☏ +1 802-527-9800. Asian cuisine.
- Thai House, ☏ +1 802-524-0999. Asian cuisine.
- China Wok, ☏ +1 802-527-2278. Asian cuisine.
- Pie in the Sky, ☏ +1 802-524-5442. Pizza.
- 🌍 Mimmo's Pizza, 22 S Main St, ☏ +1 802-524-2244. Pizza.
- K J's Diner, ☏ +1 802-527-7340. If you are looking for typical diner food you can alway count on that here!
- Shaggy's Snack Bar, 109 First St., Swanton, ☏ +1 802 868-2021.
- Chester's Bakery, 15 North Rd., Fairfield, ☏ +1 802 827-3974.
- Foothills Bakery, 1123 Main St., Fairfax, ☏ +1 802 849-6601.
- Joey's Junction Bakery & Cafe, 2865 Route 78, Highgate Center, ☏ +1 802 279-8303.
Mid-range
- 🌍 One Federal Restaurant, 1 Federal St, ☏ +1 802-524-0330. Steakhouse. If you're looking for something more formal or just drinks after a long week
- 🌍 Jeff's Maine Seafood, 65 N Main St, ☏ +1 802-524-6135. Seafood. This place always comes to mind when having a large gathering or a fancy event. Best place to get seafood in town!
- Chow Bella, ☏ +1 802-524-1405. You can always count on a great meal and great service here, and they often have live music by local artists.
- Jacob's Restaurant, 73 First St., Swanton, ☏ +1 802 868-3190.
Drink
- 🌍 14th Star Brewery, 133 N Main St #7, ☏ +1 802 528-5988. 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
- 🌍 Back Inn Time Bed & Breakfast, 68 Fairfield St, ☏ +1 802-527-5116.
- 🌍 La Quinta Inn & Suites, 813 Fairfax Rd (Exit 19 off I 89), ☏ +1 802-524-3300.
- 🌍 The Cadillac Motel, 213 S Main St, ☏ +1 802-370-3082. Only open during summer season.
- 🌍 Econo Lodge, 287 S Main St, ☏ +1 802-524-5956.
Go next
There are many ski areas in driving distance from Saint Albans:
| Routes through St. Albans |
| END ← | N S | → Essex Junction → Springfield |
| Montreal via ← Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu ← becomes ← ← | N S | → Colchester → Burlington |
| Merges with ← | N S | → Milton → Burlington |
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